Darkness surrounded him , as it always did, around him, inside of him - it was him. From here he was all seeing, if unable to act, at the center of everything. Yet nothing. He could see the tendrils reaching away, and coming together again, twisting, growing, spinning itself for all of time.
Recently, he had seen the six who were meant to be his, who had been his , they had been tracing through his area, and he had been patient. He could exert only the slightest of control in this place. Slowly, with delicate tugs at the skeins of time and space, he pulled them closer. There were millions of dimensions out there, but only a few where he would be able to get his revenge on them and on the world. Only in a dimension where the startling real and the supernatural are allowed to coexist, a world where one can trust no one, where the greatest quest is for the truth. The X-Files Dimension!
*******
The night air was dark and heavy in the country side, pregnant with the on - coming storm. The clouds creeping up on the night air, before scurrying across the first quarter moon. Everything was waiting. An observer would have put the flash of brilliance to have been an aberrant lightening strike, the first of the evening. Yet in the wake of the light, appeared a vortex of swirling colours from which six lone travelers appeared. They paused for a full second, taking in their surroundings before promptly breaking out into argument.
"My feet hurt!" Daemon realized his voice was dangerously close to a Skywalker whine, but didn't care. They did hurt and the usually amiable Jamaican was running on five hours less sleep then usual. Fun in the sun was the motto he had always lived his life to, and he thought grudgingly , this place had no sun, and looked to be even less fun.
"Where the hell are we?" Jonathan pushed his disheveled hair out of his face as he glared suspiciously at Lexi, who was lying near his feet. Disgruntled and in no mood for logical explanations, he felt the overwhelming urge to blame her for the current predicament. The oldest, he always felt irrationally responsible for the hassles they always managed to get themselves into. A perfectionist, he preferred doing things his own way, if only to get them right. Growing up an only child to two parents constantly on the run from the government had taught him independence, and a few other tricks.
"How should I know?" Lexi smirked back, picking herself up from off the dewy grass. Dynamite would have been the best word to describe her. Short, red, with a tendency to explode when not handled with caution. With an attention span that was only long enough to say her name, Lexi spun through life like a top, never looking where she was going, precariously missing utter disaster, and always having a dizzingly time.
"God, again ? Are we almost back yet?" A leggy blonde looked up at the sky, trying to determine if she could recognize the constellations, or at least gain some comfort from them. The growing cloud cover made it impossible for India to distinguish any features and she turned back to her companions, getting ready to deal with whatever life had thrown at her this time. To the others , India's life always looked perfect. A gorgeous natural blonde, private school education, and a card shark to beat, she seemed to be the ultimate on -the- ball personality - except her secrets were beginning to crack through the polished veneer.
"Quit Pushing me!" Moe stumbled as someone slammed into her from behind.
She turned around to push back but softened when she saw the grungy blond guy who'd hit her. She glanced at his eyes, which seemed to be eerily reflecting the moon from the depths of his face.
"I know Lindsey" She told him, "I'm tired too."
Stretching her long legs, Moe thought how extremely inadequate the word tired was to describe their current state. Exhausted, worn, and run down. Her straight black hair, like her Native Indian heritage, had always been a strength for her, and as she pulled it off her face as she turned to face their latest challenge.
The hill on which they had been dropped was little more then a grassy knoll raising beside a larger one. It was this hill that they stared up.
"A house."
Somehow that word didn't seem to fit the shapeless building built haphazardly on the side of the hill. No lights shone and the moonlight glittered off the glass sporadically as the moon re-emerged briefly from behind a cloud, only to be swallowed by another a few seconds later.
Silence fell upon the night again as they stared.
"I don't like it." India pronounced finally, " It...it feels like it's winking at me, like a dirty old man." She shuddered as she turned to glance at the others. They all looked exhausted - what they needed was a good night sleep - but not , a voice was telling her, not here. I'm not afraid of anything, she told herself. But still.. she didn't want to sleep here. It seemed wrong.
"I like it!"
India changed her mind - they all looked tired with the exception of Lexi, she looked like she was practically going to spontaneously combust if she had to stand still for one more second.
For herself, Lexi thought the place looked exciting - God traveling with these people was such a trip! Besides, she knew from her varied experience that the only thing one had to be truly afraid of were people. Sometimes others, sometimes yourself.
"Dontcha see?" She continued "It's like a haunted house - but even better cause we don't have to pay!"
Jonathan winced as Lexi brought up another sore point. Money. Or rather their lack of the substance. They were majorally limited on places to stay, since they'd have to be free.
"She does have a point ... " he admitted reluctantly, "it's late - at the very least it's a roof over our heads. Tomorrow we can find a shelter, or rob someone, or something - get some money and stay in a real place."
"Are you nuts?" Daemon finally spoke up "I've seen poltergeist - and this is definitely on the list of what not to do if you want to live through the night. No way, Not me."
"Daemon - it's a house, this is real life" Moe looked sharply at him, "Not some cheesy third rate horror movie."
Lindsey, who had been sitting watching everything, heaved himself tiredly to his feet, and ignoring the others started walking towards what might have been a road in a daylight. Born without the ability to articulate even the smallest sound, he had long ago learnt to use action to communicate.
India smiled "Looks like Lindsey agrees with me."
"So? " Lexi blurted out "Jonathan and Moe agree with me."
The sky boomed ominously with thunder, although still the rain held off.
"Look" Moe said, her thick hair falling in her mouth, not helping her patience, "it's going to start pouring any second. We might as well make up our minds, Either stay there for one night or start walking. Even though we don't know which way or what's going on." She added.
"I vote to walk. As does Lindsey and Daemon."
"Yeah but we don't."
"Fine" Jonathan started hunting around his pockets for some spare change -" we'll flip for it. Shit." He stopped. "Can't - we don't even have change ... wait Lexi - what happened to the change back from the milk you bought?"
"Uh .... Gumballs anyone?" Lexi pulled a sticky mess out of one of her pockets.
"LEXI!"
"WHAT! I'm sorry OK?"
"Never mind - anyone got straws?"
"It's OK" Daemon reached down to where something had glinted in the moonlight, "I've found a coin ... of some sort."
**********************
The darkness stirred for a moment, pulsating waves of colours weaving around, churning the void. He smiled.
**********************
"Okay, heads we sensibly find somewhere else to go, tails we stay here." Daemon started to flip the coin.
"NOOOO!!!!"
He stopped, "What's wrong now?" Even his patience was beginning to be tried by Lexi.
"Heads we crash here, tails we go!"
"_Fine_" Daemon practically snarled the words out.
Lexi smiled triumphantly - everyone knew that heads came up more then tails.
Daemon gently flicked the coin up into the air, trying not to lose it as the moon disappeared once again. He held out his hand blindly, hoping to catch it.
"Did you get it?"
"Yeah," he waited for the moon to reemerge before opening his fist.
They all gathered around.
"And.... heads, ... no -wait. Tails? No what is that?"
Peering in the dim light Jonathan held the coin up, "It landed eye up, verses a cat. I guess it is heads."
India looked like she was going to argue the point, but Daemon, feeling the first drops of rain, decided the house didn't look so bad after all.
"Aw -close enough - let's run - if we are going to stay there we might as well get there before it starts to pour."
With a reluctant nod, India consented, and started to run. It was only one night, she told herself - she was bringing up her childish fears , being silly… - wasn't she? She didn't know. Yet another corner of her mind, one reserved for analyzing mathematical equations and debating theories of nuclear physics, was silently wondering where that coin had come from.
"We're here …" Lexi laughed as her voice bounced around the house, "didya hear that? It ECHOES!!!"
"Great." India sounded less then thrilled as she stepped hesitantly over the front entrance. "A house that creaks _and_ echoes"
"Can you believe it? And it's _free_! You usually have to pay for this type of atmosphere."
"Shut up Lexi." This from at least three impatient people.
A crash of thunder caused Daemon to jump as he watched the door swing slowly shut behind him. "ohmanohman - I _knew_ this was a bad idea"
They slowly worked their way through the deserted corridors. Moe, with great common sense, found the kitchen, and after a couple of failures managed to light a few candles which she passed around to the others.
"Come on" Jonathan was trying to be encouraging - "at least we're dry, and we can sleep here."
"And we _can_ be eaten alive by moths" India muttered. "I'd hardly call this place dry - all the wood is growing fungus."
"Higher up?" Jonathan suggested, "it'll probably be drier." One by one they slowly climbed the rickety stair case, pausing briefly on the second and third floors to glance into deserted rooms, some recognizable as forgotten bedrooms, full of relics of years gone by.
"What a mess."
Daemon had uttered it - and no one was disagreeing. Tons of junk, this place deserved to be destroyed - looking around Moe wondered why on earth it hadn't been torn down years ago.
Finally Jonathan reached the top of the third flight of stairs only to find it blocked by a locked door. In less then three seconds he had picked it open, not waiting to ask the others their opinions , doing what seemed to him to be the most instinctive thing.
"The attic" He waved them in with a flourish "Dry as a bone - we'll sleep here."
Up here, it was dark, the candles giving a soft flicker to the surroundings, interrupted occasionally with the harsh brilliance of the lightening flashing through the overhead skylight. Outside - the storm raged on, while here -in the attic it was strangle quiet, and Lindsey thought he could hear all their hearts beating.
With a leap, Lexi swiped his candle out of his hand and jumped to the center of the room, flinging her candle up as high as she could , to scatter the light to the distant corners of the room. Old toys, and chest laid heaped in the corner, forgotten puzzles, half made with little fingers from years ago were haphazardly scattered - faded board games and worn toys.
"It's an old play room." Moe spoke quietly, as if in respect for the souls who long ago had left their childhood's in this room.
"Cool!"
And then there were some, she thought, like Lexi - who never seemed to grow up. For a second she wondered which was more sad.
"Come on" Moe spoke up, startling herself and the others out of their contemplation's "I think I see some old cushions, and mattresses - if they aren't too disgusting, it might make it a bit more comfortable."
Quickly grabbing the candle back from Lexi, she mounted it in an old holder, and set to work hauling the old mattresses out. She had been right -time had not affected this room to the same extent that it had debilitated the rest of the house, and soon, they were sprawled out in various position, piled on an assortment of cushions, mattresses and old blankets.
Daemon sighed happily as he burrowed deeper into the nest he had made for himself -maybe this hadn't been such a bad idea after all. He could relax here, listening to the smoothing fall of the rain on the roof, knowing he was safe, up in this little dry room, surrounded by - OOMPH.
"ACCKKK! LEXI!" was all he managed. "Get OFF of me!"
"Bored. Wanna play!" With a shove Daemon sent the little red head sprawling across the room towards Lindsey. "Lexi - " Daemon was close to losing it "GROW UP! YOU'RE 18!!!!"
"So?"
Snapped out of a light snooze as he was, Lindsey also no longer felt like sleeping, and started to glance around at some of the odder antiques in the room. Moe joined him.
"Look - it's an ancient game of Scrabble!"
"Huh?" Lexi was interested, and with a sigh of relief Daemon watched her move away.
One by one the others were also being revived and were looking more interested in the games they were unearthing.
Moe looked down at the chess board with fond memories, her fingers gentle tracing the cracked knight. Her favorite piece …
"Hey, any here ever played checkers while whacked? It's positively psychedelic!"
"Only you Lexi."
"What about scrabble?" Someone suggested.
"Spelling for fun? You've _got_ to be kidding. " Daemon rolled his eyes "I'd have to be high before you'd get me to play that."
" There's always Scrabble for Smokers N' Dopers!"
India muttered something which might have been "uneducated lout" before receiving a gentle elbow in the side by a grinning Lindsey. She smiled back - they were all just goofing now, earlier tensions forgotten as quickly as they had developed.
"Well -let's be fair" Jonathan spoke up again , unearthing a pencil from the scrabble box "everyone pick a board game, write it down on a piece of paper -and we'll draw for it."
**********
In the darkness, an inner smile grew.
**********
"FLASHLIGHT TAG!" Jonathan stared at the piece of paper in front of him in disbelieve.
"Actually J." Lexi peered over his shoulder "I believe it says candlestick tag"
Jonathan still stared incredulously "It's _pouring_ out - who in their right mind suggested that! " He looked around at five of the best poker faces he had ever seen in his life. "Forget it - we said BOARD GAME"
With a sigh he drew another piece of paper. He read it, and groaned.
"What's it say?"
"Ouiji Board."
"WHAT no way man - no way."
Lexi leapt to her feet, rummaging through the piles of old board games - "I didn't see that, or else … -uh Here it IS!" She triumphantly pulled a black and beaten board out, and the pointer.
India felt all her old doubts rush back - the momentary warmth of the attic forgotten as she shivered.
"Uh guys, I really don't think we should do this."
"No fair! It's a board game, we picked it fair and square - now we play."
India saw the half challenging look in Jonathan's eyes, daring her to refuse. She gritted her teeth. "Fine."
One by one they placed their fingers on the board and waited. And in the darkness they created, a being not of this world began it's first steps back to the place he longed for.
*****************
Mulder tapped his pencil on the desk with a soft cadence as he browsed over the latest case that had been sent to them. He'd already memorized the entire thing and was now just waiting for Scully to finish what she was doing and ask him about it.
He could see her head bent in concentration as she filled out the various forms.
'Come' on Scully' He silently encouraged her 'ask!'
His frustration mounted as she turned over the piece of paper she was working on and immediately started on the next. Mulder's mouth twisted in annoyance. With a pointed look to her bent head he loudly started to rustle through the papers in front of him. The noises were occasionally interrupted by a low whistle and a quiet "would you look at that." and "hard to believe, yet ..."
He broke into a grin as he heard Scully's pencil falling to her desk.
"What is it Mulder?" She sounded annoyed.
Mulder perversely continued to ignore her, pretending to be so engrossed that he didn't realize that she was asking him a question. Just as he felt he would lose her interest, he looked up - all innocence "Oh - It's just another case."
Scully sighed to herself, since when was an X-File *just* another case to her partner. Mulder took them all personally, devoting himself to them.
"Give it up..." Mulder could sense the smile beneath her words and with a cocky grin, he tossed the case file over.
"Knew you couldn't resist Scully."
Not dignifying her partner's little dig with an answer Scully quickly flipped through the newest X-File.
"What is it Mulder?" She let the case fall shut on the desk in front of her. "I hardly think that an animal mauling necessarily count as an X-File " she added dryly.
"Really Scully?"
She knew that tone in his voice, the tone that said, there's more here then you are seeing, the confidence that his suspicions were right - would be proved right. With a deft gesture she tossed it back.
"Really Mulder." She confirmed, raising a delicate eyebrow, he smiled back, recognizing her usual challenge.
"But Look." Mulder enthusiastically left his desk, crossing over the cluttered office. "Look at the facts."
"I have Mulder - and frankly what these facts are telling me are that this isn't an X-File."
"Two deaths in as many days. Deaths caused by vicious animal attacks. But not just one animal " he quickly countered the skeptical look that was appearing on her face. "multiple animals, Scully, Multiple. One of which - a bear, is not indigenous to the area."
"Mulder, you still don't have anything. Two animal mauling, bears can travel 100s of miles. A disorientated, or sick bear could have easily wandered into the area and be responsible for these attacks. As for the multiple animals -they probably just fed off the remains." She made as if to resume her work.
"Wait a sec Scully - you could be right, but ..." Mulder disappeared within the depths of his desk. Scully sighed patiently as she watched as mementos from old cases were being tossed out onto his desk: skulls, notes from Frohike, before finally re-reemerging with a much abused calendar that Scully had never seen before - what was Mulder into now?
"Finally," He had evidently found what he was looking for - "Look Scully, it's the first Quarter of the Spring Solstice after the total eclipse of the moon."
"So?" Scully almost hated to ask.
Mulder grin widened. "Covens Scully, Covens."
********************************************
Agent Dana Scully drove carefully, despite the flatness of the roads that would lead them to their destination: Smallsville, Idaho.
The bodies were waiting for her at the local hospital. Mulder had dropped her off with a smile and a quick agreement to meet up with her later that afternoon. He was off to do his own examination, albeit of a more esoteric kind.
Scully pulled away the remain of the outer skin while digging deeper in the areas around the esophagus, slicing deeper, looking for clues. The body had been dead too long for any further bleeding, the gash marks she mentioned in her dictation had probably stopped bleeding soon after death. Observing the amount of superficial damage she imagined that death had not been swift. The copious amount of blood on the exterior of the corpse cast doubts on the exact cause of death. Had the man bled to death? Or was it a result of the brain swelling caused by the massive trauma to his cranial region. Further investigation was required and she carefully noted her theories while continuing the examination.
Realizing that it was getting late, Scully decided to re-focus her energy on learning the exact nature of the beasts which had caused the wounds. Probing delicately into the serrated flesh, she gathered minuscule pieces of evidence which she only hoped would prove useful under the further scrutiny of the microscope.
She moved on to the second body. Here the damage was even more extensive and she gagged slightly from the smell of the entrails which were hanging out of the hole in the woman's body. Still, that wound would not have proven immediately fatal and the woman could have suffered as well. She turned the head towards her to get a better look at the right eye socket. The eyeball had evidently been removed. Huge red gorges lay across the woman's face. Scully had seen such marks before, but never in a body this fresh. Usually it took longer before the birds became fearless enough to peck out a human's eyes. According to the initial report, Susan McAllister had only been missing for a few hours before her body was found. The marks indicated a fairly big bird which added to the mystery. Again, she gathered more specimens for her microscope.
Zipping the body bag up, Scully suddenly stopped when she noticed something she'd overlooked. The hands. Bringing the light closer, she carefully pulled out the foreign object from underneath the dead woman's fingernail. It appeared to be a small portion of a feather and Scully calmly added this to her evidence.
The microscope sat on the far side of the room and, with a quick check of the time, she turned it on and prepared her first slide. She was to remain there another two hours, drawing upon the surprisingly high -tech resources of the pathologist's office to answer her questions.
*********************************************************
"I ordered for you," Mulder didn't even look up as Scully slid into the booth.
Scully groaned to herself, wondering what greasy morsel would be presented as her meal. She cleared away a few of the books scattered on the table and threw her initial report in front of her partner. Without missing a beat Mulder drew it to him and opened it. He quickly flipped through the closely typed medical forms, pausing only at the pictures, before moving on to her conclusions. Upon finishing these he finally looked up at her.
"Mongoose Scully?"
Any further ruminations were interrupted by the arrival of their dinner. Scully tried to hide her surprise and her delight at the large garden salad topped with chicken that the waitress placed in front of her.
"What?" Mulder finally clued into her surprise "I said I ordered for you and I know you don't appreciate my finer culinary tastes."
Scully just rolled her eyes as Mulder dug into his fish and chips. Hypnotized she watched as he drowned his french fries in gravy, the grease floating to top in large yellow globules.
"Scully....Scully? Are you all right?"
"I'm fine Mulder." With a small smile she turned to her salad. "What were you saying?"
"Your report - a mongoose?"
"Yes Mulder," Scully faced him, squaring her shoulders as she prepared to defend her report. "Evidence was gathered supporting the presence of at least one mongoose, snowy owl, peregrine falcon, arctic wolf, grizzly bear and a lynx." To her own ears the list sounded ridiculous and she knew Mulder would pounce on this to defend his own position.
"Interesting Scully, and do you happen to know how many of those animals are indigenous to this area?"
Scully didn't blink. "None."
"Exactly Scully - do you know what I've been doing all day?"
Scully knew the question was rhetoric, she would soon get all the gory details whether or not she answered.
Mulder flagged down the waitress and ordered some sweet potato pie. He was obviously settling in for the long haul. Resigned, Scully merely asked for a cup of coffee.
"You shouldn't drink that stuff you know." Mulder expounded as he waved a loaded fork in the cup's direction.
Scully shot a questioning glare at the reigning coffee king seated across from her. "Pardon?"
Mulder ignored her and plowed into his account of day's research. "I think you might have been right when you said it wasn't covens Scully."
"Really?" Scully was a bit shocked to have her partner admit this so early in the case.
"We're too far east for that. No, this area was home to a now extinct Indian tribe two hundred years ago."
"Mulder, I don't see what this has to do..."
"Everything Scully, everything. This particular tribe was well known throughout this region for the strange practices of its shamans. One of the most common legends is that the totems they carved actually captured the spirits of the beasts inside and that they would be let loose every night to protect the tribe from the white man." He tapped the books beside him to emphasize his point.
"This is nonsense Mulder, nothing more than children's' stories."
"But how else would you explain the rarity of the animals."
"My point exactly Mulder. These animals were no more indigenous two hundred years ago then they are today. These Indians would not have based their totems on animals they didn't even know existed."
"But what if the tribe isn't extinct Scully. What if surviving members are trying to reclaim the area, secretly on their own, using the lore of their ancestors. Both of the victims were white Scully, and neither were known for their support of Native American issues."
Scully sighed, this was going to be very trying. "Mulder, 98% of the area is white."
"So?" Mulder looked almost puzzled at her point.
Scully sighed again. "I don't know the answer either Mulder, but I know there must be a logical reason. I'll contact the local zoos and animal control authorities first thing tomorrow to find out if any animals have escaped. We can also check customs to find out if any of these animals have been brought into the region recently." She ran a tired hand across her face.
Across from Scully, Mulder looked at his partner properly for the first time that night. She looked exhausted. Concern for her health welled up inside him. He hoped she wasn't overdoing things - she had merely picked at her salad.
"Did you remember to eat lunch?"
"What? No...I was too busy. What has this got to do with anything Mulder?"
"Uhhh...nothing.... Why don't you say we call it a night?"
Scully glanced sharply at her partner. It was unusual for him to go to bed when he was working on a case, much less sleep. "Are you all right Mulder?" she asked.
"I'm fine Scully." He bit back the smile that rose to his lips at the chance to toss her patented reply back at her.
Scully just watched dumbfounded as he downed the last of his sweet potato pie and gathered up his books to leave.
"Coming?"
*********************************************************
"Pleaaase..." But there was no one to hear the final plea of the man who lay dying in the street. A scream welled up in him but was never released as out of the darkness a bear's paw came swooping towards him catching him behind the ear, ripping the front of his face off. The last thing he heard was the eerie shrieking of a bird attacking it's prey.
*************************
John Smithers was driving home late from his weekly poker game with the boys. He knew this road so well that he could drive it practically with his eyes closed. Nevertheless he hadn't had anything to drink that night and was alertly peering ahead into the parabolic beams of light that lit up the road in front of him.
Nothing prepared him, however, for the flurry of activity that surrounded his car for a brief instant - the flapping of a bird across his windshield, followed by a dark shadow. The impact made his car shudder, and he swerved wildly for a second , fighting for control. As he gained it back he glanced in the rear view mirror; there he saw a huge bear struggle up to its feet, and with a shake of the head, he saw it lumber off the road.
A bear ... he hadn't seen a bear in this area for a long time. Shaken, he took a firmer grip on the steering wheel, and hoped that he would be home soon.
*********************
Smallsville Police Station 09:13 am
Striding down the hall, trench coats flapping, the two agents pushed open the doors to the general waiting area. Their questions had not resulted in many conclusive answers. No one could tell them anything. There had been no reports of the types of animals that they were looking for missing - but all of these animals could have traveled great distances... so although they couldn't prove the existence of the animals in this region, they couldn't disprove it either. It was the kind of evidence Mulder loved.
"It was a bear I tell you!" The man at the counter was trying to fill out an accident report while dealing with a disbelieving police officer.
"John please ..There are no bears in this region. Could it have been a big dog?"
Mulder's head snapped up as his instincts screamed 'lead', "Wait here for me Scully, I'll be back in a sec -there's something I want to check out."
Without waiting for a reply, he quickly strode over to stand beside the annoyed man.
He flashed his badge.
"FBI , Agent Mulder - Could you come with me for a minute - I have a few questions that I would like to ask you, regarding last night."
"Anything if it will help me fill this report out and get out of here - I have a job to do you know."
Mulder nodded understandingly, "Certainly Sir, it should only take a few minutes."
The two men went off to a secluded corner, where John Smithers could soon be seen gesticulating wildly to a nodding Mulder.
Scully watched her partner with experienced eyes. They'd be here a while. Resigning her self to a wait she glanced around at the other occupants of the police station , her attention caught by the young Jamaican handcuffed to one of the seats.
He was out of place in this white bread town, and Scully wondered why he was there. He was staring morosely at the floor, idly playing at his handcuffs. She followed his gaze downwards. The young man's clothes were filthy, torn and caked with drying mud, as well as another substance. Her eyes narrowed as she recognized blood.
Abruptly she crossed the room towards him, motioning to the officer on duty to accompany her. She crouched down, ignoring the boy's protests and examined the region of his leg surrounding the blood stains. A nasty cut glared up at her, and she turned to the officer standing over them.
"This boy needs medical attention - Why hasn't he been seen to?"
The officer responded quickly to the tones of authority in her voice, as he too bent over. "I don't know ... we just picked him up early this morning for loitering - he was sleeping in the street."
"Pass me the first aid kit" Scully didn't stop her examination as the officer brought her some supplies. She looked up briefly into the boy's face which was staring curiously down at her.
"How did you get this?"
He just shook his head, bemused. "Uh ... I dunno."
Scully could hear the disbelief in her voice " You don't know? I think you would remember getting this -it's pretty nasty. Sorry." The boy gasped as Scully liberally dosed the wound with iodine before she began to bandage it up.
"S'Okay." He was still curiously watching what was going on.
"We can go now Scully," Mulder's impatient voice reached her ears. Scully straightened up slowly, brushing her hands off, stopping them suddenly as she observed something sticking to them. Flakes of light blue, flakes of paint. She paused, holding one delicately up to the light.
"Scully?" Mulder was right there beside her staring intently at the object she was holding. "What's that?"
Silently she handed it to him.
"Paint?"
She nodded her agreement.
Mulder frowned at this new piece of the puzzle, "Scully - that man I was talking too - he was filling out an accident form for a blue Ford... he hit a bear last night Scully, a bear."
She gazed quizzically at him "I think he might be lying to avoid the consequences of a hit and run Mulder."
Mulder glanced at the boy being led away. "What does he say happened?"
She shrugged, "he says he doesn't remember."
"Really?"
Mulder waved the officer escorting the Jamaican over to them, "We'll take care of this officer."
The man acknowledged Mulder with a rough nod. "Sure thing buddy - he hasn't really done anything... better the Feds problem then ours."
Mulder and Scully flanked the young man as the hand cuffs were removed, Mulder placing a propriety hand on his shoulder in case he got any ideas. "So ... what's your name Son?"
"Daemon, Daemon O'Neil. And you?"
Scully was a little taken back. But he wasn't being rude.
"Agent Scully and Agent Mulder, FBI."
Daemon looked the two of them up and down before flashing them a huge grin.
"Kewl!"
****************
"So.." the Jamaican's dreads stuck themselves into the front seat region of Mulder's and Scully's rental. "Where are we going?"
Scully glanced at Mulder, who replied calmly "We were kind of hoping you'd tell us Daemon. What do you remember about last night."
"Nothing" He replied cheerfully. "Zip. Zero. Nada."
"Right" Scully tried to bring it back to the original question "So .. where are you from ?"
"Jamaica"
Scully and Mulder exchanged glances over his head.
"Really?"
"Yeap."
"Well - how did you get here?"
There was a silence as Daemon thought that one over to himself. 'well that was the million dollar question wasn't it ... what to say ....'
"Uh, I was ...." what to say .... Kidnapped ? Not quite the right word. "Abducted."
The car swerved slightly.
"Really?" For Scully's sake Mulder tried to keep his voice calm. "By what?"
Daemon knew that telling the truth was a bad idea, but he was naturally an honest person. What did these people want to hear?
"I don't really remember ..."he tried to stall. "Men?"
Scully shot a quick glance at her partner's eagerly nodding head, "Mulder, please, no more abduction theories - just this once."
Daemon's active imagination grabbed this bead of information with enthusiasm. "I think ... I think I was taken by little men, it was hard to see - lots of bright lights. But I think .. they were purple."
"Purple?" Scully groaned at the tone in her partners' voice.
"Yeah, Purple ... with green spots."
"Anything else you remember?"
"Sure! They spoke too!"
"Really? They usually don't you know." Mulder remarked lightly.
Daemon nodded his head sagely "Oh I know, but these ones did , but not English right?"
"Well I wouldn't think so, would you Scully?"
"Mulder...." He grinned at her as Daemon continued to talk.
"They spoke ... Pigeon. Very high pitch you know. Squeaking to themselves while they took me to their mother ship."
"Go on, but wait .. left or right?"
"Right up at the intersection, oh yeah, they loved me - thought I was great. I think they wanted me to lead them or something, I don't really remember, none of it made much sense ."
"Oh that's too bad, go straight?"
"Yeah .. oh but that was only until I remembered to turn on my universal translator."
"Handy things aren't they?"
"Oh yeah - I was so glad Picard gave us a few. " Daemon was happy to be able to put some truth into this tale.
"Is this it?" The car slowly halted , the old house rising a few hundred feet off from the road.
"Hey yeah! That's the place - thanks for the ride."
"No," Mulder smiled at Scully, "Thank you."
Daemon struggled out of the back seat.
"Don't even say it" Mulder mumbled to Scully, as he saw her start to hide a grin behind her hand
"Hey!" He redirected his attention to Daemon who was already waving good -bye "Do you have anyone to stay with?"
"Huh? Oh yeah - my friends. I'll be fine. Thanks again."
As they drove slowly away Mulder kept glancing back at the large house on the hill, it was too far away to see anything distinctive about it, but even from this distance, it did not look like a home. He wondered how the house would fit into everything. He shivered slightly - it felt like someone, or something was watching him.
After cheerfully seeing his agents off, Daemon sighed tiredly and started to walk up the path. He was surprised as an arm leapt out of a nearby bush and pulled him roughly to the ground.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Daemon found himself face to face with Jonathan's furious countenance.
"Huh - what?"
"Do you know who those people were?"
Daemon shook his head at India's question. "Agent Mulder and Scully, of course - why?"
Moe tried to control her temper, something she was getting a lot of practice with lately. "But do you know _who_ they are?"
Daemon didn't say anything.
"They're the X-Files people!"
He glanced blankly at them. "The what?"
"Listen - what did you tell them?"
"Nothing, don't worry, I didn't say anything about us ... well ... nothing truthful."
"What did you tell them Daemon?"
"Oh.. I said something about being abducted by aliens."
"you did WHAT!?!?!?!"
********************************************************************
Scully and Mulder drove on in silence. Finally Mulder cleared his throat and prepared to speak.
"No way Mulder," Scully interjected before he could say even one word, "It was drugs."
Mulder grinned, "Scully, I was not going to suggest that he was really kidnapped by purple aliens. But there's still more to his story than drugs alone can explain."
"Mulder, it is perfectly clear what happened last night. The young man was obviously drunk or high or both when he wandered into the street and got hit by the car. The man who hit him panicked and drove off, later concocting a wild story about hitting a bear to cover the damage done to his vehicle. The fact that the kid doesn't remember this happening just supports my story."
"That's true Scully, but..." Scully rolled her eyes as Mulder continued, "I went out to examine the vehicle in question and that man did hit an animal last night. I got blood and fur samples from the left fender and, unless I'm mistaken, I believe those samples will match those found on the bodies."
Before Scully could protest there was a shrill ringing sound. Both agents went for their cellular phones.
"Mulder here."
"Scully here," she signaled Mulder to put down his phone, the call was for her.
"Yes.....yes...uhum...yes...where?....I understand...we'll be right there." Scully replaced the phone in her trenchcoat pocket.
"Who was that?" Mulder asked, his curiosity piqued.
"The police station. Another body has been discovered. They're waiting for us there. They haven't touched anything."
"Okay," Mulder glanced at his partner. "Where is it?"
"Elm street along Old Crescent Road."
Mulder hauled the car around. "You do realize Scully, that is this same area where our friend had an altercation with a bear last night."
"Don't go leaping to conclusions Mulder, there is-"
"A perfectly logical explanation. Right Scully?" he finished for her with a wry grin.
"Yes, that's right."
***************************************************************
Scully knelt over the body, or what was left of it. This one had been torn limb from limb and parts of it were scattered around the surrounded bushes. There wasn't anything left of the face, they would depending on dental records to identify the poor man. The most notable feature of this body was the missing flesh. He was eaten almost to the bone in several areas. It was one of the more gruesome accident scenes she had been called out to. And for Dana Scully, that meant a lot.
She bit back the bile as she bent in for a closer look. There were tooth and claw marks on the man's femur and more on the sternum.
"Anything interesting Scully?" Mulder's voice came from above her head.
She looked up at him immediately, before she had time to gather her composure again.
"It's pretty bad Mulder. He would have suffered a lot."
Mulder caught the look of strain on her face and bent down beside her. He considered putting a comforting arm around her shoulders but as hesitated she got up and brushed her hands off.
"I'll have to do a proper autopsy back at the morgue but I think we can say he died of the same causes as the other two." She looked around the idyllic wood; it was almost as if the brutality of the past night had never happened, adding a note of surrealness to the scene.
"We have three dead bodies in this town Mulder. What ever is going on here, we have to stop it."
*********************************************************
"Do you need some help Sir?"
Mulder glanced up at the Librarian who was hovering over him. He had dropped Scully off reluctantly at the hospital. Another autopsy. Meanwhile he was going to do his best to get as much as the other research out of the way as possible. Without telling Scully what exactly he was looking for , he had driven himself back to the library.
"Yes ...." Mulder smiled at the tall man looming over him in the shadows of the dusty books. "I'm looking for some information."
A ghost of a smile flickered across the pale features of the librarian. "Then I think you've come to the right place. What are you looking for?"
"I don't know if there will be any books on the subject - but I'm looking for the history on some of the more unique architectural styles I've seen in this town." Abandoning his Indian theory for the moment, Mulder decided to follow his hunch and find out more about the old house where they had left Daemon.
"We have quite the range of styles here. " Mulder followed as the elder man lead the way through the towering shelves.
"Actually, I'm looking for information on one house in particular. I was driving out past the northern end of town, and I saw a most unique house, set back from the road - I didn't get a very good glimpse at it, but it seemed at least three stories tall."
"Ahhhhhh" The man nodded " the old Brent Worthword mansion. It's been deserted for about, oh 10 years now. Very impressive specimen - quite an eclectic mixture of styles - much like the old owner himself - it's too bad it's been scheduled for demolition - too many kids were breaking in and getting hurt."
Mulder listened closely, "do you know much about the old owner?"
The librarian gave him an enigmatic look. "He disappeared about ten years ago. Always trotting around the world, looking for things for his collection. On his last trip to the middle East - he just never came back. No one knows what happened really - although I think he did come back, but was crazy - locked himself in his house until he died. Might still be there for all I know."
Mulder could tell that there was more that the man was dying to tell him. " Collection?"
"Yes, he was an archaeologist - specializing in Egyptology. Used to send a few valuable books my way."
The man leaned in conspiratorially towards Mulder. "They say" His voice dropped even lower " he managed to smuggle the sarcophagus of Sol-Kal-Thet out of Egypt and that it is lying hidden in the old house."
"But ... if they are articles of worth in that house - shouldn't they be cleared out before everything is demolished?"
The tall man shrugged - the motion jerking him. " They are only rumours, no one really knows, nothing to act upon. Besides the man was a paranoid reclusive. That house is booby-trapped ten times over. Two tourists kids got decapitated there a while back, playing in the main rooms. So they're tearing it down."
"So you are sure they're is no one there right now?"
"Of course - no one in town would go within 100 yards of that place - it's a death trap."
*******************************
" ... death trap ..death trap ... the words spun themselves restless over and over in Mulder's head. What were they doing there? It was the key .... death trap. He flipped out the phone.
"Scully." Was the prompt reply.
"It's me - listen can you be ready to head out of the hospital in half an hour? I want to go question those kids."
Scully glanced at the remains of the remains with a grimace.
"Sure Mulder" she said softly "no problem."
"Great . See you then. Bye."
********************************
The drive back later that morning to the old house was a lot quieter then their first trip out. They parked the car and slowly walked up the main drive. There was no activity anywhere. Mulder stood back a bit as Scully opened the front door a crack.
"Hello? We're FBI agents we have a few questions for you."
*********************************
"SHIT!" From upstairs a head that had been worriedly following their process up the drive withdrew from the window, "We are so Fucked."
Next to India, Daemon spoke up. "What? What are they doing back here for?"
Lexi rolled over - "Cause stupid, you mentioned aliens. It's like Mulder's calling card or something. Mention it and he's on you like glue."
"Shit."
"Well - let's go down and face them." Jonathan sighed as once again he was pulled into something that had nothing to do with him - problems that one of the others had caused.
*************
"Hello?" Jonathan cautiously extended a hand, "Can we help you?"
Trying not to step forward as he felt Lexi smack into him from behind , he hung onto his smile.
"I hope so. We're agents Dana Scully and -"
"Fox Mulder. HI!" Lexi jumped futility trying to see over Jonathan's shoulder.
"Uhmm... yeah" Mulder glanced at the shock of red hair bouncing in and out of view.
India hastily stuck her hand over Lexi's mouth. "Daemon's told us all about you - thanks for helping him out."
"No problem - Now is there anywhere we could go to discuss things over for a bit?"
"Uh - sure." Moe lead the way "There's like a sitting room in here. Don't mind the mess" She tried to cover lamely as great billows of dust rose up everywhere. The chair Mulder sat in dissolved, and he joined the other six who had wisely chosen the floor. Scully found a solid looking bench and sat down.
"So ... what do you want to know?"
"Well, for starters, what are you doing here?"
Jonathan signaled to the others to remain quiet.
"Well, we are kind of on a trip, and we were passing through here late a few night ago, and decided to crash. This was the nearest house. We'll probably only stay here a few more days before pushing on."
Jonathan tried to ignore the thumbs up from Lexi.
Scully considered her next question, none of them seemed to be displaying the normal signs of drug abuse. Although she was beginning to think there was definitely something wrong with the short red headed one. "Where are you from originally ?"
"Canada?"
Scully raised her eyebrow at the question in his voice, "You tell me."
"Yes Canada." Moe glared at the others. "We're from Ontario - doing a trip - taking a year off."
"I thought Daemon said he was from Jamaica."
"Oh I am!"
When no further information was forth coming, Scully just rolled her eyes at Mulder, she was beginning to take back her early diagnosis about the lack of drug abuse. Some thing was going on here.
Mulder took over the questioning.
"Where were you last night?"
"Uh ..." For the first time Jonathan seemed at lost for words - he didn't really remember. "Here ... where else?"
"Do you know that four people have been killed in the town lately?"
This statement seemed to shock them.
"No ... we haven't been into town."
"Not ever?"
"No." Jonathan realized how strange this was sounding - but there hadn't been any need to go into town.
Mulder switched topics. "Do you know that this place is condemned? That there are dangerous traps laid all over the place?"
They shook their heads. "We've just been mostly sleeping in the attic - it's fine up there."
Scully glanced at Daemon's leg. From the look of things he hadn't changed his clothing. She realized all of the six were dressed in torn and dirty garments - at odds with their somewhat adult composure. Something was very wrong here.
"Can you show me where you're sleeping?" Mulder's question brought her out of her reverie.
"Uhhhh..." it seemed a highly bizarre question but Jonathan didn't have much choice. "Sure..." He lead the way upstairs, Mulder and Scully directly behind him with the other five following closely upon their heels.
Up in the attic it was crowded. Scully was taken back by the mess. It was obvious where the young people had been sleeping - nests of old blankets and clothing were scattered around the tiny room reminding her of the dens animals make. Clumps of dirt and grass dotted the room but Mulder's attention was drawn only to the flat board lying in the centre of the room.
"Ouji?" he turned to look at Moe... she seemed a little more forthcoming then the other boy. "Playing this up here, in this house, you must really creep yourself out."
"Oh boy yeah!" The little redhead piped up enthusiastically, "it's _so_ cool!!!" She yelped slightly as the blonde girl next to her dug her in the ribs before turning a winning smile in Mulder's direction.
"It passes the time."
"And you are?"
"India Weston," she extended a dirty hand in Mulder's direction, but quickly pulled it back when she saw how disgusting it was. "Please uh.. forgive our rudeness," she continued blithely. "You've already met Daemon," She glanced around at the short Jamaican, before nodding towards the quiet blonde-haired boy in the corner, "this is Lindsey Whittaker-Fiske, this one," she gave the short girl next to her a quick push, "is Lexi Finnegann."
"And," the Native Indian girl stepped forward from the shadows and shook Mulder's hand. "I am Moe Ravenwing. Jonathan Riel is over there," she indicated Jonathan with an imperceptible jerk of her head.
Mulder was slightly taken back. Moe Ravenwing? But he shook his head, he had lost interest in his Native American theory, it just didn't fit the facts.
"Riel?" Scully spoke up.
"Uhhh... yeah. Long story."
"Do you have any more questions?" Moe returned the attention to the matter at hand. "We're really tired so if you don't have anything else you want to ask us..."
"No that's fine," Mulder glanced at Scully who nodded her head in confirmation.
*************************************************
As Mulder and Scully walked back to the car they could feel the eyes watching their progress.
"So what do you think Scully?"
"They're lying Mulder."
"Yes, but about what? Nothing there adds up. They came here the night of the first murder yet they say they haven't been down into the town."
"So, they brought food with them. It's only been four days Mulder, if they were camping out they would have brought supplies."
"There was no food in that house Scully and no camping supplies. You saw how they were living, like animals."
"You have no proof Mulder, and what are you suggesting anyway?"
"To find a one hour photo place Scully."
"Huh?" She unlocked the car door and slid in.
Mulder grinned as he held up a miniature camera. "Photographic evidence Scully. I'm going to find out if they really have been into town or not."
***************
"Have you seen these people?" The question rolled easily off Mulder's tongue. It was the 20th time he'd ask it so far.
The old man behind the counter took the picture in his gnarly hands and squinted at it. "Dirty lookin' bunch aren't they?"
Mulder nodded, "but do you know them?"
The man hesitated … "Not from around here anyways. Sorry."
Mulder silently turned away as Scully thanked the man for his help. It was becoming more and more obvious that no one had seen them. They had asked the bank staff , the local grocery and baker. Nothing - no one had seen them. All of them or any of them. Of course it was possible they just didn't remember seeing them but … even Scully had to admit that was unlikely. As a group or individuals, they stuck out. Besides, in Smallsville, as in all towns with a tiny population, strangers were noted. What on earth were they living on way out there?
*****************************************
The petite brunette brushed out her long hair in the mirror, admiring the shine it had. Finally - it was behaving. She smiled to herself as she threw the brush away, flinging herself onto her bed, clutching the phone in her hands.
He had phoned! She hadn't imagined it, he had phoned, and asked her, and she had said yes. They were going to meet that night at the local diner, she softly fingered her grandmother's pearl necklace that she was going to borrow that night. Everything would be perfect.
"Chrissie, CHRI-SSIE!" The girl sighed as she carefully put aside the clothes she had carefully chosen out for that evening, and answered her father.
"Coming Pa" She had to behave or he wouldn't let her take the old chevy into town that night . "Do you need something?"
She hastily buttoned up her old flannel shirt and ran down the creaking farmhouse stairs.
The father smiled at his daughter as she raced down the stairs, all flushed and eager with anticipation. He was going to tell her not to go, that she should stay closer to home until those weird deaths had been cleared up, maybe invite the young man to meet him. But she looked so happy , he couldn't.
"Have a good time."
She gave him a big hug as he placed the keys to the car in her hand
"Love you Pa."
"Just remember your curfew." he said gruffly. God she looked so much like her mother. He wondered if one day she too would find this town too small and leave him for the larger promises of the city.
******************
"I tell you Scully, the house is related!"
They had meet back again at the old diner, mostly because it seemed the easiest. Scully glanced out at the darkening sky, it was raining. She couldn't help but feel comforted as she sat warm and dry, surrounded by the cheerful banter of people who had spent their whole lives together. Slowly the diner filled up. As Mulder dived into his new pile of books on Egyptology -'what was he thinking now?'- she took the opportunity to discreetly order for both of them.
Looking around the diner again, her attention was caught by a young girl who had just entered. She was standing awkwardly by the door, looking around for someone. Disappointment flickered across her face before it was replaced by hope. Scully watched as she took at table for two, and ordered a glass of water.
"Scully - what have you done!"
"Huh?" Her attention was snapped back to the table as the two salads were placed in front of them.
She arched an eyebrow at her confused partner. "Vegetables Mulder. They come in a variety of colours, all shapes and sizes, grow in the earth and are good for you."
"Thank you _Mom_."
He watched as her face gave it's customary quirk in response to his dig and, with a bite of something stringy, launched himself enthusiastically on his latest theory. "That house Scully, I've been doing some research , and, it has a history."
"So Mulder, are you telling me the house killed those people?"
Mulder smiled, "Indirectly."
Scully heroically resisted the urge to bang her head into the nearest wall.
"Listen ," He continued " Everyone I've talked to has said that the house is deserted - so why is that kid - and his friends - living there?"
"Mulder - they are hiding out there to smoke up."
"Whatever they are doing there - we should get them out - that place is an accident waiting to happen - no one should be living there. At the very least, I think we should go back out here tomorrow."
Scully shook her head -it was his turn to drive, so if he wanted to, they would. Personally, going to talk to a bunch of druggies was not her idea of furthering a case along ... but on the other hand she had to admit that they didn't have much else to go on.
"Okay Mulder - whatever you want. Tell me more about what you've found."
Scully tried to concentrate on her partner's voice as he explained convoluted bloodlines of old Egyptian family, but instead she found her attention wandering back to the young woman sitting alone in the corner. The hope had almost completely left the girl's face, and she still sat quietly checking her watch - even asking the waiter what time it was. For her sake, Scully found herself hoping that the person she was so obviously waiting for would finally arrive.
************
The diner was almost empty by the time Chrissie, blinking away the tears, stood up. She motioned to the waiter to bring her the bill. Slowly counting out her well folded bills she lay the correct amount on the table and tried to mange a smile at the owner as she slowly left the establishment. That was the last of her money. Hold yourself together, she told herself. She found her way to the car and sat there for a few seconds gripping the steering wheel. She should have know better. How they would all laugh at her at school on Monday. She had waited for four hours ... and he hadn't showed. She had been stood up. Safe, alone in her car, she let the tears come. Better to get it over with now, before she got home and had to face her father with her public humiliation.
With trembling hands she tried to start the car. It coughed and sputtered, but on the second try turned over reluctantly. Slowly she shifted it into gear and pulled out off the parking lot.
The roads were deserted, and she was glad; the loneliness of the night reflected her emotions. She drove on in the moonlight, which had been growing stronger as the moon's cycle approached the second quarter. Lost in her thoughts it took her a few moments to notice the slow chugging of the car. With a growing weariest she heard it stall.
Biting back a fresh wave of tears, she slowly pulled over to the side of the road. This damn old car. It had to happen tonight didn't it? As if her life wasn't terrible enough, fate had to go and dump this on top of her too. She slowly walked around the car until she kicked the tires in frustration. What a perfect ending to the most horrible night of her life.
She looked up for a second as a shadow blocked out the moonlight - no clouds in the sky. Before she had time to register what was going on there was a high pitch screaming noise, then something smashed into her back. She felt herself falling forward along the car, catching her forehead on the side mirror. Her head snapped back, she heard a crunch and then nothing.
*********************
Scully awoke from a hazy dream, instinctively her hand went to her nose - nothing.
She wondered what had woken her for a second until she heard the second ringing of her cell phone. She knew who it was before she even answered it.
"Mulder?"
"Yeah it's me Scully." The tone in his voice was serious. "There's been another killing."
Scully felt ill at the news.
"You okay Scully?"
"Of course Mulder" She could her the snap in her voice - he didn't deserve that. "I mean ... I'm fine. Where should I meet you?"
"Car in ten?"
"Okay."
There was a beep as the conversation ended.
********************
The road was now a lot more crowded then it had been when Chrissie was driving there, only a few hours earlier. As the pulled in alongside the flashing emergency vehicles Mulder hesitated a second as the colours played across his partner's face in the early dawn.
"Come on" he said quietly "Let's get this over with."
*************************
Scully sighed as she recognized the face of this victim - at least they could do that this time -there was enough of it left. She felt so very old and tired. The head lay at an impossible angle. At least this one had died quickly.
She could tell as she glanced up at Mulder's face that this one was hitting him hard too. A young girl, a case that should already be solved ...
"Mulder ..."
It was almost as if he didn't hear her.
"Mulder!"
"Huh? Yes Scully?"
"Let's go."
Mulder blinked as he focused his thoughts on his partner.
"Where?"
"I want to question those kids right now. If they aren't in that house they had better have a good reason."
Mulder checked his watch 3: 30 am.
"Yeah ...If they're involved somehow ..." If ? He asked himself. Hell, he was sure they were involved. The only question left was how deep. A question that should be asked right now.
He followed his partner's straight posture as she marched to the driver's seat. God she was great.
*******************
"The answer is in that house Scully."
And that, she reflected is how they ended up out there at four in the morning, she as sure as he was.
"I just know Scully" He had said, looking into her with his intense hazel eyes. And she had to agree. She wondered where was the Scully that would have demanded proof, or evidence, and who this person was who accepted her partner's hunches as her own. She wondered, as she always did whether this reflected a piece of her slipping away , or a sign that she was becoming a more complete person. And as always, no answer was forth coming.
It was early dawn, and Mulder didn't even have to use the light on his watch to tell the time, the almost full moon illuminating the face so he only had to glance at it.
With a slight push they swung the front door open, and with their high powered flashlights, swept the main hallway and entrance. Curiously, what they had not noticed in the day, was the first thing that caught their attention in the bright artificial glare of their standard issue flashlights.
Leaping out of the shadows were statues. Carefully placed in corners, guarding the front entrance. Mulder accidentally bumped into a three headed carved dog that was frozen with jowls hanging open, fangs bared - screaming. Cerberus. He started away - and feeling Scully's eyes on him, took a deep breath and reached out.
"Good doggy."
They both tried to ignore the grinning statues that seemed to leer over them, waiting to come crashing down. Not the most welcoming parlor Scully had ever been in.
"Start at the bottom and work our way up?"
Mulder nodded as Scully turned to the left in the first narrow corridor, back to the room they had been sitting in earlier. With a final backwards glance at that first hallway, Mulder went off in the opposite direction.
"Hey Scully?"
"Yes?" She didn't turn her concentration away from where she was stepping.
"Don't forget -this place is probably trapped - both with rigged and natural disasters."
"Don't worry Mulder, I'll be fine - just watch your own back."
They meet later, on the second floor - Both looking tired and a great deal more dirty then when they had started. Mulder had misplaced his flashlight and was carrying around a candelabra with an absent look.
"Library."
Mulder's voice was husky from disuse and Scully nodded as she reached out to open the door.
The old sliding glass doors screeched in protest as she pried them open. Mulder paused, surveying the interior before entering. This was the room that the two kids had been decapitated in. Well, a part of his mind chided him , not exactly decapitated … guillotined straight through their skulls. Alertly he entered the library, wondering what toll this house would expect him to pay to gain the knowledge that lay hidden in it's walls.
Mulder found himself enjoying the flickering of the candlelight as it wrapped itself around him, making shadows leap against the wall. In some sort of perverse level he was enjoying the atmosphere. The house had once had electricity - there had been an electric stove in the kitchen, but, as he lit many of the candles lying around the library, he could understand why candle light had remained the preferred means of illumination.
Scully had always preferred the bright, all seeing lights of the medical profession. High voltages that would explore and lay bare to the eye the secrets of the tiniest cell. Candle light seemed to obscure as much as it illuminated. It was, she reflected - a Mulder way of looking at things. Each secret it brought to the surface only seemed to reveal that there was so much more hidden. Already her partner was opening the first of the books heaped on an old roll - top desk. She let him browse the old manuscripts as she went on to the many layers of book shelves. Scanning them briefly under the scrutiny of her flashlight.
Her eyes narrowed as an old Egyptian hieroglyphic caught her eye on a shelf just over her head. A vague memory of Mulder telling her about an old Egyptian family whispered in the back of her head. Her hand reached up to grab the spine - but some instinct , honed for self -preservation , caused her to pause.
Something wasn't right. Her hand hovered as she decided to take her time and let the half formed thought rise to her consciousness where she could then examine it, and determine it's validity. She had learned the hunch's had their worth, but they also had their place.
Then she realized what had stopped her hand. Out of the corner of her eye, angled almost below her ability to see … was the identical book.
Strange. A private library like this … there was no need for two copies … Understandable for something like Shakespeare, or even Dickens, but not this … her logical mind wrestled with it. It didn't make sense. Still her hand hovered, and instead of reaching out for it again, she stood on tip toe and studied in closer. Two books … 50% chance you'd pick one over the other …. No, higher odds. If she had been two inches taller, she would have never noticed the other copy - would have blindly reached out to grab the first one. Her eyes gleamed in satisfaction as she noted that the book on the upper shelf was a copy ... an intricately carved duplicate of the bottom one.
Scully was suddenly very glad for her height. She knelt down to the lower shelf , and studying the area. Where one trap was deemed worthy, two might have been as well.
So engrossed in her efforts to safely extract the lower book that she did not see the pair of wingtips planting themselves beside her.
"Found anything?"
"Great Mulder" She wasn't listening to what he was saying, her answer was out of her mouth before his word had even breached her comprehension of what he was asking.
Mulder stood contemplating the shelves of books in front of him. He read the hieroglyphic aloud "Sol-Kal-Thet hmmm Scully …" he turned to glance down at his partner as his free hand reached out to grab the book.
"MULDER DON'T!!!"
Scully instinctively took Mulder out at his knees, collapsing him down onto the floor with an ungraceful crash. The book Mulder had been grabbing went sailing out of his grasp across the room, as a three foot long blade leapt out of the bookshelf … inches from where Mulder had been standing. At the exact same time the shelf Scully had been easing her book out of disappeared.
Mulder lay on the ground for a second , staring up at the blade that would have so surely killed him had Scully not taken him down. "Jesus this guy means business." He said softly.
He became aware of Scully struggling to roll him off of her.
"You know Scully" He pondered without moving "if we keep these horizontal rendez - vous up - we might start some interesting rumours."
"Geph uffa muy."
"Huh?"
With a heave Scully sent her partner from on top of her.
"I said" she replied - spitting her tousled hair out of her mouth. "Get off of me."
"Oh." Mulder had rolled easily to his feet, offering his hand. "Sorry .. I thought you said - Mulder … take me now."
He smiled disarmingly at her unamused expression. His expression that then widened into a grin as Scully ignored his pro -offered hand , and in a most unScully like gesture heaved herself to her feet.
His face fell again as he caught sight of the vanished shelf. He bent down next to it , trying to convince it to reveal itself again. "Did you manage to get it?"
If he didn't know her better he would have sworn that there was a slight smirk to her face as she held the book out to him with the air of a conjurer performing their greatest feat.
"Same book." Mulder noted. "Clever trap."
Scully didn't acknowledge him.
"Well.. "he admitted "Clever to all but a certain brainy redhead to whom all his diabolical schemes appear as clear as day. " He gave an evil chuckle that was immediately strangled by a look from Scully.
"Mulder …" As inane as his comment was, she had to forced herself not to smile.
"Sorry Scully," He bent over the book again "So what have you found?"
************
"It's a legend." The copper and brown heads bent together as one over the small, meticulously hand written script. Mulder gradually took over the translating.
"In the ancient days of years ago .... In a galaxy far far away ..."
"Mulder - it does not say that."
"Just improving it Scully. Sorry. There lived a Pharaoh who was fair and just. His people never went hungry, despite draughts the plagued the land. All of his people loved him and eagerly offered up their sacrifices of their women. The pharaoh had a beautiful wife , whom it was said that the desert sun rose and set upon . She gaveth to him five healthy boys. And all was happy. But the sixth child was an evil seed. A little girl with red hair -a sign of the devil. And upon it's birth the mother died.
All was sad.
The Pharaoh locked himself in his room in his grief, and it was said that nothing was taken in for 24 days and 24 hours.
The city was distraught with concern, and feared him to be dead. Could even a Pharaoh who was as powerful with the Gods as he, be strong enough to go a cycle with no food or drink? Finally he emerged. And indeed he was alive, and if anything more powerful then before. He proclaimed that the Queen could be brought back with a sacrifice of royal blood.
The brothers, fearing for their little sister's safety had hidden her from their father. When the Pharaoh went to her cradle to start the sacrifice - horrified was he to find her gone. In a rage he prayed to the Gods to show him how this had come to pass, and indeed they showed him the deception of his own sons. He demanded that they bring her to him, and when they refused, he grew livid with anger and announced that they had been cursed, twisted by the same evil dark force which had taken his darling wife away. And then, one by one, for each day until the full moon , he sacrificed them. And on the sixth day, unbeknown to her father the little baby girl died of neglect in the trees where her brother's had hidden her. On the seventh day - the sacrifice of royal blood satisfied - the Queen returned to the land of the living. And when she awoke she smiled at her husband the king and asked for her baby girl. With shaking hands the dead body, found only that morning, was laid in her arms. And when the cloth fell back from the baby's face, revealing the empty eyes of death , the Queen shrieked and ran screaming through the city until she came across the five fresh graves of her sons.
It is said that lightening flashed from a clear sky as she turned to face her husband, her lover, and her king. And with the power of the dead and the grief of a mother, she cursed him for all of time for what had transgressed. Cursed him to live forever in death. With that she grabbed his dagger and stabbed herself until her blood ran out, mixing with that of her sons in the dark fertile earth of lower Egypt."
Mulder's voice was husky as he closed the worn book. In the candle light slowly dying out , they stared at each other.
"A story of the ages Scully."
"A story Mulder, a story."
"A story of love, death, and rebirth."
"Only a story."
"Come on Scully - are you going to ignore the parallels here? That kings tomb is suppose to buried in this house somewhere. There are six kids staying here, corresponding to the ones he killed. The youngest being a red headed girl. We've had five killings, one more Scully and the myth will be fulfilled again."
"And then what Mulder? Dead is dead."
Mulder shrugged.
"Okay Mulder, - I'll entertain that somehow these six might be trying to recreate the legend, and so are performing sacrificial killings." She closed her eyes, trying to imagine that carefree youngster they had driven back as a maniacal killer. She knew appearances where deceiving ... but still. Mulder too was frowning as Scully continued.
"Even though there is no evidence of these killings being ritualistic , and no evidence that they are doing it - which is only countered by the equal lack of evidence that they are not causing it."
"Where are they then Scully. They are not here."
As if to accentuate his words, at that instant they both heard the front door slam. Quickly pocketing the small book. Mulder followed Scully out of the library. As they approached the main floor he held out a cautionary hand and with a nod Scully slipped her gun into her hand.
The sight that met both of their eyes as they turned the corner staggered them both.
The six were there - slowly making their way back to the attic. Naked. Completely.
"FREEZE!!! FBI!"
Scully's shout startled both Mulder and the six as they jumped.
"All right" Scully's gun was in full evidence now. "What the hell is going on. Where were you?"
Shit shit shit. Jonathan looked around trying to place his surroundings. How the hell did they get into the hallway?!?! And way more important ... where were their clothes!
"I'm waiting" Scully's voice was as hard as steel.
SAY SOMETHING BEFORE SHE SHOOTS YOU!!! Jonathan heard the voice screaming in his head but for the life of him, had no idea how to innocuously explain their appearance in the early morning with no clothes on.
India saved the day. There was only one scenario that would explain this.
"All right - I'll explain it - I'm sick of hiding it, the secret passionate meetings ... I love Jonathan and I don't care who knows it... Moe." She tacked on.
Stunned silence greeted this, and India only wished that Jonathan wasn't looking so shocked considering he was suppose to have slept with her minutes ago.
Luckily everyone's attention was diverted by a howl of anguish from Daemon.
"NO Jonathan! Tell me it's not true!" The branch he was strategically holding slipped a bit. "But what about us? What about half an hour ago? In the rose bushes? Was that just a game for you?"
"Nonsense." Although completely thrown for a loop by India's announcement, traveling with this pack of liars had taught Jonathan something. "Besides ... you'll always have Lindsey."
Jonathan waited to hear the thunk that announced that the slacker - tech head in question had just passed out from heart failure.
"NOOOOOOO" A shriek of a frequency that seemed to rattle Mulder's fillings came flying out of the Lexi. How on earth did someone that size manage to produce such a sound? "He's mine!"
This time Jonathan did see Lindsey stagger back.
"You fucking bastard!" Lexi howled at Daemon.
Grabbing a total inadequate but nearby tea -towel for modesty's sake she flung herself on top of Daemon and began pounding away.
"You no good SWINE I HATE YOU" and then for good measure " I HATE YOU ALL!"
Moe looked on the scene in panic. She was the only one left.
"But what about the ponies?" She screamed over Lexi.
"Fuck the ponies!" Someone yelled back.
Moe took a deep breath and burst into tears. Sobbing, she trounced across the room past the dumbfounded agents to the stairs, snogging and then snagging Lindsey with her.
"I never want to see any of you again. GO TO HELL!"
And with that the two of them disappeared.
With a final slap, Lexi leapt to her feet. "How dare you say that about your horses! I'm never riding for you again!"
Jonathan turned a cool eyebrow on her.
"What about on me?"
"YOU FUCKING BASTARD! HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN SO BLIND?!!!!!"
Lexi vanished after Moe, sobbing hysterically "Moe Moe... I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry ...."
"Jonathan ... "India's voice held a note of sadness "how could you?"
"Oh GOD India! You know you're the only one I love ... the rest mean nothing ... absolutely nothing."
"I wish I could believe that." With an icy stillness in contrast to the other two, she left, Jonathan trailing dejectedly after her.
"India Please. Please ... Just listen .. I was set up."
"Yeah right." Daemon snorted as he chased after them both. "I'm not nothing. I was on the bottom for god's sake! In the rose bushes. She's not getting him that easy."
And with that the two agents stared after them.
"What the hell was that?"
Mulder shook his head "I feel like I stepped into the middle of a Jilly Cooper novel."
Scully eyed her partner. This day was getting stranger at an exponential rate. "You read Jilly Cooper?"
"I think I know what's going on Scully"
*******************
10:11 p.m.
Scary Old house Where Stupid Kids Are Hanging Out.
"Ready to play?"
Lindsey was the last one to approach the Ouji board that was awaiting for them in the center of the attic. He, like India, was one of the most sensitive to the board, and although he didn't actually believe in it, he didn't like it.
Inexorably he felt his doubts being pushed aside, until he too felt there was nothing wrong. With a vacant look - took his spot in the circle.
As he felt his mind go blank Lindsey smiled happily - no worries, no memories. No anything.
*********************
The wrinkle of cellophane as Mulder unwrapped yet another package of sunflower seeds caused Scully to look away in disgust. Her partner's bizarre eating habit's never failed to astonish her.
"Just what do you think we'll see?" The wasn't the first time she'd ask the question, but she hadn't pushed it either when he had been reluctant to answer it. Her partner, she had a feeling, was grasping at straws much like she was. Trying to find a way to progress this case. She just really hoped they weren't following a false lead. Each moment they wasted brought them closer to another death.
Mulder nodded to the house where a light in the upper window just appeared.
"I just want to see what they do at night Scully."
The stock answer, Scully acknowledged to her self. Every time she closed her eyes she saw the latest victim. That girl, she recalled her face as if in one of those before/after commercials. An inane voice went on her head.
"And here we have Chrissie before, and then after her brutal killing by an unknown force that our very own Agent Scully has been unable to find despite the presence of four - count'em four dead bodies."
She opened her eyes as Mulder tensed up beside her. She had heard it too.
The creak of a screen door slamming shut - she checked her watch 10:00 p.m.
She followed as he slipped out of the car, leaving the doors open, gun carefully drawn. Scully noted this with interest. Just what was he expecting?
"Stay here Scully."
Pretending she hadn't heard, she slowly slipped up next to her partner. He glanced up at her presence, but didn't say anything.
Shadows!
He had seen them he was sure of it. Forgetting his partner he moved off in the direction he could have sworn he had seen movement.
*************************
'Damn that Mulder! Where had he gotten off to now? One second he had been right beside her and now he had vanished. Chasing after shadows. The entire thing was unwise to Scully's logical mind. These kids were probably experimenting with drugs - allowing the house and it's admittedly eerie atmosphere to influence them for kicks. What people wanted to do to their minds never failed to astonish Scully. Nevertheless, the point was that these kids were anything but stable, and she and Mulder could be in very real danger - who knew what would be running through their minds. She glanced up at the full moon - no - she corrected herself, almost full moon. They were literally asking for trouble ... but if it helps ...' Her thoughts were broken off as she spied a movement in the grass in front of her.
'Mulder?" Her mind whispered . With a hesitating hand she cleared the grass , moving slowly forward. Standing there, out lined in the moonlight was a tiny creature. If it hadn't been for the internet files that she had so carefully browsed through the other day, she would have mistaken it for a weasel. But as the creature drew itself up to it's full height, she knew her first impression had been the correct one. It was a mongoose.
She stared at it for a full second before blinking - and then it was gone.
She knew they were vicious creatures -one of the few natural predators of the Cobras - but had never thought them so quick... or so nasty looking.
"Mulder." She spoke louder this time.
"Yeah Scully?" The voice was surprising near. "Scully, I saw a bear - we're close."
'Mulder," She didn't believe she was saying this. "I just saw a mongoose."
He didn't doubt her 'I think that confirms it."
Confirms what?" She wanted to ask, but didn't as she knew there wasn't a satisfactory answer down that path.
"Come on - we've got to follow them, "He hastily stood up scanning the silver fields for some trail, some path to follow. Nothing.
"Shit" Mulder swore, "they're gone already."
Scully thought she saw a flash of something in the sky across the field. "That way."
Without pausing she took off, thanking whatever sensible voice had encouraged her not to wear her pumps out to a field in the middle of the night.
Mulder hesitated for a fraction of a second before taking off after her. In three long bounds he had caught up and passed his petite partner. Gritting her teeth, Scully reach down inside of her and ran faster after the back of her partner. She was not going to be left behind again.
They stopped at the edge of the wood. Trail lost.
Mulder swore again. "There's going to be another killing."
Mulder had voiced Scully's thoughts, yet nevertheless she felt obliged to contradict them, to give him, and maybe herself some hope.
"Maybe not Mulder " She kept her voice low, half to keep him calm, and half so he wouldn't hear just how hard she was breathing, understand just how much that run had taken out of her. "We have to trust in the police force - they are all going to be out patrolling the streets, people have been warned. Maybe we'll get lucky."
"Maybe." Mulder voice was also low, but she could hear the lack of conviction in his voice.
"However " he added "Now's our chance to get a further look into that house."
Scully nodded back towards the house where they could still see the light flickering in the attic window. "You want to talk to them now?"
"Oh I don't think they're there anymore Scully. And that's exactly why I want to see the inside of that house."
*****************
The booby-traps. Mulder hadn't forgot them - it was a cautious hand that pushed open the various doors into the house. He waved Scully behind him , "Okay - it's time to check the attic"
She nodded and followed her partner up the same set of stairs that they had taken earlier that day. She could see the well-lit room before they even reached the top of the stairs, the door was open, and she could feel the draft from the propped skylight rushing past her.
The attic was empty.
"They aren't here." Scully thought her voice sounded flat, she didn't know if she was asking a question or stating a fact. They must have left out the back door., somehow they had missed them. Either that or they were still in the house.
"I'll look around again downstairs." She exited back down the stairs she had come up.
Mulder didn't hear her, his attention was caught, riveted by the sight in the center of the floor, out of Scully's line of sight. For there, surrounded by empty space was the kids' Ouiji board. They had obviously started to play again.
But that wasn't what was making him stare, for the pointer was still moving.
Mulder took a step forward, bending over the supernatural spinning piece of cracked glass. With one hand he reached out to touch it....
*************
Lost.
Dark.
Alone.
Not alone. Falling, spiraling through darkness. Devoid of all feeling.
Suddenly he was flying, high in the night air. Far below him he could see the pack running - they were hunting. The eagerness, their craving filled him, and where there had been no sensation he was suddenly overwhelmed.
To hunt to kill. Oh, they were hungry , bloodthirsty. His body ached with the need to kill. He looked up - his vision telescoping away. The farther he looked the clearer things came. He could see in the distance, the town, the street, the house, the window, the chair, the person, the prey.
He sighted it and as one the pack beneath him turned, following his guidance. He was leading the pack to their nightly kill. He could hear his own blood thumping in his veins, blood that cried for blood.
Wrong. Something was wrong.
Mulder?
Where was that voice coming from. Mulder?
He screamed as his mind split, half racing through the earthy woods - the other dragged back into his body.
"Mulder!"
The screaming stopped as abruptly as it had started.
"Sc…Scully" He was panting, soaked.
"Mulder - what happened?"
"Jesus Scully." Composure Mulder , composure "It's not them Scully, they're being mind controlled."
"What?"
"Come on, Scully I need your help, I have to stop them."
He grasped one of her hands, while lightly with the other, touched the pointer.
********************
Dark, but not alone. Not lost. He could see them again, the pack wavering slightly without him targeting for them, but still rushing towards town.
'Stop.'
Hesitation, he could feel the uncertainty in them. Why stop. Never stop.
'Come back.'
Again hesitation.
'Back back back.'
Slowly he could sense their turning, coming back.
Yes they're coming back.
Mulder clenched Scully's hand . Voice. Whose?
Coming back coming back.
For who?
For you. Coming back for you.
****************************
Mulder pulled away.
"Scully, they're coming back." He quickly checked his gun, Scully did the same.
"What's going on Mulder?" Third time she had asked that.
"I don't know Scully," and he didn't . Suspicions yes. Fears yes.
Coming back for you.
Hunt hunt hunt.
He could feel them growing closer. Their thoughts beginning to sound in the back of his head. Hunt hunt hunt. For you. Coming back.
With a carefully aimed shot Mulder destroyed the pointer. The glass shattered and splintered as the bullet hit dead center.
Not enough, too late.
Hunt hunt hunt.
"They're coming Scully," He glanced out the attic window, was it his imagination or …. The full moon had finally arrived - there - a flash of movement , something streaking across the fields. He looked up.
"GET DOWN!"
He flung himself over his partners body, protecting her as the attic skylight shattered.
The eerie sound of a bird screaming filled the small room. A shriek of anger. That was soon joined by the roaring of an enraged bear. Mulder forced Scully lower.
They had arrived.
*******************************
Silence. Not dead - pregnant. Waiting.
Mulder looked up.
Empty - gone.
They were alone.
He slowly rose, allowing Scully up from beneath him.
"Sorry Scully," He licked his dry lips, searching his mind for comment, "Next time - we'll hope for a bed."
"Mulder, what -"
"Not now Scully," Silently hushing her he grasped his gun. "They are still here."
"Who Mulder -the kids?"
'Maybe."
Scully mimicked Mulder's gesture, sliding the safety off her on gun, and covering her partners back, followed him down the stairs to the rest of the house.
*****************
Wrong.
Things were not right, he was being awaken too soon. Seventh night -it had to be the seventh night. Six bodies for the six who had killed him.
Only five so far. He needed another.
The spirit of Sol-Kal-Thet was not happy.
The choice had just been severely restricted. He needed a body. Whose?
Play a game? Do you want to play a game?
A game. Whoever found him first - they would have the honour of hosting him for the next 50 years.
**************
Mulder glanced behind, dammit Scully - where'd she get off to - she was right behind him a second ago.
All thoughts of his partner were driven out of his head as he heard a faint chittering in the dark. Moving slowly he carefully eased his trenchcoat of his back. Then stepping forward - he flushed the animal out.
"GOTCHA!"
He tackled the rodent as it tried to escape, enveloping it in folds of his coat. Mulder hung on it tightly as the signs of struggle ceased. And when he finally felt it had stilled enough he eased up.
There staring alertly up at him was a human face. The one belong to a the short red head. The rest of her was human too. It was then that he also noticed something else. Apparently so did Lexi.
"ACK! I'm naked!"
"Jesus Christ" Mulder quickly drop his trenchcoat back on her. "Come on." He ordered. "Get up, and you are going to explain what exactly is going on here before anyone else gets hurt."
"But-"
"And no lies" he added.
"Uh -"
"I mean it"
"I don't -"
"Don't test me on this."
"I don't know" Lexi finally blurted out. "I don't know what's going on. God I hate this fucking house."
Mulder turned his flashlight onto her pale, blotched face. Admittedly she did look awful.
"I have the weirdest dreams" she said softly. "They're terrible - I dream I'm killing people. And not even evil people. But not evil people -like everyday people."
"And do you kill them?"
"Yeah -in my dream - it's strange though. If I were going to kill someone then I think that I would use a knife. Violent payback for what they did to me." A grin made her face look twice as gruesome "But here - it's worse then that, it's ..." she wouldn't finish "It's terrible. And just when it seems it's real - then the others are there too. And I know it's a dream, cause I _know_ " she continued firmly, meeting his eyes " that Daemon , India, Jonathan n' Moe n' Lindsey wouldn't kill. So it _has_ to be a dream." Her swollen eyes seemed to get even bigger "but then we wake up, and no one knows where we are or how we got there. And then you came talking about those murders. And ... and." Lexi breath hitched as she tried to finish. "And we are so confused and we don't what's going on."
She had gotten shakily to her feet, standing back from Mulder. Pleading with him to solve it. "We don't know what to do" she repeated softly to herself. "Lindsey wants to go home - he's lost his sister just like you and we can't find her and we can't get home, and we can't stay awake and ...and ... and we are all just sick of this. You have to fix it."
Mulder stared silently at her. Thoughts spinning around in his head. Where, who were these people? This girl had known his first name, knew about Samantha. . "Okay."
"Huh?"
"Okay -" Mulder repeated firmly. " I'll help you out of this mess on the condition that you tell me everything."
"Everything?" It was expelled in amazement. "I ... we... can't. Please ... you don't understand. I don't know what to do. I think ... it's somehow my fault."
"Promise me you'll come with me afterwards."
"I can't" It was a wail, a plea.
"It's your fault" He said ruthlessly " If you want to fix it - agree."
Silence was the only acquiescence. "I don't want anyone else to die." she finally said.
"Fine . Get your clothes back on. We've got to find the others , do you remember what you were doing down here."
"Yeah" Lexi frowned in concentration. "I was looking for something. ... A reward.... I have to beat the others."
"Come on. I know what you are looking for."
*****
His felt his attention sheering away again. He had lost one. Oh well. He was going to kill her all along anyway. That little twerp- she was going to die again for what she had caused to happen a thousand years ago. His beautiful Heliana....
The other five were still going strong though. He get one of them. And that was all he needed.
****
Scully ducked instinctively as she felt, rather then saw, a massive force pass inched over her skull. Crouching and pulling out her gun, she whirled, hovering dangerously close to the top of the stairs.
An angry roar filled the space around her and she felt long buried tendrils of fear begin to flash their way up her back. She shivered as she dodged again. Her flashlight had been lost in the first near miss, and now out of the corner of her eye she could see it's blinding beam aimlessly pointed at the ceiling. Useless ... worse then useless - blinding her.
How did a fucking bear get in this house.
With a hint of desperation she clung desperately to the banister as she launched herself over it. Falling a story would be infinitely superior then being mauled by a bear. She braced herself for the impact. Trying to land on her feet and absorb.
Scully landed hard, and ungracefully bounced from her feet to flat on her back. She was just thinking about what one liner Mulder could have used in this situation when something hit her from above. It must have followed her down she thought briefly to herself before passing out.
"Holy fucking shit. Fucking shit fucking shitfuckingshit." Daemon groaned, not wanting to open his eyes. He felt like he had broken every bone in his body, and bitten his tongue in two. It was at the point that he realized he was lying on someone.
'Agent Scully!" With more haste then he would have thought himself capable of Daemon was up on his feet.
Scully wasn't sure what was happening, she could see a bright white light .. and from the other end of it someone familiar was calling her name.
"Get that thing out of my face you idiot."
"Sorry Agent Scully" Daemon hastily flicked off the flashlight. "You all right?"
"I'm ..." she summoned up her strength "Fine."
"Oh good - cause I'm not. My back is killing me, I bit my tongue, and I hit my funnybone on your face. I'm in agony over here Agent Scully. "
Scully gave a small smile at his utter honesty and bluntness "Well being landed on by you was no big treat either."
She actually did hurt all over. "I really hope you didn't break anything."
"I hope I didn't either - but I think I'm okay."
"I meant" Scully clarified "I really hope that you didn't break anything of mine when you hit me"
"Yeah well." Daemon shrugged "That too."
With a look designed to wither but wasted in the darkness Scully found her feet. "Come on. Let's go find Mulder. If we've managed to do this to ourselves - I hate to see what kind of shape he is in by now."
*****
Two down .... no wait ... three down.
Bad bad bad
*******
"So what are you trying to tell me?" Jonathan shook his head, trying to clear away thoughts and feelings that couldn't possible belong to him.
"Jonathan, Listen to me." Mulder firmly grasped the younger man by his shoulders. "We'll worry about it all later. We have to find the others. Do you understand?"
"'Course. But why - they haven't done anything -I'd swear to it."
"You have no idea."
******
Closer oh beautifully close. Their presence was making him more real , their fresh life calling out to his old one. The power of attraction was driving a need through his body. What were the laws of physics when faced with such desire? Reduced to the dust from the chalk that spawned them. For he was older then the laws and older then the dust.
Ashes to ashes.
But not for him.
Oh two left, both so wonderful.
He could no longer stand the teasing.
"Come to me my Children. Turn back the wrongs of centuries ago and return to me."
Who would be chosen?
******
"Got her!"
"Who?" Scully's voice was razor sharp with tension.
"Moe, of course."
"Fuck Daemon! Get off of me."
In the dark hallway a light temporarily flashed sending slivers of luminance in their direction.
"Scully?! SCULLY!"
Mulder.
"Here."
A mesh of bodies, a chorus of conflicting voices. Mulder's rising above all in a note of contained panic.
"Who's missing?"
Silence. Which was of course the answer.
"Lindsey." A whisper that was his name ran around the room.
"No."
*******
Lindsey
Oh this is so right. Nothing matters nothing matters so happy.
Dad? Oh I've missed you dad.
Come to me.
I have to tell you dad - about Dylan , mom, I'm so sorry. I want to come home again. Can you tell mom? Does she forgive me?
Come to me and all will be forgiven.
I'm so tired dad, I can't keep on ... I want to go home. I want my family back.
Come to me and it will be.
I love you dad.
Come.
Thank you.
******
The shadows were flung violently against the walls, seeming to shiver as they impacted against the old stone of the cellar. Mulder was racing ahead, faster and faster until he spiraled into the room below with the others on his heels.
"Lindsey." Was the cry as he lifted the flashlight and sighted the room. The putrid air, the water running off the stone walls, the beady eyes of nameless rodents, all centered around the large and ancient stone sarcophagus.
"Lindsey"
But the cry died upon his lips. For there was no one there.
Silent and dark.
Dark waters run deep. Don't they agent Scully? Help me Dana help me I can't breath.
"Mulder?"
"Where is he Scully" Mulder frowned in concentration. "He has to be down here. They both have to be down here. The alternative ...." his voice died. "They must be down here"
Let's play Dana.
"Mulder?"
"Look Scully," Mulder returned to the sarcophagus in the center of the room. He motioned to Jonathan "Help me lift this, we have to see."
Playing is dangerous sometimes. Pay the toll. Agent Scully you haven't paid the toll.
"Mulder."
"One .two ..three."
With a grinding noise that reached the depths of Scully's soul the lid slowly moved aside.
I warned you agent Scully. You can't say I didn't warn you.
The coffin was open, but it was not empty.
'Oh Lindsey, oh Lindsey..."
Matted blond hair lay intermingled with the molding covering. Face down Lindsey lay as if sleeping to the breast of the long dead King.
************************************.
.....home.....
Beneath him ... long dead forces were beginning to stir.
*************************************
"NOOOOOOOOO" Mulder flung himself into the coffin causing the lid to slip the rest of the way off and fall to the floor in a shattering of stone and silence.
too late. too late.
Beneath Mulder's frantic efforts life began to stir once again.
From under their feet a noise began to grow, instinctively the five stepped closer to each other. Lexi's hand inching towards Jonathan's.
"It's not right" India whispered. "It's not Lindsey. He's gone home."
Mulder was still struggling with the forces, refusing to let go.
"You can't have him, You can't ." his voice was fast and furious. "I'm not letting you. Take me. I won't let you. You get so much in this world. You got Sam, you get children, you get adults. I have surrendered huge pieces of my life to fight you. And you are not getting this."
Agent Scully your partner is too clever. Too clever. He knows who I am.
"Screw you" She muttered darkly. "I do too. You're Brent Worthword - supposed eccentric who buried himself his work and then this house years ago."
No.
"Then you are a self - delusional mental case who thinks he is a long lost Egyptian God."
No. I am so much more.
Agent Scully, what defines humanity to you?
"Morality, decisions, consciousness."
Don't separate yourself from your ape-like ancestors. On a more basic level - what common experience does every earth bound creature share? Think agent Scully. Smart Scully?
"Life, death."
Ahhh Good. Yes. Now for an even easier question. Am I alive?
'No."
Yet am I dead?
"No."
So what am I agent Scully. What does Mulder believe me to be?
"Something else, from somewhere else."
Excellent agent Scully. I was an alien 5000 years ago, and I am one still. In some ways your ancestors were a lot better prepared to deal with me. You don't even believe in me, so why would you defend against me. You can't fight what doesn't exist.
"Evil Exists."
Ah so to you then, I am not an alien, but an incarnation of the devil. Maybe you share more with those ancestors then I originally thought. To your mind I might as well be the all powerful ... what do you call him now ? Satan?
I kind of like that.
"SCULLY! !!! STOP Don't talk to him!! "
With a snap Scully returned her mind to the situation at hand, as Mulder screamed at her.
"The more you talk Scully, the more powerful hold he has. He's lying ... what ever he told you it's a lie! He's an alien."
"I know - he told me"
"Trust me Scully, please ..don't talk to him... com'on help me get the Lindsey out of this coffin. The others...they aren't any help ... he still has some minimum control."
And it was true, they others stood around, frozen to their places , expressions etched on, two dimension paper dolls.
Trying to ignore the persistent voice in her head Scully also joined Mulder by the side of the open coffin and began prying Lindsey seemingly dead body out of the sarcophagus. Her experienced finger found a pulse quickly.
"Unconscious but still alive."
A voice in her head again .. but not his
Please I'm so tired I want to go home
Scully took a wild guess. "It's not home Lindsey - it is not home."
Dylan's here, oh Mum!
Scully's heart broke as she felt the aching, longing need.
"They aren't there Lindsey."
Oh they are! I can see them! Mum!
"Lindsey."
You don't understand. Home.
"No - it's not."
LIAR LIAR LIAR I HATE YOU!!!!!
"I got him"
Lindsey, held awkwardly in Mulder's arms was being hauled out of the sarcophagus. He moaned pitifully.
***************
NO NO NO NO NO!!!
ALL wrong!
I need him .. I need him.
Vengeance.
************
"Get out! GET OUT!"
"Come on Lindsey, wake up - we can't carry you." Scully wrapped her small arms around him.
In that instant Lindsey's blue on blue eyes flew open, and he began to wail.
At first it was the sound of heartache, the composition of all the screams that had never escaped past his damage throat. Screams of terror, of pain, of fears, screams for help, of excitement. Of anger and of grief. Every emotion that had been swallowed back, and more.
But then it changed, to screams of hatred.
Mulder was like a man possessed. Ignoring Lindsey and the others he grabbed a still lit torch and began setting fire to the old tapestries.
"Get out Scully! GET OUT!"
The screaming went on. Now it was the sound of someone being burned alive.
Pain, anger, and for the first time .. .fear.
Agent Scully ... you don't want to do this.
She ignored it
AGENT SCULLY! YOU HAVEN'T PAID THE TOLL!
All she could do was watch as Lindsey's scream seemed to leave his chest and rise above their heads. The devil was that responsible for that scream - she was sure of it. Almost unconsciously, she touched her cross.
"Go to Hell, Asshole."
And the flames leapt around them as the scream died out, over-powered by Mulder's yell of triumph.
********
They were still coughing on the smoke as the stumbled out into the early dawn air. Mulder have pushing, half carrying a disorientated Lindsey.
"What happened? What 's going on?!" Lexi was on them almost immediately. "Where the mummy?"
Mulder ignored her as he sat Lindsey down and turned his attention to his partner.
"You ok Scully?"
Scully was about to retort her usual I'm fine when she noticed Daemon gazing at her. She smiled. "I've got a terrible headache."
Lying on the grass India groaned in acknowledgment. "God, I do too."
Mulder glanced around at the others. "Anyone else?"
Beside India, Lindsey raised a shaky hand,
Lexi stared at them. "Hmmm.. sucks to be you - I feel fine." India squinted out of one eye - wishes she had the energy to smack her. "Just wait ..."she promised.
How unreal, was the only thing Moe wanted to say. How unreal could this be. Sitting on the dewy grass having a relatively normal conversation, back lit by the flames of an old house burning an even older secret. "What ... what was that thing?"
All eyes snapped to her. Normal conversation stilled.
"Do you really want to know?" Mulder asked her quietly.
"If it means that I can't sleep at night, if it means that I have to rededicate my life to something ... " Moe considered what she was saying carefully . "Then, no. We can't deal with the problems we already have. We aren't winning the battles we have to fight."
Mulder glanced into her eyes.
"But you can't give up."
"It's not an option" She answered him firmly.
A look of understanding passed between them.
Mulder broke it first. "So ... " He turned to Lexi "Care to explain?"
She shrugged at him. "What are you talking about?"
"You said you would explain your presence."
"Did not"
"Yes .. you did. You promised."
Lexi pondered this before looking up at him.
"Trust no one Agent Mulder. That's our policy. Especially not the Government. Especially not me. Nobody trusts me."
The other five nodded their agreement as Mulder stared down at her wordlessly.
"Besides," she couldn't resist the final word. "It's not my fault that you've always had a soft spot for petite red heads ... is it?"
She gave him and Scully a knowing look.
"Watch out for the rose bushes ... they can hurt."
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