Odessa Springs

“Must be some of the neighbors,” Marcus called to his wife, Linda, who was busy unpacking in the kitchen.

He waved to an attractive young couple through the large bay window in the living room. Both were slim and athletic looking and had smiles that were welcoming but bordering on creepy. The woman held something on a covered tray in front of her.

Marcus rose from the entertainment center, where he’d been trying to remember which cord went where, and answered the door.

“Hello,” the couple said in cheery unison.

“Hi, I’m Marcus,” he said extending his hand.

“I’m Jeremy,” said the man, giving Marcus’s hand a firm shake. “And this is my wife Sabrina. We live on the next block over.”

“Welcome to Odessa Springs,” she said. “We brought you a little something.”

“Please, come in,” Marcus said. “My wife’s in the kitchen and I think she already unpacked the coffee maker.”

Linda was sliding the coffee pot into place as they entered the kitchen.

“Linda,” Marcus said, “this is Jeremy and Sabrina.”

The neighbors flashed their over-achieving smiles.

“We weren’t sure if you’d be hungry, but you know what they say, ‘there’s always room for Jello,’” Sabrina said and pulled the cover off her platter revealing jiggling green Jello mold. Marshmallows and bits of fruit hung suspended in the quivering mass like alien larvae waiting to burst free.

“Thank you,” Linda said. “Let’s get it in the fridge so it doesn’t melt. Coffee should be ready in a minute.”

As the coffee brewed they made small talk. Marcus and Linda explained where they moved from: Carpentersville, and what they did for a living: Marcus dealt in antiques and Linda was a Web developer. Jeremy and Sabrina talked about their first impressions of Odessa Springs with its white picket fences, bright green lawns, and picturesque downtown.

“How long have you lived here?” Linda asked.

“We moved in when we got married almost 34 years ago,” Sabrina said.

Linda’s eyes widened. Marcus choked on his coffee. Jeremy and Sabrina exchanged a look.

“This isn’t something the realtor is allowed to discuss when showing a house,” Jeremy began, “but we have to be selective as to who we allow to move in. It’s best to have open-minded people in the community.”

“Open-minded?” Marcus asked.

Sabrina nodded. “Close-minded people usually don’t understand the sacrifices we make for the greater good.”

“What sacrifices?” Linda asked.

Jeremy suddenly became very serious. “The sacrifices we make to Slogdör to keep our town prosperous, our people healthy, and our community vibrant. It’s a small price to pay for the gifts the elder one bestows upon us.”

“I don’t know if-” Marcus began.

“You will,” Sabrina said. “It’s a small price to pay, but it’s well worth it. Mostly it’s animal sacrifices. Once in a while a drifter comes along and we experience the full extent of Slogdör’s blessings. Besides, I think you’ll find nothing gets the juices flowing like a little blood on your hands,” she added with a wink to Linda.

Linda’s hands shook around her mug and the color drained from Marcus’s face.

The creepy smile reappeared on Jeremy’s face. “We see you have a lot to get done around here, so we won’t keep you,” he said. “If you need a hand with anything we’re at 1248 Ashmore. Have a blessed day.”

Sabrina shot one more wink their way and they left.