by Marc Lindsay
“Well since you’re done bragging, how about we get this show on the road?” Jason said.
They quietly left through the window and climbed down the side gabling, then made their way through town. Sticking to the shadows, carefully avoiding the few people who were out walking dogs or returning home from work. They cut through Perigord Park hoping it would be deserted. It was, except for a group of teenagers who were congregated by a fountain drinking and laughing. Jason led Selene around them using the trees as cover. Luckily the teens were too caught up in themselves to notice the shadowy figures slip past.
“That was easy,” Selene whispered as they crouched at the edge of the tree-line directly across the road from the Realty. The stretch of offices was well lit by street lights.
“Any ideas?” Jason asked.
“I have one,” Selene replied. Selene pointed to an area near their position, obscured by a park bench and bushes.
“There’s a storm drain there that intersects under most of the town,” Selene said. Jason looked dubious
“One of the tunnels comes up behind those offices,” she stated.
“Are they big enough to fit us?” Jason asked.
“It’ll be tight but yes, we’ll fit, I used to do a little exploring when I was younger, so relax, we’ll be fine” Selene said putting a reassuring hand on his, then snatching it back.
“Shit, you’re hot,” Selene said.
“I know,” Jason said with a grin. She placed a hand on his forehead.
“No, Your burning up,” Selene said looking worried. Jason pushed her hand away.
“Are you kidding, I feel great,” Jason declared.
“You sure?”
“Hey are you going to keep stalling or are we doing this?”
“I was just being concerned,” Selene replied stiffly.
“And it’s appreciated.”
“Don’t be a smartass, you’ve made your point okay.”
“Good then let’s do this,” Jason said, and without a further word they descended into the drain. Once inside Selene produced two small black flashlights from her bag and handed one to Jason. With a little manoeuvring they were able to squeeze through a tight section of drain and into a larger tunnel. Once there Selene turned on her torch and a red beam lit the compact tunnel.
“Hey that’s pretty cool,” Jason whispered.
“It’s tactical, preserves your night vision.”
Jason nodded mildly impressed. He flicked his on as well. Ahead their tunnel split into three junctions.
“Which one Indie?” Jason whispered.
“The left takes us across the road and should come up into an alley behind the offices.”
“Lead on,” Jason said, indicating with his hand for Selene to take the point. Their movement was slow as the tunnel was small.
“Bloody hell this is cramped,” Jason muttered.
“Yeah it’s a little smaller than I remember,” Selene replied ruefully. After twenty minutes of crawling they came to a rise with a steel ladder leading up. Jason led the way, quietly pushing the manhole cover off, being careful not to make any noise. Once clear he helped Selene out. She attempted to push the cover back over the manhole but it wouldn’t budge. Jason gently eased past her and with no visible effort replaced the cover over the hole. They both remained crouched listening to the silence, making sure they were alone. Selene removed something from her back pack.
“Hey that looks like some kind of ninja grappling hook?” Jason said.
“It certainly does, doesn’t it?” Selene smirked, uncoiling the rope.
“After tonight, we’re going to talk” Jason said. Selene surveyed the roof, her eyes fixating on one particular spot. She started to swing the grappling hook by the rope in a circular motion. Once it reached maximum velocity she released the hook. It shot up and over the roof making a small metallic ping. Selene tugged on the rope and it went taunt. Gripping the rope with both hands, she lifted her feet up and let the rope take her weight. It held. Satisfied, she was about to start climbing when Jason put a hand on her shoulder.
“Let me go, but first I have an idea I want to try,” he said enigmatically. Without waiting for a reply he dashed off towards the end of the alley, up to a large industrial dumpster. After briefly looking in, Jason pushed it back towards a now highly curious Selene.
“Are you nuts? What’s with the dumpster?” Selene asked.
“Have a look in” Jason instructed. Selene slowly pulled herself up and peered in.
“Boxes, so?” Selene asked nonplussed.
“So, it’ll make getting down easier and we won’t have to leave the rope behind.”
“Good thinking.”
“I didn’t get the memo on the seven Ps so I have to bring something to the party,” Jason quipped, then grasping the rope, started to climb. Once on the roof edge he motioned for Selene to grab the rope as well.
“Hold on tight,” Jason rasped, as he pulled the rope and Selene up to the roof. They moved quickly and once they had located the skylight they descended into the Realty.
The pair made their way through the Realty, flashlights held at the ready. Jason was the first to locate the painting. After close inspection, Selene produced an electronic screw driver from her pack and proceeded to unfasten it from the wall.
“Be gentle,” Jason whispered as they removed the canvas and inspected the back only to find it blank. The disappointment was written all over Jason’s face.
“Well we kind of knew it wasn’t going to be that easy,” Selene stated.
“I kind of hoped it would,” Jason sighed.
“Don’t fret, I’ve got a couple of tricks up my sleeve,” Selene said with a grin, producing yet another torch.
“What’s that torch do?” Jason asked, but his question was completely ignored by Selene as she flicked it on, a dim purplish glow emitting as she scanned it back and forth across the canvas.
“Black light produces an ultraviolet light which will pick up any fluorescent ink used,” she said. After a thorough scan with no results, Selene put the torch away. “Well that was a bust, but let’s see what else may work.” she reached back into her bag.
“What is that, the Tardis?” Jason asked as Selene pulled a variety of items out.
“Hand me the hairdryer,” Selene said. Jason passed her a small battery-powered dryer which she proceeded to wave back and forward over the canvas.
“What’s that going to do?” Jason asked wearily.
“If there’s a heat activated ink, it will react to a sodium carbonate-based solution,” Selene replied. They waited and watched, again no result.
“Maybe there is nothing there,” Jason said. Selene sat silent clearly weighing her options, when an idea came to her. Picking up a small spray bottle, she gently sprayed a section of canvas.
“There are so many different types of chemical reaction inks and I only have a few solutions,” Selene started to explain when words began to appear in blue on the canvas.
“Oh my god, what did you do?” Jason whispered in awe, as Selene smiled.
“As I was saying, there are so many chemical types, however what would Perigord have used back in his day?” Selene asked rhetorically. Jason shook his head.
“I just sprayed a solution of red cabbage, which means he must of used plain old vinegar,” she said triumphantly. She continued to spray the red cabbage solution until the entire canvas was covered in faint blue letters.
“It looks like it’s in German,” Selene whispered, studying the writing intently. Jason pulled his phone from his pocket and proceeded to take photos.
“We can translate it later,” he said as he prepared to put the canvas back in the frame.
“Wait,” Selene said. Jason stopped as Selene pulled another spray from her pack.
“What are you doing now?” Jason asked.
“We can’t let this information fall into the wrong hands. This is bleach, it will wipe the previous writing away so no one else can
read it,” Selene said. After a moment’s hesitation, Jason nodded. Selene sprayed a liberal amount of bleach on and used a sponge to mop up the excess fluid.
“That should do it,” Selene said.
“It won’t wreck the painting on the other side, will it?” Jason asked.
“No I used the bleach sparingly, not to mention those old canvases are pretty thick,” Selene said. Jason seemed happy with her assessment as he replaced the picture back to the wall. After packing up her equipment they climbed back out through the skylight, careful to leave everything as it was.
Jason led Selene to the edge of the roof where they prepared to leap off into the previously placed dumpster.
“One, two, three,” Jason counted before jumping and pulling Selene with him, their flight was brief, but exhilarating, the cardboard boxes absorbing the impact.
“Nothing is ever dull with you around,” Selene stated, her buoyancy hard to suppress. Jason climbed out first, then assisted Selene who slipped and fell into his arms. They both hesitated, neither of them wanting to pull away. Her eyes shimmering in the night, she gazed down at Jason, both of them breathing hard from the adrenaline. He could feel her heart racing as he lowered his face to hers, their lips lightly touching. He could feel himself being swept away on a torrent of emotion, when he sensed movement from behind.
Still holding Selene, Jason pulled her back and turned just in time to see a hulking figure close in on them both. Pulling her down, Selene let out a terrified scream. The dark figure missed them by inches, instead colliding with the dumpster, knocking it on its side. It slid toward the brick wall in a shower of sparks.
“Are you okay?” Jason demanded. Selene nodded, a little dazed.
“What the hell was that?” Selene asked, as a roar emanated from the fallen dumpster.
“No time to explain, let’s get the hell out of here,” Jason said as he helped Selene to her feet. Both of them stood transfixed as the dumpster slowly began to rise from the ground.
“What the?” Jason blurted.
“Hell,” Selene finished.
“You want to play? Good!” an iron-like voice announced.
“Run!” Jason yelled, pushing Selene ahead of him. The dark figure tensed muscles like steel cables and hurled the dumpster in their direction. Jason glanced over his shoulder at the oncoming juggernaut. ‘Shit,’ he thought as he dived at Selene, both of them hitting the ground in a roll. The dumpster sailed narrowly over their heads before colliding with a parked car on the main street. Without missing a beat, Jason jumped to his feet, dragging Selene with him. They ran for their lives into the park.
The dark figure stood to his full height, well over seven foot, then shrugging its massive shoulders, dusted itself off. A smaller figure landed beside it from seemingly nowhere.
“Where are they Onyx?” a static charged feminine voice asked.
“They’re heading for the park. Do your thing Strix,” Onyx replied. Gleaming white teeth formed a predatory smile on the smaller female figure.
Jason and Selene ran frantically into the park. The teenagers they had avoided earlier were now gone. They sprinted toward a large elm and hid behind its trunk.
“Oh my God, what was that freak?” Selene whispered.
“WHAT is right, it definitely wasn’t human,” Jason confirmed.
“Did you see what it did to the dumpster?”
“See it, we almost wore it. SSShhh, I can hear something,” Jason whispered. A static charged laugh echoed through the park. It set his nerves on edge.
“I’m pretty sure whoever that is, they are not here to help,” Jason said, as he continued to scan the area.
“Let’s go,” Selene whispered her voice shaky with fear.
“Ssshh, not yet,” Jason said straining to hear, when a thud in the distance broke the silence. “Did you hear that?”
Selene shook her head. A female stepped out into the clearing near them. The pair froze, trying desperately to slow their breathing as if this figure might sense their presence. The female appeared to be dressed in black military clothing, her hair ragged and sharp. She was squatting like a perched hawk and appeared to be sniffing at the air. Her body never moved except for her head, which twitched from side to side.
“Great, another freak,” Jason whispered.
The woman whipped her head around in their direction and for a split second Jason swore her eyes glowed an emerald green before disappearing like a dying ember. She then looked away and disappeared in a blur of motion.
“Where did she go?” Selene hissed.
“I think she’s gone. I hope she’s gone,” Jason said. Selene nodded, hoping to God he was right, when they heard the faint sound of footsteps from behind, followed by a woman’s voice.
“You think to hide from me,” Strix questioned. Jason and Selene gasped and spun around. Jason had been correct about her attire. The figure was dressed in black combat pants and boots with a matching black thermal top that hugged her lean, muscular figure. What made the pair stare in shock were her features. Jet black eyes set in a beautiful, but cold face and a head full of thick grey feathers that spilled over her shoulders and down her back.
“Give me Perigord’s secret, and…,” Strix instructed.
“And you’ll let us go?” Selene replied. Strix gave them a smile that would make a shark proud.
“And, I’ll make your death relatively painless,” Strix said matter of fact.
From his crouched position Jason covertly scooped up a handful of dirt and held it tight in his fist.
“That’s a real tempting offer but we’ll have to decline. Thanks though,” he said, jumping to his feet and throwing the handful of dirt into the creature’s eyes. It struck with unerring accuracy. Strix let out an inhuman shriek of pain and fury. Not wasting any time, Jason grabbed Selene by the arm and ran into the darkness, straight into what seemed like a wall, but was actually the giant named Onyx. Jason was able to roll with the impact but Selene wasn’t as lucky, her head colliding with the brute, knocking her out cold. Jason desperately tried to revive her with no success
“C’mon Selene, get up,” he cried urgently. He heard the laughter then the movement, narrowly ducking under the huge right that was thrown at him. Rolling to the side of the attack, Jason scrambled to his feet and adopted a fighter’s stance. His opponent, Onyx, was big, but slow. The punch he had thrown had sent him off balance and was only now approaching the teenager. Onyx moved like the terminator, huge arms hanging at his sides attached to wrecking ball sized fists. He moved as if nothing could or would, slow him down. Not wanting to abandon Selene, he had no choice but to fight. Feigning a punch at his opponent, he then drove a front kick at the behemoth’s right knee. It was like connecting with a telephone pole. The giant stopped and started to laugh, despite the faint glow from the parks lights, Jason couldn’t make out any of the big man’s facial features, only a square, hairless head. Feeling a burning rage start to build within him at the sound of the beast’s laughter, a red hot ball of hate began to glow in the depths of his stomach.
“Are you trying to fight us?” Onyx asked incredulously.
“Us? Shit,” Jason muttered, as he realised with dawning horror he’d forgotten all about the other creature. Searing pain raked his back. He turned to see Strix standing behind him, her talon-like hands red with his blood. She started to lick it from her fingers, the expression of ecstasy on her face. Jason reached behind and winced at the pain, jerking his hand back. It too was covered in blood. Strix began to laugh. There was no warmth in the sound, just inhuman pain and suffering. The burning ember in his stomach ignited into a flame spreading throughout his body. He could now feel that heat Selene had talked about earlier, only now it was turning supernova. The laughter had died in both Onyx and Strix as they now watched him closely.
“Hey Strix, I think the boy’s mad,” Onyx said, Jason roared in fury, he could feel power building up within him then exploding from his body like hot magma, pouring out fr
om his core to his extremities. He spun and kicked out at Strix, clipping her in the head with his foot. She flew back as if kicked by a car, spinning in mid-air, then hitting the ground with a heavy thud.
“The hell,” Onyx spat. Jason turned and shoulder-charged the massive man, striking low at his midsection. Onyx grunted and grasped one of Jason’s arms in its giant hand with a grip that could have crushed a tow ball. Jason steeled himself against the brutal strength exerted by Onyx. Refusing to cry out, instead utilising his free arm, Jason brought his fist down onto the giant’s forearm, striking the radial nerve. The blow caused Onyx to release his grip. Jason stepped forward and slammed a brutal uppercut into the behemoth’s jaw. The noise of the blow and Onyx’s teeth slamming together sounded like a thunderclap. Onyx staggered back and Jason slammed both fists as hard as he could into the giant’s midsection, sending Onyx into the air and on his back.
There was a deathly silence broken only by Jason’s ragged breathing. He looked down at his hands and was shocked to instead find a pair of large metallic grey hands in their place. Jason opened and closed his hands. They felt the same, but looked completely alien. Clapping them together they produced a spark and loud metallic ring. The transformation of his hands appeared to cover his entire body as he studied the skin on his arms and face.
“What’s happening to me?” he asked aloud. His voice now had a deeper, resonate quality to it. Totally consumed with his current condition, Jason was completely unaware that Strix had recovered and was closing in silently from behind. She launched herself with an animal ferocity, her foot connecting with the back of his neck. The attack caught him totally unawares. He stumbled forward, landing into the crushing right fist of Onyx who had been playing possum, waiting for Strix’s attack. The blow sent Jason reeling as the two combatants took turns attacking the stunned Jason. Unable to recover, he was knocked, kicked and thrown by their unrelenting assault. Despite his current armoured form, their combined attacks were wearing him down.
While going blow for blow with Onyx, Strix struck Jason from behind, knocking him to his knees. Onyx then brought both fists down onto the back of Jason’s head. Lying semi-conscious he was defenceless as Onyx picked him up by the neck with one arm. Holding him aloft, Onyx stared at Jason’s face.
