Bones for the Magpie

Part One : Chapter Five

   Laurie took this chance to run out of the room. As she did, she could hear him following her. She missed a step and fell down the stairs, a searing pain shot up her leg as she realized she'd either broken or sprained her foot. Still refusing to slow down, she scrambled and limped towards the door and hobbled out into the fading storm. While fighting the rain, she saw flashing lights from down the street coming closer—it was the police. She waved her arms as they approached and they stepped out of their vehicles to surround the house. The rain began to settle to a steady shower as Michael emerged from the house.

"What the hell is that?" One muttered as he looked at the monster before them.

"What's it wearing?" Another one said.

They all pointed their guns and began to shout at him, demanding him to stop moving. An officer ran behind Michael with a baton and knocked his legs and back, sending him to the ground.

Loomis came from behind the vehicles to look at his patient. He took a step back, trying to take in the sight.

"He's wearing something." The first officer spoke.

"Look at his eye." The other pointed to the bone sticking out of his face.

..

Michael lay on the cold wet grass as he observed the many officers around him. He could hear the voice of his doctor shouting at him. He knew Loomis was bewildered and stunned to see his patient studded with trophies. The bones from his violent accessories jabbed at his throat, resulting in sore and labored breathing as he was forced to remain horizontal. The police were ordered to remove his ghost-like mask, but it didn't budge when they tugged it away from his head. With reluctance, one reached under the latex, fearing to be close to the faceless man, and worked his way around his neck. He felt the collar's material and looked back to his partners.

"He's wearing a collar, it's connected to everything."

He continued to feel around the collar, trying to find its buckle. The officer winced as his knuckles grazed the bones and poked his fingertips. He found the start of the collar and unbuckled it—he heard Michael give a breath of release as the tension was lifted. Once the collar was unsnapped, they were able to pull the mask off, the officer's partner worked to remove the bone from his eye. Blood oozed out every time it was moved, but they managed to get it out of his face. The mask, collar, and string garment were all connected into one being. Both the officers and Loomis studied Michael's work. The doctor looked at his savage patient and saw his neck was lined with little bruises, caused by his beloved trophy stash.

"What are these from?" One officer questioned, shining a flashlight at the bones.

"Everything," Loomis croaked and pointed at it, "I suspect a piece of everything he's killed—animal or human, is on here."

Two officers entered the house. They waved their flashlights around, looking at the blood that stained the carpets and walls. They found Lynda's body. Her face was broken and looked to be caved in and they winced at her mangled body before moving to the kitchen. One officer almost slipped on one of the stray teeth on the ground, but it crumbled underneath his boot.

"Look." One muttered.

He moved the flashlight to Annie's face. He jumped back once he realized half her face was missing. The house was empty, but they had to check the backyard to make sure the area was clear. The first officer stepped out of the house and tripped over a massive lump on the ground. He shined the light towards it. It was Bob. With a nudge of his boot, he turned the body over and covered his mouth. Bob's chest was pulled open, as if someone had ripped his ribcage. They examined it and realized a few rib bones were gone.

"Go get the others." He ordered to his partner.

Laurie approached where the police couldn't see her and she stared at the thing responsible for the death of her friends. She could see his gnarled scar on his face, the gaping wound caused the grass around his head to turn red.