The Enemy Closes In Read online

“Oh, but I will get sssomething from you,” he hissed. “If not your cooperation … then at leasst their weaknessesss.”

  “Their weaknesses?” Dad asked.

  “Yesss.” He arrived and hovered over Mom. She pulled back. “You will tell me their weaknessesss, and I will ussse them.”

  “What do you mean?” her voice trembled. “Use them for what?”

  “Why, to dessstroy them, of courssse.” His long fingers shot out and wrapped around her head. She tried to scream but could not find her voice. Suddenly her eyes began to shudder.

  “Ssshow me,” he hissed. “Ssshow me your oldessst.”

  Before she could stop herself, thoughts of Zach raced through her mind. Memories.

  First there was his weird sense of humor. She remembered the time he was in second grade and he had the entire class believing he came from the strange and mysterious planet, Whatcha-ma-call-it. He said he’d been sent as a scout to observe and report what he saw on Earth. If he reported that Earthlings were a kind and generous race (by giving him all their spare change and any cool deserts their mom packed for lunch) then his boss, the mighty warlord of Whatcha-ma-call-it, may let them live. If they didn’t, well Zach couldn’t promise what their fate would be.

  “No,” the man growled. “Ussselesss.” His hands tightened around Mom’s head. “Ssshow me sssomething elssse.”

  Another memory shot through her mind. Suddenly she recalled the time the newspaper called them on the phone.

  “Hello?” she answered.

  “Hi,” the voice on the other end said. “This is the Los Angeles Times.”

  “The Los Angeles Times?” she had asked.

  Of course, that’s all Zach heard. In a flash he ran up the stairs, showered and put on his hottest clothes. He was so sure that they were going to do a front page story on him, that he even combed his hair (well, as much as you could comb that type of mess).

  It wasn’t until he headed back downstairs did he learn that the newspaper just wanted Mom to renew her subscription for another year.

  “Worthlesss,” the man hissed. “I need sssomething I can ussse to control him with!”

  He moved his hands to another part of her head and another memory fl ashed before her eyes. Only this time there were several images… .

  Images of him strolling up to pretty girls in the lunch line and introducing himself. Images of him sucking in his stomach and looking all buff when he sauntered past the girl’s locker room. Images of him catching a reflection of himself in a store window and smoothing back his hair (if you could call it smoothing) before turning to a nearby girl and piling on the charm.

  “Yesss,” the evil voice seemed to come from inside her head. “Hisss weaknesss for girlsss. Yesss, I ssshall ussse that.” Then he started to laugh. Ugly. Menacing. “Yesss … yesss …” His laugh grew louder and louder, filling her head until she collapsed onto the floor and heard nothing at all.

  “So what do we do?” Piper asked. She and Elijah sat in a booth across from Zach in the diner. “I saw a Help Wanted sign in the window. Maybe I could get a job.”

  “You don’t know how to be a waitress,” Zach said.

  “I could learn.” Zach gave her a snicker and she gave him a look.

  “What’s that for?” she demanded.

  “Sorry,” he shrugged, “it’s just that you and food, well, you’re not always the best of friends.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Remember the last time you tried to fi x dinner?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And you served us canned peas?”

  Piper felt her ears growing warm. “Alright, so I overcooked them a little.”

  “Not if you like chewing on bee-bees,” Zach teased.

  Piper ears grew a lot warm.

  “Or what about that time Dad broke his tooth eating your oatmeal?”

  “Okay, so it was a little lumpy.”

  “And remember the time everybody got sick when you fixed us hamburgers?”

  “Not everybody,” Piper argued. “You never got sick.”

  “That’s because I fed mine to Molly, the wonder dog.”

  Piper’s eyes widened. “Is that why we had to take her to the vet?”

  “That’s why we had to take her to the vet that time ,” Zach said. “And that’s why they had to pump her stomach. That time.”

  “You’re not going to bring up the other time when you fed her my mac and cheese, are you?”

  “The stuff you fried in mustard and ketchup, then smothered in horseradish?” Zach shook his head. “Never.”

  Piper looked at him suspiciously. “Why not?”

  “Because I’m a sensitive kinda guy.”

  She snorted and blew the hair out of her eyes. Changing the subject, she asked, “So what do you suggest? For making money, I mean?”

  “I’ve got something right here.” Zach pulled his hand from his coat pocket and produced a wadded gum wrapper and their life savings of $1.47.

  “Great,” Piper groaned. “That’ll do us a lot of good.”

  But Zach wasn’t listening. Instead, he turned to Elijah. “So what do you think, little guy?”

  Elijah looked at the money and smiled.

  Zach held it closer.

  “What are you doing?” Piper asked.

  “Remember back in the RV how he multiplied the burgers and fries so we had enough to eat?”

  “Yeah …”

  “So, if he can multiply burgers and fries, he can multiply money.”

  “Zach …”

  “What?” He held the money closer. “Come on fella, do your thing.”

  “Isn’t that kind of … dishonest?”

  “What’s dishonest about it?”

  At last, Elijah reached for his hand.

  “There we go, that’s right. Just touch it and …”

  But instead of taking the money, the boy picked up the wadded gum wrapper.

  “No, no, no,” Zach said, “the money … we need money.”

  Elijah looked at him, grinned, and set the paper on the table.

  “No.” Zach shook the money in his hand. “This!”

  Elijah began playing with the wrapper.

  “This! Eli, we need more of THIS!”

  But Elijah was too busy playing to hear.

  Piper covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. Elijah looked up at her. His eyes sparkled like he understood. Maybe he did.

  “Hi, there.”

  Piper turned to see their waitress. She was about Zach’s age, with black hair, black clothes, black fingernail polish, and some major black eyeliner. She was definitely Goth, but underneath all that makeup she was probably cute. And by the way she flirted with Zach, she was definitely interested.

  “Can I take your order?”

  “Yeah,” Zach shrugged. “I guess we’ll just … uh …” he glanced down at his money. “We’ll just split some fries.”

  “That’s it?”

  “All we have is a dollar forty-seven.”

  “But you’re hungry, right?”

  “Oh yeah, big time.”

  “Right.” She gave him another smile and started scribbling on her pad. “That’s three deluxe burgers, three sides of fries, three milkshakes, and one hot apple turnover.”

  “No, you don’t understand. We can’t afford — ”

  She flipped her hair to the side. “I understand perfectly. And what the boss doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

  “What?”

  “It’s on the house, big guy.”

  Zach could only stare. Come to think of it, that’s all Piper could do too.

  The waitress fl ashed another smile. “It’s the least I can do for a hottie like you.” She turned and started off. “I’ll be back.”

  Zach broke into a grin and nodded. “Right. We’ll, uh, see you soon.”

  “Zach,” Piper whispered, “we can’t do that.”

  “Why not?” Zach said, still impressed with himself.

  “Because sh
e’s ripping off the restaurant to feed us.”

  “Oh well.” He shrugged.

  “Oh well? That’s all you can say?”

  “Hey, it’s not my fault I’m such a hottie.”

  Piper rolled her eyes and groaned.

  “Hey, it beats green peas, oatmeal, or mac and cheese.”

  She gave him a slug in the arm.

  “Ow.”

  And then another in the other arm.

  “What’s that for?” he complained.

  “In case I’m not around the next time you’re mean.”

  Chapter Three

  A New Friend

  “Faster!” Monica yelled. “Faster!”

  “Uh, guys?” Bruno called from the backseat.

  “I don’t understand,” Silas said. “The brats were right in front of us!”

  “Guys?”

  “It’s your fault they got away!” Monica yelled. “If Shadow Man finds out, it’s your neck, not mine!”

  “Guys!?”

  They both turned and shouted in unison. “WHAT!?”

  “That hitchhiker back there … Wasn’t he the same homeless guy we saw back in Los Angeles?”

  “Bruno,” Silas sighed, “that was a hundred miles ago.”

  “Yeah …”

  “And I’ve been driving eighty miles an hour the whole time.”

  “Yeah …”

  “So there’s no way somebody’s going to walk faster than I’m driving!”

  “Oh, yeah,” Bruno giggled. “I get it.”

  “Good,” Silas muttered. “I’m glad.”

  “Except …”

  Silas tried to ignore him. He would have succeeded if Bruno hadn’t drilled his finger into his back.

  “Excuse me … Excuse me?”

  “What is it, Bruno?”

  “What if he was, like, magical or something.”

  “There is no magic.”

  “Right … but what if he was, like, an angel.”

  “Bruno …”

  “Yeah, Silas?”

  “Don’t be stupid.”

  “You know I can’t help it,” said Bruno.

  “I know.” Silas shook his head. “Believe me, I know.”

  “Sure you don’t need some more fries?” The waitress asked. “Maybe some onion rings?”

  “No,” Zach said, pushing back the remains of his third hamburger. “I’m stuff ed.”

  “A big guy like you needs his nourishment,” she said.

  The line was so corny, Piper had to look away. Unfortunately, there were more coming.

  “You work out, don’t you?”

  Zach gave a little fl ex. “You can tell?”

  Piper couldn’t help snickering. “The only time he works out is when he’s reaching for the remote.”

  Zach shot her a glare.

  The waitress laughed. “My name is Ashley. You guys just passing through?”

  “Our RV broke down, and we don’t have the money to fix it,” Zach said. “Unless you know a mechanic who’ll work for a dollar forty-seven.” Zach chuckled at his little joke, and Ashley laughed like it was the funniest thing she’d ever heard.

  Piper glanced away, thinking she might get sick … and it had nothing to do with the food. That’s when she saw the tears in Elijah’s eyes. The kid was looking directly at Ashley and getting all misty.

  “Hey, little buddy,” Piper asked, “you okay?”

  Elijah didn’t hear. Instead, he slowly reached out and touched Ashley’s arm.

  “Whoa!” The girl stepped back. “What’s with him?”

  “He’s our little brother,” Zach said. “He doesn’t mean anything.”

  “Yeah, well I’m really not into being touched. Kinda creeps me out.”

  “Really?”

  “Long story.” Ashley raked her hands through her hair and turned to Piper. “Listen, if you need some cash, why not work here a couple days. I could use a day off, and we really need the help.”

  “You think they’d hire me?” Piper asked.

  “They’re so desperate, they’d hire anybody.”

  Piper nodded and then stopped, not exactly sure it was a compliment.

  Ashley motioned to the back. “Go talk to Stan. He’s the owner and cook.”

  “What?” Piper asked. “Now?”

  “Sure. We’re closing up soon. Now’s the perfect time.”

  Piper looked to Zach. “What do you think?”

  But Zach was so busy staring at Ashley, he wasn’t thinking of anything.

  “Zach!”

  “What? Oh yeah, sounds good to me.”

  Piper hesitated. “I really don’t — ”

  “Go ahead,” Ashley said. “It’ll only take a minute. And while you’re doing that,” she turned to Zach, “you can walk me home.”

  “Really?” His voice squeaked like a rusty hinge.

  “Well, it’s not really home. But it’s where we all stay.”

  “We?” Piper asked.

  “Another long story. It’s just a few hundred yards from here.”

  As she spoke, Elijah quietly slipped off the bench and started toward the back door.

  “Elijah,” Zach called. “Where you going? That’s the wrong door!” Elijah didn’t turn but arrived at the back door and opened it, patiently waiting.

  Ashley chuckled. “Well, I guess you’re both taking me home.”

  “Why’s that?” Zach asked.

  “That’s the way to my place.” She shrugged. “Strange kid. I wonder how he knew.”

  Piper and Zach exchanged looks and then answered in unison. “Long story.”

  “Well, that didn’t work out so good,” Cody said, as he finished brushing the ashes off Willard’s bald head.

  Willard nodded. “Good thing that was only Plan B.”

  “Plan B?”

  “Yup.”

  Cody swallowed nervously. “Is there a Plan A?”

  Willard smiled an even geekier smile, which always meant trouble. “Knowing where they are isn’t going to be all that helpful.”

  “It isn’t?”

  “Not really.”

  Cody wasn’t thrilled to ask, but he had little choice. “What would be helpful?

  Wilbur cranked up his smile to super geek. He motioned for Cody to follow. “I was afraid you were never going to ask.”

  Cody gave a quiet groan. “And I was afraid I would.”

  Chapter Four

  Real Power

  Mom sat on the cell floor with her head on her knees. “I’ve betrayed him,” she softly wept.

  Dad called over to her, “Sweetheart …”

  “Our own son. And I’ve betrayed him.” She sniffed. “I don’t know who or what that thing is, but I told him.”

  “You did the best you could.”

  Somehow his words only made the tears come faster. “I let him read my mind.” She looked up, her eyes red and swollen. “I let him know Zach’s weaknesses.”

  At that moment Dad would have given anything to break the chains holding him to the wall, not to be free, just to reach out and hold her.

  She buried her face back into her knees. “I’m sorry, Zach … I’m so sorry.”

  “Judy.” Dad spoke quietly, but fi rmly. “Listen to me. We don’t know who or what that man is, but I think we have a pretty good idea from where he draws his power.”

  “That’s just it.” She tried to swallow back her tears.

  “Zach’s only a boy. He could never stand up to that thing on his own.”

  “And he doesn’t have to.”

  “He doesn’t?”

  Dad shook his head. “No, he doesn’t. We may not be there to help him, at least physically. But there’s another way … and it’s more powerful than any other.”

  “You mean … are you talking about prayer?”

  “That’s where the real battles are won or lost. That’s where the real power lies.”

  “But … he’s just a teen.”

  Dad nodded. “And so was
David when he beat Goliath. And Mary. And some of the disciples.”

  Mom sniff ed and slowly started to nod. “Then we better get to work.”

  “I hear that,” Dad said. “And in Zach’s case, the sooner the better.”

  Mom gave a quiet chuckle, which warmed Dad’s heart. Then, all alone on the hard stone floor, husband and wife bowed their heads and started to pray.

  Elijah clung to Zach’s hand as they followed Ashley up the wooded trail. The little guy wasn’t scared, but something was defi nitely going on in his head.

  “Jason’s place is right there.” Ashley motioned to a broken-down house in definite need of a paint job.

  “Who’s Jason?” Zach asked.

  “He’s this real cool guy who lets a bunch of us stay with him.”

  “Where are your parents?”

  “My stepdad’s a junkie who beats me, and my mom’s an alcoholic who doesn’t care.”

  “So you ran away?”

  Ashley shrugged. “Wouldn’t you?”

  “I’m … sorry.”

  “No biggie,” Ashley said. “If I hadn’t left them, I’d never have met Jason.”

  Elijah tugged on Zach’s hand. Zach glanced down and saw him motioning for them to head back to the restaurant. But if it came down to spending time with Elijah or Ashley … well, let’s just say there wasn’t much competition.

  Turning back to Ashley, he asked, “Who exactly is this Jason?”

  “Our spiritual advisor.”

  “Spiritual advisor? You mean like a pastor?”

  Ashley broke out laughing. “No way.”

  “What’s so funny? We’ve got a cool pastor at home.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure. But Jason, he knows the deeper mysteries, like contacting spirits — that sort of stuff .”

  Zach tensed. More than once his folks had warned them about fooling around with those types of things. He knew he should probably say something, but Ashley was so beautiful.

  Elijah tugged harder. Again Zach ignored him.

  At last they reached the porch steps leading to her door.

  “Well, here we are.” Ashley turned to face Zach just as Elijah yanked on his arm with all of his might.

  “What’s with him?” she asked.

  Zach acted like he hadn’t noticed. “Who?”

  “Him?”

  Again he tried ignoring Elijah, but it’s hard to ignore someone when he’s yanking your arm out of its socket.