by catt dahman
“What the hell?” Tina yelped. She stared at the water that ran through the back. Fin Carter’s boots showed in the air, but his body was in the water; his head was gone, vanished into the tunnel where the water flowed. His boots disappeared and Tina and Virgil leaned down to see where he was. In a minute or two, he back-crawled out.
“Swimming?” Virgil asked.
With a grin, Fin told them, “I think we have a way out. I’d have to crawl in further and maybe add a rope in case it’s dangerous, but we may can get away from the Greys that way. With so much having fallen in, a rescue is going to take too long.”
“It goes to the other side and there’s brick walls over there,” Shari said.
“What kind of brick? Is it tight and have a waxy coating?”
She nodded, “Yeah. It does.”
Virgil used a stick to draw in the dust and motioned Vivian to look; she was great with this type puzzles. She looked and made more scratches, looked up and turned in a full circle, frowning. “That’s it. No wonder we heard noises. Shari, it leads to another place but either the Grey or Whites go there.” She wondered if Shari were reliable at all.
Shari grinned, “I know. That’s where the frogs are. Everyone hunts there.”
Chapter Twelve:
“It’s morning up there,” Virgil said.
“And no rescue team is down here. Why?”
“I don’t know, Fin. Maybe they couldn’t get the trap to open again or can’t keep it open. Maybe they tried and…it went badly,” Virgil replied.
“What if they forget us and leave us?” Connors asked. Whether it was the head injury or seeing his fellow officers slaughtered, something was making his mind slip quickly and unless he heard something he wished to react to, he sat and stared into space. Johansson had already expressed some concern about the man’s pupils looking wrong.
Virgil shook his head and said, “Not with Fairalee up there. She is tenacious and won’t stop until we are out of here, I am positive. Besides, she was calling Special Agent Lord and he won’t leave us, either. Rick, Josie, and Lana are up there and so are a bunch more deputies and firefighters. No one will forget us down here, but I am sure they are trying to come get us in a more safe way.”
“Josie is probably worried,” George said. “Gina and I know she, Rick, and Lana will never rest until they find us and they know where we are…I mean they know we are down below anyway. I feel really bad about Sheriff Thomas. All these years searching for his boy and he finds him in this way.”
“They’re trying to be safe and know we have medical supplies, some water, and food. They have no idea what is down here with us, so they don’t have a need to rush, and they don’t know how bad off Anita is. Or Howard.,” Virgil whispered the last part.
Howard had already suffered a few chest pains due to his stress levels.
Fin shook himself off like a dog and wound up the rope they had tied around his ankle. He grabbed a stick and drew his own map, “It widens a little and then it goes into a little pool that isn’t far across…maybe a few kicks and stroked…but it’s cold and deep. It’s not particularly pristine because those in here used it as a toilet. It isn’t dirty, but we know it may be down deep where…stuff settles. I know that sounds bad, but it’s all we have. After that, we crawl a ways and then it looks tall enough that we can walk.”
“What about Anita?” Vivian asked.
“We can leave a few people here and go for help. DOCTOR Everette will be with her.”
“Split up again?” Vivian hated the idea, “I don’t have a better plan, but that’s rough. No one wants to stay, and no one will want to go. I guess we can ask and then decide who does what.”
“Greys and Whites don’t like to get in the water. They get cold,” Shari said as they discussed the plan. “I want to go. I’ve been here so long, and you come to save me and I am tied like an animal,” She wept pitifully. “I guess I’ll drown.”
“She can’t swim with her hands tied,” Terry Cromer added.
“I want to see my family, Terry. I want to see the sunlight again. I’m so cold. I dream of being warm again.”
Terry untied her. He held her close, soothing her. “Can you stand to get into the water, Shari?”
“Yes. If it means stopping the cold and hunger, I can do anything.”
Fin knelt, “Howard, do you want to stay here with Anita? I’m scared for us to drag her through the water and get her chilled. Also, it may be too tight in there for you, because you’re bigger than I am.”
“I’m a big one, yep. I will stay with her.” He knew they were worried about his chest pains, too.
“George? You want to stay or swim? I don’t care, but one of us needs to go and one stay,” Gina told her tour partner.
“Gina, we can handle it…”
“I know, Agent Carter, but….” Gina sniffed and blinked back tears, “It’s our job, and I’d like to know that no matter what, George and I did our jobs. George?”
“Neither sound safe, but I’ll stay in case Howard and Anita need me. I think it’s my turn anyway. But be safe, Gina.” George thought she needed out more, mentally, than he did. “You get a hot bath, something good to eat and drink, some clean pajamas, and crawl into bed and sleep. When you wake up, I’ll be there to tell you everything you missed here, okay? Is that a deal? We can catch Josie, Rick, and Lana up and make it sound funny instead of scary. Deal?”
Gina hugged George thankfully, “You are the best friend ever.”
Doctor Everett said he would remain with his patient. He had some concerns about Connors’ head wound and said the deputy should stay as well. Connors agreed, but it was the opinion of those who watched that Connors wasn’t fully aware of what he was agreeing to.
“Deputy Rant?” Ed Ripley asked. He gave her a nod, knowing her choice.
Tina nodded, “Ed and I will stay, Virgil. You all go find help.”
Vivian hugged Tina and joined the others. She felt scared, but with Virgil by her side, she could do this. As she climbed into the water, she shivered; it was ice cold. They had already had plenty to drink so they wouldn’t be thirsty for more as they climbed through the tunnel. Pebbles hurt her knees and palms, but she went on as the tunnel widened a little and then sloped to a deep pool. The entire way, although she knew she was headed towards help, she hated it, feeling more miserable by the second. This was how this place wore people down.
Fin had the rope wound up again, and he held it as they gathered at the pool. After swimming across, they were able to stand and walk. Fin put the rope away. The air was colder and Fin stopped, made a small fire that vented somewhere far above and to the side, and they warmed up, drying themselves, while they ate trail mix, and drank water.
Shari refused to eat and only drank a little as she cried, begging to see her family. Terry’s face showed deep concern for her. He thought he was over her, and the day she went missing, he had been angry with her, but now, all the feelings returned, and he pitied her. Holding her didn’t seem enough. He felt Shari seemed more nervous and afraid the further they went towards rescue.
“Brick wall ahead. We’re going to move quietly and follow it,” Fin said.
Virgil kept his gun drawn; Fin and Vivian did the same.
A grey skinned, thin man lunged at them from a side tunnel, but Johansson didn’t think or plan; he swung a heavy board that he carried, catching the creature in the mid-section. As the grey man slumped, Johansson slammed the board down several time on the man’s head. He kept kitting the filthy man, pouring his fury into killing the creature that wanted to eat them.
Virgil nodded, “Good job. He’s done.” Before he could finish speaking, a second figure darted out and Virgil was forced to swing the make-shift spear he carried. The blade of the knife jammed upwards under the person’s jaw, through the mouth, and into the brain. Vivian let loose a small scream.
Virgil used a boot to pry the blade free. It felt sickening, but it was war now.
“Are
you okay?”
Vivian whispered she was, “You looked so…primal when you used the spear that way. It startled me.”
“I told you days ago, if you vanished, I would find you. I’m telling you now that no one will harm you unless they kill me first.”
“Clear,” Fin called. He lead them onward.
There was another pool that was covered by frogs, blind and white skinned, and the frogs hopped about, reacting to noises they heard or sensed. They jumped into the water with splashes.
The group of humans ignored the amphibians as they skirted the water, following the brick walls. Fin used a metal bar he had found back in the room Shari hid in to tap out a Morse code for help. He tapped three fast raps, three long ones that were spaced out, and three more short and fast. After a few seconds he repeated it. For a half hour, he continued and then let Virgil take over.
Two hours later, Vivian, Gina, and Terry had taken turns. They wondered how long it would take to be heard, but what they didn’t know was that guests were sent home with vouchers so the massive house was empty but for people trying to rescue the missing group, and staff. The kitchen was the closest room to the underground room that was walled off from where Virgil waited with his group; the kitchen wasn’t close, but nothing else was closer.
After hearing the repetitive knocking for a quarter of an hour, someone on staff grew concerned and went to Special Agent Lord who had taken over the chaos in the Kingsborough House, and reported the sounds to him. After listening, he yelled for this team and they descended the stairs.
“Shhhh.” Vivian said.
They heard sounds. After the sounds repeated a few times, Johansson grinned, “’We hear you’ is what they are saying.” He tapped back. “I said ‘Virgil’ to them. They said ‘hang on’.”
In a quarter of an hour, they heard loud pounding but there was no rhythm to the noise and in a few minutes, a small hole appeared in the brick wall. Virgil stood close to the hole and a light shot threw to light his face. “Sheriff McLendon?”
“Yes.”
“Thank God. Deputy Smithers here.”
“Virgil? Vivian?”
“We’re here, Agent Lord,” Virgil called.
“We’ll get you out.” Lord urged everyone to hurry and break a bigger hole through the wall.
The pounding grew in intensity until there was a larger hole from the ground to five feet upwards. Once it was expanded, Vivian and Gina slipped through. Fairalee was close to hug both. Fairalee wondered why the women smelled like human decomposition and waste, but was too glad to see them, to care too much.
When Vivian kept hugging her, Fairalee had to step back, “You stink. Sorry, but…what have you two been doing?”
“You won’t believe us when we tell you.”
“Smithers, who else is here from your department?” Virgil asked.
“I have three deputies and the fire crew.”
“Look, you need to deputize your fire crew and some volunteers and arm them. Sheriff Thomas didn’t survive and neither did Arnett or Holt. Connors is injured. I suggest you step in and act as sheriff right now.”
Smithers looked confused. Virgil remembered when he had to do the same and how fearful he had been, but no matter what, sometimes people had to do the difficult jobs.
“Agent Lord, please help him. We’ve got to get the rest out of there, and we have a few injured, but we have a problem here. This hole must be guarded closely. All those who went missing ended up down here and were trapped. Some died, some bred, and over the years, they lived down here, but they are fully insane and are…cannibals.” Virgil knew it all sounded crazy. He had to get the important facts out fast. He saw the confusion on every face.
“Virgil….”
“I told you,” Vivian said. “They were trapped but they were alive and the rest kept them alive and…look…most are children and grandchildren of the first to fall down there. Maybe Constance Moreau lived and there was a workman down there. They reproduced. They interbred and there was no one sane to do anything more than to live like…” She tried to find words.
Gina piped up, “A colony of insects, maybe. They hunt, they breed, they starve, they eat. That is all. They fight with other clans down there. There aren’t many but the few are vicious. They’re drooling, grimy, stark-naked, misshapen animals now. Smell me? Yeah? They smell even worse.”
“I can explain later. There are dinner bells down there, if you can imagine, set into the traps. We know where all the missing went. They went down here and they are in deadly packs or clans now. They don’t think or act human now. They’re worse than animals and they kill and consume people. They have hunted us down here. The rest of our group is hidden in a little secret alcove: Agent Ed Ripley, Deputy Tina Rant, tourists Howard and his wife Anita, Deputy Connors, Doctor Everett and tour guide, George, who I might add, was determined to stay and do his job. And has a broken bone.” Virgil blurted it out.
All around people wondered if this could be a hoax or if the people who came out of the subbasement were crazy.
Virgil saw the perplexed glances. In anger, he almost yelled, “We saw Sheriff Thomas’ son Danny eat him alive.” He ended that with a moan as he rubbed his eyes.
“My God,” Agent Lord said, “Okay. Smithers, let’s get that going and we need more flashlights and weapons. Get Vivian and Gina blankets. Get them all blankets. Get more a team of doctors here. Now!”
Fairalee, scared to death, took the sidearm Virgil handed her back and flashed her badge again, “You heard him. I want a box…yes, a box of handcuffs brought down and some rope as well. If you have leg irons, get them as well. While Sheriff Smithers gets things going, I want every shot gun, rifle, and side arm on that hole. Do not, I repeat, do not fire unless ordered.” She almost scared herself worse in taking over but she heard the men she worked with in her head, Rivera and Jones, telling her to keep her damned head up, look everyone in the eye, and to not back off.
Virgil shot her a look of respect and pride. Mason Lord gave her the same and she flushed with self pride.
Terry Cromer, with an arm around Shari spoke, “This is Shari, who was missing from here. We found her. Come on, Shari, honey. She made it.” There was a buzz of voices. Terry kept smiling.
“Oh. Oh, Shari, we’re awful glad to see you,” Rick called out and everyone clapped softly. After Virgil yelling the news about Sheriff Thomas, it was fantastic to see Shari.
Terry and Shari were covered in blankets and taken for medical attention. Shari moved a little slowly because of her injuries and her new fears, and she was pale, way too thin, and her eyes were huge, but she allowed herself to be taken away, as long as Terry was in sight.
Several of the firemen took axes and prepared to help get the others out. Virgil said he would lead them back to the caved in entrance to the hidden room, if they could get there. Other men carried shovels and picks. Fin, Johansson, and two firemen took off the way they came to get to the room through the tunnel and water.
Fin Carter wouldn’t hear of anyone taking his place in going back for the rescue and said he was too invested. Agent Lord granted permission when he saw how deeply Fin needed to finish the job. The young man had the tenacity of an agent who would do very well in the Bureau and be well respected.
With Fin going, Johansson stepped back and said he was going as well. His face was set in tight lines and his jaw was rock-solid with determination. He was dedicated to his work.
“Smithers, you and Lord need to hold this entrance. They’re fast and mean.”
“Okay. We have it, Virgil.” Special Agent Mason Lord said. “I’d rather you sat this one out.”
“Not a change in hell. I know the layout best besides Johansson and Fin. I started the case and I am going to finish the case.”
“Against my better judgment. Okay.”
“Mason.”
“Yeah?”
“Take care of Vivian.”
Virgil turned and vanished back into the hole as Vi
vian made a lunge to go along and help, but Mason Lord caught her and held her back, ignoring her kicks and punches as she cried. She was torn, on one hand, thinking that is she had to go back inside that disgusting nightmarish place, she would just curl up and die; on the other hand, she belonged working next to Virgil.
She settled down and sighed Agent Lord spoke calmly, asking her to cooperate and give them the story because everyone needed to know the details. He needed as report. As Josie took Gina upstairs to get cleaned up, Vivian watched her leave, waving, and sat down on the make-shift bench formed of planks and concrete blocks. She took out her revolver and held it, waiting. “If one of those creatures comes out, stay out of my way because I intend to blow it away.”
Mason Lord sat next to her with his gun ready. Smithers and the rest took positions close to them or to the side, and they waited.
Smithers asked quietly, “Can you tell me what happened to Sheriff Thomas and the rest? Please?”
Vivian took a deep breath, “I’ll start at the beginning and then you all can explain to everyone else, because after this, I don’t think I can tell it again.” She began to talk.
Chapter Thirteen:
“I wish Viv were here now,” Virgil grumbled as he got his bearings. “This way. Okay. Here. Through this crack, there will be an opening into a room. It’s blocked off by debris.”
Virgil let them go ahead as he looked over the rocks and broken boards in the tunnel. He pointed and showed Deputy Reye a pool of blood, “Sheriff Thomas. His son Danny was down here. Ten years ago, Danny fell down a hole that is right at the edge of the property, just in the woods. Danny Thomas, Bobby Dowd, Henry Davis, and Lisa Jacobson all went down that hidden rabbit hole. We know Lisa and Danny survived and Lisa was only killed a few days ago.”
Reye shook his head, shocked, “We’ll get that hole sealed off fast.”