I fell into the den of Fangs

Who stole the body?

Harry began to talk but stopped as Larry bore his eyes into him. There were seconds of silence as they waited for Harry to vote. The girl was still leaning on Liam, breathing hard and moaning. The moans increased Larry’s libido. He imagined himself with her and those moans were for ecstasy and not pains. It all depended on this fatso.

“No.” Harry said and he felt as if he had dropped an atomic bomb in his neighborhood. “No rape, I am sorry if I hurt anyone…”

“Shut the fuc* up!” Larry yelled and his eyes became vicious. “You just got into my black book, fatso. I will squeeze all the fats in your body out the next time you cross my lane. Now, I know I was saving an i***t in school.”

“He would have voted yes if it was food.” Chris said. “Your brain if just a space full of ice cream.”

Harry was shivering in fear now. Did he make a goof? But he would not support raping a girl who was out her mind? What if they were caught and sentenced to jail? That was worse that Larry’s threats.

Liam held on to her and they began to climb up the hill.

The air was now tensed. The jokes they shared were gone and the divide was palpable. It was Larry and Chris against the rest. They got down the hill and walked to where Liam parked his car. He put the girl in the front seat and fixed a seatbelt.

“What?” Larry said. “You want her in front while we all pack up behind?”

“She is sick.” Dash said.

“Who the f**k is a medical doctor amongst you?” Chris asked angrily.

“None.” Liam said. “But we got sense. It is my car guys and I can decide to out her where ever I decide.”

“You took us out of our houses to go perform for your slot who came to her senses and don’t talk like we begged you for a ride.” Larry said. “Fuc* you and your goddamn car. I can walk back home.”

“Sure dude.” Chris said. “Don’t think we don’t know you are taking her home to go have s*x with Mr. Goody Hypocrite.”

The two refused to enter the car. As Harry got into the car, Larry smacked him at the back of his head.

“Whoosh!” Harry yelled as he felt pains and shock.

Liam turned swiftly and came out of his car.

“What the hell do you that for?” Liam vituperated.

“What? You want to take revenge, huh?” Larry said.

“Do you think I am scared of you, Mr. Tough guy? Who the hell do you think you are?”

Dash rushed out and held Liam.

“Let them go. She needs care.”

They got back into the car.

“Hey, Dash my Skunk.” Chris said.

Dash brought out a package of cannabis from his pocket and handed it to him.

“Common Larry, let’s pop more weed before we leave.”

“Sure bro. Why don’t we go get the girls after this show? My creep is available.”

They hi-fived and bounced back to the hill while Liam started the car engine and drove off.

“What do you plan to do with her?” Dash asked.

“I will take her to the clinic or call 911.” Liam said.

“I need to be home so I can’t be with you.” He regretted.

“Same here.” Harry said.

Dash tapped Harry’s shoulder. “Do not be scared. We will handle Larry.”

“You don’t know him.” Harry said. “Larry is dangerous.’

“So we are if we choose to be. You did the right thing and I am proud of you.” Liam said.

Liam dropped them at their houses which were all in the same neighborhood and headed for the clinic when he heard her whisper something.

“I can’t hear you.” He said.

She whispered again so he stopped the car, bent over to bring his ear close to her lips and she said, “No clinic…no 911….sleep.”

“You are sick and needs a medical attention.”

“Just sleep…”

He hesitated. Why was she avoiding the police or clinic? Maybe Larry was right, she was just high but why was she alone in the hummocks? Okay, he knew he was taking a dicey decision but he was going to risk it. But where was he taking her to?

He knew his parents would not accommodate a girl who was just found in the hummock and they would definitely call the police.

Then he realized he had to sneak her in. No, the back cabin was the best place to keep her. Maybe just for the night, she may be sober after the sleep and she would leave.

The cabin at the back of their house was built like a visitor’s room and Liam used to spend sometimes there painting so it was more like his gallery. The problem was how to sneak her up there.

He got to his street and put the car engine off before coming to his house. He alighted and started the pushing the car until he got to his house. He made her come out, and they snuck past the main building and got to the back of the house.

Then Bruno, their Alsatian dog began to bark even though it smelt and saw Liam.

“Shhhhh” Liam said, “It’s me Bruno.”

This may draw the attention of his parents. He took her to the side of the cabin, making sure even if they peeped they would not see her.

He had to pacify the dog and was surprised no one peeped. He then opened the door, rushed back and raised her up but this time, he felt carrying her was better so he lifted her and rushed her inside the cabin.

The cabin had a living room, two bedrooms which one was turned into a gallery.

He led her to the bedroom and laid her on the bed.

Now he had to lock the door and go back to drive the car I to announce his arrival. He pulled off her shoes and use a blanket to cover her.

“Are you sure you don’t need food?” He asked.

“Sleep.”

“Okay, I will be right back.”

He left eh room and as he went out, he froze as he saw his father standing.

“What is going on, Liam?” The octogenarian asked.

********

“I was right in the lab before I left to get a book upstairs.” Hum said. “I spent just three minutes and came back to find the body gone.”

Rick looked round the laboratory.

“Was there any sound or sign of a break in?’

“Yes.” He led them to a window. “The window was not broken but completely removed.”

Rick studied the place.

“No sound of car?” Rick asked.

Ian was busy looking round the room. While they talked, he walked back to the bed where the body was laid. He bent down and smelt the place before he went back to the window.

“Do you have the finger prints of the deceased?” Ian asked.

“Yes.”

“Take the finger print o the window. There may be yours and who ever touched it and then the one of the person who removed the window. The window was pulled out with bare hands.”

“What?” Hum asked.

“Please get the prints.”

“Sherry, get the forensics.” Rick said.

“I can do that.” Hum said.

He went and got a small box and brought it to the window that was removed neatly and kept aside. The window frames and surface were light colored so he got a graphite based powder. He used a small brush with soft, fine bristles. He then used a scotch tape to pick the fingerprint after the powdering. He got a white plain paper and a microscope slide.

He applied some lotion to his hands after dusting before pressing down. He sprinkled small amount of powder on the print and gently brushed the excess powder off the print with the brush. He then paced the clear paper tape on the powdered print then carefully pulled down the tape up leaving the powdered print stuck to it.

Now he placed the white paper to capture the print with the tape. He went to the table and compared with the print police gave him.

Hum’s eyes widened.

“I am afraid the print on the window matches with Daniel’s.” He said.

“You mean he opened the removed the window?” Sherry cut in. “He has been dead for days.”

“Yes, and after the doctors pronounced him dead, I worked on him and was sure he was dead.” Said Hum.

Ian smiled.

“Just what I had suspected.” Ian said. “I did not perceive the dead scent on the table. He was not dead.”

Everyone in the room turned swiftly at Ian.

“How? What is a death scent?”

“It needs special training to identify a gas released by dead cells. It lingers on the surface the dead body touches. I did not perceive it on the bed. Was his body cold?”

“I am afraid no.” Hum said.

“And probably there was no rigors mortis which did not prompt you to use a preservation method for the body. Dead body still fresh for three days.”

“But there was no metabolic reaction.” Hum said. “The respiratory system was stopped and he was not breathing.”

“That is correct. Respiratory system is a network of organs that help you breathe. Absorbing oxygen from the air, with the help of the hemoglobin in the red blood cells as a transportation medium, and takes away carbon dioxide which is a waste gas from the body: elementary biology teaches this. What if he had oxygen in his cells and carbon dioxide was being taken out in an unconventional way?

You don’t see him breath, and because he takes no food or water, he urinates or defecates not but metabolism is going on and that makes kinetic energy present so the body will still be warm and he is alive.”

“Is this possible?” Hum asked.

“Yes but not your everyday science.”

“How o you know this?” Rick asked.

“I am a professional and have studied beyond the scope of conventional science. Daniel left on his own and we must find the root of this menace. He is not the Daniel that he was before the so-called death. He is now more powerful.”

“What are you talking about? How did he become so powerful?”

“Did you not hear about the death of another man in Canada by the same wolf? Twenty minutes intervals. No ordinary wolf can do that except…” Ian looked into Rick’s eyes, “a werewolf.”

********

“I had to a drop a collection.” Liam said.

“A collection of what?” His father, Mr. Crawford asked.

“Art materials.”

“I thought you were out for Halloween.”

“Yes but got ideas from some costumes and decided to put something up. I may spend the night here.”

“Where is your car?”

“Outside. I will get it now.”

Mr. Crawford gave him a quizzical glance and turned back. “I just wonder why Bruno is barking this hard even though it’s you" He said as he walked back, feeling the pistol in his pocket.

Liam took in a deep breath and ran out, got his car into the parking space and got to the front door. His father opened the door.

“Your mother is asleep and you know where to find dinner

“Yes I do. I will pass the night at the back so I would just leave now so you can lock the door.”

“What about dinner?”

“I had a lot tonight.” He said, knowing he just lost appetite because of what Sandra did to him and he just had a fight with two of his friends. “I have provisions there.”

After he left for the backyard cabin, he got inside and went straight to the bedroom to find her sleeping and the moans were no more. He saw her clearer now and wondered such a pretty girl was doing out there.

He closed the door gently and got the costume off. He sat on a sofa and rested his head on it. He tried to take Sandra off his mind but the pain still lingered. He closed his eyes and after a while, he slept off.

A sound woke him up and he thought he had only slept for a few minutes until he saw the wall clock: It was 6:09 AM.

“Good morning.” She said and he saw her standing by the doorway.

“Good morning.” Liam said but felt as if the words were far from him. She looked perfectly healthy and sound. Her voice was mezzo soprano, calm and steady. Her skin was white and glowed. Her teeth were immaculate white and her eyes were amber colored and she was statuesque.

“Thank you.” She said.

“You- you are welcome. Em..” He got on his feet. “I should get you brush and maybe something for a change.”

She said nothing. He left the cabin and saw his parents about to go for a morning workout. He was glad they had left the front yard so he just took the backdoor after Alexis; his fifteen year old sister had opened the door. He got a toothbrush, and a unisex pants and top, making sure Alexis would not see them. He also got Bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, made hot chocolate milk and poured into a flask, and went back to the cabin.

“You can have the brush; there is a toothpaste in the restroom. You may need a warm bath and I got you these…it might be uncomfortable,” he eyes her wide hips, But is elastic so it gives room for expansion. I got body lotion too then we can have breakfast.”

She looked into his eyes and said, “Thank you.”

She collected the brush and went into the bedroom. He put on the TV and waited for her before he went in to brush his teeth but he was not going to have a bath before eating. He was famished and he was not going to let Sandra’s thoughts starve him.

He then remembered that he left his phone in the car. He went out and got it. He was astonished to see so many missed calls and one notable one was from Sandra.

He saw nine missed calls from her and six missed calls from Dash.

He did not know if to call Sandra back. He wanted to but felt after what she had done, he should not do that. He trusted her.

A call came in. He hesitated before picking.

There was a few seconds of silence after the line connected.

“Liam.” Sandra said.

“Sandra.”

“Liam, I am so sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

“But you did but it is okay.’

“It is not okay. I feel ashamed of myself.”

“I am glad you still have a conscience. You don’t owe me an apology and I never put any ring on your finger so you have the right to be with whoever you wish.”

“It’s not what you think.”

“I understand. Old love never dies.”

“Liam!”

‘What? How long have this been going on? You should have told me give your old boyfriend a space. Did you see the humiliation? Right in front of my friends, Sandra. I waited for this day, just to celebrate your birthday with you on a special day like Halloween but you broke my heart. I guess you are happy now, huh?”

“I did not know what I was doing. He was so pestering and I kept rejecting him until he got into my head but I promise we never had any intimate relationship.”

“I grab that. You kissed right in my presence.’

“It was short and that is the highest we went.”

“I don’t want to talk about this now. Have a nice day, Sandra but I can never bring myself to trust you again.”

He ended the call and another call came through.

“Dash, I am sorry I left my phone in the car.”

“Ohhh, I thought you were …” He giggled. “How is she doing?”

“She is fine. Like real fine.”

“I guess she was just high. Larry may have been right.”

“Nothing justify a rape.”

“I am not talking about rape but her state of health.”

“Yeah.”

“So what’s up, has she told you what she was up to?”

“No. she just woke up and is having a bath.”

“Hmm..she is hot dude.”

“I am scared of girl now. Sandra just called and she is apologizing

“Seriously? I did not expect that dude. So what are you going to do? Play hard to get and take her back?”

“I don’t know. I still love her but it hurts.”

“Yeah but watch out. I wish you stayed back to see if she would leave him for you or leave you for him.”

“I could not stand it.”

“I get it. Sometimes, coldblooded guys like Larry are safe. They are not prone to heartbreaks. He wants asked me to join them for a threesome with Brooklyn, can you beat that?”

“Whoa! He can do more than that.” Liam was making the call as he walked back to the cabin and to an extent he was carried away with the conversation until he came to a standstill.

“I have to go, Dash.” Liam said. He put an abrupt end to the call and lowered his gave but it was too late. He saw her walk out of the bathroom naked, maybe she thought he was far away, before she ran into the room.

He saw the sexiest body he had ever seen. As he walked into the bathroom, he became scared.

Who was this strange sweet girl he picked up from the hummock and why was she there?

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