Chapter 86

Craig jerked the kombi to a halt and noticed Patrick and Emily waiting for him outside the house. He slammed the door and ran around the kombi towards the front door. 'What happened?' He did not wait for them to answer as he rushed through the front door. When Craig entered the TV room, he noticed the blood on the floor. So much blood.

'Oh God help us. What happened here!' Craig shouted. 'Where's mom?'

'She's gone,' Andrew said with very little emotion in his voice. Craig noticed the distant look in Andrew's eyes. He had seen that look before, but it did not matter at the moment.

'What do you mean she's gone?' Craig asked hysterically. He knew he could not expect his children to have the answers during such crucial times, but his mind was not thinking rationally. Craig realised they were all probably suffering from severe shock. He knew he needed to calm down for them to think clearly. He needed his children's support now more than ever and he knew they needed his.

'When I got home, both the security gate and front door were open,' Andrew said. 'I came inside and saw the blood on the floor. I looked for mom but she had already been gone.'

'Oh God,' Craig said. 'This is bad. This is fucked up bad. Why would anyone want to do such a thing? Fuck, oh God no.' Craig stated pacing the room. 'Did you phone the police?' His voice and body were shaking. He felt slightly lightheaded with millions of thoughts competing for attention. All at the same time. He knew he should have been the one to have phoned the police, but he would have caused an accident if he had. All he wanted to do was to get home as soon he could and the kombi was not able to go any faster. Anyway, between the three of his kids, one of them would at least have made a call to the police.

'No dad,' Andrew said. He knew it was the worst thing he could have said at times like this, but he had no other choice.

'What!' Craig shouted. He could feel the blood rushing towards his face and ears. 'None of you even thought about calling the police?' His face flared.

'Patrick and Em wanted to call the police, but there's something I need to discuss with you first,' Andrew said. There was a certain calmness in his voice as if nothing bad had happened.

'You better make me understand right the fuck now,' Craig said on the verge of losing his temper. 'What could be more important than your mother's life? What were you thinking? God.' Craig brushed his fingers through his hair trying to see the logic in the chaotic situation. He laced his fingers behind his head and stared at the ceiling. He had made a big mistake by entrusting his children with such a responsible task instead of phoning the police himself. It would only have taken one minute of his time. He could have done it on his way to the kombi. Now they have lost much more time. 'Fuck.' He dropped his hands.

Andrew noticed Patrick and Emily's pale faces as they regarded him. It was enough that he behaved strangely the last few weeks, but to be questioned by most of his family members felt like he had lost touch with reality. He was usually the quiet one, but the situation had been turned around, whether he liked it or not, he knew he had no choice anymore. He had killed the first of the evil ones and it felt good with a hint of guilt, but mostly it felt good. Andrew knew there was no reasoning with them and no turning back, not after what he had done earlier today, not after they had kidnapped his mother. Andrew did not want to think about what they might have done with her. He knew he had to focus on what he could control. He hoped his mother was still alive, but somehow he knew she would be. They kidnapped her for a reason. They either wanted to use her as leverage to bargain or to get even with him. Hopefully, they decided to fight fair. Kidnapping his mother was not fighting fair at all, but as long as they allowed her to live. Andrew looked at the floor for a moment trying to think where to start. 'Dad, do you trust me?' Was all Andrew could get out. He looked up from the floor and locked eyes with Craig. He could see the confusion in there, confusion mixed with wonder and anger.

'Of course, I do son, what kind of question is that and what does this have to do with mom?' Craig snapped. 'Jesus son. What's going on here?'

'Everything,' Andrew said sharply. 'This has everything to do with mom and the fucked up police in this town.'

Craig noticed something else in Andrew's eyes, something he had never seen before. They were somewhat more vibrant. His pupils were not their usual black. They had a glow of some sort. Almost like there were fires burning in them, fires of rage. Craig remembered what Sarah had told him about Andrew. What he had done to protect Patrick when he was attacked by the group of Satanists. Craig realised Andrew might know something that could save the situation. He knew he had no choice but to calm down and listen to his son. Especially now that his wife was missing and the godforsaken curse eating him alive by the minute. He needed a place to start, and he had this strange feeling Andrew might be the answer after all. 'Talk to me, son,' Craig said impatiently. 'Our time is running out. Your mom is in danger and I don't even want to think about where all this blood came from. I hope to God she's not hurt badly.'

'Dad, we cannot trust the police,' Andrew said.

'You know this how?' Craig asked. He felt the anger draining from his body slightly. He knew Andrew was right about the police.

'I felt it the day those bastards threw the brick through the window.'

'Felt it how, son?'

'I didn't want to tell you this before, but with the power I got from that cube, I can do much more than just feel bad energy,' Andrew said. 'When I shook the police inspector's hand that day I felt a surge of evil running through my veins. I knew then that they were all part of the Satanist clan. I felt like killing him that day, but I'm glad I didn't, not yet anyway.'

'No yet? You're not making any sense Andy. Are you planning to go on a killing spree? How far do you think you're going to get?' Craig sighed.

'Dad, for once in your life, let me handle this situation. I am the only one who can stop these fuckers once and for all. They will never rape or kill children and women ever again.'

'Rape?' Craig snapped. 'Why would you say such a thing at a time like this?'

'I've seen a vision of the past, but that's not important for now. We need to get Emily and Patrick to a safe place for now,' Andrew said. He thought about it for a moment. 'What about our neighbour? Maybe they can stay there.'

'Brian,' Craig said. He scratched his head. 'I'm sure he won't mind.'

'Patrick, I know this will sound a little crazy, but I need your help. Not yet and I'm not sure how, but we can figure this out as we go along.'

'Andy, we are in this thing together,' Patrick said. 'Let me help you with whatever you want to do. Mom is gone, and I have become a favourite target at school. There is no way out of this.'

'Pat is right,' Emily said. Her eyes were still puffy and red.

'Not now guys, please, I'll tell you when the time's right,' Andrew said. He felt a stab of pain when a thought occurred to him that his family would never be the same again. They had not asked for any of this. He just hoped that they would not get hurt or killed during the dark unknown that lay ahead of them. 'I need you to protect Emily.' He looked at Craig. 'Dad, I need you here to call the police.'

'I thought you said you didn't trust them,' Craig frowned.

'I don't. Make the call and ask for the same guy who's done the case when the window was smashed by the brick,' Andrew said.

'Francois,' Craig asked. 'Why him?'

'Francois, yes. Just trust me, dad. We need him here and no one else. Just be specific when you speak to the cops.'

'If you say so,' Craig said with a blank expression. He retrieved his phone from his pocket.

'Em, Pat, I think now is a good time to go next door,' Andrew said.

'Okay,' Emily said sounding like a question. She looked at Patrick for a moment and then back to Andrew. 'We don't even know the neighbour. What's going – '

'Em, you'll be fine,' Andrew interrupted. 'Trust me on this.'

Craig looked at Patrick and Emily's bewildered faces. His heart felt heavy. No matter what happened, they were all still his babies and will always be. He sighed. 'Whatever happens from here onwards, I love you very much.' He paused for a moment. 'I know Brian will understand. Please tell him what happened here and that we are sorry for invading his space. He's a good man.'

Emily nodded, 'okay.' She could see Craig's eyes watering up.

'Patrick, I'll call you a little later and explain everything, I promise,' Andrew said. 'Please trust me. Now go.'

Patrick nodded, 'Okay.' He walked towards the front door with Emily following.

When they left, Andrew turned away from the door towards Craig and said, 'Dad, time to make that call.'

Craig fiddled with his phone for a brief moment and pressed the phone against his ear. He looked at Andrew with a blank expression mixed with anticipation.