Chapter 1.
[Author's note: The town of Walthemstuw does not, to any of my knowledge exist in the real life. However, the town of Walthamstow does exist in England. There is no connection between the two. No offense is intended in the use of a name similar to that town.]
The symphony was passable. It could be listened to. Joseph Schwartz considered telling his wife that it was no good. As Schwartz walked out of the auditorium he could still hear the final notes of a few lingering players. The true fault of the orchestra was the young dark haired man playing the flute. With each pause you could see the man struggling to hold back a sneeze. It was very distracting. Several times Schwartz looked around to see that many people in the audience were more preoccupied with seeing if the man would sneeze or if he could hold it. As Schwartz turned a corner, he finally decided that he would tell his wife to come with him next time. Life at home was so dull. His work was the only thing in life he really enjoyed. In recent years he was finding more comfort in his numbers and spreadsheets at the bank than in the arms of his wife. They had already had several discussions where she had pointed out that he seemed more interested in numbers than her. Schwartz was sighing when the sudden awareness that his footsteps were the only audible sound broke his thoughts. He stopped for a moment and looked around. He had strayed not only in his thoughts but in his direction. He was walking in a direction opposite to where his home was. His heart started to beat tremendously as a sudden feeling of dread overcame him. He looked around to find sight of another human being. Finally, he was relieved when he saw the familiar silhouette of a constable pacing back and forth at a distant streetlight. True, it was some distance away but he felt better knowing that he was not a lonely soul on this street. Schwartz was once again startled as he passed an alley entrance and saw a lone figure walking down it. Schwartz became transfixed by this odd looking figure. He did not realize he was staring until he saw that the man suddenly fell to the ground. Immediately the banker yelled in the direction where he had seen the constable.
"Help! Constable, help! Rapidly man!" Schwartz saw that the policeman moved but slowly. He was apparently too far away to hear his urgency. For a moment Schwartz hesitated walking into the alley, but seeing that the police was taking his time, he approached the fallen man. Schwartz kneeled by him and tried to turn him over. His body weighed heavily and touching his arms, the banker could see that he was a fit fellow. A boxer perhaps?
"Get…away…the…other…is coming." the man struggled as he spoke.
"Now, now, did you have to large a drink my dear fellow?" Schwartz paused as he heard a sound. It was unlike anything he had ever heard before. It was a breathing sound. It was not human. He backed away from the figure and saw something that was equally inhuman.