by Joshua Grove
“How are we going to get down there?” Anna asked.
“With this,” Anish answered from behind. In his hands was a large, thick rope. “Made from hemp. It is strong.”
“Who is going to hold it?” Sam asked.
“I already fastened it to the beams where the chains are,” Anish answered.
“I could use someone like you on my force,” Anna said with a smile. “Good work. Now quickly, tie this around my waist. I’m going down.”
When the group had all been lowered to the stream, Anna kneeled down to try and help Jake stand.
“I can’t stand,” Jake said. “I don’t think I can move.”
“That’s simply not an option. I’m not just going to leave you here.”
“I don’t think you’ll have to,” Matthew worried. “Look.”
Ahead of them, they could make out shadows moving closer. Anna wondered if death was quickly approaching, just like in Anish’s story.
* * * * * *
5
David Styles slumped into a chair at the large table in the break room at the police station. He grabbed a slice of pizza, took a large bite, then pulled out his phone to call his son again.
Voicemail.
“Jason, Jesus Christ! This is your father again. Where the hell are you? I need your help.” David ended the call and put the phone back in the front pocket of his shirt.
Michael Mullins was answering calls with Janet. Although he was still complaining of some pain in his neck and eye, David figured Michael was doing just fine.
I need to get out of here, David thought to himself. He felt like he was wasting his time. There was little doubt that a doctor would be needed at the Brickton estate. This wasn’t over by a long shot, and David wanted a larger piece of the action. Something strange, supernatural, had arrived in Crimson Falls. And he was not going to miss out on something that could make him famous.
As he took another bite of pizza his phone vibrated, startling him. Hoping it was his son, he didn’t bother to look at who was calling.
“Where the hell have you been?”
“I’m sorry?” a soft, female voice said on the other side.
“Who is this?” David demanded.
“Dr. Styles, this is Nurse Andrea Myers.”
“Hi, Andrea. I’m sorry. What can I do for you?” He genuinely liked Andrea. She often assisted him in autopsies and other miscellaneous cases. In fact, David hoped that if his son turned out to be a complete failure, he could rely on Andrea, who was only 28 years old.
“Dr. Styles, I am not sure how to tell you this, but we have a problem.”
David waited, but she said nothing. “So this is the part where you tell me what the problem is.”
“I’m sorry, there’s just no easy way to say this. And I’m trying to figure out if I’m wrong.”
“Why didn’t you take the time to check out whatever it is you think is wrong? I am not following why you’re talking to me right now, Andrea.”
“Alan Brickton’s body isn’t in the morgue.”
It took David a moment to process that information.
“It’s missing,” Andrea said.
“What do you mean it’s missing?”
“I mean it was there earlier today, when everyone was here with Detective Mullins. In all the commotion I didn’t go into the morgue until just ten minutes ago.”
“Did you check the drawers?” David asked.
“Of course I did,” Andrea said curtly. “I wouldn’t have called you if I hadn’t checked the drawers, other rooms, and the entire freaking hospital.”
“I understand,” David said. He considered the possibility that someone had stolen the body. But why would someone do that?
“I checked the security tape, Dr. Styles, and the video was out.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Well, the tapes showed his body, then it went all fuzzy for about two minutes. All of the videos in the entire hospital went fuzzy. I checked with security. And when the cameras started working again, the body was gone.”
“Shit,” David said simply. “Okay, keep me posted.” He hung up the phone before she could respond.
David racked his brain trying to figure out why the killer would want the body. Was he going to try and eat it? Or did he want a trophy that represented his first kill? Regardless of the reason, he needed to let Anna know about the new development. He picked up his phone and dialed Anna’s direct number.
Straight to voicemail.
David walked over to Janet and asked her to contact Anna.
“Sheriff Blackwood,” Janet called over the radio. “Sheriff, this is Janet. Come in, Sheriff.”
All they heard was static.
“Sheriff Blackwood,” Janet repeated. She shook her head. “Let me try someone else.”
“Try Tim,” David said. Michael joined them at Janet’s desk.
“Tim, Tim, come in, this is Janet.”
“Copy, Janet, Tim here,” he said.
“I have Dr. David Styles for you,” Janet said.
“Okay,” Tim said, confusion in his voice.
“Tim, this is David Styles. I am trying to reach Sheriff Blackwood.”
“She’s in the house, probably behind the library at this point. You couldn’t reach her?”
“If I could have reached her then I would not be talking to you,” David answered. “She did not answer her cell or her radio.”
“It’s possible she has no reception anywhere under the house,” Tim responded. “I’m in charge in her absence. What can I do for you?”
“I have some troubling news that you need to know. Alan Brickton’s body has disappeared from the morgue.”
The radio fell silent.
“Tim, this is Janet. Did you hear Dr. Styles?” Janet’s voice was filled with concern.
Michael began pacing around the desk. “I knew it! I knew it! He’s a vampire!”
“For Christ sake, man!” David yelled at Michael. He grabbed the radio from Janet’s hand. “Tim, you need to be on the lookout. Whoever took his body is probably not far from the Brickton estate.”
“Well, doctor, I think he is already here,” Tim answered. “I’ve gotta go, thanks for the info.”
Static was once again all they could hear.
“I’m going there right now!” Michael cried. He walked into a different room, then after a brief moment returned with his jacket.
When Michael’s back was to them, David lifted a syringe and stuck it in Michael’s neck, releasing a powerful tranquilizer.
“Oh my God!” Janet screamed as Michael collapsed onto the floor. She looked at David, trying to back away.
“Janet, I’m not going to hurt you,” David said. “I needed to knock him out so he wouldn’t get himself killed.”
Janet looked at him suspiciously, not really buying his story.
“He thinks there are vampires running around Crimson Falls,” David continued. “All he would do is get himself killed, and probably someone else in the process. Now, I am going to put him in a cell and I expect you not to free him. If you do, his blood will be on your hands.”
David dragged Michael into lockup and laid him on a bed in one of the open cells. He slammed the door behind him as he left, making sure it was locked.
“Maybe now you’ll calm down,” David whispered to the unconscious Michael. As he walked through the break room he grabbed his jacket and another slice of pizza. Meanwhile, Janet was still watching him.
“Be careful how you proceed,” David said. “Just man the phones and keep Michael where he is. Everything will be okay.”
As David left the station, he could hear Janet talking to Tim on the radio, warning him that a crazy doctor was on his way to the Brickton Estate.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Underground
1
Tim was convinced the remaining Lofton brothers were dead. Then, to his simultaneous relief and dismay, he heard screams in the woods. Then
gunshots.
“Oh, God,” Aaron whispered. “What do we do?”
Another deafening shriek filled the trees, frightening the dogs and everyone who had gathered in the yard.
“I’m getting the hell out of here!” someone yelled from behind them. A large group of people began walking up the yard toward the driveway.
“Shouldn’t we stop them?” Aaron asked.
“No, if they want to go, we can’t keep them here,” Tim said sadly.
“HELP ME!” a voice screamed from the woods. Some of the people walking up the yard turned around, but most of them continued toward their cars and trucks. The dogs were still lying in the yard, refusing to move.
“Should we release the dogs?” Aaron asked.
Tim shook his head. “They aren’t budging,” he said as he pointed to them. “And they aren’t going to be able to stop whatever is out there. Only guns can do that.”
Tim turned to the remaining officers. “I need you guys to escort the citizens back to their homes. At least as many as you can. Then make your way back here. It will take you a while, but I want you to make sure they’re all safe before you leave them. Damian, Ralph, I need you to return to the station and help Janet and Michael. We need a few more bodies there in case something goes wrong here.”
The group nodded and then followed the people as they made it to the driveway.
Geraldine was making her way back into the yard toward Tim and Aaron, pleading with people to stay as she passed them. But no one returned with her.
“This sucks,” she said when she joined them. “Everyone’s bailing on us. Can’t say as I blame them much.”
“Yeah, I probably wouldn’t stick around either,” Aaron agreed. The few people that remained joined Tim, Aaron, and Geraldine.
“I think it’s best we make our way back to the house,” Tim said. “The floodlights will let us know if someone approaches. Until then, you guys should leave,” he said as he gestured to the citizens. “The rest of us will join the others in the house.”
Tim was not surprised when no one argued with him.
“HELP ME!” another voice cried from behind them. Tim turned and looked, but saw nothing. His heart sank as he thought of the suffering the Lofton brothers must be facing. He, and they, were helpless to do anything but wait.
“There’s nothing we could have done,” Geraldine said to Tim as they watched the last person drive away in their Ford pickup. “They made the choice to run into the woods. If we had followed, we would have died, too.”
“I know, Gerry,” Tim sighed. “But that doesn’t make any of this easier to swallow.”
“True that,” Aaron added.
“Tim, come in, Tim,” Janet’s voice called on the radio.
“This is Tim, Janet. What’s up?”
“What’s up? I’ll tell you what’s up. Dr. Styles lost his freaking mind, that’s what’s up.” Janet was frantic.
“Calm down, Janet,” Tim said calmly. “What do you mean?”
“He drugged Michael, put him in a cell, and then jumped in his car. He said he’s on his way to the house.”
“He what?” Geraldine cried.
“Well, Michael was kind of losing it, too. He was talking about killing the vampire. It’s like everyone’s gone mad.”
“Janet, settle down,” Tim said. “I need you to lock the doors and stay where you are. Try and make sure the kids are okay, and keep manning the phones. Don’t let anyone in.”
“Check on my baby!” Geraldine demanded as she grabbed the radio.
“Believe it or not, she’s still sleeping soundly,” Janet reassured her. “I wish I were at home sleeping.”
“Janet, I need you to take charge of the station and keep everyone safe.”
“Okay, Tim. I will do my best.”
“And Janet?”
“Yes, Tim?”
“Don’t let Michael out of the cell.”
“I wasn’t planning on it.”
“Copy that. Over and out.” Tim put the radio back on his belt as he prepared for David’s arrival. Just as the radio clicked, they saw headlights coming down the driveway.
“Looks like the doctor’s in,” Aaron said with a humorless laugh.
Tim met David as he climbed out of his car. “What the hell are you doing here?”
David looked surprised. “What do you mean?”
Tim knew he was acting. “You know damn well what I mean.”
“Would you like to explain why you assaulted an officer?” Geraldine grumbled.
“I figured,” David griped. “The kid had lost his marbles. He was running around screaming about vampires. Janet was frightened, and in the state Michael was in, he would have gotten someone killed if I had allowed him to come here.”
“It isn’t your place to make such decisions,” Aaron hissed.
Tim raised a hand to calm the situation. “What’s done is done. You’re here, and now you’re leaving.”
“If you make me leave, I will just come back once you’ve gone into the house.” David peeked around them, seeing the empty backyard. “And by the looks of it, you don’t have much backup.”
“What makes you think you can help us?” Tim asked.
“I’m brilliant, and I know more about this than you think.”
“That sounds a bit suspicious to me, doctor,” Geraldine said.
David ignored her and made his way up the stairs to the house. When he reached the door, he turned around and faced them. “Well, are you coming?”
Tim sighed and followed up the stairs. Aaron and Geraldine followed.
Suddenly they heard gunshots from under the house.
“Jesus!” Aaron yelled.
“Where did that come from?” David asked.
“It came from that way,” Tim said as he pointed toward the door that led to the wine cellar. “Looks like we’re making a return visit to Hell.”
“Sweet Jesus,” Geraldine whispered. “Let’s hope that whoever shot that gun hit its target.”
“Let’s hope the shooter is on our team,” Aaron said.
“If that creature has learned to use a gun, then we’re all screwed,” David commented. They turned and looked at him, shaking their heads.
“Let’s do this,” Tim said as he made his way toward the cellar door. “Let’s end this.”
* * * * * *
2
“Don’t shoot!” Anna screamed as Jake lifted his gun to fire at the shadows racing toward them.
“Easy for you to say,” Jake retorted. “You’re not lying in the water with a broken leg!”
“Stop or we will shoot!” Anna screamed. She prepared to fire, nervous that whoever was charging them might not be the Wendigo.
The shadows came to a halt when she hollered. “Mom?” a voice shouted.
“Trevor?” Anna cried. “Trevor, is that you?”
“Be careful, Anna,” Anish warned. “It can mimic human sound.”
The shadows rushed toward them. When they were within several feet, she recognized both Trevor and Simon.
“Oh, thank God!” Anna sighed as she took Trevor in her arms.
“Mom!” he repeated.
Anna pushed him back and held his shoulders. “Now just what the hell are you doing down here? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“Some serious shit went down outside,” Simon said. Anna was surprised by his language. She had never even remotely heard Simon use course language.
“What do you mean?” Sam asked.
“The Lofton brothers ran into the woods,” Trevor explained. “And I’m pretty sure they’re all dead. All of them but Dylan. He made it out.”
“Jesus,” Amy whispered to herself.
“And we found Lionel Flowers’ body down there,” Trevor said as he pointed behind them. “I’m pretty sure he’s dead. His eyes were gone.” Anna shuddered.
“A victim of the Wendigo,” Anish observed.
“A victim of the what?” Simon asked.
“The Wendigo,” Anish repeated.
“Whoa,” Trevor and Simon said in union. Anna watched as the boys looked at each other with knowing eyes.
“What’s going on, Trevor? Do you know what a Wendigo is?”
Trevor nodded to Simon. “Yeah, we’re familiar with it,” Simon admitted. “We should have known.”
“Should have known?” Anna repeated.
“Yeah,” Trevor said with a shrug. “I was so obsessed with it being a werewolf that I didn’t think of the signs. No wonder it looked like Dad.”
“Oh, Christ on crutches,” Simon moaned. “You know what that means.”
Trevor lowered his head and kicked the water.
“Okay, I will ask. What does that mean?” Anna asked, frustrated.
“It means Dad was probably killed by it. That’s why it looked like him in the woods. It was messing with our heads so it could catch us off guard and kill us.”
“Could someone please get me out of here?” Jake groaned. “You guys have done lost your shit.”
Splash!
Splash!
“Something’s coming!” Matthew cried.
“Get your guns ready!” Anna shouted. Everyone in the group prepared to fire. Everyone but Anish.
“You need a gun,” Anna said to him.
“I’ll be fine. There is enough fire power here. I have my own methods.” Anna didn’t doubt it.
The sound was getting louder.
“Stop where you are or we will shoot you!” Anna cried.
“Anna?” a voice called. “Anna is that you?”
“Tim?” Anna said. She took a step forward, then Trevor took her arm.
“Mom, it may not be Tim. It could be the Wendigo.”
“Anna!” the voice said, this time closer.
“Anna!” another voice called, this time she recognized Geraldine’s voice.
“Geraldine!” Anna called back. She took a few more steps forward, followed by the rest of the group.
“Help me!” Jake screamed. Anna pivoted around and watched as Anish was thrown to the ground and Jake was dragged into the darkness.
“Anish!” Sam yelled as he leaned down to help him up. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” he said. “I didn’t even hear him above us.”
