Figments of Fear (A Dark Fantasy Horror): The Edge of Reflection 2

by Carver Pike

“Where did the guys go?” he asked aloud.

  Gabe looked over the edge and shrugged his shoulders. “What guys?”

  “There were armed guys down there waiting for us in the alley,” Sergio said.

  Haylay shrugged his shoulders and rolled his eyes. “They shouldn’t have gone into the alleys. No one should.”

  ***

  Downstairs, Goody Bones leaned against his jeep. He watched with a silent grin as the building burned in front of him. The orange fiery glow danced on his face, brightening up the white skull face paint, making him look even more sadistic than usual.

  One of his goons passed him a vial of Coral and he held it up to his nostrils. He inhaled the orange powder and giggled, then handed it back and watched as flames shot out of the windows near the top floor.

  The hotel clerk stood next to him, biting nervously at his fingernails. He pulled at the few remaining strands of hair he still had on top of his head.

  “Are you crazy? My whole life is in there,” the clerk said.

  Goody Bones whipped his head around and glared at the imbecile who’d had the nerve to talk down to him. The clerk took a few steps away from him.

  “I’m just sayin’. Was it necessary to burn the whole building down?” he asked.

  Goody Bones calmed down and reached out to snag the vial full of Coral out of the hand of his soldier. He took another hit and tossed the vial away.

  “Well, you said you wanted to help,” Goody Bones said.

  Chapter 10 – Rooftops and Alleyways

  Gabe offered to head down the ladder first, but one of the perks of being the Haissem is that others feel somewhat responsible for your safety. As he reached for the metal ladder at the edge of the roof, Dozier slapped his chest with an open palm.

  “If your ass is really the Haissem, I guess I best go down first. Ain’t no use in havin’ you fallin’ to your death after we done come this far. It’d be kinda useless, don’t you think?”

  Dozier didn’t wait for an answer as he hoisted himself up onto the ledge, carefully lifted his injured leg over and onto the ladder, and began his descent. Gabe knew Dozier was tough as nails, but something about Haylay’s fear of the dark alleys below made Gabe nervous for his irate friend.

  If a week ago someone had asked him if he believed in ghosts and monsters, he would’ve laughed off the question. Now, after all he’d seen, his mindset was a little different. He was smart enough to know that even legends started from some truth, and if the alleyways were as feared by everyone as Haylay made them out to be, there must be something down there worthy of its reputation.

  Dozier looked up at Gabe, lifted his eyebrows and held out an open hand.

  “Well, y’all comin’ or what?” he asked.

  Was that fear in his voice? Gabe hadn’t seen Dozier scared yet, but it did sound as if his voice had cracked a little. Gabe scanned the alley below and found it empty. He grabbed the cool metal bars and made his way down the ladder. Ivy didn’t waste time as she started down right after him.

  Gabe touched down to find Dozier hunched over, his back against the building, trying his best to stay hidden, but unable to fully crouch down with is injured leg. He didn’t even look at Gabe as he reached the bottom. His attention seemed to be on something else in the shadows.

  Gabe quietly bent down and peered in the direction that held Dozier so captivated. He didn’t see anything, but felt an overwhelming sense of being watched.

  He could hear loud voices from the street where Goody Bones’ men must’ve been cheering on the fire, but it seemed farther away than it really was, like the alley was enveloped in some sort of bubble. He felt as if he were under water, leaving them in an eerie silence.

  Gabe understood why his buddy seemed so afraid of the shadows. It wasn’t until Ivy reached the bottom that they both snapped out of their trances.

  “Cain’t we go back and face them water creatures again?” Dozier whispered. “At least back there we knew what we was facin.’”

  “What has you two so spooked?” Ivy interrupted.

  “I don’t know,” Dozier said. “Somethin’ just ain’t right.”

  The others reached the bottom of the ladder and crowded around. No one said a word. Gabe looked over each of their faces and everyone seemed to be taking it in. He knew that if they were ever going to get on their way, he’d need to be the first to take the leap.

  He passed Dozier and started to make his way into the alleyway when Haylay grabbed his shoulder.

  “This ain’t good. We gotta get out of the alleys,” he warned him.

  “You got any other ideas?” Gabe asked. “Cause if we go out to the street, we’re as good as dead.”

  “We’re as good as dead back here,” Haylay said.

  “I’d rather take my chances back here where we may or may not run into something than go marching out there into the street and get shot to holy hell,” Gabe insisted.

  “You have no idea where you’re leading us.”

  Gabe led the way into the darkness of the alley. Ivy took his hand and walked with him. He looked over his shoulder to see that the others still hadn’t moved, and smiled, trying to lighten the mood. He waved his gun-toting right hand, gesturing for them to follow.

  Haylay shook his head, but was the first to come along. Then the others fell in line. As they all slowly made their way forward, Gabe heard Haylay whisper, “All right, but I ain’t walkin’ at the back, and I ain’t walkin’ at the front. Whatever wants to eat us is gonna be full before it gets to me at the middle.”

  ***

  Belgrave watched through the windshield as Goody Bones leaned against his jeep with his arms folded in front of his chest and beamed at the flames that were completely devouring the entire building.

  Riker pulled up beside the jeep, parked and climbed out from behind the steering wheel. Belgrave hopped out of the passenger side. Three other armed men jumped out of the bed of the truck.

  “What the hell is going on here?” Belgrave asked in a fit of fury as he stormed towards Goody Bones.

  Goody Bones laughed and pumped a fist in the air.

  “Burn motherfucker, burn!” he called out.

  Belgrave stared at the building for a moment, seething. He clenched his teeth and then turned and grabbed Goody Bones by his neck and slammed him onto the hood of his jeep. Goody Bones’ arms flailed as he fought to regain his footing.

  He wasn’t expecting the attack, and neither were his men. Belgrave’s men had the drop on them and held them all at gunpoint.

  “The Dupont Inn is one of my major moneymakers, you ignorant fuck!” Belgrave spit through his clenched teeth as he continued to choke the priest. “Where do you think the whores take their johns?”

  “I had a little bit of exterminatin’ to do,” Goody Bones spat. “With the money you get from Colossus you can build five more shitty hotels.”

  Belgrave let go and Goody Bones bent over and tried to catch his breath.

  “You try that again…” he threatened.

  Belgrave laughed under his breath and Goody Bones got the point. The big Italiano wasn’t afraid of his threats. Well, he’d show him who’s boss.

  “You got Cutter?” Belgrave asked.

  Goody Bones stood with his hands on his knees, taking deep breaths. He looked up at Belgrave with a smile.

  “He’s as good as dead. He’s on top of the roof, and as you can see, it’s getting mighty hot up there.”

  Belgrave turned his attention to the top of the building.

  “He’s on the roof?” he asked.

  Goody Bones grinned proudly.

  “Yeah, man,” he said.

  Belgrave turned his attention back to Goody Bones.

  “When was the last time you saw him?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Have you ever seen Cutter in action?” Belgrave asked. “As much as I hate the man, there’s one thing that has to be said for him. He’s a warrior. He wouldn’t go down in a burning building.
”

  “Chill out, Italiano,” Goody Bones said. “My boys are at every corner of the building.

  Belgrave moved over to the left corner of the building and glanced into the side alley.

  “Where are these so called soldiers of yours?”

  Goody Bones glanced around the corner. He peered into the darkness and didn’t see any of his soldiers standing guard. He looked confused. Belgrave bumped shoulders with Goody Bones, knocking him off balance. As the voodoo man stumbled, Belgrave waved at Riker and gestured for them to circle around the building.

  “Check for a way down!” Belgrave ordered. “Cutter’s not on the roof!”

  ***

  Riker led two of Belgrave’s soldiers into the alley. They followed him carefully, keeping aim at the buildings on both sides, searching for anyone trying to make an escape, while Riker focused on the path out in front of them.

  He had helped Belgrave choose all of their current gang members. They’d made sure that each of their soldiers was armed with an attitude and a love for the sport of killing. The two by Riker’s side were top notch.

  Sonia was a punk rock woman with a jet black Mohawk with hot pink tips. Her arms were muscular and covered in tattoos.

  The second, Gus, was a street brawler with gigantic biceps and a shaved head.

  Orders were to look for anyone making his way down the side of one of the buildings, but it was obvious that nerves were getting the best of them, and both soldiers lowered their gaze to the shadows that surrounded them. Gus’ gun magazine rattled as his weapon shook in his hand. Sonia, who seemed a little steadier, moved to Riker’s side and trained her gun sights on one of the bodies lying on the ground up ahead.

  Riker spotted the bodies of Goody Bones’ fallen men at the end of the alley. The first lay sprawled out on his back, his stomach ripped open. The second suffered a crushed skull. His face was distorted from the way his skin lay undamaged over the shattered bone below it.

  Riker kneeled down to get a better look. Even the toughest of men would be squeamish at the sight. He turned up his nose and winced a little as he surveyed the damage.

  “Eww, that sucks,” Riker said. “One of these fellas shoulda been watchin’ the other’s back.”

  Sonia stared down at the bodies and shook her head. Riker didn’t like the wide-eyed, fearful look she had on her face.

  “You gonna piss yourself?” he teased.

  A clattering sound from somewhere in the darkness spooked her and she jumped and aimed her gun in its direction. Riker heard footsteps far back in the alleys. He put a finger to his mouth to gesture for the other two to remain quiet. He waved Gus over and leaned in close.

  “Go back and tell Belgrave that they’re gone,” he whispered. “They’re in the alleys.”

  Gus looked nervously into the alley.

  “We’re uh…we’re not goin’ into…” he started but was hushed by Riker.

  “Just do what I said.”

  Gus nodded, looking relieved to get out of the shadows, and ran towards the street. Riker crouched down and peered into the darkness. He swore he saw a shadow cross from one side to the other, but that was the mystery of the alleyways. One never knew whether it was his mind playing tricks on him, or one of the many creatures ready to pounce.

  “They’re crazy goin’ in there,” Sonia said as she squatted down next to Riker.

  “Yeah,” Riker agreed. “The figments are out tonight. Cutter’s got balls of steel. Ain’t no way I’m following him in there.”

  ***

  Goody Bones waited anxiously for Belgrave’s few pussy ass recruits to exit the alley. He considered going in there after them, but was confident Cutter was burning alive on top of the building.

  He saw the muscle-bound gang member come running out of the alley first, looking like an excited running back who’d made it into the end zone. The man didn’t slow down until he reached Belgrave, where he took a couple of last lazy steps and then bent over, with his hands on his knees.

  “So?” Goody Bones heard Belgrave ask.

  The men around Belgrave waited for instructions. Goody Bones couldn’t hear Gus’ short story, but he saw Belgrave’s men start clamoring about.

  “What’s up?” Goody Bones asked.

  “Seems you fucked up, boney boy. Cutter made it off the rooftop and into the alleys,” Belgrave said with a smirk.

  “Who says?” Goody Bones asked.

  Belgrave pointed towards the alley where Riker and Sonia were making their way out onto the street. Goody Bones met them halfway, challenging Riker.

  “Your men are in bloody bits,” Riker announced, followed by a chuckle.

  “How do we know that Cutter isn’t still on the roof and just shot my men in the alley from up there?” Goody Bones argued.

  “Because your men have had their stomachs ripped open and their skulls crushed,” Riker replied. “Cutter didn’t do that, but chances are, whatever did is bound to get Cutter too.”

  Goody Bones ignored Riker’s remark and returned his attention to Belgrave.

  “Where do the alleys lead?” he asked.

  “All over the city,” Riker said.

  “I’m not talking to you,” Goody Bones said. “If I was talking to you I would say something like…hey little leprechaun man, followed by my question. Now stay the fuck out of my conversation, Irishman, before I cut out your tongue.”

  Goody Bones didn’t flinch as Riker raised his gun.

  “We’re not going into the alleys,” Belgrave interrupted. “We can block all of the exits within walking distance and keep people posted out in the street in case they enter one of the buildings.”

  Goody Bones smirked and turned to his men, completely ignoring the annoying Italian man’s attempt to take charge.

  “Arm up,” he said to his men. “I want a group of twenty, including myself, in the alleys. The rest of you will go with Guido here and follow his orders.”

  He turned his attention back to Riker, who had lowered his gun.

  “And if you ever point your gun at me again, motherfucker, I’ll rip it out your hand and beat you to sleep with it.”

  Riker stepped forward as if about to challenge Goody Bones, but seemed to think better of it. Goody Bones turned and walked away. He felt a tug on his arm as he was whipped around by Belgrave’s strong grip. He turned to find Belgrave in his face.

  “Trust me. I know these alleys. You don’t want to go in there.”

  Goody Bones could feel the coral drug racing through his veins. Belgrave’s warning only excited him. He wanted to fight.

  “Let go of my arm,” Goody Bones said, and Belgrave did as he was told.

  “Good boy,” Goody Bones mumbled as he stepped back and joined his men.

  With his armed, drugged up psychos by his side, he spoke to Belgrave like a coach making his halftime speech.

  “Do you know where I come from, boy?” he asked Belgrave. “You might be scared of these alleys you talk about, but I promise you this. These alleys ain’t seen nothin’ as violent as me.”

  Goody Bones had said what he needed to say. For a moment he thought Belgrave might have been inspired to join him, but instead, the Italiano only shrugged his shoulders.

  “I’ll just wait out here with a cold beer and an ”I told you so” for when, or if, you return,” Belgrave replied.

  “Add some coral and some lovely ladies to the party. I’ll be right back,” Goody Bones declared.

  “Alright, go get ‘em, killer,” Belgrave agreed.

  Goody Bones marched into the alley with his volunteers. They cheered, whooped, and hollered, psyching each other up as they started on the hunt.

  Chapter 11 – Demons in the Darkness

  Gabe and the others walked quickly down the dark corridor. The only light providing the slightest bit of comfort came from the moon that peeked out from time to time from behind the cloud coverage. There were also lanterns sporadically placed at the back doors of some of the buildings.


  The cement floor below them was wet with disgusting puddles. The walls were damp and there was a constant dripping sound.

  He looked over at Ivy, who was still by his side, and felt comfort in her calm, brave façade. However, when he looked behind and saw the state Haylay was in, the comfort melted away.

  To anyone not scared themselves, seeing the usual tough exterior of Haylay melt away would be enough to bring on a little bit of fear. He was walking like a scared child, feet shuffling forward little by little, his hand gripping his gun so tight that his black fingertips had turned white.