Hero

Lieutenant Woods —

For the first time in a long time, I checked my watch, anticipating the time when I would leave these stark white walls.

Hospitals. Man, I bloody hate them.

“Let’s see here, Woods. Blood pressure is good. Mostly, you have a clean bill of health. You are strong as a bull, given what you’ve gone through.”

“Heh…yeah.”

“Remember, if you start feeling lightheaded or anything feels off, come in, alright? You lost a lot of blood that night. You’re lucky to be alive. Now then, I will have Sheryl write up that prescription for you, and we can schedule that follow-up check-up. We have to talk about it eventually, you know.”

“I would prefer later, Doc.”

The doctor shot me some side-eye before passing me my coat. I get it, I do, but sometimes you just don’t want to dredge up things. You know? Leave it for your future self to handle, only for them to say the same.

<<In other news, local law enforcement has been thrust into the national spotlight. Hours after a groundbreaking rescue operation, Lieutenant Woods and Frank Delaney of the Hallows Grove Police Department are being hailed as heroes. For years, children had been mysteriously vanishing—a series of disappearances long attributed to a shadowy figure known only as ‘The Piper’—a name that had become synonymous with terror in local communities.

Multiple missing children have been reunited with their families, with victims identified spanning decades—some now in their early thirties. In an earlier press conference, the Chief of Police commended the officers’ extraordinary work and called their investigation a ‘remarkable breakthrough’ in a case that had long haunted the community. While the suspected mastermind remains in custody, authorities continue to withhold specific names and images pending further investigation.>>

“Oh, for the love of—you mind turning that down,” one of the older patients sitting in the waiting room spat. She was slouching over with a heavy scowl.

“Sorry, Miss O’Connor?” mused the receptionist. Taking a moment, she noted the television volume before turning to the feeble elderly woman huddled up. “Miss O’Connor, could you have turned your hearing aid up too much?”

“Why are you yelling at me?! Young people these days have no respect!”

“How’s that, Miss O’Connor?”

“Oh, what do you know? How did that happen?”

“Who knows, right? Right—ahh, Woods. Be right there.”

“It’s alright. Take your time. I am in no rush.”

“Come now, who am I to keep the hero of Hallow Grove City waiting?”

“Oh no, not you, too.”

“Of course! You know, I had a friend whose brother went missing sometime back. I think he would be around 19 or 20 now. They used to play and hang out all the time and watch movies together when he came home from being on leave. It tore him up when his little brother disappeared. Broke the whole family apart. You wouldn’t…”

My gaze at Sheryl’s face revealed her request.

“It might take a while, given how many people were there. But I will look into it.”

“And that’s why you’re being hailed as a hero. You’re a good guy, Woods. Thank you. Oh—before I forget, here’s that prescription. It also says. I should pencil you in for an appointment…”

“Ahh, let’s hold off on that for now,” I said. “As you can see, it’s going to be busy, so let me figure some things out, yeah?”

***

After I left the hospital, I went to my favorite spot, the Cross Brass Tavern, where I knew some deputies were gathered. They were celebrating a case closed and a job well done. To my surprise, Frankie wasn’t there. He had been off the grid handling our problem—the witch and its remains—all by himself.

I can’t quite understand why he felt the need to tackle this alone. I was keen to lend a hand, curious to witness this situation up close and personally. Honestly, I still have my doubts; I really wanted to uncover what was behind the grim nightmares plaguing everyone in the city. I’ve faced my share of monsters, but a witch? That’s a whole different story—something that’s meant to be long gone. Yet, Frank seemed determined to keep me out of it, insisting that even the remnants could pose a serious threat.

When did he become a witch expert?

“Check it out! It’s Lieutenant Woods!”

“The Hero of Hallow Grove!”

“First round is on me,” shouted a big jolly fellow. No, not Santa, but pretty damn close with the grays to compete. The Chief of Police Joaquin Torres. “Frank’s not with you. How unfortunate.”

“He’s busy taking care of personal things, Sir.”

“Sir? Relax, Woods. We aren’t on duty. Come, come. Sit. I mean it, first round's on me.”

The chief of police has been very busy these past few days, standing up in front of many press to commend our work and its results. I don’t know how he does it. Personally, I am not a fan of all the flashing lights and the heckling of the reporters with its ensuing barrage of questions. Sure, he is doing it because that is his job, but he also does it in part for all of us. If I had a hero, I suppose it would be this big guy here.

Someone passed me a pint of ale, and one deputy immediately called for my attention. Even though they weren’t my guys, they had stars in their eyes, showing admiration and praise.

“Let me buy you a round as well,” chimed another.

Next thing you’re several rounds in, and you’ve found that sweet spot that eases you on one hell of a ride.

***

“Jack…”

Only one person called me that so freely, without a care in the world, and with such a gentle smile that could light up a room. I swear she was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen—so stunning that just being in the same room with her left me shaking in my boots.

“Hey, handsome,” she would tease, pouring me a drink and leaving me to scurry off speechless to Frankie to play darts with. Even from afar, in between others who ordered, she would take a moment to glance in my direction.

“Jack…”

The blurry sight of me losing on purpose to encourage Frankie to stay with me faded, leaving me to awake. I found myself slinging over to face a pair of crimson-red eyes with a heavy scowl. The sight of disdain had peeked through clear and sharp amongst the bubbling cinnamon burbs and the riddled pits of my stomach.

“Rose…”

“No.” The curt voice shot. “Truly unbelievable you are. Getting drunk at this hour.”

“Oh, it’s you.”

“Yeah, me! Remember you telling me how you try to do better.”

My head ached as her words went in one ear and out the other. Can she not do this right now? Not with a few of the deputies already eyeing that look. You know, the one where you did something bad or did not do something at all. The one where your wife chews you out without a care in the world in front of your mates for something as trivial as not taking out the trash or leaving a sock in the wrong place. I mean, I don’t have a wife, so I can’t really say for sure, but that’s how the mates who do, describe it.

“What are you doing here, Siri?”

“What am I doing here? Is this some kind of joke? I called you seven times, and not once did you answer!”

“Alright, indoor voices, yeah?”

Her lip quivered, almost a snarl, as her fangs caught the light. She wore her usual incognito look for crowded places—a trendy oversized coat, hat, and shades—all to conceal what she was from the passing crowds.

“I’m just doing a bit of celebrating, you know.”

“So you can escape responsibilities,” she spat back.

“Oh please, don’t give me that. I work hard, too, you know.”

“Hmm, yeah, sure, looks like it.”

“Watch your mouth—”

“Or what? Are you going to ground me? Put me in time out. You sure missed out on that opportunity. Just like when Mum died.”

“Siri!”

“Ah, now we’re sobered up! HMPH! Here, and congratulations, Mister Hero.”

Siri stormed off, but not before shoving a gift bag into my chest. Inside, I found a few items, one of which was a small, folded piece of paper. It featured a drawing of a man with a rough brown beard standing to one side, holding hands with a little girl who clutched another hand. Both the girl and the woman had raven-dark hair. The artist drew the artwork in a rough crayon style, with a chaotic background filled with scribbles. It seemed clear to me that this was an old piece she must have drawn years ago.

The other thing that caught my eye inside was the vinyl record of my favorite album, as it contained a song on its list that I could never forget. It stuck out as something I even hummed occasionally because it reminded me of my first night when I worked up the courage to talk to the love of my life.

Siri could not have known, so I speculated about the gift’s source.

What a hero I am…

Who knows how long I thought about it before finally gathering the courage to reach into my pocket to retrieve my phone and call a particular individual.

I suppose we take our first steps somewhere…

I could not even scroll through my contacts when a call came in with a distressing name lingering on the screen. How she got my number was more concerning than the words I could hear over the phone.

“That can’t be, Mrs. Winters. It’s quite literally impossible. What do you mean you have proof? I—yes, okay. Fine, I will be right over.”

Had she lost her marbles? No, because the moment I hung up the phone, some deputies at the Tavern got up, their radios beeping with calls of disturbing words attached.

Someone was dead at the Winter’s Estate.