Sliggers

  “Yes ma’am. He’s my diver, scientist, analyst, you name it. He’s my go-to guy.”

  Sheriff Steele followed the dark droplets that led from the pooled mess to the window. Upon inspection of the window frame, he spotted moist, slimy residue on the frame and remaining shards of glass. The sulfuric stench was there as well. What could this stuff have come from? he pondered, baffled. Maybe the kids were telling the truth about some strange sea creature.

  “Speaking of Marty,” the sheriff said, recalling what the diver had reported to him, “he told me about some unusual findings in Pirate’s Bend. He was diving there, looking for Earl Goates, and found an underwater cavern. Thinks it was underneath Pirate’s Point. He said there were some animals inside, but he couldn’t see what they were. He got spooked and high-tailed it out of there. But maybe they were what you saw tonight.”

  Sherrie had heard about the old fisherman’s disappearance. “So no luck finding Earl yet?” she enquired.

  “Afraid not. And his boat was banged up. At this point, unfortunately, we have to assume that his body won’t be recovered.”

  “He could’ve been killed by one of those things!” said Eaver.

  “Or,” the sheriff offered, “he simply could’ve been drinking, hit the rocks, and drowned. Then the ocean could’ve taken his body away. There’s no way of knowing.”

  “No matter what happened to him,” Mason declared, “one thing is undeniable.”

  “What’s that, son?”

  “We’ve got monsters, Sheriff.”

  CHAPTER 19

  Tammy Todd was stressed out. In addition to her fighting with the bank and trying to keep her house, she had recently discovered suspicious text messages on her boyfriend’s phone. And now she was fretful because Joe hadn’t bothered to see her at all today and he was not answering his phone. She feared he had become bored with her and was out sleeping with somebody else. The last place Tammy wanted to be right now was at work. She thought about calling in sick, but she was more responsible than that. She was the only nurse tonight at Sweetboro Medical Center.

  It wasn’t that hectic of a night there anyway. The most notable patients were the needy new mother, the crazy guy rambling about monsters, and the young man who somehow split his hand to the meaty part of his palm. Other than that it was pretty dull. It would be an easy shift.

  Tammy made her hourly rounds, checking on her few patients. She changed IVs and passed meds as required. Careful not to wake those who were asleep, she finished her rounds and walked the quiet hallway to the front desk.

  The chubby security guard, Murph, was stationed there alone, as he was every night. He turned his head when he heard Tammy appear through the door. “How’s it going, Tam?” he asked with a genial smile.

  Tammy sighed. “Not so good, Murph.”

  The guard frowned. “Why? What’s the matter?”

  She leaned on the reception desk. “I don’t know what to do about Joe.”

  “You two having trouble?”

  “Yeah. I went through his phone last night, and saw he’s been texting someone I didn’t know. Let’s just say the conversation seemed inappropriate.”

  Murph sat up a little straighter. “Oh no. I’m sorry, hon. Did you ask him about it?”

  She shook her head, making the curls of her short, black hair waggle. “No, he didn’t even bother to come see me today. And I can’t get hold of him on his phone. I swear, he’s out with someone else and I’m gonna lose him.” Her voice began to quiver. “I just don’t know what to do.”

  Murph stood up and rested a hand on her shoulder. “Hey now, you’re gonna be fine. If he’s the type to jump from woman to woman, then you don’t want him in your life anyway. Right?”

  Tammy nodded. “Right.”

  “So hell with him, if that’s what he’s all about. You deserve better.”

  “I know, I know, you’re right. It just sucks losing someone, you know?”

  “I do indeed. Been down that road a few times myself. But the Lord never puts anything in our paths that we can’t handle. Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to. Just be patient and keep moving forward.”

  Tammy brought her hand up to his and patted it gently. “Thank you, Murph. I needed to hear that right now. You’re the best.”

  “My pleasure, Tam. Now go relax.” He held up the book he was reading and grinned. “That’s what I’ll be doing.”

  “Alright, Murph. I’ll come bug you a little later.” Then Tammy retreated through the hallway door and returned to her station.

  She sat for a few minutes, reflecting on what old Murph said. His points were valid, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. Before long, Tammy was feeling stressed again.

  She needed a cigarette. Or two.

  Her rounds were recently finished, so there was no reason why she shouldn’t go take a smoke break. It was still raining outside, but she could go outside through the receiving door and stay dry under the metal awning there.

  Tammy made sure she had her cigarettes and lighter, then strolled toward the receiving area. On the way, she decided to take one more quick look at one of the patients before going outside.

  She quietly opened the door to Malcolm Gibbs’s room. Keeping the light off, she made her way to his IV, which was only slightly lower than it was the last time she checked. Pausing to look at his bandaged hand, she wondered what it would be like to have her hand cleaved in half. She shivered. Then she left, closing the door to keep it dark for the sleeping patient.

  Tammy got to the receiving area, swung the door open to the outside alley, and pushed the cinder block in place with her foot to prop it open. Next she pulled a cigarette from her pack and lit it, drawing the smoke deeply.

  The satisfying smoke, combined with the sound of the rain around her, began to ease her. After a while, she realized Murph was right. She would get through this, as well as every other obstacle in her life. She took another drag and focused on the soothing harmony of the rain and the nearby ocean waves.

  A rustling in the bushes caught her attention.

  Tammy drew her eyes straight ahead to where the sound was coming from, and focused intently. She was leery about critters, and had been since her childhood. Whether it was a possum, armadillo, or raccoon, she had always been a little afraid of them.

  Something moved again, this time fifteen feet to her left. Her head followed the rustling sound, and now she noticed an unpleasant smell in the rainy air. It smelled a bit like sewage, and she wondered for a second if a sewer drain had backed up nearby.

  Suddenly something burst forth from where she had heard the first rustling. By the time she brought her eyes back to the spot, a dark shape was rushing toward her. She did not have any time to react before she was struck by something that yanked her legs out from under her. She landed hard on the cement and was instantly pulled out into the rain.

  With a scream, Tammy kicked and squirmed against the painful pressure as she was dragged violently across the alley and into the bushes.

  As her flailing hands disappeared into the brush, two other creatures emerged from the shadows. They slowly approached the open door and, curious, proceeded inside the hospital.

  CHAPTER 20

  Malcolm Gibbs woke up in pain. The morphine had already worn off, and his hand felt like it was throbbing. Mal found the morphine pump with his good hand and pressed the button to receive another dose. As the medication kicked in, he gazed down at his bandaged hand and sighed.

  The doctor had stitched Mal’s hand back together and bandaged it after surgery. Mal would recover, although it would take a lot of time and rehab before he would have full use of his hand again. The surgery was successful, but Mal had lost a lot of blood. So he would be spending the night in this small hospital bed, married to an IV bag for fluid replacement.

  He had no idea what time it was. It didn’t really matter; it was the middle of the night and the hospital was dark and quiet. He appreciated the quiet more than an
ything. The asshole in the next room had been driving Mal crazy earlier with his frantic ravings. Now he had finally stopped. Maybe the doctor sedated him, maybe he went to sleep, maybe he died. Mal didn’t care, as long as he had eventually shut up.

  Mal’s mouth was dry and sticky. Having to reach across his body with his left hand, he grabbed the plastic cup of water on his tray table. The water was room temperature, but that was just fine. Anything to moisten his mouth and throat.

  Drinking slowly, he pondered the crazy man in the next room. He was being brought in at the same time Mal came out of surgery. Mal remembered scoffing silently hearing about the man’s minor injury. The pussy was ranting wildly about being scratched by a terrible monster. Mal was sure the man would prefer scratches to having his hand split in half.

  The man was hysterical for what seemed like hours, driving Mal nuts. He went on and on about some unbelievable monster by the river – he was clearly on some kind of hallucinogen – and was imagining that the scratching had somehow poisoned him and was burning him up. Mal didn’t believe a bit of it, although he did overhear the doctor saying something about worsening fever and sweating. Mal shrugged it off as symptoms of whatever drugs the man had obviously overdosed on.

  That guy just needs to buy some of my weed, thought Mal. He chuckled quietly. Then he remembered what had happened to his greenhouse, and his grin dissolved into a scowl. It was going to take some work to repair the greenhouse, which he could no longer do with his damaged hand. His buddies could do the work, he figured, but he was sure they wouldn’t do anything until Mal was there to direct them. And the longer he was stuck in the hospital, the more vulnerable his plants were. Frustration overtook him.

  He was certain Mason had something to do with the destruction of his greenhouse. That little twerp thought he was getting some payback for being picked on all those years. Maybe even thought it would impress his girlfriend Eaver. Well, Mal vowed silently, that sumbitch is gonna get what’s coming to him. Mal was going to make Mason pay somehow, whether beating him to a pulp or burning his house down – anything to make an example out of him.

  Nobody fucked with Big Mal without paying the price.

  He just had to be smart about it. Getting caught by the police was not an acceptable risk, so obviously beating Mason up was out. If he was going to destroy Mason’s property instead, he would have to leave no evidence. And have an alibi. That wouldn’t be too difficult.

  The rainstorm was worsening again. The pelting of the window glass grew louder. Then Mal saw a bright flash followed by the roar of thunder. Lovely weather, Mal noted, shaking his head. At least his plants were getting watered. That thought reminded him of his own thirst, and he grabbed the cup to take another drink of the tepid water.

  He heard what sounded like something breaking in the next room. Tilting his head, he listened for more. Another flash of lightning burst outside, and thunder immediately followed. Shut up, Mal cursed to the storm, I’m trying to hear what’s going on in here.

  When the rumble subsided, Mal could again listen for sounds in the next room. He focused on the wall separating the rooms and listened intently. What broke in there? he mused. It could have been a nurse checking on the patient and accidentally dropping something. Or it could have been the patient trying to get up and move around unsuccessfully.

  Great, he thought. Now that crazy asshole is awake again and will keep raving about monsters. But after three minutes of anticipation, he was relieved to hear nothing else from the adjacent room.

  There was a thud at his door, and it startled him. Mal tried to sit up, looking through the dark toward the door to his room. Another thud, some fumbling with the handle, and then the door opened.

  Mal watched as a broad silhouette entered the room. The door closed behind it, casting the room in darkness once more. And he smelled the same rotten egg odor he recalled from his greenhouse.

  “Nurse?” he called out, but got no reply. “What’s going on?”

  All he heard was a sound on the floor, like someone mopping it. What the fuck? he thought. Who the hell’s in here? Then he heard wet, smacking sounds, getting closer and closer to his bed. And the horrible stink was growing stronger. It was definitely not the nurse who had entered his room.

  Something horrible – something hellish – was with him instead.

  Mal quickly reached for his cell phone, his hand fumbling around the tray table until he found it. He pressed the button on the side of his phone, instantly activating the screen light.

  He saw a ghastly face in the dim light, inches above his own.

  Mal convulsed and screamed. He attempted to get up from the bed, but suddenly a heavy limb fell across his chest to hold him down. He lashed out at the creature, striking cold, slimy, yet firm skin. Then something restrained his arms. He struggled but was powerless to move. The phone now lay face-up on his chest, and the screen light illuminated the nightmare before him.

  Some kind of animal, monster, devil had him. It had bulbous eyes, slick, fishy skin, and a wide snout with long teeth. Mal’s eyes were frozen on those of the monster. They were the size of billiard balls, black orbs covered by a milky lens when the creature blinked.

  Mal continued to lock unbelieving eyes with the thing while he endured what felt like talons penetrating deep and tearing open tissue. He could feel the warmth of his own blood flow out over his body. The creature hissed, sticky strands of saliva stretching as its jaws opened, and Mal breathed the odor from its mouth.

  The last thing Malcolm Gibbs saw was a mouthful of needle-like teeth closing in around his face.

  CHAPTER 21

  The book was getting really good. Murph had enjoyed the works of James Patterson for over a decade, and this latest novel did not disappoint. Murph was a lucky man; he had a quiet, easy job that allowed him to relax, eat snacks, and read books with very infrequent interruption. It was ideal.

  If he were married, his wife would tell him he needed a better job that would give him more exercise. His doctor would agree, especially since his weight and blood pressure had increased every year. But this lazy night job made him content.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw movement on the video monitor. He turned his head to check, but saw nothing on the black and white screen but the peaceful hallway. After a few seconds to confirm all was well, he returned his attention to his rousing book.

  Then another movement on the screen caught his eye again.

  Murph glanced at the monitor, and this time he saw a figure moving. Just for a split second, though, before it vanished into one of the patients’ rooms.

  That wasn’t Tammy, he noted. He didn’t see much, but he knew what he saw was not the white uniform of his favorite nurse. The shape was dark, and heftier.

  The portly security guard raised an eyebrow in concern. There were no visitors this time of night, and no staff on duty that looked like that. He had better go investigate.

  Laboring to his feet, Murph made his way around the reception desk and through the door to the main hall. Probably one of the patients wandering around, he figured. But he had to make sure that was the case, and if it was, that the patient was okay.

  He had almost reached the end of the corridor when the odor invaded his nose. What the hell? he winced, smelling the rotten-egg stench of sulfur. It made him stop and look around, confused as to what could cause that smell. There were two rooms ahead of him before the hallway ended; perhaps the stench was coming from one of the patients’ rooms.

  Murph continued down the hall and to the door to Mal’s room. He reached for the handle and started to push the door open, reminding himself to stay quiet in case there was a sleeping patient inside.

  Then he heard a sharp noise, like a steel tray hitting the floor, down the adjacent hallway around the corner. Jumping, his eyes darted toward the mouth of that corridor. Whatever it was sounded like it was about twenty or thirty feet away from his position.

  The security guard hurried around
the corner and down the left hallway. “Tammy?” he called out. “Is that you?”

  No answer was heard in the quiet hallway. The only sounds were those of Murph’s brisk footsteps against the tile. The nasty odor was still heavy in the air, and Murph furrowed his brow in concern; hopefully it was not some kind of gas leak. He quickened his pace.

  Then, when he rounded another corner, he caught a glimpse of a patient’s door closing. He slowed down as he approached the door. Taking a deep breath to calm his labored heartbeat, he reached for the door handle, turned it, and silently pushed the door open.

  The room was dark, except for the bit of light coming in from the hallway. Murph saw a shiny shape at the side of the bed. An eerie feeling washed over him as he realized something was not right. He flipped the light switch on the wall.

  The light revealed what looked like some kind of amphibious creature in the room. Wet, olive-green skin covered a horrific form. The nightmarish thing was hovering over a female patient in the bed. It looked like it was eating the woman.

  Murph was in shock and had no idea what to do. He just knew he needed to do something. The security guard instinctively pulled his nightstick and stepped closer.

  Just then he heard movement behind the door. He whirled in time to catch sight of a second creature. As the monster spread its appendages and attacked, Murph suddenly went into cardiac arrest.

  He felt severe pain in his chest, and lost his ability to breathe, move, or think. Everything instantly went black as he fell helpless to the ground. Murph was dead before the talons began to cut into him.

  CHAPTER 22

  Sheriff Steele was awakened by the annoying ringing of his phone. Shaking himself back to consciousness, he rolled over on the bed and groped for the cell phone. He answered it while focusing his fuzzy eyes on the clock to see that it was just after six.

  Lewis Simkins, the officer on duty at the station, was on the other end. With panic in his voice, he informed his boss that some people had been murdered at the hospital. Steele rose from the bed and took the phone to the hallway, hoping to let his wife get back to sleep. There he conversed further, gathering all the information his deputy had about this shocking incident. Then he stated he would get to the hospital right away and hung up.