by Sean Stone
“What’s going on?” he asked groggily as he pulled himself up.
“You fainted so I brought you to lay down,” I lied.
“In here?” he asked, perplexed. “Why didn’t you just put me on the sofa in the lobby?” That was a good question.
“Wouldn’t look good for customers,” I said feebly.
“Whatever, I’m going back to work,” he said. He got up and headed for the door.
“Wait,” I said but he just waved a hand at me. “Stop moving now,” I commanded. Disappointingly he did as I said right away and turned back to me.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” he demanded. Clearly he was one of those people who did not like being bossed around by strange men who smuggled them into storage units. You might think that nobody likes that but I guarantee that someone somewhere loves it. It might even be you.
“Stand on one leg,” I said. I like to give the same commands. Fair test and all that. Plus it’s funny to make people do silly things.
He narrowed his eyes at me. “I don’t know what weird shit you’re in to but I want no part of it,” he said and then turned and left the unit. I called several times for him to stop but the only response I got was a middle finger over his shoulder. Inoculant strain 008 was a success. I didn’t waste any time. I injected myself at once. Rachel was going to need a new plan of attack if she thought she could use my serum against me. Of course, it wasn’t my serum. She had her own version and there was no guarantee that my inoculant would counteract her strain. But there was also no way of testing it without getting caught by her so I’d just have to hope.
As I was leaving I got a call from Matt. The skin matched Kelly Pendleton, missing person number four. That meant they were all dead and in the digestive system of that beast. I texted Ashley and let her know I was on my way over. We needed to put that beast down.
CHAPTER NINE
I was halfway to Ashley’s when she texted me back letting me know that she was at work. I often forget that other people have normal jobs and they can’t come and go as they please. That’s one thing I couldn’t do. I tried the old nine-to-five once before. Had a job in retail. Let’s just say customer service isn’t my thing.
I was going to go to the cake shop where Ashley worked but then I got a call from Derek, my least favourite pervert. Not that I know that many perverts; not of his calibre anyway. I found myself cringing before I even answered the phone. I was ninety-nine percent certain that he would say something lecherous before our conversation was done.
“I’ve got some good news and some bad news,” he said in his familiar and annoying tone. “Which do you want first?”
I sighed. “Give me the bad news,” I said.
“I’ll give you the good news first,” he said. What was the point in even giving me the choice? “I have spoken to my contact at the council and she has closed the park.” He spoke full of pride as if he was declaring some great achievement.
“About time. And the bad news?”
“The police are at the park. Apparently there was blood all over some trees and they’re looking into it. Plus, another girl went missing yesterday,” he said.
I’d forgotten about the blood. I should’ve realised that somebody would notice and the police would be called. If I hadn’t been being hunted by a beast last night maybe I would’ve thought about hiding the evidence.
“Have they found anything?” I asked. I held my breath as I waited for his reply. I didn’t want to imagine the repercussions of the police finding a supernatural beast in Mote Park. What would they even do? Cover it up or expose the esoteric?
“I don’t know. I can’t get near the place. Chairman of the Fellowship and I’m not allowed in,” he said with genuine horror.
“Who could imagine?” I said.
“I know. It’s appalling.” Clearly he’d missed the sarcasm in my voice. “Anyway. My contact wants you to make sure the police don’t find anything. She especially wants you to make sure none of them come to any harm,” he added as if it was a minor thing to throw into the conversation.
“I don’t have time for that I’m trying to figure out how to kill it,” I told him. The council could do their own leg work.
“Well, she says if you don’t do it then she’ll forget about this whole arrangement. You know what that means?”
“No payment,” I growled. I already had the deposit but I wanted the rest. I am not the sort to forget about debts. “Does your employer really want to risk pissing off a warlock?” I asked with just a subtle hint of a threat in my voice. Alright, I wasn’t that subtle at all.
“You don’t know who she is so it doesn’t matter,” Derek said without concern. He had a point. I didn’t have time to find out who she was either. Not yet, anyway.
“Fine,” I snapped. “I’ll go to the sodding park and make sure everything stays a secret. How many cops are down there?”
“A few,” he said helpfully. “I’ll tell you what one of them looks so nice I’d consider leaving my wife for her.” He was going to say more but I cut the call before he could. I told he’d say something lecherous.
I went back to my storage unit and pocketed a few phials of memory-erasing potion. I had a feeling I was going to need it. My plan was to somehow convince them that the blood belonged to an animal. I didn’t know quite how I was going to do that but I could figure it out when I got there. No matter what happened I was pretty sure I’d need to erase a memory or two by the time I left.
There were a lot more than a few officers at the park. There were four on the gate and judging by the amount of cars I’d say there were a lot more inside. The police chief—or whatever we have in Maidstone—was no doubt under a lot pressure to put the case to bed. Five missing people didn’t make him look good.
I did my invisibility illusion and headed for the gates. Not there were any gates left. The battered former gates had been left inside the park by the wall. They served as a rather unpleasant reminder of what happened last night. And here I was walking back into the park still with no way of actually killing the beast. Or even knowing what it was.
As I’ve said before, my illusion requires that nobody pays any real attention to me. If they look where I am with any real level of concentration they will see me. Shadows usually counteract that problem. Today was a brilliantly sunny day and although the park was lovely and shady thanks to the trees near the gates, the road leading up to said area had not a hint of shade on it. Still, I walked towards the park hoping they weren’t paying too much attention to the road.
“Park’s closed, Sir,” one of the cops said before I’d even gotten close. Bugger.
“Oh, really, why’s that?” I asked. I didn’t have a back up plan so I’d just have to wing it.
“Can’t say anything at this time,” he said all professionally.
“Oh. That’s a shame,” I said as I came to a stop in front of him and his colleagues. I raised my hand about to snap my fingers and put them all to sleep, then it occurred to me that if they were asleep then anybody could walk into the park and then they were at risk of being eaten as well. I don’t care about strangers but Derek had made it quite clear that my payment was at stake. I needed to find another way into the park.
“Please move along now, Sir,” the officer said and I obeyed his instruction.
I walked back down Mote Avenue trying my best to think up a new plan that didn’t involve removing the guards from the gate or getting myself in any trouble. Then I spotted my opportunity. A lone police officer was sitting in a police car reading a copy of the Daily Mail. I looked back over my shoulder. The gate officers were still in sight but they were far enough away that I should be able to carry out my intentions without them seeing. I carried on walking past the lone officer in his car and positioned myself just out of sight. Then I looked at the boot of his car and concentrated. I rubbed my forefinger and thumb together. I don’t why but sometimes little gestures can help
get the magic moving. It worked and the boot clicked unlocked and flew open. A moment later the lone and now confused officer climbed out of his car and walked around to close it again. As soon as he closed the boot I opened it again. He looked at it in confusion and then closed it for a second time. I opened it again. Before he could close it for a third time I snapped my fingers and he fell down unconscious. I moved quickly in case any other police turned up and caught me. I stripped him of his uniform and changed into it. It was a little baggy but nothing too noticeable. His shoes didn’t fit at all so I had to keep my own trainers on and hope that nobody noticed. I removed his notepad from the breast pocket and replaced it with my phials of memory-erasing potion. Then I scooped him up and heaved him into the boot along with my clothes before closing it and walking away.
As I approached the officers at the gate I conjured a identity illusion so they wouldn’t realise I was the same guy who’d just tried to get in. I gave the one who’d refused me access a polite nod and walked past unimpeded.
“Who was that?” one of the officers behind me said.
“I dunno. Barry maybe?” another said. I tried not to think about the fact that they were responsible for the safety of the people of Maidstone. It wasn’t a comforting thought at all.
There were police officers all over the park. I mean they were combing every inch of the landscape. I’d never seen so many cops in one place. I kept my illusion up and headed straight to the area where we’d found the cave. Sure enough there was a man and a woman there inspecting the area. They had those horrible white jump suit things on that indicated they were forensics. Each of the blood splatters had been marked with a numbered yellow card. There were so many cards. I hadn’t noticed how many splatters there were before.
“Is that a…” one of the guys said. I looked up and saw him and the female one peering into the bush.
“That’s a cave,” she said in awe.
“Hell no,” I said to myself and headed towards them. There was no chance I was going to let them go inside. I expected them to call some of the officers over to investigate but instead they both just dove straight in. I almost mean that literally. They practically ran through the bush into the cave. No sense of danger. No sense full stop apparently. They were actually excited about their find. Either they hadn’t considered the case they were investigating or they were stupid. Actually, one goes hand in hand with the other so they’re both.
I followed them into the tunnel and found them walking down to the main chamber shining their lights on the walls and floor, taking everything in on their way. Thankfully they’d slowed down now. I had to stop them before they reached the bottom.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I demanded. I stood in the entrance hands on hips trying to look authoritative. I was dressed in a police uniform and hoped that they thought I outranked them. Do police constables outrank forensic officers? I don’t know. They both turned to face me.
“Our jobs,” the female said matter of factly. “Who are you?”
“Who am I? I am an officer of the law and I want to know why the two of you just came running into a potentially dangerous situation without alerting anybody else?” I said. It seemed to work as the woman started to squirm about on the spot.
“Well, you see, we found the… We was looking—”
“Hang on,” the guy said. “I haven’t seen you about before. What’s your name?”
“My name is irrelevant. I am an officer of the law and I—”
“No you’re not,” he said.
“I am,” I said a little louder. If ever somebody tries to contradict you just talk louder until they accept what you’re saying. I learned that off a child whose name I have now forgotten.
“I’m paid to notice the details, mate. Your wearing trainers, your uniform is too big and it also belongs to PC Kitchen who is not you.”
“And how would you know?” I demanded. I really hate being rumbled.
“Because he is my brother in law,” he said. Busted. There was no getting out of this now. Checkmate as they say in chess.
“If you’re not a real officer then what are you doing here?” the girl asked. The colour drained from her face and I knew what she was thinking. I’d be thinking the same thing in her situation. She thought I was the kidnapper.
“Now wait a—” I started. Before I could finish one spindly pale hand reached out of the darkness and snatched the forensic guy by the head. He was pulled back screaming and disappeared into the gloom.
“AJ!” the woman screeched and ran after him. Idiot!
I followed her and the screams of AJ. The screams had already stopped by the time I reached the main chamber. The woman was standing by the opening quite visibly shaking. I looked over and saw the bloodied remains of AJ lying in the middle of the room. He’d been killed almost instantly. At least he hadn’t been tucked into yet. The monster was nowhere in sight. Now, I’m not a fool and I’ve seen plenty of horror films to know where it was. I took out my phone, turned on the torch and then opened the camera up. I wanted a picture of it this time. It was a stupid idea I know but a picture would make researching it a lot easier. I angled my phone up at the ceiling and sure enough there it was. It was clinging to the jagged rock like a giant white spider. Hands and feet against the ceiling, head hanging upside down over us. Its pale eyes were locked onto the woman who was too terrified to move. She was going to have to get over that. I hit capture on my phone and it snapped a picture. The beast’s head whipped around to look at me and I saw the recognition in its eyes. There definitely some intelligence there. It remembered me. A thin dark tongue protruded from its mouth and slowly dragged over its lips. Was it actually licking its lips at me? Lovely. To it I was just a walking Mars bar.
It pounced. I thrust out my free hand and shot magical fire at it. As before the fire repelled it and it fell back with a massive scream.
“Run!” I shouted at the idiotic forensic woman. She did as I commanded thankfully and I immediately followed. My spell vanished when I ran and the monster was on my tail again. I shot straight past the woman and tore through the bushes before the thing could catch me. I turned back just in time to see the woman come out after me. She tripped on her way through the bush and landed face down on the ground.
“Come on,” I urged. She looked up at me and I saw her face was red and streaked with tears. Then that horrid hand shot out of the cave and hooked her ankle. I went to help her but she was gone before I could even move. It dragged her back into the cave and I listened to her screams echoing up at me.
I didn’t hang about. All that racket would draw more officers to my location and I could not be here when they arrived. As I walked shakily away from the cave I saw that the officers were all gone now, though. Odd. Also rather lucky. If they’d all followed the noise then they would have all ended up dead as well. Imagine if that happened? A police massacre in Maidstone. The papers would love it. There’d be a media circus and if they actually caught sight of the monster, which since it couldn’t leave the park was highly likely, then it might lead to the exposure of at least part of the supernatural world. I didn’t want to think about the shit storm that might cause.
“Left you behind did they?” one of the officers at the gate said as I passed him.
“Huh?” I said, still dazed by what had just happened.
“The others. Went to lunch without you?” he clarified. So that’s where everyone had gone.
“Oh, yeah. Never mind, though,” I said. I walked through the gate and back to the police car. Once I was changed and the officer was back in the front seat of his car with a freshly erased memory I headed home. I needed a good long rest.
CHAPTER TEN
I went straight to sleep when I got in and didn’t wake up again until the next morning. I must have been more tired than I realised.
The first thing I did when I woke was check my phone for the photo I’d taken. I breathed a satisfied sigh of rel
ief when I saw that the big ugly beast had been saved forever on my iPhone. I called Ashley to let her know I was coming round and then jumped straight in the shower. On my way out I heard Doris and Gavin arguing about something garden related but I didn’t hang about for any further details. I got to the end of the driveway before I noticed Inspector Richards leaning on another car waiting for me. He seemed to like leaning on cars.
“You just keep popping up don’t you?” I said snarkily. I wasn’t really in the mood for one of his “chats” today. They usually just consisted of him accusing me of things.
“I was going to say the same thing to you. Except this time you popped up in a police uniform,” He said with a semi-pleased smile.
I stared at him silently whilst I tried to figure out how much he knew. I gave that cop a memory wipe out. He shouldn’t have remembered a thing and he never even saw me anyway. All he could have remembered was that his boot kept opening itself and he shouldn’t even remember that! How could Richards have found out what I’d done?
“Don’t worry, as usual you didn’t leave enough evidence for an arrest. You were seen on a dashboard camera. Sadly you weren’t seen clearly enough to identify you properly but I know it was you even if my superior officer won’t let me act on it. Yet,” he said sourly.
“Listen, mate—”
“No. You listen, mate. I don’t know what you’re up to but what I do know is that ten people are dead. Killian Myers was first. Then those two people murdered in their own living room. The five bodies found stripped to the bone and dismembered in that cave. And of course the two forensic officers who fell prey to whatever it is you’re up to.”
“I didn’t kill any of them!” I snapped heatedly. I did kill Killian but not the others.
“Maybe you didn’t but you’re involved somehow. You’ve been spotted at the scene of every murder. That alone is enough to bring you in but my superiors want more evidence. They want you banged to rights before I bring you in and you rest assured I will do it. I have a very good track record.”
