Caerus Building, Greenwich, New York…
Josephine Cutter shuddered as if a freezing wind had blown through her bedroom. The shudder was involuntary, she’d felt cold ever since moving into the apartment in Greenwich. At one point her doctors had thought it was malaria, but six months of treatment had convinced Josephine that it was something else, that and the fact she’d never gone to a country which had malaria outbreaks. Getting up, her joints creaking she caught sight of her reflection, one that looked far older than the thirty years she’d been alive.
Reaching for the phone, Josephine heard something scratching at the window, the same sound she heard almost every night. Dialling her doctors’ number, she ignored the sound and waited for the dial tone and the automated response that would direct her to her health care worker. Eventually she managed to get through to a person on the other side.
“Doctor Krishna, it’s Josephine, I’m having the stomach aches and palpitations.” Josephine groaned, her voice croaking as she felt a burning sensation in her guts. “I know it’s late but I need to…” She stopped as her stomach pulsated, causing her to fall to her knees, pain streaking through her body.
As the scratching sound intensified Josephine looked over to the window, a cold sweat running down her forehead as she shivered. Hovering in the window, backlit by the city lights was a humanoid figure, held aloft by gauzy wings, a pair of short barbed proboscis projecting from its mouth.
Screaming, Josephine reached for the phone, the coldness overtaking her body as she began to shudder uncontrollably, the blood draining from her face, even as she began to wretch, drops of blood-soaked saliva dripping from her lips. With the last bit of strength Josephine raised the phone to her lips and whispered, “Help.” The words barely audible over the vacant dial tone, as Josephine shuddered one last time, and then lay still.
Josephine Cutter shuddered as if a freezing wind had blown through her bedroom. The shudder was involuntary, she’d felt cold ever since moving into the apartment in Greenwich. At one point her doctors had thought it was malaria, but six months of treatment had convinced Josephine that it was something else, that and the fact she’d never gone to a country which had malaria outbreaks. Getting up, her joints creaking she caught sight of her reflection, one that looked far older than the thirty years she’d been alive.
Reaching for the phone, Josephine heard something scratching at the window, the same sound she heard almost every night. Dialling her doctors’ number, she ignored the sound and waited for the dial tone and the automated response that would direct her to her health care worker. Eventually she managed to get through to a person on the other side.
“Doctor Krishna, it’s Josephine, I’m having the stomach aches and palpitations.” Josephine groaned, her voice croaking as she felt a burning sensation in her guts. “I know it’s late but I need to…” She stopped as her stomach pulsated, causing her to fall to her knees, pain streaking through her body.
As the scratching sound intensified Josephine looked over to the window, a cold sweat running down her forehead as she shivered. Hovering in the window, backlit by the city lights was a humanoid figure, held aloft by gauzy wings, a pair of short barbed proboscis projecting from its mouth.
Screaming, Josephine reached for the phone, the coldness overtaking her body as she began to shudder uncontrollably, the blood draining from her face, even as she began to wretch, drops of blood-soaked saliva dripping from her lips. With the last bit of strength Josephine raised the phone to her lips and whispered, “Help.” The words barely audible over the vacant dial tone, as Josephine shuddered one last time, and then lay still.
Issue #10
(August 2021) Written By John Cheese The Enforcer
Zombie Master
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THE TOWER OF SICKNESS: PART ONECentral Park, New York…
The business man sat on the bench, looking around as if someone was following him or if he was expecting company, even possibly both. As the red-haired woman dressed in a business skirt and blouse approached, followed by the blonde man dressed in a thick jacket and chinos, he let out a sigh of relief. “Miss Hannigan, Mr Nero, I assume that your work is complete?” The business man asked as the man removed a steel box with a series of glyphs etched into the surface. “You had an infestation of gremlins, just as we expected Mr Joss.” Sarah Hannigan announced as her partner Mike Nero placed the box down and opened it slightly to reveal a brief glimpse of a mass of tentacles and a long-barbed shell. “That’s why you were having localised brown-outs and problems with the machinery in the warehouse. Gremlins are voltivores, they feed on electricity and once in their sedentary phase, spread rapidly draining power from their surroundings. Most of the ones we encountered were larvae, and hadn’t metamorphosed into sexually active medusae.” “In other words, you were lucky.” Mike added as he began to close the case. “Your infestation is over; all we need to do is dispose of the remains somewhere away from high levels of electrical charge. These things only need a little electrical pulse to jump start them, even when dead.” “Fascinating.” Joss said sarcastically, as he got to his feet. “If we go to your offices, I’ll write a cheque for your excellent services.” “Yeah, we don’t quite have an office yet.” Mike murmured as Voss passed the case, the ‘dead’ gremlin twitching slightly, its single yellow eye opening slightly. “It’s top of our list, we’re even seeing buildings this afternoon.” He added as Sarah covertly pointed to the gremlin as one of its tentacles curled. Following her finger, Voss bent over to look down at the deceased creature. “Is it meant to…GURK!” He screamed as the gremlin sprang from the case, the lid closing a little too late, and latched onto his chest, electrical sparks running along from its mantle to the tip of the shell. Grabbing the shell, Sarah held on for a few seconds before being shocked and letting go of the magical creature. “But the Summer Court Almanac’s state that the adults are sedentary!” Sarah grasped, as Voss fell back onto the bench. Removing a set of tongs and a dagger, Mike handed the former to Sarah. “I’m more concerned about what awakened it.” Mike replied as Sarah got the tongs and pried up a tentacle off of Voss’s shirt. “I specifically chose this part of the park because there wasn’t anything to awaken it from torpor.” He added as he cut through the tentacle, the writhing muscle dropping to the floor. “Unless, Mr Voss do you have a pacemaker?” Mike asked as Sarah levered up the next tentacle. Nodding Voss, began to exhibit laboured wheezing, his hand going to his heart, just above where the gremlin had clamped onto his chest. “Okay we need to remove it really quick.” Mike replied as he dropped the knife and removed a handheld stun gun, the battery compartment empty. “Sarah I need you to be ready with the case.” He added, as Sarah picked up the case. “Ready.” Sarah replied as she grabbed the case. Slotting the battery in the stun gun, Mike activated it and waved the weapon past the gremlin, its eye tracking the movement, before leaping at it. Dropping the tool, Mike watched as the stun gun landed in the case, followed by the gremlin. Seconds later Sarah slammed the lid shut, and threw the case to the floor before adding her weight to the lid as the creature inside thrashed around for a good fifteen seconds before remaining still. “My apologies Mr Voss, we had no idea that you had a pacemaker.” Mike stated as Mr Voss’s breathing normalised. “You should have let us know; we did warn you about bringing electrical items to the meeting.” He added, as Voss got to his feet and looked at the star shaped burn mark on his chest. “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer.” Voss growled as he walked away. “That could have gone better.” Sarah chirped as the gremlin bucked slightly. “I assume we’re cancelling building viewings?” She asked, as she got off the case and locked it. “No, we’re not out of options yet.” Mike replied as he picked up the dropped dagger and whipped the mucus off onto his chinos. “Get changed and meet me at the Caerus Building in Greenwich, I’ll meet with my money man this evening and see what he can do.” “We, we’re partners now.” Sarah corrected him, as she handed Mike the case. “We do this together.” Caerus Building, Greenwich… Dressed in a knee length skirt and blue blouse, Sarah watched as Mike pulled up in his battered old Toyota, parking it across the room from the building and the ambulance parked outside. “On second thoughts…” Mike stammered as he and Sarah bumped fists together before walking up the stairs to the atrium. Entering the building, they saw two paramedics wheel a body out on a gurney, followed by a short Polynesian man in a suit and a tall woman with coffee brown skin dressed in a red dress. “You must be Miss Hannigan.” The short man stated. “I’m sorry that this had to be your first impression of our building.” “We can come back if…” Sarah began, only for the woman to wave her hand, as if gesturing for her to stop. “Ridiculous, you made the effort to come here.” The woman announced in a soft voice, the smell of orchids and lilies wafting as she moved towards the visitors. “I’m Cecelia Johnson, I own this building, and this is Kiawe, our doorman.” She added as she kissed Mike on the cheek, before moving onto Sarah, the pair of them shocked at the welcome. “Uh yes well.” Sarah spluttered. “We’re hoping to rent office space.” “We looked at your proposal.” Cecelia purred as she held Sarah’s hands and looked into her eyes, a warm smile on her face. “You would fit in quite nicely.” “I hate to be the cautious one, but about the body?” Mike announced, as he saw Sarah’s surprised look. “Is there a security problem with the building?” “That was Miss Cutter, she should have been in respite care.” Kiawe replied stiffly as he walked towards Mike, almost as if he was a marionette manipulated by a lazy puppeteer. “Rest assured she wasn’t contagious.” He added, as Cecelia led Sarah to the elevator, Mike trailing in their wake. “So, what does a Supernatural Consultant do?” Cecelia asked as the doors closed and she pressed the button for the third floor. “Well, you know Doctor Strange and guys like him, we kind of deal with the magical things that aren’t going to end the world.” Sarah chirped as she rested her head on Cecelia’s shoulder. “We removed a colony of gremlins in Queens yesterday evening.” She added, as the lift arrived on the third floor, the doors pinging open. “You’re the third door down.” Cecelia announced as Mike and Sarah walked down the hallway to a door that was propped open, a woman in a white jacket and torn blue jeans bent over next to a desk, a phone hanging off the clapper. “Uh hi.” Mike announced, causing the woman to get up, her ebony hair waving as she turned to look at the pair in the doorway. “Are the vultures already moving in?” The woman sighed as she walked over to the door. “I get it, space is a premium, but a woman died here last night, at least wait until her bed is cold.” She added as she removed her latex gloves. “We didn’t know, we saw rooms for rent advertised here and thought…” Mike gulped, as the woman glared at him with piercing blue eyes. “My names Mike, I didn’t mean to offend.” “Mara Green, state coroner.” The woman replied. “Look Mike, you and your girlfriend may want to research this building, it has a reputation among the medical committee.” “Oh, we’re not dating.” Sarah corrected Mara. “Sarah Hannigan, you mentioned a reputation…” She stopped as Cecelia walked up, looming over all three of them, her perfume wafting through the hallway. “Cecelia.” Mara stated coldly as she squeezed out of the room. “Dr Green, I do hope you’ll reapply for tenancy in our building soon.” Cecelia said sweetly as Mara headed for the elevator. “Look around and take your time, I promise you, this will be the space for you. There isn’t anything like it anywhere else in the city.” The Lair, Staten Island… “So, I really liked the Caerus Building.” Sarah chirped as Mike slotted a wooden stake into a wrist mounted launcher on one hand, and a set of three road flares on his belt. “Cecelia was right, it was special.” “Yeah, it wasn’t because she almost charmed the pants off you.” Mike sneered as the door to the lift down opened to reveal a figure inside dressed in a suit. “Not that it’s my business but are you…” “For her, maybe I would be.” Sarah replied as the man in the suit sniffed slightly, as the pair of them entered the lift. “She was hypnotic, something about her… I don’t know.” She stammered as Mike rolled his eyes. “Why are we here again?” “Nicky Bats summoned the Gosodydd, the greatest magical accountant to the States from his home in Wales.” Mike announced as he saw the elevator operator look over at Sarah with a lecherous grin. “A loan from him could help set us up, and his interest rates are fair, and more importantly won’t cost us our souls.” “Your money man?” Sarah asked as she saw the operator shoot her a fanged smile. “What are you looking at?” “You like girls, I’ll pay you six figures to tangle with some babes I know Red.” The vampire hissed, as he licked his lips. Stepping to one side, Mike saw Sarah reach for the knife on her belt, an angry look on her face. The vampire operator fell out of the elevator a number of messy stab wounds in his chest and abdomen. Across the room the vampires gathered there looked up from their meals towards the entrance, and then to their leader ‘Nicky Bats’, a bloated vampire with an inhuman face sitting on a throne at the end of the room. Standing in front of him was a figure with a wooden mask dressed in a blue and green tunic and heavy boots who clutched a stone tablet in one hand, and a swan feather quill in the other. “Nero, I believe we settled your debts!” Nicky snarled as most of his subjects fled the room. “And as you can see, I have business with the Gosodydd that doesn’t concern you!” “As do I, if I can squeeze in an appointment with him.” Mike replied as he bowed slightly to the masked figure. “I always have time with the Delanzy family.” The Gosodydd stated in an even, almost emotionless voice. “I have been awaiting your request, for this path has long been prophesied.” He added as he turned to Nicky. “As for your business Nicomedius, the debt the Heinman family owes you is theirs, since they disowned the party you’re interested in, any debt they have or vice-versa would not be extended to the third party.” He added before shrinking the stone tablet down to the size of a credit card. “My bill including expenses.” “What debt?” Sarah asked as she looked at Nicky Bats angrily. “Yours.” Nicky snarled as the Gosodydd descended from the dais and crossed the floor to where Mike and Sarah stood. “Actually not.” The Gosodydd replied. “Peruse this further Nicomedius and I will be forced to review your loans and decide how best to collect payment.” He added calmly as he locked eyes with the vampire king, a shudder going through his body. “Drink hot stuff?” A dark-haired waitress dressed in nothing besides red bikini bottoms and a bra asked Mike. “No thanks.” Mike replied, as he turned to the lift. “You owe me Hannigan, I have it in blood!” Nicky snapped, as Mike heard a click and turned to see the waitress levelling a double-barrelled antique pistol at him. “Wanderers!” He snapped as two men, one dressed like a cowboy, the other supporting red wing like facial tattoos, emerged from behind the throne, crossbows levelled at the visitors. “Still saying no to that drink sexy?” The waitress purred, before licking Mike on the neck, her pistol jabbing into his back. “It may just be the last one you ever have.” |