by Sasha Pruett
Chapter Thirty Two
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32
“It’s just over this ridge here.” The hunter’s flashlight beams danced in the night and their feet slipped again and again on the wet, mossy, rocks as the rain continued to drizzle. Their hearts pounded like kettle drums in their chests, not just from physical exertion, but from the fear of what lay ahead of them. Were they ready; would this work, could they succeed, would they survive? Insurmountable concerns ran rampart through each man’s mind; and the trek from Deer Lake’s scenic point to the cave seemed nearly instantaneous, but as the three ascended the rocky slope a soft murmur interrupted their thought train of doubt.
“Shhh... do you hear that?” said Aaron. The men froze, standing perfectly still, straining in the night to hear over the gentle pattering of the rain on the leaves.
“There it is again.” Over and over they heard the soft cries drifting down from above. Gary, Aaron, and Jonathan followed the painful, pitiful wails to the mouth of the cavern, then down, deeper and deeper into its bowels, until they found the frantic teen huddled in the furthest depths of the inner chamber. All Gary could see as he passed his light over the boy was a muddy mass cringing in the dirt.
“Is it Michael?”
“I can’t tell, hold on Aaron, but be ready just in case and keep an eye out.” Gary changed his tone, giving his full attention to the boy in question, trusting the others for his safety. He scanned the inner sanctum with his light not wanting any surprises.
“It’s alright son, we’re not here to hurt you, and you’re not in any trouble. I’m officer Carpell, Gary Carpell, I have Aaron Kinsington, Jeremy’s dad, and Jonathan Bassiter here with me. We’re here to help you, okay? Are you Michael Lamb? Are you hurt? Can you hear me?” Gary’s questions went unanswered with nothing more than the same sad cries that had drawn them there. “He’s not responding, he appears to be traumatized. We’ll need to go in and retrieve him.”
“I’ll do it, I’ll go.”
“Thanks for volunteering Jonathan, but you both have too broad of shoulders to fit through that hole.” Gary removed his utility belt and handed it off, sliding his torso through the crevice. He laid his flashlight on the ground shining in the boy’s direction, then cautiously walked towards him, speaking gently with each step calling back, “It’s him, it’s Michael!” but as soon as he crouched down and touched Michael’s mud encrusted arm the boy’s cries turned to the ear splitting shrieks of an Irish banshee.
“Michael it’s alright, it’s Officer Carpell... Michael... Michael can you hear me?” Michael’s screams reached heights that threatened the very stability of the cave before Gary’s efforts could penetrate the poor boy’s fractured psyche, calming him enough to finally allow him to lead the teen from his cell and retrieve his belongings.
“God help me. God help me. God help me.” was all that passed Michael’s cracked lips.
In their haste to secure Michael’s safely no one had noticed the mutilated remains of the once snobbish, but now rotting corpse of Dr. Harold Pintac, but not Michael, his eyes landed right on the shadowy outline of Harold’s shredded body and it sent him into another uncontrollable panic. He screeched and wailed as he desperately tried to slip back through the small hole he’d just been pulled from.
Jonathan and Aaron both rushed to help control a violent Michael, but suddenly Aaron jumped and howled adding to the chaos and noise.
“What is it?!”
“Nothing, nothing Gary. I’m alright. It’s just my phone.” Aaron scrounged in his pants for his cell then checked the number and saw it was Wendy, “Hello?”
“Aaron, it’s me, listen...**** it’s **** not **** Jeremy **** do you hear **** are **** there ****.”
“Wendy, calm down. I can’t... I can’t hear you. The signal’s going and the boy’s... Wendy, we found Michael, can you hear me? We found him, Hun. Did you find a counter spell?”
“But **** werewolf **** it’s ****!”
“What? What... Wendy... I can’t hear you.”
“Susanne found this page... **** I missed. I didn’t see it! I **** see it Aaron! I hadn’t finished ****!”
“Wendy, what are you talking about? You didn’t finish what?”
“The page **** Saul didn’t watch the murders **** dreamt them, so I reread **** what Jeremy read **** warning! He’s not **** room, Jeremy’s gone!”
Aaron began to shake as an earth shattering clap of thunder, with a streak of blue lightning erupted in the sky, revealing more than the storm. Everyone’s attention turned to Harold’s now noticeable body and the thing slinking beside it. A deep growl emanated from the beast and a scream escaped the boy, breaking free of Gary’s grip he ran deep into the darkness.
Chaos, Aaron dropped his phone, and both Gary and Jonathan dropped their flashlights, beams of light bounced around the rocky room. Jonathan hit the ground, groping for his torch and Gary grabbed for his gun, but found the talisman instead.
“Shock him Aaron!”