​                                                                 SOME THING BETWEEN

"My wife was abducted from our bed last night..." That was the first thing I remember about this whole ordeal. The words never quite stirred me, it was more of the things not said that had me rattled. The fear that had scorched the mans eyes open to vulnerability and the unknown. Loy was a rancher, owning about two hundred acre across the county, not altogether though but still a large grouping of rural landscapes. Even more impressive was that he thrived in the this town, while most struggled. Ironic, I suppose, given the new development.
I had only met the man a few times, either passing by one another at the diner or grocery store, or when I had to help him wrangle some loose cattle that were hampering the roads. From what I knew, he was decent man, hardworking and a tad gruff, but honest and determined. To see this mans face, now appearing on the local news, consumed by anguish and pain, I was concerned. Something unnatural or sadistically intentional had happened to him and his foundation was shook deep, and I was now fearing the town would spiral down with him. These people relied on him for beef, milk, eggs, and pork. He was a staple, the fact he was a good man made the matter even more pressing. Sadly, good or not, my job was now to investigate the happenings at the Loy homestead, and neither preparation or open mindedness could prepare me for what waking madness I was about to find myself apart of...

Off of the main road, winding back through some trees and creek beds, the Loy family house sat. Outside, my deputy and a few officers stood, either staring at the house or peering off into the vast wilderness surrounding them. Anything to keep their minds occupied from the moment, awaiting my arrival which would only further this happenstance.
I parked in the grass and stepped out of my car, my deputy slowly shuffling over to me. The young man seemed frustrated and his words were clear as to why. "Doc says no one is allowed in there 'cept you," the frustrated law man told me, his face disappointed that he could not go in head strong and become some kind of hero in this investigation. He will wish he had stayed home, maybe gone fishing, in another county...hell I wish I had. I nodded at him and patted his shoulder strongly. I knew this wasn't going to be anything I could prepare myself to bear but I managed the facade at least.I made my way up the steps to the patio and entered the house through the front screen door, Jonas meeting me inside.
"Sheriff..." He managed to say, cleaning his glasses nervously. I knew the title could mean only one thing, he didn't want to be involved in this and he was passing it to me since it was my duty. "What do you say, Doc?" I asked, trying to gauge his response to how dire the situation seemed. "I'd say I should've retired years ago," he said, returning his glasses to his weathered face. "That bad?" I replied, my eyes gazing over the room for any clues or answers as to what to expect. Doc led me to the door of Loys bedroom, which was shut for the moment. "I'm going to be honest with you, Sheriff," Doc said, looking at me with concern behind his glasses. Those wise eyes of his no longer full of certainty. "We need to be careful about what happens next." With a furrowed brow, I gazed with both curiosity and terror at the usually level headed man. Before I could speak, he opened the door.

Back at the Station, Loy sat behind bars. This was necessary for his and others safety because for the time being, Loy was our only witness, and our only suspect. I wasn't sure what or how I was supposed to start questioning a man who has seen the things I saw in that room but we had no other links to follow for the moment. I gave Doc explicit instructions to not move anything at the scene, and to not allow anyone in that bedroom.
My deputy brought the shaken Loy into the questioning room, seating him but not cuffing him per my instructions. I still wasn't convinced Loy was responsible for any of this nightmare but I would still be on guard. If he was, then we could all be in danger.
"Loy," I spoke calmly, trying to relax him yet lead him with my words. I wanted to give him direction and focus because right now that was probably what he needed most. "What happened to Carol, Loy?" The thin, hardened farmer sat staring at his hands atop the table. "They took her...," he whispered, his eyes still fixated on his mitts. "I know about the abduction, Loy," I replied, trying to get passed the last fiasco we had with his property. I was skeptical that she had been taken at all but there was nothing to follow and Loy was hard to approach afterward. "What happened to Carol this time, Loy? Where is she?" Slowly, he gazed up at me, his eyes dry and unblinking. "They took her from me!" His reply cutting into me. I could see the seriousness and anger in his face now. "Who took her, Loy?" I asked seriously, trying to give him some confidence in my response, show him that I care. "Tell me what happened to Carol." He nodded slowly, his eyes emitting almost a dead light now. "Sheriff..." He said slowly, licking his lips. "I ain't crazy...and neither are you. If you saw that room, then I you understand. I'll tell you what happened to Carol, but you have to promise you won't lock me up and throw away the key." I nodded in response. "Loy," I said sternly. "I don't believe what I saw in that room was natural. I don't believe a man could do that, especially you." He leaned forward and the words that followed stirred my stomach. "No man indeed, Sheriff."
Loy began his story....

"First, you need to understand the whole story. Now, I know you don't believe me when I say she was abducted but, the fact is, she was. Six months ago, after we received news of her pregnancy, Carol and I were finishing our day. There was nothing unusual that I can remember about, I would even say that it was a good day. All the animals were well, no livestock mishaps, the milk and eggs tasted great, and the day was warm and pleasant. We went to bed a little later than normal, she being real excited about the news and a little more restless. During the night though, I recall a chill settling in the room, hell the whole house seemed frigid. I woke up and went down to stoke the stove, get some warmth in the place. That's when I noticed the first sign something was amiss. Our front door was wide open, and there were these small, wet footprints leading from the door and up the stairs. I figured maybe a raccoon or opossum had wandered in so I followed the tracks. Now, in the dark, I knew they were no persons tracks but I also knew that they weren't any normal animals either. I followed them, into our bedroom. The prints went to my side of the bed, up the wall, and over near my wife's side. That's when I noticed she was gone. The window was wide open, the curtains blowing inward against a cold, foul air. I peered out that window, and there he was...there IT was. My wife flung over its shoulder, the thing staring at me through the window. It had a skinny body but I could tell it was strong. It looked as if it was covered in mud too. And those eyes. I ain't never seen eyes like those... alien...inhuman. They glowed, almost green. It was hunkered on the roof staring back at me. And then, it dropped off the roof, Carol with it. By the time I got outside, it was gone. I tried to follow its tracks but I lost it." Loy looked at me now, slivers of hate and fear filling his eyes. I could tell, whatever he saw, it was enough to frighten him down to his core. Regardless, if it was just a man that took Carol, the whole story seemed terrifying anyhow. "But she came back, right?" I asked Loy, knowing that she had indeed returned. "Yes," Loy replied, a sadness overtaking him now. "It weren't her anymore, Sheriff. But I didn't know what else to do and no one would listen to me that something was wrong. So, I waited. And now, now I fear Carol is dead...or worse." What could be worse? I regretted asking him but I did, and the answer he gave me was just that, worse.

The beginning of his story seemed odd but not unusual. He awoke to a wet feeling in his bed. His wife was pregnant and it seemed that her water had just broke. Being rural folk, they were not inclined to seek a hospital. The birth would be performed at home, as their births had been. Doc wasn't answering his phone so Loy left to fetch him while his wife tried to prepare and hold on. It was the return that this story really took a turn for the strange and demented.
Inside, Doc and Loy proceeded to the bedroom where Carol was left to wait. The door was shut, and the lights were off in the room. Loy entered first and slipped as he did, slamming down on the ground hard. Doc noticed immediately that it was blood but figured it was just from the birthing process. It was only when the light was turned on that both men realized how wrong this event had turned.
Loys description was exactly what I had witnessed only more vivid and fresh, a depth of emotion I could not know but I understood clearly. Inside that room, atop the bed he shared with his wife, lay a pile of bone and blood, mud and filth, tendril like stalks bursting from it into every part of the room. These red roots penetrated the floor and ceiling, almost like anchors. Yet, there was no sign of Carol, nor the baby. Doc could not cipher whether or not it was human or animal but the scene was real. Later, after the call at the diner, I arrived. My eyes did no fault yet my mind could not comprehend what it was I saw in that room.
"They took her!" Loy exclaimed, covering his face and weeping slightly. I decided that I had had enough of this nonsense, this talk of abductions and strange sightings. I was going back up to the Loy homestead and I was going to find something tangible, something normal. "You sit tight, Loy," I told the man, patting him on the shoulder as I rose and headed for the door. "We're going to find out what happened to Carol and your baby. I promise."
Outside, as I headed to my car, I could see a brew of troublesome clouds crushing down of the area. They were ominous but I was stubborn, not be detoured by a bit of rain and wind. I entered my vehicle and started it up right away. Even if I was stubborn, I wasn't a fool. I knew I needed to at least reach the farm before the water overtook the low spots, which would either strand me or sweep me away if I weren't careful. I made me way down the highway, storm in tow. Haunting my rear view as I drove toward the worst crime scene in the history of our town.

I navigated through downed tree limbs and mean puddles, all of which were trying to hinder me from destination. I heard over the radio that this storm was turning into a severe one, possibly tornadic. I would not be deterred. I maneuvered through the debris and and downpour. I only had a few miles to go before I was in a safe place, assuming that crime scene wasn't something sinister, as Loy believed it to be.
I should've been securing the town, belong batten down during this wicked weather. But, instead, I was at  the farm of one of the simplest men I knew, about to scrounge for clues that may or may not damn that man in question. No matter what I believed, the fact was that the storm that was whirling around me could very well destroy or erase any potential clues outside of the crime scene. Quickly, I grabbed my rain gear and threw it on, snatching up my flashlight, gloves, and a few other pertinent tools to aid me. Even though it was now only four in the afternoon, the storm made it necessary to use the flashlight. That mixture of green and gray clouds swirled above, taunting me and pelting me constantly. I made my way to the side of the house the bedroom window faced, my eyes furiously searching for tracks or hints as to an abductor or Carol herself. Luckily, my men had been too spooked to thoroughly search, which meant the only prints I found were mine and one others. I had never seen tracks quite like these, and I had hunted every critter that this area had to offer at one age or another. These tracks, too thin and clawed to be a mans or a Bears, but too large to be a raccoon or coyote. Urgently, I began to follow these unusual prints, leading me down towards the closest creek bed. Limbs snapped and whipped around me, the trees almost seeming animated, as if they were trying to grasp me or stop me. The wind surged down in waves, slamming hard against me with unseen power. I kept my focus, having dealt with similar situations in hunts before, knowing that the payoff was always worth the hardship. The odd tracks led me down a slope then carried me onward to the rushing creek bank. The noise of the water crashing by was loud, objects such as limbs and mud been swept by in varying amounts. A secondary movement snapped my vision across the bank, something fleeting throough the trees and up the hill across the way. I only caught a glimpse but it was enough. Burned in my memory, like a recording, I saw the very thing Loy had described, galloping on all fours up the opposite bank, its body wet with mud. It had a long, lean tail trailing behind, something Loy had not mentioned. I could see its powerful black claws protruding from its forefront and rear feet. The rear ones larger and meaner than the front ones, which looked more supple, slender, devious. It never looked my way and I was thankful for that fact. I only saw one eye from the side but I am certain its peripherals caught my image. I knew its gaze was enough to drive madness into a mans mind, yet, even after its disappearance, I still looked on in both bewilderment and terror.
With no way to reach the other side, I decided to return to the house. The storm was tapering but it was still dangerous, thunder and lightning assaulting the air as often as possible. I made my up the slope, and exited the tree line surrounding the property. I stopped though, only a few feet out of the woods, my eyes locked on the bedroom window upstairs. There, peering out from that dark, sick room was a small boy. He was covered in blood and dirt, his face just staring back at mine. I said nothing but began to move inside the building, making my way upstairs. I cut the caution tape and pushed open the door, scanning for the child. Still, staring out the window, naked and covered in grime, stood a young boy, probably no older than four. He turned and looked me, tears dripping down his face. "Have you seen my mommy?" He asked, trying not to blubber his words. " I whipped off my jacket and moved to him, blanketing him in it tightly. I picked him up and carried him down to the car, placing him in the passenger seat. I made my way around the car and entered the drivers side, starting it up and throwing it in reverse. I comforted the boy on the drive back, asking him simple questions, anything to keep him occupied while I figured out who he was and where his mother was now? Who she was at all? The whole drive back, I kept expecting to see that thing lurking on the side of the road, or run out in front of me suddenly. Yet, there was nothing. The storm was subsiding and the air seemed to be calming. I radioed Doc to meet me at the Station, only telling him that I picked up a lost kid who got stranded in the storm. Doc hated surprises, but he was about to surprise me even more.

I didn't want to alarm anyone, or the child for that matter, so I had Doc meet me around back so we could bring the boy in calmly. "Alright, little man," I said to the boy with a smile, kneeling down in front of him and snugging the oversized coat around him. "This is man is doctor. He is going to take a look at you and make sure you are in good shape. Is that okay?" The boy looked up at me with those childlike eyes, his hazel eyes seeming almost yellow as he looked at me. "Have you seen my mommy?" The boy asked me again, looking around confused. "I'll tell you what," I replied with a serious face. "Doc here knows everyone around, so if you let him make sure you are okay, I'm sure he can help you figure out where your mommy is, alright?" The boy nodded then grabbed Docs rough hand, looking up at the strange man with a small glimpse of hope in his eyes. "You've got a lot of people who need visiting, Sheriff," the veteran physician told me, now looking down at the small, dirty child. "I am quite sure myself and the young man can here can handle things from this point." I nodded in agreement and with a tinge of thanks, patting the boy on the head as in made my way to my office.
On my way to check in, I decided to check on Loy, make sure he handled the storm as well as inquire about the strange events. I entered the room I had left him in earlier, and there he will sat, unmoved since earlier. "Loy," Saying his name so he would know I was here and who I was. "I've got some odd questions for you and I'm not sure how to ask them." The man still did not stir but he did speak, his voice crackling a bit. "You seen it, didn't you?" His words immediately refreshed that brief encounter I had with that thing in the woods. "I'm not sure," I relied, even though I was quite certain that the thing I saw and Loys creature were one in the same. "Don't lie to me," the disheveled farmer swing around, his face full of anger and anguish. "You've seen it...you've seen those eyes." Barely, I had barely caught a glimpse of the eyes but it was enough for me. "Almost like neon lights," I managed to say, the image forever burned in my mind. "Those yellow, sickly bright eyes. The ones that pierce a mans soul and crushes his reality." Loy laughed but only for a moment. "The eyes...," he replied, staring at me intently. "They make you feel no place is safe. No place is hallowed grounds. That it can get you at anytime but instead choices to whittle you away bit by bit." The realization that that thing knew my face and could find me and do the same to me was a terrifying fact. It could undo the will of man with a gaze, and could break whole families with just one visit. "I found a boy," I spoke slowly and carefully, not wanting to hype Loy or hurt him. "I found him inside of your house." Loys eyes lit up, hope welling up slowly. "Is the baby okay?" He asked quickly. "Did you find Carol? Can I see them?" I hung my head a moment then took a seat across from him. "I didn't find Carol," I told him first, not sure if she was alive or dead at this point. "The boy can't be yours, Loy. He is four years old. I found him lost in your home, looking for his family." The farmers face was ravaged by confusion and instability. "No!" Loy stood now, slamming his hands on the table and turning a hate filled gaze upon me. "I told you she was abducted. And now, my boy has been replaced, just as Carol was...I want to see him." I knew it was a bad idea but I would stall the inevitable. "Doc is checking him out," I told Loy calmly, standing up now. "As soon as the boy gets cleared for trauma and injuries then you can meet him. But, Loy, he may not be your boy. Heat have just been lost." I made my way for the door but paused before I left. "I have to go check in around town and see if everyone is alright. You may not be the only one missing family right now but you are safe for the moment. I'll be back in a bit to help you sort this out." I exited the room, checked in on my office and the others, then left the Station shortly. Knowing that Loy had not killed Carol was a relief, however the fact that some creature was lurking around snatching up residents was not. I knew it was at least safe to leave Loy at the Station now but that didn't mean he would be rational. I had to check out the town quickly yet efficiently, a lot of people rely on me in times of danger. This was definitely one of those times, yet it was hard for me to focus on anything else but that thing sauntering away from me near the creek. With my mind rattled, I drove away from that problem, right into other ones.

The storm had arrived during the most vulnerable of times, in the afternoon when school was letting out and the parents were still stuck at work. This culmination of things caused much panic and duress, making my job even harder.I checked the diner first, which was the only place save for the church that gained business during a crisis. Everyone was fine albeit full of stories of what they saw or what the heard someone else see. Their terror was beneath mine, and that thought startled me. The fact that a natural disaster that is considered "The Finger of God" was minor compared to the one brief encounter I had this morning was a sobering fact. It made that particular moment both surreal and sobering.
I left the diner and checked out the school, where chaos reigned supreme. Kids were scattered, parents were anxious or delirious, and the poor teachers were overwhelmed. I did my best to help to keep the parents and children together, or at least wrangled together. However, I knew a couple may had slipped my focus.
As the educational erratics diminished, I decided to start my rounds to visit individual folks and small businesses around town. I maintained this trend for about two hours before I reached a peculiar snag. Just off the highway, before town, sat the renowned Fortune Teller, of whom I had very few personal dealings with since he opened the place. I knew very little of the owner besides what others have told me, such as his name: Gale Hoofaxe.
I stopped at this place, on my way to the outskirts of town to check on a few farmers. I had never even considered the place to be interesting rather I found it hokey and ridiculous. Yet anytime I began to manifest a thought considered normally to be strange, that image of the creature lumbering away from me, I begin to reconsider.
I felt small today, driving around, trying to help others. That revelation that the unexplained and unknown was lurking in the woods nearby had shook my world. Trying to enter the Fortune Tellers shop was a challenge, a slow and confusing one. I doubted my actions one second, then pushed on the next. Even with the badge and authority I felt just utterly powerless. How was anyone looking to me for answers or strength when I couldn't even come to grips with a brush against a fiendish force.
Finally, I made my way inside. I was bewildered at the sight of a very normal looking office. No beads hanging around with black lights and incense burning. There was a desk, a love seat, two chairs, a restroom, and some storage cabinets. The white walls were adorned with only a few landscape pictures. Behind the desk however, on the wall, hung a deformed skull of what appeared to be a bulls head. I could not place what was wrong with it but I knew it was off.
With a flush, I turned my attention toward the bathroom door, awaiting the mystical man to emerge and greet me in some odd fashion. The man that exited the toilet was far from what I expected. He was tall, very tan with long, black hair pulled into a pony tail. Some Native American features but probably not full blooded. Hanging around his neck were a few teeth and claws, which would seem out of place if he did not have the scars to match.
He wore a blue denim jacket and jeans with a simple black undershirt. These were the normal parts of him. Starting from the floor up, the most notable thing was his missing left leg, of which he was adjusting as he made his way to his desk. This was made harder by the fact that he was missing his right arm as well, the jacket arm folded and buttoned to hold in place. As he at down and lit up a small cigar, I could see the last trophy. The left part of his face ravaged by scars, three distinct ones that I could only guess were gifts from a bear or other large animal.
"You'll excuse me if I don't shake hands," he spoke with a deep voice, inhaling his cigar with a hint of enjoyment. "I find it hard with just the one. Oh, and this is medicinal." I had not even factored in the smell of paraphernalia until he mentioned it, I was off my game today. "We haven't met properly, Sheriff," he said to me frankly. "My name is Gale Hoofaxe. Resident fortune teller, potion crafter, and occult expert." He motioned for me to sit and I did so, sitting in a mostly rigid fashion. "I am the Sheriff of (Town)," I stated, my eyes keeping focus on him but not the scars. "You seem spooked, Sheriff," the scarred man replied, leaning forward on his desk, placing the cigar in an ash tray. "I've seen that look. Hell, I've had that look, but not in a long time. For you, this fresh, and your first. So, what happened to our dear Sheriff to make him visit the town nut job?" I was slow to respond, slightly impressed with his analysis, but only slightly since it was most likely plastered on my face that I had seen a living monstrosity. I looked away from the man, my eyes falling on the misshapen skull now, my attention being sucked in by its dead gaze. "That's the skull of Satan, you know?" Gale said, smoking his cigar again while rising from his chair. My attention was on him again, his wild words pulling me back from one strange reality to another. "The skull of Satan?" I replied, understanding the words but not the meaning. "So they believed," the enigmatic man replied, now staring at the skull. "It had power over them, over any who laid eyes on it. They were enthralled by its gaze, driven to do foul things" His story was nice but I didn't believe him. Odd seeing as I was here because of what I could only describe as a demon. "What happened to the worshipers?" I asked, both curious to hear the answer and to see what he would say. "I killed them all," he said matter of factly, reaching towards the skull now. "Then I drove a blade deep into the skull, severing the power it had in this world." His finger followed a thin groove between the eyes of the satanic skull. "But we aren't here to talk about me, Sheriff. We are here to discuss your crisis. Your skull of Satan." He sat down again and focused his attention on me. "I've told you mine," he said with a smirk. "You tell me yours."
I told him. Every last detail I could remember, I told him. I felt lucid, the event I described now seeming as if it happened months or even years ago. Clouded yet fresh. He sat there the entire time and only listened, never asking or interrupting. Only when I finished did he speak.
"Do you know anything about divination?" He asked while opening his desk and retrieving a shrouded box. "Not particularly," I relied, trying to think of anything relevant. "My granny could find water with a stick?" He chuckled as he rose from his desk and closed the blinds and curtains around the room. "That's 'divining,' Sheriff but nice try." I had no clue what he meant nor did I have any expectations. He returned to his chair and turned the box toward me, the red shroud still covering its exterior. "I don't read fortunes," he said, causing me to raise my eyebrow. "The box does. You will not need me to explain nor aid you but I have to remain here as long as the box is open." I stared at the man and his mystery container, my mind awash with anticipation and questions. "Remove the shroud and the box will do the rest. But I warn you, do not leave this room while the box is uncovered. It would warrant severe consequences, for us both." I licked my lips and leaned forward, my hand slowly moving toward the crimson cloth.

I pulled the shroud slowly off of the box, my heart quickened with a mixture of terror and anticipation. I sat the cloth to the side, now facing the unveiled container. The box was made from an aged wood, very old from what I could tell. I had some word working knowledge and knew this to be denser and more weathered than anything I had seen made in the America's. The body of the box was probably about a foot and half wide by about a foot deep. It stood about as tall as it was wide also but the lid itself was only an inch thick or so. On the lid, I noticed a carving. Three figures, one kneeling in the middle, the two others standing. The upright figures both had daggers that were plunged into the others eyes. The one below held money while looking above. Behind all of this disturbing, old world imagery, a large eye with fire surrounding it loomed over, stars and a moon flowing around. I was unclear of what this meant but it made me uneasy.
"Do not concern yourself with the art," Gale said while taking a long drag. "That cult has been long dead, and this box is the last of their legacy. Of course, that doesn't mean it isn't dangerous." He motioned for me to open the box. I reached it and lifted the ancient metal latch, the lid hinging back in a smoother fashion than I expected. The contents inside surprised me, which was nothing. The box was empty. I raised and eyebrow and looked up at the smoking figure behind the desk. He responded with a chuckle, which only intensified my confusion. "Did you expect something from nothing?" He responded with a deeper tone. "You have to give it something of value to you and, in exchange, it will give you what you ask." I looked at him and back to the box, my hands starting to feel around for something significant to give. My wallet and wedding ring were a no go, so I continued to think. I removed my watch, staring at it for a few seconds. I wasn't sure if this was a con so I may not get it back, and I liked my watch. I placed it in the box, my hand barely escaping before the lid shut by itself.
Gale finished his small cigar and put it out in a glass ash tray behind me. He pulled a drawer from his desk and removed a hand axe, fashioned in a native design. Feathers, leather wraps, and a few other trinkets made up the hilt, while the blade of the weapon seemed normal except for a silver coating placed on the blade. The tall, battle hardened man stood up and moved around the desk, checking the window locks on his way to the only door into the building. "Remember," he told me as he braced himself against the door. "Do not leave this room during the exchange. I'd hate for you to end up as pretty as me. Now, when you're ready, open the box." I was hesitant considering all of the strange things I had seen since entering this building. But, if I was close to figuring out what that thing was in the woods, I had to open the box, no matter how odd this may appear to me. "Any time, Sheriff!" Gale barked at me, his large frame pressed against the entry door. I shook my head in disbelief, knowing this was crazy, then reached out and lifted the lid.
The lid fell back with a thud, revealing the inner contents to me. Nothing. There was nothing inside, again. Which also meant my watch was magically gone too. I poked around on the inside but felt no hidden compartments or false walls. As I prodded inside, I heard a noise that diverted my attention. There was something scraping on the window to my right, but I could not see what it was due to the curtains. As I approached that side of the room, the door knob to the bathroom began to jiggle frantically, the door clamoring to burst open. Then, the window on the opposite side of the room began to click and rattle as well. I could hear the frame to the front entry door begin to wane and give under whatever was pressing on it as well. Gale grunted and groaned as he pushed back, impressive for a man missing two limbs. "Keep the other door shut!" He yelled, pushing his back against the door. I gazed at the jiggling door handle, watching it begin to turn now. I slammed against it and gripped the handle tight, trying to hold whatever it was inside of the room. Braced against the small door, I knew I could go nowhere else for the moment, but I could still reach the curtain. I had to see who was trying to get into the building, it was my job to protect and serve.
I could only barely reach the dark fabric draped over the window, my fingers pulling it aside as I tweaked my head to see out yet not be seen. Outside, it was dark, incredibly dark. I knew it was getting late but no way could it be pitch night out. Then, I saw it, those eyes again, bright green with a pulsing fire burning inside them. They loomed outside the viewing portal of that room, fixated directly on me. I had not been as subtle as I hoped. Enthralled by the luminescent spheres I looked on, more eyes now began to open and gaze inward, piercing my body with their fiery stare. I was almost stunned but the door knocking behind me kept me somewhat in control. On the window, a hand, if you could call it that, pressed lightly against the pane. It was grey-toned with long, black nails. That same supple and lithe look that I had seen before, now caressing the glass. Beckoning me to either open the window, or join it outside. More and more claw ridden hands began to press against the window, from different angles, pressing and scratching lightly, almost in a soothing manner. I could feel myself getting lost in those yellow tinged eyes, shifting and glowing in the darkness behind the digits that pressed against the glass. Lost in their gaze, I let my grip slip...and the door opened behind me.
What happened next was both a blur in time yet extremely vivid after the fact. In one instance, I felt a searing pain shoot through my arm and side. As I turned to see what caused it, I witnessed Gale whirling around the corner and hurling his axe my direction. It stopped short of cleaving into my body, it stopped because of the thing that was reaching around and gashing my side. A huge, scaly arm with claws that were now piercing my body. I, and the creature, screamed in agony together, exciting the creatures lurking outside. As I began to lose consciousness, Gale drew a wicked looking dagger and plunged it deep into the rending beasts arm, causing it to release me and retract. I slumped against the ground, catching a glimpse of Gale diving for the desk, shutting the lid on the box. As the box closed, as did my eyes.

My body felt weak, my head pounding as my eyes began to flutter open. Daylight blinded me as I sat up from my spot on the floor. I winced hard feeling the ache and tear from my side, reminding me of why I had been unconscious. I was bandaged though, wrapped in some medical tape and bandages, administered by the man standing at the window, peering out at the daylight. Gale looked as awful as I felt, but he was standing and only had one leg, so I had little to complain about.
Pushing off of the floor with my left arm, I groaned my way up the wall until I could stand, my headache staying firmly pressed. "What time is it?" I asked stupidly, my head still unclear on what exactly had happened, more thankful to be alive than anything. "About seven o'clock," Gale replied, closing the blind and moving towards his desk. He lifted a cup of hot coffee my way and I accepted, my attention now focused on the box again. "What the hell happened?" I blurted out suddenly, my confusion finally welling over. "What were those things? What attacked me? And where the hell is my watch!?" Gale glanced at me for a second and then leaned against his desk, drinking some of the coffee before speaking. "Open the box, Sheriff," he replied calmly, motioning to the closed container. "Then, I will begin to explain." I took a sip of the hot liquid then placed the cup on the table. My right arm was wounded so I was managing solely with my left arm. Now, free of the mug, I extend my hand and flipped open the lid, expectant of some other stupid ploy hidden inside. Yet, to my surprise, there lay three large cards inside, each face down and equally spaced apart. I grabbed the furthest one on the left and flipped it over. The art revealed the figure of a shadow looming behind a young boy, a child. The dark figure was thin, standing behind the child with its hands resting on the shoulders. The tall figures body was created from the blackness of space and speckled with stars, two bright ones taking place of where the eyes should be. "Well," Gale responded to the artwork on the first card. "Now that is interesting. There will be a child who is born through otherworldly means. He will look average but be very different." My first thought immediately went to the boy from Loys home. "Could a child develop quicker due to some outside force?" I asked the mediating man, that thought no longer seeming ridiculous. "Sheriff," his tone very blunt now. "You yourself have seen, and been attacked by, some of those outside forces. Things that do not belong to our world. You think corrupting a child would back hard for them?" I wasn't sure what to think. Terror was starting to become a good friend of mine, and I was starting to see it more and more frequently. Gale picked up on the mixture of confusion and horror embracing my face, setting his coffee cup down and speaking more on the matter. "I know you don't fully understand what is happening, and I have been vague up until this morning. I had to see how strong your spirit was when faced with the fact that you, as a man, are no longer at the top of the food chain." He was right. I was knocked off my game. I was a figure of authority and power however the last twenty four hours has left me feeling powerless and helpless. "I could tell when you came here that you had seen some thing that was not natural. The box on the table is linked to them, it is theirs and they want it back.Opening the box acted like a conduit, they were drawn to it when you opened the lid. Luckily, I have precautions in place to prevent them breaching these walls, unless invited." I looked down at my arm and side then back to Gale, my eyebrow raised at his safety measures. "THAT should not have happened. I underestimated the creature you had encountered. It is strong, and anyone linked to it becomes a target for one of the others. It's hard for one of them to exist here and there must be an exchange of blood to stay. They must have some life force belonging to our world to stay. That's why that big one was trying to tear you to pieces." Even hunting, I had fought off a few Cougars and wolves but my wounds were never as nasty as what one grab from that creature did. My head hurt started to hurt again, the shock and adrenaline no longer protecting me from all the madness. "These cards are a message from some contender on the other side," Gale told me, reaching in his desk for some pain killers and handing them to me. "Here. These are what I take when my old, or new wounds, flair up." I looked up at him, seeing the state of his ravaged body. "Looks like they didn't go easy on you either," I said, taking the pain pills and eating a few. Gale laughed at my words, drinking his coffee with a smile. "Those things didn't do this to me," his reply stunning me for a moment. "My battle with occult has caused this but not any of them. Gangrene took my arm thanks to a monstrous wound. An explosion took my leg. And being ejected out of the front of a moving vehicle caused the ones on my face and side. You're only getting started, Sheriff." I was speechless. This man standing before me had just become a sort of hero to me for his toughness and tenacity, my own was waning from just one day in his shoes. "Two more cards, Sheriff," the battle hardened Gale said while pointing with his coffee mug at the box.
Knowing what Gale has been through steeled my resolve a bit, causing me to be more brash than before. I flipped both of the remaining cards over, getting the inevitable out of the way. The middle card depicted a building with many windows, all of it in black and white. It did not look like much at first but then I began to notice the smaller details. Small faces looking out of every window. Outside of the building, there stood a tall man and small boy. Another reference to the first cards theme. The final card depicted a wooded area, with a clearing that showed an old well. Only one figure stood there. The tall man.
"The middle card," Gale began to explain what the art meant. "That is the school. Each of those faces is a child that will be lost, but only if that boy reaches it. That is your job, Sheriff. You have to protect the children, from child, or this whole town will fall to false innocence." I sat down in the closest chair and thought on the matter a moment. I knew the lone boy had to be the one from Loys, so I needed to get back to the station pronto. "What about the last card?" I asked, standing up and readying myself to leave. "The last card is for me. That is where I will find the creature. Even if I kill it though, the boy may still cause untold damage. You can't track down the monster and watch the boy, Sheriff." Gale began opening drawers and gathering gear. I stood there, mulling over the information I had been given, knowing that I would be alone in my task. The townsfolk wouldn't understand, and would be very protective of their kids. I looked at my watch and suddenly remembered it was gone, even more curious as to the time. "You might want to hurry, Sheriff," Gale said suddenly, filling a back with some rations and water. "That watch you put in there cost you time, because that's what you gave it. I was waiting to give you the worst news of all. It may be morning, but it's been three days since you walked through my door."

Time was no longer on my side. Even that fact couldn't stop me from hesitating to open to door so that I could leave the mystical building I had stumbled into during my search for answers. Those things were outside when I made my exchange with the box, and I was unsure of they were still there or not. My world was no longer that which it once was, nor did I fully understand it yet. The rules I once lived by had been changed and I was unsure of both the  correct choices and the dire consequences that may follow if I were not cautious. I opened the door and stepped outside.
I expected a jolt of sunlight to shock me but all I found was the grey stormy skies above. It was the morning, I knew this by the smells and air about me. The damp air mixed with cool breezes not yet warmed by the afternoon sun. School would be starting soon but I knew where I had left the boy. He was at the station with Doc and Loy. I had lost three days to claim answers I barely understood, or even remotely believed. I had to start with the last known location, showing up at the school and causing a stir without the boy even being there could cause even more problems. I hoped in my car and jolted it awake, slamming it in reverse and getting myself on the main road leading into town.
The nearer I drew to the town, the more ominous my approach became. At first, I could smell a charred scent lingering in the air yet I saw no flames. Closer to town now, I could see a row of homes that had been torched, leaving only embers and emptiness in the wake of the fires that once consumed them. I slowed my car, dismay and grief gripping me as I journeyed by. I knew these people, families with children and pets. I saw no signs of anyone until I made it passed the final house. Outside, on the lawn, lay a human body, severely burned. There was no way to tell who it was but I could discern that it was an adult form. I gritted my teeth as I picked up my pace, ashes whirling around my car as I made my way into the heart of town.
I hardly recognized this place anymore, my beloved town. Homes were dark and empty, burned and battered. Debris strewn across the street including clothes, furniture, and trash. I saw no more bodies and I was unsure if that was a good or bad sign. In fact, I had seen no one at all except for the corpse on the edge of town. I maneuvered my way through the carnage slowly, keeping a keen eye out for any sign of life or hostility.
As I rounded the corner to Main Street, I noticed a small amount of movement inside of the iconic barber shop that was usually bustling. I stopped the car and looked hard at the building, trying to catch another glimpse of motion. Faintly, I could make out a figure inside, sitting in the chair closest to the window. With the clouded skies and no interior lights in the building, it was hard to make out who it could be. My heart felt cold and raced higher than normal as I saw the chair swivel to face my direction. I could see the owner of the establishment, Bill Hayes, strapped down to chair, his mouth gagged, his eyes wide and terrified. I could see him struggling but unable to break free. From around the back of the chair, I could see pair of small arms reaching up and touching Bills face and body, three or four pairs stretching up from behind. As each one disappeared, another reappeared, grasping at the man roughly. The routine shifted, with each hand now brandishing blades and clippers. "...No...," I muttered, barely mouthing the words as my stomach began to turn on itself. I felt paralyzed, more incapable of movement than Bill who was bound. As the hands and tools began to stab in repeated violence upon Bill, I reached out as if trying to stop it, my mouth unable to make a coherent noise. The wielders of the appendages and weapons revealed themselves now, dancing around the bloody Bill as the giggled and shrilled with each puncture. Children were killing the Barber, and I found this more disturbing than the creatures I had seen recently. I could handle a monster being a monster, but children being the face of evil was more unsettling, more world shattering than the existence of some otherworldly being. My body suddenly felt frail, my mind faltering with what to do next.
The horrid youths gave my mind no solace, having sneaked up on my vehicle and attempting to surround it. Their faces were twisted, bloody and scarred. They were no longer human, they were no longer born of innocence, only answering the call of madness now. With their many weapons, they banged and scraped my car, laughing and leaping crazily around it. Tears welled in my eyes as I shifted the car into drive. I put my head down on the steering wheel and pressed my foot down hard on the accelerator. I only had to keep my head down for a few moments, until the screams stopped.
I sped down the street, not looking back, only ahead. I had to reach the station, see if anyone was still alive. This was no longer about saving that boy, it was about stopping him. I knew what evil I faced now and what it was capable of inflicting. I could not let him leave this town, no matter the cost.

The Station was an unnerving sight. It was untouched on the exterior, all vehicles accounted for and the building in tact. I pulled up to the front and put the car in park. I made sure to look around before shutting off the ignition. Thanks to the injury, my shotgun was useless. I would have to rely on my pistol, one handed no less. The odds were against me, but then again, they usually were in my job. Always a step behind, trying to figure out what happened more often than adverting the whole ordeal.
The smell of char hung densely in the air, ashes fumbling around from unseen gusts. The grey sky hung close, as if pressing down on the chaos that tried to swell up. I approached the main entrance and brandished my weapon in my left hand, my off hand. I was a good shot, in my dominate hand, but I was unsure of how well I could handle it in my left hand. Fear actually gave me an edge though, making me grip tighter, my arm straightened tensely. Carefully, I opened the doors and entered the building.
It was quiet inside, and dark. I did not know if the storm had caused a power outage or if something else was at fault. No one was at the desk, not in the main office of the cell area. The only noise was me, stepping between hallways and rooms, sweeping them as best I could with low light. The emergency light were on but we only had them installed in the corridors and cell area, and Docs room. I had not checked there yet which was partially intentional. I knew the child had been left with him, and from the scenes outside in the streets, I could only imagine what had gone on in this building. Not a trace of anyone, nothing.
I reached his office and checked the door for marks or damage. No signs of foul play or mischief, only a faint glow from under the door suggesting some link the backup power. I pushed the door open with my right foot and let my pistol take point. I was met with only silence and darkness, save for the soft light emitting from Docs computer. It was on back up power just in case anything happened, that way he wouldn't lose valuable data during an emergency. I cleared the room and then made my way back to the computer. The screen sitting still on an Internet page with directions....directions to the Elementary school.
A thud behind me made me jump, and I swung around hastily, weapon out and ready to fire. Nothing, for a moment. Then, another thump followed by another, more and more as the power began to return to each area. Finally, the lights kicked back on in Docs office, my eyes adjusting momentarily. I peered up at the lights in both annoyance and excitement. What I found on that ceiling was better left in the darkness. Docs body, mounted to the ceiling, a horrid expression carved into his face, blood splattered overhead, spelling out the words "LATE FOR SCHOOL."
I tried not to lose my stance and stomach, fighting the urge to yell wildly. I backed out into the hallway and began to head for the main entrance again. Each room that I had previously entered carried the same message and display. Bodies of coworkers stuck to the ceiling, gruesome grins and gasps cut into their faces. I gagged and tensed as I passed by more and more bodies. How had I not seen any of this? Worse yet, I wished the lights had stayed off, the evil masked in darkness. The light on revealing more sinister scenarios.
I stumbled outside and leaned against the wall, shivering from fear and dismay, shaken by sights that would forever haunt my sleep. I did not wait long though, urgency pushing me towards the school, and terror pushing me away from my own workplace. I slid back into my car and made my way for the school.

Shifting darkness slid to and fro within the wicked trees that surrounded the aging well. The stones that created it were covered in moss and dirt, hiding ancient carvings that spelled words that no human has ever uttered. These inhuman markings were keys to open a maw of darkness and sorrow that would consume all on its path, yet it lay undisturbed, simply existing as a lost well to the eyes of man.
Gale knew what this when he laid eyes on it, knowing not to set foot inside of the clearing that surrounded it. That earth was tainted, festering with an unseen curse that would mark any who stood upon it, their souls forever belonging that hushed evil that lay quiet in the dark pit below.
Gale also knew he was not alone, that the beast the Sheriff had seen was lurking nearby. The Fortune Teller was more than he let one, to anyone in town, as was always the case. He was, in some ways, similar to the creature skulking in the trees, one foot in the human world, and the other foot in another. The difference was that Gales other foot was in the spirit realm, a sacred place full of mighty beings who once graced this world with majesty and benevolence. Using their wisdom and gifts, Gale had become something more than a man in his quest to stand against the horrific tide that wished to wash away all of mankind.
Shrouded in cloak made from the feathers of The Great Crow, Gale was able to move about without disturbing the wildlife, in some instances, having their aid if necessary. A large black beak hid his face, making him use alternate senses to move about. This would keep him well hidden as well as unable to lock eyes with the beast, which was one of its most powerful weapons. That single gaze could shatter a mans soul, drive him to commit unspeakable acts, or kill him outright even. It was dangerous to even be viewed by one, but peering into their eyes was most dangerous of all.
Gale knelt at the edge of the clearing, using his other senses to detail the area and determine the best approach. He knew time was important but he also knew this could not be rushed, it had to be handled cautiously, as well as naturally. This clearing was a wound upon the land, one that needed to be cleansed. He had to figure out how to get rid of both the monster and the well.
A twig snapped loudly across the way, and Gale nearly looked all the way up to see what was the cause. A deer was moving through the area and had been drawn by Gales presence. "Go, young buck," Gale whispered on the wind to the stag, alerting it to the danger. "My people know of this place," the buck relied with scratches on the ground. "I came to warn you." Gale appreciated the help but knew it was dangerous for any being to be so close to this corrupted place. "I am warned, no flee," Gale replied on the wind again. The deer turned to leave but paused. "I am fleeing, but so should you," the antlered beast replied through the earth once more. "The Bakaak is behind you, warrior!" That information made Gale feel sick but he did not move or alter his presence due to this, he only waited.
"Where are you...?" A shrill voice asked, it's voice whispering through the swaying trees. "I smell you, hunter. Show yourself so I may feast upon your innards!" The creature did not know that is was so close to Gale, but it was aware of him. The shamanistic man was resourceful, and in his element. Making a clawed hand, he pressed his fingers into the dirt. Slowly, the trees began to whip, the birds began to caw, worms began to writhe, and the animals began to scatter. As this continued, Gale could tell the creature was on edge, more alert yet also more confused. Gale knew he would only have a few moments once he received himself to fell the monster, so he wold have to summon as much strength, and borrow as much essence as possible to do so, and this forest was willing to offer plenty in return for destroying the menace.
The signs would become clearer and clearer as Gale completed his ritual, leaving him vulnerable if the lithe demon were to find him. Slowly, the winds began to swirl around him, his voice dancing on the wind, whispering languages long forgotten or destroyed, calling forth many spirits to imbue him with the strength he required. Gale began to strain under the pressure of the gift he was being given, gritting his teeth to keep quiet. His voice began to change, no longer able to speak the language of man, only that of the beasts. Finally, as the wind slammed around him, he let out a howl that shook the area.
The thin leather face of the demon honed in on Gales position, leaping on the cloak immediately, stabbing through it with visceral accuracy. To the monsters surprise, the target was much larger than expected, now rising up from its hidden spot, the blade like nails still piercing it's back. A back swing from the massive beast slammed into the frail demon, hurling it away and smashing it into a tree. The otherworldly figure scrambled to get up but was grabbed instead by a massive hand/paw, crushing its neck and rendering it motionless. Limp, the  skeleton covered in skin hung helplessly, trying to see the creatures eyes that had caused this damage. Before it could get a good glimpse, to large, sharpened claws dug their way into the weakened demons powerful eyes, tearing them out and it leaving it blind and shrieking. Tossed away, the broken body was motionless, yet it could still see from the removed eyes, an inhuman trait it possessed. Darkness was all it could see but it knew that it was being carried somewhere, then it was bestowed sight, revealing the edge of well. It could only watch with confusion as it still waited to gaze into the beings eyes that had caused this act. Words unknown to the demon began to rush through the air, charging the sky and clouds. Within view now, the thin, broken monster could see a hulking beast standing just feet away, within the accursed circle. A tall being, probably eight or ten feet tall, covered in thick fur with a powerful body. With a roar, the beast roared and reached for the sky, lightning forming and channeling. The eyes could not portray terror but the body could see the bolt crashing down from above, smashing into the plucked, yellow eyes atop the well. Combined with the sinister power that fueled the eyes, the elemental bolt exploded down upon the well, shattering the hidden gateway, cindering the earth it had spoiled. Bolt after bolt smashed down, burning out the wretched well and its effect.
A beast lumbered away from the scene, the flames purifying the area behind. A frail body burned as it passed by, gaining no attention from the shapeshifter that was Gale. As he drew further and further away, his body returned to its original state, leaving him naked underneath the feathered cloak that had allowed him gain such powers. Tired and one legged, he picked up a large stick and leaned against it as he left the forest behind. He still had to find out how the Sheriff fared, or if he had even survived the ordeal.

<Through The Eyes of the Sheriff>
I had been parked in the elementary school lot for over ten minutes now, my heart pounding, my arm aching, all the while my eyes darting about. I was trying to assess the situation, which was hard considering that this series of events seemed like someone else's bad dream. I gripped my pistol in my left hand, awkward but my only option for defense, next to a boot knife I kept. I had waited long enough, the longer I wait the more time they may have to escape, including the boy.
I exited the vehicle and made my way up the main drive area, the darkened school looming over me, the many windows staring down at me, empty and cold. Yet, with every step closer, a pale face would dot one of the windows, more and more the closer I drew. I could see the image in my head now, two figures outside of the school, stilled by the quantity of children's faces peeping through. But, it was wrong, I was alone. A sudden sharp pain shattered my thoughts, not to mention my back. I howled in horror as I fell to the ground, pain overtaking all of my senses. I tried to keep hold of my weapon but it clattered away, out of my sight. More pain as something began walking on my back, a person with small feet. "I told you," a young boys voice said, a tinge of nastiness held within it. "You are late for school." It was the boy from the farm, he was the second figure. I had heeded the signs too late and now I was paying for my mistake. "Do not worry, Sheriff," the boys wretched words whispered into my ear as he knelt on my back, tapping the handle of the knife on my head. "We promise to give you special treatment. We will make it last much longer than your friend the Sage did for our mother." I smirked at this news, understanding the Gale had slain the creature in the woods. The happiness was short lived as I saw the children pouring out from the school, almost as quickly as my blood was upon the ground. I was getting light headed and stiff. My only hope now was to die before they could start whatever cruel charade they planned on me. I began to see lights and my hearing suddenly rang fiercely. As I tried to move my head and adjust my senses, I saw the cause of my impairment. A man, dressed in a black business suit wearing sunglasses. Attire aside, it was what he carried that caused so much discomfort, less for me than the corrupted children around. He wielded some sort of weapon that required two hands, firing it from hip level, incinerating or combusting any target it hit with its bright blue pulses. Ash and fragments filled the air as some fled and others were cut down on attack. He had caught them off guard, entering the area from the opposite side I had, letting me take the focus. A shot whirled my way, covering me in gore as the culprit on my back exploded. More and more fell as my eyes dimmed and dimmed, the suited man pushing my way, killing all in his sights.

<The Man In The Suit>
Sitting atop a bench in the school lot, the man in the suit lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, his large weapon laid across his lap. He surveyed the area, his eyes hidden behind the sunglasses he wore. He was both pleased and annoyed. He had killed many with the surprise attack but he knew a few had escaped. This break could not last long, but he had to wait.
Soon, the sound of birds crowing alerted him to a cloaked man, kneeling over the Sheriffs body. The black suited man exhaled deeply before flicking his cigarette against a "No Smoking" sign. He hopped off the bench, weapon held in his off hand, and made his way over to the fallen hero. "Sorry about your friend, Gale," the man told the cloaked figure, looking down at the two of them. "I never learned his name," Gale replied, pushing the bird-shaped hood off of his head. "I at least need to know the name of the man I sent to die." Gale rummaged through the deceased Sheriffs pockets until he found his wallet, putting it into a hidden satchel beneath his cloak. "You know this line of work rarely has positive effects on any of us, right?" the well dressed man stated, taking his sunglasses off to clean them. Gale looked back up at he black haired man, his body unscathed in his massacre of the possessed children. "You always seem to come out alright, Shade," Gale replied, hobbling to get up on one leg. "That's Agent Shade to you," Shade barked back with a hint of dry joking in his tone. "You could have been too if you hadn't decided to go all walkabout on me. You had to go find yourself, or whatever crazy spiritual journey you decided you needed to cope with this  world we are living in." Gale chuckled at the Agent, knowing that he was just hazing him, even though he was right. Gale had abandoned their original organization to seek alternate ways to combat the evil snare being cast on the world. "Besides," Shade relied, returning his glasses to his face. "That alien possessed super chupacabra nearly killed me too. Being thrown through a wall and having your chest ripped at aren't a walk in the park. I mean, hey, it's normal for us, but normal people, like your Sheriff here, they can barely wrap their minds around it, let alone fight it." Gale looked back down at the still body of the man who had been exposed to the wicked force that the two breathing men fought on a regular basis. "I should have told him about the danger, warned him," the crippled man said, the weight of the decision holding him. "If you had warned him," the well dressed agent replied. "Then we may have never killed the boy. The others were converted, but that boy was a seed that would have sprouted more than just this chaos. Even with the Mother dead, the child could have been walking apocalypse. It was the right call. Now, I still have a few to hunt down, and this town has to be prepped and perished so that we can fabricate a tabloid about some crazy natural gas leak that killed the whole town then ignited into a fireball that wiped it off the map. I'm sure the farming Mega Conglomerates will snatch this up in no time."
Shade patted Gale on the shoulder and the two nodded at one another. As they both began to head their separate ways again, Shade paused and called out to Gale. "I've got some work that I could use your help on," he stated, trying to entice the wandering shaman. "There is a large beast roaming the Pacific Northwest, and I mean big!" The agent said, half excited. "Also, a new fad of gene splicing is taking root, turning most of the teenagers into half animals. It's getting out of hand and we may have to shut it down." Gale nodded at Shade, then turned and left. With a chuckle, and another lit cigarette, the agent of death powered up his weapon and headed into the school.

Some weeks later, a newspaper emerged almost unnoticed by the average folk. The disturbing and crazy headlines only interesting the morbid or insane. A few pages in, one article told of a massive gas leak that killed an entire town without warning, then erupted into a devastating fire that ravaged the area. CropCorp donated millions to aid the extinguished town, creating a new farming community that would help mend this tragedy. The new area was to be renamed after the Sheriff who had called in the accident moments before the explosion, claiming his and all of the townsfolk's lives. "Roy's Route" became a well know place to buy produce. The new slogan read, "Follow The Root, To Roy's Route!" 

Gale had made sure that his name would live on, his sacrifice not in vain. Shade had pulled the strings for the farming company to take hold, so as some new metropolis or slum didn't pop up instead, ruining the farmland and creating only more problems. The two had parted for the being but the months ahead proved ominous and soon the duo would reforge their lost bond and take evil head on once more.