by A. I. Nasser
He turned around and jumped with a shout when he saw the little girl standing only a few feet away from him, smiling.
“You came,” she said, her voice soft and happy, almost angelic if not for the way she had miraculously appeared in front of him. Alan felt his heart pounding against his chest, and he took deep breaths as he tried to calm himself down.
“I’m very happy you came,” the girl smiled. “When Mother said you were not in your room; I was very worried.” She bent forward as if about to share a deep secret. “He’s not very nice when we don’t stay in our rooms.”
Alan shook his head in confusion as he stared dumbfounded at the little girl. “Who are you?”
The girl smiled even wider and curtseyed. “I am the First,” she said, her voice coming in a sing-song tone that fit perfectly with the scenery around them.
“The what?”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. “I forgot you were new.”
Alan raised his eyebrows questioningly.
“My name is Allison Carter,” the little girl introduced herself. “It’s nice to meet you, Alan.”
***
Alan sat quietly on the grass, running his hands over the blades as he shook his head in bewilderment. It felt so real, although he couldn’t make any sense of it.
Allison swung on the tire beside him, up and down, watching him stare at the field around him in awe.
“It’s very pretty, isn’t it?” she asked.
“It’s very strange,” Alan replied.
“Strange is pretty.”
Alan looked up at the little girl and smiled, dusting his hands off against his jeans as he stood up. He still couldn’t make heads or tails out of what was happening.
“What is this place?” he asked.
“It’s where he takes us,” Allison replied, lowering her feet to the ground as she stopped the swing, slowly. Alan waited for her to come to a complete halt before helping her out of the tire and setting her down.
“Thank you.”
She took his hand and led him forward, half walking and half skipping as they moved.
“Are you talking about Copper Tibet?” Alan finally asked.
The girl nodded without breaking her stride. “He brings all the children here.”
“Where is here?” Alan asked, his eyes scanning the field around him. It seemed to span out forever, and he wondered just how much of it was real.
“Here,” Allison replied, shrugging as if that should be enough of an answer.
Alan stopped, and Allison let go of his hand. She looked at him expectantly, as if waiting for him to suggest a different game to play.
“How long have you been here?” Alan asked.
Allison shrugged again. “Ever since he took me away from Mother and brought me here.”
“Mother?” Alan asked, bending down to one knee so he was level with her. “You mean he took you from home?”
Allison shook her head and smiled. “No, silly, Mother took me from home. She locked me up and did terrible things. She made me cry a lot. He took her away first, and then he took me. Now Mother takes care of us all and watches the hallway to make sure we stay in our rooms.”
Alan thought back to the black haired woman in red and immediately knew who the little girl was talking about. He felt his body shudder at the realization of what Allison was saying, and his eyes grew wide in horror as he pieced everything together.
“You’re Jeremiah’s daughter,” he whispered. “You’re the one who started this all.”
Allison frowned at Alan and cocked her head to a side. “You know my father?”
Alan shook his head, forcing himself to smile despite the sinking feeling inside him. “I never met him, but we’re related.”
Allison giggled. “Just because we have the same name doesn’t mean we’re related, silly. There are a lot of children here called Carter.”
Alan had a pretty good idea why. “Have you met any of the others, Allison?” he asked.
Allison shook her head. “We’re not supposed to leave our rooms. Sometimes, Mother delivers letters between us, but none of us have ever been to each other’s rooms.” She smiled at him widely. “You’re the first one to see my room!”
Alan smiled back, but he was unable to share in the excitement. There was something off about all this, something was incredibly uncomfortable. None of it made sense, that much was obvious, and through the entire ordeal, he was feeling more and more like he was dreaming. It was apparent his subconscious was playing tricks on his mind.
Yet, even in this confusion, in the chaos of everything that didn’t make sense, something was off.
“You want to see the lake?” Allison suddenly asked, and before Alan could answer her, she grabbed his hand and pulled him along.
***
Alan was having a hard time believing what he was looking at.
There really was a lake, and it made it even harder for Alan to conceive just how big this ‘room’ was. He thought back to his own room, the small dark cell that he had occupied only minutes before, and how the sheer claustrophobia of it made him feel like the hallway outside was a blessed retrieve.
This was different, though, and Alan wondered when he would finally wake up so all of this could start making sense.
There really were birds in the skies, and as he looked out upon the glittering surface of the lake, he watched them dive into the waters and resurface with their prey in their beaks. The trees which had once been scarce were now a dense woodland, and the soil was much moister here, his bare feet soaked in water as he stepped towards the mass of water in front of him.
“What is this place?” he asked as he slowly let go of Allison’s hand.
“My brothers used to bring me here all the time, before I was taken,” Allison replied, her smile less cheerful. Alan noticed how her eyes had begun to water. “We had a lot of fun here.”
Alan slowly began to understand what was happening, how the room was a direct reflection of its occupant’s subconscious memories becoming reality in the blink of an eye. It was only a theory, but it was better than the alternative.
However, if that were true, what did that say about his room?
“It’s beautiful,” Alan remarked and smiled at the little girl as she nodded in approval. She was openly crying now, and her hands swiftly wiped away the tears rolling down her cheeks.
“I don’t like coming here a lot,” Allison said. “It makes me want to go home.”
Alan bit his tongue, unable to bring himself to tell her that what had once been her home was now a completely different place she wouldn’t be able to recognize. Gone were the fields of green, in their place, malls, amusement parks and office buildings. He couldn’t even remember the last time he had been to the lake, knowing only that it had become a crowded array of towels and topless sunbathers. Definitely a stark difference from the tranquility that currently lay before him.
His eye caught sight of something in the distance, and he squinted against the sunlight, shielding his eyes as he tried to make out what it was.
Allison caught what he was doing and quickly started tugging at his sleeve. “We have to go back,” she said urgently. “Mother won’t be happy about us being this close to the end.”
“The end of what?” Alan asked, only half listening to the little girl as he scrutinized the tree lines.
“The end of my room,” Allison said. “We shouldn’t even be here. He got very angry the last time.”
Alan ignored her, his legs carrying him forward as recognition seeped in.
It was a door.
Allison pulled on his sleeve, trying to stop his advance, and he lightly pulled his arm away.
“You can’t,” she was saying, her tone begging as she grasped onto him again.
“Allison, not now.”
“Stop, Alan Carter,” Allison pleaded. “Stop now.”
Alan could almost feel the door pulling him, invisible hand
s reaching out and grabbing him, drawing him as if his life depended on it.
Suddenly the skies darkened, and the rumbling he had felt earlier in his room started again. Alan looked back at the little girl, her head turning left and right as she seemed to be looking for something, her small frame visibly shaking.
The trees were the first to change, the branches morphing into long arms that reached out threateningly. From the ground, wooden masts popped out, breaking through the earth and reaching up to the skies. Alan watched in horror as the lake’s color slowly changed from a beautiful blue to a deep maroon, and the earth shook with such force it threw him off his feet.
“Run!” he heard Allison scream.
Alan looked up at the little girl as she stared in horror at the tree line beyond, the shrubs shaking with the approach of something huge, something dangerous.
Alan looked back at the door, jumping up to his feet as he stared at his target. He looked back at Allison.
“He found you, Alan Carter!” Allison screamed. “Go now!”
“Come with me!” Alan called to her, but she wasn’t listening. He watched as Allison raced forward towards the trees, ready to intercept whatever was coming for them.
Alan hesitated. He couldn’t leave her here. He couldn’t leave any of them here. Whatever Copper Tibet was doing, keeping them locked away in this place, Alan felt this was the only chance to get them all out.
Allison turned around and looked at him, and just before he could call out to her, she was pulled off her feet and into the trees.
Alan turned and ran. His legs felt like lead, his breath burning in his lungs as he pushed forward. The door was only a few yards away when he heard something roar in fury behind him, the cracking sound of breaking branches sending shivers through his body.
Alan dared not look back, his feet kicking up wet soil as blades of grass cut his skin, drawing blood. His heart was pounding in his chest, but he did not stop.
The door was there.
Just a few yards more.
A hand grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, and Alan roared in anger as he pulled loose, feeling the fabric rip off him. Nails ripped at the skin of his nape, and still he pushed forward. He could smell the rot, the heat of heavy breathing on his naked back, and he knew that if he didn’t make it through that door, he would never find another way out.
The door was only a few feet away, and just as nails scratched at him again, Alan jumped forward and threw his body against the wooden frame.
Alan Carter fell into the darkness beyond.
***
“Alan?”
Alan’s lids fluttered open, and as he waited for his eyes to focus, he breathed in a deep breath of relief as Deborah Adams’ hand found his on the hospital bed.
* * *
Shadow’s Embrace
Slaughter Series Book 2
Prologue
I know you.
Sure I do. I’ve seen you on TV before. I’d recognize that face anywhere! I saw you walk in here and knew who you were even before you ordered your drink. Here, this one’s on me. No, no, I insist! You’re in my town, buddy, and there’s no way I’m going to let you pay for your own drink. Not me, no way!
So what brings you to Melington? Sure, it’s supposed to be tourist season and all, but let’s be honest; ain’t nothing much to see around here, am I right? You’d know that, wouldn’t you, with your job and all. I’m not sure how much you know about this little town, but since you’re here, then I guess it’s gotta be more than most.
What’s that? Oh no, it’s nothing like that. We ain’t been a small town since God knows when. All these new establishments and buildings and all, it’s a real game changer for us townies. We see people come and go all the time, which hasn’t always been the case, mind you.
Wanna hear something funny? I kinda thought we’d have the news stations driving through here pretty soon. Things have been awfully strange these days. Us townies keep telling folks Melington’s changed, but it ain’t nothing compared to the last few months. But, you’d know that, wouldn’t you? Ain’t it why you’re here?
There’s something different in the air, if you ask me. You could almost feel it like a cold hand against your skin. People are a lot more scared these days. I guess it’s because of what’s been going on.
A story, eh? That really sounds like something. Tell you what? Since we’re chatting and all, maybe I could help you fill in the blanks, so you don’t waste too much time running around in circles. I keep my ear pretty close to the ground, and if there’s one thing you can count on, it’s the power of gossip.
Ah, so you’ve heard. Yeah, we’ve got a new Chairman. Or should I say Chairwoman? Does the term even exist? Doesn’t matter. Rachel Adams heads the Council now; used to be the principal of Melington Elementary. She’s a tough old bird, but she scares me a lot less than the old Chairman.
I don’t know, to be quite honest. He’s in the psych ward, up in Melington Hospital. People say he’s still as a stone, eyes open but nothing really ticking up in that head of his. Seems like he got what he deserved, really. You can never really trust a Cole; it’s a common saying in Melington. Everyone knows it, or at least us townies do.
I’d take Rachel Adams over Daniel Cole any day, if you ask me. The woman’s got a proper head between those shoulders. Besides, Cole’s been grooming his son to take over for quite a while now, and no one wanted to see that idiot run the Council. They say he owns some computer company downtown, but I doubt it’s anything, really. The boy’s always been in his father’s shadow, and now that Cole’s a vegetable, the kid’s a walking mess.
He used to date Rachel Adams’ daughter. Deborah’s her name, I think. Can’t really remember. With all the new folks here, it’s hard to keep track of names anymore. Not like the old days. Before, you couldn’t walk a few yards without bumping into someone you knew. That’s all gone now. A town full of strangers, Melington is. It’s a shame really.
Who? Oh, you mean Fiona Bright? If you’re looking for her, best be checking the station. She never leaves there anymore; they say she’s been spooked into hiding, spends her nights sleeping in her office and all. She’s got her deputies doing the job, though, keeping the peace. This place has always been a safe town.
Why are you smiling like that? You know something I don’t?
Oh, so that’s the story? I’ll tell you something, I don’t believe it one bit. Melington’ always been a family friendly town; hasn’t been a violent incident for generations. All that talk about missing children, I think it’s just rumors to tarnish our good town’s name. People come and go, and I assure you, it’s probably nothing but campfire stories to scare the kiddies.
Of course it hasn’t made the news. If it isn’t true, why would it make the news? Tell you something else, buddy, there isn’t a single police report about a missing child; I can bet my chips on that. When you go see Fiona, you can ask her yourself. Then you’ll be back here buying me a drink, yes, sir. Folks here would be making a hell of a racket if four children had really gone missing. You’d think there was some common sense in folks before they believed those rumors.
Tell you what, buddy. I’ll drive you down there myself. You finish that drink and stick with me. I assure you, there’s nothing to worry about here in Melington.
Nothing at all.
Chapter 1
“There hasn’t been any change.”
Michael Cole found it difficult to step into the Melington Hospital psych ward. Ever since walking in, he had been hit by a nauseated feeling, something he attributed to what his sister had often called the ‘hospital smell’. There was a mixture of anesthetics and detergent in the air that always seemed to linger in hospital hallways; it never failed to make him sick.
Even on the seventh floor, away from most of the recovering patients, at the far end of the hospital wing where the ward had been nestled, the stench of sterility still filled his nostrils. It forced him to sneeze every few minutes. Mich
ael felt he’d suffocate if he didn’t get out of here soon.
“We’ve been keeping him as comfortable as possible,” the perky nurse leading him chirped, turning every now and then to smile at him over her shoulder. “It’s a real shame seeing him like this. I’ve always remembered him as a very strong man.”
“He still is,” Michael said firmly, a little agitated at how the nurse was talking about his father, yet simultaneously forced to agree with her.
Ever since he brought his father in six months ago, he had been plagued with pitiful apologies and sorrowful inquiries about Daniel Cole. Michael had tried his best to remain calm in the face of the questions and kind words, always hearing a subliminal tone of satisfaction in everyone’s voices as they hugged him, patted his back and urged him to remain strong. Deep down, he knew the town was grateful Daniel Cole was no longer chairman, but they were still too frightened to voice their true feelings on the matter. Michael knew they were probably worried that when his father returned, he would exert the fury everyone knew he was prone to, and no one was willing to take that abuse.
At least, not yet.
Melington had truly changed in the past months, and Michael was starting to feel the repercussions of his father’s actions. It was enough to make his mother refuse to come and see the man, or his sisters to return his calls. Michael hated how alone he felt right now and wondered how his entire world had suddenly been turned upside down.
“Of course,” the nurse said, trying to hide her embarrassment. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to –”
“That’s fine,” Michael interrupted her, unwilling to go through another stutter of apologies which had long lost their charm. “I’m here to see how he’s doing. You were saying there haven’t been any changes?”
The nurse shook her head as she led him down a narrow hallway of closed doors. Michael thought of how claustrophobic this whole place felt. He was willing to bet that if anything could bring his father back to his senses, it would definitely be this ward.
