***
Joe rubbed his eyes. It wasn't just the brightness of the cryo lab, but the irritation and smell in the lab as well. “A monster.” He stated.
“Big one, too.” Ellen replied.
“Ellen, do you know how hard … and Christ, what died in here?”
Ellen put her finger to her mouth and peered around. “I didn’t see anything, but again I’m immune to the smell. I’ll check the back. We have some animals back there.”
“Do that, will ya?”
“Sure.” Ellen turned.
“Not now, I want to talk about this monster.” Joe said. “Ellen, you have to take it from my perspective. A monster. Exactly what would you categorize as a monster?”
“Something monstrous.”
Joe nodded. “And did either of my sons see this monster, or were they chasing some guy that looked in the dark like he could be a monster.”
Before Ellen could answer, Jason did. “It was a monster, Joe. Ellen, I brought more coffee.”
“Oh, good, we need it. The results are taking long.” She said,
“Results on what?” Joe asked.
“The DNA mutation on Dean, “Ellen answered. She saw Joe shift his eyes. “Jason knows.” Ellen took the grounds and walked to the pot.
Jason said. “I’ve been suspecting for some time.”
“Let me ask you a question,” Joe lifted a finger. “This monster …”
“Huge,” Jason replied. “Hulking, deformed, monster. Defiantly a DNA mutation, nothing was born that way.”
“Is it possible that it is one of our killer babies all grown up?” Joe asked.
“More than likely not.” Jason answered. “But we can’t rule out the possibility.”
“Yes, we can.” Ellen said. “If we get a DNA sample from it.”
Joe looked at her with a ‘how’ expression.
“Maybe Frank can get it.” Ellen suggested.
“For as wonderful as my son is at his job, obtaining a DNA sample from a monster might be difficult.”
Ellen shrugged.
“Another question,” Joe said. “This DNA mutated monster, is he clear thinking, could he be our mutilator?”
Jason shook his head. “I’m confident he is not. One he is much too frightening, as soon as our people saw him, they’d run. No, the mutilator is a different entity. Right now you’re checking on a mutation in Dean. Could Dean be our monster?”
Ellen snickered. “Joe, Dean is big, he’s not that big.”
Joe gave a disgusted look to her. “Now, did I need to hear that?”
Jason laughed. “I don’t think Dean is our monster. Ellen doesn’t either. Tell why?”
Ellen did, “The monster had brown eyes.”
Joe nodded. “I see. The monster has brown eyes. So why are we DNA testing Dean?”
Ellen explained, “The mutilator runs fast. Too fast for a typical human, leading us to believe Dean gave the mutilator the healing agent. If Dean took the agent, we may have a lead.”
“Why would Dean be the mutilator?” Joe asked. “It makes no sense.”
Jason answered. “Psychosis brought on by anything, including too high of a dose of the agent. I also have a theory about what’s going on in his brain. I’ll share when we have more time. Plus, Dean has a base factor of just being plain sick.”
Joe nodded. “Point taken. So now we wait. How long?”
The ‘ding’ from the computer made Ellen squeal in excitement. “Now.” She raced to the computer. Read to review the results, she stopped when Joe and Jason hovered behind her. “Do you guys mind? My results.”
Joe tossed out his hands. “Fine. Go on.”
Ellen whistled.
Joe and Jason looked at her.
“Whoa,” Ellen whispered. “Oh my God.”
“What?” Joe asked.
“Holy shit.”
“What?” Joe asked louder.
“Unbelievable.”
“Ellen!” Joe blasted. “What!”
Slowly, and dramatically she turned on the stool. “Dean has the mutation of the healing agent.”
Joe exhaled. “So he gave it to himself.”
“In massive quantities, too,” Ellen said. “His levels are through the roof. The mutation is stronger than Frank’s.”
“Oh my God.” Joe said. “Wait. Then if his levels and mutation are strong, how do we know he can’t be the monster aside from the eye color.”
Ellen answered “The eye color is thought to switch.”
Jason gave a hem-haw moan. “May not, maybe the mutation removes the pigmentation, or adds it. But we’ll never know until we get a DNA sample from our monster.”
“How? Joe asked.
Ellen answered. “Get Frank to get a chunk of his skin.”
“Ellen,” Joe grumbled. “I know you think my son is great, but there is no way he’s getting a chunk of the monster’ skin.”
The cryo lab door buzzed, and in brought Frank. He bore a huge grin. “El, check this out.” Enthused he hurried to the counter, and slapped down his hand releasing a blood substance.
“Christ, Frank.” Joe griped. “What the hell is that?”
Frank smiled “A chunk of the monster’s skin.”
Wide eyes and pleased, Ellen looked to Joe. “You were saying?”
The conversations of Joe, Jason and Frank ranged from Killer babies to the food in Bowman. Although occasionally, Jason would try to interject scientific theories on Dean mutating himself, the topic always seemed to idle.
Ellen found herself teetering between the results, and wanting them all to leave.
Finally, they finished. The results were in.
Despite the fact that Dean had mutated DNA, he did not match the monster sample. In fact, no DNA on record in Beginnings did.
****
As they stood just beyond the field region, Robbie offered Henry a shot of Moonshine. Henry refused, totally believing Robbie had drugged it.
“You sure, Henry?” Robbie asked.
“You want to get me drunk, then pull a mutilator on me.”
“Henry, please.” Robbie snickered. He watched Henry, tightened his coat. He smiled “Henry, when did you start wearing a coat.”
“I’m protecting myself. Plus, I’m nervous, I get cold when I’m nervous.”
“Okay, well,” Robbie looked at his watch. “You know the rules. Wait five minutes and walk home.”
“I swear to God, Robbie, if you attack me.”
“Henry, fuck. I’m not attacking you.” Robbie backed away. “Five minutes.” He held up his hand. “Then walk.”
“Five minutes.”
“Afraid?”
“No.”
“Bye.” Robbie turned.
“Robbie.” Henry called out.
Robbie stopped. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“Bye,” Robbie started to walk again.
“Robbie,” Henry called out once more.
“What, Henry?” Robbie skid to a stop.
“Have a good night.”
“Baby.” With a chuckle, Robbie lit up a cigarette and kept on walking.
Henry stood alone.
He heard an owl.
He jumped.
“No,” He spoke out loud. “I am not afraid. Robbie will not be right.”
How long was it? It seemed like an eternity. After looking at his watch and seeing it was only a minute, Henry bounced from heel to toe.
Another noise.
“Robbie?” Henry called out.
Nothing. No response.
Henry peered out, leaning his body to see if he could spot Robbie. He couldn’t. Pulling a flashlight from his belt, Henry smiled “You said nothing about not having a flashlight.” He turned it on. As he aimed to the woods, he saw a shadow move quickly.
Henry jolted and the flashlight fell to the ground, the beam went out.
“Shit. Shit.” Henry lifted it. He banged it against his hand. No luck. The beam was dead. “Great. Thanks.” He raised h
is voice. “Thanks, Robbie!”
He heard a scuffling sound. Leaves crunching.
“It’s been five minutes.” Henry started to walk.
A few steps, and he heard the sound again, this time closer.
Henry stopped. He slowly turned with peering eyes. “Robbie?”
Crunch. Scuffle.
“Oh, yeah, real funny. Ha, ha, ha. I’m laughing. I’m not scared.”
Snort.
“Fuck.” After calling out a loud ‘Asshole’, in case it was Robbie, and Henry took off running, in case it wasn’t.
CHAPTER FIVE
Hal favored the early mornings in the mess hall, even if it meant he didn’t get breakfast. He enjoyed sitting alone, sipping the coffee, reading the Hoi News. He chuckled some at doomsday countdown to the meteor that would strike. Of course, it didn’t say anything about the meteor, Danny couldn’t mention it until Hal’s father did at the town meeting.
The town meeting.
The thought of it gave him an instant headache. Why Beginnings had them was beyond him. Hal could see early on, but the community grew and with it came the abundance of crowd, all of them using the meeting as an excuse to drink early.
Josephine would get some prime butt pinching in.
Looking at the stick figure political cartoon of his father, Hal was about to laugh when a phone set down before him.
He raised his eyes. “Well, good morning to you too, Elliott.”
“Strangest thing Captain.” Elliott joined him. “I was awoken by a ringing phone. But I couldn’t find it. I followed the sound, and seems your phone was in my living room by my front door. Any idea how that happened.”
“My God, Elliott you found my phone thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I stopped by this morning, but you were sleeping. I left the phone, figuring Frank would call. I didn’t want to deal with him and his morning reports.”
“I can see why.”
“So what did he say?” Hal asked.
“Who?”
“My brother.” Hal snipped in irritation, then sipped his coffee. “He called right?”
“No, he did not.”
“Then who did?” Hal asked. “The phone rang.”
“Yes, it did.”
“Good God Elliott. Who was on the phone?”
“Robbie.”
“Is everything okay? Robbie usually sleeps at this time.”
“He needs you to call him,” Elliott said. “Seems he had a bet with Henry last night. He bet Henry was too afraid to walk home at night for fear of the mutilator.”
“And?”
Elliott slid the phone to Hal. “Henry is now missing.”
***
It was one thing to walk a beat. It was another to keep walking from the previous night. Frank was tired, he had chased monsters, watched Ellen work, and now was walking the region to the right of the fields.
He sang a Christmas song, he didn’t know why. Just something to do, he supposed. He was groggy, wanted coffee, and wanted to sleep.
Hiss.
“Frank,” Joe called. “You there.”
“Yep.” Frank answered.
“Anything?”
“Nothing yet. I’m even trying to catch a scent.”
“You have something of Henry’s then?”
“Yeah. A shirt. Hector gave it to me.”
“You sure he’s not in the field area?” Joe asked.
“Positive my men would have found him. Fuck, Dad, I think it’s a joke.” Frank said.
“What do you mean?”
“I think fuckin’ Henry is fuckin around because Robbie made that bet.”
“Well I hope for Robbie’s sake you’re right.”
“Robbie can’t get in trouble for this.”
“Frank, if the mutilator got Henry, whose fault is it?”
“Not Robbie’s. No one told Henry to take the bet.”
A silent pause.
“Okay, you got a point.” Joe said. “Keep looking, let me know if you find anything.”
“I will.” Frank replied as he moved about. “I just don’t think …” he stopped, not only did his foot send leaves scurrying upward, his foot hit against something.
“What? What is it?”
“I think I found something.” Frank peered down.
“What is it?”
“Hold on.”
There was a mound, and Frank nudged his foot against it. A moaned seeped out. Not in the mood to bend over, Frank cleared the brush and covering of leaves with his foot.
A bare leg.
“What the fuck?” Frank whispered.
“Frank?” Joe called. “Frank?”
“Hold on.”
Curious as to why he was looking at a bare leg, Frank removed more of the leaves.
“Frank? What do you have?”
“Negative.” Frank said. “Nothing. Dead rabbit, sorry.”
“Get back to me if you find Henry.”
“I will.” Frank lowered the mouthpiece, then lowered himself to the body. “What the hell are you doing out here?” Frank whispered. “Let’s get you back.” He took off his coat, and threw it over a naked Dean before lifting him.
***
Lucille Ball was in her ‘hot’ phase as Henry dreamt of her. The dream in black and white, made him laugh.
“I think they have the belt too fast,” He told Lucy.
“Nah.” She whined. “We can do it faster. Try to pack the candy.”
“Okay.” Henry reached for a piece. “Ow.”
“What?”
“That hurt.”
“Try again.”
Henry touched his finger on the chocolate, a searing pain went through him. “Ow. I can’t seem to touch it.” He tried once more and again, the pain was intense. So much so, he caused his to snap out of the dream and woke up.
He was cold, laying on his stomach. His arm was extended above his head, and his finger hurt badly. Just as he through about how effective that dream was, Henry opened his eyes fully … and screamed.
There, gently nibbling on his finger was a Killer Toddler. His shriek caused the toddler to speed off.
“Oh, my God.” Henry sat up and gripped his hand. His finger bled. “Oh my God.” As he grabbed for the edge of his shirt, he caught his bearings. No longer did he think about his finger, he thought about the reason he was so cold. He was outside. What was he doing out there? Then he panicked.
The mutilator.
He looked down. He was still dressed, no tattoo on his chest. His shoes were on.
Breathing out a sigh of relief, and whispering a ‘Thank God’, Henry reached to run his fingers through his hair. He shrieked again, when his hand touched skin.
He was completely bald.
****
Hiding Dean under the tarp in the back of the jeep was easy, as long as Frank didn’t drive around too many people.
He made it back to his office, and was able to carry Dean inside. He placed him on the floor of his office, tarp covering him.
Dean didn’t stir. The moan was the only sound he had made.
Frank was off duty. He was supposed to be searching for Henry, but the ‘Dean find’ was much more important. He watched Dean for a few seconds, before he pulled a cigarette from his pocket. Boot extended, Frank prepared to wake Dean when he saw them.
Two long scratches on Dean’s forearm. They were deep and they were fresh. Another mystery.
Using his foot, Frank gave a firm nudge to Dean. “Hey.” He called out. “Get up. Dean.”
Like a sleeping baby in his own world, Dean fluttered his eyes, stretched out his neck and extended his arms with a loud yawn.
“Dean.” Frank called again.
With the surprise of Frank’s voice, Dean’s eyes popped open.
“Morning sunshine.” Frank stepped back and leaned against his desk.
“Frank?” Dean looked down and saw his nude state. He pulled the tarp over him. “What the hell is g
oing on?”
“I don’t know.” Frank shrugged. “How about this. Why don't you tell me what’s going on?” he grinned and lit his cigarette.
***
“Nothing on him yet,” Joe said as he shut the file cabinet in his office.
“We got here as soon as we could,” Hal replied, taking a seat before his father’s desk.
“We?” Joe asked.
“Elliott and I. Of course he had to see Ellen. But can we offer any assistance.”
“Nah, I think we have it covered.” Joe sat down. “Frank is convinced that Henry is playing a joke on Robbie.”
“Does that sound like something Henry would do?”
Joe shrugged. “Don’t know. All I know it’s that it is now eight in the morning, and he hasn’t shown up for work. That, I can tell you is not like Henry.”
“Do you think it’s possible that the mutilator finally struck deadly?”
“Like, Henry dead?” Joe questioned.
“Is it possible?”
Joe shook his head. “No. Not with the pattern the mutilator set. Plus, you know, we have bigger fish to fry.” Joe began to shuffle papers o his desk. “Which is the reason I brought you here.”
“The meteor?”
“No, the monster.”
“Excuse me.”
“Seems … ah, here it is.” Joe held up a sheet of paper. “I was looking for this.”
“Father? A monster.”
“Oh, yeah, yeah. Seems we have a monster in Beginnings.”
“Explain monster. You mean like Frank’s Bigfoot.”
“Yep. Got in last night. Didn’t hurt anyone, unless Henry is the victim. I doubt it. Robbie saw Henry after the monster episode. He’s immune to the beam.”
Hal’s eyes widened. “He’s part Killer Baby.”
“My first thought too. Ellen’s running some test this morning. Climbing the fence, it got cut. Piece of its skin, Frank found it.”
“Wow, this is… this is amazing.” Hal shook his head once. “If I didn’t trust what you were saying so much, I wouldn’t believe it.”
“Believe it. And … Seems Dean has mutated himself with the healing agent.”
“You got a blood sample.’
“Frank did.” Joe said. “Levels are high. Almost through …” he stopped when there was a bang on his door, and it flew open.
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