The bell above the door chimed with a new customer. That same, soft hissing played against the roaring music. Claws clinked against the marbleized walkway. One grew closer to my location, and I overheard something that sounded like a soft wheezing, like it was breathing but struggling to do so. I put the hand with the sphere into my front pocket and tried to cover the fabric to lessen the blue light, thinking the soft glow from the orb might alert the monsters.
One of them came around the bend of the counter, arching its head against the flashing lights of the jukebox. It followed the yellow and blue lights as they circled around the edge of the music maker, and seemed caught as it pulsated every few seconds.
Strangely enough, the creatures appeared almost human, as I’m sure they once were. But they all had those deep gashes and cracks covering their bodies, and full length claws where their fingers should have been. Their spines were curved, and they walked hunched over.
The bell above the door kept chiming. Seven, eight, nine times the bell rang.
Curiously, the first one approached the jukebox, growling and hissing. It mustn’t have heard such a thing in so long, and was failing to understand the sound. Claws screeched against the glass separating the disc from the listener. The creature batted its twisted and mangled claws against the glass, shattering it, letting pieces rain down on the disc. A piece must have got stuck underneath the needle in the machine, and screeches replaced what used to be a pleasant song.
A decent lot of creatures disappeared down the back hallway. They didn’t seem to mind the locked door, breaking through the wood like it was nothing. When they discovered nothing interesting, they seemed to echo a distinct pitch back towards the group. I couldn’t decide if it was communication or just a part of their strange actions.
Lights began to click on overhead. The small diner was aflame in a bright distinct light like I had only known when the sun was out. Then it flashed off again. Looking ahead, a creature was playing with what looked like a wall switch. It must have controlled the overhead lighting.
I couldn’t believe that electricity still ran to the building, or how it even worked. But as the monster kept switching it on and off, I prayed that they didn’t see me.
The creature playing with the switch moved onward, but left the lights on. I tried to crouch down more, laying on my side and putting my face on the floor. Even from this angle, though, I could still see their heads, meaning they could still see me.
A much older-looking creature came into view. Its flesh was taught over its boney frame, the skin nearly bleached. The lack of sunlight must have whitened these creatures. Its spine was curved more than the others, and it hunched over at a more severe angle. Cracks and crevices covered all of its body, though it didn’t bleed anymore. Instead, a thick black ooze seemed to hover just inside the wounds.
Its teeth were all gone save a few still that were hanging on. The head was completely bald. Where the ears would have been were just holes, and the nose appeared to have fallen off. I couldn’t tell if it was male or female, its features were so misshapen. The creature’s head swiveled from side to side, and a very distinct pair of violet eyes set on me, a milky cover over the irises.
I wonder?
I started to think that maybe the monster wasn’t actually looking at me.
The older creature was staring at me, hissing and moaning. Those violet eyes pulsated with a strange sparkle that played with the lights of the jukebox. I remained still.
Slowly, the creature turned its head, disregarding my position. It was true, at least, that one was completely blind. Maybe they all were. The older one walked further, bumping into the countertop and hissing in reply.
The jukebox died as if it had never started playing. The song on the disc must have ended. Only hissing and moans filtered through the air, but the light from the jukebox still flashed yellow and orange off the metallic surface of the countertop.
“Jackson?” a voice came through the hisses.
I looked around but knew no one human could be here.
“Jackson?” the voice questioned again. I hadn’t heard it in so long, but there was no way.
Olivia? I thought to myself. No, it wasn’t possible. This had me be my imagination.
“Jackson! Help me!” she screamed, but seemed to be farther away.
No, stop. This isn’t real. This isn’t real. I chanted to myself.
“Help me! It hurts! Hellllppppppp!” Olivia screamed.
I covered my loose ear, pressing the other against the cabinet, forcing the thought aside.
“Where are you? Why? Why? Why? Why?” Olivia’s voice kept chanting.
My foot slipped on the marble and I didn’t notice it until it was too late. I kicked the cash register and punted it across the floor. Coins tumbled from the tray, slapping and spinning on the floor.
The older creature screeched with a scream and jumped onto the countertop. It stared its milky discolored eyes onto me, but this time, it was seeing, and screamed in its discovery.
Chapter 21: The Start of Understanding
The cash register was still tied into some cable or plug-in, and it light up as I kicked it a few feet away. It beeped, flashing ‘ERROR’ on the electronic screen. The attention of the creature on the countertop flashed to the cash register, now hearing the new sound. It leaped upon the device, claws crushing into the exterior, shredding the metal.
I stayed absolutely still for a moment and watched as more creatures moved closer to the one attacking the register. Coins continued to spill out and come to rest on the floor. More and more creatures hopped onto the counter, watching on in vivid hisses and low throttled screams.
I spotted a few cans scattered about, some napkins and canisters on the countertop. I reached for a can, moving slowly and deliberately, making no noise at all. Drawing back, I tossed the can up and over the counter. It landed on the far end of the room, bouncing a few times until coming to a rest in the corner.
The creatures turned to the new sound. The one attacking the register halted its assault, leapt over the counter and searched. I too stood up slowly, looking ahead and behind. The creatures settled in the corner, screeching and wondering where the sound had come from.
I slid across the surface of the counter, landing on the other side without a sound. Moving towards the door, I looked back to make sure nothing was following. Slowly, I pulled the door open.
Ding the bell above the door rang softly, but it was enough.
The creatures turned their attention to the door, screaming in response. Dragging the sphere out of my pocket, I burst through the door and tried to slam the door shut, but the hinges refused to close as quickly. Even if they couldn’t see, my thundering heartbeat would be enough to follow. They screamed louder, in unison and with more force. I ran out into the street, no directions, or leads.
Screams reverberated from all around, closing the distance. I wouldn’t be able to make it into another building. Picking the closest car, I yanked the rusted door open and gently closed it behind. I lay down on the ill-smelling fabric interior and put the sphere underneath me. Closing my eyes, I prayed they hadn’t seen me enter the car. Shrieks exploded into reality as even more creatures than the ones in the diner surrounded the area. The screams were so loud they rattled the windshield of the car.
The diner’s light was still on, showing a multitude of figures bouncing between me and the structure. They scuttled back and forth, howling and crying, trying to discover where the sound disappeared to.
The car shook as one of them crashed onto the hood, yanking the car forward while its claws dug in deep and twisted the metal. A screech alerted more to the automobile. I slipped to the floor of the backseat. It was so rusted I crashed right on through to the pavement below, the fall muffled by the inhuman screams.