The Hollows: A Midnight Gunn Novel

by C. L. Monaghan

  “No! The girl, he’s taken her!”

  “Where?”

  “Look up!” Midnight followed Arthur’s gaze and saw the Hemlock creature climbing back up the scaffold with the limp body of little Polly flung over his shoulder. “Go get her!” shouted Arthur but Midnight continued towards the stranded Inspector.

  “I’m not leaving you.” He said and summoned up the shadows to tear at the ropes binding his friend. Once the ropes slackened he reached for Arthur and hauled him out of the freezing water onto the plank.

  “Bloody fool... he’s getting away, should’ve left me!”

  “Can you walk?”

  The Inspector shook his head.

  “Can’t feel my legs... so cold.”

  “Dammit! Take off your coat, it’s wet through. Here, have mine.” Midnight tore off his coat and threw it at the Inspector.

  “Leave me, I can’t climb that bloody thing,” Arthur nodded at the scaffolding.

  “You’ll be alright?”

  “I’ll live. Now hurry!”

  Without waiting a second longer, Midnight scrambled back up the scaffolding in pursuit of the creature and Polly. He could not wipe the sight of her limp, bedraggled body from his mind, instead he allowed the image to fuel his determination to save her. It surprised him how quickly he had come to care for the child. He barely knew her but already felt responsible for her well-being. She had a certain spark that ignited something deep within him, a fatherly instinct that made him want to protect her at all costs. He held on to that feeling as he chased the creature. Clambering on to a section of the bridge that created the middle stanchion of the central arch, he looked around for it. A guttural roar pierced the fog above. Looking up he saw it clung to the topmost platform about ten feet from where he now stood. Hemlock- or the thing that used to be Hemlock- bared its jagged teeth at him, strange snarling sounds came from its lips and he realised it was trying to talk.

  “Give me power, or she dies!”

  “If she dies then so do you!”

  “I fight you, your blood make me strong. I have demon now.”

  Midnight couldn’t fathom what had happened in the crypt to the unconscious Hemlock. Consuming his blood alone wouldn’t have turned him into this abomination.

  “What do you mean you have demon?”

  “I am strong now, I have blood and demon but need power. Give me power!” he spat. Was Hemlock implying that his blood mixed with that of the lesser demon he had already bound- the one whose blood lined the goggles- had turned him into this monster? Could that explain the transformation from ordinary human to... this thing that stood before him now?

  “Let the girl go.”

  Hemlock dangled the unconscious Polly out over the water.

  “No! Bring her down to me, bring her down and we will talk.”

  “You lie! Give me power or she dies!”

  Anger and frustration seethed within, tendrils of inky smoke curled from his fingertips. The creature hissed and shook the girl like she was a ragdoll, and Polly’s head flopped from side to side.

  “Bring her to me. Now.”

  “Power!”

  A loud whistle rang out from the embankment, men were shouting. Midnight turned to see Rowe and two other policemen running towards the bridge. One pulled out a shotgun and aimed. Midnight flung out his arms and yelled.

  “Stop! Don’t fire!” But it was too late. The shot boomed out into the night and hit its target, peppering Hemlock’s left arm. The creature jolted and screamed dropping Polly as it tried to stop itself from plummeting into the churning water below. Polly cartwheeled through the air, legs and arms floundering at the same time the creature leapt from its vantage point, straight towards Midnight. Without a second thought Midnight sent a swirling blanket of dark power towards the tumbling child, halting her fall. He held her there, suspended on his cloud of protection even as the creature barrelled into him, slamming him to the ground. With one arm maintaining the plume of black smoke around Polly, he had only one hand left to defend himself. Hemlock’s face was mere centimetres from his own, the creature’s eyes burned brightly as it snapped its sharp teeth, attempting to bite. Midnight grabbed it by the throat, the dark swirls poured from his fingers and wound their way around its neck, slowly choking it. It was so much stronger than before and now that he was touching it, he could sense another entity resided within the body of Hemlock. The lesser demon that was bound to him, now possessed him. It must have seen Hemlock’s soul emerge in the crypt and with Midnight’s magical blood inside him the demon could not resist possession of its master. Hemlock and the demon had been truly bound in body and soul now, the only question on Midnight’s mind was how to defeat it? His powers had never been tested on a demon before, even a lesser one; werewolves and vampires he could deal with easily but this was something else. He knew he could never fend off his attacker while his power was divided, the creature was too strong, but he couldn’t let Polly go and he couldn’t let go of Hemlock because his throat would be torn out. More shouts from the embankment reached him as Rowe and the two other constables started to climb the scaffold. Midnight knew they would not reach him or Polly before his strength gave out; he could not maintain this level of energy for much longer.

  Steeling a glance in Polly’s direction he could see the girl was stirring, soon she would awaken and find herself suspended in mid-air by a dwindling cloud. She would be awake when she fell to her death and Midnight wouldn’t be able to do a damned thing about it. His heart swelled. He had failed her. He would not be able to save himself and Polly. The Hemlock creature sensed his powers were waning and he attacked with renewed force. The beast bore down on him, the weight of its body pressing down on the stab wound in his side, reopening it. Midnight felt the warmth of his blood begin to pour from the wound once more, if he didn’t seal it he would either bleed to death or be killed by this monster as his powers ebbed away with his life force. Determined to keep focussed on the waking child, he knew that if he should meet his end here and now, he would at least make it count. He would sacrifice himself to save Polly. Rowe and the two policemen were making their way across the scaffolding, they would shoot Hemlock again but that would not be in time to save the girl. She looked like an angel, her skin had a serene sort of glow to it under the moonlight... no, she was glowing! A rainbow of coloured light began to emanate from her, the sparkling essence swirled and waltzed around her, mingling with the dark power that kept her safe.

  ‘Accept it my son, death is but a part of life, you must…accept it.’ The final words of his dying father came to him in that moment and he finally understood. He watched in awe as light and dark co-existed, whirled and blended in a kind of ethereal dance, opposite yet the same. He knew now what his father had been trying to tell him before he passed. Midnight had never fully accepted the dark half of him, he had always hated it, fearing what it might make him. The light energy had been more acceptable to his conscience but now he understood he must accept both as two halves of a whole. He would never be master of his powers until he stopped fearing the dark and let both powers co-exist.

  As this understanding came to pass, the light from the few surrounding street lamps and the oil lamps on the moored boats on the bank flared brightly. Polly’s rainbow shone gloriously as Midnight drank in the light’s energy and let it mingle with the dark. His stab wound sealed shut and his body throbbed with this new-found strength. He pushed at Hemlock who sailed through the air, snarling and spitting and crashed into a platform fifteen feet away. Momentarily stunned, the beast lay in a panting heap. Midnight jumped to his feet and guided Polly to safety, laying her gently onto the platform beside him. Her eyes fluttered open.

  “Mista’ Midnight?” She managed a week smile before her eyes closed again. He knew he must get her home and heal her quickly but first he must deal with the monstrous beast below. He could not risk its return.

  “Mr. Gunn? We’re coming over to you! Where is he?”

  “Below me,
about fifteen feet away. I’ll deal with him, you get Polly and Arthur!”

  “You found the Inspector?”

  Midnight pointed in front of him to the lower levels.

  “Down there. He’s in a bad way too, the pair of them are half frozen. Take off your coats and keep them warm till I return.” He didn’t wait for a reply but climbed down to where the creature still lay, it’s breathing laboured. He approached cautiously, wondering if he could somehow extract the demon from its host allowing him to capture Hemlock and have him incarcerated. Despite all that had occurred, Midnight was not a killer. He’d let his powers get out of hand with Kim and that was something he would regret for the rest of his days- just like his father’s passing. But, he had a chance to do the right thing and he must at least try. Focusing his mind, he concentrated his newly blended powers on Hemlock. He allowed the smoky tendrils and threads of light to curl around the body, marvelling at how easily he could now control both light and dark as one.

  The body at his feet began to jerk and the creature’s eyes flew open, as Midnight delved into the troubled mind of Hemlock Nightingale he sensed the demon’s essence and pulled. The creature screamed with rage, reluctant to give up its host but Midnight was too powerful. He yanked hard and tore at the demon spirit but it put up one last struggle and the creature’s eyes flew open. Just for a moment Midnight looked into the cold grey eyes of a very frightened and fragile Hemlock but the demon took hold and once again the eyes became two brightly burning embers. The beast pounced and Midnight reacted instinctively with a blast of power which hit it right in its core. It crashed into the stanchion behind and tumbled off the platform, plummeting into the freezing water with a resounding splash. Rushing to the edge, Midnight peered into the fog but heard no screams or cries for help, he could see no body floating on the waves. Just the fading ripples and a plethora of bubbles where it had been dragged under by the swirling current. He waited for half a minute just to make sure it did not resurface. Not even a monster could survive the Thames and its thirsty savagery tonight. The snow pelted his coatless body and he shivered. Shouts from above stirred him and he made the climb back up to Polly.

  “Is he dead?” Rowe asked.

  “I think so. Nightingale was badly injured when he fell. The river pulled him under. Did you retrieve the Inspector?”

  Rowe nodded and pointed behind him where his two colleagues had made it back to the embankment and were wrapping Gredge in another layer of coats.

  Rowe had covered Polly in his own coat but Midnight was anxious to get her home and warm. When he scooped her up in his arms he noticed her lips were blue and her breathing laboured.

  “Go, take her. We’ll deal with Inspector Gredge and I’ll send word to the river police. Might as well make sure he’s gone good and proper eh?”

  “Thank you, Rowe. There is something else I need you to do for me tonight; bring the machine to my house, there are still people we need to help.”

  “Understood Mr. Gunn. As soon as we’ve got the Inspector settled in at St Thomas’.”

  Midnight gave the Inspector a final glance, Arthur nodded and raised his hand to indicate he was alright. He was headed for the hospital, supported by the two bobbies Rowe had brought along. Midnight knew he would be just fine but knew he would visit his friend later and give him a healing boost, just to make sure. He had no time to worry about what the two policemen had seen him do. Polly was his priority now. Perhaps he and Arthur would come up with some plausible explanation later; thick fog and snow, a trick of the light? They would concoct something together. He gazed down upon the girl whose eyes fluttered open and she graced him with the briefest of smiles. A shiver passed through her and Midnight responded by flooding her tiny body with warmth and healing energy. The blue tinge disappeared from her lips and her pale cheeks flushed a pleasing pink. A little handless arm slipped out from under the coat and around his neck as Polly snuggled herself into his chest. Midnight felt the rush of paternal instinct. He vowed that as long as he lived, she would never be without his protection and care. He might even go so far as to stay he loved her as much as any devoted father loved a daughter. Hugging her tighter, he proffered a gentle kiss atop her curly, bedraggled head,

  “Welcome back Polly Peeps.”

  The River Police had searched every inch of that section of the Thames until dawn but no body was found. It was concluded that Hemlock Nightingale had drowned when he fell from Westminster Bridge. His dressing room had been cleared and the evidence filed. The newspapers had had a field day with the story, even though Scotland Yard had tried to play down the whole thing, illustrations of the now legendary demonic killer flooded the tabloids and Penny Dreadfuls. Hemlock Nightingale had finally gotten his wish; immortalised but only in fiction as the legendary ‘Spring-Heeled Jack’.

  “They’re still writing about it?” Giles asked as he entered the study with a small parcel wrapped in brown paper. Midnight folded his newspaper and placed it on his desk.

  “Unfortunately, it’s proving a popular story. The public love a bit of sensationalism it seems. Is that what I think it is?” Midnight held out his hand for the parcel.

  “It is Sir. Shall I call the young mistress?”

  “No, I’ll take it to her myself. Where is she?”

  “The front parlour I believe.”

  “And everyone else?”

  “Also in the parlour.”

  “Better not keep them waiting any longer then.”

  Midnight took the parcel from Giles and hid it in his pocket. He felt a little nervous. He was about to do something that had never happened at Meriton house; he was about to host a dinner party!

  The excited chatter from the parlour could be heard from the far end of the hallway. He adjusted his cravat and swept a nervous hand over his hair. The chatter dissipated when he pushed open the door and stepped into the room. He glanced at each of the faces before him; Mrs Philips, dressed in her neatest black dress, minus the apron this time, Inspector Arthur Gredge and Constable Rowe, Charlie Fenwick the new stable boy looking positively proud in his new livery and Miss Laura Carter who now held a position in his household as assistant cook and housemaid. Laura beamed at him and his stomach lurched, she was a pretty young woman who had blossomed in the two months since her recovery. Her smile was beautiful and warm and he hated to admit it but it seemed to raise a little blush from her when he returned it. Polly liked her a lot and they could often be heard giggling together. In just two months Midnight’s household had doubled. It was lively and bright and altogether a revelation to him how one’s entire existence could be validated by the love and adoration of a child.

  “Good evening everyone. I do hope you are all ready for a feast?”

  “Is there a goose? Oh, Please Mista’ Midnight, please say there is!” Came a little excited voice from behind Miss Carter’s skirts.

  “Aha! There you are Miss Peeps. There is a goose and it is a big one! But, first I have a little gift for you.”

  Polly leapt out from behind Miss Carter, her eager eyes danced with uncontainable delight.

  “What is it?”

  Midnight got down on one knee and extracted the parcel from his pocket eliciting a squeal from Polly. From his other pocket, he took out an envelope.

  “Which one first?”

  She pointed to the parcel and he gave it to her. She tore into the brown paper and a small leather pouch tumbled out. She wasted no time delving into it and pulled out an intricate pendant on a delicate chain.

  “Ohh! Mista’, it’s ever so pretty ain’t it!”

  “Shall I put it on for you?”

  She handed him the necklace, and turned around so he could hang it around her neck.

  “It’s the stone from the bracelet ain’t it?” She turned to face him again and patted the pendant. “It looks like an eye!”

  “It is the same stone, yes. It is an eye, a special one just for you Polly Peeps.”

  “It’s beaut’full and all but...�
�� Her lips screwed up as she fingered the pendant. “I ain’t scared of your face no more Mista’, it must’ve cost a lot ‘o money to have it made.”

  “I’m very glad you’re not scared of me anymore child, but I should still like you to wear it all the same. That stone once belonged to a beautiful lady and now it belongs to another one. If you still want it of course?”

  “I really do. I ain’t never seen anyfink so pretty in truth.” She reached her arms around his neck and hugged him. “What’s the other one?”

  Midnight chuckled.

  “You’re nothing if not blunt child,” he offered her the envelope. “Merry Christmas Polly. I hope it’s what you want.” Polly took it, opened it and pulled out a document. Her nose crinkled as she turned it over.

  “I can’t read a bleedin’ word. What’s it say?” she blurted out, causing the room to erupt in laughter. Her brow creased and she handed it back to Midnight looking a little disappointed.

  “Allow me,” he said. “See this here? This is your name, and this,” he pointed to a signature at the bottom of the page, “is where a judge signed to say that you are officially a member of the family, if you want to be?”

  “What do you mean, family?”

  “I have adopted you Polly, I thought seeing as I’m your legal guardian I might as well go the whole hog and make it official.”

  “I... I’m ‘dopted? Like a father, like a real family?”

  “If you want to be?”

  Polly’s lip quivered and she flung herself at Midnight. He scooped her up in his arms and the room exploded with applause and cheers. Mrs. Phillips was dabbing at her eyes with her handkerchief, Giles was clapping his hands with great enthusiasm.

  “I take it that means yes?” Midnight whispered in Polly’s ear.

  “Yes, please Mista’, I should like it very much.”

  “Welcome to the family Miss Polly Gunn.”

  “Thank you... Papa.” She gave him an extra squeeze before she let go and was greeted with handshakes and congratulatory hugs from the household and guests. Giles poured everyone a glass of sherry for a toast and Miss Carter came over to clink glasses with her new employer.