The Halloween party had reached its peak when Matt looked up and saw his girlfriend, Heather, looking at him with an impish smile from across the room. Dressed in a ladybug costume which consisted of a ballooning red top with black dots, black tights, red sandals, delicate wings, and cute little antennae, she looked as sexy as a young woman could while showing almost no skin. He knew her look meant she had something on her mind, so he smiled back and was about to go to her when a friend pulled on his shoulder, demanding his attention.

“Let’s go,” she whispered into his ear a few minutes later.

Her voice startled him, as his focus on the football discussion had kept him from realizing she was near. However, her husky, urgent tone delivered a clear message and with a quick nod to his buddies, he took her hand and headed towards the door.

“Am I going to get lucky?” he asked, with a laugh.

“You’re always lucky,” she replied and then grabbed his shoulders and pulled him into a passionate kiss.

When they broke, she practically skipped to the passenger door of the car, looking both sexy and a little silly in her outfit.

Matt was a first-year grad student in mechanical engineering, while Heather was a senior marketing major. They had met fourteen months earlier and had been living together for the last eight, with plans to marry in the spring. The young coed was a slender 5’7″ 124 pounds blond with green eyes, C-cup breasts, and long shapely legs. She wore her hair shoulder-length, which helped highlight her delicate neck, and she had plump, juicy lips made for kissing. Matt was thrilled to land such a beauty, and his devotion was evident, which often drew chuckles from his friends who declared him “whipped.” They were an active couple, which kept their bodies in great shape, and they shared the same outlook on life.

Matt started the vehicle and pulled onto the street, but not understanding her intent, he looked over and asked, “Where are we going?”

“Cemetery,” she answered, and he could tell she was trying hard not to laugh.

“Uhhh… okay. Why?” he responded, knowing it was probably going to be something strange.

“I’ve always wanted to do it in a cemetery. Plus, it’s Halloween,” she answered.

“Oh, Dear Lord. Let’s just go to the apartment. It’s cold out,” he countered.

Heather could get a little wild at times and more than once he had been a participant in one of her games. Fortunately, while sometimes risky, they had always ended well for him, so he didn’t push back too hard.

“C’mon… live a little,” she replied in a sultry voice and leaned over and ran her tongue over his ear.

“Which one,” he asked, feeling his body shudder.

“Let’s go to the one at the end of Sycamore street,” she said.

He vaguely recalled the place, remembering it as a rectangular property that ran for several blocks between parallel streets, with parts densely wooded which made it seem dark even in the daytime. It took them ten minutes to arrive at the corner, and along the way, Heather’s wandering hands and light kisses kept him entertained. Her excitement transferred to him and as they slowly drove along the long wall looking for an entrance, he became eager, too.

“There,” she called out, and they could see a small pedestrian gate fifty yards ahead.

“Park here I guess,” he said and pulled over in front of the entrance.

“Is it open?” she asked.

“Wait here and I’ll check,” he replied and quickly left the car.

The gate had a rusty latch, but it operated, and with a loud squeak he pushed it open as his girlfriend jumped from the vehicle. Within five steps, most of the ambient light from the street faded and they had to strain to make out objects. It appeared they had stepped right into the central part of the cemetery and in every direction, there were plots, some bordered by paving stones, with a variety of headstones, varying from simple to opulent.

“Let’s explore,” Heather said and pulled on his hand.

“What are you looking for?” Matt laughed, as he thought they would just do it in the grass.

“I don’t know,” she giggled.

As they scooted through the tombstones, the young grad student wondered what reaction they would get if they ran into someone. With Heather in her ladybug costume and him in a homemade pirate outfit, he thought they might appear as some otherworldly forms. Further ahead, they could see the knee-high monuments transition to larger structures, and after crossing an access road, they entered a section that had several mausoleums. They walked through the edifices and soon spotted an interesting one made of dark granite. Heather pulled on his hand and after a few steps, he realized her intent.

“We can’t go in there… it… it wouldn’t be right,” he said when she arrived at the gated entrance.

“See if you can open it,” she said, ignoring his comment.

“You want to do it inside? In there?” he asked.

“Yeah…” she answered lustily.

Part of the reason Matt loved Heather was because of her spirit, but this time he thought she might be going too far. Still, he stepped up to the metal bars and saw that the gate was already open an inch.

“It’s open…” he informed her, and then asked, “Are you sure?”

Heather stepped next to him and with a sigh, he gave the gate a push. It swung open easily and with just a few steps, they were inside. It was very dark, but they could just make out that there were two crypts on one side, stacked one over the other, and against the opposite wall was some kind of waist-high stone table. In his mind, it would have been appropriate to learn something about the people whose space they were violating; at least a name and how long they lived. However, Heather had other ideas and with no preliminaries, she started pulling down her tights quickly revealing her near-perfect ass. When they were at her knees, she leaned over the table and pushed her bottom out. He could see her tight little pussy, smooth and shiny between her toned legs, and it made his balls tighten.

“C’mon, hurry… before we get caught,” she giggled.

Despite his misgivings, the offer was too good to pass up, so Matt worked his jeans free, released his aching shaft and moved into position.

“Shit…” he groaned when he felt her hot and very wet opening.

“Ummm… yeah, baby… take me…” she groaned.

Her words, let him know she was ready to play submissive, which in this setting set him off. Within seconds, he was pounding against her ass, reveling in the squeals of pleasure spewing from her mouth.

“Damn, Heather,” he groaned.

“Fuck me… fuck me good,” she demanded.

“You’re on fire,” he grunted.

“Yeah… C’mon… faster… do it faster,” she demanded.

Matt knew he wouldn’t last long and hoped his pretty girlfriend would achieve an orgasm before he let go. Grunting openly in time to the rapid rhythm of his thrusts, he took her, wishing that she didn’t have the costume on so he could maul her wonderful breasts. Soon, small whimpers started coming from her that rapidly grew in intensity. Her excitement drove his higher, and he had to use all his willpower to hold back, but it was short-lived, and with his balls boiling and ready, he let loose.

“Uhhhh… shit, Heather… I’m coming… uhhhh… uhhhh…” he let out as he expelled his semen.

Suddenly, a strange feeling seemed to permeate his body, which at first, he thought was from his climax. However, he soon recognized it was different and the hair on the back of his neck began to rise. At the same time, a strange glow began to emanate from behind them, which he knew had no place in the small enclosure. Then, all at once, his fight or flight response overcame the sex and he jumped for the door pulling on Heather’s arm as he moved. There was a blinding flash as he fell outside, and the next thing he knew, he was rolling in the pea gravel trying to get his bearings.

“Wow! That was amazing!” Heather said a few seconds later as she stepped from the mausoleum.

The inside of the structure was once again completely dark and an eerie silence seemed to envelop the entire area. There were no night sounds, and even the wind seemed to have disappeared. Matt still felt something strange, like a nearby presence that caused him to look in all directions. He spotted nothing, and when he turned his attention back to Heather, he could see that she looked fine. Her tights were back in place and she stepped towards him and helped him from the ground.

“What happened?” he asked, truly confused.

“We had great sex,” she giggled.

“Something… there was… something happened,” he replied.

“Yeah! You got too excited and fell down when you came,” she laughed, and then continued with a sultry voice, “Let’s do it again… right now.”

“No… let’s go home…” Matt replied, still shaken by the experience.

“C’mon, baby… once more,” she whispered and pulled on his arm.

“No…” he started before she interrupted.

“Yes… now! I want to do it again. In there! Don’t be such a damn baby,” she said in a loud voice.

In all his time with Heather, he had never seen her act in such a manner and it concerned him greatly. In truth, everything about the past few minutes was disturbing and he knew that they needed to get out of the cemetery as quickly as possible. All the way to the car, Heather pleaded with him to go back for more sex, but the harder she tried, the more he wanted to go. Finally, they were in the car and driving towards their apartment, and the entire way, she looked at the floor with an angry expression.

There was another argument at the apartment where once more she expressed her desire to return to the cemetery. When he rejected her again, she stormed off to the bedroom, leaving him alone on the couch. He knew that something wasn’t right, and his mind churned but failing to make sense of it all and feeling drained, he fell back and entered a troubled sleep. Several times, he awoke, and on each occasion, he could hear sounds from the bedroom that indicated that Heather was still up.

Mid-morning, while drinking coffee, she approached him again about the mausoleum. It seemed that she had become totally fixated on the place and tried again to convince him to return. She repeated her attempt several times in the afternoon, and on each occasion, when he declined, she became very agitated.

At seven that evening he left her and went to his office at the college where he worked for an hour before leaving for a bar. She had tried once more to convince him to go to the cemetery and this time when he refused, she went ballistic. When he had to dodge a shoe, she launched his way, he reached his limit and decided that he needed space. He turned his phone off and didn’t return to the apartment until after eleven, finding it empty. Checking his messages, he saw she had tried to call him nine times and left three voicemails. Listening to them, he learned that she was trying to be conciliatory, so he tried several times to reach her, but his calls went unanswered and he finally fell asleep in front of the TV.

The next morning, when Matt woke, he found Heather asleep in bed. Evidently, she had returned sometime in the night and left him on the couch. He was sipping coffee and checking the news on his laptop when she appeared in her fluffy white robe. After pouring some coffee for herself, she sat down at the table.

“I’m sorry,” she said in a soft voice.

“Okay… are you okay?” Matt asked.

“I’m fine. I… I said some things and I’m sorry,” she responded.

Heather reiterated her apology several more times and continued to tell him she was fine, but he wasn’t convinced. There was just something about her, something he couldn’t quite pin down, that wasn’t right. However, rather than press and risk another argument, he remained quiet.

For the next few weeks, they went about their lives, but Matt couldn’t shake the feeling that something had happened to his girlfriend. There was nothing visible, no wound or scar, but she was acting differently. The normal Heather was lively, adventurous, and occasionally a little wild. Now, he saw a reserved, calm, almost brooding woman. Also, there was the matter of their lovemaking. They had not had sex since the night in the cemetery, which was not normal, as the young woman libido had always been equal or greater to his own. Twice, he had tried to initiate something, and on each occasion, she had demurred.

Matt sat in his office looking at his computer screen, trying to work, but Heather consumed his thoughts. No matter where he started, he always came back to the night in the cemetery and the weird experience in the mausoleum. There was the bright flash, and he wondered if maybe lightning had struck them. However, there were no storms that evening and neither of them showed any physical damage. The hours slipped by as he tried to piece together a scenario that made sense, and finally, he decided he needed to go back to where it all began and see if he could learn anything.

When he arrived at the cemetery, the sun was setting, and knowing he had little time, he parked in the same spot and retraced the step they had taken to the mausoleum. Once there, the first thing he noticed was the firmly locked gate. He peered through the bars hoping to spot something that would provide a clue, but it was difficult to see in the growing darkness.

“Hey! What are you doing? Get the hell away from there,” a voice yelled out.

Startled, he turned to see an old man in workman’s clothes, carrying a rake standing several feet away. He was slight, with longish hair, and a scowl that made the young man wonder if he ever smiled.

“Do you work here?” he asked.

“Of course, I work here. I’m the groundskeeper,” he replied.

“Can you tell me about this… this crypt?” the young man asked.

There was a short pause, and Matt sensed the man was concerned before he replied, “No… don’t know nothing about it. You need to leave. The cemetery is closed.”

He nodded to the old man and walked back to his car with a strange feeling as if something ominous permeated the area. However, being a well-trained rational thinker, it was difficult to accept feelings over facts. There had to be an answer, and in his experience, it usually turned out that it was a simple one. Over the next few days, while watching Heather closely, he tried over and over to deconstruct and then reconstruct events hoping something would emerge. In the end, he remained frustrated as nothing seemed to connect.

“Sir? Can we talk?” Matt called out to the groundskeeper.

Two days had passed and he had decided to return and see if he could convince the man to talk. From the prior encounter, he sensed the man knew something, and he had found him tending a small plot not far from the mausoleum.

“What? What do you want?” he replied.

“I’m interested in learning about that mausoleum,” he explained.

“I told you I don’t know anything about it. Now, leave me alone. I got work to do,” he said.

“Please… I just have a few questions,” Matt begged.

“Why? Why is that place important?” the old man demanded.

He looked at the man and tried to think about the best way to reply, but after several seconds, he just let it out, “My girlfriend and I went in there and something happened.”

Instantly, the man’s eyes shot open and a look of near panic filled his face, “What happened?”

“I… I don’t know… I’m trying to figure it out,” he replied.

“When were you there?” the groundskeeper asked the student.

“Halloween,” Matt responded.

“You were there on Halloween? Early or late?” he asked.

“Late,” he replied.

“Did you go inside?” he asked.

“Yes…” the young man admitted.

With that, the old man looked down at the ground and didn’t speak for a long time. Matt was just about to ask if he was alright when the man stood and approached him.

“Come with me,” he said.

The groundskeeper led him through the cemetery towards a collection of old buildings. As they grew near, Matt could tell that they were work sheds and around them, several vehicles sat parked. At one end of the longest shed was a simple door with a light over it, and when they reached it the man took out a key. The duo stepped inside a simple living space that looked to have a small bedroom and a combined living room and kitchen. It was functional and the young grad student wondered how many years the man had called it home. Near the sink, was a half-full quart of bourbon, and the man went straight to it and poured a healthy amount into two glasses.

Although not a drinker of hard liquor, Matt took the glass thinking he might need it. The old man piddled for a few minutes as if he was trying to avoid the discussion, but finally dropped into a chair and motioned him to do the same.

“You said you were in the mausoleum late on Halloween. Was it before or after midnight,” he asked?

Matt thought about the question and the timeline that fateful evening and finally answered, “I’m not completely sure, but I would guess after.”

The man nodded his head and then said, “I think you are right because the key date for that place is November 1st, not Halloween.”

“What’s going on? What’s it all about,” he asked.

The old man ignored his question and said, “Tell me what happened… everything… don’t leave nothing out.”

Matt didn’t want to explain what he had done with Heather, but he knew if he balked the man would likely go silent. Plus, something inside told him it was important he tell the man all the details. So, he explained what had transpired and how they had been having sex when the strange feeling and flash occurred. He told the man about coming to outside the structure and his girlfriend appearing, looking unscathed but not acting herself.

“That’s it, I think,” he said when he finished.

“The gate was unlocked?” the groundskeeper clarified.

“Yes… unlocked and open a few inches,” he replied.

“Where was your girlfriend when y’all were inside,” he probed.

“She was uhhh… kind over the thing on the left… the table,” he replied.

“That gate hasn’t been left open in all my time here and that ain’t a table, it’s an altar,” the old man said.

His words made Matt very frightened and he had to force out his words, “Please tell me… tell me what you know.”

“I’ll tell you. After what you went through and what you will go through, you have a right to know. But I don’t want you interrupting. So, you just listen,” the man said, and when Matt nodded his acceptance, he took a sip of his whiskey and started, “I moved here about sixty years ago… took this awful job all those years ago. The reason I did was that something happened with my brother and his wife out here. In that mausoleum to be precise. He was an architecture student at the college and he liked to sketch things that caught his eye. I was staying with him and his wife at the time. You see, he practically raised me since our daddy died young and our mother was always sick. She died young, too when I was just sixteen.”

The old man stopped his story and took a drink of the liquor, and after setting the glass on the table, he just stared at it.

Matt let the seconds turn into a minute before he decided the man needed prompting, so he said in a low voice, “Okay.”

The groundskeeper looked up at him and started again, “Anyway, he comes out here with his wife, her name was Dorothy, his was Frank, to sketch that mausoleum that he had spotted. It was November 1st and a pretty nice day. When they get back later, I can tell something ain’t right. I mean they looked fine and all, but something just wasn’t them. I started asking if they’re alright and at first, they say they’re fine and then they start getting mad that I’m asking. The more I’m there the more I see it really ain’t them and before long my brother tells me I need to go. Says I’m upsetting his wife. Let me tell you that my

He stopped again and looked at the young man, but this time rather than wait, Matt nodded and said, “Okay.”

“I start looking around it and I tell you from the start something felt strange. Something I still can’t explain, a feeling… a dreadful feeling. So, I took out my knife and shimmied the lock. Went inside and looked around… and… and… I’m down on my knees looking at the bottom crypt and I swear I hear my brother’s voice.” he explained.

“His voice? What do you mean?” the young man asked, unable to hold back.

“Yes, his voice and I ain’t lying. I heard it, but it scared me and I left. But I came back and heard it again,” he replied.

Matt looked hard at the man wondering if he was crazy or perhaps was having fun at his expense. However, he looked truly sincere and a little frightened, so he decided to hear him out.

“Go on,” he said.

“You know that mausoleum is… nice. Well built… good stone. It’s why my brother wanted to draw it,” he said, then stopped in thought for a moment before continuing, “I looked into the… inhabitants. Found out they died in a car wreck on November 1st, twenty-three years before.”

“So, what’s it mean?” Matt asked, suddenly wanting a simple explanation.

“Let me finish,” the man said, and before the young man could respond, he started again, “It took me a long time to accept it because it was just too strange, but I think that couple took over the bodies of my brother and his wife. They put their souls in the bodies and locked my brother’s in that vault.”

“That’s impossible,” the young man stated.

“I know it sounds crazy and if someone told me I’d tell them they were crazy, too. But I lived this for a long time, and when my brother died, I couldn’t hear his voice anymore,” he said.

“When the man you think took your brother’s soul died,” Matt tried to clarify.

“That’s right… that’s what I’m sayin,” he responded, and when he saw the look from the young man, he added, “I know it sounds crazy. You can believe it or not. I don’t give a shit.”

“So, if I go out there… and go inside. I can hear my girlfriend? Hear Heather?” he asked.

“All I can say is that I heard my brother. Sometimes I could communicate with him, but that was rare… like less than a dozen times. Only twice did I think I heard his wife,” he replied.

“How do you get inside?” the young man asked, remembering the locked gate.

“I had a key made… long time ago,” he said.

Silence enveloped the two men as each became lost in thought. Matt was not a believer in the paranormal, in fact, he thought it silly. Thus, he struggled to accept the story of the groundskeeper. In his normal way of thinking, the old man was either disturbed or suffering from dementia. However, there were two things he couldn’t shake. First, the man seemed completely sincere. He didn’t feel he was being played, so the man might be crazy, but he wasn’t underhanded. Second, he knew in his heart the young woman that shared his apartment wasn’t his Heather.

“I’d like to go… I mean can you open it for me? I’d like to hear her. Then, I’d know… really know…” Matt suddenly said.

“You sure you want to?” he asked, and when the student nodded, he took a large set of keys from his pocket and set it on the table. It looked like he was about to rise, but he dropped back into the chair, looked at the young man and said, “Hold on for a sec. We need to think about something first.”

“What’s that,” the young man asked.

“Why they didn’t get you,” he replied, and then continued with, “You said you felt something and tried to leave?”

“That’s right. It was a strange sensation and then a glow or something. I turned to leave and tried to pull Heather but… I guess…” he responded.

If there was any truth in what he was hearing, then he realized he had failed to protect the woman he loved, his future wife, from the clutches of something profoundly evil. The thought caused him to choke and shake his head with disgust.

“Don’t think about it that way. How the hell were you to know. And what if you didn’t get out? You’d be trapped in there, too, and no one would know,” the old man said, and after a brief pause added, “But, something tells me you shouldn’t go in there.”

“So, I don’t get…” he started but wasn’t sure how to phrase the event.

“No… no, I’m convinced that there is something special about November 1st. The research I did long ago said it was some kind of special day for evil shit. Plus, that couple died on that day. I don’t know if there was a connection or if it was chance, but I don’t think they can do the trade except on that day. No… what I’m thinking is it’s best if they don’t know you know. It’s better, for now, that way,” he explained.

“I… I, really… I really have to see if I hear her voice,” the young man said.

The old man stared at him for a few seconds and he could see a softening of his expression as if he understood the need, finally, he replied, “Okay, but don’t say anything… just listen. No talking no matter what you hear.”

The man stood, followed by Matt, and together they left the small apartment and made for the mausoleum which was only a short distance away. On the walk, the young man thought about what he had learned and with the cool air clearing his senses, he wondered if he was being stupid. He had just heard an unbelievable story and now he was walking with what might be a very disturbed individual to a crypt to try and listen for his girlfriend. He thought about just breaking off and heading for his car, but at this point, it just seemed easier to finish things out.

The key entered the lock and the old man quickly opened the gate. Suddenly, the strange feeling the young man had felt on Halloween night came rushing back, and every hair on his body stood on end. The groundskeeper put his finger to his lips, repeating his warning and they stepped inside. He watched as the man knelt before the crypts and then motioned for him to do the same. They became still and save for a gentle breeze moving through the trees, there was no sound. The seconds ticked by but the old man remained motionless in a manner that Matt sensed must have come from practice. They were there so long that his mind began to drift, and then, suddenly, he heard it. It was barely audible over the wind, and at first, he thought it might be something the breeze was affecting, but it seemed different and he noticed that the old man had heard it, too.

The man’s arm grasped his wrist, nodded downward, and lowered his head until it was just off the floor. Matt followed, and now, he could hear a voice. It sounded like it was a whisper from down a long hallway, but it was there and it was clearly female. The words were hard to make out, but he thought he heard a “where” and a few seconds later a “who” and then he heard the voice say “Matt.” It took all his willpower not to scream in reply, but he recalled the warning from the old man and suddenly, it made sense.

The grip on his wrist tightened and looking up, he could see the man nodding towards the entrance. He desperately wanted to stay and listen to Heather, but he was wise enough to know that he was deep into uncharted territory and needed to learn more. They quietly backed out and after closing the gate, they went back to his quarters.

“She’s there… in the vessel,” he said as soon as they were inside. He went to his whiskey, and after a quick drink, he added, “This shit still freaks me out… after all this damn time.”

Matt was too numb to drink, but let the man settle before he asked, “Vessel? What do you mean?”

“It doesn’t mean much, I guess. I couldn’t figure out how to describe it so I named it the vessel. Seems to fit,” he explained.

“What do I do?” Matt asked.

“I don’t know… I really don’t. I thought about it all the years and never came up with an answer. I took this job almost fifty years ago to figure it out and never did. They took my brother’s life… stole his life from him and I couldn’t figure anything out,” he replied, looking like he might break down in tears. The young student was about to ask another question when the man started again, “They lived right here. Imagine that… right here in this town. It didn’t take them long to figure out I was suspicious and once they knew I was on to them, they wouldn’t talk… I went forty years living close to a man that was supposed to be my brother. The world thought he was my brother and we never spoke. He died ten years ago and his wife six. Like I told you before, when he died… I never heard my brother’s voice in there again. I guess there is an end to it…”

“But they stole Heather,” Matt said.

“Yeah… I guess they want someone else’s life now… starting all over. I should have knocked that goddamn thing down. I thought about it after Frank was gone… I didn’t do it… I should have…” he said while looking into his glass.

For the next few minutes, they sat in silence. Matt could tell the man was morose from reliving the experiences of his time in the cemetery. He wanted desperately to determine something he could do, something actionable that would result in progress.

“Did they have kids… the ones that stole your brother,” he asked, thinking he might be able to learn something from their offspring.

“No… none, and when they died in the car wreck there were no kids, neither. I learned that much,” he replied.

“I have to do something,” the young man spat out in frustration.

The groundskeeper looked at him with sympathetic eyes and said, “You get on back and let me think. It’s been a long time and I’m getting old so I’ll try to remember everything I learned. Remember this, do not let that woman know you’re on to her. It’s important, now. Somehow, you got out of their grip and that’s different from my brother. Need to think what that means.”

“Can… I… get her back?” Matt asked.

He needed to hear encouragement, so when the man answered, his knees almost buckled, “She’s probably gone. We’ll try, but she’s likely gone.”

“What’s your name?” he asked the groundskeeper after staring at the ground for a few seconds.

“Gus… names Gus. Yours?” the man replied.

“Matt…” the young student responded.

He left with the understanding he would return two weeks later. It seemed like a long time to him as he wanted to do something, take some action to fix things, although he still wasn’t entirely sure he knew what that meant. The man’s story was just so incredibly bizarre, and even though he heard, or thought he heard Heather’s voice in the mausoleum, it was still hard for him to accept.

As soon as he returned to the apartment, he started to surreptitiously watch his girlfriend looking for any sign, no matter how small, that would indicate that she wasn’t the real Heather. There was nothing overt, but he did note that she spent more time in the bedroom reading than before, and showed only a passing interest in the TV shows she typically enjoyed. Also, there was the sex, or lack of it, as she seemed indifferent. Matt, feeling it would be an act of betrayal if his girlfriend’s soul really had been captured, didn’t push, so when he returned to the cemetery for his meeting with the old man, the young couple had not made love since the fateful night.

“Come on in and have a seat,” Gus said as he opened the door.

Matt had been concerned about how he would react when they met. He wasn’t sure the man was altogether stable and thought he might not remember meeting him, or even worse, have a violent reaction. However, his relaxed body language and balanced expression indicated recognition.

“Thanks,” he said and went to the same chair he had used before, and after pouring two cups of liquor, the man joined him at the table.

“What happened? How’s she acting?” he asked, immediately jumping to the purpose of the meeting.

“It’s hard to explain,” Matt started, and then paused to collect his thoughts before continuing, “It looks like her, she dresses mostly the same, eats the same, but there is just something different.”

“What’s different?” he asked.

“She’s distant. Spends a lot of time in the bedroom by herself… and… you know… there is no sex,” he explained.

“No? Nothing since the last time you were here?” he asked, and when the young man nodded his head, he followed with, “That’s not normal I guess is what you’re saying.”

“No, it’s not normal. She… my Heather… is usually very passionate,” Matt replied.

“When was the last time?” the old man asked.

“The night… that night…” he responded.

“Shit… that ain’t good,” Gus said, and before he could reply, the man added, “She don’t want you… she wants him I’m guessing. Her man… the one still in there.”

“I… you know… I got to say… I feel the same way,” Matt said.

“Yeah, I got you… but… you can’t have her thinking you’re on to her. You’re going to have to do it so she doesn’t get suspicious,” he told the student.

Matt looked at the man for several seconds, and then replied, “It will be weird… like cheating…”

“Maybe… but the worst thing that can happen right now is for her to find out you’re on to her. That wouldn’t be good… not for you… and, especially, not for her… in that vessel…” he responded with a somber expression.

“Okay,” the young man finally replied to break the silence.

“She’s going to plan something. That’s for sure. But whatever happens in that mausoleum I think can only happen on November 1st. So, you got until then…” he explained before his thoughts trailed off.

“She tried to get me to back inside… for more sex,” Matt said.

“When?” Gus fired back.

“Right then. When she came out of there she wanted to go back inside and do it again. She got mad when I didn’t and then when we left… I mean later she kept wanting to go back,” he replied.

“Yeah… cause it was still November 1st. She had all day and wanted her husband out of there. If you’d gone back in, they’d of had you. You’d be in there like your girlfriend. Stuck like my brother and his wife, he told the young man.

The message sent a shiver through Matt as he thought about how close he’d come to transferring in the macabre scene. However, as he continued to contemplate the outcome, he realized that at least he would have been with Heather.

“Can’t she find someone else? Another guy?” he asked.

“I don’t know really… it’s a good question. Maybe there is something because y’all were a couple… maybe that means something,” he replied, and after several seconds of silence, he added, “She’ll likely try with you again next time… next November 1st, but I don’t know after that. Maybe she’ll move on if it don’t happen.”

They entered a period of contemplation that lasted for several minutes. Matt wondered if he could live with the woman, knowing the truth, especially with his girlfriend locked away in what the caretaker called the vessel.

“Did… uhhh… do you know if your brother and his wife…I mean… did they know they were together and did they at least have that?” he asked, needing to break the silence.

“They knew about each other… they did. I know that for a fact because Frank talked about her sometimes,” Gus answered as a look of distress appeared on his face.

For the next hour, they talked about the situation and traded thoughts. The caretaker went on to explain how his research years ago had uncovered little about the couple other than they were wealthy from unknown sources, extremely private and considered exceedingly strange, especially the woman. Also, even though they were only in their 40s when they died, they had already constructed the mausoleum.

“That’s all?” Matt said when it looked like the conversation was coming to an end.

“Oh, I forgot one thing. There are some strange carvings along the ceiling in there. I got some pictures of them one time and tried to figure out what they meant, but didn’t get anywhere. You can take them if you want,” he said and handed over a manila envelope.

The young man opened it, scanned through twelve numbered photos, and then looked up and asked, “They go in sequence?”

“Yes, and the first is just to the right as you step inside,” he explained.

Matt nodded and then looked at the caretaker and asked, “Did you ever get married? Kids?”

“Nahhh… spent all my time on Frank… all those years…” he answered.

“I want to go inside and hear her again,” he said.

“I went in and listened a few days ago. She’s still there. I heard her and she was a little easier to hear. She’s confused,” Gus said, and before Matt could respond, he added, “I don’t recommend you go. If they find out about you, it could be bad for her… and you…”

“Look… I’ve got to… I just… do…” he replied while staring anxiously at the groundskeeper.

All day, he had been thinking about the meeting and the opportunity to listen to his Heather. Part of his desire was to confirm what he thought he heard last time, but the most compelling reason was his need to stay close to the woman he loved. He viewed it as a simple act of solidarity, like a hospital visit for an injured person.

The old man repeated his concerns about the idea, but when he realized Matt wasn’t swayed, he shifted to reiterating the need to remain silent. Then, they went to the mausoleum, used the key to enter, and dropped to their knees beside the crypts. Like before, there was an eerie silence, broken only by the sounds of the gentle breeze whispering through the trees, before the muted sound of a female voice reached the student’s ears. It sounded as if he was hearing only one side of a conversation, and the words were so faint that he couldn’t make out their meaning, but he would have bet everything he owned that it was Heather speaking.

“That’s Heather… I know it’s her,” he said excitedly when they were safely away from the structure.

“Yes… yes, it’s her. No question,” Gus replied.

“I know it’s her, but I can’t tell what she’s saying,” Matt fired back, and then added, “Could you understand?”

“Yeah, it’s hard. Takes practice,” he replied, and after staring into the young man’s hopeful eyes for several seconds, he continued, “She was talking to the man in there.”

“What about?” he asked.

“She’s still confused… about where she is… who he is…” he lied.

“Shit… poor Heather… shit! I’ve got to get her out,” Matt declared.

They returned to the groundskeeper’s apartment and talked for a few more minutes, but Matt felt detached as he couldn’t take his mind off his girlfriend’s voice. Finally, he pulled himself from the chair and with a frustrated sigh, announced his departure. Gus showed him to the door, and when he disappeared into the night, he turned back to his drink. He thought about the evening and their visit to the mausoleum. As the minutes ticked by, he wondered if he had done the right thing by keeping the information from Matt. He liked the young man, especially his determination, but he knew he was still coming to grips with the reality of it all. No, he decided, it wasn’t the right time to tell the young man about the pursuit of his girlfriend by the demon that shared the vessel.

The visit to the cemetery affected Matt so strongly it took him several days to recover. His schoolwork was suffering from his lack of focus and he worried that the woman possessing Heather would sense something was off. Finally, knowing he would be of no help to his girlfriend if he didn’t gain control, he decided to sit down and work out a plan. It took him several hours to think it through, but finally, he finished. In truth, it was nothing more than a simple daily roadmap, but he felt empowered now that he had something formal as a guide. There were three primary focus areas; his schoolwork, his interaction with Heather, and the research he wanted to do on the demonic couple, building off Gus’ efforts.

brother and I were very close and he would never do that. Dorothy wouldn’t either. It just wasn’t in her nature. So, I start digging into things and I end up out here. You know the whole purpose of the day was to sketch that place, so I decide I’ll start there.”

That evening, he approached the woman and suggested they make love. At first, she tried to demur but remembering the warning from the groundskeeper, he persisted and finally, she consented. It was awkward, and although Matt felt he was cheating on the real Heather, he forced himself to put on a display of affection. He felt similar vibes from the woman beneath him, who sighed and moaned throughout the session at all the right moments, although her responses lacked true passion. The most surprising moment occurred when he felt his balls tightening, signaling an impending climax. Before he started, he thought it impossible, but it wasn’t long before his release arrived and he grunted repeatedly as his semen shot forth. Afterward, the woman disappeared into the bathroom and stayed there for so long that Matt finally went to watch TV.

The encounter started a once a week sexual routine always initiated by Matt. Although much less than normal, it seemed acceptable to the woman and fulfilled the need of the grad student to demonstrate his ignorance of the truth. Their daily routine was similar, as both went through the perfunctory motions of a loving relationship while remaining partially detached. In many ways, he thought they were like actors on stage, performing for the world, and in their case, each other.

Matt had a small file that he kept safely locked in the desk of his campus office filled with the notes he had made, the photos Gus had given, and other information he had uncovered. When he had some free time, he would pull it out and pour through the material like a detective with a cold case. Like Gus had warned, so much time had elapsed that he made no progress in trying to uncover information on the mausoleum or the couple. Finally, he turned to the photos of the wall marks, and for several weeks, he did exhaustive internet research trying to find some clue that indicated their meaning or source. It proved fruitless, and in frustration, he was about to give up when the idea struck him to seek out experts in the field that could possibly provide guidance. That task turned out to be more difficult than he expected, and only when he decided to follow a paganism route, did he start to make progress. A week later, he had the names of four specialists located in the general area. It took numerous phone calls and the transmission of the pictures to these individuals to determine that two were basically charlatans and one was just plain nutty. The fourth held promise, but was reluctant to become involved and it took all of Matt’s persuasive skills to finally get him to agree to a meeting.

Dr. Gerald Humphries was a professor of religion at a small private college about an hour’s drive away. On his way to the meeting, Matt thought about what he wanted to learn from the man and how much to share.

“Hello, Professor Humphries?” he asked, knocking on the partially opened door.

“Yes, and you are Matt I presume?” he answered.

Based upon the man’s voice, he had expected someone older, but he guessed he was only in his early forties. In addition, he had an average build with a full head of dark hair and wore jeans with a pullover sweater. They moved to a small table in the corner, and when seated, the professor looked at him expectantly.

“Professor, I hoped we could talk about the photos I sent you in more detail,” he started, and after a pause, continued with the story, “I ran across these… carvings… in an old mausoleum. It’s decades-old and I found them intriguing. I’m really trying to find out their meaning.”

“Yes, I understand. You explained that on the phone. I’ve really told you all I know already. As I said, they appear to be representative of some… religious sect… which is not uncommon in this region. Especially, from the time period you mentioned,” he explained.

Matt had sensed he was holding back on the phone and now in person, he was certain of it. While articulate in his response, he showed some nervousness in the movement of his eyes and hands. Fortunately, as a grad student, he understood the ego of academics which guided him in preparing his response.

“Well… gosh… that’s disappointing. My research, which included talking to others in the field, led me to you. You were clearly head and shoulders above the others, so I was hopeful…” he said, after a pause added, “I mean if you don’t know… I guess it’s a dead end.”

If the professor felt the ego-stroking embedded in his words, it didn’t show. Instead, his eyes narrowed as if he were deep in thought. Matt remained silent, waiting for the older man’s response, that took over a minute to appear.

“Look, Matt. Let me be honest with you. My sense is these figures are related to some strange cult, but as a serious academic, getting involved in these types of things is poison. I don’t want my name to show up on some bizarre website, which believe me has happened to others,” he responded.

“Professor, I’m doing this for myself… and… look we’re just talking. There is no paper trail,” he told the older man.

Once again, the professor became quiet, and Matt could tell his brain was churning before he finally answered, “I recall seeing similar figures years ago. They were… found… in a similar setting… that’s all I remember.”

“But…” he started, wanting to clarify the message.

“I’m sorry. I need to get to class,” the professor interrupted.

Professor Humphries showed Matt out and he went straight to his car. While he drove, he contemplated the information and decided it just confirmed their suspicions. Nothing the professor said was specific and he fully expected that the mausoleum had a connection to some strange order. Unfortunately, it had been the only lead that had shown any promise, so he felt depressed that he lacked anything tangible to work on. He decided it was time to meet with Gus again, but with his current commitments, he knew it would have to be later in the week.

He arrived at the apartment just before six and he could tell something was up as soon as he stepped inside.

“You’ve been away a lot. Kind of acting weird,” Heather said while giving him a strange look.

Instantly, his defenses went up and he picked his words carefully when he replied, “I’ve just been busy with things. I’m sorry, sweetie.”

“Okay…” she responded, but he could tell she was still concerned.

Matt moved behind her, wrapped his arm around her waist and forced himself to say, “You want to make love later?”

“Do you?” she asked, with the same odd expression.

“I do,” he answered, and then stepped away.

His senses told him she was suspicious, but he didn’t know why she would be. Regardless, he was worried his look might give him away, so he decided to separate and regroup. He spent several hours on his computer, pretending to work while thinking about what he had learned and the many months that would pass before November 1st returned. In truth, they were really working on a theory. However, it was all they had and at least it provided guidance towards an outcome. In the interim, he had the challenge to maintain the façade of being a loving boyfriend of the woman possessing his Heather.

“Let’s go to bed,” he said to her as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Okay…” she answered.

Quickly, they were naked beneath the covers and Matt began to suckle gently on her nipples. They tasted the same and hardened instantly like they always had. Even her sighs came at the right moment, but the young man could tell that her responses lacked depth. Still, he carried on and entered the woman and then made love to her slowly.

Minutes later, Matt lay on his back, panting with the woman’s arm across his chest as he recovered from his release. He felt intensely guilty for becoming excited and ejaculating into her but rationalized that it would help maintain the illusion. Her hands began to stroke his chest and moved to his face where after a moment, she turned his head her way.

“Let’s get married,” she said softly.

“Heather, we are getting married. We already agreed…” he replied, but she cut him off.

“I… I mean now… right now. I don’t want to wait anymore,” she responded.

“Why?” he asked, trying hard to remain relaxed.

“I just do…” she said, and before he could answer, she added, “We could go to the courthouse. We don’t need a fancy wedding.”

The message was another sign that the woman in the bed was not his girlfriend, as the real Heather had been very excited about a large, traditional ceremony. He wasn’t sure what was driving the demon’s request, but he knew he needed to buy some time.

“Let me think about it… think about the right time,” he said.

She wasn’t happy with the message, although, after some more discussion, she accepted it. A few minutes later, she left the bed to clean the kitchen and Matt used the solitude to think about the next steps. Deciding it must have significant meaning, the young grad student knew he needed to visit Gus and discuss the situation.

“Matt, this is Professor Humphries,” the voice said through his phone.

He hadn’t expected to hear from the man again, so it took him a moment to gather himself, “Yes… Professor. How are you?”

“I’m good… quite good. I wanted to reach out to you on that subject we recently discussed. I mean, if this is a good time for you?” he said.

“It’s fine… fine…” he confirmed.

“Look, Matt, I went back through some old notes and did some quiet digging. Now, none of what I’m about to tell you is confirmed… it’s more like… rumor and suspicion. From the information and sources, I would say that the markings are representative of a cult like we discussed. But there are some oddities. Most of these groups… the cults… seek out, members… try to expand, but in this case, it appears to be very closed and secretive. Also, there are strong signs that point to the participants being people of means…wealthy individuals. They were active during the time period we discussed and then simply disappeared as if it was a single generation oddity.”

“I see,” the young man said, and then quickly asked, “What was their… mantra… their belief?”

“That’s very hard to determine. No one has decoded the meaning, although some of the figures have been used before. So, that’s all there is to go on. If we use that as a basis, they were a dark group. Satanic worshippers in the simplest sense… very dark.”

There was silence as Matt contemplated the message. He knew the question he wanted to ask but was concerned that it would make him look silly or worse, make him appear to the professor as exactly the type of person he was trying to avoid.

“Professor… uhhh… I don’t want to sound like a nut case, but… uhhh… when you say dark… I mean could it be like defeating death? Resurrection?” he finally forced out.

It was several seconds before the academic answered, “Yes, I think that’s possible. If you’re asking if these symbols had the purpose of… uhhh… seeking resurrection… I think that’s entirely possible.”

The phone call lasted a few more minutes, although they discussed nothing more of substance. Matt asked the professor if he could follow-up with him in the future, and although reluctant, the man agreed.

Matt knew he needed to be extremely careful with Heather, so it was another week before he was able to find some time to visit the cemetery groundskeeper. It was windy and raining as he made his way through the cemetery, which added to the creepiness he felt as he coursed his way through the stone markers. He wished there was a way to contact the old man beforehand, but still expected to find him when he arrived at the small apartment. As it turned out, a light in one of the sheds alerted the young student and when he went to investigate, he found Gus putting away some tools.

“Gus?” he said from the open door.

Although his back was to the opening, the interruption didn’t startle him and turned he slowly turned towards the student. From his expression, it almost seemed like the old man had expected him, which sent a chill through his body.

“You got some news?” he asked.

“Yes… I think so,” Matt answered.

He expected the old man to guide them to his living quarters and pull out the whiskey as he had on the previous encounters. However, he remained still and looked towards him with an expectant expression.

“Tell me… get it out,” he finally said when he saw the student fumbling.

“I… I guess there are two things,” he replied and after a pause to take a breath, he continued, “I talked to a man… a professor who is an expert on marking like those in the mausoleum. That’s one thing. The other is that Heather… the woman… wants to get married.”

Matt went on to explain in detail all that had occurred, including his trip to the nearby college to meet with the professor. The groundskeeper showed keen interest throughout the description, interrupting occasionally to ask clarifying questions. Their discussion lasted for almost twenty minutes, and then they became quiet as they contemplated the meaning.

“That professor… those markings… I think he must be right,” the old man finally offered.

“I do too… but I’m not sure what to do with the information. I mean, does it really change anything?” he asked.

“Need to think about it some more,” he answered, and then added, “Does mean that they were ready. Prepared for death…”

The words sent a chill through the young man and he replied, “I hadn’t thought about that. Shit! That mausoleum is like a trap… designed to attract attention.”

“Yep, that’s what I’m thinking, too,” Gus said, and after a brief pause, he continued with, “And the woman. Something’s worrying her. Maybe she thinks you’re drifting on her. You been acting normal?”

“I… I thought so,” he answered, although he knew he was only doing the minimum.

He was still thinking about his interactions with the woman when the man said, “Now, I got some news for you… and it ain’t good.”

“What?” Matt asked nervously.

“Yesterday morning, I saw a young woman leaving the area near the mausoleum. What’s your girl look like?” he asked.

The young man fumbled with his phone, but within a few seconds was able to pull up a photo of Heather. He turned the device in his hand and stood quietly as the man looked her over.

“Well?” he asked impatiently.

“That’s her. It’s her for sure and it ain’t good. It probably means they’re communicating and that can’t be good,” he responded.

“Can they hurt Heather? My Heather?” the young man asked.

“I don’t know… I really don’t,” he replied, and then added, “If they wanted to hurt her, they could have done it by now, so either they can’t or she ain’t a threat… or they need her…”

“Need her for what?” Matt fired back.

The older man thought about the question and realized there was another consideration. Maybe, it was a matter of wanting rather than needing. He had heard the strange interaction the one time that sounded like seduction, and although he had returned several times to listen, he had not heard anything similar. Still, it was something to ponder, and he thought about telling the young man but decided once again that it would create useless worry. After all, what could they do about it?

“I don’t know… have to think about it,” Gus finally said.

“I want to hear her… I need to…” Matt demanded.

“Look… I know you do, but it worries me. If somehow they find out…” he replied.

“I understand what you’re saying, but I really need to,” the young man pleaded.

With a nod, the groundskeeper acknowledged the message and immediately made for the door. A few minutes later, they were unlocking the gate, and once it swung open, they stepped silently inside. Like before, they dropped beside the crypts and listened for the faint sounds, trying to block out all ambient noise. The men remained in the structure for over thirty minutes and heard nothing. However, Matt felt a presence that he knew was Heather and he hoped that somehow, she could sense his nearness as well. It was when he was trying to channel his mental energy towards her that an idea suddenly appeared in his brain. Reluctantly, he touched Gus’ shoulder and motioned towards the entrance. Just a few minutes later, they were back in the shed and Matt started to explain his thought.

“Getting Heather to switch back… I have an idea,” he said excitedly.

“Go on,” the older man replied.

“What if… next November 1st…what if we go back inside, but the woman is drugged. Maybe, she will be weakened and Heather can switch back,” the young student explained.

The older man looked at him, expressionless as he contemplated the concept and although he thought it was a long shot and very risky, he didn’t have anything else to offer, so he responded, “Might work… dangerous…”

“Why? Tell me the danger,” he replied.

“Well, let’s see… to start, they might get you first. Then, how do you know your girlfriend will see the opportunity? You know they planned all this shit for a long time… before they died. They were ready, but your girl didn’t…” he explained.

Matt knew the man had a point, but he wasn’t prepared to give up on the plan, so he stared at the floor in silence as his brain churned. The minutes ticked by with the groundskeeper giving him space until he was ready.

“I agree with your points, but here’s my answer. I think… now that I know what to look for… the signs and feelings… I will be ready when they make their try. Now Heather… I don’t know if there’s a good answer… I guess I’ll just have to believe in her fighting spirit,” he said, and before Gus could reply, he added, “Anyway… if I can’t get her out… I think I’d rather be with her.”

The older man lacked in education and he had spent most of his life in virtual solitude, but he recognized it wasn’t time to be negative, and replied, “It’s a plan… best we got. We’ve got plenty of time to work on it, so let’s say it’ll work for now.”

Matt felt drained of energy and knew he needed to get back to the apartment so he wouldn’t create suspicion. They talked for a few more minutes and then he announced he was leaving.

“I’ll try to come back in a few weeks and we can talk some more,” he said.

“Listen… be careful. What you said that professor told you. There might be others out there too… helping. Watch that woman and see if she’s talking to anyone new. And, be aware about being followed,” he counseled, making Matt shudder as he recognized the reality of the message, but before the young man could respond, he added, “Now, I got a problem like you. If that woman is going to be coming around, I’ve got to be careful, too. She knows me from my brother, but she doesn’t know that I know about your girl.”

Time seemed to crawl by for Matt, and more and more, he recognized the differences between his girlfriend and the woman that stole her body. None of them were big, and for a casual acquaintance, they would go unnoticed. But he saw them, as did her mother, who on more than one occasion asked him if things were going okay between the two. He tried to assure her everything was fine, but she didn’t really buy it, so he wasn’t surprised when she cornered him during their spring break visit.

They were alone on their way to the liquor store to get some wine when she broached the subject, “Somethings going on. I know my daughter and she has been acting strange for months.”

“Everything is fine,” Matt replied, knowing he couldn’t tell her the truth.

“Is she pregnant?” the woman fired back.

“No, not pregnant,” he answered with a forced laugh.

“Look, something’s wrong. She’s acting like a zombie!” she declared.

Matt knew what the woman meant as Heather seemed incapable of engaging in an interaction with any depth. Her first response would be normal, typical of the girl he loved, but then she would seem to fade away.

Deciding to expand on a truth, he replied, “Well, she has been pushing to get married and I keep telling her to wait. I think she’s a little depressed.”

“Get married? Now? I thought y’all had it worked out?” her mom probed.

“I thought we did too,” he answered.

The news seemed to placate the woman and she only asked a few more questions before dropping the subject. Unfortunately, later that day, mother confronted daughter and Matt found himself dragged into the discussion. It made for a very contentious few days, and on the drive home, Heather became adamant that it was time for a wedding.

“I wish you wouldn’t have told my mom of our differences,” she said, which was a message she had delivered often over the past few days.

“I’m sorry… it was a mistake,” he responded.

There were several minutes of silence, and then she said, “Matt, I really want us to get married. Please, let’s do it. Do it for me. You know how much I love you.”

It was the beginning of the most emotional interaction they had shared. Strangely, in this state, the woman seemed very much like his Heather, and before he knew it, he was nodding his head in agreement. Thus, a mere two weeks later, on an overcast Friday afternoon, they made their way to the courthouse and came out an hour later as husband and wife. Their honeymoon consisted of a weekend alone in the apartment with delivered pizza, and several trips to the bed, where Matt was surprised by the woman’s newfound passion. She seemed in almost every detail like the real Heather and she even experienced an orgasm during their lovemaking. When things began winding down on Sunday, the newlywed student thought through the sequence of events and decided it was time to meet with Gus.

“They’re worried about you and want to make sure you’re close. They want you in that mausoleum next time so they can make the switch. For some reason it’s important and they were worried you were moving on from her,” the groundskeeper offered.

“Shit, these bastards are evil,” Matt said while shaking his head.

“Pure evil… remember what they did to my brother and his wife. Stole their lives like they want to do with you,” he replied, and before the young man could respond, he added, “Let me tell you the rest. She’s been out here at least once and I think twice. Once for sure cause I saw her leaving and another time I think cause the piece of paper I put in the gate hinge was on the ground. That means she’s in there with him and they’re working their plan.”

“What about Heather? My Heather?” he asked.

“She’s still there… she’s in there… I listen every now and then and I can pick her out,” he replied.

“How? What’s she doing? Saying?” he asked.

“I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but she’s talking to him. She’s been in there for a long time, you know… so they’re talking…” Gus said.

“Talking… like what?” he asked.

“She’s still confused some so there are questions about where she is and what’s going on and then just kinda general stuff,” he replied.

“General stuff? Like… talking… chit chat?” Matt asked, dumbfounded by the message.

“Yeah… like that. Now, you remember, you’re doing the same thing. It ain’t unexpected… they’re locked up in that vessel…” he started but stopped, concerned about the direction.

“Shit… I guess…” he responded.

“Nothing unexpected when you think about it,” he told Matt.

The groundskeeper spared the young man from the worst of what he had learned. The demon in the vessel was truly a strong force and the comparative power between him and the young woman was like the difference between a lion and a kitten. He knew the man was seeking something from her that was carnal and on his most recent trek into the mausoleum he had heard enough to know that he had succeeded. He wasn’t certain how disembodied souls engaged in intimacy, but the sounds emerging from the vessel indicated that it was occurring. He had the young woman’s passionate cries and knew she was enjoying the experience.

For the next few months, Matt and Gus met at least once every couple of weeks. They would try to determine ways to enhance the plan to free Heather, but never really found an angle that improved markedly on the basic concept. The entire idea rested on the ability of the captured woman to recognize the situation and act. They discussed trying to communicate with her, even thinking they might be able to create a code, but in the end, they always returned to the view that it was far too risky.

On each visit, Matt would spend a few minutes in the mausoleum listening for his girlfriend. It made him elated when he heard her voice, which didn’t happen often, but even when his efforts proved fruitless, he was pleased he made the effort.

“Her voice seemed softer…” he said to Gus as they walked back to his apartment.

They had just finished spending thirty minutes in the mausoleum and were able to listen to the young woman. Matt had not been able to piece together her words, but her tone indicated less stress. He knew that the old man had a much more practiced ear from the years he spent dealing with his brother and hoped he could provide more information.

“Yeah… she’s calmer for sure. Been that way for a while, too. My brother and his wife went through the same thing. Got to a point of acceptance I guess you’d say,” he explained.

“I wonder if that’s good or bad?” Matt asked.

“Good in a way and maybe bad…” he started, and then paused in thought for a moment before continuing, “Good that she can think better, but bad if she doesn’t act when the time comes.”

“Good point… we always come back to the same place,” he replied.

“Yeah… yeah, we do…” the groundskeeper agreed.

Surprisingly, the young man’s dealings with his new wife had become more balanced and they were living with less stress, too. Marriage seemed to have alleviated her concerns and she no longer maintained a watchful eye on his comings and goings. Also, she had become more sexual and several times she had been the one to initiate their lovemaking. Several of their encounters had been quite passionate, and Matt cringed at the thought of explaining the details to Heather if he was able to perform the rescue. He knew it would be the first thing she would ask about and she would not be pleased.

Gus spotted the woman near the Mausoleum several more times and he was able to determine she visited every week, either on Tuesday or Wednesday. She rarely stayed long, usually no more than fifteen minutes, and he could only surmise that they were working on their plan, as well. He made sure to stay far away, so as not to alarm the woman, and acted with complete indifference when he was in view.

Every other day, he would visit the crypts and spend some time listening, hoping he would glean more information. Also, he wanted to check on the status of the young woman’s interaction with the demon. Unfortunately, the things he learned were not good. The discussions he heard provided clear evidence that the man had enforced his will on the young student, and on one occasion he once more heard them in the middle of an intimate encounter.

Twice, Matt made the trek to the cemetery to meet with the old man but was unable to locate him. It made him concerned about his wellbeing and he wondered if the demon had discovered their knowledge and harmed the old man. He decided to make one more visit, and if he was unsuccessful in finding the groundskeeper, he would contact the cemetery administrator. However, before the day arrived, he discovered an odd-looking letter in the mailbox. The handwritten address, written in ink, covered most of the envelope, and although it lacked any return markings, instinctively, he knew it was from Gus.

His wife was out so he made his way back to the apartment and quickly tore open the letter. A key fell out and clanked on the tabletop and he could see a handwritten note on a single piece of paper that had been torn from a pad.

Matt – things not going well for me. They say I won’t live long. I wanted to make sure you got this key to that place so you can use it if you want to do your plan. I know you want to but remember it’s dangerous. They are preparing so be ready. Your best weapon is that they don’t know you know. Don’t ever let them know. Then you’d be sunk. I got to tell you to think about if you want to do it. Sometimes you just got to move on. Thinking back maybe I’d been better to move on. Maybe you would be too. Think about it and if you decide to try you be damn careful. Real careful.

Matt, let the letter drop from his fingers and suddenly a massive sense of loneliness swept through him. He had nothing in common with the old man, but the evil mausoleum, but in the bizarre circumstances, he had been a pillar of wisdom and a steady shoulder. Now, he was on his own, totally alone. He picked up the key and turned it in his fingers thinking about the old man and his message. For the millionth time, he thought about the horrific situation and considered whether it was real. Perhaps, he had become schizophrenic and it was all some crazy chemical imbalance in his head. Also, even if it was real, maybe it was better to just walk away. He could divorce the demonic woman, more far away and start over. The idea certainly had some appeal because it was now just him against these well-prepared purveyors of evil. But, what about Heather, the magical woman he loved? The young girl that brightened every part of his life? How could he walk away and leave her to the existence she now faced?

Without the presence of Gus, Matt felt terrified when he visited the mausoleum, and he had to rely on his feelings for Heather to give him strength. He always went just at sundown, so the cemetery would be empty and he could return to the apartment before his wife became suspicious. Unfortunately, despite his efforts, he only heard Heather on once occasion, and even then, he wasn’t entirely certain. It made him question whether any of it was real and he began to think that maybe Gus had somehow concocted the sounds he thought he heard. He thought about abandoning his plan but finally decided to see it through knowing he was banking on nothing more than faith.

As Halloween approached, Matt worked hard to find a party to attend that would be on friendly turf. He wanted it to be with people he knew to reduce his stress and be in a part of town not too far from the cemetery so he could get there quickly. The basic concept hadn’t changed since he first mentioned it to Gus. He planned to take his new wife out, party and pretend to consume lots of alcohol, and wait for her to make her move to get him to the cemetery. Then, just before they left, he would find a way to doctor her drink. Once she had consumed the drug, he knew from his research he had 15-20 minutes before any effects appeared, and since she was slender, he thought it would be on the short end. He would get her to the structure, dally until he was sure she was firmly under the influence, and then go inside. If the plan worked, her weakened condition would give his Heather the chance to burst free and reclaim her body. He knew that in this dangerous game, he was the untrained rookie against the seasoned veteran, but he had to try.

Two weeks before Halloween, he settled on a party hosted by friends of friends at a house that was a fifteen-minute drive from the cemetery. Surprisingly, his wife was not keen on the idea of going out, which was something he had not anticipated. Clearly, his plan conflicted with hers, but it only took some gentle prodding to get her to agree, and then their conversation moved to costumes.

The newly married couple arrived just after nine, and Matt noticed immediately that the woman was acting uncharacteristically clingy. She had dressed as a black cat wearing tights and a long-sleeved sweater. Also, she had elbow-length gloves and had purchased a two-foot-long tail and cute little ears. The snug fit of the attire highlighted her sexy body and she got lots of looks from the moment they entered. Matt new the real Heather would have headed off on her own to flirt, but the woman stayed right at his side.

A makeshift dance floor had been set-up on the back porch and after getting them punch, he guided her towards it. They joined a spirited throng through several songs and then headed back to the kitchen for more punch, and when they arrived, the young grad student saw that she had barely touched her drink.

“Are you okay?” he asked her over the noise.

“I’m fine,” she responded and gave him a forced smile.

Matt knew that his entire plan relied on getting her to ingest the drug at the right moment, and he became worried that she was playing her own script, intending to stay sober.

“Drink up,” he said and took a gulp from his cup.

With a smile, she took a sip, but when she pulled the cup down, he could see she had drunk very little. For the next few hours, things stayed basically the same. The woman stayed close to him, danced when he wanted her to, and consumed very little of the punch. He knew she was simply going through the motions and by the look in her eyes when she didn’t see him looking, he could tell there was something on her mind. However, just a few minutes after eleven, things began to change.

“Let’s go to the cemetery and do it again. That was so hot,” she whispered into his ear, while her hand squeezed his butt.

“Mmmm… you’re horny,” the young man responded.

Matt was prepared for her attempt, but it still sent a shiver through his body as he realized it was really going to play out.

“Yeah… C’mon. Let’s do it,” she begged.

“No, it’s too cold. Let’s go home and crawl under the covers,” he replied.

Just for a moment, he saw anger flash through her eyes, but she quickly regained control and said, “Please… for me… please…”

He looked at her and forced a smile, and then responded, “Maybe… I’m not ready to go yet.”

“Soon…” she whined.

“Drink up,” he said.

Matt emptied his cup and then looked towards the woman expectantly. He was pleased to see her do the same, and he knew he could use it to his advantage when the time arrived. He wanted to build her angst, knowing it would make her more cooperative, so he guided her back to the dance area and let the clock tick closer to midnight.

Her eyes continued to find his and he could tell she was using all her female wiles to try and bend him to her will. Now, it was his turn to experience a flash of anger as he thought about her wanting desperately to put him into a state of purgatory while her demon husband enjoyed his body. It took immense willpower to let the moment pass and look back at her with a playful smile.

It was just a few minutes before midnight when she whispered into his ear, “Let’s go fuck.”

Matt knew it was time. It had been a year since he lost the woman he loved and he had struggled every day without her. Now, he approached the culmination of all the discovery and planning with Gus, which he knew always led back to the cemetery. The thought created stress for him as he wondered what he would do if it didn’t work.

“Okay, baby… as long as I can fuck your brains out,” he responded, trying to keep his voice from cracking.

“I want you to,” she answered eagerly.

“Let’s have another drink and dance a little and then we’ll go,” he told her and headed for the kitchen before she could reply.

He had hoped she would stay in the other room and give him some space to doctor her drink, but she followed close behind. Still, he knew he was committed, so on the pretense of getting something from the counter, he turned his back to her and as quickly as possible, slipped the small vial from his pocket and dosed her cup. He was shaking as he turned back, hoping no one had noticed and was pleased to see everyone in their normal inebriated state. Even Heather, distracted by a large guy that he didn’t know, was occupied. Matt’s approach ended their discussion and he handed her the cup of liquid.

“Happy Halloween! Drink up!” he declared.

“Yes… but let’s hurry!” she responded and then emptied her cup.

Inwardly, the young man smiled as he knew the countdown had begun. He wanted to stay at the party until just before the effects became apparent and then head out. It would take fifteen minutes to arrive at the cemetery gate and five more to walk to the mausoleum, so he knew he was in no rush to achieve the one-hour target. He would take things slowly and if need be, keep her outside the structure until he was certain the drug had fully taken effect.

At the twenty-minute mark, he could tell by the look in her eyes that she was drifting, so he took her arm and headed towards the door.

“This is so crazy!” he said with faux enthusiasm as they pulled away.

“Yes… it’s crazy hot,” she replied, slightly slurring her words.

Matt worked hard to hit several lights, so when they pulled up at the gate, seventeen minutes had elapsed. He met her at the entrance, and together, they started towards the mausoleum. Several times, he stopped and pulled her into a kiss which brought no objection. During the last stop, they were a mere fifty yards from the building and he could tell her body was losing coordination. He knew the drug was kicking in and they would arrive at the mausoleum near the perfect time.

“You’re so beautiful,” he told her when they arrived.

“Mmmm… I’m ready…” she replied in a detached voice.

“Let me kiss you some more,” he said and pulled her close.

“Mmmm…” she moaned in response.

When they broke the kiss, he checked his phone and saw that fifty-five minutes had passed. It was close enough, so he guided her slowly towards the entrance and was not surprised to find the gate open. He had considered whether it was necessary to have sex during the transfer, but he decided he would do things exactly as before, so he took her to the altar and pushed her tights and thong down to her knees. The drug had made her completely silent, and at first, she held her body up on her arms, but before he could drop his pants, she fell onto her elbows. His hand moved to her vagina and found it nice and slick, so he lined up and pushed forward.

“Ugggghhh…” he groaned as his shaft penetrated.

The young man paused for a moment to take in everything around him as he wanted to be prepared for the inevitable attempt for his body. Strangely, all was quiet, so he started moving slowly into the woman. The minutes ticked by as they fucked and along the way, little mews started coming from her mouth. Matt tried to remember how long he had made love to Heather the last time before the strange feelings and lights appeared, as it seemed much longer now. He began to wonder if anything would occur, and soon, doubt crept into his head. Perhaps, it had always been a fantasy that existed only in his head.

The woman’s pussy had become so wet that it was now slurping in rhythm with his movement. Strangely, his dick, which had been barely hard enough to enter her when they started, had grown and was now fully erect. Also, he could feel his balls tingling in the telltale way that signaled an impending release.

“Fuck me good…” the woman said in a voice that filled the small space.

It sent a sudden shiver of terror through the young man as he didn’t think she was in a condition to speak so clearly. For a moment, he wondered if the drug had its normal effect on the demon and if not, was he about to feel their combined wrath? Still, he kept moving as something pushed him forward. Soon, he felt his balls tightening and he knew he was only seconds away from filling the woman’s pussy.

Then, just as his release arrived, when he was in his most vulnerable condition, the strange waves he had felt before began to permeate his body and the odd light, like fanned embers in a fire, appeared. He wanted to finish badly, and his hands were dug into her hips, pulling her hard against his body, but suddenly, a vision of his Heather looking at him with her impish smile flashed before him and with a strength he didn’t think he possessed, he pulled away and flung his body towards the entrance.

Matt landed heavily on the damp ground, dizzy and heaving for air. At first, he thought it was just the aftermath of the sex, but it felt different, like part of his body was missing. It took him time to recover, how long he couldn’t be sure, but finally, he regained his bearings and the strange feelings began to ebb. He rose on an elbow to take stock of the situation and spotted a form, yards away, in the middle of the cinder path.

The young student slowly rose to his feet and on wobbly legs made his way towards the curled body. He knew before looking who it was, but he still rolled it over to confirm it was Heather. Her breath came out ragged, but she didn’t have any marks on her that he could see, so he took her into his arms and started a slow walk back to the car. Everything that he and Gus planned had occurred, but he remained unsure whether Heather had seen the opportunity and made her escape. That could only be determined after the effects of the drug wore off.

Fortunately, they didn’t encounter anyone on the walk from the car to the apartment. Once safely inside, Matt undressed her and used a damp cloth to clean her face before putting her to bed. He stood next to the bed for a long time, staring down, hoping to see a sign that would tell him his Heather had returned, but there was nothing, and finally, he went to rest on the couch.

Matt rose early, constantly checked on the sleeping woman, but it wasn’t until noon that she started to show signs of waking up. It started with some tossing and turning and when she finally opened her eyes, he was sitting in a chair next to the bed sipping on coffee.

“I feel like hell,” she said.

“It was a rough night,” he replied.

“I… I don’t remember… everything,” she answered.

Matt wanted to believe it was the real Heather and there was a look in her eyes that gave him hope. Still, he knew he needed something tangible as proof.

“We were at a party, and you drank too much,” he told her.

She stared at him with a confused look before she finally said, “I was in… that… that place… with him…”

“What place Heather?” Matt asked, trying to shield his excitement.

“I don’t know… I don’t…” she started, but a look of panic suddenly appeared on her face and she curled into a tight ball.

“It’s okay…” he whispered and reached out to stroke her shoulder.

“I’m scared…” she whimpered.

“It’s over now… it’s okay…” he replied.

“Are you sure… what happened?” she asked as her body shook.

“We’ll talk later… not now…” he responded.

He tried to get her to rest some more, but she was too antsy to stay in bed. She rose and headed towards the bedroom and the casual way she displayed her nudity provided further proof to him that it was his Heather. A few minutes later, she appeared in the kitchen and poured some coffee. Several times, she tried to engage him in a discussion about the events, but he gently deferred the conversation for later.

“I’m starving,” she declared after she finished her second cup.

“What do you want to get?” Matt asked.

“A cheeseburger!” she fired back.

Her words elated the young man because it was her favorite decadent meal, and the woman he spent the last year with never once expressed a desire for the treat. Now, he was certain he had the woman he loved back.

They went to their favorite diner, and she wolfed down the burger. Matt felt she had overcome any lingering effects of the drug, but still suggested they return to the apartment so she could rest some more. He watched her undress as he fluffed the pillows and then let his hand wander down her back to her rear.

“Take a nap and then we can talk,” he said.

She gave him a little smile and replied, “Stay with me.”

Quickly, he was naked too, and they jumped beneath the covers. Matt pulled her warm body firmly against his and nuzzled his head into her neck expecting they would drift off, but just seconds later, Heather pulled his hand to her breasts. As soon as his fingers found her tight nipples, she started wiggling her butt against him which made his dick swell.

“Baby, you need to rest,” he tried.

“I need you inside me,” she declared and turned to her back.

Her hand immediately went to his shaft and he let her guide him until he was at her entrance. Then, with just a gentle shove, he was entering her wet slit. Together, they moaned, and the young woman looped her arm around his neck and pulled him into a deep kiss.

“You feel so good,” he whispered when they broke.

“Yeah, it seems like it’s been forever,” she whined, and when she felt his body stiffen, she asked, “How long has it been?”

“Later, Heather,” he responded.

“Tell me,” she pushed.

Matt stopped moving, looked down into her beautiful eyes, and said, “A year…”

The young woman started giggling, but when she saw his serious look, she gasped and said, “Oh, my god… you’re serious.”

“Yes…” he replied in a soft voice.

“How… my mother…” she responded, and then added, “No one missed me?”

Her words let Matt know that she was unaware of the transfer that had occurred. She didn’t realize that the demons had ripped her soul from her body and kept it locked in what Gus called the vessel. It was a hideous concept and he knew he needed to be careful with the explanation.

“Heather… you… your body was still here, but not with you in it,” he said and then paused for a reaction, but when she remained silent, he continued, “The woman buried in that crypt… she… she somehow took your body and put you in the… place… where you were.”

“Put what?” she asked in a whisper.

“I think… I mean the best I can think of is it was your soul,” he replied.

Instantly, she began to sob, and Matt rolled to her side and pulled her to him so that they were face-to-face. He stroked her hair gently, knowing she needed some time while thinking about how to explain everything that had occurred.

“It was so strange… like a dream… but not a dream…” she forced out a few minutes later.

“I’m sorry sweetie,” he replied, squeezed her tighter, and then asked, “Were you scared?”

He could see was pondering his question and it took her a few seconds before she answered, “More confused than scared… confused and lost…”

“I’m sorry,” he said again.

Suddenly, her sobbing stopped and after taking a deep breath, she said, “Tell me what happened… everything.”

Matt wasn’t sure it was the best time but decided to accept her demand. He started with the Halloween party from the prior year and went chronologically through the events. He told her about getting out of the mausoleum and the suspicions he had. He described meeting Gus, learning about the horrific history of the structure and the demons entombed, then planning for a way to release her from their trap. He finished by telling her about the groundskeeper’s death, how frightened he was with no one to lean on for support, and how he drugged the woman with the hope that she would be able to escape. The only aspect he skirted around was his involvement with the woman. He knew it would come, but hoped they could work through other things first.

“You saved me…” she whispered when he finished.

“I love you… no way was I going to leave you,” he replied.

His words caused her to start sobbing again, and he held her close until she was ready to speak.

“A year… a whole year… a prisoner…” she whimpered.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered to her, and then asked, “What did it feel like?”

“I don’t know… I can’t explain… I mean, time didn’t seem… I don’t know… not a year,” she stammered.

“How did you know to get out?” he asked.

Heather was silent for some time before she finally replied, “There was this tiny spec of light… not even a spec… like a soft glow. I just went towards it and the next thing I knew I was here in bed.”

“What was it like in there… in the place…” Matt asked.

“I don’t know… I can’t explain… I don’t have the words… empty, but not empty… and the man…” she responded.

“They were in some demonic cult… he and his wife,” he told her, and after a pause, he asked, “How did he treat you?”

Heather’s body began to tremble and her breathing became ragged. It was a clear sign that something bad had occurred, and he held her close until she calmed.

“He was there… always… powerful… very powerful…” she answered vaguely.

All was silent as Matt contemplated her message. He knew there was far more that he needed to learn, but he was still very concerned about her fragile state, so he dropped the subject. Several times, he felt her body stiffen as if she was about to speak, but on each occasion, she relaxed and the moment passed. Finally, she looked into his eyes, took a deep breath, and spoke.

“What happened with that woman? You lived with her for a year?” she asked.

“Yes…” he replied, knowing what was coming next.

“Do you… did you do it with her?” she probed.

“Yes, we did,” he answered, wanting to be totally honest, and then continued with, “I didn’t want to but Gus was adamant that under no circumstances could they ever know I was aware of the truth.”

“I understand,” she replied a little too quickly, leading him to believe they would return to the issue.

“There’s something else,” he said, and when he saw her eyebrows rise, he added, “Look at your finger. We’re married.”

“You married her?” she fired back in a shocked voice.

“I needed to… to keep her from becoming suspicious. We needed her defenses down so you’d have the best chance,” Matt answered defensively, and then clarified, “But only by a judge. Not in a church.”

“We’re not married… you’re married… to a demon,” she replied with an edge in her voice.

“I did what I thought was best… for you…” he responded nervously.

Heather put her hand behind his neck, pulled his head into her chest and began to stroke his hair. However, it wasn’t long before she pushed him back and found his lips with hers. Over the next few minutes, their kisses became more passionate and soft sighs began to escape her mouth. Matt was pleased that he had put everything before her, the bad and the good, and made it through seemingly unscathed.

“Fuck me,” she demanded while tugging on his arm.

Quickly, the young man moved over her and found her wet opening. Heather’s hands found his hips and guided him into a deliberate movement, as it now seemed, she was ready for intimacy. For a moment, Matt wondered if her swift change in demeanor came as a result of his disclosures, but after only a few strokes, the wonderful feeling of her pussy extinguished all other thoughts.

“God, I needed you back,” he declared.

He lasted only a few minutes before he lost control and blasted his semen into her depths. She gave him a few minutes to recover and then climbed on top and rode him as she stared down with loving eyes. The feeling was so amazing and her look so sensual that it wasn’t long before she made him climax again. After that, they cuddled for a while and then drifted into a contented sleep.

Later, Matt woke and quietly rose from the bed making sure to cover her snugly with the blanket. He wandered into the kitchen where he made some tea and then moved to their small living room. Not wanting to disturb his sleeping wife, he kept the TV off and merely stared at the wall while contemplating all that had occurred. He had to admit that recovering Heather was something of a miracle, and he wished Gus was alive to see the results. They knew so little and so many things could have gone wrong. Perhaps, he thought, it would make their bond stronger as they went through their lives together.

He thought about the mausoleum and what he should do about it. It still existed as a trap for any innocent person that might stumble upon it on November 1st. With his knowledge, he felt something of an obligation to make sure that it didn’t occur. However, he wasn’t sure how to do it, and since there was time, he set the matter aside for the time being.

He had been in thought for over an hour when he heard sounds emanating from the bedroom. Concerned, he rose to check on Heather, and when he reached the door, he could see that she had kicked the covers off. Sensual moans and whimpers were coming from her mouth and as he looked on, she slowly opened her legs. Her nude body, with her pussy, still glistening, looked so inviting that he almost joined her, but decided to watch for a bit longer. It wasn’t long before rhythmic mews started coming from her and Matt realized he was watching her in the middle of a sexual dream. She hadn’t reached orgasm during their lovemaking, and coupled with her time in the vessel, he guessed her libido was in overdrive. He smiled as he thought about their future lovemaking and knew he needed to give her relief next time.

“Mmmm… ohhh…” she groaned openly, and her arms which had been by her side moved over her head.

Matt had never seen her masturbate nor was he aware of her ever having a wet dream. Intrigued, he took several steps into the room and even in the dim light, he could see her body covered in a light sheen of sweat. Without question, in her dream, she was getting fucked well, and loving it. Seconds later, she pulled her knees up towards her chest and when he looked between her legs, he thought he though the lips of her pussy quivering. However, before he could get closer, her orgasm suddenly arrived.

“Oh… ohhh… ohhh…” she panted as her body stiffened.

Her hands, still above her head, gripped the sheet tightly until her release began to ebb. Then, with a final grunt, she rolled to her side and moved into a curl. With a raging erection, Matt covered her with the blanket and then returned to the living room.

Heather woke him to make love the next morning, and with effort, he was able to get her to climax. Afterward, when they cuddled, he tried to talk with her some more about the vessel, but she was evasive and turned the conversation towards marriage, or a real marriage as she put it. She made it very clear that they were getting married in a Catholic church and that she was getting a new ring.

Matt pushed her hard to schedule a doctor’s appointment, as she had been through so much, both mentally and physically. At first, she was reluctant, but after several conversations, she started to accept the idea. However, when she finally called to make the appointment, she learned the earliest date available was three weeks out.

“What do you think?” she asked as she held the phone to her chest.

“Take it! It’s better than nothing,” Matt replied, and she returned to the call.

Heather’s now faced the monumental issue of dealing with a lost year. She struggled in dealing with people, especially those that she had recently met. She leaned on Matt where she could, but in most situations, she had to utilize her breezy personality. Also, her return midterm created classroom challenges, and she didn’t hide her anger with the demon woman’s shitty notetaking. Despite these problems, the young man was pleased with how quickly they resumed their lives. He had anticipated a tumultuous time filled with fear and confusion, but they had somehow already found a comfortable place.

Matt, on his side with the covers pulled tight, had his comfortable sleep interrupted by nearby sounds he couldn’t place. At first, he hoped it was just the random noises of the building settling, but when he heard it again, he realized it was coming from Heather. Exhausted from studying, she had gone to bed early and he had joined her several hours later. He had considered waking her for some lovemaking, but when he saw her contented look and heard her soft breathing, he decided to let her sleep.

“Mmmm…” she sighed sensually, which made the young man turn.

His lovely wife had removed her thong and cropped T-shirt, pulled the covers from her, and now lay on her back totally naked. For just a moment, he thought he was about to be the recipient of her sexual attention, but looking closer he saw that her eyes remained closed. He was about to reach for her shoulder when she suddenly emitted another sensual moan as her legs slowly opened. Matt recalled the erotic dream he watched her experience almost a week prior and thought he was about to witness another. For the next minute, he watched her body slowly undulate and listened to the needy whimpers escape her mouth. He also felt his cock stiffen and tent his boxers.

“Heather?” he said in a whisper to see if she was conscious.

There was no reply, and he was still considering what to do when suddenly, she arched her back, spread her legs further and cried out openly, “Ohhhhh…”

Now, instead of soft, sensual sounds, she whimpered and grunted as her dream lover fucked her powerfully. Then, like before, her arms left her side and lifted above her head. Although very aroused, Matt was also confused about what he was watching, and he knew he needed to question her in the morning. He expected that things would progress as they had the previous time, but it wasn’t long before he saw her brow furrow, followed immediately by a look that indicated she was in distress.

“Heather?” he said, pushing on her shoulder.

At first, there was no change, but when he shook her arm, her eyes flew open and she turned to him with a wild look.

“No… no…” she cried out as she pulled on his arm.

“Heather! What is it?” Matt asked, desperate to help.

“Uhhhh… uhhh… uhhh…” she grunted loudly in orgasm as her eyes slowly rolled back.

“My God!” Matt declared and pulled her towards him.

“It’s him… no… oh no…” she groaned.

The young woman was shaking when their bodies met, and she wrapped her arms around his neck as she began weeping, uncontrollably. It had been such a powerful vision he couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder to ensure there was no one present. His instincts told him the man she referred to was the demon, who had somehow managed to escape from the bonds of the vessel to terrorize Heather. It took several minutes, but finally, the young woman regained her composure. Still wrapped in each other’s arms, Matt decided he would try some questions.

“Was it the man… from the mausoleum?” he asked.

“Yes…” she whispered.

“He was… uhhh… having sex with you?” he pushed.

“Yes…” she answered as she burrowed closer to him.

“Heather, I don’t think it’s the first time. I mean I saw you like this before… a few days ago. How many times has he appeared?” Matt asked.

She was silent for a time before she finally said, “I don’t know… four I guess…”

“He’s been in your dreams four times since you escaped?” he clarified.

“Yes…” she replied and nodded against his chest.

The young grad student contemplated her words and considered the ramifications before he finally asked, “How many… how many times in the place… in the vessel?”

He could feel her body tense and suddenly she was twisting away and saying, “Why is it happening? I thought it would stop!”

Matt followed her to the center of the bed and pulled her back into his arms. They lay quietly together for a long time, but he knew that if they were going to move forward, he had to know everything no matter how bad it might be.

“Heather, please tell me what happened. I want to help and I certainly don’t blame you… for anything,” he whispered.

More silence ensued, and he was just about to prod her again when she finally said, “He… he had me, Matt. You can’t imagine how… the power. I tried to fight it, but I was scared and he was so relentless. He… he knows how…”

The words hurt the young man, even though he wasn’t completely surprised. Now, even more so, he felt like he had abandoned her to the demon and allowed her to suffer the horrible fate.

“I’m sorry Heather. I know you did everything possible. I’m so sorry,” he responded.

The young woman had regained her strength and turned to face him. She looked directly into his eyes as if she were gauging his sincerity.

“He knows everything about me… every little secret. He invaded me… my being… and then used everything he learned…” she told him.

“Used it for what?” he asked.

“To get me to… to… take what he wanted…” she responded, and despite the vagueness, the young man understood the meaning.

Matt tried to fathom her message without showing judgment, but it was confusing, so he asked, “You had no body… bodies. How did… I mean… what happened?”

“It’s hard to explain… like feelings… like our spirits… like…” she started.

“Your souls?” he interrupted recalling Gus’ theory.

“Yes… like that and it was very strong,” she explained.

“What… what does he know… what did he learn about you?” he asked, recalling her earlier comment.

“The things you keep inside and never tell anyone… not your parents, not your friends, not your priest, not your lover… not your husband. The most intimate things…” she responded.

“How did he use the… the things?” Matt asked naively.

“To get me… excited… to do it…” she replied, still looking into his face.

Suddenly, the vision of her receiving pleasure on the bed came rushing back and before he could stop, he fired out, “Shit, Heather. I had sex with that woman, but it was… duty… to get you out! You’re in there making love to the bastard!”

Instantly, a look of profound hurt filled the young woman’s face and she fell back onto the bed and then turned away. Matt let her go, but when he heard her begin to cry, he moved closer and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

“I didn’t want it to happen… I was scared… and he was so powerful… I thought it was over…” she whimpered before he could speak.

“I know… I’m sorry. It was a stupid thing to say,” he replied, and then added in a soothing voice, “We’ve got to figure out how to make it stop.”

Somehow, they managed to sleep, although it was fitful for both. Matt was ready to discuss things more the next morning, but when he saw her expression when she emerged from the bedroom, he decided to hold off. Instead, they sipped coffee, mostly in silence, and it was Heather that finally broached the subject.

“What now?” she asked.

“We need to figure out how to make it end. We may have to destroy the mausoleum,” he replied, pleased that they were communicating.

“Okay…” she answered, and then after a pause, she said, “We should do that. What if someone else stumbles into their trap?”

Matt nodded his head and since she was being forthright, he decided to press her for more information, “Tell me more about being in there… what you learned… about him.”

He watched as her expression became thoughtful, and after several seconds she replied, “I know it really sounds stupid, but not that much. It really didn’t seem like I was there that long. I know his name was Bernard and he was part of a group called Mored, but when he was present, it was more about…”

“More about you?” he asked when she paused.

“Yes…” she answered as a distressed look swept over her face.

“Heather, don’t. It wasn’t your fault and I feel ashamed and stupid for what I said last night,” he told her which brought forth a thin smile. After taking her hand in his, he continued, “What does Mored mean?”

“It stood for something in Latin, but I don’t recall exactly. The group thought they could overcome death,” she explained as her voice lowered.

“My God… I guess… at least he and his wife did. They took Gus’ brother and wife… you… almost you,” Matt responded, still struggling to accept what should have been unbelievable.

“I want this to end,” Heather said and Matt could see her eyes pleading with him to find a solution.

Despite the issue of the demon’s manipulation of his wife, he felt good about the conversation, as he thought they finally had everything in the open. Rather than dwell on events, he took her out for the day. They shopped some, had lunch, enjoyed the park and a museum before returning to the apartment just before sundown. Heather cooked them a simple dinner, and then they moved to the couch where they finished a bottle of wine as they watched a movie. It had barely ended when her soft purrs indicated she was asleep. Matt looked down at her angelic face, comfortably resting on his chest as they lay prone, and knew, despite all that had occurred, he was a lucky man. He thought about their upcoming church wedding and the need to buy her a new ring. The thought made him look at her finger and the small stone reminded him that he had selected something simple, as he had felt uncomfortable marrying the impostor. Then, like a bolt of lightning cutting through the dark sky, the thought hit him that it was the only physical connection between Heather and the demons.

“Heather… Heather… wake up!” he demanded as he pushed on her shoulder.

“What? What’s wrong?” she called out as her eyes took in the room.

“I have an idea… a thought… about how he gets to you,” he replied excitedly.

“How?” she asked, now giving him her complete attention.

“The ring… it’s the connection between you and them… maybe it’s the ring!” he exclaimed.

“Shit!” she answered and immediately started pulling it from her finger. When it was off, she dropped it onto the coffee table and said, “It was an ugly ring anyway.”

Matt stood, picked up the band and walked to his desk where he opened a drawer and placed it inside. He returned to his wife and pulled her close and kissed her softly on the lips.

“Let’s keep our fingers crossed,” he said.

“I don’t think we have to. I feel different already,” she said and when he raised his eyebrows in a questioning gesture, she added, “It’s like a weight is off me… off my shoulders.”

Matt knew that she might merely be feeling the euphoria of action, so he cautioned, “Good… but let’s give it some time. Make sure it doesn’t come back.”

For the next week, they were on eggshells waiting to see if removing the ring would free her from the clutches of the demon. They met with the priest who was thrilled to see that two good Catholics wanted to get married in the church and they set a date in early January. Also, they shopped several places for the ring she wanted and finally selected a custom design. It was at the absolute limit of their budget and Matt knew he had little wiggle room finishing school and starting work, but with all she had endured, he knew it needed to be special.

Heather continued to state she felt relieved since removing the ring and was certain it was central to the sexual visits. Slowly, Matt came around and their discussions shifted to the mausoleum. They went back and forth about what to do, but with the pressure now off the young woman, they once more decided to park the matter.

Finally, the time arrived for her doctor’s visit. They went together, but Matt remained in the waiting room as she went through a battery of tests. At the completion, they met with the 40ish female doctor in a small conference room.

“Heather, do you know you’re pregnant?” she asked after exchanging pleasantries.

“Uhhh… what? No…” the young woman responded in surprise.

“Yes, not very far along. Just a few weeks,” she clarified.

“How many weeks is a few?” the young woman demanded.

The doctor, sensing there might be an issue became visibly uncomfortable and said, “Three to six. It’s difficult to be precise this early.”

“I see…” Heather replied.

“I sense it was unexpected. You said on the form you used an implant… Implanon. How long have you had it?” the doctor asked.

“I don’t know… it was… uhhh… I think in July, so three years and four months… maybe five,” she answered.

“Well, that’s past the effective period I’m afraid. Do you need a referral for counseling?” she probed.

“No… I’m fine…” Heather responded.

“Okay, when you’re ready, make an appointment and we can remove the implant,” the doctor advised.

On the drive home, Heather barely spoke and Matt suspected he knew what she was thinking. Sure enough, as soon as they stepped through the door, she unloaded.

“You knocked her up. You got her pregnant while I was… trapped!” she yelled.

Matt, having had time to prepare, replied, “No! It’s ours. The doctor said three to six weeks, which means it’s ours.”

Rather than soothe her spirit as he anticipated, his words only seemed to inflame her, and she launched again, “No… it’s not. It’s… shit, Matt… shit! Were you worried about protection? Shit! I have a demon baby in me.”

Matt knew that she had received the contraceptive implant before they were a couple but decided there would be nothing to gain by bringing it to her attention. She had made it clear she had protection when they became intimate, so he never thought about it. Still, he felt guilty when he realized that a year had elapsed and not once had he considered the risk.

“Heather, it was you, but it wasn’t you. I know you had it far worse, but it was very confusing for me, too,” he declared.

“Fuck that, Matt. Fuck that. You humped her and knocked her up,” she fired back, using words he rarely heard.

Now angered, the young man responded with equal emotion, “Really? Really? You sure your fucking lover didn’t put a baby in you while you rode his cock? Maybe, that’s why he kept showing up!

Rather than respond, Heather looked at him in a strange way and then slowly rose and disappeared into the bedroom. She closed the door behind her which gave him the opportunity to consider the exchange. He knew he had grossly overreacted, given her fragile state, but her pointed words had hurt his psyche, given all he had dealt with and it was several minutes before he followed.

He found her on the bed, and he sat next to her and gently stroked her side before saying, “I’m sorry.”

At first, she didn’t respond, but after a few seconds, she finally said, “My God, Matt. Whose baby is it? Ours? Yours with her… or…”

“Yours with him,” he answered to fill in the gap.

“Shit!’ she cried out in distress.

Suddenly, a wave of emotional energy swept through the young man, and he responded, “Look, Heather. It’s our baby. They never had children when they were alive or when they stole the bodies of that poor couple. They didn’t want kids, so the baby is ours. Period!”

His adamant declaration silenced her and she stared up at him for a time before responding, “Good.”

Two months had elapsed since the doctor informed them of Heather’s pregnancy. In the interim, she had received her ring and they had married in a lovely church ceremony. Heather looked radiant in her wedding dress and only Matt was aware that her tiny pink nipples had transitioned to blood-red as a result of the life she now carried in her tummy. Miraculously, with no further demonic visits, the incredible events were rapidly receding in their memories, and their thoughts became focused on the future. Soon, they would have a child, a baby boy if the tests proved accurate, and Matt would enter the working world. Heather looked forward to finishing school, being a mommy and establishing the home she always wanted.

Matt had a smile on his face as he walked towards the apartment contemplating all that lay in store for him in the future. Freed early from school obligations, he hoped to spend some intimate time with his beautiful wife that afternoon. However, when he opened the door and stepped inside, he was surprised to hear whimpers emanating from the bathroom. He moved silently towards the door, excited at what he might find, and slowly pushed the door open.

Through the opaque shower curtain, he could tell his wife was beneath the spray, and by her sounds, in a state of sexual arousal. A grin formed on his face and he stepped towards the tub, but when he slowly pulled the plastic sheet aside, the scene before him put him into a state of shock. Heather, with her head turned sideways and her eyes squeezed shut, had her body pressed hard against the far wall, but her ass protruded back as an unseen lover hammered into her pussy. Deep sensual moans of pleasure emerged from her half-open mouth in apparent rhythm with her lover’s thrusts. Instantly, his thoughts went to the mausoleum and the demon who had somehow, once again, managed to infiltrate his way into their world. He wondered how, after their long period of freedom, he had managed to return and knew he had to save his wife from the unwanted sexual onslaught. However, just as his body tensed to move, his attention was drawn to her hand, and there on her finger was the simple ring that he had placed in the drawer many months ago.

THE END