Pursued

I stood there, beyond the hedgerow, at a loss. “I must continue,” I thought, “this isn’t ending here.” We are now all involved and I cannot simply step away.

Weeks ago, my laboratory was looted. I was subdued by an assailant who used a directional handheld EMP emitter to overwhelm me. I got a good look at the device before I was compromised. These aren’t corporate goons engaged in espionage. I believe that they were searching for the Blood Maggot. How they were able to find my laboratory, and their possession of that EMP device, vexes me. I believe I will find answers among our scattered contributors, wherever they may be, and with Upstart.

I dug into the Notebook computer left behind by Mr. Whipple. As the editor, he has been in contact with everyone. There were certainly clues to be found. It was no great feat to discover email correspondence with Thomas Melbeck. He apparently spent time in Chicago exercising his privilege as an American where he contracted a novel coronavirus. I knew of the hospital, of which I visited, but the new information that I stumbled across was an email. It detailed how Tom would be coming in late that day because he was a witness to a drive-by shooting at a corner store across the street from his residence. Through matching up police records on the day, I quickly deduced the building complex he lived in. I suspected that he had already met with some unwanted visitors, but there weren’t any police reports pertaining to that particular residence recently. I wanted to believe he was yet to be found. I rushed over, despite my callous assumptions.

I lingered inside the large stoop of the complex, waiting for a chance to enter, the door being locked after hours. A hurried woman pushed into the door, sending it wide open. With a thanking nod, I slipped in. Before rousing suspicion of the sleepy security guard, I quickly scanned the mailboxes. “305 Melbeck”, I grinned with satisfaction. I took to the elevator without delay. You see, the key to subtilty is looking as if you belong. It is appearing as if you actually know what you are looking for, and where to find it, as to avoid an uncomfortable chat with a supermarket employee.

The doors opened to the third floor. I stepped out to two long hallways down my left and right. A sign’s information has, well.. informed me, that my destination lies to my right. Ascending odds are to my right, evens left. The hall was unremarkably clean. As I arrived at 305, It appeared to be as unremarkable as the hall. This is, of course, remarkable in its own right as it does not show signs of forceful entry. He never struck me as the type of person to open doors for strangers. I have been wrong before, however. Rapping upon his door, I awaited a response. I stood in silence. Again, I tapped. “Thomas”, I spoke. “Are you home?”

The deadbolt slid from place. The doorknob turned slowly to allow the door to sink into the dark apartment, a face peered from behind. “You’re okay?!” Thomas spoke in surprised delight. “P-Please come in, and hurry!” I entered the dimly lit apartment to see Ms. Harris on the couch. She was sullen, shallow breaths drawing into her terror gripped chest. “We, uhh.. we were..” Tom attempted to inform me on his whereabouts. He seemed dazed, fumbling over words. “I, we, we just left- came from Gary, no Her friend…”

“Tom! Calm down!” Shalaly’qua barked. She stood from the couch, “We was at my girl Shawn’s house, well… I called her first. We lost them. My phone was dead but I didn’t stress to much over it since we been headin’ on back, anyhow. She was with Gary, but they didn’t meet up with us at my place. So, I just figured it was all good, you know. That week after, she wasn’t returning my phone calls, but sent a voice mail from a different phone saying she lost her phone in the street some where. That was a big relief to me, you know. She said she wanted to meet up with us at her house. She told me Gary would be there which I thought was weird because, to be honest with you, he’s pretty whack but he must be doin’ something for her. I says to her, I says, ‘Whatever, that’s fine, we can come out’, you know, but something was off about her, you know, like she wasn’t really her. Tom took me over there. He’s been helping me out this week, big time. We go up to the room, and all that, but no one answered when I called, when we showed up. We just went in, I mean, her car was out in the lot. We went up and it was unlocked so we just walked in. Didn’t think anything of it, everything looked normal… but I heard some ruckus in the back. I went, ‘hey were here, girl, what’s going on?’. I mean, goin’ up to her room there was some clothes on the ground and, you know, I’m not trying to walk in on anything. I cleared my throat, slowly opening the door.”

She stood there for a moment, taking a deep breath. “I saw Gary there, ummm.. he was, uhh as I suspected, laying on the bed, but…” She took another deep breath. “He was tore open. His, like, whole ass torso was open, the bed was soaked in blood! I started to panic. I didn’t want to see all that shit, like a f***ing slaughter house, bro. I heard a thud and rustling in the bathroom. I went over there and stopped myself from shouting. There ain’t no way Shawn did that shit. I cracked open the bathroom and it was a bloody mess and there I saw this thing, dude. M’f***er was huge. I saw her she was tore up just getting chewed on by that thing. It was like a bear or something but there wasn’t any hair on it, looked like it was bruised and burned. I couldn’t even scream. I backed from the door and it looked right at me. Bitch, I f***ing ran.”

I was startled by her account. I suspected this creature will search for my friends so I recommended they return with me, leaving this apartment immediately. I absolutely needed to get a glimpse of this creature for myself. Based on her description, I do not believe this to be any kind of animal local to this region. After they had packed light bags, we left, taking the elevator back to the lobby.

As the doors opened to the lobby, there was a crash at the front door. From our position, I saw the guard stand up in fright, quickly moving to his office door.

“What the F**K?” He shouted, pulling a pistol from under his jacket. I carefully peeked around the corner. The guard fired his pistol toward a large, hulking shadow.

I spoke over my shoulder, “Please tell me there is a back door. You’re friend is here.” The guard was overwhelmed, screaming in pain. Tom started to panic. I turned, “Thomas. Please, show Shalaly’qua to the back door.”

“What about you?” She responded.

“It’ll catch you, and I believe it’s here for you.” I pointed down the hallway, “Find the car and pull it around.” They ran off down the hallway. I stepped out from behind the wall into the lobby. The creature stood on top of the guard, tearing into his face. I stood there for a moment, unnoticed. “A-hem.” It looked up, blood dripping from its face. This creature did, in fact, look like a hairless bear. Of course, with a closer look, it was more of a bear-shaped (and sized) beetle. It’s body was covered in coyote brown mottled scales. Also, its legs were thick with paws and claws like a bear, rather than those of a beetle. It lumbered toward me with a roar, much less agile than I imagined. I had drawn my Coilgun (an EMD40kw), and discharged into the underside of its carapace. To my surprise, I wasn’t able to penetrate the surface. (the projectile is equivalent to a FN 5.7x28mm) The round crushed into its shell, leaving a scorched crack, making it stumble backward.

Exasperated, I ran off, with the beast in pursuit.

Thinking quickly, I ran into the security Guard office. That small room with one entrance was perfect, I thought at the time. Up against the back wall, I watched it barrel toward me beyond the doorway. Thinking quicker, I pushed the desk sideways between it and I. It lunged into the door way and stopped in the jamb, its backside too wide to clear the door. I laughed out briefly, as I watched it turn sideways and wiggle through. The beast lunged once more over the table. I ducked down under the desk, for it to land on it and crush the desk. I scrambled for the door, grabbing the door knob to lift myself up. Headlights beamed through the shattered front lobby windows, “Well, Good day. My, uhhh… my car-ride is here.” The beast slammed the door shut for me, which worked out perfectly.

The car’s rear driver side door popped open and I dove in. “Heh- All according to plan.”

“We’re we going next?” Shalaly’qua shouted, slamming her foot into the gas pedal. “and what the f**k is that thing, bro?”

“I think were going to be okay, here. I locked him in the guard’s office.” Glass erupted from the already shattered windows of the lobby and the hulking abomination tumbled down the steps in a daze. "So, anyway, on your first question: we are going to need a few things,” pulling out my notepad, I read out an address, “and I think we are going to need to find Anders.”