The Reluctant Widow final part

The old church was cold and comfortless as they sat before the altar in each others arms, waiting. Jenny was the calmer despite her knowledge of the approaching horror. It was her idea to go to the church. Simon had suggested they try to escape. Jenny’s look of resignation had scotched such thoughts. Where could they run to that Billy wouldn’t find them?
‘Simon, I don’t want to live in fear any more.’
So they waited in the dim light amidst the thick shadows, silent, still.
A sudden rattle at the church door startled them. They both leapt up, Simon instinctively standing before Jenny to protect her, heart pounding through his shaking body.
‘Reverend!’ Simon swallowed hard, relief almost knocking him over. Jenny crept out from his shadow.
‘John...what are you doing here?’
‘I might ask you two the same thing?’ The old clergyman sloped heavily to the altar carrying his cassock in one hand, a bible in the other. He showed no surprise at Simon’s presence.
‘I’m pleased to see you again Simon...but also sad.’ He gave Jenny a knowing look.
‘Billy is on his way.’ she said.
‘Just like Sam...I was afraid so. I saw the two of you by the graves. I couldn’t sleep after that. When I heard you going to the church I decided to follow.’
‘You’d better go back and fast,’ Simon said ‘Once Billy gets here it’ll be too late.’
‘I have no intention of leaving.’
‘Reverend be sensible. This is not your problem. Go back to your bed before you get hurt.’
‘Simon is right, John...there’s no sense...’
‘There’s every sense. Do you honestly think that I could turn away and leave you to your fate? This is God’s house and we are all his servants...’
‘This is no time for a sermon vicar. Don’t fool yourself that God is going to save us. He didn’t save Sam or Tom or Colin. Something cruel and destructive is out there and nothing is going to stop it.’
‘When Billy comes I shall be ready.’ Reverend Stones laid his bible on the altar then knelt in prayer.
He’s a fool, Simon thought. He believes that his God will come to the rescue...tell that to the poor souls out there...where was He when they were being mutilated? Something suddenly clicked in Simon’s mind...something which had been troubling him unconsciously since the night of Billy’s attack. Why wasn’t I killed?...because Jenny saved me...but why wasn’t she paralysed as with the others?...and why did Billy stay so far away from me? It’s as if his power was weakened...by the stones! It was no warning...Billy didn’t dare come near the grave stones of his victims...nor could he stop Jenny from rushing to me. The stones...they’re not beacons...
‘Jenny,’ he shouted. ‘We must get out of here.’
‘Where...there’s nowhere to hide.’
‘The glowing stones...there may yet be a chance to...’ Simon broke off as Jenny sank to her knees.
‘Too late! Billy’s here!’
There was a sudden crash as the church door splintered. Through the gaping entrance walked a stooped figure whose cold luminosity flooded the chamber, blinding them momentarily. At the same moment a chilling gust cut into them. Jenny cried out as she was forced to her knees. The steely light dulled to an ominous glow as Billy approached the altar. Simon recognised that tilted stare from his bulbous eyes and the torn rope around the broken neck. It was obvious that Billy had been a tall and lanky type, round shouldered and probably awkward in manner. Despite the danger he was in, Simon couldn’t help thinking what an incongruous figure Billy’s ghost was. Ungainly, forlorn, a sullen mouth etched onto his pasty face; it was easy to imagine the villagers enjoying a joke at his ravings. Dim old Billy all spittle and gust. They forgot the hate that can mature in such a hapless cauldron - enough to destroy his brother and lay waste to his bride’s future. This curious marionette from beyond the grave was murderous and now it was too late to stop him.
A curious smirk creased Billy’s features as he stood eye to eye before the vicar.
‘Long time since I was on this spot Rev’rend.’
‘You have no place here Billy.’ The vicar’s voice was firm, almost defiant.
‘Don’t fool me, rev’rend. You’re as scared of me as they are,’ he cried turning slightly to look at Jenny.
‘Remember Jenny, the last time I stood here. Spilled your lovely Tom’s guts...my know-it-all brother. Thought he could steal you from me just like the others. And now,’ he raised a menacing finger towards Simon, ‘it’s your turn. I’ll break you just like I did them!’
‘You have no place here Billy, be-gone!’ the vicar shouted.
‘Th’ look on your face Rev’rend, when Tom bled his last all over your boots,’ Billy laughed hoarsely, his half wailing voice grating on their ears. ‘T’was a picture, a right picture!’
‘In the name of God I command you to go!’ John Stones needed every ounce of strength in his ageing body to withstand the wave of malevolence washing over him.
‘God...now that’s a good ’un. All those Sundays you preached that Bible stuff at us. Tom believed it...you too eh Jenny? I didn’t. You were ’aving us on Vicar, there ’ain’t no God. Nothin’ out there but the wind...but I’m wastin’ time with chit chat.’ Billy moved forward but the clergyman barred his way.
‘Step aside Rev’rend, I ain’t got no quarrel with you.’
‘This God’s house. In His name I command you to go!’
‘I’m warnin’ you Rev’rend...don’t rile me!’
‘I was too weak and foolish to save Tom from your evil, Billy...but not this time.’ Vicar Stones snatched a small crucifix from the altar table and clutched it before him. ‘The Almighty God commands you to be-gone!’
‘You daft old sod.’ Billy’s head shook awkwardly in contempt. ‘Now just one last time vicar...get out of the way.’
‘Listen to him John.’ Jenny pleaded, still contorted by Billy’s power. ‘Go back...save yourself.’
‘Jenny’s right Reverend,’ Simon cried. ‘Get out of here. You can’t save us.’
The Reverent John Stones pushed the crucifix almost up to Billy’s face, repeating in a low determined voice, ‘Our Lord Jesus Christ commands you to go, evil destroyer, you will shed no more blood in this world.’
‘Be-gone!’
The clergyman raised the crucifix like a dagger and plunged it into Billy’s ghostly carcass, stabbing wildly into the misty form. Billy screeched as the crucifix tore at his essence but quickly rounded on his assailant, shaking the crucifix from the Vicar’s hand as he broke free.
‘You believe in your god,’ he wailed.‘Then go to him!’ Billy jerked his arm forward; from a pedestal close by the church door a long metal cross was wrenched loose, speeding through the gloomy air as if fired from a crossbow, slamming deep into the Reverend’s chest.
‘John...John!’ Jenny screamed.
Simon ran forward to help the old man but suddenly felt something knock him to the ground and pin him there.
‘Run Jenny,’ he gasped. ‘Run...if you can!’
But Jenny could not move. They both stared, horrified, as John Stones crumpled to his knees, then, with a low moan, onto his side, eyes already fixing in death, a last prayer washed away by the blood pouring from his mouth.
‘Oh God...please God, help him!’ Jenny cried.
Simon knew it was over for the Vicar...for Jenny...for himself. None of his efforts could lift the force holding him. He lay powerless, gasping in frustration as Billy crowed over the Reverend’s body then lurched towards Jenny, who stared wildly as he bore down, raising her with one arm by the throat.‘And you!’ he cried ‘You let him inside you...you filthy whore!’
‘Billy!’ Simon gasped, ‘Whatever you were or are, you loved her...
let Jenny live!’
Billy’s eyes blazed coldly as he stared at Jenny’s contorted face and her pitiful efforts to breath through his crushing grasp.
‘She ain’t my Jenny no more,’ he screeched. ‘Not with your filthy slime in her!’
His pasty hand tightened further, lifting Jenny from the floor. He’s going to break her neck, Simon wept inside. Dear merciful God...help me...to help her! He gritted his teeth, finding the strength from somewhere to raise himself, crawl to the pedestal supporting the large crucifix, praying that Billy wouldn’t stop him, stand up and fling his weight against it, aiming the mighty Cross at the murderous phantom. It hit him square, carving into Billy with a crack like a thunder clap. Jenny fell from his grasp, lifeless on the floor.
Too late...I’m too late!
Simon was suddenly free as Billy cursed, struggling to escape. There was no way to help Jenny now, only himself. He had to get out quick; run and keep running...but with Jenny dead what was the point? Let Billy have his revenge...end it here. A sudden wail fired his instincts, making him flee from Billy’s rising form. Away...away...out of the church...blinded by the dark...searching...searching...where?...just run...to the light...to Jenny’s beacons...not caring now if his hunch was right...without Jenny all was lost...let the dead light the way.
He stumbled towards the luminous stones, collapsing onto Tom’s grave, Billy’s wails piercing in his ears, not knowing, not thinking; nothing but an agony in his chest, Jenny’s sweet dead face in his mind and death looming over him, a giant rock in its hand, ready to crush the grief from him. Simon looked up at Billy, tall and tattered, ready to kill, and knew that it didn’t matter, one breath more or less. ‘I loved Jenny more than you ever could,’ he shouted. ‘I truly loved her!’
‘Never!’ Billy growled
‘It’s your game Billy...but we all lose. Perhaps I’ll come back to haunt you, you daft bugger!’
Simon smiled as Billy brought down the rock onto him!
He expected pain...blood...maybe real angels this time. Instead he felt an incredible surge of energy through his abdomen and, to his astonishment, a hand just as ghostly as Billy’s shot out of his stomach to stop the rocks deadly curve. The hand became an arm, then two, then a whole ghostly body raised itself through Simon, pushing Billy back.
‘Tom!’ Billy’s jaw dropped in disbelief.
‘I’ve waited a long time for this, Billy,’ his brother replied calmly.
To Simon’s bewilderment, two more ghosts emerged; one from Sam’s grave, another from Colin’s and took their place beside Tom.
‘You murdering bastard,’ Sam snarled. ‘Now we’ve got you.’
‘You don’t frighten me.’ Billy suddenly sounded like a petty thief, up before the judge. He tried to run but the others encircled him...there was no escape.
‘What you gonner do?’ His voice was shaky.
‘If you had any bones I’d break them!’ Sam snarled.
‘Easy Sam,’ Tom said. ‘We’ve all got a score to settle with young Billy.’
‘There’s only one place for a bad ’un like him,’ Sam continued.
‘What do you think Colin?’ Tom asked.
‘I think he ought to burn...forever!’
‘No...you can’t do that. You ain’t God!’ Billy squealed.
Sam pushed his face up close to Billy’s. ‘God don’t exist for toe-rags like you!’
‘But a place where you can fry does,’ Colin laughed.
Tom pushed in front of Sam and clutched Billy’s throat.
‘Now it’s time to really settle it...brother! What you did to me and the others...what you’ve done to Jenny. My fault in some ways I suppose. I never realised how sick in the head you were.’
‘No sense in wasting your words on that one,’ Sam growled, ‘Let’s put him down and have done with it. We’ve all waited long enough!’
‘I...I don’t want to burn Tom. You’re my brother, you can do something.
You said yourself it was half your fault.’
‘Enough of this clatter. If you won’t put this snivelling bugger down then I will!’ Sam grabbed Billy by the collar and dragged him off further into the graveyard.
‘Tom...do somethin’. He’s bloody raving!’
‘It’s time you were put where you belong,’ Tom shouted, following Sam and Colin. Simon crept behind them still not believing his eyes. The ghostly quartet stopped in the middle of the graveyard as suddenly a shaft of light split the sky then fanned out revealing...a flaming pit. Billy screamed as burning hands crept up his legs. The cries of agony from inside the pit were deafening, drowning out Billy’s sobs as the hands dragged him down...further...deeper...his victims watching over...until with one ear splitting screech he fell inside, and Simon’s eyes were blinded by a lightening flash!

When he regained his sight all was dark, still, as if nothing had happened. He stood up shakily, his head still reeling. Had he imagined it all? Was death playing another trick on him? He was cold and bleeding and...alive.
Jenny!
He ran into the church. The Vicar’s remains were as Billy had left them. He knelt down wanting to say a prayer for the kind old fool but words would not come, so he covered the body then walked heavily to where Jenny lay. He slumped beside her weeping.
‘Poor Jenny...my love.’
He bent over her face and kissed her.
She was still warm!
Gently, so gently, Simon raised her in his arms not daring to hope. The bruises on her throat were ugly and deep...how could she have...?
A weak moan escaped her lips.
‘Jenny...you’re alive!’
‘Simon?’
‘It’s over Jenny, Billy’s gone forever.’
‘Gone?’
‘Don’t try to speak now. You’re safe, you’re alive, that’s all that matters.

---------------------

In the dawn light, with Jenny safe in the care of Dr.Shorely, Simon went out to inspect the graveyard. Tom’s headstone was still in place but the other two were gone. He searched around, soon discovering that they had returned to their original spots. He walked back to Tom’s grave, gingerly running his hand over the loose soil - it was cold. He knelt before the stained headstone, exhausted.
‘Now you can truly rest in peace Tom Drayton...and you Sam and Colin. Jenny will be safe with me now. I’ll take her away from here. We can make a new start...a new life. And don’t worry Tom, I’ll love Jenny with every breath in my body...do my damnedest to make her happy...give her back the life Billy stole from her.’
Simon looked up to the spot where Billy had met his end. ‘A rather disturbing thought occurs to me...if I wasn’t dreaming last night then Billy really did go to Hell; and if there is a Hell, there must be a Heaven...and a God. If so, why did He put Jenny through so much pain? Why let Billy go on killing for so long?
I’m back with the same questions I asked when my parents died...maybe worse? A God I can deny the existence of, is a lot easier than a God who is really watching over us, but whose motives don’t make any sense. Perhaps by His reckoning, so much pain buys so much happiness? I just hope that He gives me enough time to heal all of Jenny’s wounds.’
‘Mr. Ashton?’
Simon saw a police constable approaching.
‘Yes constable?’
‘The inspector from Morton Town has arrived; he’d like a word with you.’
‘I can well imagine.’
‘You’ve quite a lot of explaining to do.’
‘I know. Well constable, you lead the way. I’m willing to tell the whole truth...though I’m not sure you’re going to believe it.’