Down at the house, Colton Pry, 47 years old, balding and plump at a short five-foot-eight, rocked slowly in a wooden rocking chair. Now that they'd made it to the house, undetected by authorities, he'd finally allowed himself to relax. As he sank into the chair, Colton's mind went over the plan he'd devised. They'd left a ransom note in the bedroom of the older girl, instructing the parents to leave two-hundred-thousand in a paper bag along a specific mile marker on one of the nearby trails. He'd send his little brother to collect, and once he called to confirm, Colton would drop the girls off at a random location where they could run for help. It was such a simple plan with a large reward, but Colton kind of hoped the parents wouldn't be able to collect the money, so he could keep the girls and have some fun with them. It may mean taking care of his little brother if he tried to stop him, but Ben was a pathetic druggy; no one would miss him. With a broken-toothed smile, Colton stroked the barrel of his shotgun sensually and drifted into dark fantasies.
—
Inside the kitchen, lit only by a few candles, his younger brother, Ben, a lanky, frail thirty-something with dirty blond hair and a scratchy face, scarred from years of meth, was in the process of frying up some hamburger meat on a portable stove they'd lugged in with them. They'd selected the home because it had been abandoned for some time and had no working utilities, leaving them isolated and away from prying eyes. The sizzle from the frying pan sounded loud to his ears in the silence of the kitchen. Seasoning the meat, his stomach rumbled in anticipation. He hadn't felt hungry for the last three days while arranging and carrying out his brother's plan, but now that they were safe in hiding, his stomach had screamed at him. As he flipped one of the burgers, he suddenly turned his head as something caught the corner of his eye, but nothing was there. The candles cast flickering shadows on the walls and gave the room an eerie feel that the younger brother didn't much care for. He was already tense because of the situation. He'd agreed to help his brother with the kidnapping so he could score some cold, hard cash for his drug habit, but he also knew his brother was a disgusting pervert. He did not want anything to happen to the kids, and he hoped his brother would stick to the agreement to drop the girls off once he collected the ransom. Worry ate at him, but the sizzle of the meat brought his attention back to the task at hand, and he flipped the meat again.
CRASH!
Ben jumped from the sudden sound, pulling the frying pan off the stove in a knee-jerk reaction, which sent the meat spilling on the floor.
"SHIT!" Ben cursed as hot grease splashed on his skin. Grabbing a towel, he wiped the grease off as fast as he could, then wrapped the towel around his hand. He turned to investigate the source of the crash and saw that a mason jar had fallen off the paint-chipped curio cabinet in the corner, "What in the blue hell?"
He went over and knelt, picked up a shard of glass, and peered at it closely. Something fluttered out of the corner of his eye, and he turned to look down the hallway towards the bedrooms. He watched the door to the bathroom creak open slowly.
Did one of the kids get loose? Ben wondered as he stood and slowly made his way down the hallway. When he reached the door, he saw that it was cracked open about a foot. He grasped the handle, pulled the door open roughly, and growled into the bathroom, "Don't move, kid!"
Only a crusty porcelain toilet greeted him. Ben scanned around the small half bath and squinted his eyes to see if one of the kids was scrunched in a corner, but there was nothing. A sudden chill scurried up his back as he felt a warm breath flutter across his neck and ear, and a low guttural growl followed. Two red light spheres that were floating in the air glared at Ben when he turned abruptly; their glow illuminated the shadow of a face with gleaming white fangs. Screaming, Ben fell back and painfully jammed his upper back against the rim of the toilet.
The bathroom door slammed shut, striking his left knee, and he yelped in sharp pain. Ben gripped his knee, hot tears burning his eyes, and groaned softly. The sudden silence was deafening. He held his breath as he listened, and the bathroom door scratched almost imperceptibly. Slow, repeated scratches traveled up the door from the floor towards the door knob. Ben shook as the scratches got quicker, almost in tune to his own increasing heartbeat, until the sound stopped. Ben couldn't believe it. Shit! We're in a haunted house!
Shaking, Ben started to pull himself up when the doorknob twisted violently, as if something was trying to get in. Ben frantically looked around for any kind of weapon, but the long-since abandoned house afforded him nothing. He spied the lone window and ran to it. He pulled at the sill, trying to lift it, but it had long been painted shut. He scrambled to pull and pry it loose when the doorknob stopped rattling. Turning and pressing himself against the wall, Ben tried to slow his rapid trembling breath, and after a full minute of silence, he took tentative steps towards the door. Ben reached for the door, had to use both hands to steady himself, and slowly wrapped his thin fingers around the knob. Taking a deep breath, he slowly twisted the knob.
Ben screamed as the door ripped open and was greeted by terror itself: a demon of unimaginable horror swallowed up the hallway, crimson eyes pulsing and white-hot fangs lining a snarling mouth that opened wide, and an oily voice floated to his ears: "Get. Out!"
"COLTON! COLTON!" Ben screamed his brother's name as he bolted from the bathroom past the demon and raced down the hallway towards the kitchen and back door!
"COLTON!"
The front door burst open as Colton rushed in, gun at the ready, "What the fuck is it, Ben?"
Been thrust a pointed finger down the hallway, "Monster!"
Ben then turned and nearly crashed through the screen door that was starting to swing shut. Colton cursed, cocked the shotgun, and turned his full attention to the hallway and whatever had frightened Ben. His mind was filled with dread. I swear, if one of the girls scared him like this, I will kill him!
—
Minutes before Ben's screams, Angel slipped through the bushes on the far side of the house, silent and out of sight of Colton on the back porch. Using the shadows as cover, he slipped up, pressed his back against the side of the house, and knelt down. Setting the duffel bag quietly on the grass, he fished out a modified dart gun, specially designed and made for him by an old friend from his military days, equipped to fire multiple rounds before having to re-load. Angel inspected the CO2 cartridge set into the back of the eight-inch barrel, ensuring it was full and connected properly, then pulled the clip. Angel checked the tiny two-inch darts, confirmed all six were loaded, slapped it quietly back in, and flicked the safety off. With a slow, deep breath, he slowed his heartbeat to calm himself and find his center, then moved in silence towards the back porch. In a few moments, he reached the edge of the home and waited. His patience was rewarded, as a few minutes later, loud, terrified screams rolled out of the back of the house.
A voice inside screamed for the man in the rocking chair, who shot to his feet, ripped open the screen door, and barreled inside. Angel heard the man curse at his brother, who seconds later burst from the back, nearly ripping the screen door off its hinges as he tumbled down the backstairs into the gravel path. Taking aim as the man struggled to get his footing under him from the loose gravel, Angel fired one dart, connecting perfectly into Ben's neck. Ben grabbed at the sudden sharp nick; his eyes rolled back in his head as he dropped into a heap on the ground, the potent tranquilizer taking effect immediately. Angel was relieved that Ben's mass was within the tolerance of a single dart, as sometimes it took as many as three to bring down one of his targets.
Angel prepped the next dart and waited to see if Colton would follow his younger brother outside, and his muscles tensed for the possible confrontation. When he heard Colton move deeper into the house, Angel moved in on Ben's prone body. Kneeling , he opened a pocket on his ranger vest, pulled out two heavy-duty double nylon zip-ties, and firmly secured Ben's wrists behind his back. He then ripped Ben's shoes off and did the same around his ankles. Lastly, he pulled out a smart tag and slipped it into Ben's back pocket as a backup to find him should he somehow manage to scurry off.
Satisfied Ben was secure, Angel turned and headed up the stairs, taking each step carefully to avoid making noise on the already weak and creaky wooden stairs, and lined himself up against the door frame out of sight of the entrance. He perked his ears and listened closely to any movement going on inside.
—
"God damn It!" Colton cursed as he stalked down the hallway to see what it was that frightened Ben. He reached the end of the hallway and shook his head in disgust. His brother has always been a coward, and convincing him to help with this plan turned out to be a big mistake. Now, he's bolted because he was spooked by the wind? One of the kids? What a pussy!
Colton's lips curled into a creepy smile as he contemplated the dirty thought. Given that he was standing at the entrance to the bedroom where the girls were being held, it seemed fitting to indulge in a little fun, particularly since his brother would not be present to prevent him. Fishing out a key from his hip pocket, he fed it into the keyhole, twisted to undo the bolt, pushed it open, and stepped into the bedroom.
On the only twin bed at the edge of the room, two young girls, both with short black hair, matching blue eyes and dressed only in the nightgowns they'd had on when they were taken, whimpered in fear of seeing Colton. When the brothers took them, Colton was cruel in voice and how he physically manhandled them, while Ben would be the soothing voice of reason, holding Colton back from his sick desires. Now that they saw Colton was here alone, the girls knew something bad was about to happen. The younger girl whimpered as her sister tried to put herself in front as a shield.
"I don't know what scared my brother, but I'm not leaving without my pretty little dolls." Colton pulled a hunting knife from a sheath on his belt, twisting it as he stepped forward and sliced the zip ties holding the younger girl to the bed frame. In a moment of lust, he started to explore her, and she screamed, kicking at him. Colton cursed and backhanded her hard, knocking her back against the frame.
—
Charlotte watched in deep satisfaction at Ben's reactions to her portrayal of the the tooth fairy creature from a movie Angel told her about called "Darkness Falls". His description of the demon in the story—how it looked, moved, and acted—gave her chills as she listened and knew it would be a perfect form to embrace. She had already come to terms with how she could look and figured she'd be able to imitate his description well. In time, she hoped, she'd be able to emulate any character's mannerisms and become that which evil men feared.
She embraced the power she felt, which elicited such fear from the cowardly bastard. She let him have just enough room to break from the bathroom, and admitted to herself that it was fun to watch him race past his brother and clumsily crash through the door. She knew Angel would be ready, and now it was time to turn her attention to the other bastard. Thinking about what else Angel had told her, she decided to let him come closer. She would let him wander for a few minutes before she started her second act. Staying fully invisible, Charlotte faded back into the bathroom as Colton stepped awfully close to her and turned his back to her to unlock the door across from the bathroom.
She listened as he went in and heard him curse his brother for running, and it dawned on her that that was the room the children must be in. Frightened for the children and moving swiftly yet silently, Charlotte glided into the room just as Colton struck the younger girl. Reasoning and clarity left Charlotte, and she burst into view behind Colton, her full demon form swallowing the doorway. She let out a deathly howl, focused only on Colton, deaf to the screams of the little girls.
Colton jumped to his feet, drawing his knife up in front of him in defense, and screamed.
—
Angel, having slipped into the home, heard the screams and rushed into the bedroom. He assessed the situation in a heartbeat; Charlotte, in full demon form, energy crackling around her, was moving in on Colton, who shook violently, holding his knife out in defense. Angel dropped to one knee under Charlotte's right flank and smoothly pressed the trigger, sending a dart flying into Colton's throat. He watched Colton waver and fired another round, not taking any chances.
"Charlotte." He hissed under his breath as Colton's bulk thudded hard to the floor, face down, "GO!"
Charlotte snapped to her senses and saw the little girl staring at her, scared to death and crying profusely. Their agonizing looks burned into her mind, and feeling just as frightened and cursing herself, she faded from sight. Shame filled Charlotte as she broke past the backdoor and raced out into the cold night.
Angel, swearing silently and questioning the wisdom of letting Charlotte join him, ripped another set of zip ties from his vest and secured Colton's wrists and ankles in quick succession. Satisfied he was going nowhere, he pulled his night vision goggles off and looked towards the frightened girls, "What's your name, sweetie?"
The girl stared at him blankly, tears flooding her eyes, and Angel smiled softly, repeating, "I'm Kevin. What's your name?"
The girl stuttered, "A… Amy."
Standing up, Angel gave Colton's prone form a dirty look and walked to the bed. Amy cringed back, grabbing her little sister to protect her. Angel held up his hands, "It's okay, Amy. You're safe, now."
"The monster!" She cried, looking over his shoulder at the doorway.
"That wasn't a monster; that was my partner," Angel explained, and Amy shook her head hard. Her little sister rubbed her eyes, confused, having not seen Charlotte.
"She was in a costume. Quite the performance, wouldn't you say?" Angel hoped he could get Amy to believe his story, as she wasn't calming down enough. He sat down on the bed and motioned, "Let me see your sister."
Gingerly, Amy helped her little sister up, and Angel examined the back of her head, "You got a nasty bump there."
"It hurts." The younger sister pouted.
"I know, sweetie, it'll feel better soon, I promise. What's your name?"
"Jamie."
Angel smiled at both of them, "Amy and Jamie, huh? Okay, let's get you both out of here."
Angel helped the girls up, but they locked up when Colton groaned. Angel gave Colton a kick in the gut, but he didn't move. "He's out, girls; it's okay. Come on."
Angel led the girls outside; the crisp air bit at their bare skin; only their nightwear they had when they were taken covered them, and they shivered. Angel retrieved his duffel from the bushes, and pulled out two extra-large tie-dye T-shirts. He handed them to the girls and instructed them to put them on over their nightgowns. Once they'd dropped the shirts over their heads and pulled them down, he started to lead them up the incline and towards the van.
"Where's your partner?" Amy sniffled, her voice tinged with suspicion and fear.
Angel didn't know. He was starting to think of a lot of different scenarios. Did she run away? Did she lose control and become that which he feared? And would she attack? Did she get pulled back to where she came from? He listed those thoughts, among others, as he led the kids through the woods.
"She went on ahead," He lied and kept the girls moving.
Twenty minutes later, they reached the clearing where he'd parked, and Angel pulled open the side door of the van and helped the girls inside. He threw his duffel over the passenger seat, its weight thudding on the cushion. Unclipping his gear, he shed the excess layers off of him and tossed all of it behind the driver's side chair. Grabbing the door for support, he pulled himself in and slid the door closed. Opening the cooler, he pulled out two more water bottles and handed them to the girls, "Here. This will help."
The girls were quiet, but calmer, as they sipped their waters. Angel took the moment to inform the authorities by radio of the brother's location. After he relayed the information, he replaced the radio receiver, and his mind raced about Charlotte. I hope you're safe, Charlotte, where ever you are.
His thought had barely finished when there was soft tap-tap-tap against the closed side door. The girls tensed, and Jamie let out a soft cry. Angel held up a finger to shush them, unclipped the holster, touched the top of his gun, and spoke to the door. "Who is it?"
Charlotte's soft, frightened voice bled through the door, "It's me, Angel."
Relief washed over Angel, and he smiled to the kids, "It's my partner. I'll be right back." Angel slid the door open and saw Charlotte looking distraught, sad, and embarrassed. Angel stepped out, closing the door behind him. "Are you alright?"
She bit her lip, her eyes wet. "No! I lost it. I saw him hit her, and I lost it, Angel. I let them see me. I scared them!"
"You did," Angel agreed, making Charlotte sniff harder, "But you also saved them, Charlotte. You stopped him from doing something worse. It's okay."
"No, it's not. I promised I wouldn't be seen, and I failed you!"
"Charlotte," Angel sighed softly, "Again, I agree. Yes, you did fail to adhere to the mission parameters I'd set. But I knew that this could happen. You're not trained for this. Hell, I'm not trained for this—teaming up with a demon. But you went in, green as can be, and did as well as could be expected. In fact, this was one of the easiest rescues I've made so far, and you were a big reason for that. The kids are safe, and the authorities are on their way. We'll get them to the hospital, and then you and I are going to figure all this out. Okay?"
Wiping her tears away, she sniffled and gave Angel a hopeful look, "I heard you tell the kids I'm your partner. Did you mean it? I can stay?"
"Yes. Until we can figure out who you are and where you came from, I'll accept your help. If you listen to me, let me train you how to properly carry out a mission, we can use your powers to save as many lives as possible."
Charlotte shivered violently, holding herself as his words gave her a small sense of relief. Not only was she angry at her failure, but she feared deeply that Angel would abandon her.
Turning to the van's side door, he gripped the handle, looking over his shoulder. "Now, introduce yourself to the girls so they see you're not scary, and I'll get us out of here."
Angel opened the door wide and looked inside. "Girls, I'd like for you to meet my heroic partner."
Charlotte peeked in besides Angel, who moved to go around the van to get into the driver's side, and gave the girls the most innocent look she could muster, wiping a tear from her own eye. "Hey. I'm Charlotte."
Amy still had a slightly suspicious look, "Where's your costume? You were scary!"
Charlotte blushed. "I'm so sorry I scared you! I got angry when I saw the bad man hurt your sister. I didn't mean for you to see me dressed up. My costume…" She couldn't think of an answer.
"She gave it to me outside, Amy. I have it packed away," Angel said from the driver's seat as he started the engine, covering for her. "Now get comfortable; we have a bit of a drive ahead."
Charlotte motioned for the girls to come join her as she settled her back against the side of the van. Jamie crawled over quick enough, but Amy looked uneasy. Charlotte smiled softly, with a wink, "It's Okay, I promise. If you'll trust me, I'll tell you some stories that Angel told me to make me seem scary to the bad men."
Amy paused, thinking, but finally let Charlotte take her into her arms. Charlotte held the precious girls close in a tight, protective hug and started whispering softly. Angel listened in as Charlotte told the girls the same stories he told her, changing things to make it seem like a play, and he smiled softly. She'd picked up on a lot in a short time. Hopefully, Angel thought, her memories would come back just as quick. He turned the van off the back dirt road onto the smooth asphalt of the main road, driving at a steady speed towards the nearest town as a half dozen police cars raced past him towards the abandoned house and the unconscious Pry brothers.