Category: Fiction Factor

The 18^th fairway of the old Ashtown Hollow Country Club golf course was more like a meadow now, with tall fescues, yarrow and Black-eyed Susans growing wild. The paved cart path was still there near the thick woods lining the hole, although time and weather had caused it to crack and crumble.

Still, one could find plenty of clues to its golf past; there were many stray balls and even a few lost clubs to be discovered by anyone with the time and inclination to search for them.

The course had been closed for 10 years, and what was left had been hastily renamed Ashtown Hollow Park. It was envisioned as part wildlife habitat, part family gathering spot, but little had been done to facilitate the latter.

“Looks like the green – or what used to be the green – is about 200 yards up ahead,” Seth said. “What do you think we’ll find this time … more of the same?”

Chip chuckled at the thought.

“You know there’ll be some new photos and fresh flowers,” Chip said. “Maybe some used up candles, too. Photos, flowers and candles are staples of makeshift memorials.”

When the country club folded, the reason given was that the company behind it was pulling funding to “pursue new growth opportunities.” But Seth and Chip – and anyone who lived near the course – knew that was just a convenient cover story.

A decade earlier, a foursome had been brutally murdered on the 18^th green, hacked to death by someone wielding a machete. The crime took place at twilight – when most players had already gone to the clubhouse for libations – and there were no witnesses. It was assumed the killer had been hiding in the woods and lying in wait for the unsuspecting golfers.

The greenskeeper at Ashtown Hollow was questioned but released after just a few hours, and police were unable to identify any persons of interest.

News of the massacre quickly spread, and a once lively golf course devolved into a morbid curiosity and ghoul magnet. Instead of requesting tee times, people would phone the clubhouse in hopes of securing directions to the 18^th green to see where the “Phantom of the Green” struck.

But with the killer still on the loose, golfers soon abandoned Ashtown Hollow and scattered to other courses. They were replaced by sleuths and thrill seekers who made annual pilgrimages to the scene of the crime.

“Where are Tam and Grady?” Seth asked. “I thought they were right behind us.”

“They’re always draggin’ ass,” Chip said. “They’ll be along soon enough, I’m sure.”

Once Seth and Chip reached the green, they noticed plenty of new tributes, along with a picture of the greenskeeper who never escaped the shadow of suspicion.

“Ugh … I wish these true crime junkies would leave that poor guy alone,” Chip snapped. “Dude was on a tractor near the driving range when everything went down. Typical, though. If you’re gonna go to the trouble of giving a killer a nickname like the ‘Phantom of the Green,’ you gotta pin it on somebody.”

Seth and Chip surveyed the updated shrine, and soon were joined by Tam – proudly announcing he’d found the remnants of a 1-iron – and Grady. There were so many remembrances now, the green looked like a graveyard on decoration day.

“It’ll be dark soon,” Tam said. “And you have to figure we’ll have lots of company today … I hear they’ve organized a walking tour. Being it’s the tenth anniversary of the massacre, the amateur investigators will be showing up in full force … gotta keep the legend alive.”

Grady looked out toward the woods.

“You know,” he said, “this really would be the perfect time for the murderer to show up. If he ever wanted to come back, tonight would be the night … the lure of returning 10 years later is surely too strong to ignore.”

Seth nodded in agreement.

“I hope he does,” he said. “I’ve been waiting a long time to scare the life out of the bastard who killed us.”

While the crew from Two Brothers and a Wiggle Wagon were unloading furniture onto the driveway of 513 Solidago Drive, Pablo Kahlo and Mio Kusama were already on the porch swing, eying spots for their rockers and side tables. The couple had spent the previous week bringing in a few items at a time, so their new abode was already taking shape on move-in day.

Once the workers got everything off the truck and into the two-story house, it would simply be a matter of shuffling and adjusting before it looked like a home.

“So,” Pablo said, eying the chairs, “should they be facing this way, so we can see the sunrise, or that way, for the sunset?”

Mio picked up a rocker and then sat it back down.

“We can do both,” she said. “They aren’t heavy, so we’ll just move them where we want them when we want them there. As tired as I already am, though, we won’t need to aim ‘em at the sunset tomorrow. I plan to be in a deep snooze when day breaks.”

They got up and peeked at the movers’ progress, but before they could survey the situation they were greeted by a thunderous – yet friendly  –  “Howdy!”

A large man with a shock of red hair trundled up the steps with his right arm in full wave-mode.

“I’m George from across the street … welcome to the neighborhood!”

Mio smiled and extended her hand.

“Hi, George … happy to be here. I’m Mio and this is Pablo. Nice to meet you.”

“Oh, you’re gonna love it here,” George gushed. “All the neighbors are super nice … got a good mixture of young folks, older folks, kids. And I hope you like cats because this place is crawling with kitties. You won’t have to worry about chipmunks, that’s for sure. What line of work are you guys in, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Mio is a sculptor and I do a little painting,” Pablo said. “We just really love this area – it’s outside the city a bit and has lots of trees. Figured we could find some inspiration here.”

George glanced at the movers and noticed they were almost finished.

“You two have to be worn out with all this moving,” he said. “And that’s why I want you to come over for dinner tonight. We’re always cooking …  we have three smokers in the backyard. My wife, Elitha, is a real chef – as my belly can attest – and we figure the best way to welcome new neighbors is to have ‘em over. Whaddya say?”

“I say that’s very sweet of you, George, and we’d be delighted,” Mio answered with a smile. “Give us a time and Pablo and I will be there … and we’ll even bring the wine.”

George gave a thumbs-up and headed toward the steps.

“Seven o’clock,” he said. “So happy you accepted … see you then!”

Mio waited until George was out of earshot and chuckled.

“He has no idea what we are,” Mio said. “You can always spot a Cannibalian. When they look at you and start talking about food, the pupils of their eyes turn red. Humans can’t notice it, but Artisans can.”

“When we first got here, I could smell those smokers,” Pablo added. “Definitely human flesh. George thinks he’s gonna kill us and eat us, and we’re gonna have to disappoint him. Almost makes me feel sorry for him.”

Mio walked inside the house, spotted a box, opened it and pulled out what appeared to be a cannister of insect repellent.

“I’ll blast ‘em with this as soon as they open the front door,” she said. “It’s made for Anamniotians, but it should work on primates, too. Their skin will melt away within just a few seconds, and I’ll have some new bones for my yard art project.”

Pablo leaned on the railing of the veranda and looked around.

“We have Cannibalians across the street, we’re from Planet Artisa … I wonder how many other extraterrestrials are in the neighborhood?”

“Well,” she said, “I imagine there are quite a few … not having an HOA is a big draw for us outworlders.”

Mio checked the nozzle on the cannister.

“But there’ll be at least two less later on tonight. Anyway, why don’t you tip the movers and I’ll go inside and try to find a bottle of wine.”

The pair of workers – Buck and Biff – were already back in the truck when Pablo thanked them and handed them each a 20 dollar bill.

“Appreciate you guys,” he said. “Be safe.”

As Buck pulled away, he exhaled.

“Looks like we pulled it off,” he said, looking at Biff. “Uncle George and Aunt Elitha said after the new couple falls into the trap under their walkway, it’ll take a while for ‘em to roast. So it’s still a few hours before dinner.”

“It’ll be worth the wait,” Biff said. “Artisans are delicious … they taste just like humans.”

Ben shifted gingerly, trying to straighten up as he began lilting to the right. The elevated head position of his adjustable bed helped him breath a bit easier, but comfort was hard to come by these days.

“Doris,” he said, “Do you mind straightening me up a little?”

The hospice nurse obliged with a gentle smile, and fluffed his pillow for good measure.

“Much better … much, much better, thanks. Sorry I’m so much trouble.”

“You’re no trouble at all, Ben. Whatever you need to be more comfortable, you just let me know.”

The end was very near for Ben now, and he was at peace with his fate. He figured 83 years – most of them filled with love and adventure – were plenty, and an eternal rest would mean an end to the infernal pain he had suffered over the past few months. But as his time slipped away, his mind was buzzing with memories – and one in particular kept popping up.

“I think I might be at that ‘burst of energy before I go’ stage, Doris. I just remembered something from way back. Can I tell you about it?”

“Of course,” Doris said, patting his right hand. “I’m all ears.”

Ben smiled.

“I had a bunch of dogs over the years – crazy about all of them – but when I was a little kid, I had this ol’ mutt named Estus. He had raggedy black fur and his left ear was always turned inside out. He wasn’t much to look at but, then again, neither was I. Guess that’s why me and him got along so well. Only thing, that dang dog was always trying to lick my face, and it drove me crazy. That was about the only time I ever got mad at him. Anyway, he was already an older dog when my folks gave him to me and when I started to get older, too, he slowed down. Couldn’t run much and didn’t like to chase balls or sticks. Idiot still tried to lick my face, though.

“One morning, I woke up and didn’t see him … he was always asleep at the foot of my bed. I thought maybe he had gone outside but when I asked ma, she said daddy had taken him off to live on a farm. Said he was too sick to stay in the city and the city was what was making him sick, but if he lived on a farm he could run and play all day … be happy again.”

Ben shook his head.

“I didn’t know they were just trying to let me down easy. About a week or two later we were going somewhere in daddy’s car and I saw this pretty red barn up on a hill beside the interstate, and I just knew that’s where Estus was living. I asked if we could stop and see him but they just ignored me. Wasn’t too long after that I realized Estus was gone and never coming back. You know what? I still miss that little guy. Shoot, I miss all my dogs.”

Ben coughed and then started wheezing.

“I think,” he said in a weak voice, “I’m gonna to go live on a farm now, Doris.”

Moments later, the nurse checked his pulse, and there was none. Ben’s breathing had also stopped.

“Goodbye, Ben,” Doris said, carefully covering his face with a sheet. “I’ll miss you.”

Ben couldn’t hear her, of course. How could he? All of his dogs were running around and barking. Plus, Estus was slurping the side of his face.

He didn’t get mad at the raggedy mutt this time, though. Ben just kissed the dog’s head, took a big stretch, and started walking toward that pretty red barn.