The Collector Book One: Mana Leak

by Daniel I. Russell

  “Joseph? Are you okay?”

  He blinked and turned to her.

  “I think…I think I know where it is.”

  2.

  “It was the night of the first attack. You,” Joe nodded at Jake, “and your brother came home on the bike. I watched you through the bedroom window. Just after you passed, the road…it did something.”

  “What, Joseph?” asked Eleanor, hanging on his every word.

  “It…moved. One second it was normal, the next, like a swirling pool. It moved like it had melted or something. Then it went back to normal. At first, I thought it was just my tired eyes, playing tricks. But now, after all this…”

  “He’s right,” said Jake. “Adam saw something too. He swerved on the bike and nearly sent me flying. He said the road had shifted. He was having a headache thanks to that red-haired bastard. I put it down to that at the time.”

  Frank walked past them all to the window and looked through one of the peepholes.

  “Well, the road looks fine to me,” he declared, turning back and crossing his arms. “No door, no moving tarmac, nothing.”

  “Maybe you can only see it at certain times of the day, or only when he’s around, or…I don’t know,” said Joe. “But it’s there.”

  “What are you all talking about?” asked Charlie.

  “Nothing, honey,” said Anne. She put her arm around him.

  “Frank?” asked Eleanor. “Can you please humour me with this? I need your advice.”

  He burst out laughing.

  “Me? You want my advice? Now I know I’m going crazy.” He checked his watch.

  “If we are to close this door,” asked Eleanor, “how would we do it? You seemed to understand more of the practical side of what he discussed.”

  “Jesus…well…”

  He walked back to the other end of the room and fell into the empty armchair. It had been vacant since The Collector’s visit.

  “He said that everything was acutely balanced, energy wise,” said Frank. His tone had soothed slightly, and Eleanor attributed this to him talking physics, something he had concept and control over. “That says to me his systems are in equilibrium. If that’s true about this doorway, a large and sudden influx of energy might be enough to force the balance far enough one way and destroy it, thus closing the door.”

  “A sudden influx of energy?” asked Eleanor. “Like…an explosion, say?”

  “Yes,” said Frank, “if it’s big enough. But I don’t see how we can do such a thing. Unless, maybe the car…”

  Eleanor shook her head.

  “The Prowlers have slashed your tyres. It’s going nowhere.”

  “There’s my car,” offered Joe, sitting up. “We could use it if it’s not too badly damaged. If we drove it at this doorway, would that be enough?”

  “If we need an explosion,” said Eleanor, “we’ll need…more.”

  “There’s petrol in my garage,” said Jake, “a few cans full. We use them for the bike. That might work.”

  Joe stood in the middle of the group.

  “Right then. Jake and I can get the cans, load the car full and drive it at his doorway if we can. We jump out, the car blows, no more doorway. Agreed?”

  Jake nodded, full of enthusiasm.

  “They’ll be onto you in seconds,” said Frank. “Think he’ll just let you walk out and do this?”

  “Leave that to me,” said Jake. “When we get to the garage, I’ll get my bike. I’ll be a decoy while Joe gets on with it.”

  “And while all this is going on,” said Joe, “the rest of you should run. They’ll be distracted by us, so get out the back and over the fence. Run as far as you can and don’t look back.”

  “No,” said Eleanor. “Joseph…”

  “We have to protect these kids,” said Joe. “I want to protect you. Go with them.”

  “I’m not leaving you to deal with all this alone, Joseph.”

  Frank stood up. “He won’t be.”

  He walked up to Joe and extended his hand.

  “A truce, McGuire. We can’t go on like this, and I can’t let you attempt this on your own. I’m sorry for acting like a jerk all night. It’s just been hard for me to deal with.” He lifted his hand higher. “Let’s end all this.”

  With his face frowned in confusion, Joe took the hand and returned a firm shake.

  “Thank you,” said Anne. “Thank you so much, Frank.”

  “I realise this isn’t the time for petty squabbles or trying to be the big man,” he said. “This is about survival.”

  Anne picked up Bronwyn and stood, wrapping her free arm around Frank’s neck and squeezing him tight.

  Frank smiled.

  3.

  Jake knocked at the bedroom door.

  “Mum, it’s me.”

  He waited, but heard nothing. He slowly opened the door and peered inside. His mother was awake and sat on the edge of the bed by the window. She watched through a thin gap between the nailed-up boards and the window ledge. Streaks of tears glistened down her cheeks.

  “Mum? Are you all right?”

  Jenny wiped her face with her hands and nodded. She sniffed.

  “Yes, I’m okay. Just watching, always watching…” she turned from the window. “We must only have about forty minutes left. Have they come up with a plan?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I thought they would,” she said. “Let’s hear it.”

  “They sent me up here to tell you to get ready. Joe, Frank and me are going outside soon. I’m to distract him on the bike while those two blow up his portal…or something like that.”

  “Good,” said Jenny. “Very good. Make sure he comes after you. Leave them to do whatever they want, gives you the freedom to do whatever you want to do.”

  Jake entered the room and sat down next to his mother.

  “Mum,” he said, his voice trembling slightly, “I don’t know if I can do what you’re asking.”

  She grabbed him by the arms.

  “Don’t do this, Jake. If you let doubt creep in now, he’ll kill you too!”

  “But Mum-”

  “But Mum nothing! You can do this and you will, when the time is right…”

  With a groan, Jenny got up from the bed.

  “Go back down and tell them I’ll be ready soon. And remember, they are not to know a thing.”

  4.

  “Please, Joseph. Think about this!”

  Joe, sat beside Eleanor on the sofa, took her thin and wrinkled hand and wrapped it in his own.

  “I don’t need to think about this,” he said. “It’s all about to hit the fan, and I want you as far away as possible when it does. Hopefully we’ll be too much of a handful, and you’ll all get away clean.”

  Eleanor squeezed his hand.

  “But I don’t want to go,” she pleaded. “I want to see. I want to know…”

  “You do know,” said Joe. “All these years of reading and researching, Grandma. You know now. You heard it straight from the horse’s mouth. He told you everything. What good could come from sticking around when you can be away and safe?”

  Eleanor hung her head.

  “Sometimes I find myself agreeing with Frank,” said Joe with a sigh.

  “What’s that?”

  “That you just want your questions answered,” he said. “Remember, curiosity killed the cat.”

  “But didn’t satisfaction bring it back?” said Eleanor with a small smile.

  “Grandma…”

  “Okay, okay,” she said. “I’ll go with Anne and the kids. But I’m getting help and coming straight back, deal?”

  Joe let go of her hands to embrace her, careful not to squeeze her delicate frame too hard. She returned the hug.

  “I just hope there’s something left to come back to,” he whispered.

  “Don’t say that, Joseph. We’ve all come this far. This nightmare is about to end.”

  The Prowler wobbled back and forth on the kitchen floor, its claws s
craping short lines on the linoleum.

  “My God,” screamed Anne. “Charlie, get away from it!”

  Charlie looked up to his mother with a look of mild annoyance, the fork he prodded the dead Prowler with still in his hand. The Prowler stopped moving as he stood up.

  “But Mum…” he whined. “Look at this thing.”

  “Do as your mother says right now, young man!” ordered Frank.

  Charlie obediently dropped the fork and joined his family by the kitchen sink. Anne held Bronwyn in her arms while Frank made a cup of coffee. He waited for the water coming out of the hot tap to steam before holding his mug underneath. The water mixed with the instant coffee granules to form a dark liquid with a few bubbles popping on top. Frank turned off the tap, gave the brew a quick stir with a spoon and raised the mug to his mouth. In a few quick gulps, the coffee was gone. He put the mug back down on the worktop and smacked his lips.

  “Lovely.”

  “I think you’re very brave to do this,” said Anne, gently rocking her daughter. “To be honest, these last few hours, I thought you were losing it.”

  Frank laughed.

  “Losing what? Patience? Dignity?”

  “No,” said Anne, “your mind. You really haven’t been yourself, but I’m sure that’s understandable under the circumstances. We’ve all been on edge.”

  Frank passed a hand over some of the kitchen utensils still scattered over the work surfaces. He stopped when he arrived at a large butcher knife, the same one he’d used to kill the Prowler earlier. He picked it up by the handle and returned to the sink, running hot water over the soiled blade.

  “I’m not crazy,” he said cheerfully. “Not crazy, no sir. Focused! That’s what I am.”

  He pulled the knife out of the hot stream and gave it a quick wipe on a tea towel. Although not perfectly clean, the shine of the metal emerged through the patches of black Prowler blood.

  “Time to take charge,” he said. “I know what’s needed to finish this, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

  Anne eyed the knife. “What do you need that for?”

  “You don’t think this is going to go smoothly, do you? Even with Jake on the bike leading them away, we’re still bound to get a bit of trouble. Call this life insurance.” He tucked the knife under his belt, the blade pointing down his hip.

  “Think you can get along with Joe?” asked Anne. “I mean, you’re going to be out there alone and…”

  “We’re going to get on fine,” he replied quickly. “I’m not doing this for him. In fact, the sooner this is done, the sooner he is out of our lives for good. I’m doing this for these two.” He tickled Bronwyn under the chin and patted Charlie on the head. “And for them, I would get on with Satan himself.”

  “Oh Frank.” Anne stepped towards him, raising her head to kiss his cheek.

  Frank turned away. “It’s time we got this over with.”

  Anne started to cry. “What if…what if you don’t come back?”

  Frank grinned.

  “Oh, I will. As soon as I’m done with McGuire, I’m coming straight back to my loving wife. You can count on it.”

  As One Door Closes…

  1.

  The women and children were gathered on the sofa in the living room minutes later. Eleanor had Bronwyn in her lap. Next to her, Anne held onto the heavier Charlie. At the end, Jenny, by far the heaviest of them all, sat slumped back.

  In front of the fireplace stood the men.

  “Presuming we get into the garage,” said Joe, “Frank and I are going to take the petrol as soon as Jake leaves on the bike. When you hear him go past, that’s your signal to slip out the back. Do we all understand?”

  There were nods and a few tears dabbed away from the corner of eyes.

  “Kids,” said Frank. “Do exactly as your mum tells you, or there’ll be trouble.”

  “They will,” said Anne, squeezing Charlie. “They will.”

  “Time is running out,” said Joe. “We’d better get to it.” He addressed the group gathered on the sofa. “Wait here. We’ll close the front door behind us. Don’t move until you hear that bike.”

  He kissed his grandmother on the cheek.

  “I’ll see you soon. Run and don’t look back. Promise me.”

  Eleanor looked up through running eyes. “I promise.”

  Joe placed his hand on Anne’s shoulder. “Look after them all and take care.”

  Anne reached up and held his hand for a second before he straightened up and walked out of the room.

  “Bye kids,” said Frank, kissing each on the forehead. “And you…I’ll be back for you.”

  Anne smiled, the corners of her mouth trembling. “You’d better be.”

  Frank then followed Joe out of the room.

  Jake merely looked at his mother, who sat in silence, gazing at the window. He closed his eyes for a moment, and then walked out into the hall.

  Joe stood by the front door, facing Frank. They turned to Jake as he joined them, the hammer already in his hand.

  “Are we ready?” asked Joe, talking hold of the doorknob.

  “You first,” said Jake.

  2.

  The morning had not let up on its intense brightness, momentarily dazzling the men as they stepped out of the dark house. A single cloud drifted lazily across the ocean of sky, as if slowing its journey to watch the drama unfold as a driver slows at the scene of a car wreck. Still, no birds remained to sing, and no insects buzzed.

  Joe closed the door softly and pushed to check it was secure. The wood didn’t budge. Satisfied, he turned to the others, his voice hushed. “See anything?”

  Jake and Frank shook their heads.

  “Good,” Joe whispered. “If anything sees us, we have to take it out, quickly and quietly.” He gazed around the still garden. “Come on, let’s go.”

  With Joe taking the lead, Frank and Joe fell in behind, their weapons already out. Joe had opted out of arming himself, keeping both hands free for carrying the petrol. Halfway down the garden path, Joe paused to observe the damage done to Frank’s car. He pointed to the slashed tyres for the others to notice.

  Please God, please let my car be okay, he thought, not only for what they had planned, but also because he loved the car. Joe knew they planned to blow it up, if all went well. But at least he’d be destroying his baby himself. Better him to have the honour over those horrid little creatures.

  A Prowler darted out from the dark underside of the car. Its claws snapped open and closed, disturbing the serene silence of the street.

  “Frank,” Joe cried, his words hissed out as he fought the urge to shout. “There!

  The Prowler headed straight for the teacher, its legs carrying it quickly over the small band of lawn separating the driveway from the path. Frank jumped back in time to avoid a stabbing blow to his knee. With a yelp, he drove the hand holding the butcher knife down, forcing the blade through the Prowler’s brittle shell.

  The creature released a high-pitched chirp, its claws and numerous jointed legs twitching.

  “There,” said Joe, pointing to the bottom of the garden. A second Prowler crouched by the small wall that lined the perimeter of the property. Its large eye swept left and right, taking them all in.

  “It’s mine,” said Jake, stepping forwards.

  Frank continued to work on his Prowler, twisting the knife around until the thing’s movements stopped. His face was speckled by a final jettison of black blood.

  The Prowler by the wall started to climb: its pointed legs found purchase on the brick wall and pulled the body up like a crab ascending a rock pool.

  “Quickly, Jake. Quickly!”

  Snatching a quick breath, Jake dashed forwards.

  Too quick, the Prowler reached the top of the wall.

  Jake, only halfway across the garden, lifted his right arm and swung it down, hurling the hammer. The shiny metal head flashed in the sunlight as it spun through the air. The hammer struck just below the P
rowler. The creature jumped back and off the wall. The hammer fell into a flowerbed.

  “Shit!” grunted Jake, still running forwards. He peered over the hip-high wall.

  The Prowler lurked on the pavement, in the shadow cast by the wall.

  Jake leapt over and landed on the creature with both feet. The body collapsed beneath his trainers.

  Joe dashed to his side.

  “Dead?” he mouthed.

  Jake nodded.

  “Here,” said Joe, handing him the hammer he’d fished out between the marigolds and pansies. Jake took it as Frank joined them.

  The three men waited, listening for any sign of their discovery.

  Penny Crescent had returned to its unnatural silence.

  “Let’s go,” whispered Joe, leapfrogging over the garden wall. Frank followed suit. They hurried across the road and running low, headed up the street. They constantly glanced at the gardens for any more of The Collector’s spies. Approaching his grandmother’s house, Joe checked his car. It seemed fine, sitting on full, undamaged tyres.

  Thank you, he thought, dear Lord, thank you!

  They ducked into the Deans’ garden through the double gate left open by the dead milkman. Joe was glad of the slight cover of the abandoned milk float parked at the front of the house. They ran down the driveway, their frantic footsteps echoing off the side of the house. Without a word, they arrived at the garage.

  Joe pulled the large door open and after Jake and Frank had slipped inside, he entered the small building, tugging the door closed behind. He turned, barely seeing anything a few feet into the garage. The only light entered via a large hole knocked through the wall at the rear. Despite the size of the cavity, it faced west, allowing little of the bright sunshine into the shadow-filled garage.

  “You guys there?” Joe asked. He sucked in a breath and nearly choked on the rancid air.

  “Somewhere,” replied Frank. “I can’t see a damned thing.”

  “There’s a light,” informed Jake. “It was only the fuse box that caused the lights to go out in the house, right?”

  “Right,” said Joe, struggling to breathe easily through the awful stink of the garage.