The Grave Robber Continued

“Do you mind if I asked what happened? Or is that too much?”

                “They were murdered I believe, or at least that’s what I was always told.”

                “That’s… That’s terrible. I’m sorry I asked.”

                Another shrug.

                “Here,” Alec said, taking a sharp right onto one of the narrow side paths, “I think the grave is this way, if I remember right.” Dave let him walk ahead for a moment, watching him as he went.

                Alec, noticing he was walking alone, turned back to look at Dave.

                “Yes?”

                “Are you alright?” Dave asked.

                “Yes, why?”

                “That just seems, I don’t know, kind of-“

                “Traumatizing?” The two men stared at each other for a moment, Dave trying to read what Alec could possibly be thinking. Alec’s expression was just frustratingly vague though, a fogged up window to what lied beneath the surface.

                “Ya,” Dave said, “traumatizing. That’s the word.”

                “Do I seem ‘traumatized,’ to you?”

                Dave gaped for a second, opening his mouth only to close it, afraid to say the wrong thing.

                “Well, no, no,” Dave said, readjusting the bag on his shoulder, “just nervous is all. You seem nervous.”

                “Well I am, especially with the stories that have been going around. So let’s just get the job done, alright?”

                “Of course.” Dave hurried forward, catching up with Alec as they continued through the forested grave yard.

                With Dave’s bright flashlight leading them, it was only a few minutes before they found the grave they were looking for. The tombstone was a bright marble rock, smooth and new, with minimalistic engravings. It was in a small clearing near the back of the cemetery, one that was overgrown with weeds, many of the other graves being too weathered to even read. Behind them was the now pitch black path, and fifty yards to the sides and front was nothing but untamed forestry.

                “I hope your right about this guy,” Dave said, dropping the bag of shovels to the ground.

                “I am. He’ll have a good amount on him.”

                “Let’s get to work then.” With no other words they each took up a shovel and slammed it into the cold hard earth, beginning their work. In only a few minutes both were working up a sweat, puffing like steam engines in the frosty air. Nothing was more satisfying then when, after ten minutes of digging into the deep grave, Dave’s spade made a resounding thump.

                He smiled and stood up, stretching out his shoulders and back.

                “There we are, almost time to collect!” He looked over at Alec who seemed completely still, as if he was daydreaming.

                “Hey, bud, we’re here. Let’s get this done!”

                “Over there. A man.” Alec was still frigid, almost stuck in time, he was so still. His eyes were focused, wide and dilated.

                “Huh?” Dave turned around, glancing about the clearing, gripping his shovel a little tighter in his hand.

                “I saw him. He’s in the woods.”

                Intently, Dave looked into the woods at the edge of the clearing. He watched as the wind blew, ruffling the leaves and shifting the shadows. He hadn’t felt exposed until now, as he realized that they could be being watched from afar with ease.

                He listened to the wind. The sound of the rustling leaves.

                All was silent.

                There was no warning or pain when the shovel met the back of Dave’s head, as he fell to the ground quietly.