Cryptid Quest: A Supernatural Thriller (The John Decker Supernatural Thriller Series Book 8)

by Anthony M. Strong

  The rest of the group was behind Decker now, moving toward the rear of the dry dock, beyond the creature’s reach.

  “Come on, man,” Ward said, grabbing Decker’s arm and dragging him backwards. “You can’t fight that thing.”

  The creature reared higher out of the water, its body slamming into the dry dock gates. They shuddered and groaned but held firm.

  A serpentine neck snaked into the tunnel and blocked Decker and Ward’s retreat. The Hydra’s head reared toward them. A pair of yellow eyes observed the two men with unblinking fascination. Then it swept sideways, knocking Ward off his feet.

  Decker lunged forward, grabbing Ward’s arms even as the creature closed its jaws on the commander’s flailing legs and dragged him back toward the water where other heads waited, eager to tear him apart.

  “No!” Cassie left the main group and rushed forward; spear held high. In the flickering light from the torches, her khaki shirt dirty and torn, face contorted in anger, she looked like some sort of avenging Amazonian warrior.

  “Don’t let go,” Ward said, grimacing in pain as the creature bit down on his leg.

  “Not a chance,” Decker replied. He redoubled his efforts, gripping the commander’s arms even tighter. But he could feel his grip slipping. He was no match for the Hydra’s strength.

  Then Cassie let the spear go with a mighty cry.

  It sailed through the air, a six-foot-long sliver of wood and metal that looked puny compared to the monstrosity rearing above them. But then it hit home with a meaty whump, embedding itself in the attacking head’s left eye.

  A perfect shot.

  The beast howled and recoiled, releasing commander Ward.

  Decker dragged him backwards and helped him to his feet. He grimaced, keeping his injured leg raised.

  The Hydra smashed into the dry dock doors a second time, trying to break through and follow the retreating group. Another head atop a long neck shot forward.

  But Decker and Cassie were already backing up, supporting the injured commander between them.

  The head gnashed at the empty space they had occupied moments before, but it could no longer reach them.

  Decker breathed a sigh of relief and looked around, taking stock. The tunnel beyond the dry-docked ship’s bow dead-ended in a wall built of enormous stone blocks. Inset into this was the archway Cassie had mentioned earlier, barred by a metal gate. All he could see inside was swirling darkness. He would prefer not to venture inside there unless absolutely necessary. Who knew what other horrors lurked within?

  The Hydra, frustrated, pulled all five heads back and watched them silently, long necks undulating like a slithering nest of enormous snakes. Its heads swayed from side to side. The movement was almost hypnotic. Cassie’s spear had dislodged from its eye and was nowhere to be seen. Decker could not tell how much damage the spear had done, but he hoped it was enough to keep the multi-headed beast at bay.

  “What do you think it’s doing?” Emma asked.

  “Looks like it’s trying to decide which one of us will taste best,” Rory replied.

  “It’s already gotten a taste of me,” Ward grumbled through his pain. “I sure hope it didn’t like the flavor.”

  Decker glanced down at the commander’s wound, where the Hydra had bitten down. His pants leg was shredded and bloody, and Decker could see puncture wounds in the skin beneath, but the man’s foot was still there. This was a good sign. “It doesn’t look too bad from here.”

  “Guys?” Rory pointed toward the Hydra. “I think it’s giving up.”

  Decker looked back toward the tunnel’s entrance. The creature was still waiting beyond the dry dock gates, but was now slowly descending back into the water. First one had disappeared beneath the surface, and then another, until only one remained. It watched them for a few moments longer. Then the Hydra gave one

  last shrill shriek before the last head sank down and disappeared back into the river from which it had risen.

  For a while the small group of bedraggled archaeologists and soldiers stood motionless, watching the darkness beyond the dry dock tunnel. Decker couldn’t help wondering if the Hydra’s swift exit was a trap to lull them into a false sense of security. Would it burst forth from the river and strike once they moved closer to the water?

  “Well, that was fun,” Emma said, even though the tone of her voice told Decker that she felt it was anything but.

  “I was starting to think I wouldn’t see you guys again,” Decker said, looking at the commander and Emma. His gaze shifted to the third person. The man who’d arrived with them. It wasn’t the soldier, Kyle Garrett. This was someone Decker didn’t recognize. A well-built man in his early forties with a mass of tangled hair and several days beard growth on his chin. “Who’s this?”

  “Oh my God,” Cassie said, stepping forward with a wide grin on her face. “I thought you were dead.”

  “Me too, honey. Guess I’m harder to kill than you thought.” His gaze shifted from Cassie to Decker. He held out a hand in greeting. “Hey there. Let me introduce myself. I’m Darren Yates.”

  46

  It was four in the morning, less than an hour after a noise outside had awoken Decker. Everyone was sheltering back inside the ship, having decided the Hydra was gone, at least for now.

  “Where’s Kyle Garrett?” Commander Ward asked as Cassie worked on his leg while Rory held the flashlight so that she could see.

  “Don’t know,” Decker admitted. “After the Cyclops attacked, he took off in a different direction. He led it away from us.”

  “The man saved our lives,” Rory said.

  “We heard three gunshots,” Decker added. “After that, nothing. Either the Cyclops got him, or he’s still out there somewhere.”

  “That’s too bad.” Ward shook his head. “How did he manage to get any shots off? Our guns weren’t working.”

  “He took my gun,” Decker said. “Or rather, the gun I took off one of those goons who was trying to kill us back in Manaus. Makarov PB.”

  “I see.”

  “Have you figured out why the guns weren’t working?” Decker asked. “I assume someone sabotaged them.”

  “They sure did.” Commander Ward nodded. “I field stripped my weapon earlier this evening, hoping to get it working again. The firing pin was removed. Took me forever to get the damned bolt carrier group out. The cam pin rotated and jammed it.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Rory said.

  “The bolt carrier group allows the gun to fire semi-automatic.” Ward let out a small grunt and jerked his leg as Cassie dabbed his wounded leg with an antiseptic wipe from a small first-aid kit she’d taken from her backpack.

  “Hey, keep still.” Cassie looked up at him.

  “Are you almost done down there?” Ward asked in an irritated voice.

  “I’ll be done soon. I just have to finish cleaning the wounds and then I’ll bandage it.”

  “How does it look?” Decker asked.

  “Not great. There are some deep puncture wounds from that thing’s teeth. But he’ll live. At least as far as I can tell. I’m a biologist, not a doctor.”

  “Good enough for me,” Ward grumbled. He looked back up at Decker. “The sabotaged guns confirm there’s a traitor in our midst.”

  “Question is, who.” Decker had already come to the same conclusion.

  “Obvious answer is one of my men,” Ward said. He didn’t sound happy. “I can’t imagine anyone else would know how to field strip an M4 and remove that pin, let alone do it to all the guns with no one noticing. Not to mention sabotaging our Glocks too.”

  Decker nodded.

  “Except you,” Ward said, watching Decker.

  “Sorry to disappoint,” Decker said. “But I’ve never field stripped an M4 in my life. Plenty of other guns, but nothing like that.”

  “Relax,” Ward said. “I don’t think it was you. Whoever did this to our guns also put that snake in your tent. I can’t imagine you
want to get yourself bitten by a pit viper.”

  “Unless he did it to distract attention,” a voice said over his shoulder.

  Decker turned and saw the TV presenter, Darren Yates, standing behind him. “I was sent down here to find you. You could try to be a little more grateful.”

  “Hey, I was just pointing out how you could avoid suspicion.” Yates held his hands up in a gesture of submission. “I didn’t say you did it.”

  “Darren, that’s enough.” Cassie glanced up briefly from her task, wrapping a bandage around Ward’s leg. “Why don’t you play nice? These people risked their lives to find us.”

  “And I’m very grateful,” Yates said, grinning widely. “To tell the truth, I’m not sure how much longer I could have lasted out there on my own.”

  “Since you mentioned it, how did you survive out there?” Decker asked.

  “Luck more than anything. After the attack on our camp, everyone panicked and ran in different directions. I ended up hiding in the undergrowth with my sound technician. Guy named Dan Weatherby. God rest his soul.”

  “Weatherby is dead?” Cassie looked up with tears in her eyes. “How?”

  “The Cyclops. He tried to make a break for the cliff, climb up the ropes. The brute came out of nowhere and lifted him up like he was nothing. Ripped him limb from limb. Then it carried him off. At least the bits of him it wanted to keep. It was horrible.”

  “Oh.” Cassie’s face turned white. “I figured I was the only one left alive. I should be thankful that anyone else survived. But getting confirmation… Knowing that…” A sob racked her body, interrupting her speech. “I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t get so upset. Not while we’re still in such a bad situation.”

  “Hey, it’s okay.” Emma kneeled beside the distraught woman. “Let it out. It’s natural. You’ve been through a very stressful time.”

  “I was doing fine until now. Forcing myself to be strong. My survival depended upon it. But hearing about Dan… I mean, he was a nice guy. It’s just so…”

  “Sorry, Cassie.” Yates looked sheepish. “I should have kept the details of Dan’s death to myself. At least right now.”

  “It’s okay.” Cassie sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. She pulled the bandage tight around Ward’s leg and held it in place with a safety pin. She pulled what remained of his trouser leg back down. “All patched up. At least as good as I can do it. No need to get it looked at by a doctor if we… I mean, when we get out of here.”

  “Got it.” Ward stood up and tested it, putting weight on his leg. He winced in pain, but managed to stay upright. “You did a good job. Thank you.”

  “My pleasure.”

  “You probably want to get a tetanus shot, too,” Decker said. “Just to be safe.”

  “I think I’ll be getting whatever jabs the doctor’s offer me,” Ward said. “Just to be doubly safe. Who knows what kind of germs were in that thing’s mouth.”

  Decker turned his attention back to Yates. “You still haven’t said how you survived for so long out there in the jungle.”

  “Is not much of a story, really,” Yates replied. “After the Cyclops killed Dan, I turned and fled. I was terrified. Luckily, I didn’t run into another one of those creatures. But I did find a falling down building out in the forest. An ancient temple of some sort. I crawled inside and hid. I stayed there for God knows how long, rationing the MRE’s from my pack and drinking whatever small amounts of water I could catch in my hands when it rained. The temple roof leaked like a sieve. Not that I was complaining about that. I didn’t want to step outside.”

  “That’s where we found him,” Ward said. “I think we almost gave him a heart attack. Poor guy thought we were a Cyclops.”

  “I’ve never been more grateful to see another human being in my entire life,” Yates said.

  Decker glanced at his watch. “I don’t want to break up this little reunion,” he said. “But since we’ve now patched up commander Ward’s leg, we might want to get some sleep. It’s still the middle of the night, and we’re going to need our strength tomorrow.”

  “That’s an excellent idea.” Ward looked around the group. “But I don’t want to leave us unguarded. I’ll stay up and keep watch.”

  “There’s really no need,” Cassie said. “I’ve been living here for days and I’ve had no issues. The Cyclops are afraid to come into the pyramid, and I haven’t seen any other creatures except the Hydra. Luckily, it gives up easier than the Cyclops do.”

  “Is my job to keep you all safe,” Ward said. “I’ll keep guard, anyway.”

  “How about a compromise,” Decker said. “Why don’t we drag one of the cots over by the door and you sleep there. That way if anything tries to open it and come in you can alert us.”

  “Well…” Ward didn’t look convinced.

  “If Cassie’s been fine in here for so long, I’m sure we can survive one more night.” Decker motioned to Rory for help with the cot. “I’d rather have you alert tomorrow when we really need it. You look exhausted.”

  “I can stand getting some shuteye. It was a long day and night out there in the jungle.”

  “It’s settled then,” Decker said, hauling the cot nearer the door with Rory’s help. He yawned. “Now, unless anyone else has anything to say, I’m going back to bed for a couple of hours. We’ll figure out our next move in the morning.”

  Without further argument, the group dispersed and found places to sleep inside the ancient ship. Decker returned to his own cot and lay back down. The wood in the brazier had mostly burned, but he didn’t feel like going into the lower hold to retrieve more fuel, and it still gave off enough warm orange light for them to see.

  He closed his eyes and was about to drift off when he felt movement. Someone had laid down next to him. A voice spoke near his ear. It was Emma.

  “I’m sorry about how I behaved before,” she said in a voice barely more than a whisper.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Decker replied.

  “Do you mind if I sleep here, near you?” She asked.

  “Fine.” Decker couldn’t be bothered to argue. “Just don’t snore.”

  “You already know I don’t snore,” Emma replied. “I just don’t want to sleep on my own. I don’t like this place. It smells old. Musty. A bit like that warehouse in New York where they…”

  She let the sentence trail off, but Decker understood. It all felt so long ago. He wondered if her experience with the Cult of Anubis still haunted Emma. It wasn’t every day that you got possessed by an angry God. He turned over and looked at her in the darkness. “There’s something I have to tell you.”

  “What?”

  “I’m with someone else. I’m engaged to be married.”

  There was a moment of silence. He could hear Emma breathing next to him.

  Then she finally said, “I know. I’m sorry about that, too.”

  Decker didn’t reply. He turned over and tried to sleep, but her words echoed inside his head. He knew what she was trying to say. In another reality where she made different decisions, stayed instead of leaving, it might have been Emma, not Nancy who walked down the aisle to marry him. Decker wasn’t sure how he felt about that.

  47

  When Decker awoke early the next morning, Commander Ward’s cot was empty. He took a quick head count, confirming that the rest of the group were there, all asleep. Emma still lay next to him, which felt natural and strange, both at the same time. She didn’t stir when he swung his legs off the cot and stood up.

  Decker glanced around. The hatch leading up to the weather deck was open. Decker could see a faint patch of half-light against the cabin’s darker interior.

  He climbed up and saw Ward standing at the rail near the ship’s Stern. He was gazing out beyond the dry dock toward the fast-moving river as it flowed through the pyramid’s high tunnel.

  “I thought you were going to get some sleep,” Decker said as he approached the other man.

  Ward glan
ced around. “I did. For a few hours, anyway.”

  “What are you doing up here?”

  “Just getting some fresh air,” Ward replied. “That cabin down below is dark and musty. Not to mention stuffy.”

  Decker joined Ward at the rail. “You got any thoughts on our next move?”

  “First thing I want to do is find my missing man.” Ward glanced sideways at Decker. “Alive or dead.”

  “If he was alive, he would surely have made it back here by now.” Decker didn’t like the idea of abandoning a man out in the jungle, but he was also a realist. Garrett had been missing since the previous afternoon. “Hate to say it, but he’s probably dead.”

  “That might be the case,” Ward said. “But Emma and I ended up stuck out there for hours. There was a Cyclops guarding the entrance. Persistent mother. I assume it was hoping you guys would reappear. We only made it in here after it got bored and wandered off. For a while there, I thought it would never give up.”

  “Thank goodness it did,” Decker said. “I’d just about given you guys up for dead, too.”

  “Tell me about it. Little did we know, it didn’t give up. It got spooked. We’d barely broke cover when that multi-headed monstrosity had a go at us. The Cyclops must have sensed it was there and scarpered.”

  “The Hydra.” Decker nodded.

  “Exactly. We hoped it wouldn’t follow us in here, but it did.”

  “Unlike the Cyclops, it’s not afraid of the pyramid.”

  “It appears so.” Ward turned to look back toward the river. “And that’s my point. We don’t know that Garrett is dead, and we can’t assume as much. He could be stuck out there, unable to reach us.”

  “I agree we should look for him,” Decker said. “But we also have a duty to get those people down below decks to safety. Given how much time has passed, it’s unlikely we’re going to find any other members of the film crew.”