This was the part where things got scary. “It felt wrong being at McAffey’s funeral, so I asked my momma if I could go into the church playground. She had said yes, saying it was too big a burden for me or some shit, so I made my way outside. There were no other kids out there that day. It looked like rain. I hopped on a swing and sat, reflecting upon what I’d done. I knew I had sinned real bad that time, doc. Bible school taught me that God don’t forgive killers; not ever.”

“And then?”

“It started to rain real hard. I didn’t want to go back to the church, but I was getting soaked. I made my way off the swing, and that’s when I saw it.”

Cox heard some scribbling sounds over the phone, as if Greyson were writing, and then: “What did you see?”

“There was a merry-go-round in the church play yard. Not the kind with all the horses – they couldn’t afford that. But one of those little ones, the kind you stand on and push yourself.”

“Go on.”

“Well, turning round and round was this dark haired boy.” Cox could feel the little hairs on the back of his neck stand on edge as he spoke. “He hadn’t been out there a few minutes before, and I didn’t see him come up, but there he was, spinning.”

Silence passed. “Keep going, Cox.” “I couldn’t see his face, as he was looking down. But he didn’t seem bothered by the rain. Hell, it barely touched him! He just kept on spinning. Until he saw me passing by.” Cox paused again.

“I don’t know if I can continue, doc.”

“You must, you must continue.”

Fighting his fears, Cox spoke once more. “When he saw me, his spin slowed almost to stopping. I could tell all my friends a mile away doc, and this wasn’t one of them. When I was just a few feet away from him, he lifted his head.”

“What did you see then?”

“Well, this boy – he didn’t look right. His face was long and skinny, and his eyes – one of his eyes was blue, doc, and one was red; fire and brimstone.” Cox shuddered at the memory, and sweat began to form at his brow.

“He looked right into my eyes, as if he was seeing my soul itself, and then he whispered three words I will never forget as long as I live.”

“What were they Cox?” Even Doc Greyson had apprehension in his voice this time.

“He said, ‘Ride with me’.”

“What happened then?”