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Ripley

Present Day

As the sun sets over the far off trees, I duck into the shadows of a storefront entrance as I watch her. This is crazy. I feel like some kind of secret spy, except less cool and ill prepared.

Samantha is walking around downtown Wraith Valley like she owns the place right now. I fucking hate it. I hate her. I hate that she’s like this. It’s part of the reason she is the perfect person for what I need.

As she stops to talk to Brad, the coffee shop owner, I rummage through the pouch secured around my thigh under my sheer dress, looking for the paper I found at the abandoned hunting cabin in the woods.

I don’t often hang around in the woods at the same location where satanic rituals were performed, but I am a huge fan of Blaze and His Demons, a popular rock band from my teenage years. When the band broke up after the police killed the lead singer, I became a little obsessed with the story behind the rockstar turned serial killer.

Blaze DuBois was twenty-seven years old when the Senior Deputy of the Wraith Valley Sheriff’s office killed him on Old Wolf Bridge.

To this day, no one knows what happened on that bridge between Blaze and Donavan, but Blaze never walked away from that interaction. The story that the local paper ran about the death of the rock legend didn’t include a reason as to why the deputy pulled his gun on the assumed unarmed singer.

Yes, Blaze had been accused of murdering upwards of twenty-four women across the country, but that doesn’t give Donavan the right to play judge, jury, and executioner. That’s not how the judicial system works. I should know. I was going to law school before I decided I’d rather get another degree in theology and folklore, so I could study demonology.

What kind of job can you get when your expertise is in demons? You can do research for a local folklore podcast. That’s how I found all the information I know about Blaze and his alleged crimes.

No one cares what you are researching when you ask to look through the library's archives for folklore in a town like Wraith Valley. When you tell a staff member that you are researching myths about the town, they likely think you are an insane person.

That’s how I found the paper in my hand. I learned that Blaze supposedly used a cabin in the woods for ritual sacrifices. Police were never able to locate the exact cabin. There are a lot of cabins — both abandoned and still in use — scattered throughout the woods surrounding the town.

Honestly, I think they did find the right cabin, but they didn’t know what they were looking for. Or, they couldn’t find anything in all of the hidden compartments I found around the tiny hunting shack.

During our few encounters, Blaze never came off as careless. He always seemed calculated and very self aware. There’s no reason for me to believe that he would have been anything less than incredibly thought driven with hiding something as important as what’s written on the item I’m holding.

It’s a way to bring him back.

It took weeks to collect everything I needed for tonight. The only thing left is the blood from a feminine connection to the spirit. Considering Samantha couldn’t get off of Blaze’s dick long enough to take a breath, she’s the perfect choice for my remaining ingredient.

The sun dips lower, painting parts of the town in a golden glow. The other areas are drenched in darkness and shadows. Perfect coverage.

I wait for Samantha to stop puffing out her tits to Brad. When she finally does, she heads in this direction, just as I knew she would. This is it. This is my only chance.

With my back pressed to the brick wall behind me, I hide in the shadows until she’s about to pass me. That’s when I grab her. hand over her mouth, the other in her product filled hair as I drag her into the darkness with me.

Samantha thrashes against me, desperate to break free from my hold, but I won’t let her. Instead, I remove my hair from her hair, taking hold of the blade secured to my inner thigh. She gasps as she sees the glint of my knife.

Before she can make another sound, I drag my favorite weapon across her neck, and we are both bathed in the blood of this sacrifice.

For the fifth time, I check the instructions laid out for me on the paper in my hand. I’ve added all the herbs indicated on the list and mixed them in with Samantha’s fresh blood. My candles are lit and spread out correctly. The skull of the deer is at the center of my makeshift altar.

Everything is ready. I am ready.

Reaching out, I dip my hand into the iron goblet holding the blood and herb concoction. I don’t waste a single drop of the main ingredient in my ritual.

Using the crimson liquid, I draw a star on my head, neck, and over my heart. I repeat the motion again and again until only a small amount of the blood in the cup remains.

I pause and stare at the objects in front of me. The question of whether or not I should be doing this blares in my mind. I’ve never worked with magic as dark and dangerous as resurrection. I’m a green witch. My magic is in my plants and remedies, not bringing back a ghost from a decade ago.

I should stop. I should rethink this, but I don’t.

It’s now or never. With shaky hands, I lift the worn piece of paper and recite the words needed to bring him back.

a dark heart

and a wicked soul

of blood and bone

a sacrifice

an offer of life

surrounded by darkness

i call to him

I wait for something — anything — to happen. The wind rushes through the trees, and the sound of the rustling leaves grows so loud that it’s nearly deafening.

But almost as soon as it began, it ends, leaving the cemetery in an eerie silence. There isn’t a single sound in the vast expanse of the cemetery.

Not a cricket.

Not a rustling.

There is nothing.

The cemetery around me is shrouded in absolute silence. I can’t remember if there was a complete lack of sound before I read the incantation or if this is the sign I was looking for.

Suddenly, the clear, star-filled sky is clouded over with unnatural swirling clouds of smoke. Is this a tornado? Wraith Valley hasn’t experienced a tornado in decades; since before I was born.

Searching for answers as my long dark hair whips around my face, I eye my surroundings, but the rest of the cemetery is still and unmoving. This is my sign. I did it.

Holy crap! I did it!

Almost instantly, the fear and dread set in. The swirling vortex of smoke grows darker, an inky shade of black, as it descends toward the ground on feet away from me.

I should run. I should gather my things and get out of here as quickly as my legs will allow. But, I can’t. My body won’t move. I’m stuck, frozen in place, as I watch the dark storm in front of me begin to slow.

Before I can calm my racing heart, a figure forms at the eye of the storm. Not quite a man. It appears… skeletal. Dirty off-white bones move with ease, only covered by a bloody white shirt, leather jacket, jeans, and boots.

This can’t be real.

As the figure approaches, stepping out of the spinning clouds of darkness, muscle and flesh sliver over the bones. The way they wind around the battered bone, like snakes around a new victim makes me sick to my stomach.

I can’t look away.

A loud gasp rips from me as the face of the creature finally appears and familiar dark eyes look back at me. It’s not possible that it worked. The only logical explanation is that I am hallucinating. I inhaled too many fumes from everything I burned, and now, I’m passed out in the cemetery.

My racing heart calms momentarily, clearly believing the lies I’m telling myself. However, the sight before me is hard to discredit.

Blaze Dubois stands before me, still just as damn attractive as he did ten years ago… when he died. He takes intentional steps toward me, not at all confused by what’s happening, not like me.

I wait for him to stop when he’s a good distance away, but he doesn’t. Blaze keeps approaching me, and I panic. Before I can calculate my next move, I’m on my feet and fleeing the scene of my ritual.

“What do you want?”

I call out, not bothering to look behind me as I run. I will not become a movie cliche. I won’t.

He doesn’t respond to my question. The deranged murderer actually doesn’t say anything. His loud foot falls behind me letting me know that he’s still there, and he’s now chasing after me.

Fuck. Damn. Shit.

What did I get myself into?

I see the entrance of the cemetery up ahead. I’m so close now. If I can get out of here, I can make a mad dash back to the house and forget this ever happened.

Relief sets in too soon. A moment later, pain seers my scalp as his hand tangles in my hair, and he yanks me bad to him by my delicate strands. When the forceful tug throws off my balance, he shoves me to the muddy cemetery floor and glares now at me.

I look up at his paint covered face. It’s almost hilarious that the pain portrays him as a skeleton. Just moments ago, he actually was one.

The paint used to be worn by all the members of the band when they performed. Blaze was the only one who chose to adopt their onstage practice in his day to day life. No one ever knew why, but I think it has something to do with the women he killed.

“What’s your name, Little Sire?”

I flinch at his question, and I feel the spark of defiance coursing through my veins. He can’t chase me through the fucking cemetery, and then try to demand information from me. Especially when he ignored all the questions I’ve asked him.

I don’t freaking think so buddy.

“Do not call me that,”

I huff, crossing my arms in front of my chest in a failed attempt to shield myself from him. All I actually end up doing is pushing up my tits in the most ridiculous way.

I watch as his hand trails the length of the stained, white t-shirt he’s wearing until he reaches the front of his dark jeans. There’s a clear outline of his dick through the material.

For some reason, I can’t tear my eyes away as he takes hold of his erection and squeezes it. An involuntary gasp escapes me, and I’m so mad at myself.

I’m no virgin and he isn’t even naked. Why am I acting like that is the most crude thing I’ve ever seen.

When I’m finally able to look away from his adjustment or suggestive gesture, I see the faintest hint of a smile on his full lips. He’s enjoying the effect he has on me. This ghost… thing is amused that apparently I’m as horny as a fifteen year old boy about to see his first rack.

His smile grows, and it only increases my ever growing frustration with this entire situation. Yes, I’m aware that I am the one who brought him back, but the plan just seemed so much better in theory.

“What do you want?”

There isn’t as much bite behind my words as expected.

“Your name.”

Blaze shrugs, as though I’m the one being unreasonable.

“Ripley,”

I spit out.

“Are you happy now?”

Blaze eyes me but doesn’t reply. He rolls his tongue around in his mouth, and I’m completely transfixed by the movement. “Not yet,”

he smiles.

“What more would you want?”

The second the question has left my mouth, I regret speaking it out loud. His gaze trails my body, lingering on my breasts and the high slits in the skirt of my dress.

Instead of answering the question, Blaze takes a step toward me. I counter his move with a step away from him. The move causes a spark of excitement in his eyes.

He takes another step forward as he muses,

“There are so many things I want from you right now.”

“Oh?”

He laughs, and it’s the most sinister sound I’ve ever heard.

“Ask me what they are?”

I shake my head, but that doesn’t stop him. He lunges forward, taking hold of me with his gigantic hand wrapped tightly around my throat.

“I said, ask me what they are.”

The pressure around my throat makes it hard to swallow as I contemplate his request. While I’d like to keep up the charade of being tough, I’m pretty sure that he won’t let me go until I answer.

I try to clear my throat before asking,

“What are they?”

My eyes scan the flaking paint at the corners of his mouth as his smile broadens. His other hand comes to the side of my breast, trailing gentle fingers down my side until he lands at my thigh.

Blaze’s eyes meet mine again.

“I want to take this hot, little body for a ride. Hear you scream my name a few dozen times. Feel you cunt try to strangle my cock. That sounds pretty fucking fantastic to me.”

“What else?”

“What do you mean…”

He trails off as his attention returns to the bare skin of my thigh.

“You told me to ask what they are,”

I bite out.

“That means that there must be more than one.

“Smart girl.”

He presses soft, teasing kisses from my temple, all the way to the shell of my ear.

“I need you to help me find the man who can help me stay.”

“Someone can help you stay?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

Blaze pulls his face away from my ear. so he can look at me again.

“I need help with a murder.”

His focus shifts to the goblet filled with blood on the blanket with all my other ritual materials.

“And it’s clear you know your way around something like that.”

I watch as his eyes land on the chalice still filled with the blood from his old fuck buddy. He has a point, but that doesn’t mean I have to help him. At least, not until I know more about his place.

“What do you need me for? Can’t you carry out this plan on your own?”

The words have less fight behind them that I thought they would. It’s probably because my lungs burn from the lack of oxygen they are getting.

“Oh, sweet, Little Sire,”

Blaze coos in the most condescending tone I’ve ever heard. The sinister smile that forms on his lips cracks the white and black paint around his mouth. I’ve never seen children’s face paint look so menacing before, and a full body chill of fear has all the hair on my body standing on end.

What have I done? I asked for the man, but I brought back a monster. He’s going to do something terrible, and it will be all my fault.

Think, Ripley!

Think!

Quickly, I dig into his side with my nails, breaking one in the process. I’m not sure how this whole ghost thing works, and I’m not sure this will even hurt him until he howls out a cry of pain.

When he releases his grip around my throat to reach for his side, I take off running again. This time, I won’t let him catch me.

I will make it out of this cemetery.

I will get away from him.

I will send him back.

I will fix this.

I swear.