AN: Remember how Gespent Jaeger said they would all know him in the morning? Time to earn this M rating. All you squeamish folks, run while you can
Hunters, Strangers, And Primal Nights
Ch3: Cooking with the Phantom
It was 7:30 A.M. Most people were out at work, the children in their schools, and life was at peace. Then came the tone that would almost forever be synonymous with horror.
"This is an emergency broadcast override. This is an emergency broadcast override." From every electronic device that could receive a signal it came, in both simple audio for the radios, and full picture for anything with a screen.
For those that could see image, all they could see at first was a high backed chair, turned away from them, with a figures arms resting off to the side.
"''There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume.'" The audio suddenly became as loud and painful as a metal concert. "'If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper.'" Just as suddenly, it became as soft as a whimpering kitten. "'We can reduce the focus to a soft blur, or sharpen it to crystal clarity. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical.'" Thought all that, the video twisted and mutilated itself, like to the whims of a mad artist. "Always wanted to quote that old line, but now its true. Unless the power grid to the city goes out, I have every single one of you at my disposal, all 8.5 million people in the city, with no way for you all to turn off this broadcast."
"Some f you may be... curious as to what this is. A prank? Hacktivist terrorism? Some disgruntled employ of city hall with a flair for the theatrics? None of the above." The chair turned to reveal... something no one could put a name to. It had long lanky legs, a stocky torso, long arms, and no trace of a muzzle. No face could be seen though, for the creature seemed to be wearing a suit of metal armor. Thick black smoke seemed to twist and turn round the creature, forming into shapes and dissipating mid movement, only to reform elsewhere in the room with no rhyme or reason, like an ADD fog machine. "You see, you already know of me. Yesterday, the ZPD and ZNN both received... gift boxes from me." At both locations, faces went ashen white. "The fine reporters of ZNN determined that my little lunch box was a sick prank, that there was no way someone had sent them cooked wolf." The figure leaned forwards, a freakishly pale white face, no trace of fur, coming so close to the camera the could see skin creases. "The ZPD knows better. I sent his head with it. And now I am going to prove, just how I did it." Lights came on around the figure, revealing him to be in, of all things, a large kitchen, like that of some kind of cooking contest show. And strapped down to a large steel table, writhing against numerous chains, battered, bruised and bloody, was a large grizzly bear.
"Ladies and gentlemen, meet Mr. Stone! This mean little teddy bear here made a very big mistake! You see... I found him and his friends in a warehouse last night. And guess what they had in stock! Several hundred GALLONS of Night Howler! Why, I think that's enough to drive all of us MAD! Oh don't you folks worry your pretty little heads off though, I did my civic duty, and sent the fine officers of the ZPD after this SCUM!" At that, the figure lashed out at the bear with a cattle prod he had picked up during his speech. The anguished screams of Stone sent shivers down the spine of everyone listening, even morose to those that could see. "But of course, I couldn't give this FILTH time to escape. Oh no... so I went in and shot every single one of them but Stone here. Because, as you can all see... we had a very enthusiastic conversation." It was at that point that more inquisitive observers noticed something. The bear no longer had paws or feet. More disturbingly, large metal hooks were attached to him in various places. "And now... this little bear," The creature held a large ax over the bears head, "has reached the light at the end of the tunnel." The ax came down hard and fast on the bears neck, cleaving the head off.
"Well, that went easier then his friends... oh well, thick necks are a pain in the neck! And now... off with the fur!" The chains snapped taught, as the hooks were pulled back, the skin being torn off with them, revealing the layers of fat underneath. "Well... that's... not very appetizing... Oh well, time to trim!" The clouds of smoke began to move forwards, knives contained within, trimming away at the fat, revealing the meat and muscle underneath.
The creature turned away from the butchering process. The corpse however was in full view for the captive audience. "So, down to business. First of all, to every average Joe out there who is ready to run screaming at the first boo right now, don't. To the average citizen of this fair city, I mean absolutely no harm. In fact, for that matter, to the average criminal, I mean no ill. What I am after... is the slime that seeps thru the cracks. The rapist who is never caught. The drug lords that can hide to well. The corrupt politicians who layer themselves away from everything. But to the common criminal, you have no fear. What I am after, are those who deserve to BURN. And wouldn't you know it," there was the sound of breaking bones as Stones ribs were cut out, "the little bear back here told me so much about where he was getting his supplies. Why, who would have thought that your former assistant mayor wasn't the only one who knew how to process it... right Jaclan Anubs, of 2418 Sahara Square? Or that they had a even bigger drug lab than Bellwether ever did at 975 Limburger? Or..." At that, the figure walked over to a blind covered window and opened them, revealing a moonlight night. "That I am recording this four and a half hours in advance, and If I keep up the schedule, in about 15 minutes from the start of this broadcast, or now..." Two loud booms echoed through the city. "That you should have just heard said addresses exploding. Violently." Meanwhile, behind him, the bear had been reduced to a bare skeleton, the meat being places into containers. Save for some, which seems to have been cooking.
"Ah, and there is my preemptive victory snack. Grilled bear meat!" A small section of the figures mask opened up as he walked over to the cooked meat and he popped it in his mouth. He chewed it for a short time, and swallowed."Okay... that is definitely an acquired taste. So greasy... But anyways, I have places to be, building to rig, ah, the night is young! Oh, and of course! 'We now return control of your television set to you. Until next week, at the same time, when the control voice will take you to...' Cooking with the Phantom!"
"This was a emergency override broadcast. This was an emergency override broadcast. Have a nice day."
To say all hell broke loose after that... was an understatement...
AN: And CUT! PRINT! COOK! So... here we have undeniable proof to the city that a mad vigilante is in town. Wonder how things will go from here?
