Absolute Dark - Eight

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight - A pit of despair.

I pull over my car. I sit and think, without going back to the motel for any notes or my laptop, what can I do?

Ginny & Wendy live downtown, I pull out my phone, open the notes app, always incomplete but including their address. My first stop. 

It's midday now, more and more people are out and about, running errands and working their jobs. This town doesn't seem so weird all of a sudden.

Channel Orange finishes playing and I don't bother putting in another CD so it starts again, familiar rhythms carry me to a spot near the entrance to their building.

There are no names next to any buttons on the buzz box. My phone rings, "Gin" displays and I answer. 

Ginny says, "Hey Abi ! Sorry it's the fourth button down from the top, they're doing renovations."

I reply, "Fourth down, Apartment 302." hitting the corresponding button, "Perfect! I hope the drive wasn't too–." Ginny is cut short, and I chalk it up to the rural reception.

The inside of this apartment building is quite clean and beautiful, the outside was just so… plain, drab, average?

Wouldn't think twice about it if you're passing by. Come inside however, and it's almost what I'd describe as eloquent. 

Out loud I speak to myself, "Okay, 302 so the third floor." I push the up button next to the elevator. Then I walk in and press the third floor button. No music, eerily silent. I watch the elevators dial tick up to the third floor.

DING

I walk out and survey a dingy floor searching for 302, it doesn't match the lobby in the slightest. It's no crack den, it smells nice, and it's well lit.

But compared to the lobby, well it makes sense they're doing renovations. 

Room 302! I knock gently. About ten seconds go by, so I knock again with a bit more force this time. Sounds of rummaging and quick clamoring permeate through the closed apartment door.

It finally swings open, the first thing I notice is the smell of cumin & chicken, reminding me how much I love Mexican food and that I haven't eaten much not sold in corner stores during this trip.

Ginny is revealed, looking like her current profile pictures, a bit chubby, and beautiful. Full lips, bright eyes & curves currently being shown off in her short skirt and tube top.

The bags under her eyes though, not the worst I've seen or had, but she does look quite tired.

"Hey Abigail?! It's so crazy to finally meet you!" She crosses her apartments' entrance and hugs me tightly. "Hey Ginny, how's your day coming along?" I replied. 

"We're having a great day at home, through there is a damper in Coraline's name, obviously she's fine but it's hard worrying about her, I can see why you got sick of it."

"That was never it, I have a life too is all."

"Right, no I get it, poor wording on my part. Here come in, relax and make yourself at home, you must be exhausted."

I'm shooed into the average looking apartment, taking off my shoes I make my way into the kitchen, following Ginny as she continues… "Well, she's been hooking up with this couple most nights so if I had to guess I'd say she's in the throes of ecstasy, too spent to get up and go home."

"Officer Brooks of the local PD told me her ID was found on the edge of the woods surrounding town." I tell her while sitting down opposite her at the four person kitchen table. 

She pours us both cups of hot water, I notice the sugar, cream, milk & tea bags in a floral tea chest.

"Yeah that's very possible, but Cora tends to get black out when we all party in the woods, and I'm sure everyone has misplaced their wallets before." 

I place a small audio bug under my chair while adjusting my seat, taking in her words. "True, very true, Cora definitely takes after me when it comes to drinking." 

Ginny gives me a sympathetic look, "She's happy, and she's not in danger, at least to my knowledge, but obviously I'll help you look for her."

"Thank you Ginny, you're incredibly helpful. How is Wendy? Is she around today? I was hoping you guys could take me around town to anywhere that might help me find Coraline."

Ginny smiles, "She's around here somewhere, last I checked she was spread eagle in the bedroom recovering from my attempts to make her pass out from pleasure."

Didn't expect that, "Ah, been there myself, do you mind if I write down some notes, then maybe we can all meet up later today and check out Cora's usual hangouts?"

"Absolutely, first I would check out the campgrounds at the other end of town, just take the main road away from the highway and you'll find it. After that…"

I pull out my pen with a recording device inside, tedious but you really can't have enough spaced out properly or engaged in a conversation like this.

"I'd try the only nightclub, the only 50's diner, and the only karaoke bar, all can be found just heading back toward the highway."

I finish jotting down everything and thank her, "That's a solid start Ginny, thank you very much. Hopefully by this time tomorrow we will all be getting drunk and embracing sexual thrills and I won't be having heart attacks every ten minutes."

Ginny giggles, sipping her tea, I place my pen in with hers, next to the cross word book she's got on the edge of the kitchen table.

I ask if I can use her bathroom before I head to the woods to investigate the campgrounds nearby. "For sure, last door down the hall, and I'm sure Wendy will be up by dinner, we'll come help, I just don't want to leave her without telling her, or showering."

"Thanks love" I reply as I make my way down the hall, passing an open door, there's Wendy. Spread eagle, face down on the bed, a heart shaped jewel marking the end of the butt plug inside her ass. I linger more than I should, paying special attention to her red public hair and puffy lips.

I try to pee before leaving so I don't need to stop before making it to the woods. I drop another audio bug under their sink, quite the sex toy collection they have under here, fun bathroom. I wash my hands and face in the sink. 

Thanking Ginny on the way out I called Officer Brooks while making my way back to the car.

"Officer Brooks? It's Abi, I was hoping to meet you out at the edge of town where Coralines' ID was found, it is only the one campground right? I'm relying on some of Cora's friends I barely know."

"Hey Abigail, please call me Will, and I did just clock out but I'm up for it, and yes that's right, I'm guessing Ginny or Wendy gave you some tips. Edge of town opposite the highway entrance.

It should take me around 20 minutes.

"Perfect, thanks Will, I'll see you soon." I've got a feeling about this guy, something is off with so much in this town, I think he knows more than he's letting on.

I pull my pistol out from under the passenger seat. Very illegal, very needed, cops and those in power have used their power to cover up shit exactly like this in the past, and he asks me out.

I'd rather have it and not need it. Brass knuckles & my karambit blade make their way into my pocket and the blade into its sheath, around my right ankle.

What a strange town, on the surface it looks normal, but at the end of this street, it just ends, the town just ends. Fields, hills, and a far off patch of woods that I already know circles the entire town.

Leaving my car on the side of the road, I climb the nearest hill, and then I see it, a rough looking campground almost outshined by the afternoon sun. I can make out a cop in uniform. 

I wave and start walking to Officer Brooks. After what felt like ten minutes I finally made my way to him, "Hey Will, thanks again for all the help, I didn't want to bother you but honestly you might be the most helpful person in town."

He replies, "Yeah, anything at all just let me know, I do have some things to share with you I couldn't really share in town."

"Right, exactly, that too, I definitely want to hear whatever you have to say, hopefully you know this Violet Clement girl too. I'd have no problem helping you get dirt on her or her boss, gangsters always have a boss. I'll do whatever it takes to bring my sister home."

He looks grim all of a sudden, like he has suddenly become sick.

"Actually, I think I finally need to come clean about some things, and Brightmane itself."

Fucking finally, enough bullshit, let's move through this and get to my sister! He backs up and starts pulling a green tarp up into his arms, wrapping it quickly.

I hadn't even noticed, in the sun I suppose my peripheral vision deduced it was more grass. Under the tarp. 

Bodies, young women & men, parts separated, skin peeled, gore unleashed upon my senses the likes of which I haven't seen since studying war photographers. Brooks looks like he's about to cry, watering eyes pleading for help or understanding.

The wind changes directions, blowing my way now, the corpse smell invades my senses. I vomit, catching myself off guard.

"I didn't think they would let you into town, I was going through the motions like I always do, except this time you heard me, you listened, and you came. That hasn't happened in so long, not since your sister. You've gotta understand I didn't want this, none of us really do, we're doing what we need to in order to live another day."

I run. As fast as I can I run. Checking only twice on my way back to town and my car, Brooks isn't chasing me, he falls to his knees while screaming about how sorry he is.

The second time I looked back, the hill had obscured my view, and it was like I never walked over that hill.

Twilight approaches. It's getting dark. It was just so bright, how is it getting dark at what must be earlier than 5pm in summer?! I just have to get to my car.

No one is out and about anymore, I can't see even one person down the whole street, the comic book store I parked in front of which was open and busy, is closed now.

I'm fucking terrified but I know what I can do what pushed into a corner. 

My car, the tires are slashed, windows broken in, a big bag of sugar on the ground next to its open gas tank latch, and a fire slowly burning it from the inside out. 

Fuck.