Ashes From Above

Ashes From Above

"So how much did it cost you to get your car fixed?" Russ asked after taking a drag from his cigarette.

"Man, over $600 and it still leaks. Plus it's Sunday, and the car dealership is closed. This is total bullshit!"

Artie responded as he palmed his fist. His old Monte Carlo had been a pain in the ass for three years now, but he knew he couldn't afford a new car payment. Not with him working as a janitor in the local high school.

A swirling cloud of cigarette smoke escaped Russ' nostrils and a smirk appeared on his face. "Man, they're taking you to the cleaners."

"Yeah, tell me about it. I hate this damn walking. People daring to hit us while we're crossing the street. One of these days, they're really gonna do it."

"C'mon, man. It only a few more blocks to the store. I'll even spring for a six-pack. I know you can't afford it." Russ flicked his ashes toward the street.

Artie turned to Russ and said, "That's really cool. Thanks, man." He turned his attention back to the cracked sidewalk. The cars off to his left zipped by, going much faster than the posted speed limit. Where were the cops? They're never around when somebody's doing something wrong. Russ' cigarette smoke whipped into his face, but he twisted his head away a tad too late. The smoke embedded itself in the back of his throat, and it hurt. That was Russ' only problem. He'd warned Russ about that nasty habit, but Russ never paid any attention to him. His words were just as wispy as that cigarette smoke.

The shadows on the ground faded as clouds muted the sun. Artie lifted his head and wished he'd done it earlier. One half of the sky remained a wonderful blue while the other half, which moved toward them, was a depressing grey. A gust of chilly wind buffeted the both of them. Artie shivered. If rain was forecast, he'd missed it. But that was okay as long as he hit the store before it started to pour.

"Hey, man," Russ said interrupting Artie's train of thought. "We drive by this group of buildings all the time. You've lived in South Bend longer than me. What are these places?"

Artie gazed at the connected set of dirty red-brick buildings off to the right, and his mind flooded with memories. "Ah, man. These used to be the places to go way back when. There used to be a shoe store here, and next to it was a clothes shop. They had some sharp duds, and the whole neighborhood shopped there."

"Really? What happened to them?"

"Yeah, that's the sad part. See that last building? They turned it into a church. It ruined the whole thing because the people who attended it were bat-shit crazy! They would accost anyone that shopped at the shoe and clothing stores with their Bible raised, pointing it at folks, and badgering them because they just wanted to look nice."

"Whoa! They were crazy." Russ flicked his ashes.

"Oh, I'm not done, man. Check this out! My grandfather used to bring me down here when I was little. He used to say that weird stuff took place inside that church. He told me never, ever go inside."

"Weird like what?"

"He told me when any of the members died, they'd hold the funeral inside the church and bury them in there."

A ball of cigarette smoke exploded from Russ' mouth. "What? Bury them...inside the church? Where in the church?"

"According to what my grandfather heard, they'd bury them beneath the church floor and in the walls. He told me that's why the far side of the wall facing the street up there had turned grey. It's supposed to be their bones leaching through the brick."

"Damn! That's some sick shit! Do you believe it?"

"I don't know, but it spread through the neighborhood, and if you look around, none of those businesses are open now. Neither is the church."

"That's one wild story." Russ flicked his cigarette butt toward the street and wiped his hands together. "But I'm not sure if I believe people are buried in the walls and shit."

"Really. Alright, we can come back here later tonight when there's not so much traffic. There an alley behind these buildings. Maybe we can get inside and check it out."

"Dude, I'm not that desperate to find out. If we get caught, that's it. We're done."

"For what? Going into a building that been abandoned for twenty years?" Artie thought for a while, then said, "You know what? Why did the city leave these buildings standing here for so long? Why don't they tear them down?"

Russ hiked his shoulders, and hummed "I don't know."

"Yeah, we're coming back here tonight. I want to see if my grandfather was telling the truth."
Russ rolled his eyes then sighed.

*****

Artie sat around waiting for Russ to rap on the door of his apartment. He didn't expect to find anything inside the abandoned church, but he'd always maintained a secret desire to view what was inside. But first things first; how were they going to get inside? It had been years since he'd strolled through that alley. A distant memory revealed a rusted lock on the metal door at the rear of the church. He was sure someone must have changed it by now, maybe.

Minutes later there was a rap on his door. He strode over and opened it. Russ stood outside with his hands in his jacket pocket. The brisk wind outside worked its way inside the apartment along with the sickening smell of Russ' cigarettes breath. Artie exhaled to clear his nostrils.

"So, you ready to go?" Russ asked as he stepped inside.

"Yep. Let me grab my coat. I can't believe it's still windy outside. Did it rain?"

"Nah. It's just been cloudy and windy."

"Okay, I'm ready. Let's go." Artie followed Russ outside and locked the door behind him.

As they strolled through the dark alley, crumpled gum wrappers, used paper cups and napkins, and other debris shifted any way the wind blew. A single streetlight at the end of the alley overlooking the street was their only source of light. He could do without the alley's stink that invaded his nose, but what could he do about it? For the moment, the steel in the monkey wrench inside his coat pocket absorbed the cold like a sponge, but he didn't let Russ know about it. They came upon the back door to the church.

"So how are we going to get in?" Russ asked after flicking another cigarette butt.

"Yep, same old lock. I have a key."

"A key?"

Artie pulled out the monkey wrench and slammed it against lock three times. The lock snapped and fell to the ground. Artie pulled the door open and dipped his head as he said, "After you."

"Uhh, I don't think so. You go first," Russ said as he backed away.

"Wimp."

Artie stepped inside. "Woooo! Sheesh!" he exclaimed. The smell in the alley had nothing on the smell inside this first room. He pulled out his phone and switched on the flashlight.

They were in some type of office. The place was ransacked, and Artie was sure he'd see some critters scrambling about at any minute. A second light illuminated the room. He knew it came from Artie's phone.

"Man, I do not like it in here," Russ said, his voice shook.

"Me neither, so let's go see if my grandfather was telling the truth and get the hell outta here."

They approached another door, and Artie twisted the dusty knob. Both the knob and hinges squeaked and an even more rancid odor attacked them.

"Damn! Damn! You know? I think there is something dead in there," Russ said.

"C'mon. Let's see for ourselves."

A decrepit pulpit sat on the right, and rows of pews were laid out before them. Webs and dust were the only parishioners this evening. At least the only ones they could see.

Artie heard Russ's footsteps behind him as he navigated his way up the aisle.

"OUCH!"

"What?" Russ shouted.

"I stubbed my damn toe on something." Artie looked down. A face engraved in concrete stared back at him. He jumped.

"Shit!"

"What now?"

Artie pointed and said, "Look!" He heard Russ gasp. "Looks like my grandfather was telling the truth. Man, that a grave."

"Artie this is crazy. We should get the hell out of here."

"Nah, let's check it out a little more. Shine your lights on the wall over there. I want to see if someone is buried in it."

Russ followed Artie between two rows of pews until they reached the far wall.

"Damn! Look at that. There are people buried in the walls." The engraved faces stood as a testament to a past life. Artie stepped forward to touch it.

"Dude, don't do it!" Russ shouted.

"He's already dead, man. He can't do nothin'."

Before Artie's hand touched the wall, a ghostly face appeared. Artie lunged back and screamed."

"Dammit, Artie! I told you to leave it alone. I'm outta here!"

All Artie heard were Russ's footsteps skidding across the floor. Artie nearly tripped over a pew while his flashlight beam swept around wildly, illuminating everything except where he wanted to run. His beam caught another ghostly face, and he screamed. Russ screamed. More faces appeared with bodies attached. They came from the walls and the floor. Many more came from the floor beneath the pulpit. Artie caught up to Russ and pushed him toward the door leading back into office.

Inside the office, a ghostly preacher, with his arms outstretched over his head, appeared in front of them blocking their way to the rear door.

A mournful voice left the apparition. "My children. Come forth and observe the two new members of our flock."

Artie wanted to run, but Russ froze in front of him. The ghosts of the dead surrounded them.
"Damn! C'mon Artie. Keep running."

"I can't. I can't move. Something's got me."

"What? What do you mean something's got you?"

Artie felt something grip his arms and legs with a force he'd never felt before. He twisted and contorted as hard as he could, but he was being pulled down to the floor.

"Oh God! What's going on? What the hell is going on?" he screamed.

"Artie!" Russ screamed.

Artie watched the preacher lower his arms then kneel before both of them. Then with an eerie, gritty voice, it said, "My children, it's time you be baptized."

Artie screamed, "Noooo..." simultaneously with Russ.

Unseen hands held them on the ground and flipped them over so they stared at what was left of the ceiling. The ghostly figures clamored over them. Artie heard Russ crying and screaming while he continued struggling. It was no use. He was unable to stop what was about to happen.

Blank faces stared down at them. Then all at once, they all opened their mouths. From their mouths spewed a cloud of ashes that filled Artie's and Russ' lungs until they could breathe no more.