The Soul Vulture

My sister Taylor died last night. Drowned. When she was found, she was still dripping wet.

Bloated, parts of her skin dissolving like wet tissue from her flesh. Looking like she had been submerged for months. Only here in Western Australia, we are currently experiencing the worst drought of the century. The going theory was that she drowned in the tailings dam. But no toxins were found in her body, and didn’t explain how her body was found seven kilometres outside of town on some abandoned farmland. Lying amongst the ashy remains of what was once a cotton farm. Not that I didn’t want to believe it was her, it was. She still had the scar from childhood of when I bit her after ripping my

Pokemon cards. But I only just saw her last night. She came to my work asking for help. I may not know how exactly, but I know what did it and why. I also know that she wasn’t the first nor the last.

I was working late at the veterinary practice. Lucy, Farmer Pete’s sheepdog and local celebrity, had just been euthanised after a long battle with crippling arthritis. Needless to say, the town was devastated. But, not more so than Pete himself. The poor guy didn’t have anyone else. He lost his daughter Ann when she was very young and was never quite the same. That was until Lucy. She gave his life new purpose and direction. Pete stayed a few hours after closing in my office to grieve. I offered him some whiskey I had hidden behind the heartworm medication, for those rough days. Between Lucy and a stray I was failing to nurse back to health. Today was definitely one of those days. We talked for hours, all the big questions. Why are we here? Why do we suffer? And of course, what’s waiting for us after? I mostly listened. I’d known Pete since I was a boy and he was a passionate catholic but even he had his doubts. Questioning his own faith. Frankly, I didn’t know what I believed either. I wanted to believe that there was something after, some paradise waiting past all our struggles. But in reality, I think we just return to the earth as rot. But That wasn’t what Pete wanted to hear. It wasn’t what he needed to hear. So I gave my scripted spiel about the

rainbow bridge. How Ann would be waiting for Lucy, and when it’s his time, they’ll all be reunited.

“And those who don’t have anyone?” Pete asked.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean all those poor animals that don’t have anyone who looked after them? The cattle we send

off for slaughter? Do they get a heaven? Do they wait for anyone, or have anyone waiting for them?”

“I’m sure they have some passionate soul welcoming them.”

“That’s nice. You were always a good kid Eddy. I knew they were all lies.”“Thanks Pete, but we really don’t…”

“No, I mean, everyone gave you the stink eye when you became a vet. No one wanted you looking after their animals. Do you think? Do you think those kittens are waiting too?”

I hope not. Before I could answer, I heard the shattering of glass from reception. Ending our conversation, I went to investigate. Opening the door half an inch, I could see someone hooded crawling through a shattered window. “Have the cops on standby,” I softly said to Pete, leaving the room.

I grabbed the cricket bat I kept in the supply closet and flicked the lights on. “There’s no cash here and the cops are on their way,” I shouted, lowering my already deep voice, hoping it would make up for my less than intimidating stature.

The hooded woman looked up into the light. It was Taylor.

“Oh Christ Tay, what the fuck are you doing?” I asked.

“I’ll pay for it, I swear. I just needed somewhere safe to hide.” She said, pulling back her hood.

“So you finally left that prick?”

“It’s not him, there’s someone after us.”

“Wow, who would’ve guessed stealing people’s dogs would make some people pissed. Yeah, I

know what you both do, cuz they all end up here… Us?” I asked, knowing that her boyfriend Jack

was most likely in the room as well.

I looked towards the reception desk. The only place someone built like a brick shithouse could

hide.

“Jack, come on out,” I said.

Jack slowly rose above the desk. Double my height, he’s usually ready to intimidate me with his

stature. But now, he was hunched over, making himself look as small as possible, reminding me of

a frightened puppy who’d just heard his first clap of thunder. “Just let us stay here tonight, we

won’t touch anything and we’ll be gone as soon as the sun’s up.”

“Really?” I asked as I reached into his jacket pocket to find Jack had already helped himself to

some tablets.

“These are worming tablets jackass. Both of you, out now, or I’m calling the police for real.” I

continued.

Pete, interrupted storming past us, “Ladies, quit ya whinging and come give me a bloody hand.”

All of our attention shifted to Pete, trying to cover the broken window with an operating sheet.

Just

outside was a barreling wave of blood red dust about to descend onto us.

“You got any tape Ed?” Pete asked.I ran to the supply closet to grab some duct tape that had been collecting dust for years. I passed

the tape to Pete, and moving faster than a man his age should be able, he taped the sheet to the

window. Then looked at me, then a passing glance at Taylor and Jack. “Funny.”

“What?” I asked.

“That dust storm came on us in seconds from the south, right?”

“Yeah, so?” Jack Interrupted.

“So, with winds that strong this should be barely holding.”

The sheet was still. Like, there was no wind at all. But from what we could see, dust was violently

blowing against the building.

Pete walked back to my office, where we had our earlier therapeutic conversation. He walked back

with the bottle of whiskey and a couple of paper cups. “Well, we’re not going anywhere anytime

soon. So just for tonight, we’re gonna play nice. Is that alright with you kids?”

Pete passed a cup to Jack, who avoided all eye contact. “Yeah, we can do that.” Pete then walked to

Taylor, hesitating when he finally recognised her. Taylor and Ann had been childhood friends. He

cautiously passed a cup to Taylor. She thanked him under her breath and finally to me, but I

refused. I couldn’t afford to even be a little tipsy around Jack. I couldn’t hold my liquor; he could.

We heard the sound of equipment dropping from the kennels, the back room where we hold the

animals.

“Who else is here?” I asked Taylor.

“Just us, I swear,” Jack answered.

My scepticism was immediately deafened by a horrific symphony of screaming cats coming from

that room.

“What’s wrong with them?” asked Taylor.

Pete, softly putting his work-worn hand on my shoulder, “I think you should go check on them

cats mate.”

“We don’t have any cats,” I replied.

The screams stopped. Silence. An unnatural silence. No wind, no crickets and no white noise. I had

to click my fingers just to make sure I wasn’t going deaf.

The silence was finally broken by distant, gentle knocking. Someone was knocking on the

back door of the practice.

“Fuck it’s found us.” Jack shrieked.

“It? I knew you two were high. Even if there is something after you, I don’t think they’d be gently

knocking. And if it is, I’ll say I haven’t seen you. I don’t need to deal with this tonight. Pete, can

you?…”“Go for it Ed, I’ve got it sorted here.”

The practice was originally a large family house of a mining magnate in the 70s. The exterior had

barely been updated besides the reception, but the interior was like a labyrinth of newly renovated

rooms, showing no clues of its previous life. It took a minute to reach the back door. Cricket bat

still in hand, I prepared for the worst. Couldn’t risk it actually being someone Taylor and Jack

pissed off.

“We’re closed,” I shouted through the door.

“Can you please help me? I’m lost.” Called a gentle voice from behind the door. A voice of a young

girl. What was a kid doing out this late and this far out of town?

“What are you doing out here kid, especially at this time of night?” I asked as I unlocked the door.

“I was riding back home from my friend Mia’s house but the chain on my bike broke. I got caught

in the dust and got lost. I just saw the lights on and hoped someone was here.”

I opened the door no more than a crack. It was a kid. No older than 12. Bike chain in hand and still

in her school uniform.

“Alright, just leave your bike there and quickly come in. We’ll call your folks.”

I quickly opened the door and let her in.

I escorted her to the main reception, where Pete had Taylor caught in one of his minute-long stores

he could somehow stretch into a full hour. Jack was attempting to sleep in the corner on a pile of

dog beds.

“Sorry kid, I didn’t grab your name.”

“Abbie. My mum’s name is Ruby.”

“Ok Abbie, I’m Ned, and that’s Pete. Did you ever meet Lucy?”

“Yeah, she was the puppy that was always in the little wagon.”

“Well, she was a little older than a puppy, but yeah. Pete was her owner who’d take her around

town. You want to go say hi, and I’ll call your folks?”

She wandered over to Pete, breaking his intense concentration on the story he was boring Taylor

with.

Pete’s face lit up. “Well, hello there kiddo. Did you get caught up in this nasty storm too?” Pete

said

patting the seat next to him for her to sit down.

“Yeah, my bike broke.”

“That’s no good, but I should be able to fix that up for you. A young lady shouldn’t be out by

herself at this time of night alone.”Taylor attempted to join the conversation with Abbie, “Hey, I used to wear that same school

uniform.”

“It’s my first year of high school.”

“I thought they updated it the year I left. I didn’t think they still wore the green.”

“Would you shut up, I’m trying to sleep!” Jack shouted from the corner of the room.

“They must’ve gone back to the old uniform,” Abbie whispered.

I called the number Abbie had given me, and after what felt like an eternity of ringing, it finally

went through.

“Hello?” A distant voice said from the other end. She must have me on speaker.

“Hello, this is Ned. I’m the local vet. Is this Ruby?”

“Yes, but we don’t have any pets.”

“No no no, the reason I’m calling is that your daughter Abbie is here. She just got lost in the storm.

Would you be able to pick her up if possible?”

The voice got closer and cleaner, “Is she alive?”

“Is she alive? Of course. She’s right here.”

“Are you going to kill her?”

“I’m sorry!?”

Ruby now sounding like she was standing directly beside me.“Are you going to kill her Eddy?!

Drown her like the kitties?”

In a knee-jerk reaction, I threw my phone to the ground. Only it didn’t break into pieces. It

splattered to the ground. Blood, gore and fur leaked and twitched from the phone.

Peter called to me, “What’s wrong mate?”

I looked at him, then back at the ground where my phone now lay in non-organic pieces.

“I can’t get through to your folks, sorry kid. I’ll try again soon. I think I just need some water.”

I thought there must’ve been a gas leak. But I couldn’t smell anything. But we all seemed to have

hallucinated the cats.

“Look!” Jack shouted, suddenly fully awake, looking out the window.

We all looked out to see a row of ten people, barely visible through the dust, lined up in front of

the clinic, wearing crude paper mache animal masks. They looked like a cult, only they wore

casual

and work clothes. Even with the masks, it didn’t look like they were hiding their identity.I sat down near Taylor and whispered. “Are these the people who were chasing you?”

She hesitated, “It wasn’t a person.”

One bald man wearing a disturbing cat mask walked into the warm glow of the closet street light,

then spoke. “Taylor, Jack. We’re here to help you both.”

Pete walked to the broken window and ripped the operating sheet off. He examined the dust as it

didn’t appear to enter the building, hitting some invisible barrier. He then shouted to the masked

man. “Sean! What the hell are you lot doing in the dust? Get in here, you silly bastard.”

Taylor pulled him away from the window. “What the hell are you doing? Don’t ask a bunch of

creepy men wearing masks to come in.”

“There’s only one bald person in town, and that’s Sean; he’s a good mate of mine. He used to be

the

local Senior Sergeant.”

Sean took off his mask. “Thanks for the invite Pete, but I’m afraid we can’t. I’m very sorry you had

to be here tonight. But I promise we’re here to help Jack and Taylor. We really need you both to

step out.”

Jack shouted, “Do you know how to kill that fucking thing!?”

“Yes. But first, we need you both to step out.”

“You know what I think? I think you’re full of shit. Creepy cult of latter-day shitheads. No one in

their right mind would willing help us. Especially a cop.”

He may be an insufferable prick, but Jack was right. I looked over to Abbie. She looked about as

confused and scared as I felt. “Hey Abbie, there’s a landline behind the desk. It should still work. I

need you to call the police. Can you do that for me kid?” She nodded and ran to the desk.

I then shouted from the window. “Why are you really here? How’d you get through the dust

storm?”

“Is that little Eddy? Sorry, you prefer Ned now don’t you? Well, I might’ve stretched the truth, but

we truly are here to help. I don’t need to tell you what your sister has been up to lately. Terrible

things Neddy.”

Another of the masked figures walked into the light. She removed her dog mask.“Ned, dearest. It’s

Pam. You saw my beautiful dog Benson? The Rottweiler scared of cats? You used to put the TV

right next to him during visits so he felt more at home.”

The sight of Pamela convinced me to unlock and open the door of the clinic. There was absolutely

no way this woman could possibly harm anyone. She’d regularly donate food and beds to us.

“What are you doing?!” Taylor aggressively whispered, grabbing my sleeve.

I brushed her off and stepped outside.“Hi Ned. How are you dear? I know this seems like a very peculiar night.”

“Pam, how’s Benson?”

Tears welling in Pam’s eyes, she turned away as Sean cut in, “That’s actually why we are here son.

Taylor has done terrible things. But we’re trying to help her, I promise.”

“Help her how? They both seem to think something’s after them.”

“There is Neddy, she’s here, and while they’re with you, none of ya are safe.”

“Who’s here?”

Sean pointed to the sky. “Atropos. A swift hand of natural vengeance. She’s here, she’s angry, and

she will have them. But if they both come out willingly, embracing the pain they’ve caused

others, their suffering will be lessened.”

“What you’re planning on killing them?!”

“They’ve been marked.” Both Sean and Pam pulled out a constructed clay idol of some kind of

bird. Both marked with blood.

Pamela continued. “And while you are with them, we can’t guarantee your safety.”

“There’s a young girl with us, she’s lost. Are you saying she’s in danger too?”

Pamela turned her back, avoiding the question. She hurried away as the remaining members of the

group disappeared into he dust with her.

“Yes. Atropos is nothing more than a hungry animal. While you all are with them, the scent of sin

will mark you all. You need them to come out willingly knowing their fate.” Sean continued

putting his hands on my shoulders to refocus me. “I’m sorry Ned. Taylor will die tonight. If they

come out willingly, it’ll be painless, quick, and salvation will be granted. If not, they’ll experience

not a singular death but many. And you, Pete and that young girl may be caught in the crossfire.

Here, I only have the one.” Sean passed me another small, clean clay bird idol. “This one is

unmarked. Give it to the young lady and she’ll be protected. Good luck. We’ll be praying for you.”

As Sean walked away into the sea of dust, I then recognised all of them. They were all prominent

members of our local church group. All of which had Pets I had at some point treated.

I walked back inside.

Jack grabbed my shirt. “What did they say?”

“Where’s Abbie?” I asked, pulling my shirt out of his grasp.

“Pete took her to see that dog out back,” Taylor replied. “But what did he say?”

“I’ll tell you soon.”

In the corner of my office was Pete and Abbie patting the stray I had on a drip.“Sorry mate, the little one couldn’t get onto the police or her Ma. Thought she needed a distraction.

Hope that’s alright? I think she’d make a good little vet, don’t you?”

“Thanks Pete, and that’s no trouble at all. I think our sick little friend likes the company. Hey

Abbie, come here a second.”

“Is he going to be alright Ned?”

“Pete, nah, he lost his mind years ago,” I said jokingly, hoping to get a laugh from her.

To my relief, she laughed, “No, the puppy. He doesn’t look good.”

“Well, lucky that’s what we’re here for. Now I need you to do me another favour. See this little bird

figurine? I need you to hold on to it for me, just for tonight.”

She reluctantly took it from me. “Okay?…”

“Thanks kid.”

“Oh, does the puppy have a name?”

“I suppose,” I never named any of the animals that looked like they were knocking on death’s

door. Saved me from getting attached.

“What’s his name?” Abbie asked.

“I don’t know. I forgot to ask him.”

“Why don’t you name him?” Pete asked Abbie.

“Can I?” Abbie excitedly asked me.

I wanted to say no. I didn’t like the dog’s odds and didn’t want this night to be any worse. But for

whatever reason, I said yes.

“Leo!” She exclaimed.

“Leo it is. Pete, can you come out here for a second?”

Pete and I walked back into reception, where Taylor was trying desperately to keep Jack inside.

The

bus.

door was open and just outside, almost glowing through the red dust was a pristine yellow school

“I need to go home, do you not smell it!?” Jack shouted.

“Guys, help me! The bus, it isn’t real!”

“Get the hell off me! I can smell the cookies. Can you smell them? My mum, she’s waiting for me.”

Before Pete and I could help restrain him, he broke from Taylor’s grasp and ran outside. We didn’t

dare follow outside.“Jack you need to come back inside now!?” Taylor shrieked.

I closed and locked the door.

Taylor screamed and hit me, “What the hell are you doing?!”

“Hopefully. Saving your life,” I replied.

The door to the bus opened, and that warm, hopeful expression on Jack’s face dropped to extreme

terror. What sounded like hundreds of echoing dogs barking and whimpering in pain came from

the bus.

Jack began to scream, “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry!”

He attempted to run back. Meters from the door and large talons grabbed him by the shoulders.

In a faction of an instant some large winged creature grabbed him and flew him straight up above

us, out of sight. His screams faded into the distance.

The brief moment of silence was unbearable. The bus dissolved in the dust and the silence was

finally broken by Jack’s body violently landing on my car. He hit it with such velocity that parts of

him and glass exploded in every direction. And there, sitting above his dripping remains, sitting

on the clinic’s dated and faded billboard was what had soared him to such unimaginable heights.

It’s scaly, and partly feathered wings draped over most of the sign as it’s piercing golden eyes

stared directly at us. Stared directly at Taylor.

Part 2

Pools of blood and meaty chunks of Jack lay across the pavement.

“We have to get out of here,” I said

“What do you mean? That’s what it’s waiting for.” Taylor replied.

“Love, look at the size of it. Nothing’s stopping it from getting in here. Eddy’s right, we can’t

stay here. Even if just one of us goes, we can get help. What car did you come here in?” Asked Pete

“We’re just down the road, we turned off into the trees. It’s probably two hundred metres away.

But that thing will pick you off in the first five.”

“Not if she’s distracted. Sean… Sean told me it’s only after you and Jack. And look, it’s only got

eyes for you.” I added, pointing to Atropos. Her head locked onto Taylor’s every movement.

I looked behind and saw Abbie looking out from my office. I thought about the idol she held in her

hands and whether I should give it to Taylor. Would it work if she was already marked? Would it

protect her long enough to get to the car and leave? And if it did, would Atropos leave? Or would

Taylor’s stench of sin linger?

As much as she was my sister, I’d gladly throw her under the bus to protect Abbie and Pete.

I pulled Pete to the side, “I’m going to go for their car.”“You’re mad mate. She’s right. Big Bird will pick you off as soon as you step foot outside.”

“Not if I have that,” I said, gesturing for Abbie to come over and took the idol back from her. “Sean

gave me this. It should keep me safe while I’m outside.”

Without saying a word, Pete gave a reluctant nod.

“Tay, give me your keys.”

“You’re not going out there!?”

“It’s either this or your noble sacrifice, and you’re not the type.”

“Fuck you”, Taylor said, dropping the keys past my hand and onto the floor.

Abbie’s gentle voice spoke up, “What’s it doing?”

All of our attention shifted to Atropos. Now on the ground, inquisitively and precisely attempting

to put the pieces of Jack together. Like massaging clay together, his pieces held. To our collective

horror, she managed to assemble his head and most of his upper torso. She held it up for us to see,

like a child showing off their latest arts and crafts school project.

Pete put his hands over Abbie’s eyes, “don’t look”.

Just before I left, I discreetly gave Pete the bat and quietly whispered, “Remember, it wants Tay. If

I don’t come back, give tweedy what she wants.”

He nodded, and I made my way to the back door. I made a quick detour to grab two syringes of

horse tranquilliser. I’d have no idea if it’d work on Atropos, but If I was going out, I could at least

give Pete the advantage and slow it down.

Quietly opening the back door, I quickly glanced everywhere. Atropos still must be watching

Taylor. Idol in my front shirt pocket, I made my way outside. I prayed it couldn’t see me through

the dust, because I sure as shit wouldn’t be able to see it.

Being out in the dust was weird. It acted more like fog. Almost moisture. I navigated myself to the

road by following the wall. I got to the corner and spotted the main road. It was barely visible

through the dust, only illuminated by the street light. And there she was, Atropos, hunched over

doing something to Jack’s remains, occasionally looking up to Taylor. This was my best look at her

yet. Receding black feathers scattered indiscriminately over her body. At its thickness around the

base of her neck, like a vulture’s collar. Through the feathers, oily green scales and an enormous

orange beak that was almost camouflaged through the red dust.

I timed when Atropos looked back down and began my way down the road.

I walked 100 meters. No signs of any bushes or cars. I walked another hundred or so meters.

Nothing. I spotted a light ahead. Maybe I had walked past it and made it to town? But there was

something very familiar about this light. Walking closer, it was the practice. I had somehow circled

back.

Atropos was back on the billboard. Only this time, she was well aware of where I was. Her goldeneyes, piercing through the dust, staring directly at me. I grabbed the idol from my shirt pocket,

dropping Taylor’s keys in the process and ran the opposite direction. I ran to my legs hurt, waiting

for her to swoop me up and give me the Jack treatment, or worse. Hell knows I deserve it too.

Running in a straight line took me directly back to the practice. She wasn’t going to let us go. At

least this time she wasn’t there waiting.

I heard screams, Taylor and Abbie’s screams. Taylor was being dragged out by… Jack? His skin

looked like dry clay, broken and barely holding together. Pulling Taylor by her hair, Pete smacked

the bat against his head, which bent to a crooked 90-degree angle and letting Taylor go.

In a gargled wet voice, Jack spoke to Taylor “I can’t die again. Not without you, she’ll keep

bringing me back.”

I helped bring Taylor back inside, while Jack attempted to re-straighten his head.

The door had been completely broken. There was no stopping Jack or Atropos from getting us

now. I gave the idol back to Abbie.

“Where the bloody hell have you been? It’s been hours,” Pete asked.

“She won’t let us leave. I kept ending up back here.”

Looking back up at Jack, his mutilated hands stretched up to feel a blue dog collar now around his

neck. His eyes tracking the rope attached to his collar to his white pickup truck. The engine revved

and the tires spun. Black smoke diluting the red dust. The car launched forward, the truck and

rope disappearing ahead. He gave one last glance our way and spoke, “I’m sorry”. And with a

whip snap, he was dragged along the ground. The asphalt tearing his skin and flesh from bone,

leaving a streak of red on the road.

“Where’s Abbie?” I asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine too thanks!” Taylor said abruptly.

Abbie walked out from behind the reception desk, “I’m here.”

“Here, take this back and don’t let it go,” I said giving her back the idol.

“What’s that?” Asked Taylor.

“Nothing you need to worry about.”

“Well, considering we’re all in the same fucking situation, it is my concern. What did you give

her!?”

I turned to face Taylor while the hands behind my back took out the tranquilliser from my back

pocket and discreetly took off the protective cap. Dust had broken the barrier and was now

seeping into the practice.

Pete stepped between us. “It’s something to keep Miss Abbie safe.”

Pete, you idiot.“Why the fuck does she have it? It’s after me, not her!”

Taylor’s eyes examined the bat as Pete tightened his grip.

“Here,” Abbie passed her the idol. “I just want to go home,” she continued softly.

Taylor pulled Abbie close, “See us girls have to stick together. Let’s get out of here.”

I screamed at her “You can’t! It won’t let you leave and you’re gonna end up killing her.”

Taylor strengthened her grip around Abbie’s arm, “Bullshit. If anyone wants me dead, it’s you

Eddy. And I’m not going to let you.”

“Let go of me!” Abbie screamed, biting her arm.

“You little bitch!”

With Abbie out of the way, Pete swung. He overstepped and missed Taylor, falling to the ground.

Taylor kicked him and stepped on his hand until he let go of the bat. I lunged at her with the

syringes. I stabbed her in the side of the neck, but before I could push down, she threw me off.

Pete struggled to catch his breath on the ground as Taylor took the bat from him. Before I could

react, with one clean swing, Taylor crushed Pete’s windpipe. His body violently jerked, and Abbie

screamed. As Taylor raised her arms, preparing for the final blow I grabbed Abbie and fled back to

my office.

Whack! We heard the final blow from behind the door. My office door didn’t have a lock, so we

moved everything we could to the door. Taylor screamed from the other side, “If it wants me, it’s

sure as shit want you too!” We could hear her violating banging and throwing her whole body

weight against the door, attempting to smash it down.

“Ned,” Abbie’s voice spoke softly.

Looking over to Abbie, she was sitting with Leo. He was still, chest no longer moving to the

motion of his breath. I sat down next to her as she cried. “I’m so sorry kiddo. I really tried.”

“I know, Pete will show him the way.”

We started to hear glass shattering against the door. “If I’m going, so are you Eddy! Abbie can still

get out. If not, I’m going to burn you out and we all go.” Taylor had thrown the whiskey against

the door and now threatening to burn the whole place down.

This could be my only chance to get Abbie out. “Fine!” I shouted. “I come out and you give her the

idol, yeah?”

“And you give me the keys. While that thing is ripping you apart, I’m getting out of here.”

I dropped the keys while I was running outside, but she didn’t know that.

“What does she mean, it’d want you too?” Abbie asked.

“Don’t worry about that. Now I’m getting you that idol, and you’re going to stay here and re-barricade the door. Got it?”

Abbie nodded.

After opening the door an inch, Taylor kicked it in and charged into the office.

“Abbie stays here with the idol and you and me leave.”

“Where’s the keys?”

“Where’s the idol?”

She pulled the idol from her pocket and spun it in her hand.

“Pete’s shirt pocket.”

“Thanks.”

The door slammed closed behind her.

“Give her the idol Taylor. It’s here, give it to her!”

The door opened again, sunlight nearly blinding us. Through the door was not the burning

practice, but the creek near our childhood home. A group of familiar children sat on the edge of the

stone bridge.

Taylor attempted to close the door but didn’t move an inch. I watched on in horror and regret as

the memory I tried so hard to forget was on full display. Every little detail, the moss on the stones,

the smell of the nearby cattle yards and the crying from the bag that was dropped into the water.

“Stop it!” Taylor screamed as the door slammed shut again. “I know what I did! What we did! We

were just dumb kids!”

“What’s your excuse now?” Abbie quietly asked grabbing Taylor’s arm, holding the idol. Her eyes

now black with piercing glowing gold pupils. The sides of her mouth began to rip apart as a beak

began to protrude, biting down on Taylors hand. Ripping it off and swallowing the idol.

Taylor screamed in agony as blood spurted from the stump that was her hand.

Abbie’s bones morphed, and skin ripped like paper as Atropos tore through her sick

disguise.

“No, no no no!” Taylor screamed, trying to open the door that had now begun to burn.

Drool spewed from it’s break as it opened and in one fatal lunge, swooped, laughing Taylor

through the wall. Disappearing into the smoke and the night sky. The wall collapsed behind them

and I was left trapped in the burning rubble. I sat back with Leo’s body. “I hope your waiting for

me buddy.” Maybe burning wasn’t as bad as what Atropos had in store for Taylor.

It became harder and harder to breathe, and I eventually passed out from lack of oxygen.

I woke up coughing and splattering. Almost pitch black. I was still in my office, or at least its

charcoal remains. All burn except for a perfect circle that surrounded me and Leo. Red dust had

entered the office, and it was as thick as it had ever been. But I could make her out. Sitting, perchedon my desk was Atropos. Her eyes no longer glowing. From her shadow, Abbie emerged holding a

dripping bag that she then dropped the bag in my lap. “Open it”

The bag moved and moaned. Muffled bubbly screams. “I can’t,” I replied.

“Open the bag!” Abbie and Atropos spoke in unison.

I slowly opened the bag. It was too dark and I couldn’t see what was in there. Abbie and

Atropos staring me down with their now pairing golden eyes, I reached into the bag. Cold and

wet, I felt something solid. I pulled it out. It was a dog collar. The silver tag read ‘Leo’.

Abbie, now inches away from my face, took the dog collar from me and gently put it on Leo’s

lifeless body. “We’ll take him home now”.

Wrapping Leo in blankets, I picked him up, and Abbie led me outside.

“I’m ready.” I told them.

Closing my eyes, I prepared for the worst. From my hands, I felt talons gently take Leo from my

arms. Whispering ever so quietly into my ear, “Your kindness is returned.”

Feeling warmth on my face, I heard Pete’s voice. “There’s my girls.”

I opened my eyes to be greeted by the sun. Abbie and Atropos, gone. No sign of Pete. The

Veterinary practice, still standing. My car, not destroyed. Like none of it happened. In my hands

was the unmarked idol wrapped in a photo of Pete and Lucy. Written on the back was ‘To the best

Vet, thanks for our sendoff - Pete’.

Weeks past, and Taylor and Pete’s funeral came and went. Sean and his church group paid their

respects, even paid for both. They gave regular donations of food, beds and toys. Over time as my

workload slowly halved.

The morning after Taylor’s funeral, I walked through town, intending to give Sean back the idol. I

noticed a new water feature in the centre of town, a very familiar winged sight. Atropos, stone and

still. A perched stone gargoyle, water spilling like the droll from her mouth. The pool surrounding

her, impossibly deep and dark. I could just make out the coins lying on the bottom reflecting light

like stars in a polluted night sky. As the sun broke through the overcast sky, I saw my reflection.

But that wasn’t my face. Folks had always said Taylor and I looked alike, but seeing her bloated

face reflected back, only then did I agree.

I held the idol above the pool of water as prepared to drop it. And I almost did, until I heard an

abrasive young voice behind me.

“Stupid bird!” A kid shouted, kicking a pigeon. While looking behind at the boy, at the corner of

my eye, I swore I saw her stone face move.