Dark Valley - Chapter Eight -
Story by Cederwyn Whitefurr on SoFurry
Constable Selene suffers a traumatic shock, when she heads to the morgue to make enquiries about the previous murder, only to find the scene that is reminscent of a slaughter house. Having suffered a breakdown, she finds herself an enforced patient at the hospital, due to her erratic and often violent outbursts.
Dark Valley
Chapter Eight
© Cederwyn Whitefurr
16th June, 2019
All Rights Reserved.
It stalked across field and forest. Large golden eyes missing nothing. It froze, one foot off the ground. It scented the air, the breath exhaling in clouds of steam.
Flesh.
Blood.
Quietly, it crept under the barbed wire; its foot paws not making the smallest leaf rustle as it crouched. Ears flicked forwards, eyes bright and alert, nostrils flaring wit the scent of prey.
Unaware of the death that trod on silent feet, the sheep grazed the sweet grasses on the hillside, the uncaring stars shining down, so far above.
An animals shriek of fear and pain. Then the crunch of bone. The disjointed rhythm of cloven hooves. Bleats and squeals as others of the flock fled, scattering to the winds.
Blood.
Flesh...
It was not enough...it was never enough...
*
Selene walked into the hospital, then down to the morgue. She felt unsettled and unwell this morning, putting it down to the stress of witnessing the accident yesterday. As she walked into the morgue, holding her breath, she instinctively reached for the cream and wiped it under her nostrils, then slipped the mask over her nose and face.
“I've come too - “ Selene's mind fell away, as she took in the grisly sight.
Blood splattered the floor, the walls, even the ceiling. Crumpled on the ground was the Doctor she had spoken too yesterday – his lifeless corpse pale and staring sightless. Where his throat had been, was torn open, the edges ragged and torn.
Without thinking, Selene smashed the glass and the alarm began shrieking as she backed up against the wall, eyes wide and unseeing, before she slid down the wall and curled up, hugging her knees to her chest.
*
Before long the Sargent arrived, as the Doctor's were treating Selene. Nobody knew anything, and when the Sargent questioned them about the CCTV cameras, it was checked with security, who admitted they'd been broken for over six weeks.
“Wonderful, fucking wonderful – media are up my arse and out my ears, now we find another murdered person, just, wonderful...”
Rounding of Selene, the Sargent stepped right up to her, then glared into her eyes.
“Just what the fuck were you doing here?”
Selene merely stared, eyes distant and unfocused, the shock of what she had seen leaving her in a state she was unable to respond from.
*
A temporary morgue was set up in an adjacent unused theatre room, whilst the body of the doctor was removed and the Sargent took countless photographs and gathered whatever evidence he could. It wasn't much – whatever had done this, had struck with ferocity and cunning – there were no finger prints, no boot prints, nothing that could help identify the killer or killers.
Or so it seemed.
Pocketing one little piece of evidence, the Sargent looked around furtively, before he closed the double swing doors and sealed it with police tape.
“When can we re-use the morgue?” Asked a young doctor, white faced and trembling. “Gods, what could do that to a man?”
“This isn't God's work - “ Spoke the Sargent, before he gruffly pushed past the staff and left the hospital.
Just outside, he pulled his mobile phone from his pocket, then by memory, punched in a number. Holding it to his ear as he walked towards the police car, it rang twice, before a voice, a thick, masculine voice, answered.
“Yes?”
“I believe I have confirmation, need to analyse the sample.” He spoke into the phone, quietly, as if afraid of being overheard.
“Confirm ident, call back if positive. Do not waste our time...”
“Yes...” There come a click from the other end and the phone went dead. “...sir!”
*
Selene shuddered, looking a the blood spattered sheet that covered the body, as it was wheeled into the temporary morgue.
“You shouldn't be here Constable Selene,” Spoke a young female nurse. “you've suffered a terrible shock to your system, you need time to recover – this can wait!”
“No,” Selene spoke quietly, but her voice filled with anger and frustration. “Too many have covered for me, then when I try to investigate, the body either just apparently walked off or - “
With a strange look, the Nurse took a singe step back from the Constable, heading for the door, before Selene's hand shot out and gripped the Nurses forearm like a vice.
“Please - “ Gasped the Nurse. “You're hurting me!”
“STAY!” Selene suddenly snarled, the grip tightening until the Nurse wept and sank to her knees, clutching at her arm that felt like it would surely break.
Satisfied, Selene let her go, before she marched over to the shrouded body, then folded it back and stared down at the naked form of the Enclave woman. It wasn't pretty, not by a long way, then Selene's fingers touched the body here, there, running down the throat and between the breasts.
“Somebody, come help!” Shrieked the nurse, as she bolted from the room, clutching her arm and crying hysterically.
Just as Selene's fingers reached the belly and felt something there. It felt like a scar – about five inches across, before her fingers began to slide inside it. Skin parting seamlessly, Selene's fingers sliding almost to the third knuckle, feeling residual warmth and a strange, soft flesh – that wasn't the skin, but...
Selene shrieked and felt herself tackled, driven to the ground as two orderlies leapt on her. They tumbled to the floor, where Selene became wild and enraged, her left fist slamming under the chin of one and driving him crashing to the floor. Struggling like a wild, feral animal caught in a leg trap, Selene screamed and snapped at anything within reach.
“Get in here – I can't hold her much – longer!” Screamed the Orderly.
A Doctor ran in, then between the orderly and the nurse, who helped hold Selene still. As the Doctor slammed home a hypodermic into Selene's upper arm, the powerful sedative seemingly having no effect. If anything – it made her angrier. Snatching another from his pocket, this one was administered as well. It took the three of them to hold her, the hysterically shrieking Constable fought like a wild thing for about thirty seconds – then mercifully, she lapsed unconscious.
*
Selene awoke, then groggily opened her eyes, before she moved to try and scratch her nose, only to find herself restrained by wrist straps a chest strap and ankle straps.
“What...what's going - “ Selene gurgled, still feeling the effects of the drugs.
“Oh, you're awake!” Exclaimed a male nurse, as he sat up and quickly left the single room, returning moments later with the Doctor who had sedated her.
“I'm telling you, she just – woke up – just like that!” Exclaimed the nurse, as they entered.
“That's not possible, that amount of sedation -”
His mouth fell open, as he seen Selene laying in the bed, her eyes open, but relatively unfocused.
Gesturing, the Nurse shrugged his shoulders. Shaking his head, the Doctor walked over, then placed a hand gently on Selene's upper arm.
“I'm Doctor Philskene, can you tell me your name, and where you are please?”
“Sel - “ Selene struggled, her tongue thick and furry. “Selene...where...where am I?”
Noting her reactions, he places a stethoscope against her chest and listened for a few moments, then held his fingers against her wrist, counting the heartbeats.
“Constable Selene, do you remember what happened, two hours ago?”
“May...water...” Selene murmured.
Quickly, the Nurse held a straw in a cup to her mouth, letting her sip some water.
“Do you remember anything? Anything at all - “
“I...felt sick this morning, then I drove to the...the...its blank, its all blank, where am I? What's happened – why am I in restraints?” Selene began, her voice raising in pitch and tone as her fear and anxiety grew.
“It's alright, there was an – incident - “ Doctor Philskene told her. “You've suffered a terrible shock to your system, its quite normal for minor memory loss. Just rest now, you're alright – you're safe, you're in Hospital, in safe hands now.”
Giving her a reassuring smile, Doctor Philskene consulted her chart, then left the room, the Nurse following and pulling the door slightly closed.
“That much sedative, she should be catatonic almost! At least unconscious for six hours minimum - “
“I don't understand it Doctor, you said it yourself, she should be...”
Their voices faded, as they moved down the hallway.
To Be Continued...