by Bo Luellen
Violet cackled and interrupted, “We will leave these two fools and your grandson alive, but peace was not in your bargain.”
David was only able to lift his water gun a few inches before a young man in a black leather coat grabbed his arm. He was spun around like a top and was nose to nose with the bald youth in his twenties. Behind him were seven other young people, all dressed in black and sporting compound eyes and fangs. His knees buckled, and he heard the crack of Thomas’s skull being struck by something solid. The druid splayed out in in front of him, unconscious and bleeding. The hairless vampire growled with a toothy grin and punched him in the forehead. His vision narrowed, and then a high pitched squealing invaded his ears. The blackness overtook him as all the sound and lights went out.
Location Unknown – Day Unknown – Time Unknown
David Keller suddenly found himself standing alone in the center of the old red barn. He spun around to discover his friends and the vampires were gone. David was standing in the place where the blue tank full of water had once been. The only thing that remained was the rope pully overhead. Instead of the webbed netting that had held Clare, it now had a hangman’s noose.
He ran outside into the night air and discovered his truck was missing. He called out for Thomas, but no one responded. He turned back towards the barn and saw his Uncle Enrich looking back at him. The elderly man was dressed all in black with a turtleneck.
He ran towards him, “Onkel Enrich, wie bist du hierher gekommen?”
David waited, but his uncle gave no indication as to how he came to be in the barn. The German patted his nephew’s face and smiled. Before he could ask a question, the cancer-riddled man grabbed him by the neck. David felt like his throat was going to collapse, and he tried to free himself from the iron grip.
With a sharp toss, David was sent sailing back into a support beam in the center of the barn. His back sparked with pain, and the corner of the post opened up a gash in his lower side. Landing like a sack of potatoes on the ground, David felt the breath get knocked out of him.
Forcing his eyes open, he watched his immigrant uncle pull out a ski mask and put it on. As it pulled down on his face, the man transformed into the blonde-haired superwoman. Tufts of golden locks poked out from under the covering, and she cracked her knuckles in anticipation.
He scooted back and looked around for a weapon. The woman stalked closer as David turned and crawled towards the exit. He looked up and found that the front barn door was gone and was replaced by another wall. David pulled himself up and did his best to keep his distance.
Suddenly, the woman charged in with a flurry of punches and kicks. Panic set in as she roared with determination and landed repeated blows. A combination of moves ended with her performing a well-timed spinning back kick into his sternum. David flew back into the rotting timbers and landed in a heap on the cold earth.
She snatched him by a wrist and ankle, then slung him twenty yards away, into the opposite wall. His leg snapped on impact and dangled loosely just below the knee. David’s head poured blood, and his right pinky finger was broken in half.
She bounded after him and lifted him by the neck with one hand. The woman tossed him over her shoulder, and he went airborne for another ten feet. His momentum kept him skidding after his body found the ground. As he finally came to a halt, David heard the familiar laughter of the Lanyon children.
Nancy mocked, “Get up, David! We need you to save us!”
April chimed in, “Please, David! Don’t let us down!”
He lifted his blood-soaked face up off the ground, but there was no sign of the Lanyons. The short woman hoisted him up by his coat collar and pinned David to the central support beam. She snapped a half dozen uppercuts to his stomach, which caused him to spew blood out of his mouth in a coughing fit. The woman let go and dropped him to the ground.
He sat against the wooden pole and watched her through the one working eye. Unable to move his body, David was helpless as she pulled both ends of the hangman’s noose over to him. She jabbed her knee into his chest to keep him in place and shoved the air out of his lungs.
He struggled wildly and used his left hand to beat against the woman’s legs in an attempt to get free. She continued to lean into him, unaffected by his blows, as she widened the loop enough to fit over his head. The superwoman grabbed David under the chin and lifted his 240 pound frame by his jaw up to a standing position. He spit up blood and wallowed in anguish at the pressure. David felt his broken leg dangling freely and smacking against his other calf.
She pitched the loop over his head and started taking up the slack on the other end of the rope. Right before she pulled it tight, David flipped the noose over her head and cinched the knot. Instantly, she released her knee in his chest and struggled to get free. Before she could, he leaned out and grabbed the other end of the cord. As he fell to the ground, he let his weight pull the superwoman off the ground by her slender neck. His body provided a counterweight to the kicking and flailing superwoman.
The decades of rock climbing went into maintaining the hold on the rope with just his left hand. The superwoman suddenly stopped struggling and swung limp. The sounds of the noose creaking against the wood rafters were the only sound as he continued to hold on for several minutes to be sure.
With an exhale of exhaustion, he let go of the rope and heard the zip of the line before the attached body hit the earth. He dragged himself over to the woman and put a hand on the top of the ski mask. Fighting through the pain, he grabbed a handful of cloth and pulled it off her head. The old face of Uncle Enrich stared wide-eyed at the ceiling of the barn. The ancient German tongue was pushed between his teeth, and the corpse’s face was a beet red from the strangulation.
David’s psyche cracked as he pulled the rope away from his Uncle’s crooked neck. Blubbering incoherently, he grabbed the man’s face and begged him to respond. Moaning in anguish, the blood flowed from his broken face onto the forehead of the dead Enrich.
He opened his eyes to find the image of the barn was gone, and a pitch-black had replaced it. The loud sounds of the creaking ropes he had heard when he hung the superwoman had returned. David took a moment to realize he was actually laying down and inside something musty. He attempted to sit up but hit his head on something wood and hard. A chill went into him from the severe cold and felt around the edges of his tiny prison. Within seconds, his head had cleared enough to realize he had been experiencing a nightmare before. He felt a sense of relief; the damage he had sustained was all just a dream. His body was shaking from the chill and the experienced nightmare. Probing around, David discovered that he was actually trapped inside a small box of some kind.
Something deep inside his mind had snapped. He no longer felt the lingering obsession with the superwoman but instead focused on the spin out of control. The idea of hope was gone, and another panic attack set in. He gasped for breath and urinated himself. Bawling like a child, he rocked back and forth in the box and languished in his misery.
Some time passed before he noticed tiny pinholes of sunlight streaming in from sliver-sized openings in the wood. He cleared away the tears and relished the small degree of illumination the beams provided. He examined the interior to find it was lined on the bottom with a smooth, soft white material. Along the sides were satin, and a sensation that he was swaying came over him. He tapped the floor of the wood container and checked the width.
He started to hyperventilate and shut his eyes tight, as he realized, I’m in a coffin!
Chapter 12: Shoshannah II
Tulsa, Oklahoma – Wednesday, November 14th, 2018 – 10:01 a.m. CST
Shoshannah Feinstein looked at Richard Enfield’s laptop screen and read, “Transfer Complete.”
She crossed her arms, “Thank you. I hope this concludes our business from here on out?”
Richard stood up from behind his large oak desk, “It does. I appreciate you spending the extra time to coax the golem into cooperating with Miniel.”
She picked up her black coat from his office’s leather couch, “You’re lucky it only took three days. The stronger the soul light, the more will power the golem has, and this one was very resistant. It’s no wonder, considering who you brought me. You’re lucky it agreed instead of turning on us.”
He poured himself a coffee, “I suppose we are fortunate to have you around.”
Shoshannah walked away from his desk, “I’d like to take credit for it, but the glory goes to Samuel. If it wasn’t for his spellwork and silver tongue, Miniel and the golem would have never seen eye-to-eye.”
Richard took a deep breath, “It’s a relief to see this large investment will soon pay off. Now we wait for them to finish merging and then arise as a Nephilim. One strong enough to overcome Hyde’s new form.”
She pulled her hair back in a ponytail, “Yeah, you have fun with that. I’ll be glad to be rid of the Brotherhood from my life and continue my sabbatical. No offense, Master Enfield.”
He gave a mocked expression of hurt, “So direct! I like that. You have been well paid for the work and generously compensated for the business with Marcus. You have the thanks of this world’s next rulers.”
Shoshannah rolled her eyes and walked to the door of the study, “Forget my number. As far as you are concerned, I’m as dead as that pile of dirt in your basement.”
She walked down the halls of the Howard Estate towards the front door. A familiar and sharply dressed ghost met her in the foyer. He was wearing a black suit with a grey tie and had a broad grin across his bearded face.
She stopped and grinned, “I guess this is it, Sam.”
He gave a slight bow, “It pains me to see you go.”
The Crusader guards that stood at each end of the large maple double doors gave each other a perplexed look. To them, it looked as if Shoshannah was having a one-sided conversation with thin air. They drew open the doors and let the sunlight pour onto the black and white checkered floor.
She let Samuel escort her to Whim and remarked, “I have had assistants before, good ones, but you were… unique. I wonder what these good Christian Crusaders would think if they knew a tireless ghost and a relentless re-animated corpse were working side-by-side, day and night, to bring a blasphemous Nephilim into this world?”
The specter chuckled, “Probably the same thing they would think if they knew their next Lieutenant Governor, the virtuous and Christian leader, Richard Enfield, was actually the leader of the very terrorist organization their Crusaders were designed to defeat.”
Shoshannah took the keys for Whim from the valet and got in the black Dodge Charger, “Normally, I tell Clerval to get some rest once he was finished with a long night of work, but not in your case. Don’t forget me, Samuel Howard.”
Samuel solidified his body enough to kiss her hand, “My love, I don’t require sleep to dream of you.”
Shoshannah rested her arm and head on the open window of her car, “There’s something I don’t get about you, Sam. I saw you cast spells onto that new golem that I’ve never heard or seen before. Even as a ghost, you have true power. Then there is this estate, your wealth, and the connections you have, which all makes this really puzzling.”
The specter leaned down to the car window, “Truly, my dear. What perplexes you?”
She shook her head, “How did someone as arrogant as Richard Enfield best you and become your keeper?”
Samuel gave her a slight smile, “I suppose we all have our part to play in the coming of Cthulhu. Richard played his part very well, and I have to … well, I was going to say, live with that.”
She gave him a skeptical look, “Goodbye, Samuel Howard.”
Shoshannah started the car and waved goodbye at the dashing apparition. Pulling out of the drive, she felt like a swimmer rushing to get out of shark-infested waters. She was given the privacy of Samuel’s old lab to do her work, but she always felt like someone was watching.
As she pulled away from the massive gates and onto the street, IGOR’s Australian voice came online, “Mistress, I’m glad to see you safe. You’ll be happy to know the funds have successfully been deposited in the accounts.”
She gripped the wheel and squealed the tires, “Yeah, I saw. What’s your status on finding Adam?”
The AI replied, “I’m still unable to track down his location. It isn’t like him to be this incognito.”
She flipped open her phone and sent a text to Jagger Clerval, “Hello, Love. I’m coming back to New York. I hope you are enjoying your vacation. Check your bank account. You will have enough to finish that remodeling job a few times over. I’ll expect an invitation to dinner when you get back.”
She turned onto 71st Street and took one last look at Tulsa, thankful to be putting it behind her. The city was a powder keg from the attacks from the Crimson Brotherhood, and Richard Enfield was about to light a match. Her phone buzzed in her hand, and she smiled at the thought of elation Jagger must have had over the massive payday.
She looked at the screen that read, “Now, Don’t go leaving T-town without letting me buy you a steak first. – John Hamilton.”
Shoshannah threw her phone down in the passenger seat and screamed in frustration.
Tulsa, Oklahoma – Wednesday, November 14th, 2018 – 11:12 a.m. CST
Shoshannah Feinstein sat across from Agent John Hamilton, “I didn’t know you were in town, John. I would have insisted you take me out.”
The Texan looked at her over the white coffee cup, “I’d never miss a chance to see you, or to get a good Oklahoma steak.”
The McGill’s steakhouse sign flashed overhead, “You know how I like a good piece of meat.”
John blushed, “Same ol’ Shoshannah. You know I never did get over you not calling me after that time in Vegas.”
She took a sip of her water, “You know that phone works both ways.”
He nodded, “I can’t deny that. I guess with all this Cthulhu mess, I’ve been busier than a funeral home fan in the middle of July.”
Shoshannah raised her right eyebrow, “Forgiven. Cults! Right? More death has happened in the name of some god than any war for power. It’s ridiculous. Don’t let it wear on you too much, John. Sometimes things have a way of working themselves out.”
John spun his spoon nervously on the table, “That could be true, but right now, it is a wildfire. The Crimson Brotherhood activity has spread far beyond some crazy Okies. The FBI has confirmed thirteen different terrorist attacks that range all over the United States.
She reached over and straightened the Agent’s turquoise bolo tie. Her pheromones lifted up to his nose, as he inhaled deeply from the excitement of her touch. The Texan’s eyes glazed over, and he grabbed her hand like it was a lifeline to salvation.
She turned her palm up and let him kiss her hand, “Love, tell me, how come I haven’t heard about this on TV?”
He looked into her deep blue eyes, “Control told me not to say anything about that to you.”
She unfastened the top button to her low cut shirt, “He doesn’t understand me like you do. You know you can trust me.”
He stayed transfixed on the upper curve of her breast, “I suppose yer right. The FBI has been covering up as much as they can. If the public knew how little the Feds know, they would turn to the UCC. The President has asked AEGIS to stop the cult and make law enforcement look good in the process. That means bringing in their ramrod, Henry Jekyll, in alive and handing the cult to the FBI on a silver platter.”
She took her ponytail out and let her black locks fall on her shoulders, “If anyone can do it, my Texan can. Any progress with tracking down Henry Jekyll or finding the Tulsa Sect of the Brotherhood?”
He pressed his stomach against the table in an attempt to get closer, “I tell you, it’s the strangest thing. The Brotherhood knocked out the hospital’s cameras, so all we got to go on is the evidence left behind. It was a mess! Three nurses, two security guards, fourteen cops, and seven cult members were killed in
Jekyll’s escape. The third-floor hallways outside of Henry Jekyll’s room were torn to pieces. Doors were ripped off their hinges, bullet holes riddled the interior walls, and a hole the size of Volkswagen was made in the side of the building.”
She stroked the back of his arm, “The news said that was from the cult setting off a charge. Something about the police suspecting they used it as an exit.”
John shook his head, “One of the nurses that was caught in the crossfire said that an angel saved her, killed the cultists and then flew through the wall.”
Shoshannah giggled, then realized he was serious, “An angel? John Hamilton, I didn’t know you liked tall tales.”
He took off his Stetson Hat and held her hand with both of his, “I know how it sounds, but I’ve seen stranger things. AEGIS put her under a lie detector, and she came out clean. Control had her sign a standard national security agreement, ensuring she wouldn’t take her story to the press.”
She smirked, “John, this is a state that is flooded in terror and superstition. Fucking religious crusaders are marching in the streets. She was probably delusional from stress. Soldiers see guardian angels all the time in combat.”
He held her hand tight, “The FBI tested the debris surrounding the hole. No signs of explosives, no chemical residue, and no gunpowder. It’s like some great force just pushed its way out, and get this, our boys in blue never made it past the front door.”
He paused, waiting for her to respond until Shoshannah remarked, “So…”
John gave a big Texas grin, “So… the security guards were killed in the first seconds of the raid. The only two Brotherhood members killed by the cops were the ones holding the line at the front door. Someone or something tore through those cultists on the third floor without firing a shot. Some of the discharged slugs we found at the scene were smashed and lying on the floor. It’s like they hit something solid and just dropped to the ground. The dead cultists were torn apart. Hell, it’s like a bulletproof grizzly bear went on a rampage, ripped into those Brotherhood men, busted out of the wall, and just flew away.”