Page 100 of Wicked Hungry

“He sacrificed his dog. And this demon, Rewsin, came and possessed it. Frumberg wanted a servant. But Rewsin didn’t want to be his servant.”

“Hey, guys,” Enrique says. “Are you sure this gate is closed?”

“Yeah, I closed it,” says Connor.

“Well it looks like you forgot to latch it,” Enrique says.

I notice a little late that he’s backing up toward us with the jaguar held out. I think he’s finally got everybody’s attention, which is good. Because he’s not alone.

We’re all looking at the gate. At a hooded figure walking through, a flute pressed to his lips. A hooded figure surrounded by shuffling, decomposing bodies, which grunt and groan with each shambling step.

Chapter 33: PAY THE PIPER

“What are you doing here, Gatemaster?” asks the hooded figure, pipe still held ready at his lips. “Shouldn’t you be minding your gate?”

The hunger of the ghouls is palpable; you can feel it in the air. There must be a dozen of them around the man in the hood. Yet somehow he holds them in check.

“And you, Stanley,” he continues. “What a pleasure. Shouldn’t you be home? Isn’t it past your bedtime?”

Where have I seen him before? Not wearing a hood. But with the flute, yes.

“Mr. Piper?” I ask.

“Oh dear,” says Mr. Piper. “It appears I have been recognized.”

“John,” Blaine says. “Leave him. The boy’s not going to talk.”

“Yes, but he needs discipline,” Piper says. “He’s been poking his nose into everyone’s business. And besides, he owes me a favor, don’t you, Stanley? Now would be a good time to collect.”

“Not tonight, John, it’s not fair,” Blaine continues.

“Fair? Who said anything about fair? Just look at these ghouls. They’re in a frenzy tonight, and I’m tired of playing my flute. And there is more about than ghouls. Is that fair?”

“No, John, but he’s just a boy,” Blaine says.

“I have to control a lot of evil tonight. I could use help. I need help. And he needs to fulfill his promise — he owes me a favor. We’ll kill two birds with one stone.”

“You promised him a favor?” Blaine asks me.

I shrug. “I don’t remember it very well, to be honest.”

Piper smiles. “It’s time to pay the piper, Stanley. You can see it, too, Blaine. Just look at us. The promise is there, unfulfilled.”

“But I can’t,” I say. “I need to find Max. And Meredith.”

“They’ll wait,” Piper says. He puts the flute to his lips and pipes out a little tune. Suddenly I realize how right he is. I have to work with him to fulfill my promise. It’s only fair.

“All right,” I say. “He’s right. I owe him a favor.”

Jonathan looks at me like I’m crazy. “Dude, what are you talking about? You want to hang out with this guy and his ghouls?”

Piper laughs. “They are so hungry tonight. It’s been a hell of a lot of work keeping them out of trouble.”

“It’s only fair,” I say. “I remember now. I promised him in his office.”

Piper looks at me like I’ve said too much.

“In his office,” Blaine says. “You promised him in his office? Behind closed doors?”