RESTLESS WE WAIT
CHAPTER V
Thunder rolled and lightening flashed. The rain fell in heavy sheets making visibility almost nothing. Inside the car the cat lay sleeping. A sudden coldness alerted it to the presence of another.
Evil. IT was pure evil. IT boiled in anger and frustration. IT had been thwarted yet again from the prey IT sought. One reason lay unconcerned in the vehicle. IT waited until the blackness descended once more then quickly sailed into the vehicle that sat quiet before IT.
With a rush, IT slipped through the hood and into the vents, then into the car where the cat lay waiting. IT knew the cat was there and IT hated the creature even more than the frustration of going without.
The cat yawned and stretched, waiting. The only sign of life was the occasional flicking of the tail and a tremble in the whiskers. The cold did not bother her.
A finger of darkness crept through the vent, searching. Another followed, and yet another. Finally, most of the darkness was in the car, filling it with its death-like chill. Still, the cat did not move. IT became bolder and surrounded the cat, leeching the life from it.
A bright light flashed, causing pain to fill the darkness. IT howled and writhed. Another bright flash and IT lost the presence of the cat. A hiss filled the darkness, then a yowl. One final flash and IT left the car, pain and anger lanced through IT.
The cat sat, waiting, but the darkness did not return. With a loud purr, the cat slipped through the car and out, then vanished.
IT did not see. IT was hurting and hiding in the darkness. IT would return to the master, the one who called IT back into the world. IT rose and floated among the clouds until its destination was reached, then IT slipped to the ground and into a hole in the brick wall. IT would wait.
E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!
The lights in the building flashed one, twice, then went out completely. The lightening was almost continuous. The wind howled around the doors and windows. The large double doors on front of the building rattled and shook, trying to loosen their moorings.
One extra loud rumble of thunder and Henry was under the sofa, whining and shaking. The cat strolled into the room looking unconcerned, and certainly not frightened. She peered under the sofa at the shaking dog and meowed a question at him. Henry howled an answer, but refused to leave his hiding place. The cat purred at him and crawled under the couch.
E!E!E!E!E!E!E!
IT was elated. The darkness provided safety. IT slowly left the hiding place and headed for the building, but a bright flash of lightening and the return of lights inside sent IT scurrying back to the safety of the hole.
E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!
The bay doors rattled open. Flashing red and white lights played a pattern across the walls and floor. The rattling of the doors was covered by loud thunder and the sudden flash and crash of lightening.
"Get that door down!" Cap yelled over the sound of thunder. Roy pushed the button and watched the weather until the door blocked his vision. He peeled his turnout coat off and shook it out. Water droplets flew everywhere.
"Watch it, will ya!" Johnny groused as water hit him in the face. "I'm wet enough already."
"Don't feel like the Lone Ranger, Pal!" Chet grumped at the lanky paramedic.
"Coffee! I need coffee!" Marco headed for the day room. "Hey, who drank the brew and didn't put more on!"
"My fault!" Mike called as he headed for the dorms.
"Where's Henry?" Chet asked, looking around. Another flash of lightening was followed by a roll of thunder. Chet winced at the brightness. When his eyes had refocused he saw Henry's tail peeking out from under the sofa. A low whine and a soft mew was heard.
Johnny and Chet knelt by the sofa and peered under it. Henry and the cat were laying as far back under the furniture as they could get. The cat was on top of the dog holding one of Henry's ears. She licked it in a reassuring manner, then murmured to him in her own way.
"Awe, come on out, Henry. It's just a little thunder and lightening. Come on," Chet wheedled.
Johnny rolled his eyes and reached for the dog. "Come on, Henry. We're here now. Mamma Chet will protect you from the big bad thunder." He glanced at his friend to see the reaction he would get and grinned at Chet rolling his eyes.
After some coaxing the dog scooted from his hiding place and leaped at Chet.
"Oof! Henry, you big oaf! Get off me!" Chet shoved the dog from his lap and stood. "Crazy mutt."
Henry climbed on to the sofa and looked hopefully at his favorite person. The cat came out and jumped up beside the basset. She rubbed against the dog, murmuring in her own language the reassurances the hound needed. Henry flopped down and the cat climbed on top of him. She gave his ear a lick then curled up and went to sleep.
"Will you look at that," Marco said in wonder. "I've never seen a dog and cat be friends before, especially if they didn't grow up together."
"Yeah, it's weird, kinda like what's been happening around here." Johnny stood with his hands braced on his hips, looking at the pair. "Strange indeed."
"Anyone want some coffee?" Roy interrupted the two's conversation before they could actually agree on something. Chet, he noticed, was scowling at the two men.
"Sounds good, Roy," Cap answered.
"Not me, I'm turning in. If the lights go out, I want to be horizontal." Johnny stated and left the room.
"Me, too," Marco said.
E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!E!
IT waited, crushed as far into the small hole as possible. The storm had passed in the night and now bright morning sun filled the area where IT lay hidden.
Suddenly, IT felt a pull. The Master was calling, but IT could not answer, not as long as the light shone so brightly. The light hurt. IT writhed with impatience. The call was strong, stronger than it had been when first IT came to the presence.
As quickly as the call had started, it ended and IT could rest once more. IT was weak from hunger. Tonight when darkness fell, it would strike and feed. The call had been so strong. Yes, tonight IT would feed and it would answer the call.