Chapter 15

Legacy

Merlin checked the time. Four twenty nine in the morning. One hour and thirty one minutes till sunup. At least ten, twelve minutes to get down to the town, another thirty minutes to get across town to the park, and another ten, twelve minutes to climb up to the barn. Fifty four minutes .. and that was if they jogged briskly, and it was always assuming conditions down there were the same. With the guards dispatched, the true power behind the whole place had shut down nearly an hour ago.

“Isn’t it wonderful, my dear?” Eric began. “They’ve killed the guards. I can – ”

“Wonderful? Shut up, Eric,” Agatha sneered.

“Don’t you talk to my husband like that!” Iris screeched.

“Ladies, please. A little decorum,” Merlin chided. “Agatha, so good of you to join us, despite feeling unwell. Won’t you sit down?”

Agatha stalked forward, her silk nightdress flapping around her legs, her highlighted hair bouncing on her shoulders, bunched a fist and punched Merlin in the mouth.

“I said – who .. killed .. my brother!”

Alex’s eyes darted to Merlin. The tension in the room had rocketed.

Merlin put a hand to her lip and wiped away a smear of blood. She glanced at Agatha. At the lack of a reply, Agatha swung again but Merlin blocked it.

“You get one for free,” she told her, pushing her back. “After that, you pay.”

Agatha began to howl with fury and roared in again. Merlin let fly with an upper cut which snapped her head around and sent her staggering.

“I did, okay? I killed the fucking sonofabitch. Are you happy now?”

Agatha came to a halt and stood like a statue.

“Why? What had he ever done to you?”

“Damn all,” Merlin answered. “I haven’t been here long enough for him to do anything to me. But he was evil, in the way, an’ he had to go.”

“He was evil,” Nick repeated, “but you’re worse. You killed all those people. You beheaded them. Nine kids. They could’ve lived. You could’ve set them free. Why didn’t you?”

“Set them free ..?” Agatha echoed, sounding confused. “Where’s the fun in that?”

Nick’s expression blanked. Whatever happens to her now, Alex thought, she deserves it. I’m not going to bitch.

“No fun at all. It was invigorating to hear them beg.” She twisted to look at Merlin and she smiled coldly. “They were in the way. They had to go.”

“They were innocent victims. Your brother was anything but. He wanted to come here. You both did,” Merlin retorted.

Agatha’s gaze switched to the others in the room. “Eric has so little vision. He just couldn’t see. When there was an extra person, George told us, I went down, took the chosen one, slaughtered him or her, and tossed the body down the back of the hill. And Eric an’ dear Iris ate well. Terror has a piquant aftertaste .. so I’m told. I couldn’t risk those extra people getting outside and telling everyone we were here. We would never have reached the target.” She shook her head. “Eric an’ Iris are weak idiots. Repenting at the last moment? They should’ve embraced the darkness. Let it consume them.”

“Weak idiots ..?” Eric gasped. “Agatha, darling, how could you – ?”

“Shut up, Eric!” She spun to face him. “This is your prison, not mine. You two can rot here, together, for all I care!”

Merlin looked back at Alex and Philip. “You two gotten everything you need to hear?”

“I have,” Philip declared. “If this is a prison, I’m not being responsible for letting the prisoners out.”

Alex nodded. “I won’t argue with that.”

“Nick?”

His jaw twitched. “Do it,” he ordered.

“Do what?” Agatha challenged. “James was weak too. He had no power of his own. Well .. he wasn’t me.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Merlin said. “You’re not me either.”

Iris choked suddenly at the sight of the sword. Eric bounced to his feet. Agatha’s eyes widened in surprise but then she began to laugh. She flung her arms wide.

“My Lord .. I come to you at last!”

Merlin held the stroke. Nick frowned. Merlin glanced back at him. “You want justice done?”

He nodded tersely.

Iris was shrieking and scrambling for the door. Eric was shouting and running forward to save Agatha from a stroke which wasn’t coming.

“You trust me?” Merlin asked Nick.

“Always,” he replied.

She looked back at Agatha. “Run.”

Agatha, Eric and Iris halted and stared at her.

Merlin gestured with the sword. “Run.”

“But – ” Eric swallowed.

“No buts. Door’s been flung open for you. Escape route is quite empty. Take it. Run.”

“You’ll let us go ..?”

“Uh huh.”

“They’ll hunt us,” Iris whispered, clutching at Eric’s sleeve.

“Follow after you, maybe, but not hunt you,” Merlin twitched her hand and the sword vanished. “We’re cool, aren’t we, guys?”

“Yeah,” Alex nodded.

“Absolutely,” Philip confirmed.

Nick couldn’t bring himself to say the words but he didn’t deny it.

Eric looked at Iris. “We’re free. Free ..!”

They turned and ran. Agatha waited a moment. “I don’t trust you not to try something.”

Merlin grinned. “You’re a smart woman. I’d go, if I were you.”

Agatha still didn’t move. She stared suspiciously for possibly an entire minute then, without a word, turned and hurried after the Castles. For a half second more, no one in the room moved or spoke. Then Nick couldn’t hold it in a second longer.

“You’re letting them escape?”

*****

It was four forty two. Eric Castle raced thru the wood and breathed the wonderfully fragrant air of freedom. Iris Castle ran just behind, keeping one ear open for sounds of pursuit.

“Just tell me that woman .. isn’t going to come .. with us,” she panted.

“I really don’t know .. what you have against her,” he retorted.

“She’s hateful! She’s .. the reason we got stuck in here .. in the first place!”

“How d’you figure that one?”

“You stupid, dumb bastard!” Iris choked, her chest heaving. “You told her! She .. told them!”

He stumbled to a halt, his eyes wide. “She wanted to be .. with me.”

“Think about it, Eric,” Iris wheezed. “Outside, she was nothing. In here .. she was queen.”

Eric stared at her. “She helped plan this ..?”

“That I don’t know but she sure took advantage of it. She didn’t fight it. She hadn’t repented, not one inch. She was never a prisoner like us. She was our jailer.”

He lowered his head. “What a bitch … ”

“At last,” Iris sighed. “Now he sees.”

*****

“That’s what it looks like,” Merlin replied, “but appearances are deceiving. They’re not alone, for one thing. I’m putting justice in action, letting good triumph over evil. More thrilling for the participants than a static execution. That’s one thing Agatha never learned, thank God.”

“You’re giving them a chance,” Philip said. “A chance to repent and redeem themselves.”

“A chance, yeah, but they won’t repent. They don’t have it in them, Father. If they did, they would’ve meant it all those years ago, not used it as a tactic to escape the deal they’d made. They have a chance to clear the air between them, see themselves for what they are. Eric an’ Iris are genuine prisoners who deserve to be here, an’ they won’t be leaving.”

“And Agatha?” Alex queried. “Strictly speaking, I guess she’s a victim.”

“Not her,” Nick declared in disgust.

“She isn’t a victim, Alex. She knew, like Nick an’ I did, what she was doing when she walked in but it does mean her punishment has to be a little different. She’s guilty of mass murder and for the worst reasons, and she sold her soul for power. She deserves harsh justice.”

“Terminal justice,” Nick corrected.

“Yes, sir,” Merlin agreed. “Even if she gets as far as the barn, she can’t get out yet for the same reasons we can’t, but we do have to move. We’re all done here – ”

“No, we’re not,” Philip stated. He bent to retrieve Eric Castle’s ledger. “This must be destroyed or no one will be free.”

Merlin looked at it and the book burst into flames. Philip hastily dropped it then watched in horror as the carpet ignited.

“Now, we’re done,” Nick said firmly, ushering them to the door. The fire was spreading merrily to the furniture. Philip coughed.

“Peri, it’s four fifty!” Alex realized. “The evacuation will have started twenty minutes ago. People will be nearly at the barn. If Agatha shows up – ”

“We have to stop it,” Nick cut in. “Send Aquila on ahead to warn them an’ move ’em back to a safe distance. We’ll deal with the Castles an’ friend.”

*****

When the message came thru from Merlin, Aquila was shadowing the Castles who were on the move again and Agatha Hicks who was ten minutes behind them but catching up fast. Aquila sighed briefly but obeyed. She popped into existence in the end house and the first person she saw was Kevin Sumner.

“Kevin, there’s been a change of plan. I need you to go up to the barn and pull whoever’s inside to safety out in the park. Don’t bring them back here, just move them out into the trees away from the road. The rest of you will remain here.”

“Why?” he frowned. “We’re moving smoothly. If we stop now – ”

There was a long, leisurely tremor. It wasn’t violent but, somehow, it was worse for being slow. From deep beneath them, there was a low, groaning sound.

“What was that?” Paul Brompton asked into the tense silence when it was over.

Aquila’s reply wasn’t reassuring. “The beginning of the end.”

“And we have to stay here? I don’t think so. If this house collapses – ”

“You are the one Nick left in charge of keeping people calm. You’re the first to panic,” Aquila accused.

“Only cos you’re forcing us to stay in town! Nick said that anyone who stays here ain’t gonna make it out.”

“I can’t debate with you now. I don’t have time. Prepare yourselves to leave quickly but don’t go out until I return. Kevin, you’re the exception. Go, please. Now.”

There was another long, slow quiver. People began to scream.

“Calm down!” Rafael shouted. He climbed onto a chair as Kevin ducked quickly from the room. “Did you hear me? Calm down!” He looked at Aquila. “Why do we have to wait?”

“It’s dangerous to go outside and I don’t mean these tremors,” she replied. “I’ve just come back from the counting house. It’s a prison for two people. Three lived there. They’re now all on their way into town. The Castles only want to get out. They’re not so different to you in many ways, but they will not be permitted freedom. It’s the third person. She was the one behind Hick’s magic shows, his control over you. She’s crazy and she could kill if she saw you on the street. It’s safer for you to remain hidden.”

“Even with these earthquakes?” Paul questioned.

“Yes. They’re only mild, as yet. They could hurt but not kill, not at this early stage. Agatha Hicks is far more dangerous.”

“Okay,” Rafael called. “Pass it on. We stay put, an’ we stay calm. Let’s get ready to move out as soon as the coast’s clear.”

*****

Nick estimated it was a mile thru the wood to the edge of town. They could run it in around seven minutes. Time was now at a premium. It was four fifty five.

Alex staggered sideways as the ground began a gentle upward heave.

“Oh .. great. Couldn’t wait another hour, could you?” Merlin muttered, grabbing Alex to steady her. “Oh, no, you gotta start now.”

“It’s starting to disintegrate,” Nick said tersely, picking up the pace. This was just another variable to add to the mixing pot, something else to keep in mind and compensate for.

“It’s becoming unstable,” Merlin amended. “We got a while before it starts to implode.”

“You hope.”

“Absolutely, I hope. My hope is what is going to hold this place together until around six fifty this morning. That’s an hour an’ fifty five minutes away. I hope I’m strong enough to do that, as well as punch a hole thru the side of the barn so people can get out. I don’t want Derek opening the door. He has to stay back. Right now, I am really gonna hope these tremors are just the overture to the whole collapse. You could help a lot by hoping too.”

“We’ll pray,” Philip decided. “What harm can it do?”

*****

Agatha Hicks kicked away her heeled slippers and bent to rip the bottom ten inches from the skirt of her nightdress. It had all been going so well ..! This wasn’t fair. Over halfway to collecting a thousand souls. Ruined. But .. she was free. Free of Eric, at last. Free of that screeching harridan wife of his. Free of dear James, so clinging and needy. And, maybe, free of this trap. Agatha wasn’t sure how long she’d been stuck in the town but it felt like a very long time. She’d known it was a one way deal when she’d walked in. She’d been thirty three, James had been forty. Thirty three … She’d blossomed here. Before, she’d been a meek, quiet mouse, seething with resentment and frustration. Here, she’d grown. Grown in power. Eric and Iris had fed off the town; Agatha had fed on the Watchers. Her power was deep and black. Now the world might await her. Why settle for a little community of almost six hundred when she could have the world? Millions of souls … If that woman had killed James, who knew what else she might be useful for.

And they were letting her go … Agatha couldn’t quite accept that – it was too easy – so she kept looking back to scan the road. She was almost out of the wood now, and there wasn’t a sign of pursuit. Ten minutes since running out of the ledger room. She might yet do it.

The blow caught her on the side of the head and she was half stunned and knocked sprawling. Her exploring fingers came away sticky with blood. She peered up into Eric’s furious expression. He held the thick branch in both fists.

“You think you’re better than me?” he snarled.

Agatha couldn’t believe the worm was finally putting up a fight. She began to stagger upright only to be floored again by another savage blow.

“I should never have trusted you,” he sneered. “Should never have been blinded by you. Well .. I’ll show you who’s a weak idiot!”

*****

Iris, now free of her husband and Agatha, was gleefully sprinting along the road. Set the pigeon on the cat and let ’em slug it out between them. Iris didn’t care who won. She’d had enough of the both of them telling her what to do. Freedom was intoxicating but the sight of the town sobered her. It looked a lot different to what she remembered. Half of it was a ruin. The other half just looked like it hadn’t fallen down yet. She slowed, watching both sides, feeling unseen eyes watching her.

In the far distance, she could see the barn. The way out.

What the hell do I care who’s watching, she thought as she broke into another run. I’ve paid. I’ve done my time. I am out of here.

Those unseen eyes belonged to Aquila. Unknown to Iris, she had a very fit running companion pacing her every step of the way.

*****

Nick, Merlin, Alex and Philip kept off the road as they edged past the brutal battle taking place under the eaves of the wood. Once they were clear of the trees, they slowed to a walk for a few moments to catch their breath and assess their plan.

“Alex, Philip, you need to be at the other end of town,” Nick said. “Take control down there. Find out what Aquila got organized.” He steadied himself against another tremor, this one more prolonged and violent. “You should be able to run it in a half hour. We’ll follow but hang back to guard your retreat.”

They nodded and raced away.

“Where’s Iris?” Nick asked. “Didn’t see her cheering Eric on from the sidelines.”

“She’s making a break for freedom. Heading straight for the barn. ETA .. around five thirty.”

“Alone?”

“Oh no.”

He grinned, his teeth a flash of white in the dark. “Let’s go.”

It was four fifty eight.

*****

Exactly one hour before dawn, the battle royal between the king and the queen spilled out of the wood and into the town. Eric had abandoned his branch and was using raw power. And it was raw. He hadn’t used it in almost a hundred years, and hadn’t ever used it in anger. Agatha, on the other hand, was fighting with power which was more refined and stronger, and with fingernails, fists, feet and teeth.

“Those two are really going at it,” Nick remarked from quite a distance away. “When lovers fall out, it all hits the fan.”

“Aren’t you glad we don’t fight like that?”

“Like that? Sure.” He glanced at her. “You okay?”

She nodded quickly. A little too quickly.

“You’ll be fine,” Nick commented. “You took out Reuben, didn’t break a sweat. He’s ten times the man she is.”

Merlin smiled briefly. “Aquila wasn’t doing anything else that day. You noticed the tremors have eased right back?”

He nodded.

“That’s her. She’s holding the place together, Nick. I can’t expect her to come help me this time. Agatha might not be an Enforcer but she’s still very strong for a human. Let Eric beat on her as much as he can, weaken her. Makes my job just a little easier. Besides, the guy sold out. He deserves pain.”

She straightened. “You don’t need to watch this. I’ll stay. Finish up when it’s done.”

He hesitated. “Take it easy.”

“This is my job, Nicky,” Merlin commented. “Putting it on the line.”

*****

“Kevin?” Liz queried. “What’s going on?”

“No time, sweetheart. You have to trust me. Everyone .. listen up. Situation’s changed. Barn isn’t safe. We have to pull back.”

“To where?” Maria asked. “Back to the houses? These children won’t survive.”

“Not that far. Off the road, in the nearest trees. Fast as you can.” He was fighting to catch his breath. “If it’s possible, we’ll start moving others into the park.”

“And the earthquakes?” Liz swallowed.

“Gotta take the chance, sweetheart. C’mon, move it. Kids, stay close to the grownups. No wandering off in the dark.”

The evacuation began again. It was five oh seven.

*****

Eric sank to his knees, his hands numb, useless. He was more blood than flesh, cut by a thousand whirring knives which fluttered around him like butterflies. Agatha, her chest heaving, blood dripping into her eyes, stood over him, watching him in case he had one last venomous sting left.

Slowly, his eyes closed and he toppled forward. Agatha gave him a hefty kick in the gut and limped away. She’d won the battle but it had cost her – in power and in time.

Nick had gone on to catch up with Alex and Philip but Merlin had slowly made her way back up the street to be there at the end. As Agatha broke into an uneven run, cursing with every step, Merlin pushed away from the wall and went into the street to squat down by the body of the king of the counting house.

He wasn’t dead but he wouldn’t move again. Blood was flowing thickly from his mouth and he coughed, spraying red drops over the cracked tarmac.

“Finish it,” he croaked. “Do it.”

Merlin bent forward. “Why’d you do it, Eric? Why sell out?”

He coughed again. “Because good is boring,” he whispered. “Bland. Spineless. Evil is more than power, it’s passion.” He smiled faintly, wistfully. “I wanted passion. Was that so bad?”

“You’re asking the wrong person. Y’see, I don’t believe good is spineless or lacking passion. I can’t be evil .. but I caused all this. I couldn’t have done that if I didn’t feel the fire inside.”

“Kill me,” he begged.

“I won’t do that. But I will see justice done. You can’t sell your soul without paying the price.”

“And you’re here to collect.”

Merlin shook her head as she held a dagger of flame behind her back. “I’m the price.”

He didn’t see the blade plunge into his chest. He felt it though. His face twisted into a mask of utter horror, and he died. Merlin rose and left the body where it had fallen. She walked away, her stride long and brisk.

Aquila, give me an update. It’s dawn in fifty minutes.

I’m starting to put out a lot of energy in holding this place stable. Not vast amounts, not yet, but it’ll have to increase and quickly. So far, it isn’t a big strain .. but it’s more than either of us anticipated and it isn’t going to get any easier as time passes. More the opposite.

Merlin nodded, frowning. Eric’s gone. Where’s Iris?

Almost two thirds of the way along the street.

The evac?

Halted temporarily in town, Aquila reported. The ones already on their way and in the barn have been pulled back to safety in the park. Is Agatha Hicks on her way?

Oh, yeah. Eric did damage, sapped her a little, but she’s still got a lot in reserve. I’m going to join up with Nick and the others. We can’t wait till Agatha’s finished – she’ll push it to the wire. We don’t have that kinda time. Over five hundred people to move up to the park ..? We’ll have to hide them in the trees and shield them from Agatha’s temper.

They were both silent as they considered the logistics of this. It was going to be close …

*****

Aquila and Iris raced thru the town and past the halfway house, then into the park and toward the bench.

George came to life.

Iris Castle halted. “Watcher .. I’m free. I’ve paid. I can go.”

“No. You can’t,” he said.

Iris screeched in frustration. Her legs wobbled with exertion and her lungs were burning. She had no time for this. She pointed a finger and spoke a word of power. George swayed under the blast but didn’t die. Iris scampered past him and began the last half mile climb to the barn. Her breath was whistling in her chest. Her legs felt like lead weights. She could see the door. It was open.

A hand fell heavily on her shoulder and she attempted to twist free. “No! I’m so close.”

“I know,” George said calmly. “Justice is a bitch, isn’t it?”

Iris’s heart exploded in her chest and she fell, dead before she hit the ground. George faded away, leaving Aquila behind. For a moment, she debated whether to leave the body or dispose of it and chose to incinerate it so it wouldn’t frighten the children.

“Enjoy your Hell,” she said. “You’ll be there a very long time.”

*****

Derek was dressed and ready to go but he forced himself to sit and wait patiently. It wasn’t long now. He wondered if he should tell Jon Redding or Rick Houseman that a lot of missing people were about to be found but felt that was tempting fate.

Rachel came in with coffee. “I just had a call from Kathy Perkins,” she said. “I’m not sure I believe what I heard. The family support group?”

“What about it?” Derek frowned, watching her pace.

“They’ve decided it’d be a good idea to hold a vigil, by the roadblock.”

His eyes widened. “That isn’t wise.”

“Well, at the roadblock isn’t so bad. But they have asked, and it’s been agreed, that, when the roadblock’s lifted later this morning, they can be the first to drive along the highway.”

He rose sharply. “We have to go. Now. If nothing else, we keep those people away.”

“Now ..?” Rachel queried.

“Too much is at stake, Rachel. And .. we will be in the area when we’re needed.”

“Okay,” she accepted with a small shrug. “Let’s go.”

*****

Alex was pleased with her performance. Philip knew he should do a little more training and fully intended to once he was back in Boston. Alex was slightly breathless but had run the four miles in a half hour. Philip was gulping in air and his legs were wobbly at the knees.

All the children had gone, Alex discovered when she arrived. In a way, that was good. Adults could move faster, cover more ground in less time. But the tension in the houses was immense. Adults could understand what was happening a lot more than children ever could. They could feel more fear. The tremors had died back to long, rolling heaves yet they felt constrained, as if they could be worse, a lot worse. People wanted to be outside. These houses weren’t strong and had never been built to withstand this kind of shaking.

“How are you doing?” Alex asked as Sam Thompson passed Philip a cup of water.

“Okay. I can’t say better than okay,” Paul Brompton replied.

Alex nodded. “Does anyone know if there’s a back way out?”

Ron Mayweather held up a hand. “I know.”

“Does it go toward the park?” Philip wheezed.

“Yeah. There’s a gap in the fence.”

Alex smiled briefly. “All right. This is it. I don’t know if it’s safe, but we have to move now. Ron, you’ll be the guide. Set a steady pace and don’t slow down. Philip an’ I will come last and gather up any slackers. It’s dark out there so keep the person in front in sight the whole time. Ron, we’re heading ultimately for the barn but you stay off the road and in cover as much as you can, okay? The darkness will help.”

He nodded.

“Get moving. Everyone, calmly and quietly, follow Ron.”

Alex watched them set off. Philip was looking a better color now and he sipped a second cup of water. “It’s a half hour to dawn. A whole hour till Derek’s in position.”

“We’ll make it, Alex,” Philip breathed. “We haven’t come all this way to fail now.”

*****

“Ready?” Derek asked. It was five thirty five.

Rachel nodded. “This is gonna sound like an incredibly dumb thing to say but .. we could use a good storm to clear the air. It’s like an oven out there.”

“I don’t know about a good storm,” he remarked, “but we’ll get a storm. An evil storm for good ends. And the end justified the means.” He started the engine and backed out of the space. “Did you organize the paramedics?”

“I tried but the policy is that, unless there’s a genuine emergency actually happening, they won’t turn out. But I .. bent the rules a little. The vigil. I told them it was happening and it would be a hot day. People already emotionally stressed could suffer an adverse reaction in the heat and prevention was really a lot better than the cure .. so they’re sending one ambulance with a couple of paramedics to be first aiders if needed. Best I could do,” she shrugged.

“It’s better than nothing,” Derek commented. “We should be at the roadblock in .. twenty five minutes.”

*****

“They on their way?” Nick asked.

Alex nodded. “We’ll be going soon too. Five thirty five, Nick. We don’t have much time. Where’s Peri?”

“Here,” Merlin said, entering the room. “The Castles are dead,” she reported. “There’s only Agatha left now.”

“You okay?” Nick frowned.

“I’m hanging in there. Think I’ll sleep for a month when I get home.”

“Did Iris see justice done?” Philip asked solemnly.

“She died within sight of the open barn door. So close .. yet so far away.”

“What about Agatha? How you gonna take her out?” Nick inquired.

“Not sure. But I will do it. Maybe in the barn. Maybe just outside. Soon as it’s safe for everyone else.”

He thought about this and a slow, wicked smiled curved his lips.

“So long as it’s painful. Those nine kids deserve to hear her beg.”

“It will be. It’ll be quick, but it won’t end with death. Her pain an’ begging will last a long time. Eternity.” Merlin dragged in a slightly ragged breath. “Everyone moving?”

“Out the back way, thru a gap in the fence and into the park,” Philip confirmed. “We’ll be as close to the barn as we can get by six fifteen latest.”

She nodded. “I’ll go along the road.”

“Not alone,” Nick declared, not liking the way she was looking. “Peri, don’t fight me.”

“I won’t. Aquila’s holding the place together. You’re my backup. I’ve got no one else, Nick.”

She looked strained, like an elastic band pulled too tight and approaching its snapping point.

“Alex, get going,” Nick ordered. “It’s a mile to the barn, a half hour walk. We’ll meet you there, an’ take care of any obstacles in your way.”

“Be careful, both of you,” Alex murmured then she and Philip urged the last group out. Nick and Merlin looked around the empty house.

“Won’t be sorry to say goodbye to this place,” he muttered.

They went out to the street and paused for a moment. The whole town was eerily still, strangely quiet. Merlin stumbled and there was a distant roar. Nick caught her and frowned quizzically.

“Aquila had to let the counting house an’ the wood go. She couldn’t hold it any longer,” Merlin wearily explained.

“Tell her .. tell her to let go what isn’t needed. Concentrate on the barn, the park, an’ this end of town.”

Merlin nodded. “I don’t think she has any choice … ” For a moment, she stared down at the sidewalk, then she raised her eyes. “Nick, I didn’t mean for this to go this way – all this pressure on everyone. I thought a chase, maybe, catch up with ’em way before the barn, take ’em out. It’s my fault it’s all gone wrong. I should’ve killed ’em at the house like you wanted.”

He rubbed a hand around the back of his neck. “To coin a phrase Agatha used .. where’s the fun in that?”

“Shouldn’t be fun.”

“Neither’s this. You can’t turn back time, Merli. We have to work with what we’ve got. Come on.”

*****

“Daddy?”

“What is it, pumpkin?” Kevin asked.

“I left my dolly behind. Can you go get it?”

He hugged her. “I’ll buy you a new one when we get home, how’s that?”

“It won’t be the same,” Marilyn sighed.

“I know, but Daddy can’t go back. I’ve realized that. Liz, how’s Martin doing?”

“He’s so sick. We have to get him out, Kevin. How much longer is it going to be?”
Kevin shook his head. “I don’t know .. but I do know Nick’s doing all he can.”

*****

Five minutes after Derek left the motel, Agatha Hicks arrived at the barn. She hadn’t seen Iris and so assumed the other woman had made her escape. She cautiously probed the opened doorway and laughed in delight when she found the hole. She stepped inside, expecting to see another opened doorway. But there wasn’t one. Her joyful smile cracked and slid off her face.

She tried pushing the walls with her arms, brute strength, but Agatha wasn’t physically strong. Even motivated by sheer rage, she couldn’t force a way thru. She resorted to the magic arts and used the foulest of black magic commands. At one point, the wall did quiver and started to melt but it recovered and there was no opening.

Agatha swore viciously and looked around for an ax. There wasn’t one of those either. An ax was too much of an obvious temptation. Abruptly, the temper left her and she grew cold, calculating.

James had the power I’d given him, the power he’d asked for. It didn’t save him. That means his opponent was stronger still. She might have the strength to punch a hole thru this wall. Someone’s already made an opening into the barn and I’d always believed that was impossible …

Her eyes narrowed and she turned, left the barn and went in search of the key to this particular lock.

*****

Nick saw Agatha striding toward them and he pushed Merlin behind his back. “She’s mine.”

“Don’t underestimate her. She beat the crap outta Eric Castle before she left him for dead.”

“She has nine dead kids to pay for, and a whole town of sick kids on top. Hicks didn’t do that. He asked for it, yeah, but she did it. You get into cover, Merli. They need you to punch an open door for them. I can’t do that. I can slow her down.”

Merlin squeezed his hand. “I won’t leave you behind. I promise.”

“I know,” he said and pushed her away. No one had to say he might not survive this.

Agatha saw Merlin run toward the halfway house and immediately turned to follow. Suddenly, someone blocked her path.

“Get outta my way, worm,” she ordered.

“Won’t happen,” Nick said.

He wasn’t one to hit women, that is unless they truly deserved it. Agatha Hicks surely qualified and he didn’t hesitate. He bunched a fist and swung it with all the righteous indignation nine dead kids could give him, and that was a hell of a lot. Agatha Hicks’ feet left the ground.

It didn’t knock her out. She had a dislocated jaw and a bloody nose to add to her collection of injuries but she rose like a tidal wave of fury to smash down on him.

Her fist, by comparison, was small but she slurred a word of power as she threw it. Nick felt his cheekbone shatter and pain shot into his head. He spit blood onto the road and blinked thru the haze for his target.

Agatha had glimpsed Merlin dart thru the garden and vault the fence into the park. Shaking off her own discomfort, she went after her. Nick quickly followed, wrapped his arms around Agatha’s upper body and twisted her to the ground.

She screamed with frustration as she kicked out, catching him on the knee. “Why won’t you just die?”

“Too stubborn,” he ground out.

Agatha’s eyes narrowed and she wriggled away. Nick scrambled up only to feel another hammer blow to his ribs. One, at least, broke. Then she slammed both fists straight into his gut and the world exploded into fire and agony. He went down, protecting his head with his arms, pulling his knees up to defend his gut and groin. Every breath was torture. Agatha bent down and speared her fingers into his hair, dragged his head back and slapped him hard on the broken cheekbone.

“Back off, worm. My fight isn’t with you,” she snarled. “But, if you insist, I can always come back and finish you later.”

Nick was hanging onto consciousness by a slender thread. He saw Agatha limp away and he dragged himself up again to sway and suck in air. His head was throbbing like a drum but the fiery agony eased. He set off in pursuit.

Unknown to Nick, the battle was being watched from farther up the slope. Kevin Sumner stared in disbelief. Everything Liz had ever said about Nick Boyle came into sharp focus but the main lesson he learned was that, if Nick really wanted to go after someone, nothing would stop him.

Agatha spun, swearing in pain, and let fly with a bolt of energy which picked Nick up, tossed him ten feet thru the air and dropped him with a sickening crunch. The slender thread snapped and Nick blacked out. The fact that her victim could no longer fight didn’t mean much to Agatha Hicks. She went in for the kill.

“Hey! Hey, up here!” Kevin yelled, dancing out from cover. He glanced back. “Lizzie, go help him, soon as I lead her away.”

But Agatha wasn’t interested in Kevin. Merlin whistled and waved. “I’m here. Catch me if you can.,” she called and sprinted away thru the park, away from Kevin, Liz, Christine Brompton and Maria Escobar, and the children they guarded, and away from Nick. Merlin saved his life.

Agatha worked magic to aid her weakening legs. She skimmed over the neat lawn, rapidly narrowing the gap, and brought Merlin down in a flying tackle.

“I have you now,” Agatha smiled. “My little key to a locked door.”

It was five minutes to dawn.

*****

Derek’s eyes opened wide. “What the ..?” he began.

“What is he doing?” Rachel exclaimed.

There was a long row of vehicles parked at the edge of the highway. Derek sped past them and brought the Range Rover to a rocking halt. Rick Houseman was starting to dismantle the roadblock to cheers from the families support group.

As Derek opened the door to protest, Jon Redding pulled up in his car. “Derek. Little early for you to be out here, isn’t it? Five after six.”

“Why is the roadblock being removed now? We agreed eight thirty.”

“You asked for twenty four hours. I got you twenty four hours. The road isn’t being opened, not officially.”

“What difference does that make?” Derek accused. “People will be traveling along it!”

“The families want to drive along the highway. Just be grateful the TV crews aren’t aware of this. They’re hunting a story on a field full of bones. So far, the missing people are still a secret known only to us.” The ‘us’ was everyone there.

“You can’t let them thru!” Derek argued. “Do you know what’s at stake?”

“Yes, but I can’t stop ’em. It’s a free country. They asked and received permission from Lieutenant Horn.”

“You blind, stubborn – ”

“Derek,” Rachel cut in, “that won’t help. Jon, please, a half hour more. Till the ambulance gets here. It’s on its way from town.”

“Ambulance?” Redding queried, his eyebrows rising.

Rachel raked a hand thru her hair. “We don’t know what might happen in the next hour. The fewer people put in danger, the better. Paramedics on hand in the area .. just in case.”

“You people really cover the bases.”

Derek was starting to get edgy. “I have to go.”

“Oh, right. So it’s not okay for them but it is okay for you.”

“I know what I’m doing!” Derek flung back and started to walk. “Rachel, keep everyone back here,” he pleaded. “Lay down in the road if you must but don’t let anyone thru.”

“I’ll try,” she replied. “Derek!”

He looked back.

“Be careful,” she begged. “I can’t lose you as well.”

He smiled quickly and nodded then turned and began to walk fast. The day was clear, bright, already getting hot. That and tension made sweat break out along the length of his spine. He wasn’t scared for himself or of the danger, he was terrified of failing and condemning so many to a life in purgatory. He checked the time. It was six fourteen. He began to run.

*****

Agatha stepped triumphantly into the barn, dragging Merlin with her. The strain was definitely starting to show as well as be felt now. Aquila was expending a huge amount of telekinetic energy to keep the town from collapsing but she was having to let it go. The counting house and the wood had already slipped away, and the middle section of town was vanishing.

“Open the door,” Agatha ordered.

“I can’t,” Merlin replied and her head snapped round with the vicious slap. “I can’t because there’s nowhere yet to open it to, you stupid cow. It takes time. We’re not in the world. We have to wait for the world to .. arrive here.”

Agatha released her and Merlin sagged. She looked ill.

Outside, Alex and Philip were gathering the refugees and trying to keep them quiet. Christine Brompton and Liz Sumner were cleaning Nick up, wiping away the worst of the blood, padding his broken rib, and getting him back on his feet.

“Where is she?” he asked thickly, blinking to focus his eyes.

“She’s in there, with that crazy woman,” Liz replied.

Nick pushed away from them and Christine held him back. “You’re in no shape to – ”

“Let him go,” Liz ordered. “He’s stronger than he looks.”

Staggering, his vision still not quite focused, Nick forced his stubborn legs to carry him up the hill toward the entrance.

*****

Two hundred yards down the highway, Derek passed Nick’s Mustang. Please, God, he prayed, if there is any justice in this world, let him come back to tinker with that engine and curse at it again. Let them all come back. Please, don’t let me fail.

Almost in answer to this prayer, the sky began to darken with thick, angry cloud. Derek almost wept with joy. He plunged off the road, wading thru the long grass, slowing once more to a brisk walk. At six seventeen, those clouds opened and the rain poured down. Visibility vanished. Derek slowed even more, aware of Aquila’s warning not to get too close. Yet he had to get close enough to bring the barn into this dimension. His progress dwindled to one step at a time and his prayers altered to ‘please, God, don’t let me be too late … ’

*****

Down the road, Rachel had faced an angry crowd but Jon Redding had come to her assistance. The arrival of the storm in the near distance had ended the voluble protest.

“This is it, detective,” Rachel told him. “Lift the roadblock for the ambulance. Let it thru with orders to go only as far as the red Mustang.”

“I’ll go with ’em,” he said. “You’re a doctor. You coming?”

“Try an’ stop me,” she replied, hurrying with him to his car.

“Follow me,” he called to the paramedics, pointing down the highway.

Rachel hadn’t seen the storm in action before. The air was hot and swirling on the outskirts. The day was like an early twilight, despite it being only six twenty, and the light was a strange, deep yellow color. Thunder grumbled and lightning flickered. Yet, here, it was still dry. Up ahead a few hundred yards, the view vanished into a dull gray blur. Somewhere in that were nearly all the people she loved as family.

“Holy shit … ” Redding whispered.

“Stop here,” Rachel ordered. “Next to the Mustang.”

He braked. The ambulance halted behind him. “Now what?”

“We wait.”

“For ..?”

Rachel shrugged tautly. “A miracle.”

*****

“Quietly,” Alex urged. “Just stay together. Be ready to make a dash for it. Philip, can you see Aquila?”

“She’s by the bench. That’s the line in the sand, Alex. She’ll let it all go to that point but no farther.” There was another quake which set children whimpering and another third of the road vanished away. “She can’t hold it forever. Pray God Derek’s on time.”

“Amen,” Alex whispered. It was six twenty three.

*****

Derek blinked rain from his eyes and peered at his watch. Six twenty three and forty five seconds.

How much farther do I have to go? He took another step. The second hand swept up to the minute and, suddenly, there it was. He halted, then, just to be sure, took one final step. Derek froze. Now it was up to Merlin. He’d done all he could.

*****

Merlin shifted painfully. “I didn’t tell you all the truth about your brother, why he had to die.”

Agatha glanced back.

“He was a man of God .. and he turned his back on his faith. He sold out,” Merlin replied.

“Whatever,” the other woman dismissed. Her head angled a little. “Is that rain ..?”

Merlin listened. “Sure sounds like it to me.”

Agatha’s eyes narrowed. “Well ..? Is it time? Can you open the door now?”

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t do it!” Nick choked from the entrance. “Don’t let her go into our world!”

Merlin glanced back at him. “Nick, I can’t stop her, not here. She’s too strong for me, and for you. We can only do what she says. Maybe, outside, we’ll have a chance to take her down. Okay?”

He shook his head, fighting the pain. “Can’t do that. I’ll fight to my last breath.”

Agatha rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. Don’t be so melodramatic.” She spun on Merlin. “Open the damn door!”

Nick came forward, dragging his firearm from its holster. “You’re human. This’ll kill you.”

“Nick, we can’t stop her,” Merlin groaned.

He was sickened at the idea of Agatha getting free but his grip on awareness was slipping. His jaw twitched. It was a wonder he could see to aim thru two swollen, blackened eyes. Nick punched out two bullets into Agatha’s side and she jerked, howling with rage and surprise.

“I should’ve killed you when I had the chance!” Agatha screeched.

Two things happened. Aquila quietly announced she couldn’t hold everything together any more, and Agatha suddenly shrugged.

“What the hell do I care about the world?” she said, turning on Nick. “I’d rather kill you.”

Merlin froze. Nick was about to die. She was going to die. Even Aquila might be extinguished because this wasn’t the world, it was here. The usual rules …

This is outside the world, the usual civilities don’t apply. God bless you, Philip. I’ve gotten it all wrong. And I got it exactly right as well. My strength was my downfall. My need to win has killed us all.

No one ages here. I’ve believed in the rules but there are none.

Time is screwy. I said that at the very start. I forgot. And that means …

Aquila, leave it, let it go. Come join me. I need you now.

But …

Just do it.

She stood up straight. She saw the outside vanish away, killing Alex and Philip, all the children, Kevin, Liz, the Bromptons, Rafael and Maria , everyone who had trusted her, depended on her … She watched the barn start to implode. Merlin had failed. There was nothing left.

She said, “STOP!”

And time stopped.

“Rewind,” Merlin said calmly.

*****

Derek dreamed. Aquila seemed very brisk in giving her orders. Be there to trigger the storm at two thirty that morning. Do not be late. Nothing else matters.

Merlin woke and Philip turned from the window. “Nick and Alex have gone to see – ” he began. “Where are you going?”

“I’ve got work to do, Father Callahan. Be at the barn at two fifteen. I’ll meet you there around two thirty.”

And she was gone. Merlin remembered what hadn’t yet happened because she had taken control.

She ran to the wood, protecting herself with the same armor she’d used against Reuben. She was ready for the Watchers this time, knew their plan of attack, and scythed them down. Merlin ran on to the house, entered, searched it and found them. She killed Eric, killed Iris, took Agatha’s head before she had a chance to demand anything about her brother. She incinerated the ledger. Then she set off for the town again.

She met no one. The deadline for the evacuation had been brought forward so much, they were hard pressed to get everyone to the barn on time.

Merlin arrived at the barn at exactly two twenty seven.

“You guys ready to go?”

“Where the hell did you get to?” Nick demanded.

“You just decided, didn’t you?” Alex accused. “You decided and you acted, and you couldn’t be bothered to tell us what you were doing.”

Merlin hesitated and smiled. “There was no time, Alex, so .. yeah.”

“That is so typical,” Alex muttered and turned away, shaking her head.

Merlin waited serenely until she heard the sound of pouring rain. Then she pushed hard on the barn wall, a door appeared and swung open. She bowed slightly. “Alex, you can start shipping ’em thru.”

“What happened up at the house?” Nick asked.

“They’re dead,” Merlin replied. “Justice was served. That’s all that matters.”

*****

In the field, Derek stood drenched and shivering. It was exactly two thirty. He could see the barn and the door was open. He didn’t edge closer even though he was intensely curious.

“Nick ..? Are you there?” he called.

Before anyone could answer him, people began running into the field. Derek waved his arms.

“This way!” he called. “This way! Keep going! Don’t stop for anyone!”

He glimpsed disbelieving faces, a few laughing and victorious faces, but no faces he recognized. He stood like a rock in the middle of a whitewater river. Humanity flowed on either side of him. Women carrying children. Older children running. Some who started as children and grew to adults as they fled. Time was correcting itself.

It took eighteen minutes in total to get everyone thru. All that was left were Alex, Philip, Nick and Merlin. They were in the barn and they stood for a moment watching the town self destruct.

“Can we go now?” Philip inquired.

“Nothing left here .. literally,” Nick replied, picking up the two backpacks.

He and Merlin followed Alex and Philip into the storm and, as Merlin crossed the threshold, the barn winked out, the storm began to dwindle .. and the night had stars again.

*****

“You may .. decide to turn it down but I know I’d .. we’d be honored. At least consider it,” Liz Sumner said the following afternoon. She glanced at Kevin who was nodding.

“The Lord knows I could never apologize enough for my actions,” Kevin began, “but I am sorry.”

Merlin nodded. “S’okay. I accept. Water under the bridge, no permanent harm done. As for being godmother .. I am honored to be asked but .. me an’ babies .. not a good mix. Nick would be a far better bet as godfather, if Kevin can stomach the idea. And I’d be happy to give your son a personal gift.”

Liz didn’t reply. She looked to her husband.

Kevin thought about it. “After what I saw him do, organizing that evacuation, getting us all out … I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have as a godfather to my son,” he said quietly. “I admit, I was always jealous of him, of the shared past he had with Liz .. but I know now it is the past. You can’t go back.”

“Peri, will you ask Nick?” Liz smiled. “I think he’s still sleeping.”

“Sure.”

“Thank you.”

“How is Martin?”

“The hospital’s releasing him later this afternoon. He just needed fluids,” Kevin replied.

“Well, we have a lot to finalize before tomorrow. A week late … ” Liz shook her head. “You will be there, at the church?”

“If you want me to.”

“Are you kidding?” Kevin grinned. “You an’ Nick, you’re a team. You’ll be there.”

*****

Rachel and Alex drove back to San Francisco Saturday morning in convoy with Philip and the Bromptons. Rachel had checked them all over and given them a clean bill of health.

Once the shock had worn off, once the immediate relief had faded, people had gone back to the field, warily, very cautiously, and they’d found their automobiles there. They’d driven them away or arranged for tow trucks.

Merlin and Nick said they’d take a leisurely drive to Watsonville on Sunday then head on home after the family party. Derek remained in San Stefano to cross any remaining t’s and dot the outstanding i’s with Jon Redding.

“You triggered the storm.”

“Possibly,” Derek lied. “The weather had been very sultry. It was ripe for a storm to clear the air.”

“And .. all those missing people turning up outta the blue. That was your team, wasn’t it?

Derek shrugged. “They may have had something to do with it. At least, now, you can close your file.”

“Can I ask all those people what happened?” Redding wondered.

“You can ask,” Derek smiled. “And they may even tell you. As for my team, I doubt they could tell even me all that went on.”

*****

Sunday night found everyone back home. Even Philip had decided to prevail upon his open invitation to stay, although it was just the one night. He would fly home to Boston Monday morning.

During supper, Merlin told them what she’d done after sending the message thru to Derek. She rattled off the facts in much the same way as she’d carried them out – briskly. After they’d eaten and retired to the lounge with their coffee, the silence lay over them like a comfort blanket.

“Alex ..? You wanted this. Was it worthwhile?” Derek asked.

Slowly, Alex nodded. “We reunited families, a lot of families. We brought hope and purpose to those who needed it, reality and truth to those who’d lost it. I know we all made a big difference. Peri saw justice done. Those murdered people can rest in peace now. But I think the most important thing is that .. it can never happen again.”

“Philip?” Derek prompted.

“Oh, I’m not tempted to move back to San Francisco,” Philip replied, smiling. “But I was honored to help out with this one. It might have been a Legacy investigation, Derek, but I fought the battle with my own weapon – faith. I brought it with me, shared it around indiscriminately, and was rewarded by having my own faith strengthened. We saved nearly six hundred souls from eternal torment. Not at all bad for a week’s work.”

“An’ you, Derek,” Nick said. “I don’t think we’ve had a chance yet to say thank you. It took guts to let us go in there while you stayed outside.”

“Thank God you did,” Philip murmured.

“We’d still be in there if you hadn’t come help rescue us,” Alex said.

“I think we all learned valuable lessons about trust,” Rachel remarked. “My patients did well without me.” And I learned I could trust Kat at home alone, with James.

“I know I learned something important – knowing you’re strong isn’t the same as having strength,” Merlin commented. “Sometimes .. action is wiser than thought. It’s less painful in the long term.”

Derek smiled gently. “I learned .. sometimes the best place for me to be is .. at the rear, in reserve, and that it’s all right to send in the best people for the job. Nick, Peri .. our two warriors. Philip – all right, not one subject to my orders but .. here, a beacon of hope. And Alex .. our social champion. And I also learned that, as Precept, there is no better feeling than to have my team returned home safely with the mission successfully accomplished.”

“The counting house is outta business,” Nick nodded, stretching his legs. “Permanently.”

Later still, when everyone had gone to bed except for Derek and Merlin, he frowned and said, “You just .. went up there and slaughtered those people. You didn’t ask who they were, why they were there, you just killed them.”

Merlin nodded.

“I know they were evil but, even for you,” Derek murmured, “it seems very cold and brutal.”

She smiled. “Believe me, Derek, it was better than the alternative.”

Poltergeist: The Legacy

The Counting House

© Jay Brown, 2002

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