by Aman Gupta
“I’ll continue my search,” said the woman.
Victor nodded. She nodded back and left.
A couple of minutes later, Victor called out Anton’s name. Anton showed up in his hunter’s attire, anticipating a new mission. He loved hunting humans.
“Keep an eye on her,” said Victor.
“Who? Vicky?” asked Anton.
“Yes. I feel she’s hiding something,” said Victor, sipping from his glass. “Could be a poor hunch, but I think she might be playing both sides.”
“Who?” asked Anton.
“It smells like Layton Stone,” said Victor. “But I’m not ready for him yet. Maybe he’s checking out the competition.”
“I’ll keep an eye,” said Anton, and walked out of the room.
TS – 17 West looked like a suburb town, with archaic houses and small buildings. The area could be mistaken for an average town in a third world country, though now there were no such things as first world countries anymore. Most of the markets in TS – 17 West sold fruits and vegetables, while most of the population worked in a local factory co-owned by Victor.
Vicky spotted a tail after she left the house. A couple of men were following her on foot across the street. She used the darkness to lose them in the crowded market. Using the dark alleys and the secret doors behind the restaurants, she climbed down the stairs hidden behind a dumpster to enter the basement of an abandoned house after changing her jacket in the alley. Down the broken wooden stairs, she picked up the clothes on the floor. The wooden floor made a sound every time her shoes touched it. She turned on the lamp hung on the wall.
The basement had a couple of rooms, the second of which had a small bunk. She saw Katie sitting on the bed with a knife in her hand.
“It’s me,” said Vicky.
“Did you do it?” asked Katie as Vicky took the knife from her.
“Yes,” smiled Vicky. “I switched the notes.”
Katie smiled. “Did you see him?”
“No, they were following me. I had to follow their instructions, but I managed to switch the notes,” said Vicky. “Let’s hope he shows up a week from now.”
“Yeah,” said Katie.
“Who’s Dr. Feet?” asked Vicky.
“It’s...It’s...just a code word that my dad and I had, to let him know that I’m safe,” said Katie.
“A safe word? That’s smart,” said Vicky.
“Does Grandpa know that you have kept me here?” asked Katie.
“No, and don’t worry, he doesn’t suspect a thing,” said Vicky. “You trust me, right?”
“Yes,” said Katie. “We’re out of food.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you see your father seven days from now,” said Vicky. “I’ll get you something to eat.”
“Okay,” said Katie as Vicky put the knife on the side table.
Vicky wore an overcoat and a hat and went back up the stairs to get groceries for the rest of the week. She wasn’t planning on going out again for the entire week.
As soon as she left, Katie took a sigh of relief. She put the knife under her pillow and laid down on the bed.
*******************************************************************************
The next day, Vik saw Karen standing in the hallway when he arrived at the precinct. Vik unlocked the lab and Karen followed him in.
“I feel like our conversation ended rather rudely,” said Karen.
He noticed she was wearing a light pink shade on her lips. The same lipstick shade that Sarah used to wear.
“Why?” asked Vik, recollecting his thoughts.
“Nothing. Just a feeling,” said Karen.
“Well, since we both are here, maybe you’d like to continue,” said Vik.
“Yesterday, you asked why we are here, and I didn’t tell you. There’s a reason for that,” said Karen.
“Okay, I’ll play. What’s the reason?” asked Vik.
“I don’t even know if you’ll believe me,” said Karen.
“There’s only one way to know,” said Vik.
“First thing you should know about me is that people think I’m a crazy…crazy..something. The things that I believe in and know that are out there...It’s just not for everyone,” said Karen.
“Okay, and what do you think is out there?” asked Vik.
“I don’t think we are alone,” said Karen.
“There’s no one here,” said Vik.
“No, I mean. Not alone out there. They look like us but aren’t exactly like us. They’re like...they’re like...how do I say this?” said Karen.
Vik partially knew what she was insinuating, but didn’t want to jump to a conclusion. Olivia had never mentioned someone named Karen during their conversations.
“Take this girl, for example, in West Gate. She allegedly stabbed her grandparents and jumped from a cliff. But she returned safely, days later,” said Karen.
“I’m not sure who you’re referring to,” said Vik.
“Drew, I think her name was,” said Karen.
“I see. And you think she’s not like us,” said Vik.
“No, she is. But the one before wasn’t,” said Karen.
“And how can you be so sure?” asked Vik.
“I knew someone. He was a real expert in this field,” said Karen. “Taught me a few things too. Like how to spot them.”
“So, you think they’ve been out there for a long time?” asked Vik.
“Four years that I know of. But their numbers have multiplied,” said Karen.
“What are they? The people that aren’t like us?” asked Vik.
“Aliens. Robots. Androids. Who knows,” said Karen.
“You said the expert you knew, taught you how to spot them,” said Vik.
“Yes, he did,” said Karen.
“How do we spot them?” asked Vik. “I’m just curious. Do they burst into flames in sunlight or allergic to holy water?”
Karen was visibly angry.
“You’re mocking me,” said Karen.
“Just listen to what you’re saying. How is any of it more believable than vampires and demons?” said Vik.
“Because I think my last boyfriend was one,” Karen blurted out.
“You think your last boyfriend was an alien?” asked Vik.
“Not at first. But he started to change. Little things at first. It’s like his emotions had...they had..,” said Karen.
“Multiplied?” said Vik.
“Yes, yes, exactly,” said Karen.
“Like what? He started loving you too much?” asked Vik.
“No, he..he..would get angry at the little things. Laugh more than usual. Everything he did, was excessive,” said Karen. “His eyes..they..”
She saw Vik wasn’t keen on listening to her. She stopped speaking and turned around to leave.
“Do you think these unknown creatures with temper issues and mystical eyes are behind the two hundred deaths?” asked Vik.
“You know about the deaths?” asked Karen, turning around.
“Yeah, the sheriff told me when he asked me to join the task force,” said Vik.
“What did you say?” asked Karen.
“I declined. I’m not interested,” said Vik.
“Are the things that I’m saying interest you?” asked Karen.
“Yes,” said Vik. “Don’t know why, though.”
Karen came a little closer to Vik, looking him in the eye.
“Crazy something, huh? Crazy what?” asked Vik.
“Vampire,” smiled Karen.
“You’re pale but not that pale,” said Vik.
“Maybe I suck too much blood,” said Karen.
“Maybe,” whispered Vik.
“Maybe you could assist me without being part of the task force,” said Karen.
“Okay,” whispered Vik.
She leaned in to steal a kiss. He didn’t try to push her away. Something about her attracted him towards her. He didn’t like the feeling. She was the last person
he wanted in her mind, but she had bought a villa in his mind’s colony. He felt being pulled towards her. It wasn’t love, he knew. But the feeling was even powerful than love.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door just when she was about to kiss him on his lips. He grabbed her arms and pushed her away. He took a few steps back and ran his hand through his hair.
“Come in,” said Vik.
“Sheriff wants to see you,” said Emma, confused.
“I’ll be right there,” said Vik.
“Right away,” said Emma.
“I’ll be there,” said Vik, looking at Emma.
She looked at Karen, who started looking around.
“Okay,” said Emma, and closed the door.
Emma went to Eric’s office. There was an additional kick in her steps as she crossed the hallway and entered the office.
“He’s coming,” said Emma as she stormed open the door. “Talking to Karen.”
“Again? They were talking last night too,” said Eric.
“Maybe she can convince him to join the team,” said Joey.
“How would she do that, Joey?” asked Emma.
“I don’t know. She’s charming. Mily told me,” said Joey.
“Did she now?” asked Kate.
“What is happening right now?” said Eric.
“Nothing,” said all three in unison.
Vik knocked and entered the room a minute later, biting his lips.
“What?” asked Vik.
“Sorry to disturb you,” said Eric. “I hope we didn’t waste your valuable time.”
“Like right now?” said Vik.
“What’s gotten into you, man?” asked Joey.
“Nothing. I just can’t possibly fathom why everyone looks up to me for help and then question me when and the manner I provide it. I just can’t take it anymore,” said Vik. “You want my help? I’ll get to it, but on my schedule.”
“That’s all we are asking,” said Kate.
“Good. I’m booked till next year,” said Vik.
“Never imagined you’d be so callous,” said Emma.
“I’m callous because I don’t care enough about how 200 people died in the middle of nowhere? More than five and a half billion people have died in the last ten years. I hope you all are thinking about each one of them every second you’re alive because if you aren’t, you’re callous,” said Vik.
“That’s not the same thing,” said Emma.
“Our lives are different. But death never is. Death is death. You wish to prevent the next 200 deaths. I’m fighting to prevent the next billion,” said Vik.
“I don’t understand,” said Emma.
“I’m not asking you to. I’m just saying not to blame everything on me when all of you have thrown your moral compass in the gutter whenever things got a bit tense,” said Vik.
He turned around to leave but stopped at the door.
“I’m not callous. Just sick of always being a step behind,” said Vik.
Around 2 PM, Bill called a meeting for the task force in the main hall. Kate, Emma, and Joey were already sitting at their desks. Eric and the other officers joined them.
“I’ll be creating two teams,” said Bill. “One would be working the deaths at Orange Town, while the other would be working Old River. We would also be responsible for intelligence gathering and prevention of such tragedies in the county. Something tells me the show’s just getting started.”
Everyone nodded.
“So, the first team, Red Team, is me, Mily, David, Kate, Trent, and Adam. We would be taking care of Old River. The other team, Blue Team, would be Eric, Emma, Mark, Karen, Joey and Mortan, handling Orange Town. The uniforms would be assisting both the teams as needed. Any questions?” said Bill.
Everyone shook their head.
“Good. I’ve been told that your lab guy, Vik, has decided not to be part of this task force,” said Bill.
“I got that covered,” said Karen.
“Okay,” said Bill.
Eric and Emma looked at Karen, who didn’t look back.
“Pack your bags. We will be leaving for Old River shortly,” said Bill to the red team. “I feel it needs a second look.”
In the evening, Kate hugged Joey, Eric, and Emma while leaving. Vik had also shown up, standing a few yards away from the group. She hugged him and told him that she would help him in finding Katie.
“Hurry back,” said Vik.
“I will,” said Kate.
Bill and Karen just looked at each other without showing many emotions, which Vik noticed.
“You know I care about you, right?” said Kate.
“I know,” said Vik.
They joined the rest and Kate left with the red team. Adam waved his hand on seeing Vik, who waved back.
They entered the precinct, where Karen and Eric decided to call a meeting. Vik went to his lab and then quickly rushed out.
He returned around 9 PM, with few boxes. He asked one of the uniforms to assist and put all four boxes in his lab.
While leaving, Emma saw Vik working on something in his lab.
“Hey, I thought you’d be gone by now,” said Emma.
“Yeah, just about finished,” said Vik. He was looking at a map on his laptop.
“What’s that?” asked Emma.
“Morrow,” said Vik. “Just an old map from the archives.”
“I see. Listen, about earlier, I shouldn’t have called you callous. It’s just I’ve had some expectations from you, but when that doesn’t happen, I react in the wrong way,” said Karen.
“What kind of expectations?” asked Vik, focused on his work.
“I know how important finding Katie is for you. And I would never get in the way of that,” said Emma.
“Is that why you’d been acting weird?” asked Vik.
“Partly, yes. I don’t want to be a distraction,” said Emma.
“Yet you and everyone else want me to be distracted with other stuff,” said Vik.
“I just thought it might help in some way. We weren’t even looking for Katie, yet we found out about her. You probably weren’t too. So when we got this case, I thought it was the universe showing us the way,” said Emma.
“Universe hasn’t been exactly shining its light on the path of righteousness these past years,” said Vik.
“You’re right, I suppose,” said Emma.
“But still, thank you. And I’m sorry for saying I’ll kill you if it means Katie’s safety,” said Vik.
“I know you just said it in the heat of the moment. You weren’t serious about it,” said Emma.
“That makes one of us,” said Vik.
Emma smiled.
“Do you think she’s close? Katie?” asked Emma.
“Close the door,” said Vik.
She walked to the door, looking outside in the corridor to see if it was empty and closed the door.
“What’s wrong?” asked Emma.
Vik took out a piece of paper from his pocket. “Read it.”
Emma read it.
“Hi, this is Jay. I am willing to trade my life for my daughter’s. She doesn’t know about Josh, but I do. Return her to me and I’ll do whatever you want. I also have the cerulean that I borrowed from thy legendary town.”
“Turn it over,” said Vik.
“It says ‘Waiting’. What does it mean?” asked Emma.
“I have no idea. I left this note in the car we parked near the bridge. When I visited it again a few days ago, the car was gone, and someone had written this on the backside of the note,” said Vik.
“So, they know you’re here looking for her. But why haven’t they made any contact?” asked Emma.
“They would need a place they can control. Morrow is too public,” said Vik. “I think Kate ran into them when she went to TS – 19. That’s why she can’t remember much. They probably dosed her with something. They have done it before,” said Vik.
“To whom?” asked Emma.
“Me,”
said Vik. “It took Katie’s cry for help to unlock that memory. I tracked the phone number from which Katie made a call, but it didn’t exist anymore, so I couldn’t get a live ping.”
“Maybe they’ll make contact again,” said Emma.
“That’s what I’m hoping for,” said Vik.
Emma turned around to leave. She saw boxes lined up against the wall.
“What’s in the boxes?” asked Emma.
“CCTV Cameras,” said Vik.
“For the town?” asked Emma.
“Mainly the entrances and exits, and few other places I find important,” said Vik.
“I can help if you want me to?” said Emma.
“No, it’s okay. I’ll get it done tomorrow,” said Vik.
“Okay,” said Emma. “See you tomorrow.”
“Bye,” said Vik.
As Vik was locking up the lab an hour later, he received a call from an unknown number. Thinking it could be them, he immediately picked up the call.
“Hello?” said Vik.
He could hear someone breathing on the other end.
“I can hear you breathing,” said Vik. “What do you want?”
“Is this Jay Miller?” said the voice. It sounded like an old man, with a throaty voice.
“Who’s asking?” said Vik.
“Someone who knows a great deal about you,” said the voice.
“Oh yeah?” said Vik as he closed the lab and headed out of the precinct. “Like what?”
“That you’d kill your own family for a good deal. I got one for you,” said the voice.
“A family? I’ll pass,” said Vik.
“That doesn’t surprise me,” said the voice. “I meant a good deal.”
Vik felt offended.
“Okay old man. Stop wasting my time,” said Vik as he sat in his car.
“Before you hang up, I was hoping you’d tell me something,” said the voice.
“Sure. What do you want to know?” said Vik.
“I know a person who killed thousands of people to serve his interests. What should I do to them if one of the families they killed was mine?” asked the old man.
“There’s an old saying. A man left out in the cold long enough by society would start by burning it to the ground to warm his body,” said Vik, and disconnected the call.
A few seconds later, he tried dialing back the number, but it wasn’t reachable anymore.
Chapter 9: Nascent