Z Martin is a horror and fantasy writer responsible for such works as “The Gateway” and “The Journey of Ike”. When not writing, Z spends time with his family and does some woodworking. He is a supporter of indies of all varieties.
Check out all of Z’s work right here: Www.zmartinbooks.com
REPETITION
by
Z. Martin
“No one believed me, then it happened again!”
The drunk shouted from his perch on the weathered bar stool. It was something we had heard a hundred times already. A demon grabbed a baby right before my eyes. He had shouted this the first day he walked into the bar and everyday afterwards.
By this point we had all just started ignoring him. Had a baby been taken? Probably, but what the hell could we do about it? We were nothing but a bunch of perpetual drunks.
This hole in the wall bar served the cheapest liquor this side of the territory. The folks round here don’t have any fighting spirit left. At least until the barkeep runs out of spirits. If that happens then the patrons get a little antsy.
“Will you shut the fuck up, old man!” Billy shouts from the pool table. “How many times are you going to spout the same shit?”
“But it’s true! I’ve seen it happen.” The old man shouts back spilling his beer over himself.
Billy shakes his head and goes back to his pool game. He was a mean son of a bitch, but I guess even he didn’t have the heart to do anything about it.
“It ripped it right out from the stroller! Those big old wings just a flapping. Took it straight up into the sky. Whole time the mother just stood there smiling.”
“John! Enough.” The barkeep shouted.
The old man took a large gulp of his beer before slamming it down on the countertop. Jeffrey the barkeep took his glass and refilled it. Whether he was hoping to put him in a stupor or loosen his lips even more none of us could tell. Best I can figure as long as the patron had coin Jeffrey would pour.
“Everyone thinks I’m just some crazy old man! Well I ain’t, damnit! I’m as sane as they come!” John took another swig. “Everyday I come here that demon takes a baby. I’ve watched hundreds of babies be carried off by that monster and I’m tired of watching it happen.”
“Then stop coming.” I speak up just enough so that John can hear me.
He stares at me with wide eyes. Whether he was surprised I could speak or shocked by my statement I didn’t know. All I knew was I was tired of the same song and dance. Everyday the same shit. Same stale ass beer, same stale ass story.
“Just watch. Tomorrow you’ll see. I’ll bring proof.” John shouted slamming his mug down and walking out the doors.
The next day came and John didn’t show up at his usual time. The bar patrons and myself were relieved at the change in pace. Not having to listen to him barging through the door shouting the same old lines.
I saw a demon take a baby.
I saw a demon snatch a kid.
Mom just stood there like it was nothing.
Shit got old.
Billy racked the balls as Jeffrey poured the drinks. I finished off another round as the rest of the patrons continued about their day. Without warning the doors flew open bringing in the stench of the outside and the ungodly heat. John stood there covered head to toe in ichor and blood.
“You all didn’t believe me. Well now I got proof.” John yelled.
“John, what the fuck did you do?” Jeffrey said dropping the glass in his hand.
“I tackled the son of a bitch and yanked the wings right off its scaly back. Rescued that baby and gave it right back to the mom. She was so damn grateful she started crying tears of joy.” John exclaimed taking his seat at the table.
The ground shook as the patrons that knew what was coming ran for the doors. In the distance alarms blared. I exited my seat and grabbed John by the nape of his neck. The old man fought but I had the advantage on the drunk.
“We aren’t going down with you, John. You come out here and face your fate.” I said calmly.
“I saved that kid!” John shouted at me.
He kicked and bucked as I led him to the doors. The heat blasted me in the face once we were through. Sulfur flooded my nostrils.
“You ripped the wings off of a demon! One that was carrying a pure soul to heaven. Do you honestly think there isn’t a punishment for that? You see the same shit everyday because this is purgatory you drunk bastard!” I screamed in his face.
“So you do believe me?” John stopped fighting.
“Of course. We have always believed you. That doesn’t change what you did. You damned an innocent. Now the gatekeeper is coming. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let the only bar in this area of hell be destroyed because you couldn’t come to terms with where you are.”
The ground rumbled. A fissure cracking the rocky terrain. Claws emerged from the ground as an undulating roar shook us. I threw John to the ground and ran.
The gatekeepers didn’t care who was responsible for the crime. They would gather anyone they saw and take them to a different level. I ran back through the bar doors and Jeffrey met me with a mug.
In a few hundred years John would be back. Hell this wasn’t the first time he’d done something like this. No one believed me back then, but now it’s happened again.