Dark Fiction

by David Kempf

  “This is going to be quite an experience,” said Christopher.

  “You better believe it, lad.”

  This would be a new experience for David Proctor as well as Christopher Wisdom. No one, to the best of David’s knowledge, ever actually terminated the life of a ghoul before. It was ironic that they were cheating nature in the skies. The conclusion of their journey would be an attempt to cheat their elders and the masters themselves. This had certainly never been done before. Perhaps it had not even ever been attempted. Bravery or foolishness would be the final result of this expedition. Hearts of darkness would bring hellish forces of retribution against any who did not obey completely. The disrespect to the others, especially Alexander, was staggering. This was nothing other than betrayal in the truest and deepest sense of the word.

  “Who is this man who is going to transport us?”

  “Don’t worry about it, Christopher.”

  “Sorry, I want to know.”

  “My dear boy, you can’t say that you can’t help it any longer. You can never say that you’re only human anymore.”

  “Oh.”

  “Understand?”

  “I do.”

  David smiled at Christopher. He could tell that for once he really did understand. His human family would not have understood either. Christopher was almost inhuman now. He would not be looking for any role models with a normal life expectancy. This is what David Proctor thought. If his protégé was following him to the point of no return, he could finally be trusted. David’s father had known business and the value of hard work. The way that men have always wanted to escape through drinking was well known to the family. Their income greatly depended on it. If only his father could see how sick and weak his son thought the human race was. His father was dead and buried now for many years. This was still hard to grasp, even for a creature like David. Even though he wasn’t human anymore, human death was still perplexing. It would be the same for Christopher in time.

  “How do we justify going away for days to your students?”

  “You needn’t worry about that, Christopher.”

  “All right, David, I won’t,” said Christopher.

  David knew that Christopher continued to be concerned about his family. This was true despite the fact that his parents thought he was going on a great educational trip. George and Madeline thought Christopher was catching his big break and winning a writing award. When one became immortal, David reckoned it to be the same as coming out of a coma. A similarity to being sedated and then waking up alert, sober and well informed. It was that much of a difference in reality and perspective. The power of the masters changed everything. David didn’t care about what happened to the offspring of the Proctor family. Every now and then he wanted to know what happened to some of the Proctor descendants, but only out of curiosity.

  “I’m curious to see this boat, David.”

  “I know.”

  “Tell me about it then,” said Christopher.

  “Patience, you’ll find out soon.”

  “Okay.”

  “Have a drink.”

  “Okay.”

  The stewardess brought a scotch and soda to Christopher, looking as though she was wondering why he might be drinking so early in the day. Christopher smiled. He would try to be patient. This was the adventure of a lifetime. It would be a good idea to continue to learn all he could from David.

  “This is enjoyable,” said Christopher.

  It was tragic that he would never have the opportunity to learn from Alexander. One of the ancients would make a remarkable mentor for him. The dream he’d had, whether it was a revelation or hallucination, would remain a secret. If he was meant to be the last one, then would David die on this journey? Another possibility would be the masters intervening like wrathful ancient gods to strike down their rebellious servant. Christopher didn’t know what David would do if he truly realized he was no longer necessary to the masters.

  “I’m not doing this for cruelty’s sake,” said David.

  “I know, David.”

  “The masters can never find out what was done,” David added.

  “It would change everything,” Christopher agreed.

  “It would be so terrible that I don’t want to even think about it.”

  “I see.”

  “We need to succeed, Christopher.”

  “Yes.”

  “We need to get away with this,” David said earnestly.

  “We will,” Christopher replied.

  What the ghouls had gotten away with was nothing less than a dark miracle. How could people live among such things and never take notice? There was still such a terrible payment to be made. The price would be high. The cost would be the destruction of reality as man had previously known it. The professor and Sarah seemed to like having their wishes granted. What they couldn’t see was how they appeared to Christopher and David. Even humans would notice what they had become. They were the ultimate expression of their own selfish obsessions. The universe would have no order to it once new management took over. Perhaps neither would any world, parallel universe or dimension. All reality and order would cease.

  “This is no ordinary boat. Is it David?”

  “No.”

  “I didn’t think that it would be,” Christopher said.

  “How could it be?”

  “What?” Christopher asked.

  “Has anything about your life been normal since you joined forces with me?”

  “No,” Christopher admitted.

  “It never will be again,” David said.

  Christopher was looking forward to his journey on the waters. His parents did not go on cruises and he certainly could only imagine deep sea fishing. He did love all of the gothic voyages in horror fiction involving sea captains and their adventures. This dark journey would require them to use a savage killer instinct. Even if Christopher was severely punished by the masters, he knew he would be the last one standing. Whether this inhuman condition was a blessing or a curse didn’t matter. He had mocked them with his willful disobedience. He never concealed information from them when he was forced to eat the dead. All was revealed and he was punished for his mistake. What kind of insidious suffering would they inflict on him for this infraction? Christopher wondered if they would make him mortal again and let him die. No. It would be something far worse. It seemed like there was no end to their sadism. The penalty would be severe.

  “Our plane is going to land soon,” said David.

  “Good.”

  “We brought enough to keep us warm and there are more supplies on the ship,” David said.

  “David, I can’t wait to see it.”

  “It’s just a well equipped boat. Nothing more, that’s all.”

  Mentor and protégé arrived at the Canary on the Docks at Petersburg. It was nightfall. A figure walked slowly towards them. The man looked at David and nodded his head.

  “Welcome to the great land,” the man said to David and Christopher.

  “Thanks,” said David.

  “Hello,” said Christopher.

  “You must be Christopher.”

  “Yes.”

  “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “Mooney,” said the man.

  “Oh.”

  “Go ahead and ask your question,” said David.

  “Fine, I will. Are you…” started Christopher.

  “Yes, a direct descendant,” Mooney replied.

  “That’s remarkable,” said Christopher.

  This man looked like he was in his early forties. He had a long beard with just a tiny hint of gray in it. The original Mooney who kidnapped David at another time was obviously deceased. Christopher thought it odd that David would continue contact with this shady family, but not his own family. Apparently the Mooney’s were a long line of faithful servants. Christopher knew at the very least that the Mooney family could obviously keep a secret.

  “Ple
ased to meet you, Mooney,” said Christopher.

  “Likewise, I’m sure.”

  “Is there anyone else coming along on this journey?” Christopher asked.

  “No,” said David. He and Mooney looked at one another and started to laugh at the question.

  “I’m very loyal to David. The locals think I’m some sort of oddball fisherman. They don’t talk to me all that much, to be honest,” said Mooney.

  “Oh,” said Christopher.

  “Here she is,” said Mooney.

  “My God, she’s beautiful,” Christopher said.

  “Oh, that she is,” Mooney answered back.

  “She’s over forty feet long and very well prepared,” said Mooney.

  “Moonshine,” said Christopher.

  “Yes. That’s her name,” answered David.

  “Sounds a hell of a lot better than Mooney shine, doesn’t it?” Mooney asked.

  “Yes,” smiled Christopher.

  The three figures at the dock shared a moment of laughter and enjoyment. Then Christopher could tell by David’s face that he was quickly turning back to business. Mooney looked confident and prepared. Christopher was wondering how helping out ghouls at night had become a family tradition for the Mooney clan. Mooney looked right at Christopher.

  “We call ourselves those who serve the moon,” he said.

  “What?” Christopher asked.

  “The moon has been code for ghoul in my family for many, many years.”

  “Why do you still serve us?” Christopher asked.

  “There are many reasons. Step aboard and I’ll share one or two with you,” Mooney replied.

  It was indeed a luxury boat. The interior was tastefully decorated and spacious. Christopher doubted that any locals had ever been inside of it to find out its secrets. There was obviously more than enough sleeping room inside. There was a television, DVD player, CD player and some weights with a treadmill beside them. Christopher smiled when he saw the small table bar that was well stocked with quality wine and spirits. Then there was a wall that was covered by a giant black curtain.

  “Love to see what’s behind that,” Christopher said.

  “Yes, you will,” said Mooney.

  “I guarantee you it’s not an ordinary man from Kansas controlling the wizard,” David said.

  “That’s good. I’ve already met the real ones in my nightmares,” said Christopher.

  “Indeed, lad,” answered David.

  Christopher wondered why the wizards were necessary in a universe that was supposedly expanding and would one day die. How could the masters be relevant when an asteroid was supposed to come and wipe out life on earth someday? He smiled at the thought. The Mooney family was wise enough to know that there was more to life than science could explain.

  “My family serves your kind because we want you to remember us when the last day comes. That’s a big reason,” Mooney said.

  “Is it the most important reason?” Christopher asked.

  “No.”

  “No?”

  “On the surface,” he said laughing, “one would think that.”

  “What is the most important reason then?” Christopher pressed.

  “Money is the most important reason. Silver and gold still reign supreme for us.”

  “I see.”

  “Now you need to see our little secret. It will show you the real reason for the trip,” said Mooney, as he jerked the curtain away and revealed the purpose of their journey at sea. The wall contained several deadly weapons: guns, knifes, swords, hatchets, grenade rocket launchers, bazookas, machine guns and two rather large flame throwers. These deadly tools of trade were obviously intended for Alexander and the others.

  “Wow,” said Christopher.

  “You’ve done great work here,” said David.

  “We aim to please, sir. We aim to please.”

  “You’ve succeeded,” said Christopher.

  “Yes,” agreed David.

  “Now please tell me about these flame throwers. They’re huge and I’ve never seen anything like them.”

  “They are quite powerful. They are intended to melt the ice and then burn the immortals inside of them to death,” said Mooney.

  “We have no idea whether or not this can be done,” said David.

  Christopher poured himself a scotch and soda. He smiled at his two companions and drank it in a single swallow. He was overwhelmed. It was going to be a few days before they reached their final destination. The ship’s name was Moonshine and there was an open bar. He was also waiting to see when he would start to resemble the real David Proctor. So far, he was keeping his human form well intact. He was grateful for that.

  “Hitting the sauce?” asked Mooney.

  “Oh, hell yes,” said Christopher.

  “Perhaps we all should,” said David.

  The three drank deep into the night, contemplating the hunt. Christopher was getting really, really drunk. He looked at David and started to laugh. Mooney was apparently having a good time himself.

  “We are all night owls, I think,” said Mooney.

  “I can see why you chose that name for the vessel,” said David.

  “Wow!” said Christopher.

  “I think I know what you’re going to ask now,” said David. “Can we control our own intoxication?”

  “Yes, David.”

  “No, Christopher, we are vulnerable to getting drunk just like humans. I’ll bet that Mooney here will have the worst hangover in the morning.”

  “I’m sure of that. I think Lynch would be having a good time,” said Christopher.

  “He sure would because he will never get hung over again,” agreed David.

  “The younger ghoul is most amusing,” said Mooney.

  “He’s also passed out,” said David.

  Christopher dreamed of even darker waters. This time he was alone on a boat, a row boat. He was shivering because he was not wearing any protective clothing against the great land’s cold elements. He looked around in the darkness and found nothing to his liking. Christopher found, in fact, nothing at all. His boat made a loud noise, a thump! It hit land and so did he. Christopher got out of the boat and started to walk in the darkness. He jumped off the ground when he realized that he had no shoes. He was walking barefoot on the ice cold snow. It was excruciating for him, most painful and uncomfortable. Christopher continued to walk deeper and deeper into the night. He felt the terrible cold wind blow on him. The hunt was not supposed to be like this, he thought.

  Walking and walking until his feet were blistered and near frostbitten, he continued. He was perplexed and cold, starting to hallucinate. Then he saw what might very well have been a snow mirage. It looked like a small fire.

  “I’m so cold,” said Christopher out loud.

  It was invigorating to walk so close to warmth and comfort. He wondered if safety could be too far behind. No, he thought. That was probably too much to hope for.

  Then he saw something which induced his tremendous gratitude. Boots, a glorious pair of boots right next to a hot, inviting fire. He put them on immediately and found something else. There was a small snow cave and Christopher crawled into it. Then, yet another gift appeared before his eyes. A lit lantern on the frozen ground that could light their way was a blessing. The cave wasn’t all that large in initial appearance, but Christopher was cautious nonetheless. The howling wind was much easier to bear from inside the mysterious, dark cave. He couldn’t help but wonder who planted the lantern and lit the fire. There were no such things as coincidences in his life so far. This couldn’t possibly be one. He continued walking deeper into the cave.

  “What could come after this?” Christopher asked himself.

  On and on and on, he walked. There was no end in sight but still he kept walking. Christopher didn’t know whether to be terrified or proud of his bravery and persistence. Still, with no end in sight, he continued walking. The hunt was not supposed to be like this. He wanted to stop but decided t
hat whatever was at the end of this cave was well worth his efforts. Christopher wanted a shot at seeing what was there. So he decided to allow this jaunt to follow through to whatever may be. Somehow, he knew it would be a puzzle worth solving. Christopher had no weapons of any kind and his crew was missing. Where were David and Mooney hiding? He wasn’t in the same league as David despite the dreams of wish masters telling him that he was the chosen one.

  Was he dreaming now? He kept wondering if this was real or not. It certainly had the feel of reality but seemed too awful to actually be happening. Christopher had no wish to betray David and Mooney. Blindsiding others was not his style and he had so very few friends. He had no idea how to use his new powers. He simply had the conscious knowledge that he was immortal.

  “I can’t die!” he screamed.

  The hunt wasn’t supposed to be like this, Christopher thought. He kept walking deep into the darkness, neither forewarned nor forearmed. Chosen one or not, he was certainly not getting a fair deal. The ones who granted wishes were making it quite difficult for him to reach his final destination. The devil was in the details. How was he supposed to go on like this? He didn’t know and he had no idea what to do next. Christopher could just keep walking. The normal results of a good kill would include a glorious feast, which mostly consisted of the prized meat from tracking and eliminating the kill. What in the world was he thinking when he made the choice to embrace this ghoulish transition? It was complete madness to him now. How could all of this possibly be worth the price he had paid? And, what about having to owe these wretched beings even more of his soul? He thought of this often as he continued down the road of perdition. Where the hell were David and Mooney?

  The hunt wasn’t supposed to be like this, not at all. Where the hell was he? Was this a dream or nightmare? Could this all be actually happening? Christopher kept walking endlessly into darkness. His mind was beginning to play terrible tricks on him, if this was all real. What would a victory feast from the masters be like? Would he have to eat his parents and the rest of his family to make amends like in the dream?