MicroHorror

Nerissa fled along the cemetery slope, sandals clacking on the stone path and bangs flicking in her eyes. The light from behind lit the way better than David’s flashlight, but she could hear the ghouls pushing from the ground. She halted at the gate and turned. David had told her that neither spirits nor the reanimated could pass through the gate. She backed towards the canal’s edge.

The blazing figure of light glided to the threshold, wafting as if carried on a gentle breeze.

“Ready?” David called from the boat.

Nerissa glanced down. “I can’t see a thing.” She looked over at the mossy wall again. The figure was dressed in billowing white and gold robes, a smile on its delicate face as it crested the fence.

“Did you find her?” David shouted. Nerissa could hear him yanking on the outboard’s starter cable.

“Just a moment.”

“Don’t be fooled.” Another pull. The motor wasn’t starting.

“That’s why I brought you,” Nerissa called.

The face was so beautiful, so soft and fine. It was hard to believe this vision had been Courtney. Nerissa remembered her face as shriveled and lined. How could this slight and fragile wonder be that same soul?

“They’ll be coming up soon,” David called. “If you did the herbs and hexes and the spell right.” Another yank and the engine spluttered.

“She’s here,” Nerissa said. “So I did it right.” She didn’t mention the ghouls were already coming. Courtney slowed over the fence, unable to cross. Nerissa took a step forwards. Courtney’s robes floated like gossamer webs.

From the graveyard something howled.

“Aw, crap,” David said. “You did screw it up.”

Courtney smiled, drifted just a little closer, still not over the fence.

“Sister,” Nerissa said.

Courtney opened her mouth and whispered.

“What?” Nerissa said. She took another step towards the wall.

“Nerissa?” David called. “Get in the boat.”

Nerissa took another step. Courtney’s face was so translucent, glowing from within. “Can you forgive me?” Nerissa said.

Again, Courtney’s whisper was inaudible.

Nerissa stepped closer. There were others behind, coming to the wall.

“Hey,” David said.

Nerissa glanced back, saw David clambering over the concrete canal edge. She reached up for Courtney. “I’m sorry this happened,” Nerissa said.

The others were coming over the wall. It had been the only way to find her spirit.

“Crap,” David shouted.

Courtney reached out, her bright fingers like filaments in the night. Nerissa lifted her own hand.

A shotgun blast ripped past her.

“Down!” David shouted. He fired again. This time one of the ghouls tumbled from the fence, broken body thudding to the ground.

Courtney pulled back, shock and surprise on her face. “Sister,” she whispered.

“I was stupid,” Nerissa said. “I didn’t mean it to happen.”

David fired again. “We’ve got to go.”

Courtney looked at the fallen. “Nerissa,” she whispered. Her face became serene again. “It’s all right.”

More were coming over the wall and David grabbed Nerissa’s arm. “I hate these amateur hexes,” he said. “Too easy to make about everything reanimate.”

He fired at a woman and she collapsed. Courtney shrieked and shivered.

“Courtney!”

Courtney shimmered. “It’s okay, sister. It’s okay now.” She began to dissipate. “Okay.”

More were coming. Nerissa realized that the shaking body on the ground was wearing the engagement ring Courtney had been buried in.

David fired again. He threw Nerissa into the boat. He fired once more, then jumped in after her. Some of the ghouls were at the edge. David engaged the engine. Nerissa saw one fall into the water as David steered them away.

“Let’s not do that again,” David said.

Nerissa thought about Courtney’s final smile. “We don’t have to.”

• Copyright: © 2010 Sean Monaghan