15 KiB
Chapter 50
Fear gripped Abraham like a frozen claw. It slowed his steps, and it took a gentle nudge from Sarah to keep him walking. He was holding her arm, her wrists bound in rope. She had a few false bruises and cuts on her that Calypso had helped place on using make up and dirt. She had her hair hanging freely and she faked a limp in a few of her legs. She tried to look in pain and was…frankly a terrible actor. She occasionally slipped little giggles and shivers of excitement at the prospect of getting one over on the Dawn Bringers. “Sarah, stop.” Christina hissed, walking on the other side of Abraham. She had her sun glasses on and her hands bound in Sarah’s own silk. “You need to act like you’re defeated and scared.” “Sorry just…we’re finally going to save Asher and Michelle!” “Not if they know what we’re up to.” Abraham admitted. “Maybe this is a bad idea.” “No, it’s a fine plan…if Sarah would act like she’s been captured.” “Well how do I do that? I can’t NOT be a little excited.” “Here, let me help.” Christian stopped and moved between Abraham and Sarah. Swiftly she kneed Sarah in the gut, causing Sarah to cough and lean forward. “CHRISTINA!?” Abraham gasped, forcing Abraham to pull her back. “O-ow!” Sarah coughed. “There…now you look like you’re hurt.” Christina snapped. “This isn’t a game Sarah!” “I…I know that.” Sarah replied, gritting her fangs. “That wasn’t necessary!” Abraham growled. “No…it’s okay.” Sarah nodded, standing up straight again and focusing on the pain. “I needed it…tears help sell it, right?” Sarah asked. Christina nodded. And Abraham too her arm again as he walked them toward the asylum that now acted as the base of operations for the Dawn Bringers. “There it is…alright, let’s do this.” Abraham whispered, feeling himself sweat fiercely. Sarah groaned, having a bit of trouble breathing normally from Christina hitting her. Even though Abraham was pissed at Christina for doing it, it did help…Sarah wasn’t smiling or fighting back her excitement now. She looked in pain. Christina was acting perfectly however, looking genuinely frustrated and angry…though maybe it wasn’t acting. “Abraham, you have to look mean…hateful. You need to act like we disgust you.” “I know that.” “Then get aggressive…forceful.” She hissed. “I’m not a bully.” “For godssake…” Christina whispered in anger. But she fell silent as the three of them finally reached the pathway to the asylum. Standing outside the door was a single man with a shotgun in hand in a bandana on his face. He took a step forward as he saw them approaching and readied his gun.
“Who the hell are you!? Where’d the freaks come from?” “I’m sick of these things.” Abraham snarled. “I figured the best place to take them was to the Dawn Bringers.” “Asshole.” Christina hissed, while Sarah faked tears and bit her lip. “Monster.” Abraham countered. “The spider bitch was part of a bigger group. Where’re the rest?” The Bringer asked. “Took off into the woods after I nabbed her.” “They put up a hell of a fight when we tried to take them.” He muttered, raising an eyebrow. “I’m surprised they didn’t try to keep fighting.” “You kidding?” Abraham laughed, knowing what to say, since he’d practiced several scenarios. “Without the vampire and werewolf to save them, they’re not all that tough. I mean the only one who tried to fight back was the snake, and I shot her dead before she could touch me. You can check the woods yourself if you want.” The Bringer looked from him to Sarah, and then at Christina. “What about her?” “She’s a gorgon…don’t take off the sunglasses. Took forever to tie her up.” Abraham pointed out. “Ya caught a gorgon!? Damn kid, you interested in a job with us? You’re not bad.” “Look, I just want a normal life…and I can’t get that living with freaks like these.” Abraham snapped, feeling his heart aching with each breath. The Bringer snorted and nodded. “Follow me. I’ll put ‘em in a cell. Then the boss’ll want to have a word with you.” At last, he unlocked the doors behind him and lead Abraham and the girls inside. Now things would get interesting. The first phase was complete…now for phase two. As the door behind them closed, a small fairy flitted out of Abraham’s shirt and took off into the hallway to begin his hunt for their missing friends.
“You made the right decision, ya know.” The Bringer muttered. As they walked through the asylum, Abraham couldn’t help but notice a remarkable emptiness. Where were all the guards? The soldiers? The men? “Where is everyone?” “Probably at their day job. This job don’t pay much…if anything. Most of us have other jobs beside this one. It’s Tuesday, so it’s a work day. But don’t worry kid, no one is escaping. We got about 20 armed boys wandering around, waiting to put lead in any freak that tries to break out. Abraham nodded as Calypso and Sarah looked around in disbelief. There were cells with large bars…others with plexiglass doors and windows that allowed them to see inside. Most were empty….but there were some that were indeed occupied. A dog like boy was in one, chained to the wall and panting heavily. In another was a dryad, a nymph made of wood and leaves. She was laying on the ground asleep. In another cell there was a minotaur like Alexander, slamming his fist against the wall in vein to get out. There were so many different kinds of creatures locked away. Abraham could have sworn he’d seen a dragon amongst them, but he couldn’t be sure. But all these cells were missing something important…something Pen was searching for, but he couldn’t wait any longer. “The vampire and werewolf…what’d you do with them? I don’t see them on display.” “Ha! Those two? Didn’t want to give up without a fight.” He laughed. We put the vampire in solitary and just left him there. No food…no blood…hopefully he’s starved to death by now. As for the werewolf…well she’s down here. Abraham and the girls were lead further down the hall until they came to a large room with bizarre lighting. The doors were chained and barred heavily, but the lighting inside was unlike the normal florescent bulbs. “What’s with the lights?” Christina asked. “Heh…the bulbs in there are specialized bulbs our organization designed personally. They perfectly replicate lunar rays. They ensure a werewolf can’t return to human form.” Abraham’s blood ran cold. He looked through the window and…to his horror, chained by the neck to the walls by no less than three chains, in her full wolf form, was Michelle. Her eyes were closed and she was breathing heavily. Her body was covered in blood and bruises, like she’d been attacking herself. In fact, Abraham was amazed she wasn’t currently knowing at her own chains. Sarah couldn’t look. She covered her eyes and looked away immediately. “Why is she like this?” “It’s an experiment.” He explained. “She’s the first werewolf we’ve taken alive. We want to see what prolonged wolf form does. Will she stay that way permanently? Will she lose her mind even in human form? We need to know, so we’re going to keep her that way another 48 hours and find out.” Abraham felt his fists clench tightly in rage. He wanted to hit this monster…kill him for what he’d put Michelle through and how calmly he talked about it, like it was nothing. “Anyway, let’s keep going. The boss is this way.” He walked Abraham, Sarah and Christina a few hallways further before stopping. Two more guards stepped forward from in front of a large steel door and took Sarah and Christina by the arms to lead them away. “We’ll make sure they’re put in a nice safe cell.” They laughed. As they were taken away, the leader opened the door for Abraham to walk in. It was a huge room, which appeared like a dinning hall of some kind, though now it was rebuilt and remodeled as a massive office space. Inside were several desks, and one set up to the back where a woman was working. In the far corner was a man in the shadows, watching. There were a set of cells to the far left, and only one had a light on. “Hey boss!” The guard spoke up. “This kid dropped off the drider and a gorgon for us. Says he turned on his club.” The woman looked up at him and then smiled. “Is that right? An excellent decision young man.” “Thanks…there like a reward or something?” Abraham asked. “There could be.” She looked up at the guard who led him in and shooed him out. He ran out quickly, as if afraid, and then closed the door behind him. When he was alone, standing before the leader of the Dawn Bringers, she smiled slyly and placed her head on one of her hands.
“…So what’s the game, Abraham Singer?” She asked. Abraham blinked and looked at her in disbelief. “How do you-” “Never underestimate my information gathering techniques. First, let me introduce myself. My name is Molly Hendershot, head of the Dawn Bringers. You’re Abraham Singer…but you’re the grandson of one of the largest monster sympathizers our organization has had to deal with in a long time.” “…So what?” Abraham growled through gritted teeth. “So you’re clearly not here to surrender. You’re after something. Your friends maybe. I’m greatly curious how you’re going to free them…especially when one hasn’t been in her human form in almost a week and the other is barely alive.” “Asher?!” “He’s over there, boy.” She pointed to the cell to the left with the light on. Abraham sprinted over to the cell to see inside and what he saw made his insides crawl in disgust. Laying in the corner of the cell, his body shriveled and pruny, and his hair white as snow, was what could only be a starved Abraham. His red eyes had sunk into his skull so only the glimmering red pupils could be seen amidst the white mess of hair on his head. He was half naked, showing bone and skin. His mouth was open, breathing heavily as he twitched and moaned. “A-Asher!?” Asher looked up at Abraham and his eyes widened as he saw him. “Asher…Asher it’s me! It’s Abraha-” “GET AWAY FROM ME!” Asher roared, throwing his whole body against the floor in agony, covering his face. “Get away from me….get away…can’t fight it….fight the thirst….THE THIRST!” He screamed. Abraham backed away in horror as he watched Asher bite his own hand in savage hunger. “He hasn’t had blood in ages…seeing you and your healthy blood must’ve sparked his thirst even harder than before. I’m surprised he didn’t through himself at the door to get at you! His self restraint is incredible for such a young vampire.” Molly shrugged. “You can try opening the cell for him if you want, but he probably will just attack you in his thirst. Best you let him rot away.” Abraham spun around and ran at her in a blind rage. “YOU TWISTED UP BITCH!” He screamed. Out of the shadows, shot a figure tall and bald. It was pale in its complexion and it grabbed Abraham by the throat and tossed him into a desk with a resounding crash. “Thank you Drake.” Molly smiled. “Just doing my job. Think I can drink him?” “Drake?” Abraham asked. “Drake Cross?” “Yes, I remember you too, boy…on the bus right? I was after the witch then. How is she, by the way?” “You’re Asher’s dad…you’re his goddamn DAD!” “I was.” He replied. “LOOK AT HIM!” Abraham cried through tears. “HE’S DYING IN THERE AND YOU’RE JUST LETTING IT HAPPEN!” “…He should’ve died when I bit him the first time.” Drake answered passively. “If you think you can make me cry over a spineless little runt like him, you’re mistaken.” “You’ll have to forgive Drake, Abraham.” Molly sighed sympathetically. “The poor dear isn’t like you or I. He’s a monster…a vampire whose stance on life is built on who gets eaten and who doesn’t. To us, we’re simply his food. Asher was simply too weak to survive. No different than a crocodile eating its own young to live.” “WE’RE NOT CROCODILES! WE’RE HUMAN!” Abraham screamed. “Correction…YOU are human, Abraham.” She laughed. “Asher and his father are vampires…and I’m a witch.” This time it was Abraham’s turn to look stunned. “You’re….YOU’RE A WITCH!?” “Not so loud, dumbass.” She groaned. “I try not to let the other Dawn Bringers know.” She returned to her desk and sat down, looking over the papers. “But…but why!? You’re like them! You’d be persecuted by the Dawn Bringers if they found out!” “The Dawn Bringers are foolish human men who get a glimpse into their dark closets and realize the monster inside is VERY real. They lash out at that reality with fear and superstition…slaughtering that which goes bump in the night, even if it’s harmless in every respect.” Molly explained. “For centuries, they’ve fought the forces of the supernatural with undaunting perseverance…so taking them over was simply a means to ensure my own survival. As long as they continue to believe I’m a normal human woman with an impressive ability to track monsters, then all is well.” “That’s why the Club feared Annie…they said witches couldn’t be trusted…they turn on humans and monsters alike!” Abraham cried. “YOU’RE EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE AFRAID OF! That’s why Drake was accepted into the Dawn Bringers! You LET HIM join!” “It’s animal nature.” She chuckled. “The strong survive…the clever endure…the foolish fade…and the weak are eaten.” She then turned her attention back to her work. “So what’s your game!? Just use the Dawn Bringers to wipe out and exterminate other monsters!? YOU COULD BE HELPING THEM!” “If they were strong or clever, they wouldn’t need my help, would they? They could evade me quite easily. Your club was able to do that for quite a while….until that is YOU came along. You quickly weakened them down, didn’t you?” Abraham felt a twinge of guilt run up his body and into his mind as he realized she was right. Their problems began when he arrived. “I guess they weren’t strong enough or clever enough to rid themselves of the weak link in their chain.” She finally snapped her fingers and, without warning, Abraham was lifted into the air as if on invisible strings, held out for Drake. “GAH!” Abraham cried. “Drake,” she spoke up, “enjoy your meal.” Abraham winced as he watched Drake draw close to his helpless body. “Damn it…DAMN IT!”
BWAAAAAAAAAABWAAAAAAAAAABWAAAAAAAAA!
KRAABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM
“What the hell!?” Drake grunted, nearly thrown to the ground by the sudden oncoming force of a rumbling building. “Was that an explosion!?” Molly gasped. “Who tripped the alarm!?” Abraham collapsed to the ground, Molly’s concentration on him wavering. He just smiled in relief. “Just in time…do your thing guys.” He groaned.