Carmen expected to have some exotic ritual when she returned to meet the ghost, this could be the best thing ever to do in these boring times. Yet, she had the arduous duty to ask the butcher for a bucket full of blood, something she knew that the old man would meet with severe doubt.
“Blood pudding, eh?” The butcher touched the tip of his nose. “I knew your grandma was Irish, but I didn’t know the old gal had it in her.” He smiled a very big smile that threatened to split his face in two.
“Yeah, yeah, blood pudding, that’s what the blood is for.” Carmen couldn’t believe her luck, she didn’t even need to invent an excuse for her request of blood.
“I assume you need fat as well.” The butcher ran behind the plastic curtain at the back of his shop. “And if you are rather fancy, some ground meat as well.” He called loudly from the back of the shop.
Carmen repressed a squeal of joy, this couldn’t have gone any easier. “Yes, two pounds of fat and a pound of meat, please.” It was all too easy, that ritual must get seriously exotic or she would be in for the disappointment of a life time, just like the time she stole those brownies with Eric the son of the local preacher from under Mrs. Miller’s sink, thinking that they were pot brownies was exciting. They later found out that they were regular brownies and Mrs. Miller the one who used to hide them under her sink had a serious case of diabetes and she did this to escape the scrutiny of her daughter and her concerns for her mother’s health.
That ritual better deliver, or that ghost would be in a world of trouble.
The carried her newly purchased items and trudged back to the old road, all the time thinking of the ritual she would perform to release the ghost, who insisted that it would save the world.
she arrived at the old gothic building and called. “Hey, ghost guy, I have the things you required.”
The ghost materialized at the edge of the fence. “Good, good, and we have four hours to spare.” He rubbed transparent hands and laughed. “Finally, I can fulfil my mission.”
“Unfulfilled business, eh?” Carmen winked at him, and he just sighed. “Now what?” Carmen looked at him expectantly.
“Now pour the blood at the base of the fence, and stomp through the mud it would make thirteen times.” He made a hastening sign with both hands.
Carmen was glad that the ritual didn’t include cooking blood pudding, and the thing with the number thirteen must mean something magical, may be the ritual would not disappoint her after all.
She performed the first and seconds steps according to what the ghost demanded and turned to him. “Next?”
“Next smear the fat on the fence and the tree branches beside it, and step back fast once you are finished.” The ghost looked behind him continously as he spoke, as if he was expecting something to happen.
Carmen shrugged and sighed, she would definitely end up with greased pants and sweats, and those were her best pants, the ones with all the sequins and glittery stones. She rolled up her sleeves and started to do just as the ghost demanded.
The moment the fat was finished, the ghost screamed at her, “Step back! Now!”
Carmen jumped back in fear and looked around her expecting the earth to erupt or the sky to fall on her head any second.
A minute passed, then another, and yet another. Carmen felt the tension going out of her body and felt embarrassed to have jumped fearfully back, I her jump and fear, she did wipe her hands all over her pants. “Now—“
Before she could finish the word, a long and shrilling howl resounded from the very stones of the earth under Carmen’s feet, and a rumbling followed as if a herd of buffaloes were running at her. Carmen fell to the ground and covered her head as sand or dirt started to rain over her from some place in the heavens. She cried in fear as the howling intensified.
Then everything went quiet, and for an entire minute nothing happened. Carmen rose to her feet to find something that looked like a dog but with a very long snout eyeing her curiously.
“Well met guardian of the earth.” The ghost bowed to the dog. “We summoned you for an urgent matter.” The ghost signaled for Carmen to come closer. She hesitated for a few seconds then approached the dog, which started to growl once she crossed the roots of the tree. The ghost signaled for her stop. “Carmen, please give his majesty the gift of dead flesh.”
Carmen looked stunned for a moment then realized the ghost was talking about the minced meat, this was the best ritual ever she stifled a giggle. She pulled the minced meat bag and opened and placed it in front of the dog.
The dog opened its long snout and for a horrific moment, Carmen could see an endless pit where his teeth and tongue should have been. Before she could express her fear, the meat disappeared and the dog sat on it hunches.
“Speak mortal.” The sound came from the dog, Carmen stepped back in shock. “What do you need of me?”
“Just for you to open the passage fully, as I am stuck between the realms.” The ghost fell to his knees and signaled for Carmen to do the same.
“I see.” The dog approached the kneeling ghost and sniffed at him. “But you are not of this realm and you need a conduit to accept you in here.”
The ghost looked desperately at Carmen, and she realized what he wanted to ask of her. It took her but a second to decide, after all, the ritual was too exciting to let go of without finishing it. “I am of this realm and I accept him.” Carmen faced the dog with a raised head and firmly placed feet on the ground, and let might come, come.
If you liked this story, be sure to check the prior parts of this series: The old Road, part 1, The old Road, Part 2 and The old road, Part 3, The ghost.
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