Tino hated the idea of going down to the city Morgue. He couldn't understand how someone so chipper and passive could work in a place as dark and depressing as the morgue. But Mathias' 'father' seemed happy with it for some crazy reason.
"Hey Papa Owen!"
A man a bit shorter than Berwald looked up from his desk covered in notes. He had short dark hair with red streaks in his bangs, darken skin and bright green eyes, one of which was shielded by a side fringe. He smiled upon the sight of a few familiar faces.
"Hey Mathias, Berwald! What brings you here, man? You two haven't picked another fight, with that Italian kid again have you?"
"What? Naw!" Mathias smiled. "Instead I have a question..."
"Oh?"
"How can you stand working here?!" Tino suddenly burst, clinging to Berwald's arm tightly. "Don't you ever get scared at the idea of one these dead people coming to life as a zombie?!"
Owen smiled. "A little..."
"Well, other then that," Mathias breathed. "Dad, can you tell us something about the dead students that were littered on our campus?"
"Mathias, I thought we agreed no more detective work until you got the degree and the job." Owen answered, suddenly looking stern. A rare thing for the hippie. "Remember what happened last time?"
"I know, I know." Mathias hung his head shamefully, before lifting it back up to face his 'father'. "But there's something not right up at the school and I think I know what it is we're dealing with. Please, Dad..."
Owen studied his 'son' for a moment before sighing in defeat. "Alright... Follow me you three..."
Mathias and Berwald nodded whereas Tino gulped before the three Nordics followed the hippie to the cooling unit, stopping short in front of a large door.
"Now, be forewarned." Owen warned turning to the men as he pulled out his keyring, "What you three are about to see isn't something you can erase easily from your memories... I ask you not to tell anyone that I allowed three students without written consent or else we'll all suffer horrible consequences..."
"I can handle it." Mathias replied as Berwald nodded agreement.
"I think I'll wait in Mr. Lane's office." Tino replied, detattching himself from Berwald's arm and shuffling back the other way.
"Ready?"
"Ready."
Owen quietly and slowly, unlocked the door and pushed it open, allowing a gently breeze of cool air to escape and wrap around the men. Mathias and Berwald exchanged glances before nodding and entering the frigid room.
"This was once Kroma Mercher." Owen said as they approached and gathered around a covered table. "Age 25. She was a student at your school, studying for an Zoology Degree. According to reports, she disappeared off your campus about a week ago. She reappeared just last night at 11:56 pm. This was all that was left of her."
Owen pulled back the sheets to reveal a grotesque corpse. All skeleton with clothes shredded on her, flesh looked as though it was brutally ripped off, organs either in shreds or downright missing, the skull looked as though someone took a large blunt object and continuously smashed her face in. It took every will power Mathias had not to throw up then and there.
"She suffered the same way many of the others I received here." Owen sighed.
" 'Same way'?" Mathias repeated, blinking and turning to face Owen. "What do you mean she's suffered the 'same way as all the others'?"
"Well..." Owen clicked his tongue as he pulled out a folder and flipped it open. "From what I could find, on what little flesh there was there was signs of lacerations on the wrists and ankles."
"They were tied up?" Berwald asked.
"Seems so." Owen replied. "I also found signs of struggle or what little there was. They were trying to escape whatever it was that was holding them. Now, I want you two to look at these cuts here..."
"This guy doesn't seem to know how to wield a simple knife." Mathias commented.
"These weren't done by a knife..."
"No?" Asked Berwald.
"No. These were made by teeth."
"Wait. Teeth marks?" Asked Mathias, shocked. "You mean this person, a human like us, actually ripped and ate the flesh right off of them?!"
"I don't think you're dealing with a 'human'." Owen said, looking dark. "Look at the cuts once more. These were made by teeth that were sharp and jagged. Similar to a chainsaw that got your teacher arrested."
"So Braginsky was framed!" Mathias muttered. "By this... This... Creature."
"Hmm."
"How can we find it, Mr. Lane?" Berwald asked, looking to the hippie.
"I can't tell you, my gentle giant." Owen sighed. "You're going to have to ask someone who is familiar to that field."
"Like a crazy person?"
"If it's all you have..."
"Damn."
"Maybe there is someone who can help us." Berwald replied turning to the Dane. "Coach Kirkland fits the description."
"Then we need to see him."
"Hmm."
"But be wise little birds." Owen warned carefully. "We don't know what this thing is and what it can do so you might want to tread the waters carefully until you have what you need."
"Yes Papa."
"Yes sir."
"Keep your friends close... Especially that Lukas and Emil boys."
"Why?" Mathias asked, eyebrow raised. What was his 'father' implying?
"Just a feeling." Owen shrugged. "I feel that they might be in danger if not kept close..."
Mathias nodded as he and Berwald walked out of the unit, followed by Owen and walked back to the hippie's office where Tino waited in a very comfy chair. The small Finn jumped out of the chair at the sight of the three men.
"What did you find out Berwald?"
"We need to see Kirkland." Was Mathias' simple answer. "Tino, do you know when his next class is?"
"In about 20 minutes."
"That gives us time." Mathias smiled. " 'Cause we also need to stop by and talk to Lukas and Emil."
"Why?"
"Just be safe. We need to move."
"Ok."
"See you for Thanksgiving." Owen called waving.
"See ya' Papa!"
The three men dashed out of the office to leave the hippie to dwell on his thoughts. 5 minutes hadn't even passed when another man drifted though, he looked similar to Owen with the exception of silver hair and blue streaks and was paler.
"You think it was wise to involve them in something way over their heads?"
"I don't know..."
Hooray for a not-so-well-thought-out chapter 13! :3