3

Ianto was shocked to find himself being shoved into what appeared to be an old well under the house. Like a root cellar. He hit the bottom and took a moment to reconnect with the dirt, feeling the thrum of familiarity.

The ley-line was close, close enough to leach into the ground and comfort him. He looked around and saw that he was not alone. Not only were there several people huddled on one side of the pit, there was also something he really did not want to see.

A Crawler.

It was chained, like a dog with a chain around it's neck as it champed at them and kept them contained in one location. He saw not only adults but children … three kids and two adults. Shit. The adults seemed skinny but the children were well fed and he took a few moments to consider things as he let Crypto hunt about up top.

Finally an adult spoke with a hesitant whisper "I'm Mavis, this is my brother Gordon."

"I'm Ianto" Ianto replied as he rose to brush off his clothing and ignore the Crawler that lunged at him, finding the chain too short like Ianto knew it would be. Ianto showed no fear as he glared at it, then calmly swung a fist, catching it in the side of the head, as it fell he followed it down with his boot, crushing the skull with a vicious snarl.

Silence.

Ianto then turned to address them, "Right. What's the story here?"

"We … we care for the children" Mavis said softly, "We feed them, keep them quiet and every now and then THEY come down and check them. Take one away and another one arrives. We think they have another home they move them to once they are strong."

"Like… a child farm?" Ianto frowned as he tried to understand.

Bones, lots of bones back here

Ianto was horrified and tried to hide it a he looked at the children, seeing them for what they were.

Livestock.

So many shoes

This is why only one person ever leaves the building to empty the poo pot. They have all the food they need. He asked gently "How many children in the beginning?"

"There were six, then down to two … then back to four … now three." Mavis shrugged, "They find some then we must find homes … a little baby one part of it. Sweet little thing."

"Fat" Ianto guessed as Crypto showed him an image of tiny little bones that may have been it's arms "It was fat and squishy?"

"Yes"

"Yes" Ianto said blandly, "Would have been like a little suckling piglet. Probably put it on a spit"

Silence, then the woman started to hyperventilate as she backed away from him, hitting the wall.

"What do you mean!"

"Gordon, you do speak" Ianto felt anger as he looked at the man shrinking away "Did it never occur to you that the food was coming from somewhere? Let me guess, broths and nice stews. Right? You are eating the children you are raising."

Mavis turned to throw up as Gordon opened and closed his mouth, shaking his head in denial. Or … no. He knew.

I don't like any of this

"Me neither" Ianto said softly under his breath as he looked at the children who were clutching at the youngest one between them, the fear horrible to see. He could smell it. Taste it. These children knew full well what the score was, the two older ones probably here since the beginning being fed up. The little one was next to go, why they were trying to hide it between them.

Ianto cast and found none of them were of the blood, all were human. He didn't know if this would make it easier or harder for him as he told Crypto what he was thinking, the agreement coming in a soft chuff from the top of the hole.

Ianto looked up as a rope ladder was dropped over the side, Crypto now in human form as he motioned for them to hurry. Ianto helped the woman up first, then the children and lastly the man before he let himself climb.

He clambered out to find a man standing there with a gun on the dog standing with the children who were looking at it with huge eyes, the man and woman babbling for help, safety and clearly not afraid of the gun as they pointed at Ianto and said he was not alone, there was another man somewhere and he had killed the 'pet'.

Ianto felt no remorse as he nodded, letting Crypto take this one and the dog barked as he leapt at the two, letting them fall back into the pit where they screamed with fear.

"You next" Ianto said calmly to the man with the gun and the man sneered as he swung the weapon at Ianto, only to find his arm …. Gone.

Crypto snapped his jaws again, the arm on the floor writhing like a serpent as he spat out blood at it.

"Ahhh….oops?" Ianto shrugged.