Quill:
It was a small town, but not the smallest I'd seen. Back when I'd still just been an agent, the team I was on, along with several others, had been sent to an area near Dover to deal with a large outbreak, not unlike the one in Chelsea. The place we had stayed at was barely more than three farms and an outhouse between them.
This was quaint, I supposed. It was certainly a beautiful area and the air somehow felt different compared to the city of London – especially in Clerkenwell where I lived near the Furnaces. Maybe it was time for a move now that I didn't need to go there almost every night.
A small path led through a forest and we trudged onwards. Had it not been for our bags of equipment and supplies, it would even have been a pleasant walk, but a bag full of heavy iron chains digging into your shoulders could put a dampener on most good moods.
We reached a river from where we had a better overview of the village. It had a small green with horse chestnut trees in bloom and a large old-looking cross. The green was surrounded by small cottages and a church. There was even a small store and a slightly larger building with a dilapidated sign, identifying it as the Old Sun Inn.
"That's where we're going," Tony pointed.
I nodded "So the client is the owner?"
Cubbins snorted, "maybe one day, when he's a big boy. The client is a ten-year-old."
This whole thing was getting more bizarre by the minute. I put a hand on Tony's chest to stop him going further.
"What's really going on, Tony? There's no way in hell you're coming here out of the goodness of your heart. You don't do anything unless it benefits you whether it be a lot of money, a lot of publicity or some sort of thrill. There isn't anything thrilling about Lurkers or Cold Maidens, I doubt a child has a lot of money to throw at you, especially when they live like that," I pointed at the building for emphasis as it had a distinct feeling of neglect to it, "and publicity here is virtually non-existent. So why don't you tell me the real reason we're here? Have you even told your team?"
Tony's jaw tightened in anger, but he kept his mouth shut
Then Munro gasped "The Rotwell Institute," her eyes widened in realisation "That's where you want to go, they have a facility nearby."
"Rotwell?" I asked, not quite believing my own ears, "as in breaking and entering?"
Tony huffed "I was going to tell you at the inn. And it wasn't going to be breaking and entering per se, we would just go and have a little look around," he grumbled.
"Tony, that is breaking and entering, for crying out loud! I know that your team probably won't back out because they're almost as crazy as you are-"
this statement was countered by two "hey!"s and an "oi!", but I think that deep down we all knew I was right,
"-but would it kill you to show your them a little trust? Now you conveniently eliminated any real option of backing out for them. These idiots-"
again two "hey!"s and an "oi!",
"- will walk through fire for you. But for fuck's sake, let them do it on their own terms!"
Tony snorted "And what about you? What will you walk through for me?"
"If you really need to ask, you're stupider than I thought. And that's saying something."
I shook my head in exasperation and left him standing there, as I was heading towards the inn.
…
Lucy:
Was I disappointed? Maybe a bit.
Was I surprised? Not in the slightest.
Quill was right – I would go through fire for Lockwood, and maybe that made me an idiot, but I knew that Lockwood would do the same for me and that made up for it, right?
I put a hand on Lockwood's arm and gave him a reassuring smile.
Besides, I supposed I had gotten used to all the secrecy. Lockwood had never been the most forthcoming person. He always played his cards close to the vest and preferred revealing the entire plan with a dramatic flourish just before the shit hit the fan. It certainly kept things interesting, but it did also keep things dangerous.
The village was a beautiful place with its quaint cottages and small winding streets. We had a good view of it from where we stood. Forest surrounded the area but opened up behind the church to hills of green grass flowing in the wind like waves on a lake.
We crossed the river over the small bridge and reached road leading to the inn.
"It's almost too pretty to be haunted," Holly remarked.
I almost let out a snort. Ghosts didn't care about beauty.
"It might be pretty, but look at that," I pointed to a large burnt circle on the side of the road. Pieces of debris were still smouldering in a pile. "This looks like it's from last night or early this morning. They've been burning something,"
"Or someone," Quill added. I shoved his shoulder and he grinned at me.
George kneeled next to it and studied the pile "Well, I don't see anything that looks human. They might have been burning things they suspect are sources,"
I rolled my eyes "No kidding. People tend to panic-burn when they don't have an agency."
"Look there," Lockwood pointed at something between the chestnut trees.
"Must be that old cross the boy mentioned," Holly pointed out.
I hadn't been there when they met the client, so I didn't know its significance, "what cross?"
"Skinner mentioned an old cross that depicted a Creeping Shadow raising the dead in its wake, somehow predicting the issue here." Lockwood provided.
George was already walking towards it "I want to get a closer look," he called over his shoulder.
He led the way and the rest of us followed through the grass which was still wet with dew and glittering in the sunlight.
As we walked, our boots became soaked and I could feel my leggings becoming damp as well. I looked over my shoulder and saw that we were leaving dark trails in our wake as we disturbed the wet grass.
By the time I reached the cross, George was already studying whatever had been etched into the stone. Quill came to a stand so close to me that I could smell the now familiar scent coming off him.
"There he is," Lockwood pointed, "our Creeping Shadow."
George ran his fingers over the stone, "I was at the Archives yesterday and I found a reference to it. It's supposed to be a depiction of Judgement Day. That there," he pointed at the large figure Lockwood had pointed out as the Creeping Shadow, "is supposed to be an angel, taking the souls with it to Heaven. It was a common theme around the country. Many villages have the same sort standing around."
"And what are the odds that we're dealing with Judgement Day?" Holly asked rhetorically.
Quill snorted next to me, "Let's call it slim to none."
"Oi!" a voice yelled at us from afar. We looked around and saw the client swinging on a wooden gate that was hanging precariously from two loose looking hinges attached to a fence that surrounded the Old Sun Inn.
As we got closer, I saw that our supposed client was nothing more that a slip of a boy with protruding features which gave him the look of an ugly baby bird or maybe a mouse.
"Took you long enough!" he yelled at us, "the Shadow walked again last night along with the dead and you lot missed it!" he sounded impatient as if he had expected that we hadn't had anything better to do. I supposed that they could have come sooner if I hadn't been injured, but after the previous revelation, I wondered if Lockwood would even have come at all, if not for his hidden agenda. That thought made me slightly uncomfortable even if our client did seem rather annoying at the first impression.
...
Quill:
The inside of the Inn was much like the outside. Run-down like someone had stopped caring a long time ago, but only trudged on due to obligation.
"You want some lemonade?" the little goblin of a boy asked.
Tony shrugged, "maybe after we see our rooms. We need to set these down" he nudged the bags which we had put down on the flagstone floor.
"You want rooms? But won't you be out fighting Visitors all night? There're certainly enough of them."
"Even if we were out all night, we would still need to sleep sometime," Lucy pointed out impatiently
The creature shrugged indifferently "I'll go ask Pops," he bounded off like a squirrel on its fourth espresso.
"Am I the only one who –"
"No, the rest of us feel like punching him too." Tony finished.
I snorted "At least we agree on something then," I smirked a little
"I'll hold him down" he offered with a grin.
"Deal"
The boy returned not long after and while we didn't make good on our agreement, my hands were tickling more by the minute.
He came carrying two keys as if he had brought some sort of grand prize. "I got your keys."
"That's lovely, but why are there only two of them?" Munro asked.
The little nuisance shrugged "We only have the two rooms available."
"No, no, no – I booked for five of us," she pointed out a pit frantically.
We looked around at each other as the implications started setting in. Well, some scenarios were more horrific than others.
"There are five beds, well four, one's a double. This room," he held up one key, "has two singles, and this one," he held up the other, "has the double and then a camp bed at the end. There's a storeroom as well that could be used for sleeping in, but the ghost is in the way of that."
Munro, fast as a bloody cobra, snatched the key for the room with two singles "Come on, Lucy," she grabbed her by the sleeve and pulled her towards the stairs, "Good luck deciding who gets the camp bed, boys," she called sardonically over her shoulder.
Delightful my foot.
…
Lucy:
The room was nicer than I'd thought it would be. It was light and airy. The window, which gave a beautiful view over the green, was open just a crack to let in some of the crisp spring air and there was a vase full of fresh lavender on the sill. The fresh air and chimes and jangles of iron charms from outside reminded me of home.
We put down our bags with heavy thuds and I threw myself onto the nearest bed. I awkwardly pulled off my boots and threw them on the floor at random. My ankle was throbbing slightly from our walk here and I knew I ought to rest it before whatever events the night would bring.
"You know you can tell me anything, right, Lucy?" Holly told me as she picked up my boots and set them neatly down near the door. She sat down next to me on the bed as if she were a mother caring for a sick child. At least that's how I imagined it would be. My own mother had never actually done that.
I huffed a little laugh "Like what, Holly?"
She shrugged "You know, things. Fears, dreams," she gave me a small smirk, "boys…" she trailed off and grinned at me.
I know I blushed, and I hated that I did. "I don't know what you're talking about," I hurried out.
Holly snorted inelegantly, "Of course you don't," she mumbled, almost to herself.
"But I will tell you that I'm thankful," I told her honestly, "You've helped me so much recently, I don't know how I can ever repay you,"
She gave me an incredulous and somewhat pitying look that made me deeply uncomfortable.
"You really don't know how to do this, do you?" she gathered.
I didn't get it "Do what?" I asked, perhaps a bit waspishly.
"This whole caring-thing," she shook her head.
"I care!" I protested.
She chuckled a little "Of course you care. I know you do. But you don't know how to be cared for,"
I rolled my eyes "I didn't know that was a required skill." I snarked and shifted a little. I felt more and more ill at ease with this conversation.
She raised her hands placatingly "Just know that I'm here for you. And you don't owe me anything."
"We should probably get down to the boys," I sat up, putting an end to this touchy-feely stuff, "We need to get a better idea of what's going on here and then set up our stuff."
Holly shook her head at me, and we got up. Before we reached the door, I grabbed her arm,
"Thank you, Holly." I tried to pour my gratitude into the look I gave her and the way I squeezed her arm.
She gave me a little smile "Anytime, Lucy."
…
Quill:
It had been quite an argument in which I was by far the greatest loser. I was wallowing when the girls joined us.
"I did not sign up for this," I grumbled.
"I take it Lockwood won the camp bed?" Lucy concluded as she and Munro entered the bar.
Tony looked far too smug "Leaders' prerogative,"
"I'd rather face a hundred Raw-bones than wake up next to you, Cubbins," I moaned and got an idea, "I don't suppose you'd want to trade places with Lucy?" I grinned wickedly.
"No!" three panicked voices exclaimed. I was more than pleased when I noticed that Lucy had not been one of them. She only looked at me incredulously with a slightly pink tone to her cheeks.
I knew there was no hope for anything between us. She was in love with Tony after all, but it was nice to know that she wasn't completely horrified by the idea.
Tony looked at me with narrowed eyes and was no doubt about to tell me off, when the goblin arrived with his father, carrying lemonade for all of us.
Together they gave us a summary of the ghost activity and it was quite something. There were dozens of ghosts and that was just at the centre around the green. When they'd given us the information, they left us to strategize.
"We need to split up," Munro suggested, "Otherwise we'll be staying here for weeks,"
I shuddered at the thought of sharing a bed with Cubbins for an extended period of time.
"In that case, I suggest that one team will stay here and take care of the Shining Boy here at the inn. That will make it easier for us to come and go as we please and give either Kipps or George the option of sleeping in that storeroom off the hall," Tony suggested.
"Right you are, Lockwood," Cubbins took over. "I suggest that Kipps stays here close to the inn because he's blind as a mole and Lucy should stay here too. That way she can rest her leg. I can stay with them," he offered.
Tony looked like he was about to object, but thought better of it. It was a compelling argument Cubbins had made and it almost sounded rehearsed so I wondered what he was playing at.
"No offense Kipps, but you're absolutely useless here," Tony started instead and I wondered how that wasn't offensive, even though he had a point. "Why did you even invite him, George?"
Cubbins shrugged, "safety in numbers et cetera. Besides, I have some experiments I'd like to conduct," he rubbed his hands together, truly looking like a mad scientist and I started to wonder if I might have made a mistake in coming along.
Tony grinned at me, obviously expecting me to go through quite the ordeal.
"Right!" he clapped his hands together, obviously in a better mood, "we have some hours to kill before we need to get started, so try to rest, recharge a little and make sure you have everything you need. We'll meet here again at half past four to get set up, so that gives us," he looked at his watch, "just about three hours. Use them well."
With that, we went our separate ways.