The Unholy

It was a dark and stormy night, making the road I was driving on very difficult to traverse. It had been years since Travis or I had seen one another. Yet, here I was traveling down hilly and treacherous roads all because he had called and invited me down for a week of chasing women and getting drunk. I mean it had sounded fun when the invitation was made, but now, I wasn’t so sure.

I was speeding along, trying to ignore the fact that it was raining so damn hard, when suddenly I jammed on my brakes, sliding to a stop. Not more than five feet in front of me stood a road sign blocking my path. The words Road Closed were emblazoned across the front of the sign, telling me that I had to find a detour. I looked in my rearview mirror and saw an old dirt road behind me ‘Some good old two trackin’ might do me some good’ I thought as I threw the car in reverse. I turned onto the dirt road and floored the gas, throwing dirt and gravel in long arcs behind me.

I had only been traveling down the dirt road for a couple of hours when I heard an explosion and my tire began to go flat.

“God damn it!” I grumbled as I pulled to the side of the road, hoping that I still had a spare in the trunk.

‘What kind of luck is this?’ I thought as I stepped out into the pounding rain just as lightning struck a tree down the road in front of me causing it to crash onto the road with a lot of loud crackling and crunching. I just stared at the downed tree trying to figure out what to do, with a flat tire and the road blocked, where was I going to go now? I looked around and saw a house about a quarter of a mile up the road with a light in the window. ‘At least I won’t be stuck out in this god forsaken weather.’ I surmised gloomily.

“Well I guess I might as well get to walking.” I said trying to coax myself along.

As I approached the house, I began to realize just how old and creepy that it was. The paint was tarnished and falling off, some of the wood trim was rotted and crumbling, and the light was coming from an old candlestick perched in the windowsill. Once I had lumbered up the front steps, I grabbed the door knocker and pulled it back but never got the chance to knock because the door flew open and there stood the creepiest looking old man that I had ever seen. He stood about six feet tall and you could see damn near every bone in his body. His skin was so pale you’d have thought he was dead.

“I could use some help, I’ve got a flat and a tree just went down in front of my car.” I told the man.

“Why don’t you come in and get warm.” He replied quickly. “What are you doing out in this weather anyway?”

“A friend invited me to come down for the week.” I answered politely. “I didn’t expect any storms to hit today, otherwise I would’ve grabbed a room back in Sequoia.”

“Well it looks like you won’t be going anywhere tonight though.” The man told me, “You can stay here tonight if you like, I’ve got a spare room in the back.”

“I guess I don’t have much choice, it’s either stay here or walk to the nearest town.” I agreed with a smile, “Thanks, I really appreciate it.”

“It’s better that you stay here then to be out walking, the closest town is twenty- five miles from here.” He said with a grim smile.

I was definitely grateful for the use of a warm bed but there was something about this house, not to mention the guy who owned it that scared the living hell out of me. From the time I walked in the door, it seemed as though I had just signed my own death warrant.

“Come on lad, I’ll show you the room.” The old man mumbled. “It isn’t much but it’s still a bed.”

As I followed the old man down the hall, I noticed that he walked with a slump, and as he did, he would drag his left foot just ever so slightly. At the end of the hall there were three doors and on each hung a cross. This wouldn’t have bothered me but each cross was hung upside down. I quickly averted my gaze as the man turned toward me and began to speak.

“By the way my name is Draven, Draven Roberts.” Stated the old man with an outstretched hand.

“My name’s Mike, nice to meet you.” I said taking his hand and shaking it. “Thanks again for the hospitality Draven.”
I walked into the room that Draven had pointed out to me and looked around, the carpet was black in color and the walls were a deep shade of red. Between the crosses and the colors of the room, I was beginning to become very unsettled. I walked over and sat on the bed, still looking around the room when I noticed words carved into the bed’s headboard. They read, In this time and in this place, The dead shall arise to cleanse this race, It will only end when an unlikely one shows his face! ‘What did the inscription mean,’ I wondered as I lay down to rest.

I awoke with a start and glanced around the room. A creaking sound echoed down the hallway followed by an ear-piercing shriek. I leapt out of bed and grabbed my clothes, throwing them on as I ran for the door, hoping to keep it closed to whatever was coming down the hall. I could only guess what was happening in this house, but whatever it was, was heading for me. Suddenly something began to beat and pound against the door, trying to get in. Fear raced through me as the vicious pounding continued, as I raced back to the bed and again read the inscription. A thought occurred to me then, the dead had arisen!

I dropped to my knees, about to pray when I noticed that my hands had begun to radiate a bright glow. I felt something race through me, causing my body to shake and my hands tremble. Then suddenly the force exploded from me, throwing my head back as pure white energy poured from my mouth and eyes. My very being felt as though it had been turned into hardened steel, like a great warrior. I stood and walked to the door, opening it to face what I had been so afraid of just minutes before. There in front of me stood a gnarled and rotting creature that could only have been a person at one time. It reached out for me with its blood-matted hand to grab me. I closed my eyes to await my fate but when I felt nothing touch me I opened my eyes to see the dead being’s body turning to ash and falling to the floor.

I now knew that no one would be safe until I stopped every last one of the undead. ’I only hoped Travis was safe, I would really need a night of drinking and seducing the girls after this was over.’ I thought as I walked away from the house toward Draven’s car. The world was now mine to protect and save!


                               Copyrighted and written by Jason Howe’06