After some waffling, they went to Taco Buck and ordered a huge meal. Dinner was still a few hours off, but not everyone would be going, and he had to imagine that Angus, Ann, and Gregg were hungry by now.
He himself was actually starving.
So they ordered almost thirty tacos and several burritos and drinks, and then drove right back home.
"This actually helps us a tremendous amount," Angus said as he looked over the list while the others tore into the food.
"Yep," Bea said. "But now we have to let Mae's mom in on it."
"Thanks, boyfriend of mine," Mae grumbled.
"Mae, I know you don't want to...but she's right. She deserves to know. Because there's likely an aspect to this we haven't been realizing. That I didn't realize until just in the past few hours," Trent said.
"Which is?" Mae asked.
"They know us. I think. I mean, they know Mae, right? And Bea and Gregg and Angus."
"...yeah, they do. More of them were there that night I got discovered than were there the night of the cave-in, so it stands to reason they at least know me," Mae admitted unhappily. "And if they know me, then they know all of you."
"Exactly. Because we didn't know them, we didn't know who to watch for. But they know us, and so they know our families, too."
"Oh great," Ann groaned.
"Do you think they'll actually, like...do anything?" Bea asked uncomfortably.
"They might when we start pushing," Trent said.
"What are we actually going to do?" Gregg asked. "I mean it's not like we can start hunting these guys down and capping them in the back of the head...right?"
"Correct," Trent said, "we're not killing anyone. If we can help it. We need evidence. Like hard, concrete evidence. To give to higher authorities. I mean, it doesn't make any real difference on if we find evidence of the Black Goat or not, them being a murder cult who's been murdering for the past few decades is more than enough."
"What kind of evidence are we going to find? I mean, a confession would probably be pretty good, but it seems unlikely...fuck, maybe we could use some help. Like Molly's help?" Bea asked.
"Yeah…" Trent said.
"Ugh, not Aunt Mall Cop," Mae groaned.
"She could be helpful. But...this does bring up another point. I think...we need help. This is big. Like, really super big. Is there anyone we can turn to who might help in a situation like this? Someone we could trust?" Trent looked at Mae. "Who would you trust with this?"
She sighed. "I don't want to burden anyone with this."
"We are burdened. The town is burdened with it already, whether you want it to be or not, Mae," Bea said sternly. "They're already in the shit, everyone in Possum Springs, they just don't know it. So you'll have to get over it. Answer."
She groaned, rubbing one eye with a fist. "I trust my parents...and I guess I trust Aunt Molly. And...Germ. I trust Germ, and Germ's family. Outside of this room, that's it. On the list of people I'd trust who might actually also be able to help us. I mean I trust Mister Chaz but WTF is he going to do? Show them dusk stars?"
"So what, are we actually going to ask Germ and his family for help?" Gregg asked.
"I think we should, because this is going to get worse before it gets better," Trent replied.
"Why?" Angus asked. "They've held off from doing anything at all so far."
"No, he's right," Mae said, her voice low. They all looked at her. She was hugging herself, looking anxious. "I...didn't mention it yet, but...there's something else."
"What?" Bea asked.
"The Goat. I...can feel it. Again. Before, I could feel it a lot, and I was having these weird dreams. And now I know that it was all the-you know, that thing. After the showdown in the mines, I couldn't really feel it anymore. But now I can. Ever since we found that little statue, that figure, and I touched it...it's like it's aware of me again. Looking at me. It's faint, but it's there."
"Faint," Trent muttered. He looked out the window and stood up. "It's faint…"
"Got an idea?" Bea asked.
"Yeah...Mae, you've had the most contact with it. Tell me if this makes sense: could it be weaker because we're in winter?"
Something touched off in Mae's gaze, like a revelation. Her eyes widened. "That makes sense," she replied. "That just...immediately made sense to me. How the hell did you know that? I feel like it's true, the instant you said it."
"I just got reminded of a Stephen King story. N. There was a monster, like a Lovecraftian monster that was trying to get through from another universe, and it was weakest during winter, and strongest during summer. I just thought maybe it might be true here, too."
"The totems," Mae said suddenly, standing up. She suddenly began to pace. "The totems. Everyone's gotta have one, right? I mean, it seems like the kind of thing a cult would do. And not just for any random reason, I bet it grants that thing power of some sort. Or maybe like windows into the world? We have to destroy them all. We have to find them and destroy them. Burn them. I'm almost sure it'll weaken that thing."
"Makes sense to me," Gregg said, and Ann was nodding.
"How do we find them?" Trent asked.
"We'll break into places, anyone on the list," Mae replied.
"I don't know…" Bea murmured.
"Mae might be right," Trent said reluctantly.
"Whoa, seriously?" Mae asked. "You're on my side about the crimes?"
"Yeah. But only because I think we may have no other choice. We'll have to break into some places anyway, to try and find evidence...we need intel, on all of them. Where they live, who they live with, their routines. If we can get them out of the house, we can break into their homes, search for evidence and totems," Trent said.
"Sounds like a plan to me," Ann replied.
"So what's first?" Angus asked.
Trent checked his phone. "Well, it's five now. Mae's mom wants dinner at seven. I don't want to sit on our hands...me and Mae should go talk with Germ."
"Can you drop me by my house on the way out, and then pick me up on the way back? I want to warn my mom. I think I can explain to her that there might be danger in a way that won't completely freak her out…" Ann asked.
"Yeah," Trent replied, bringing up Germ's phone number. "Uh...who should speak with him about it?"
"I will," Mae said, holding out her hand. Trent gave her the phone and she put the call through. After a few rings, it picked up. "Hello, Mister Warton, it's Mae Borowski...I'm okay. Sort of. Um...can I and my boyfriend come over? There's something we need to talk with you about. You and Germ...and Germ's grandma." A pause. "No, no, it isn't about that. It's about...that time I asked you to blow up the well in your backyard...thank you. We'll be right over."
They dropped Ann off and then drove to Germ's house in silence.
Trent kept thinking a conversation would start, but none did. Both of them were lost in thought. He looked out on the town as he drove through it. And was angry. For a number of reasons, but also because this place he had come to, it had quickly come to represent a renewal. A new chance at a better life. It was fun here, it was pleasant.
And now he couldn't trust it.
That wasn't entirely true, he knew he was overreacting at least a little, but they were out there. This cult. Even if it was just eight of them…
How many cops had the Police Chief turned?
He could see it happening pretty easily. Sure there were good cops, but it seemed like it was all too easy for small town cops to just look the other way, or do something because they were told to and not ask too many questions.
Especially when asking questions got you suspended without pay.
"What are we gonna tell them?" Trent asked finally as they parked in the driveway. There were a lot of cars there.
"The truth. They deserve to hear the truth. You're right. They're in this, whether they want to be or not. And they should know, it's their fight, too. And they seem to have pretty deep roots in this town, so…"
"You think they'll be on our side? Usually people who have deep roots in a town want to preserve it, no matter the cost," Trent murmured uncomfortably as they got out.
"I trust Germ, and I trust his family. That's all I can really offer," Mae replied.
He sighed. "Yeah, I guess I do, too. Come on."
They walked up the long driveway. Germ's dad was waiting for them. He had a solemn, serious expression and opened the door all the way.
"Just you two?" he asked.
"Yes," Mae replied.
"Come on."
As they stepped in, he looked out behind them for a long moment, then closed the door. The house smelled of something. Weed, Trent realized after a moment, and something else. Some kind of meat, being cooked.
"This way," he said, leading them into the house.
"I'm sorry to just throw this into your lap," Mae said.
"Well, if emergencies were planned they wouldn't really be emergencies," Jacob Warton replied. He sounded amicable enough, if a bit strained. "Whatever it is, I assume it's dire."
"It's dire," Mae replied grimly.
He sighed. "Isn't it always?"
They followed him through a new route in the house and came to a doorway that almost looked hidden. He opened it up and they followed him down a narrow stairwell.
"Whoa, is this like a secret basement?" Mae asked.
"I call it a second basement, but yeah, basically," Jacob replied.
They came into a room that had a close, but not uncomfortable, atmosphere. More cozy. It looked a bit like a lounge, like the kind of place a group of dads would gather to play poker and drink scotch and smoke cigars on the weekends. Mostly, it was taken up by a large table surrounded by several chairs. What gave it a bit more of a unique flair was the row of actual arcade cabinets. The table was occupied by three men and an old woman.
"Everyone, you all know Mae. This is Mae's boyfriend, Trent. Trent, these are my brothers, Paul, Reed, and Luke. This is our mother, Abigail," Jacob said.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance, all of you," Trent said.
"Yeah. Thanks for agreeing to hear me out, everyone...whoa…" Mae murmured, blinking a few times and looking around. "What's...happening?"
"What's wrong?" Trent asked, looking at her. She had an unfocused look in her eyes now.
"I...I think…" She focused suddenly on the old woman. "It's you."
The woman smiled. "Yes, Mae...they'll need proof."
The men all looked uncertainly at their mother, then back at Mae.
"What, exactly, is this about?" Reed asked.
Mae sighed softly. She suddenly seemed more relaxed. "I'm about to tell you some really crazy shit, and you're not going to want to believe me. You took a lot on faith before, with the well, and I still appreciate that in a way I can't really express. But I think this is going to be a step too far without some further proof, so…" She looked suddenly at Germ's dad. "Think of something. Right now. Anything, just something specific. And I'll tell you what it is."
He frowned, but while Trent expected a look of naked confusion or even suspicion to come onto his face, none did. "All right," was all he said, and closed his eyes. "Okay."
"You're thinking of your first BB gun, the one that came red but you painted orange because you liked it better," Mae said.
His eyes popped open. "Jesus damn," he muttered. He looked at the others. "She's right."
"Mom?" Reed asked uncertainly, again glancing at his mother.
"Go on," Germ's grandma replied.
Mae focused on Reed now. "Your turn. I need you to believe me, and this is the easiest way."
Slowly, he nodded. Then closed his eyes. After almost half a minute, he opened them. "Okay, I got it. Read my mind."
Mae didn't even hesitate. "Wow, dude. You're for real thinking about Lisa Tomlinson's polka-dot bra that was the first bra you ever unhooked back in high school?"
"No! That's-crap! It just came to me at the last second!" Reed cried. All three of his brothers started laughing and he just sighed and groaned, hiding his face behind his hands. "I'm sorry, mom," he groaned. "Fine, you sure as hell convinced me."
Trent watched with absolute awe, and more than a little fear, as she repeated it twice more with the other two men. It was absolutely unreal, and he had so many questions.
"I don't know why," Mae said, a little sheepishly. He sighed. "Sorry," she said. "I'm not-it's not like I can do it whenever I want. I just can right now for some reason."
"All right, all right, so what does this have to do with the emergency, exactly?" Jacob asked.
"Nothing, really," Mae admitted, looking back at them all. "It's just-I needed you take me seriously. So you don't think I'm just going crazy. I know you're all pretty nice, but you also have heard stories about me, and I am a little crazy. But this isn't a result of that, and it would be easy to believe that, because this is absolutely crazy…" She looked at Germ's grandma. "Do you know about this?"
"No," she replied. "I've always known that something sinister lurked along the outskirts of Possum Springs, but…" Here she looked uncomfortable. "I never looked too closely. It...frightened me. And it kept itself from me. And I've been content with that...to a certain degree. Although I fear I am about to find out that perhaps I should have done more."
Mae sighed. "I'm not sure what you could have done. Honestly, given what's happened, I think it's for the best that you kept your distance. Okay, I'll tell you everything I know," Mae said, taking a seat at the table with Trent doing the same beside her.
She took his hand and started talking.
"And that's everything. All of it." Mae took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
The silence that fell across the small room was very heavy.
"Lordy," Reed whispered. "That's...a lot."
"You sure were right, about needing to be prepped. Because I really don't think I would've believed it otherwise," Jacob admitted. He grit his teeth suddenly. "That son of a bitch, Becket. We worked with him a lot. Makes me want to spit. They've been killing people…"
Mae gasped and sat up suddenly.
"What!?" Paul asked.
She looked at Jacob. "They came for Germ! I never put that together until right now!"
"What do you mean, they tried to kill him?! When!?" Jacob demanded.
"I'm almost positive it was last summer. When I first got back in town, we started hanging out by the old Food Donkey and one time he told me a story of how he was walking home one night during the summer, and someone started stalking him, and he climbed a tree and hid for awhile, but the guy just kept staying nearby, waiting for him to come down. I'm so sure they were coming after him! But he got away from them!"
"Bastards," Jacob growled, clenching his fist.
"Wait, wait," Luke said suddenly. He'd been quiet the whole time after Mae had read his mind. He seemed to be the oldest and had an air of quiet dignity to him. "So, if I understand the situation, there's a murderous cult who believes they are sacrificing people to an old god buried in the mine outside of town. They got themselves mostly killed, but some are still alive. That's all correct?"
"Yes," Mae said.
"So...why are you telling us this? That's what I want to know."
Mae shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Trent. "Well, to be blunt...I trust you. I trust Germ, and I trust Germ's dad, and Germ's grandma, and I guess by extension all three of you. Your family has always seemed...just good. And we need help. It's our fight, but in a way, it's also the town's fight, too. But I don't really trust most of the town. So...I'm here to ask for help."
"Hmm," Luke replied.
"Wait," Reed asked, "so...you're telling me that they killed people to feed this god thing so that it would keep the town chugging along? And that if they stopped...then Possum Springs will die?"
"Yes. Or, at least, that's what they think will happen. They think that flood, and the blizzard, was because of the old god. I don't know if that's true, but I do believe that it's the only thing keeping this town alive," Mae said. She seemed like she was bracing for someone to scream at her, but she was pressing forward anyway.
"Hell," Luke muttered.
"Then...I mean we can't let that happen, right?" Reed asked.
He looked around. Luke and Paul looked back at him uncertainly, looked around as well. Jacob looked more certain, and Germ's grandmother merely smiled.
"I mean, right?" Reed pressed. "We've put so much work into this town. Generations! We worked the mines, our dad worked the mine, grandad went to war and came back and worked his ass off to make this town what it is! What it used to be!"
"Reed," Abigail said quietly, so quietly that Trent was sure he hadn't heard her, but the man instantly looked over at her.
"Mom," he said, began really, but her smile widened serenely, and he simply stopped talking. As though whatever argument he was about to say simply collapsed. "Mom…" he repeated softly.
"Reed," she replied, "everybody dies. Everything dies. Even gods die. We all will die. And that's how it should be. I'm going to die, Reed. You're going to die. That's the nature of the world. If Possum Springs is to die, then it will die. There are other places we can live. Home is where you create it. Home is…"
"Home is where you are," Mae murmured.
Abigail smiled wider. "Yes, dear. Home is where you are."
"Are you really okay with murdering people to keep this town running, Reed?" Jacob asked. "They were going to kill my son. They were going to kill family."
Reed closed his mouth and looked away. "No," he said finally. "You're right...I'm sorry."
"I understand where you're coming from," Mae said. "I mean, I get it. I really loved this place too. Even if I hated it sometimes. When I was away at college...I hated it. I hated being away from here, from all the familiar places, and people. I just wanted to come home. I thought it would fix everything. It helped, but...it didn't matter, in the end. It wasn't here that mattered. It was the people. It was Bea and Gregg and Angus and my parents and Germ and Selmers. People are important. All of this, all the buildings and the streets and the industry, it's all for people. We don't kill people for a town. That's so wrong. It's sick. The town exists for us, we don't die for it."
"Damn," Reed muttered. "I never heard it put like that before."
"She's right, though," Jacob replied. He looked squarely at Mae and Trent. "Look, whatever you need from me, I'm in. This can't go on. It can't. I won't let it."
"I'm in," Luke said.
"Yeah. I'll fight to protect my family," Paul said.
Reed sighed. "Yeah, I'm in."
"I'm old, and my bones hurt, but if there is anything I can do, just ask," Abigail said.
"Thank you. So much. This means a lot. More than I can say," Mae said.
"I got another question," Luke said. He looked at Trent. "How exactly do you fit into all this?"
"Oh yeah, I guess I kind of glossed over that part…" Mae murmured.
"I moved here from Nebraska when my great-uncle died and he left me everything. He was part of the cult. I started dating Mae shortly after I moved here and we've gotten really close and now I'm involved. For the record, obviously, I'm not involved in the cult in any way. I had no knowledge of it before I moved here," Trent said.
"So let me ask you this: why are you doing this?" Luke asked.
Now they were all staring at him. "What do you mean? Why wouldn't I?"
He let out a small laugh. "Son, most people would take one look at this and hightail it in the other direction. And you could, too. You said you inherited everything. You're, what, twenty four, twenty five?"
"Twenty two."
"Jesus. At that age, my biggest concerns were getting laid and getting drunk. And here you are stepping to a cult. Why?"
"They're evil."
"And that's it? They're evil? That's enough for you?"
"Yeah!" Trent replied, suddenly impatient. "What else do you want? It's wrong. There's no way around it, no way to spin it. They are just evil. And they have to be stopped. I can't tolerate it. I can't walk away from that and just let it all go to hell. And I'll go a long, long way for Mae and our friends."
"I didn't mean anything by it, Trent," Luke said. "I'm more just impressed, is all. It's very brave. Lotta kids...hell, lotta folks, they aren't brave. Bravery is the exception, not the rule. It's guts. You got guts, is all I'm saying."
"Oh...thanks," Trent murmured, suddenly awkward.
"So we're in agreement then: we help. But what does that mean?" Jacob asked.
Trent sighed. "Right now? We're not sure. We have other things to deal with. For now it means, watch yourself. Watch your homes, your families. Make sure nothing happens to them. I'm not really sure how this plays out. We're figuring out a plan, and we will need your help, but we have to get it all sorted first. We'll come back tomorrow once we have it nailed down a bit more. For now, if you've got a piece of paper, we can write down the list of names for you."
"Yeah, we'll need it," Luke said.
"Don't go off half-cocked and do anything stupid," Mae replied as they gave them a sheet of paper and a pencil.
"Don't worry, I'll keep everyone in order," Luke said.
"Oh whatever," Paul replied.
"I'm the eldest, so you all have to listen to me."
"I'm the eldest," Abigail said with a smirk.
"Yes, mother," Luke replied, then cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Can't believe the damned Police Chief is in on it," Jacob growled as he saw Trent copying over the list of still-living cult members.
"Surprised the mayor isn't in on it," Paul murmured.
"That actually does surprise me," Luke said. "The Chief, not so much. Or the business owners. Or Scriggins. Guy always rubbed me the wrong way. Never understood where he got that money from...now we know, I guess."
"Whatever it is we're doing, hopefully we can do it quickly. Right now, we've got the advantage," Mae said.
"Why?" Luke asked.
"It's winter." They gave her a blank look, except for Abigail, who simply nodded. "It's weaker in winter," she added. "The Black Goat."
"That is a really creepy name," Reed muttered.
"Yep," Mae agreed. "Okay, Germ's dad and uncles and grandma, uh...we've got stuff to do. So, see you tomorrow, and a million thank yous for actually listening and believing me and helping us with this...friggin' nightmare."
"You're welcome, Mae. Good luck, you two," Jacob replied.