Chapter 3: Long Time No See

Union, West Virginia. Population of only around 400 people. Jerry couldn't believe that he was back in his home town where he was born. He parked his car and got out admiring the sights. To Jerry it was like nothing had changed, time had just ignored this place. Jerry walked down the street lost in memories. He passed by an old bar "The drunken cow." Here he and his friends would wash dishes and clean floors for extra cash. He wondered if Dennis McCain was still running the place and headed inside to find out. The Rebel flags that once draped the walls were replaced by pride flags. The sound of Hank Willaims and Johnny Cash had been replaced with the likes of Queen and Cher. The part that angered him the most was that they had taken the dart board off the wall and put a pinball machine next to the wall. Jerry was about to leave when an old man came out from a back room holding a bag of ice, "Jerry, is that you?" The man was Dennis McCain, 80 years old and still managing the same bar, still alive and kicking. Dennis put the bag on the bar counter so he could have both arms free to give Jerry a big hug.

"It's good to see you son." Dennis said as he patted Jerry on the back and preceeded to seat him at the bar. After putting away the ice, Dennis made a special drink to celebrate the return of a special friend, "I call it Electric Lemonade." He proceeded to mix citrus flavored vodka, Blur curacoa, lemon juice, simple syrup, Moutain Dew Voltage, lemon wheel garnish and raspberry garnish. Jerry was hesitant to drink it at first but he didn't want to be rude so he took a sip. Oddly enough it actually tasted pretty good, "Do you like it?" Dennis asked. Jerry shook his head yes while he was drinking it making the old man very happy. He pulled out from under a bar a bag full of bottle caps and handed them to Jerry, "I filled this back in 87 but you left before I could give them to you. Well I guess there's no better time than the present so here you go." Jerry use to make a bottle cap necklaces and sell them at the flea market and street corners to make a quick dollar. He pulled out and flipped in the air like a coin, "Thanks Mr. McCain." He said before taking another sip of his Electric Lemonade.

"Jerry your a grown man, call me Dennis." The two shook hands. Dennis grabbed a beer and cracked it open, "So what have you been all these years?" The old man asked. Jerry let out a little laugh, "You know that resturant idea I always talked about doing? I actually did it up in Baltimore." Dennis smiled at the news, "Well I can't believe it. Jerry Hall, owner of his own restaurant. To think you were someone who use to clean tables here, now look at you. Your parents would have been so proud of you." Jerry didn't like talking about his parents, especially his father so he quickly changed the subject, "So is David, Jack and Barry still here?" He was genuinely interested of what became of his friends after he left town, "Well Jack left around 1997 for Florida and haven't heard from him since. Barry got married to Mary Murdoch, folks around here didn't take to kindly to interracial love so they left without even saying where they were going to their families. David is the only one still in town, he has his own business that he runs out of his own home."

Jerry imagined David fat as hell sitting infront of his computer selling body pillows for some reason. It made him smile for a second but there was time to for catching up later. Jerry finished his drink and left hundred dollar bill on the bar, "Thanks Dennis for the drink but I gotta go. It was nice seeing you again." he said before headed to the exit, "The witch won't fix your problems." Jerry froze, "She will only bring you damnation." He looked back at Dennis, he wasnt smiling anymore. Jerry left the bar.

(Razorback Holler)

Any other forrest would be filled with the sound of life living inside, but not Razorback Holler. It was always quiet here. No one ever came here unless they were coming to see the witch. Jerry had been here before but he was no longer a child looking to make quick cash, he was a old man with hair slowly turning grey and a growing back problem. He approached the shack slowly. It looked exactly the same from when he was young, yet another place seemingly unaffected by the passage of time. When he put his left foot on that porch he began to shake, his blood ran cold and his heart was pounding as if a hammer was hitting his chest. He walks up slowly to the door and raises his shaking hand. He makes a fist, he slowly moved his hand close to the rotting wood. He manages to make contact with the door leaving traces sweat where his knuckles hit. He does this three times and waits, the door creaks open but no one is behind it. Jerry slowly walks in, the room is filled with lit candles, spiders and snakes roamed around seemingly watching Jerry as he moves. In a rocking chair, Haggis watches as the man enters her home.

"It's been a long time Jerry Hall. I trust you're not planning to steal anything like the last time." Her voice sent shivers up his spine but he manages to speak "Y-You don't know why I'm here?" I thought you knew everything, must be losing your touch?" She continued rocking in her chair seemingly amused by his insult, "I know why you're here Jerry Hall. Your child, your business, all gone. Bringing them back is beyond my power." Jerry suddenly regained himself and approached her closer without hesitation, "Than you know the other reason I'm here." She shook her head, "I do." She continues rocking back and forth as Jerry stood their on the verge of tears, "They took everything I had. they made me watch as they did it. I want Marcus Monroe, I want his whole crime family to feel the pain I felt. I want everyone of those fuckers to watch helplessly just like I did."

Haggis stopped rocking and rose before him. She walked over to a nearby table that had a book surrounded by candles and started reading from it. Jerry approached her to get a look, its writing was in some sort of language that he couldnt read but its ink was red like blood. She closed the book and he clearly saw it had a face on the cover, "I need you to get something for me." Jerry pulled out his wallet and pulled out a wad of hundreds, "Will this cover the expenses of whatever it is you need." He tried to give her the money but she held up her hand and declined, "I have no use for your money Jerry Hall, not like it could help you. What I require needs a more physical approach. A few miles west from here lies a well infront of a old house. What lies at the bottom is what I need, bring it to me."

Jerry didn't question her, he just turned around and walked out of her shack no question asked. As soon as he stepped off that porch he felt a relief come over him. That relief soon turned into nausea and spewing up chunks, "I get what your feeling right now." Jerry looked up, Ed Harley was leaning against a tree looking like he hadn't aged a day. Jerry wiped his mouth, "Ed Harley?" He asked, "Nice to know you still remember me Jerry but I wish you would have listened to Dennis. It's not worth it, find another way." Jerry looked away to spit for one second and when he looked back Ed he was gone. Jerry looked around but there was nothing, not a living soul in these woods except for him.