Beyond the Veil Part 2: Suffer the Child: Beyond the Veil, #2

By Tyler Crosby

Denying Eden, Alex dives deeper into the abyss. As she exhumes the secrets hidden within the disturbed daughter of Detective Castillo, Alex finds herself regretting ever accepting her freedom. Can Alex stand up against what lurks in the dark? Or will she come to know the true face of hell?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Absolute Author Publishing House
• Release date: Jan 5, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224810512

Book preview

By Tyler Crosby

Prologue: Intersection

The piercing chime of the brass school-bell echoed down the hall. The immediate response was classroom doors flying open in the flood of children being led like lambs to slaughter. Varying ages dawned their lunch pails reflective of their personalities. Haphazardly, they flailed by their handles in the grip of their sprinting owners. The wall of scuffing sneakers, screaming-laughter and barking teachers masked the looming dread of those not wanting to break for lunch unsupervised.

At the back of the herd straggled Bailey, her paranoia obvious as she looked over her shoulder for intervention. However, she was only greeted by her school-yard harasser Marcus, a pest of a child, clad in ripped jeans and an oil-stained yellow t-shirt.

Hey bitch... he nonchalantly shouted as he approached Bailey.

He tossed his arm around her shoulder, barely standing taller than herself.

You gonna pay up again? he eagerly asked, his yellowed teeth seeping through his smile.

Where should we go? Bailey asked timidly, scanning the hallway, praying for a teacher to be present.

Just do it really quick now, he pressured.

His breathing intensified along with his dilating pupils. Bailey gripped her blouse, scanning the adjacent classroom windows for a teacher.

No one can see! Just fuckin’ do it and I’ll leave you alone today! Marcus demanded.

His face scrunched into an exaggerated expression of anger. As Bailey’s discomfort grew, so did Marcus’s impatience. Bailey unclasped the middle buttons of her white blouse. Her fingers gripped the fabric between her undeveloped breasts and slowly spread it open. As soon as her skin appeared, she quickly closed the gap in her clothing. Marcus shoved Bailey onto the grayed tile floor with enough force to slide her away from him.

You said you would bitch! Now show me! Marcus shouted as he stood over a terrified Bailey.

Quickly, she propped herself onto her bottom before gripping her blouse again. Less hesitant, she looked down at her chest and slowly exposed it. Marcus stood ghost-white at the sight of his first pair of breasts. Silent in excitement and also fear.

What the hell is going on here? a male voice announced from behind Marcus.

Marcus spun around and stood petrified as James stormed toward the two.

What are you doing Marcus? James interrogated as he looked down at a trembling Marcus.

Marcus stammered, struggling to produce a persuasive answer to James’s opposing demeanor. James dropped to Marcus’s level and gripped by the collar of his shirt. He yanked Marcus toward him with the clothing balled in his fist. The brown, excessive arm hair brushed against Marcus’s chin as James yanked harder before continuing his onslaught of questioning.

Answer me, you little shit! James screamed in Marcus’s face.

Marcus’s eyes fluttered as spit flew from James’s frothing mouth, weeping in sheer terror of what James might do next.

James leaned into Marcus’s shoulder and whispered, I’ve got your name. I’ve got your ass. If you even so much as smile in her direction in front of me, I will fuck you up so bad you won’t be able to push little girls or boys ever again. You got that?

Marcus frantically nodded and sniffled before answering, Yes, Mr. Doucette.

James un-balled his fist, only to plant his palm on Marcus’s chest and shove him onto the ground beside Bailey. He stood and hovered over the two of them before extending his hand to Bailey. She smiled in relief and appreciation as she pulled herself off the ground in his grasp.

Go to lunch... James directed Marcus before turning away from him and escorting Bailey by the back of her neck.

Wiping his tears on his forearm, Marcus shuffled to his feet. His whimpers were muffled as he held his lower back in pain, limping down the hall.

You ok? James asked while looking down at Bailey.

Ya, I tried what you said, but I got nervous, Bailey responded, disappointed in herself.

James brought a finger to his lips, suggesting her secrecy about the topic.

Let’s eat lunch in my classroom and we will discuss it, ok? James whispered before looking around for witnesses.

James opened the brown, metal classroom door and extended his hand forward, ushering Bailey through. He followed behind only to shut the door, lock it, then pull the shades down on the door window. Bailey sat in the corner desk, closest to the door, only for James to spin her desk toward him. He smiled, grabbed the neighboring desk, and spun it to face Bailey.

Before joining Bailey at the desk, he walked around and kneeled before her. Her blouse had remained unbuttoned throughout the entire ordeal. James, eye level with the opening, grabbed both sides and spread it open himself, exposing her chest to him.

If he would have been patient, he would have seen how pretty this is and we wouldn’t be in this situation, James chuckled to himself.

Bailey feigned a smile, uncomfortable with the events transpiring, overshadowed by James’s trade for security.

James sucked his teeth before buttoning Bailey’s blouse for her. Slowly, he closed the gap, relishing the fleeting moment. He rose and walked around to the partnering desk. He grunted as he lowered into the child size chair, looking down at it to ensure his safe landing.

Ok, so tell me what happened exactly, so I can give you point— he started before cutting himself short.

As his head lifted to face Bailey, her curly black hair shifted. The strands parted along her shoulder as a blackened finger crept through. Its fingernails cracked and whitened as if the blackened color had spread like corruption. The fingers wriggled forward, traversing down her shoulder, exposing the entity’s arm. Its wrist contorted, reaching up toward Bailey’s throat before gently grasping it. As she breathed, the smearing of black film painted her skin. The black spread up to her chin like a cancer, blistering and bubbling as it grew.

STOP! James screamed, startling Bailey, who remained unaware of how James’s perception of reality plagues him.

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I thought I saw a student out in the hall. James lied, trying to move past his hallucination.

Bailey looked over her shoulder, noticing the shade pulled down.

Hey! Tell me about what happened, James interrupted, trying to distract Bailey from his terrible lie.

She spun back around and faced James. Her hands fiddled with her green skirt, not making eye contact as she recounted the interaction.

Marcus was picking on me before class. He started at the swings and he kept trying to push the swing at me and hit me with it. I asked him to meet me by the bathroom like you said. He didn’t want to at first. He kept pulling the swing backward, then pushing it toward me. So, I told him I had a gift for him, and I just wanted to be his friend.

Good, good. Smart moves there, James encouraged her to continue.

James, however, was only partially paying attention to her recounting as the other part of him stared at her hair, waiting to see if the entity would make another attempt at Bailey.

So sweet... the disembodied voice called to James.

Its guttural voice was layered with both male and female cadence. Its tone was indiscernible between malicious and aroused. James shuttered as Bailey continued, her voice muting as the entity continued to emphasize its desire for Bailey.

So perfect... it continued.

Sweat formed from his brow as it traveled down his temples to his jawline.