Dark Realms(7)

“Those men kidnapped us and broke the law,” I said. “You have to help us.”

“Save your breath, missy,” said the older man, his eyes hardening. “We ain’t lettin’ you go. Shit, if we did, our lives would be in danger. Now, get your butts moving so we can feed you, like they told us to.”

The fact that he was actually scared of the other two men wasn’t lost on me. “Take us to the nearest police station and we’ll all be safe.”

“We’re safe,” interrupted the younger man, scowling. “If you don’t start moving your butts, you won’t be. Now, git.”

Frustrated but relieved that we were leaving the barn, I followed the others, wondering if anyone was thinking about making a run for it. When we stepped outside into the fresh air, however, my heart sunk – we were in the middle of nowhere, just like on one of those freaky horror movies where there is nothing but land and a spooky old farmhouse, which we were now being herded towards.

“Don’t any of you try any funny stuff,” the younger man warned, walking behind me. “I’ll shoot any one of your asses from here to the cornfield.”

Feeling anxious and tense, I followed Anna up the rickety steps leading to the porch and entered the house with the others. As we walked into the foyer, the smell of cooked meat made my stomach growl.

“This way towards the dining room,” said the old man, leading the way.

As we walked through the darkened house, I noticed that the windows were covered with thick curtains and the furniture, which looked old and worn, had all been covered with sheets. It was definitely a house that didn’t seem lived in.

It made everything that much more eerie.

When we reached the dining room, we all stopped and stared in surprise at the long oak table, which held a large turkey and all of the trimmings.

“Wow,” said Amy, biting her lower lip. “Is this really for us?”

“Yeah, go sit down,” said the younger man, nudging me forward.

Stunned, I sat down and stared at the large quantity of food spread before us – turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, bread, and even a bowl of cranberries. My mouth began to water.

“What, no gravy?” mumbled Tara.

“Just shut your yap and start eating,” said the older man.

“This is just weird,” whispered Amy, sitting next to me. “Who kidnaps someone and then feeds them like this? I don’t like it.”

“I know,” I replied, wondering myself. It just didn’t make any sense.”

“So, now you’re going to poison us?” remarked Tara, sitting across from me. “Is that what this is about?”

“Nothing’s wrong with this food, girl,” said the older man. He leaned over the table and grabbed one of the turkey legs. “See,” he said, tearing at a piece of meat with his teeth. “It’s good,” he said, with his mouth full. “Now eat before it gets cold.”

“Who made this food?” asked Marie, sitting down on the other side of me.

“Never you mind, missy,” replied the old man, dropping strands of turkey from his mouth as he talked. “Just eat.”

“Why don’t you join us?” said Anna, staring at the younger man. “Obviously there’s enough food here for an army.”

“No, we’re just supposed to make sure you eat,” he replied, although he was staring at the food hungrily.

“Well, I’m not eating any of this until I know it’s not poisoned,” said Tara, folding her hands under her chest. “I’d rather die from your gun than get poisoned by potatoes. Would be much quicker.”

“Go on, Darnell,” said the older man, picking at something between his teeth. “Dig in.”

Darnell bit his lower lip. “Well, if you think we won’t get in any trouble, Clement…”

“Hell, we’re gonna get in trouble if they don’t eat,” said the old man. He tossed the turkey leg behind him and wiped his hands on his overalls. “Now, grab a plate of food and show them that the food is fine.”

Darnell wasted no time. He took a plate and began filling it with heaping portions of food, and then sat down at the other end of the long oak table, his gun close to his side.

The smell of the food was really getting to me and my stomach growled loudly again.

“That’s good enough evidence for me,” said Marie, grabbing a plate of her own as Darnell began shoveling food into his mouth. “I haven’t had this kind of food since my grandma died years ago.”

I stared at the food hungrily, but the niggling voice inside wouldn’t let me grab a plate.