Hazy View: Souls of the Vanished (6 page)

Andrew lifted the case files slightly.
“No, of course not, but if there’s a possibility, then…”

Martin interrupted sharply. “…Just
think of it like this. Without the city’s trade and the hordes that
comes monthly, this little town would dry up and soon become a
ghost town.”

Andrew looked at the case files in his
hands. “That’s what I thought too.”

“
So follow your instincts.
You’ll know something feels right, that’s what has made you such a
good police officer over the years, just some friendly
advice.”

Martin got into his private vehicle,
started the engine and turned the window down. The breeze blew
joyfully and free. The sun was still bright although clouds were
growing heavier.

Andrew forced a smile to ease his
bruised ego. “That’s all fare and well, what if I’m wrong and the
people crucify me for it? What if I let something major go
unpunished? How do I fix it without you? I hoped that you wouldn’t
have to leave.”

Martin got impatient. “You’re not a
baby anymore, it's unnecessary for anyone to hold your hand. I’ve
got faith in you. You’ll do the best you can. A Few people have the
skills to make a good sheriff. You do have the wits for it. Just be
the best you can, and if you feel you can’t cut it, then there’s
someone else to take your place.”

Andrew took a deep breath. “You’re
right. These people need hobbies or something.”

“
To them making up these
stories are hobbies. It keeps them busy until the hordes come into
town from the city.”

Both laughed, Martin had to put more
effort into laughing.

Martin pulled out of the parking bay
and waved before driving away. Andrew stood in the middle of the
road watching the red ford disappeared around the corner. He smiled
as he looked down at the keys in his hand. Excited like a child he
walked to the four by four service vehicle. Large letters on the
door read ‘Hazy View Sheriff’. He lifted his gun belt and unlocked
the door.

*~*~*

*III*

Tom Livingston stood on the pier. He
cupped his hand over his eyes to see without the glare of the sun.
He surveyed the water. He knew something was in the water, hidden
and waiting to strike, he felt it.

He looked in every direction as far as
he could. He paid more attention to the North. Seeing nothing he
closed his eyes to give them a rest. He walked off the pier and
towards the reeds and inspected that too, checking through the
crushed reeds where Robert Wilson’s boat ran ashore.

Still he found nothing.

He walked into the water where
something grabbed Martin the day before. He stood silently waiting
for something to come out of the water and grab him.

Nothing happened.

He stood silently, thinking for a
moment, it must be under the water, waiting for someone to come on
the lake.

As hard as he tried, he couldn’t see
anything, where was it?

Tom looked as far as he could. He even
walked along the shore toward the North bank. It was a large area
to cover and he walked slowly, more of a stroll.

Now and then he stopped, cupped his
hand and stared out over the water. He was silent and listened
hard. Maybe a jump or splash would give away its
position.

He waited, no sound came to
hear.

It must’ve gone under the water,
deeper into the murky mud that covered the bottom. He was sure of
it.

Yes. He was sure of it. Danger waited
silently in the lake. Every time someone went on the water they
became prey to the beast. In the North was a four-hundred foot drop
rock face and it was the only possible area where this beast could
hide. No one ever went there, it was too isolated. It was not just
at night. Something unexplained and unexpected also happened during
the day.

He stood staring with the distinct
feeling that something was watching him.

*~*~*

*IV*

Helen noticed water puddles
everywhere.

Small evenly spaced like someone
walked dripping, leaving wet footprints everywhere. Water covered
the tiles in the kitchen. The upstairs passages carpet showed
watermarks as did the spare room. In the upstairs passage the
closet door was ajar. Neatly stored Blankets, towels and sheets now
lay on the floor.

“
Olivia, come here and
explain what you’re doing with my towels.” Helen called stepping
into Olivia’s room then paused.

In the center of the room next to a
heap of toys a few towels remained. Dark patches on the carpet
showed more wet marks. Helen collected the wet towels and closed
the door as she left. She threw the towels into the washing basket
and walked downstairs, listening for Olivia.

It was silent.

She looked into the lounge and out the
window but saw nothing. She heard a faint sound from outside near
the pier. The kitchen door was wide open. She followed small
puddles through the kitchen, out the backdoor and down the steps.
Helen glanced around in bright sunlight.

She saw nothing.

The sound came from the basement, it
echoed loudly as she entered the kitchen.

“
Who on earth dried up the
water, it can’t evaporate that fast. If I get my hands on Olivia,
I’ll have to remember to thank her.” She remarked and continued to
the basement door.

The basement window was a small
stretched window near the ceiling. The sun shone through, showing
just how much dust had collected over time. At the bottom of the
stairs installed shelves provided ample space for storage. The
floor was in serious need of sweeping and mopping. Fresh paint
coated the walls.

The concreted floor felt cold under
her bare feet. A large room branched off to the left. She found
herself in a room the same size as the kitchen. She walked to the
room next door. Her steps echoed in the empty space. A small room
to the left housed the furnace and fuse box. A passage continued to
another room. She could hear playing. She managed to make out what
Olivia was saying.

Helen took a few steps and paused at
the opening, eavesdropping on Olivia’s game. Olivia had found a
friend.

Helen peeped around the
corner.

Olivia sat on a blanket in the middle
of the empty dusty room. Scattered around her were a few toys and a
tea set. She sat with her back to the passage. Her attention held
by an invisible friend. Dressed in a princess dress with a large
pink bow she felt special and it showed in her game. Her long baby
blond hair was tide back with a tiara set firmly.

The basement door slammed
shut.

Helen rushed back to the first room
and paused. The door was still ajar.

Although well-lit the room had some
places drenched in darkness. She moved slowly closer to the shelves
and noticed the painters failed to secure some to the wall after
painting.

The door cracked again and slammed
shut.

Helen didn’t feel a draft but an eerie
cold had sent shivers through her body.

Her breathing was fast. Her heart
pounded and she felt light-headed. She felt angry, filled with rage
and desperate. She wanted to grab shelves and throw them. She
wanted to grab a lump of her hair and yank it out in a fit of
rage.

She scanned through the darkness and
saw nothing.

Laughter broke through the other room
where Olivia was playing.

Helen felt a strong urge to weep hard
and loud.

She wanted to return to the other room
and paused.

The temperature plummeted.

A moan echoed, bouncing off the walls
and ceiling. A thump followed by a hissing moan filled the
room.

Someone moved quickly, descending into
the basement from the door behind her.

The stairs were empty, whatever
descended, came down the wall behind it. A loud crash froze her.
The light blinked and admitted a cracking sound.

A shelf moved.

Something was moving behind them,
moving from shelf to shelf. Fear grabbed her into a numb stance.
Her breathing was even faster. Her heart drummed and her ears were
dull.

Vapor escaped her mouth.

An eerie, mysterious, ghastly draft
passed her. Helen hurried to the other room, the hissing and
scratching just ahead of her. At the door Helen paused. Olivia’s
voice carried above the hissing and scratching.

Olivia was clinging to an extra
blanket still offering it to her friend. Olivia wasn’t in any
danger, someone was with her.

“
You can come and play
again. Good-bye, come back soon.” Olivia called in a gentle
voice.

Olivia dropped the blanket and sat at
her tea set. She was sad and lonely. Helen walked to Olivia. Warmth
returned to the room. Olivia turned to Helen with teary
eyes.

“
Can you explain all these
towels and blanket you’re dragging through the dirt?” Helen asked
sympathetically.

“
I was playing mommy.”
Olivia admitted between sniffs.

“
Yes, I can see that. Can
you explain the water throughout the house?”

“
It's my friend, mommy.
I’ll dry it up.” Olivia offered.

“
Your friend is that why
you took all the towels and blankets?”

Helen didn’t want to call Olivia a
liar, not after what just happened. Something was happening,
something she couldn’t explain yet.

“
Yes mommy, my friend said
he’s cold. I was just trying to help him. He’s so sad.” Olivia said
wiping tears away.

“
He, so it's a boy?
Where’s he now?”

“
His mommy called him. He
went home.”

Olivia’s words cut like a knife
through Helens soul.

“
Where does he live?”
Helen asked almost breathless.

“
He told me that they use
to stay around here, but now he stays in the lake. He doesn’t like
it there. He says it's too dark and cold. It scares him.” Olivia
admitted and jumped into Helen’s arms and wept.

“
There now, I’m sure your
friend would like to come and visit at least he’ll be happy.” Helen
cuddled Olivia.

Olivia stopped weeping. “It's okay if
he comes to play?”

“
Yes I’m sure it would do
no harm, as long as your little friend stops messing water all over
the house.”

Olivia grabbed a towel filled with
toys and ran out of the room.

Helen collected the rest of the toys
and bedding. “It's good she’s dealing with the divorce, but a
friend that lives in the lake? What’s he, a merman?” Helen followed
Olivia.

*~*~*

*V*

The hospital was a six-floor building
offering wards, emergency rooms, consulting rooms, the latest
equipment, theaters and specialist departments including a
rehabilitation and psychology departments. It was the largest, most
equip and safest hospital in a hundred mile radius. People from
nearby towns and the city came to the hospital for its standard of
excellence. Besides the outstanding service the hospital also
boasted large windows with a full view of the lake and large wild
forests and mountains on the other side.

Andrew found Dr. Phillip Scotts at the
nurses’ station. He was slender with a small mustache, deep set
eyes and his drop-dead gorgeous.

Phillip noticed Andrew and stopped
reading a chart. “Congratulations on your position sheriff, I hope
the rumors are true this time.”

“
Well news does travel
fast around here. Yes it's true this time. I was wondering if I
could see the two people, they came in last night from the
lake.”

“
I don’t know what you’re
going to get out of the father. He’s under heavy medication and is
sleeping now, but his son’s in the psychiatric ward for
observation. Maybe he can help you.” Phillip started and walked
towards the psychiatric ward. “Walk with me. I’m on my way to see
him now.” He invited.

“
Are you going to keep him
here long?” Andrew asked as he couldn’t recall seeing any physical
injuries.

“
No. The psychologist had
already seen him and suggested that we keep him there to reduce any
harm he could do in the normal wards. It's just temporary.” Phillip
assured.

“
Do you have news on the
father?” Andrew asked.

“
He was unconscious when
he arrived. He has a concussion and three broken ribs. At some
stage he fell overboard because he has a substantial amount of
water in his lungs. Then he has these cuts on his face, arms and
legs.” Phillip explained.

“
Cuts made by what, do you
know?” Andrew asked shocked.

“
It looks like they’re
made by claws, or something like fingernails, but not exactly. It's
too deep for fingernails. If fingernails made those cuts they
would’ve broken off and imbedded in the flesh around the
wounds.”

“
Do you think the son
could’ve done this?”