| “Nothing repeats in this case.” Piper said. She turned away from the mirror and looked back at Hannah. Erin walked out of the one of the bathroom stalls and walked over to where the two girls stood. She turned on a sink and rubbed her hands vigorously underneath the running water. “Piper, listen to yourself. You’re so afraid you’re denying the truth. Everything repeats about this case. The two victims were buddies, and they were boys, not to mention at the scene of each crime, a claw was found.” “That and each of them had Mr. Almond.” Erin added in. Hannah glared at her, obviously not wanting Piper to hear what had been said. “I have Mr. Almond.” Piper said. Erin realized what she said and decided to keep her mouth shut about the case. She knew Piper had known it was possible she could be a victim but she never really admitted it to herself. Erin walked out of the bathroom and went back to the buses. “Piper, there is nothing to worry about. He would never murder on a bus full of kids nor would he murder in a crowded city like New York.” “Girls, time to go.” A male’s voice said. He hung outside the bathroom, listening everything the girls had said. “Come on, let’s go.” Hannah said urging Piper on. Piper looked into the mirror one more time wondering if it would be her last time to look in it at all. She went out towards the bus, not noticing Mr. Almond, who had tucked into a corner between the girls and boy’s bathrooms. * * * * Mulder and Scully stood outside the apartment room of the man of whom they were looking for. According to the paper Scully was holding, the man’s name was Howard Richardson. He was an ex-FBI agent who had gone on a case just like the one Mulder and Scully were on themselves. “What do you want?” A voice asked. Scully looked up at the door and saw it open slightly. “Agents Mulder and Scully.” Mulder added. “We heard that you might have some insight to the case we’re working on.” Scully said. She tried to see the man’s face but he stayed far enough away from the door, so it was hard to make out. “What kind of insight?” The man asked. His voice was rough and he had a slight wheeze as he spoke. “Insight into a murder that has recently occurred. A claw was found at each crime scene.” Mulder said. “Did you say your name was Scully?” The man asked. Scully nodded. The man closed the door and took the chain of the door. He let Mulder and Scully come inside. He told them to sit down and he offered them a drink but they denied. The man wore an old, checkered robe. The little hair he had was white and his face was wrinkled. “Do you know me, sir?” Scully asked wondering how the man had known her name. “I remember you.” He said. “Remember me how?” Scully asked, curiously. “Your daddy and I rode boats together for a while in California. Me and him were great friends. I remember when you were about two years old. That little head of red curls. You were one of the prettiest little girls I ever seen.” The man said. Scully blushed. She tried to remember the man but it was so long ago, she couldn’t. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember.” Scully said. Mulder looked over at her knowing how hard it was for her to remember. After she had been abducted, her memory seemed to slip, but she tried so hard. “No need to apologize, you were just a little tike. So, you said something about a claw?” “Yes, there have been two murders recently. Both of them young boys. One was found in a playground in Warwick, Rhode Island. After performing a complete autopsy, I discovered that the body was drained of all its blood.” Scully explained. “Blood loss, huh?” The man pondered. “Yes, just the same as the second victim. He was found in a crowded computer lab at a local Junior High School.” Scully said. “We found one of these…” Mulder pulled out the evidence bag with the claw in it. “…at each of the crime scenes.” He explained. “I got your name from a friend of mine at the bureau.” Scully explained. “She said you might be able to help us figure out what this thing is.” “About thirty years ago, I investigated a case of unexplained murders. Three boys and a girl were found dead with all the blood taken from their bodies. The only evidence was a claw. The only suspect we had was an English teacher, Scott Almond.” Scully looked over at Mulder. He gave her the same look back. They both connected the two Almond’s as father and son. “There is an English teacher named Robert Almond. He seems to be our only suspect.” Mulder said. “It’s his son, I’m sure of it. He’s a monster. I testified in front of a jury that Mr. Scott Almond was a genetic mutant who had it in his nature to kill. He needs the blood to soak in. Without it, his skin become inhuman and his real monstrous form would be known.” He explained. “You said three boys and a girl was murdered, isn’t that right?” Scully asked. The man nodded. “Then what happened?” “I went to court and they dismissed my case. They kicked me out of the FBI because they thought I wasn’t sane anymore. After what I told them about Scott, they would never trust me to go on another case again.” “What I don’t understand, sir, is how you found out about all this to begin with.” Mulder said. “I went to go question Scott when I saw him in the bathtub with the blood inside. If you don’t catch him, he will kill again.” “Two boys have died so far.” Scully said. “What can we do to stop him?” Mulder asked. “He can survive twenty-four hours before he needs more blood. He can go for weeks without human blood if he uses animal blood, but the convulsions to kill are so strong, he’d rather kill a human. You need to stop him and hold him for two days, and then you’ll see his true form. You must get to him today.” “That’s impossible. He took a busload of kids to New York City today.” Mulder said. “The he’s going to kill again whatever chance he gets. It will be a boy but the next time he killed, will be a girl. And they’re always people from his classes.” “He’s going to kill Ian Nelson and Piper.” Scully said. “How do you know?” Mulder asked. “Because they all played manhunt around his house and disturbed him. That’s why he’s praying on them.” Scully said. “Then what can we do to stop him?” Mulder questioned. “You don’t.” Howard said. * * * * Piper took her seat inside the theater. To one side of her was Hannah and to the other was Erin. The lights were dim in the theater but the show wouldn’t start for another half-hour. People were walking around trying to find their seats and find their way out of the theater to get snacks. The stage had maroon colored curtains in front of it. A few men ran across the stage bringing props from one side to the next. “I have to go to the bathroom.” Piper said. She excused herself and walked down the row. She found her way to the bathroom and she went inside. She had lied. She didn’t really have to go to the bathroom. She wanted to sit alone and breakdown and cry, but she knew she couldn’t. “Piper, you okay?” A voice asked. Ian was standing outside the bathroom. He poked his head inside when he saw Piper standing alone, crying. “I’m fine.” She answered. She wiped the tear from her face with the back of her hand. “You don’t look fine.” He said. Piper walked out of the bathroom, so Ian wouldn’t have to come in. They both sat together on a bench outside the theater. “I was thinking about Jim and Nick. They’re gone and we continue with life as usual. We still go on field trips and have a good time. I wasn’t too close with either of them but it’s just the thought that they’re gone and we’re never going to see them again. We’ll never be able to play manhunt without thinking this was Jim’s hiding spot or this is where Nick died. Nothing will ever be the same.” Ian nodded, knowing what she meant. “But you have Mulder and Scully on the case and from what I hear, they’re great agents and they can solve almost anything.” “Almost.” Piper said. “Do you know what the reason is for why we haven’t heard about this in the news?” Ian shook his head. “Because there is no evidence. There is nothing to tell because there are no leads and no suspects.” An announcement came over the loudspeaker telling the people that the play would start in two minutes. Ian quickly stood up and went into the bathroom. Piper dried her tears and walked back to the theater. The lights went totally out as Piper took her seat. She looked at the beautiful scenery of the play, as a ballroom scene came onto the stage. Piper heard something behind her, as she saw Mr. Almond sit down. He smiled at her and then turned his attention back towards the stage. Piper looked away from him and then looked down the road a little ways. Ian wasn’t in his seat. Piper quickly became scared. She jumped up and ran down the row of people, steeping on their feet. People were upset but she didn’t care. Piper ran into the lobby, searching for Ian. He wasn’t anywhere to be found. |