Chapter 03

Early that next morning, Gustav met with the captain of the precinct. His name, Johann Baker. A giant of a man, not in stature but personality. At 70 years old, with a sharp mind and sharper features, he commanded respect from the rest of the force. Pictures, awards, and medals decorated the walls of his office. It could overwhelm those who were called into his office.

"So you got a new lead?" Baker asked.

"That's correct, Captain."

"And?"

"The traffic cam footage reveals that a man spoke with Lihse before and after the sample was stolen," as Gustav explained while handing over a print of the footage..

Baker examined the print. "Why does it look blurry?"

"Probably using some type of device, like a signal jammer, to mess with the camera's signal."

"I've heard of these devices. But never seen one that would blur only part of the video." Baker handed back the print to Gustav. "Can you get a clearer image?"

"Sent it to tech to clean up the image once they have it. I'll show it to Lihse and send out an APB for a man fitting this particular description."

"Have you shown this picture to Lihse?"

"Not yet," Gustav replied. "I'll grill him a little before we have to let him go."

"Both Lihse and that man in the picture made a mockery of the precinct." Baker said in a calm and collected voice. But Gustav knew the look in the eyes of his captain. He was furious, outraged that such a disgraceful indecent happened.

"Dismissed," the phone on Baker's desk rang. "You better have something new leads the next time we speak. Do you understand, boy?"

"Yes, Captain."

With that, the meeting was over and Gustav walked out of Baker's office.

"That was rough," a familiar voice said.

"You shouldn't eavesdrop, detective Rosya. It's not polite."

"You're right," she gave a playful smile. "But I have a good reason."

"And what would that be?"

A faint smile across Rosya's lips. "We have an update on the APB for the guy you're looking for."

"Excellent," Gustav replied. "Where?"

After getting chewed out by the captain, this was the information Gustav needed.

Rosya looked at her phone. "Down by the docks. A patrol officer saw him wandering the area."

By the docks? What would the suspect be doing there? He would have to go there to find out, but something in Gustav's gut told him there was something off. This man had kept to the shadows, evading the authorities. Why would he allow himself to be seen by a patrolman?

But those were questions he would ask him personally.

"Come on, detective Rosya. We have a perp to pick up."

**

Rows of warehouses greeted Gustav, and Rosya as they arrived at the docks. The buildings showed the result of being exposed to the salty air of the ocean. There were few dock workers going about their duties, but most of the area was largely empty.. Perfect for hiding. Which made Gustav wonder how a single patrolman found the man he was looking for. It was too convenient.

"Ready?" Gustav asked Rosya as he stepped out the car.

"You know me," she replied with a sly smile.

The first thing that came across Gustav's mind was to ask the patrolman a few questions, however, he was nowhere to be found. His patrol unit was parked by one of the warehouses.

"This can't be right," Rosya mused.

Gustav inspected the patrol unit.

There was nothing out of place. The keys were in the ignition, which meant the patrolman probably wasn't planning to go out and investigate on his own. Did something take dragged him out of the car?

"Rosya," Gustav cocked his gun. "Call for back-up. I'll go investigate what happened to the patrolman."

"Got it," Rosya replied. "Don't do anything stupid."

As he walked through the docks, his senses were on high alert. There was a dense atmosphere, like something was getting ready to pounce on him.

A clattering noise caught his attention. Its direction was at the farthest warehouse. He ran towards the noise and stopped in front of one of the largest warehouses. They painted a faint number 3 on the warehouse's heavy metal door.

Another clattering sound. This time came from the back of the warehouse. Could it be the patrolman?

Gustav followed the sound and stopped when he saw a leg sticking out from one of the wooden boxes piled by the side of the wall. It was the patrolman laying face down.

Gustav turned him over and leaned in to check on him. Gustav sighed in relief that he was still alive.

"Rosya," He called. "I've found the patrolman. He is still alive."

"That's excellent news."

"I'm going to investigate further. I'm located by warehouse number 3. Meet me as soon as you can."

"Roger."

Upon further inspection, the force had unlocked a small door. It's locked, torn from its hinges.

Gustav pondered if he should wait for Rosya. But the more he waited, the man he was looking for could escape. Now he could add assaulting a police officer to a list of charges. He couldn't allow that to happen.

Walking into the warehouse, there was an oppressive darkness inside. Even if they were in the middle of the day, it was unnatural. Gustav drew out his flashlight and gun and walked further inside.

The scent of mold and humidity assaulted his nostrils. They had left this building abandoned for a long time. The flashlight barely illuminated the darkness.

But in the darkness, he wasn't alone. A man, what appeared in his mid-30s with short blonde hair, a black suit and glasses, stood in front of him. There he was, the man he was looking for.

A sly smile came across the man's lips. "Took you long enough."

Standing in the near pitch black darkness, Gustav kept his weapon aimed at the man in front of him. This was the moment he was waiting for. This man had made a fool of him, and now he was going to make him pay.

"Hands behind your head," Gustav ordered. "You're under arrest for the murder of Abbey Dodson and stealing evidence from..."

The sound of the door interrupted Gustav by slamming shut.

"We're not alone in here," the man observed.

"Don't change the subject," Gustav chided.

Skittering sound echoed in the darkness of the warehouse. The man was right; they weren't alone. Someone was in there with them.

Gustav pointed his flashlight where he thought the sound was coming from. A pale limb, almost transparent, disappeared behind a large crate.

"What the hell was that?"

"Detective, to your right." The man said, "shoot."

"I don't take orders from you," Gustav chided.

Something threw itself at Gustav, knocking him down to the floor.

It was some sort of animal. It growled and tried to snap bites at him. Was it a dog? No, it was just too big.

Gustav struggled to get the creature off him. It was strong. A strength greater than any man.

Echoing in the darkness, the shots fired from Gustav's.45 ACP barely missed the creature, but it was enough to make the retreat back into the darkness.

"What's going on here? Did you plan this?" Gustav pointed his gun at the man.

Gustav was sure this man had set up a trap for him. But what kind of trap was this? A mysterious creature? These were just tricks to scare him off the case.

"Detective, I didn't plan this. I'm trapped, just as you are."

"Don't play dumb with me."

Didn't plan any of this? Then why was he standing so calmly in the middle of the inky darkness?

"Then what's going on?" He demanded.

"We're inside a mouse's trap of sorts." The man responded. "You triggered it when you stepped inside this warehouse."

That was the most outrageous thing Gustav have ever heard. Though he was careless of stepping into the warehouse before waiting for backup. A deep darkness inside a building with large windows defied reason.

"I was in the process of disarming it when you interrupted me."

"Then get to it," Gustav replied sardonically.

The man just smiled and began to take off his gloves, slicing his index finger, he drew a symbol on the floor. The situation amused and irritated Gustav.. Was this man making fun of him?

When the man finished drawing the strange symbol on the floor, he began chanting words in a language Gustav didn't understand.

Was this a ritual? He had seen many "rituals" in his long career as a homicide detective. However, all of them were just incoherent ramblings of the insane to justify their acts of murder. But there was something different this time. He could feel it in his chest.

The man placed his entire hand on the symbol. Closed his eyes, "Med," he whispered, and the symbol began to glow with a luminescent light, like a deep sea creature.

A flash of light.

Gustav closed his eyes and slowly began to open them.

"What the hell?"

The darkness that surrounded them was retreating. No, that wasn't the right word. It was being absorbed into the walls and the structures inside the warehouse. Gustav could see the light coming from the top windows.

"Detective, look."

Gustav turned around and was aghast. A slaughterhouse sprawled before him. Chains that ended in sharp hooks hung from the ceiling, tables caked with dried blood, sharp tools that could cut through flesh and bone lay on them. Someone well kept machines used to process meat and bone. At the other end of the warehouse was a large freezer. His stomach churned just thinking about what could be inside.

His instincts told him that something very dark was going on in this place.

As he walked between the rows of tables with the man following behind, Gustav felt a rage building inside him. How could something like this pass unnoticed by the authorities?

Gustav was about to call Rosya when a strange munching sound caught his attention.

With his gun drawn out, he walked towards what was making the sound.

"You shouldn't, detective," the man warned.

"Shut up," snapped Gustav.

Turning the corner, Gustav aimed his gun. But froze where he stood.

A creature, much smaller than a man knelled on the ground. It's skin was white, almost translucent. The sinew, muscle fibers and bone visible under the skin. This creature was not human, it was something Gustav had never encountered in all his years a homicide detective.

Gustav took a step back, but accidentally dropped one of the heavy tools on the floor.

The creature turned around and snarled. It had no eyes and no ears. It only had a mouth, and two small holes for nostrils.

"What the hell is that thing?" Gustav felt a cold sweat running down his back.

"That's homunculus," The man replied. "So, I am in the right place."

"What do you mean? You're not making sense!"

"A homunculus is an artificial human being created using alchemy. It possesses no soul, for its not born through natural means." The man casually explained.

To Gustav the explanation sounded like a bunch of nonsense. However, the creature the man called a homunculus was most definitely the same that attacked him when they were engulfed in that unnatural darkness.

A grotesque caricature of the human form.

It walked slowly forward, stretching out its arms to Gustav.

"Don't move!" Gustav cocked his gun.

The creature didn't listen. It shambled forward, snapping it's jaws.

Two quick shots. The creature fell on its back letting out a horrifying cry.

In that moment, Gustav knew he had made a terrible mistake. Dozen of creatures, crawled out of nook and cranny. The creature he shot slowly got back on its feet. The ammo in his gun wasn't enough to bring these creatures down.

"I suggest we run," the man suggested without being asked.

"Where?"

The man pointed at the freezer at the end of the room.

"Are you nuts? We'll even be more trapped in there."

But then Gustav remembered. Some traffickers use large freezers as a front to hide a room where they would hide their contraband or drugs. They usually had another way out. It was a long shot.

They had to run as fast as they could, however, the creatures were ready to pounce on them and rip them limb from limb.

Gustav noticed the man in the black suit was unarmed, and even considered giving his side-piece. But that would be a violation of police procedure. But two were better than one at making this desperate attempt at escaping.

"Don't worry, detective. I can handle myself." The man assured, as if had read Gustav's mind.

The man opened his coat and drew out a gun. Black and deepest red, the colors of darkness and blood. It was the same caliber as the one Gustav carried.

"What's your name?"

"I have many names, but I go by Ansem these days." was the reply.

Now that Gustav could clearly look at the man named Ansem. To call him handsome wouldn't measure up to the man's unearthly beauty. His eyes the color of spun gold. But there was something else about the man, a strange power lay inside him. For now, all the questions Gustav had in his mind, would have to wait for later.

The creatures drew closer. Snapping their jaws at Gustav and Ansem. Anxiously looking forward to a new meal.

"On the count of three," Gustav felt every muscle in his body tense up. Ready to make a break for the freezer.

"Three!"

Both men ran as fast as they could, the homunculi chasing after them like rabid dogs. Screaming and howling, they stepped over each other, in a grotesque contest of who would get the first bite.

The freezer was just a few feet away. Just a little more, and they would be able to get away from the homunculi. Gustav's heart pounded quickly, adrenaline rushing through his veins, his muscles tensed up and his mind focused on the task. He didn't have to look back, but guessed that Ansem was probably in the same excited state as he.

With a strong pull, Gustav opened the door to the freezer. One of the creatures was about to pounce on Ansem.

Firing two shots from his .45 ACP, making sure his shots were more precise, this time hitting the creature in the forehead and shoulder. It fell on the floor writhing in agony, as sickly looking blood spurted from the wounds.

Ansem stepped inside the freezer, and Gustav quickly closed the door as he witnessed the homunculi devour the wounded. The sounds of munching and inhuman screams of agony would be something that would haunt him for the rest of his days.

When he was younger, Gustav served in the army. While on duty, he saw lots of combat, saw battalion friends tore to pieces by IED's or caught in a firestorm. Their screams of pain and agony as bone chilling as they were, they were nothing compared to the screams of that creature as it was eaten alive.

"That's their nature," Ansem holstered his gun. "Food is food."

"Who the hell would make those things!?" Gustav grabbed Ansem by the collar. "They shouldn't exist, they're something out a nightmare."

"If you follow me, you'll find out."

Gustav reluctantly released Ansem's collar. "Make the wrong move, and I'll arrest you. You're still a suspect in my murder case."

Probably, Ansem would just brush off the waning. However, Gustav felt that it needed to be said. Something to keep this Ansem guy from going off the rails. He needed to maintain a sense of order in a situation that was clearly getting a little out of control. All his years as a homicide detective did not prepare him to face monsters. The only thing that had ever come close to a monster, were the serial killers he had help send to prison.

Gustav glanced around the room. There wasn't a single piece of meat hanging from the ceiling, the place was clean and the temperature was mild. Definitely a front for something. But whoever, set up the place wasn't trying very hard to hide anything.

However, he remembered what was outside. No one would go very far to reach this place.

At the back of the freezer there was a box, there were a few boxes.

"Time to start looking, right?"

"Yeah," Ansem replied.

"What am I looking for?"

Ansem pondered for a moment.

"We need to touch two sigils that glow red to reveal the door."

Sigils? That glowed red? What was Ansem talking about?

The room around them was pristine white. There was nothing to touch.

Ansem was probably pulling his leg.

"Are you serious? There's nothing in this room."

"Then you don't see it." Ansem sighed.

Gustav was growing impatient at this point.

Ansem walked up to Gustav, until he was at arm's length.

"Tell me detective," he began. "How far are you willing to go to capture Abbey Dodson's killer?"

That was a dumb question. He would do anything in his power to bring her justice.

"I'll do anything that's in my power."

Ansem smiled.

"Then, let me give you something that'll prove useful." He paused, "and I apologize in advance."

"What do you mean?"

Ansem lifted his arm and pointed his index and middle finger at him. They were in the line of sight of Gustav's eyes.

"What are you doing?"

Ansem began chanting again in a language Gustav didn't understand. Then he realized that Ansem was chanting a spell. Gustav tried to move, but his body wouldn't obey.

"Tal!" Ansem said out loud.

Gustav felt like he had been poked in the eyes with something hot. He fell to his knees in agony grabbing his eyes.

"You son of a bitch! What did you do?"

As he tried to keep from passing out, Gustav felt like jolts of electricity spread throughout his body from his eyes. He had never experienced a pain so intense, like his nervous system had been hooked to the electric mainline. He tried to hard to keep from falling face first on the floor, as he felt he would splash like a balloon full of water.

"The pain will soon pass," Gustav heard Ansem say in the distance.

As the minutes went by, the pain began to fade and slowly began to open his eyes. Amorphous shapes swam in and out of focus.

"Just take it easy. Breathe slowly."

A few minutes passed again, and his vision was now clear, the pain was gone. However, Gustav noticed something had changed. The walls of the empty freezer room, were now covered in scribbles that weren't there before.

"Are you pulling a prank on me?" Gustav chided. "You wrote those things while I was blind, didn't you?"

Ansem sighed.

"These sigils had always been here, detective. You just couldn't see them."

That sounded so preposterous. "Then what did you do to me?"

"I gave you the 'mystical eyes of truth'," Ansem replied. "And you'll need them if you want to bring Abbey Dodson's killer to justice."