Deep in Your Shadows

by Darien Cox

  The creature took one hobbled step, then pointed a long finger at Christian. “Whites. Words for Whites.” He wiped a glob of mud off his garment and flicked it to the floor. “Dirt. Scum. Shit. Fuck-hole. Filth.”

  Cuervo let out a whimper, then a soft bark.

  Christian and Myles glanced toward the hallway. “Can I please close this door?” Christian asked. “So my dog will stay safe in the other room while we talk?”

  The creature’s big eyes narrowed.

  “Please.”

  The creature didn’t move, so Christian stepped to the left, and closed the door. They heard Cuervo whimper again, and Christian let out a hard breath. “Thank you.”

  “Whites speak to...of...me? Us?”

  Christian stepped back in front of Myles. “No. You were never mentioned. The Greys? They were mentioned. Not a word about you, though. Why, do you know the Whites?”

  The creature shrieked, and a glass jar tumbled off the shelf and hit the floor. Myles’ heart thudded in his chest. What the fuck is this thing?

  “I guess that’s a yes. I can see it makes you angry. You have bad blood with the Whites, don’t you?”

  “Blood. For Whites. Blood. Death.”

  “Yeah. Real bad blood,” Christian said. “Did they do something to you?”

  The creature slapped his own chest. “Hurt. Always hurt. Hurt all.” He pointed at Christian. “Return to all, me. Ship go. Now.”

  Myles blinked, seeing smoke at the entrance to the kitchen. “Christian,” he whispered.

  “I know, Myles,” Christian said softly. “It’s okay.”

  Myles stared as the smoke thickened.

  “Ship go now!” the creature shrieked. “Or death. You. This.” He pointed to Myles on the floor. “Dog.” He lunged at Christian, wincing as his bad foot hit the floor. “Start with this.” He pointed at Myles. “Make bleed.”

  “All right!” Christian said. “I’ll help you find the ship.”

  The creature’s shoulders sagged, a breath leaving his lips. The smoke from the kitchen drifted closer, filling the living room behind him.

  “Come.” He reached a long arm out, white fingers beckoning to Christian as a wall of smoke edged up behind him. “Come.”

  Christian took a step toward him, then stopped. He reached his arm out to the creature. “It’s this way. Take my hand.”

  “Come! Ship go! Come now!”

  “Take my hand and I’ll lead you. We need to go out the back. That’s where the ship is. In the woods out back.”

  The creature’s white brows pinched in a scowl.

  “You’re injured. Take my hand. I’ll lead you. I promise. I know you can hurt me, I won’t try anything. I was lying to you before. I know exactly where your ship is. It’s still perfectly intact. It’s not even that far. Just well-hidden.”

  “Ship go now?”

  “Yes, we’ll go now. Come. Take my hand. I’ll show you.”

  Finally, it reached for Christian’s hand.

  As soon as their fingers made contact, Christian’s other fist connected with its nose, then his leg moved in a lightning-fast blur, kicking the tall figure in the chest, sending him stumbling backwards.

  “Christian!” Myles shouted.

  Christian ran to Myles and squatted down.

  The creature whirled around as the smoke engulfed him. The shriek that left him rattled the windows as he fought against the smoke, which closed in on him like a white tornado.

  Myles saw arms reaching, a quick glimpse of the creature’s face as it thrashed and fought, trying to escape from whatever force held it. Then the screaming stopped and the figure was blotted from sight.

  The misty funnel churned from ceiling to floor for several seconds, faded, then disappeared. It, and the creature, were gone.

  “Holy fuck.” Christian fell back onto his ass, letting out a hard breath. He raised his arms. “Thank you, Whites, you beautiful, creepy, fuck-hole motherfuckers!” Christian wrapped his arms around Myles. “Are you all right? Can you move?”

  Myles kicked his legs. They were numb and tingly, but he was able to move them, which was a vast improvement. “I’m getting there. Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine. Just gonna have a few bruises.”

  “What the fuck was that?” Myles asked. “The smoke.”

  “It’ll take some time to explain. But whoever you called likely led to it.”

  “I texted Darwyn, and told him to get Ogden.”

  “You probably just saved our fucking lives.”

  “Me? You’ve got balls of steel, Boucher. What the fuck was that therapy session you pulled on him?”

  “Just buying us some time, like you asked.”

  “It could have backfired. You were getting him pissed off.”

  Christian smiled. “It didn’t backfire. We live to fight another day.”

  “I need a beer.”

  Christian laughed so hard he wiped tears from his eyes. “I’ve never heard you say that before.”

  “I’ve never been slammed against a wall and threatened with spontaneous internal bleeding before. Though even while that was happening, I was more worried about you, Boucher.”

  Christian grinned. “Oh, I’m Boucher again now?”

  “Sorry. I switched into sheriff mode.” He stroked Christian’s cheek. “I was worried about you, Christian.”

  Christian sighed, eyes closing. “Likewise, believe me. Thank God you sent that message.”

  Someone pounded at the door. “Christian!”

  “That’s Ogden,” Christian said. He started to get up, but Myles grabbed his arm. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” Myles said. “I just...” I need you. I might even love you.

  “Myles, what is it?”

  “I just wanted to say...nice kick you got in at the end there.”

  Christian chuckled. “My fighting skills come in handy once in a while.”

  Ogden pounded on the door again. “Go get it,” Myles said.

  Christian got up and ran to the door, unlocking and opening it.

  Three soldiers charged into the room, loaded with weapons.

  “We’re okay.” Christian raised his hands. “It’s gone.”

  Ogden stepped in, and behind him, JT, Elliot, Nolan, and finally, Darwyn. “Gone?” Ogden asked. “Fled, or gone?”

  “Gone,” Christian said. “White mist. Sure looked like the Whites’ handiwork. They took him. And not a moment too soon.”

  Ogden let out a heavy sigh, closing his eyes. “Thank God.”

  “Murph.” Darwyn ran to Myles. “Are you hurt?”

  “I’ll live. Help me up.”

  JT grabbed Christian in a tight hug. “Is it gone?”

  “It’s gone,” Christian said.

  “I’ve never been that scared before.” JT trembled as he held him. “We got hold of Baz when the sheriff sent Darwyn the text. I was afraid we’d be too late. Did it hurt you?”

  “Only a little,” Christian said.

  “It threw you across the room,” Myles said as Darwyn helped him to his feet. “You hit a wall. That’s not ‘only a little’.”

  JT’s face pinched in concern.

  “I’m fine, JT.”

  Ogden consulted with his soldiers, who spread through the house, checking the rooms. Myles leaned against Darwyn as he led him to the couch.

  “My dog,” Christian said. “Where’s my dog?”

  One of the soldiers carried Cuervo into the room. “The dog was limping.”

  “She’ll be okay.” Christian took Cuervo from the soldier, kissing her head. Cuervo’s tail wagged. “She’s okay.”

  “What happened to the fugitive?” Darwyn asked.

  The room fell silent. Seemed they’d all nearly forgotten Darwyn was the only one not filled in about the origins of ‘the fugitive’.

  Myles locked eyes with Ogden. Ogden tensed, but when Myles remained silent, he walked over and sat beside Darwyn. “Some of my team got here ahead of us.
He’s been taken into custody.”

  Darwyn scowled. “How’d they get here before us?”

  “They were close by. I called them.”

  Darwyn looked at Myles. “Is that what happened?”

  Myles had a decision to make. Tell Darwyn the truth and risk the fallout. Or lie, and step over the line into the shadows. Which was really the only choice. He was already there. “Yeah.” He nodded. “What Ogden said. They came in through the back, got him subdued quickly, then took him away.”

  Ogden breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Who are the Whites?” Darwyn asked “Christian said something about the Whites’ handiwork.”

  “That’s what we call the team that got here first,” Ogden said.

  “You sure you’re not hurt, Murph?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Christian?” Ogden said. “Are you hurt?”

  “I’ll live. Just got thrown against the wall. Could have been worse.”

  “We’re all relieved. But we need to meet, all of you, my team, now. And...” He glanced at Myles. “And the sheriff.”

  “And me?” Darwyn said.

  “You’ve been beyond helpful, Deputy,” Ogden said. “Why don’t you head out, tend to things in the village.”

  “I don’t like this.” Darwyn leaned into Myles. “These assholes never answer a direct question,” he whispered. “Will you fill me in later?”

  “Of course. Go ahead. I’ll call you.”

  Once Darwyn left the house, Ogden stood and clapped his hands once. “There are cars outside. I want everyone at JT’s for a briefing.”

  “Why JT’s?” Christian asked. “We’re all here.”

  “Because Wiley is there.” JT rolled his eyes.

  “Oh,” Christian said. “Great.”

  Elliot snickered. “Rudy’s at the house too. Can you imagine how that conversation’s going?”

  “Unfortunately, I can,” JT said. “Let’s get over there before one of them kills the other.”

  Christian put Cuervo down, then sat next to Myles. “Can you walk?”

  “I think so. Christian...what was that smoke?”

  JT approached. “We’ll fill you in, Sheriff, I promise. And I have lots of beer.”

  “He was just saying he wants a beer!”

  Myles stood with Christian’s help. “Beer sounds incredible,” Myles said. “But whiskey sounds better.”

  “JT has whiskey too,” Christian said. “Lots of it.”

  JT smiled at Myles. “Thanks for saving the day. For keeping him safe.”

  “I think it was largely the other way around,” Myles said. “Your boy’s got some balls.”

  JT caught Myles in a hug, surprising him. “Glad you were here,” he whispered in Myles’ ear. “And I’m pretty sure he’s your boy now.”

  JT and the others trailed out of the house. Christian looked at Ogden. “Give us a minute, okay?”

  “Make it quick, Christian,” Ogden said, then left, closing the door behind him.

  Christian sighed, looking at Myles. “You really okay? Can you walk?”

  “My legs are tingling, but they’re holding me up all right.”

  “Myles...I want to tell you, you don’t have to do this.”

  “Do what?”

  “If Ogden wants you to come to JT’s for the briefing, it means he’s probably going to pull you aside. Give you the full story about why we’re here in the village. Probably make you sign an extended version of the nondisclosure agreement. You covered for us with Darwyn, Ogden likely deems you useful now. It’s going to be a lot to take in, and you already don’t believe most of what we’ve told you. You don’t have to be a part of this. You can cash your chips in now if you want, and just go on with your life.”

  “Christian.” Myles shook his head. “I just had my legs paralyzed by a being that I saw disappear in a funnel of smoke. Is it fucking with my head? Of course. But I can’t live with my head in the sand. I want to know all of it. If I’m going to stay in Singing Bear Village and do my job, I want to know all of it.”

  “So much for your quiet, contented life here, huh?”

  Myles shrugged. “You manage to live happily here. Don’t you? Despite this?”

  Christian smiled. “So you’re not gonna bolt? I was afraid you’d be on the road, burning rubber out of here as soon as it was over.”

  Myles’ thumb stroked Christian’s cheek. “The details are frightening. But I don’t scare easily. And there’s a benefit to being dragged into the light. Your shadows are lifting too. And now I can see you. I like what I see. I don’t want to crawl back into the dark.”

  Christian wrapped his arms around Myles’ shoulders. “Hearing that is everything I ever hoped for since meeting you. I just hope you don’t change your mind after Ogden takes you through the looking glass.”

  “If I’m living in a mad world,” Myles said, “I at least want to see it clearly.”

  “And I’ll be in that mad world with you.”

  Myles chuckled. “You and all your friends.”

  “Yeah.” Christian laughed. “You’re about to experience all of them with their guard down. I apologize in advance.”

  “As long as they still understand that I’m their sheriff, we’ll be fine. None of this means I’m going to take a back seat when it comes to the village’s safety.”

  “They’ve always shown you respect. That won’t change.”

  “Okay. Let’s go.”

  “I’ll have to call Rudy on the way,” Christian said. “Because I’m bringing Cuervo with me. Rudy’s cat will just have to deal with it.”

  Hearing her name, Cuervo approached, wagging her tail, no longer limping.

  Taking a deep breath, Myles went with them out to the car, the feeling slowly returning to his legs as he walked gingerly, leaning on Christian’s shoulder.

  As they drove through the village, Myles looked out the car window, marveling at the happy people strolling up and down the streets. Eva was back at her ice cream stand, in full wizard regalia. People played Frisbee on the beach. They know nothing. Nothing of what dwells in the shadows.

  And Myles was determined to keep it that way.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Smoky the cat had been let outside, while Cuervo napped upstairs on JT’s bed, so there was no drama in the animal world. JT’s kitchen, however, was alive with activity, voices laughing and shouting over each other. It was a nice sound, like a giant stress bubble had popped, releasing all the tension. Ogden had taken Myles off to speak alone in the spare room, which was now Rudy’s office. Rudy sat in a living room chair, feet up on an ottoman, tapping at a computer on his lap. Christian couldn’t imagine how he could concentrate. JT, Nolan, Elliot, and surprisingly, Wiley, were drinking beer at the kitchen table, their boisterous voices hard to ignore.

  Christian sat on the floor in front of Rudy, and tossed a peanut at him, which bounced off his head. “What are you working on?”

  “An article,” Rudy said, without looking up.

  “How can you concentrate with all this noise?” Christian tossed another peanut at him, which landed on his chest. Rudy brushed it away casually.

  “I learned to tune obnoxious noise out when I lived in Boston, otherwise I’d have gotten nothing done.”

  “I guess. I’ve been throwing peanuts at you and you’ve barely noticed.”

  “Have you? Sorry, I’m in the zone.”

  “You’re so Zen. Nolan flips out when I throw things at him.”

  “Nolan’s probably got ’roid rage.” Rudy stretched, then set his laptop aside. “You want a beer?”

  “I’ll get it.”

  “No, sit, Christian. You’re the one who got attacked by an alien today.”

  “Thanks, Rudy. I should get attacked by aliens more often.”

  “Please don’t. Be right back.”

  Christian glanced toward the closed door, wondering if Myles was all right in there with Ogden. Ogden asked Christian not to be present
. He’d argued, but Myles placated him, assuring that he could handle it on his own. It wasn’t that Christian didn’t think Myles was tough. But if Ogden was telling him all about the Whites, their past encounters, the base in the mountains? It would be a lot to take in for anyone, no matter how tough. And Christian cared so deeply for Myles he didn’t want him to experience any anxiety. This was something Christian hadn’t experienced outside of his friend circle in a long time. Caring for someone else above himself.

  Something cold and wet splashed against Christian’s face, and he yelped, jumping to his feet. “What the fuck!”

  Rudy doubled over, laughing, as Christian wiped his face, his hand coming away with a glob of vanilla pudding. “You fucker!”

  Rudy slung his arm over Christian’s shoulder and licked his cheek. “Stop throwing peanuts at me, bro.” He handed Christian a bottle of Sam Adams. “Here’s your beer.”

  Laughing, Christian wiped his face. “I need a napkin.”

  The door to the spare room opened and Ogden and Myles stepped out. Myles stopped short when he saw Christian. “What the hell is on your face?”

  “It’s pudding,” Christian said “Rudy smashed it on me.”

  “Oh.” Myles approached, a smile on his face, which reassured Christian. “I was afraid the party had gotten a little out of bounds here.”

  Rudy chuckled. “It’s just pudding, I promise, Sheriff. No one came on Christian’s face while you were away.”

  “Who came on Christian’s face?” Elliot called over. “No fair, I wanna come on Christian’s face too.”

  “Oh, me too,” Nolan said. “Sheriff, may we come on Christian’s face?”

  “Jesus!” Christian shook his head, then went and got a napkin off the table. “You guys are like a bunch of little kids showing off for the new guy.”

  “Please,” Nolan said. “We’re just being ourselves. If anyone’s being pretentious it’s you, Christian, trying to act all proper and offended in front of Myles.”

  “I take back what I said at the boathouse,” Christian said to Nolan. “I don’t love you.”

  “Good,” Nolan said. “It was too much pressure to love you back.”

  “Okay, guys,” Ogden said. “If you’re all done having food fights, I’ve just brought the sheriff up to speed on our professional organization, so try to act like professionals. I’d like us all to head downstairs to discuss current events and moving forward.”