Silver Silhouette

by Rodzil LaBraun

  They sat and relaxed somewhat while chatting before Nick started his questioning. He had to explain why everyone thought he was an insurance investigator. He might get in trouble with his boss over this, but what he could he do? His daughter and her best friend were involved in the case. He had to question them. "Would you mind if I speak to your daughter alone?"

  "Why?" Pam asked, becoming defensive again.

  "It's okay, mom. I'll be fine." Pam went to the next room reluctantly.

  "Can you describe for me the people that attacked the lodge?"

  Tish gave it some thought. She had to remember the variance between what she knew now versus what she knew when questioned by the police that night. "They were tall, dressed all in black. I couldn't see their faces."

  Nick had her police report in front of him. He had no intention of asking all the same questions. "Some of the kids said the attackers were wearing red contact lenses in their eyes. Did you notice anything like that?"

  Her breath stopped as she remembered Thomas' eyes last night. How did this detective know about the eyes? Did anyone actually report that to the police? She couldn't remember. Well, the detective surely noticed her reaction to the question. "Red eyes? Really? That's scary. No, I didn't see their eyes. They were gone before I even got close to the lodge. I was outside."

  "Oh, yes," Nick responded, looking at his notes. "I'm told these people were insanely fast. Did you notice that?"

  Holy shit. What kind of detective was this guy? These are not questions she was expecting. Did Susan tell her father these things? "Yes," she gulped. "They were very fast. The whole thing happened so fast."

  "Did you know either boy that was killed in the attack?"

  Tish was getting suspicious now. He had to know that Susan's boyfriend was killed. Of course she knew her best friend's boyfriend. "Yes, I knew Hunter, Susan's boyfriend. I didn't know the other guy."

  "What about the boy that is in the hospital, Aaron Voh? Do you know him?"

  "Yes," Tish answered impatiently. "He was my date."

  "Do you know of any reason why anyone would wish either Hunter or Aaron any harm? Were they in any kind of trouble?"

  "No," she replied irritated. "Not anything that I know of. Hunter was a football player, a real popular guy."

  "And Aaron?" Unlike some detectives Nick had learned to always watch the person he was questioning. Only glance at your notes when needed. Never have your head down while they were answering a question. There was often more information in their expression than the words they would share.

  Tish shrugged as she thought both about how honestly to answer the question and if there was anything she shouldn't reveal. "Aaron has always been a good kid. I can't imagine him being mixed up in anything like this."

  Detective nodded, visibly accepting the answer. Tish felt like the interview was going to be over soon. That would be good. "How well do you actually know Aaron?"

  She maintained strong eye contact when responding, "I've known him most of my life. We've been good friends. Is there something I don't know about?"

  Nick knew he was the one asking the questions and ignored hers. "How about his parents? How well do you know them?"

  Ok, Tish was getting nervous again. She had promised both Aaron and her parents certain things about knowledge of the Vohs missing. "I don't know. I've had dinner with them before. They seem nice to me, but I don't know much about them, I guess."

  "Did you see them the night of the attack?"

  "No, I didn't. The guys picked us up here. And Aaron said his parents were out of town anyway." She wasn't sure if she was supposed to offer that information, but imagined that would be his next question anyway. "Maybe on business, I'm not sure. I think they own a business."

  Nick studied this girl, Tish. She appeared nervous, but didn't give away anything incriminating. He kept thinking the next question would trigger something, if he asked it fast enough, or worded it just right. But despite her facial reactions, every time she spoke he wanted to believe her. She was just so damn likable. No wonder Susan felt so strongly about this girl. And she was reasonably pretty, too. Just like her mother, who entered the room just then. At a loss of what his next could be he said, "Well, I guess that's all I need. If you think of anything else, or God forbid, you see the attackers again, please call me immediately. I look forward to catching these guys."

  Tish stood when he did and accepted his business card, which her mother took from her hand in a non-offending manner. Pam then walked halfway to the door and stopped, turning to face the detective without saying a word. It meant it was time for him to leave. Detective Bell smiled at the gesture, and it seemed a genuine expression. As nervous as the interview had made her Tish believed this was a good man. She desperately wanted to ask if he was close to finding these creatures, but was afraid of saying too much and extending the questioning. So, she said nothing and watched him leave.

  A few minutes later the new guard arrived and Pam Hawkins left for the studio. The new guy had a distinct business look and acted respectful. He was nothing like Thomas. Though muscular in his suit and tie, he sat like he was comfortable in an office. Tish asked him a few questions to determine whether or not he knew anything about vampires without just coming out and saying it, but his answers were short and vague. Her mother had not told her anything about this guy, so she must assume he was out of the loop and just there for basic security. What she couldn't shake was that he kept looking at her as if in awe. Like she was some kind of celebrity. At first she thought maybe the guy was attracted to her, and it made her nervous. But that wasn't it. He was more like an admirer and it made her too uncomfortable to stay in the room with him. It saddened him noticeably when she excused herself to go upstairs.

  18 - Night Run

  Thomas was running in circles, he realized. The other vampires were playing games with him. That angered him very much. He wanted to chase them down and punish them for it, but he couldn't risk the humiliation of failure. He must keep his wits about him.

  He had switched to Sanguillen form at the start of the chase, in order to sense their presence. Any trail they left would take too long to analyze, they would be long gone if he stopped even for a breath. So, he kept running, incredibly fast. The vampires were running through public parks and common areas of populated neighborhoods. If spotted they would appear to be an unrecognizable blur. It was best to keep moving. When his two prey split up he tried to stay in range of both of them. That's how he realized one had circled around behind him. At first he was worried it was going back to the Hawkins house. But it followed him instead. They were herding him into a trap.

  Thomas stopped suddenly at the edge of a small patch of woods, startling a raccoon that was digging through a trash can. Before scurrying off the animal stared at him. Thomas considered attacking the raccoon. As one of the aliens he was also able to change into many forms. But he must take in the form's DNA to make the change. He had done it a few times already here on earth. It was always best to stick with intelligent lifeforms, though. It made the change back easier. Usually, the target would be a human. Just like the Vohs had done with that couple in Herndon. He wondered if it was Stan and Vicki he was chasing now. Probably not. Stan would not likely leave Vicki exposed on her own. Unless it was her in front and him circling around behind, and she was joining the rest of the coven ahead. It was definitely a trap.

  This chase was over. He had no back up nearby. The vampire coven hated him because he was a rogue hunter. They might risk almost being caught if they had a chance at taking him down. He was just doing his job, of course. And there was nothing wrong with his job either. He should be considered a hero. He was protecting the world from panic and hysteria. If the mass public really believed that these creatures existed the military would get involved. That would be bad for everyone. So, all aliens had to stay in line. Live life as a normal human, until it was time to die. Then they could go back home. If they go rogue and run around in Sanguillen form
they risked exposure of their whole race. Last count was over six hundred thousand of them on earth now. Part of his job was to protect that secret.

  As a rogue hunter it was expected that he would be hated by the rogues, just like criminals hate the police. From their perspective the good guys are the bad guys, and vice versa. There was no setting them straight. They had to be caught, and sent back to the home world if possible. Sometimes it was not possible.

  And that was why others disliked him, Thomas thought. Last year he had actually set a record. But it wasn't for something you'd want to be remembered for. Of all the rogue alien hunters in history Thomas had killed more of them than anyone else. Fourteen deaths. Fourteen of his own people. People that would have lived hundreds of years, maybe more, if they hadn't gone rogue. If Thomas had not been assigned to chase them down.

  It was a lonely existence, he knew. He had no real friends here on earth. Oh, he had trusted coworkers. Guys that would be assigned to his lead. And Charlie, of course. Charlie Hawkins was his mentor as a rogue hunter decades ago. And still his leader. He would follow Charlie's orders to the end. But that still wasn't friendship.

  It helped to think that perhaps Charlie was the same way. But then he remembered Pam. He could never have a woman like her, he realized. For many years he thought he would. He considered himself quite the player among the Silver Silhouette staff. But the years had changed him, and along with it their opinion of him. No matter, he thought. He knew on his home world he was definitely a celebrity. The regular broadcasts from Silver Silhouette, and other like companies on earth, was the most popular form of entertainment back home. When the time came for him to return he would be famous.

  The only problem with being famous is what you were known for. He should be known as one of the most successful rogue hunters on earth. But he worried that he might be labeled as a killer of his own kind, instead. That was not in his hands. He trusted Charlie to spin it in his favor. But it was not Charlie's face his distant kin folk would see. It was not Charlie's words they would hear. It was his wife's. Pam was the real celebrity back home. The beautiful news woman, the great actress, endeared as the perfect wife and mother. And now Tish.

  That girl was going to be Pam and Charlie's ticket to legend status. Everyone at Silver Silhouette was saying so. There was probably nothing he could do to stop it. And maybe he shouldn't want to. Charlie had been good to him. When the time was right Charlie would name him his successor. And the gorgeous wife would happen. And the good fame. He would make his mark then, for sure. And pick whoever he wanted for his child. That's what kept him going. That's what kept him following Charlie's orders. His time would come.

  Deep in thought he had lost sense of his prey. Now he could feel them getting closer, and there were five of them now. He would have to change into human form to call for back up, to handle the cell phone with any ease. These claws were great for killing, and digging, and scratching that itch that always came when you stood still too long. It was the air here. It dried out their skin, turning it grayer than it already was, and dry as ash. They would kill him if he changed now. So he ran. There was an opening to the southwest, and he ran for it. In two minutes he would find himself outside the mall in Dulles, near the airport. He would change then, and go inside. They would not follow him there. With back up on the way they would run again. Prey, predator, prey. It was the Sanguillen way. It was how a rogue lived. That was one part about vampires that Hollywood got right.

  Stan was thinking the same thing. One minute we're the prey, the next we're the predator. Now we're the prey again. It could be confusing. When in vampire form it kind of came natural. Run, attack, run. It was a way of life. And sometimes death. In human form it almost seemed ridiculous. Why not find a place to hide forever? Some place that would keep them away from humans. Those places used to be widely available centuries ago. Not so much anymore. Earth was getting too populated for its own good.

  There were some of them that argued that earth would not be safe for their kind very soon. They should abandon it in favor of the other known worlds. The only problem was that the earth broadcasts were by far the most popular entertainment back home. No one wanted to pull the plug on the biggest show business in the universe. So many of his kind were in the limelight here. You couldn't watch an earthly news program or talk show for long without recognizing someone. Sometimes it was the host that was one of them. Earth had become a home to them better than any other planet. That's what made it hard to leave. That's why when faced with failure Stan decided to go rogue.

  Just like all the others Stan had to choose a role here, and he chose to make his mark in the energy business. Unfortunately, he failed. That meant he must be deported off world. He didn't want to go. And his wife had been so happy here. It was becoming a common problem for Sanguillens. The vampire planet was harsh and treacherous. Getting assigned to earth was like being granted a long vacation. Especially these days, if you were allowed to live in the United States. But the easy life killed your work ethic. Lots of them were failing now, and going rogue.

  It didn't really matter what Stan thought, anyway. He was not the coven leader, and never wanted to be. He allowed himself to be recruited when his business failed. He regretted that decision now, and considered changing his mind, turning himself in. Then he thought about Vicki. He couldn't let her return home ashamed. She had done nothing wrong, and deserved much better. Unfortunately, the rogue life wasn't that great either. He had failed her in this as well. He could see the life draining from her eyes. Those gorgeous big black pools, with sexy red centers. Only her pupils were fading, he thought. She was dying on the inside. Maybe they should leave the coven and give themselves up, before they get killed for real. It was Thomas, after all, that was chasing them. Stan was torn between his options. What complicated the matter was their son. He just didn't know what to do.

  They regrouped in the woods along the Potomac River, near Lovettsville Virginia. There was still business to be settled here before they moved on. Jose, the coven leader, had them meet up with the rest of the group. Eleven rogues total, seven men, and four women. It would be hard to sneak away from the others, especially here in these caves. Stan started looking for his opportunity.

  19 - The Betrayal

  Tish sat impatiently in the 3rd floor west wing waiting room of the hospital. There were about twenty seats in a u-shape in front of the windows overlooking the parking garage. Besides herself and her mother there were only five people in the room, yet it felt unbearably crowded. Her impatience was no doubt a factor. As were the two children running unattended in circles banging every available toy into the wooden chairs. She just wanted to grab both of them and sit on them in the middle of the room. The little dark haired girl stopped in front of her to say hello, with snot dripping from her left nostril into her mouth. When her tongue flashed out it was too much for Tish. She jumped up to stand by the windows as her mother laughed out loud. Pam had been grinning at the whole experience, perhaps longing for another child of her own.

  Tish was absolutely dying to see Aaron again. They had spoken a few times on the phone, but this would be the first time she'd seen him since the night of the attack. Her parents had prevented her from coming to the hospital for her own safety. Even today they insisted on coming with her. She could understand their reasoning, protecting their daughter. What she couldn't understand was why her father had to visit Aaron before she could. They barely knew each other. Clearly Charlie Hawkins had questions he deemed as more important than her reunion with the wounded young man with whom she just might be in love.

  Her mother had grabbed her elbow and led her to the waiting area to explain that her father had to see Aaron first, then give the okay. Once again, he didn't even respect his daughter enough to tell her himself. She finally accepted the situation and took a seat. But that was over ten minutes ago! What the hell was going on in there!

  When Charlie eventually exited the hospital room Tish darted for the doo
r. Now he had something to say. "Tish, you might want to..." She completely ignored him and dodged his outstretched hand. He did not pursue.

  "Aaron! Oh my God! How are you doing?" He looked a little pale sitting up in his hospital bed. One arm was in a cast, and a blanket covered most of his body. She grabbed his hand tight and kissed him on the lips. He grunted in pain. "I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?"

  "No, I'm just a little sore still. How are you holding up? I've missed you."

  They both smiled and for a moment it seemed like maybe everything was going to be okay. "Oh, I've missed you, too! Very much. I'm so sorry I couldn't come sooner."

  "That's okay," Aaron replied as he shifted his weight in the bed to get closer to Tish. "Your dad explained everything." The smile faded from Aaron's face giving her some concern.

  "Oh did he really? What all did he say?"

  "He said a lot."

  "Yeah, I bet he did. He was in here for a long time. What could you guys possibly be talking about all that time?"

  Aaron pulled Tish's hand to his lips and gently kissed her knuckles. Her smile returned but his did not. "Tish, I know what he told you about the attackers." Tish was shocked. That was not at all what she was expecting. Why would Charlie tell Aaron? Her puzzlement was obvious. "He told me because he knew that I already knew."