Chapter 3
Steven hides behind one crypt, breathing hard since he was running only a few minutes before. He peeks around the corner, his eyes darting this way and that. Nothing moves. But he knows he saw something.
Steven had been inside his sixth crypt when he heard someone walking around outside. No one should be in Trinity Cemetery that late, and he locked the gate behind him. When he heard the sound, he grabbed what loot he could and quietly snuck back outside. He locked the crypt behind and looked around. He saw nothing until a shadow darted around a few crypts, headed his way.
Now he is cowering behind a crypt, seeing movement out of the corner of his eye constantly. Steven hears someone sneaking up behind him and he spins around to see… nothing. He shivers and decides it’s time to leave. He’ll come back another night to grab more stuff.
Steven makes his way towards the front of the cemetery, struggling to find the keys to the gate. He panics when he can’t find the keys. He drops the bag holding his loot and pats his pockets again. “No, no, no…”
“Steven, Steven, Steven.”
Steven looks up when he hears someone say his name in disgust. He looks up to see Father Miles standing on the other side of the locked gate. Father Miles holds up his hand and shakes the keys at him.
“Stealing from the crypts, Steven. You should know better.” Father Miles tosses the keys over the top of the gate, sending them into the darkness behind Steven. “I will give you a chance, Steven. Put it all back, find the key, and you can go. But if you don’t, well…” Father Miles turns and strides back to Holy Trinity Church. “I have night mass to lead.”
Steven drops to his knees and struggles to find the keys. He yelps when his knee hits a rock. He angrily picks it up and hurls it into the dark. Steven runs his hands over the rocks, grass, and sticks until his fingers hits something metal. He grabs them and laughs when he lifts the keys in front of his face. He jumps to his feet, grabbing the bag of loot, but stops. Hearing Father Miles’ words in his head, he stares down at the bag of goodies.
Deciding against returning them, Steven runs over to the gate, unlocks it, and pushes his way out. He races away from the gate, telling himself he needs to get to the house and then he will be safe. He glances over his shoulder, but he only sees headstones around him. The gate has vanished.
Steven slows down and looks around, seeing the crypts he has stolen from looking around him. He drops the keys and bag, covers his ears, and falls to his knees. A howling sound rushes through the Trinity Cemetery. A strong wind blows around him and he hears someone screaming in the breeze.
Put it back!Put it back!
Voices fill his ears and his mind, making the grown man curl into a tight ball on the ground. Steven can’t move.
