Chapter 19

Part 1

Though a welcoming breakfast, topped with mouthwatering morsels awaited me at the table; sitting opposite my disheartened friends destroyed any appetite. “Go ahead! Dig in young’uns!” Mr. Sander enthusiastically cheered, getting a bite himself of some homemade jerky. I forced a chuckle and partook. The food was amazing, and if not for my diet, I’d have downed more!

“Fate, any word from Anesha?” Zero hesitation in Demica. No regard for if Mr. Sander would hear her, which he didn’t seem to, she persisted. “Well? She’s been gone without a word since yesterday.”

“I know that.” Eying Bramble off to my side, he slept across Erna’s lap with no cares in the world. “If she wanted to talk, she’d get in contact with us. For now, let’s try to do some more research!” Trying my best to borrow our enthusiastic innkeeper’s ability to maintain an upbeat attitude, I tried to perk up! “I bet we can head over to the factory again today! I did a little reading on my phone last night and came across some good stuff!”

“Indeed, I would like to return to the factory site!” That deep voice which erupted from the other side of the breakfast table surprised us! Chester had mostly kept to himself since the night before, however, the thrill of adventure blazing in his eyes, he shot up from his seat with vigor!

“Maybe we should do some editing and VO work first, though.” Demica cut down the enthusiasm a bit.

All our gullets sufficiently filled, we returned to our room. Multiple laptops, thumb drives, microphones and smart phones cables ran crisscrossing over the wooden floor, plugging into every outlet and power strip. Admittedly, if the inn staff had seen the room, we’d have likely been thrown out for creating multiple fire hazards. Teddy and Perry plodded away, editing footage, separate from us, while Chester was busy speaking on the phone with Mr. Russel confirming our plans and status of the trip.

“Huhuhu…Demica, do you want the notes I took?”

“Yes, please. Also, stop sitting so far away! You’re making me think you don’t like us!” More persistence from Demica! I appreciated that she was doing her best to spearhead Erna’s natural reclusive nature as she shrunk into the corner.

“Dem is right, come on over Erna.” As I approached, she backed away, further burying herself into her leather belt jacket.

“Huhuhu…I…I don’t want to get in the way.”

“It’ll be easier if you come over and talk with us, you know? We’ve got to compile information to put up on social media about how the trip is going. Plus, the website could use an update on that side too.”

“…huhuhu…” Another chuckle, one of awkwardness. She wasn’t going to move on her own, I’d decided in my head, so, I decided to make her! Hoisting the recluse goblin-woman up in my arms, I carried her over to the circle of laptops and notepads Demica and I had accrued! “P-p-p-p-p-put me down.” Erna stuttered, trying her best to break free from my grasp, as I laughed to myself. Watching her flail dainty arms and legs was like a pup trying to break from its parent.

“Oh come on, don’t be like that!” It’d be a lie to say I didn’t enjoy picking with Erna. Her exaggerated reactions were a far contrast from Anesha, who’s were closer to dancing with a lioness; Erna was like playing with an aggressive Chihuahua! I placed her next to Demica, who promptly ensnared the undersized girl, dragging her onto her lap.

“If you…do that again, I swear I’ll stab you.” A threat I’d learned held zero actual weight, held less with another woman, half a foot taller, nuzzling Erna’s head.

We resumed our discussion. “Now then, like I was saying, a group called Lindor pharmaceuticals moved into Jasontown around the late 90s. A bunch of illegal dumping led to the company being sued and ultimately defunct. Erna, you have those notes about when the church went under, right?”

“Yes…it was 2001. Demica mentioned…that it was due to structural integrity issues, along with finances. Are you…huhuhu…implying that Lindor was the cause of the church getting destroyed…and maybe Rose Martin’s death?”

“Last night and this morning, I did some light research and kept coming across articles about Lindor. Mostly, all anyone would talk about were them doing illegal chemical dumping, which fits into all that documentation being burned at the factory. Wish we could confirm that for sure, because I’d like to at least know what killed Rose Martin.”

“Unlikely we’ll ever really find out.” Demica interjected. “I asked about it online, and everyone has, for the most part, totally divorced the two events. Even all the other information sharing websites I’m on don’t think there’s a connection.”

“Are you still peddling info on me?” I joked.

“Not anymore, jerk! You stopped being a top story weeks ago, after the incident in Maribel stole the whole news cycle! Almost an entire town getting blinked off the map will do that.” Leading our research, Demica had begun to use my momentary infamy online to broker information we could use for our website.

“Huhuhu…I remember reading about Maribel. I thought it was cryptid related at first…since…lots of cryptid sightings all over the world keep getting reported but…”

“But after what happened with Lauritz in the projects, it became really obvious what actually happened, right?” My dower explanation sucked all the air out of the conversation. Not my intention, but it’d been a thought lodged in the back of my mind since hearing about the incident. “News reported it as some kind terrorist of attack, chemical mismanagement by a big corporation, or even a mass suicide. No one had any idea what it really was! Hey Bramble, I have a question now that I think of it.”

The dogman familiar yawned, rolling his fat body across on the bed with glee. “Hm? How can I help you, young Fate?” A pungent odor of alcohol wafted off the fur of the fat dog.

“Why do you…no, that can wait for later. When Lauritz…died, he basically got mangled under a subway train. Was it alright that we left his – what was left of his body and that familiar’s body there?” Though my memory wasn’t totally reliable about that time, I was sure that magekin and his familiar’s bodies were completely misted by the train.

“In many cases, once a familiar’s master is killed, their bodies will break down and return to being nothing more than mana, freeing the spirit used as its catalyst. The only cases it doesn’t is when ownership is transferred, like mine.” His sluggish speech could lull anyone to sleep, but the longer the dialogue continued the more slurred Bramble got. “I remember Lady Anesha’s mother…truly a lovely woman, Lady Kiara…” Muttering a name to himself, Bramble left more questions on the table yet again.

“Angela, huh?”

“G-guys…can you listen back to this footage?” Teddy suddenly joined our research circle, unfolding his laptop and playing the video of our expedition to the factory. The footage played back, decently edited and with very few cuts, which I took in pride in knowing I’d not lost my one take ability! “I think we should redo all of it.” Pride shattered.

“What?! Why? Is it because my makeup was smudged?” Demica rose suddenly, easily lifting Erna along, like a life-sized doll in her arms.

“No. Y-you looked fine. I had P-Perry upload the shoots on social media and it’s a-already got lots of likes!” A smug grin drew across Demica’s lips. “The problem is that n-noise in the background.”

“Noise? Play it again.” Intently listening to the whole video once again yielded nothing, no overpowering sounds, aside from cicadas. “Teddy is this the same noise you’ve been hearing?”

“It’s slightly d-different.”

“…Perry, are you picking up anything on the recording equipment?”

“Well…” He groaned, tussling his dirty-blonde hair. “It’s faint…really faint if I look at the audio readout. The real problem is, even when I isolate it, I can’t pick it out. Hear, use my headphones and listen.” Even with Perry’s headphones on, I couldn’t really make out any odd noise, though the readings did show something that occasionally came up, like a voice rhythmically poking its head in and out. “Weird, right? Think it could be something…occult related?”

“…Maybe.” The thought of it being occult related unnerved me. (Maybe we should avoid going to the factory again.) It hit me then, what Teddy said the night before. “You heard this sound at the church, right Teddy?”

“Y-Yeah, I did. I’ve been hearing it for a bit now.” He confirmed.

“And you said is sounds like someone is speaking to you, but you can’t understand what it is saying?”

“Yes.”

Different thoughts began to cycle around in my brain. “My apologies, everyone! I’ve returned with news! It appears Professor Russell has deemed us worthy of further funding! He requires us to send him our footage and reports, then he will speak with the college board for us personally! What bothers you all?” Chester reentered at a tense moment, with good news that could only further my distress.

“W-We can’t send him over t-that footage. What if Professor R-Russel hears it too and thinks we’re amateurs!”

“…We can just do a VO, record it here. Honestly, I’m starting to fear that it is something cryptid or magekin related.” Even if it was the smallest likely hood, I didn’t want to endanger the others further.

“B-but we said we were going to go back to the factory any-way!”

“I’m worried. Anesha said something was dangerous in the swamp, and she’s yet to contact us, plus we have no idea where she is!”

“P-Perry, you agree with me, r-right?!” Teddy called over to Perry, who’d sat the whole time massaging his temples.

“We’ve already been there once, and we need footage! So, what if it’s a little dangerous, we’ve done stuff like that before. I think we should go!” Absolutely not what I wanted to hear.

“No!” My anger bubble over! Thinking of how dangerous it could have been ravaged me.

“You don’t want to go? Just because it’s dangerous?” Perry stood up to meet me!

“Yes, isn’t that obvious!”

“Then we may as well not even hang around you to begin with, since you’re a walking magnet for danger!”

“I…” Before anything else could happen a slap flew through the room, colliding with Perry’s cheek and sending him back against the wall! “Demica?!”

“…” His own sister, Demica, had stopped Perry cold in his tracks with a righteous slap; not uncommon with the two, but it’d years since I last saw them come to blows! “You’re way out of line, Perry. Talking like that to YOUR friend is one thing but talking like that to MY friend is something I’m not going to let stand!” Demica had moved so fast, even Erna hadn’t noticed she’d been placed back onto her own feet! “You’re 20 years old now, stop acting like a spoiled brat.”

“…You can’t tell me what to do…” With his eyes full of rage, it felt like Perry would strike back at Demica, but Chester reached his long arm across the group, clutching Perry’s hand mid action!

“Don’t.” With a single word, Chester stopped the fighting. Despite his usual jovialness, Chester remained silent as the tension melted. Everyone silently stood, trying to calm themselves. “Comrade, is it possible we can just go and try to be careful? If anything happens, we’ll drive right back!”

“…I don’t really want to.” I’d gripped so hard into my leg from frustration, it began to feel like I’d break the skin. (It’s not fair for me to do this to them. I drew all of my friends into this, and I’m ruining the trip. If…I’m not around and they lose out on every chance they have to make this club into something, it’ll be all for naught!) I relented. “…For a bit, okay. Only a little while.”

Part 2

“You kids better not do nothing risky out there! I’ll be along in an hour to check up on y’all. I’ve got to check on some other things going on, ya’ hear?” Mr. Sander was bidding us a farewell as the club began to pile into Chester’s van.

“I understand sir! We’re just going to film the stuff we shot before, so it shouldn’t take that long. Afterwards, we’ll wait for you before we go any further.” Putting on my best smile and trying to reassure the manager was hard. Even at my back, I could feel the unease build in the confines of the van. Stopping short of the door, a thought my popped into my head. “Mr. Sander, did you know a person named…Rose Martin?”

“Rose Martin? Don’t think so…” He scratched his unkempt beard. “Maybe…why?”

“Nothing, I guess.”

“Hang on, hang on! Something’s there…oh! Rose Martin; was she from the church?”

“Yeah! I mean…I think so.”

“Sister Martin was with the church if I’m remembering right. Nice lady! She disappeared years back. Too bad! Kids liked her, people in the town liked her, I liked her! Spent a lot of time running back and forth to that factory, hopefully giving those guys what for!”

“Then you also know about the illegal dumping?”

“Of course! Been here my whole life.”

“Right. Well, we’ve got to go. See you there, Mr. Sander!” Climbing into the den of touchy feelings created between the fuming Fitzpatrick siblings was uncomfortable but knowing part of it was my fault, was worse. “Guys, we’re heading to the factory. Let’s just forget everything and try to have fun. Right Chester?”

Hoping for aid in my time of crisis, I turned to my oldest friend! As he drove, turning to the back with a smile, I expected a rousing, all be it, goofy speech! “I’ve slapped you before, Perry. Don’t act like we haven’t fought before.” Demica, speaking her mind as always, jumped the gun. “We fight all the time, did as kids too. I’ve slapped, punch, kicked, and thrown you down the stairs before, so don’t act like that was reason enough for you to pout.” Erna, who’d escaped Demica, was hiding behind me, clearly anxious. “Relax Erna, he’s done the same thing to me before. It’s a part of being siblings.”

“But…you two shouldn’t do things like that. You’re lucky…to have someone you’re so close to.” She replied, stilted and monotoned.

“You’re just too sweet, is all. I’ve spent my whole life with this whinny douche bag. When he isn’t giving people the silent treatment in class, he’s mouthing off to the teachers!”

“And you’re not?” Finally, Perry began fighting back! “Back in elementary school I got in a lot of fights behind you!”

“Ones that you lost and I had to win for you!”

“N-No! That only happened once! Plus, I’ve been going to the boxing gym around the corner from the house lately.”

“Oh, you mean the one with the cute trainer? Yeah, he told me about you. Said you just go in there to try and fail at chatting up women.”

“Huh?! Y-You, guh!” The car suddenly stopped, almost launching Perry out of his seat!

“My mistake, Perry! We’ve arrived to our destination is all.” We reached the factory site within minutes, much sooner than before; likely due to Chester speeding to end the argument “Fate, Teddy, my comrades let us begin the set up!”

“Right away!”

“L-Let’s go!” I pushed Bramble off into Erna’s lap as we rushed from the van and quarreling siblings. Clearly Erna had also caught the hint as she sprinted along with us.

Part 3

As the two bickered on their own, Chester and I shooed away the many insects in the area with bug spray and set up the camera in the largest building. Noticeable mold coated the floor, entrance way, and broken windows. The brick walls were cracked with vegetation sprouting forth, leafs, mushrooms and hanging vines. “Good planning, Chester.”

“I appreciate your appreciation, comrade!” Chester let out a belly laugh while keeping an eye on the Fitzpatrick siblings. “Honestly. To such a thing would occur now! It’s been some time since they last argued so fervently!”

“Graduation, right?”

“Indeed! Teddy, you remember that day?” No response. The big guy just stared off into space, forgetting he was meant to set up a tripod. Seeing as I was still feeling guilty for his injures, I took the apparatus and set up myself.

“You hearing that noise again, Teddy?” Cicadas buzzing their song into the air overpowered anything else. If there was a strange voice, then it was drowned out.

“N-Not right now.”

“I swear Perry!” We were finally joined by our fuming friends. “You need to find an outlet for your edgy personality!”

“Whatever.” Perry walked over to me, took a deep breath and then exhaled. “I’m sorry, Fate!” Unexpectedly getting an apology completely threw me off my rocker! “I’ve been being…a jackass lately. A huge jerk, so I’m sorry!”

“Oh…uh…don’t worry about it, dude! I haven’t exactly been easy to get along with, haha!” Feeling my cheeks warm and a smile force itself onto my lips, afraid I was starting to transform, I backed away. “Hahaha!” Laughing like an idiot, I shielded that stupidly large grin.

“Hmm?” Erna leaned in, looking at my guarded, flush red face. “Seeing your face red…is pretty funny. Huhuhu!” I deserved that, her snickering at me; doesn’t mean that I’d allow her to mock me without beginning to plan my revenge!

“Then we’re all good?” Perry extended his hand, and I shook it!

“Definitely!” Quashing that dispute lifted such a weight of my shoulders, so much so I almost cried. It’d been so long since I was last on good terms with my own friends, ones I’d known for most of my life, that emotion overcame me. “Hahaha!” Laughing off the stress was all I could do.

“Good to hear. Chester, let’s get to recording this first part again!” Demica honestly seemed happy while clapping at our display.

“Certainly!” Both Chester and Demica prepared to host as Perry took to the main camera. “Oh, Erna! If you would, please make note of whatever it is Demica says. She has amassed some information about this site, which could work great for this additional footage!”

“Stop yelling, okay?!” She joked! For the first time in months, it felt like the Occult Research and study club was together again.

(At least…I can leave them with some good memories.) Erna handed over the still slumbering Bramble to Teddy, pulled out her notebook from that doctors’ bag she’d been lugging about and readied herself.

“Teddy, there is no odd sound, correct?” After cupping his ears, Teddy shook his head to Chester’s inquiry. “Excellent! Also, I’d like to propose we adlib! It will be far less stringent and the free flowing nature shall add to our natural charisma!”

“Wow! Look at you, Mr. Structure? Adlibbing?” Taunting Chester was definitely Demica’s favorite pastime.

“I simply live as planned! Planning is the forefront of running any proper organization! To think that you of all people would not believe this, woman!”

“Woman?!” A raised fist elicited a flinch from all of us! Chester tensed up, obviously catching what’d left his mouth.

“I-I apologize! Demica, forgive me!” Bowing his head and prostrating himself before the seemingly furious woman, Chester prepared for doom.

Instead, she sighed. “You dork. I’m in a good mood, so I’ll let it go! Not like you can’t take a hit anyway, even if you do look like an anemic scarecrow.” The air of the building went from dry, to a moldy grime suddenly!

“You do have tendency to strike me. I’d elect you act more ladylike!” Thicker than any humidity, the aura flooded the room almost choking me, paling in comparison however to that heat returning! Like a needle of fire being forced into my collarbone, the pain overtook most of my other senses. I caught myself wavering back and forth, losing my equilibrium.

“Sexist.” Through the soles of my sneakers, small quakes, very faint were becoming palpable but faded.

“…Y-You hear that…? Fate…” A whispered question was posed to me just nearly out of earshot. “It’s coming from the…” Teddy stared off into the building.

“Fate!” Those frigid eyes; Anesha! She stood in the doorway of the building, a clear, unfamiliar look of concern plaguing her! “Quickly, to my side!” I could barely make out a word, but it didn’t matter. While chanting a spell, slithering up the wall beside her, cracks began shattering the concrete foundation!

The splinter moved so fast, breaking off into multiple heads! Suddenly, a heavy wave of energy tugged on me, flowing backwards, shaking my balance! Chester, Demica, Erna, Perry, and Teddy; they were all in danger!

With only a split second of thought, I dashed toward Chester, the seed firing on full blast, I grabbed him by the collar and tossed him through the doorway, missing Anesha by an inch! Next, reaching over, grabbing Demica by her arm, I tossed her to Chester, who I hoped would catch her; he didn’t, but she landed on him which was good enough! Erna stood close enough to Perry that I could reach my arms around both, pulling them in close and launching them past Anesha, again, onto Chester!

All that was left was Teddy! Down at my feet, I could hear and feel a tremendously faint scraping, like knives being dragged over concreate. As I kicked off the ground, possibly because due to the forced I exerted, or whatever was causing the building to collapse, the floor gave way! A cracking, a breaking and finally…the sight of the earth beneath Teddy opening up! “Teddy!” I leapt, watching everything crumble! My hand reached his as his other remained tightly wrapped around the still sleeping Bramble. The concrete below caved in beneath us!

“Fate!” Erna yelled, trying in vain to grab me, but with the void of nothingness swallowing us up, I was happy she missed. I twisted around Teddy and Bramble, not sure where we were falling, but knowing that if we landed, it best be on top of me! In the last seconds before disappearing in that horrid pitch blackness, I saw the ceiling coming down and worried about Erna, Chester, Demica, Perry…and even Anesha for some reason.

End of chapter 19