Collateral Damage, Part Ten: 24 / Cell / Christine / Cujo

 

      The thunder storm and rain fade away but PC's note a huge blizzard forming in the mountains.  The Storm of the Century.  Everyone shows signs of stress and fear.  Jason is most affected, Sam least.  But still, everyone starts to feel a dread they will not survive.  Outside the the church Sam finds the dead, crucified turtle.  There is speculation about putting the turtle in the Pet Sematary but Sam tells everyone, "I don't think the turtle from IT can be killed.  It seemed to represent God.  I think this dead turtle is more symbolic".  Everyone decides not to bury the turtle in the Pet Sematary because, "If you bury an animal in the Pet Sematary, it comes back wrong".

     The PC's call the police but only Sheriff Pangborne arrives.  The Sheriff is devastated at the death and destruction within the church. He admits he and his police force are overwhelmed because of the amount of domestic altercations happening all over town. He suspects Needful Things proprietor, Leland Gaunt is behind everything but no longer has the manpower to investigate.   PC's convince him they will take the Needful Things investigation off his hands and he agrees.  

     The PC's leave Sheriff Pangborne to mourn.   Jason, in fey form, flies directly to Needful Things in search of Miranda.  Mateo, Sam and Jade follow Panda's directions and go to Foxbat's house.  Both parties note the numerous street instances of people arguing and getting into minor skirmishes.  Needful Things has it's grip, it seems,  settled over Derry.

     Jason arrives at Needful things, a small, quaint shop.  As the shutter door opens a bell clatters and old man Leland Gaunt comes out of a back room.  He's tall and lean and sophisticated with a faint aura of domination and control.   He says, "Ah, Jason.  You've arrived just in time.   Sadly, I do not have what you need.  I already gave it to your father.  Are you here to complete the deal?"

     Jason assures Leland he doesn't know what the old man is talking about and asks after Victoria. Leland says, "Ah, Miss Victoria is no longer in my employ.  She needed something from me and was therefor no longer a suitable employee.  I asked her to perform a few simple tasks.  Sadly, she was unable to complete them."  Then Leland claims that Jason's father came to Needful Things a few decades ago and Leland had, "just what he needed", a magic amulet.  In exchange Leland asked him to perform a few minor tasks about the town and Jason's father agreed.  After completing the tasks Jason's father received the magic amulet that became the family heirloom.  The family heirloom that eventually passed to Jason, the very one he uses to shape change into Albion fey.  

     Jason says, "I don't know the deal you're talking about so no, I'm not here to complete it".

     "Fair enough".   Leland escorts Jason out but speculates, "It's odd. I am a man of some considerable power.  Completely self aware.  I know I was only created into existence a few days ago and yet, Needful Things can travel between worlds, and times.  Which means, even though I was created two days ago as far as one is concerned, I've always existed and I always will".

     Jason says, "That's how time travel works."

     Leland, "Not exactly time travel.  Time creation."

     Leland closes the door behind Jason. 

 

     Sam, Mateo and Jade track down Foxbat's house.  The entire ordeal is anti climactic. Freddy Foswell's house is normal.  In the garage he's engineered an elaborate phone patched together with a bunch of Apple IIe's, speak and spells and dozens of  phones.  Freddy is wearing the Foxbat outfit but over it wears a red Harvard hoodie.  He calls himself the "Raggedy Man" and has a mad cap scheme to create "a signal" and bounce it through the Dark Tower which in turn will bounce it to every phone in Derry.  Their phones will ring and everyone who answers will receive the signal.  "The signal" will turn everyone into a zombie under control of him, the Raggedy Man!

     PC's dismantle the phone device which actually doesn't seem to bother Freddy much.  When asked about the "King" plot he elaborates, in his typical way:

 

     * Foxbat knew he was dying.  Wanted to live forever.  Read Needful Things.  Thought about one last adventure.  He would get a bunch of people to really, really, really believe they were living in Stephen King plots and then he would send them to the Albion Fantasy Island.  Therefor changing the make up of the Island into a Stephen King land.   This would allow Foxbat to get to the Island, attend Needful Things grand opening and get the Dragon Tea Cup, "that defies time".  A Chinese artifact that was destroyed in WWII.  So Foxbat needed Needful Things.  Drinking from the tea cup, supposedly, cures all ailments but can only be used twice.  Once for a man, once for a woman. Then the item will destroy itself, only to be found again when, "needed".

     * He (claims) he had no idea that things would get this out of control.  Sorry about that.

     * He brought companions with animals names in case they died, he could bury them in the Pet Sematary and bring them back.  If they happened to come back "wrong" he would take the guise of the Raggedy Man and play out the Raggedy Man story line in "Cell".  His logic, "Pet Sematary people come back from the dead and are "zombies", the Raggedy Man controls zombies". 

     *  In case he died of his ailments before his plan takes shape he had Panda, Raccoon and Victoria in his back pocket with a, "In case I die ... steal my body and get me the F! on a plane to Albion". 

     * Claims a lot of the details were hammered out by Victoria and that she was the true mastermind behind the plot.  She contacted him about five years ago.  She's a super fan of the eighties powers.  Might be a mutant.  Or a telepath.  Or just a crazy madman genius.  Not sure.

     * Claims that IT is a giant spider thing and some other ultimate evil has buried her multiple times in the Pet Sematary and that's why she keeps coming back.  

     * The black cats have gone missing.  They were injured in Jerusalem's Lot and then went into the Creepshow to look for the roses.  Or the rose woman.  Or something. Something important about roses. He doesn't remember. He never paid much attention to them.

     * Hasn't seen Green Dragon at all.  He just vanished one night.

     * Claims he (but mainly Victoria) created the fliers to guide "the protagonist minions" to where they need to go and what they need to do.  Freddy assures you all he made the fliers 100% super, duper clear, easy to understand the totally coherent and logical.

       Panda and Raccoon and Foxbat agree to work together to get everyone out.  With that, Sam, Jade and Mateo head off to Needful Things. 

 

     The others arrive to Needful Things and have similar experiences to what Jason received.  They go in the front door (or sneak in the back) and Leland greets them with, "Ah, I've been expecting you.  You're right on time.  I have what you need." 

     Gaunt offers a deal to Mateo.  "I have the Rose Madder painting.  In exchange I need a few minor tasks.  I need both of these corpses buried in the Pet Sematary".  One corpse is a burned out shell of a woman.  Leland insinuates that corpse is Victoria. He says she was sent on a task but encountered a fire starter.  They did battle and this is the result".   Leland implies the fire starter was a woman.    The second corpse is a dead cat.  The "Creed family cat".  Mateo refuses the deal, grabs the Rose Madder painting and rips apart then he spends the next hour smashing in every piece of art and antiquity in the entire shop.   Leland sits back and watches.   Just as Mateo finishes Leland is suddenly, walking Mateo to the front door.  Nothing appears to have been damaged in his shop.  He bids Mateo farewell and says he understands why he refused to bury the corpses in the Pet Sematary.  Sometimes, dead is better.   But remember Mateo, I do not offer people what they want.  I offer people what they need.   We will not meet again".   Leland closes the door on Mateo. 

     Gaunt offers a deal to Sam's.  Sam sneaks in the back.  Leland encounters him, "Ah.  Sam.  I've been expecting you.  You're right on time.  I have what you need'.   Leland offers him an unpublished medical journal referencing a dozen legitimate cases of people, "willing themselves" into power.  "This will prove to the medical community that you are not a mutant.  Which is very important to you.  Because you're not.  It must be very tiring for people to always tell you you are what you are not".  Sam refuses any deals and tries to shoot Leland in the head but the gun misfires.  Leland says, "Ah.  Weapon's will not work in here.  Violence is not permitted".  Leland points to a sign hanging that reads, "Weapons not permitted on property.  Violence not allowed.  No Native Americans."   Sam threatens Leland who ignores it and walks the old time gumshoe out.   He bids farewell to Sam and mentions, "I have one more patron.  He's already performed his tasks and I owe him what he needs.  We will not meet again."  He closes the door on Sam.

 

     Jade did not enter Needful Things.  She was whisked away by Caught1.  The aware car lured her inside by playing songs about doctors.  Jade noticed and used her electronic detection / analysis power and read the cars pulse, "Desperate panic." When Jade asked the car, "Why do you need me?"  The car played, "911 is a Joke" by Public Enemy.   The song's lyrics:

 

Going, going, gone
Now I dialed 911 a long time ago
Don't you see how late they're reacting
They only come and they come when they wanna
So get the morgue truck and embalm the goner
They don't care cause they stay paid anyway
They treat you like an ace they can't be betrayed
A no-use number with no-use people
If your life is on the line then you're dead today
Latecomers with the late coming stretcher
That's a body bag in disguise y'all, I'll betcha
I call 'em body snatchers cause they come to fetch ya
With an autopsy ambulance just to dissect ya
They are the kings cause they swing amputation
Lose your arms, your legs to them it's compilation
I can prove it to you watch the rotation
It all adds up to a fucked up situation

 

(So get up, get, get, get down

911 is joke in your town)

 

     At 120 mps Caught1 sped out of Derry and into Castle Rock.  The weather is completely different in the new city.  It is hot.  Fucking hot.  Even the modern car's AC could barley up.  Caught1, as much as Jade can understand, received a "distress" call from another aware car.    En route Jade gets a telepathic flash from Dinah.  Dinah is dying.  The house was attacked by two men.  Craig, from "the Langolier" plane.  Craig was the man who stabbed Dinah but escaped your capture while at the Overlook Hotel.  Craig wasn't alone.  Another man Dinah did not recognize was with him.  Craig called the man, "Henry Bowers".  Henry and Craig killed the Coswell's uncle, then they killed Captain Engle.  Bob fought back but wasn't able to beat them.  He did get Marty and Kate out of the house and hid them in the Coswell's 58 Plymouth Fury (that they just bought).  Bob was planning on going back to get Dinah out but Craig caught him, stabbed him a bunch of times and kept raving that, "The Langoliers are coming to devour everything that does not belong in this time!".   The telepathic vision ends as Dinah hears the Plymouth's engine roar, it's tires squeal, peel out and drive away.  Dinah is happy that Marty and Kate are going to be okay.  Then, suddenly, Dinah sends a flash of Craig kneeling over her and plunging a knife into her stomach.  Dinah is alive for a few moments as Craig digs out her intestines.  The vision ends.

     After two hours of driving between 120-160mps Caught1 pulls into the drive way of a farm. The heat is pounding down. The white and red Plymouth is parked. It's engine running.  Jade reads an electrical analysis of the car and can tell that it's in love ... with the dog.   The large St. Bernard that is stalking the grounds.  The area looks to have once been a large farm but has been transformed into a mechanic shop.    Suddenly Kate runs out of the house, she's covered in blood.  Kate barley makes in to a brown Ford Pinto before Cujo is slamming into the car door and scraping at the car windows.  Jade slips out of Caught1, she can hear Kate screaming from within the brown car.  Jade approaches and sees Marty's wheelchair but it's been broken apart and scattered across the yard as if attacked by a large creature. 

     And that's when Cujo attacks her.  Jade is able to dodge and climbs onto a barnyard rooftop.  She can tell that the huge St. Bernard has a disgusting bite wound on his nose and that the injury has been infected.  The dog clearly has rabies.   Jade uses her healing power on Cujo and black infection pours out of the dog's nose & ears and from the wound itself.  Suddenly, the dog's eyes are clear and it wags it's tail.  It tries to follow Jade around. It's totally healed and sane.

     Jade opens the Pinto door.  Marty is in the back.  He appears to be uninjured but is obviously in bad shape from being trapped inside this car during the oppressive heat.  He's obviously dying from exposure.  Kate has taken two bite wounds from Cujo.  One on the leg, one across the stomach.  Jade uses her healing on both of the children.  It seems to cure Kate enough that Jade suspects she will make a full recovery.  The healing does nothing on Marty who is not injured.

     Jade gathers up Marty, gets him into Caught1, waits for Kate to get in the back and drives off.  In the rear view window Jade sees Cujo jump into the open car door of the Plymouth.  The Plymouth drives after Caught1. Jade gets to the Castle Rock emergency room within fifteen minutes but it's too late for Marty as he succumbs to the  heat exposure and dies in his sisters arms.  Jade drops Kate off for further medical care and heads back to Derry. 

 

     Meanwhile, in Derry, Sam, Jason and Mateo are discussing their similar experience in Needful Things. Almost immediately, Freddy Foswell, steps out of Gaunt's antique shop.   He has a Chinese dragon head tea cup.  He drinks from it.  As soon as he does he is young, maybe in his early twenties, his eyes clear up and starts saying things like, "I'm not in a comic.  Everything is different now.  All that harm I caused.  All those people, dead."  Freddy immediately seems lost in remorse, lost in thought.

     Suddenly, Needful Things is gone. There is still a shop there but it's called, "Middleton Antiques" and when they knock, a little old lady opens the the door and apologizes to them for being closed, asks if they can come back tomorrow.  Mateo wants to barge in and cause havoc but Sam stops him saying, "Needful Things is gone.  It's been replaced". 

 

     Everyone reconvened at Freddy's house.  Panda and Raccoon (Ginger and Robin, respectively) quietly talk to Freddy.  Ginger consoles him and offers empathy, Robin tryies to get him to "wake up" and see that all the means justified the end. 

     Christine and Cujo show up.   Bridgette wants to go play with the doggie, which Mateo does not allow (even though Tony says that Cujo is a friend, now).  Jade goes out and feeds & waters Cujo and locks him in the garage. 

     Jason, heavily scolds Mateo for not taking the painting. "You mean the painting we've been told about over and over and over.  Rose Madder, the Stephen King novel about a magic painting that has a gateway to a pocket dimension, possibly a way out.  The graffiti in NYC, "Rose Tattoo will save you".  Which led us to the Tattoo Castle on King Street.  Where Rose Daniels used to work but doesn't any longer because she committed suicide.  Rose Daniel, the very same name of the woman in the Rose Madder novel.  The woman who has been seen and photographed tagging the graffiti.  I have a picture of her.  You said yourself that the Dark Tower was in a field of roses.  Everything we have been told since day one has been that roses or Roses or or a woman called Rose or all of the above, will save us.  You let THAT painting go?"

     Mateo makes the compelling argument that he wasn't going to make a deal with the devil, "We'll find another way out."

     Jason isn't so sure, "I don't think so.  I think we're all doomed now."

     The scolding fades away and everyone starts discussing a "What now?".   Sam and Mateo agree that it's too late to save Mr. Rush.  Either Kirby can save him or not. 

     Freddy says that the Black Cats thought there was some exit deep within the Labyrinth below the Creepshow.  Which is where they went and vanished.  Jade reminds the group that the Loser's Club is expecting to meet up with them and get their help battling IT and Punchinello.  Jade feels responsible for Punchinello and agrees to lead a team to meet with the Loser's Club. 

     Jade, Ginger, Freddy, Robin head out to meet with the Loser's Club, head into the sewers and kill IT &  Punchinello. Sam, who recently read "IT" does not go with.

     Sam, Jason and Mateo with Martina and Bridgette (and Tony)  head to the Creepshow to find the labyrinth and see if there it leads out of Derry. 

     Everyone notes there is only twelve hours until the supposed, "rescue" but no one has much faith it's going to happen. 

 

 

     Randal Flagg strolls casually through Derry while whistling, "If I Only Had a Brain", the Arlan / Harburg class from "Wizard of OZ". In the near and the distance, screams, shouts, gun shots, car crashes and minor explosion ripple through the street.  Flagg belts out the lyrics: 

 

I could while away the hours
Conferrin' with the flowers,
Consulting with the rain;
And my head I'd be a scratchin'
While my thoughts are busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.

I'd unravel ev'ry riddle for my
Individdle
In trouble or in pain
With the thoughts that you'll be thinkin'
You could be another Lincoln
If you only had a brain.

Oh, I, could tell you why
The oceans near the shore
I could think of things I'd never
Thunk before,
And then…

 

     "Mr. Flagg?"

     Flagg turns.  The darkness recedes and Leland Gaunt is revealed.  Flagg nods, "Leland.  You're lookin thin."

     "Indeed.  Not as much to eat within Derry. Interference. Unexpected."

     "Ah, who cares!  We've only been around for two days.  I'd say we're doing a-okay".  Flagg says."But I got plans for the future,  you?"

     "Indeed.  This little creation of theirs has grown.  I have the ability and art to escape.  Before I go, I have something you need". 

     "Woooaaaah!"  Flagg says. "Really now, do you?  And what pray tell, do you have, that I need?"

     "The way out".

     "I suppose that makes sense.  Sure, Gaunt, I'll bite.  I know the deal.  Name your price.  What do you need me to do".

     "Bury these two corpses in the Pet Sematary."

     "Hah!  Right you and those fuckin, natives, man.  You can't go there, can you?   Oh! And he, I totally fuckin knew you were going to say that, anyways!"  Flagg said.  "Mateo screwed the pooch".

     "He choose not to make a deal".

     "Yeah, I know all about it.  I ran into them in the 50's which was ... fuck sake ... yesterday.  They knew me, I didn't know them.  I got curious and spent the next three and a half decades learning magic and worshiping the Crimson King.  Well, if by three and a half decades one means, twenty four hours.  Time creation is fucked up, you know?"

     "I understand". 

     "Hey, anyways, don't worry, we both make it out of here.  I have it on good authority."

     "The Crimson King speaks of me?  That's unusual.  We are not exactly at odds.  We are not exactly on terms".

     "What?  No, fuck him.  I mean, not really.   Sorry Lord.  No, I mean, good authority.  This is Derry.  Stephen King land.  He writes himself into the Dark Tower series so I knew he would be here somewhere.  It's all very meta and it's probably why I became so self aware.    I looked King up.  But he's gone.  Not sure where. Protected, I guess.  But his co-author for Collateral Damage, not so protected. That novel hasn't been released yet but then you gave up a copy to that idiot real lifer who got eaten then impersonated by Pennywise.  And once it was out in the open then it leaked into Derry too. So, I guess that means it was always around. Or something.  Anyways, I shape changed into that slender red head he's banging and got him to tell me the secrets of the unreleased novel."

     "Creative".  Gaunt nods. "What insight did he offer?"   

     "Character work.  It was a bit unclear to me.  He told me that Mateo and Sam would rebel and turn down your deal no matter how good the offer.  I guess they rebel no matter what. Chaotic good, you know?  Do the right thing and all but don't ever, ever fucking try and force them to make a specific choice, no matter how obvious that choice will be, because they'll act contrary and do the opposite. He knew you weren't going to offer a deal to Jason and wasn't sure about Jade so he got her the fuck out of there.  He was worried she might take it, you know? So he ran interference and Jade went elsewhere."

     "I don't follow all the references."

     "Doesn't matter.  He told me that Mateo would never, ever take your deal. That's all that matters.  Not for the painting, anyways."

     "AnyWAY", Gaunt said, "If Mateo doesn't take the corpse then that would lead us here. Which is what happened"

     "Yep!  The author wanted us to meet up right here at this very spot so I could take that bitch's body and bury it myself.  Which kind of makes him on our side, I guess. Holy fuck, Gaunt, can you imagine the disaster that would have occurred if Mateo had buried her?  Time paradox or some shit.  AnyWAY,  I guess Mateo's Body / Painting decision is what starts it all ... fixed point in time, or something. I mean, that choice gets everything moving, which creates us and then we get out and do our thing up and down the timeline of meat.  AnyWAY, that means I gotta do my part and follow through".  Flagg pauses.   "I still can't see the future, though.  You?"

     "Blank slate, I'm afraid".

     "Weird, I just expected to be able to do so.  AnyWAY, they don't have the painting which means they won't be able to get to the Dark Tower, which means Sam is probably heading for ... what?   The Wilkies?   Fuck, man, done done deal for him. I would not want to be in his shoes!  Hah!  Get it?  AnyWAY, strong odds say none of them get out.  Well, maybe your guy." Flagg seems to expect a response but does not get one.  He continues,  "Hey, you know what, just in case they all ... you know ... somehow escape and sick the good guys on us and we end up royally fucked and everything goes to shit. Well, I just want to say, in all sincerity, I hope they catch you first and torture you in hell you scrawny, weird fuck."

     "The feeling is mutual." Gaunt says with no amusement.

     "Deal!   So, gimme those fuckin corpses.  I'll bury them right now.  Let's get this party started."

     Gaunt's mouth elongates and he vomits out two burlap sacks.  One large.  One small.

     "Holy fuck, you are disgusting."  Flagg says.

     Gaunt smiles.  Rows of shark teeth.   "First you must perform for me a task."     

     "Fuck that, man.  You know I'm good for it.  I'll do my task after I get out".   

     "That is fair", Gaunt nods, "When you get out.  From that point on until the end of time, wherever you go, wherever you dwell, whenever you breed, you must spread madness and disease. Never be predictable. Look to the bleed, dream in dark tapestry and pray to the elders. Always worship".

     "Done and done!"  Flagg spits in his hand and offers.

     Gaunt turns away, "No need for vulgarities.  I bid you farewell Mr. Flagg.  We will meet again."

     "Not if I see you first."  Flagg nods but Gaunt is already gone.

 

     Flagg buries two corpses in the Pet Sematary.  A feline and a female. He lights up a cigar and waits for the snow.  The spirits come first. Flagg notices, "I was wondering if I was going to be able to see you.  I guess that means my power has grown.  Has yours?"

     The Mi'kmaq native spirits demand, they become angry, they attack!

     Flagg swaps his neck and arms as if bitten by mosquitoes.  "Woah, hold on, hold on, that's kind of awkward.  Look, just, hold on now!  STOP!".

     The Mi'kmaq natives petrify.  They offer truce.  They pray.

     "That's more like it.  Look, see?  I'm not a bad guy.  I just want your power.  I mean, first you gotta reanimate this dead burned up bitch.  And the cat. Oh, they're both ready?  Great, thanks!"

       The Mi'kmaq natives beg.  They scream.  They vanish.

       Flagg swallows the native spirits and devours their magic.  As he finishes the last morsel a baby crawls out of the ground from the exact same place he buried Victoria's charred corpse. He picks the little girl up.  "Hey there little thing.  Oh, look at you.  All fresh and pure.  Not a scrap of Victoria left inside you.  Let old uncle Randall take care of that".

     Flagg tongue kisses the infant.  The baby chokes and wails in terror.  But the worm has been planted.  It crawls into the child's brain and sleeps. 

     Snow begins to fall.  They leave.

     Later, after the cat digs it's way out.  A grieving father buries his six year old son.  He leaves, hoping the Indian spirits will be kind, not knowing the power of the Pet Sematary has drained.

     The snow continues to fall.

     Derry newsmen are right; the storm of the century is coming and snow is general all over the de-powering city.  Snow falls softly upon the Creepshow and, further west, softly falls into the dark corners of Jerusalem's Lot. It's falling too upon every part of the lonely Pet Sematary were young Gage Creed lay buried. It lay thickly drifted on the crooked crosses and headstones, on the spears of the little gate, on the barren thorns.  Nearby, Flagg's soul swoons slowly as he hears the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead.

     And then Randall Flagg and baby Miranda escape.