Costly Obsession: Animalize

  *****

  Wendy engrossed herself in Tilly’s diary while her husband made another pot of coffee for the groups inevitably long night, Officer Carpell informed the Lamb’s he was forming a search party in the effort to safely find and return their son to them while Susanne Marshall stood vigil in front of the foyer window, impatiently awaiting the headlights bearing her precious gifts from God.

  The humidity loomed outside as the tension mounted within. Each knew that within a matter of hours they could either lose their life or the life of their dearest loved one to a horrible monster, and for Susanne this truth tore her heart in two. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing Jonathan again, possibly forever this time. Just as her mind and her emotions reached the threshold of uncontrollable, bringing hot, salty tears, headlights appeared in the distance, ebbing her panic if only for a little while. Before she realized it she had run to the door, flung it open, and leapt into her estranged husband’s arms, then backed away embarrassed; attempting to regain her composure.

  For a moment the two were swept away into their own little world, seeing only each other, knowing only each other, and liking it.

  “It’s good to see you too Sue, I’m glad you called.”

  “Thanks for bringing the boys. I’ve been so worried about them... and you.”

  “My pleasure, always, and here’s the book you wanted. This is the one right?” His eyes sent her knees quaking and her heart pounding as loving thoughts and memories engulfed her warmly. Strange how even in the most horrific of circumstances one can forget the danger surrounding them when the heart is involved, but their romantic reverie was soon interrupted by three impatient adults and two very sleepy little boys.

  “I’d better get these guys back to bed before they decide they can’t sleep and want to stay up. Oh I almost forgot, Jonathan this is Wendy and Aaron Kinsington, this is my husb... this is Jonathan.” She blushed and quickly changed the subject hoping no one had noticed her faux-pah.

  “Wendy’s the resident manuscript expert around here, you can give the book to her, she knows what to do. Where can I put these two?”

  “Upstairs, second door on the left, it’s all made up.”

  “Thanks.” Susanne ushered her sleepwalkers up the stairs and lovingly tucked them in while the others skipped the pleasantries and got down to business. Wendy retreated once more to the living room in an effort to solve yet another mystery, and the men moved into the dining room to discuss the hunt. After filling Jonathan in, they put it to him, the ultimate question; was he in?

  “We’d understand completely if you don’t want to do this Jonathan, and if it wasn’t for the sensitive nature of it all, plus the fact that I’d be treated as a nut case at the department, we wouldn’t be asking you and this wouldn’t be an issue. I wouldn’t involve anyone at all outside the force if I could help it, but it seems I have no choice this time...”

  Jonathan knew this moment would come, he thought of nothing else while sitting in his old living room. He had tried to read or watch television, but one thought continued to consume his mind. Was there really such a creature as a werewolf? If there was, was it possible that that’s what was mutilating the residents of the town he had come to love so much, and why had he chosen to come back in the middle of all this? The last question he knew the answer to, but the others plagued him. What would he do? What could he do? It was while pondering these questions that he had made up his mind to help in any way possible, he couldn’t allow this thing to endanger his wife and children and he couldn’t morally remove them to his home while leaving so many others in the monster’s murderous path.

  “No, no, I understand; we’re the only ones who know about this thing and we don’t have time to convince anyone else right now. I’m in.”

  “Are you sure about this Jonathan, I mean absolutely sure? You can stay here and keep the women and your children safe if you’d rather.”

  “If you mean, do I understand that we may fail tonight and that one or all of us, including myself, may die a brutal death leaving my family alone, leaving this thing out there to continue hunting people down, possibly killing the rest of my loved ones since I wasn’t here to protect them, than yes Gary, I’m sure.”

  “Hey guys? I’m sorry to bother you....” The three men looked up to see Wendy hovering in the dining room archway with Tilly’s two tomes in hand.

  “That’s alright Wendy, we’re just getting on the same page here, besides, we can’t do much planning without knowing exactly what we’re dealing with and what we need to do to beat it. What do we need, silver bullets?” It was said as a joke, but each man had the exact same thought in the back of his mind. It was a poor attempt at levity and his remark held more truth than he wanted to admit; there may be no way of saving Michael from himself.

  “That’s just a movie thing Gary, anyway not only would it kill the beast but Michael as well. Actually I’ve been reading about a talisman in both books and I think it may help. It sounds like a long shot and I don’t put any stock in such things, or at least I didn’t use to, but according to both of these the amulet that Tilly gave the original couple prevents a full transformation from man to beast and should partially reverse a full transformation. The body would mutate, but the mind and soul would remain the same as that of the host in question; almost like an infection. Michael would still be Michael, just in a different body. This would leave the creature vulnerable to sickness, starvation, dehydration, etc., that’s probably what happened to the first creature. He was never actually ‘released’ from the curse, he simply died of thirst. If we could get that necklace and get it around Michael’s neck that would buy us some more time until I could find a way to completely reverse the hex.”

  “Where’s this talisman now?”

  Susanne had come down to join the others when Gary’s words caught her attention, “What’s this about a talisman?”

  “Wendy thinks that an amulet your grandmother had written about could help us, we’re trying to track it down now.”

  “There was some sort of strange necklace in my granny’s trunk along with the other stuff, I thought the book was the only thing she kept, but that might be it. It was quite unusual looking.”

  It seemed as if fate was finally smiling at them, giving them the brake they desperately needed.

  “Finally something is going right. Now Wendy, are you sure this pendant thing is going to work?”

  “Gary, right now, I’m not sure about much of anything. Are you? I mean I hope to God that I’m wrong about the whole thing. Werewolves, hexes, spell books, witchcraft, talismans... it’s crazy, it’s all completely insane, but Gary, for the life of me I see no other answer. My rational line of reasoning went out the window hours ago, right now I’m going one step at a time and so far the next step seems to be that talisman and please don’t ask me how it works because I’m just as thrown by all of this as you all are.”

  Wendy’s stress and frustration was seeping through. She dealt with facts, truths, science, and physical evidence; this was new and frightening territory for her. Just because she could read the words locked away in the withering pages of the three mysterious books did not mean that she could give them the answers they were seeking. She understood, but their questioning eyes looking to her wore at her mind, body, and soul. What if she was wrong? It made sense in a freaky, Twilight Zone sort of way. Wasn’t it Sherlock Holmes that once said, ‘Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth’? Then again what does he know, he’s just a character in a book; a figment of someone’s imagination.

  “I’m sorry Wendy, I didn’t realize the pressure we must be putting on you. You can only translate the words, not the truth behind them.” Quick to change the subject and the mood, Gary pressed on to more immediate and certainly urgent matters. “So we go back to the attic; it sounds like as good a place to start as any.”

  “Yeah, there could be a lot worse places we’d have to lo
ok.”

  “We may have to yet Aaron, I don’t think our friend out there will just walk up to us and say, ‘Hello, is there something I can do for you gentleman?’“ Despite himself, Aaron couldn’t help chuckling at Jonathan. This guy was alright.

  “Speaking of which, Wendy, any idea where we might find this thing?”

  “I don’t think you’re going to have to worry about that Gary, it’ll probably find you.” A chill charged down the men’s spines leaving them sullen and silent. Wendy was frighteningly right. They all knew what was ahead of them and what they had to do, and there was no time to waste.

  “What if we just wait; hold out until sunrise? No one should be out, regardless of the curfew; they’re all too scared and with good reason. This beast appears to only attack those who are outside of their homes, leaving the citizens safe. By morning Michael should be back to normal, making him harmless to us and everyone else, then we’d have no problem with this talisman thing. That would also give you more time, Wendy, to study those manuscripts, especially if that medallion doesn’t work. Right?”

  Wendy hated being the bearer of bad news; again, “Sorry Gary, but it doesn’t work that way.”

  “Why, what do you mean?” Susanne thought Gary’s idea made perfect sense, especially if it kept Jonathan out of danger.

  “You’re thinking movies again. Even though we’ve been calling this thing a werewolf, technically it isn’t, not actually anyway, at least not according to myth and legend.” Wendy could see she had lost them again.

  “According to legend a person must either be bitten by a werewolf or have an exchange of blood with one, but Michael wasn’t bitten, there’s no pack of werewolves running up the east coast. Plain and simply, Michael was cursed or more accurately, possessed. Anyone he bites won’t become another werewolf either, it’s just him.”

  “But that doesn’t explain why my plan won’t work.”

  “Well, keep in mind that he’s not an actual ‘werewolf’.”

  “Right.”

  “According to the research that I’ve been able to do so far, the transformation from man, or person, to beast actually takes place during the hosts sleep cycle.” She began flipping through her notes, instinctively tucking her hair behind her ears, “and continues until ‘the beast inside has been fulfilled’, or in other words; it lasts until the demon inside Michael has been appeased or satisfied.”

  “You mean kills someone?” Gary was beginning to get the idea.

  “Or something, yes. Full moons, sunsets, and sunrises has little or nothing to do with it, it’s just coincidence that the attacks happen at night considering that’s when most people go to sleep. It makes sense when you think about it though. I mean when you drift, or fall as Aaron does, into R.E.M. sleep your conscious mind is no longer in control leaving you vulnerable to your unconscious mind.”

  “Or something worse.”

  “There is one thing about the moon though.”

  “And that is?” It was like a tennis match between Wendy and Gary was taking place in their dining room.

  “It seems that although the moon doesn’t directly cause the transformation, it can affect it somewhat.”

  “Meaning?”

  “I think Gary wants you to get to the point, Hun.” This wasn’t the first time Aaron had had to bring Wendy’s pot to a boil and it wouldn’t be the last. He couldn’t tell if it was innocent or intentional, but his wife had a habit of drawing things out and leaving people in suspense. Of course there was a time and a place for everything... and now wasn’t it.

  “Sorry Gary, it appears that a full moon has enough influence to allow the spirit to take control of its host at any time depending on the will power of the person it indwells. A weak willed or someone prone to evil behavior would be more easily manipulated than someone with a strong moral core who would be more likely to hold out until they fell asleep. The moon’s phases can and are responsible for everything from the ebb and flow of the tides, to human behavior, even childbirth. There’s a lot we don’t know.”

  “My grandmother used to say that about babies and the full moon. She even planned my mom’s delivery by it. She told her to make sure she had everything ready by the full moon. I even kept an eye on it when I was pregnant with each of my boys.”

  “Lycanthropes have been using the lunar cycles in their rituals for centuries.” Wendy didn’t mean to ignore Susanne, once she got on her track it was full steam ahead.

  “Lycan whats?”

  “It means werewolf Gary.”

  “I see, well I think that’s enough of a lesson; unless there’s something you feel we should know.”

  “Not yet. I’ll know a lot more when I have a chance to do some work translating the other books Susanne brought me.”

  “Fine, I don’t mean to come across so harsh, but the later it gets the more likely it is that this thing has killed again.” He pushed himself away from the table and rose to his feet, knowing that if he didn’t set out on this nightmarish quest soon his courage would melt away to reveal a very confused, very scared man with a badge; whose life had been flipped upside down. He tried to use his anger, the hatred and rage that filled his heart when he thought of Frank’s tattered remains, and Harold’s arrogant impudence, but he feared giving in to these same fiery feelings even more. He needed a level head, a clear head, unpolluted by volatile emotions that could cause more damage. You don’t punish your children in anger and you don’t track down a killing machine without getting yourself or someone else caught in it if you’re blinded by rage, and though it was easier for Gary to think of the beast as a monster; a thing, instead of one of the innocent citizens he swore to protect, he fought to remember that there was a boy inside, that desperately needed his help.

  “We need to go. If this talisman is our only lead right now then we’ll just have to deal with it; take it one step at a time. Step one: find it. Step two: track down... Michael, after that....”

  The other men rose when Gary did, feeling their own nerve waning with the hour.

  “As soon as you find a reversal, or cure, or a way to safely capture this thing call me or Aaron. We can’t afford to be in the dark long.” One more idea came to him. Lowering his voice he made one more attempt at a compromise.

  “Wendy?”

  “Yes?”

  “What if we used an animal?”

  “What do you mean? As bait?”

  “Well yeah, sort of, but mostly I was thinking that if, as you said, he’d transform back after his blood lust has been filled, we could sort of sacrifice a cow or something. Michael would turn back to normal giving us a chance to safely put that thing around his neck and get him somewhere safe; for everyone. Maybe sedate him or something until he could be cured.”

  Wendy had only to give him that look for him to know he had missed the mark yet again. “I get it, it won’t work. You know Wendy you’re beginning to make me feel like an idiot.”

  “I’m so sorry Gary,” she was beginning to feel like ‘sorry’ was the only word in her vocabulary, “your idea was a really good one and it probably would have worked if it wasn’t...”

  “Wasn’t what? It’s okay Wendy. I’m sorry too. I’m just frustrated, but I’d rather know where my thinking went wrong. I won’t have you out there with me to bounce ideas off of and the sooner I get my mind in the right gear the better.” After all it was her husband that would be right along there with him.

  “Right.” She understood perfectly, “Well, like I said, it was a good idea.”

  “But?”

  “Yeah, that but, that one word changes everything doesn’t it?” she was stalling again; giving grim news was not her forte. “It wouldn’t be enough. This thing has already had a taste of what it’s like to kill a man and it won’t be satisfied with one cow or two dozen cows. In fact... it probably won’t be satisfied with just one... or two people either.” She held his gaze, the warning was accepted and understood, “and the last thing you want to do is sedate
Michael that may give the demon total control.” It was time to go.

  “Okay guys, are we ready?”

  Aaron was on auto mode. Despite the hot summer night he grabbed a light weight jacket and retrieved his phone and keys from the foyer catch all table, but when he held his wife in his arms for possibly the last time his quick little parting hug turned into the longest embrace of his life. There was so much to say and no time to say it, and though Gary and Jonathan had respectfully retreated to the doorway in a distracted conversation, it was hard to have a tender moment with an audience. All he could bring himself to say was, “You and Jeremy are the best thing in my life, you know that, right?”

  Wendy could only smile and nod at first before finally finding her missing voice, “I’ll get to work right away. I won’t let you down.” She couldn’t bring herself to say good bye. If she fell apart now she might never pick herself back up and their lives lay in her hands. She had to be strong, now more than ever.

  Aaron embraced her again, holding on to the moment for as long as he could before turning to face his fate and possibly his doom. Wendy shed not one solitary tear; for her strength was his and vice versa, but they fell heavily in her heart.

  This was too much for Susanne, who up until that moment had been politely waiting at the top of the stairs having checked on her boys. She dashed down the steps, taking them two at a time and flung herself into Jonathan’s arms; this time not backing away no matter who was looking. Her tears flowed as her thoughts and feelings poured from her.

  “Please, Jonathan, please... please promise me you’ll come back. You have to promise to come back to me, to the boys. I can’t lose you now; I’ve lost too many years with you already. I know this is the wrong time for this, but I love you and I can’t have you going out that door not knowing that.” Her words had become strained between her sobs.

  Jonathan smiled and placed a finger to her quivering lips, then took her face in his hand. He wasn’t the suavest of men, but she had done the hard part. He stared deep into her eyes, so deep she knew he could see into her soul.

  “Sshhh... it’ll be alright Sue. I love you and I’m coming back; to you and our boys. Our story’s not done yet. I promise.” With that he kissed her so gently yet so passionately she went weak, but he held her firm. It was their moment now and the others respected that.

  As Jonathan embraced her for the first time in years he whispered softly, “Take care of our boys my love.” With that the farewells were complete and the three men closed the door behind them and walked out into the misting rain; to find a monster and free a boy.