Investigation

The sky darkened as clouds suffocated the moonlight. Streetlights flickered through the dense rain. Thunder rolled through the clouds like a gentle warning.

The car ride was silent besides the sounds of the tires rolling on the soaked pavement mixed with the low groans of the engine.

“So this is the place?” Snyder murmured. 

The three men arrived in the driveway of the farmhouse. They all got out and immediately walked inside. Without a word Snyder got to work. Checking every nook and cranny for anything. 

Snyder looked at the bookcases, “You’ve checked everything?”

“Twice” Stanley responded.

Stanley observed Snyders efficient way of handling the scene. Not taking too much time in one area, but not missing a detail. “What exactly are we looking for?” 

Snyder got low to the floor, looking under the cabinets, “Anything out of place.” He huffed.

Carter and Stanley left the living room and each went into separate rooms to investigate, leaving Snyder in his own world.

Snyder ran his fingers across the wood floor scraping dust, “Old man, no wife or kids in the picture. Not out of the ordinary.” He made his way to the kitchen. At first glance nothing was out of place, the walls untouched, no dents in the fridge or washing machine, and no cracks in the wooden cabinets. Snyder grabbed his chin, “No signs of struggle.”

Stanley searched around the office space, mail was sprawled out everywhere, books and journals flung of shelf’s. On the desk was an old computer with glass scattered from the smashed screen.

Snyder stood content, holding his chin thinking of situations. Playing different outcomes in his head simultaneously. The light flickered due to the storm and then went out. All power was lost. “How unlucky.” Snyder muttered as he clicked on his flashlight. 

Carter searched around the bedroom, only to find a messy room with an unmade bed.

“Snyder, get in here.” Stanley called. 

Snyder walked through the hallway, he passed Carter who was in the bedroom. “Yes?” Snyder replied, as he walked into the office Stanley was in.

Stanley had a face of shock, “I don’t think Mr. Bradley was just a farmer. Look at this.” He said handing Snyder a book.

Snyder raised an eyebrow, “A journal?” 

Snyder flipped through pages at random, “Lab result 386” Snyder read aloud. “Another fail. It seems the subjects are still too underweight to handle the electroshock therapy.” 

Carter looked frightened, “What does that mean?” 

Snyders eyes lit up. “It means Mr. Bradley isn’t who we thought he was.” 

Stanley stood over Snyders shoulder shining his flashlight and glancing into the pages of the book. 

“Lab result 478: the subjects are starting to mutate properly. Some doubled in size, others grew limbs.” Snyder read more.

Thunder crashed loudly.

Snyder stacked all the journals and books up, “Take this out to the car, I’m gonna keep searching.”

Stanley and Carter split the tall stack of books and left with them. 

Snyder couldn’t help but laugh, “Only a bit more till I prove my theory correct.” 

Snyder walked through the house still observing any details they might’ve missed when suddenly he sees something out the window. The swaying of the barn door. Snyder headed out back towards the barn, shining his flashlight through the pouring rain. The door flung open and streaks of black ran across it. Snyders footsteps squelched in the mud. 

Bahhhh

A sheep cried just loud enough to be heard over the thunder. Snyder turned the corner and positioned his light towards the sheep, a rippling growl echoed through the barn. A black slimy figure was bent over the sheep. It had  tendrils protruding from its back, one tendril had impaled the sheep. The tendril was in a sucking motion, the bolus could be seen traveling up the tendril into the figures back. 

Snyders breath shook, “What on earth.” He whispered. “Drinking its blood?”

The creature snapped its attention towards Snyder. It stood up slowly, picking the sheep up with its tendril, still performing that same sucking motion. It let out a rippled growl as it stared at Snyder. The sucking stopped and it flung the sheep’s corpse into the barn wall. The sheep’s body crashed into the wall then thudded on the ground.

Snyder back up slowly.

“Snyder!”

“Snyder! Where’d you go?” 

Carter and Stanley called for him in the background. 

The creature tilted its head in confusion. As Snyder backed up the creature stepped closer as if they were in a stalemate. The voices of the men grew louder, 

“Snyder there you are.” Stanley called out.

Stanley and Carter began walking towards him before Snyder motioned for them to stop. 

“Huh? What’s up?” Carter asked as they defiantly kept walking.

The creature reached towards Snyder softly with its tendrils, as if it was observing him. 

Stanley and Carter saw the tendrils reach towards him and grew concerned. “The hell is that?” Stanley whispered. 

The creature growled louder and more aggressively, thunder roared and lightning tore through the sky illuminating the world for a brief moment. But in that moment the creature closed the gap between it and Snyder instantly. The creature hit Snyder with its tendrils so forcefully it sent him tumbling backward through the mud.

“Ack!” Snyder groaned. The mud squelched under his hand as he pushed himself to his knees.

Carter and Stanley stood astonished, before Stanley panicked, “Lee!” He screamed as he ran over to him, leaving Carter alone. 

The creature saw him run and charged Stanley, it ran on its hands and feet with its tendrils stabbing forward. Carter watched frightfully.

Stanley grabbed his gun and aimed at the creature, “Oh hell no!” He said as he fired, hitting every shot.

The creature fell in the mud, not getting back up.

“Are you alright!” Stanley panicked as he helped Snyder to his feet.

Snyder held his side and limped over to the creature. “You are magnificent.” He said euphorically. 

Carter ran to the men, “Are you insane, get away from it!” He commanded as he tried to pull Snyder back. 

Snyder looked at the men, “It’s time we reopen Case no.317.”

Thunder stuck louder than before with the same fierce lightning.

“Guys..” Carter said horrifically, “It’s gone.”

They stood there in the pouring rain looking at the trail of black slime being slowly washed away, but no sign of the creature.