The Egg Cult

Electricity cracked through the dark sky as it cried passionately. At the end of hill street sat an apartment building. Through the rusted gate, down the hall, and up a flight of stairs was apartment F7. Finally asleep after many days Draxton was having a competition with the thunder outside it was who could be the loudest, his snoring versus the drums of the heavens. The sound of the phone ringing interrupted this. With his eyes still closed he reached over to the nightstand. “This is Draxton Holstem ” he answered. “Oh f**k, it’s missing.” The caller replied, “What’s missing?” He asked recognizing the voice on the other line. It was Allen, an acquaintance who worked at the Bricksdale museum. “The egg, the f*****g egg is missing,” Allen said. “I need your help, not much time left.” he “What’s going on? What egg?” “they’re after me” “Who is after you, Allen?” “f**k, f**k. I don’t have time for this” And then, the phone call was over with a click. There was something wrong, but what it was, was anyone's guess. “f**k” he huffed as he got out of bed and hit the power switch on the coffee maker sitting on a table. By the time the coffee was finished brewing, his white buttoned shirt was tucked into his belted brown slacks. Pouring his cup of coffee he sat down at the table to put on and tie his black leather boots. “Was nice when it lasted, aye girl?” He said to the Pit Bull who was still laying in a nest of blankets on her spot on the bed. Her head popped up and she replied with a yip then laid her head back into the blankets. Checking his watch as he tightened it to his wrist, it was 2 am. He responded to this with a sigh, as he tied a bright red tie before putting on a long jacket. Forgetting about his coffee, he was out the door. “A bit early to be up, isn't it?” he said to some kids that were running up and down the stairs. “Please don't eat us, Mister Drac” the kids all hollered. “ugh Kids” he mumbled to himself as he walked past. Drax was hardly ever seen during the day - he was a private investigator mostly working under the cover of darkness. The children in his apartment building started the rumor that he was a vampire because he was pale, kept to himself, and was only seen at night. These rumors didn't bother him much as they kept them from playing in front of his door, for fear he was going to get them. Walking out of the main entrance he lit up a cigarette and walked to his car. His vehicle has seen better days, but when it started it would get him where he needed to go. It was a 54’ chango, even new it was never anyone's favorite vehicle. He was able to get it for cheap so he didn't mind, well until he had to walk, then he did mind it. He sat down, closed the door, and turned the key “Come on” he said as he held the key and pumped the gas. Holding his breath as the car tried to wake him up. Then it started, he let out his breath. The Chango rattled and hummed down the road. He really didn't know where he was going yet, he didn't really know anything. He did remember hearing a train in the background during the call. Train. Train. Oh, he knew his first stop. There was a railway behind the museum Allen worked. He pulled into the parking lot of the museum. It was so dark, almost pitch other than one small light coming from a window on the second floor. He reached to the backseat, feeling around for a flashlight.Then got out of the car flicking his cigarette butt into the darkness and brushing off ash from his clothing. He walked towards the light and disappeared into the cover of blackness. Click-click the light didn't go. “Sonofa” he whispered as he smacked the flashlight. It flickered as he repeated waping it at the bottom of the base. The light shot right into the surprised P.I’s eyes leaving spots in his vision for a moment or two. Walking up to the door, it was locked. Deciding to check the rear entry, used mostly by employees and deliveries. Once at the door his step caused a crunch. Shining the light at his feet. Crouching down to take closer look. “ Mhm Glass, maybe a little blood too” he said. Who's blood? It wasn't enough for the person to have died and there wasn't a trail. The glass he noticed was from the door. It was unlocked so he walked in. It was quiet and the air was still, but it wasn't peaceful - something felt crooked. That's when he heard something. A terror-filled shriek from a woman. Drax ran up the stairs following the sounds of fear. His boots thumped on every step, he wasn't trying to be sneaky anymore. Another scream lead him down a hallway, and another brought him to a door with light peeking through the cracks. Using his shoulder he forced his way through the wooden door, nearly taking it off it's hinges. Catching himself from falling he looked up. Staring back at him was a woman tied by the wrists to the ceiling. She'd been able to remove the gag that now rested on her chin. She was wearing a museum employee uniform. Her brown eyes teared up “Please, help me” she sobbed. “Do you know who did this?” Drax asked She just shook her head. Drax put his finger over his lips shushing her as he listened out the doorway. “Let's get you down from there” he said as he walked to the desk picking up a letter opener. As he sawed at the rope around her wrists he heard footsteps coming up the stairs. He wasn't sure if they heard him busting through the door or not. “s**t” he whispered jogging to the door and closing it. He didn't do much noticeable damage. luck was never on his side, but he seemed to always skirt past disaster. That is until now. He was trapped in an office, there's a tied-up broad, and incoming footsteps approached who he guessed belonged to the ones who tied her up. He noticed a closet - it was the only spot one could hide. He silently slid toward the woman - the footsteps were about to the top of the staircase. He then placed the gag back in her mouth. She began to fight to get free, her muffled whimpers hopefully couldn't be heard. “Shut the f**k up” he whispered “act like I'm not here” He ran to the closet, opened the door skipped inside. At the same moment that he closed the door, the other opened. In walked two men wearing cloaks holding gas cans that sloshed when they were set down. Drax listened through the door. One of the men didn't sound to happy about something, the other sounded nervous. “W-w-what are we gonna do Gary?” said the nervous man “Will you shut it, I'm thinking” “B-b-but if he finds out, w-w-we’re d-d-dead” Another set of footsteps were approaching the office. “Shut up and let me do the talking,” Gary told him. The nervous man replied with a nod as another man walked in, wearing a red cloak. “Hurry up youse two, Tock wants to see youse” said the man in red. “What about her?” Gary asked “Burn the b***h” Gary and his partner nodded as the man in red left the room. Picking up the gas canisters they began pouring the contents over the walls, floor, and desk. Gary walked out the door signaling the other to follow, but he stopped in front of the woman. “I-i-i-i’m sorry miss, but we got orders nothing personal” She began straining to escape, but it was no use she wasn't going anywhere. “Kenneth, will you hurry the f**k up” Gary yelled as he lit a piece of paper on fire. “I-i-i’m coming,” he said sounding reluctant on finishing the task that was given to them. He lightly jogged towards Gary. “You sure we should do this?” “No choice” he replied tossing the burning piece of paper on the floor and closing the door. Flames rose shot across the area. Drax knew he had to find a way out, putting a rag over his nose and mouth he flung the closet door open and ran to the woman whose hysterical screams were almost noiseless. He started to saw at the rope, eyes watering up from the smoke. Finally, he broke through the rope. The fire cracked with a sizzle and hiss as the flames kissed Drax’s coat. He could feel the heat and smell the charing material and singed hair. The woman fainted at the moment he cut through the next rope. She dropped into his arms and he threw her over his shoulder. The entire second floor was engulfed by the time they made it to the way he had come in. The cold air hit his face he hadn't realized he was outside yet or that he was still holding his breath. The cool air filled his lungs it felt like needles with every new breath. He dropped to his knees - then collapsed still holding the girl. He awoke to the sound of sirens. Sitting up he saw that he had made it to his car and the woman, still unconscious was next to him. They couldn't be seen here, he knew that. His relationship with the law wasn't exactly crystal. Some things never change for Drax. There he sat about to have to run from the police with an unconscious person, after almost being killed. To think he almost got some sleep too. Draxton had questions and there was a chance the girl knew something. He picked her up and placed her gently in the backseat. He stood there for a moment trying to catch his breath and organize his thoughts. He checked his watch it was 4 am. Dusting himself off he lit a cigarette and climbed into the vehicle and turned the key. “Oh, thank Yog” he exclaimed as it began to vibrate under his feet. The Chango clattered down the street and pulled into the lot in front of the apartment building. Home free, he had made it now just to get her upstairs without anyone seeing. He could imagine how that would be seen. “Did you see that the vampire got take out this morning?” the thought made him chuckle a little. Reality set in, it will attract the law if he was seen carrying an unconscious woman upstairs. Better hurry now, things start to get busy in about thirty minutes.