Absolute Dark - Nine

Chapter Nine - I'm the Chief of Police

"Chief Fredrickson!" Officer Brooks shouts to me from the station door across the motor-pool.

"Call me Teddy, William, we're brothers now!" I shout back to him.

He hustles his way over to me, handing me a letter with a strange wax seal, indented with the letter M. 

"Jenna told me this was left for you at the front desk this morning."

I looked it over, perplexed. "Thank you son, you enjoy your night now."

"Thank you sir, sorry thank you Teddy."

"Nothing to be sorry about son." I replied as I started up my father's '69 Chevy K5 Blazer, still humming like a dream after all these years.

Damn near peeling out of the lot, showing the young lads how to head home for the weekend.

I was stuck with my thoughts on the way home, the local radio stations were still out of commission. I'm trying to remember why, some kind of upgrade I think?

It's hard to remember right now, my thoughts keep drifting to just wanting to be at home. I'm tired, it's been a hell of a week.

But I'm not thinking about relaxing with a beer in front of the TV. I want to go home, but I don't know why.

I'm starting to feel confused and worried, and I don't know why. 

That's okay, because I'm home, a smile blossoms on my face as I pull into the driveway, grabbing the letter that was left for me before getting out.

Looking it over on the way through my side yard, I consider popping the seal now, but I choose to wait until I get inside so I can use a letter opener, just in case it's something meaningful.

Out of the corner of my eye is a pear tree, the one my wife and I planted when we bought this house. It's doing well, I stop walking and I stare at it.

Dwarfed in presence by the trees and flower gardens on either side of it. Deep in the shade, blending in. Tears roll down my face.

The worry and confusion I was feeling on the way home are back, this time they're joined by an immense sorrow, but not for my wife, it started with her but now it's for my townsfolk.

It's all coming back, I should be afraid, this happens every day, how could I ever forget that this happens every day?!

I am afraid. He lets me remember every night. Why would he let me remember? I was a strong man, not too long ago.

But ever since that boy came to town, things fell apart. I can't remember how everyone stopped fighting back, we were going to escape, weren't we?

I turn the door knob and fumble my way inside my home. I'm shaking and crying, I feel like I'm about to throw up.

Dropping to my knees, I can't help but whimper and groan, burning in the most emotional pain I've ever felt. The letter slides out of my hands.

That girl, the one we used to call Dead-Girl, was here last time I broke down, yesterday.

She's behind me now, I turn around fast, I was right. Of course I was, she's behind me every night. Is this real?

Things keep clicking, and the realizations keep getting worse. There is no escape, not for me. I know I should be deathly afraid of her, the things I've seen her do turn my stomach. 

Her bright smile doesn't hurt me though, it warms me, her white hair, her white uniform, it adds light to my dark mind. 

"Get up Teddy." She instructs. I comply.

It's pleasant to be near her, maybe she's not even the same girl.

I suppose she looks like her physically, except for her hair and clothes, Dead-Girl never had white hair, and definitely didn't look like some kind of future wartime scientist.

Things are getting foggy now, I don't think this is the same girl, that one that laughed at my brother when he couldn't put his intestines back inside himself.

I couldn't hear cries of pain over everyone else screaming in the streets.

I don't think it is her anymore, it couldn't be, that Dead-Girl wasn't a warm person.

She walked me over to the bay window of our dining room, and she pointed at the pear tree.

My lovely Alana, I smile as tears fall down from my face. 

"Alana planted that tree with me."

"I know Teddy, she was so lovely." She replies.

I feel pretty good now.

The only thing is the tree, it has black liquid pouring out of it, as if between the fibers of the tree itself. Oozing. That's so weird.

"It's time to lay down now."

"Okay Miss." I walk over to the living room couch, and I lay my tired bones down for a well earned rest.

She's right, it is time to lay down. I can feel the liquid climbing my skin, dripping upwards.

My eyes are closed but I know it's the liquid from the pear tree. 

"Breathe deep now, slow and steady."

"Okay."

It's in my nose, and my mouth. Making its way into my body, not enough at a time to choke me. Her hand rests on my forehead. 

All of a sudden, I'm not on my couch anymore. I'm nowhere?

It's all black, pitch black. Not like anything I've ever felt, or at least not that I know of. There is no floor, I can't feel gravity but I'm definitely not floating either. 

Everything comes back in an instant, and it hurts, in so many ways. I won't remember any of this tomorrow, and it's all I have to occupy myself until I wake up. 

I scream into the void.