Shades

Bedrik shook his head, gazing down the hill at the sleeping town. “No more. After tonight, I’ll be done with the cemetery. All those names I recited earlier? Those are the remaining inhabitants. Every soul that is buried here. I’ve summoned them all. They merely await Gustav’s arrival, as do we.”

Rammel pointed to the entrance. Car headlights bloomed in the distance.

“Doesn’t look like we’ll have to wait much longer.”

“Good,” Bedrik said. “Now remember, stay beside the woman. And most importantly, whatever you do, don’t break the circle. Your shade can traverse it, but if your physical form breaks it—even an inch, even just your toe—we will lose this game.”

“No sweat,” Rammel said. “I got it.”

“Do not forget who you’re speaking to, Edward. You may inhabit the body of that Mafioso, but I know your true name. I can send you back at any time. Show a little respect.”

“I’m sorry,” Rammel groveled. “Seriously, Master. I’m really sorry. Please forgive me.”

Bedrik smiled. How quickly the dead man returned to his own mannerisms, rather than those of his assumed identity.

They fell silent and waited.

789

Gustav stopped the police car and turned the engine off. His hands hovered over the steering wheel, and for a moment, Danny thought he saw them shaking. Then the old man sat up straight and pulled the keys out of the ignition. He smiled and gently patted Danny’s leg.

“Let us go.”

“Shouldn’t we wipe off our fingerprints or something?”

“Nyet. When we are finished here, we will take care of car.”

“But…”

Gustav looked at him expectantly. “But what?”

“But what if we don’t make it back.”

Gustav shrugged. “Then it doesn’t matter if they find our fingerprints, no?”

He opened the door and got out of the car. After a moment, Danny followed. The graveyard was silent. No owls or birds, not even a whippoorwill. Even the wind had ceased. Overhead, the sky threatened rain, yet no showers fell. No lightning flashed, and the moon was a dull, silver halo. Despite this, there was light—too much light. Gethsemane glowed with will-o-wisps. Hundreds of phosphorescent balls floated over the graves, turning night to day.

“What are they?” Danny whispered.

“Ghost lanterns,” Gustav said. “Bugs.”

“Gross.”

“Yes. But he needs them.”

“For what?”

“The shades of the dead, they are like shadows. They need light. He is making sure they have it.”

They started down the path. Gustav warned Danny to stay behind him at all times, and to not speak to Bedrik, even if the man spoke to him. “Say nothing. Only watch.”

“But how am I gonna help if I’m just watching?”

“You will help. You will see.”

“What about my Mom?”

“He will have her protected in circle. Cannot break the boundaries. Do not approach her, no matter what. Not until I say. You do, and she will die. You understand, yes? Like in the books?”

Danny nodded.

“Good.”

Gustav pulled the salt shaker from his pocket and sprinkled some on his hands. He had Danny do the same, and then advised him to save the rest.

They continued down the path, passing tombstones on each side of them. Gustav glanced over his shoulder once, but when Danny looked behind them, all he saw was darkness. Even the police car was gone now, swallowed up by the night.

He was familiar with Gethsemane. He’d goofed around here before with Ronnie, Chuck, Jeremy and Matt—sharing an Old Milwaukee they’d stolen from one of the older kids or smoking cigarettes and looking at the stars. But somehow, it all seemed different now. There was nothing reassuring or familiar. Shadows loomed everywhere, and when he looked straight ahead, Danny was sure he saw them moving out of the corner of his eye. When he’d look, they stopped.

“No,” Gustav muttered. “Your eyes do not deceive you. The dead have come out to welcome us.”

“Can they…” Danny swallowed. “Will they attack?”

“Nyet. Not yet. They will wait.”

“For what?”

Gustav pointed. “For him.”

Ahead of them was Mr. Bedrik, dressed as if for school in a dark suit and tie, and a long, executive-style overcoat. Another man stood near him, someone Danny didn’t recognize. But he recognized the woman lying next to the man. His eyes widened. He stopped walking and curled his fists.

“Mom!”

“Stop,” Gustav hissed. “Remember what I said. Is important. You say nothing, do nothing. Must control your power, not waste it.”

“Fuck that.”

Danny didn’t walk towards the teacher. He stormed. With every step he took, the anger inside of him grew brighter, a smoldering ember that soon blazed as bright as the lightning bugs all around them. Gustav reached for him, but Danny was quicker. Energy leaked from him, marking his path. Each footstep wilted the grass overtop the graves, or weakened the asphalt path as if a giant had stepped there. The leaves fell from the trees.

“Boy,” Gustav yelled, “Get back here. You must conserve your power.”