Free Evil Agreement by Richard L Hatin

with the blood
and ashes of the late John Farnum , Sutton’s Fire
Chief who had served each of us and the Prince of Darkness well since he became
a Keeper over forty years ago. We all have shared in that blood union tonight.
We have joined you as you have joined us. That blood and ashes potion was mixed
with a bone from the family of the one who deceived the first Keepers that
night long ago. Mr. Porter, now and forevermore you are one of us, a Keeper.
Welcome.”  
    They all rise and proceed to approach young Sammy Porter and
shake his hand. He blushes from all of the attention.
    Reverend Mitchell hands the cup and bone to Mrs. Lawless and
she carefully returns it to the security of the wall safe. Soon the safe is
closed, locked and the bulletin board is returned to its usual place.
    Reverend Mitchell raps his knuckles upon the table to get
everyone’s attention.
    “Please, if everyone could be seated we can go on to the rest
of our affairs.”
    The room returns to a complete silence as they each await
direction from Reverend Simon B. Mitchell. The Reverend serves as the current
leader of the coven. He became the coven’s new leader when he succeeded the
late Cornelius Schenk who had been one of the Town’s most successful
businessmen. Long ago, Schenk founded a business manufacturing wooden screen
doors and windows. His company, Schenk Screens Incorporated, at one time
employed 360 people. After the Korean War, he sold his business to a large
national company for what some say was several millions of dollars. He died in
1960, at the age of fifty-one, from syphilis. He had gone stark raving mad at
the end. There had even been rumors that he had taken his own life.
    The truth was neither. The Reverend Simon B. Mitchell, then a
young twenty five-year old assistant pastor of the local church, had strangled
Cornelius Schenk to death.
    Moloch had told the Reverend it must be done. The Reverend
was an obedient servant. Indeed, he was a most obedient servant.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
    10
                                                     

 
    Aaron woke up with a huge headache. His temples were
throbbing with a pounding that seemed to increase with any movement. His eyes
ached from a different sort of pain. They seemed to burn from within. He could
only manage to open his eyes after a huge effort, and then only just a mere
slit of an opening. He looked about the room and realized that it wasn’t his
own place. He sat on the couch for a few minutes trying to get a grip on his
battling senses. He spotted his pants draped across the back of chair. He
reached over and grabbed his pants and slipped them on. Aaron now seemed to
remember talking to the beautiful waitress that had served him last night.
    What was her name? he thought.
    His morning after mental fog began to lift as he tried to
focus upon his whereabouts. He stood up with the aid of holding on to the arm
of the couch. As he looked about, he began to remember the layout of the place
and more.
    Korie , that’s her name ,
he recalled speaking it in a whisper. He looked at his wristwatch. The digital
display told him it was a quarter to twelve or nearly noon . Aaron headed to the bathroom, tiptoeing as he went.
He remembered that her bedroom was just off the hall, which leads to the
bathroom. He used the bathroom to relieve himself. Aaron also borrowed some
toothpaste to swish around in his mouth. His mouth had tasted like worn out
carpet. Now it felt almost normal.
    After exiting the bathroom, he tiptoed to the door which led
to Korie’s bedroom. It was open slightly. As he tried
to sneak a peak inside, he noticed a note taped to the door. Aaron pulled the
taped note from the door and headed to the kitchen. In the kitchen, he read the
note.

 
    Good morning, Aaron.
    I had to leave to go to work. Today I have a double
shift at the restaurant. I’ll try to call you this afternoon when I get a
break.