Ghosts of Perigord

by Marc Lindsay

  Jason leaned over and peered down giving the two girls waiting at the bottom the thumbs up. Without pause Selene stepped back and unstrapped her bow from over her shoulder, notching an arrow from the quiver around her waist a length of rope was attached to its nock. Selene took aim at the roof and let loose, the arrow flew true with a mighty thomp, its trajectory taking it over the lip of the eaves. Jason was waiting and caught the arrow with his lightning reflexes.

  As soon as the arrow had disappeared from view Selene started to tie the other end of the rope around Wendy’s waist. She then felt the ropes tautness telling her that Jason had the other end, Selene took a hold of the rope and began her ascent up. Since her change Selene’s strength and agility had increased ten-fold, scaling the side of the building proved no challenge at all. As Selene was climbing towards the roof Jason had begun to pull Wendy up as well, hand over hand her limp form slowly rising in a jerky stop motion manner.

  Selene was the first to appear over the edge of the roof, nimbly pulling herself up she gave Jason a huge grin indicating her enjoyment at the exertion. Jason grunted back as he continued to pull Wendy up, if he was struggling with the weight he appeared not to show it. A few seconds later Wendy joined them, Selene helping the younger girl to her feet. Wendy looked down and swooned as a bout of vertigo hit her. Selene pulled her away from the edge.

  ‘Are you going to be okay?’ Selene asked concerned.

  ‘Whoa. It wasn’t so bad flying with Jason but standing here now, I just feel vulnerable and a little bit wobbly,’ Wendy said frustrated. Selene felt sorry for her, it wasn’t that long ago that she too had been in that same position.

  They walked towards the centre of the building, Selene was helping Wendy who was having trouble navigating the pitch in the roof.

  They knelt at the ledge and peered down towards the open courtyard, a beautiful gardened area with a statue as its centre piece. Overall the statue stood about seven feet in height, six foot of which was solely the base. The goblin at the top was a mere foot in height, its ankles shackled to the rock base. The detail was incredible, every vein and muscle could be clearly seen, as was the creatures face which was contorted in rage, its large hands were held up and clenched. Not in a peaceable manner. The statue was surrounded by lights not that much different than those on the perimeter only more decorative, however they also appeared to be giving off the same level of heat as the others. Apart from the statue the rest of the courtyard was cast in darkness.

  They watched patiently for several minutes observing the area for its security measures.

  ‘Is it me or does that statue look different?’ Selene asked.

  ‘I was just thinking the same thing,’ Jason replied.

  ‘We need to get a better look. Can you see anything we should be concerned of?’ Selene asked. Jason stared at the courtyard for a minute before replying.

  ‘I’ve just scanned it with a variety of light perception visuals currently at my disposal, infrared, ultraviolet, x-ray and even radio waves,’ Jason said.

  ‘Anything?’ Selene asked.

  ‘Nothing, except…’

  ‘Except what?’ ‘There’s nothing I can see down there that should concern us, but the goblin statue is giving off some funky colours,’ Jason said.

  ‘What does that mean?’ Selene asked.

  ‘I think it means that the centre of that statue is not rock but something else entirely,’ Wendy interjected

  ‘Let’s take a closer look shall we,’ Jason suggested.

  With no surveillance seen Jason grabbed both girls and glided carefully down into the courtyard, mindful to land in one of the darkened corners. They advanced slowly, Jason scanning the area before them. They passed the lights and moved towards the statue.

  ‘You’re right the statue has changed, I took a photo during the excursion and the goblin was in a completely different pose,’ Wendy said.

  ‘What does your vision show you now?’ Selene asked.

  ‘I don’t know what to make of it, other than to say that whatever is encased in the rock is alive,’ Jason said.

  ‘And what’s the go with the lights?’ Wendy said as she moved towards one of the spotlights placing a hand on it.

  ‘Wait. Don’t,’ Selene said, calling out to the younger girl. As soon as Wendy touched the spotlight, Jason doubled over in agony clutching his ears in pain.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ Selene asked, rushing to Jason’s side. The pain had gotten so bad that it had forced Jason to revert back to his human form. The concentration required to maintain a form eluding him.

  ‘Jason please, tell me what’s wrong?’ Selene asked again. The pain appeared to have subsided, Jason slowly got to his feet.

  ‘You two didn’t hear that?’ Jason asked. Both girls shook their heads.

  ‘Hear what?’ Selene asked.

  ‘You’re telling me you didn’t just hear that ear piercing alarm, a second ago,’ Jason said.

  ‘Interesting. Jason can you change back into that gargoyle form again?’ Wendy asked.

  ‘Why?’ Jason asked.

  ‘Humour me?’ Wendy asked. Jason shrugged and started to change, part way through he doubled over again in pain, his transformation halted he reverted back to human. Despite the cold a sweat had broken out on Jason’s brow, his breathing was hard.

  ‘What the hell is that?’ Jason asked.

  ‘I’m sorry, I think I tripped an alarm when I touched the light. We need to get out of here now!’ Wendy said urgently. As if on cue they heard a growling sound coming from the other side of the courtyard.

  ‘Oh #$%*,’ Selene said as they turned towards the menacing figure approaching. Within seconds two more joined it. They looked like dogs at a first glance only bigger, their withers were the same height as Wendy. Their winter coats were thick and shaggy, yet despite that and the fact that they were half in the shadows Jason could see the raw power and muscle bred into the beasts. The dogs slowly advanced towards them, the whites of their eyes and teeth prominent in the dark. Selene notched an arrow and drew a bead on one of the dogs.

  ‘Don’t shoot,’ Jason whispered,’

  ‘What do you want me to use. Harsh words,’ Selene said through gritted teeth.

  ‘It’s not their fault, they’re only doing what they’ve been trained to do,’ Jason said, as they all instinctively started to step back.

  ‘They weren’t here before,’ Wendy said.

  ‘But they are now. Stay behind me. Jason can you do your thing?’ Selene asked. Jason attempted several more times as they slowly retreated each time the pain from the alarm causing him to revert back.

  ‘I’m sorry I can’t,’ Jason said.

  ‘You don’t understand,’ Wendy said.

  ‘Understand what?’ Selene said slightly irritated by the constant questions from the younger girl, especially under their current circumstances.

  ‘The dogs weren’t here, but now they are,’ Wendy said placing emphasis on the latter.

  ‘She’s right. If they got in here then there must be another way out,’ Jason said. Trying to look past them into the darkness. ‘I can’t see anything without changing.’

  ‘I think I can see something, wait a second…,’ Selene trailed off. Then shifting her aim she let loose with a shot, the arrow sailing far to the right of the dogs, striking the stand of one of the spotlights. The light toppled on its side and landed on a shrub, its new trajectory illuminating the area where the dogs had appeared from.

  ‘Will you look at that,’ Jason muttered. On the far side of the courtyard against the wall was a small archway, barely a metre high and half that wide. ‘Good shot, babe. That’s our way out.’

  ‘We still have to get past them though,’ Wendy said. During this time, they had been slowly backing up, only now they were out of room, their backs against the wall with the dogs still advancing.

  ‘I could make a run for it, hopefully lead them away,’ Selene hinted.

  ‘No. That’s not even
an option,’ Jason said firmly. He motioned for the two girls to get behind him, which Selene did reluctantly.

  ‘You can’t hope to hold them off without changing,’ Selene said with concern.

  Jason’s frame started to fill out, both in height and muscular bulk. He grew at least a foot and gained an extra 40 pounds of size before letting out a grunt of exertion, which was followed by his shrinking a couple of inches and dropping five pounds.

  ‘Are you alright?’ Selene asked. Jason turned back quickly, his face flushed from the effort.

  ‘I’m fine, this is the best I can do without the silent alarm affecting me,’ Jason said in a deep voice. The dogs growled again. ‘On my word grab Wendy and make a break for the exit, I’ll be right behind you.’

  Selene was about to argue.

  ‘NOW!’ Jason yelled and rushed the dogs. Selene grabbed Wendy by the arm and pulled her hard to the left running the length of the courtyard towards the small exit. Jason’s tactic worked, the dogs sensing him as the main aggressor, howled and charged, all except one who turned to pursue the girls.

  Jason was able to duck under the first dog who leapt at him and collided with the wall, knocking itself cold. The second dog however stayed low then leapt at the last minute, its open jaws aimed at Jason’s throat, defensively he brought his forearm up in an attempt to protect his face. The giant guard dog bit down with the strength of a pack of pit bulls, its jaw locking down refusing to let go.

  The girls felt rather than saw the dog racing after them, then they heard Jason scream out in agony. Selene stopped in her tracks and turned in his direction. The first thing she saw was Jason on his back and a dog on top its teeth tearing into his arm. The second thing she saw was the other dog bearing down on them the excitement of the hunt blazing in its eyes, it leapt.

  The next few seconds were a kind of blur. The dog was airborne, Selene tried to free her bow but was too slow, then she noticed Wendy reach out with a hand towards their attacker and a flash of light erupted from her fingertips, actually it was more like an explosion of pure silver energy which struck the dog head on. The dog fell to the ground with a satisfying yelp, it tried to get to its feet but appeared to have great difficulty in the task, whining loudly and shaking its head from side to side as if it was having trouble seeing.

  As this happened, the dog that was having a meal of Jason’s arm turned to see what was causing his brother distress. This was the distraction Jason had been looking for. With his one good arm he brought up his fist with all his might, connecting with a perfect uppercut, the dog’s jaws slammed together, its eyes rolling back in its head. With a bit of effort, he was able to shift the weight of the dog off his, and slowly get to his feet.

  ‘JASON!’ Selene called out, he looked around, the pain in his arm making it hard to concentrate. He followed the girl’s voices, staggering towards them. Their immediate threats having been neutralised, the girls raced to Jason’s side, helping him towards the exit.

  The exit led through a dark tunnel a small point of light at its end, due to its size the girls struggled with Jason, his height being a hindrance in the confined quarters. They all breathed a sigh of relief when they came out the other side. Leaning Jason up against the wall Selene took a bearing of their current location.

  ‘I can’t see any cameras or dogs, I think we’re at the rear of the building,’ Selene said. At that moment the sound of more dogs howling could be heard in the distance. ‘We need to get out of here, Jason’s losing a lot of blood.’

  ‘We’ve still got to get through two fences,’ Wendy said.

  ‘I think I can get us through,’ Jason said gasping through the pain.

  ‘Let me look at your arm,’ Selene ordered. Jason lifted it up, wincing heavily. The arm was a mess, multiple lacerations had completely torn up all the flesh for nearly ten inches on the inside of his forearm, blood was flooding out. ‘It’s a bloody mess.’

  ‘Thanks for keeping me calm,’ Jason said, attempting a smile.

  ‘Sorry, do you think you can concentrate and make a bandage?’ Selene asked.

  ‘I didn’t even think of that,’ Jason said. Wendy was about to ask the obvious question when the ragged cloth around his arm melted around the wound, solidifying and forming a bandage.

  ‘That’s a little better,’ Jason grunted.

  ‘What the hell was that,’ Wendy said, staring on in amazement.

  ‘I’ll tell you later, okay,’ Selene said, Wendy nodded dumbly. ‘Are you able to move?’

  ‘I’ll be good,’ Jason confirmed.

  ‘Good then let’s go,’ Selene said. The three of them took off towards the closest fence line, ensuring they stuck to the darkness and away from the surveillance cameras. Wendy was staying close to Jason with Selene taking the point.

  ‘How are we going to get over the fence with Jason hurt?’ Wendy asked. ‘I honestly don’t know,’ Selene said, looking for a weakness in the system they could exploit, then both girls gave a guilty glance towards Jason who shook his head in response.

  ‘I’ve been trying to change ever since we cleared the tunnel, but that retched noise is out here too,’ Jason lamented. Just then a dog’s howl sounded in the distance. ‘Ah crap. I don’t know if I have the strength to hold off any more of those land sharks.’

  ‘I didn’t want to, but if it comes down to it, rather them than us,’ Selene said, leaving no doubt to her meaning.

  ‘No! That’s not fair? They never asked to be put in this situation, we shouldn’t have come,’ Wendy said distressed.

  ‘I know, but we can’t just stand idly by and wait to be mauled,’ Jason said trying to reassure the younger girl.

  ‘I’ll make it painless, plus the arrows will be gone by morning, so no evidence,’ Selene said, taking a knee and adopting a firer’s position.

  ‘This is my fault,’ Wendy babbled. The howls were getting closer, so was the young girl’s anxiety, she turned to Jason. We have to try something. I don’t want the dogs to die because of us!’

  ‘I don’t know what else we can do, without risking harm to us?’ Jason said.

  ‘Here they come,’ Selene announced. They turned to see the dogs rounding the far end of the building. Four in total and built like the last three, they raced towards them and possibly certain death.

  ‘No, no, no, no,’ Wendy cried, closing her eyes, she waited for the slaughter to commence, one way or another.

  The dogs were nearly upon them, Selene stood as steady as a rock her fingers taunt on the bow’s string, she had the lead dog dead in her sights and was about to release when the ground around them started to shake. Her grip slipped and the arrow went high.

  ‘What the hell?’ Selene grunted as the ground continued to pitch back and forth violently. The dogs halted their advance as well and were whining uneasily.

  ‘If I didn’t know any better…’ Jason’s voice trailed off. His attention now on Wendy. She was sitting cross legged her hands on her knees in the lotus position. Wendy was whispering something Jason couldn’t make out. But what really got his attention was her hair and face, blowing wildly about as if she were in the middle of a hurricane, a dim light seemed to be emanating from the centre of her being, casting her serene face in an ethereal glow.

  ‘Ah, Selene, I think we have a problem,’ Jason said.

  ‘I know, I know, if they come any closer, I’ll let them have it,’ Selene said, trying to maintain her balance and take aim at the same time.

  ‘No Sel, look at Wendy,’ Jason said urgently.

  ‘This isn’t the time to….’ Selene turned around and stopped mid-sentence.

  ‘Like I said, we have a problem,’ Jason confirmed. The earthquake was getting worse as was Wendy’s whispering, that had now turned to a loud deep chanting. ‘I think this is her doing.’

  ‘What is she saying? Is that Latin?’ Selene asked, but only received a shrug from Jason in return.

  ‘More importantly, how is she doing it?’ Jason asked. The intensit
y in the tremors and chanting increased to a crescendo. The ground started to break open creating a large zig-zag pattern in the earth. It moved under the fence, tearing it apart in a shower of sparks.

  ‘Holy shit, whatever she’s doing, is working,’ Selene said incredulously.

  ‘Wendy, you can stop now,’ Jason said. The young girl continued to chant. The vibrations getting worse. ‘C’mon Wendy that’s enough.’ Jason’s words appeared to have no effect. ‘I said that’s enough,’ Jason said loudly grasping Wendy by the shoulders, her eyes flew open, but only the whites were visible, her chanting never wavering. An unseen force striking Jason in the chest, knocking him on his back. Apart from a look of shock he appeared unhurt. Selene who had watched the incident unfold, shook herself into action. Wendy also appeared unfazed, her voice now filled with static giving it an otherworldly quality, her light from within growing brighter and brighter as her form slowly lifted from the ground still in the lotus position.

  Selene decided to use the direct approach standing to her front with one hand raised she grit her teeth and thought ‘This is going to hurt’ then struck the younger girl hard across the face. There was a backlash of energy as both girls were thrown in opposite directions. Selene was the first to her feet assisted by Jason, they advanced slowly towards Wendy, who was lying on her side moaning softly. Selene cast a quick look towards the dogs but they were now nowhere to be seen, the earthquake and subsequent light show stripping them of their last vestiges of bravery. ‘Thank God’ Selene thought as they moved slowly towards the younger girl.

  ‘Wendy are you alright?’ Jason asked cautiously, there was no answer. They were right beside her now, Wendy’s back to them.

  ‘Wendy can you hear me?’ Selene asked. Jason reached out a hand and shook her gently.

  ‘Wendy are you….’

  The younger girl sat bolt upright. Jason and Selene who were wound pretty tight already jumped back a step, half expecting her to continue on with her exorcist audition. She shook the cobwebs from her head, her glow now gone and eyes looking normal again.