David awoke with a start and sat up on his chair. The morning sun poured through the window and brightened his living room. His head pounded and his eyes burned. He pushed himself onto his feet and went to finish the pot of tea he had attempted last night.

He stirred his cup and then brought the hot brew to his lips, savouring the sip of tea.

Three knocks at the door rattled down the hallway before he could take a second sip. “For the love of the lord.” He headed to the front door with cup in hand and opened it.

“What do you two need?”

Jimethy and Terry stood before him.

“Couple of things,” said Jimethy. “First, I want to say sorry about last night.”

“It’s fine. As I said, you can have the captaincy. I’ll be leaving this morning.”

Terrence frowned, “We had a discussion last night, didn’t we, Jim? We think you’re the man for the job.”

“I don’t care.” David made to close the door on them but Terrence blocked it with his foot.

“There’s a problem that needs your attention.”

“Not my problem, leave me be.”

“It’s Alius, sir,” Jimethy interjected.

David grimaced and opened the door wider. “Alius swings, what possible problem could he be?”

“He’s gone, Captain.” Said Terry.

“Gone?”

“Not there.”

“I know what gone means. He'll have been taken to the mortuary by Sylvester.”

“If that’s the case, he undressed him first.”

“What?”

Terry nodded, “His clothes are strewn about the tree.”

“Well, as I said, I’m not captain. Good luck finding out what happened there, Jim.” He slammed the door in their face and pressed his back against it. Terry and Jim exchanged a few words before wandering away.

David finished his tea and went straight to packing. He stuffed a change of clothes, his cobbler tools and a few rations into an old sack pack. After eating a couple of runny eggs and some stale bread, he headed out.

Several villages led by Terry and Jim made to block his path. “Goodbye,” said David curtly to them.

“You can’t leave,” said a villager.

“Yes I can. I’ve had enough of you people and this village.”

“Alius has vanished.”

“One of you probably ate him or something.” The small group gasped.

Jimethy kept up with David’s quick walking pace, “I said sorry. Don’t leave on account of me.”

David shook his head, “It’s nothing to do with you. It’s this place. Alius was right, it’s cursed.”

Jim stopped as he watched David walk on, “So you have lost your mind as Alius did?”

“No.” David called back, “I’m leaving before I do.”

Jimethy raised his hands before they slapped down by his sides.

Terry joined his flank and folded his arms to watch David flee. “He’ll be back. For now, I’ll take the role of captain.”

Jim looked at Terry. “Right you are, my captain.”

Terry smiled broadly and turned to the villagers, who were fussing around the Willow tree. “We better get to work lest they start coming up with their own theories.”

Jim nodded.

Terry barged through the group and stood in front of the willow tree to face them. “Good morning, everyone.”

“Where’s Captain Potter?”

“He’s investigating something, I am acting captain.” Terry smiled and gave a glance to the manor on the hill.

“Another captain?”

“No, acting captain, while Mr Potter is away.”

“I think it’s time we had a vote on our new captain.” A man shouted. More villagers had come out of their homes to join the growing crowd.

“I think you should shut your mouth,” Terry growled, and the man sunk back into the group of dower faces. Terry continued: “The trial was quite the event. The village needs time to heal. Captain Potter will steady the ship.”

“Then why isn’t he here?”

“I told you, he’s investigating something.”

“What happened to Alius? Where is his body?”

“Sylvester picked him up last night.” Terry smiled calmly.

“Stripped him naked first, did he?” Called a woman.

Terry shook his head, “Sylvester is an odd fellow. I shall speak to him and ask him why. For now, go home, go to work. It’s market day tomorrow.”

The crowd dispersed, chuntering as they returned home or to their work.

Jim approached Terry and rubbed his hands. “What now?”

“Get the pistols.”

“Why?”

“We need to show a presence, we need to be armed.”

“Right, then what?”

“Let’s have a chat with that oddity, Sylvester.”

***

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David did not look back as he marched through the woods on the old path. A fine mist covered the ground. The dew-kissed grass soaked his shoes and pant cuffs. He didn’t look back.

The trees loomed over him and bristled in the wind. He didn’t know how far he had to go, but he wouldn’t stop til he was in New Town. The misty layer around his feet made navigating the terrain cumbersome, causing him to stumble over stones and branches.

“Running from your problems, Mr Potter?”

David nearly jumped up a tree when he heard that dry, familiar voice. He staggered around and tried to find the source. “Who said that? Who’s there?”

From behind an old oak came a naked man. A rope hung around his neck and trailed alongside him. He stepped out onto the path and placed his hands on his hips. “Ah, I do love the crisp morning forest air.”

The initial shock of a bare man in the woods faded until he realised who it was. “Alius?”

“In the flesh, sort of.”

“You’re dead.”

“Perceptive as always, David.”

“How..are..you–”

“I’m better than ever, David. Finally, I can rest. My mind is my own again.”

David backed away slowly, making ready to run. “You’re one of them…”

Alius shook his head slowly. “No. But it is good you recognise this curse.”

“How are you here?”

Alius looked around the forest. He took in the ambience, sighed deeply and looked at David. “It’s my fault. Well, partially.”

“What is?”

Alius rubbed his nose. “There is no escape from this village.”

“Still insane. I see.”

“I stand before you, risen from the dead and you still have the audacity to play the doubting Thomas?” Alius stepped closer to David.

David backed away. “You’re hardly heaven-sent.”

Alius pushed out his bottom lip, “A fair point. Though that does not help your situation.”

“What is my situation?”

“We are in purgatory. Gehanna. If you will. Held by this curse.”

David sneered, “Then I shall walk away from it.”

“We brought this upon ourselves, David. We laid with the Devil for a life of frivolity. We took the wretched and hid them away from God's gaze.”

“Make a point.”

“Walk with me.”

David hesitated but followed behind Alius down the misty road. “This is a dream.”

“You will wish that so, David.” Alius sighed. “The village is poised to consume itself. You will be the vessel.”

“Vessel?”

Alius stopped. “I do not have much time. I will be hunted. I will be forced to live in the walls and watch with the rest of the souls. Our descent into hell begins. The Devil collects his tax.”

“What am I to do?”

Alius looked at David over his shoulder. “I do not know.”

***

Sylvester opened his door quickly, “Finally. Captain, we can speak—”

“Good morning, Syl.”

“What do you two want?” He looked over Jimethy and Terry.

Terry pushed Sylvester back into the mortuary, grabbed him by the arm and walked him down the steps to where he prepared the bodies. Jim closed the door and followed behind.

“What are you doing? Get off me!”

Terry shoved him into the slab where Jarrod's bloated corpse lay. “Business has been picking up for you lately, I see.”

“If you want to call it that.” Sylvester rubbed the back of his neck. “I did what you asked of me.”

“Why did you wish to speak to the captain?”

Sylvester moved around the slab to put it between himself and Terry. “It was about the burial arrangements for Esmeralda.”

“You seemed awfully anxious to speak with him.”

Jimethy moved around the other side of the slab.

“I did what you asked. Potter is captain.”

“Potter ran away.”

“Right, well…”

“Where is Alius’ body?”

Sylvester opened his mouth wide, “What?”

Terry moved around the slab and narrowed his eyes.

“I don’t know what happened to his body. Probably prankster?”

Terrence slapped Jarrod’s stomach and laughed at the wobble. “Waste of good food.”

Sylvester shuffled his feet. “Will that be all?”

Terry raised his eyebrows. “If I find out you were planning on helping David…”

“I wish to be sired! Why would I help him?” Sylvester snapped, though instantly regretted it.

Terry became a whirl of mist that passed through the slab before solidifying into a furious face of fangs. He gripped Sylvester by the throat. “You already feast like a pig in shit, it seems.”

Sylvester's feet kicked helplessly as he dangled.

Terry dropped the mortician. “Stop your skulking, odd little man. You’re enough to make a rapist shudder.”

The mortician backed into one of his cupboards and rocked it. The jars of pickled parts sloshed and threatened to topple from their shelves.

Terrence and Jimethy went to the manor house and rapped a few times. They waited patiently for Elizabeth to answer.

“Good morning, Terrence.”

“My lady.”

“You sired, Jimethy.”

“Yes–”

“I did not permit such an act.”

“Well–”

“You are an incorrigible little rat.”

Terry shuddered and glanced at Jimethy who was keeping his head low.

“My lady, Alius has escaped.”

“You mean you let him get away.”

Terry winced, “Sorry, I did not–”

“You did not think. You were busy siring Jim and fawning over that strumpet. I hope for your sake you have not sired her.”

“No, never.”

“Good. She’s a Jezebel. It would be a waste not to have her rump for the centrepiece.” Elizabeth licked her lips and shook her head slowly. “What to do about you.” she tutted a few times. “I suppose our newest convert will have the opportunity to prove himself.” She gestured to Jimethy.

“I’m ready to serve.”

“You don’t know what you say.” Elizabeth smiled. “What of our captain? Where is he?”

Terry averted his gaze and mumbled, “He’s fled.”

“As expected. He will be run in circles about the wood and return shortly. However, your blunder with Alius concerns me. He must not find him.”

“He’s a madman–”

Elizabeth’s face twisted into a ghastly mess of teeth and blood. “He’s well versed and now of sane mind.” She pressed her long nail into Terry’s throat.

Terry gasped. “My lady…”

She pushed her finger deep into his neck and twirled it around. Terry’s neck began to turn black.

“Nnngh, my lady.”

“Find Alius and bring him back. If you fail, you’ll join him in the walls.” She pushed Terry back, sending him rolling down the garden path. Her golden eyes locked on Jimethy’s. “The same goes for you, Jim.”

***

The chirping of the birds went silent, the wind stopped blowing and the trees froze in place. David blinked. It was like they had walked into a pencil drawing. “What’s happening?”

Alius placed his finger over his lips. “Shhh, she is looking for us.”

“Who is?”

“Shhh”

“Who is?” David whispered.

“Elizabeth will find me.”

David shook his head, “Come with me. We can flee together.”

“Enough, you fool, I am trying to help you.”

“Why didn’t you help me before this?”

His eyes went wild at David's constant questions, “I had been driven to derangement. No longer fit for purpose.”

“What purpose?”

“I have a cache of hidden notes, deep in the pantry tunnel. Search for the blue stone. They will help you.”

“What will happen to you?”

“I will be found. We never spoke.”

“But–”

Alius gripped David by the shoulders, “We never spoke.”

Before David could say another word, Alius had dashed away, leaving him in the still forest.

David couldn’t think of anything more ridiculous than venturing into that manor and down that God-forsaken tunnel. No, he’d continue with his original plan. Running away.

He followed the path and arrived at a mossy ridge looking over a grouping of buildings. “Perfect, a little stop off, then I can keep going.”

It was a slippery slope down to the level ground. David found his balance and walked around the closest building. It was oddly familiar. “Wait…” He began to run towards the village in the distance. “No…”

“Captain!”

He searched for the voice. “Greg?”

Greg was standing by a cart filled with logs. “Get on the cart. I’ll run you into the village proper.”

Despair washed over David. He dropped to his knees and tried to catch his breath.