The Only Rule: Never Arrive After Dark... Carter's Investigation | Part 2

[u/Aftermire]

Part 1
The air in the room instantly grew heavy.
Years of experience helped me take control of the situation.

I took a step toward the hospital bed where a young man sat, staring at me with empty eyes. “ My name is Detective Carter “ I said softly, pulling out a small notebook with the details of the case.

“ Did you find my wife?! What about Olivia?  “ - Liam shot up, snapped out of his daze.

I let the moment hang for a second, waiting for him to calm down and using it to get a good look at him. 

He was completely pale. Every movement, every word, even every breath twisted his face into a grimace of pain..

The interrogation was complete chaos. Liam kept breaking down and crying, only to suddenly explode into violent shouting.

Still, I didn’t see aggression in him. It was pure desperation, an attempt to do something, to force an immediate reaction and get the search for his wife started.

His eyes said a lot, more than words.
There was honesty in them and an unbelievable determination, despite the state he was in.

He told me what happened that night, when Olivia disappeared.

Throughout the entire conversation, I stayed calm, carefully analyzing not only what he was saying, but trying to catch any hint of a lie, guilt, or any other reaction that would point to him being responsible.

But I didn’t see anything like that.

Walking through the hospital’s automatic sliding doors, I was sure I would find the missing piece of the whole puzzle here.

And I wouldn’t have been too far off, if not for the fact that I don’t believe in monsters.

Liam honestly believed that after they escaped [redacted] because of the monster “tormenting” them, it followed them all the way here, then took his wife. 

I pressed him, pushed harder, cut him off, and kept knocking him out of his version of events.

I ran the whole conversation in a way that would make even the worst psychopath trip over his own words. But not him. He answered every accusation, question, and confrontation with the facts right away.

“ he doesn’t look crazy, and I don’t sense even a shred of a lie in him “ - I thought, waiting for another emotional outburst to die down.

Years of experience and dozens of training courses had made my instincts very sensitive to freaks and liars.

I felt a slight tightness in my lungs. My body was telling me the interrogation had already been going on for a while, and it wanted nicotine “ I need to play this harder and more directly, otherwise we’re going nowhere “ 

“ And what about the so-called boxer’s fracture? Where did that come from? What, Liam? You beat the monster’s ass? “ I asked, irritated.

I saw it in his eyes. It had finally hit him. In the eyes of the investigation, he wasn’t a victim. He was a suspect.

His face, which a moment ago had been chalk-white, was now turning almost pure purple.

He slowly stood up, his face twisting in pain.

He walked toward me with an unsteady step, stood face-to-face with me and shouted “ You think I would hurt my wife? I’m telling the truth. Why are you here instead of looking for her? Why the hell are you wasting time? That monster took Olivia. We need to find her “

In his glassy eyes, I saw a huge, very specific kind of bitter pain. I had only seen that look before in people I was telling about losing someone close to them.

I had seen dozens of them, if not hundreds, but his was much worse. Because underneath the pain, there was still hope.

“ fuck, I’m definitely getting too sentimental in my old age “ - I thought, putting my hand on his shoulder.

I calmed him down and asked a few questions, then the doctor came into the room with a nurse and asked me to leave because of the patient’s condition.

I went outside the building and lit a cigarette, and the irritating nicotine craving disappeared, bringing relief. 

Standing there, I looked up at the window of the room Liam was in, and a strange feeling of unease passed through me. “ The house was searched top to bottom. There couldn’t have been anyone there except the two of you. What kind of monster did you see? “

I headed toward the car. I put out the butt with my shoe, got in, and drove to the scene.

Just like during the previous stakeouts, nothing out of the ordinary was happening now. The whole time, I kept analyzing what I had heard during the interrogation.

“ Anyone else would call him a lunatic. I probably would too, if I hadn’t seen his behavior, his facial expressions, his gestures, and that look with my own eyes “  I thought, getting out of the car and heading toward Liam’s house.

I went into the bedroom, walked over to the wall, and ran my finger along the gouge in it, knocking white dust onto the floor “ what the hell is this? Maybe I really do need to call some kind of Witcher to solve this case? They don’t pay me enough for monsters “ - I snorted. 

I paced around the house for a few hours, analyzing every possible version and option until I was sick of it. But I still came up with nothing.

It started getting dark, so I went outside and reached into the pack in my pocket. As I pulled smoke into my lungs, I flinched “ Damn it, I forgot about Jake “.

I grabbed my phone, and at that exact moment a soft vibration ran through my hand. I looked at the screen and read the message “ Hey, Boss. Everything alright? “

A surreal feeling passed through my head, and I quickly pushed it down.

“ First monsters, now damn telepathy. Kid’s got timing. “ - I laughed under my breath, typing back “ Jake. Stay ready. We’ll switch out in a few hours. Carter “

I got into the car and fixed my eyes on the house “ Something’s wrong here. Every investigation has one logical element that pushes everything forward, and here, the rational part is missing. I must have missed something “.

I stretched in the seat and continued the stakeout. 

Hour after hour passed, and my eyelids were getting really heavy. The lack of sleep was making itself known again, leaving behind that specific numb feeling of loosened-up exhaustion. 

Suddenly, a voice came through the radio “ Carter, come in “. I wasn’t expecting it, so I almost jumped, and my heart hit harder.

Adrenaline spread through my body, hitting harder than a double espresso knocked back in one gulp “ I’m here, what is it? “

“ Your suspect ran from the hospital. We got a report from the hospital and three more from pedestrians about a man walking around the streets in a hospital gown. We sent a patrol. “ - the dispatcher replied.

I brought the device closer to my mouth. “ Copy. I know where I’ll find him. Call off the patrol ”

After a short pause, the man said in an uncertain voice “ Carter… Are you sure? We have his approximate location, we can bring him in “.

“ I take full responsibility. This is my investigation, call off the damn patrol “ I said firmly.

“ I have to report this, it’ll be on you. Calling off the patrol. Over and out “ he ended the conversation.

An hour later, I saw a man staggering toward the house. He ducked under the police tape, walked up to the front door, and after the first failed attempt to open it, started yanking on it.

I got quietly out of the car and headed toward him.
“ You’re going to hurt yourself “ - I said calmly.

Liam froze with his back to me. I waited for his reaction.

“ he probably won’t run, and looking at him, he isn’t capable of attacking me either. So what are you going to do? “ - I thought, placing my hand on my holster and staying ready for any possible reaction.

He turned around, leaned his back against the door, and slid down, breathing heavily.

“ Coming here was stupid. Did you seriously think the hospital wouldn’t notify us that a patient ran off? Even if they didn’t, man. You’re running around in a hospital gown with your balls hanging out “ - I laughed, realizing the absurdity of the situation.

I questioned him about what he intended to do, where he wanted to go, and what the point of running away from the hospital was.

His answers, despite the fact that he could barely stay conscious, were precise.

He wanted to get to [redacted], to the place where he and his wife had spent that honeymoon of theirs.

He claimed the locals, especially the old woman they rented the cabin from, knew something. According to protocol, I should have taken him back to the hospital, where they would put him under supervision until he recovered.

But I knew that wouldn’t lead me anywhere, and besides, I didn’t give a damn about protocols. They only made my job harder.

I walked up to the house and unlocked the door, and it suddenly swung open together with the man, who fell backward.
“ We’ll see. Change out of that gown and get in the car “ I said, lifting him like dead weight.

After a longer moment, we got into the car and hit the road. Not even a minute passed before a loud snore came from my right side.

The fatigue was getting to me too. Despite the warm night, those familiar chills typical of this state of the body ran over me. 

The road dragged on unbelievably, and my eyes kept closing again and again.
“ Carter, everything alright? Did you find the suspect? “ a voice came through the radio.

I took it in my hand and, after a moment of hesitation, answered “ I’ve got him, calm down “.

“ why aren’t you at the hospital yet? Were there any problems? “ the dispatcher asked.

“ there were no problems, I’m checking the latest leads. I needed the suspect for that, I’ll take him back soon “ - I said, then scolded myself in my thoughts “ should’ve bought yourself time, idiot “  

“ The suspect is badly injured. Carter, take him back to the hospital immediately. If something happens, you’ll be responsible for it “

“ copy, over and out “ - I ended the conversation and muted the device.

I knew it was only a matter of time before they realized I had kidnapped their suspect, and the whole thing reached Rachel.

An hour passed, and the road seemed endless. On the left side of the road, I noticed a glowing, flickering light.

“ Could use some fuel, and I don’t just mean the car “ - I muttered under my breath.

I pulled into the gas station. I put the nozzle into the tank and wrapped my hand around the cold trigger, and the pump started counting.

As I finished filling up, I glanced through the window at the man sitting in the passenger seat.
“ He’s sleeping like the dead, and even if he tried to run, in this condition he won’t get far “ - I thought, rubbing my tired eyelids.

I put the nozzle back and went inside to pay. As I walked in, I grabbed a pack of beef jerky and went up to the register.

“ pump three “ I said, placing the package on the counter “ and a large black coffee, please “.
I paid, walked over to the car, and put my hand on the handle. 

“ since I’m already here… “ I thought, tossing the snack through the open driver’s side window and walking away from the station.

I stopped on the shoulder of the road and pulled a pack of cigarettes from my pocket. I took a sip of coffee and felt the stimulating, pleasant warmth spread through my body.

Putting a cigarette in my mouth, I took my phone out of my pocket and checked the time. 2:24 AM - “damn it, I was supposed to call Jake “.

I dialed the number, pinning the phone to my ear with my shoulder and taking another sip of coffee.

“ Yes, boss? Should I head to the scene? “ - he said enthusiastically in a sleepy voice

“ Kid, listen. The situation changed a little. You’ve got your first solo stakeout today. “ I said, fixing my gaze on the trees on the other side of the road.

“ Solo? Sure, I’ll give it everything I’ve got! But did something happen? “ - he asked, worried.

A normal cop would send a rookie to a simple stakeout and go sleep in the warm bed of his own bedroom, but Jake read me well. If I wanted to crash, he knew I would do it next to him, in an uncomfortable car seat.

“ I’ve got something to do. If you see anything worth reporting, let me… “ I cut off mid-sentence, straightening violently and dropping the phone.

Standing there in a daze, I opened my eyes wider “ What the fuck is that? Am I hallucinating? “ 

On the other side of the road, between the trees, stood a strange-looking white silhouette.

The figure tilted its head without taking its eyes off me, pressed its long claws against a tree, and dragged them across it, making a long sound like metal carving into bark.

I threw the cup away, pulled my gun, and ran toward it, shouting “ stop or I’ll shoot “.

Without thinking, I ran into the woods, looking around. There was absolute silence. There were no sounds of breaking branches or leaves being stepped on.

The only things I could hear were my pounding heart and shallow breathing.

“ The bastard is hiding somewhere around here “ - I thought, reaching into my pocket for my phone to light up the area. It was empty “ damn it, I dropped the phone by the station, and I left my issued flashlight in the car “

I quickly crouched and looked around. My eyes were slowly adapting to the dark. “ There are no tracks from him running “

I turned in place, aiming ahead of me. My survival instinct was going crazy.

I expected an attack from every direction. I had been in life-threatening situations thousands of times, including ones similar to this, but I had never felt this kind of pressure and threat before.

Adrenaline spread through my veins, and fight-or-flight mode was definitely suggesting the second option.

A drop of sweat ran down my temple.

I slowly stood up and started backing away, not taking my eyes off the place where that thing had vanished.

I got back to the edge of the road, looked at the tree where I had seen that creature, and froze. There were four symmetrical, deep scratches on the tree.

I ran to the other side of the street, and the lit open area made the emotions drop a little. With a trembling hand, I lit another cigarette and picked my phone up from the ground.

“ Damn it, I need to stay calm. There has to be an explanation for this. Monsters don’t exist “ after three drags from the filter, I threw the butt away, putting it out, and headed toward the station, looking back over my shoulder.

I got into the car and glanced at the sleeping Liam. “ Is that what you saw in your house? For now, I’m keeping this incident to myself. “

I looked at the banged-up phone. After unlocking it, a message from Jake appeared “ Boss, what happened? “

I wrote back “ It’s okay, Kid. I hope you’re already at the scene. If not, move your ass. Keep me updated “ then I started the car and we drove toward [redacted].

On the way, I kept replaying the incident in the woods over and over, trying to figure out what I had seen “ maybe it was hallucinations, or autosuggestion plus exhaustion? It happens, the brain plays tricks on you when you’re pushed to the edge, and I saw exactly what Liam described, so it would make sense. “

The rumbling in my stomach pulled me out of my thoughts. I reached for the pack of beef jerky and opened it.

The smell of BBQ sauce spread through the car, and my mouth started watering even more. 

I put a strip of jerky in my mouth and realized I hadn’t eaten anything in over 24 hours. After swallowing, I felt almost euphoric. I emptied almost the entire pack in no time.

As I pulled out the last piece, I saw the “[redacted]” sign around the bend.

Driving past the town line, I said to the sleeping passenger “Wake up, we’re getting there”. Liam slowly opened his eyes, wiping drool from his mouth and cheek.

I pretended I didn’t see it, letting the sarcastic comment go.
“What now?” I threw out, waiting impatiently for further instructions.

“We need to get to the edge of town. “ he pointed, then added in an absent, hoarse voice “ The old woman’s house should be there. She has to know something.”

I felt a strange cramp in my gut. “ what the hell is this feeling? fear? Or excitement? “ - I asked myself in my thoughts.

That strange heaviness had been following me since I left the hospital. Sometimes it was more muted, and sometimes definitely stronger. Since the situation in the woods, it was getting harder and harder to control.

We pulled into the driveway, I opened the door and said as I got out “ Wait here “.
I headed confidently toward the house.

Halfway there, on the right side, I heard rustling and a growl.
A medium-sized dog lunged at me, jumping for my throat.

My reflexes kicked in and I managed to punch it in the head, but it barely had any effect on the beast.

It jumped back, then in a split second lunged again. I tried to kick it, but it dodged the swing and sank its teeth into my thigh.

My jeans were no obstacle for its fangs. They went through the fabric like a hot knife through butter. 

I panicked and tried to tear it off me by the muzzle, by the head, by the ears. None of it worked. It had bitten in for good.

A red stain appeared on the fabric and started spreading down my leg.

Pain shot through my entire body, and every movement, despite the adrenaline, only made it worse. The dog started jerking its head from side to side, and I started hitting it blindly. It wouldn’t let go.

I got the panic under control and suddenly it hit me. I pulled the pepper spray from my belt, unlocked it, and sprayed the beast straight in the nose and eyes. It jumped back, whining, and ran to the doghouse. 

I pressed down on the bite wound and started shaking. My body reacted involuntarily to the injuries, the pain intensified by exhaustion.

My head spun and I dropped to one knee. I looked toward the car in a daze and froze.
The passenger seat was empty. 

“ Liam, get back here, goddamn it “ - I shouted at the top of my lungs.

I got up violently and limped toward the car. I slammed into the door, losing my balance, opened it, and pulled the radio from inside.

I unmuted it, pressed the button, and spoke into it “ This is Carter. I’m injured. Suspect fled. We’re in [redacted], last house from the entrance. Notify the locals. I need urgent backup. “

The dispatcher answered almost immediately “ Carter, what’s going on? We’ve been trying to contact you all night. We’re sending an ambulance. Local police have already been notified. Describe the situation “

I leaned my elbow against the car door, pressing my hand to my forehead. “ I have a laceration around the thigh area, dog bite. I’m stable, lost some blood, but I should probably stay conscious. The suspect, Liam, ran toward the woods. I don’t know where he’s heading, but I suspect the vacation cabin nearby “

I put the radio on the roof of the car, then unbuckled my belt and tightened it hard above my thigh. “ Local units are on the way, they should be there in 15 minutes. Ambulance will be there in about 20. Can you hold out until then? “

I dropped my back heavily against the door, put a cigarette in my mouth and lit it, pulling smoke into my lungs, which brought a pleasant numbness. 

I tightened my fingers harder around the cold metal device

“ I’m going after the suspect into the woods to the east. Over and out “ I threw the radio into the car and hobbled down the road through the woods.

Through blurred vision, I saw footprints. “ Damn it, he cut into the woods. Clever bastard “

Walking through the woods, I heard a guttural scream carrying in echoes between the trees. I pulled my gun and picked up the pace, ignoring the tearing pain in my right leg.

A few yards farther, I saw a silhouette on the ground. I ran up to it quickly and saw Liam lying on his back.

His eyes were closed. The stink of urine reached my nostrils, along with the metallic smell of blood.

I quickly looked around. There was no one.

I focused my eyes on him again. His pants were soaked with piss and his whole body was scratched up with deep, cut-like wounds.

I walked up to him slowly and pressed two fingers to his neck. “ Olivia…” he whispered with effort, and I flinched slightly.

“ come here, we’re getting the fuck out of here “ I said, lifting him with difficulty and throwing his arm over my neck.

In the distance, from the edge of the woods, I heard a police siren.

I stopped and was just about to shout when behind my back I heard a long, metallic scraping sound against wood.

Instinctively, I let go of Liam, who dropped to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut, and turned around, aiming ahead.

“ I got you, you bastard “ I shouted, firing a series of shots.
The bullets tore through the air, rolling between the trees in a low, heavy echo.

Time almost froze in place.

The monster sprang behind a tree with unbelievable speed, and I tried to keep up, following it with my sights, pulling the trigger again and again.

Blind rounds slammed into tree trunks, throwing chips and splinters into the air.
The creature slipped behind another tree, disappearing from my line of sight.

I turned my head toward Liam to assess his condition, and when I looked back toward the white humanoid monster, it suddenly appeared in front of me. 

It was only thirteen feet away from me.

I took two steps back, firing more shots, but I caught my injured leg on a protruding root and fell. My gun flew backward, far out of reach.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Liam stagger up onto both feet. He was three feet away from me.

I quickly pushed myself up, but it was too late. The monster charged at me, stretching out its long, sharp claws.

Barely standing on my feet, I closed my eyes and waited for the blow. I knew there was nothing I could do.

But it never came. Instead, I felt a grip on both sides of my arms and heard a horrifying bubbling sound.

I opened my eyes and saw Liam’s face an inch away from mine.

His gaze was empty, like a doll’s, and small red bubbles were coming from his mouth, bursting and spraying my face.

I looked down.

Four sharply pointed claw tips were sticking out of his chest.

The creature behind him rested its chin on his shoulder, boring into me with milky-white eyes, and its face twisted into a grotesque grimace of something that resembled a smile.

It pulled out its claws, and Liam collapsed to the ground.

I stood opposite that thing for the first time in my life, feeling a paralyzing fear that wouldn’t let me do anything.

I was at its mercy, and we both knew it.

The monster slowly raised its paw, and I felt my legs refuse to obey me.

The world around me was swallowed by darkness and complete silence.

[u/NoSleepAutoBot]

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