Hours after finding Maya beaten to a pulp, Vic decided to hunt Carlsberg down. He asked Pete to stay and watch over Maya as she rested with multiple ice packs. Bringing either of them along would be dangerous. Wanting an extra set of hands, he visited the one option he had in Raven’s Hope.

“What do you want, Vic?”

The usual sound of metal music blaring had instead been replaced by chamber music, with violins and cellos strumming somber notes. She was still mourning.

“Sorry I haven’t been by in a while,” Vic said.

“No need to apologize,” Alyssa said. “It was peaceful without you popping in. If anything, you should be apologizing for gracing me with your presence.”

“Nice dig.” Vic pushed Alyssa’s legs out of the way and took a seat on top of the desk. “I need your help. And you know I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

“Ask me and I’ll decide if it’s worth my time.”

“Carlsberg, an officer that works for the city, took Maya and beat her senseless. He’s got to be one of The Nines.”

This information perked Alyssa up. She put her legs on the floor and hunched over her desk, hands curled under her chin. “How many members have you put to rest?”

“Three, I guess,” Vic answered. “I’m not sure if the troll counted, but I’ll assume he did. Could use your help bagging another one.”

“What do you need my help for?” Allyssa asked. “He’s a lowly human. Shouldn’t be an issue for you.”

Vic stood and glanced around the room, looking for specific spots. “You’d think so, right? But it’s hard to justify going after a cop, let alone a human. I can’t just kill the guy.”

“Yes,” Alyssa said, kicking back again. “Society tends to frown upon that sort of thing.”

“I’ve got an idea that will put him in an undesirable situation.” Vic smiled. “Call it blackmail, if you will. But it’s gonna work, assuming The Nines’s corruption doesn’t run through the whole police department. I do have a feeling the mayor might be involved, but it’s not concrete. I just have to take a gamble here.”

Vic told Alyssa his plan and they got to work setting it up.

***

“Officer Carlsberg.”

“Officer, this is Alyssa at the Alternative Library. I’ve got a group of human teens here, refusing to leave and ripping up books.”

There was a brief pause before officer Carlsberg’s voice came back over the speakerphone. “How did you get this number?”

“I got it from the station a long time ago. Look, I need you down here now to get these kids out of here, before I’m forced to do it myself. And I think you know it wouldn’t be wise to let me take matters into my own hands.”

“Fine,” Carlsberg huffed. “Just … don’t touch any of them. Otherwise I’ll have to haul your ass downtown as well.”

Alyssa hung up the phone. “He’ll be here shortly. Everything else working?”

“Crystal clear,” Vic said. He made his way to a back row of bookshelves, out of sight from the entrance.

Five minutes later, Carlsberg arrived. He carried a notepad, and was sweaty as usual. His bright blue uniform had dark stains under the neck and armpits, from years of perspiration—and likely years of little to no washing machine trips. He stood, just inside the door, mopping his forehead with a small rag. He doubled over, wheezing heavily.

“Thank heavens you’re here, officer,” Alyssa said, sounding bored and insincere. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.” She sat in her chair, arms folded across her chest.

Carlsberg straightened, resting his hands against his hips, and surveyed the room. “Where are the punks? Hey, it doesn’t look like there was any damage at all. You better not be wasting my time, woman.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“The only thing damaged here is you.” Vic stepped out from behind the bookshelves. Carlsberg dropped his hands and took a step back, his eyes widening with surprise.

“Vic! What the hell are you doing here?” Carlsberg stood for a moment, then laughed and dabbed his forehead again. “Ahh. I see what’s happening. Never took you two for co-conspirators. Fake emergency was clever. But it’s all for nothing.”

“I’ll be the one to decide that,” Vic said, lighting a cigarette. If Alyssa could smoke inside, so could he. “I’m gonna rough you up a bit for what you did. But I want to know about The Nines.”

Carlsberg shoved the rag in his back pocket. “You’re a peasant in the eyes of The Nines. Nothing more than a fly. You should be thanking us that we haven’t squashed you, yet. Well … I guess that will actually be changing in a moment.”

“Unlikely,” Vic replied. “You know you can’t beat me in a fight. But I will squash you, for almost killing an innocent girl.”

Carlsberg’s belly jiggled from a hearty laugh. “Maya is hardly innocent. Stupid girl should’ve known better than to stick her nose where it doesn’t belong. The beating I put on her was necessary. It’s how we send messages in The Nines. Just ask her parents. Oh, that’s right. They’re dead.”

Vic smirked, and took a long puff of his cigarette. “Oh, you probably haven’t noticed these cameras set up around the room. Alyssa, here, is into tech. She’s got a nice setup. It’ll be too bad when the rest of your brethren, and the mayor, find out what you’ve done and the cult you’re in.” Carlsberg and him glanced at the cameras hanging in the corners of the room.

“You really are in over your head,” Carlsberg said. “Go ahead and send the video to the boys. Send it to Mot—he’ll get a good laugh out of it.”

Vic wasn’t expecting that response. He had figured Carlsberg was part of The Nines, but not the whole police department. Carlsberg could be bluffing, but Vic felt deep down that he was being honest. And the mayor? Did that mean he was in the group as well? Vic decided to check if he was bluffing.

“I sure will send it to them—to all of them. After I’m done breaking your face.”

“Speaking of security cameras,” Carlsberg started. “I saw the footage from the Moondial Lounge. You, and your little friends, are in demise level trouble if anything happens to me.”

“A risk I’m willing to take.” Vic flicked his cigarette and it hit Carlsberg in the face. He darted ahead and tried delivering a clothesline to the cop.

Vic’s arm struck Carlsberg square across the chest, but the force didn’t drop him. It felt like Vic’s arm had smacked an immovable object.

“Arrogant mistake, my boy.” Carlsberg swatted Vic with a backhand that sent him flying over the desk and crashing into Alyssa. The chair collapsed, sending them both to the floor.

“You OK?” Vic asked Alyssa, crawling off her. He grabbed at his jaw. It was tender to the touch, but not broken.

“Obviously,” Alyssa said. “What the fuck was that? He’s human.”

“Beats the shit out of me.”

They both got to their knees and peered over the desk. Their mouths dropped in astonishment and horror.

Zing!

Zing!

The buttons on Carlsberg’s shirt popped off and zipped across the room. His uniform ripped as the skin underneath grew and bulged, turning pink as it ruptured through the fabric holding it back. He stretched to over seven feet tall in a matter of seconds. His shredded clothes fell to the floor around him. Except for his underwear, that is. Whatever material it was made of, it sure had some stretch to it.

“AAAAGGGHHH!”

Carlsberg’s head shifted and fattened. When all was said and done, it resembled the face of a pig, complete with a snout and floppy ears. A pink, curly tail poked through his underwear. He got in a defensive stance, deep growls rumbling within him.

“What in the actual fuck,” Alyssa said. They were both still hiding behind the desk.

Vic stood, and stepped out into the open. “Shapeshifter, eh? Makes sense. That’s why you’re always so sweaty. Takes a lot of energy to maintain the disguise. I bet you have to eat constantly to sustain an operable level.

“You’re about to find out how much I need to eat,” Carlsberg said in a baritone voice, followed by a grunt and a squeal.

The thought of being chewed and swallowed by a giant pig sent a shiver down Vic’s spine. He couldn’t let that happen. Carlsberg wouldn’t stop with him. He’d eat Alyssa next. Then Maya and Pete would meet the same fate. There was no telling how many people Carlsberg had devoured over the years. Many cases of missing persons could likely be attributed to him.

“Don’t tempt me with a good time. But, how much trouble will you get yourself into if you eat me? Shithead. Maybe you should rethink your strategy.” Vic removed his duster and set it on the desk, in preparation for the obligatory battle.

“I’m untouchable,” Carsberg spouted. “I’ll be rewarded for killing you.”

Vic looked at the cameras again. “You know, you might be fine with your friends and boss seeing this footage. But what about the general public? The Nines. Attacking Maya. The pig transformation. Bet those won’t bode well for you.”

“Yes,” Alyssa said, placing herself beside Vic. “There’s a little thing called social media these days. It can easily lead to your downfall, if you say or do the wrong thing. Of which you’ve done both.”

“You helping me with this?” Vic asked Alyssa.

“Saving your ass? Yes, I am,” she replied.

In the next second, Vic and Carlsberg launched themselves, eager to take out years of pent-up rage and hatred for one another.