The Dark Corner

by Easton Livingston

  Getting right and accurate information helped in locating the vehicle and putting a tracker on it. It had been a few days and there was no activity out of the ordinary. He had told Tyler to keep constant monitor on it. It would be a matter of time before they revealed their hand.

  Perplexing questions still plagued his heart like a splinter refusing to reject itself.

  Tyler burst into the room, a mix of alarm and excitement on his face.

  “They’re on the move.”

  Sebastian looked at the red numbers on the digital clock on his desk. 12:47 a.m.

  They were opening their hands wide open.

  Part II - Finders Keepers

  They parked in the laundromat parking lot. Only a few people populated the establishment at that hour.

  Across the street, they saw the vehicle with the tracker on it, parked in a small parking area in the rear of the Antique Barn, set in the darkness. The business had closed for the day so stepping a foot onto the property was trespassing in the least. Sebastian didn’t understand what they would want in an antique shop. Those places were like flea markets with scores of useless junk. Then he realized if they were looking for something older, it would make sense. There was a likelihood it was considered another piece of junk by some unwary former owner. One man's junk is a witch's treasure. That made him uneasy. He wanted to know what they were looking for specifically but that wasn’t too important at the moment. Whatever it was, it didn’t need to be in their hands.

  “Hey,” Tyler called from the back seat, looking at the screen of the laptop in front of him. “I have some strange energy readings here. It’s coming from inside that place.”

  “Do you know what it is?”

  “Not sure exactly. It’s modulating. Though it's not conclusive, it looks similar to trans-dimensional energy of some kind. I’m speculating here.”

  Sebastian looked out the driver’s side window from the passenger’s seat. That didn’t sound good.

  “Can you get a lock on it?”

  Tyler shook his head. “Not from here. I need to get inside there to get a stronger, more specific reading to pinpoint its exact location.”

  Sebastian stared out the front window. Amanda looked at him from the driver’s seat.

  “What are you thinking?”

  “I’m thinking we’re going to need to get in there and stop them from taking whatever they’re looking for. If we were to call the police, they may take too long and by that time it might be too late.” He put on a pair of black leather gloves. “Plus, the police would just leave it there for them to attempt another grab at it. Let’s move.”

  They exited the Honda SUV. Tyler took a moment, packing up the equipment he needed. He carried a small case and strapped on a digital device which covered most of his left forearm and wrist. Locking the doors as they walked, they made their way towards the crosswalk. The streets were sparse, and it didn’t make much sense to wait for the light to change. They all walked in tandem towards the back of the establishment. As they approached, they saw part of the R and Q on the wooden letters that spelled out the business name hung askew. The old paint clung to the sign in desperation, dark patches signaling its losing battle with past weather. The building annexed a porn movie theater.

  Sebastian sighed.

  They walked down the short sidewalk towards the back of the building where the car was parked. It was an old four-door Oldsmobile. Sebastian peered through the windows. No one was inside. Turning the corner, they approached the back door where it was darker. It was a good place to break in. There were no lights there which they had used that to their advantage. Tyler took out a flashlight and shined it on the door handle. It stood ajar. No signs of forced entry. It appeared as if they had simply walked in.

  “That’s not normal. Inside job?”

  Sebastian looked behind them to make sure no one had spotted them.

  “Maybe. Makes it easier for us.”

  Amanda moved a lock of hair from in front of her eyes and took point. Tyler looked down at a small screen attached to his left wrist.

  “Those energy readings are still here. I’m getting a more focused read here. The location is near the right side of the store.”

  “How many people in there?”

  “Not sure. Going to have to release M.O.N.V.I.D.”

  Amanda looked at him.

  “Mon what?”

  “M.O.N.V.I.D. Mobile Ocular Night Vision and Infrared Drone. Yes, I made that up. It’s a little thing I’ve been wanting to test out. It operates on the same propeller type system that a drone does but I placed buffers in the propeller units so…”

  “Tyler.” Tyler looked at Sebastian. “We don’t need a technology lesson. Is it going to make a bunch of noise?”

  “A little but not as much as a normal one. They might hear it though. I can keep it hovering near the rear of the store so it doesn’t make as much noise. But once I have it in position, I can tell you how many people are in there.”

  Sebastian thought for a moment. “Do it.”

  Tyler bent down and opened the small case he’d brought. Inside was a drone-like device, no bigger than a saucer. He smiled as he set it on the ground and flipped a switch on its side. This was its first official mission. He had tested it over twenty times and knew it was ready. It was always exciting to try out new gear in the field. Maybe it was because this was his strength where he could help the team the most. It was a joy to do his part.

  Tyler placed a finger on an image on his screen. A digital representation of a joystick filled the surface. A tap activated the drone which rose with a soft whine. He was right. It was quieter than a normal drone.

  Tyler pushed the door open, guiding the drone through the threshold to the back of the store where he raised it near the ceiling and let it hover. He tapped the screen again and watched it change colors, now awash with yellows, reds, and blues.

  “O.K. I’m getting three… no. Four bodies.”

  They were outnumbered but only by one. That wouldn’t be a problem.

  “We need to get to the source of that energy signal and keep it out of their hands.”

  Tyler and Amanda nodded in silence. Amanda moved to the front of the line they formed with Tyler in the middle and Sebastian taking up the rear.

  “Stay close. We’re almost as blind as they are. Make sure we have whatever they want before we make ourselves known. We will have to move in the dark here.”

  They stepped through the door with furtive steps. Amanda reached inside her jacket near her waist and pulled out a small baton. Tyler turned the brightness down on his screen then placed his hand on her back, paying attention to the display.

  “Right,” he whispered as they passed through the threshold leading to the main floor of the store. Voices came from near the front.

  A stale, musty smell assailed their nostrils as they crept further into the store, the senescence of the furniture, books, and other paraphernalia revealing itself. They crouched low behind the counter, trying to stay out of sight.

  “How in the world are we going to find anything in all of this junk? “a voice said from off to the left of where they were. “Shouldn’t we have used a scrying locater for this?”

  “If that was possible, there would have been no need to go to Meechum Forest. It’s protected by something that makes scrying impossible. So, we have to do this by hand. Stop complaining and find the stone.”

  So. They were looking for a stone. That made it simpler to locate once they reached the general vicinity of the energy signal. There couldn't be a lot of those lying around, not even in an antique shop.

  “Stop.”

  They made it to the corner of the long counter before it made a sharp turn to the left before Tyler gave the word.

  “It’s about twelve feet northeast from the opening.”

  Amanda peeked around the corner. Flashlight beams cut through the darkness of the room. One was near the front of the store. Another was further out on the
opposite side from where she was. She wasn’t sure where the other two were.

  “Is it O.K. to go?” she asked. Tyler looked down at his wrist screen.

  “I think so. I’ve lost sight of one of them. They must have moved behind something.”

  Amanda looked at the distance she needed to traverse. She estimated seven to eight steps if she were standing up. Maybe less. That wasn’t an option. She had to stay crouched. Plus, she didn’t know what she was looking for. Too much work.

  “You go.”

  Tyler looked at her.

  “What?”

  “You go. You're carrying the equipment so you’ll be able to see where it is exactly. We won’t have to try to communicate and risk alerting them. Just go, grab it and come back.”

  Tyler looked back at Sebastian who nodded.

  “She’s right. It would be easier if you did it.”

  Tyler turned away, looking at the dark floor. He didn’t like doing direct work in the field. He was the support guy. But Amanda was right. All field teams had intensive training. If he ran into trouble, he knew how to handle himself. A sigh crept from his nostrils. He hated that kind of thing. Sebastian and Amanda were more naturals at it. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Not in this situation. It required stealth so maybe it was something up his alley.

  He nodded, more to himself than anything. Looking down at his wrist screen, he took a deep breath and moved out onto the main floor. There was a tall cabinet display he had to circumvent to get to the destination where the energy signal was the strongest. Stopping, he found himself in front of a large table, the signal reading one hundred percent. The reading put it at the center of the table. A quick glimpse over the table's edge revealed it was full of small knick knacks. Tyler closed his eyes. It would have to be in the middle of porcelain and glassware. The only way he could grab it was if he stood up.

  He looked down at the display to see where everyone were. He located three of them but still couldn’t locate the third. That was a little disconcerting. If he grabbed it, he had to be quick about it. He had to do it with none of the other things on the table and making a ruckus.

  He steadied himself against the cabinet, slithering up to his feet, using it for support. Something moved inside, falling over with a clunk.

  “What was that?” someone from the front of the store asked. “Sarah?”

  “Yeah?”

  “What was that?”

  “What was what? I didn’t hear anything. I think the heater just kicked in. All I hear is a hum.”

  “I thought I heard a noise from the back of the store.”

  Tyler froze midway in his ascent, his thighs parallel to the floor, trembling.

  “Janis.”

  There was no reply.

  “Janis?”

  A light lanced across the table in front of him. Tyler’s jaw tensed. His legs became wobbly.

  “Hey. I think I found it.”

  Tyler tried to use the cabinet for leverage but his weight shook it, several things inside clinked, clicked and fell. The young girl in front of him shone her light right in his face.

  “Someone’s here!” she yelled, snatching up the stone.

  Tyler let out a grunt as he attempted to get to his feet but his weight was too much, toppling the cabinet. He fell backwards with it, a loud crash filling the darkness as glass shattered as it hit the floor.

  “She’s got it!” he shouted back to Amanda and Sebastian. “She has it and she’s headed out the back!”

  Part IV - Special Delivery

  Jason awoke with a start two hours later from one of his routine nightmares based on his life. The differences between the two was in environment and physiology. They were pronounced, marked by grotesque distortion. His dad was the most ominous among them, his features resembling free flowing Silly Putty. In addition, he loomed over everything. He was already big to begin with but his dreams magnified that tenfold. His words shook him to his bones, reverberating echoes sounding like the voice of God.

  The terrifying part was that Jason could only move in slow motion. No matter how much he attempted to exert himself to move faster, it was to no avail. His cries for help were silent or near it, little more than faint screeches emitting from the bottom of his throat. Even if he could get out a scream, he knew no one would be there to hear him. Wailing in the wind.

  The reasons for the screams, or the lack thereof, were because of his father. Always on his heels. Always in pursuit. The ground trembled with each of his footsteps and then a shadow would fall over Jason as his father's monstrous hands scooped him up like a toy soldier. Unable to move in his grasp, Jason would try to squirm free as his father's scowl reprimanded him for some unknown deed. Then his fist would come down like a hammer on his head. That's when he awoke.

  Sitting up, he stared at the wall with a blank expression. It was dark. The perimeter of his forehead moist with perspiration, heart racing, pounding in his head. In despair, he whispered, “Will it ever end?”

  Knock! Knock! Knock!

  The knock was coming from the front door. It was loud and urgent. Odd. It was rare that they received visitors. It was probably one of his father's friends coming to pick him up to go to the bar. None of his business.

  Knock! Knock! Knock!

  Jason turned his head towards his door. He would have heard his father by now complaining about all the knocking.

  He may already be at the bar.

  He threw his legs over the side of the bed, walking to his bedroom door, opening it as quiet as he could. It was risky. If he was wrong and his father caught him, there would be an automatic assumption Jason was snooping and disobeying him on purpose. The earlier order not to come out of the room for the rest of the night was non-negotiable. The consequences would not be pretty. Yet something told him to risk it. What... what if it was his mom that was coming back? Then they could be a family again. That alone was worth it. There wasn't much hope that would happen. That notion had danced across his mind a million times. But maybe, just maybe… he had to risk it.

  With soft steps, he maneuvered towards the landing and crouched, peering around the baluster as he waited for his father to answer the door.

  Nothing.

  Jason couldn't make out if anyone was still at the door. The middle portion was a four foot tall piece of glass with an old, rose-colored curtain draped over it. That his father didn't answer the door could only mean that his first thought was correct: he was out drinking or going to get something to drink. He sighed. That meant he'd be stuck in his room for the night. If he was going to answer the door, then he needed to do it. There was no telling when his father would get back and he was getting hungry. This would be the only time he could grab something to eat and take it up to his bedroom. He had a stash in his room already but it never hurt to stock up.

  He made his way down the stairs and parted the curtain an inch. No one was there. A small, dark shape was setting in front of the door on the porch. Cautious and wary of his father's return home, he flicked on the porch light and looked out again. The dark shape was a gift bag. It had seen better days. Someone had pulled it from the trash.

  Satisfied no one was there, Jason unlocked the deadbolt, unhooked the chain, and opened the door a crack. Sticking his head out, he looked around to see who it was who could have left it there but neither saw nor heard anyone. Still cautious, he stepped out, performed a quick snatch-and-grab, then closed and locked the door. Bounding up the stairs to his bedroom, he held the bag handle with a tight grip. Closing the door, he switched on the light and sat on the edge of the bed, holding the bag in his lap.

  There were golden stars set against the glossy, red backdrop of the bag. The stars sparkled as the room’s light reflected off of the shimmering confetti which made up each one. His excitement allowed him to get past the smell. The bag was medium sized, the contents wrapped in white gift tissue paper. He stared at the gift bag in silence. Who would want to leave him a present? Few packages, if any, ever cam
e to his house and no one ever had sent him mail. It was more than a surprise. It was a mystery.

  With care, Jason reached inside and grabbed the object, unwrapping it with delicate care, making sure he didn't tear the fragile paper. His excitement crescendoed as he unfolded the paper layer by layer. He knew it was just useless paper, but he didn't want to rush it. After what had happened earlier, he wanted to savor the moment as much as possible.

  For a moment, he paused. What if this was a stupid practical joke by Frankie? No. That couldn't be it. Frankie lived too far away. Plus he was a show off and no one would be there to see the joke.

  What if it was for his father? That made him freeze. The wrath that would fall if he found out. Then he realized his father had no friends that would give him a gift in that kind of bag. No way. Plus, he couldn’t remember the last time his father had received a gift. As much as he tried, he couldn't think of it being anything but a genuine present for him. If it wasn’t, he’d just put it back like he found it.

  Minutes later, the wrapping paper was unfolded. It was a rock.

  A rock?

  On closer observation, it appeared to be a dull, crystalline rock, a little larger than his hand. It was L-shaped, its surface craggy, each ridge coming to a point but the sides of each smooth like a cut diamond. Its insides swirled and oscillated with a kaleidoscope of colors which gave off a glow, the hues intertwining to create a tapestry of shades he had never seen before. He sat mesmerized at the dance of light. What was it? Who would send him this? What were you supposed to do with it? He thought he had seen something like this before online. Novelty stores carried them. But this one… this one was different. Not like what he'd seen but similar and it was way more cool. The colors moved in such random directions as if they were… they were… alive.

  Lifting it off of the paper, he held it in front of him, absorbing all of its detail and beauty. The warm feeling he had became stronger, and he was unconscious of the huge smile on his face until his mouth hurt. At the same time, the colors inside transformed, all fading into a bright yellow which illuminated the whole room. It was so bright he had to turn his head away from being blinded. At that moment, the light subsided.