This story is by Christine Trujillo and was part of our 2024 Spring Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.
The October sun hung low in the sky. Soon, trick-or-treaters would fill the streets. All the houses along the neighborhood were prepared with plastic skeletons and stretched spiderwebs – except for one. Inside, Katie Greyer had just carved a pumpkin.
“I don’t see why we can’t have decorations,” she muttered under her breath.
“When you have a baby, we can decorate.” Her husband, Tim, replied from the living room.
Katie turned to sneer at him, “You know that’s not possible.”
Tim shrugged and continued to watch TV, “Not my fault you’re barren.”
Katie tossed the carving knife into the sink. They barely spoke to each other now, but when they did it was hostile. She opened the trash bin and saw the adoption pamphlets from the last doctor’s visit. After two years of failed in-vitro sessions, their marriage had fallen apart. Katie had started therapy and Tim stayed late at work every night.
“I need some air.” Katie could feel the tears start as she stepped outside. His words had stung.
Katie speed-walked through the streets, angry with Tim, then angry with herself. Her therapist may be right. Divorce might be the only thing left to consider.
She paused to tie her shoe. A gust of chilly wind knocked over a prop near her to reveal a live crow.
Surprised, Katie took a step back. The crow cocked its head to study her, then cawed before taking flight. Katie frowned. She had never seen a crow in the neighborhood. Feeling unsettled, she decided to go back home.
Another crow cawed as it flew overhead. Katie watched it land on the fence across the way, black wings gleaming in the autumn sun. Katie suddenly felt a shove from behind and heard a blaring horn. Then everything went black.
******
Katie woke in the street. What happened? she thought. She sat up, confused. How long was I out? The skies above were dark and riddled with stars. Katie frowned. How did I get here? Flashes of red and blue lights were in her peripheral.
Katie got to her feet. She noticed the night air didn’t feel cold. Across from her was an ambulance, a crowd, and a figure on the ground that was covered in a sheet.
“Excuse me, I think I’m hurt? I…” She moved closer to the scene. She could barely make out the words from the crowd. Everything sounded muffled. Standing on the sidewalk was Tim – still silent, but his face was pale.
“Tim!” Katie waved her arm, but his eyes stayed fixed on the scene.
She looked down at the scene. The wind rippled through the trees, moving the sheet back, revealing a wrist with a familiar bracelet. Katie instinctively reached for the bracelet on her wrist, an identical gold band with heart charms. A gift from Tim on their first anniversary. Katie’s stomach was in knots.
“Help me!” She screamed. No one in the crowd noticed her.
“They can’t hear you,” a voice grumbled.
“What?” Katie sobbed and then turned to see a cab, the driver standing outside. “Who…who are you?”
“The name’s Charon,” the cabbie smiled, a lit cigar in his mouth.
Katie returned her gaze to the scene. The medics pulled out a gurney.
“You don’t want to see this.” The voice had moved behind her. Katie shut her eyes. Somewhere in the distance, a crow called.
The cabbie whistled. “Alright, how many you got?”
“What?” Katie opened her eyes. The street was now empty.
“Bags. How many have you got?”
“Bags? I don’t have any bags.” She looked down. A red suitcase stood on the ground near her. A large white tag jutted from the handle. On one side it read: Katie Greyer, October 31st, and on the other side: Deliver to the Crossroads.
“The crossroads?” Katie suddenly felt dizzy. Am I dreaming? she wonders.
“You’re not dreaming, doll.” Charon placed the bag into the trunk, “And we’ve got to get going.” He sat in the driver’s seat and motioned. The back door opened wide. Katie hesitated, then climbed inside the cab. The car moved soundlessly into the night.
“So, how do you want to settle the fare?” Charon asked. Katie shifted uncomfortably.
“Take me home.”
Charon laughed, “Home? There is no more home. You’re dead!”
“What?” Katie’s insides churned. “Pull over, I’m going to throw up.”
“Ha! Throw up? The hell would you throw up? The only thing you could throw up would be worms but they haven’t put you in the ground yet.”
Katie slid back into the seat. “Is this real?”
“Yeah, this is real.” Charon looked at her through the rear-view mirror, “Your body’s already gone, doll.” Katie’s lower lip trembled. A low moan filled the cab.
“There’s no wailing in this cab!” Charon barked. “I need to get you to the crossroads before dawn and you still haven’t given me payment for the ride!”
“I don’t have anything to give you!” Katie sobbed. Charon nodded towards her wrist. Her bracelet gleamed in the moonlight. It was the only thing she had left to tie her to this earthly life. Reluctantly, she handed it over. He nodded his head and smiled. A short while later, the ride came to a stop.
“Here we are.”
Katie marveled at the scene from the window. An enormous tree stood in a dirt crossroads; a flock of crows were perched in the branches and the moon hung low in the sky. Katie approached the tree. The largest crow flitted down to the ground, giving a deep bow. Katie stepped back, curious but not frightened.
“I am the Guardian of the Crossroads, Katie Greyer. We have been waiting for you.”
“For me?”
“Yes, for you. A soul lost on All Hallows’ Eve is a special one.” The crow leaned forward. “Do you remember how you died?”
Katie frowned. “I don’t know what happened. I was walking and then I remember a push.”
“Push!” a shrill voice from the branches called out. “Shove!” came another.
“Yes, but from whom?” The crow clicked its beak. Katie thought. No one had been on the sidewalk or the street.
“Think Katie Greyer – why would someone want to kill you?”
“Kill me?” Her heart sank. “I don’t think I was killed.”
“What else could it be? Did you fall?” The crow clicked. “Did you throw yourself upon the street?”
“No, nothing like that.” Katie could feel desperation begin to stir deep inside of her. Why would anyone want to kill her? She and Tim had their problems, but she didn’t think he was capable of murder.
“Murder.” The crow repeated her thoughts. “Murder, Katie Greyer.”
A smaller crow descended to the ground and hopped over to Katie. Charon had brought the red suitcase out of the cab and then placed it beside her. The crow turned its head with a click and the suitcase opened revealing a rusted handheld mirror with a red ribbon tied to the handle. At the end of the ribbon was a gold wedding band.
The crow gently clasped the mirror in his beak and then placed it into Katie’s hands. For a moment she feared seeing her face as a corpse. Katie closed her eyes and then looked into the mirror. She found she could see Tim in the reflection. He sat at a desk, phone in hand. His lips moved but the sound was muffled. He shifted to reveal pages on the desk, the words unmistakably clear.
LIFE INSURANCE FOR SPOUSAL DEATH.
Katie thought about the nights that Tim had come home late and the lack of conversation. She could not remember the last time he had touched her.
The large crow reached into his wing, pulling out a black feather and then a white feather. “Katie Greyer, a murdered soul on All Hallows’ Eve is granted a choice. I can give you the gift of revenge or acceptance. If you choose the white feather, we will take you to the Heavens and you will forget. If you choose the black feather, you can pursue your revenge, but you will stay here forever as an earthbound spirit.”
“Choose, choose,” the crows called. Katie frowned. Everything she had ever been taught told her to choose the white feather. Why would she consider damning her soul? She looked up at the crows and then Charon. He puffed on his cigar with a smile and nodded. “It’s your choice, doll.”
She peered again into the mirror. Katie watched as a woman she knew from the neighborhood suddenly came into view. She and Tim embraced for a kiss. The woman moved her lips soundlessly. She raised her hands to reenact a shoving motion.
“Son of a bitch,” Katie spat between clenched teeth.
She thought about the long nights alone, the pamphlets for adoption, and of being shoved into the street. Katie reached for the black feather without hesitation. The rage inside of her boiled.
Behind her, the cab drove off into the night.
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