The Devil of Fairview

-- Be warned. This story contains an abusive psychopath that does terrible things to people. It's not a happy story. It's probably triggering. You have been warned. --

*

When I start a job in a new town, the first thing I do is visit the cemetery at twilight for a stroll. I'm weird, I know. The oldest section of Fairview Cemetery has almost been consumed by the surrounding woods. There are sunken holes in the ground where wooden coffins collapsed over the centuries. That's the only indicator of graves in some areas. There are many broken headstones and bent iron fences that were hit by falling trees. The oldest gravestones that are still legible date back to the 1830s. I feel a sense of sadness and peace as I walk among the forgotten souls. In a busy, overly connected world, the most peaceful places are often for the dead.

Thankfully, the dead don't complain about visitors, at least, not while I'm awake. My name is Katerina Porter, I'm a talented drifter and a medium. I can fix about anything and manage a diverse team under pressure, but I don't usually tell people about my supernatural gift. They rarely believe me anyway. I question my gift and my sanity sometimes, but the souls that visit my dreams are not imaginary. I know this because I can find their graves in the town cemetery the next day. Thus I began visiting the cemetery first to get a jump on the ghosts that are drawn to my dreams. They always act surprised when I know their names. It helps me earn their respect.

A drizzle of rain chills my face as I scan the cemetery with my eyes and my other sense. My attention is slowly drawn to a massive oak tree in a dark hollow at the bottom of the hill. It's hard to explain the feeling that guides me through cemeteries. It's like a whisper into my soul that sparks a longing for something I don't understand. I approach the tree and notice a small hollow just out of my reach. It's where a branch rotted away over the years. A hickory nut had sprouted in the hollow. It was likely left there by a squirrel from the neighboring pecan tree up the hill. I didn't like the idea of the sapling damaging the beautiful oak, so I hike myself onto a thick root and grab the invading sapling. I yank it straight up and dislodge it. To my surprise, a string is dangling from the sapling's taproot.

Upon closer inspection, I realize the string is a delicate gold chain. I step away from the oak to inspect what I found. I quickly pull the chain free from the taproot to discover a dazzling ruby pendant attached to it. It's about the size of a nickel, and it sparkles in my hand despite the dirt and fading light.

"Wow," I whisper as I admire the large stone.

"That doesn't belong to you," announces a male voice to my left.

I gasp and look toward the voice to discover a man standing among the gravestones. I hadn't seen anyone in the last hour. Either he had been hiding close by or he's a ghost. Judging by his tattered clothes, he might actually be one.

"I've never seen you before," he continues. "Are you new in town?"

"I am. Who are you?" I stammer.

"Shane Mosley. Who are you?"

The name is familiar, and I suddenly remember why. I read it on a grave stone a few minutes earlier. My eyes drift to the granite headstone to the man's right, and sure enough, "Here lies Shane Mosley. Born December 15, 1915. Died July 20, 1953."

"Shit. Am I dreaming?" I gulp and take a step back in complete astonishment.

Shane narrows his eyes at me in confusion. Then he glances at the headstone to his right and gasps in realization.

"Oh God, sorry, I'm not a ghost. That's my great grandfather's grave. I was named after him. I was cleaning up the family plot when I noticed you messing with our oak tree. My great-great-great grandfather planted that tree when his father died. Mosley men have a tendency to die young," he says sadly as he looks among the generations of headstones around him.

His eyes eventually settle on the cleanest headstone to his left. It reads, "Here lies Jake Mosley. Born January 20, 1978. Died July 12, 2012. A loving husband and father."

"Oh, I'm sorry for your loss, Shane. How old were you when he passed?"

"I was fourteen. Thanks to the family curse, I'm well past middle-age at twenty-eight. Thus I'm cleaning up the family plot because I'll likely be the next one buried in it, if my grandma or brother don't beat me to it. I reckon we all have about seven to eight years left in us."

He gives me a sad smile, and my cheeks feel warm as I gaze at him. He's fairly handsome for a soon-to-be ghost. He has bright hazel eyes and messy dark hair, and my second sense tingles up my spine every time he looks at me. Eyes truly are the window to the soul, and his spirit isn't alone in this place.

"Well, I hope you have many more years than that Mr. Mosley. I'm Katerina Porter. You can call me Kat," I say and approach him with my hand out.

He smiles and gives it a friendly shake, but a sudden change comes over his eyes when he touches me. He looks down and scowls at the dirty ruby necklace in my left hand.

"That doesn't belong to you. Put it back," he insists in the same angry tone he used earlier.

His words and gaze send a literal shock through me, causing me to jerk my hand away. His expression brightens again after the bizarre exchange, but a sense of foreboding spreads over the cemetery. My breath suddenly feels heavy in my lungs.

"Ugh, I don't feel so good," Shane mumbles as he rubs his eyes and clutches his stomach.

"Uh oh... excuse me, Shane. I quickly need to put this back," I say before I hurry back to the tree.

I hike myself up on the thick root and drop the necklace back into the hollow. The sense of doom suddenly fades, and Shane lets out a sigh of relief.

"Damn, that was weird. I think I worked too hard this evening. I feel awful," he says as I walk back over to him.

I carefully place my hand on his arm, and he looks at me curiously. The dread and electricity I felt earlier is gone. A familiar sadness has replaced it. Something in the cemetery is attached to Shane like a magnet, or like a curse. I quickly glance around the Mosley Family plot to familiarize myself with the names that are still legible. One of these men will likely find their way into my dreams tonight, and I want to be ready. The darkest gravestone in the back corner quickly catches my attention.

"Shane, what relative owns that grave in the back corner? It's so cracked and damaged I can't read it."

"That's my Many-Times-Great Uncle Hector. He died in 1890 at thirty-two years old. I think he was killed by a town mob. I've heard terrible stories about him. My aunts and grandmothers say he still haunts them. I think they're just trying to scare me. They say I spend too much time in the cemetery like he did."

"Oh, really? That might be true. We should leave now, Shane. I think this place is making you feel sick."

"Seriously? Okay," he sighs in amusement, but I notice him sway a little as we start walking back toward town. "So, Kat, you looked genuinely scared earlier. Did you really think I was a ghost?" he asks in amusement.

"I did. You appeared to be standing next to your own grave. It gave me a start."

"Sorry about that. I was on the ground pulling weeds when you appeared out of nowhere. Why did you come here? Do you have family here?"

"No. I just like to visit historical places like this. Um, by the way, why did you insist I put the necklace back? Is it a family treasure?"

"What necklace?" he asks in complete confusion.

I stop and stare at him in disbelief for a moment. He stops and looks at me with an eyebrow raised. I know he saw it... didn't he? Maybe it wasn't him telling me to put it back. That would explain the shock I felt when he shook my hand. Something shoved Shane's spirit aside to speak to me. I gulp and shudder at the realization. I will likely have awful dreams tonight. I pick up my pace so we can exit the cemetery before dark.

"Sorry if I'm confusing you, Shane. I'm not exactly all together sometimes. I travel around a lot. I forget where I am half the time. That's why I took the seasonal job at Magnolia Farms. I need to replenish my travel fund."

"Oh, that's right. You're the new manager for the fall festival. I work at the farm too. Almost everyone in town has worked there at some point. They offer good pay, good benefits, and a great atmosphere."

"So I've heard. I'm looking forward to it. I'm on my way to meet the owner and to see my new apartment for the fall. Do you know where I can find Tonya Carmichael this time of night?"

"I certainly do. She's likely at Derby's Tavern treating the farm crew to supper so they can do festival planning afterward. Halloween, which is opening night for the festival, is two days away. If you're lucky, you might get to meet the town mayor at Derby's. That's my older brother, Jackson Mosley. He can be an asshole sometimes. I like to remind him he'll likely die before me because he's older, but the curse isn't picky. It could take us both at any moment."

"Wow, that's morbid, but the proof is in the cemetery. Your family is likely one of the oldest in town. I take it you know everyone in town, don't you?"

"Absolutely," he nods.

Downtown Fairview is as quaint and welcoming as I expected. The streets are clean and lined with orange and red maple trees. Stacks of pumpkins and decorated hay bales are at every street corner. I can smell fresh baked bread and fried food from the restaurants and bars. All the historic brick buildings on Main Street are perfectly maintained. I could stroll up and down the sidewalks all evening and window shop while sipping a hot latte, but first, I need to meet my new boss.

Shane leads me into Derby's Tavern and begins introducing me to the locals. The old bar feels rustic and warm with laughter and conversation. The bar tender, Drew Derby, is busy serving drinks and carrying on five different conversations. I manage to order a decaf latte from him before Shane pulls me across the dining room to the longest table in the back corner. An attractive middle-aged woman with a stout frame and robust voice greets me by name.

"Katerina Porter! My newest farm manager! Welcome to Fairview. Damn, look at that auburn hair. Your resume picture doesn't do you justice. You're the prettiest thing this side of town, except for my niece, Julie, of course. You've got some muscles on you too. You're gonna need'em," she laughs and shakes my hand.

"Thanks, Tonya. Shall we get down to business or is everyone still eating?"

"Both. Grab a seat and order something on me. I see you've already met Shane. Allow me to introduce the rest of the crew."

A whirlwind of names and personalities outpace my ability to remember them, but I manage to memorize the names of all the managers. I'll be working with them and Tonya to direct the numerous farmhands required to run the farm and festival at the same time. My special title is "Chaos Manager." If anything goes wrong or breaks, or if a manager needs someone to fill in for them, I'll be called to fix the problem.

"So, Kat, what can you do on a farm?" Shane asks before he takes a big bite of his bison burger.

"I can drive and make minor repairs to tractors or any other farm equipment that isn't under warranty. I can deliver a baby, a calf, a horse, a goat, or a camel if needed. Most of all, I can manage people and solve problems under pressure. I've helped manage bomb threats, wild fires, floods, angry mobs, evacuations during disasters, and prepping poor communities for war."

Most of the table stops eating and stares at me with wide eyes.

"Damn... that's amazing, Miss Porter. Did you grow up on a farm and then join the Peace Corps?" Hank asks.

Hank Berm is the oldest and most respected farm manager at the table. He has a handsome head of gray hair and eyebrows, but there is still a youthful shine about his face and obvious strength in his chest and arms. He and Tonya are either family or lovers. I hadn't figured it out yet.

"Yes, Sir. I moved to Guatemala with my parents when I was twelve. We sold our family farm and set out to save the world. We worked on a small farm with the poorest of the locals on the edge of a jungle. We strengthened the community through hard work, new technology, and stubborn resilience. It was an incredible experience, but the violence was too much. We had to form a militia to protect what little we had from gangs. The healthier the community became, the more outside trouble came in to disrupt it. I was fifteen when we were finally forced to leave or risk dying in a gang war. Since then, I've been to college, got a few technical degrees, and now I'm bouncing around the country working and learning everything that interests me."

"Damn, that's quite a story," Shane says. "I hate to be rude, but how old are you, Kat?"

"I'm thirty. I figured I looked it by now."

"Um, don't take me wrong, but you have the soul of a fifty-year-old and the face of a cherub. I mean that as a very high compliment," he explains with blush on his cheeks.

I stared at him with an eyebrow raised as Tonya burst out laughing.

"Shane, please stop falling in love with my new farm manager. Kat, you will fit right in around here. I'm looking forward to working with you," Tonya says and pats me on the back.

We get down to business and discuss the work schedule and major holiday events at Magnolia Farms for the next three months. Mayor Jackson Mosley makes an appearance close to the end of the meeting. Tonya rises and formally shakes his hand as Shane gives his brother a bored wave. Jackson asks about Tonya's health and if she needs any extra prayers going into the fall season. Tonya awkwardly dismisses his concerns and doesn't say anything religious in return, but she assures him she'll be in church on Sunday. Jackson smiles and looks at me and then glances at Tonya, prompting an introduction.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Mayor, this is Katerina Porter, our newest crew member. She'll be a chaos manager for the fall season. Her skills are not to be underestimated."

"Interesting. It's nice to meet you, Miss Porter. Will we be seeing you in church?" he asks with a charming smile and a warm handshake.

Jackson is just as handsome as Shane, but he takes way better care of his appearance. He is almost too well-groomed with his fancy sport coat and perfectly gelled hair.

"I might check it out if I'm not too exhausted from work."

"I understand. It was wonderful to meet you."

Jackson walks around the table and whispers something to Shane. Shane rolls his eyes and nods before the mayor makes his way across the room to chat with other patrons. He acts more like a preacher than a mayor. I find it off-putting. It's close to 8 PM when I leave Derby's Tavern with Shane and Tonya. Shane walks with us to Tonya's truck before bidding us farewell and heading south toward his Aunt Milly's cottage.

"You hit it off fast with, Shane," Tonya notes as we drive out of town toward the farm.

"Yeah, I met him in the cemetery of all places."

"That's not surprising. He spends too much time there. Probably hiding from his family. Be careful around him, Kat. He's from an old, crazy family. Mosley men die young and the women consistently go insane. If anything terrible happens in town, people start looking for a Mosley to blame."

"That's pretty sad. Why do they always blame a Mosley?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"Because they're usually behind the mischief. Just like his dad, Shane can be the nicest person you have ever met for a time, then a darkness comes over him and he beats someone half to death in a bar fight or stabs the local tax commissioner. His ex-girlfriend says he tried to stab her, too, but she couldn't prove it. It's weird because we all know Shane. He's pretty predictable most of the time. It's hard to imagine him turning dark until you see it for yourself."

"Have you seen him turn dark?"

"Once, during a bar fight. I saw that same darkness in his father before he beat Shane's mother half to death. They had a picturesque marriage until it suddenly wasn't. It shocked the whole community, but the elders say it always happens. Like clockwork, every fifteen years or so, the madness strikes and a Mosley man gives in to his dark side. Candice, Shane's mother, was my best friend in high school, now she's in assisted living with her own mother. The attack left her brain damaged. She can't talk or care for herself. Jake took his own life before they were able to arrest him. That left poor Shane and Jackson to fend for himself at fourteen and fifteen years old. The boys are as sweet as their mother. Their Aunt Milly adopted them and raised them the best she could. She's half crazy herself, but she still socializes and has plenty of money to spend on her nephews and grandchild."

"Grandchild?" I ask curiously.

"Jackson and his wife, Jessica, have a little girl, Madison Mosley. She turned four in July. She's cute as a button."

"Jackson seems kind, religious, well groomed, and overly formal. Probably a total bore at parties."

"Oh, he is, but he's still a Mosley. I'm hoping the curse skips him for his family's sake, but after what happened with Jake and Candice, I just... don't know what to expect anymore."

I didn't like the sound of that. There is trauma behind her guarded expression. Then I notice the charm bracelet in her center console. It's a collection of holy symbols and occult symbols. I doubt she is religious apart from attending church out of habit. I gathered that much from her formal exchange with Jackson. She didn't offer any prayers in return.

"Tonya, did you, by chance, hire me because it's been a fifteen years since Jake's suicide?"

Tonya glances at me with blush on her weathered cheeks. She knew more about me than she was letting on.

"Sorry for not being straightforward with you, Kat, but I thoroughly research people before I hire them, and I happened to stumble upon some personal testimonies from people you helped over the years. Some were from Guatemala. They called you the Vidente de los Muertos, or the Seer of the Dead. They say you have a supernatural gift. You can stop bad things before they happen. Is that true?"

I blush and shake my head.

"They called me the Vidente to my face, or the Seer, as an insult. They were scared of me. Then one day, I predicted a gang attack and saved them. Then they tried to worship me. It was ridiculous. But, yeah, strange things happen around me all the time. I have feelings and experiences that I cannot rationally explain. My dreams terrify me and guide me to help people sometimes."

"Incredible. Did you sense anything weird about Jackson, Shane, or the cemetery earlier today?" she asks excitedly.

I'm tempted to deny everything at that point. I hate sharing my weird gift with people. They put too much hope in me and I inevitably let them down. It's time to backpedal about my supernatural gifts, they aren't helpful enough to be trusted.

"Tonya, I don't understand what I'm feeling most of the time, so please don't expect miracles from me. I'm here to work and make money before hitting the road again. If a disaster happens while I'm here, I can help guide the town through it because that's what I'm trained to do. I can't make promises beyond that."

Tonya smiles and nods in understanding. She is experienced enough to know that silly hopes and superstitions can get you into trouble, but hard work and careful planning always pays off in the end.

"I like you, Kat. You're completely honest. I'm glad you're here," she says as we turn down a driveway toward a big farmhouse.

It's lit up like a small mansion between two massive oak trees on a small hill overlooking a wheat field. I can't help smiling at it.

"Thanks, Tonya. I'm glad I'm here too."

She parks close to the porch and looks at me for a moment.

"Kat, I know it's a lot to ask, but could you research the Mosley family while you're here? We have an amazing team working the farm this fall, so I'm hoping you'll have extra time to do this for me. There is something wrong in Fairview and I don't know how to fix it, but I think you can help."

I look at her and sigh in defeat. She has already gotten her hopes up about me. I'm about to refuse to help, but she quickly interrupts me.

"Before you say anything, I will pay you double if you do this for me, even if nothing comes of it. Fifteen years of praying never changed anything. Delusions can't lift a curse. I'm looking for something that might actually work, and I know your gift is real. I contacted some of the people you helped. Their testimonies convinced me. You can see what no one else can see. Will you use that gift to help this town?"

I furrow my brow at her for a moment. She seems desperate and fixated on me for some reason. I wonder if something happened that she's not telling me.

"I'll do what I can, Tonya, but I need some sleep first. I'm exhausted."

She lets out a big sigh of relief and smiles.

"Thank you, Kat. I have the perfect place for you to rest. You'll love it."

She wasn't exaggerating. She grabs a flashlight and leads me down the hill toward the edge of the woods where the barn stands tall next to a fancy garage that resembles a mountain cabin. The cozy loft apartment over the garage has a little stone fireplace, a small but full bathroom, a kitchenette, a queen-sized bed, and a wall-sized window that faces the woods. I instantly fall in love with it.

Once Tonya disappears down the steps and back up the hill, I collapse on the bed and drift off to sleep. Just as I predicted, a disturbing dream begins. I'm about to learn Fairview's darkest secret. Evil souls love to brag, and the mind of a medium is their playground. They can relive their worst moments through me, and there's nothing I can do to stop them in a dream.

I soon find myself naked, cold, and tied to steaks in the ground somewhere in the town cemetery. My arms and legs are pulled as wide apart as possible. Candles are burning around me in a neat circle, illuminating the granite headstone close by, and a carbon copy of Shane is standing over me, smiling like a handsome devil. He holds a small knife in his right hand, and I fear he's planning to use it on me.

"My sweet Francesca, how could you betray me so heartlessly? Flirting with that stupid book keeper during church. His family is broke. You have no future with him," the man explains as he runs his fingertip along the edge of his knife.

"Let me go, Hector Mosley. You are the devil. My grandmother told me to stay away from you," I say in a weak voice.

I hate this kind of dream. I'm trapped in a victim's body, reliving their worst nightmare. Francesca's memories are blurring into mine, making it hard to think. It makes me forget who I am. I had been screaming for over an hour after he stripped me and tied me down, but no one could hear me so far from the village.

"Maybe I am the devil. I've been told that before. I do enjoy devilish things. Like fire and torture," Hector says with a wicked smile as he kneels close to a candle and holds the blade of his knife to the flame.

I gulp and fight my bonds. The ropes are brutally tight on my wrists and ankles, and the cold night air is biting my naked skin. Hector rises with his steaming hot knife and kneels between my legs in the grass. Pure terror rises inside me as he brings the knife close to my stomach.

"No! Don't!" I scream in a panic.

"Stop wiggling or this will hurt more," he warns as he lowers the tip of the blade to my skin.

I gasp and tense as he begins to scrape along the skin under my belly button. The blade is singeing me as he cuts. It's an awful scratching and burning, but he's not cutting deep. The burning makes it hard to feel what he's doing.

"Stop! What are you doing?" I scream.

"I'm carving a pentagram over your womb, marking you as a witch. It will be an ugly scar. No decent man will have children with a woman scarred by the Devil of Fairview," he chuckles.

"Stop it!" I shriek as he continues the painful cutting.

He eventually stops carving to reheat his blade, giving me a moment to breathe. I can feel blood dripping into my bellybutton and down my sides. I'm sure it looks as awful as it feels.

"You're a monster, Hector. I hate you," I weep.

"I know, my love. I'm sorry you feel that way. I'll reward you when it's all over," he says soothingly before he continues carving.

I curse and endure the awful pain many minutes longer. When he's finished disfiguring me, he puts the blade in his back pocket and lets his eyes roam over my naked body. I can't help blushing from his gaze despite his evil heart and the torture he put me through. I used to fancy him. I still fancy him. No, I don't... What is wrong with me? My name is Katerina... not Francesca.

I'm struggling to regain my senses. Sometimes I can remember that I'm dreaming, but Francesca's emotions and sensations are completely overwhelming. Francesca is a virgin and she is attracted to Hector despite his wicked soul. She knew how he planned to punish her. He would defile her and deny her dream of a virgin wedding.

"Now it's time to enjoy the sin of fleshly pleasure. Do you enjoy my eyes on your naked body, Francesca?" Hector asks as he slowly crawls over me, bringing his face close to mine.

I gulp and shake my head, yet my heart is pounding wildly and my body is growing hotter to have a man over me in such a vulnerable position. I am reliving Francesca's nightmare. I watch as he leans down and gently takes my right nipple between his lips and sucks it. I shudder and gulp as his hot mouth and tongue explore my cold skin. My nipples are extremely hard from the cold air, making them easy to abuse, and he does it relentlessly. Each flick of his tongue and pinch of his teeth sends electricity through me, but the warmth of his mouth feels good. I'm relieved when he switches sides to warm my left nipple. He nibbles it hard with his teeth, making me gasp. He hums with enjoyment as he tastes my skin. I'm shocked by how my body is reacting to his torment. I'm aroused despite the burning pain of the injuries on my stomach.

"Mmm, you are a heavenly feast, Francesca. Perfect for a devil to enjoy. Let's see if sucking your nipples caused nectar to flow between your legs."

He crawls down my body to observe if he aroused me. I'm ashamed of how much he did.

"Perfect, a white drop has formed between your red lips to tempt me. I hope it tastes as good as you smell."

I watch as he lowers his face between my thighs and licks the white drop from my opening. I jump from the erotic tickle it causes.

"Mmm, heavenly nectar indeed," he hums before he licks me again.

I tense when his tongue touches me a second time. My body tingles madly as his hot tongue eagerly parts my hidden lips and licks deep inside me. It feels too big and almost hurts as he opens my tender area for the first time. The sensation makes me want to panic.

"Oh God, don't," I whimper as he rhythmically licks deeper inside me, making my body tense with overwhelming sensations.

"You are hot and swollen for me, Francesca. Does my tongue feel dirty inside you? Does my sin give you pleasure?"

"No. Please, stop. You've already ruined my body. What more do you want?" I whimper.

"Don't lie to me, Francesca. I can sense your need. I want to give you sinful pleasure. I want it to drive you mad," he declares before he licks deep inside me again.

I squirm to get away from his mouth, but it's hopeless. Suddenly, I feel a finger slip inside me under his tongue. I gasp and fight my bonds as he hurts my opening and strokes my inner muscles, making my skin feel feverishly hot. I don't understand how the pain and stroking can make my body hot and tingly, or how him touching inside me can feel wrong and good at the same time. It is driving me mad.

"Oh God, please stop," I whimper.

"Mmm, your nectar flows for me like wine. I shall give you the gift of womanhood by giving you my manhood. I ache to massage it inside you," he says as he kneels between my thighs and unbuttons his pants.

I watch as he exposes his erect cock to my swollen opening. His erection is red and flexing with need. My body tingles wildly as he guides his tip to my aroused skin. I gasp when he presses his flesh against mine. It's shockingly soft and silky as it rests against me, threatening to enter me.

"Oh, yes, Francesca. You are hot and swollen for me. I have to restrain myself so I don't take you like a monster. I have often fantasized about throwing you to the ground and having my way with you. Thankfully, I'm a different kind of monster. I do things slowly."

He smiles as he slowly pushes his thick tip inside me. I gasp and tense as he spreads my opening wide, hurting me, and making me tingle. I'm shocked that he's actually inside me.

"Don't do this, Hector! I'm not yours!" I say in a panic.

"You are mine, Francesca, and you feel like pure sin on my cock," he moans as he rocks inside me, gently massaging the tight muscles just inside my opening.

The sensation is maddening. My body is tense as he teases my swollen canal a little harder. Any quick movements make me gasp. Carnal sin is more shocking than I imagined. It hurts and feels dirty, and my body wants more. He feels so thick inside me. I want him to stop and set me free, but I also crave more of the erotic teasing. He's making me hotter and hotter. How intense can it get? Can I bear it? Why do I feel pleasure from a monster? The shame I feel at that moment is overwhelming. The pleasure between my legs and inside me made me dismiss the bloody torture. God, how pathetic. I'm sure I look disgusting as a devilish man pleasures himself inside me. I almost burst into sobs at the thought, but he suddenly begins moving faster and deeper, hurting my opening and snapping me out of my self loathing.

"Fuck, yes, Francesca, I want you to cum on my cock. Cry out for me like a slut. Moan like a dirty whore. Make me ache for release. Your devil commands you," he says as he grips my thighs and works hard and fast inside me.

I cry out from the shocking friction of his flesh tearing through me. It hurts and feels wildly erotic as he shakes my body and plows through me like a monster. I didn't know I could handle such punishment. His fingernails are stabbing into my hips as he pulls me into his thrusts. I can't take the hot abuse anymore. I give in to the torment and let it overwhelm me. A second later, I cry out and convulse with ecstasy. I'm shocked by the rolling tingles between my legs as pleasure twists inside me. My body squeezes his flesh as he plows through my trembling inner muscles. My eyes roll back as he pumps me through the unholy release.

"Your slutty body is squeezing me harder. You deserve my cum," Hector groans.

Suddenly, I feel his cock flex and flood my sore tunnel with slippery heat. He grunts and shakes with every hot gush as he continues to slam into me. His release feels delicious and satisfying inside me. It soothes my sore skin with wet warmth. I'm buzzing with tingles as he satisfies his lust and mine. I finally forget the pain and torture for a few blissful seconds. Hector's cock feels like it's pouring love inside me. It's wickedly mind-numbing. He groans loudly in satisfaction as he continues to slide in and out of my drenched tunnel. I feel his release beginning to drip out of me. He laughs before he lays on top of me and catches my mouth for a kiss. His tongue wrestles mine as he smothers me in hot affection. For a short moment, I feel loved, but then the pain returns. My whole body hurts as the pleasure subsides. What had come over me? How did I enjoy a monster inside me?

"Mmm, thank you, my love. I've never felt such pleasure," he whispers in between kisses.

"Stop calling me that. Stop pretending that you love me. I feel so dirty now. Why did you make me sin?" I demand.

"You enjoyed it, didn't you? I brought you to a heavenly release before I enjoyed mine."

"You tortured me and took advantage of me. You forced me to sin. I hate you and myself," I whimper as my shame and tears return.

He chuckles at my misery.

"You are perfectly innocent, Francesca. That's what makes ruining you so much fun. I don't feel shame about anything, but seeing you blush in shame is widely arousing. I love seeing your emotions twist your insides like a cold blade."

"What? Then why did you torture me? Why not humiliate me more instead?

"Your pain arouses me in many ways. Whether it be physical or emotional," he explains.

I shake my head in disgust. I have to get away from him before he kills me.

"Hector, please... It's very cold now. I've been gone for too long. Grandmother will send someone looking for me soon. Will you please release me?" I beg.

"The old hag is probably asleep in her rocker in front of the fire. She's too slow to keep up with a nineteen-year-old grandchild. Actually, you're not a child anymore, Francesca. I made you a woman. You'll probably bear my child soon," he smiles.

I look at him in horror and he laughs at my expression.

"Just think of it. Watching you writhe in agony while my offspring tears you open from the inside will arouse me tremendously. God has already provided the best torture for you. I honestly admire his awful ways. God gave us diseases, war, parasites, starvation, sun burn, torture, slavery, and he just lets it happen to the best of us, even innocent children. It's not surprising. He set his own children up to fail. 'Don't eat of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil or you will surely die,' he told them. He was talking to literal idiots. They didn't know the difference between good and bad yet. They couldn't be held accountable for what they did. God instigated the whole thing, then he told his children he had to punish them for the mistake they made while they were ignorant. It's like leaving poisoned candy on the floor for a baby to find, and then you spank the baby for eating it! It's monstrous! Yet people have the audacity to call me a devil. They should call me a god, instead. God's cruelty inspires me. It makes me want to take you like a monster, but it's getting too cold to enjoy it now."

I stare at him in horror for a moment. There is no reasoning with someone like him, but I have to try.

"Yes, it is very cold. My injuries are going numb. It's, it's soothing my pain now," I stammer.

"Oh? What a pity. The fun is over then. Oh, before I forget, I brought you a gift. It reminded me of you when I saw it."

He reaches into his pocket and brings out a necklace and holds it before my eyes. A large ruby pendant dangles from the gold chain. It sparkles in the candlelight. I gasp when I recognize it.

"That's Lady Cordelia's prized ruby. Everyone knows it's hers. You seriously don't expect me to wear a stolen jewel around town, do you?"

"No, I plan to sell it and buy you a wedding ring. As soon as your belly swells from our sin, you'll be begging me to marry you to spare you more shame and humiliation. Or will you reveal to the town that you're a whore and remain a single mother out of spite? Either way, I'm sure your grandmother will disown you," he chuckles.

"You're a monster, Hector Mosley. You're worse than God and the devil," I declare.

"I know. You're welcome to call me a satanist or a dark sorcerer. Allow me to coat this gem in your blood. The blood of a virgin is potent. That's why I bled you before I ruined you."

I watch in disgust as he straightens up and dips the ruby into the pool of blood that gathered in my belly button. His cock is still throbbing inside my sore body as he does these satanic things. He smiles as he lifts the gem into the candlelight and allows the excess blood to drip away.

"I bind our souls to this gem. May it curse and bless us with its power. Gems form in the crucible of an ancient earth and become a gift to those who find them. As long as it remains in this cemetery, I will have power over you, Francesca. Let it be a reminder of your shame, or let it be a wedding gift. You can remove the curse and hide your shame in holy matrimony to me. Only we will know how unholy it began," he laughs.

His morbid delight in these awful things chills me to the bone. I'm shivering and about to swoon as he gloats over me with the blood-soaked gem. I hope I pass out before I become sick.

"You suddenly look pale, my love. Don't faint. It's time to go home. Perhaps a little pain will revive you."

He pulls the knife from his pocket again and holds the blade to the nearest candle flame. I'm groaning and attempting to keep my eyes open as a dizzy sickness overwhelms me. Then a piercing pain stabs into my lower belly. The monster couldn't stop himself from actually stabbing me. My scream drowns out his laughter before the world turns black.

Suddenly, the dreadful night disappears as I sit up safe in my bed screaming and covered in sweat. I'm stunned and relieved to be safe in the little loft again, but it doesn't stop the churning in my stomach. I have to rush to the bathroom to vomit in the toilet.

"Holy fuck," I groan as I wipe my mouth and sit on the cold tiles of the bathroom floor.

I lean against the bathtub as my mind and heart race. I'm trembling as I try to calm myself down after the horror I just experienced. It was too real. I felt everything Francesca felt. I quickly pull up my shirt and look at my stomach to make sure I'm not bleeding.

"Oh my God... he stabbed her. Did he kill Francesca that night? No, he had too many plans for her. He wanted her to suffer, not die. That piece of shit! And the ruby! It connects him to the cemetery somehow. I bet it's luring Mosley men to their graves. I have to destroy it. Damn it, where's a brave little hobbit when you need one?" I grumble and rub my aching head.

Once my heart and stomach calm down, exhaustion washes over me, but I'm too afraid to fall asleep again. I knew this might happen, so I rummage through my travel bag and find my THC gummies. The right dose can put me to sleep without dreams. I have a feeling I will need them every night if I want to actually sleep in Fairview. Once the gummies alter my perception of the world, I fall fast asleep without dreams.

The next morning is sunny and cold as I walk up the hill to greet Tonya. She drives me to the east side of the farm where the corn maze is being designed and the concession stands are being stocked for opening weekend. There is another field next to the main road dedicated to visitor parking and hay ride pick-up and drop-off. Tonya quickly passes me off to her lovely niece, Julie. Julie is in charge of the concession stands. She's a pretty blonde just like her aunt.

"It's great to meet you, Kat! I LOVE your hair. Aunt Tonya wasn't exaggerating about the color. My aunt told me so much about you," she smiles.

"Oh, really? Thanks. Um, what did she tell you?" I ask.

"You know, that you can fix trackers, be a midwife, or hunt ghosts. I doubted the ghost stuff, but my aunt seemed fairly convinced."

I laugh and blush before I quickly change the subject.

"So, I heard the concession stands can become a mad house. I'll probably be over here a lot. Where do I find fresh supplies when things start running out?"

"It's not that hard to manage. I need to print the inventory list. That helps more than anything. Let me get that before I go into more detail. You can look around while I retrieve it. I'll be back in sec."

I watch as Julie jogs across the lawn toward the main office building. I bet she was on the track team in high school. Her legs and ass show it. As I familiarize myself with the concession stand equipment, Shane sneaks up behind me and taps me on the shoulder. I let out a gasp when I turn around and see his face. He looks like Hector.

"Whoa, are you okay, Kat? You look pale," Shane says in concern.

I swallow the lump in my throat as I try to get a grip on my emotions. That dream will haunt me for many years to come. I have to remind myself that Shane is not Hector. He and Jackson are in danger because of the Mosley family curse, and Tonya is paying me to help them.

"I'm okay. The first night in a new town is always hard on me, despite the comfy loft Tonya stuck me in," I explain.

"Oh, I've seen the garage loft. It's gorgeous. I built that little fireplace for Tonya about five years ago."

"Really? It's my favorite part. You did a great job."

"Thanks. Speaking of masonry, I have many fire pits to build today. You can't have a fall festival without s'mores by an open fire. It was a big hit last year, so Tonya's doubling what we already have. Do you want to join me tonight to try them out? Assuming I get them all built in time. I'll bring the chocolate and marshmallows," he grins.

I can't help smiling at his enthusiasm.

"I love s'mores. I'll bring my favorite sweet crackers."

"Excellent, then it's a date?" he asks.

"It's a date," I nod.

Shane smiles big and gives me a fast kiss on the cheek before he escapes the concession stand. I blush as I watch him climb into a tracker attached to a trailer loaded with heavy-looking gray stones. He has his work cut out for him. I wanted to be excited about our first date together, but my gut is telling me it won't end well. I quickly push Shane and Hector from my thoughts as I begin my inspection of all the fall festival attractions.

The beautiful farm and the friendly people make the morning go by fast. The rolling meadows of dried corn and golden wheat are surrounded by distant forests sporting their fall colors. It's easy to get distracted by the scenery, but Tonya runs a tight ship. I quickly realize why she needs so many managers. The scale of the operation is simply on another level. Almost a third of the town will work full-time or part-time at the Magnolia Farm's Fall Festival, and almost everyone will attend the festival before it closes to make way for Christmas events.

The most popular fall attraction is the haunted corn maze. It's also the biggest and hardest attraction to maintain for three months straight. Tonya's corn maze has won many awards and attracts visitors from neighboring states every year. I got lost in it twice and had to call Shane to rescue me each time. He thought it was hilarious.

When evening arrives and the air becomes cold and crisp, I wander toward the front entrance to see the new fire pits Shane constructed. Every single one of them is finished and holding their first fires. It looks inviting and romantic as I walk among them. Shane is sitting in a wooden chair next to the biggest pit in the middle of the first row. He's already roasting a marshmallow on a bamboo stick as he waves me over to the chair next to him.

"This looks amazing, Shane," I say as he hands me a stick with a marshmallow on the end.

"Thanks. It was exhausting work. Now I'm ready to eat hot sugar," he says and pops his melted marshmallow into his mouth.

He immediately panics and spits it out because it's way too hot. I can't help laughing at him.

"You should know better than that, Mr. Fire-Pit Builder. Don't you know how to roast a marshmallow?" I chuckle.

"I do, but I burn myself every year anyway. It's tradition."

We each make ourselves a delicious s'more to enjoy as we watch stars appearing overhead. It's a wonderful end to a busy day. We chat about everything we did and how we expect the next few months to play out. Shane and I are both optimistic that the weather will be good and the festival will host a record number of visitors on Halloween.

"There's going to be a full moon this Saturday night. It will be perfect weather for a haunted maze," Shane says as he prepares himself a second s'more.

"I can't wait. Do you want to get some real food after this? I have sandwich supplies back at the loft that Tonya bought for me."

"That sounds wonderful, if you don't mind my filthy self hanging out in your apartment. I'm covered in multiple layers of dust and dirt."

"I have a shower, you know," I say before I think through my words.

Shane raises an eyebrow and smiles big.

"Are you inviting me back to your place just to get me naked? I'm surprised at you, Kat. I barely even know you," he says in mock disappointment.

I blush and roll my eyes. I've always been a flirt, and it often gets me into interesting situations. Besides, I want to talk to Shane about his family, and getting him comfortable in my loft is a great place to start. Not to mention my gift works better when I'm close to someone while I'm dreaming. If a spirit is haunting Shane, I'll see it in my dreams, IF I can convince him to sleep over tonight. I honestly don't think that will be difficult.

My stomach is turning nervous flips as I walk with Shane through the dark fields back to my apartment. I lead him up stairs and direct him to the shower before I step into the kitchen to make some ham and cheese sandwiches. I have them sitting on the coffee table next to the fireplace when he steps out of the bathroom wearing nothing but a towel. He smiles at me as I stare at him with an eyebrow raised.

"What? My clothes are filthy, so I left them in the bathroom. Is this too informal for a sandwich supper?" he asks and motions to his towel.

I let my eyes trail down his lean torso, abs, and back to his handsome face before I answer.

"It's fine," I nod.

Then I sit on the floor next to the coffee table and pick up my sandwich. Shane smiles and follows my example. The little table acts as my dining table since the loft is too small for anything bigger.

"Thanks for the food and shower, Kat. I appreciate it."

"You're welcome, Shane. Thanks for rescuing me from the corn maze twice today. I'll try not to get lost again."

"No problem. I enjoyed hunting you down. We should do it again on Halloween. I can bring a knife and wear a Jason mask to make it more exciting. Or would you prefer I bring a chainsaw?" he asks.

"A chainsaw is way more exciting," I agree.

"I can borrow Tonya's biggest one. It will slow me down and give you more time to escape the maze in one piece."

"Can that be our second date?" I ask.

"Sure, but I was hoping for way more dates than that before Halloween. That can be our fourth date."

"Okay. Will you wear the towel again to make the chase more challenging?"

"Sure, if you run the maze naked. Catching you naked would probably make me forget I had a chainsaw."

We both chuckle and blush at where our perverted conversation had gone. Then a sense of dread washes over me as I suddenly remember my nightmare. Francesca's naked body made Hector more violent. I gulp and set my sandwich down as I stare out the window. The stars are sparkling bright in the sky over the forest, and the Fairview Cemetery is less than a mile through the trees from where I'm sitting. I shiver at the thought. Shane stares at me in concern as he swallows his last bite of sandwich.

"Kat, is there something wrong? One minute you're here, then you're suddenly miles away. Did something frighten you?"

I look at Shane in surprise for a moment. He's more observant than I first thought.

"Sorry. I have dreams that are hard to live with. I don't like to talk about it. It scares people."

"Well, that's no fun. I'm a great listener and I don't judge if you want to unburden yourself for once. I won't tell anybody about it either. You're not the only one with secrets, you know," he admits.

Perfect. He's willing to talk about secrets.

"Okay, here goes. Sometimes I dream about terrible things that happened in the past. I live through it like it's actually happening to me, and last night, I had a dream about Hector and Francesca. Have you heard of them?"

Shane's eyes widen and the color drains from his cheeks at the mention of their names.

"How do you know those names?" he whispers.

He's suddenly acting like he's afraid someone might hear him.

"I told you. I dreamed that I was Francesca, and Hector Mosley was doing terrible things to me in the cemetery."

Shane shakes his head and puts his hand over his mouth like he's about to be sick.

"That's impossible. You can't possibly know that," he insists.

"Why do you say that? How do you know about it?" I ask.

"That's my nightmare. I thought my sick mind made it up because I spent too much time in the cemetery," he says.

I stare at him in surprise for a moment.

"Shane, will you tell me about your dream?"

He looks at me in fear and shakes his head.

"No."

"Why not?"

"It's too awful. I'm Hector in that dream," he gulps.

I look at him in horror for a moment.

"You're saying you feel what Hector feels when he tortures and rapes Francesca?"

He looks away in complete shame and nods. It's my turn to put my hand over my mouth.

"Oh my God, Shane. How many times have you had that dream?" I ask.

"Three times this year. Last night was the third."

We sit in silence for many minutes. I'm glad to know Shane is equally disturbed by the horrible dream.

"I'm sorry I brought it up, Shane, but it's kind of part of who I am. I'm a medium. Spirits reveal things to me in my dreams. It looks like the same thing is happening to you, or you're being haunted by your ancestor. Hector is a real psychotic bastard."

"I know. He's been haunting me and Jackson since we were kids," he confesses.

He's gazing out the window as he speaks. His eyes look tired and scared.

"Do you know why?" I ask.

He shakes his head and shrugs.

"I assume he's trying to turn us evil and drive us to an early grave like every other male in the Mosley family."

"What do you mean? How is he trying to turn you evil?"

Shane looks at me in annoyance. I can see a hint of anger in his expression. It sends my heart beating a little faster.

"I really don't want to talk about a lifetime of trauma, Kat. I want to enjoy a romantic night with you instead."

"Right... I'm sorry, Shane. I shouldn't have brought it up."

"Don't apologize. I asked you to talk about it. You couldn't have known we were sharing the same nightmare. That is bizarre as fuck."

I bite my lip and nod, but it doesn't actually surprise me.

"You said you're a medium. How does that work?" he asks.

"I have dreams about the past. Spirits talk to me in my dreams. Evil spirits like to brag. Traumatized spirits like to share their trauma. It's really hard to sleep in a new town because of it, but I keep special gummies on hand to turn off the dreams."

"That's clever. Maybe they can help me sleep without dreams for a change."

"You are more than welcome to try them," I offer.

"I would love to, but first, I'm getting cold. Can we light a fire and snuggle for a bit?"

"Of course. You can get the fire going while I freshen up."

I visit the bathroom as Shane tends to the fireplace. I put on my fluffy bathrobe and join him on the rug as he holds his hands close to the flames. The burning hickory smells amazing.

"Dang, I should have brought my marshmallows," he says in disappointment.

"I'll have to buy some and keep them here for you."

"Thanks, Kat. Does that mean I can visit again tomorrow night?"

"Let's see how tonight goes first. Do you have anything particular in mind?"

"Hmm, I have lots of things in mind, but I'm more curious as to what you would enjoy."

I hum and think for a moment. I would enjoy Shane licking my pussy and then fucking me to orgasm, but first, I want him to see my body. I straighten up and smile as I open my robe and reveal my tits to Shane. He smiles and licks his lips. I feel warm and tingly as he admires my perky melons. The chill air is making them extra round.

"May I suck your beautiful breasts?" he asks.

"Of course."

He quickly leans forward and takes my right nipple between his lips and sucks it. I moan to finally have his warm mouth on my skin. Suddenly, he gently bites my nipple with his teeth, and terror washes over me. I gasp and quickly scoot away from him. He looks at me in concern.

"I'm sorry, Kat. Did I do it too hard?" he asks.

"No... I just... flashbacks," I confess.

His expression turns sad when he realizes what I'm talking about.

"We really did have the same nightmare. Shit. Um, maybe I should leave."

"No. I don't want you to leave. We can make this work."

"Really. How?" he asks with an eyebrow raised.

I bite my lip and look around the loft for inspiration. There is a long decorative red rope hanging on the rafters like garland.

"I have an idea. Are you comfortable with being tied to the bed?"

His eyes widen as he considers my question.

"Um, I think I would really enjoy that, actually."

"Good," I nod and hop up to retrieve the rope.

I discard my robe and stand on a stool to unravel the rope from the rafters. Shane is smiling as he watches me.

"This is a perfect length. Okay, Shane, remove the towel and get on the bed," I order.

"Yes, ma'am."

He stands and tosses his towel aside, revealing his handsome erection. I chuckle as he throws himself onto my bed and holds his wrists over the headboard.

"How's this?" he asks.

"You're making it too easy, but I'm not complaining."

I carefully crawl onto the bed and crawl over Shane. I let my tits hang in his face as I begin tying his wrists to the headboard. He hums in approval as he gently catches my left nipple for a suck. I moan in approval as his sucking provokes tingles between my legs. Once I have his wrists secured to the headboard, I ask him to test the knots. He pulls at them helplessly for a few seconds. He's thoroughly trapped. I smile in victory before I lean down and kiss his soft mouth. He tastes as good as he smells, and I feel extra aroused and safe to have him tied down. I can tell by his hard cock poking my thigh that he's enjoying it too. I lie on his warm body and kiss him deeply for many seconds. I trap his cock against the wet length of my pussy so I can rub against him. He groans in approval as he shifts under me.

"Is this the kind of romantic evening you were hoping for?" I ask.

"This is better."

"I've never tied a man to my bed before. I should take advantage of you while I have the chance."

"Please do."

I smile before I kiss him again. Then I slowly crawl down his body, kissing and nibbling his soft skin as I move. He laughs when I nibble his nipples the way he did mine.

"That doesn't do much for me," he chuckles.

"What a pity. I'll have to resort to more deviant teasing."

I kiss down his stomach to his ribs, then I rub my face into his side to tickle him. He gasps and squirms to get away.

"Hey, that's underhanded," he says.

"I know," I chuckle.

I give him a chance to catch his breath, then I search for more places to tickle. He's tense as I kiss down his side close to his mound. His cock is still hard as a rock. I nibble his base a little to remind him of my final goal. He smiles and takes a deep breath to relax, and that's when I smash my nose and chin into the bend of his thigh and tickle it for all I'm worth.

"Shit!" he gasps and thrashes to get away from me.

I have to stop a few seconds later because I'm laughing so hard.

"Damn it, Kat. There will be revenge for this," he warns.

"I'm looking forward to it. Let's see if I can earn your forgiveness," I grin.

He's breathing hard and on edge as I readjust myself between his legs. His erection softened after the second tickle attack. It was time to make him hard and then make him beg for more. I get comfortable on the bed between his legs and gently nuzzle his balls with my nose. He smiles as he watches me. I raise up on my elbows and gently lick the underside of his cock, just a quick flick to stimulate him more. Then I lean down and give the underside of his tip a wet kiss and a little tongue flick. He moans softly as his erection returns in full. I smile in approval as I lean down and kiss his balls again. I enjoy taking the soft skin of his sack between my lips and then licking his testicles to move them around. He seems amused by my exploration. I doubt it feels that great. I'm mostly earning his trust again.

After a minute of kissing and playing with his family jewels, I turn my attention to the base of his cock. I use my teeth to nibble the underside all the way to his tip. I grasp his hard shaft and hold it steady as I slowly lick the underside like an ice cream cone. He moans as I rhythmically flick his tip. I catch the salty taste of his arousal on my tongue with each flick. I back off at that point and lean down to kiss his right thigh. He takes a deep breath as I slowly climb back up his body, licking and kissing his blushing skin as I go. As I reach his mouth again, I give him a deep kiss as I climb over his hips. Then I guide his tip against my wet pussy. I moan to feel his warm skin sliding against mine for the first time.

"You are so hot, Kat," he whispers in between kisses.

"Do you want inside me, Shane?" I ask.

"Yes, please," he breathes and thrusts against my pussy lips.

I quickly move so he can't slip inside me. I raise up on my knees and smile at his blushing face and neck.

"I love how eager you are, but I'm not done teasing yet."

He's chewing his lip as he watches me grab his cock and guide his tip against my pussy lips. I moan as I rub it through my arousal, stimulating my clit and massaging my opening.

"That feels so good," I smile as I push it a little deeper with each stroke.

"I can cum all over your pussy if you want me to," he says.

"Not yet. I'll tickle you more if you cum too soon."

He laughs and bites his lip again. I smile as I gently work his tip inside my opening. It feels wonderful between my tight inner muscles. I release his cock and let his tip rest inside me as I lean down for another kiss. I moan as I gently move up and down on his tip, forcing it in and out of my opening. It feels intensely erotic. I could honestly do it for hours.

"You're making me really hot, Kat," Shane breathes.

"Can you cum like this?" I ask.

"Easily, but I was hoping for something deeper."

"Let's see how long you can hold off."

I kiss him again as I slide my pussy down his shaft, taking him deep inside me. He groans in approval and eagerly thrust, hitting me deep inside. I gasp and straighten up so I can squeeze my tits as I ride him. I bounce as he thrusts, creating delicious friction inside me. I squeeze my tits and pinch my nipples as my body gets hotter and hotter.

"Wait, stop for a minute, Shane," I order.

He stops moving and looks at me with heavy eyelids. I can tell he's really close. His cock is raging hard and I can feel his pulse hammering inside me.

"What is it? I'm about to cum," he breathes.

"I know. I want to feel every second of it. Don't move as I get you off."

He gulps and nods as I begin slowly moving up and down on his shaft. A few seconds later, his eyes roll back and his body tenses. I stop moving as his cock flexes hard inside me and releases a burst a cum against my cervix. My body throbs with arousal to feel him losing control inside me. It's utterly carnal and makes me extremely hot.

"Oh God, yes, Shane. Your cum feels so good inside me," I groan.

I quickly massage my clit as I enjoy every second of his release. I can feel his cum oozing out of me and puddling around his base. The slippery mess helps me rub myself to orgasm. I cry out and twitch as my pussy tightens on his cock. He groans in approval and quickly thrust into me. I gasp from the extra stimulation. He does it faster when he sees I'm enjoying it.

"Oh fuck, yes," I whimper as he works me through the spasms.

I squeeze my tits hard and rock fast on his cock as the pleasure rolls through my body. I eventually collapse on his chest and kiss his blushing mouth as the delicious aftershocks tighten my pussy. I squeeze his cock with my inner muscles to prolong the incredible tingles. I'm sweating when I finally come down from the intense height. Our hearts are pounding against each other as we rest from our love making.

Less than a minute later, I notice Shane's body relaxing and his breathing growing steady. He has fallen asleep with his cock still hard inside me. I chuckle and kiss his cheek before I carefully climb off of him. He had a busy day of hauling heavy stones. He deserves a good night's rest. I look at the rope on his wrists for a moment. It doesn't look comfortable, so I loosen the knots a little, but I don't untie him. Then I head to the bathroom to wash up. He's still fast asleep when I return. I carefully climb into bed next to him and pull my pink comforter over us. I think about taking a gummy before I drift off to sleep, but I quickly decide against it. This is my chance to learn more about Shane. If a spirit visits his dream, I should be able to see it in mine. I take a deep breath and count backwards from a hundred. I fall asleep before I reach twenty.

Thankfully, my dream starts differently than last time. I appear to be walking through the woods at night under the full moon. No, it's a corn field at the edge of the woods. I feel a little nervous, but not frightened. Someone is looking for me. I hear footsteps close by. I laugh and run in the opposite direction. It's a game. I notice blonde hair in my side vision as I glance behind me. There is a dark figure on my heels. I scream in fear and delight to see my pursuer so close. Suddenly, something hard strikes me in the back of the head. I cry out and fall in the dirt between the corn rows. I small pumpkin thumps to the ground beside me.

"Ouch, Nate? Is that you? I didn't agree to being pelted with pumpkins! That fucking hurt!" I yell.

I hear a man laughing in the darkness. It sends a shiver up my spine.

"Who's Nate?" he asks as he steps into my corn row from the left.

I look up at him in fear. His face is obscured by a simple white eye mask. His hair appears dark and messy. He's wearing jeans and a dark knit sweater. He could be any random man from Fairview.

"Who are you?" I ask.

"Your biggest admirer. Why did you come out here to play this silly game, Julie? What did you really want out of it?" he asks.

"Fuck off, Nate. If you are Nate. The fun is over if you're going to act like this," I huff and climb to my feet.

He smiles wickedly as I begin to back away from him. I wish I knew who he was.

"I'm sorry I scared you, Julie. I didn't mean to hit you in the head with the pumpkin. I was aiming for your ass, but you ran slower than I expected."

"Ha ha, very funny," I huff.

"Let's start over. I came out here because I want a blow job. You said I would get a reward if I caught you, and I technically caught you by knocking you to the ground with a pumpkin. I can physically grab you if you prefer. Would you like that instead?"

"No. I'm not playing anymore, Nate," I snap in growing fear and anger.

"Fine, come over here and suck me off and I'll let you leave."

"Are you serious?"

"Dead serious."

I stare at him in shock for a moment. He's staring at me like a monster in the moonlight. He suddenly laughs at my hesitation.

"You're welcome to run away again. If I catch you a second time, I get to do whatever I want with you. So make a choice. Come give me an amazing blow job and pretend like you're enjoying it, or let me chase you down so I can do whatever I want to you. The second choice seems way more exciting. Don't you think?"

My heart is now beating in terror. He's a psychopath. I'll take my chances and try to run away. It's better than walking straight into his hands. Suddenly, a dog howls in the distance, making him look away, and I use that minor distraction to take off running. I dash to the right and crash through many corn rows to put distance between us. Then I make a dive to the left and run in the opposite direction to confuse him. I can hear the man laughing as he pursues me. I assume I made enough twists and turns to get him off my trail for a few seconds, so I sprint down a row toward what I think is the highway. The moon is at my back, so I'm heading in the right direction. Suddenly, my toe catches a stone and sends me flying. I crash and roll through the dirt as pain throbs through my foot and ankle.

"Oh shit, are you okay?" calls the man as he rushes over to me.

I cough a few times to get air back into my lungs. Then I look at the man in fear.

"Get the hell away from me! This is all your fault!" I yell.

"Julie, I'm sorry. You said you wanted to be really scared, so I scared you. God. Can't I do anything right?"

"Nate? Is that really you? You're a fucking asshole. Shit, I think I broke something," I groan as pain throbs up my leg.

"Uh oh, you should take off your pants so I can check for injuries."

"You're not helping!" I snap and begin the painful process of trying to stand up.

The second I turn my back on the man, something tough as leather goes around my throat and starts to choke me. I gasp and wheeze as I struggle to pull what feels like a belt away from my neck, but it's useless. His strength is far greater than mine. Lights start flashing in my vision before I pass out.

When I wake up, my body is stiff and aching all over. Something scratchy is stuck in my mouth and I can't spit it out. I'm lying on my side in a fetal position on some kind of rough cushion, and I'm pretty sure I'm naked. I quickly realize my hands are tied behind my back and my ankles and knees are bound together. The room smells like a basement, but it's too dark to tell. I listen for noises, anything to help me figure out where I am. Suddenly, I hear footsteps on the floor above me. It is a basement! My heart begins to race as I hear a doorknob turn. Light spills in from above as a door opens behind me. I hear the "click click" of a chain before brighter light allows me to see my surroundings.

I am on a cot in someone's basement. The cinder block walls give it away. I hear footsteps on squeaky stairs as someone descends to join me. My heart is pounding in terror as a familiar man in a white mask steps into my field of vision. His face is shapely and handsome like Nate's. Even their voices are similar, but I'm not sure if it's actually him.

"Hello, Julie. Are you comfortable?"

I gulp and shake my head no. The scratchy gag is keeping me silent.

"Sorry about that, but don't worry. I restrained you so I can pleasure you. I doubted you would suck my cock after I hit you in the head with a pumpkin. I figured I would make you cum as an apology, and then maybe you would give me a blow job in return. Does that sound like a deal?"

I shake my head and whimper. He chuckles at my misery.

"You are so beautiful, Julie. Seeing you helpless and exposed makes me incredibly hard, but I'm a man of my word. I'll make you cum before I take anything from you... if I can control myself for that long. Let's see, do you enjoy being licked?"

I sigh in defeat and ignore his question.

"Oh well, if you refuse to communicate, I'll just have to try different things until you cum. This will be fun."

I gulp as he walks around the cot to admire my exposed ass. I feel his warm hand pinch my ass cheek, making me jump. God my body hurts. My muscles are locked up for some reason. It's excruciating when I try to flex my fingers or toes. I'm also tied up in too many places. The ropes are cutting off my circulation.

"You have an amazing body, Julie. I can't wait to taste it."

I hear shuffling behind me. Like a cushion sliding across the floor. Then I feel a warm breath on my privates. Suddenly, a warm tongue laps against my pussy. I shudder in revulsion as the strange man licks my genitals. He moans as he slides his tongue inside me. My skin feels warm as his tongue dips in and out of me like a cock. I'm ashamed of how my body is reacting to it. I feel warm and tingly. He holds my thighs as he works his tongue deeper, making my inner muscles flex with want. Damn it. This can't be happening.

"Mmm," he groans as he licks up the arousal he worked out of me. "God, you're sweet. I didn't think you would taste this good."

His tongue plows deeper into me and laps hard against my inner muscles, making them twitch. I can feel my pussy swelling and getting wetter as he molests me. Suddenly, he changes his technique. He begins licking the outside of my pussy again, being sure to flick my clit on every pass. My body jumps the first time he does it, making him chuckle.

"I found your sweetest spot. Let's see if I can use it to make you groan."

He uses his tongue to massage my clit back and forth as he slides a finger into my pussy. I'm breathing harder as he strokes his finger deep inside me and flicks my clit in a similar pattern. My body starts to twitch as he refines his licking technique. He flattens his tongue and uses more pressure to stroke my sensitive bulb before flicking it. As I grow wetter, he slides another finger inside me and strokes my slippery walls as deeply as he can go. My eyes are about to roll back as he puts pressure in all the right places.

I really don't want to give him what he wants, but my body is aching for any kind of relief. I'm about to give in to the stroking when he slides a third finger inside me, putting a lot of pressure on my opening. It feels like a cock is penetrating me as deeply as it can. Then he quickly pumps them in and out, giving me an intense finger-fucking. When he intensifies the flicking on my clit, I can't take it anymore.

I gasp and tense as an orgasm washes over me. He groans in approval when he feels my pussy clutching at his fingers. Suddenly, he withdraws his fingers and tongue, leaving me throbbing with need, then his massive cock plows inside me to finish the job. I gasp and cry out against the gag as he pounds inside me. My first orgasm rolls into another one and it almost leaves me breathless. My body is twitching and shaking as the stranger takes advantage of it. A few seconds later, he grunts and explodes inside me. I gasp as he drives his cock deeper and fills me with cum. My body tingles wildly as he satisfies himself inside me. He groans with enjoyment as he caresses my thighs and ass cheeks. As my tingling subsides, I feel shame and fear turning my stomach.

"Thank you, Julie. I knew you were a slut. That was too easy," he chuckles.

A tear drips from my eye as he pulls out of me. He walks around the cot and stands in front of me. His glistening cock is pointing right at my face.

"I'm satisfied for now. Otherwise, I would make you suck this mess off my cock. I'm going to hydrate and replenish what I gave you. You deserve more than a mouthful when it's time to suck me off. If you perform like a happy, horny slut, I'll let you go without a fight. If you disappoint me, you get to stay down here for a while. I want you to think about that while I'm gone."

My spirit sinks as he turns and walks out of my field of vision. More tears drip from my eyes as I listen to his shoes tap the stairs. He clicks the light off, and then the door slams, leaving me in darkness.

My eyes fly open when I think I hear another door slam. I sit up with a gasp. I'm safe in my bed in my cozy loft. It's still dark outside the window. Poor Julie. What became of her? My throat is dry and my body feels too warm. There is an abundance of moisture between my legs. That dream felt close, like it was happening as I was seeing it. It's strange because I rarely dream about people that are alive. I look around the room and realize someone is missing. Shane is no longer tied to my bed. The loose rope is still hanging from the headboard.

I look in the bathroom. His clothes are gone. I look at my phone to see it's 2 AM. Where did he need to go at this time of night? My stomach drops at the possibilities. Shit. I quickly call him. No answer. I hate to entertain the thought of Shane attacking Julie. I saw the lower half of the man's face through Julie's eyes. It could have been Shane, but I wasn't sure. Was Julie murdered by the masked man? Did her spirit cause me to have that dream while I was close to Shane? Spirits often lurk around their murderers after a violent death, but when did Shane have time to do all that? Did he do it while I was asleep just now?

"Damn it," I grumble and sit on my bed to think.

I really want to give Shane the benefit of the doubt, but I have too many doubts. Why did I have that dream right after having sex with him? Then something occurred to me. I thought I heard a door slam a few minutes earlier. That might have been Shane leaving the loft, but where is he going? That's when I remember where I first met him. Fairview Cemetery. His favorite hangout. It's less than a mile away from my loft if you cut through the woods, and it would take me less than an hour to walk there and back. I groan in annoyance. It's probably a waste of time to go looking for him. He probably went home so he could sleep better, but why didn't he say goodbye? Why did I dream about Julie? Is she dead now?

"Fuck it. I'm going."

I quickly dress and grab my flashlight. The night is chilly and the moon is bright overhead. I don't immediately have to use my flashlight thanks to the harvest moon. The cornfield almost touches the woods, leaving an open path for me to follow, but I have to enter the woods to reach the cemetery quickly. The cornfield smells earthy and sweet mixed with the scent of the pine trees. When the path turns left, I enter the woods to keep going straight. I click on my flashlight and keep it pointed at the ground so I don't trip on roots or rocks. The wind is calm and the woods are quiet except for chirping insects. I hear the swoosh of owl wings as one flies overhead. After twenty minutes of walking, sunken coffin-shaped holes in the ground alert me to where I am.

A chill runs through me as I think about the forgotten souls that still visit their graves. Spirits have no greater purpose than to be a memory or a curse to the living. I'm not a religious person, but I've seen enough to know that bodily death is not the end of the energy that keeps a body alive. That energy continues to exist on a Plane of Echoes, and it reflects the physical world that it once knew. These ghostly echoes seem like a flaw because they serve no good purpose in reality. They're just awful reminders of our inescapable deaths, and sometimes they have power over the living. Death itself is such a terrible waste of life and energy, and no living thing escapes death in this decaying world.

For all my strange existence and my many years of studying different religions, I have seen no evidence of Heaven or Hell or of anything divine guiding these spirits or controlling what happens in the physical world. There is too much decay, corruption, sickness, and poor design for it to have been created by an intelligent God. If I were God, I wouldn't want to admit that I intentionally created a world where innocent children starve to death and suffer violence on a daily basis. Sadly, I have to agree with what Hector said to Francesca about God. A deity that intentionally created innocent beings to suffer can't possibly be a good God. If God knows everything, then why does he put us through trials and suffering just to find out something he already knows? Does he enjoy watching us suffer like an abuser? If God wants a relationship with us, why create it through suffering and fear? Why not show himself to us like a loving parent and comfort us like children?

Like Hector said, blaming Adam and Eve for the downfall of man is the tactic of an abuser. God tricked them into thinking they did something wrong when they literally had no knowledge of good and evil when they ate the fruit. God set his children up to fail and then punished them like it was their fault, and they trusted him afterward because he had absolute power over them. They had no choice. That's called gaslighting. The story is a perfect example of an abusive relationship. It's ridiculously cruel.

As I'm lost in thought about humanity's suffering, I fail to notice I'm not the only living soul in the cemetery that night.

"Hello, beautiful. What's your name?" announces a male voice through the darkness.

I gasp as my head snaps up. I don't immediately see him in the shadows of the trees. I hear a deep chuckle before he steps into a spot of moonlight. My stomach drops to see a familiar man in a white mask standing about twenty feet ahead of me. Oh shit. I really stepped in it this time.

"Did I frighten you? Were you looking for a ghost and found me instead?" he asks in amusement.

"I, uh... I'm actually looking for a friend," I stammer.

I need to get my fear under control. Predators love scaring their prey.

"Oh, that's lovely. Are you looking for a friend that already exists or a new friend?"

"Um, both. I'm always up for making new friends, but I'm currently looking for my friend Shane. I think something bad happened to him or he's in trouble. He's not answering his phone and I don't know where he went. Have you seen him?"

"I don't think I have. I'm looking for ghosts, not the living, but I can help you look for him. The living are easier to find than ghosts most nights. Like you, for example."

I force myself to smile and nod. Maybe I can charm him with a good conversation so he won't try to hurt me.

"That's really brave of you. Have you actually seen a ghost out here before?" I ask.

"I have seen many ghosts over the years. It requires patients and a lot of late night visits to the cemetery."

"Wow, you've actually seen ghosts? Where did you see the last one? Was it here in the oldest section?"

"No, actually. It was in a family plot in the hollow. There's a mix of old and new graves there. In my experience, that's where you're more likely to see a ghost."

"How creepy. Will you show it to me?" I ask with a smile.

"Of course, follow me," he waves.

I have a funny feeling I know the family plot he's talking about. There is a small chance I'm actually speaking to Shane and he has taken on a different personality, but I need to get closer to him to be sure. The man turns and walks ahead of me, confident in his steps despite the pitch-black shadows under the trees. I could easily turn and make a hasty escape, but I need to know if Shane is the one that kidnapped Julie. Then I need to survive the night so I can find what's left of her.

As we approach the family plot, I notice candlelight in the clearing between the new and old gravestones. It is the Mosley plot, and a familiar circle of candles decorates the grass around four steaks driven deep into the ground. I stop and stare in fear as I remember Francesca's night of torture in that spot over a hundred years ago.

"What's wrong, Katerina? Do you not like the decor?" he asks in a sinister tone.

I look at him with my brow furrowed. He's keeping his distance from me, but he's watching me like a stalker.

"How do you know my name?" I ask.

"A spirit told me," he smiles.

"Really? Or have we met before?"

"We have. Your gifts are dull when you're awake. Perhaps my gem will strengthen them. Would you like to hold it again?" he asks as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a familiar gold chain.

He holds it up in the candlelight, and the ruby dangling from it sparkles and flashes like a red warning single. I should run, but my legs suddenly feel heavy and my chest feels tight.

"Hector?" I whisper in fear.

"I knew you wouldn't forget me. Not after the memories we shared. I felt you inside of Francesca that night, Katerina. Your gift crosses time. Did you know that?"

I stare at him in shock. I'm speaking to Hector through some poor sap he possessed, and I'm afraid it's Shane. Hector is a frighteningly powerful spirit, and he's using the necklace as an anchor to our reality.

"My God, Hector. Look what you've done to your family. Why are you driving your ancestors to early graves? You're dead. You had your go at life and you ruined it. You're a curse on this earth. Go away and let the living enjoy their lives," I demand.

"Thanks for your unwanted opinion. My 'go at life' is far from over. I found a way to live again through my ancestors. I won't give that up easily. A simple blood ruby is the key that holds the pathway open. There is a reason red light is so unsettling to the living. It's the spectrum that connects the recently deceased to the Plane of Echos, as you call it, also known as Limbo or Hell, whichever mythology you prefer," he smiles.

"Why are you telling me your secret? I'm here to stop you. Don't you realize that?"

"I do, and I don't care. I want you to join me, Katerina. Your life energy burns red. That's why you can see our world in your dreams. When you die, you will become a red specter. You will be far more powerful than me if you choose to keep using your gift. We could haunt this entire village into the grave. The townsfolk will be our puppets. We can use them as we like. We can make them feel what we want to feel. Their bodies will be our playground. Would you not enjoy that?"

I scowl at him in utter repulsion. How could anyone enjoy torturing innocent people until they go mad and kill themselves? Hector was and still is a psychopath. He doesn't understand love and he gains pleasure from making people suffer. Physical pleasure is all that matters to him.

"That's disgusting. You torture people for pleasure. I wish you could have known love. Love is a key to happiness, and you don't need sex to enjoy it. Have you never cared deeply for someone because they simply made life worth living? It could be anyone. A relative, a friend, a mentor, or a lover, anyone you admire because they make the world a better place. That's love, and you obviously missed out on it. I feel sorry for you and everyone connected to you."

The rage that flashes over his face is obvious despite the mask.

"How dare you taunt the dead. I only love myself. No one else deserves my love. I called Francesca 'my love' because I loved watching her suffer. You enjoyed Francesca's pain and pleasure as she lay bound, bleeding, and throbbing on my cock. I felt you there that night, but I didn't understand what you were until now. I'm confident I can convince you to accept my offer, or I'll simply force it upon you."

With that, he lunges at me like a snake. Despite the heaviness in my legs, I dive to the right and roll across the grass. I scramble behind a headstone as he reaches for my hair. I dunk and twist on the ground so I can kick him in the side of the knee with my heel. He lets out a curse and crashes to the ground as I scramble to my feet. The heaviness I felt earlier is gone. Giving the bastard a taste of his own medicine must have weakened him. I sprint back into the woods to get out of the cemetery faster. Running through the newer graves is like running through a maze. Hector has more power in the cemetery so I need to get out of it fast. He was likely killed there. Tragedy marks a place with darkness and makes it easier for spirits to find.

I run into the moonlight again when the forest ends and the cornfield begins. I turn right and sprint towards my loft. A few seconds later, a man appears from the shadows of the trees to my left and dives to catch me. I scream as he grabs my sleeve and pulls me off balance. We both crash to the dirt and roll. I land on my stomach and attempt to scramble to my feet again, but something instantly goes around my throat and chokes me as the man's weight slams into my back. I'm pinned to the dirt. It feels like my eyeballs want to pop out of my head as I claw at the leather belt around my neck. Everything hurts and lights are flashing in my eyes before the world goes dark.

The next time I wake up, I'm not in my cozy loft. I'm naked, cold, and tied to steaks in the ground. A circle of burning candles surrounds me. The candlelight shines on the nearest gravestones, making them look tall and ominous. A familiar man in a white mask stands at my feet. He's holding a familiar knife in his right hand. The ruby pendant is hanging from his neck. It sparkles too brightly in the firelight.

"Are you cold, Katerina? Your nipples surely are," he says with a smile.

I'm about to panic as I stare at the monster standing over me. I should have never left my loft.

"You look nervous, my love. Don't worry, I'm going to pleasure you before I hurt you. I'll make you regret your taunts and long to join me in the Plane of Echos. But first, I'll teach you to enjoy pain with your pleasure."

My heart is pounding in terror as he kneels between my legs and climbs over me. He tries to kiss me, but I turn my head away.

"How sad, you're determined not to enjoy this. I figured you would test my skills. Thankfully, I'm up for the challenge," he whispers before his warm mouth closes around my right nipple.

He sucks it lovingly as he lays his body on top of mine, sharing his warmth so I can stop shivering. A tear drips from my eye as my heart continues to race. My body tingles as he continues to make love to my right breast. He squeezes the soft flesh and flicks my hard nipple with his tongue until my wetness increases. How is he making me tingle between my legs? Why is my body betraying me?

"Hector, please stop. You know this is wrong," I plead.

"I know, and there is no one here to stop me. Your torment arouses me, body and soul. This heat makes me cling to life through my idiot ancestors. They're so easy to control."

He turns his attention to my left nipple. His hot mouth feels too good against my cold skin. It feels like a warm embrace as he sucks the soft flesh of my nipple and breast into his mouth. He's tasting my skin. Then he focuses on flicking my nipples with his tongue. An ache of arousal tingles between my legs with every flick. After many minutes of sucking and flicking, he slowly kisses down between my breasts. He inhales my scent and often licks my skin as he moves downward. I shudder as he licks down my stomach, tickling me, and making me squirm.

"Mmm, you smell like a feast," he whispers as he runs his nose over my mound so he can breathe me in.

I shudder with tingles as he touches his face close to my sensitive skin. I desperately want to get away, but I also want to feel what he has in store for me. I can't forget how he made Francesca feel. Damn it. He's going to hurt me. I have to get away. Suddenly, his hot tongue laps between my pussy lips before stroking upward and flicking my clit. My whole body jumps from the erotic caress.

"Mmm, you are delicious, Katerina. You remind me of Francesca. Your cream flows as easily as hers."

My heart is pounding again as his tongue slides back inside me. He laps deep and works against my inner muscles with skill. He makes my body want to give him more cream. He's stroking my walls for it, demanding it. I whimper as my body shudders and my skin feels too hot. It's a relief from the cold, but soon his tongue-groping starts to hurt. Why is he licking so aggressively? Suddenly, I feel his teeth scrape over my skin, making me gasp. He's going to eat me alive.

"My God, I must refrain before I take a bite out of you," he says as he raises up and licks his lips. "My cock is better suited for tormenting you anyway. It can put a baby inside you, and that will cause you loads of unholy pain," he laughs as he unbuttons his pants and presents me with his thick erection.

My body aches as I stare at it. I want him inside me. What is wrong with me? Is my brain as warped as Francesca's? Why do I want a monster inside me? Before I can answer my question, he presses his hot tip against my swollen lips, making my thoughts turn to mush. His skin is so silky and hot against my pussy lips. I squirm a little to feel him more, and he chuckles in satisfaction.

"That's a slutty pussy if I ever felt one. Do you want my cock inside you, Katerina? Do you want your pussy filled with a devil's cum? It feels like you do," he whispers as he strokes my opening with his tip, putting pressure in all the right places and making me wetter.

My inner muscles clench with need as he teases me. I want to give in to his teasing. I need to feel him inside me or I'll go mad. God, what is wrong with me?

"Tell me what you want, Katerina. Do you want me to fuck you so hard it hurts? Do you want me to put a baby inside you? I throb at the thought of ruining you like I ruined Francesca," he groans before he suddenly plunges inside me.

I gasp from the harsh penetration. It hurts deep inside me as he begins to thrust like a wild man. I cry out as he sinks his nails into my hips and pulls me into his thrusts. My tits bounce wildly as he pounds his hips between my legs. His thighs slap loudly against my ass cheeks from the impact. He's going to tear me apart. The friction of his cock plunging through my tunnel makes my eyes roll back and my mouth open in shock. It's wet, hot, and violent. Holy God he feels like carnal sin between my legs. My skin grows hotter and hotter as he fucks me faster and faster. I can't take it anymore.

"Oh God, I'm cumming," I gasp and tense with orgasm.

"Yes, Katerina. Soak me with your juices and open your body to me," Hector groans as he arches his body and grips me harder.

He lifts my ass into the air with this new position, opening my body more for his cock. I gasp as he hits deeper inside me and makes the orgasm more intense. I feel pain and ecstasy throughout my abdomen and between my legs. I cry out and squirm as he pounds into my trembling body, hitting me deeper than I have ever felt before.

"You feel like a slut now, Katerina, and I ache to ruin you more," he groans.

Suddenly, he gasps and tenses as his cock grows even harder. He grunts as an explosion of hot cum fills my tunnel. He curses and shakes as he fucks the slippery mess deeper. I cry out as he suddenly thrusts painfully hard into me. It's like he's trying to tear me open with his cock. I didn't know a man could move that deep inside me, but he's more of a devil than a man. He's trying to impregnate me, and I'm ashamed of how my body tingles from his abuse. He wants more heirs so he can use them to continue his reign of terror, and he's succeeding. He seduced me with the promise of pleasure. I knew he could pleasure me after living Francesca's nightmare, and now my pussy aches around his monster cock as his cum pools in my depths. I feel dirty and used as my pleasure begins to fade. My insides hurt from the wild intercourse, and why does he continue to hold himself so deep inside me?

"That was almost as good as my first time," he chuckles before he lays down on top of me.

He catches my mouth for a kiss, and I'm too defeated to resist him. He sucks my tongue as he thrust into my soaked pussy, sending cum streaming out of me. He abused my body and gave me mind-numbing pleasure. I enjoyed the monster inside me, and I'll live with that shame for the rest of my life, which may not be long if I can't get away from him. He takes a deep satisfied breath after tasting my mouth. Then he studies my face in the candlelight. His cock is still massaging inside me. He flexes it every few seconds, making the pain more intense.

"My sweet, Katerina. I hope you bear me a son. You're strong like Francesca. Maybe you'll bear me two sons."

"Hector, where is Julie? What did you do with her?" I whisper.

"Oh, we played naughty games. Then I left her in the corn maze. I think she'll make quite an impression on Halloween night," he chuckles.

Oh God, poor Julie.

"Shane, are you in there? Can you help me?" I plead.

"Shane isn't here, my love. No one is coming to save you."

"The hell I am!" announces a man's voice before a dark shadow swoops over us and hits Hector in the head with a rock.

He falls limp on top of me. I can feel his blood dripping down my neck. Then I finally see my savior. It's Shane.

"Thank God, Shane! Get him off of me!" I yell.

"I am," he grumbles as he attempts to use the man's arm to drag him off of me.

I shudder in revulsion as the man's dick slides out of me and slimes across my thigh as Shane pulls him off of me.

"Oh God, Kat. I'm so sorry I left you. This is all my fault," Shane blubbers as he fumbles with the knot on my right wrist.

"It's not your fault, Shane. It's over. I'm alive," I say as sickness turns my stomach. "Ugh, but I might throw up."

"Do what you have to. Did you want to go to the hospital?"

"Hell no. I hate hospitals. They're worse than cemeteries for a medium," I grumble.

My stomach can't take it anymore. I turn my head and wretch as Shane frees my right hand. I shake it to relieve the sudden rush of pins and needles. I close my eyes and groan as exhaustion washes over me. Now I understand why Francesca was on the verge of faint that night Hector tortured her. I start trembling uncontrollably once my other hand is free. I'm too cold. I attempt to sit up, but my body isn't having it.

"Shit. I can't move, Shane," I whimper as he unties my ankles.

"Don't worry. I got you," he says and quickly scoops me into his arms.

I'm shaking too badly to enjoy his warmth as he rushes me out of the cemetery. I swoon before we reach our final destination. When I find consciousness again, I'm warm in my bed in the loft. Sunlight is peaking over the trees and shining on my face through the big window. It's a beautiful Halloween morning, but I can't enjoy it after the horror I experienced. My body hurts everywhere, especially between my legs and inside my lower belly. I hear a shuffling noise close by that gives me a start. I pull the blanket down from my nose to see Shane sitting in the middle of the floor. His face is buried in his hands.

"Shane... who was that man? Did you kill him?"

He looks at me in despair and shakes his head.

"I don't know. I've been too worried about you to go back and look. What happened, Kat? I left for ten minutes to hunt for my phone. I found it in the tractor. Then I saw I missed a call from you. I tried to call you back but you didn't answer. I ran back here to explain why I left, but you were gone and so was your flashlight. I looked everywhere for you after that. I was getting scared after an hour of searching. For some reason, my mind told me to look in the cemetery. So that's where I went. I almost vomited when I saw that man on top of you. How bad did he hurt you?"

"Bad enough. It could have been worse. Why were you so worried about me? I was only gone for an hour. I'm glad you were worried. Nothing about that was normal."

He gulps and shakes his head.

"Fairview is not normal right now. Bad things happen to attractive women around here all the time. That's why so many go insane. I was afraid the curse had gotten to you because you were hanging out with me."

I sigh and nod in understanding. His story tracks.

"We need to visit the cemetery before work. I need to know if you killed that man," I say as I slowly sit up.

I groan in pain as I sit on the edge of the bed to collect myself. I'm naked, bruised, and bleeding in sensitive places, but I can function. I order Shane to make some coffee as I take a quick shower. I want to get my attackers smell and blood off of me before I become sick again. The shower revives me, but the ache between my legs needs ibuprofen. I still feel like a hot mess as Shane hands me a hot latte. I sip it as he retrieves his trucks and drives it over to the loft to pick me up.

When we arrive in the cemetery, we go straight to the Mosley family plot. We find dried blood, crushed grass, and candle wax on the ground between the headstones. The man is alive and was able to clean up after himself. Not good.

"Damn it, Shane. We need to get to the corn maze before visitors arrive," I say in sudden realization.

The masked man said he left Julie there. As we head back to the truck, my phone rings. I answer to hear Tonya's hysterical voice.

"Kat, please come to the corn maze before the police arrive," she blubbers before she ends the call.

My stomach drops, and I take off running for the truck. Shane follows me without a word. When we arrive at the maze, we find a well-cleared path straight down the center that ends in the middle of the field. Farm hands are weeping and looking scared as they point us down the path. When we arrive, I finally see what Hector did to Julie.

I stare in horror at her dismembered body parts hanging from the Halloween display of chainsaw-wielding mannequins. Her severed head is neatly displayed on a bloody hay bale at the center of the display. Her naked torso is lying on the ground in front of it with a little pot of yellow chrysanthemum resting on her stomach. Her detached arms and legs are draped around the mannequins necks like scarves. My stomach turns sick as I approach Tonya. Her face is wet with tears and hard with rage.

"Tonya, I'm so sorry I couldn't stop this. I've encountered the man who did it, but I don't know where he is or what his name is yet. It wasn't Shane. He saved me from becoming the next victim. How many young men in town are related to Shane and Jackson? Also, where does Jackson live?"

More tears drip down her beautiful face as she struggles to speak.

"I'll text you a list of names and addresses," she whispers.

As I turn to leave, she touches my arms and stops me.

"Kat, can you see her? Is she still here?"

I take a deep breath and look around slowly, taking in the horrible scene. I feel negative energy around the dead body, but I don't sense the darkness that usually hangs over a violent murder scene.

"I can't see her while awake, but I'm sure she didn't die here. That's all I can tell you right now," I whisper.

Tonya takes a shaky breath and nods.

"If you discover him before the police do, tell me first. I'm shutting the fall festival down indefinitely. This town is cursed. Be sure to let the mayor know my plans when you see him," she orders.

I nod and quickly and leave the horrible scene with Shane. We're out of the entrance and heading toward town when a convoy of police vehicles zoom by us with their sirens and lights blaring.

"Shane, take me to Jackson's house," I order.

"You're joking, right? You think Jackson snapped and did this? The guy is a saint. He said God shut Hector out of his mind years ago. I've been praying every day he'll do the same for me, but I guess I'm not God's favorite."

"That honestly makes me more suspicious."

Shane makes a disgruntled snort before he turns toward Main Street. The mayor's house is fancy and quaint. It doesn't give off murderer vibes at all. I straighten my hair and try to look presentable as Shane escorts me onto the front porch. He looks annoyed as he knocks loudly instead of ringing the doorbell. Jackson answers the door with a happy, surprised smile. He's clean and well groomed. His dark hair is perfectly gelled back with no stray hairs escaping. He's wearing an apron covered in fluffy kittens holding muffins.

"Shane, Miss Porter? It's lovely of you to visit this morning! I was just making breakfast for the family. Would you like to join us?"

Shane gives me a side-long glance that says, "I told you so."

"Uh, no, thank you, Mayor Mosley. That's very generous of you. I hate to be the bearer of terrible news, but Julie Carmichael was gruesomely murder last night and put on display in the corn maze. The police were arriving as we left. Tonya wanted me to tell you in person. She also said she's shutting down the fall festival indefinitely."

Jackson's face pales as he looks between me and Shane in horror.

"Oh my God... I uh, thanks for letting me know before I let my daughter watch the news with us this morning. Um, I need to talk to my wife and prepare myself to visit the farm. Thank you both. Are you both alright? You look exhausted..." his brow furrows when he observes the bruise on my neck.

"We're okay, Jack. Thanks for asking. Call me if you need anything," Shane says.

"I will. I'm sorry this happened. Things seemed to be going so good for a while there. You two take care," he says and starts to close the door.

I glance down at his hand as he reaches for the door knob. I notice a few lines of red scratches on his wrist that trail down his hand. My hidden sense tingles as I stare at them. That's when an orange cat races up the steps and almost crashes into the closing door. It meows angrily for being so disrespected.

"Oh, sorry, Gerry. I didn't see you coming," Jackson says as he opens the door and scoops the orange cat into his arms.

My sense tingles again when I notice red smudges on the cat's face.

"Um, Mayor, what happened to your wrist?" I ask.

"What? Oh, that. Gerry and I got into a disagreement about a dead chipmunk he was trying to bring into the house this morning. You should have seen my hand before I washed it. I almost gave Jessica a heart attack. It should be fine in a few days," he assures me.

"I'm sure it will. Good luck with today and the rest of this year," I say with a sigh.

"Thank you, Katerina. I appreciate your kind words," he says before he closes the door.

A shudder runs through me when he says my name. He never called me by first name before, and the tone of his voice turned my stomach a little.

"Are you happy now?" Shane asks as he turns to leave.

"Not really."

Shane sighs and shakes his head as we walk back to the truck. We go all over town visiting Mosley cousins, uncles, and nephews. Almost everyone has an alibi, and the ones that don't have an alibi hold no resemblance to my attacker. My attacker was tall and fit like Shane. He definitely didn't have a beer belly or a beard like half the men we spoke to. Jackson is highest on my list of potential murderers, and I planned to sneak into his basement tonight to investigate. I needed to get rid of Shane for this mission. He seemed convinced of his brother's innocence, but after the horrible things I've lived through, I wouldn't trust Jackson if he was the Pope. Anybody can change at the drop of hat, especially while under the influence of a demon like Hector.

Shane takes good care of me that afternoon and evening. We eat and nap together and then we go to the farm house to check on Tonya. She's a wreck and refuses to talk to anyone but me and Hank Berm. I can tell by the way Hank holds Tonya and kisses her tears that he is, in fact, a lover. I tell Shane he can head home for the evening since I planned to stay and comfort Tonya. I thank him for rescuing me and give him a special kiss goodbye before he reluctantly leaves the house. I sit quietly with Tonya in the den. Hank dismisses himself to buy everyone a late supper, giving us some needed privacy. The fire is burning warm in the fireplace next to us. The firelight turns Tonya's tears to gold when she glances at me.

"What do you know, Kat? Did he attack you too?" she asks.

"He did. An evil spirit is haunting the Mosley men. Hector Mosley has spoken to me through my dreams and through his descendants. I think he possessed the man that murdered Julie and attacked me. I'm not entirely sure. The man could be innocent and unaware of what he's doing, or he could be aware and enjoying what the spirit is telling him to do. I plan to investigate more tonight. I hope Julie will guide me."

Pain crosses Tonya's face at the mention of her beautiful niece's name.

"Please tell Julie I love her and I'm sorry I couldn't save her from that monster," she whispers.

"Of course, I will. I'm sorry I couldn't stop it, Tonya. Forgive me for intruding, but what really made you hire me?"

"I knew something like this would happen. Back in the summer, I had a long visit with Shane's mother, Candice. If you recall what I said earlier, Candice has brain damage and hasn't spoken in fifteen years after Jake almost killed her. She'll wave at me and point to things she wants me to read to her. I can talk to her for hours and she seems to listen. When it came time for me to leave that afternoon, she quickly pointed at a book on the side table. It was a copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales. I opened it and flipped through the pages. I quickly noticed she had circled letters throughout the book. It was the same letters over and over again. I wrote them down in the order she had circled them. When I got home that evening, I sat down and looked at the paper for a few minutes. I couldn't make sense of it, so I put it into Google and it separated the words for me. It was Spanish. It said, 'Vidente de los Muertos," or Seer of the Dead. That phrase led me to you, Kat. I think Candice wanted me to find you. That's why I hired you. Your resume was also spectacular, don't get me wrong, but yeah. I had ulterior motives."

I sigh in disbelief and lean back in my chair to think. I need to catch a murderer and destroy his cursed necklace. That would likely lift the evil pall that brings tragedy to the town every fifteen years. What I know so far, starting with Francesca's and Hector's deaths, people are murdered, killed, or commit suicide every fifteen years up to the present date, and a Mosley male is always among the deceased. There has to be a cosmic event that lines up with this pattern. I take out my phone and Google events in our solar system that occur every fifteen years, and not surprisingly, Saturn's rings vanish from sight every fifteen years as they flatten out and hide themselves from our view. This loss of ancient light reveals hidden phenomena around Saturn, including dramatic shadows cast by Saturn's largest moon, Titan. Titan also appears brighter and more visible during this phase, and we're currently in it.

"Wait a minute... the light of Titan is a source of power. Saturni Luna is what the settlers called it in the mid 17th century. A small cult worshiped the light of Saturn's moon on a fifteen year cycle until the Christian's burned them at the stake for witchcraft. Hector must have captured that rare light in the ruby that night, causing his power to surge every fifteen years when Saturn's rings vanish. Shit, I need to destroy that ruby before he hides it for another fifteen years. The cycle is almost over."

I bid Tonya farewell and tell her I'm off to speak with Mayor Mosley again just to clear up a few details. She reluctantly allows me to leave alone after many warnings to be extra careful around him. I stop by my loft and take more ibuprofen before I head back into town on foot. The Mayor's house is dark and quiet except for a TV on in the den. I can see its light flickering through the back window. I sneak around the outside of the house until I find a basement window. It's completely blacked out, so I sit against it and close my eyes. I focus on my extra sense to see if I can detect negative energy in the basement. I feel a faint mix of dark energy behind me. That means something bad happened in the house at some point, but when it happened is the tricky part. I could be sensing a murder from fifty years ago for all I know. I need to get into the house and look for evidence.

I take a deep breath and step onto the front porch. I softly knock on the front door, hoping not to wake their daughter at this late hour. After a minute of waiting, I hear footsteps coming down the front hall. It's the Mayor. He looks through the window and raises an eyebrow at me, then he quickly opens the door.

"Miss Porter, I'm surprised to see you out so late. Is everything alright?" he asks in concern.

"Not really. I'm sorry to intrude, but I need to speak with you about Shane and the murderer. Since this is a family matter, I didn't want to go to the police first. Can I ask you a few questions?"

"Certainly, come on in. My wife and daughter are asleep. I was watching TV since I couldn't sleep after what I saw at the farm today. Fairview has seen its share of tragedy, but this one takes the cake," he sighs as he leads me into the kitchen. "Would you like a cup of coffee? I have some hot decaf," he offers.

"Sure, with milk, please."

I sit at the kitchen island and take a deep breath as Jackson quietly prepares two mugs. He seems so kind and normal. I hate to doubt him, but I still let my secret sense reach around the room, and I feel dark things that I don't understand. Pain, fear, and death fills this house like a plague. I shudder as Jackson hands me a cup of creamy coffee.

"Are you cold? I can get you a fluffy throw from the living room," he offers.

"No, thank you, I'm okay. Just a long, disturbing day."

"That's an understatement," he nods and sits across from me with his coffee.

"I wanted to tell you that Shane rescued me from the murderer in the cemetery last night. The killer had me tied down and was planning to torture me, but Shane intervened."

The shock that comes across Jackson's face is a relief. His emotions appear genuine, but I still can't drop my guard. Especially while the house swirls with dark energy.

"Oh my God, why didn't you tell the police about this?"

"We didn't have a chance. By the time I had recovered enough to walk, the murderer had cleaned up the crime scene."

"Do you know who it is?"

"I'm not sure. He wore a mask and I only ever saw him in the dark. He could be any man from town, but I suspect he's related to the Mosley family. He was torturing me in your family plot."

Jackson's expression falls as he rubs his face tiredly. He suddenly looks exhausted.

"Why does this keep happening to us?" he whispers miserably.

"Because of Hector," I say.

He looks at me in fear at the mention of that name.

"How do you know that name?" he asks.

"I hate to say this, but Hector spoke to me multiple times in my dreams and through the man he possessed. I've been able to speak to the dead for as long as I can remember. And if you don't believe me, I hope you can believe the many bruises he left of me last night."

I loosen my collar and pull up my sleeves to show Jackson where I was choked and bound.

"Oh my God... Julie had the same bruises on her body," he whispers in shock.

"I think we were strangled with the same belt. I've spoken to most of your family already, none of them fit the murderer's profile. Except for you."

The color drains from Jackson's face at that accusation.

"You don't seriously think it was me, do you? Just because I'm a Mosley? I was asleep in bed with my wife during the murder. You can ask her yourself."

"Might she lie to protect you?" I ask.

"About a murder? Hell no. If she murdered someone, I would turn her in without blinking and I expect her to do the same."

I sigh in relief and nod.

"Of course. I'm so sorry for these wild accusations, Jackson, but I fear the man who is possessed by Hector doesn't know what he's doing. You or Shane could have done this without realizing it, but I know it wasn't Shane because he rescued me in the presence of the murderer. Have you noticed anything strange happening recently? Have you lost time or had injuries you can't explain?"

Jackson takes a shaky breath and runs his fingers through his shiny hair, mussing its perfectly-gelled appearance for the first time since I met him. As a few strands fall loose across his forehead, a scary realization starts to sink in. He really does resemble the murderer.

"I'm not sure. My wife, Jessica, hasn't mentioned anything. She would tell me if I was being weird. I'm a little fuzzy about the scratches on my wrist. I'm pretty sure Gerry did that though. I was half asleep when I fought him to keep the dead chipmunk out of the kitchen. I remember that, I think," he gulps.

I'm feeling shaky as I stare at him. I really shouldn't have come here alone, but Shane's confidence in his brother and Jackson's constant kindness threw me off my guard. I really hope it's not him. Either way, I need to sneak away and check the basement before I head to the police station to tell them everything I know.

"Jackson, I hate to scare you, but just to be sure, could you bring Jessica down stairs so I can talk to her real quick? A little reassurance from her is all I need right now. I think it will help you too."

"Yes, that will help. Wait right here and I'll go get her."

I nod as Jackson heads down the back hall and up the stairs. As soon as he's out of earshot, I dash to the front hall where I saw the basement door earlier. I try the handle to find it locked. That's not too weird considering they have a small child. I notice a little shelf of labeled keys to my left, and sure enough, one is labeled, "basement." I grab it and unlock the door. As I open it, a sickly smell makes me step back. It's not the smell of rotting flesh, but it reminds me of blood and other bodily fluids. On top of that, I feel dark energy swirling and rising up the basement stairs like it wants to pull me down into the darkness. I wonder if that is enough evidence to convince the police to raid their beloved mayor's house? No, it isn't. I curse under my breath and start to take my first step down, but a familiar voice stops me.

"Miss Porter, what are you doing?" Jackson asks.

I gasp to discover him behind the opened door. I didn't hear or see him enter the front hall.

"Oh, Jackson, you scared me. Sorry for snooping. I uh, heard a scratching noise beyond the door and thought Gerry was trapped down there. So I opened it to let him out."

"That has happened before," he nods as he stares at me suspiciously. "Did he run out?"

"Uh, no. I didn't see him."

"Hmm, he doesn't know you. You might have spooked him. Jessica is getting dressed and will be down in just a minute. Would you like to help me search for Gerry in the meantime? I may have to clean up a few puddles if he's been down there all day."

"Uh, sure," I nod with my heart racing. "Um, you go first. I'm not good with heights or darkness."

"Of course," he nods and leads the way.

I really don't want to go into the basement with Jackson. I hope it's all a huge misunderstanding, but if it isn't, I need evidence before I leave. Damn it. Why does the basement have to give off a death vibe? The house is really old, God only knows what I'm sensing. Jackson could still be innocent. I gulp and start to step down behind him, but he stops and reaches up for the overhead light. "Click click," goes the all-too-familiar sound before the staircase is illuminated. And then there is the familiar squeak of the steps as Jackson descends to the bottom. It's all a horrible flashback of Julie's last night. I am not going down there with him. I quickly take a step backward, preparing to flee the house, and that's when strong hands grab my shoulders and jerk me off balance. Before I can react, someone behind me violently shoves me into the basement stairwell. I scream as I tumble down the steps. A cinder-block wall stops my descent. My head takes the first blow, sending my world into darkness.

My aches and pains bring me out of the darkness at some point. I groan and try to move, but I can't. I'm cold, naked, and lying on my back on a hard table. My wrists and ankles are bound tightly and pulled under the table where I can't see them. I feel like I'm hogtied. Dim light from the stairs shines into the room. I can see rafters overhead. I think I'm still in the mayor's basement. My head is hanging off the end of the table, making my neck and head pain worse.

"Somebody... help," I whisper through a very dry throat.

Had I been screaming?

"Oh, you're awake?" announces a familiar voice from the direction of the light.

My heart begins pounding as I listen to footsteps circle the table. A tall familiar man steps into view, and my stomach turns sick. It's the man in the white mask. To my surprise, he smiles at me and lifts up his mask, revealing his handsome face. It's Jackson Mosley. I should have trusted my gut from the beginning. I look at him in shock and confusion for a moment. He wasn't the one that shoved me down the stairs. He was already down here when it happened.

"Who... who pushed me?" I stammer, my voice has no volume.

"My partner in crime, of course."

Jackson looks across the room, and I hear more footsteps approaching the table. To my horror and disbelief, Shane steps into view. He gives me a wicked smile and gently rubs his fingers through my hair like he's trying to comfort me.

"Sorry, Kat. Family is everything, and Jack told me what your spirit can do. It's too tempting to pass up. You can make us all like Hector. He's here too, by the way. He's really strong when he possesses Jackson. Hector said he can bind all of our souls to the ruby, allowing us to dominate this town forever. It will be our playground. We're going to die young anyway. Why not gain immorality in the process?"

A tear drips from my eye as I shake my head.

"No, you will only be strong enough to possess people once every fifteen years. It's a curse, not a blessing. You'll wander in lost torment a majority of the time. You'll drive your relatives to their deaths," I whisper.

I wish my voice would return. I need to scream and wake up Jackson's family. Wait a minute, I don't recall ever seeing his family. Do they even exist?

"Don't listen to her, Shane. She'll say anything to get out of this. You'll become a powerful spirit too, Katerina. You'll be the shining red light that guides us through the Plane of Echos so we can always find this place. We have to make your death exceptionally memorable for this to work. I've already exposed the ruby to the night sky for many hours. Now it's time to use its magic."

Jackson pulls the ruby out of his shirt and shows it to me. Then he takes it off his neck and places it around mine, letting the ruby dangle behind my head.

"There, it should catch plenty of blood before the night is over. Okay, Shane. Let's get naked and have a little fun before we die," Jackson laughs.

I attempt to scream for help as the men discard their clothes.

"Sorry, Kat. I don't think anyone can hear you scream down here," Shane says as he stands next to my head and smiles down at me.

He's butt naked and already has an erection. He's excited by the evil he and his brother are about to commit.

"Where's Jessica and your niece?" I ask in fear.

"Jack took care of them already. He didn't want them ruining our last night."

Shane's eyes dart across the room as he speaks. I quickly look in that direction, and to my horror, a large white freezer smeared with dried blood stands in the corner. My stomach churns at the sight as tears begin to drip from my eyes. I failed Tonya again. I can't help this cursed town, and I'm about to die because of how badly I failed.

"Aw, don't cry yet, Kat. We're going to make you feel really good before we kill you. Extreme emotions before dying leaves a stronger mark on a place. That's what Hector told us. Here, I stole one of those gummies from your loft. It will relax you for the fun part."

Shane shoves the gummy into my mouth before I can protest. I need at least two of them to really relax, but one will help with the pain. I quickly swallow it and struggle with my bonds. The rope on my right wrist feels like it's slipping down from being pulled too tight. Perhaps I can wriggle it free while the men are distracted.

"Watch and learn, Shane. I know what Katerina likes the most when she's tied down, so allow me to get things started," Jackson says as he climbs onto the table.

My heart jumps into my throat to have the masked monster of my nightmares crawling over me again.

"Do you like my mask, Katerina? Does it make me look like Don Juan?" he smiles.

"It makes you look like a monster," I whisper.

"Ooh, that's even better," he chuckles and leans down to suck my right nipple.

I gulp and shudder to have his hot mouth on my breast again. I'm in too much pain to enjoy it this time, but after a few minutes of sucking and groping, I feel a tingle between my legs. My body relaxes a little as my skin grows warmer. The gummy is working its magic. I glance at Shane to see him watching his brother enjoy my tits. He smiles when he sees me staring at him. Jackson distracts me when he begins kissing down my stomach. I jump when he licks into my belly button, tickling the sensitive area. He chuckles as he continues down my body and steps off the table between my knees. He smiles as he raises up and admires my exposed pussy.

"Ah, your little white drop of cream has returned," he says before he lowers his face between my thighs.

I can't help tensing as his hot tongue licks between my pussy lips. He moans as he enjoys the taste of my white drop. He savors it for a moment, then he licks deeper inside me. I groan from how sore I am down there. My body is getting hotter as he hurts me and arouses me more. That's when Shane steps over to the table. I stare at him in fear for a moment.

"You have amazing breasts, Kat. They are some of the prettiest tits I have ever seen."

He leans down and sucks my right nipple. It's still stiff and red from Jackson's sucking. My body suddenly feels extra warm to have two men licking and sucking my skin. I gasp when Shane bites my nipple, then he begins to flick it with his tongue. Jackson is fully committed to licking my tunnel clean of any arousal, but more quickly appears to coat it again. I moan and squirm as they molest me. I'm ashamed of how hot I feel in such a horrible situation.

"Mmm, you are a feast, Katerina," Jackson hums as he finally straightens up, leaving my pussy swollen and tingling with need.

Shane straightens up too, but he keeps his hands on my tits so he can squeeze and massage them.

"Damn, Jack. Do we really have to gut her? She's so beautiful. It's a total waste. Can't we just keep her down here and play with her whenever we want?"

"No, little brother. We're running out of time to cast the spell. It may not work after tonight. Besides, I gutted my beautiful wife already. I don't want to have to explain that to the police. Let's focus on the task at hand. You can use her mouth while I enjoy her cunt."

Less than a second later, Jackson's silky penis tip presses against my aroused skin, making me tense. Shane smiles as he stands over my head, pointing his swollen cock at my face. Before I can think, Jackson slams his cock into my sore body, making me cry out. Shane takes advantage of my open mouth and shoves his cock inside it. My eyes go wide as his tip dips into my throat and cuts off my air.

"Don't you dare bite it, Kat. I'll make you beg for death if you do something that stupid," he warns as he holds the sides of my face.

He gives Jackson a nod, and I'm instantly jarred by the powerful thrusts between my legs. My body throbs and aches to feel him hammering inside me again, but my lack of air is my biggest concern. Shane knows what I'm thinking. He smiles and backs his cock out of my throat as he reaches over me to squeeze my bouncing tits. I gasp for air around his cock for a few seconds, then he begins to thrust into mouth, cutting off my breathing in a survivable pattern. I whimper and grunt as the men enjoy my body. I'm ashamed of the heat and tingles throbbing between my legs as two cocks pump inside me from different ends. Shane tastes as good as he smells. We could have been passionate lovers. Why did he have to be evil?

"Tighten your lips and suck, Kat. Put in a little effort for your own sake," Shane orders as he squeezes my tits extra hard.

Before I can respond, he enters my throat again, cutting off my air. I tighten my lips and attempt to suck his thick cock. He moans in delight at my efforts. He backs out of my throat and lets me work my magic. I suck, lick, and bob my head as drool drips from my lips. I feel like a whore as I struggle to make him feel my efforts. He gently thrusts against the back of my throat to increase the friction, making me drool and slurp more. My body is getting too hot as Jackson continues to hammer his cock between my legs and Shane thrusts steadily into my mouth. I suck Shane harder and flick his shaft with my tongue. My jaw hurts from the effort. He moans and twitches as I feel his cock getting even harder. He's about to cum, and my body throbs at the thought of tasting him. I'm ashamed and wildly aroused by the men using me for pleasure.

"Oh fuck yes, Kat," Shane groans as he squeezes my tits and begins to tense.

I feel his cock flex right before a gush of cum strangles me. He exploded at the back of my throat. I cough and gurgle as I struggle to swallow his musky cream. My skin feels extra hot as his semen smears across my tongue and coats the back of my throat. The smell and taste makes my body throb with desire. He gently rocks his cock into my throat as I struggle to suck him clean, but more spills out and ends up on my face and chin. We're both enjoying his messy release, and I'm deeply ashamed by how hot I feel as I suck the last drop of cum from his tip.

"Oh yes, her pussy is tightening. She enjoys struggling. Gag her more," Jackson orders.

I gasp before Shane shoves his tip into my throat again and starts to fuck my mouth. Jackson sinks his nails into my thighs so he can fuck my pussy faster. My eyes roll back as my body throbs with arousal. I'm about to lose control. The smell of Shane's cum and Jackson's wild pounding is too much. Suddenly, Shane leans down and bites my right nipple as he pinches the left one. I want to cry out, but he fucks my throat deeper as he abuses my nipples. God, it's too much. I close my eyes and convulse with orgasm as the pain turns into ecstasy. I wish I could scream as my hips buck against the table. The unholy release is mind-numbing.

"That's a good little slut," Jackson groans as he slams into me like a monster.

My whole body shakes as he grunts and releases hot cum into my tunnel. My heart is hammering and my body is tingling as he pounds the slippery cum deeper. He's trembling with each thrust. I'm on the verge of fainting as I enjoy them losing control inside me. I need air, but I feel so good it doesn't really matter. I'm happy dying with this feeling between my legs.

The room is blurring when I hear the bang of a door slamming and lights flashing. Shane's cock is suddenly yanked from my mouth, freeing my airway, but it's too late. I'm slipping into darkness. I think I'm dreaming when I hear more loud bangs and a man screaming. Then it all goes silent. What's happening? Am I dead? No, I'm not dead. I feel like vomiting. Who the fuck is slapping me?

"Katerina Porter! Look at me!" yells Tonya's frantic voice as my cheeks continue to be slapped.

I groan and force my eyes open to see her familiar face standing over me.

"Oh, thank God. I'm getting you out of here, Kat," she says and dunks under the table to untie me.

I still feel like vomiting. I struggle to look around the room. I gasp to see the Mosley men sprawled on the floor in different parts of the room. They're both bleeding from holes in their heads. Tonya shot them, and she's a damn good shot. Tears of relief escape my eyes as my hands and ankles are finally freed. I'm in so much pain Tonya has to pull me up so I can sit on the edge of the table.

"I'm so sorry, Kat. I didn't mean for this to happen to you," she weeps as she inspects the worst of my injuries.

"I'm pretty sure my left ankle is broken. I can't move it," I whisper.

"Damn it," she grumbles as she pulls her phone out of her pocket. "I don't have a signal down here. I'm going upstairs to call for help. They're both dead, Kat. You're safe now. I'll be right back," she says before she rushes up the stairs.

I shudder as I look at the dead bodies around me. Tears drip from my eyes as I look at the blood-stained freezer where Jackson stuffed his young family. Too many people have died, but at least I can prevent this from ever happening again. I touch my throat to find the gold chain. I twist it around so I can see the ruby. It sparkles brightly in the dim light of the basement. It always seems to glow with extra light no matter where it is. I look around at the shelves and spot something I can use. There is a hammer next to a metal plate on a table in the corner. I carefully slide off the table and almost fall on the floor from weakness in my right leg. I can't put any weight on my left ankle. I take a few deep breaths and steady myself before I hobble over to the hammer.

I lean my weight on the corner table and take many more deep breaths as my ankle throbs like hellfire. Once the pain and nausea become tolerable, I take the necklace off and lay the ruby on the metal plate. I pick up the hammer and aim carefully, then I slam it down with all my strength. I close my eyes before the impact, preventing gem shards from blinding me. The dark pall I felt in the basement lifts, making it easier for me to breathe. I can still feel dark energy all around me, but it isn't making me sick anymore. The remains of the shattered gem barely even sparkle now. The curse is broken. I sigh in relief and lay my head down on the cold table to wait for help.

When the cops and paramedics arrive, I almost pass out from relief. I didn't know an ambulance gurney could be so comfortable. Tonya rides with me to the hospital, not bothering to speak to the police until she knows I'm alright. Halloween is officially over, I didn't get one piece of candy. I'm surprised I'm disappointed over something that stupid.

The next morning, the headlines read, "The Devil of Fairview Strikes Again!" Tonya is reading an old-fashioned newspaper as she sits by my hospital bed. We're drinking coffee and decompressing after a traumatizing three days.

"Am I still getting paid?" I ask.

"Of course, Kat. I'm sure you're ready to move on after the hell you went through. I'll make sure you're well funded for at least a year."

"Thanks, Tonya. Sorry I couldn't save Julie."

"I know. It's not your fault. I'm glad I didn't lose you too. You broke the curse, didn't you?"

"I did. I shattered the ruby that gave Hector his power. His reign of terror is over, but his influence will linger for a while. His spirit is still connected to this town."

"I don't doubt it. I'll keep a watch on the Mosley men. Will you visit again sometime? You're always welcome at the farm, Kat."

"Really? I thought you were going to shut things down and move on yourself."

"I don't want to leave Candice or Hank. I want to tell her what happened. She helped break the curse. I also love my farm. I'll give the town a year or two to get over this mess, then I'll bring the fall festival back. I'm too old to start all this over again somewhere else."

"You are not too old, Tonya. You are hot, beautiful, and a badass with a gun. Don't ever change."

"I'll try not to," she smiles.

As you can imagine, Fairview was in shock for at least a year after the grisly murders committed by their very own charming mayor. Tonya and I were the town heroes for stopping them. I enjoyed the fame and free drinks, but I was itching to leave and put the horrible ordeal behind me. I stayed at Magnolia's Farm for an entire year as my ankle healed and my strength returned. Tonya took good care of me, just like she promised, and when it finally came time for me to leave, it was like leaving my mother all over again. There were many tears, hugs, and promises to visit, but I rarely visit the same town twice. I might make an exception for Tonya.

My heart is heavy as she drops me off at the bus station. I have to hold back tears as I watch her truck pull away. As she disappears down the highway, a classic black Chevy Impala roars into the bus station parking lot. The beautiful car is hard to ignore. The handsome men in the front seat immediately catch my eye. The driver gives me a charming smile and a wink as he rolls on by, and my hidden sense sends electricity up my spine.

"Holy hell, that man feels like a train wreck. How can he smile with so much tragedy clinging to him? I need to hear his story."

I turn on my heel and head toward the diner where the Chevy just parked. I have a feeling I'm about to get in over my head, and I think I'll enjoy it.

The end.