Chapter #10

The rising sun brightened the gleaming wet streets of Limerick as the rain finally ceased falling for the time. Citizens awoke and the birds chirped their lovely songs as the town seemed at peace…

Clare had been transferred to the nearest hospital with heavy security to ensure her safety. As for the others, they had returned to the police headquarters, now listening to Henry’s story.

“…He told me how his ‘army’ has already been moved to the woods outside the city. They plan to march here-.”

“-And destroy everything,” Martin sunk back in his chair.

“He wouldn’t bluff, would he?” Harold asked doubtfully.

“If it’s made up of those monsters that we encountered at the park, how are we expected to beat an ‘army’?!” Aaron sighed heavily.

Guilzini slammed his gun down on the desk, “Well what if he was really just bluffing? He’s getting away right now!”

“Think, Guilzini!” Donovan gathered his thoughts, “Zarian isn’t stupid. He doesn’t lie. Atleast, he hasn’t yet. Everything he has said would happen, has. He’s not one to bluff.”

There was a long silence that settled across the room. Fear ran through everyone’s eyes as they pictured the idea of a horde of monsters tearing through the streets of the small town.

Suddenly there was a loud bang as the door burst open, and everyone turned to see a police officer rush over toward them, “Detective Cedar?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“We’ve uncovered something back at the Warren Building. I think you should take a look,” the police officer huffed as he tried to gather his breath.

“Bring it in.”

~

Flander’s eyes stared up at Draco in shock as the body was placed onto the examination table.

“My god, there’s nothing to him!” Draco grimaced.

“Indeed,” the coroner pointed to the right arm, “There seems to be barely any trace of muscles. His energy was literally sucked from away. As you can see,” the coroner pointed at the circular abrasions on Flander’s arm, “Tubes were injected into him. Might mean something to you,” he looked up at Draco, who looked puzzled as well.

“Anyway,” he moved to Quinn’s chest, where a large wound appeared, “Cause of death, clean stab straight into the heart. The killer must have twisted the knife inside him, by the strange, jagged marking inside.”

“They used him,” Donovan shook his head, “Like a puppet. He was their main source to create Zarian’s ‘army’, and when he couldn’t be of any use, they disposed of him.”

“This, then, confirms that there really is an army about to plow it’s way straight through Limerick,” John scratched the back of his head.

“Apparently,” Donovan placed his tobacco pipe back in his mouth, “It’s best we tell the others about this.”

~

Mencelli stepped out from the secret passage from the Warren Incorporation basement. He found himself at the edge of the Maverith Forest, which was preserved a couple of miles outside Limerick. Camp fires burned throughout the forest in the chilly night air. Mencelli started his way into the forest, weaving around fire pits and lounging beasts, until he finally made it to a large, blood red tent. Shadows danced across it as Luey entered, finding Zarian standing over a desk with papers scattered everywhere. 

He looked up and smirked at the arrival of Mencelli, “Things went well, I presume?”

“Flanders has been taken care of,” Mencelli nodded.

“Excellent,” Zarian smirked, then returned to his papers.

Ranzford strode into the tent, “Seth, we got a problem.”

“Now what?!” Zarian glared angrily.

“Your bloody ‘army’ is startin’ to act funny. They wont listen anymore. They can sense Flander’s is dead,” Ranzford eyed at Luey, “Apparently.”

Seth was in no mood to deal with inferior , blunt-headed creatures. His eyes brightened into a teal color, “They will listen to me…”

~

“We found the body of Quinn Flanders,” Donovan announced to the small group.

They had decided to return to Roger Verlin’s home, and had retired to Verlin’s living room where the fireplace burned quietly as Cedar reiterated what they had found.

“He had been used and then disposed of. There can be no doubt that there is an army out there.”

The room went silent. The fire crackled as Captain Wilson smoked on his pipe, lost in thought. Catherine huddled up against her husband as he hugged her tightly. Marié looked over at Harold who was staring into the fire blankly. Aaron kept looking out the window nervously as Roger shuffled through his papers once more. Henry and Martin sat on a large footstool, Henry looking down at the ground as Martin played with the shadows on the wall with his hand. Tracey was leaning against the far wall near the door, twiddling her thumbs. 

Leslie was the one to speak up, “So what do we do now?”

Henry looked up from the floor and Aaron looked away from the window as all eyes looked to Donovan.

Cedar paused before saying anything. He looked up at the faces around the room, fear in everyone’s eyes as to what was coming. Finally he rubbed his temple, “You all have to realize the danger this could bring. Lives are at risk, including your own. I don’t want to ask you all to risk your lives but I cant do this alone. Will you help me?”

There was another long pause as thoughts wondered.

Finally Harold slowly stood up, “Well, what do we got to lose, eh?”

“I agree,” Marié stood up next to him.

“Well, since you asked so nicely anyway,” Martin groaned, standing up and leaning against the wall, “I’m in.”

John and Catherine both stood up and finally Roger shrugged, “Ah, why not,” and stood up.

Henry and Aaron looked at each other and then they both stood.

“You all are bloody crazy,” Aaron added, shaking his head.

Donovan smirked as the fear had vanished completely, replaced by shear confidence in their eyes. He looked to his co-workers.

“Hey, we’re in this together all the way, Detective,” Draco saluted as Tracey and Leslie both smirked.

“So what are we planning on, Captain Cedar?” Wilson groaned as he used his cane to stand up.

“Ok. Now, I’m not sure what to expect…but I have an idea…”

~

A couple hours later the sirens blared as the channels changed to an emergency alert, ordering a city wide evacuation throughout Limerick. Buses and planes were filled and shipped to the near southeast cities along Cape Cod.

The city was emptied by evening, the sun setting over the Maverith Forest as Zarian stared out onto the fields that led to the abandoned city.

“The sirens have stopped,” he smirked as Luey walked up to him, “the city has been cleared.”

“Is it time?” Mencelli gripped one of his knives in excitement.

Zarian waited for a moment before looking up, “It’s going to be a gloomy night for the city of Limerick,” he turned to Mencelli, “We begin the march.”

~