[In
this thrill packed episode, Allen, Rose, and Angie meet the Big Boss at
Brashley, go shopping for some pillow cases, have a nice dinner, and then meet
an old friend for some fun and games! Get ready for suburban horror ALLEN
TOMBES style! ---RFY]
ALLEN
TOMBES – FIRE FROM WATER (Chapter 24)
"I
can't believe they took our cell phones away," Angie said. She watched
Allen stuff half a chocolate bar into his mouth and giggled.
"And
it's not just the phones," Rose said to Allen. "We can't contact
anyone at all. Nada! No email, no Facebook, nothing."
"My
mom has got to be freaking out," Angie said, then realized what she'd done
and mouthed, "sorry" to Rose.
Meanwhile,
Allen ate three donuts in about six bites, washing them down with the entire
carton of chocolate milk. For a few seconds he felt like his stomach was about
to declare war on the rest of his body, but it passed with a burp.
"I
wonder how long we're going to be stuck here," Angie said, looking around
at the blank, grey walls.
"I
don't know," Rose said.
"Where
else would we go?" Allen asked. Despite his stomach already being
stretched to the point of explosion, he peered into the paper bag at the last
donut, considering, but decided against it.
Though
the door to Allen's room was still open, there was a light knock that startled
all three of the kids. They turned as one and saw Shea standing at the opening,
smiling.
"Time
to meet the big boss----my mom," she said and waved for them to follow.
ALLEN
TOMBES – FIRE FROM WATER (Chapter 25)
Shayla
McCleggan was the 58 year old C.E.O. of Brashley, Inc., a research and
development firm, which had successfully manufactured electronic equipment and
weapons since World War I, selling a large percentage of those products to the
U.S. military and foreign allies. The company was also the most recent front,
however commercially successful it seemed to be, for the Old Guard, an
international grouping of warriors, witches, seers, and alchemists who had
secretly been protecting humanity for centuries from a number of predatory
species that most people couldn't see or hear, and usually wouldn't even
believe existed.
Mrs.
McCleggan, widow of the ten years deceased Douglas McCleggan, and mother to
Shea, had taken control of the company and become the defacto
Commander-in-Chief of the Old Guard when her husband was assassinated by
Milfred Hobbes, a power-hungry second-in-command. The entire affair was
completely unexpected, throwing the company into disarray, and Shayla, fearing
the disintegration of the organization to which she had devoted decades of her
life, gave up her position as Head of Arms, and took on the role of general
leader of the company to almost universal approval. Almost…
Shea
was twelve when all of this had happened.
Since
assuming control, Shayla had streamlined operations, rooting out all those who
supported Hobbes over her husband, and lead the company to the most stable and
financially successful level it had ever achieved. Shayla was a tactical
genius, an analytical mind almost unmatched in the history of the Old Guard,
but she could also be coldly, and some might say 'cruelly,' efficient and
blunt. Shea explained all of this to Allen, Rose, and Angie as the group rode
the elevator to the 38th floor. The elevator required a special key-code to be
entered before it would accept that floor as a destination.
The
office door buzzed, clicked, and opened by itself as they approached. The room
was large, the wall opposite the door comprised of a floor to ceiling window.
Chris and Cheever were already in the room when Allen and the girls walked in.
Chris was pacing near the window. Cheever sat in one of the two large, leather
chairs in front of Shayla's huge desk, which was covered in piles of papers,
electronic equipment, and half empty coffee cups. Sitting in a large chair
behind the desk was a woman who looked surprisingly like Shea, but with thin
rimmed glasses, grey streaks in her hair, thicker shoulders, and a sterner
expression, particularly around the eyes. She was typing furiously at a
computer and only looked up from her work when she had finished.
"Eddings
is still refusing our request to mobilize. The idiot thinks we're overreacting
to the assault on your parents' home. Probably thinks we're just trying to
steal his prototypes, or some nonsense," she said. Allen assumed she was
talking to Chris, though her gaze had fallen almost instantly back to the
computer screen as she began to speak, so he couldn't be certain.
"I
can go talk to him, if you like," Cheever said, "but I don't know if
it will help." He drummed his fingers on the arms of the chair, making a
series of rhythmical thud-thud-thuds.
Shayla
considered for a few minutes in silence, then said, "No. Let's wait until
we have something concrete to show him." She suddenly seemed to notice
that Allen and the others had entered the room.
"Shea,
bring some extra chairs. Dr. Cheever, I have your report. I'll contact you if I
have any questions."
Cheever
hopped out of his chair and bowed with an exaggerated flourish, winking at
Allen as he rose. Shayla shook her head, but Allen thought he saw a hint of a
smile on her lips. Cheever patted Allen on the shoulder as he strutted out of
the room. Shea went into a storage closet through a door at one end of the
office and returned with two chairs. Chris had stopped pacing, but was now
staring out the window.
"Please,"
Shayla said, waving at the chairs in front of her desk. Angie and Rose sat in
the leather chairs, and Allen took a chair from Shea and sat on it between his
sister and her friend. Shea unfolded the other chair, but remained standing.
"According
to the morning news, a gas furnace malfunctioned and exploded in your home at
about 4:00 A.M. Both of your parents, as well as you three, were pronounced
dead at the scene," she said, reading a off her computer screen. She
looked at the three kids sitting in the chairs in front of her and took off her
glasses. "I am truly sorry about your parents, and I realize how difficult
this must be, for all of you, but in order for us to keep you alive, and to
protect the lives of any friends or family members that your presence might
endanger, we must let the world believe that you died in that fire."
"But
my parents..." Angie started to protest, but Shayla held up a hand to
silence her.
"I'm
sorry, Miss..." she looked at a paper on her desk, "Miss Fuller. This
is particularly unfair to you, having only been in the wrong place at the wrong
time, but you must understand that you have now been marked by the Shadows. If
you are allowed to leave here you will be pursued and destroyed, along with any
friends or family members who happen to be with you when the Shadows come for
you." She looked Angie straight in the face. "Not if they come, Miss
Fuller, but when. Here, we can protect you, and by staying with us, you will
also be protecting your loved ones." She stared directly at Angie until
Angie nodded. Shayla put her glasses back on. She looked at Allen, then Rose,
nodded, then went back to studying the papers on her desk.
"One
troubling development," Shayla said after a few seconds, "our agents
in charge of covering the destruction of your home reported that the body of
the witch was not found on the premises."
"What
does that mean?" Rose asked, shifting in her seat. Allen's face and hands
suddenly felt too cold.
"We
don't know," Shayla answered. "The two most likely possibilities are
that she wasn't dead, woke up after your group left, and fled the scene, or
that the Shadow's took her body for some reason."
"You
mean she might still be alive?" Allen asked in a shaking voice.
"No
way!" Angie said, emphatically. "I checked her myself. She was
crushed against a wall. Dead!"
"Witches,
as I'm sure you are aware, having study the craft yourself, can have magical
means of healing," Shayla said. "However, we can't ignore the
possibility that the Shadows took her remains. If so, there are a number of
possible reasons, none of them very pleasant." Shayla went back to reading
her papers. Everyone waited silently. Allen was genuinely frightened by the
idea of meeting Krystal again, and he fidgeted in his seat. Nobody else moved.
Shayla
breathed out a heavy sigh, flipped the papers she was reading face down, and
looked again at the group in front of her.
"Take
today to rest and familiarize yourselves with the operations here," Shayla
said.
"I'll
give them the grand tour," Shea offered.
"Fine.
I'll have I.T. set up pass-codes for each of you so you'll be able to use the
computer systems. Please remember that you cannot contact anyone by email or
through any social networks. It is imperative that you remain undetected. Your
friends and families lives depend on this."
"Can
I take them to buy some clothes and a few things to make their rooms more
comfortable?" Shea asked.
Shayla
considered for a moment, rubbing the bridge of her nose where her glasses sat,
then said, "Yes, they can spend five thousand each, but keep the trip to
friendly stores only, and make certain that you are in before dark. We can't
assume that the Shadows are ignorant of their whereabouts, so make sure to use
every precaution."
"Of
course," Shea said, nodding solemnly. She flashed a smile at the kids.
"Five
thousand dollars?" Rose said.
"You're
going to be here for a while, might as well make yourselves at home," Shea
said, smiling again.
"Tomorrow,
you'll all begin classes. I'll have Cheever work out schedules. Christopher, I
assume you'll be working with your brother on weapons?" Shayla said. Chris
grunted from the window, but didn't turn around. Shayla sighed again.
"I
must apologize," Shayla said, "and take full responsibility for last
night's tragedy." She looked from Allen to Rose, who were both confused.
"Your brother warned me several days ago that the Shadows had taken an
interest in your family, and I failed to recognize the extent of their
determination. Normally, a single Simmeron guard can handle a dozen Shadows,
but they sent several hundred drones to attack your home. Not only that, but
they hired a human agent as an assassin, a possibility that I failed to even
consider. Had we moved when Chris first suggested, we may have been able to
save your parents. For that mistake, I am truly sorry."
The
room was silent for a moment, leaving Allen feeling both sad and uncomfortable.
He didn't believe that Shayla was to blame for his parents' deaths, even if
Chris did.
"But
you saved us, at least," Allen said.
Shayla
smiled, "No, Allen. We didn't act in time. It was YOU that saved everyone
there last night, not us."
ALLEN
TOMBES – FIRE FROM WATER (Chapter 26)
Shea
took the kids to a huge department store within walking distance of the
Brashley building. Rose and Angie each picked out several outfits, and Allen
bought some t-shirts, a hooded sweater, and a few pairs of sweat pants. The
girls wanted to buy a hamster to keep in their room, but Shea felt certain that
it wouldn't be allowed, so they settled for a huge stereo system, some posters,
a few potted plants, a bookshelf, a vanity table with a lighted mirror, and two
pairs of shoes each. Allen found a hand-held video game system, several DVD
movies, which Shea assured him would play on the computer in his room, a new
journal with a lock, and a stack of magazines. After paying for everything with
a company card, the items were taken away by a store employee. Shea told them
that the items would be delivered to their rooms.
Allen
asked if they could go to a bookstore, but Shea said that there were no
'friendly' bookstores in the area.
"What
does that even mean?" Allen asked.
"'Friendly'
stores are owned by people, or creatures in some cases, that we trust. The
buildings are secured by spells and other protective measures, so that we can
be safe while we’re in them." Since Allen seemed to be disappointed that
he couldn't buy any new books, Shea suggested that he get an electronic reader,
which would work with the Old Guard's electronic library.
"You're
kidding," Allen said. "The Old Guard has a digitized library?"
"Sure?
Who do you think came up with the idea of an electronic library? The company is
a research and development firm, after all!" she said, laughing. "And
we've got to have quick access to a ton of ancient texts if we're going to keep
our clients alive." Although Shea laughed as she said this, Allen was less
comfortable with the concept.
After
finding a top of the line electronic reader for Allen, Shea suggested that they
each pick new bedspreads, pillows, and rugs for their rooms to add some
much-needed color. With that task accomplished, they asked if they could get
something to eat.
Shea
checked her watch and, seeing that they still had several hours before sundown,
pulled out her cellphone and informed Thompson that they had finished shopping
and were going to grab a bite before coming back home. She lead Allen, Rose,
and Angie to a cafe about half a block from the department store. The cafe,
Waldo's, was dimly lit, with dark wood furnishings and deep shadows to hide in.
After a nod and knowing handshake with the young, clean-cut man sitting behind
the wooden podium near the entrance, the group was led to a corner booth at the
back of the restaurant. Shea pulled her cell phone out again and told Thompson
that they'd reached their destination, then stuffed the phone back into her
pocket.
Suddenly,
Rose gasped, then quickly covered her mouth.
"What
is it?" Shea asked, half standing.
"That
waitress," Rose tilted her head toward a blonde woman in a crisp, dark
grey suit. The waitress turned toward their table, smiled, and waved at Shea.
"Oh!"
said Shea, relieved and chuckling as she returned to her seat. "That's
Pearl," she said, smiling at Rose and patting her arm.
Allen
was confused. "What did she do?" Allen asked.
"Don't
you see her? Her face, it's like a cat!" Rose said, leaning over the table
toward Allen and whispering.
"I'm
impressed, Rose," Shea said. "It can take months for some students to
learn to see through a glamour spell as strong as Pearl's. She's not just a
Shadow drone!"
Allen
looked at the waitress again, really focusing. He started to feel like the room
was tilting, but he kept his eyes on her. After a few seconds, her features
began to soften, and her eyes grew larger and greener. Her face was suddenly
covered with tawny colored fur, her hands, too. Needle-like teeth appeared
beneath her puffed upper lip that looked capable of tearing through the flesh
of the customers she was helping as easily as if they were cotton candy.
"I
see her now," Allen said, also whispering.
"I
don't see anything weird about her," Angie said, sounding desperate.
"It's
okay," Shea said to Angie. "In a lot of cases that's going to make
you the lucky one. I couldn't sleep for weeks when I saw a Necrosect in
Italy." Everyone looked at her with blank faces. "A Necrosect is a
carnage eater. Completely harmless to living creatures, but they look like
giant, rotting spiders." Shea shuddered in her seat.
"I
know what you mean," Rose said, looking out the window. "How am I
supposed to eat dinner after seeing that!" She pointed at a woman who
appeared to be walking a whippet outside the restaurant. Allen focused on the
woman, but nothing happened. Then he noticed that the dog wasn't quite solid.
He focused on it, and it shifted into a five-foot-long centipede, writhing and
shaking its way down the street.
"Oh,
gross..." Allen said.
"Yeah,
with something like that, Angie, you're the lucky one," Shea said.
A
waiter appeared, who Allen was almost certain was human, and took their orders.
They each ate large meals and, despite being too full, Shea suggested they have
one of Waldo's famous desserts to cap off the day. The kids were glad she did.
The devil's food cake topped with mint ice-cream and fudge sauce was to die
for!
Shea
had them wait at the table while she paid, then phoned Thompson to tell him
they were heading back. She led them to the door, after leaving a large tip.
When they left the building, Allen saw that the sun hadn't yet set, but that
the shadows were growing long and menacing.
Shea
walked in front, and Allen saw Rose looking carefully at every face she passed
on the two and a half block walk back to the Brashley building. Angie, moaning
that she was so full that she felt sick, brought up the rear. Few people seemed
to notice them as they moved briskly down the sidewalk, and Allen wondered if
Shea wasn't somehow using a glamour spell to hide their presence.
When
the steps of the Brashley building came into view, Allen finally drew an easy
breath. He felt exhausted, and realized how nervous he had been. He saw
fingernail marks etched into his palms. His fists had been clenched for the
entire walk from Waldo's.
Shea
was just hopping up the first few steps when Allen heard a squeal from behind
him. He turned around to see Angie kneeling on the ground. She was laughing, so
Allen guessed that she wasn't hurt too badly. Then he noticed the warm burn
from his necklace on his chest. He bent his neck and saw that the gargoyle's
eyes glowing.
"What
happened?" Shea said, rushing to help her up.
"I
tripped, I guess," Angie said, taking Shea's hand. Shea pulled her to her
feet. Angie's face was red, and Allen saw a little trickle of blood on her neck
that looked like it had dripped down from behind her ear.
"Oh
my God!" Rose yelled. "It’s her!" she was pointing past Shea and
Angie.
Standing
less than a dozen paces from them, smiling with her mouth slightly open, was
Krystal. Her face was white, lined with purple veins, and her black tongue slid
across her lower lip. Her black dress blew around her as if there was a strong
wind, and her eyes were completely black.
"Run!
Get to the door!" Shea screamed. She pulled her phone out and hit a few
buttons. Krystal floated up off the sidewalk and flew at them.
"Code
three!" Shea yelled into her phone. She pulled a hidden pistol out of her
jacket as the kids tore their gazes away from the witch and raced up the stairs
toward the large wooden doors. One of the doors opened, and two guards in black
uniforms came out, machine guns drawn.
Krystal
laughed wildly, and her jagged, obsidian knife appeared suddenly in her hand.
She flashed forward, knocking Shea's pistol away with her left hand, then
driving her blade into Shea's shoulder with her right. Shea screamed as Krystal
tore the jagged blade out, and Shea fell to the steps. She didn’t get back up.
Rose
and Allen raced passed the guards and reached the doors. The guards aimed their
guns and fired at Krystal, their bullets tearing through the billowing black
fabric, but apparently passing harmlessly through the witch’s flesh.
Krystal
laughed again, a high, horrible sound, and flew at one of the guards. Her black
blade slashed through the air, tearing across the guard's throat. His eyes went
wide, and his hands reached for the wound as he fell, rolling down the stairs
toward the sidewalk.
Allen,
watching all of this over his shoulder, stopped. He stepped away from the doors
letting Angie go through.
"Come
on, Allen!" Rose yelled from inside the building. Several more guards
emerged from an elevator and began running down the hall toward them.
Allen
saw the witch flying at the second guard, who continued to shoot, uselessly,
through her. Allen took a step toward the witch, his eyes growing dark,
beginning to burn with a deep blue flame. He raised an arm in the direction of
the witch and said, almost in a whisper, "No." The air around Allen
vibrated and he felt a rush of wind moving through him, then a wave a dark blue
flame burst from his hand and arched towards Krystal. The witch's high-pitched
laugh became a shriek of pain, her body convulsing in the air. She shot
backward, away from the guard. She looked at Allen, her black eyes full of
fury, then vanished in a swirl of fabric and black smoke.
The
newly arrived guards piled out of the doors onto the steps, looking confused.
They surveyed the scene, guns and swords drawn. A dark haired, female guard
tapped Allen, lightly, on the shoulder.
"Please,
go inside now. We can handle it from here," she said. The dark blue fire
receded from Allen's eyes, but he didn't move.
Two
guards moved down the steps to check on Shea, who was lying face-down, a stream
of blood winding from beneath her toward the sidewalk below. The guard who had
been sliced by Krystal was lying on his back. Blood poured from the huge red
gash in his throat. Allen was certain that he was dead.
"Please,
go inside now," the female guard said again. Allen nodded and walked back
to the doors.
Rose
was standing in the open doorway, looking wide eyed at Allen, tears streaming
down her cheeks. "Is Shea dead?" she asked, her voice shaky.
"I
don't think so," Allen said. He felt very cold. Everything that had just
happened seemed far away, like he'd watched it happening, but hadn't been there
himself.
"That
was Krystal, wasn't it?" Rose asked. "But she's been changed,
somehow?" Allen nodded. "Did you... Did you kill her?" she
asked.
"No.
She ran away. We hurt her, but we didn't kill her," Allen said, his voice
barely loud enough for Rose to hear.
"What
do you mean? Allen, what's going on?" she asked, grabbing his arm.
Allen
seemed to shake himself from a dream. He looked at Rose, tears just starting to
form in his eyes. "I don't know, Rose. I don't know."
[There
you have it! Allen seems to be gaining power but losing control. Shea is hurt,
possibly dying, and the witch has become something much, much worse! Keep your
eyes peeled for the next exciting chapter!!!! (Coming whenever I get around to
editing it, because the story is already finished, I’m just enjoying the
serialized format!!! What do you people think?) ---RFY]
---Richard
F. Yates
(Primitive
Thoughtician and Grand Hoohaa of The P.E.W.)
P.S.
– Here are links to the previous chapters!
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