Bones for the Magpie

Part Two : Chapter Six

The women ran up to Lonnie, Lindsey keeping an eye out while Marion checked his wounds—she had been a doctor for the greater portion of her life and knew how to treat injuries. But not like this. She sighed, signaling Lonnie's death. They had contemplated leaving, but Myers was here. What if they regrouped and he escaped? Hurt even more people? Marion stood and rounded the corner, gun raised and ready to fire. Lindsey followed close behind her friend. As if he was a mere ghost, Myers had vanished. They took only a few steps down the hall before The Shape appeared to their right—it looked as if he came from a black hole in the wall, but Lindsey realized it was only a shadow. Myers grabbed Marion's hand to keep her from shooting him, and in his bad hand, he held a knife. A big one. He didn't hesitate and sent it through her bottom jaw, stabbing through the roof of her mouth. Lindsey took a shot at him, grazing his arm, causing him to drop a dead Marion. In a split second, the monster, the thing she feared the most—The Magpie as she chose to refer to him as, was right in her face. It felt like an eternity that they stared at each other, she could see every little detail on the muddy white mask, the blood, the char, the smell. She tried to move her hand but he held it in a tight fist. She wouldn't be able to shoot him. Not wanting to suffer the same miserable fate as Lonnie, Lindsey shoved her hand under his mask in an attempt to remove the mask. She felt the leather collar, this meant she probably had to unbuckle it to remove this deadly garment. Michael could feel her scrambling and scratching his neck with her lengthy painted nails, trying to find the clip. He pulled away from her but her hand was trapped under the collar now, bones pressing against her veiny hand, cutting it every time she, or he, moved. Fine, if she couldn't find the clip, she'd just rip the mask off by force. Myers seemed more concern with getting her hand away from his face, but the short woman was able to reach her hand past Michael's chin—she felt part of his face. It was swollen, sticky with blood. She could feel his sharp whiskers under her nails. She grabbed the wound she'd found on his cheek and squeezed it.

Myers stepped back, Lindsey was impressed—she was hurting him. He turned his head to dislodge her hand and she felt his lips. One second they were there, the next she felt hot breath on her fingers—his mouth was open, waiting for the perfect moment. A searing pain shot down and compressed her hand and she let out a scream. Are you fucking biting me?! She winced. She sent her knee up into his stomach, causing him to let go and step back further. She made quick work to remove her hand, her arm oozing with blood from the long scars from the bones. She shoved him once more and ran out of the door. She didn't care if he escaped, she was going back to the group. Her hand burned, warm blood dripped from the bite mark on her hand. She hopped in her car, started it and drove off back to the hospital. She prayed Tommy and everyone would still be there.

Her injured hand trembled and burned, she had no towels or medical supplies to treat the long scars or the puncture wounds, so the blood ran everywhere. She was headed to the hospital, they'd have supplies for her. She felt relieved when she started to see the hospital and sped up to reach it faster. She saw Tommy amidst the crowd, he turned and looked at her.

"Everyone! They're back!" Tommy exclaimed.

Lindsey wasted no time getting out of her car and running to Tommy. Tommy's blood ran cold, seeing her leave the vehicle alone, seeing the blood and the injuries, he knew what it meant.

"He killed them—Lonnie and Marion, he killed them all." She sobbed.

"What? Did he get in the car?" Tommy's voice grew aggressive.

"No, Lonnie ran off so Marion and I went to chase him, but that bastard got to Lonnie first—Oh, God, Tommy...The things he did to Lonnie.." She trailed off.

"What did he do?"

"He had Lonnie in his grasp and he... He shoved him into the bones on his neck—they went right through his skull. I tried to rip his mask off but it was too dangerous." She exposed her wounds to him.

Tommy muttered under his breath then returned to Lindsey, "Where was he?"

"The Myers House, just like you thought."

"Okay guys," Tommy turned to the crowd, "Myers has been located, we're gonna get that sonofabitch tonight if it's the last thing we do. When we encounter him do not let him get close to you. He weaponized his body, he is dangerous and violent. If you have melee weapons, hit him from the back. Those with guns, do your best to aim for his head."

Tommy guided Lindsey to seek first aid before heading off in his own truck, followed by the townsmen. Karen and Allyson rode with Tommy.

Alright you monster, you've haunted this town long enough. Tommy had no time to mourn, he only knew to take action.

After seeing Lindsey drive off, The Shape lingered in the building for just a moment before heading outside. He knew he'd be trapped upstairs if they made it in the house. He had quite a few new bones added to his collection, each soaked with the smell of fresh blood, it shone in the light as it dripped onto his chest. With the time he had, The Shape removed the bodies of his new victims in the street for their friends to see. But he didn't know Tommy had split his group in two—one set will surround the house from the left side of the street, the other will guard the right side, trapping him inside their circle.