Mantis Nights by Joshua Scribner
Copyright 2009 Lyrical Press, Inc.

  • Mantis Nights
  • Joshua Scribner


    • Edie led him across the street. They sat down on a bench.

    “Watch,” Edie said.

    “Okay.”

    From across the road, they faced the side of a gas station. A man came out, got into his car and drove off, leaving the lot empty. Mantis figured with the minimal light from their side of the street the man probably did not see them. He likely could have stared straight at them and not seen them. It was that dark.

    “What are we looking at, Edie?”

    “Just watch.”

    Mantis tried to relax on the wooden bench. This was a break in his nightly ritual, but acceptable. He could find adventures later. If not, there was always tomorrow.

    They sat there for five minutes before anything changed. Another car pulled up, a new-looking, red BMW. Two girls who looked way too young to afford such a machine got out. They wore tank tops with their short skirts.

    “I bet you’ll get to see what I brought you here for now.”

    Mantis looked at his companion, whose eager lean brought his entire upper body forward, placing him at risk of toppling over. Mantis turned his attention back to the focal point, curiosity starting to boil.

    Minutes later, the girls came out, their steps unnatural, almost robotic. They continued past the Beemer, turned at the edge of the building, opened a door at the side, then entered.

    “The outside bathroom?” Mantis said.

    “Yeah. Keep watching.”

    A few minutes passed without the girls coming out.

    “The way they walked bugged me.”

    Edie laughed. “If that bugs you, maybe you should check out the front of the store.”

    Mantis saw nothing. “What’s supposed to be...”

    The oddity occurred to him, not what was there, what was missing. “The car’s gone.”

    Edie laughed again. “Pay better attention next time, Mantis.”

    Mantis ignored the banter. He watched the front of the store with a greater sense of anticipation. His excitement built with every passing minute. An old Volkswagen pulled up. A young man got out, moving with light steps, like he didn’t have a care in the world. He wasn’t in the store long before he came out with the same easy steps. He tossed what looked like a pack of smokes into his car, then walked around the side of the store toward the bathroom.

    “Shouldn’t we stop him?”

    “Just wait.”

    Mantis hated to think that he might be letting someone get harmed when he could prevent it. He decided to put his trust in Edie, for now.

    Mantis tried to watch both the bathroom door and the car at the same time. Soon the kid came out, got into his car, and drove off.

    Mantis said, “He didn’t look like he’d just seen something out of the ordinary, like two girls in the restroom.”

    “No. The ones who come out never do.”

    “Then those girls are gone.”

    “Well, I don’t think they’re in the bathroom, anyway.”

    He looked, saw Edie sway, no doubt a nervous gesture. What was happening? This was the stuff of visions, not of the world outside.

    “How long have you been watching this take place?”

    Edie made a pained sound. “I’ve been comin’ to that gas station for years. I take out their garbage in exchange for them letting me dig the cans out of it. Must have been seven or ten nights ago that I first saw three people come shuffling out like that. It scared me. I watched them go into the bathroom and saw their car disappear. I won’t go over there now. I tried to yell to them before, but they won’t listen. They shuffle into that bathroom and don’t come out.”

    “And you watch this night after night?”

    “Yeah. I’ve been waiting for someone like you. You were the only person in this town who’d take time to watch with me.”

    The loud thump of bass invaded the air. A few seconds later, a Hummer pulled into the lot across the street. Two young punks got out and strolled into the store.

    Edie said, “You’re going to feel an urge to save them. You shouldn’t do it though. Something bad will happen to you if you try.”

    The sound of bass continued pumping away while they waited. Irritation at the inconsiderate act, an auditory assault, blended with fear for the safety of the young perpetrators. The sight of them exiting the store, their movements spasmodic, like puppets on a string, stoked rage and a protective sense.

    “Don’t do it!” Edie said when Mantis got up.

    Mantis ran across the street and stood beside the walkway to the bathroom. In the light of the store’s canopy, he saw their vacant eyes.

    “Hey!” he shouted. “Wake up!”

    Neither responded.

    He grabbed the young man in front by the shoulder. An incredible jolt threw Mantis backward. His butt hit hard, but he used his arms to prevent a sharp blow to his head. He looked up to see the two young punks enter the dark bathroom.

    “Come back here,” Edie shouted from behind him. Mantis glanced over his shoulder at the silhouette of the decrepit man.

    Mantis struggled to his feet. His legs were wobbly. He needed to rest. The next rescue attempt would have to wait.