Disclaimer:
Hi there. Sabretooth, Logan, Jean Grey and Roma all are characters
copywrited by Marvel.
Mulder & Scully belong to Ten Thirteen Productions, I believe, or Twentieth
Century Fox Film Corporation. Everything else is my own creation, except
New York. Someone else can take the blame for that.
Here There Be Tygers, part I
Sean Venning, April, 1996
New York
6:15pm, Monday
Helen Young kept up a brisk pace as she headed home through the late autumn
twilight, the cold wind swirling around her. Not slowing as she reached the
intersection, she crossed between several stopped cars, skipping to avoid
water filled pot holes as she did. As she stepped up to the pavement on the
other side of the road, she slowed for a moment and looked back. Nothing.
But she was sure she'd seen a figure behind her. One she'd thought she'd
seen as she'd left her office. It must have been the shadows playing with
her. Shrugging inwardly, she continued on. Behind her the shadows moved.
Turning the final corner onto her block, Helen increased her pace, almost
running up the stairs to her apartment when she finally reached them.
Waving at the uniformed security guard in the foyer, she hopped from foot to
foot as she waited for the doors to open, then stepped into the warmth.
"Hi Anthony,"
"Good Evening, Miss Young. Cold out?"
"Very. But I'm in now, and there's no need to head out again. I'm going up
to my room, I'm going to make myself a nice, hot cup of coffee and then I'm
going to curl up in front of the fire with a bad book. See you tomorrow,"
"Goodnight Miss Young,"
Helen walked over to the far wall and entered the waiting open elevator.
Pressing the button for the tenth floor, she stood back and waited as the
doors shut and the elevator started to rise. The moment the doors shut she
winced, as the faint sounds of 'One Hundred and One Strings' started to play.
*time for a new tape* she thought.
Walking down the hallway, she stopped outside her door and fished in her bag
for the key. Finding it, she unlocked the door and stepped in, switching on
the lights as she did. Stumbling slightly as she kicked the door shut, she
tossed her bag onto the table, shrugged out of her coat and slipped out of
her shoes.
*much better* she smiled as her toes curled into the thick shag carpet.
She walked over to her kitchen, set the kettle going and spooned some coffee
into the waiting mug. Trying to rub a knot out of her neck muscles, she
wandered over to the picture windows and drew back the curtains, to look at
the city lights.
"Hi there. Nice view"
Helen recoiled in shock. There, on her enclosed balcony, was a tall figure.
Well over six feet, he leered down at her, showing a gleaming white set of
teeth as he did.
"I'm new in town. Wanna play?"
Helen screamed and backed towards the entry way. Quickly, without even
appearing to react, the tall man leapt after her. Turning to run, Helen had
barely made two steps when he grabbed her from behind and threw her across
the room.
"Not yet Sweets. I ain't finished yet."
Helen rolled over and tried to crawl towards the telephone. The man didn't
appear to be watching. Getting within several feet of it, she suddenly
sprang towards it, but to no avail. Without a sound her attacker bounded
towards her, smashing the telephone from her grasp, cutting her hand in the
process. She whimpered with pain as he stood above her, slowly licking the
blood from his finger tips.
"Mmm. Sweet," he smiled.
Helen shrieked again and struggled to her feet, running for the door again.
With hardly any effort, the man shot out an arm, and slashed down across her
back, blood staining her blouse form shoulder to waist. She stumbled,
almost on her knees, but recovered and carried on. Behind her, her
tormentor laughed out loud.
"Yes! You can make it! Nearly there!"
Crying now, Helen reached for the door handle, but he was on her again,
grabbing her by the ankle and yanking her back. Falling forward, Helen's
jaw smashed against the door, knocking loose several teeth and splattering
the wood with blood. Sobbing, she clawed at the carpet as she was dragged
back into the centre of the room.
"Why?" she sobbed, but there was no answer. Looking around, she couldn't
see him. Not believing him gone, she cautiously crawled over to the
telephone again. Reaching it, she grabbed for the handset and fumbled for
the security button. As she did, a clawed hand clamped over hers and
squeezed. Helen screamed as she felt fingers breaking. Grabbing the rest
of the telephone with her free hand, she swung hard around and was rewarded
with a satisfying impact. The pressure on her hand released.
"Naughty, naughty," growled a voice by her ear.
"Noo," she moaned, "Please, just leave me alone."
"Can't do that, frail. 'sides, I'm havin' too much fun," he grinned at her,
and she saw a trickle of blood from his temple. Looking into his face at
such close range for the first time, she realised with shock that his eyes
were slitted like a cats.
"What are you," she whispered through swollen lips.
"Top of the food chain, sweets."
Helen's eyes widened.
"What do you mean....." her voice trailed off.
He just grinned and stepped back.
"Time to say Grace."
His smile grew even larger.
"Grace..."
Helen scrambled back, screaming, but her was on her in an instant, teeth
bared and claws gouging.
In the kitchen the kettle started to boil.
****************************************************
Moseley Towers
New York
9:35 am, Tuesday
The two policemen stood back, watching as the men from the coroners office
went about their grisly task.
"Not pretty," muttered one.
"Are any?" came the reply.
"Well, no. But this one..."
At this point the senior detective walked past them.
"Ok, that's enough. Where's the 'phone?"
"Ah, it was broken in the fight, Sir."
"Mobile, anyone?"
One of the coroners looked up.
"You can use mine. It's there, on the table."
"Thanks."
The detective walked over to the table and picked up the telephone.
Pressing a few buttons, he waited for the rings.
"Hello? Yes, it's Donovan here. Put me through to the boss. Thanks."
Looking around the room as he waited, Donovan noted the blood sprays across
the floor and shuddered. A voice came from the telephone.
"Sorry to disturb you Sir, I just thought you'd like to know we've got
another one. She looks like she's been torn apart by a pack of wild dogs.
Ah, three now, I make it. Ok, if you say so. I'll notify them immediately.
I'll get the report to you as soon as I get in. "
He looked out of the windows, then back at the uniformed officers.
"Well, gentlemen. It looks like its out of our hands. I've just been told
to hand it over to the FBI."
***********************************************************
FBI Headquarters,
Washington D.C.
10:30am, Tuesday
Fox Mulder strode briskly into the cramped office he shared with Dana
Scully. Going straight over to one of the filing cabinets, he pulled open
the second drawer and went over to thumb through the files. Looking up from
the file she was perusing, Dana removed her spectacles and watched her
partners frenetic search.
"Misplace last month's issue?", she inquired primly.
"That's a different filing cabinet, Scully," he returned, "I'm looking for,
ah, here it is."
With that he drew a manilla folder from the drawer and turned to place it on
his desk, nudging the drawer shut with his knee as he went. Flipping open
the folder, he rifled quickly through the documents within, stopping with a
muttered 'ah-ha' as he located the target of his search. Holding it high,
he turned to his partner and looked at her, a broad smile crossing his face.
"I have the proof here now," he stated.
"Oh really," responded Dana. "And how is Elvis?"
"He's well, but that file is in the other cabinet too. No, this is much
more important. Financial records going back months."
"Financial records?" Dana's curiosity had finally been snagged. "Whose?"
"Mine. Now I can prove I've payed my tea room dues."
Dana stared at him.
"Is this some sort of joke, Mulder? If so, I think you have even worse
problems than I thought."
"I'm deadly serious, doughnuts are lousy without coffee."
"Get help, Mulder. Now."
The telephone chose that moment to ring. Mulder leaned over and picked it up.
"Mulder here. What? Right. Fax me the details and we'll get right on it."
Hanging up the telephone he looked back to Dana.
"We've got a new case, Scully. It seems several people have been found
mauled to death in the last few days and the local police have asked the FBI
to step in."
"Why Mulder? Surely they'd be better off getting the local parks and
wildlife officers to assist them."
"Ordinarily yes," Mulder agreed, "But they don't tend to operate in down
town New York."
*******************************************************
The figure halted, crouched silently in the undergrowth. Sniffing at the
cool night air, it took another step forwards, then darted silently into the
shadows to it's side. Up ahead in a clearing a red headed woman turned to
look into the recently vacated space. Seeing nothing, she continued to look
about her, as she stepped quickly to the far side of the clearing. Behind
her the figure stepped back from the shadows and stealthily inched forward.
The woman kept walking, aware that she was not alone but unable to locate
her pursuer. Pausing occasionally to scan the trees around her, she
increased her pace.
"Ok, this isn't funny," she called out.
The figure in the trees smiled to itself and crouched. Reaching down, it
grabbed something from the ground and stood again. Moving over to a nearby
tree, it leapt up, disappearing into the foliage.
Back in the clearing the woman had come to a stop again, turning to stare
fixedly at the spot where the other figure had just been. She started to
back away, then turned as a sound escaped from the undergrowth behind her.
As she did, the figure launched itself at her back, leaping down from the
tree, metallic blades gleaming in the moonlight.
Suddenly, just as it was about to strike the woman, she straightened, the
figure froze in mid-flight, suspended in the air. Without turning, the she
spoke again.
"Satisfied?"
"Nearly got you, Jeanie," grinned Logan, "That's probably one of the oldest
tricks I know."
"Probably?"
"To be honest, Jeanie, I can't quite remember the oldest. But that could
very well be it," he reached for a pocket and took out a cigar. Cupping
his hands to protect the flickering match, he glanced up at Jean.
"You can let me down now," he said, puffing at the cigar.
"Logan, don't you ever learn?"
"What, Jeanie?"
"Never try to sneak up on a telepath. We know what you're thinking before
you do," with that she lowered him to the ground and walked off, heading for
the mansion.
"I wouldn't rely on that, Jeanie," Logan muttered after her receding figure.
******************************************************
Somewhere else, a worried crease in her brow, Roma stood in her citadel, her
eyes clenched shut. After a long moment, she opened her eyes again and she
spoke aloud.
"It's the only way, isn't it?"
Although there seemed to be no answer, she continued on.
"You're right. The longer I delay, the worse it will get. I shall approach
them immediately."
So saying, she spread her arms wide, and vanished from the light.
(
geocities.com/soho)