I looked angrily at the guy with my cell phone already placed by my ear. “Thanks again buddy. Hello 9-11, I’d like to report a missing child. No I didn’t find one, I saw one get abducted.” The operator immediately asked, “Do you know who did it?” I started to tell the truth about the toggle I saw but thought better of it. I knew the operator wouldn’t understand, and besides, I had too much going on in my life to be tied up in a kidnapping. I heard the operator ask, “Hello? Hello? Sir, are you still there?” Knowing that my phone could be tracked, I panicked and tossed it in the pond as I walked by. I quickly made my way back to my Jeep. Once again it was time to make my exit.
Save the Children
I started to call Jenna and explain the idea I had on how we needed to get the Toggle Handbook back in our possession, but of course I had tossed my cell phone into the pond. Really smart, I know. Anyways, I would have to make my way back over to the university to clarify my intentions.
As I pulled into a spot there at the school, I noticed some sort of rally being put on there in the parking lot. There were people, mostly women, holding signs up while chanting over and over, “Check the facts. Bring our kids back.” Another lady, who looked to be the leader of the rally, had a bull horn, chanting things like, “Blame the police for not doing their jobs. They are the ones who are supposed to keep us safe; instead, they collect our tax dollars and do nothing while sitting around drinking coffee and eating donuts.”
When I exited my Jeep, a young lady came up to me and affixed a badge to my shirt. The lady said, “Have you or anyone you know ever lost somebody?” I thought, Boy if she only knew. The lady had my attention, so I said, “Yes I’ve recently lost more than one person.” She took my hand and shook it. “Hi, I’m Cathy, Cathy Winters. We are here today demonstrating for anyone that’s ever lost somebody. Personally I’ve lost three children.”
I felt bad for her and everyone there because I knew first-hand the pain of losing a loved one. “I’m so sorry to hear that; what are their names?”
With a sad look in her eye she stated, “Michael, Robert, and Kaitlin. We were having a picnic in the backyard; it was around the fourth of July. The day started out so great. We had just finished playing corn hole and had started the grill to cook some hamburgers. I went in the house for just a minute to the restroom and when I come back they were all gone. In a split second my babies were taken from me.” I could hear the pain Cathy was feeling in each word that she spoke. “It’s been so long now and I’m worried that I’ll never see them again.” I comforted her with a hug as I told her, “I support you for what you are doing, and my heart goes out to you.”
I stood with Cathy for a few minutes longer before excusing myself. “Cathy, I need to go see someone over on the main campus. Hang in there my friend. I hope it all works out for the best.”
As I made my way over to the science building, a man in a long trench coat bumped into me. I turned and, not recognizing the tall man, I politely said, “Excuse me.” The man bumped into me again and this time cawed like a crow, which stopped me in my tracks. I watched as he reached inside of his coat jacket. I immediately thought he was pulling out a weapon, so I braced myself for the worst. Instead the man pulled out a letter and handed it to me. There was a sinister look in the wild man’s eyes–one I’d seen before. I turned to him to ask, “What’s this?” The man suddenly freaked out as he dashed frantically towards me and then stopped. All of a sudden the mysterious man let a loud shrill burble and took off running into the crowd. I just stood there with this letter in hand thinking, Another TUI. Yes, this man was definitely under the influence of a toggle.
I waited to look at the letter until I met up with Jenna. Once inside I explained to her what I had just received, and so we both took a look. “Just our luck, the letter is written in a different language.” Laughing at the scribbling, I suggested, “Why can’t toggles simply write in English?”
Jenna took the letter and ran into the other room. “We don’t need to go online to translate it, remember? We have a toggle translator right here.” The translator in question was of course Ralph. She handed Ralph the letter through the small metal bars of his cage.
After a few moments Ralph started to shake his head in panic. “It seems to me that it’s best if I flee.” Ralph’s face turned green as he said, “
Take a look for yourself; you try and figure it out.”
I glanced at the letter once again, this time noticing that it was signed in blood.
Sisi biashara Ralph Toggle Toggle for Watoto yote. Na Sisi kukutana usiku wa leo usiku wa manane. Jordan anajua papo hapo. Na If You dont, Watoto All Die by asubuhi. Chaguo lako. General Krylon-
Looking at the familiarity of the letter I deducted that it was written in Swahili like the last note. “Ralph, that’s enough nonsense. Explain to us what the letter says.” Ralph hesitated for a moment before saying, “The letter I just read says that tonight at midnight I’m dead.”
With a thin patience, I said, “Ralph start explaining right now.” Ralph then went over every line of the letter with us until he came to this part, “Let me cut to the chase: the letter says that Jordan knows the place.”
I asked, “The place for what?”
“To meet, don’t you see? That will be the end of me.” Jenna and I both looked at each other trying to understand everything.
“Well Jordan?” Jenna demanded to know the meeting spot. I thought for a second just as a vengeful smile came across my face. “The old cabin.”
“Jenna, this works out perfect for my plan. Shantago wants to meet and exchange Ralph for all of the children that he’s kidnapped over the last few months. I knew that he was behind all of the abductions. Now all we have to do is come up with a fool proof plan so all of this works out in our favor. The handoff just might be the perfect distraction to get back the Toggle Handbook and end the coming invasion.”
Jenna didn’t look completely sold on everything. She half-heartedly said, “So what’s the plan then?”
Truth is I didn’t have a plan, not yet anyways, but I confidently told her, “Leave that to me. Let me come up with the plan. I just need you to meet me at the cabin about a quarter to midnight. Let me do the rest, okay?” Jokingly, I threw into the mix, “Besides, if all of this doesn’t work out, we are all dead by noon tomorrow anyways, when the invasion happens.”
Jenna now spoke with grave concern. “What about Ralph? What will happen to him?” Ralph and I looked at each other as sincere as possible before sharing in a lie. “I will do everything in my power to save the children and Ralph.”
Ralph shook his head in agreement. “Yes, you see Jordan will take good care of me. Besides, I am very quick on my feet; give me a chance I am hard to beat. I’ve survived for years from Shantago, so tonight I will go.” That was just enough to satisfy Jenna, as both Ralph and I knew that tonight would be the end of the line for one if not both of us.
Hero Private Eye, Where Are You?
I hadn’t made my way back to the cabin since that terrible night when I almost lost my life. I still had a lot of mixed emotions about the night in question. Yes, I missed Piper so much that I was ready to lay down my life to see her again. I understood that my mind was clouded and I was confused; I was close, I’d say within inches, of losing my life, all by the hands of my dear close friend Wyatt.
In Wyatt’s defense there is no doubt in my mind that he was consumed by the evil one when he was trying to kill me. Right before I passed out I heard him say something like “See you on the other side son of Nick.” I’d had plenty of time to analyze that and the circumstances of that night. If Wyatt were here today I would forgive him, that I’m sure of.
I quickly made my way back to my apartment; there was so much to get done before the night’s exchange. First I needed to prepare. I went into the closet and found anything that resembled a weapon and placed it in an old army knapsack–one I’d picked up at a local storage locker auction. I also found some old rope, duct t
ape, a flashlight, extra ammo, and wire that might come in handy too. I thought to myself, You never know when on the fly I might have to come up with a miracle.
After gathering the remainder of the supplies, I knew it was time to make a call to the police station. “Willoughby Woods Police department, this is Jessica, how can I be of assistance today?”
“Jessica, this is Jordan Brady. I really need to speak to John Jamison. It’s urgent; is he available?”
“Jordan it’s nice to hear from you again. No, John hasn’t been to work in about a week. Marlowe told the whole department that he was on a sabbatical, whatever that means.”
“I really need to talk to him; do you have his cell number?”
“Jordan you know I can’t release that kind of info to you.” Besides, I’ve tried calling him myself several times this week and he doesn’t answer. Why do you need to speak with him so badly anyways?”
I didn’t want to get into that right now with her. I knew that officer John might be the only one that would understand what was happening, especially with the similar past we both shared.
“Is there anyone else that I can talk to?” Jessica quickly answered, “Yes Marlowe is right here, let me get him on the phone, okay?”
I didn’t have time to mess around with Marlowe and his antics. “Jessica if it’s all the same, I would rather talk to someone else–someone who actually cares about people. Surely, I can talk to someone else–anyone?”
I heard Jessica giggle a little as she said, “There’s no one else here right now. Our lieutenant will be here in a few though. What’s this about anyways? Are you in some kind of trouble?”
“Jessica, I just might be. I could be way in over my head going in-to tonight. Can you have him call me at my cabin around eleven and I’ll explain everything.”
“Okay, I’m writing all of this down now. What is the best number to call you back at?”
“If its lieutenant Marshall, he’s got my number, probably on speed-dial by now.”
I could hear Marlowe in the background expressing his concerns in the way only Marlowe would. “You can tell your lover boy that if he wants me to come up to his cabin tonight and protect him from the boogie man I’ll be glad to do it.”
Knowing how serious this situation is, I almost accepted Marlowe’s invite. Instead, I told him, “You can let Marlowe know that I don’t need Shaggy or Scooby Doo, cause tonight only a real detective will do.”
Jessica paused for a brief moment when I said that, as I heard Marlowe murmuring something profane as he walked away. “Good, so is the jerk gone?”
“Yes, Marlowe went to his office. Is there anything that I can do to help right now?”
There was something that she could do. “Pray. Pray for me and pray that this town survives the next few days. Lord knows were going to need it.”
“Jordan, if you need to talk about it, you have my number. I assure you that anything we talk about stays off the record.”
“I appreciate it Jessica, I really do. I’m okay; I’m just going through some stuff right now that is hard to explain. Don’t forget to have your lieutenant call me around eleven tonight. I should be there and able to answer; it’s very important.” As I hung up the phone, it occurred to me: I don’t have a plan for tonight, and I am going to be one dead duck.
An Awfully Erie Feeling
As I loaded the equipment into my Jeep, I noticed something odd out of the corner of my eye; it was the sky. I asked myself, Why is it that every time something bad is about to happen the sky cries first. Damaging black clouds blanketed the entire sky as the wind let go a chilling squall. Yes, I had an awfully eerie feeling once again, and I knew something bad was going to happen.
I turned the Jeep’s ignition to on and shifted into drive. It was time to head down the Bluegrass Parkway. I’ve made this trip many times now and it was a trip that I’d never regretted–until this time. I was sorely afraid that this would be my last trip down the BGH. There were a lot of ifs involved in tonight’s exchange. If I would be able to make the trade of Ralph for the children, would I be able to distract Shantago enough to get the Toggle Handbook? If I couldn’t do that, the whole town would be doomed tomorrow anyways. Besides, the three of us wouldn’t be able to take on a whole army of toggles.
If we failed tonight, I thought we should just get in our Jeep and keep driving–save ourselves and forget the rest of the town. Every time I tried to warn them, all they did was say that I was crazy or something and I was tired of it. My heart said to forget the town and leave immediately. I just might have if I didn’t care for Jenna. There was something about that girl. From hello, I’d trusted in her. She had a kind heart and a gentle soul–just like Piper did. She was the type of girl that a man could fall in love with.
As I turned off the main road onto gravel, I noticed something very peculiar about the forest. I felt like for the first time that I was being watched or followed as I drove by. Someone or something was watching me. Did the forest now have eyes? Only being a few miles from the cabin, I wondered if it was in the cards that I make it there tonight.
Well, R U Ready? Be-were!
As luck would have it, I found out that I had no luck at all. As I drove through the darkened forest, suddenly I heard a powerful boom. Instantly, the Jeep quietly shut off. It was like a small electro-magnetic pulse surged through all of the circuits of the unprotected Jeep. Now I would be stranded miles away from civilization and vulnerable to an attack.
I turned my Jeeps key over several times to no avail. This thing is deader than a week-old corpse, I thought as my useless attempts at starting the Jeep had become rather worrisome. Forgetting about my surroundings for a moment, I yelled out in anger, “This is not supposed to be happening and I don’t have time for this!”
I received a blood-shrieking sound as a response. This thunderous scream, which sounded like a mix between a dinosaur roar and something being raised from the dead, was getting closer and closer, at a rapid speed, right in my direction. I quickly went to the old army knapsack and pulled out my pistol. Whatever it was charging at me, I had the solution. I released one round in the cool crisp air as I heard the beast fall to the ground with a hard thud.
I fished around in the knapsack for a flashlight. I wanted to know just what was stalking me. As I was searching, I heard another loud groan, this time coming from the west. It startled me as my right leg twisted helplessly and pain shot instantly through my body. I could not afford to let myself be handicapped at a time like this.
Once I turned on the light, I started to peer all around. In a flash, I discovered that I was surrounded–by what I wasn’t quite sure of. All that I could see were glistening yellow eyes, too many to count, shining back at me when the light met their pupils.
I knew just what it was: toggles. I was corralled into this ravine just like a head of steer. How could I be so foolish? This was the oldest trick in the book. My gramps spoke many times about trapping toggles this way. I guess some of his craftiness finally rubbed off on them. They say you reap what you sow; unfortunately for me it was my turn to feel the sting.
As I loaded my gun, I thought about getting back into the Jeep for some shelter from whatever was pursuing me. After checking my ammo supply I boldly decided to meet these monsters head on. Besides, I’d defeated the toggles once with just a lampshade and some metal coasters, so what was there to worry about?
My tune quickly changed once I saw what I was dealing with. I hadn’t counted on the fact that the evil one would be bringing out the big guns for tonight. There he was the most vile and disgusting thing that I’d ever seen, standing right in front of me. Over to the left was another. I noticed two more red eyes staring in my direction, ready to strike. Before I knew it I was surrounded by six or seven of the biggest, hairiest, were-stroggles.
I’d heard a few stories told by Gramps and his cousin about those darkened hairy-looking beings. Gramps once told us about wolf-like toggles that were known to roam these
woods. I just assumed that those stories were part of Gramps’ imagination that was always running wild. Tell that to the ingrate standing in front of me.
With their beady little eyes staring back at me, the first were-stroggle tried to make his move but instead met the end of a double barrel shotgun. I pulled the trigger just as the stroggle swallowed the tip of my barrel, which decapitated the hairy animal. I turned to the side and saw two more, howling and ready to attack.
Before I could get my shotgun loaded, one of the savages climbed onto the Jeep’s hood and began to growl wildly. How about some lead for dessert? I pulled the trigger and made hamburger out of that one’s face. Another tried to ambush me from behind, putting his hairy hands around my neck. After a bit of a struggle with the nasty brute, I was able to toss him off my back and onto the ground. I stood firm on the were-stroggle’s neck, and with my nine, I put a cap deep into that one’s skull.
I remember thinking to myself I am very thankful for the fact that I don’t need a silver bullet to defeat them. I released round after round, chamber after chamber until my gun’s heated barrel had a glow. I knew that I could stand there and shoot were-stroggles all night, and probably do okay at it holding my own, but I also knew that I only had so many bullets left.
I threw my knapsack onto my back and took my pistol out. I started backing up into the night as I said, “If you want to follow me, go ahead, but I promise you that I’ll blow your head off if you do; so it’s your choice.” I guess that was enough to call off all of those monster behemoths because they didn’t follow suit; instead they retreated into the cold shadows of the night.
I cursed the night sky as I felt a mist of rain beginning to fall on my face. The drizzle was just the calm before the storm, so to speak. Thunderous echoes of the approaching storm gave me ample warning. Tonight I would soon be hiking in a downpour. This was not how I planned on spending the evening: Miles away from shelter and only a few bullets were remaining. I could very easily see how tonight might end very badly for the good guy.
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