"Here you go." Kristi handed Carrie a cup of tea.
"Thank you." Carrie took the cup as she sat on the cot facing the others who were present in the boiler room. Her heel tapped on the ground rapidly as she sipped her beverage.
"Feeling better?" Kristi enquired as she watched Carrie's reaction.
Carrie swallowed, "Mostly."
"Everyone reacts differently to their new environment." Father Khatri stated with his hands folded in front of him.
Carrie took another sip from her tea. She had just woken up after passing out for roughly three hours. Brightside, she got more sleep.
"So, the monsters from the forest, do they only come out at night?" Carrie asked as she stared at each of them.
"That's right. We've never seen one in broad daylight." Father Khatri explained.
Carrie nodded, "That's comforting."
Boyd added, "The rocks you see hanging by the doors, those are Talismans, they repel the Creatures and prevent them from coming inside. But they only work in enclosed spaces."
"That's what those are? But how?" Carrie couldn't help but ask.
"We don't know. But they keep us safe at night. It's important that they are never removed." Boyd warned her, since it is crucial to their survival.
"I don't understand. If this place is so dangerous at night, why not leave?" Carrie asked since that is what any logical person would do.
Everyone became silent at her question, and upon looking at their grim expressions, her eyes widened, "You can't."
Kenny shook his head, "None of us can. Even when we drive away, we end up back in the same place."
"But...that's impossible." Carrie exclaimed as her hands shakily held the cup. "No one leaves? I can't leave?" She asked as she began to grasp the harrowing situation she's in. Being trapped in the prayer closet and at school with her bullies was bad, this is worse.
Boyd sat in the cot across from her and leaned forward, "Carrie, listen to me, this isn't permanent. I'm trying to find us a way out, to get all of us home." He said very gently when he saw how the girl shook on the spot. "I know things are...difficult for now but trust me when I say that things were much worse two years ago."
Carrie swallowed, "Yeah, how?"
It was Khatri's turn to answer, "We didn't have the Talismans back then, we had no way to protect ourselves. Every night was all about hiding and praying they don't find you." He sighed through his nose, "I buried more bodies in a week than I did in the last two years. But Boyd came here, and we learned to organize ourselves, to make this place more livable." He said as he glanced at the man who took leadership of the town and gave them hope.
"This will all become normal for me?" Carrie asked through a cracked voice.
"Yes. But it won't be permanent." Boyd said, making another promise he intends to keep to a resident.
Carrie was silent for a moment before nodding in solemn acceptance. "I guess it could be worse." She said then took another sip of her tea to calm her stomach.
Boyd fidgeted in his seat as he took a deep breath, "Carrie, there's something I want to ask you. And this is very important."
Carrie nodded silently for him to go on.
Boyd swallowed his saliva, "In the two years I've been here, these Creatures...no one has been able to kill them." He paused for a moment, "Bullets don't work, blades don't work. They just keep walking towards you smiling and grinning." He said with so much spite and hate for these monsters, how much horror and misery they caused this town and its people. "We all believed that nothing could kill these motherfuckers...until today. So, tell me, how did you kill the very thing that is unkillable?"
Carrie's mouth fell slightly open before she promptly closed it. She knew what she did, she's not an idiot. She just blacked out. Carrie can't lie to the man who has shown her nothing but kindness and guidance since the moment she arrived. Yet, she hasn't shown anyone her power since...
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she gently set her cup on the side table. Folding her hands in her lap, she chewed on her bottom lip. She knew what she's about to do can never be taken back. But since she's trapped with these people, it's bound to come out sooner or later.
Carrie turned to Kenny, "Deputy Liu, may I please borrow your badge, I promise I'll give it right back."
Though Kenny was surprised by the sudden request, he decided to oblige her as he unclipped his badge from his shirt and gave it to Carrie.
Carrie's fingers brushed his palm as she carefully took it from him. Facing everyone with a look of discomfort, she took another deep breath and sighed. "I'm going to show you something. But can you all promise not to freak out?"
"Aside from a dead Creature, I doubt anything can surprise us." Boyd stated as they waited for Carrie to demonstrate something.
Carrie pursed her lips and breathed calmly, cradling the badge in her hands before she before she slowly opened them to drop it. But the badge didn't fall to the floor. It floated between her hands.
Everyone reacted, some later than most, varying between gasps, rapid blinking, standing up, and leaning forward.
"Oh my-Are you seeing this?" Kristi asked incredulously.
"Yes." Khatri did the sign of the cross as he stared with mouth gaping open.
"Ca-Carrie...How-uh-how are you-?" Kenny struggled to get the question out as he couldn't take his eyes off the floating badge.
"It's all about feeling and concentration for me." Carrie explained as she made the badge twirl and dance around her hand. "I only had this power for a few months."
Kenny was unable to get any words out as he released a laugh, "That's amazing."
His words made Carrie turn to him in surprise, "You're not scared?" This is the first time anyone has said anything nice about her power.
"Why would I be?" Kenny smiled, "Carrie, what you're doing is just incredible. Is that how you killed one of them?"
Carrie nodded as she levitated the badge back to Kenny who stared at it for a moment then plucked it out of the air. He was still smiling, and it made her feel good about herself.
"I wasn't lying when I said I don't remember what I did." Carrie explained, "My power reacts to my emotional state. Last night, triggered a... defense mechanism..." She sighed, "It's hard to describe. I didn't feel safe with those people in the forest. They just felt off to me. Instinctively, I got scared. The moment that thing grabbed my wrist, my power went off." She swallowed her saliva, "I believe the reason why I blacked out is so I wouldn't hesitate in my attack."
"Your body reacted in the best way only it knew how." Boyd stated, thirty years of experience taught him enough to recognize certain things about people's fight or flight response. "It was protecting you by responding to what you perceived to be an incoming assault. You were able to kill it without touching it."
Carrie nodded in agreement before looking grim, "Unfortunately, it has some drawbacks. If I'm feeling stressed, terror, rage...it can go out of control and hurt people. I try to keep it under wraps for everyone's sake." Carrie shook her head, "I don't want them fearing another monster in their midst."
Boyd gave her a sad yet understanding look. This could not have been the first time someone has seen her power.
"You had a rough time coming here. Not just from the Creatures." Boyd stated, watching Carrie nodded solemnly.
"So, what happens to me now?" Carrie asked, unsure what will become of her from this point forward.
"Well, for now, we keep quiet about this." Boyd began, "What we've seen does not leave this clinic. Not the body, not the powers."
"Is that really such a good idea Sheriff?" Kenny asked, unsure about this course of action.
"No, he's right." Khatri agreed with Boyd, "The last thing we need is to cause unnecessary panic. We don't want the residents believing there's another monster to be feared."
Carrie raised her hand, "Um, technically, I'm still a monster."
"We'll let God be the judge of that." Khatri said with a comforting smile as he caught sight of the cross hanging down her neck.
"And the dead thing? It can't stay in the boiler room forever." Kenny stated to Kristi. "My father lives here."
"I promise, we'll get rid of it." Kristi said to Kenny, "After I perform an autopsy, we'll burn the body elsewhere." Kenny gave her a look, to which she added, "By studying this thing, we may be able to learn more about it. We may not be able to get an opportunity like this again."
"Well, since I'm the only one who can kill these things, your opportunities won't diminish." Carrie shrugged, not minding the idea of killing monsters.
Kristi smiled, "Thanks Carrie."
Boyd held up a hand to stop that thought, "Let's not rush ahead. No one's asking you to hunt them down. While your power does add some extra security against them, you should not risk your life unnecessarily."
Carrie nodded, "Understood, sir."
Boyd sighed and leaned back, "Let me explain the rules of the town to you and remember that this is all for the sake of surviving each night."
Carrie nodded for him to continue.
"As I've said before, the Talismans keep the Creatures out, but can only be used in enclosed spaces. It must always be hung up. If it's on the ground, then it's just a useless rock." He paused as she registered the first rule of survival. "Secondly, do not open your doors and windows at night, keep them locked, nailed shut, and covered. They will try anything to get inside. They'll say things even you never realized about yourself to be let in before they kill you."
Carrie nodded to herself, "Talisman on wall by the door, lock doors and windows shut, and never let them in."
"It'll get easier over time." Boyd said to her then glances outside to see how much time has passed since this whole thing started. "We still have a few more hours of daylight left. I can give you the tour of the Town."
Carrie stands up then grabs the rest of her warm tea and drinking the rest until empty. She follows the sheriff to the door and out of the clinic.
This left Kristi, Kenny and Khatri alone to figure out what tools to use to do the autopsy.
Carrie followed beside Boyd as he walked through the streets, anyone who passed by greeted Boyd kindly.
"Everyone likes you." Carrie noted as they passed another resident who gives them a friendly hello. "And they're so nice."
"Given how we're all stuck together, it's important for all of us to work together, to take care of each other. It's like a big family, and it's my job to protect them." Boyd explained as they passed another broken car.
"That must be hard, but they really trust you if they've made it this far." Carrie said with a soft smile.
Boyd shared that smile, "Yeah, we've come so far." He pointed out one of the buildings, "Over there is the barn where we keep all the livestock, goats and chickens. Over there are brother and sister, Nathan and Sara Myers." He said as the young woman with brown hair and a slim build brought her brother water. "They've been here for five months."
Carrie watched them with sadness, "How've they adjusted?"
Boyd sighed through his nose, "As well as can be expected. But they're strong."
The two resumed their walk around town, spending the next two hours with Boyd pointing out more buildings until they made it up the hill where the largest house in the town stood.
"That there, is Colony House." Boyd explained as Carrie watched the people there go about their day as though they're not trapped. They were either smoking, doing laundry, talking, laughing, playing ball or badminton, or playing music inside.
"They're all so happy." Carrie said in confusion.
"Yeah, Colony House follows a different set of rules. But they still keep to the survival laws." Boyd explained as his eyes searched for someone among the crowd as he looked sad and uncomfortable being there.
"Sheriff."
They turned to see a middle-aged woman with reddish blonde hair carrying a basket of vegetables in her arms. She looked tough, stern, and not someone you wish to argue with. Yet somehow, she exuded this warmth and protection when one wants to escape the world for a bit.
"Donna. It's good to see you." Boyd greeted, though there was a tense atmosphere between them.
"You here to see Ellis?"
Boyd still had that sad regretful look as he shook his head, "No, I'm just showing our newest resident around."
Donna glanced at Carrie who had a meek look as she looked down and gave a small greeting, "Hello, ma'am."
"Does she...?" Donna turned to Boyd.
"I already informed her, she knows everything." Boyd answered her unspoken question.
"Ah, what's your name kid?" Donna asked as she got a better look at Carrie, noting how skinny and fragile she looks.
"Carrie White, ma'am."
"Hey, don't call me 'ma'am'. It's okay to call me Donna. I run Colony House by the way." Donna added as she nodded towards the mansion.
"It's...pretty big." Carrie said as she glanced at the house and everyone around it.
"Yeah, good thing too. With how many people we have, we need the space." Donna stated as she adjusted her hold on the basket. "If you're planning on living in Colony House, we can accommodate a room for you." She offered with a friendly smile.
"Is that okay, I don't wish to intrude." Carrie said, not sure if she should take her up on that. Glancing at the people enjoying themselves, she was sure she would feel stifled with such a crowd. She hasn't been around so many people since that night.
"Nonsense, we look out for each other." Boyd reminded her, "In a couple of days, we'll have a Choosing Ceremony for you, call it an official welcome. You can either live in Town, or in Colony House."
"So, where's she staying until then?" Donna asked Boyd.
"At the station with me until she chooses."
Carrie smiled up at Boyd for that. Even though it was technically a jail cell, it was still comfortable.
"Well, we're welcome to have you with us if you choose." Donna turned to Boyd, "Do you want to see Ellis?"
Boyd shook his head, "I don't think he wants to see me yet." He chewed the inside of his cheek, "Can you tell him I said 'hi'?"
Donna pursed her lips and nodded, "Sure."
Then Donna walked back to the house with her vegetables.
Boyd let out a sigh as he guided Carrie away from Colony House.
"She seems nice." Carrie said as they made their way back to town.
"Yeah, she sure is. She's tough, been here long than me." Boyd acknowledged with a sad smile.
"Who's Ellis? Is he your friend?"
"No. He's my son." Boyd answered, his eyes filled with regret and pain. "We're not on good speaking terms."
"Why?"
Boyd's silence prompted Carrie to rescind that question. "Sorry, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. Not until you're ready."
Boyd smiled a little, "Thanks Care."
Carrie was surprised at the nickname he gave her but didn't mind it since it felt nice.
Boyd stared up at the sun and let out sigh, "Well, time to ring the bell." He said as he trudged back to the station.
Carrie followed after him, "What bell?"
The made it back to the station where Boyd began to shake the bell as he made his rounds through town, the sound rang through the area for all to hear as the residents began to make their way back to their homes.
Carrie stayed beside him, not comfortable enough to be left by herself at the station. "You do this every day?"
"Before nightfall." Boyd answered as he rang the bell with every five steps he took.
Carried felt her heart drop, "That's when they come." Her hand cradled her wrist. She could still feel the woman's cold fingers on her.
"You'll be safe with me tonight. Just remember everything I told you."
"Talisman, lock door, nail windows, stay inside, don't let them in." Carried recited as they turned a corner, passing the diner.
"Good." Boyd glanced down at the bell then offered it to her, "You wanna try, my hands getting tired."
Carrie was a little surprised but didn't object as she took the bell and began to ring it in the air twice, setting a rhythm as they walked through the street.
"You know, before last night, I had hoped never to use my power." Carrie said suddenly, catching Boyd's attention.
"Something happened, didn't it?" Carrie's silence was all he needed. "You don't have to tell me if you're not ready. We've all been through something traumatic. I should know, before coming here, I was a US Soldier for thirty years, witnessed a bunch of madness and clusterfucks in just about every corner of the globe. This one being the worst by far."
"How did you manage it, your trauma?" Carrie asked as she rang the bell.
"I focus on what I still have with me. Faith, family, friends, just enough to keep me going. To keep me strong." Boyd said as he nodded to himself.
"I wish I was strong." Carrie said, looking at the ground in sadness.
Boyd glanced at her, "Oh come on, you took down a monster. You're plenty strong to me."
Carrie sighed through her nose, "Not growing up, I wasn't. I was bullied constantly at school, no one helped me."
"I'm so sorry." Boyd said, finally understanding why she was meek and quiet, "A friend of mine was bullied in school too. I did my hardest to protect him, ended up getting beat up for it. Wasn't so bad, it taught me to be stronger. It's one of the reasons why I became a soldier, to stop other bullies too."
"That's amazing." Carrie softly said, feeling a great deal of respect towards the man.
"Now we're dealing with a different set of bullies. These ones you are free to kill." Boyd said as a form of encouragement.
"That's comforting." Carrie said as they continued their rounds.
After a while, they met up with Kenny who was on his way back from the clinic.
"Everyone's in their house Sheriff." Kenny informed them.
"How's your father?" Carrie asked, concerned for the nice man.
"He's safe, Kristi and Gina are taking care of him." Kenny answered as he did a once over around them.
Boyd nodded, "Good. Best head home now. Tell your mom I said 'hi'."
"Yes, sir. Goodnight Boyd, goodnight Carrie." Kenny said as he made his way home.
Carrie watched him leave then turned to Boyd, "Shall we head on back too Sheriff?"
"Yes ma'am." Boyd said as he escorted her back to the station.
Carrie sat on her bed within her 'cell', reading the Bible while holding the cross hanging from her neck.
Boyd knocked on the open door and came inside with a plate. "Brought you a snack."
Carrie put the Bible down and accepted the plate filled with mashed potatoes, gravy and broccoli.
Carrie scooped the potatoes into her mouth. "It's good."
Boyd smiled, "How are you feeling?"
Carrie looked down as she set the plate in her lap. "Still scared."
Boyd nodded, "I know. But it's okay to be scared. It's what helps us survive."
"Something you learned in school, or the army?" Carrie asked as she scooped more potatoes into her mouth.
"Both."
Just then, they heard knocks coming from the window beside Carrie's bed.
They turned to the curtained window as whispers grew behind the glass.
"Is that them?" Carrie whispered after she swallowed her food. Her appetite left her system almost instantaneously the moment something tapped behind her.
"Yeah." Boyd whispered as he glared at the window, though he couldn't see them, he knew they were standing there smiling.
Shakily, she set the spoon back on her plate then set it on the table beside the bed. She then stood up from the mattress. She lifted her hand to move the curtain, but Boyd stops her by grabbing her hand gently.
Carrie looked behind her and saw Boyd shaking his head, "Uh, uh."
Carrie took a deep breath then whispered, "This window can't open, right?"
"No."
"Then let me see for myself...the kind of monster that stands before me. Please." Carrie added at the end.
Boyd looked between her, and the window then slowly released her hand and took a small step back.
"Alone." Carrie said then mouthed, "Trust me."
Boyd wanted to refuse, but after a moment he silently stepped away until he was just outside the room.
Carrie breathed deeply as she summoned her courage and pulled the curtain aside to see a young man standing in front of her. He looked around her age, and his blonde hair reminded her of Tommy.
"Hello Carrie." He said in a pleasant voice that sound hypnotic, yet cold and sinister.
"Hi. You look well." Carrie greeted, being cordial and polite as ever.
He smiled charmingly, "As do you. You must be feeling pretty lonely."
Carrie shrugged and looked at the ground, "Maybe a little."
He tilted his head, "I can listen if you like. I'm happy to offer my company."
Carrie shook her head, "I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I'm not good to hang out with. A lot of people can confirm that. They're scared of me. They all are."
The boy kept smiling, "You don't scare me."
Carrie looked up, still facing the ground, "You should be, and I can prove it to you from in here."
He leaned forward, pressing his hand on the glass. "Show me."
Carrie closed her eyes for a moment as the air around her became heavy. Raising her head, she breathed in through her nose then opened her eyes to give him a stony stare. Her hand came up as she focused on the boy and lifted him off the ground. His smile faltered slightly as he was moved away from the window. Carrie watched him for a long moment then smiled back as she slowly clenched her fingers into a claw.
The Creature's smile left as he felt something constricting his throat as pressure wrapped around his head. He watched helpless in the invisible hold as Carrie lifted her other hand and curled her fingers towards her palm. Then she began to twist her left wrist in one direction while her right went the opposite.
His mouth opened wide to release a loud and shrill inhuman scream as his head was slowly getting twisted at the neck.
Boyd entered and watched just behind Carrie, his eyes completely wide as he witnessed, for the very first time, a Creature dying.
The Creature's face morphed between human and monster before his head was completely ripped off his shoulders with a violent jerk of Carrie's arms, as though she was ripping a piece of paper in half.
The screams stopped the moment his head and body separated. Pieces of bone and desiccated flesh still hung from where the neck connected.
"God." Boyd whispered as he watched what was once the Creature drop to the ground.
Other Creatures from the forest appeared in their vision and approached the remains of their kind, they leaned over the pieces with curiosity on their smiling faces. Turning to Carrie and Boyd, they watched them in intrigue as they took a step forward.
Still reeling from adrenaline, Carrie raised her hands again and flexed her fingers towards her palms again then twisted her wrists.
One of them didn't lose a head, instead, Carrie tore off their arm at the shoulder with a violent jerk. A blonde woman in a headband who had an appearance of a kind older woman, stared at what was once her arm, then touched it with a look of quiet surprise. She glanced back at Carrie who smirked back at them with a look of confidence on her face.
After a long quiet moment, the Creatures dispersed, quietly walking away from the building.
Boyd carefully moved the curtain back in it place then turned to Carrie who finally relaxed her arms and nearly fell had he not caught her in time.
"Easy." Boyd whispered as he gently guided her back to her bed.
Carrie was trembling and breathing heavily, the adrenaline that coursed through her system left her shaky yet euphoric.
"I did it. I actually did it." Carrie laughed as sweat dripped down her forehead.
"Carrie..." Boyd breathed out a small laugh, "...You killed one of them... through a fucking window." He exclaimed with a wide grin.
"I know!" Carrie said excitedly then panted as she attempted to calm herself. "That was therapeutic. I didn't think killing monster would make me feel less depressed. Whew."
Looking up at Boyd, Carrie somewhat calmed down enough to talk like a normal person. "Sorry, this must make me look like a crazy person."
"Not crazy enough." Boyd said with a smile, reveling in the joy of seeing one of them get killed before his eyes.
Carrie glanced at the curtains, "I should really clean up the mess though."
Boyd laid a hand on Carrie's shoulder, "We'll worry about that in the morning. For now, just get some sleep."
Carrie pulled the covers back and climbed in as Boyd pulled the blankets over her as though she was his child.
"I think I'll sleep good tonight." Carrie smiled as she snuggled comfortably into the pillow.
"Me too."
Boyd stood up to leave, but Carrie's voice stopped him. "Hey Boyd." He turned to her, "Thank you."
"For what?" Boyd asked, feeling he should be the one saying thank you instead.
"For being so nice to me, for letting me stay here. I know it's supposed to be a jail cell, but it's more comfortable than where I lived before. You, Kenny, and everyone I met so far are really nice. No one's ever showed me that before. Aside from, three other people. So, thank you." Carrie said with soft grateful smile made her seem more child-like than ever.
Boyd had no doubt given Carrie's past with bullying. "You're welcome. Good night, Care."
"Night Boyd." Carrie said as she closed her eyes.
Boyd watched her fall asleep almost instantly before he left for his own bedroom. For the first time since he found the Talismans, he felt safe.
