(24th of May, 1999)

Frank Houseworth. A seasoned police officer in the SPD. Despite being a little rough around the edges. He was still very invested in what was going on his town. Sitting in his modestly sized living room his wife Anna was preparing lunch from the kitchen. His son playing video games from his room. His daughter Lily sitting next to him on the couch in front of the TV.

“Are they going to tell us if they found Ricky?” Lily said. Ricky having been a friend of hers. “Daddy?”

“I don’t know sweetheart…” Frank said. Clutching a cold beer as he waited for the Mayor to speak. “Let’s just watch the TV okay?” He said as his daughter shook her head and sat patiently beside him.

“I hope they do…” She said.

“…” Frank sat in silent guilt. Guilt over his reluctance to take the scenario seriously. At least initially. Knowing the boys haven’t been found yet. All he can hope for is some good news. Anything. Anything at all.

It was noon that day and eyes were glued to television sets. Families, fathers, mothers, and fellow citizens all focused on their Mayor. Preparing to give a speech to the fair people of Small Pines right outside City Hall. The majestic marble pillars standing behind him. Dani and Emanuel Gomez waiting with bated breath to found out what the hell was going on in their town.

“My great citizens…” The Mayor began broadcasting. Hesitating slightly. “I know it’s been a rocky few days. There’s been a lot of concern rightly placed on two missing boys and a suburban father. And the unfortunate passing of his father-”

“Mr. Mayor!” A reporter interrupts. “Do you believe the father to be responsible for the death of his son? And the disappearance of the other two boys?”

Another reporter interjects. “It was said a Tire-iron went missing from the garage. Do you believe it to be the murder weapon?”

The various reporters and onlookers start boisterously yelling over each other trying get the answer to their questions. The families watching from home sitting in anticipation. The yelling grows as the Mayor pleads for silence.

“Quiet. Quiet down!” The crowd listens.

“Thanks to a tip from an anonymous source. The two boys Ricky and Daniel have been found.” The Mayor takes a moment to breathe as the crowd awaits his continued response. “Unfortunately they were found dead…”

The crowd angrily starts pointing fingers and drawing their own conclusions, not allowing the Mayor to get another word in. Some blaming the father for both while others emphasize the lack of information they’re working with. Reporters grilling him all the while. Dani Gomez and her family having strong reactions as well. With Dani clasping her hands tightly, holding them closely to her chest. Old Mable Stillwater shaking her head disapprovingly on her end.

“No, que triste...” Dani whispers.

“¿Qué está haciendo la policía?” Her husband Emanuel asks. Wondering what the police were even doing about all this.

Old Mable Stillwater sat seething in her seat. A TV Dinner in her hands. Her husband sitting silently in his.

“You see? They invite all these strangers into our town. Then everything goes to shit!” Mable said as she scratched her lanky old arms. Peeling skin with her long fingernails. Mr. Stillwater sitting silently like a vegetable.

“I mean what did they think would happen?” She said as she sat and ate.

The line of intense questioning came bombarding down on Mayor Sikes. The magnificently kept town contrasting against civil unrest. The Mayor tried to win back the crowd and calm them down amidst assurances that they were working on finding the one or many who did this, but finally… he gave up. Turning and scurrying back into City Hall. A Police blockade preventing anyone from pursuing. Leaving the mob to stew in their anger and uncertainty toward his handling of the situation.

On the other end of the screen, families were speechless. TV sets letting the camera roll on an empty podium. After a cowardly exit from the stage at the hand of the Mayor. Frank crushing his beer can out of frustration. Only before realizing his daughter Lily was crying.

“W- why?” She said as she sniffled quietly.

Frank noticing this dropped his beer can as he scooped her up. Holding her and shaking her as she began sobbing into his shoulder. “Come here. Come here sweetheart…” He said as he shook and comforted his daughter. His heart dropping sinking to the bottom where he’d pushed his guilt. And without letting her see it. He began to tear up as well. Handing his daughter off to Anna in the process.

(Elsewhere around the same time…)

Right outside the police station, Kimberly sat anxiously. Her curly brown hair tied back in a ponytail. Waiting to be picked up by Detective Dwayne Drew. In the meantime she took in the environment around her. Hoping it would ease her nerves due to the unfolding events. Seeing birds splash amidst a birdbath. A young couple walking upon a clean sidewalk, enjoying each other’s company. Pleasant sights, smells and sounds. But then she saw it… a man. A larger, balding man in a black button up shirt. And this made her perch forward.

“No way…” She said.

In that moment a 1989 Chevrolet Station Wagon pulled in front of her. Blocking the view by parking between her and this man. She stood up quickly as not to lose sight of him, but he was gone. Leaving Kimberly speechless until Detective Drew stepped out of the vehicle. Snapping her out of it.

“You must be Officer McKnight?” The Detective assumed.

“I am…” Kimberly said, drawing her attention to his car. “We’re driving this?”

“Detectives don’t typically drive squad cars. Gotta keep a low profile.”

“…” She looked at it and felt as though he missed the point. “Yeah but… it’s a Station Wagon…” She said.

Drew slapped the hood. “What were you expecting Kit from Knight Rider or something?” Drew said as he got back into the vehicle. “It’s my wife’s. Come on, get in.”

As the two drove towards the derelict broken down church where the boys had been found, they sat in silence. Not having much to say at first as Detective Drew drove slowly through the town, adamantly obeying the speed limit. Almost painstakingly. Kimberly stared out into the place she grew up searching. Searching for a glimpse of what she’d previously seen. But couldn’t find him again.

“Am I going the right way?” Drew asked.

“Make a left up here. Then go straight.” She says. Giving him directions.

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“I wish I’d checked out these areas sooner. I suspected a broken down building might be used as a hideout or even a drop off point. I could’ve caught them in the act.”

“Yeah well… you were right. Sorry I wasn’t ready to go just yet.”

“Nah I get it. With all this hubbub a small police force like yours would inevitably be spread thin. Besides you needed your rest. We all did. I had a long night too… Speaking to the Dawns and the Rhodes. Speaking to the mother of that poor boy…”

“Do you think the missing father did this?” Kimberly asked.

“I don’t think he got those boys if that’s what your asking. Though I’m not ruling him out for his own son. But his wife was with him when those two first went missing. I don’t know… it is odd though isn’t it?”

“Well regardless… I hope we find the guy that did this.”

“Guy?” The detective inquired. “It might not be a guy. It could be a woman.”

“You think a woman abducted a grown ass man?” Kimberly asked.

“Not likely but not impossible. That being said a grown woman very well could have abducted those two boys. Plus the deaths of the two parties raises some questions.”

“Like?”

“Well most notably why the causes of death appear to be so different. I checked the coroner’s report and while one had his head bashed in the others… were much different. Disturbing even. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“That bad huh…” Kimberly said as he heart sank at the thought.

“Oh yeah. Damn their death was downright bizarre. Their eyes removed cleanly. They weren’t simply ripped out. It was almost surgical. And then there was what actually killed them. There wasn’t any fatal wounds or blunt trauma. Care to venture a guess?” He asked.

“Snapped necks?”

“No… their insides were twisted and mangled. Like a dog with a twisted stomach…”

Kimberly’s eyes widened. Her heart leapt into her throat as she tried to imagine it. How the hell could that happen!? It’s sickening… she thought. Wondering how such a bizarre and painful sounding fate could even be possible. She clenched her fists.

“We’re going to get to the bottom of this. And we’re going to do it fast!” She said as Detective Drew drove.

“Spunky. I see why your chief chose you to tag along.” He said with a smile. “You might be on your way to being Small Pines’ next detective. Bill seems to think that at least.” Drew said.

“Chief said that?”

“Well… in a manner of speaking.” Drew suddenly stopped the car. “Well… looks like we’re here.”

The derelict church stood before them. They got out of the car to stare it down. And it was odd. There was no wind, plenty of sunshine and the sound of a dog barking could be heard down the street. There was even the occasional car driving by. So why was there such a knot in Kimberly’s stomach? Why did standing before this holy place feel like standing before the gates of Hell itself? After all she used to go to this church in her formative years.

The two began walking down the stony path to this church. From a distance it was pitch black inside. But unlike before there was yellow police tape strewn across and around it. Returning here was weird for Kimberly. After all the last time she was here she was with her ******… With her F- ******. (REDACTED). Suddenly Kimberly felt a massive headache come over her. Falling to the ground as Drew caught her by her shoulder.

“Are you okay?”

“Let me go!” She yelled in an outburst.

“Okay…”

Her head pulsed in pain for a moment. Being made worse by the physical contact on behalf of Detective Drew. But then as her eyes were shut, teeth gritted, and she was on her knees. She suddenly was hit with a sense of calm. And then suddenly she apologized to the detective before noticing something weird.

“Hey… the police tape has been tampered with.” She said.

“What!?” The detective yelled as he turned toward the church.

And she was right. Once covering the entrance the tape was now thrown to the wayside. Ripped from the door jamb it had been nailed into. Meaning that someone or something removed it. And Detective Drew knew… they might still be here.

“Let’s go!” He said as he drew his firearm. A snub nose 38. Caliber revolver.

She nodded as she drew her M9. They slowly yet methodically stepped up to the front of the church. Drew confirming that the tape had been deliberately ripped. Kimberly’s heart started thumping far more quickly. Her anxiety ramping up. She almost couldn’t believe in the calm cool look that rest on Detective Drew’s face. I feel like might heart is about to pop out of my chest! She thought.

“…” Drew noticed this. Placing his finger on his lips as if to tell her Quiet. He then gestured for her to calm down. Taking deep breathes, silently encouraging her to do the same.

The two now both calm and collected stood outside the ruined church. One on each side of the door with their pistols at the ready. One swift gesture from Drew and Kimberly immediately followed suit. Drew entered and drew his aim on the right hand side while Kimberly who’d been standing on the right hand side of the door went left… Her pistol also at the ready.

Drew walked and observed his side as Kimberly did the same. Walking through the church while checking between the pews. Kimberly hoping not to find anyone hiding in there under the seats, trying to stay out of sight. Drew hoping for the opposite, wanting to be able to call it a day and go home. But search as they might they found nothing of note on their way up to the podium.

“Well… no new bodies at least.”

“Maybe they left behind a murder weapon or something?” Kimberly posed.

“Maybe…” Drew then went to place his hand on her shoulder. But remembering previous events decided not to. Slowly lowering his hand back down on his weapon. “Hey good work back there. You were on it weren’t you?” Admiring her entry to the church.

Kimberly blushed, embarrassed by the praise. “I guess small town police work ain’t so bad after all.” She said.

“No I guess not.” Drew laughed. “Anyways we’re not out of the woods yet. Keep that weapon drawn. We’ve got work to do.”

“Right!”

The two then began divvying up the work. Drew checking the tape where the bodies of the boys were originally found. Kimberly would check around the podium. Searching for clues of who might’ve been there. Seeing if they left anything behind. But as they searched it was seeming to be pointless. Maybe they were right. Maybe the murderer did come back and clean up afterwards. The in a piece of shattered glass Kimberly glimpsed. The silhouette of a large, bald man… She swung around gun drawn and… nothing. There was nobody there.

Am I seeing things? She wondered.

“What is it?” Drew asked.

“…This way… The pastors office.” She said.

The two slowly walked towards a room adjacent to the main hall. And as they neared the precipice they were hit with a horrid rotting smell. They gulped and kept going. Kimberly covering her nose as Detective Drew did not. They entered slowly and all it was, was a dead animal. A raccoon. The two lowered their weapons and then sighed. They even began chuckling. Until Drew noticed something.

“Wait a minute…” he said.

“I- I see it too!”

The two walked up to examine the dead animal and were shocked to see that it’s eyes were missing. Much like the bodies of the boys. Both were struck with fear all of a sudden. Not knowing what was going on here.

“I think I’m going to be sick…” Kimberly said. Looking around for someone now. Wondering if HE was back.

2:13 PM

Not long after the press announcement given by the Mayor, Frank decided to go back to work. Feeling as though he needed to do something about what was going on around here. Walking into the dimly lit office of the SPD police station. Only leaving after his daughter had cried herself to sleep. And as soon as he entered it seemed busy. The phone was ringing off the hook. And near the desk he saw a man he knew very well. It was then that he saw Don Dougherty. The town drunk acting hysterically.

“I swear to God that’s what I saw!” Don yelled. Talking to the front desk officer.

“What’s wrong Don?” Frank asked.

“Don claims to have seen something weird last night. A hallucination I bet.” The desk officer said.

“It wasn’t a hallucination. It was a man, and his body was shaking!”

“What, was he cold?” Frank laughingly said as the desk officer laughed with him.

“Shut up!”

“Woah calm down Don. Were you drunk?”

“…” Don was stopped in his tracks. “Yes but…”

“Well there it is.” The desk officer said as Don threw up his hands.

“Fine! Ignore me. But I’m telling you I was lucid. And this man… there was just something wrong about him. He- he- he… It was unworldly. I can’t quite describe it but…”

Frank interrupted him.

“Look Don… Go home. Get some rest and really think about what you saw okay?” Frank pleaded. Using a more guided and gentle hand to encourage Don to leave. “Do you need a ride home?” He then asked.

Don stood there with a blank expression on his face.

“No. I drove here. I’ll go… but before I do let me just say. You guys better keep your eyes peeled. Things aren’t right around here.” He said as he prepared to leave.

“Is that a threat Don?!” The desk officer asked as the phone kept ringing in the background.

“No.” he then looked at Frank, having known him for many years. “A warning.” And then he left.

“…” Frank stood there silent as the desk officer shook his head.

Then the Dispatcher walked over to Frank after having been relieved for a break. Looking visibly stressed out from the last few minutes of dispatch work.

“Sarah. What’s wrong?” He asked.

“I’m not trying to freak you out Frank.” She said.

“Try me.”

“Well it’s just that… well a lot of people have been calling in.”

“And?”

“A lot of people have started going missing. It’s been a horrible day…”

Franks eyes grew wide. Clenching his fists and standing in shock. Even the desk officer had been thrown by this information. And the only words Frank could think to say was…

“What the fuck is going on?”