The Banshee Read Online Free Page B

return to her husband. She knew he would not want to be a part of something as crazy as this and would arrest Betty and the rest of them.
    Then she realized the truth. It came to her tired mind that she was not going to return home, never. She was not there for initiation. Betty’s statement of their God wanting her for his desires and the silver sword brought a terrifying image to Colleen.
    â€œOh, my God. Please help me!” she screamed.
    The goat headed man once again raised his arms. The worshippers disengaged from each other. The orgy ceased and the human wall again encircled Colleen. Three men lifted her to her feet and began to tear away her clothing, ripping the halter from her torso followed by the jeans. She burst into hysterical screams as her panties were removed, leaving her nude in the cool night air.
    Colleen, upon the table, hands and feet tied to each corner, helpless and shivering, weak and exhausted, lay sobbing. Betty’s friend left the throne and came to her. Watching through tear-soaked eyes, the goat headed man positioned himself between her opened legs, his member thrust painfully into her. The sound of pain and fear emerged from deep within Colleen as she filled the clearing with a hideous scream.
    Colleen realized she was at the mercy of this goat headed figure but something was wrong, terribly wrong. His eyes were black like polished coal and shone brightly from the fire’s reflection. Looking quickly at the neck she could not see where the goat head mask ended and the man’s body began.
    It was one, one face, one body, that of a demonic animal. Decayed teeth lined its jaw, inhuman squeals grunted from its throat and a decayed odor permeated its body. The pain between her legs grew until she felt his grotesque warmth explode inside her with such ferocity she was able to collapse, freeing herself temporarily from the horror within.

    * * * *

    When Colleen awoke, the nightmare invading her was gone. She could not see anything but could hear undertones by the fire behind her. Twisting her neck and body, she was able to see the man who raped her in the name of Satan holding the silver sword over the fire, whispering a chant. She noticed the fire was no longer there and bluish white flame shot out of the earth, bright and hot.
    The chant ended and the worshippers returned to her with the goat headed man. He stood by her side with the silver sword. Colleen’s eyes opened wide in absolute terror as he placed the razor edge of the sword under her right ear. She could not move, cry, or scream only whisper.
    â€œOur father, who art in heaven…”
    Her words stopped as the blade was drawn under her ear across the throat and up under the left ear, cutting deep as it traveled. Betty took the sword and wiped it clean with a piece of the torn halter, completing the initiation of Colleen Murphy with the dead.

    * * * *

    Charles Murphy enjoyed being the newly appointed Police Chief of Wexford but wished there were more time for his wife. It amazed him how the position seemed to be a never-ending job. The force consisted of two officers and him; enough he thought to provide public safety to a small town of three hundred.
    It was taking more of his time than he had anticipated and was not sure if it had anything to do with Colleen’s unexplained absence. He loved her and did not enjoy leaving her home alone; he sensed how it bothered her.
    Memories of their first meeting entered his thoughts. He was a patrol officer with the Boston Police and Colleen a studious student at Northeastern University when introduced by well-meaning friends at his grandparent’s fifty-fifth wedding anniversary held in Wexford, Colleen’s hometown.
    Before long, they were dating and visiting family and relatives on weekends and holidays. Within a year, they had become man and wife. Their mutual love of Wexford and the surrounding countryside sealed his decision to seek the Chief of Police