The Sun had just peaked over the trees and slowly flooded the streets with its radiant light. Birds chirped and sang as they fluttered about in the trees, with another beautiful spring day in coastal South Carolina just beginning.

“James, do you know what happened to that folder I had laid on the table last night?” Asked Rebecca from the kitchen.

“You mean that big thick one you said had the tests in it?”

“Yeah that one.”

“I thought you placed it in your bag. Remember we were busy taking about Misty and Jack’s new place in Holden?”

“Oh yeah, you’re right.” Said Rebecca as she began fumbling through her bag in the living room.

James was now walking into the room where he was working on a blue button up work shirt. He had his right arm through a sleeve and was about to stick his left through the other.

“Don’t forget, we have left over gumbo and boudin you can take to work with you.”

“Yeah, how can I forget that. It was amazing as always babe.” Said James as he passed Rebecca on his way to the kitchen, but not without giving her a kiss.

“Aw ah! Got it. Whew, had me worried for a second.”

“Yeah I remember seeing you put it in there. How did they do?”

“Overall, they done okay. Rachel and a few others got their A’s, while the rest got B’s and C’s. Only had two with D’s.”

“Oh, well that’s not too bad.” “Yeah, I was happy with the grades. This test was a lot tougher than the last two. So they done okay.” Rebecca said as she sat down at the kitchen table with about ten minutes before she’d be on her way to Georgetown High.

James had the fridge open as he stuffed his lunch box with his wife’s delicious Cajun cuisine.

“I’m glad your parents believed in the importance of preserving your roots and teaching you the family recipes, because I’m telling ya, your cooking deserves to be in five-star restaurant.”

“Oh, thank you honey. I’m glad they did too, I don’t know what I’d do without my Cajun roots. I can’t wait to teach our kids the Cajun traditions.” Rebecca said with a soft smile and dreamy gaze.

“I know honey. It will happen, we just have to be patient. One of these days, we’re going to have a house full of kids and all you’re going to hear are those little feet pattering all about the house. Then one day, we’re going to be out on our front porch swinging in our chair watching a yard full of little grand babies running around the yard, playing hide-n-go-seek and using us as base. You wait, it’s going to happen. We just have to keep believing. But in the meantime, let’s enjoy each other while it’s just us.” James said with a grin.

Rebecca smiled as her heart warmed at the thought of James prophetic imagery. If she closed her eyes and allowed her mind to wonder, she could hear their laughter. Her eyes became watery as her heart was overflowing with a hope and desire for that house full of kids. Then a thought hit her.

“James…what if it takes too long? What if it doesn’t happen within the next few years? I mean we are not getting any younger. I’m thirty, you’re going to be thirty in a few months. They say it’s dangerous to have children after thirty-five.”

“Well…if thirty-four rolls around and we still haven’t had any kids of our own…then maybe we can adopt? I mean its not the end of the world if that happens…I mean think how we could help someone and give them a shot at becoming something in life. There’s a lot of kid’s out there in those adoption agencies, that if the right couple doesn’t come along, they don’t stand a chance.”

“I know James…but I want children of our own too. I mean I would love to adopt a child and be their mulligan in this life…but I want to be able to feel our precious baby kick and squirm within me, and to be able to hold them tight as they open their eyes for the first time and see their mother and father staring back at them with a love that’s just unexplainable.”

Now James suddenly had watery eyes as he closed his lunch box and grabbed a day-old egg and cheese biscuit from the fridge. He sat down at the table and slid his chair next to Rebecca’s.

“Baby…with your heart and the kind of desire you have for a family and believe me I’m right there with you…I don’t see how the universe could withhold giving you the greatest gift on earth. And if there is a God up there.” James paused and turned his gaze to the ceiling.

“Then I don’t see how or why he would either. Because I know with everything within me, you’d be the greatest and most loving mother this world has ever known.”

Tears flooded both their eyes as they embraced and held each other until it was time for them to leave for work. Neither wanted to let go, but they knew they must. For they had a future to work for and their children depended on it.

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Riding along in his Chevy Suburban, Ethan was only minutes from arriving at the paper mill. He fidgeted with the knob on his stereo to check every station for any report of a dead man tied to a steering wheel or a woman erect in a field like a scarecrow. His anxiety eased just a little when he had trouble finding anyone talking about the soon to be gruesome discovery.

It should take a little bit for them to be found. Should give him enough time to think things through.

He continually stole glances toward his reflection in the rear-view mirror. Two warts.

They’d moved in right beside the other one he grown accustomed to since he was young. It was painful and hot. At every red-light he’d peer into the mirror and pick at his new guest.

Not again. C’mon.

Ethan gripped the steering wheel with sweaty palms as he tuned to a rock station and jammed the rest of the way to work.

All the while, Kirkland, the conniving, deceiving, evil little demon smirked as he rode shotgun. Choosing to be silent and let Ethan’s mind wonder with the fear of being caught. Yellow sulfurous breath rolled out of Kirkland’s nostrils as stared with evil desire straight into Ethan’s soul.

He belonged to him and the captain of darkness. But he wasn’t satisfied, he wanted more. More of his heart, mind and soul. He wanted everything Ethan had or could ever have. He wanted him, all of him.

“If I call for help and bring in the big boys, he could really be something. A prodigy perhaps?” Kirkland snickered at the thought.

“Although…” The demon thought for a moment as he tapped a bony finger to his chin. “…that may not be wise. Maybe I shouldn’t pressure him too much just yet. I may just have to speak with Lucifer himself about this one.”

Kirkland sat in the passenger seat with his evil gaze directed at Ethan, trying to muster more devious plans for his project.

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Pulling into the parking lot at the paper mill and crunching over the loose gravel, was James’s red F-150. Just a few minutes behind him was Walter in his black rag top mustang. James had parked and shut his door when Walter pulled in.

"Doggonnit! Wake up already!” Said James as he gave his right foot and leg a good shake. It had been giving him trouble for the past few days with a tingling and numbing sensation. Seemed to always be asleep for some reason.

“Morning Walter. How you doing?”

“Aww…doing pretty good. How about yourself?”

James was busy studying and massaging his leg as it slowly regained the feeling.

“I’m good. I guess you got to sleep in a few extra minutes this morning, didn’t ya?”

Walter looked at him like a dog when it hears a strange noise.

“You know, not having to pick up Ethan.”

“Oh yeah-yeah. I know, I’m glad you and Jerry was able to help him get that ole jalopy of his running.” Said Walter as he began his journey inside with James.

As the two were about ten yards from the front door, James’s leg gave out and down he went, lunch box and all.

“Dad gummit! Stupid leg!” He said before giving a deep sigh as he lay in the dirt and gravel.

Walter extended his hand and said, “Dang son! You all right?”

“Yeah…” He said with a grunt in mid-sentence on the way up. “…I’m good. My dang leg is still asleep.”

He dusted himself off the best he could, while Walter was kind enough to dust his back.

“Dang…does it do it that much?”

“Nah…it comes and goes. Just been giving me a hard time this morning for some reason.”

“You might want to go get that checked out man.”

“I know. If it doesn’t get any better in the next week or so, I just might.” James said as he limped the rest of his way into the building.

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Minutes later, Ethan was pulling in with a trail of dust and debris behind him. It was about a quarter after seven. Fifteen minutes before his shift started. After having checked every station on his stereo on the way to the mill and having not heard of any news about the gruesome discoveries that were sure to take place any moment, he allowed himself to relax for the time being.

He parked his truck, got out and made his way inside to the break room, where James, Walter, Jerry and a few other men chatted their usual morning buzz by the coffee pot.

“Aww, speak of the devil, there he is.” Said Walter with a snicker as he took a sip of coffee.

Ethan nodded back with a reluctant grin.

“Morning bud. Truck running good?” Asked James.

“Yeah…running fine.” Ethan said as he sat his lunch down on the counter as one of the men had to scoot down just a bit.

“Well that’s good…bet it feels good having her running again, huh?”

“Oh yeah…you just don’t know.”

“What about that box truck? Are you planning to get it running anytime soon?” Asked Jerry.

“Nah…I’m not in no hurry to get going. Not like I really need it now anyway.”

“Well…if you ever want to get it running, just let me know, I’ll give it a look and see what I can do.”

“I appreciate Jerry…I’ll let you know if I change my mind.” Ethan said just before walking out to use the bathroom.

“Man…that kid’s right pitiful ain’t he?” Asked James.

“Yeah…” Jerry said as he wagged his head and took a sip from the hot black liquid. “…he’s had it rough.”

“He told me yesterday, that his dad spent some time in prison for third-degree murder. Said he didn’t get to meet him until he was about seven or so.” Said Kevin, one of the new guys.

“Dang…really? He say what happened?” Asked James.

“Something about he killed his sister’s boyfriend and claimed it was self-defense. Served about five years but was originally sentenced to ten.”

“Man…must’ve had a good lawyer.”

“Wow, that’s crazy.” Said Walter.

“Yeah…that’s interesting to know.” Added Jerry.

James stole a glance up at the clock above the door as the skinny hand was on five.

“Well…I reckon we should head back there and get started.” The men nodded, and each took one last sip of coffee before forming a line for the trash can.

“Keep talking to him, maybe he’ll let out more information to ya. I’d be interested as to what he has to say. That kid’s a mystery to me man.” Walter said to Kevin as he held open the door.

Kevin nodded and said, “I know…we’ll do,” on his way out.

Walter and the others followed behind as Ethan stood waiting by the machine him, James and Jerry had run the previous day.

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Must’ve been less than an hour later, when Walter Avery got a tap on the shoulder from the big man himself, Dale Pennington. Walter’s heart skipped a beat as he took a hard swallow at the sight of him. Thoughts rifled and jolted across his mind.

What have I done? He pulled out an ear plug and aimed his head toward the man. With a blank poker face, Dale slowly motioned for Walter to follow him. Walter’s palms were almost dripping with sweat as one bead began a trek down his face. He tried to control his breathing as his heart felt like it could jump out of his chest and grip him by the throat any second.

Calm down Walter, it’s probably nothing.

Dale made his way into his office, where the only reason an employee would be invited here was one of three things, a) You’re fired! b) You’re promoted or c) There was an emergency at home.

He knew he wasn’t going to be promoted that fast, so there really were only two options and neither would be good. Walter entered the office behind Dale as he turned and motioned for him to shut the door. Walter carefully shut it.

“Your wife is on the phone, she’s fine, but she says it’s important she speaks with you.” Walter let out his first breath since Dale tapped his shoulder.

“Yes sir.” He said as he placed the phone to his ear.

Dale reclined back in his chair as he fiddled with different grips on a foul ball he’d snagged at a minor league game few years ago.

“Hey Mary…everything okay?”

“Walter! You have to get home…they’ve found a body at the Henson’s old place. They don’t know who did it.” Silence filled the other end for just a moment as Walter tried to process what she’d just told him.

He could tell through her voice, she was pretty shook up.

“Wait…what? You mean Evelyn and Tim’s place?”

“Yeah.”

“Well what happened? I mean what did they find?”

“Walter…they found a young man with his hands…” She paused for a moment to gather herself.

“Okay…”

She took a breath and slowly let it out.

“…with his hands tied to the steering wheel by his own shoestrings…” Walter’s heart sunk to the office floor it felt like.

“…and his throat slit wide open.”

“Dear God.”

“Walter…you have to come home…I’m scared.” She said as her emotions got the best of her and tears flooded her eyes.

Walter cleared his throat, got a creak out of his neck as he rubbed his throat at the thought of the poor man.

“Okay…yeah I will be right there. I’m leaving now.”

Dale turned his attention, lowered his head and intensified his gaze. Walter felt the glare but didn’t care. He comforted his wife, told her he loved her and ended the call.

“Well…what happens to be so important that must require your immediate attention. Please tell me, I’m intrigued.” Dale said rather smart like.

“They found a man murdered less than a hundred yards behind our house and the killer is still out there. The poor guy had his hands tied to the steering wheel of his car by his own shoelaces and his throat sliced opened.”

Dale stared back at him with a that blank expression of his, for what seemed like an eternity to Walter. Then with a hard blink of his eyes and rub of his face he said, “My apologies…please…go be with your wife. Don’t worry about today, just give me a call tonight before eight and let me know how things are going.”

“Thank you, sir…I will.” After shaking his boss’s hand and heading out the door to go tell his buddies, Dale was busy flipping stations on his small television set, trying to find the news. After a few tries, he found it and sure enough it was live coverage of detectives and CSI members loading a gurney supporting a white body bag into the back of an ambulance.

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Rushing by James, Jerry and Ethan, Walter said, “Guy’s my wife just called and said they found a dead body behind our house. Some dude was murdered, and they don’t know who did it. Check the news it’ll probably be on there.”

The men only caught half of what he said through the thick ear buds but made out enough to know “they found a dead body behind my house…check the news.”

James signaled with his clinched fist for Ethan to shut the cutting press off. The machine slowly came to a stop as the men pulled out their ear plugs, and Jerry yelled, “Whaddayasay?”

“Check the news.” Yelled Walter as he rushed into the break room to grab his things.

“Did he say what I think he said?” Asked James.

“About the dead body?” Jerry asked to be sure.

James nodded with suspicion.

“Is that what you heard, Ethan?” Asked Jerry.

He nodded his signature nod as his heart began to pound violently like an amp for a bass. Without even noticing, a finger nail had found its way to his mouth, where it was being clipped off like paper under the guillotine cutter.

“They’re going to get ya, I knew you should’ve stuck with the plan. Trying to prove me something…look what it got ya.” Whispered Kirkland.

“Let’s take a quick break and go talk to Dale or Kurt and make sure everything’s all right.” Said James.

Jerry and Ethan agreed.

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“What do you think may have happened.” Asked Ethan, still biting at his nail, as he followed behind James and Jerry on the way to Dale’s office.

“I don’t know but must be pretty serious for him to get off of work. Dale’s usually pretty strict about stuff like that.” Said James.

As they approach the office, they can see Dale through the glass window, glued to the TV screen broadcasting the mysterious murder. He looked like a kid on a Saturday morning watching looney tunes. James gives a soft knock, then gently pushes the door open as Dale welcomes them in.

“So what’s going on boss? Everything okay with Walter?” Dale wagged his head slowly as he turned and faced the men, still working his different grips on the ball. The slider was the one he could never remember and in times like these, he always groped for the feel of it.

“They found a guy behind Walter’s house, tied to the steering wheel of his car with his throat slit.” Dale said as he pointed to the screen.

“Dear God! Is his wife and kids okay?” Asked James.

“Yeah…they’re fine. The wife is scared to death as would be expected. Cops don’t have a clue who did it.”

“Dang that’s scary.” Said Ethan as he stood there with a hand in his pocket as the other was busy picking at the new warts.

“Man…I hate that, I hope they find whoever did it. Sounds like a nut case to me.” Added Jerry as the men nodded in agreement.

“Well…we just wanted to check and make sure everything was all right. Walter hurried out, saying something about a dead body behind his house, we didn’t know what was going on.” Said James.

“Yeah…well…you boys get back to work, you can catch the news later when you get home. And tell the others while you’re back there, cause I’m sure they’re wondering too.”

“Yes sir, you got it.” Said James as they showed themselves out of his office.

“Dang that’s crazy isn’t it?” James asked.

There was that tingling sensation again. It rifled down his leg, beginning at the right hip and running all the way to his right pinky toe. His whole leg went numb and down he went, once again.

Smashing an elbow and knee in the process. Jerry and Ethan tried to catch him, but it was too late.

“Dang man! You all right?” Asked Jerry as he extended a hand.

“Yeah-yeah…I’m good.” He said with a grunt.

“What happened?” Asked Ethan.

“Ahh…it’s my dang leg, been going to sleep on me for some reason. Does it off and on.”

“Man, you might want to get that checked out.” Said Jerry.

“I know. If it hasn’t gotten any better over the weekend, I’ll try to plan a trip to the doc at the first of the week.” James said after he rubbed his knee and elbow.

“Well you need to man.”

“Hey, you think we can knock out our agenda for the day?”

“I don’t see why not. Just as long as this here slacker picks up his pace.” Jerry said with a toying glare towards Ethan.

Ethan gave no response.

“I’m just picking with ya kid. You’re doing great, keep it up.” He said with a friendly slap on the shoulder which knocked a smile out of him.

The men continued to their station where Ethan fired up the machine as it began it’s routine once more. Pull paper off the giant roller, push it down to Jerry, who wiggled and moved it around to get it just right, then with the push of button by Ethan’s thumb, the sharp metal blade came crashing down, severing the remnants of a once tall oak.

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After finding Steve tied to his car on Thursday morning, detectives were baffled and left without any leads in the case. It wasn’t until after talking with his family that they learned Melissa should’ve been with him.

But, where was she? The neighborhoods of Georgetown were quiet and ghostly that night and the following. Which was odd. A Friday night in Georgetown was not your typical quiet evening. Everyone was talking and spreading gossip and rumors about all the weirdos in town. Everyone had their own speculations and rightfully so.

Paternal instincts were in full affect as parents wouldn’t allow their kids outside after dark and some even made pallets in the living room floor where the whole family slept for protection. Mom’s was sure to dead bolt every door and lock every window one minute while standing by the phone hooked to the wall the next. Chatting with other mothers while stealing glances toward their children, as most had a habit of twirling the cord with a finger.

Dad’s doubled checked their guns either leaned in a corner behind a bedroom door or stuffed high on a shelf in some closet. Mostly depending on the age of the children, regarding where the gun was placed, but never the less it was somewhere convenient, loaded and ready for any would be intruder.

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Saturday morning came just like the last, fast and ready to move on to Sunday. An old John Deere tractor had recently fired up, puffing out a black ball of smoke as it made its way down into a large cornfield. Manning it, was Mr. Kirby Ervin Moorland.

A man who had seen his better days and had no hope for any in the future. He held a beer can in one hand and gripped the wheel with the other. He towed a large plow behind, as he had plans of tilling up his old cornfield that had seen it’s better days as well.

He figured he’d till it up today and use the Sabbath to sow the seeds. That seemed to work in church when the usher came by. Sow on Sunday, reap on Friday. Or something like that.

As he made his way down a big red clay hill, passing his old barn, he could now see the cornfield. Or what was left of it. Something stood out to him though. He applied his foot to the break, took off his coke bottled glasses, wiped them with a handkerchief, put them back on and tried again.

Whatever it was, it was still there. He just couldn’t make it out. He began grumbling and cursing, blaming some teenagers for pulling a prank on him. He continued closer to the odd arrangement in his field, his tractor puffing out more of the same black pollutant.

“Why son-of-a-motherless-goat! Somebody done put a dad blasted scarecrow in my cornfield.” Or so he thought from a little distance, but as he got closer, a lump began to form in his throat as the hair on his neck stood and his skin turned to gooseflesh. A fear he hadn’t felt in years, suddenly gripped his heart with an iron fist.

He could feel his heart beat as it pounded against his rib cage. The scarecrow seemed awfully human and just too real to be fake. He killed the engine and climbed down. By now the wind had shifted and was blowing right in his face, confronting him with a horrible stench.

“Oh, sweet Jesus, what have they done?” He said as he covered his face with the neck of his shirt and moved closer to the foot of the cross.

Melissa hung like a martyr, as her flesh had entered the decaying process. Her head was covered with a potato sack as her hands and feet were tied to the wooden four by fours.

“Judas priest! I have to get back to the house and call the cops.”

His blood turned cold as it felt like he’d just received a transfusion of ice. Having fired it up once again, Mr. Moorland climbed on his fifty-year-old tractor and headed for his house, which must’ve been about three-quarters of a mile away but felt like twenty. His heart pounded as his greasy palms struggled to grip the wheel.

He was hoping against all odds his heart could bear the pressure. He stole glances along the tree line, waiting for someone or something to pounce on him like a hopeless fawn on some National Geographic show. The tractor just wouldn’t go fast enough for his liking. It chugged along, making the man feel like he was moving in slow motion.

“They may still be out here and their probably right on my tail. I’ve fallen in a dad blame trap. I’m toast. Come on boy…get me back to the house.”

Fear. Panic. Horror. Confusion.

Each set in, as the old man was sucking in air faster than his lungs could keep up. He didn’t know which would go first, his heart or his lungs. He’d be lucky to survive the trek back to his house. Either the killer would catch up to him or his heart would attack him, but one thing for certain, he’d be a victim.

It was like a dark, choking smoke had entered his body, stealing his breath, as each felt like it could be his last. The stench of rotten eggs slapped his olfactory glands.

“Whew! What the heck?” The stench was so bad, he was forced to cover his nose again.

All the while, Kirkland rode on the finder with a crossed leg and long ugly fingernail to his god forsaken mouth as he wore a crooked grin.

!