CHAPTER SIX

  Two days after arriving in town Leland sat in the town’s center park where a beautiful water fountain sprayed water up and out over the tub of the wishing well. There were rows and rows of beautiful flowers planted around the outside of the water fountain’s brick wall and tall Weeping Willows trees that edged the outline of the city’s park. Long marble seats and bench sat all around the interior of the water fountain foundation.

  He sat relaxed underneath one of the trees that had provided shade from the hot sunlight as he watched the people move about the town. There were farmers stopping in at the Farmer’s Seed and Hardware store which was owned by Hank and Hazel. They had first established the store back in the early Sixties and every farmer of housewife who love to plant flowers or grow and garden came to gather their supplies. From what Leland had gathered everyone adored the couple who were planning their Fiftieth wedding anniversary. Rumor had it that Hazel was wanting to sell the store, retire to Florida where their daughter and grandchildren lived, however Hank was not willing to give up the store, not yet anyway.

  He had his first plan in mind and he needed to watch and wait a day or so longer before he made his move. That did not mean he was not ready to lay his ground work for what was to come. Everyday according Mr. Kratz Hazel came to the park alone just for a break and lunch. It was Mr. Kratz summation that Hazel needed to have some separate time away from Hank since he no longer communicated with Hazel about retirement.

  It was the perfect moment for Leland to begin his game of influencing the citizens. The noon hour had arrived and sure enough in a few minutes past mid-day Hazel made her way over to the water fountain and one of the marble benches taking a seat. She opened her carry insulted lunch bag and remove a plastic container filled with a salad. She took her cool water out, poured her dressing over the salad dressing over the green leaves and veggies, opened up her crackers and began to eat alone.

  Not wanting to interrupt her lunch Leland sat patiently, watching her throw bread pieces to the pigeons that to flocked around with gently grace. Hazel was a plain, unadorned woman who was short, rather round in the middle with her graying hair piled up in some sort of a bun and a long knitting needle pin stuck through the middle of the bun holding it up. For the most part Hazel was nothing special to look at but her caring of those awful pigeons said a lot about her heart. Leland could tell she was a pleasant woman which would be easier to insert those thoughts of overly disappointment about her husband right into her soul.

  There was nothing that would stop Leland’s next move as it was essential for the beginning of the downfall which was to come. He timed his move exactly spot on as he waited for her finish her lunch before he stood up walking towards her. He strolled slowly towards where Hazel continued to set still tossing bread pieces to the birds. Just as soon as he approached her the pigeons immediately flew off not because he interfered in Hazel feeding them, but because the birds could sense the darkness that encompassed Leland.

  “ The pigeons seem to love your presence.” He said as he looked down into her eyes seeing her sadness. He had come at the right time today in order to influence her. He was by all definitions excited to see her sorrow.

  “ Oh hello. Yes, the pigeons are always waiting on me. I suppose because I’m one of the few people that feed them.” Hazel replied with a light giggle. “ Are you visiting our little town?’ she asked quizzically.

  Leland faked a grin answering,” I’m here sightseeing I suppose. I’ve never been to this part of America.” He lied to her.

  For a second she looked away with a sad, lonely expression in her eyes. It was easy to see that Hazel was hurting and she didn’t exactly know what to do to resolve that feeling. Final she cleared her throat and began, “ Once a long time ago I loved this town. When we first came here, we had so much hope and excitement at what we wanted to do. You know in the beginning it was an adventure, you know, starting our business, being able to help people with their farming needs or gardening woes. But now,….” She hesitated, looking back down at the ground going silent.

  Leland knew this was his queue to interject his darkest thoughts, “Why the change of heart? Has everything soured after too many years of caring for everyone else’s needs but your own?” he asked in a calm tone.

  From that point forward Hazel had the need to just tell Leland everything that had been building up for the last three years. She didn’t know why, but she believed she could confide in a strange man that she had never meet before. It was the strangest thing but she was so comfortable talking and sharing her story with this odd man dressed all in black who resembled a skeleton more than a real man.

  After an hour of chatting and explaining her position Hazel felt empty in her mind and soul. She had not had a chance to talk to anyone in this town about her situation and feelings. There was no one that she could trust not even any of the women that Hazel had thought to be her best friends. Each of her girlfriends were taking Hanks side about not selling the shop and moving, but of course she out of all of the women in town she was the only one who’s child and granddaughters lived out of state. She knew she had no one to trust and it broke her heart.

  With a quiet voice Leland spoke his words leaving the impression he had hoped for, “Sometimes it would be more beneficial if Hank just wasn’t part of the story anymore. You know if Hank was gone,” he stopped to let that sink in before he continued, “ I mean really gone, for good, you’d have everything. What would stop you from leaving then?” he posed the question.

  Hazel turned to look directly into Leland dead dark eyes as though seeing the implications of his words clearly knowing that she had dare to think about the consequences of this action. She spoke as though caught off guard by his suggestion, “ What? Do you think me capable of harming Hank or anyone else? How, absurd sir.” She protested.

  Before Leland could go further with his thoughts they were interrupted by Hank’s loud and bellowing baritone voice, “ Hazel, what on earth are you doing? How long did you plan to be away from the shop?” he inquired glaring at Leland’s presence.

  Without any emotion Leland lifted his thin neck upward to stare deeply at Hank’s tall frame giving a little smirk as he spoke,” Why you sir must Hank, Hazel other half.” He let his words trail off without any concern for the man standing so close to Hazel.

  “ How right you are sir and you, whom might you be?” Hank inquired rather sternly.

  “ I’m called Leland sir, servant and emissary of the one true master of all things. I’m quite harmless as I was just enjoying the park and a very interesting conversation with your lovely wife. No harm meant.” Leland explained with a rather calming tone that was so precisely smooth no one could possibly take offense.

  “ Right, well, Hazel you’re needed back at the shop. If you please, let’s get back to our business.” Hank replied taking Hazel arm and pulling her to her feet. “ I hope you enjoyed your conversation with my wife, but if you will excuse us, we have a business to run.” Turning very quickly from Leland gaze he tugged at Hazel forcing her to go with him whether she had wanted too not.

  As Hank waited to cross the street to head back to the hardware store he leaned over and very carefully whispered to Hazel, “ Don’t ever let me catch you in the park speaking to another man, especially that weird stranger. What would all of our friends and business associates think if they saw you conversing with a strange man in public. Hazel really, must I go with you everywhere?” he sounded in her ear with irritation.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Hazel turned her head looking slightly back over her shoulder where Leland continued to sit and watch her. She could think of at least a thousand reasons why she should end this relationship for good. The words of the stranger had hit home and brought to her mind all of the years she had spent in the shadow of man whose sole purpose was to own her and all the money he could hoard.

  Leland watched as Hank the bully and Hazel the mouse walked back to their shop. He smiled as he spoke out loud to himself and his master’s all-knowing spirit,” So, the games begin. Hazel and Hank, piece one and two. The game is set. Now all I need is push the pieces in place and let the hell fires spark the fire of purge.”

  Leland stood and made his way back towards the hotel. All he needed do now was to throw the kindling onto the small ambers of the fire and stand back and watch the flames consume the lives of yet again another small town from nowhere.

  The beast was hungry and soon it would begin to feed as the feast of life was before it and only hell could abate the flames.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  The Sun was shining so very bright in the mid-day sky as the Hershel High School football team stood on the field to begin practice. Leland had managed to make his way all the way over to the field taking a seat on the metal seats. He watched in amusement how excited these young boys at the thought of smashing into each other all for the sake of a game that would mean nothing in less than a year.

  He never understood the draw of sports, any sport for the sake of winning. What difference did winning a game that could lost the next time out and easily replaced by just one disaster? History was full of floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wild fire, automobile deaths and people just killing each other at a phenomenal rate every day, so why the thrill of winning a sports game that had less effect on human kind, he thought.

  This expenditure of physical strength and time actually meant nothing in the end. It will never bring world peace of feed the hungry. Sports would never give anyone comfort in a time of tragedy or bring back the dead. Leland thought of this of particular type of involvement by humans was a pure waste of a life.

  Leland’s keen eye spied exactly the one person he had hunted on the field. Troy was the young team coach who had only recently been appointed to his new leadership position. Troy had graduated from Hershel High School as the quarter back. He had been offered a scholarship to the largest college in the state and he accepted going on to receive his education degree in history and sports applications.

  When it came time to fill the position of Head coach for the football team Troy had been the only choice that made sense. It was this interesting link to not only the high school that had drawn Leland to Troy, but also the fact that his sweet, darling of a wife none other than Becca from the hotel was a part of this hickey little town.

  Nothing intrigued Leland more than two sweethearts that were thought of as “ The Golden Couple”. The couple that every one bit on to success over everyone else. He could smell the sweet kindness as it became overbearing and sickening to him.

  His next step in his work plan started here as this would become the seed to spreading the darkness slowly, smoothly, exposing all of his maddening destruction within the school confinement. This could be some of Leland’s best work to date. He stood up knowing exactly how he would proceed from this point forward.

  There would be plenty of time to begin the process of his plan. Each step had to be calculated very carefully so as to insure not one single person went untouched. He knew his job well as the numerous of years had taught him the patience, he needed to be one hundred percent accurate.

  The dark clouds of destruction would cover every person no matter their wealth or age. For the master would have his feast and in one swift motion of his mind he would decimate the entire existence of Hershel and its people in the town of nowhere America.

  “The gates of hell are wide open as the darkness spews out to consume all things.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  The highs school football team had finished their days practice and one by one the young students began to file out and load up to go home or where ever they meet up afterwards. Troy was the last to load up his truck readying himself to head home. Leland strolled with his easy steps towards the truck where Troy stood putting equipment in the bed of his blue Ford 150 truck. He wasn’t expecting anyone to be around and was slightly startled when Leland suddenly appeared as though from nowhere.

  Troy jumped a little as Leland spoke, his voice soft and not so appealing,” So, you must be Troy the head coach?” Leland said almost hissing the words as he looked directly at Troy.

  “ That would be me sir. Can I help you?” Troy inquired back feeling uncomfortable at the very start. He wasn’t sure why but his senses were in high alert as he looked straight into Leland’s dark empty eyes.

  “ I’m Leland, a business man and entrepreneur of all sorts. I meet your wife, Becca at the hotel were I’m staying.” He managed a fake smile hoping to give Troy a sense of security.

  “ Right. You’re a guest from out of town. I believe Becca mention you last night. I hope you enjoy your stay in Hershel.” Troy said trying to be polite even though he now understood why Becca had told him that Leland made her feel uneasy. He was feeling that same vibe as well.

  “ I’m just taking a little tour you might say. Trying to see exactly what the flow of Hershel is and how everyone moves about, you know from a business point of view.” Leland responded thinking that his answer sounded more business-like.

  Troy didn’t reply to Leland’s explanation as he opened the truck door and pulled himself up to set down. He glanced again to Leland only saying,” Well, welcome to Hershel sir. I hope you find our town welcoming and comfort. We do our best to be an open door for all visitors. Maybe Becca and I will see you around. Do be safe.” He said as he pulled the truck door closed and turned the key to start the truck. He was eager to be on his way and far from the weird tall man dressed in all black.

  Troy couldn’t exactly put his finger on it, but every sense in his body was telling to separate himself from this man and as quickly as possible and that’s exactly what Troy did. Only watching Leland in his windshield mirror Troy sped out of the parking with the desire to put as much space between him and the man in black as possible. He would warned Becca later on tonight to stay away from this stranger as much as she could.

  As the truck pulled out of the school’s parking Leland stood and watched with curiosity. He knew immediately that he had un-nerved  Troy with his presence. That didn’t matter in the scheme of things to come. Leland had a need to get close enough to sense Troy’s deep seeded feelings that Troy had thought he had buried. It was those deepest feelings of insecurity, doubt and reservations that Leland needed to hone in on in order to complete his next phase of the plan.

  Everything that would come hinged on gathering the deepest, dark, hidden secrets within the person’s heart and soul. Turning to leave the school’s grounds he would make his way back to his hotel room. There he would take a small meal, rest and think about what he had learn so far. Leland wanted to make sure he made the necessary notes that would assist him in getting things in their proper order. He did not actually have a time line to follow, but he had always found that the sooner he could implement the plan the sooner he’d be on his way to the next “ Nowhere” city to begin again.

  Sitting quietly in his room Leland cut his fried chicken into pieces and scooped up a spoonful of buttery mashed potatoes. He chewed his food slowly, taking every bite of the very well-seasoned poultry. Tasting delicious food along the way of his journeys had always been the one favorite upside to his work. People loved their food and how different each part of the states went about seasoning certain food items actually gave him joy. It was the only good thing left to him after so long of life span.

  Plenty of thoughts ran through Leland’s mind as he reflected on what he had already discovered about a few town’s people. There was a plan already formulating in his over active mind. He knew where he needed to start, but to ensure that his plan was completely covering the entire town and its people he would have to gather more intel. Perhaps he would make his way to some of the smaller shops and companies tomorrow. That way he could gather more intel from a different point of view. He loved to mingle amongst all sorts of people from each town.

  With a beginning plan started to reveal itself and the confidence to go out and explore more of the people and business Leland felt secure that he could rest for the rest of the day. He would begin to make his plans and tomorrow he’d add a little more to his strategy.

  All things considered Leland felt more confident that his master would be well pleased. Another town that had wrapped itself up the goodness of their hearts where nothing bad could ever invade their peaceful, blissful, happiness would fall, bowing to the darkness that had once been the beginning of all time.

  Leland would bring these hopeless saved people to their knees and there they would see the greatest divine power of things. His master would show them just exactly who was really in charge of their fate.

  “And the beast will rise to consume all good things and start again.”