The Demon of Cloverdale

The candle in that window had been lit as long as she had lived in Cloverdale. That was 17 years, so far. The candle was always burning, and there was never a moment the candle was removed or changed. Ravana knew, because one Saturday when she was about 12, she stayed up all day and night to check. Not once was that candle touched. Ravana had peed through 4 adult diapers to prove it. Mother said the candle was the Devil’s doing, and that demons lived in the house, trying to escape and wreak havoc.

As she made her way down the street to the bus stop, which was katty-corner to the house and candle, her eyes roamed the property. She noticed the broken windows, the loose shutters. The porch, with loose and broken boards. The yard, overrun with leaves and grass, was filled with the lost memories and broken hearts of any child who had the mistake of being careless with their toy.

Ravana took all this in, and could not figure out how a house with no upkeep or life, was able to keep a candle burning for all eternity.

“I mean, its gotta be witches, right?”

Ravana jumped at the voice, so deep in her thoughts she hadn’t heard her best friend approach.

“Lilly dang it you scared me!”

Lilly just threw back her head and laughed.

“That doesn’t change what I said though Ravana. It’s gotta be witches in there. There’s no way a candle can go that long without burning out.”

Ravana just hummed her agreement.

“Well, you can be as quiet as you want about it, tomorrow night...Halloween night, the girls are sneaking in and trying to put that candle out.”

There was only one group of girls Lilly could be referencing. Marissa, Jasmine, and Maria. Three of the most popular 12th graders at Cloverdale high. The first most was standing beside me. Lilly was beautiful, her features striking. She was smart and all the guys at school were in love with her. But even so, she was holding out for her one true love. Yeah, those three considered her their best friend, mostly to boost their own status. And the limit of their genorosity for Ravana existed on the fringes of her being allowed access to the trio’s private events. Only if Lilly came, of course.

“Lilly I don’t know why you even hang out with those three. They are headed down the road to destruction and they are intent on dragging you with them,”

Lilly gave Ravana a gentle nudge with her shoulders. “Come on, they said you could come.”

Ravana rolled her eyes in response and waited for the bus. She knew that the only other reason they invited her, besides devotion to the unknowing Queen Bee, was to make fun of her mercilessly every chance they got. Most of the time Lilly’s naïveté stopped her from noticing some of the sneaky and sarcastic insults that came out of their mouths, but when she wasn’t physically in the room, they would push and shove and sometimes trip Ravana. Knocking books from her hands, running her into lockers. None of it ever really hurt her. It was nothing compared to what she had endured at home. Getting on the bus, they both settled in to what was sure to be the worst day before Halloween ever.

Much to her surprise, Ravana had one of the tamest “Halloween Eve’s” she’d ever had. No-one desecrated her locker with witchy drawings or pentagrams. No-one mocked her or threw anything at her in the halls or class. Ravana was waiting for what was surely to be a grand finale, but it never came. The day passed without incident. On the bus, Lilly turned to her, determination clear across her face.

“How are we sneaking you out of the house tomorrow night?”

Ravana laughed, a hollow sound that didn’t reach her eyes. “You know my mother. That day is to be spent in prayer, asking the Lord to remove our affliction and block any demon trying to possess me.” “Your mother is psychotic. No offense.”

Ravana shrugged. She had long since passed the raging and questioning phase when it came to her mother. She now was just biding her time. She would be 18 in May. She had applied to all of her top colleges, as many as she could afford with her part-time job, and at any acceptance letter she was out of here on the first thing smoking. “Ravana! You’re not even listening. The girls said they have a surprise that they’re bringing along for us. They said they’ve even got you covered. I think they like you.”

Ravana just shook her head. It was probably something else to humiliate her. Like matching outfits, except her’s wouldn’t fit. Or favorite dessert, with Ravana getting crackers. Something to differentiate her and mark her as other. Anything to separate her.

“Listen Lilly. It’s not happening. My mother could have been the warden of Alcatraz. And even if she let me go out, I have no interest in hanging with those degenerates. Not to mention, I am sure the feelings are mutual.” Lilly wrapped Ravana in a huge hug.

“I know they haven’t been the nicest people in the past. But I think they're changing. Who knows? This could be the start of a great friendship.”

Ravana rolled her eyes and waited for their stop. Lilly didn’t understand. She was a beautiful popular girl. Ravana was not considered either of those things by any stretch of the imagination. It was best not to argue with Lilly. She was stubborn and opimistic. She would never let it go.

“Listen, kid. You’ll always have me.”

Ravana patted Lilly’s forearm and smiled.

“I know Lilly. I know.”

That night Ravana made it through dinner and prayer unhampered, no fuss, no accustory questions or glances. The only thing that gave Ravana pause was that her mother came to her room that night, asking if they could talk.

“Ravana. I know you probably hate me. I was a hard mother, some might say cruel. I know you may not agree, but I did what I had to. But it’s almost over. There are forces out there Ravana. Good and Evil. Heaven and Hell. I can’t allow you to get caught up with demons. The world co--”

At this point Ravana rushed from her bed and embraced her mother. Pulling away only to stare into her weathered eyes, taking in every wrinkle, every gray hair. She gently kissed her mother’s cheeks. “I get it mother. You did what you thought necessary. Trust me to be able to continue that.”

She stared at Ravana a long time, searching her eyes for deceit or contempt, but there was none. She hugged Ravana back fiercely, and kissed her forehead.

“I love you girl. Never forget that. And always say your prayers. Most importantly, stay--”

“Stay away from that house. Demons lurk there. I know mother.”

Ravana’s mother nodded, and headed for bed. As she closed the bedroom door she looked back at Ravana, eyes filled with worry and a glimmer of hope. That night Ravana drifted peacefully off to sleep, unaware of the dire warning she missed.

The next day, Lilly asked Ravana again.

“I am so excited for tonight. Won’t you please come?”

Ravana shook her head, her conversation with her mother clear in her mind. Lilly sighed, and leaned back in her seat.

“Ah well. I guess I will just tell you all about it tomorrow morning when I bring you half my candy haul.”

Ever since Lilly found out that her mother didn’t let her celebrate any aspect of Halloween, she had always split her candy with Ravana. She was amazingly kind. Ravana hugged her goodbye at the bus stop, with Lilly promising to call at least once to check on her, before lights out of course. Ravana let her go while a small knot formed in her stomach. Something terrible was going to happen, she just knew it. That night, around 10 pm, the phone rang. The shrill sound jolted Ravana out of her sleep, and she stumbled out of her room to the phone, worried about Lilly. She hadn’t called as promised, and Ravana was worried those girls might have done something to her. Snatching the phone off the receiver and praying her mother was still asleep, she whispered.

“Hello?”

“Ravana? Did I wake you?”

“Good grief Lilly! Do you know what time it is? My mother will kill me if she catches me.”

Lilly giggled softly and Ravana knew she was tipsy.

“I am so sorry Ravana. I let time slip past. The girls and I have been---”

All of a sudden Lilly was interrupted by a bloodcurdling scream, and then the line went dead. Ravana hung the phone up in shock, trying to figure out if this was a prank and if Lilly was in on it. The problem is, that scream sounded too genuine. And if it was, Lilly was in danger.

Ravana raced back up the stairs and got dressed. Grabbing a flashlight she was ready to race out of the door when she heard her mother. “Ravana. What are you doing?” She turned to face her mother, who took in her clothing and the flashlight. “I have to save her!” “You’ll kill us all.” Ravana rolled her eyes at her mother’s dramatics and took off before she could be stopped. As she tore through the night she saw the candle winking at her in the distance, mocking her futile attempts to be a hero.

Racing up the rickety porch steps and flinging the door open, Ravana called for Lilly, only getting silence as an answer. She made her way through the rooms, searching and calling, finding signs of them everywhere. A cheap wine bottle, broken, rolled across the floor. Lilly shone her light in that direction, and nearly died of fright. Maria lay there, lifeless. Vacant eyes staring from a head that was facing the wrong way. Holding in her vomit, Ravana pressed on. She found Jasmine, and Marissa, one stuffed in the fridge, the other hanging from a back bedroom ceiling fan. She couldn’t find Lilly. The only room left was the one she purposely avoided: the candle room.

Creeping her way into the room, Ravana nervously checked her surroundings. A small whimper drew her attention to the corner. Swinging her flashlight in that direction, Ravana gasped. Lilly was gagged and bound, blood seeping from her head. Ravana rushed over, pulling the cloth from her mouth, so she could tell her what happened as she untied her.

“Ravana. You have to extinguish that candle. That’s how the girls died. Hurry, they could be anywhere!”

Ravana was confused. Lilly wasn’t making any sense.

“What do you mean? Who killed them?”

Lilly looked around frantically. “There isn’t much time. This house has demons. And they are touchy about that candle. Please. Blow it out. Then this will all be over!”

Lilly wasn’t making any sense. Demons? Maybe Ravana should have listened to her mother. Having untied Lilly, she rushed over and blew out the candle, and was shocked to hear malevolent cackling behind her as the house began to shake.

“Ah....now that the seal has been broken and the necessary blood shed, the dark one can take your body, and bring about the destruction of humanity.” Ravana turned in horror to see that her best, and only friend, had pitch black eyes and razor sharp teeth.

“Your mother was right. As a guardian of both the gates of hell and of demon king Asmodeus’s vessel, she tried to warn you away, but you just didn’t listen. And now, everyone you’ve ever known....will die. All because you just. couldn’t. listen.”

As darkness consumed her, Ravana heard the demon cackling, staring at her in malevolent glee.

“Listen, kid. You’ll always have me,” it whispered, through razor sharp teeth.