by C T Scribe
“I want to leave now.” Julez opened her mouth to calm her, but the girl shouted in her face. “Now! I’m leaving now.”
“I must tell you that the beast who attacked you may come back. We can’t protect you. You should stay.” The girl was broken. Julez could see the pieces of her heart in her mind shattered. She felt for her. No matter what words she tried the girls response was the same. After she had given up on persuading her she motioned someone in the room to escort her out. Julez sighed deep, and filed her away as Ashley the dead hysteria patient in her mind. The beast would track her. They didn’t leave witnesses. She would be dead. That was the other downside to her job. The choice she offered was fake. She felt compelled to offer it to them. She knew the power of choosing your destiny. She also knew from her long life how most choices were more illusion than truth.
The third cell held a man. Older than Tye, but with a similar build. Looking over his chart she saw his brother was taken. Not killed. Intrigue filled her mind. She would have to hear her father’s theories on this development soon. Unlike the others he was calm. He had fought the beast. For some reason he was unharmed, but he had fought them as a mortal and lived. Julez couldn’t fathom what kind of powers lurked inside this human. She did know one fact, he is the strongest mortal she’s met in a long time. Looking into him, into his being, Julez saw the flow of energy from his core into his hands. He somehow tapped into a power and redirected it. Such a talent was rare. He probably had no idea he was attacking with his life force. Once again she made her offer. He met her gaze as if assessing her.
“How strong are you?”
The question caught her off guard, which rarely happened. With slight hesitation she answered, “I’m strong enough to have saved your brother.” The words were spoken gently, but she could see the pain they gave him. As she looked deeper into him she saw not only pain but resolve. She continued speaking to him saying, “I’m not much of a fighter to be honest. My talents lay in science. Our strongest warrior’s could fight off a hundred beast. Our average warriors can handle one or two at a time.” Accepting her answer he motioned for the needle. His mind was made. She didn’t do any further persuading. As she injected the venom into his body he didn’t scream. He leaned against the cell wall, and closed his eyes. She peered into him again. His energy swirled throughout his body protecting him in a way. Such control for a mortal she thought. Her father would like this one. She had no doubt he’d survive the transformation.
The fourth cell held a giant human. This man was easily seven feet tall. She estimated his weight to be around 400 pounds. In spite of his large frame his face was gentle. Gentleness was rarely seen in these cells. Pouring over his chart she wondered what happened to him tonight. There wasn’t much information. A small vein twitched in her forehead. The first three recruits were brought in from trackers. The reports provided were thorough. The details helped her choose a tone during her recruitment speeches. This man however was brought in by a recruiter. A lazy recruiter she thought to herself. The only note included in the file read, ”Blood confirmed compatible. He’s fucking huge!!!” The problem of recruiters is they are the least valuable in the organization. Outside recruiters track stories and phenomenon to find compatible blood types for the venom. If something supernatural happens to their target they drug them and bring them into HQ. Julez was getting the suspicion this man was brought in for his size alone. As if size was an indicator or strength in her world. She shelved her annoyance, but took note of the lazy recruiters identification. She would have words with them after this.
Looking to the large human in the now crowded cell she introduced herself. “My names Julianne. Do you know why your here?”
“I see things. Things I wish I could unsee. The lady told me I belong here with people like me.”
Julez found this one to be worrisome. Peering into his mind he was not traumatized like the rest. Using her abilities she combed through his memories. As a young child he could see them. He spent his entire life knowing them, but had never fought or confronted a creature. One memory stood out to her. A creature was chasing a human. This giant of a man sensed it coming. Without giving himself away he walked in the creature’s path slowing it down just enough for the other human to escape. He was no fighter, but he was a good person. Stunts like that would get him killed one day. Realizing the giant was staring at her Julez ceased her digging for now. “I have to tell you, you could leave here and live a normal life. The venom could kill you, and I’m sorry if this offends you but you don’t seem like much of a fighter. This war may not be your place.”
“You can teach me to fight the things I see?”
“Not me personally, but yes here you will learn to fight.”
“My whole life I’ve felt helpless because of those things. I don’t want to live like that. I came here knowing this would be different for me, but I can’t keep ignoring the things around me. The world feels sour. I want to stay.” Julez gave him the venom. It didn’t take long for his screaming to start. She knew his blood was highly compatible from the recruiter, but he would have a hard time in this life. He was too gentle a giant, but perhaps he could change with training. Reluctantly she allowed herself to voice the true reason she agreed. Such a person might be good for Tye. If he survives she thought. Every Quarterback needs a good line. The two may work well together. She would have to make up a more compelling argument to tell her father.
The final cell held the twins. They were eager to take the venom. Having heard her speeches in the other cells they took little time convincing. Such advanced hearing for humans she thought. Those cells have military grade soundproofing. If they survived the turn they could prove to be invaluable spies for HQ. Her father was right about this group. They could be something special in time. Julez was tired. Today had been a long one for both her occupations. She made her way down the long corridors to her bunk. Once inside she opened a bottle of pills. She ingested her mini suns. Today was a dark day, and she needed the warmth to make it through the night. Her eyes glossed over long before her body found sleep.
30
Chapter 30
The tall man finally awoke from a long sleep. His room was just as he remembered it. HQ had the ability to change and shift, but his living quarters always remained untouched. A sign of respect from the magical being they dwelled in perhaps. Another thought is that the living quarters, being so far down, served no purpose in changing around. After leaving his debrief at the war room the tall man made his path for his resting place. Walking along a labyrinth of halls that were altered from his last stint at HQ, he finally found his first objective food. The mess hall or cafeteria or diner or eatery or restaurant or cafe always seemed to appear when you were most hungry. The tall man, Thomas, had felt the growls of his stomach for some time. As he opened a door he found himself at the mess hall, as he called it. It was nearly empty. Several unfamiliar faces turned to him as he entered, but no one spoke. With his keen senses Thomas could hear the whispers. New recruits wondering if he was the famous tall man. He had a hand in saving many of them. Even if he didn’t bring them in himself, he most likely killed the monsters before the recruitment team arrived. He didn’t take the time to remember most new recruits. If they survived the decade then perhaps he would take an interest. This is war after all, and he had lost more than enough friends for his second lifetime. Never ending war left him hardened on the outside. As he approached the food counter he let go a smile at another friend, Deb. Deb,the head chef here for over a century, was as much a reason for his visit as his rumbling stomach. As a chef there was nothing her magic ovens couldn’t fix you. The tall man had a love for food. In the field he often ate crap mortal fast-food combined with his ration packs. It was enough to get by, but while at HQ he would feast. Deb greeted him with a warm smile and a plate full of his favorites. Looking her over, as he always did, he couldn’t remember what was more appetizing her or the meal.
“Your home sugar, sure missed you aro
und here.” When she spoke, in her southern belle accent, Thomas felt something akin to home at his core. She wasn’t his girl. He had lived too many lifetimes to want ownership of a woman. Even if he had, he wasn’t too sure if Deb would accept. One thing he knew for certain is they enjoyed each other when he was home. At 5’6 the fair skinned thick bodied voluptuous woman made him forget the fatigue he was fighting off.
“You got a man these days Deb?” The question he asked every time he came home. It seemed no amount of practice could ease the feeling in his stomach as he awaited her answer.
“I have my friends sugar, but have you ever cared about that?” As they locked eyes they both knew the answer. “Don’t you go worrying about me just yet. Eat. I put extra energy into your food. It will help you recover. And when you get to that pie over there, well there’s something extra in it too for me.” She winked at him. Not that he needed the boost, but Deb knew everything about food. She infused her meals with blood and mana. A special gift of hers. Human food alone did little for immortal bodies. They mainly curbed the lifelong impulse to eat. The rations each field operative received had the mana and blood they actually needed for sustenance. Looking her over once again Thomas let the words slip out, “I’ll be sleep for days.” The implication that they should meet up before he rest was clear. But she just shrugged.
“I’ve been waiting on your for a year. A few days is fine darling. Eat. Recover. You’ll need that energy for me sugar.” She winked again before turning her back and heading into the kitchen. The food Deb prepared smelled heavenly, if you believed in that stuff. Even immortals had their own views of the after after life. Still calling the meal divine was the best way he could put it. BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, beef brisket, mashed potatoes, yams, greens, sweet corn, and a few other things. Deb knew him well, too well. If he hadn’t been married once, perhaps he’d try with her. He shook the thought away. As he finished his tray of food he slipped his spare key onto the tray. A custom of theirs. She was the only soul allowed to go as she pleased in his quarters. Not even the general walked freely into Thomas’s room. Returning to the labyrinth of hallways it took him ten minutes to find the lift down. Once he entered the living quarters he walked the familiar path of twist and turns into his room. Finally he was home. He barely took in his room before he passed out on the king size mattress. A brief moment before he slipped into darkness, he flipped the switch to the energy field. He wasn’t your average immortal. The energy cage kept everyone else safe while he rested. Otherwise his dreams could make things dangerous for those around him. He missed the low hum of the field. After a year away he was ready for a long sleep.
31
Chapter 31
Tye sat in his cell. It was dark and quiet aside from the voices in his mind. Even they had stopped screaming for some time. He knew they would return. He knew he would keep reliving that moment. Laying on the floor in a pool of blood he clutched the necklace, and thought of Mari. If only he hadn’t been so weak. If only she had trained him. He walked a thin line in his mind between anger and loss. She knew so many things. She could have trained him like her family trained her. She could have warned him about more types of monsters. When that thing attacked him, and took on his shape he was completely unprepared. His stomachs tight knots and constant nausea weren’t helping. Hot tears streamed down his face. He had long since thought his tear ducts would dry, but with each new warm trail down his cold skin he was proven wrong. So he sat, and held the necklace. He sat, and waited for the screams to return. He sat, and focused on Mari. Good or bad, he kept his thoughts on her. Julianne had told him to do so. Alter ego or intense second job or whatever else she had going on didn’t matter. He trusted Julianne. He believed she cared about him. His mind flashed to her licking the blood from each finger. He shook the thought. He focused on Mari. He lost himself in the first kiss they shared at the pool. She swam over to him. He wasn’t expecting it. As she got closer to him his heart beat thumping harder against his chest. He remembered his hands feeling wet, but not from the pool. As she rose out of the water, her one piece sagged showing the cleavage or her large breast. He didn’t look away, and she smirked at him. She put her mouth to his ear and whispered, “you let me die.” The water around her turned crimson. The pool was quickly turning red. Her eyes widened as a hand pulled her underneath. It wasn’t a hand, but instead the claw of a beast grabbed her. She began to drown. The blood flowing into her mouth as she gasped and reached for him. He couldn’t move. His body was dead weight. As he looked around he realized he wasn’t sitting on the edge of the pool anymore. He was hoisted into the air. A claw impaling his shoulder. The blood from the pool was his. His blood. Her blood. He screamed. The screams returned. This cell was torture. How much more of this could he take?
32
Chapter 32
Ashley just wanted to get home. She couldn’t accept the day she had, or the things she’d seen. She was half sure she was having some sort of psychotic break. And those police or whatever they were from that cell, they must think she’s crazy too. She couldn’t have heard them right. They wanted her to die, and become immortal. She didn’t know what kind of Dracula filled acid trip she was on, but she was almost certain when she got to her bed she’ll wake up from this nightmare. The only tragic thing that might have happened is having unprotected sex with her lost roommate Justin. He had to have drugged her. He wasn’t a rapist. He must have offered her strong drugs. She couldn’t remember that, but there was no way this day was real. This was some hardcore drug and Netflix fueled reality break. Oh god she hoped no one had videos. She would die. As she walked down the road it was silent, save her thoughts and the click of her scuffed pink heels. Although not fluorescent, her matching pink skirt was bright enough for cars to spot her and drive around. She didn’t think this was real, but she didn’t want to get hit by a car in this shitty acid trip either. She kept thinking about that lady telling her she wouldn’t be safe. Maybe her subconscious mind was warning her about her party behaviors. She was a psychology student. She would make sense of this once she snapped out of it. This could be a great story to use as a therapy tool one day. She kept walking down the empty street, until something dashed across the street lamp nearest her. Pausing Ashley looked around for a bird or something. She didn’t see anything alarming. She began walking again, but at a slightly faster pace. That’s it Ashley, no more drugs for you she thought. Another shadow crossed a street lamp then vanished. She stopped. Leaning down she unbuckled her heels. Resuming her walk barefoot she increased her pace even more. As she walked faster and faster she looked for signs of anything. The street lamps were darkened by something, but all she could see was shadow. As soon as she glimpsed darkness it vanished before her eyes. Nervousness and fear gripped her. Remembering this was a dream, became her only consolation. Her body took flight after another shadow appeared and vanished. She could see lights up ahead. She could see people and cars in the far distance. Little more than specs in her vision, but she could tell what they were. Just a little further and she could get some help. Another shadow appeared in the street lamp closest to her. This time it didn’t vanish. As the dark figure walked towards her she froze. She didn’t run or scream. She just froze. As her body turned to stone from fear, the shadow grew closer and closer. Even when it was mere inches from her face all she could see was shadow. A shrieking high pitched voice slipped from the darkness. “You were saved little girl, and yet you refused the help it seems. Stupid girl. Stupid stupid filthy girl. And look at your clothes. Should you be dressed so whorelike walking alone in this alley. Foolish foolish girl.” A man emerged from the shadow. A wide grin strapped to his face as he pushed Ashley against a building wall.
“This isn’t real. This is some acid trip gone wrong. Fuck you.” She spat in the man’s face, but her legs and arms remained stone.
“Oh I’m not real, you say. Pointing a finger at her neck, she watched as it elongated into a needle. It grew until it pierced her neck sending a s
mall stream of blood trickling down towards her chest. The man kept his distance but this time his tongue grew and extended. Starting at her breast he licked from her cleavage to her neck puncture wound. He let the blood trickle back down before he licked again. His other finger nails turned to elongated needles creating more blood for him to lap up. Her body remained stone. “What’s wrong? Does this not feel real enough?” She spat in his face once more. This time however the man gripped her throat. His needle like fingers morphing into an oversized hand. Violently slamming her into the wall he screamed, “is it real now stupid bitch?” With one swipe downward her clothes were ripped open exposing her. The fresh wound sliced down her torso was leaking blood. The elongated tongue lapping it up as quickly as it gushed from her. The oversized hand spun her around this time. Taking in her flesh as he groped her. He sliced down her backside. Ripping her clothes away as he lapped up the blood. With each swipe of his needles he created more blood to lick up. In the alley naked and bleeding she remained frozen. She didn’t scream. She watched as she was torn limb from limb. Finally done playing with his food the shadow man’s head grew fur. As the fur grew, his features shifted from man to beast. Staring at Ashley wasn’t shadow or man, but a giant wolf’s head on a man’s body. With this transformation she found her voice. As she opened her mouth to scream the beast covered her mouth with a human hand. Then with one giant snap of his jaws he took her head. Drinking in the rest of her blood he felt satisfied, before returning to shadow and vanishing into the night.
