CHAPTER THREE (PART FOUR) - BRIAN “Listen!” A.J. shouted, “That’s isn’t a man! That’s that thing! It’s talking like one! It’s trying to get you to come to it! Hear? Its gonna kill you!” Howie mind had frozen, shock coursed through him. What? Wasn’t a man? But…….the man was hurt….he needed help………but it was that thing…….. Howie slowly backed away from the link, his heart began pounding furiously in his chest, his mind was still frozen, unable to fully register what A.J. had just told him. Starting to shake, Howie turned ever so slowly to the direction the so-called man had been calling from. Just then he called out again, this time sounding sweet, like he was talking to a dog. “Come on! You’re so close! I’m hurt! Don’t you want to help me and my friend? Please help.” Howie’s head felt light, that thing was only a little ways away, It was planning to eat him, and here he was walking right to it! Holy shit! His mind shrieked, but his body was moving slowly, terrified that if he even breathed the wrong way or to quickly, that creature would come roaring around with its razor sharp teeth ready to tear into him. Slowly, and starting to shake, Howie turned around again, his eyes glazed, he reached out slowly and touched the button, pressing it he looked like he was in shock, which he was. “A.J.,” He whispered, looking at the ground. “What the hell do I do!?” He hissed terrified. “Alright, just listen,” A.J. said urgently, the connection went fuzzy again and Howie’s heart almost stopped. But lucky the connection came back. “Just turn around, and walk slowly away, do you hear me? Don’t run! Walk away slowly or it will go after you for sure.” Howie nodded slowly and numbly. “Slowly D, try to remain calm. Get Nick, and high tail it out of there when you get into the hall.” A.J. instructed slowly, trying to sound calm himself. Howie nodded again, his eyes suddenly darted over wildly when the voice rang out. “Where are you? Aren’t you coming!?” “I….” Calm down Howie, he told himself. Don’t let it know you’re onto it, stay clam! “I’m coming!” He called over, though sounding slightly shaky, he found his voice and forced himself to answer. “Just a sec! I-I’m almost there. I think.” Howie gulped and turned around, he pressed the button as he turned away. “Keep, an eye, on it.” He said slowly as he released the button. A.J. nodded and his face disappeared, leaving snow on the screen. Trembling, Howie slowly took a step forward, and another, and then another. Slowly he began walking away, careful not to make any sound, the hall seemed to stretch forward, and no matter how many steps he took, it stretched out even more, heart pounding, Howie gripped the gun as he slowly walked the other way. Stay calm, stay calm. He repeated to himself over and over, Your gonna make it, just keep going. Just keep going! Your gonna make it, just keep going, left foot right foot, left foot right foot. Keep going, stay calm, your gonna make it. Breathing shallowly, Howie’s heart was beating so fast, he was sure it was going to wear out before he even made it half way. The hallway loomed on, dark and forbidding, and terrifying. “Where are you?” The voice called out making Howie freeze, holding his breath. The voice sounded so real, and to be coming from that nightmare, it seemed impossible. “Please! Hurry! Help!” The fake voice pleaded. Its not real, its that thing, keep going, keep going! Your gonna make it, its not real. Howie was unable to think clearly, all he was able to register was stay calm, and to keep going he was so terrified. “I’m coming! I’m…………….just getting my friend! Nick!” Howie blurted out, almost bursting out laughing from hysteria that the lie came so easily. “He’s a……….doctor! He can help you and your friend! Don’t worry though! I’m not going far! Just a few feet! Okay?” He silently prayed that the thing bought the excuse. And thank god, it was answered. “Oh, okay.” The voice came, sounding uneasy. But Howie knew it was probably drooling with excitement, getting two for the price of one! Howie forced himself to breath and go on, even though it took tremendous effort. Stay calm, stay calm. Your gonna make it, your gonna make it! A.J. pulled his hand back, the one with the tube coming out of it. He managed to pull it back a little to begin blindly typing on the computer on his arm, his eyes still in the system. Kevin was staring at him, his jaw had fallen open. He was sure his heart had stopped for a few seconds when A.J. had yelled that that so called “wounded and helpless” man out there was really it, luring them into a trap. Even Brian was staring at him shocked, this couldn’t be happening, it had to be a mistake! It just had to be! “What are you doing?” Kevin demanded after finally finding his voice. “Getting back into the camera system, if that thing moves, I can warn Howie.” A.J. said hurrying as fast as he could. Kevin was in shock, he had just sent two men out straight out for that thing! Oh man! Kevin thought wildly, what have I done? Behind him, Brian silently prayed that the two men made it back. Kevin watched mutely as A.J. worked, what killed him even more, was the fact that he couldn’t do anything. Yeah right, he thought, some quick thinker and leader! A.J. felt part of his mind being pulled once more into the camera system, once again his vision was broken into five, he shoved the other frames away, and to the one where the creature was last. He froze. “Oh god,” he said horrified. “What!?” Kevin demanded panicked. “Its not there anymore.” “W-w-what the hell dose that mean? Where is it?” Brian shivered. “Its not there!” A.J. said panicked gesturing to the unseen frame. “Shit!” A.J. began shifting through the other frames looking wildly. He saw nothing, it wasn’t anywhere near one of the five working cameras. Nick looked around nervously, it had been quite some time since the robot and Howie had left, the robots humming couldn’t be heard anymore. The silence was driving Nick crazy, he felt like he was the only one left on the station. He debated weather or not to shout out to Howie to hear where he was, but decided to wait five more minutes. Unscrewing the cap to the bottle Howie had left him, Nick took a big drink. The liquid burned all the way down, but it was a sensation he gladly welcomed, he winced and screwed the cap back on. I’ll wait one more minute, he amended coughing a little. Leaning his head back against the wall, Nick listened to the non-existing sounds, he could almost hear his heart beat. It reminded him of that Edger Allen Poe story, Tell Tall Heart. One of the few things he remembered hearing about in his family. Sighing Nick looked at the bottle, the clear liquid splashed around, clear as water. Nick watched the liquor as he swished it around, for some reason he found it kinda mesmerizing. Nick suddenly felt sleepy and dizzy, his eyelids drooped, but he was still half awake. He wasn’t sure what happened next, suddenly the lights in the hall flickered off. Shit. Nick heart began beating faster. Just like the story, he thought dizzily, faster, faster. Louder, it was getting louder! The lights suddenly turned back on, what little light he had been given before flooded over the hall, that damn blue light. Nick suddenly jolted up, he felt as if he had just taken a step down and had slipped on the step, giving him the sensation of falling and suddenly he was standing, He almost fell over it happened so fast. He blinked. What the hell? He wondered when a searing pain shot through his hands. “Ow!” He yelped jerking up, he looked down. Slowly he turned them over. His left hand had glass embedded into it, blood soaked his entire hand, the crimson shinned, it hurt like hell! Nick held up his other hand, more puzzled then in pain, the bottle was broken, he was holding the neck of it, the jagged end gleamed dangerously. “What?” He said confused looking at it, I broke the bottle. He thought, when!? He didn’t remember doing that, he looked at the wall, the liquid dripped down it, some glass fragments lay on the floor, Nick looked back at him hands. Behind him, the eye slowly opened. Black and uncaring, And hungry. The spider’s eye. The light fell faintly over the creature’s face, the eye stared mindlessly at Nick. Flesh… blood… food! A faint growl suddenly made the air hum, Nick’s head shot up, his eyes darted around his sides. Oh shit! He thought taking a step back, and stopping, his back straightened slowly as horror and shock slowly filled him. His wide, blue eyes moved to the side as far as they went, and slowly, with jerky movements, he turned to see over his shoulder. It was there, looking at him! Its skin was slimly, slick. It misshaped face held that black eye that stared at him, its teeth jutted out of its mouth, it breathing now filled Nick’s ears. As they stared at each other, time stood still, each seeming to wait for the next to move. Only this time, it could get Nick, eat him alive while he screamed, and no one would come to help. Something hung out of the side of its mouth, a bloody piece of meat. Human, Nick couldn’t move, his terror wouldn’t allow it, couldn’t move, couldn’t yell, couldn’t even breath. Nick stared at that bloody piece of human, he would replace that piece, it would be him hanging out of that things mouth now. Dead. Finally time broke, everything happened at once. With a horrified yell Nick lurched back, blindly throwing out his arm. The one with the broken bottle. Just as it lunged, the glass hit its target. Sort of, Nick’s arm went through the thick slim as it bumped against it in trying to hit something, the glass hit the slick skin, right in the eye lid. Running purely with instinct, Nick’s fist shot out, ramming under it eye, as hard as he could, he yanked the bottle part back. It made a sickening sound as Nick ripped out a large chunk of its eye lid out with the glass, unfortunately, in pulling back the glass, the bottle flew out of his hand, taking it and the bloody skin with it. Not more then a micro second after that, the creature screeched in pain and fury, its gnarled claw threw out sending Nick crashing into the wall and falling to the ground painfully. But instantly, Nick scrambled to his feet, and took off screaming, the thing lunging after him with a murderous roar. Howie stopped dead in his tracks as Nick scream and the creatures echoed out through the dark hallway. Oh no! Howie thought instantly, forgetting his fear, knowing that the thing had some how gone around to the only other helpless prey. He began running furiously down the dark hall. “Nick!” He shouted terrified. Running as hard and fast as he could, Nick ran blindly, not caring where he was going, only wanting to get away from that beast that was chasing him down the hall. Pure panic seized him as he just randomly ran down corridors and turned varies corners, the thing just a few feet away, managing to stay with him. It roared as it crawled on the sides of the walls, intent on catching Nick. Nick suddenly heard the echoing moans come from behind it, he barely glanced over his shoulder and saw the creature open its mouth as it crawled, the ugly yellow sack in the back of its throat, humans moaned and reached out towards Nick, there forms pressed against the thin like skin. With a burst of speed, Nick vaulted forward with a terrified cry into the darkness, he didn’t know weather or not be glad, or even more afraid of the black. As the creature suddenly gurgled, the moans seemed to be everywhere, it felt something reach for him and he screamed hoping against all hope someone heard his cry for help. Kevin and Brian both jerked up when they heard Nick’s scream, and then another noise, it was a throaty screech. Kevin had had enough already, he reacted. “Stay here!” He barked instantly taking off, A.J. was completely tied up in the system, but he tried to look over his shoulder. “Kevin! Wait!” He shouted. “Kevin!” Brian yelled as the older man sprinted off, but he wasn’t listening. He disappeared into the dark. Howie ran out into the hall and skidded to a stop, he looked around wildly, Nick was no where to be seen. He spun around, “Nick!” He shouted hoping he would somehow miraculously answer, but he didn’t. His gaze froze on a spot on the wall, a large smear of blood sprayed across the metal, fresh and glistening. Oh no, he thought in horror slowly approaching it. A hand suddenly clamped down on his shoulder. )))I couldn’t find-((( Howie shrieked in surprise and fright and whirled around, the robot in turn screamed and jumped back against the wall, thinking Howie was going to fire off the gun, lucky he didn’t. Howie gasped when it registered what it was, he lowered his shaking hand that held the gun. “What the hell are you doing!?” Howie said shrilly, speaking more loudly then he had intended. The robot meekly pointed to the hall where it had gone into. ))) I couldn’t find the people.((( It said. “Where’s Nick?” Howie demanded suddenly and urgently. )))Nick? I thought he was here.((( It said pointing to the ground and looking down. Howie looked around, his heart pounding in fear. “No…..I…that thing was calling and I was going to get Nick-“ He trailed off looking around unable to fully get out an explanation. The robot suddenly bent down and picked up something. Howie turned back to it as it held it up. )))What’s this?((( It asked holding up the broken part of the bottle, hanging off the end was a bloody piece of skin, to Howie, it looked like human skin. His eyes widened as it dangled there and the robot continued to examine it puzzled. Suddenly a faint frightening scream rang out, definitely belonging to Nick. Howie lurched forward and grabbed the robots wrist, he took off dragging the robot with him causing it to drop the bottle part. “Come on!” Howie shouted running down the hall. Nick through himself off to the side, in the dark he couldn’t see anything, the lights weren’t on in this part, but he did it anyways in an attempt to get away. Lucky for him, he slammed up against a door, he pressed himself against it and placed his hand against the doorframes. He forced himself to slow his breathing and try to contain his emotions, he closed his eyes and prayed silently. He could hear it moving in the hall, but couldn’t tell where it was. Suddenly the sound stopped, but he didn’t dare hope to think it had left, he stayed where he was. There was absolute silence, but that was more terrifying then noise, it was waiting. TINK! The sudden sound echoed through the hall, Nick gasped and opened his eyes, he froze, not daring to breath. TINK! The sound came again, loud and clear. The sound of its claw tapping. Tick tock. TINK! It took everything Nick had not to lose it right then, his hands pressed against the doorframe so hard he almost broke his wrists, but he stayed where he was. His stomach flipped in fear. The sound didn’t come again though, Nick looked around wildly, unable to anything in the dark. “Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” The dull, pain filled moan rang out. Nick pressed himself against the wall even more, the sound seemed everywhere. Where the hell was it!? “Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa!” TINK TINK TINK! Oh shit. TINK………TINK TINK…..TINK. It was coming, but from where Nick couldn’t tell, he bit his lip so hard he tasted the metallic taste of blood. He listened intently. TINK TINK!……….TINK! Silence. <<Oh Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick! >> Nick’s eyes widened and he involuntarily took a deep breath, the voice………..it wasn’t there……yet was. It wasn’t in his mind per say…….it seemed to be……in the air, there but not. <<Nicky!>> The voice called taunting and sweet, as if calling to a child, Nick’s heart almost stopped in fright. <<Come here………come out and talk.>> Screw you, Nick thought in total panic, he wasn’t even sure if he was hearing the voice, maybe it had something to do with his psychic power. <<You’re being a very naughty boy……….come and talk to me. I’m so very lonely.>> With those people in your mouth, I’d think you’d have plenty of company! Nick thought. <<Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick! Come on, I can hear your blood, it calls to me, I’m sooooooooooooooo hungry!>> Nick held his breath, he felt like throwing up. The noise came again, so sudden he jumped. TINK! TINK! TINK! <<Come here Nick, come meet my friends.>> “Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. NNNNNNNNNNNNNNIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKK!” Nick let out a small gasp as the moans came again, calling his name. “NNNNNNNNIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCKKKKKK! COME HERE! HELP US! NNNNNNNNIIIIIIIICCCKKKK! PLEASE! Ooooooooooooooooo hhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! NICK!” The moans of many people rang out, calling and cooing. Nick suddenly felt tears spring in his eyes, he clapped his hands over his ears in an attempt to block out the horrifying wails. “NNNNNNNNNNNIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCKKKKKK! PLEASE! HELP! Ooooooooooooooooooo! HELP! NICK! HELP!” Nick shrank back to the wall, hoping to disappear into it and away from the cries that begged his help, he clenched his teeth together so hard they hurt as tears ran down his face. There not real, they are dead. There not real, they are dead! He repeated to himself, trying to convince himself of that. The moans continued unabated, calling out to Nick, trying to guilt him to come. But he refused. Shut up! He wanted to scream, but that was what it wanted. He refused to give it that. Through the fear, he stayed stubbornly stayed where he was. Eventually, mercifully, the moans died off, Nick stayed where he was for a full minute before hesitantly taking his hands away from his ears, he slowly lowered them, unsure if it had really stopped. He listened but didn’t hear anything, he let out the deep breath he had been holding, in a sigh of relief. It was shot lived. With a murderous roar, the things hand suddenly clamped over the doorframe, right where Nick was! Nick nearly died right then and it pulled itself fully over and opened its mouth, its putrid breath hitting Nick full force in the face. It lunged toward him, the people in its mouth shot their eager hands out. Nick shrieked in complete and pure terror and suddenly dropped to the ground and rolled under it, screaming, he rolled and shot to his feet and ran. “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Nick screamed as the creature shrieked in frustration. <<YOU NAUGHTY BOY! BAD BOYS ALWAYS GET PUNISHED! >> It screamed as if still talking to a child. It launched itself after him, running like a roach. Nick was sure his heart had exploded, and his mind just hadn’t registered it, that had to be the burning pain he felt. His muscles screamed, he couldn’t get enough air, but he pushed himself forward. The will to live powering him. <<Eat you alive! I’m going to eat you alive Nick! And your gonna DIE in agony!>> Nick cried when he realized he was slowing down, he couldn’t go on, this thing was to fast, and it never tired. NO! NO! NO! Nick’s mind screamed as he felt the thing come right behind him, run faster you idiot! FASTER! But he simply couldn’t. With a screech the thing’s hand flew out and slapped at Nick as if he were nothing more then an annoying fly. Nick suddenly found himself flying through the air in the hall, the floor rushed up at him and Nick slammed into it and bounced like a rag doll, where he skidded to a stop on his back, he was so shocked he was unable to move. He lay there as the thing, which had crawled on the ceiling, approached slowly and disjointedly. <<I’m going to eat you now Nick, my teeth can cut through your bones like there twigs! One lost little boy, eaten by the big bad wolf! Now there will only be four!>> It dropped to the floor with a thick thud. It crawled towards Nick who still couldn’t move. I’m going to die! He realized, strangely calm, I’m never really going to get off this station, I’m going to die here. Just like they said. The thing lunged, and Nick threw his arms over his face and screamed. The metal bar suddenly swung through the air with plenty of force, it hit its target, the wet soppy eye. The creature shrieked in pain and recoiled in surprise, its claws flying to its eye. Nick wasn’t sure what had just happened, his arms slowly came down in time to see Kevin swing the metal bar he had found again at the thing, it recoiled and hissed, even though it couldn’t seem to see him. “Here’s what were gonna do.” Kevin said dangerously, swinging the bar again, “Your gonna get you sorry carcass moving before I do some real damage with this thing!” Kevin knew it was a pretty empty threat, but he bluffed and swung the bar again, it recoiled again and hissed, bumping into the wall, it slithered back, suddenly with spider like stealth, and cowered in the dark, it gurgled. TINK TINK TINK TINK THINK! Its claw tapped furiously. Kevin swallowed hard and tightened his grip on the metal, his hands ached vaguely, but he stayed where he was. The creature gurgled again, and ever so slowly, began backing into the darkness, fading from Kevin’s view. <<See you latter Nick. You and your friends.>> Forcing his breathing to come out evenly, Kevin waited until it slithered off, off to collect itself again for its next strike. This time it would wait longer, let them feel ever so safe and let down just an inch of their guard, it would be enough for it. Waiting for thirty seconds, Kevin slowly lowered the metal bar, his muscles tense, ready to swing it again in case it wasn’t really gone. But it was, Kevin let out in breath and whirled around, to where Nick was slowly sitting up, almost going into shock he couldn’t believe he had gotten out of that one. He held his bloody hand to his chest, Kevin didn’t notice it, and if he did he probably wouldn’t have dealt with it until they were somewhere safe. “Come on! Come on!” He snapped urgently pulling Nick up by his shirt, both instantly took off, Kevin dragging an exhausted Nick. “Wow!” A.J. said impressed, his eyes looking off at something unseen, “Nice save.” He said grinning, instantly the other part of his mind began working through the COM system, passing through unit after unit, trying to find the one closest to Howie. Brian sat, leaning against the wall, his eyes closed, he could have been sleeping, he coughed though. BACK NEXT |
| Science And Madness |