“Ill do it,” Thyra said with confidence and stepped onto the field. It was her time to shine.
Chapter 17 Insanity
Daniel pulled the van around to the back of the church and drove under an awning. The van door slid open and several men jumped out. Matthew and his two bodyguards walked out of the church through double glass doors and approached the van as the men opened the van’s rear doors. Daniel jumped out and slammed the driver door shut, rage building inside of him as he saw Matthew’s approach.
“Before you begin, my condolences. If I would have known-,” Matthew began.
“Save your fake pity!” Daniel shouted, pointing at Matthew, his eyes still puffy and red. “You don’t give a damn that my friend was just murdered. You just care that we actually got the gryphon that you want.” He strode to the side of the van and watched as the men struggled to pull the limp gryphon out of the back.
“You’re right. I don’t care,” Matthew said, crossing his hands behind his back. “He was your man, not mine. What happened was unfortunate, but I expected it was possible we could lose someone.”
The bishop stood a couple feet away from Daniel, watching the men pull the gryphon out. Daniel turned around with his teeth clenched and hands trembling.
“I’m sure he was a good man…” Matthew continued.
It took everything Daniel had not to leap at Matthew and strangle him right then and there. If he caught them off guard, he could put down the old man and his two bodyguards within two seconds, but surely the others would retaliate. It would be a death sentence.
Matthew and his bodyguards saw the murderous intent in Daniel’s eyes. They pulled back their jackets slowly and put their hands on their holstered weapons. Daniel did the same, reaching for his weapon.
“Daniel. Do not turn this into a bloodbath,” Matthew said calmly. “Let us discuss this further.” The men finished unloading the gryphon and all four of them struggled to carry the beast under the awning and into the church.
“Fuck your discussions! I’m done with you. I’m done with all your bullshit and whatever religious zealot endgame you have. I’m not doing this anymore.” Daniel grit his teeth in anger. He turned to look inside at the tarp draped over the body of Jack. He huffed and slammed the two rear doors on the van.
“You can’t quit. You’re under con…” Matthew began.
“Watch me. You and your god can go to hell.” Daniel quickly walked around to the driver’s side and hopped in. He slammed the door shut and started up the diesel engine. The tires squealed as Daniel pulled away from the church and across the parking lot.
Matthew watched him leave and let out a sigh. “You’ll be in Hell soon enough, Daniel,” he muttered under his breath, then turned to head into the church with his men following behind him.
***
The small room Anfang was in was dark and shadowed. The creature could barely see his blood-stained and deformed talons. He stretched them out, noticing the chains binding his limbs together. His mind felt foggy, and he had a splitting headache that tore at the back of his skull. He flicked his one eartuft and looked around the room as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. “Wh…where am I?”
A door creaked open, letting in a blinding light. He hissed and squinted his feline green eyes. “I see you’re finally awake,” said a voice asked from within that light. “Anfang, was it?”
There was a click and a bulb above him flickered on. Anfang struggled to take in his surroundings as his eyes adjusted, revealing a rather bare room containing nothing more than a few chairs and tables stacked against the wall.
“Yes. Anfang I am,” he replied, his voice croaking as he talked. He lifted his foretalons to rub his head with a low growl. “My head… It hurts,” the gryphon complained and watched as the man grabbed a chair from the stack.
“I suspect so. Sedatives can have such a nasty effect. Especially ones as strong as the ones they used on you.” The man placed the chair a safe distance from Anfang and sat down. “My name is Matthew. I’m here to help,” he said as two other well-dressed men entered the room and stood beside him. “You killed one of my men. Why?”
Anfang sat up and stretched out his leathery wings. He looked to the bald man sitting before him, noticing the aging wrinkles covering his face. Anfang chuckled deep in his chest and shook his head.
“You humans so weak. You think killing so bad. Why? Why not kill what we want? Eat what we want? Play with what we want?” Anfang responded and looked to the two men standing beside Matthew. He noticed the weapons on their hips and let out a deep growl. “And I kill before I am hurt. I kill your man because he had gun. Those men, they have guns too.”
Anfang got to his feet, causing the two men to place their hands on their holstered firearms. He tried to take a step forward, but something restrained him. He looked back to see his hindpaws chained to the wall behind him and clicked his jaws together again.
“You don’t like guns.” Matthew stated.
“No. They hurt me.” Anfang answered.
Matthew paused for a moment considering the response. “They hurt you, do they? Have you been shot before?” Anfang nodded in response and pointed to a huge bare spot on his feathered chest that was covered in scars.
“Yes. Lots and lots. They hurt and sting bad,” Anfang answered and gestured towards the bodyguards. “Tell them go away, then we talk!” he demanded.
To Anfang’s surprise, Matthew decided not to press against his wishes for now. The old man looked to his men and gestured towards the door. Their eyes widened, but they turned to walk out of the room, leaving just Matthew and Anfang together.
“I don’t want to hurt you. Unlike those other people, I want to take care of you. But, I need to know I can trust you.” Matthew said, his gaze focused on the deformed gryphon.
Anfang chuckled again and hissed. “Trust. Trust. Trust. Why? Why should I trust humans? They want to hurt me. They want to poke me with tools and chain me and do it again…and again…and again. They hurt me so I kill them. You say you different. You want to help. But I am in chains still.” Anfang’s voice screeched slightly as he stared directly at the soulless eyes of the human before him.
Matthew sighed and sat for a minute more, considering his next words carefully. “What can I do to earn your trust?” he asked.
Anfang held up his deformed forearms and pulled at the chains. “Start with this. You say trust. Then trust that I not hurt you.” Anfang’s mangy lion tail swiped behind him. Matthew sat for a moment more and before he could say something else, Anfang chimed in again. “If I hurt you, those humans will kill me. I still no escape with rear legs chained.”
“A valid point,” Matthew responded.
He stood up from his chair and pulled a key out of his pocket. Anfang held his foretalons up watched him carefully as he approached. Matthew grabbed onto a scaled wrist and put the key inside the cuff, turning it and letting it fall off. He did the same to the other and held his breath for a moment as the gryphon’s bloodied talons were now free.
Anfang trilled and rubbed his wrists. “Trust,” he said in a low tone as he placed his talons on the carpet. Matthew took a couple steps back and sat down in the chair once again.
“It is a start. Now, I have some other things to discuss with you.” Matthew sat back and crossed his legs. Anfang shook his head.
“I hunger. And you must make the head pain go away,” Anfang demanded. Matthew sighed and shrugged his shoulders.
“I figured as much. James?” Matthew called out calmly. The door opened slowly and one of the men from before peaked his head in. “Please fetch our friend something to eat, and bring some pain killers.”
He nodded and closed the door behind him. Matthew turned back to Anfang and looked at the metallic discs embedded in his upper arm. “I am curious as to what those are for.”
Anfang looked down at his arms and raised a talon up to scratch at the black metal ports at the center. “The people in white put them there. Th
ey put sharp things in it. I not know what for,” he responded while still touching them. He turned back to Matthew and put his talons back down. His one eartuft returned to its natural position and his mangy coat of feathers smoothed down as the gryphon relaxed. “I ask now. Who are you?”
Matthew placed his hands together and smiled. “That is a complicated question. Who exactly is anybody? I am simply a man of God seeking to help lost souls find their way in this world.” Anfang growled and spat on the ground, causing Matthew to frown.
“You humans with this God. I not understand. I not want to. Some humans try to explain, but it makes me angry.” Anfang responded and looked away, staring at a crucifix on one of the walls. “They say things like eternity. We live. We eat. We die. That all.”
“I’m not attempting to press religion on you. You asked who I was, so I simply gave you my answer,” Matthew retorted, trying to keep the beast calm. “My turn for a question. Who are you?”
Anfang glanced over to Matthew, his green feline eyes looking over him for a second before glancing back at the wall. “I Anfang. A gryphon. They tell me I made for war. I made to kill. I follow orders. That is all I am.”
“Made for war, you say? So, you mean the military made you,” Matthew asked.
“I not know this word,” Anfang responded.
Matthew thought for a second and nodded his head. “Well, I am curious. You seem to be angry at humanity and know pain. Also, I have never heard of a gryphon such as you… like...”
“A monster?” Anfang clicked his cat-like teeth against his upper beak again and hissed. “I hear humans call me this. All of them.”
“No, I was not going to say such a word. You are simply different than other gryphons,” Matthew pointed out. Anfang looked down at his talons and raised one to his beak to begin cleaning the dried blood off of them with a rough tongue.
“I not know this. I never be free. Only one cage to next cage. I only see one other gryphon. Her name was Thyra.” Anfang stopped cleaning his talons for a moment, lost in thought.
Matthew’s bushy eyebrows rose up at the mention of her name. Matthew leaned forward in his chair as Anfang took notice of his sudden interest. “Do you know Thyra?” Anfang asked.
“I do. Very well, in fact. And her husband, Johnathen,” Matthew responded.
Anfang’s eyes widened and a small smile grew on his deformed beak muzzle. “I want to see her!” he said excitedly. “It has been long time. Years and years!”
Matthew chuckled and shook his head, his curiosity doubling. “Don’t worry, I’ll let you see her very soon. How do you know Thyra?”
“We grow up together. Same lab when young. I miss her. She came to my room to play every day and we have fun,” Anfang began, then suddenly frowned and looked down to the ground. “Then they take her away. They take me away. I…I was angry. I killed one of the humans. They hurt me and I wake up somewhere. They put me on table, hurt me, change me . . . and put me in cage for long time. Then I wake up somewhere new. I not see her again.”
“Do not fret. I assure you that you will see her very soon,” Matthew said gently. The door opened slowly, breaking Anfang’s concentration. Matthew turned around to see James holding a plate of raw steaks and a small pile of pills “Ah, here you are, Anfang.” Matthew said as James placed the plate on the ground.
Anfang’s pupils turned into pencil thin slits at the sight of red meat. He quickly put his foretalons on a chunk and leaned his beak muzzle down to tear off a bloody piece. He smacked his jaws together and swallowed the piece whole. Matthew watched with disgust as the beast made quick work of several pounds of meat as if they were nothing more than an appetizer.
The sounds of tearing flesh echoed in the small room as the gryphon snapped the last piece up and swallowed it. His beak dripped with blood and he closed his eyes, savoring the last morsel while it descended his throat. Matthew sat for a minute more, watching as Anfang licked his talons clean.
Once finished with his meal, Anfang’s pupils widened as the sentient part of his mind returned. He ruffled his coat of tattered feathers and fur before sitting up straight once more. He noticed the pills on the plate and picked one up to inspect it. “These help pain, yes? Not more?”
“Just painkillers, yes. I’m not trying to drug you. Remember, trust.” Matthew responded. Anfang watched Matthew for a moment more, seeming to study him. Satisfied by the response, Anfang tossed them back and swallowed quickly.
“As you were saying?” Matthew pressed.
“I say I never free. Not free as human is. I say I want to be free. I want to see Thyra.” Anfang gave him a firm stare. “You promise me I be free, and I do what you want.”
“It seems we have a deal then. I can guarantee your freedom,” Matthew said with a crooked smile. “But first, there is someone I need you to kill.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cellphone. Matthew leaned forward and showed Anfang a picture of Daniel.
Anfang looked at the picture and cocked his head. “I remember him. He was there before I sleep. I can kill him. I good at kill. It is what I know. Why do you want Anfang to kill?” Anfang asked curiously. Matthew seemed to slightly confused by the question but answered.
“This man has done many bad things, bad things that shouldn’t go unpunished. As far as I’m concerned, he’s food. You do this for me, and I’ll bring you to Thyra?” Matthew replied.
“I can play with him? Eat him too?” Anfang asked.
“You can do as you wish with him. I don’t care,” Matthew responded and sat back in his chair. Anfang put on a toothy grin, clearly excited at the opportunity to kill again.
“I do it,” Anfang said with a nod. He pulled at the chains again still binding his hindfeet and turned to look at them.
“Here, let me get those for you.” Matthew stood and walked around the gryphon’s backside. He put his key into the cuffs and pulled them apart with ease. The chains made a loud thud as they fell to the floor, and Anfang slowly stood up.
Suddenly, Anfang turned around and swiped his foretalons out. Matthew did not even have time to react as the gryphon took him by surprise and struck him against the chest. Matthew coughed as he was flung back against the wall.
Anfang’s talons sunk into the wall around Matthews throat, but not a scratch was put on him. The gryphon held him firmly against the throat, careful not to cut off his air completely. The gryphon stood on his hindfeet to tower over the small fragile man and spread his leathery wings out for measure.
“You listen now, yes?” Anfang craned his head down to press his wicked beak muzzle close to Matthews face.
His breath reeked of dead flesh and blood and his eyes glowed green in the dim light as he stared directly into Matthew’s eyes. The old man realized that the beast was perhaps not as stupid as it had seemed.
Anfang saw the bishop’s fear and chuckled deeply in his chest. “You think I stupid, but I smart. I know lies. You lie to me, and I will kill you. I will kill all of you. Listen, yes. Listen. I had humans in past lie to me. They think Anfang stupid, think they smarter, but they now dead. All of them.” Anfang slurred, his words mixed with hisses.
Matthew placed his hands on the gryphons scaled foreclaws, trying to find purchase on them. His eyes were wide with fear, and he shook uncontrollably. “Who the one in chains now…?” Anfang held him there for a few seconds more before Matthew found his breath again.
“Yes! Yes I understand. No more chains and I promise I won’t lie. You have my word,” Matthew spat out.
Anfang watched and slowly pulled his head back along with his foretalons. Matthew fell to his knees and coughed loudly, holding his throat. Anfang sat on his haunches again, and watched as Matthew found his breath again. The door opened behind them as one of the men peeked in.
“Sir, is everything alright?” the man asked. Matthew looked up at Anfang and saw him staring back. He motioned his beak muzzle towards the door, pushing Matthew to respond positively.
“Yes. Every
thing is fine. I tripped while undoing his chains,” Matthew said.
Satisfied, the guard closed the door again, leaving the two of them alone. He stood up and brushed himself off as the gryphon snorted through his nares. Anfang stepped aside to allow Matthew to pass and followed him to the door.
“You try anything like that again…” Matthew muttered under his breath.
“And?” Anfang quietly replied, following Matthew out into the hallway. Matthew clenched his fists and crossed his hands behind his back. The silence caused Anfang to chuckle deeply.
Matthew’s men walked behind the bulky gryphon cautiously, watching his every move. Anfang turned to look back at the men, who remained unspeaking. They were trying to suppress their fear, but he could sense it. His beak muzzle curved into a toothy grin, knowing how helpless those men felt.
“You can wait here for a few minutes. I’m going to confirm Daniel’s location and you can be on your way.” Matthew stopped at a pair of wooden doors and opened them. Anfang looked inside at the room filled with bookcases and furniture. Outside the gigantic bay windows, the sun was raising high in the sky.
“I not know this place. How do I find this Daniel?” Anfang said as he entered the room. He looked around at all the books, and turned back to look at Matthew, who was still standing at the doors.
“We will guide you. But first,” Matthew took a bracelet that was handed to him by one of the men. He held it up for Anfang to look at the armband, and his eartuft folded back with displeasure. “You must wear this. It is a tracker. It will tell us where you are.”
“You want to leash me.” Anfang growled deeply and looked over the metal band again. It looked simple and streamlined with a small screen at its center, nothing big and awkward to get in his way. The thin shiny metal was decorated to look almost like the watchbands he had seen humans wear, but without the dials in the middle.
“If you mean figuratively, then yes. You promised me to help me. I can’t have you flying off as soon as you leave these doors.” Matthew took a step forward and opened the band. Anfang sat for a moment and thought.
The Gryphon Generation Book 2: A New Era Page 19