R. Edinger: Night Kill

“Yes.” Chloe took hold of her dad’s hands. They were ice cold too. “Did you?”

Andrew was about to answer when there was frantic pounding at the door. Whoever it was, they seemed very much in a panicked rush. They kept knocking. Andrew left Chloe to go and answer the door. When Andrew opened the door he saw Storm standing there. Her eyeslids and face were black from the mascara. She was still crying. Her whole body was trembling. Andrew escorted her inside and shut the door. Storm was trembling so badly that Chloe put her arms around her. Andrew told the girls to go into the family room and for Chloe to start a fire. Andrew grabbed a blanket from the foyer closet and joined them soon after. Storm had taken off her coat and sat in a chair by the fireplace. She thanked Andrew for the blanket and wrapped it around herself. Storm sobbed between labored breaths. What could have upset her so much? Chloe started the fire. Andrew sat in the chair beside Storm. He knew something terrible had happened and need to find out what it was right now.

“Are you okay?” Andrew started out simple.

“Y..Yes,” Storm sniffed back her tears.

“Are you hurt?” Andrew asked. He looked Storm over and bent down to pick up her coat. There was blood smattered on the right sleeve and shoulder. Andrew did not see any wounds on Storm. So whose blood was it?

“Where you at a blood feast?” Andrew took a chance.

“No, I mean yes,” Storm violently shook her head from side to side. “But it… it was much worse. He made us do it. Why…why the house?”

“Who made you do what?” Andrew grasped hold of Storm by the shoulders.

“We killed them!” Storm shrieked. She shook loose of Andrew’s grip and headed to the front door. Andrew and Chloe went after her. Storm reached for the doorknob, but it was Chloe that stopped her. She put her arms around Storm and subdued her. Exhaustion finally caught up with Storm, and she passed out in Chloe’s arms. Chloe struggled to keep standing, and Andrew came to her aid. He picked Storm up in his arms and carried her into the family room. Andrew laid her on the sofa and covered her with the blanket. Chloe and her dad slumped down in the chairs.

“What was she talking about?” Chloe looked at her Dad for an answer.

“Storm was part of a blood feast,” Andrew explained. He glanced over at Storm who looked peaceful now. “Something went wrong.” Andrew stood up and walked over to the gun cabinet. He unlocked it and took out a Glock 9mm and belt clip holster. Andrew clipped it to his belt and also grabbed extra clips. He also grabbed the pouch with throwing stars and clipped it to his belt.

“Where are you going?” Chloe stood up.

“To the Higgins house.” Andrew put his coat on.

“How do you know she came from there?” Chloe inquired.

“Storm said ‘the house’.” Andrew looked at his daughter. “It is safe to assume Storm meant her house.” Andrew took hold of Chloe’s shoulders and looked her in the eyes. “I need you to stay with Storm and keep a watch on her. No one can leave the house. Make sure all the doors and windows are locked when I am gone.”

Andrew looked over at Storm again. She was still asleep, which was a good thing. He went on, “I am not sure what it is yet, but I need to go and find out.” Andrew now looked at his daughter, “At any sign of trouble, call the police.” Andrew kissed his daughter on the forehead and left the family room. Chloe followed behind and when Andrew left the house, she locked the door. Chloe returned to the family room and checked on the fire. She lay down on the other sofa.

Andrew parked the car on the side of the road. The Higgins house was just a short trek through the woods to the south. Andrew checked his weapons and headed into the woods. He hadn’t gone far when he noticed several tracks headed in the direction he was going. By the number of prints in the snow, Andrew knew it was a group of six or eight all together. Some prints were larger and others smaller. So there were both male and female in the group. By the distance of the steps, Andrew knew they were not in a hurry, but walked at a normal pace. Andrew continued on his way to the house.

When Andrew cleared the woods, he saw that the back door to the house had been forced open. Andrew knelt down and scanned the area. He did not see any movement. Whoever had been at the house was long gone just like Storm. Andrew was amazed that she had traveled several miles to Bayport. But it was not on foot, Storm had ride back to town. Who had given her that ride? He would have to worry about that later. Andrew figured the coast was clear, so he walked to the house. Andrew drew his weapon and stepped inside the house.

Andrew walked down the hallway. He swallowed hard and felt sick to his stomach. Someone had written in blood on the wall ‘death to the slayers’. A shiver went up his spine. Andrew continued to the living room. When he entered, Andrew drew an exasperated breath. There were two bodies lying face down on the floor. They were Knights of VanHelsing. Their weapons lay only inches away, just out of reach. Andrew felt sick to his stomach as he knelt down beside the first one. It was Darcy, his friend from the Sheriffs Department. Her blonde hair was matted with blood and her eyes were wide open. Andrew closed her eyes. Andrew turned to the other. It was Veronica, Doctor Straussman’s nurse. Her face was spattered with blood. Like Darcy, her throat had been slashed.

Andrew stood up. He left the house to get some fresh air. He walked around to clear his thoughts, but soon came upon another bloody discovery. There was another body that lay face down in the snow. Andrew knelt down. Andrew removed the hood. It was Claudia Straussman; Doctor Straussman, the one who was treating Wyatt. Andrew tossed aside the hood. Night Blade, Star Blade, and Moon Blade were dead. Andrew took out his phone and called for help.

Andrew searched the area around the body. There was a single set of prints in the snow. Andrew decided to follow to see where they led.

Andrew walked through the woods for quite some time and finally emerged on River Road. He saw relatively fresh tire tracks in the snow. The vehicle had a leak, for Andrew saw oil spots in the snow as well. It was probably and older vehicle. Andrew took out his cell phone and snapped a picture of the tire tread marks left behind. He also took a picture of the oil stains. When he had been in the woods, the majority of foot prints had been muddled due to the deep snow. But fortune must have smiled on Andrew, for there next to the tread marks were a clear and distinctive set of boot prints, along with several drops of blood. The boot impressions were set rather deep in the snow and not single flaw about them. Andrew bent down and snapped a photo of the prints. He searched his pockets and pulled out an old candy wrapper. Andrew took his pocket knife out and scraped some of the bloody snow onto the wrapper. Hopefully, the crime lab would be able to get a blood type off of the sample. Andrew closed the wrapper tightly and placed it back in his pocket. He headed back to the Higgins house. As he walked along, Andrew could hear the sirens off in the distance. Andrew looked up at the night sky. It was clear and he could see all the stars. He closed his eyes and said a prayer for the poor souls murdered this night. Andrew knew in his heart that all of this was his fault.

Nick woke up the next morning to find that Kara was not there. There was a note on her pillow. Nick opened up the note and read it…

My Dearest Nick,

I had to return to Chicago to meet with my publisher. I will be back in a few days.

Love,

Kara

Nick folded up the note and went downstairs. Last night was the first in a long time that he had actually gotten a good night sleep. The bed was very comfortable and the comforter made him feel all warm and toasty inside. Nick threw back the cover and got out of bed. He put on the robe that was set out for him on the chair. Nick left the bedroom and went downstairs.