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Dark Valley

Chapter Five

© Cederwyn Whitefurr

15th June, 2019.

All Rights Reserved.

"How dare you..." Snarled the Sargent, as he leaned on Selene's desk, his face suffused with blood, a vein in his forehead throbbing.

"How dare I?" Selene snapped back. "A girl, a child come to me, begging for help! Was I to turn her away? Was I to say 'its not my problem' - how was I to know she was one of the Enclave?"

"Be grateful they didn't bring their Solicitors down on you, they're animals, they would have torn you apart in a court. What they do, on their property, is NONE of our concern, do you understand me Constable?"

"Yes...sir," Selene grudgingly admitted. "However, they weren't on their property...so that means I acted accordingly by the law."

"You're getting in over your head Constable, this is your first and last warning, leave your nose out of other peoples business..."

Storming off, the Sargent slammed the door to his office, leaving Selene confused, angry and bitter.

“They've got no right to do this - “ Selene muttered to herself, her anger barely kept in check. “Cassie is a child, I saw the fear in her eyes – she genuinely feared for her life and - “

As the door opened and two large men entered, Selene's eyes widened. Both carried themselves like professionals, their clothing stylish by not over the top, their casual gait conferring their power and authority, but not in a threatening or overwhelming way.

“Constable – Selene, is it?” One spoke, his voice deep and Selene confessed, more than a little alluring. “I'm told you're the one to see, about acquiring hunting licences for this district?”

Selene startled, before she become professional and nodded. “Yes sir, of course – may I start with your names -”

*

After they left, Selene poured herself another cup of coffee.

“What strange men, I don't recall ever seeing them around here before -”

Putting it to the back of her mind, Selene sipped her coffee and resumed going over the report she had before her, on the animal cruelty case. It had been reported to the relevant authorities, but with no body, no autopsy and no evidence, it seemed whoever was responsible for this, was to get away clean. Frustrated, she slammed the folder closed and rose, then began pacing like a caged wolf.

Frustration built on frustration, before she growled in annoyance. Pushing these pointless thoughts away, her mind turned back to the fatal car accident. Maybe now, two days after she was admitted, Mrs. Blackwood would be more coherent and able to answer some of Selene's questions about that night. Satisfied she would achieve something, Selene left the station again, driving to the hospital.

*

“Mrs. Blackwood please, has she been moved?” Selene asked, placing her cap on the Nurses station desk. “I need to speak with her urgently.”

Checking the clipboard, the male nurse began turning page after page, before he frowned.

“I'm sorry Constable, but are you sure you have the right name?”

“She was admitted here, two days ago, her husband and her were in a crash, he was killed and she was brought here, her wounds were extensive and - “

Frowning, the Nurse checked the computer, then he shook his head. “I'm sorry Constable, nobody of that name is a patient here. I've checked twice, are you absolutely certain that the name is right?

“Thank you - “ Selene spoke quietly.

Walking down the hallway, Selene frowned in confusion. How could a patient, let alone one as badly hurt as Mrs. Blackwood had been, just up and vanish and none of the staff knew about it? It made no sense at all. Maybe a clerical error, maybe she'd been moved to another ward, or even another hospital...

Making her way into the bowels of the hospital, Constable Selene finally found the morgue. It was a well lit place, but still, the strong stink of the antiseptic and other chemicals assaulted her nostrils from the other end of the hallway. Barely able to tolerate the overwhelming odour, Selene promised she would be in and out as quick as she could manage.

Opening the swinging doors, the smell of death and other, unmentionable smells struck her like a mallet to the senses. Taking a mask and some cream from a jar net to the door, Selene rubbed the scented cream under her nostrils, before she slipped the mask on. Able to breathe a little easier, Selene walked past shrouded bodies laying on stainless steel gurneys, trying her hardest not to think about what lay below those sheets.

Spotting a young doctor, she called out to him, and he turned about then stopped the tape recorder he held in one hand, before he rose, his face one of confusion and surprise, before he smiled and held a hand out to her. Shaking the offered hand with a firm grip, she sat down and opened her notebook.

“Doctor Kale - “ Selene noted from his badge. “I'm constable Selene, pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“How may I serve you today constable?” He asked, as he pulled his latex gloves off and threw them in the bin.

“I was wondering, there was an accident, out on the highway - “

Rolling across the morgue on his wheeled chair, the Doctor nodded, then consulted a clipboard, before he stood and kicked his chair away, it clattering across the floor and banging against the wall.

“Number 32, right...here!” He opened the heavy door to the morgue refrigerator where they kept corpses. “He's right...”

The drawer slid out with a bang...and it was empty. Not even blood was visible, it was like it'd never held a body.

“It was right here, I swear it!” Doctor Kalen gasped, his eyes widening. “Doctor Geoffrey performed the autopsy himself the night it was brought in and - “

Selene slumped onto her chair, before she frowned and shook her head in frustration.

“Thank you Doctor, this case just gets more and more baffling, I'll need to interview anyone who has access to this morgue, yourself included of course. A patient just vanishes into thin air, now a corpse is gone from the morgue – this doesn't add up. Doesn't add up at all, if I didn't know any better, I'd swear, someone is leading me by the nose and playing the cruellest prank ever.”

“I'm at your disposal, of course, the Hospital board will need to be informed, this is highly irregular! I've never had a body not be accounted for!”

“Thank you Doctor, I appreciate your honesty and candour.” Selene spoke, as she folded her notebook and stood. “If you'll forgive me, this place gives me the creeps.”

Nodding, the Doctor returned to his work. After Selene had left, he slipped ear buds into his ears and adjusted the volume control to the MP3 player sitting on his desk, as he typed away on his laptop.

He was lost in the music, unmindful of his surrounds, before a shadow loomed behind him ominously, casting its dark pall over his laptop. As he reached for the ear buds, then turned, his face went white and his eyes bulged – right before razor sharp fangs gripped his throat and tore it out. Gurgling, he clutched at the wound, blood pouring through his fingers as he slithered to the floor, bleeding out in seconds as his terrified heart kept pumping...

*

Behind the Enclave Walls, a meeting was under way. A dozen senior members were in attendance, sitting around a large rectangular table, their hands clasped before them as they sat listening to the enraged voice of their leader.

“It was dangerous and stupid – whoever was responsible for this debacle, I want them brought before me, do you hear me!” He snarled, as his fists slammed down on the table, making the crystal decanters clink.

“If I may - “ Spoke a young woman, as she rose.

With an angry gesture, the leader sat down, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Whilst it was not without considerable risk, it was dealt with. He who broke our rules, was - “ She paused for empathise, then a look of misery crossed her face, vanishing as fast as it appeared “My son...was young, impulsive - “

“I don't care who it was – it was inexcusable! It could have undone everything we've worked for!” Snapped their leader as he leapt to his feet. “Do you have any idea what has had to happen, to cover this up?”

“My son, my only child – paid for his transgressions! Was what happened to him, sir, was it – truly necessary? To...suffer like that -”

“I've lead our Enclave for nearly twenty years, in that time, I've let minor things slide, but what he done – no – it was not excessive, it was an lesson for all of you! You know what we do here, you know there are those out there – who hunt us, want us dead! Shall we just throw open the gates and mingle with those outside these walls? Undo centuries of careful planning and such?”

Mutters and shaking of heads greeted this statement.

“No, it was not excessive – it was an object lesson, I trust you've all taken to heart! I will – not – allow anyone leniency or mercy, we can not afford to bring those others down upon us, now, or ever, are we clear?”

Silence was the expected reply, and it was deafening in its response.

To Be Continued...