Dire Symbiosis

by William Seagroves

  Alex howled in pain, feeling the transformation begin to take hold. He fought to remain in control and managed to calm himself. Remembering Marla, he rushed over to help her.

  Alex crouched down beside the trashcans, tossing the refuse aside until he uncovered her. She let out a moan, “Oh, my head.”

  “Are you all right?” he asked, helping her up.

  “Sure, I just need some air. Was that gunfire I heard?”

  “It was. That punk pulled a pistol and I took it from him,” Thorpe said, rubbing his chest.

  “How did you get past those other two guys?” she asked.

  “They aren’t as tough as they look. I was able to…” Thorpe cut his sentence short, sensing something nearby.

  “What’s the ma…” Alex grabbed Marla and cupped his hand over her mouth. She struggled to break free, but he dragged her back between the trashcans. In the shadows he gave her a gesture to remain silent, then released her.

  “What the hell are you doing?” she whispered.

  “Shhhh,” he said. “We’re being stalked.”

  “By whom?” she asked.

  Alex did not answer. Instead, he reached beneath his coat and pulled out two pistols. Marla couldn’t make out the models in the sparse light, but she was almost certain that they were Omega autos. Alex glanced to the tops of the buildings, then surveyed each end of the alley and finally looked to Marla. “Where’s your car parked?”

  Marla pointed to the street at the other end of the alley. “Who’s following us, Thorpe?”

  “No time to explain now. When I give you the signal, run as fast as you can to your car.”

  “What about you?”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll be right behind you.”

  Marla reached underneath her jacket and pulled out her own weapon, a Glock 22, 9mm pistol.

  “I’m not leaving you,” she said, pulling the slide back on her weapon.

  Alex turned to face her. “Listen, if you value your life, you’ll do exactly what I say.” The seriousness of his statement sent chills down her spine. Whatever was out there, it scared the shit out of him.

  “Okay, but you’ll be right behind me. Agreed?” she asked.

  “You can count on it. Are you ready?”

  “Yeah,” she said, putting her gun away.

  “Now!” Alex leapt out into the middle of the alley and opened fire at the trashcans at the other end of the alley. A howl followed shortly after and a body fell from behind one of the cans. Marla took off toward the other end of the alley. Alex fired another burst, then followed.

  Dark figures descended from the tops of the buildings and raced after them. Alex laid down suppressing fire as he retreated, the deadly barrage zinging off the masonry in the alley. The creatures moved through the maelstrom with fluid motions, easily dodging the lethal blasts.

  Meanwhile, Marla had made it to her car and was busy trying to open the door. Alex emerged from the alley, turning only to fire into the darkness. What does he see? Marla thought, as she opened her door.

  She got her answer as a gigantic beast bounded out of the alley after him. It stopped and sighted in on the retreating Alex, then sprang from its position. It misjudged its leap though and hit a lamppost, folding it in half like it was made of putty. Two more creatures were right behind the first, though they had a more humanoid form than the first monster.

  Marla had the car started and the passenger’s door open when Alex reached it. He actually dove, head first, into the seat. “Go!” he yelled. Marla slammed her foot down on the accelerator and the tires smoked from the sudden jolt, the car careening to the left as it raced away. The first creature had regained its senses and was at the door, its bear trap mouth snapping at Alex’s feet as the car accelerated. Alex pulled the door shut, hitting it in the face.

  The rear window exploded and a hairy beast crawled through the broken glass. Alex turned in his seat and unloaded his remaining rounds into the demon. It fell from the car and hit the pavement as Marla took a sharp corner.

  “What the hell were those things? And why are they chasing us?” Marla screamed.

  “Those were your werewolves, Detective, and they’re after me,” Alex said, calmly reloading his guns.

  Marla never let up on the accelerator, taking turns at dangerously high speeds. The department Chevy wasn’t much to look at, but underneath the hood rested a 350 cubic inch V-8. When called upon, the engine delivered more than enough horsepower.

  Alex detected movement out the corner of his eye. He glanced out the window to the roofs of the buildings lining the street, dark figures kept pace with the vehicle. Alex reached in his shirt pocket and pulled out a card. He handed it to Marla, and said, “Go to this address, tell the man there I sent you. Slow down at the next corner.”

  Marla looked at the card, then back to Alex, “What do you mean, slow down?”

  “Just go to the address, I’ll be there as soon as I can. Now slow down!”

  As Marla turned the corner, Alex pushed the door open and leapt out of the speeding car. He rolled a dozen times, scraping his knees and elbows on the hard pavement, then came to an abrupt stop as he hit the curb. He turned over just as one of the beasts was dropping from the roof on top of him. He opened up with both guns, peppering the sky above him with a blizzard of silver, then rolled away before it hit the pavement beside him, dead.

  He got to his feet sluggishly. As he looked down the street, he saw three more of the devils advancing, their forms changing to half-man, half-beast as he watched. He brought his guns to bear on them and fired. Nothing happened as the hammers clicked harmlessly on empty chambers. He hadn’t realized he’d fired all of his rounds into the falling creature.

  “Damn,” he said.

  The beasts hesitated a moment, thinking this to be a trick, then cautiously advanced on Alex’s position. They spread out trying to surround their opponent.

  “All right, come on,” Alex said, casting the guns aside and ripping off his coat. Alex drew his shoulders down and curled his arms in front of his body, then bowed his head as he gathered his strength. His breathing became rapid then gradually deeper. He suddenly threw his shoulders back casting his arms out wide as he did. There was a loud crack and his chest swelled to twice its normal size. The muscles in his arms bulged and elongated as if they were forged of clay and his eyes became golden orbs of light. New growths of hair formed on his forearms, thicker than the heaviest shag carpet.

  The creatures hesitated as they sized up the new opponent. They were obviously not used to dealing with someone on a level playing field.

  The beast in the center made the first move, leaping the fifteen feet between it and Alex, its claws extended out in front. Alex caught it in mid-leap with a right cross to the head, knocking it clear of him. Immediately behind the first, the second creature was there, slashing with tooth and claw. Alex grappled with it a few moments, before connecting with a vicious uppercut that sent it flying into the first creature as it was getting up.

  In the melee with the second one, however, Alex lost sight of the third. He spun on his heels searching for the last creature, but it had vanished. Suddenly Alex felt hot pain in his shoulders as the missing creature’s talons sunk into his flesh. He was pulled off balance and a moment later flying through the air as the creature threw him across the street. He landed between two overflowing dumpsters and disappeared into a wall of falling garbage.

  The three creatures regrouped in the middle of the street and waited for Alex to come rushing from the pile of refuse.

  Nothing moved. All was quiet.

  They slowly advanced on the place where Alex had disappeared when there was a slight shift in the mountain of refuse. They stopped and held their ground expecting an attack, but none came. Then a larger shift in the pile and the dumpster began to rise from its stinking grave. The demonic trio turned to one another in utter confusion.

  When the trash receptacle stopped rising, Alex stood beneath it, his muscles cording a
nd his legs trembling from the effort. The creatures realized, too late, Alex’s intentions as he rocked back on his feet and launched the huge crate at them. Time seemed to stop as the gigantic missile sped toward its intended target. The monsters were frozen in place and stood wide-eyed as the dumpster sailed through the air and slammed into them, lifting them off their feet and carrying their limp forms like rag dolls into the building across the street. The dumpster struck the building with a thunderclap, exploding the masonry and shaking it to its foundation.

  Alex slumped to his knees from the exertion, his strength sapped as he spent his last reserves. Keeping a wary eye on the dumpster, he slowly got to his feet and moved over and retrieved his coat and guns. A large piece of mortar fell from the building and hit the receptacle with a loud metallic thump, startling Alex. He held his breath for a moment. Then, when nothing else happened, he turned and moved quickly down the street.

  The dumpster remained quiet for a while, then slowly shifted forward, a clawed hand groping through the small hole made by the movement.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Silverman sat back in his chair and rubbed his grainy eyes. He had scoured the pages without a break for six hours, formulating his defense against the creatures. Looking at his watch, he found that it was one o’clock. Got to get some rest, he thought. He left the chair and moved to the doorway to the bathroom when the lights suddenly went out. A cold chill swept over him as the shroud of darkness wrapped around him.

  He stood completely still and listened.

  From the stairway he heard shuffling footsteps, then a scraping at the door. A cold sweat trickled down his spine. He groped the wall with his clammy hands and found the emergency light switch. The halogen beam flooded the small room with blessed light. He frantically searched for a way out of the chamber, but in his haste to secure the building, he had not planned an escape contingency.

  The peal of tortured metal came from the door as the reinforced steel was peeled back from the jamb. Silverman stared in growing horror as a single glowing eye glared through the opening. Then dirty talons grasped the edge and the opening grew larger. The hair on his neck stood on end as the screeching steel fought to remain intact. With nowhere to run, he grabbed the text and moved to the rear of the room, putting the desk between him and the door. He expected the crazed man from the day before to enter, but a moment later a tall, neatly dressed man entered, with a gigantic demon at his side.

  “Ah, you’re all ready to go, good, come along then,” the man said.

  “W-who are you?” Silverman stammered.

  “Friends, Professor.”

  “Professor, I don’t know any professor,” Silverman lied, badly.

  “Come now, Professor, you didn’t think lying would fool me. I’d know your scent anywhere,” the man said, sniffing the air.

  The creature moved over to the side of the desk and Silverman backed away slowly. “What do you want?”

  “Why the text, of course, and you.”

  The Professor clasped the text tightly to his chest. “Y-you can’t have it. It’s mine.”

  “Come now, we’re not going to hurt you, you’re important to us,” he said, showing a toothy grin.

  “I said no, it’s mine. Stay back, I don’t want to hurt you,” Silverman said, raising his hand at them threateningly.

  The creature looked to the man, who nodded, then it began to close on the Professor. When the beast was almost on top of him, Silverman yelled, “I said, stay back!” He thrust his hand forward and fire erupted from his fingertips, a focused blast of such intense heat that the creature was consumed in seconds. It cried out briefly, only briefly, as its body melted away leaving nothing but a smoldering pile of ash. Smoke rolled off the walls of the small room from streaming conflagration that Silverman had unleashed. Turning his hand to the man, who involuntarily stepped back, Silverman inched around the desk toward the door.

  “Professor, we need that book. I can’t allow you to leave here.”

  Silverman kept his back to the wall, circling toward the door, keeping his hand extended menacingly out in front. When he reached the door, he said, “I’m sorry, but the text belongs to me.”

  The man showed his evil smile again, “Does it now?”

  The professor sensed something behind and started to turn. As he did he saw a dark figure on the stairs, and began to call the druid fire again, right before the lights went out.

  Kyle bent down and picked up the text, hugging it tightly. “Did you see that! Now that’s power!” To the other creature, he said, “Bring the professor, but tie him up first, we don’t want him waking up and frying us.”

  Marla rang the doorbell frantically. Where is this guy? After the fifth ring, a voice came from behind the door. “Yes, who’s there?” From what Marla could hear it was an Asian accent.

  “Detective Shaefer, I’m with the police,” she answered.

  “Where’s your badge?”

  Marla grumbled and rummaged through her coat until she found the shield. She held it up, then put it back in her pocket. The door slid open a crack and Quong peeked through the opening. “What do you want?”

  “I’m Marla Shaefer. I’ve been working with Dr. Thorpe on the murders. He was with me tonight. We were attacked by these things. He told me to come here. I…” Marla said, hysterically.

  “Okay, come in quickly.” Quong threw the door open and pulled her inside, then closed and locked it behind them. “Follow me,” he said.

  Marla followed him out of the foyer and into the living room, where he indicated a chair for her sit in. “Please sit, Miss Shaefer.”

  Marla fell down into the seat. “Can I get you something?” Quong asked. Marla just sat and stared blankly at the wall. Taking that as a yes, Quong went to the kitchen.

  From the kitchen: “Where’s Dr. Thorpe?” Marla did not reply. “Miss? Miss Shaefer?”

  “Yes?” she said, sitting up.

  “Where’s the doctor?”

  “I left him… Oh my God, I left him. We have to go back and find him,” Marla said, coming to a realization. Quong returned with a tray and was setting it on the table, when Marla grabbed his arm. He looked at her hand a moment and she released him. “Dr. Thorpe can find his way home,” he said matter-of-factly.

  “But, you don’t understand, there were these things chasing us. Thorpe jumped from the car and…” she began.

  “If he jumped from the car, then you didn’t leave him. He’ll be here shortly,” Quong said, handing her a cup of tea.

  As if on cue, Alex suddenly burst through the door, his clothes shredded and his face battered and bruised. Quong turned back to Marla. “You see?”

  Marla ran up to Alex and threw her arms around his neck. “Alex, I thought you were dead. Are you alright?”

  “Fine, a little rough around the edges, but fine,” he said, looking down at Marla, a confused look on his face.

  Marla realized she was gripping him very tightly; she blushed and released him. “I’m sorry, that’s not like me.”

  “It’s okay, I think I like this side of you,” he said, handing Quong his coat.

  “Wait a minute, you’ve got some explaining to do. Just what the hell happened out there tonight?” she said angrily.

  “In a moment,” he said, turning to Quong. “Is my equipment ready?”

  “Yes, Doctor.”

  “Good, we’ll be leaving shortly. Oh, by the way, I killed two more of them tonight.”

  “Very good, Doctor.”

  Marla watched their casual exchange in shock, then said, “Hey, remember me, Detective Shaefer, Homicide Division. Now, just who the hell are them?”

  Quong turned back toward the kitchen, fingering several holes in Thorpe’s coat and shaking his head.

  “Follow me, Detective,” Alex said, indicating a doorway to the left. Marla let out a sigh and followed.

  The room looked as if war council were being convened; maps and documents lay scattered on a large mahogany desk i
n the center of the room. The wall to the right was covered with weapons of all sorts; guns, knives, swords, and several Marla did not recognize at all. Alex went and stood before the table, motioning Marla over.

  “What is all this?” she asked.

  Alex cleared off a chair and indicated for Marla to sit. When she took the seat, he said, “I’m going to tell you a story, Detective. Your good sense will tell you it is unbelievable, but after seeing what you’ve seen tonight, it will be easier for you to digest.”

  “After tonight, I’ll believe anything.”

  “Good.” Alex paused, bringing his hand to his chin, contemplating where to start, then said, “Fifteen years ago, an ancient text was unearthed in the Pyrenees. It was found in a sealed vault in a tunnel that ran beneath the mountain range. In the second century BC, a group known as Druids were masters of that particular area of the world. The Druids believed in earth magic and worshiped their own pantheon of gods. Until the text was found, historians believed that the religion was passed down by word of mouth, you’ll find it in any book you read about the subject.”

  “Thanks for the history lesson, but what’s this got to do with mad dog creatures running through the streets of my city?” Marla said, interrupting.

  Alex held a hand up. “If you will indulge me a moment.”

  Marla shrugged.

  “Anyway, the Druids went along unchallenged and their power grew. The religion spread throughout Europe and would have threatened Christianity, had it not been for a conqueror named Julius Caesar. Between 58 and 51 BC, in what was known as the Gallic wars, Caesar set out to destroy the Druid’s hold on the European nations.

  In defense, the religious sect used all the magical powers at their disposal. The text describes how the Druids sent out man-beasts against the centurions. The Roman army lost entire regiments in the Pyrenees. Since most history books on the Druids are taken from Caesar’s own writings, you’ll never read this in any history book. In the end though, the empire proved too strong a force and prevailed, nearly wiping out the religion. The Druids were scattered and few when Christianity eradicated them in the second century AD. During the war, the text was lost and remained hidden for two thousand years. Until a mining team found it in 1985.”