Heebie Jeebies

By Brent J. Heyen

It all starts with a bloodcurdling scream in the night. Just a short time earlier, teenagers Frank and Joe were discussing their upcoming double date with the Litzner twins. Now Frank is dead and Joe has no idea why. Even worse yet, Joe is now a suspect in Frank’s mysterious death.

What Sheriff Jon Bigs doesn’t realize at first is that the scream is the start of an onslaught of attacks that will take several people in his town before it’s over, including a few who are dear to him. As he begins digging into the cause of the assaults, Sheriff Bigs must summon help from Dr. Simon Holloway, a specialist from a nearby university and Elliot Radcliffe, the local exterminator he has hated for years. But will the sheriff and his men be able to stop the attacks before the horror spreads and it is too late for more innocent victims?

Heebie Jeebies shares a skin-crawling tale of terror as screams resonate throughout neighborhoods while a local sheriff desperately attempts to stop a series of shocking attacks.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Nov 19, 2018
• ISBN: 9781480869196

Brent J. Heyen

Brent J. Heyen is a longtime lover of a good story. He grew up in rural Nebraska where he developed an interest in science and a passion for writing. Today the former science teacher enjoys writing believable tales that prompt a good case of the heebie jeebies. Heyen currently resides in Lincoln, Nebraska. This is his first book.

Book preview

One

The Rude Awakening

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Frank and Joe were the best of friends and had been since they first started school. They did everything together, even working out their class schedules, so that they would be in the same ones as much as possible. It was as if they were brothers rather than just buds -- so much so that Frank spent as much time over at Joe’s house as possible; a fact that Frank is most appreciative of. Ever since his mother had died, his father just wasn’t the same. It’s not that he had become abusive; just that his father was more and more distant as time went on. Conversations became harder to initiate as well as to sustain. It was as if his father was slowly dying inside; Frank’s mother was clearly the food that nourished his father’s soul. As such, his friendship with Joe became increasingly a lifeline to fill the void.

So it came to pass that on a brisk September evening, as it had happened countless times before, Frank and Joe were hanging out in Joe’s room talking about what most teenage boys discuss: girls. Twins, exclaims Joe, you want us to go on a double date with twins!

What’s the prob? Frank replies, The Litzner twins are hot!

I know, but that’s not the point.

Well, …

Joe thinks for a moment, not wanting to give his friend his true reasons. Upsetting, or worse hurting, his best friend was not an option. I’m waiting, Frank retorts, obviously getting tired of the awkward silence.

Well, how would we tell them apart? Joe bellows out, relieved that he came up with a response.

Frank leaned back with a wide grin and answers, That’s the beauty of it, we don’t have to! Besides, they come as a pair. It’s a double date or no date.

Joe stands there trying to think of a response while simultaneously trying to hold back his disgust at his friend’s comment. Suddenly, as if it were divine intervention, Joe’s mother calls from downstairs: Joe!

Saved by the bell, Joe thinks to himself, and then calls out, Yes mom!

Can I talk to you for a second?

Joe immediately translates this question into a command, knowing that it was his mother’s intent. He had always pondered why she didn’t just say it like she meant, rather than creating the illusion that he actually had a choice. Regardless, this time he really didn’t mind. Yeah, sure, he replied, pretending to be upset at being interrupted.

Upon Joe arriving in the kitchen his mother looks up from her work of preparing dinner and says with a smile, Hey honey. Joe forces a grin in return. What’s wrong?

Nothing, Joe replies with a sigh.

Joe, His mother replies concerned after putting down the large knife she was using to chop vegetables, I can tell something is bothering you, just by the way you are sulking around.

I’m not sulking, Joe smiles genuinely, knowing that he in fact was. After a short pause he continues, Its Frank, he wants me to go on a double date with him with the Litzner sisters.

You find them attractive, don’t you?

Well, yeah, Joe retorts with big bright eyes, just about every guy in school would do anything to go out with one of them, but they only go on double dates.

So what’s the problem? she inquires

"Well, it’s just that we do everything together; he even practically lives here. I’m just not sure I want us dating together too."

Feeling a little smothered huh?

Yeah, I mean I value our friendship, and I wouldn’t change a thing, but I just feel like that is a line we shouldn’t cross. You know?

Well, his mother advises with the voice of experience while looking him in the eye, tell him.

Joe simply responds with a disgusted look on his face. After which she continues, I know, I know, boys don’t talk about their feelings, but …

Meanwhile, back in Joe’s room Frank is laying back on Joe’s bed relaxing, and starting to doze off. Unknown to him a large number of tiny insects have begun crawling on the bed, down his shirt, and on the back of his head. Before to long Frank jerks up from a slight doze. The feeling of a number of sharp needle pricks, as well as the sensation of his skin crawling causes him to swipe violently at the back of his head.

That’s weird, he says quietly to himself.

Suddenly upon looking across the room he sees several crimson splatter marks; as if instantly realizing what they are Frank quickly gets up and looks back at the bed and sees a large bloodstain. As even more searing pains rush around his head and back, as well as now his hand, he sees a number of these same insects crawling around on and biting his hand.

Starting to panic, Frank turns his head and looks in the mirror behind him. A mangled mess of muscle and flesh among the remains of his tattered once grey hoodie stare back at him in the mirror. Loosing complete control, Frank begins even more violently swatting at his back. While flaying around he inadvertently knocks over a bookcase; which nestles perfectly to block the door, thus sealing him in the room as if in a tomb. Simultaneously, as if a charge order has been given, swarms start coming in from all sides. They climb up Frank’s legs, biting and slashing as they go until he is completely engulfed.

Back downstairs, Joe and his mother are still talking. Well, Joe, just do whatever you think is—

Out of nowhere a loud blood-chilling scream emanating from Joe’s room echoes throughout the house. Joe and his mother share a concerned look before immediately bolting up the stairs to Joe’s room.

Upon trying to open the door Joe blurts out with a shattered voice, Frank, Frank, are you okay?

Nothing but an eerie, equally blood-chilling silence answers him. Joe looks to his mother seeking advice on what to do. As if instinctively knowing what he is attempting to ask she responds, Lets break the door in. Ready? One!

They run toward the door putting their combined weight behind their shoulders. Two! Three!

Finally, after a couple of attempts, the bookshelf moves aside; allowing the door to swing open. Upon gazing on the gruesome sight, Joe’s mother races toward the bathroom and uncontrollably vomits. Joe simply stands there and stares at what remains of his best friend. Lightning flashes and illuminates a picked clean skeleton lying on a blood-soaked carpet as a single remaining insect crawls out of the right nostril, and scurries on its way. It climbs up the wall making little bloody tracks as it goes and makes its way into the wall through a crack.

Two

A Nightmare Revisited

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Later that evening Frank’s dad pulls in and sees two police cars and an ambulance with their lights flashing. They illuminate the area with blue and red as they rotate. A policeman is cordoning off the area with crime scene tape. Joe’s parents stand in front of the house talking with the sheriff while Joe sits on the front step staring off into space. It was obvious to anyone that he had suffered a tremendous shock.

The scene brought back memories of the last time he had seen those lights. It was the middle of summer, a constant shower had rolled in and was soaking everything caught out in it. Dave, Frank’s father, pulled up to the scene of an accident. Looking to his right, a bright-eyed ten year old Frank was staring out the windshield. Frankie, he turned and looked at his father, whatever happens you stay here. You hear me?

Yeah. Frank replied with a hint of fear in his voice. He then watched his father get out of the truck, shut the door, and walk up to the sheriff. After a while his father kneels over as if the sheriff had punched him in the gut. Frank immediately opened his truck door, stuck out his head and yelled, Dad!

Stay in the truck Frankie, Dave had managed to blurt out, I’ll talk to you in a minute.

After Frank had closed the door Dave turned to the sheriff and continued the conversation saying, Do you know what happened?

Not entirely Dave, but it looks like a hit and run. I’m, so sorry Dave. Sheriff Bigs looks at his friend with empathy.

Dave started to buckle under the tremendous weight of what he had just learned. Chocking out a few words through his tears he managed to say, What do we do now?

Dave, we can handle things from here. Right now what you really need to focus on is your boy. He’s going to need you to get through this. You need to stay strong, for his sake if not for your own. It’ll be tough, but together—

The sheriffs pep talk just started to tapper off as incoherent babbling to Dave. His whole world just seemed to come to a sudden stop. Suddenly, the world started to come back into focus as the sheriffs speech started coming to a much anticipated end. —You gong to be okay Dave?

Yeah, sure. Dave responded while wiping the tears from his eyes and blowing his nose with his handkerchief. I’m just not sure what I’m going to say to Frankie. He and his mother were pretty close.

So are you two, reminded the sheriff.

Dave composed himself and thanking his friend he turned around and started walking back to his truck. Dave, if there is anything I can do.

Thanks, I’ll let you know.

All of a sudden, back at the house, a police officer knocks on his truck window with a flashlight; startling Dave out of his flashback. He rolls down his window and the officer smiles, Dave, long time no see. Then as if suddenly realizing why Dave was there his smile melts away, then continues, I’ll let the sheriff know you’re here.

The officer walks off. Rain patters on his hat from a storm that rolled in earlier in the evening. As he approaches he can start to hear the sheriff’s conversation with Joe’s parents over the rain. Ed, do you have anything to add?

No, Joe’s father replies while holding his traumatized wife, I only arrived around the time you got here.

Now Mrs. Hartman, you said Joe and Frank were in his room before you called your son down. Do you have any idea what they were doing up there?

Mrs. Hartman stares down the sheriff a few minutes before forcing herself to quietly reply, Talking, as far as I know. Frank wanted Joe to go on a double date with him and some girls, Joe really didn’t want to.

So they were arguing.

No, they were just talking. she reiterates

But isn’t it possible, the sheriff presses on, that their conversation heated up?

What? she responds unbelievingly, "Are you suggesting that Joe could have done this? No! Don’t you dare!"

Janice! Ed interrupts, holding back his wife, The sheriff is just doing his job.

Try to understand, I must pursue all possibilities; no matter how unpleasant, or unlikely. I have no doubt that our investigation will show that he is entirely innocent. Yet we must still pursue the possibility. After all, what else could it be?

I told you about the bugs!

The sheriff sighs and hoping to reason with her responds by saying, Janice, I’m no expert, but as far as I know there are no insects around here that will do, that.

Whatever happened to ‘we must peruse all possibilities’?

The sheriff smiles in recognition of her valid point, and replies, Right you are. We’ll get someone down here from the university to check in on it. Will that satisfy you?

I’m sure that will be fine, Ed buts in, and we have every confidence that you will get to the heart of this matter. Don’t we honey?

Janice simply glares at the sheriff as she and her husband walk over to their son. Seeing an opportunity the officer waives to Sheriff Bigs who walks over. His father is here, the officer says, kinking his head back as if pointing to the truck in the distance.

The sheriff sighs, and then says, Keep an eye on them.

As they part ways the sherif walks up to Dave in the truck. Before he can say a word Dave interrupts, Do me a favor. Spare me the pep talk, and just tell me what happened.

Well, Dave, we don’t entirely know. As far as we can tell it is your son—

What! Dave interrupts, What do you mean ‘as far as we can tell?’

There’s not exactly a lot left for identification. Dave’s head falls forward and rests on his steering wheel. I’m sorry Dave. The best thing you can do right now is to just go home, and wait for us to get in contact with you.

But if you’re not sure tha-

Dave, we’re sure. We’re just waiting for DNA to confirm it.

I want to see him.

I’m afraid I can’t allow that Dave.

Dave lifts his head up and stares the sheriff down with disdain. I’m sorry, but we still need to collect all the possible evidence from the scene. We’ll let you know when you can see his remains. By then we may even know if it is truly him.

Sighing, Dave turns away, starts the truck, angrily spews out, Fine, and drives a way. The sheriff, left alone in a rain-filled pool of muddy water, turns back to the house. The pitter-patter of rain filling the silence as he approaches the Hartman Family. The Sheriff inquires, Ed, do you and your family have a place in town you can stay at for the time being?

I suppose, Ed contemplates while rising, we could spend some time at a local motel.

Fine, just don’t leave town until this is over. And I will need Joe to speak with a specialist.

Janice’s jaw drops as she gazes upon the sheriff with a growing sense of utter hatred. It may be the only way to truly know what happened Janice, the sheriff continues.

Fine, she whispers as her husband picks her up and the three of them head to Ed’s suburban.

With their departure the sheriff turns to one of his officers, Tail them.

Several hours later, after all the hustle and bustle has passed, a lone truck pulls up to the Hartman house. The door opens, and out steps Dave, Frank’s father. Distraught, and obviously drunk, he staggers his way up to the house. He ducks under the police tape and makes his way gradually, and unsteadily, up to the door. Before proceeding, he looks up to the sky and sobs, I’m so sorry Frankie, I wasn’t there for you like I should have been. He then slowly opens the door and makes his way inside.

Upon entering, he slowly makes his way through the house. All the while conscious of a distinct sound. Almost as if thousands of little footprints were being made throughout the house. What is worse is that it seems to follow him as he progresses through the house. He pays little to no attention to it; either because of his emotional state, or because he was to drunk to care. Once he reaches Joe’s room he forces it open and makes his way inside. It had been sealed by the police to prevent contamination; yet the seal was no match for Dave as he easily makes his way in.

Looking around, Dave is taken aback by the utter gore of the scene. The spot where his son’s remains were found was noticeable by the fact that even this long after, the carpet was still moist. So much blood had spilled out that even after this length of time the blood had not dried out. While kneeling on the floor grieving for the loss of his son the noise he had heard on his trek up to the room started getting louder and louder until even Dave’s sobbing couldn’t be heard.

Outside the rain has long since stopped. A cool autumn breeze rustles the leaves of nearby trees, and a gentle calm has enveloped the area. Out of nowhere a loud echoing scream resinates throughout the neighborhood. Birds fly from their roosts in haste, and lights flip on in the surrounding houses. A window of Joe’s room that faces the front of the house shatters as Dave leaps through it. He is completely covered by these insects; looking like a large mass of them. The only hint that a human lies at the heart of it is the trail of blood it leaves trailing behind, squirting in multiple directions. As if startled by the impact, the swarm abandon’s Dave’s body. One eye remains hanging by a thread. The rest remains unrecognizable.

Three

Sunshine

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In the darkness of the night a man and his wife lye in bed sleeping soundly. The phone rings causing the husband to stir. Upon the second ring the wife reaches over to a lamp and turns it on. Reaching for the phone she picks it up just as it begins ringing again. Bigs residence, she drowsily blurts out, yes, hold on. She leans over, and tapping the receiver on her husband’s head says, It’s for you.

He reaches his arm up and places the receiver into position, Hello.

Sheriff, a voice rings over the phone, sorry to bother you at this time of night but-

Just tell me what’s going on Em.

Well, there has been another disturbance at the Hartman place.

What kind of disturbance? inquires the sheriff with a groggy and frustrated voice.

The kind that makes it necessary for us to call and wake you up at 3 A.M.

Em, I’m not in the mood.

Sorry sheriff, all I know is that there is another body involved.

Sheriff Bigs automatically wakes up, and rises in bed. All right, he relents, I’ll be there as soon as I can.

As he hangs up the phone, he hears a distinct crawling sound in the wall behind the bed. Better call an exterminator tomorrow Carol, the sheriff mentions to his wife, we’ve got some kind of infestation.

He quickly slips on his uniform, and turns off his wife’s lamp as he grabs his gun belt and then continues, Just not that local guy. You know how I feel about him.

A short time later the sheriff pulls into the crime scene. He is approached by one of his officers as he gets out of his car. All right, asks the sheriff, what have we got?

Well, explains the officer, we’re not exactly sure. According to the neighbors, at around 0130 hrs. a loud scream was heard followed by the deceased jumping out the second story window.

Who is it?

We’re not entirely sure, explained the officer, there isn’t much left of him. We think it must be Dave. His truck is here, and that would make the most sense.

The sheriff, upon hearing who it was leans back on his car for support. He and Dave had once been close friends. Yet after Dave’s wife died he could’t look at him without reliving that moment. You all right sir? the officer asks noticing his sudden decline.

Fine, the sheriff responds, building up his internal barriers once again, lets go see what we’ve got.

The sheriff walks confidently towards Dave’s body with the officer trailing closely behind. As they approach, Sheriff Bigs receives a first glimpse of what remains of his friend. Dave’s remains look as though someone has taken miniature scissors to the entirety of his body. His one remaining eye hangs down over his face, nearly touching the ground beneath him. There is little to no clothing remaining on