Order of the Dragon: Part 02

Night is arguably the most fearsome time in a day. The darkness is ever stretching concealing most things. The shadows are worse though. The pale light of the moon make the corners of the world darker than black. You can peer into these spots to try to catch a glimpse of what lies inside, but these attempts are fruitless. You are more likely to see a vision of the endless void, spying shapes and silhouettes of the creatures that lie within. To glimpse these is to glimpse ones inner fears, and that is not good for the mind. The mind can wander and create your truest fear out of the inky blackness. It is best to not look into these spots, to just walk by. This is exactly what I do.

My mind can create the most wicked of demons.

As I walk through the streets I am painfully aware of my age. In my youth I always used to walk around to my destinations, it was my favourite method of transportation. Sure, I had other means, ones that were considered easier on the body, but activity kept the body spry and and mobile. Ah, I remember how that felt. The time before my joints would ache and creak as I moved. When I could stand up straight and walk with a youthful gait, instead of the crooked shuffle I have now.

As I walk I see someone standing across the road off in the distance. It is not often I see another soul at this hour. It takes them a while to notice me. At first, its just a glance in my direction. But after a couple of moments, they looks again. This time it's longer, and after a moment of this, they wave at me, in an attempt to grab my attention. I look at them and lift my hand and twist it slightly, in an acknowledgment of their gesture. I don't stop while I wave though, I just keep on my path.

As I get closer I realize that this person is a girl. A rather attractive one at that. She is rather voluptuous with long, dark hair. Her dress choice is questionable though, as she is wearing a single-piece dress that barely covers her backside, but certainly highlights her assets. I didn't notice at first due to my (cursed) eyes. She looks down the street, checking each side several times before she runs across. Half way through her trip across she has to pull down her dress to keep it from riding up too far.

“Ma'am! Ma'am, are you lost?”

She finishes crossing the street, pulls her dress down again, and walks towards me, in a rather seductive manner. It is probably unintentional, but who is to say?”

“No, I am not lost. Why would you think that?”

“Well, I don't see many people at this time of night, and the people I do see are... Well let's just say that they aren't the best people.”

I look at her, 'check her out' as I have heard the younger people say. Her curvaceous figure is clearly on display. No wonder she doesn't see the best people at this time of night.

“No, I don't figure that you do. It can be quite scary at this time of night, my dear.”

“It sure can. Us girls need to stick together, don't you think?”

“You are certainly right.”

I think about the recent atrocities I have heard whispers of. The people being killed in their own homes, blood being drained from bodies. One can never be too careful.

“Do you think you could walk with me dear?”

“Of course I can, Ma'am.”

She links her arm with mine, crooked at the elbow.

“Lead the way!”

We walk for a bit, passed a couple intersections down the street. It is quiet, with only the shuffle of my slippers and the click of her heels to create the rhythm of the night.

“So, what can I call you, Ma'am?”

Her smile is not one of pity, but one of politeness and sincerity.

“Liz, my dear. You can call me Liz. What might your name be?”

“Alexa. It is nice to meet you Liz. Where are you headed?”

“The pleasure is all mine dear. I'm just a couple blocks down and to the left.”

The walk continues onwards. I'm glad Alexa is with me tonight. You never can be too careful these days.

“So Alexa, if you don't might me asking, isn't it a little cold to be wearing a dress like that tonight?

She looks a little unsettled by this question, which is understandable, but I don't think you would wear an outfit like that unless you wanted to turn heads. Plus, it was rather obvious that she was feeling the chill at the moment.

“Yeah... it is a bit chilly tonight. But times have been tough lately and a girl's got to do what she's got to do these days to make end's meat. Main Street gets all the drafts from the lake too, unfortunately.”

“You are absolutely right,a girl has to look out for herself, that's always been the case. But, we also need to look out for each other.”

I pause the walk momentarily and take off my shawl. The deep reds look like a pale magenta in the light, with the intricate gold designs appearing to be almost a silver.

“Here, take this. You will catch a cold if you stay like that.”

“Thank you so much!”

She wraps it around herself, the shawl clinging around her body. She really is beautiful, and the comforting look of warmth encroaching on her face is almost adorable. The walk resumes as we turn the corner at the end of Main Street.

“You know, you remind me a lot of myself when I was your age.”

“Oh, why thank you.”

She gives me a smile, again, not out of pity. But there is a touch of hesitation in it. I give a gentle chuckle, trying to show my well being.

“I mean your beauty. I was quite the looker in my youth. My hair was long and silky like yours. My skin, bright and flawless. Ah, the ravages of time. I would do anything to be back in that body.”

Alexa smiles and wraps her arm around my fragile frame, in a gesture of reassurance.

“Well I think you look great!”

“You are too kind. I look better than I feel then. This is my place up here.”

Up on the left is the Kelly Motel. It's a single floor motel that is close to the lake. The view isn't too bad, as it catches the light perfectly off of the water during a sunset. The bright pinks and purples contrast perfectly with the vibrant oranges.

It is truly magnificent.

The state of the motel is less than ideal though. The paint on the front is faded and chipped. The sign is missing bulbs in the 'LL' so at night it looks like the 'Ke y' Motel. From what I have heard from the whispers, it has been this way for years.

“Oh. I didn't realize you were staying at the Key... I have done some work here before. Have you been staying here for long?”

“Not too long. Just a temporary stay.”

Alexa seems a bit unsettled at me staying at this motel. She knows the state of it really well.

“Why don't you come in? Sit for a bit and warm up?”

I flash her with a kind smile. It seems like she appreciates the gesture and nods. She walks me to the door, and waits patiently as I fumble with the key to the door. I finally unlock the door with a satisfying click, and as the door opens, we are greeted with a draft of warm air.

“Thank you for accompanying me dear. You really are kind.”

“It really isn't a problem ma'am. You're sweet and caring. I wish my parents were like you.”

“I didn't want to speak out of turn, but I was wondering about that. You said times were tough, and parents are supposed to be there for your children.”

She sits on the bed and hugs herself in my shawl. He face is coated in sadness and her eyes glaze over in thought.

“They should, but they aren't. My dad passed away years ago, and my mom... well she wanted me to be someone that I'm not. That's why I have to do anything I can to survive.”

I approach her and clasp her hands in mine. Her face meets mine and I can see how lost she is. They eyes are windows to the soul and her soul is conflicted.

“Well, why don't you get washed up. I think we can help each other out, and you wont have to work on the street any more. How does that sound?”

“That.. That sounds really nice. Thank you so much Liz.”

Her expression lifts. Her eyes become bright and her mouth curls up at the edges, forming a faint smile. Her beauty is shining through at this moment.

God, is she beautiful.

“Don't mention it dear. I'm just glad we can help each other out.”

She heads to the bathroom and turns on the tap. The water rushes out as if its been waiting to come out forever. It's so eager. I hear Alexa using the water in there, little splashes here and there. I slowly approach the bathroom. Her face is in her hands as she scrubs her make up off.

She doesn't hear me or see me.

Alexa seems like a smart girl who has come on hard times. I have been there as well. The toughest times are the ones where we fully realize what kind of animals we are. I was one of the few educated people in my family, and most people didn't expect that.

Alexa sure didn't.

She didn't see me in the last week, keeping an eye on her. She had no idea that I was staying at the motel where she conducted her business. She never noticed me until I wanted her to. She never saw me follow her, figuring out her pattern every night. She certainly didn't hear me pick up the clothes iron. She definitely didn't hear my footsteps approaching her, especially not in my slippers. I am careful, I always have been in these affairs.

She is just so beautiful.

As she reaches for the towels to dry her face, she is totally unaware. The hit is forceful and precise. A moment of pain and she is unconscious. Her body crumbles onto the floor, her head hitting the edge of the tub.

Exactly where I want her to be.

Night is certainly the most fearsome time in the day. You never know who is out there and who you can trust. It is full of monsters that are real and imaginary. My mind can create the most wicked of demons, and sometimes I have to let them out.

The Next Day

Detective Walker arrives to the Kelly Motel, Key Motel most people call it. He exits the car and see that room 14 is obscured by police tape and officers. He approaches and sees a familiar face.

“Officer Tran, glad to see you.”

Tina Tran turns around and her stern expression softens when she sees him. Only a little, but enough to notice.

“Don't start with the formalities, Marcus. How have you been?”

“Not great, haven't been sleeping much since the harbour massacre a few days ago. What do we have here?”

She leads Marcus into the room, and immediately he is greeted with a foul, coppery stench.

“What we have here is probably more sleepless nights for you. From the tech's best guess, this happened the same time as the massacre, but no one found it till now. There is only one victim, but I've never seen anything like this before.”

Marcus walks into the bathroom and immediately has to cover his nose with his sleeve. The fan inside of the bathroom wasn't on, so the smell just hung in the small room, festering and becoming putrid. Inside he sees one female body lying on the floor. His first look tells him a couple key things. Firstly, there are no defensive wounds. Second, there are only three wounds on the body.

The matted mess on the back of her head tell of a rear blow. This is confirmed by the small smear of blood and few dark hairs clinging to the iron in the sink. The second is a small contusion on her right brow, which if the light smudge on the tub's edge tells him anything, means that after she was struck with the iron, she fell and hit her head on the tub's edge.

The killing blow though, was her throat being cut. It looks like a nice, smooth cut made by a very sharp blade. A blade that is not at the scene. That just means that this was premeditated.

That, and the bathtub full of blood.

The vic was bled dry. Her throat cut and all her blood was drained into the tub. This would have taken a while for her to drain. The really strange part was that the victim's body was completely dry inside, and that would be near impossible to do without hanging the victim upside down, yet, that is what they were looking at.

Also, the tub was full, which was impossible given that the human body only had about 5.68 litres of blood in it. Hardly enough to fill a bathtub. Yet, it was full. Either it was diluted with water, or there were multiple bodies they needed to find. Only time would tell.

What was more disturbing was the bloody footprints leading away from the tub, and the blood soaked towels crumpled on the floor. The sick son-of-a-bitch bathed in the tub, dried themselves off and left.

“Is there any security footage?”

Marcus turned to Tina, who was also holding a hand over her nose and mouth.

“From what we saw, she came here with an old woman around 3:30 am. No sign of the woman though.”

“Great. So we are possibly looking for another vic. Any idea who was she?”

Marcus walked out of the room to the outside, to get some thinking space and to also get some fresh air into his lungs. Officer Tina Tran followed him.

“Her I.D. says Sarah Alexis Adams. Her purse, wallet and money were found inside.”

“Means that this wasn't a theft.”

Tina looked at Marcus with a cocked eyebrow.

“Obviously this wasn't a theft, Marcus.”

“I know, I know, dumb statement. But like, what the shit is happening in our city? First the home invasions, then the massacre, now we have girls bleeding out into bathtubs!”

“I know., its really fucked up, isn't it? You want me to start asking those around here if they saw anything?”

“Yeah, please. See if they remember seeing Sarah or the old woman she was with.”

“Got it.”

Tina walked away into the crowd of people. Marcus watched as she did. As he was turning away to walk back in the room, he noticed someone out of the corner of his eye and immediately caught his attention.

There was a woman standing on the edge of the crowd looking at the room, and quite frankly, this was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She had flawless looking pale skin that gave the appearance of porcelain. Her hair was dark and pulled into a neat bun. She was wearing an off-white dress that was full length and flowing in the gentle breeze. Around her shoulders was a crimson red shawl, with intricate gold patterns woven into it.

As he was watching her, she turns towards him and locked her eyes with his. Her eyes are piercing and intoxicating. She smiles, her plump, red lips curving upwards, almost seductively. With this, she walks away.

Marcus shakes his head, coming out of a daze. As he heads back to the crime scene, he wonders who that woman was, and if he will ever see her again.

He hopes that he will.

- Cody S