I put on my trench coat and hat. I lit a cigarette and enjoyed the first smoke inside my lungs. It was half past eight. 'Had it really been an hour and a half since my last cigarette?' Strange since I usually smoked more than thirty a day. I took my painkillers washing them down with what was left from the scotch.

Martha was tidying her desk and checking the recording machine. She startled when I opened the door behind her. - Mr. McDuff! You scared the hell out of me! - She blushed and looked down. - Sorry... sir -


I could not help but laugh, - Don't worry Martha, it's ok. - I smiled at her and added. - A dollar fifty extra per hour, but from now on, you make coffee. - I offered my hand.


She smiled black and shook my hand. - I better, because your coffee is terrible boss. - She continued arranging the files and documents on the table.


- I'm heading to the post office... If I find any leads I might not come back today... hold down the fort. - I opened the front door and waved my hand. - Later! - And I left.


- Later! - I could hear Martha greeting me from the front desk.


The sky was grim, heavy clouds threatened to downpour. I adjusted my trench coat and inhaled the smoke. I was holding the car keys walking towards it. My hat fell off when I was close to the car. I bent down to pick it up from the ground, 'There is no wind... what the hell?' I felt observed again and I could smell the scent of women's perfume, 'The one on Wilson's clothes' My hands were shaking as I tried to insert the car key in the keyhole. I failed, I was shaking. I steadied myself witth both hand and finally got inside.


The warmth inside settled me down. 'Why am I so on edge?' I started the engine, It was music for my ears which combined with the smoke from the cigarette brought back my nerve. I drove toward the post office as the first drops of rain splattered against the windshield.


The post office was almost deserted at first time in the morning. Easy parking and plenty of time to question the workers. I smiled.


As I entered the building I could see the sleepy faces of the workers who were still drinking their first or second mug of coffee of the day. Only an elderly man was faster than me to get into the post office that morning. The smell of dust and stale air governed the office. It reminded me the smell of the classroom when I was a kid in the cold winter mornings. The elderly man took his time, I was again dying for a cigarette. Finally it was my turn.


- Goodmorning – I said with formal voice as I showed the worker my old cop badge. I showed it fast and hid it.


The face of the worked turned pale. He was young lad, maybe in his twenties and probably an intern. - Is there a problem... officer? - He lowered his voice.


I took out the receipt I took from Wilson's wallet. - I need information on the sender of his parcel? -


The young lad looked around. - I should consult my supervisor... that is... confidential -


I got closer to his face and lowered my voice with a threating tone. - There is a missing girl. - I placed Laura's picture on the desk. - Look at her! - I raised my voice enough to make him react without shouting.


His head trembled. - She... she is the girl from the pictures. - He looked at the board holding all the missing people pictures, Laura was one of them.


- Exactly... - I put it back into my pocket.


- But sir... I need a warrant... I can't give out that information. - He started to look around searching someone who could save him from me.


- Yes... I could go and get a warrant... it will take days till a court aproves it... by then someone will find the girl dead somewhere... and you would think... what if I helped that officer that morning... maybe she would be alive? - I pressed a finger against his chest. - Do I leave, or are you gonna help? -


He stood up and took the receipt. He went to the back office and took a while until he was back with a piece of paper. - This is all the information we have got on this parcel... I hope you find her. -


I slapped softly his cheek. - You are a good lad. - I took the piece of paper and exited the office. I leaned my back against the wall and lit another cigarette. The sender had no name on it but there was a postcode, 22031. It didn't sound familiar. There was an almost unreadable address. 75th P...ce st.


I went to the phone guide at the public phone, the rain started pouring and the smell of wet earth filled the air. I looked for the postcode, it was from Springvalley. It was just a few hours drive from town. Whoever sent this parcel to Wilson might know his relationship with Laura... or maybe she was there.


I did not waste my time and headed to Springvalley. Driving under heavy rain was not pleasant, mostly when the visibility was near-zer and wind started to blow strong. My old cadillac was pushed from one side to other of the highway. Maybe I was going crazy but it seemed like the weather was screaming at me 'Go Back John.'

My back was aching again but now I could feel my neck in pain. I felt like the elderly people who can feel the weather changes in their joints. I understood about my back but my neck was something new.


I was not driving fast, the weather conditions did not allow it. I was close to my destinantion, I took out the highway to get into the secondary roads that would lead me to Springvalley. Finally I saw the greeting sign 'Welcome to Springvalley'. The town was full of colonial style houses. The old architecture with the grim and dark weather made it looked like something out of a horror story. It was a rural town surrounded by endless corn fields. I stopped at a dinner café. With the bad weather it was almost empty.


- Cup of coffee and a sanwich – I said to the young waitress that came to take my order as I sat down in front of the bar. -


- What kind of sandwich, sir? - She said as she poured the coffee on an empty cup.


- Bacon and scrambled eggs, please. - I grabbed the phone directory and checked the addresses starting with 'P' one by one. I copied on a napking the ones which also ended in 'Ce'.


The waitress brought me the sandwich, the smell made my stomach growl. - Thank you. - I smiled to the waitress who smiled back while noisily chewing her gum.


I took a bite of the sandwich and checked my notes I got; Peace st., Pincel st., Parcel st., Prince st... At least there weren't too many options but I did not know where to start.


- Hey sweetheart! - I called out the waitres who was chattering with the cook.


She came holding the small note book on her hands with the pen ready to take the order. - Yes, sir? -


I showed her the napking and asked. - Which of these streets is closer? -


She looked at it and pointed outside. - If you follow that muddy track it will lead you to Prince St. but there are only farms there. - She stood up thinking.


- Thank you... How much do I owe you? - I turned to look at the muddy track.


- Six-Fifty sir. - She blowing a bubble with her gum..


I gave her nine dollars. - Is there any good motel in town? - I asked as I put on my hat.


- There is one in the other side of town – She smiled as she took the money. - Thank you, have a good day, sir. -


I adjusted my trench coat and walked to the car. I got into it and adjusted the rearview mirror. I suddenly froze and looked at the back seat. The same red dots I saw at the morgue where in the mirror. They looked like two eyes piercing the back of my neck. I took my hand over my chest. I could feel my heart pounding. But the backseat was empty.


I started the engine and acclerated, reviving it up. I drove through the muddy track following the waitress indications. The road was covered in puddles. The car bumped as I drove the track. I could see a farm house a few meters away.


My car bumped inside a water pool bigger than I thought. I tried to drive backward but the rear wheels suspended in the air. The car was stuck in the mud, I could not take it out until a tow truck get it out.


The farm house looked abandoned but maybe someone was living there. Maybe I could borrow their phone. I approached the house, the rain was so heavy that I got totally dampened fast. My shoes and pants were covered with mud. 'Jezz, what a day!'


I could see the main entrance, there was someone banging at the door. I could not see clearly but I swear it was a red-haired woman. The door opened abruptly and someone drag her inside the house. I was not a nosy man, I did not like to meddling into others bussiness but I had a hunch that something was not alright.


I approached quietly to the farmhouse. The sound of the rain was too loud so I tried to get to the front porch. One of the windows was opened. I peeked inside, it did not seemed that anyone lived there. It was dusty and it lack the basic furnitures needed to live comfortable in a house. I heard a distant conversation, It sounded like an argument.


- Who are you? - A male voice was asking the other figure. I could not see it clearly, It could be a woman but also a small man.


- How many of us are there? - The figure was weeping.


- I was not expecting you... I was expecting him! - He shouted and threw away a chair, which shattered into pieces as it hit the wall.


He walked fast towards the window I was peeking. I crawled as fast as I could. I moved to a different window.


- Are you alone? - It was definitely the voice of a woman. I peeked again.


When I saw him I could not believe it. My eyes were coming out of their sockets as I saw Carl The Cannibal. The memories revived in my mind.


Five years ago, I was working with Pascucci in a case. It took us more than one year to get any solid leads about a serial killer that not only murdered sadistically but also cannibalized the corpses of his victims. All of his victims were found totally drained of blood. He did not discriminate between male or female, race or age. That is really strange since most psycopaths prefer to kill the opposite genre and same race. He had killed more than twenty people before we could get close to him.


One night, I remember Pascucci and I went out for dinner which led to a passionate outcome in the back seat of my cadillac. I always turned off the radio when I was out of duty, but somehow that night I forgot to turn it off. We heard the operator requesting back up in a neighbourhood close to where we were. The operator said they had cornered a man which had dismembered an old man in the front yard of a house. He had a hostage.


We dressed up fast and I drove like a devil to get to the spot on time. When we arrived the night was lightened by the blue and red lights from the patrol cars. The house was surrounded by cops. In the front yard there were a team of paramedics retrieving the corpse of an elderly man.


The captain was waiting for the F.B.I negotiators to deal with the situation. He was too afraind of handle it himself so Pascucci and I took the lead.


- Chief! If we wait that monster is gonna kill the hostage. - Pascucci was shouting at the chief face. It was known at that moment the killer had a teenager as a hostage.


That night Pascucci and I felt more alive than any other night in our lives. I still remember her courage while confronting the chief. I remember her eyes looking at me when I handed her the bulletproof vest. Her smile when our hands touched.


- We are going in... - I checked my revolver and I made it ready to shoot.


Pascucci gave me indications to go through the back door. She went through the front. I trusted her with my life, that night we will put behind bars that bastard. We came in quietly checking every room. I still remember my heart beating strong and the adrenaline through my veins. Pascucci pointed upstairs. I confirmed and stepped up the stairs. I could hear a young boy weeping somewhere upstairs. When I reached the top I saw him.


In the middle of the corridor was Carl Lawson, or Carl the Cannibal as we called him at the station. He was holding a fourteen years old kid with his hands around his neck.


- Freeze Carl! - I shouted pointing my gun at him. He was unarmed. - There is only one way you make it out alive from here... you let the boy go. -


Carl smiled with evil malice on his eyes, his red smile shone in the darkness. His face was covered with blood. He grunted and cracked the boys neck as it was a tender branch of a tree. And he ran towards me.


I emptied the revolver on his chest but he never stopped. He held me with the strength of then men and threw me down the stairs like if a was a doll. That was when I broke my back. He jumped out of a window and shots were fired to him but he managed to scape. We thought his injuries would led to a certain death but as my eyes could see through that window. We were proven wrong.


The female figure approached to him, she was not scared. She tried to grab his hand. It was Laura.


- Why?... why were you expecting him. - Her voice sounded desperate.


- You don't understand... preying on humans is easy... you just follow them or control them until you finish them... but when you prey on our kind... you need to weave a web and patiently wait your prey falls into the trap... - He was looking out of the house with eyes full of fear.


- Are you after the master? - She said injecting rage on her eyes.


- Yes... but looks like that rather I trapped him, we both feel into his web and now is just a matter of time he preys on us. - Carl paced nervously around the room.


- Me?... in his web?... why he would like to harm me... I'm his child. - Laura grabbed his shirt.


- How old are you?... two... three nights? - Carl freed himself easily.


- Eight nights... - Laura muttered.


- Then you saw nothing... what did he promised you? - Carl sat on a dusty chair and stared at Laura.


- I remember I was lying on the pavement... covered with blood... I looked at my legs... they were broken and smashed... I wanted to be a professional dancer... he promised to fix them... when I woke up I was at his appartment and I was one of your kind. -


Carl chuckled. - He healed me from a terminal cancer. - He leaned back remembering his past. -I was desperated and I would cling to life at any prize... but it was too high... tell me did he make you watch any of your relatives? -


Laura sat on the floor in front of him she confirmed with a nod. - We spent some time watching my mother... why? -


Carl reached his hands to his head. - Soon he will ask you to feed on her, he enjoys watching the children devouring their past. -


Laura grasped. - I will not... I will never. -


Carl interrumped her. - Haven't you noticed? when he is next to you... you can't help it... you must obbey what he says. -


Laura closed her eyes, admitting the truth was more painful than facing it.


I had heard enough of that nonsense conversation. I was going to put an end to that freak meeting. I would take Laura back to her mom and I would either put Carl behind bars or put a bullet in his head. I sneaked as fast as I could to my car. I opened the trunk and took out my old redminton 870. I inserted five cartridges on it and cocked it. I put another handful of cartridges in the pocket of my trenchcoat. I came back to the farmhouse but this time I rounded it to enter through the back door. If I was lucky I could catch him unaware.


I approached the door and opened it. The house was quiet. I could not hear even the wooden planks creaking. It smelled rotten in that house. I wanted to cover my nose with a handkerchief but I need both hands to use the shotgun correctly.


I heard a glass crashing and a thud upstairs. 'Laura!... he might be attacking her' I walked up the stairs slowly. The memories of the comfrontation with Carl five years ago flooded my mind. I wanted a smoke to wipe out the anxiety but I could not. My heart was almost going to collapse. 'I will save the girl!'


I reached the top, the master bedroom door was opened. I walked quietly one foot after the other. I wished the old carpet muffled my footsteps.


When I was a step away of the bedroom's door, a door next to me bursted and Carl came out of a bathroom. He was grunting like an animal and he grabbed me by the neck before I could react. We felt on the floor and we started to struggle. His strength was otherwordly and his yes were animal like. White foams appeared on his mouth showing two overgrown canines. Everyting around me was fading to black. I extended my hand, trying to find something to defend myslef, I grabbed the shotgun. I still don't know how it happended but I managed to point it to Carl's torso and fired. I felt how the recoil broke my hand but Carl flew back a few meters with a hole in his chest.


I used the shotgun to stand up, my hand was burning in pain. I looked at Carl, if he was not dead I was the Virgin Mary. I advanced to the master bedroom. I saw Laura weeping while kneeling on the bed.


- Laura? Are you alright? - I used a soft voice while I advanced showing the palm of my hand.


Something struk my head and I faint.


When I woke up I was still in the master dormitory. I don't know how long I had been unconcious but I was unarmed and my right hand was purple colour. I could barely move because of the pain. On the other side of the room there was a tall blonde guy. His suit was astonishing 'The talent scout?...' Kneeling down in front of him was Carl, his shirt was covered with blood and he was restrained by chains. On the right side was Laura who was gently touching the blonde man's neck.


- Well, well, good evening. - The guy on the suit said. He looked at his perfect polished nails. - It is time to finish the fourth act of our story. - He holded Carls head and made him look at him.


- Did you really think you could harm me, my dearest Carl? - The man made his fingers covered with the shirt's blood, then he licked his fingers. - Uhmm, delightful. -


Carl grunted and tried to force the chains with pure strength to scape. An useless attempt. The man in the suit showed his empty hand palm to Laura. She gave him a wooden stick which belonged to a chair minutes ago.


- This is what happens to traitors. - He used the piece of wood to pierece through Carl chest. He became a pile of dust and ashes.


I could not believe what I saw, even when a human body was burnt there were some bones left, but there was nothing more but dust reamining from Carl.


- Now is time to deal with our knight in shinny armor... you have been of great use. - He chuckled as he approached me.


I could not move, I felt him on my back. He was staring at Laura. - What should we do with him my child?... shall we feed on him, or keep him as pet? - He put his had around my face. I saw how his nail grew and became a sharp claw which advanced directly toward my neck. I felt it piercemy skin and a small stream of blood coming down my shoulder. I tried to fight back but his grip was too strong.


Laura brought her fingers to her lips. She looked at the ceiling with innocent eyes. - I don't know master... I never had a pet before. - Her voice was childish and playful. - Can you bring him closer... I wish to see him better. -


This was a sick game for the man in the suit. He dragged me easily with one hand and placed me in front of Laura.


- His blood is tasty... I tried it last night... the mix of the scotch and the nicotin make his blood taste intoxicating... also the painkillers... delicious. - She said sitting on the bed, and crossing her legs.


- Then, we shall keep him. - The man laughed as I could feel how his sharp nail pierced my flesh. I grunted in pain.


Laura waited until the moment her master was focus on my neck. She hid my shotgun under the pillow pointed at him and shot 'bang'. The sound of the close gunshot stunned me but I instinctively rolled away of the fire line. The master as she called him moved slightly to the back.


- no, no, no – He said waving his fingers. - You are a naughty girl... and naughty girls get punished. - He tried to jump over her but...


'Bang' a second shot move him toward the window covered with courtains. - You are infuriating me. - His eyes became to shinny red dots and his caninnes grew big, same as Carl did moments ago.


Then 'Bang' The third shot made the man break the window. Outside it had stopped rainning and the sun was shinning bright like a summer day. I crawled over to see what had happened to him but I just saw a bunch of ashes fliying on the air.


- Ahh – Laura screamed, her arm showed a sever sunburn where the sun rays hit her skin. She was holding the shotgun now pointed at me.


- Laura! You are safe now. - I tried to stand up but I was too broken to do so.


- No, I am not... - Laura smiled. - I am not safe... but I am free, you are the only obstacle left. - She came closer as I saw the shotgun getting closer to my face.


- Laura I was hired to find you... to bring you back home. - My breathing was out of control, here eyes glowed red.


- No, you were hired to find this folder... and this folder is vital to me... to understand what I am now... what I can become. - She knelt down in front of me and stared at my eyes. I could see her fangs.


- No, Laura please... - The sweat covered my eyes I wanted to say something smart to save myself but I ran out of ideas.


- I have always been the object of desire of men... first was my dad... when he drank too much he used to come to my room when I was just a kid... I wanted him dead... luckly the alcohol took him away. - She took a pause and tears appeared on her eyes. - My mother pretended nothing of that happened... -


- Then... I went ot college and my all guys my age wanted to do was get in my pants. That was the only thing they could think about... - She chuckled in tears.


- I was so innocent I thought out of college was going to be bettr. - She nodded – How wrong I was, when I entered the dance school the professor was really “passionate” correcting my postures getting too close to my body... -


Suddenly the tears vanished, - It is interesting how empty of feelings I am... when the master hit me with the car... he took away my dream of become a dancer... he used my mind and body for his own purposes. - She cocked the shotgun.


- Men... you all deserve the worst... now I am not just safe... I am free... I am powerfull... I am the red queen. - She stared at me like when a kid look at a new toy.


- You just wanted the money... you did not care what Miller wanted from me or this folder... you deserve worse than death. - She smiled. Her red eyes glowed as she exhaled a cold breeze of air.


I saw my worse nightmares crawling around me, shiftin my mind, twisting my thoughts, the vivid constant nightmare made me impossible to discern between reality and nightmare. Whenever I close my eyes I see her staring at me, cocking that shotgun pointing at my forehead. I whish she shots, but she never does.


- Thank you Mr. McDuff. - We will continue next week. The doctor gestured the guardians to take me out. I could not move with the restrain vest. He left the room. They dragged me into my cell. I don't like it, it's dark, her eyes watch me from the shadows. - Aggh – I shout but no one listens.


Doctor Svenson walks into his office. A young lady is waiting for him. He smiles and offers a hug to the young woman.


- Mrs Pascucci, It's so good to see you again. - He offers a cigarette to the woman.


The woman declines with a smile. - Is he getting any better? - She looks worried


The doctor leans back on his chair. - At least his narrative is consistent now... but he is totally delusional, he needs sedatives to prevent him from hurting himself... or others. - The doctor lit his cigarette. - Any clue about what happened in Springvalley? -


Pascucci crosses her arms. - We found almost nothing at that abandom farm house. The folder Mr McDuff was hired to find was burned in the chimney. There were several bullet holes on the walls fired, with his shotgun. Some signs of struggle, traces of blood from at least two other men and some red hairs that we assume belonged to Laura Redwine. There were no bodies or any signs that someone scaped the scene. When we entered the bedroom John was curled up in fetal position screaming and scratching his face... looks like now he is much better. -


In the distance two red glowing eys were lurking in the shadows watching carefully the scene.


- The End -