The Return: Nightfall Chapter 18

dull woke, fuzzily, to consider himself static behind the steering wheel of Elenas car. He stumbled into his ho affair, almost for liveting to lock the car, and thusly fumbling with keys to unlock the backbone door. The house was dark his p bents were asleep. He do it up to his bedroom and collapsed on the bed without even out taking run into his shoes.When he woke again, he was startled to welcome it was nineA.M . and his prompt ph nonpareil was ring in his jeans pocket.Merdith?We thought you were coming e very(prenominal)where early this morning.I am, only Ive got to figure outhow first, flatness verbalize or rather, croaked. His head entangle doubly its usual size and his encircle at least intravenous feeding quantify too big. Even so, something in the back of his mind was calculating how to break to the boardinghouse without taking the Old Wood Road at both. in the long run a a few(prenominal) neurons lit up and showed him. lusterlessness? Are you clam up there?Im non sure. Last nightGod, I dont evenremember most of out in conclusion night. But on the way home look, Ill enunciate you when I get there. First I ease up to confab the police.Thepolice ?Yeahlook only when give me an hour, okay? Ill be there in an hour.When he eventu on the wholey arrived at the boardinghouse, it was closer to eleven than to ten. But a shower had readable his head, even if it hadnt done much for his throbbing arm. When he did appear, he was engulfed in worried femininity. gym mat,what happened ?He told them foreverything he could remember. When Elena, with set lips, undid the nail humble bandage he had wrapped most his arm, they solely winced. The long scratches were clearly badly infected.Theyre poisonous, thus, these malach.Yes, Elena express tersely. Poisonous to body and mind.And you think one of these can get inwardly deal? Meredith asked. She was doodling on a notebook page, trying to draw something that looked care what languor h ad described.Yes.For fair(a) a blink of an eye Elenas and Merediths eyes met then both looked down. At last Meredith state, And how do we know whether one is insidesomebodyor not? average should be able to proclaim, in trance, Elena said evenly. Even I might be able to articulate, yet Im not passing game to use White Power for that. Were expiry down to look Mrs. Flowers.She said it in that special way that prostrate had learned to recognize long ago, and it meant that no argument would do either good. She was putting her foot down, and that was that.And the truth was that vapid didnt odour very much like arguing. He hated to plain hed played through with(predicate) football games with a broken collarbone, a sprained knee, a turned ankle ripe this was different. His arm felt in hazard of exploding.Mrs. Flowers was downstairs in the kitchen, but on the family room table were four glasses of iced tea.Ill be overcompensate with you, she called through the swinging h alf-door that divided the kitchen from where they were standing. tipsiness the tea, especially the young man whos injured. Itll help him relax.Herbal tea, sightly verbalise to the former(a)s, as if this were some trade secret.The tea wasnt all that bad, although Matt wouldve favorite(a) a Coke. But when he thought of it as medicine, and with the girls all watch him like hawks, he managed to get over half of it down legitimately the landlady came out.She was wearing her gardening hat or at least a hat with artificial flowers on it that looked as if it had been used for gardening. But on a cookie tray, she had a number of instruments, all glowing as if theyd merely been boiled.Yes, dear, I am, she said to reasonable, who had stood up in bm of Matt protectively. I used to be a nurse, just like your sister. Women werent back up to be doctors then. But all my life Ive been a witch. Gets contour of lonely, doesnt it?It wouldnt be so lonely, Meredith said, looking puzzled, if you lived closer to town.Ah, but then Id sire people staring at my house all the time, and children daring each otherwise to run and touch it, or to throw a stone through my window, or adults peering at me every time I went shopping.And how could I ever keep my garden in peace?It was the longest speech any of them had ever comprehend her make. It took them so by surprise that it was a number before Elena said, I dont see how you can keep your garden in peace outhere . What with all the deer and rabbits and other animals.Well, most of it isfor the animals, you see. Mrs.Flowers smiled beatifically and her face seemed to twinkle up from within. They surely enjoy it. But they dont enjoy the herbs I perplex for putting on scrapes and cuts and sprains and such. And perhaps they know Im a witch, too, since they always give way me a bit of the garden for myself and maybe a guest or two.why are you telling me all of this now? Elena demanded. Why, thereve been times when I was looki ng for you, or for Stefan, when I thought well, never mind what I thought. But I wasnt always sure you were our friend.The truth is that Ive gotten solitary and antisocial in my old age. But now youve lost your young man, havent you? I wish I had gotten up a microscopic earlier this morning. thus I might have been able to speak to him. He leftfield the money for a years rental of the room on the kitchen table. Ive always had a soft spot for him, and thats the truth.Elenas lips were trembling. Matt hastily and heroically lifted his weakened arm. Can you help at all with this? he asked, peeling the Ace bandage away again.Oh, my, my. And what sort of critter gave you these? Mrs. Flowers said, examining the scratches era the three girls winced.We think it was a malach, Elena said quietly. Do you know anything about those?Ive perceive the word, yes, but I dont know anything specific. How long ago did you get them? she asked Matt. They look more like tooth check offs than claw m arks.They are, Matt said grimly, and he described the malach to her as topper he could. It was partly to keep himself distracted, because Mrs. Flowers had picked up one of the gleaming instruments from the cookie tray and was starting to do things to his red and swollen arm.Hold as still as you can on this towel, she said. These have already scabbed over, but they need to be opened and drained and cleaned out properly. Its waiver to hurt. Why dont one of you young women hold his hand to help keep his arm steady?Elena started to stand but comme il faut beat her to it, almost dance over Meredith to view Matts hand in both of her own.The draining and change were painful, but Matt managed to bear it without making a sound, even natural endowment mediocre a sort of sickly grin as parenthood and pus trickled out of his arm. The lancing hurt at first, but the release of draw felt good, and when the wounds were drained and clean and then packed with a frigidness herbal compress, t hey felt blessedly cool and ready to heal properly.It was while he was trying to thank the old woman that he discover clean staring at him. In particular, at his neck. Suddenly she giggled.What? Whats amusive?The bug, she said. It gave you a hickey. Unless you did something else last night that you didnt tell us about.Matt could feel himself flush as he pulled his collar up higher. I did tell you about it, and it was the malach. It had a sort of tentacle with suckers slightly my neck. It was trying to strangle meI remember now, Bonnie said meekly. Im sorry.Mrs. Flowers even had an herbal ointment for the mark the sucker tentacle had left and one for Matts scraped knuckles. After shed applied them, Matt felt so good that he was able to look sheepishly at Bonnie, who was watching him with big brown eyes.I know, it does look like a hickey, he said. I saw it this morning in the mirror. And Ive got another(prenominal) one lower down, but at least my collar covers that one. He snorte d and reached into his apparel to apply more ointment. The girls laughed a release of the tension that theyd all been feeling.Meredith had started back up the narrow stairway to what everyone still thought of as Stefans room, and Matt automatically followed her. He didnt realize that Elena and Bonnie were hanging back until he was halfway up the stairs, and then Meredith motioned him onward.Theyre just conferring, Meredith said, in her quiet, no-nonsense voice.Aboutme ? Matt swallowed. Its about that thing Elena saw inside Damon, right? The invisible malach. And whether or not Ive got one inside me right now.Meredith, never one to downplay anything, simply nodded. But she put a hand apprisely on his shoulder as they entered the dim, high-ceilinged bedroom.Shortly after, Elena and Bonnie came up, and Matt could tell at once by their faces that the worst-case scenario wasnt true. Elena saw his expression and immediately went to him and hugged him. Bonnie followed, more shyly.Fee l okay? Elena said, and Matt nodded.I feel fine, he said. Like wrestling alligators, he thought. nonhing was nicer than hugging soft, soft girls.Well, the consensus is that you dont have anything inside you that doesnt belong there. Your aura seems clear and strong now that youre not in pain.Thank God, Matt said, and he meant it.It was at that moment that his mobile phone rang. He lowered, puzzled at the number displayed, but he answered it.Matthew Honeycutt?Yes.Hold, please.A new voice came on Mr. Honeycutt?Uh, yeah, but This is Rich Mossberg of the Fells church building Sheriffs subdivision. You called this morning to report a fallen tree diagram midway down Old Wood Road?Yes, I Mr. Honeycutt, we dont like prank calls of this sort. We frown upon them, in position. It takes up the valuable time of our officers, and besides, it happens to be a crime to make a false report to the police. If I treasured to, Mr. Honeycutt, I could charge you with this crime and make you answer to a judge. I dont see just what you find so amusing about it.I wasnt I dont findanything amusing about it Look, last night Matts voice trailed off. What was he going to say?Last night I was waylaid by a tree and a monster bug? A small voice inside him added that the Fells Church Sheriffs officers seemed to spend most of their valuable time hanging around the Dunkin Donuts in the city square, but the next words he heard shut it up.In fact, Mr. Honeycutt, under the authority of Virginia State Code, Section 18.2-461, making a false police report is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. You could be looking at a year in jail or a twenty-five-thousand-dollar fine. Do you findthat amusing, Mr. Honeycutt?Look, I Do you, in fact,have twenty-five thousand dollars, Mr. Honeycutt?No, I I Matt waited to be cut off and then he realized that he wasnt going to be. He was sailing off the edge of the map into some unfathomable region. What to say?The malach took the tree away or maybe it m oved by itself ? Ludicrous. Finally, in a creaky voice he managed, Im sorry they didnt find the tree. Maybe somehow it got moved.Maybe somehow it got moved, the sheriff repeated expressionlessly. In fact maybe somehow it moved itself the way that all those stop signs and break down signs keep moving themselves away from intersections. Does that ring a bell, Mr. Honeycutt?No Matt felt himself flush deeply. I would never move any kind of street sign. By now the girls were clustered around him, as if they could somehow help by appearing as a group. Bonnie was gesturing vigorously, and her outraged expression made it clear that she treasured to tell the sheriff off personally.In fact, Mr. Honeycutt, Sheriff Mossberg cut in, we called your home number first, since thats the phone you used to place the report. And your start said that she hadnt seen you at all last night.Matt ignored the little voice that treasured to snap,Is that a crime? That was because I got held up By a self-pr opelled tree, Mr. Honeycutt? In fact we had already had another call about your house last night. A member of Neighborhood sentinel reported a suspicious car roughly in antecedent of your house.According to your mother, you recently totaled your own car, isnt that right, Mr. Honeycutt?Matt could see where this was going and he didnt like it. Yes, he heard himself say, while his mind worked urgently for a plausible ex protrudeation. I was trying to avoid running over a fox. And Yet there was a report of a vane new Jaguar lingering in front of your house, just furthermost enough away from the streetlight to be inconspicuous. A car so new that it had no manifest plates. Was that, in fact, your car, Mr. Honeycutt?Mr. Honeycutts my father Matt said desperately. Im Matt. And it was my friends car And your friends name is?Matt stared at Elena. She was making wait gestures, simply trying to think. To sayElena Gilbert would be suicidal. The police, of all people, knew that Elena Gil bert was dead. Now Elena was pointing around the room and mouthing words at him.Matt shut his eyes and said the words, Stefan Salvatore. But he gave the car to his girlfriend? He knew he was ratiocination his sentence so that it sounded like a question, but he could precisely believe Elenas coaching.Now the sheriff was beginning to sound tired and exasperated. Areyou askingme , Matt? So you were driving the brand-new car of your friends girlfriend. And her name is?There was a brief moment when the girls seemed to disagree and Matt hung in limbo. But then Bonnie threw her weaponry up and Meredith moved forward, pointing to herself.Meredith Sulez, Matt said weakly. He heard the hesitation in his own voice and he repeated, huskily but with more conviction, Meredith Sulez.Now Elena was whispering rapidly in Merediths ear.And the car was purchased where? Mr. Honeycutt?Yes, Matt said. Just a second He put the phone into Merediths outstretched hand.This is Meredith Sulez, Meredith said smoothly, in the polished, relaxed tones of a classical music disk jockey. leave out Sulez, youve heard the conversation so far?Ms.Sulez, please, Sergeant. I have.Did you, in fact, impart your car to Mr. Honeycutt?I did.And where is Mr. there was a shuffling of paper Stefan Salvatore, the original owner of the car?Hes not asking her where they bought it, Matt thought. He essential know.My boyfriend is away from town right now, Meredith said, still in the analogous refined, unflappable voice. I dont know when hell be back. When he is, shall I have him call you?That might be wise, Sheriff Mossberg said dryly. These days very few cars are bought with cash on the line, especially brand-new Jaguars. Id like your drivers license number, also. And, in fact, Id very much like to speak to Mr. Salvatore when he returns.That may be very soon, Meredith said, a bit slowly, but following Elenas coaching. thusly she recited her drivers license number from memory.Thank you, Sheriff Mossberg said briefly. That will be all for May I just say one thing? Matt Honeycutt would never, ever remove stop signs or yield signs. Hes a very conscientious driver and was a leader in his high schoolhouse class. You can speak to any of Robert E. Lee High Schools teachers or even the principal if shes not on vacation. Any one of them will tell you the same thing.The sheriff didnt seem to be impressed. You can tell him from me that Ill be safekeeping an eye on him in the future. In fact it might be a good idea if he stopped in the Sheriffs Department today or tomorrow, he said, and then the phone went dead.Matt intermit out, Stefans girlfriend? You, Meredith? What if the car dealer says the girl was a blond? How are we going to work that out?We arent, Elena said simply from behind Meredith. Damon is. all we have to do is to find him. Im sure he can take care of Sheriff Mossberg with a little mind control if the price is right. And dont refer about me, she added gently. Youre frownin g, but everything is going to be fine.You believe that?Im sure of it. Elena gave him another hug and a kiss on the cheek.Im supposed to stop by the Sheriffs Department today or tomorrow, though.But not alone Bonnie said, and her eyes were sparkling with indignation. And when Damon goes with you, Sheriff Mooseburger will end up being your best friend.All right, Meredith said. So what are we doing today?The conundrum, Elena returned, tapping an index finger against her upper lip, is that weve got too many problems at once and I dont want anybody and I mean anybody going out alone. Its clear that there are malach in the Old Wood, and that theyre trying to do unfriendly-type things to us. Kill us, for one.Matt basked in the change relief of being believed. The conversation with Sheriff Mossberg had shaken him more than he wanted to show.So we make up task forces, Meredith said, and we split the jobs between them. What problems do we need to plan for?Elena ticked off the problems wi th her fingers. One problem is Caroline. I truly think someone should try to see her, at the very least to try and find out if she has one of thosethings inside her. Another problem is Tami and who knows who else? If Caroline iscontagious somehow, she might have spread it to some other girl or guy.Okay, Meredith said, and what else?Someone needs to contact Damon. Try to find out from him anything he knows about Stefan leaving, and also try to get him to go in to headquarters with us to influence Sheriff Mossberg.Well, youd better be on that last team, since youre the only one Damons likely to talk to, said Meredith. And Bonnie should be on it, so she can keep No. No Calling today, Bonnie pleaded. Im so sorry, Elena, but I just cant, not without a day of rest between. And besides, if Damon wants to talk to you, all you need to do is to notch notinto the forest, butnear it and call to him yourself. He knows everything thats going on. Hell know youre there.Then I should go with Elena, Matt reasoned. Since that sheriff is my problem. Id like to go by the place where I saw the tree At once there was a defy from all three girls.I said Idlike to, Matt said. Not that we should plan for it. Thats one spot we know is too dangerous.All right, Elena said. So Bonnie and Meredith will visit Caroline, and you and I will go Damon hunting, all right? Id rather go Stefan hunting, but we just dont have enough selective information yet.Right, but before you go, maybe stop by Jim Bryces house. Matt has an prune to stop by anytime he knows Jim. And you can check on Tamis come out as well, Meredith suggested.Sounds like plans A, B, and C, Elena said, and then, spontaneously, they all laughed.It was a clear day, with a impetuous sun shining overhead.In the sunlight, despite the minor annoyance of Sheriff Mossbergs call, they all felt strong and capable.None of them had any idea that they were about to walk into the worst nightmare of their lives.Bonnie stood back as Mer edith knocked at the front door of the Forbes home.After a while of no answer and calm inside, Meredith knocked again.This time Bonnie could hear whisperings and Mrs. Forbes hissing something, and Carolines distant laughter.Finally, just as Meredith was about to ring the bell the height of discourtesy between neighbour and neighbor in Fells Church the door opened. Bonnie neatly slipped a foot in, keeping it from being shut again.Hi, Mrs. Forbes. We just Meredith faltered. We just wanted to see if Caroline was any better, she finished in a tinny-sounding voice. Mrs. Forbes looked as if shed seen a ghost and shed spent all night running from it.No, shes not. Not better. Shes still sick. The womans voice was hollow and distant and her eyes scanned the ground just over Bonnies right shoulder. Bonnie felt fine hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stand up.Okay, Mrs. Forbes. Even Meredith sounded false and hollow.Then someone said suddenly, Areyou all right? and Bonnie realize d it was her own voice.Carolineisnt well. Shesnot seeing anyone, whispered the woman.An iceberg seemed to glide down Bonnies spine. She wanted to turn and run from this house and its aura of malevolence. But at that moment Mrs. Forbes suddenly slumped. Meredith was barely able to break her fall.Shes fainted, Meredith said tersely.Bonnie wanted to say,Well, put her on the rug inside and run But they could scarce do that.Weve got to take her inside, Meredith said flatly. Bonnie, are you okay to go?No, Bonnie said just as flatly, but what choice do we have?Mrs. Forbes, small as she was, was heavy. Bonnie held her feet and followed Meredith, step by reluctant step, into the house.Well just put her on her bed, Meredith said. Her voice was shaky. There was something about the house that was horribly unsettling as if waves of pressure kept bearing down on them.And then Bonnie saw it. Just a glimpse as they stepped into the victuals room. It was down the hallway, and it could have been the play of light and shadow there, but it looked for all the world like a person. A person scuttling like a lizard but not on the floor. On the ceiling.