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Dark Valley

Chapter Four

© Cederwyn Whitefurr

14th June, 2019

All Rights Reserved.

Her eyelids flicked and Selene moaned. Her heart felt like it was in her throat as the blood pounded in her ears. Adrenaline surged through her veins, over-firing neurons and nerves. Sweat covered her naked body; goosebumps prickled her flesh. Selene screamed: a primal, terrifying shriek pierced the air.

Selene bolted upright. Conscious thought and rationality seemed reluctant to return, the remnants of the nightmare desiring to ensnare its prey again. She rubbed her eyes and regained focus. Sunlight streamed through her bedroom window; a cool morning breeze ruffled the curtains and chilled her flesh. Sliding her legs out of bed, Selene walked to the bathroom, where she splashed water over her face, then dried it with a hand towel.

As she glanced at the mirror, her over-full bladder let go as she stared into the mirrors silvered surface.

Fangs sharp as razors grinned at her. Dewlaps curled back wetly from the muzzle — a muzzle slick with crimson blood. Ropes of saliva hung from the fangs and oozed off the chin.

Then the eyes: calculating, predatory, infernal orbs that narrowed in rage.

Selene's frightened mind lashed out in fear and anger. Her fist struck the mirror. Sharp fragments tore through flesh and skin, leaving a bloody smear on the fractured glass.

Again she struck it.

The reflection shattered into thousands of refracted images, then the glass exploded with a cough.

Fragments tinkled as they struck the vanity, turning into more fragments and slivers as they crashed onto the tiled floor.

Selene's chest heaved, her fingers gripping the vanity in a white knuckled grasp, blood from her injuries drizzling down the edge and dripping to the floor with wet plops.

For several heartbeats, she was empty, devoid of thought or emotion, before her brain received the signals of pain from her injuries. With a startled gasp, she rinsed her hand under the tap, then hurriedly wrapped the hand towel over it, before turning to find her first aid kit, once again.

*

Selene skipped breakfast, her stomach unable to bear the thought of it, after the terrifying nightmare the night before. As she drove her Police car down the main road, she paused at a stop sign, watching as two hooded and cloaked figures stepped off the pavement and crossed the road in front of her, one turning to glance at her.

Selene noticed their strange robes; especially the grey field with red eyes emblem on the right breast.

“Damn enclave's - “ Selene muttered to herself, then hated herself immediately, for allowing prejudice to enter her mind. “I'm better than this, I know it!”

After they made it to the other side, Selene dropped the car back into gear and drove off, heading for the Police station. Here, she parked her car, then leaned against the door and thought for a moment about the strange events of the past two days.

“There's got to be more to it - “ Selene told herself, her brow creasing as she struggled to make any sense. “Someone tortured that kangaroo – strung him up whilst he was still alive. Why? Other than some sick prank? That accident, sure, the road was wet, no doubt slippery from the Eucalyptus leaves oil. Who murdered Geoff? He was a kind, gentle man – he wouldn't have hurt a fly...”

Her mind kept playing over the fickle evidence she had at hand, it wasn't much, and didn't mesh together. Turning her thoughts back to her task at hand, she made a mental note of witnesses at the location where the kangaroo was found. It wasn't really a police matter, but her sense of compassion drove her to find out who had done this heinous thing.

*

Sitting at her desk, sipping her coffee in her off-hand, Selene's mind was a thousand light years away, before she squealed and jumped as a heavy book was dropped on her table, startling her back to reality.

“Nice of you to come back - “ Snarled the Sargent, before he stared at her. “I don't pay you to daydream, Constable!”

“Sorry sir, was just thinking about that animal cruelty case – trying to piece some things together.”

With a snort, he turned away and shook his head. “With everything going on around this place, you're wasting your time on that?”

Selene bristled, but kept it suppressed. “Sir, you've got the murder investigation – the AIS dropped their report in overnight from the fatal out on the highway, so -”

“Their findings? Concisely please Constable!”

“Vehicle was travelling under speed, nothing mechanically wrong with it, to all accounts and purposes, it appears to just be a simple collision with a kangaroo. They swerved to avoid it...”

Waving a hand, the Sargent walked off.

Why do I bother... Selene thought to herself.

Picking up her radio and clipping it to her utility belt, Selene left the station and slid behind the wheel of her police car. Inputting the directions into her GPS on the dash, she started the car and drove off. It was going to be a long, possibly fruitless day – interviewing witnesses, door knocking and seeing if anyone had seen or heard anything.

*

“Thank you ma'am, your help is appreciated!” Selene told the elderly woman, before giving a curt nod and returning to her vehicle.

Throwing her hat onto the passenger seat, Selene rested her head on her forearms, sighing in exhaustion. As expected, nobody had seen who had tortured and strung up the kangaroo. No vehicles, no footprints – nothing – it was almost as if it'd appeared there out of thin air.

“Somebody, somewhere, knows something...” Selene muttered to herself.

With a startled squeal, Selene jumped as someone knocked on the Police car window with a frantic rapping.

“Please – you got to help me!” Come the frightened female voice, as the person turned around, looking over her shoulder. “They'll kill me if they catch me, please, you got to help!”

Selene frowned, but her professionalism kicked in and she hurriedly unlocked the door on the passengers side. Quickly, the young lady rushed around and almost threw herself into the car, before Selene planted her foot and took off before she thought.

Taking the frightened young lady, whose name was Cassie, back to the station, Selene sat her down in a chair, then handed the shaking girl a glass of water.

“Okay, easy now, you're alright – now, who was after you?”

Her hands shaking, so she spilled more water than she drank, Cassie continued trembling, her fear almost palpable.

“People...bad...people - “ Cassie stammered.

Frowning slightly, Selene placed a comforting hand on the young lady's knee. “I need more than that if I'm to help. What – bad people? What did they do to you?”

“They...they wanted me...” Cassie suddenly burst into tears.

Standing up, Selene began pacing, her frown intensifying as she tried to make sense out of this hysterical young lady. “I'm going to call an ambulance, they'll take you to the hospital okay? I'm concerned for you, but I'll follow in my police car, I'll make sure you're safe, I promise!”

“NO!” Cassie shrieked, as she dropped the glass and leapt, clutching Selene tightly around the middle, her grip making Selene gasp in surprise and pain.

“Hey, its alright! I promise nobody will hurt you, nobody will...”

Selene's eyes widened, as she seen the blood that trickled down Cassie's thigh. Quickly snatching up her radio, she immediately called the base hospital, and they dispatched an ambulance.

“You're – you're going to be okay,” Selene whispered, gently stroking the crying girls forehead. “I promised, didn't I? Nobody will hurt you, you're safe with me.”

Sirens wailed in the distance, coming closer, as Cassie clung desperately to Selene. When the Ambulance officers arrived, Selene had to half-carry Cassie, before one of the Ambulance officers administered a hypodermic needle. It seemed to have no effect – if anything, Cassie become more hysterical and began kicking and screaming, before Selene and the officer held her tight, another dose being administered – then the girl squirmed and went limp in their arms.

“Her name is Cassie, unknown last name – uncertain of injuries, apart from I suspect, menstrual blood.” Selene told them as they loaded the girl onto a gurney and wheeled her out.

“Patient appears to be a fourteen year old, causcasian female, first name Cassie - “ One of the Ambulance crew spoke into his radio, as the other began placing patches on Cassie's chest and hooking her up to monitors.

“I'll come as soon as I can!” Selene told them.

“She's in safe hands Constable, we got this, thank you.”

*

Selene put aside all her extraneous work, before she left the station and rushed towards the hospital.

“What else can go - “ Selene squealed, both feet on the brake pedal, before her police car slewed and come to a sliding halt, the pungent stink of burned rubber coming from the tires as she seen a group of the enclave blocking the road. Her heart pounding, Selene stepped from her car, activating the flashers, before she frowned and adopted her professional aspect.

“I'm on official police business, please, disperse or move aside!”

They stood there, silent, their robes flapping around their ankles, as they peered from beneath their hoods at her.

“We do not recognise your authority!” Spoke one of them.

“Please, I don't have time for this - “ Selene sighed, then looked around. “It's important I get to the -”

“It is none of your concern, Constable...” Come the voice again. “It is a matter that we shall deal with, ourselves, as is our right granted to us.”

Selene was torn between conflicting memories, one, they were right, they had some ridiculous right to congregate wherever they chose, often, they kept to themselves on their huge sprawling compound. Furthermore, they were afforded certain privileges and rights under the newly announced religious freedoms act, the Federal Government had brought in two years ago. Selene didn't legally have a leg to stand on, and she knew it – and they knew it.

“I'm on my way to the hospital too -”

“We are aware, you mentioned this. Now, please, this is an internal matter, one of our children has broken our rules, we wish to protect her innocence and return her to our compound. Refusal, is not an option.”

“Just wait a god damned -” Selene snapped, her composure falling away.

“God has nothing to do with this, now, return to your duties Constable, leave our kind in peace, as we leave you, good day.”

They remained resolute, forcing Selene to return to her car and retreat. Helpless, she cursed and swore, returning to the police station in a fine rage. How could some religious nutters get such power and authority, to deny a Police Officer from performing her duties?

Calling the Hospital, Selene was bounced from one department to another. Finally, after an hour and a half, she found someone who could answer her questions. Yes, the girl had been brought to the hospital's ED, but a dozen of the Enclave had been waiting and immediately signed a waiver and took her into their care, as was their right.

Slamming down the phone, Selene rested her head on the desk, before her fingers curled into fists and she began slamming them on the desk in rage and frustration. For nearly ten minutes, her rage boiled over like a pot too long on the stove, before she shoved her chair back and began angrily pacing.

“She was hurt, frightened and genuinely scared – I feared for her safety, so I took her under my care! Now these...these...enclave cuckoo's, just march in to the hospital and take her without so much as a by your leave? She said she would be killed, if they took her – did she mean the enclave? Did she mean someone else?”

Selene didn't have the answers, all she had was questions – and the Enclave she knew, from experience, didn't answer them...

To Be Continued...