The Only Human

by Rick Mofina

  The first had a long, projecting wolf’s snout, with savage eyes blazing from its hideous face. It was framed by a cowl atop a dragon’s body covered with scales. It was supported by powerful beastly legs ending with cloven hooves. The next creature took the form of a demon, with large snarling jaws, exposing massive fangs. The teeth competed with the horns jutting from the monstrous head, which was attached to a muscular reptile’s body with large haunches and curled talons.

  “Ty, what is it?”

  “It’s true!”

  He lifted the goggles from his eyes, saw the two beings as two ordinary human-looking cops, then he replaced the goggles and saw them in their true form: Monsters from another world.

  Near the first two beasts, Ty saw others who were arriving and departing. Using the goggles gave him the ability to see their shapes shifting from human to horrific forms.

  One of them stopped, raised its nightmarish head, flared its nostrils and inhaled a smell, as if sensing an enemy presence.

  Ty moved out of sight one heartbeat before the creature stared with blazing hatred in his direction.

  “It’s true Ella!”

  “What did you see?”

  All the blood had drained from Ty’s face.

  “Most of them are gargoyles! Shape shifting demons!”

  “Oh my God!”

  “We have to get out of here. Now!”

  13

  Sirens echoed behind Ty and Ella as they ran from police headquarters.

  They crossed and re-crossed streets for nearly ten blocks until the wailing faded. But their fear didn’t. Ty couldn’t stop shaking because he could no longer deny the truth, or explain it away.

  There’s a gargoyle uprising in the city!

  “The Awakening,” Professor Blair had called it before telling Ty that he was chosen to stop it. Reality hit him. Like a blacksmith pounding red hot steel on an anvil, the professor’s words hammered at Ty with clarity.

  ‘They’re everywhere – they’re watching us – we see but we don’t see’.

  Gargoyles.

  Of course! Ty cast a glance upward to the older buildings and thought of all the others throughout New York which served as nests for them. Gargoyles were everywhere, clinging from ledges, corners, and arches, glaring down at humans going about their everyday lives. Not many people paid attention to the monsters mocking the mortals under their feet.

  Somehow they’d come to life.

  The Awakening!

  Were they really going to bring about the end of the world?

  And how was Ty going to stop them?

  “It’s all real, Ella!” he said as they kept moving. “Those things have my parents! They weren’t cops that went to our school. They were gargoyles! And they want us, too!”

  “I know.”

  “I can’t go to my mom’s place, or my dad’s place.”

  “They’re likely watching for you,” Ella said.

  “They’re going to be watching your place, too. Is your dad okay?”

  “I think so. He’s been texting me about missing school. He’s at work but has a lot of meetings around the city.”

  “What should we do?”

  “We should keep running and find a safe place to stay somewhere.” Ella continued studying the professor’s notebook and researching online. “We have to find the ‘place of enlightenment.’ Madame Petrovka said we’d find more answers there.”

  “What is it?”

  “I’m not sure. I thought it was on the tip of my brain, but I’m not sure. For now, we need to keep moving and keep our guard up for gargoyles.”

  Remembering, and now accepting, the power of the goggles, Ty pulled them on. He then got his ball cap from his backpack and put it on so he’d look more like an ordinary kid with sunglasses. He scanned faces of people walking on the sidewalk, watching for anything unusual – anything not human. He worked the apertures quickly, scrutinizing cab and bus drivers, asking under his breath: Human or gargoyle? Human or gargoyle?

  “So far everyone’s human,” Ty reported to Ella just as her phone rang.

  “It’s my dad. I have to take it,” she said.

  They stepped into an entrance way to a building. The sound was clear enough for Ty to hear Ella’s dad’s end of the call as well.

  “Honey, your school called me. Why did you skip classes?”

  “I’m sorry, dad. There was a fire alarm then one of my friends and I left to work on this huge assignment that came up.”

  “You should’ve told me, Ella so you’d be signed out properly.”

  “I’m sorry, dad.”

  “Listen, I’m at JFK getting ready to board. An emergency meeting came up and I have to go to Chicago. I’ll be back tomorrow. Aunt Sophie’s going to come to our apartment tonight to stay with you. All right?”

  Ty shook his head and whispered in Ella’s ear.

  “That would be dangerous. They’d be watching. Don’t tell him what’s going on – they might arrest your dad too!”

  Ella nodded her understanding then on the call said: “Dad, can I stay overnight with my friend from school, instead? It’s a really hard assignment and we need to help each other. Please can I stay over, dad?”

  Her father didn’t have time to think it over.

  “All right. I’m getting on the plane. I’ll call Sophie now. You send us both all the contact information for your friend.”

  “Thank you dad! You’re the best dad!”

  “And no more missing classes, young lady. You got that?”

  “Yes dad. Thank you. I love you dad.”

  “I love you, too, honey. Gotta go.”

  Throughout the conversation, Ty scanned the tops of older buildings, zooming in on the gargoyles he’d spotted perched or jutting from the structures. He scrutinized them for the tiniest movement.

  “Stone-cold dead or awakened,” he repeated, changing it to; “Dead, or alive?”

  “Anything?” Ella asked after her call.

  “Nothing, so far,” Ty said.

  Ella continued flipping through the notebook, biting her bottom lip and concentrating on the professor’s notations.

  “I know the answer’s here,” she said. “I almost had it. Remember what Madame Petrovka said?”

  “What part?”

  “She said ‘patience and fortitude will lead you to victory’ and she said you had to go to a ‘place of enlightenment’ for the answers. Patience and fortitude – I’ve heard those used together before – I just know it!”

  Ella’s eyes widened with recognition.

  “I got it! I got it, Ty! I know where we need to go!”

  Ella pointed to the subway entrance.

  “Come on!”

  14

  Ella grabbed Ty’s arm and they ran to the Spring Street subway station.

  “The ‘place of enlightenment’ is the New York Public Library!” she said.

  “How do you know?”

  “You’ll see when we get there!”

  Ty kept his goggles on as they headed down the station’s stairs. He scanned the platform for non-humans, focusing on any cops, or anyone who looked official.

  “We’ll find ‘patience’ and ‘fortitude’ at the mid-town branch,” Ella said into Ty’s ear as the southbound train rumbled into the platform across from where they stood. Ty concentrated on the driver, then the passengers.

  “See anything?” Ella asked as they walked to the end of their platform where the front of their train would stop.

  “No.” Ty scanned new riders arriving at the station. “Maybe we should tell somebody what’s happening, like the Pentagon or the President?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Why?” Ty asked.

  “Because we don’t know how far the shape-shifting invasion goes; who’s been taken over. We need to get to the library to find more answers. It’s our only chance to stop it!”

  “I hope you’re right!”

  A rush of wind blew out from the dark tunnel flutteri
ng their hair as the clamor of their arriving train shook the station. With the bright lights of the motor car reflecting in his goggles, Ty stared directly at the driver, bracing through shades of purple, green and blue for what he may see, relieved when nothing demonic emerged.

  “The driver’s human,” he said.

  As they prepared to board, Ty surveyed the passengers.

  “All human,” he said keeping his voice low.

  They got on and found seats.

  “Look at this!” Ty picked up a creased, discarded copy of a Metro paper open to a story: Staten Island Ferry Rescue, which they read together.

  Over 700 people were rescued at sea when flames began shooting from the engine of one of the largest Staten Island ferry boats late yesterday.

  Passengers were transported safely to another ferry, but a malfunction at the Whitehall Ferry terminal in Manhattan meant the rescue ship was diverted.

  It was unclear if the passengers were taken to the Statue of Liberty ferry terminal in Battery Park nearby, or elsewhere.

  “The important thing is no one was hurt,” a Port Authority official said. “I’m told by our crews on the scene that while some people were shaken by the ordeal, we safely off-loaded all passengers temporarily to city buses. I believe they were transported to a shelter for their comfort and for paramedics to see them.”

  “Yeah, right,” Ty said, throwing an uneasy look to Ella.

  “It keeps happening! They’re taking more people away!” she said.

  “I’ve got to find my mom and dad,” Ty said as the train rocked and swayed in the darkness.

  At each station he examined passengers boarding and those on the platform. He remained vigilant until they’d reached their stop. Stepping from their train and into the chaos of Grand Central Terminal, Ty studied the rivers of commuters, flowing up and down escalators, stairs and hallways.

  When they got to the main concourse, he continued scanning the crowds. Nothing but humans came into view until something streaked by – something that stopped him cold. Reaching up to his goggles he adjusted the apertures and spotted two shapes of semi-transparent liquid light.

  “Do you see something?” Ella asked.

  “Two of them! By the main information booth in the center!”

  “I don’t see anything but people, are you sure?”

  Ty then lifted his goggles and saw them as Ella and the world saw them: two police officers.

  But that’s not what they are!

  Ty replaced the goggles, adjusted them and saw a pair of beasts from a medieval nightmare. They had muscular gorilla-like bodies with eagles’ heads bearing fangs and horns. Their large skin-like wings wrapped around their backs. Their powerful arms were encased in scales and ended with talons. They had huge claw-like legs. Their eyes burned with anger and arrogance as they looked with superior disgust upon the throngs of humans moving through the concourse.

  Ty lifted his goggles and the creatures were human again, happily giving directions to a man and woman struggling with three children, maps and backpacks.

  “They’re there! Two gargoyles and no one knows the truth!” he said.

  “Come on! We better keep moving!”

  Ella grabbed his arm and they threaded their way across the terminal. Ty caught his breath. Four gargoyles were on the balcony looking down at the humanity moving through the concourse.

  “More of them on the upper level!” he said.

  “This way!” Ella said.

  They left Grand Central through the 42nd Street exit and headed west. Ty was vigilant, adjusting his goggles, scrutinizing people on the street, office workers, tourists, police, food vendors, news stand guys, cab, bus, and bicycle rickshaw drivers. They hadn’t gone far when a shadow passed over Ty and he looked up.

  Horrified at the sight, he pulled Ella into a doorway for cover.

  A gargoyle the size of a large man, propelled by huge reptilian wings glided some twenty-five feet above them. The beast had flown up Park Avenue, banked, and was now slowly moving west above on 42nd Street.

  The monster had a long serpent’s tail and looked as if it had travelled through time from the deepest region of hell as it gazed down ravenously at the mortals below. Jaws salivating, it made several quick, powerful wing flaps, rising higher and higher until it disappeared over the skyscrapers.

  “What was it?” Ella asked. “I didn’t see anything.”

  Ty swallowed hard.

  Could something that frightening have taken my mom and dad, hurt them – even eaten them? – No! Stop thinking like that!

  “Ty!” Ella shook him. “What did you see?”

  “A gargoyle flying through the city! It’s gone, let’s go!”

  Minutes later Ty and Ella arrived at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue and stood before the grand sweeping steps of the New York Public Library. The main entrance was flanked by two stone guardians, a pair of giant lions.

  “These lions are named: “Patience” and “Fortitude,” Ella said. “The library is where you can learn about everything, it’s a place of enlightenment! This is where we’ll find more answers!”

  “You’re sure?” Ty said.

  “Madame Petrovka said you’d find answers at the ‘place of enlightenment,’ and ‘patience’ and ‘fortitude’ will lead the way. Remember?”

  Nodding slowly, Ty studied the lions through his goggles. Defensively at first, but when he saw they were not demonic gargoyles he was inspired, hopeful they could be allies in his struggle. But they didn’t come to life. They were beautiful stone statues, providing him nothing more than silent encouragement.

  Ty and Ella went inside where Ella explained to the lady at the information table in the lobby that they needed to talk to an expert on the history of the city’s buildings, gargoyles, rare books and ancient languages.

  “My, my, that’s a lot rolled into one,” the lady at the table said.

  Ty, who remained on heightened alert and never removed his goggles, indicated to Ella that he hadn’t found any gargoyles in the library so far.

  After pondering Ella’s request, the woman jotted notes on a slip of paper, then touching her pen to it said: “Go to the third floor, to the desk in this room.”

  Ty and Ella hurried up the massive stone staircases to the third floor and found the room. It was bigger than a city block. The ceilings soared over row after row of tables where people were reading, yet it was as quiet as a monastery. Ty scanned it for trouble and found none.

  They went to the librarian at the counter.

  “Yes?” she asked softly, giving Ty a second look that bordered on disapproval, because of his goggles.

  “We need some serious help,” Ella said. “We’re looking for someone here who is an expert on old books about the history of gargoyles in New York. It’s important.”

  “Could you be more specific? What is your interest related to?”

  At that point, a man pushing a cart loaded with old volumes, labeled, “RARE BOOKS” began working at the keyboard beside the librarian.

  “It’s related to Professor Blair, who knew a lot about the history of buildings in the city,” Ty said.

  “He kinda suggested we come here for help, it’s very serious,” Ella said.

  “Is it? I see, well I think –”

  “Professor Blair?” The man next to her stopped his work to interject. “Excuse me, Flora, but I overheard.”

  “Not at all, Miles.” She gave him a cool smile.

  The man looked at Ella and Ty. His white hair was cut so short he was nearly bald. He had a snow-white moustache and tiny round framed glasses at the end of his nose. He wore a neatly-knotted bow tie, a blue shirt, a jacket, and appeared professorial himself as he assessed Ty and Ella.

  “Are you talking about Bertram Blair?”

  Ty and Ella looked at each other and nodded.

  “Bertram Blair, who was killed in a traffic accident the other day?”

  Ty and Ella nodded.

  “He gave me
these, and this stuff,” Ty touched his goggles and Ella held up the tattered notebook and the worn leather satchel strapped over her shoulder.

  The man looked at the items. Concern had filled his eyes. He rubbed his chin as if pondering a big decision.

  “It’s possible, I may know what this is about,” he said. “Come with me.”

  15

  The man with the bow tie led Ty and Ella behind the counter and into a spacious room where other library staff were working.

  File cabinets lined the walls, desks with computer monitors were tucked in the corners. Large tables bearing towers of tagged books filled the center of the room which smelled of wood.

  “Please, sit down,” the man positioned two extra chairs beside a large desk then he sat in a padded swivel chair. “I’m Miles Sedgwick. I oversee rare books and documents, particularly those dealing with New York City. And you are?”

  “I’m Tyler Price and she’s Ella Shaw.”

  “My condolences for Professor Blair, I learned about Bertram’s death on the news, very sad, very tragic. I often helped him with his research at the library. He was very well-read and dedicated to his work. I take it you are his grandchildren?”

  “No! We’re not related.” Ty slid off the goggles to let them hang from his neck. “I met him on the bus, just before he was – just before his accident.”

  Sedgwick stroked his moustache.

  “And he gave you his things?”

  “Yes.”

  “Interesting. And now you’re here asking about the history of gargoyles in New York, which is something he did research here. Yes, interesting. Could you tell me a little more? Perhaps we can narrow just what it is you’re looking for?”

  Ty was not sure how far to trust Sedgwick. He glanced at Ella.

  “Just a minute.” Ty got his phone and texted her, even though she was sitting right beside him.