Angela's Revenge

Angela’s Revenge

By Leslie Johnson

I stared at it - that crack in the sidewalk. It wasn’t there yesterday. But today there was a split in the concrete from one side to the other. I walked over, squatted down and ran my finger along the gap. It was rough but not sharp. I knew it was probably just a flaw, even when a shudder ran up my spine. I stood and moved back, still staring at the blemish.

            Bryce and I followed the instructions implicity. I was diligent, just like my dad when it came to DIY projects. Then I remembered a story he had told me one night not long ago. He wanted to build that sidewalk and I wanted to resurface the living room floor. 

My heart palpitated wildly in my chest as I recalled the memory. It was late at night. I lay wrapped in his arms as he talked about what his crazy mother had done. She had conjured a beast from below with her wicked magic he had told me seriously. He thought she had sealed in under the ground before she died, but he wasn’t sure. He thought a sidewalk would act as security - just in case. 

I sat up - looked him straight in the face and burst out laughing.  “Alright - we will do the sidewalk before the floor. Sheesh. You are such a baby.  Besides, your mother is still alive and I don’t think she’s even a little crazy.”

Now, I wasn’t so sure. There was something there and  - IT - wasn’t happy being locked beneath the surface. I shivered. What was I going to do? I called Bryce.

            When he answered, I whispered, “There’s a crack in the sidewalk.” 

            Silence.

            “Did you hear what I said?”

            Silence.

            “Bryce - are you there?”

            “Yes, I am here. What do you think it means?”

            “What do you mean - what do I think it means - are you serious? It’s your story… remember your mother…”       

“Okay, hang tight, babe. I’ll be home in an hour. I’ll check it out then. In the meantime, just chill and stay inside.”

            I hung up the phone and paced the floor. But I had to look again. I had to make sure it was still there. I walked to the back door and looked out at the sidewalk. The crack, was now a chasm. My heart stopped for a second and I nearly fell to the floor. 

            Turning, I ran to the phone and dialed Bryce again. “It’s grown, Bryce. The crack is twice as big as it was when I called you fifteen minutes ago.” I shrieked into the phone. “You have to come home now.”

            “Stay calm, Elly. I’ll be right there.”

I put the phone down slowly, afraid to leave the connection to the outside world. Then stealing myself for what was coming, I walked to the backdoor and looked out at the sidewalk again. One half of the cracked portion of sidewalk was upside down. Dirt and debris littered the bottom and I could see something moving in the freshly turned earth where it once lay.

My legs started shaking as my heart quivered. With trembling hands, I reached out to lock the door. The solid click of the bolt slamming home was small comfort. I needed to get out before that creature got free.

Panic rose and shortwired my brain. I ran around in circles looking for my purse, my cell phone and the keys to my car. By the time I was ready to leave, I could hear scratching at the back door. A little scream escaped my lips and I flew to the front door and yanked it open.

Down the steps I sailed, my bare feet barely touching the ground. I pulled open the car door, slipped inside. As I started the engine, I locked the doors. Throwing the car in reverse, I began backing out of the long driveway. Before I reached the street, Bryce pulled in behind me. I honked my horn, gesturing wildly for him to get out of the way. 

I watched him climb slowly out of his car and walked toward me. I rolled down the window, yelling at him to move his car. He kept walking toward me. I was bouncing in my seat, screaming and gesturing like a woman possessed. Bryce reached the car, placed his hands on the window ledge. Then he leaned inside and turned off the ignition. The locks automatically disengaged allowing him to pull the car door open.

“Come on, Elly. Get out of the car.”

I stared at him. Get out of the car? Didn’t he know what was back there? Surely, he wasn’t stupid enough to imagine we could conquer whatever it was that crawled out of the ground.

“Get out of the car, Elly. NOW!”

Frustrated at my immobility, he grabbed my arm and dragged me out.  “She’s come back for you, sweetheart. That’s why I need you.” He gripped my arm tighter, hauling me up the stairs and into the house. The scratching at the back door was louder, more violent. I tried to pull away but Bryce wasn’t letting go. I swung my arms wildly, trying to break free. He hit me with such force, I fell to my knees.

“Behave. She promised she would come back but I only half believed her. I thought the cement would keep her where she belongs. You are the only one she can take - she wants the one who wronged her. Since you were the other woman....”  He trails off leaving me with a million questions.

“Who are you talking about, Bryce? Angela - your ex-girlfriend? You told me she moved away. Oh gawd, did you do something to her?”

He didn’t answer as he ripped the cord off the nearby lamp and tied my leg together. I was too stunned to fight.

Once I was incapacitated, Bryce unlocked the backdoor and threw it open. He moved away, back into the living room so he could view the carnage but not be part of it. The beast shuffled in, grunting and snarling. My skin crawled when I caught sight of her. I tried to wiggle away but I only managed to fall over, where I was more helpless. Bryce laughed. “Stay put, Elly. It will all be over soon.”

Rage burned in my veins. If I could get loose, I was going to do some serious damage to that man. The beast got nearer and the stench of her made me gag. She drew up beside me, her dead eyes staring into mine. With surprising strength and dexterity she bent over, pulling me up. Holding me against her rotting flesh, she continued to walk into the living room, toward Bryce. He was smiling at her - at us. 

I tried to squirm out of her grasp, but she held tight. Drawing near to Bryce - he winked at her. “Hello, Angela. You look a little worse for wear, babe.” And that’s when it happened.

One minute she was holding me tight against her chest, The next, I was face down on the couch, listening to Bryce shrieking. The smacking of lips and the tearing of flesh was the only sound coming from across the room. The silence when it came, wasn’t welcome - it meant she was done with Bryce and I was next. 

I could smell her but I couldn’t see her. I felt her bony fingers touch the skin above my ankles. I shrieked and pulled my legs away. She grabbed hold and pulled them back. I kicked and struggled, but she held fast. I was soon out of breath and still she hung on. I went limp, hoping she would make it quick.

The wire around my feet fell away and soon my hands were free as well. I lay face down waiting for her to do her worst. The smell drifted away and I finally turned to see what was going on. 

I was alone. The house wasn’t destroyed, there was no blood or damage where Bryce had been sitting. I got to my feet and went to the back door. The sidewalk block was back in place. The only evidence to show I hadn’t dreamed the whole thing, was the disturbed dirt on top of the grass on either side - where the crack in the sidewalk marked her place.