Monster in the woods

00:25 Hours

"X-ray Actual to Six Three David," said Lieutenant Bellagamba.

I had been holding the handset for the last forty minutes, so I was quick to depress the PTT.

"Six-three, David, send it," I said.

"We've lost visual on the Embed. And we just lost audio. Do a quick pass and give us an update."

I tossed the handset to Keegs and slammed the car into drive. I turned on fifth, accelerated, and then made a tight turn onto Station Road.

"Shit, bro," said Keegan. "Where the hell are they?"

My stomach twisted into knots as we drove past the railroad platform, searching for any clue of their whereabouts.

"Keegs. Check my phone and see if anything has come in."

He swiped and then scrolled. He mumbled as he re-read but shook his head.

"The last one was forty-five minutes ago, and it doesn't give us anything but names."

"X-ray Actual, I've got nothing. The street is empty. There are multiple vehicles in the bus depot, belonging to some suspects but nothing else."

I pulled to the side of the road and opened the door. Keegs followed as I jogged across the street to the Mill Pond railroad platform. I leaped two steps at a time and rushed to the edge near the tracks.

Keegs and I stood in silence, our eyes fixed on the impenetrable darkness of Claire Woods. A black and cold, living monster seemed to have materialized at that moment.

"Central to Six-three's Charlie and Foxtrot, respond to a complaint at the Bus Depot on Station Road. Owner reports multiple vehicles parked without a permit."

Bellagamba was nervous, and calling units to check license plates was a pathetic attempt to find Max.

This had turned into a search and rescue operation.

"Tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel," I said. "Freaking TRAP team. I never thought I'd do that again."

"Kelly, keep your shit together. She's gonna need us."

Keegs spat onto the platform and sighed. I saw his breath turn to steam before evaporating into the blackness of the night. "Count it a blessing," he spat again. "The Marine Corps made you a TRAP team leader for a reason. You know what to do."

Scenarios flooded my mind, causing a rush of uncertainty. As the incredible fright gripped me, it transformed into a raging anger.

"Max should have walked away from this," I snapped. "And I should have fought harder. And now, for all I know, death is all around her, and there's no way out."

Johnny Keegan said nothing. And that didn't happen often. His face was pale, and his cheeks red. I could see his pinned eyes and knew he was losing hope.

"X-Ray Actual to units on Tac-Two. Be advised we're issuing a ten-forty-eight officer needs assistance over Statewide Police Emergency Network."

We were helpless.

I felt the vibration in my pocket and heard the buzz. I was quick to take out my phone and swipe it open.

01:11

I'm in Claire Woods, south of the power

MM generator access road. They're out of control. heroin, ghb, rape. The Ethan kid is walking me out. Something isn't right with him.

"Keegs," I shouted. She's across the way.

We sprinted the width of the platform and onto the street. I took my collar mic in my hand and pressed the PTT.

"All units, Embed is across the tracks in the South Woods. Advise the Five-five. We are inbound, heading to the service road on Third."

We rushed into the RMP, which was still running. I slammed the car into reverse, power spun, and sped toward Third.

"X-ray Actual to all units. Stand by. ESU is en route. Do not engage until we ensure they compromised the Embed."

All the units confirmed the order, one at a time, but not us. Waiting was out of the question for me.

"Keegs, we're not stopping, and we're staying dark."

"I got you, boss. This is my kind of rodeo. Trouble around every corner."

I whipped the turn from Station Road onto Third Avenue and flew through the crossing. The RMP fishtailed as I turned left on the access road parallel to the tracks.

"X-ray actual to Six-three David, do you—" said Bellagamba. His voice was stern and direct.

"I'll make him dirty," said Keegs. He depressed the PTT, scrambling the transmission, knowing that it would be impossible to tell who was speaking over whom.

The RMP spun out as we hit the sand and gravel, heading toward the power station.

"Easy, Kelly. Slow down," said Keegs. "Max said there was a small hidden path off this road."

I brought the car to an abrupt stop and jumped out.

"You drive," I said. He wasted no time getting into the driver's seat, the hard click of the column shifting into gear.

I rolled down the passenger side window and sat on the door frame, looking over the top of the roof.

He switched on the left floodlight inside the overhead light bar and the swivel light outside the windshield.

The radio went wild with orders from Bellagamba and Bongiovanni trying to call us off.

Driving along the road, we could hear the distinct noise of the tires crushing the gravel and sand. I kept turning back, waiting for the black SUVs to come screaming up the road, but they didn't.

Moment after moment, nothing changed—dark woods full of blackness and shielding me from Max. Only trees and bushes existed until I saw a separation in the landscape's monotony.

"Keegs, stop," I said. "I've got movement." The RMP rolled to an eerie stillness. "There—there," I shouted. "I got them. Light 'em up!"

Keegs didn't hesitate and switched on all the overheads as the power-call broke the silence of the night. I stumbled to get off the doorframe.

A dark figure sprinted across the road and through our lights, which bounced off him. He ran toward the northern part of the woods. His clothes were weird; he was wearing a parka and some sort of over pants. The fabric pattern seemed to blur and shift in color, mirroring the changing light shades from the overheads.

He was faceless, like a risen demon haunting and hunting in his domain.

You're dead.

My hand moistened the pachmayr of my .40 as I released the retention strap. I was half-drawn when Keegs crossed the front of the RMP.

"I got him," he said. "You go to Max." I leaped from the door frame, my feet hitting the ground solid and even. I fastened my pistol back and started to the wood line.

"Six-three David to all units. Foot pursuit northbound from Third Avenue access road into Claire Woods," said Keegs. "POI. Requesting immediate backup."

When I caught sight of the opening, I turned and broke into a full sprint when I saw her.

She lay motionless on the ground, her body slumped sideways. Her hair covered her face, and her dress pushed above her stomach. Her panties had slipped down to her knees, exposing her cheeks.

"No. No—no—no. Maxine, baby, no—no. You're fine, sweetie, you're fine."

I kneeled over her, my hands at my sides, and frantic. I couldn't breathe, and an immense stabbing pain shot through my chest and back.

I took my mic and depressed the PTT.

"Break! Officer down, I say again, officer down. We need a bus forthwith. Woodline just south of access road. My RMP is landmarked."

The siren's piercing sound echoed through the woods, rousing all that slept. The lights blared through the breaks in the trees and bushes as the sounds of footsteps and screaming overtook all of them.

From the trail, the teenagers and twenty-somethings came rushing towards Max and me, frantic to escape.

From the west, multiple sirens clashed with different calls, and the overhead blue and red flashers mixed with the revving and acceleration of their engines. The Five-five precinct received our alert over SPEN and came in full force.

Then, all sounds ceased, leaving only the stillness as I looked at Maxine and listened to the rhythm of her breath. With a gentle touch, I moved the strands of hair obscuring Max's face. The bleeding abrasions overshadowed the blue and swollen appearance of the skin on her neck.

"Max, I'm here. Sweetheart, I'm right here with you."

She opened her eyes.

Smiling at her, I slid my sweater over my head. My collar mic snapping filled the air, and I winced as my badge grazed my cheek. Her dress clung to her body, stretched and torn in several places. The v-neck slid down her shoulder, leaving a breast exposed. I was gentle in covering her waist and legs and replacing her panties where they belonged. With my sweater draped over her chest and shoulder, she grasped my hand.

"Alright," I sighed. "Any holes I should know about? Are you shot, stabbed, pricked, or prodded?"

She smiled and tried to speak, but nothing came out.

"I know," I said. "The pictures were for my eyes only. But, I kind of showed Keegan, but only to gloat that you're mine."

I wiped away the tears from her cheeks and held onto her trembling hands.

I leaned and kissed them again and again. With a mindful approach, I ensured I didn't hover over her mouth to prevent feelings of claustrophobia. So I moved toward her shoulders and leaned. I kissed her on her forehead and ran my fingers through her hair, caressing her ear.

Someone grabbed my shoulder and pulled on my turtleneck. I ignored it.

"Corporal Kelly," the voice was harsh and direct. And again, I ignored it. "Corporal, you need to move." When I looked up, I recognized Lieutenant Bellagamba.

"Don't freaking touch me again," I shouted. I bared my gritted teeth, emitting a low, guttural growl. "Capisce Lieutenant?"

Whether I'd get into trouble for disobeying his order wasn't my concern. I worried I would beat the shit out of him and Bongiovanni.

"Kelly," said Keegs. Despite being winded, he was determined to get to me. "Can you get out of my way, Lieutenant? Jesus Christ. Why don't you go write a report or something? You're freaking useless."

I'm unsure what happened next because I only inclined my ears to Max.

His hands were gentle as he took me by the shoulders. Maxine let go of me and smiled.

"Come on, brother. She'll be fine. You got to her in time."

As the medics rushed by me, I stood as Keegs took me by the shoulders and turned me opposite Bellagamba and Bongiovanni.

As we left the trail, I saw all the ESU and K-9 units readying for a manhunt. In the backseats of the RMPs, multiple teenagers and twenty-somethings sat with their hands cuffed behind their backs.

Medics worked on two girls, their urgent movements, and the Narcan suggesting an overdose.

When we reached our RMP, I sat on the hood and folded my arms. Keegs went into the passenger side and came out with his tobacco pouch. As was the ritual, he offered, I took, and we both began spitting.

"Keegs," I said. I moved the tobacco into place with my tongue. "Did you catch him?"

He shook his head and sighed.

"No," he said. "I'm sorry. He got away."

I thought for a moment and fought the lump in my throat.

"Shit," I whispered. "I should have shot him."