Chapter 11
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After nearly two decades of what seemed like a never-ending nightmare, Patricia Jenner had finally caught her monster. After they had tazed him until he was as crisp as burnt toast, Trisha had ordered the men to haul him into the electrified transport cage. They made sure he was chained down good and tight too...everyone learns fast with the Creeper. Never underestimate the son-of-a-bitch. Never, ever, let your guard down, not for one second. That lesson was sometimes learned over and over again the hard way. Jack Sr. had nearly lost his life... but thankfully he had only suffered flesh wounds. They would heal...scarred...but heal nonetheless. Didn't seem to affect the old canker sore, however. As they drove to the secret facility, Trisha could see the elation in the old man's tired eyes. He was as eager to get started as she was. Jackie...Trisha didn't know how to measure him. Sure he wanted revenge for his brother, but something nagged at him, and he wasn't telling anyone exactly what that was.
Ah well. Time to worry about that later. For now, as Trish stared ahead with both hands firmly on the wheel, she saw the secret Facility coming into view, and a broad, malicious smile slowly spread across her features.
The Creeper had no idea what he was in for. Two thousand years of human murders were going to be answered for and she truly hoped it was going to be the most unpleasant experience of his horrible, disgusting existence. This monster needed to be wiped off the face of the Earth, but if Trisha couldn't kill him, she'd make him wish he were dead.
"It's all for you, Dar. I did it all for you." She whispered under her breath.
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Sometime in the wee hours of the morning, Ami was awoken by the priest who flashed into her mind as if in a dream, startling her awake. Groaning with a few curses mumbled in his direction, she nevertheless complied and sleepily got to her feet, looking around. The sun was barely even up yet, and the air was still a bit chilly. She tried to gather up Solarus, who sometime in the night had moved himself next to her side, without waking him but he woke up anyway, yawning and starting to show just the slightest tips of teeth poking through his gums. Ami didn't really notice or maybe it was just too early for her brain to work properly yet. She smoothed out her unruly hair, and sighed. God, but she was a filthy mess, her hair needed brushing in the worst way, her tattered clothes were caked with dirt, and her body odor was none too pleasant either. A nice, hot, shower sounded so wonderful right now, and for a moment she closed her eyes, trying to imagine herself in a nice sudsy bathtub with oils and soft music playing...and maybe even a glass of blush wine...
Are you ready, young Ami? We must go.
Ami snapped out of her thought stream rather reluctantly and bit her lower lip in a pout.
Yeah yeah...just let me feed Solarus first. He'll be crying the whole way if he doesn't get breakfast, and believe me a hungry heradus baby is not something you want to deal with. She quirked a brow at him as she sat and positioned little Solarus for nursing, who latched on rather quickly. You remember that...with Goliathus? What he was like as a little baby?
Barabas gazed at her with his ever unblinking, imposing stare. No, not really. I left the raising of the infant to Alonus, remember? I saw him as an infant...but not often. I spent more time working and paid little attention in those early years.
You regret that, don't you? Ami didn't know why she asked the question, it seemed insensitive the moment she thought it. But it was too late to take it back now.
Barabas however didn't seem to get upset at her. He only gave a forlorn sigh as he often did when these tough memories plagued him.
I regret everything.
It was all he said, and Ami felt even more guilty. She didn't mean to act that way around the priest, but sometimes Barabas made her feel a bit spiteful of him. He had gone ballistic and killed his daughter...but in a strange way Ami could understood why he had done it. After all, how much could one human mind take?
Her thoughts were interrupted by Solarus fussing. He let go of her nipple and moped up at her, tears threatening to fall at any moment. His breath was coming quickly, which was another sign he wasn't happy.
What's wrong with you?
Solarus scrunched up his face, and kicked out his feet. If he was going to have some kind of temper tantrum, it was the last thing they needed right now. But something was wrong.
Hungee.
Yes, I realize that. But why did you stop nursing?
Nooo...stop! Hungee.
Ami furrowed her brow in confusion. She tried to offer her breast again, but Solarus kicked out again and fussed up a storm.
Noooo stop! Nooo. Hungee. Hungee mumma!
Ami looked at Barabas helplessly, who now had his gaze focused on his grandson and a worried look on his face.
I fear, young Ami...that your milk has dried up. You are truly too thin, and malnourished. We must get you to the cabin as soon as possible. Once you are there...I will have to find a way to help you gain your strength again...and quickly. He shook his head slowly.
Ami blinked at him a few moments, her mouth hanging open. My milk has...dried up? It was like she couldn't believe it, despite the obvious stick-thin girl she had become. With those words she had instantly felt like a complete failure...something every mother dreaded with every fiber of her being.
Solarus was kicking more now and getting quite upset. Ami felt her heart starting to pound harder in her chest as her anxiety skyrocketed.
How am I going to feed him if I don't have any milk? As the tears started to stream down her face Barabas drew closer, and knelt down in front or her. Instantly the icy cold atmosphere he brought with him could be felt, but Ami hardly noticed even as her body shivered.
He will have to be weaned.
Now? He doesn't even have teeth yet!
Then you will have to chew up the meat for him. There is not much else in the way of choice, young Ami. I know this feeling, of helplessness. But you can do this. Perhaps you can start with the last few strips of the dried meat you have left...until at least you can catch something better. The easiest might be fish, in the river. They are plentiful now in the late Spring season. He cocked his head at her showing more compassion in his eyes than she'd ever seen before. What must be done, must be done. There is no time for deliberation.
Fiercely wiping her tears away Ami nodded and set Solarus gently down for one minute while she got the canvas bag and searched around for what remained of the jerky. She found the three meager strips, wrapped in paper, and scrunched her nose at the smell. The taste was even worse...the jerky was too old and extremely tough. But the priest was right...her choices were few in this matter...and Solarus needed something to tide him over, although she seriously doubted he was going to like this one bit.
She chewed the first piece slowly, put it on her fingers, and tried to feed it to Solarus, but he shrieked and turned his head away, the crying only getting worse.
Hungee! Hungee!
I know, baby. You have to try this. You'll like it. She hoped he couldn't sense her lie.
She pushed it near to his lips again but he turned his head away instantly, keeping his mouth shut tight.
Sollie...just try it for momma. There isn't any more milk, baby. I'm so sorry. Ami fought hard to keep her tears from returning. Her body couldn't handle it, already she felt her breath getting short again, just from the emotions overwhelming her senses.
He stopped crying, although his lips quivered and his big golden eyes blinked up at her, glistening like glass. Nooo...milk? No?
No. Momma is sick. Now you try this, and you'll like it.
And although he pouted and fussed and kicked up a storm, Ami was able to get the small amount of chewed meat into his mouth. He made the most incredulous face, and spit it out.
Nuuu! Noo momma.
It's all there is until I can find you something else. Please, just eat it!
Ami was already growing tired of the battle, and Barabas seemed to sense it.
Young Solarus, you will listen to your mother.
He squealed at the intrusion of this more powerful, echoey voice, cried for a minute, then opened up his mouth rather reluctantly. Ami couldn't help but grin as she looked over at Barabas.
He's nervous around you...but you apparently have his respect.
The priest gave only a wry smile in response.
Ami spent the next half of an hour chewing up more meat and feeding it to Solarus, who despite the faces swallowed most of it. It was amusing in a way, since he seemed to find the new taste of this food both interesting and awful at the same time. But in the end...hunger always rules out, and especially if you happen to be a heradus.
The meal thankfully appeased Solarus enough, although he grew incredibly tired after his breakfast and fell asleep within minutes. Barabas mentioned something about the new diet being difficult on him, as he was indeed still a bit young to wean, but that he would surely adjust quickly. Fresh meat would revive him in no time...if Ami could manage to catch something. She just hoped Solarus would sleep at least until they reached the cabin.
They headed what Ami guessed was probably north, and after wandering through the woods for quite a time, they finally ended up at what looked like a narrow, gravel road, that led way up the mountain. Ami stood and gazed up, squinting in the sunlight. She could see the cabin, looking like a toy house from this distance, and wanted to fall on her knees in despair.
You really think I'm going to make it all the way up there?
It is not so far as it looks. Come. Follow me.
Ami had not thought of her cozy little home nestled in the woods of the Catskills of New York for quite some time, but that's what crossed her mind now as she started the long climb up the mountain. What she wouldn't do to be back on that couch, eating her TV dinner, and being able to tell herself that this was all just a dream.
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The Facility was built to be one thing only...a prison for the Creeper. After hours of driving the truck followed a long pathway to high security gate that was falsely labeled as a top secret government area. It was a lot like Area 51...anyone caught trespassing would be shot...and very few would be stupid enough to try and break in even if they did somehow manage to find the place. Trisha punched a long set of numbers into the keypad, then touched her index finger to the scanner. The computer read her fingerprint, there was a beep, then the gate made a loud click as the lock disengaged and the gate opened. They drove through, the gate closing behind them within seconds. They drove the truck around the perimeter of the building towards the back where the truck backed up into a loading bay. As the men piled out of the back to help maneuver the cage down the ramp, Trisha got out slowly from the driver seat, keeping one eye on things as she stretched and then reached down to retie her boots, then called everyone over into a quick meeting.
"Not one of you is to put your guard down for one minute. He hasn't moved, but don't let him fool you. He isn't dead, trust me. And I don't want him to be...not yet anyway. We wouldn't want him to miss the party, now would we?"
One of her men, a man by the name of Michael, gave a slight grin in her direction. He nodded. "Don't worry, fucker isn't going anywhere. Not while I'm here."
Trisha liked Michael Dawson. Normally she didn't bother to get so formal as last names with the people she hired, but Michael was different. He was a born leader and also more intent than the others on watching this monster squirm. Once, Michael had a gorgeous daughter, fourteen and full of life. The Creeper had taken all of that away.
Well, mark up another notch on his wall of tortures. This was going to be the most satisfying night of all their lives...and it was just the icing on the cake.
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Halfway to the cabin, Ami had grown so tired and weary that she could barely hold Solarus anymore. He would slip from her grasp slightly, she'd jolt herself awake from her near sleepwalking, then the process would repeat itself all over again. The afternoon was now edging closer, and the temperature was rising quickly. The only respite was that the heavily wooded roadway provided some shade, otherwise Ami would be baking in the sun. Her thirst was so extreme. They had found a puddle of water here and there, but Barabas warned her on drinking any of it. He reminded her that standing water was not safe. They would either have to find the river or keep pressing on until they reached the cabin...whatever came first.
Solarus was still sleeping, but he would pout and make whimpering noises even though his eyes were closed.
Barabas had been talking to her the entire time, trying to keep her mind off things. It wouldn't have worked except that the bits he told her were fascinating and held her interest, even now.
The hunger changes when a heradus child weans. When they nurse they are the same as any human infant, feeding no more or less. But when they wean, the hunger grows tenfold. They will crave the meat like a drug. It is, as Alonus told me, because they have such powerful, supernatural bodies. Their growth is fast, as you have seen, far more accelerated than a human child. He turned slightly, looking behind him to check on Ami. She was still walking, but shuffling along like a zombie. Barabas turned and continued upwards.
But that accelerated growth means accelerated need for repair, and so the flesh and blood of other animals restores them and keeps them going. They must feed frequently...Alonus could eat three entire cows in a day. If she got injured, she would eat even more, and the wounds would heal as if magic...faster than a blink. Truly, they are amazing creatures...and it is a great shame that the world hates them so. It is a mortal sin...dear young Ami...to let fear and hatred to rule one's life. I wish I had known that back as a living man in ancient Rome. I would have let go of the bitterness towards the wife who left me and broke my heart, and perhaps I would have handled the situation with my daughter better. But I believe that hatred only fed my already shattered soul, and caused me to act in such a horrific manner. I can never, ever forget the look of utter betrayal and shock on my Aelia's face.
Barabas...I have a feeling...that Aelia is on the other side...just waiting for you to join her after all this time. I don't believe that grudges are held there. You don't belong here, priest. You've...been wandering too long...and suffering with these memories far longer. Goliathus did this to torment you. I think HE needs to ask YOU for forgiveness...when this is all over...
Ami's tiredness came through in her weak mind speech, but Barabas turned again, pausing to gaze at her. For the second time that day...he smiled at her. They said nothing more as the arduous climb continued.
Finally, after nearly four long hours, they were at the top. How she did it, Ami couldn't figure out, but somehow willpower alone had gotten her up this mountain. The cabin was in front of them like seeing a mirage in the desert...too hard to believe. Ami reached out and her spread hand solidly connected with the wood of the door, and the reality sank in.
The door was locked, but Barabas fixed that probem. He phased right through and undid the latch from the inside. Ami walked in, noted the mounted heads of deer and large fish from the river on the walls, and realized this was a hunting lodge. Then she walked towards a rather comfy looking couch, even as Barabas mentioned something about a bed upstairs. She put Solarus down on one end, who shuffled a bit but stayed asleep. Then she fell onto the couch and passed out into unconsciousness.
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End of Chapter 11