McCarthy knew the story of Crawford’s wife up and leaving him with Dale still a baby. But was this… this confession… real? “So you believe in death and evil. Do you believe in good? And do you think the same end comes to a good man as an evil one when they die?”
Crawford answered without hesitation this time. “I believe there are good people, sure. And I think they go to a different place when they die than the bad ones. Just because there isn’t a God doesn’t mean there isn’t a Heaven or Hell. Or something like them. I know where I’m going when my time comes, I’m just not sure about Greymore…”
His voice trailed off and McCarthy was suddenly thankful for the darkness; he had no desire to see Crawford’s eyes. “Chief, I don’t have to be in a confessional to hear sins.”
Crawford grunted. “I don’t need your forgiveness. I’d do everything I’ve done over again. I just want this over. Once and for all.” He stopped walking, pointing the flashlight back and forth. “Goddamn, here’s the trail I was looking for. Not sure how I missed it.” He started walking faster and McCarthy struggled to keep up. He stopped abruptly and stepped close to McCarthy, holding the light pointing up so they could see each other. “Do you believe in evil, Father? Because we’re about to see it, whether you believe or not. It might have the face of Greymore, or something else. But we are sure as shit about to see evil. What else would kill all those kids?” With that, he turned and began walking again.
(100)
Denny tried not to let his hands shake as he held the gun aimed at Dale. He couldn’t believe what was happening. He had never even held a gun in his life, and here he was ready to shoot one at another human being if Dale were to actually try something. But could he really do that? Could he really pull the trigger and put a bullet in Dale, wounding, if not killing him? He was about to find out: Dale was stirring. He risked a quick look around, partly to assess the situation, partly to look for help with Dale. Billy had disappeared into the shadows in the back of the cave to help Julie. His grandfather and Paul had gone off to get the third member of Crawford’s trio, probably Tony. He was definitely on his own to deal with Dale.
He stared at Crawford, thinking of the years of torment he had caused Denny. Dale moaned and opened his eyes. Denny tried to swallow but his throat was as dry as the bone dust he was standing on. All of the moisture in his body seemed to be seeping out of his palms, loosening his grip on the gun. Wait, not alclass="underline" he felt like his bladder was about to let go. His fear began to consume him. His whole life was spent afraid and now in his one redeeming moment he was going to piss his pants. No, no way that is going to happen. He knew if he melted down now it wouldn’t just be embarrassing or cost him a beating, it could kill him. Things were so far out of hand that Dale might just be crazy or desperate enough to kill him. He took one hand off the gun and wiped the sweat on his pants. Dale was starting to lean up on his elbows; he still looked dazed but his eyes were clearing. Denny took the gun in his dry right hand and wiped the left on his pants. Dale was fully conscious and staring down Denny with a look that confirmed his earlier fears: Dale would kill him given the chance. Denny slowly brought his left hand back up to the weapon and adjusted his grip. “Don’t even think it, Crawford. I will put a bullet in you with no remorse. It won’t just be for me, it will be for every Denny O’Brien you fucked with during your miserable life. And I’ll smile while I do it.” Denny felt his lips curl into a smile. Not a smile he’d want captured for his school picture. This was a cruel smile, victorious and hateful. Dale’s eyes widened, his face twitching with rage. Denny was nodding, beginning to hope Dale would make a move. He felt oddly calm, in control. Dale’s eyes narrowed, the look of hate now fading to confusion. Denny only held his smile and kept nodding.
A loud splashing sound caught both their attentions. Dale’s head snapped in the direction of the lake, Denny remained focused on Dale. Only when he saw Dale’s gaze fixed on the lake did he steal a glance. The water was roiling, a violent whirlpool forming a few feet off the shore. Then the lake erupted sending cold water in all directions. The source of the eruption made Denny forget all about Dale. The thing that came out of the water had to be from Hell, or a Creature Double Feature. It was huge, at least six feet above the water, and who knew how far below. Two more feet? Three? Its head was dinosaur-like… yet almost insect-like at the same time. Like a cross between a praying mantis and a T-rex was all Denny could think of. Its jaws opened slowly, revealing multiple rows of teeth, before snapping shut with a horrific noise that sounded like a bear trap closing. Its body was a scaly green, reptilian, with tentacles swirling around it—four of them, Denny thought, but it was hard to tell. Two thick arms ended in horrific talon-like claws. The worst was its eyes: black and bottomless, dead eyes that tried to hide intelligence behind hate and death and destruction. Eyes that held Denny’s gaze, even as the creature began walking toward him. Its legs were powerful and as it stepped into shallow water, Denny could see webbed feet. Despite its slow, almost hypnotic approach, Denny sensed a speed and strength in the beast, like a coiled spring.
“Shoot it! Shoot the fucking thing!” Buddy screamed, his voice one pitch away from insanity.
It was Buddy, oddly enough, who probably saved Denny’s life. At least for the moment. His panicked scream caused the creature to turn its attention from Denny, and when it did Denny reacted. He turned his body, and the gun, to face the creature, tightened his grip on the pistol, and began pulling the trigger. The first shot was deafening; the rest went almost unnoticed when the screaming began. The beast howled when the bullet struck. Then Denny saw just how quick it could move.
In a blur of flashing scales and swirling tentacles, it was on Buddy, even as Denny emptied the gun into its hideous body. Buddy’s struggles were as short as they were futile, and as the hammer clicked on empty chambers, the creature dragged Buddy’s limp body back toward deeper water. Denny let the gun drop from his hands as he watched in horror. Just before the creature took him under, Denny saw Buddy’s eyes, open and aware, but somehow already dead. It wasn’t until the beast was gone that Denny realized he was screaming too. When he managed to stop, it was a much worse sound that Denny heard. It started like the distant rumble of a train on faraway tracks, but quickly became thunderous. Denny’s feet started vibrating and then the rocks began to falclass="underline" his shots had started a cave-in.
Greymore appeared, dragging Denny back from the water toward the back of the cave. Denny had no idea where anyone else was, including Dale or his own grandfather, but he was powerless against Greymore’s strength guiding him to safety from the crumbling cave. They made it out the way Denny had entered, just as a shower of boulders crashed behind them: the cave was sealed. Denny immediately turned and began trying to dig through the rubble but again Greymore got hold of him and pulled him further away.
“Denny, we have to wait until it stabilizes. We aren’t going to help anybody if we get crushed!”
Denny slumped into Greymore’s arms and all of the fear and stress began pouring out in his tears. “Billy… my best friend… my grandfather…”
“I know, Denny. I promise we’ll find a way back in, but not yet.” Denny felt Greymore’s body stiffen. “Denny, that thing, it’s what killed the girl back in ’61… it must have killed them all.”