Дмитрий Леонтьев – The evil will come for you (страница 8)

“It’s feeling much better,” he said. “So, did you see it?”

“No,” she replied immediately. “May I take a closer look at your foot?”

William reluctantly sat down in a chair and began to remove the gauze to check his injured foot.

“May I…” Linda started, but stopped herself and sat down to see William do it instead.

After carefully removing the bandages, they saw a deep cut that was starting to swell.

“I forbid you to leave the house tomorrow!” she declared. “Look at your leg!”

“I’m not going to drive, honey,” he explained. “Charlie Henderson will be driving,” he lied.

“It’s not about driving. The problem is that it’s too risky to travel such a long distance away from any medical assistance,” Linda insisted.

“I don’t think anything dangerous will happen to me in these three days,” William said as Linda treated his wound with antiseptic.

“Look at me,” he asked.

Linda didn’t respond to his plea and began wrapping his foot with fresh gauze.

“Linda!” he said softly. “Look into my eyes,” he added.

She met his gaze, and William noticed her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“What’s wrong, my candy-girl?” he asked, gently touching her chin with his right hand.

“Never mind,” she answered, lowering her eyes again.

“All done,” she said, jumping up to leave the room. William was quicker and caught her hand.

“It’s my dream,” he said. “I’ve been dreaming about this for a long time,” he added, stroking her hand.

“I know,” she replied. “But… I feel very nervous. To be honest, I have a bad feeling,” she confessed.

“You had a nightmare, sweetie,” he said. “And separation anxiety is absolutely normal,” he added.

“Promise me you’ll come back soon,” she begged. “I know there’ll be no mobile signal there.”

“I promise,” he said. “Besides, I won’t be going alone. You know, Charlie is a strong man with beefy muscles. In case something happens to my leg, I’m sure he can carry me and keep going,” he said, playfully mimicking carrying someone.

Linda laughed.

“What time are you leaving?” she asked.

“At 6 a.m.,” William answered.

“You know best,” she said.

“I still have something to ask you about and it’s really important,” he said seriously.

“Yeah? What?” she asked, surprised.

“Where’s my damn compass?” he asked with a smile.

CHAPTER 7

That night William had disturbing dreams.

It was drizzling. He was standing on a slippery dirt road winding through a dense forest. He looked ahead, then glanced back. The same view. He couldn’t recognize the place. There was complete silence.

William peered through the trees and realized the road passed through a cemetery. He stood before an old cemetery gate, holding his bag in his right hand.

The drizzle grew heavier. The cemetery trees shook in the wind, producing a creepy screech.

“Where am I?” he muttered, pulling a cigarette from the pack and lighting it.

William surveyed his surroundings and took his first step forward.

A thick, white fog moved with him. The wind blew so fiercely that the cigarette between his fingers went out instantly.

William noticed many old black-and-white grave photos with eerie faces. He didn’t realize that the eyes of the dead in those photos seemed to follow his every move. He couldn’t understand what force compelled him to veer off the road and into the dreadful forest.

He ventured deeper into the cemetery and felt his mind beginning to unravel.

William couldn’t tear his eyes away from the haunting scene.

“William!” a voice called from afar. He stopped immediately, recognizing it as a child’s voice.

“William! Come here! It’s here!” the voice begged him to follow.

“Who’s there?” William asked, his consciousness wavering.

“It’s here! It’s been waiting for you!” The voice continued, echoing strangely.

William didn’t know what to do. The echo was distant, and he hesitated to go deeper into the dark forest.

“Why are you standing there? Come here!” the voice urged.

A moment later, William was walking towards the child’s voice. It lured him deeper into the cemetery, through dense trees and shrubs.

“Where are you?” William called out again.

“Follow my voice! You’re close now!” the voice replied.

Finally, William found it: an opening in the ground, freshly dug. Shivering from the cold, he stared into the deep well. The fog surrounded everything – except this spot. The cawing of crows filled the air.

“William! Look inside! This is what you’ve been looking for,” the voice inside said.

“Who… who’s there?” William asked, his voice trembling.

Black fluid began to seep from the well.

William knelt closer to the well. It was empty and cold to the touch.

“What is that? Crude oil?” he wondered aloud.

Leaning over, he peered inside. The black fluid flowed, forming a small fountain.

Unable to resist, William reached out and touched the liquid. It was natural oil.

The fog thickened around him. Suddenly, a rotten hand with long claws shot out and grabbed William, trying to pull him down into the well – into death itself.

“You destroyed a sacred site!” a voice roared devilishly.

Someone inside the well tried to seize him, but the oil acted like a lubricant, preventing a firm grip. William felt his palm beginning to freeze.

Grasping a thick branch stuck in the earth, he struck the rotten hand hard. With his other hand, he freed the one smeared with oil.

He stepped back quickly and stared at the well. The small fountain grew into a towering spout.

It was a liquid of evil. It spilled onto the ground, touched the graves, and seeped into the soil.

Suddenly, headstones began to move, bumping into each other and toppling over. Skeleton arms with large claws dug their way out of the ground.

Everything happened so fast that William had no time to react. He was the sole silent witness to the terrifying scene.

Then, something heavy struck his head.