Hunting The Dark Side

Chapter 2: Stranger Danger

Even though his eyes looked murderous his voice was as soft as an angel’s when he queried, “Are you Doctor Sapphire Humington?” Many individuals called her Doctor because her previous profession was a general doctor at Elizabeth Royal Hospital, before she changed profession and went into forensics and she the title stayed with her no matter her career change, plus to her it made her feel more superior.

Her mind went crazy with worry, she felt bile coming up her throat as the worry and the fear got to her, she swallowed the bile back when it got to her mouth. Her thoughts were going wild. How did he know my name? What does he want from me? Should I tell the truth? But what if it is something serious and I lied? She finally decided, “Yes, why?”

“We need to talk…now,” he said, his voice still sounding sweet but suddenly having a serious tone. As soon as he spoke, Sapphire got more freaked and more scared, her thoughts still going wild. Why would he want me? All I am is a foren- wait a minute! The thought jumped out at her. He could be the killer of these people! She shook her head unknowingly as she was thinking.

No, Sapphire, you know that he couldn't have done this, you know the only thing that could have done it, but why do I keep doubting myself?

Another thought came into her mind, Because I don’t want it to be true, I know if it is true, then I will have to call them…My siblings. I don’t want them to come to town, do I?

A voice deep in her mind replies. You know you want to join them again, you love killing the supernatural, saving people, it’s what you do; it’s who you are. It runs through your veins.

Sapphire shook her head again, then all her thoughts came to a halt when she realised this man was staring at her with confusion yet curiously. She needed to try and get away from him now. She needed to think. She needed to get the truth about this murder, there hadn’t been much supernatural activity in a few months but this sort of activity this far north is bazaar.

She had to call her brothers, ask them if it was possible; even send them the photo’s maybe? but how, she didn’t have their number, even if she did they would have changed their number a good 15 times by now.

Sapphire pushed her thoughts aside when there was slight pain in her wrists. She looked at her wrist to see what the cause of the pain was. A hand was wrapped around her wrist. There was a sudden urge of to show him what she was capable off but she didn’t want to make a scene, or give this man more questions. She pulled her arm back, glaring at him.

He looked at her unfazed by her glare, “I said we need to talk. You started to back away, that is the complete opposite.”

She looked at him in shock, “I...I did?” she didn’t even realise that she had been moving at all. With his nod she composed herself and replied with confidence, “What is it we need to talk about…?” She saw that he had a badge clipped to his jacket, which was a white with blue boarder science badge and this relaxed Sapphire a bit more as she looked at it. Why would a scientist want me? The badge read 'Dominic Freeman' in bold “…Mr Freeman?”

He looked confused; as he frowned the creases on his forehead drew together. “How did you know my name?” Sapphire couldn't help but smirk; he had obviously forgotten that he had his badge on. She ignored the question, wanting to get away from him, there were too many feelings, auras she was getting off him. He was strong, liked to feel in control, but he seemed gentle almost caring.

“What did you want to talk about that is so urgent? Because I am very busy right now.” It was true Sapphire was busy, she wasn’t just trying to get away, even though she did really want to get away from this strange Mr Freeman.

“I’m sorry, but are you the person that just examined those bodies?” Dominic questioned as he pointed over at the scene.

Sapphire was stunned when he asked her that. Why does he want to know? she wondered, then she went into deep thought again, her mind was going over all of the evidence that she just collected at the scene, the bites, the scratches, the bloodshed, as she thought deeply just stared past the man as if he wasn’t there.

After a few minutes, he clicked his fingers in front of her as he asked again impatiently, “Are you the person that examined those bodies over there?”

Sapphire came quickly back and took another step back caught off guard of how close he had become, she answered in a sharp tone, “Yes, why do you want to know that?”

He was surprised by her tone; she could tell by his face. Sapphire was good at reading faces, it came with the job, having to be extremely observant. Within a short time, she could read people like a book, when someone was surprised, a liar, a lover she knew it all.

“What types of wounds are they?” he asked, trying to unsuccessfully compose his face.

Sapphire raised her voice nearly to a shout, “That is confidential information, why do you think I would just hand that over?”

“Because I need to know, this is important too” he said, so fast Sapphire only just understood him.

“Why? Who are you? What do you know about this murder?” she blurted out fast, before she even thought. Why would you do that? You know it isn’t him. You would know if he was a supernatural creature and he most certainly isn’t one.

“I need to know because those people in there could be dangerous. I am from a private science experiment lab and I might know something about what you call a “murder” if you tell me what state the bodies were in,” he said, finding it hard to stay calm.

“Who could be dangerous, the police?” Sapphire asked, acting confused though she knew exactly what he meant but she couldn't let him know that, could she? Could she trust this man?

He just stared at her like she was most idiotic person in the world. “No, of course not, I was talking about the...” he hesitated, thinking should I tell her the truth or not? He stared a little longer. Well, she seems like a trustworthy person, after all she hasn't tuned and run away from me yet, maybe she trusts me, or maybe she is tolerable, or patient. He carried on thinking then decided to tell the truth, “… the dead bodies.”

Sapphire didn’t say anything for a while, this time he waited for her to answer patiently. Her face went hard and serious. He knows, he actually knows that other things exist among us, but Sapphire replied still acting like she was confused. “How can dead bodies be dangerous? They are dead, there is no life in them.”

Sapphire didn’t know what to do. Could I tell this Dominic everything and risk my job? Well, one of my jobs? One of the voices in her head reminded her, continuing by saying, maybe his job was the same as your old job?

Her other voice replying yeah, the same one I left my family to do by themselves, and as she was thinking Dominic was answering her with confidence,

“Well, there have been a lot of killings and witnesses are saying that they look like the undead. My job is to try and find these creatures and kill them as quickly as possible, preferably before they kill again, OK? Now I have answered all of your questions, now you answer mine!” he said the last part demandingly.

Sapphire went back into thought. Lots of deaths? I haven’t come across any. I would have known, wouldn't I? Unless someone is hiding it, keeping it out of the media, but this Dominic needs the information that I have and if I don't give him the information more people will die.

“Fine, there are four bodies, all of them have five to seven bites each around seven inches deep. Though it isn’t from how deep the bites are, it is more like whoever done this just ate and ate at the flesh until it looked like seven inches deep; the bites are mostly in the neck. I would say that they went straight through the bone, they all have deep scratch marks and these are marks that no animal would be able to create. Blood was everywhere, there was around five to six l****s of blood and…well” Sapphire paused not understanding how the last injury was linked to the creature, this creature wouldn’t do that, would it? “

Dominic looked at her and tilted his head, stunned that she told him that with such ease, could she possibly know? Or maybe she believes that zombies exist. “Well what? Any detail will be important to my case, please tell me everything.”

Sapphire looked down, letting a breath she had been holding out, “Well Mr Freeman… There was a massive hole in one of the victim’s back, the spine isn’t anywhere to be seen.” Sapphire admitted. Why are you telling him everything? Ugh this is so confusing. He has to know about the supernatural world.

Dominic looked at Sapphire frowning, “Call me Dominic, and a hole you say?” His hand groomed through his hair, as he let a heavy sigh out.

“Yes the size of a fist. Now, what are you going to do with that information because if my boss finds out that I have given confidential information out I could lose my job, then how on earth would I know what goes on in the-” She broke off just in time to stop herself from completing that sentence; was she really going to tell him that she knew of the supernatural world?

Of course she already knew what he was going to do with the information, he was going to go back to wherever he came from, do research to try to find out if there were any patterns on the killings, but before he did any of that he would sneak onto the scene to try to look at the bodies himself.

He raised his eyebrows, she was getting brave, she was headstrong that was for sure, he questioned, “Goes on in the what? And don’t worry I will not tell or even talk to your boss, I will go and do some research on what can make bite marks seven inches deep. If there is anything interesting I will get back to you, OK?”

Don’t lie, you will never tell me anything, I know that for a fact. Sapphire thought before going straight to asking a question of her own, “How wi-” PC Smug come round the corner calling Sapphire’s name and said, “There is an emergency at the scene.”

Sapphire hesitated for just a fraction of a second before she ran back to the crime scene, Mr Dominic Freeman and PC Smith following close behind her. PC Smith stopped just before the crime scene; he had a thing for blood, just like Sapphire, but she sprinted toward the scene.

PC Smith let her into the crime scene but stopped Dominic so she came to a skidding halt and spun round and started lying through her teeth to PC Smith, “It’s OK, this is Dominic and he is with me.” The policeman still didn’t move, he just looked at her, she could see in his eyes she didn’t believe a word of it, she had to lie better so she added, “He is in training, he should have come with me the first time I came in but I told him to stay in the car, just please let him in!” After a minute PC Smith let Dominic in. “Thank you,” Sapphire said with approval. When Sapphire and Dominic got in she showed him the bodies. When they got there he whispered, “Thanks” and smiled at her for the first time, she gave a little smile back and said, “Don’t make me regret saying this but, anytime.” As soon as Sapphire said that she thought wrong use of words, I will regret saying those words.

They both looked at the bodies, obviously Dominic didn’t know this but the bodies were different, they looked a lot greyer than before, Sapphire was sure of it. She looks over her shoulder and demands the camera she had just taken the photo’s with.

“What is it? What do you see? What is different?” Dominic quizzed urgently. Sapphire didn’t reply to him until she was sure that she was correct.

Within a few minutes a camera was placed into her hands, she briefly thanked the officer that gave her the camera and she flicked through the photographs. She came to a stop on one of the photos. The picture was of the full male corpse; she looks at the colour of the victim in the picture then of the corpse in front of them.

Her conclusion was right, she handed the camera over to Dominic, “They are decomposing at rapid speed, I’d say they were poisoned either, before or during the attack.”

Dominic’s bodies stiffened next to her, as he looked and compared for himself. He looked at Sapphire handing the camera back.

Sapphire asked urgently, “What is it?” He didn’t reply to her at first. She parted her lips to ask the question again but he started talking before she had the chance.

He recovered and replied, “I have seen this before.” He said it as if he was scared of what did this, not scared…petrified.

“What did this?” Sapphire said, she didn't want to be but deep inside she was scared.

“It’s a…” he couldn’t finish his sentence yet. Sapphire waited patiently but he never did finish it.

“Tell me now!” she shouted and everyone looked at them.

“It can’t be… can it? But I killed them all,” he started mumbling to himself.

“You killed all of what?” Sapphire questioned more angrily than scared. She didn't know why she was so angry. She knew what he meant, she kept reacting before she thought. She couldn't help it, before she knew it she was backing away and running to her car.

Why are you running? You know exactly what he meant. She thought to herself, a different voice in her mind replied. Because you do not want him to know that you know everything, he will question everything, he will want to know about everything you have been trying to hide.

He ran after her. Sapphire got in the car and locked herself in. Her heart was pounding; she could hear it in her ears. He started banging on the window but she needed to think, she needed to be alone so she started the engine and drove off. He ran after the car a bit until it was way out of sight. She decided to go a different direction and started to relax again.

Sapphire drove to the hospital the long way until she had cleared her head, and her pulse had started to go back to normal. She thought to herself when she walked into the hospital, maybe it was the adrenaline that got to me.

Her colleague informed her that the bodies were here to be examined more, so Sapphire went to the morgue. The morgue was just the same as any other. The table in the middle had a light above it, there was a bench running along one of the side of the room with a sink in it, and other equipment that was needed such as microscopes and DNA analyser. Under the bench was a set of drawers and cupboards, the drawers full of scalpels, scissors, pincers and all of the other equipment that was needed to examine the bodies. In the cupboards was all the bigger equipment like the sterilising machines.

Sapphire carried out the usual examination, taking blood samples, having a proper look at the wounds see how deep they actually were and seeing if there were any clues that could be of help to the police. When she went to examine the blood sample, she glanced up as she passed the window, seeing him. She started thinking, the man is here, the one that was at the scene with me, what was his name again? Oh yeah, Dominic, that was it. But wait, he is here, is he after me? But why, I told him everything. Because he knows about the bodies, he knows that they are turning just like you know.

Dominic came through the door and as Sapphire stood there she parted her mouth slightly to ask a question but he ran and put his hand over her mouth, expecting her to scream. Dominic was thinking angrily, Why do they always go to scream? I mean I come to save her life and this is how she acts. A voice in his head replied, was she going to scream? Look at her, she looked shocked and angry to be honest, she isn’t afraid of you.

“We didn’t finish our conversation before, did we?” he questioned in an angry tone. Sapphire didn’t answer; she was too stunned to reply which was stupid since she would have done the exactly the same as he just did; and he had obviously had some screamers in his time and even if she wanted to speak she couldn’t because he still had his hand over her mouth.

“I’m going to take my hand away now, please don't scream, I am not going to hurt you, I just need to talk to you in private, ok?” he said and then slowly took has hand away so that Sapphire could answer him.

She couldn't answer him so she just nodded, he smiled and shut the door behind him. Sapphire gulped when he did that. What does he want with me, me personally? Maybe he knows what I used to do but I can't help him, not anymore, she thought. While she was thinking he walked towards her and she instinctively took a step back; he stopped where he was, knowing he was already intimidating to her.

“OK, what did you hear at the scene?” he said and sat down in a nearby chair.

“Nothing, I was just a bit overwhelmed at the scene that's all, you know seeing people like that, it makes me think, I could be next,” she said, lying what she thought was smoothly but obviously she was wrong.

He watched her as she spoke analysing her as she spoke. “Please don't lie to me, ok? What did you hear at the scene? Please don't make me do this the hard way. I don't want to hurt you, but I will if you make me.”

She tried not to chuckled, he had no idea what she could do, she covered up the amusement she felt with hesitation then sighed. “I'm just scared, ok? And the way you're talking about the murderer, you’re saying it not he or she and it’s creeping me out.” Yet again she lied, she doesn’t know why she is lying to him; she really doesn’t understand why she acting like this around him.

This time Dominic fell for the lie and sighed to himself. “What if I told you there were bad things in the world? The type of things most people don't believe exist but I know for a fact that they do?”