The Guild: New Recruit

By Tracy L. Judy

Doctor James Darash enjoyed his life. He had an academic life that many envied. Soon to be a fully tenured professor at a major university, his life was going exactly the way he had planned it out. Sometimes, plans change.
When a dark, burgundy sedan enters James' life everything changes. The world he knew, or thought he knew, is turned upside down. Nothing will ever be the same for him.
James faces creatures that he thought were only mythological, beasts that belong in the pages of books, on movie screens, not walking down the neighborhood streets. When the things that he knew to be false become true, James is faced with the toughest decision of his life. Does he chose to live a normal, quiet life, blissfully ignorant of the real world around him? Or does he chose to believe in the unbelievable?
Find out in "The Guild: New Recruit."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jonah Wolfe
• Release date: Oct 7, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301417124

Tracy L. Judy

I am a former Marine and a graduate of the University of South Carolina. I have travelled extensively during my life but now make my home once again in rural South Carolina. I write because it's my release. Writing helps me to clear my mind, to wipe away the cobwebs. I have found that by writing I can turn my daydreams into something tangible, something others and myself can read.

Book preview

Prologue

gods. Yes, little ‘g.’ gods. Myth. Legends. Ancient folklore. They never really existed. Just figments of the imaginations of all those uneducated, primitive, scared humans. Just our simple human minds compensating for what we did not understand. Right?

The easy answer would be yes, that all of those stories are just that - stories. Yes. That is the easy answer, but that is also a lie. The easiest lie ever told. The easiest lie ever believed. I used to believe it. I used to write about it. I used to teach it for a living. I wish that lie was still my truth.

I enjoyed teaching Ancient Religions and Folklore. It was my passion. I did not enjoy them becoming Current Events.

CHAPTER I

The burgundy sedan’s engine idled quietly, or maybe it just seemed to be quiet in competition with the car’s sound system.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

The windows shimmered as the sound waves from the overabundance of speakers reverberated around the interior of the car. Darkened windows and shiny rims drew my eyes two ways at once.

The fact that some idiot would have the audacity to drive this car was one thing, but for it to be sitting in our university’s faculty parking lot was another. I began walking toward my car, trying to put some distance between this stereo on wheels and myself.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

The sound grew closer as I walked toward the back corner of the lot. The driver of the burgundy sedan seemed intent on just cruising through at an extremely leisurely pace, disturbing as many as possible.

We reached my car at the same time. Instead of continuing with his parade of noise, the car stopped directly behind mine. The car was close enough for my teeth to hum from the vibrations. Trying to ignore him, I got into my car, preparing for my drive to my next appointment. I assumed the car and driver would just cruise on through.

However, he just sat there.

And sat there.

Despite hours spent in libraries, classrooms, and archaeological sites, patience is not, and has never been, one of my virtues. Starting my car, backing it toward the sedan, and honking my horn did nothing to make the sedan move. It did even less for my patience. I pulled my car fully back into my parking space, turned off the engine, and got out.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

I could feel the air around the sedan vibrating as I walked toward it. My skin tingled.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

I rapped on the nearly black driver’s side window. I doubted that the driver could even hear me.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

This time, I banged on the glass with my fist.

Thump.

Thump.

Silence.

I stared at the darkened reflection of myself. I wondered if the red hue of my cheeks were as visible to the driver as they were to me. My train of thought was snapped as the window, nerve rackingly slowly, began to lower.

The interior of the car was nearly as dark as the tint of the windows. The driver was darker than either one. If it had not been for the whites of his eyes, I may have not seen him there at all.

I can see that what we heard was correct, his deep bass voiced eased out of the car, grating my nerves.

And what was that? I retorted.

He smiled. More whiteness.

That your patience is, how shall I say it, non-existent.

My patience...wait, why am I even talking to you? Who are you and why are you blocking my car in?

He smiled again, this time with a light laugh. Professor, patience.

I probably should not have done it, but I did. I kicked his car door as hard as I could.

A few things happened at once.

There was now a dent in his shiny paint job, and a small scratch.

He was now getting out of his car, slowly.

He was no longer smiling. Not even a grin.

And I think my toe was broken.

You kicked my car. He seemed confused by his own statement. You actually kicked my car.

If he was not six foot six then I am a zebra.

Retreat seemed the better option. I began to limp tenderly back toward my car. And safety.

Stop! he commanded.

And I did.

You kicked my car.

Yeah, I think you mentioned that.

A faint smile from him, then it was gone.

I think you need to get in my car, professor. It seems we have something to discuss. His hand pointed to his passenger side door.

I’m sorry. I have an appointment. I’m already late as it is, I mumbled. And I’m sorry about your door. My insurance will cover it, or I will pay for it myself.

He shook his head and laughed. It did nothing to calm my nerves. Professor, I am your appointment.

CHAPTER II

Even with the interior light on in the car, it still seemed dark. Every surface was as black as night. From the dashboard to the seats to the overhead. Nothing but black. Light seemed to lose the battle in here.

He had quit telling me that I had kicked his car; we now sat in the parking lot of a local mall. My car was only about ten miles away, but if felt much, much further.

The ride here had been in silence, except for the occasional you kicked my car. I just sat and waited. And waited. Maybe my patience was improving. Fear does strange things to people.

So, why did you bring me way over here? I asked.

So much for the improved patience.

And don’t tell me that it is because I kicked your car.

He thrummed his fingers on the steering wheel. No, Professor Darash, I did not bring you over here because you kicked my car. If you remember, we had an appointment scheduled before your outburst and loss of composure.

When he turned toward me to continue speaking, he seemed to fill more of the car.

Professor, my name is Ezekiel Stephens and I...

But my appointment was with John Smith.

He raised his hand to silence me.

Didn’t that name seem a little plain to you, professor?

I knew the answer before he had finished asking the question.

Well...yeah. But...

Then accept my apologies for any discomfort that my subterfuge may have caused you. We’ll call it even for my car door, for now. Agreed?

I actually agreed. However, I did not want to seem to rush to agreement.

Okay, agreed. Now, who are you and why did you want to see me and why here and...

Slow down, professor. One question at a time. Patience. Patience.

I tried closing my eyes and counting to ten. Not much help. Therefore, I sat and waited, as impatient as I had ever been in my life. He took his time, deliberately.

As I was saying, my name is Ezekiel Stephens. My friends and I are in need of your knowledge and your services. I am meeting you here because it is much easier for me to get to you than for you to get to me.

I nodded while he talked, letting him know that I understood what he was telling me. Of course, I was still confused as to why he was here and telling me anything.

We would like to request your help with an issue that we have come across. Consider it a job interview. A tryout.

A tryout? I repeated. I already have a job. I’m two years from full tenure with a great university. My future is secured here and planned out and I’m...

Completely bored out of your mind, he said.

Completely bored out of my mind, I echoed.

His massive hand patted my knee while he laughed. If my leg had not broken then it would definitely have a bruise, or four, tomorrow. I tried to follow his humor.

I did not mean to say that, I corrected.

Oh, I believe you did, professor. What do they call it? A Freudian slip? Where you say what you really feel. It was honesty, professor.

I leaned back in the seat. I had said I was bored out of my mind, but did I really mean it? Everything in my life was exactly as I had planned it. Wasn’t it?

Okay, Mr. Stephens...

Ezekiel, please.

Okay, Ezekiel, what is it that you have to offer me?

So, you admit that you are bored out of your mind?

No, not bored. Curious. It’s my nature as an academic to be curious.

He laughed.

Yes, curiosity is what gets most of us. It’s what got me. It will probably get you as well.

Do you enjoy being this vague, Ezekiel?

His smile left. I felt it leave.

Not vague, professor. I will answer your questions, but I must ask you one first. Okay?

I heard myself swallow the lump that had snuck into my throat. Okay. What’s your question?

Professor, are you prepared to die?

CHAPTER III

I stayed in the car. I should have ran. I do not know why I did not run. I should still be running. I could have made the ten miles to my car or died trying.

It’s not a difficult question, professor. Just a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ If you died right now, are you ready to meet your maker?

My mind stumbled for the right answer. For any answer that would keep me alive.

I don’t know, I said.

Ezekiel shook his head. Not the answer I wanted, but at least it was honest.

He started the car and began to drive out of the parking space. I glanced frantically around the parking area. No one seemed to notice us. Night had fallen around us, around me.

Where are we going? I asked.

Reach under your seat.

I did not reach. Ezekiel saw that I did not move.

It’s okay, professor. I’m not here to hurt you. If I had wanted to cause you harm that would have already happened. His look reinforced his words. Now please, reach under your seat.

Anticipating the pain from the bear trap that was obviously hidden under my seat, I reached down. My fingers curled around a stack of papers. Gingerly, I pulled them out and placed them onto my lap.

It was a stack of newspaper clippings. The top one was just a couple of days old and from the local paper. I thumbed through them, the dates got older and older. They finally stopped about six months prior. There were eighteen clippings that covered seven different cities. Each one held a similar headline: female assaulted, woman attacked, or woman killed.

Why are you showing these to me?

Background information, Ezekiel said matter of fact. Eighteen different women. Some sexually assaulted. Some just beaten. Some got away. Some did not.

What does this have to do with me?

Right now, nothing. By the end of the night, perhaps everything.

I continued glancing through the clippings. Some of the attacks were extremely brutal in nature. I folded them up and stored them back under the car seat.

We were heading out of the city. Night had fully enveloped everything around us. The dashboard light blazed 9:30. Where had the time gone? Where was I going? More importantly, why was I going there?

We rode for another thirty minutes in silence. He slowed the car and pulled into the local state park. It should have been closed, however, the gate was opened for us and we were waved inside. When I turned around to see who had waved us in, the gate was closed and they were gone.

Creeping along, we moved deeper and deeper into the forest. I had been here a few times and knew that we were getting close to some of the harder trailheads. Ezekiel pulled the car into one of the side lots and parked.

Leave your cell phone and anything else that can make noise in the car, Ezekiel instructed me.

Ezekiel got out of the car and headed toward the trunk that he had already popped open. He removed something large from the trunk, slung it over his shoulder, and motioned for me to get out of the car. I did, I am just not sure why. Follow me and keep quiet. Walk where I walk and don’t wander off, he instructed.

He approached the nearest trailhead and disappeared into the forest. No flashlight. No sound. And me right behind him.

Ezekiel was easy to follow through the trail. His huge form hammered out against the night. In spite of his size, he moved with cat-like quiet.

We reached a clearing after a few miles of walking/hiking. He stepped back into the forest, his outstretched arm blocking my way, herding me toward the side of the path.

Over her, Ezekiel said. I dutifully followed him once again. Fifty yards from the trail, he stopped and crouched.

A lone figure was now visible in the clearing ahead. Blonde hair shimmered in the moonlight, the light breeze shifter her hair ever so slightly. She was about seventy yards from us and her beauty was evident from even this far away. She had nestled onto one of the rest benches, absent-mindedly twirling her hair with her fingers.

What is she doing out here? I whispered.

Ezekiel pulled out a small pair of night vision goggles and scanned the field. He handed me a pair as well. She’s doing her job.

Which is? I asked.

Bait.

CHAPTER IV

The minutes crept by. The woman on the bench played with her hair, stretched and yawned on the bench, sat up, laid down. She pretty much stayed in constant motion the whole time. And it was a long time.

Ezekiel finally patted my arm. When I looked at him, he motioned for me to train my goggles to a spot about a hundred yards from the girl on the bench. I looked into the darkness, the green tint of the night filling my eyes.

Then I saw it or him or it. A dark shape stalked through the field. It stopped every few feet to look around and, I think, sniff the night air. I pulled my eyes away from my goggles and rubbed them. When I looked through them again, he was still easing toward the girl. His dark jackets and pants were hard to see even with the night vision goggles.

Then he ran.

Straight toward the girl. Before I could open my mouth to yell a warning, Ezekiel’s hand was already muffling it. Thirty feet from the girl, he leapt into the air.

He should have landed on top of her, based on the trajectory of the jump he had taken, but he did not. A bright spark appeared in the air right above her and threw him backwards. He stood up, shook himself off, and looked around. Then things got interesting.

Lights flooded the field from the three sides opposite us. I had already dropped my goggles so I was not blinded by the wave of light. I blinked several times to adjust my vision. Even though the field was flooded with light, Ezekiel and I were still bathed in darkness, hidden in the shadows.

Blahhh! Blahhh! the man screamed. He took off running, running hard. Running hard right toward us. Toward the darkness.

Ezekiel stepped to the side and waited. The large object he had gotten from the trunk nestled in his hands. His fingers gripped tightly around it.

Sixty yards.

Blahhh! Blahhh! The scream rattled my ears.

Fifty yards.

I could start to see the man better. His beard and fur coat flowed in the wind.

Forty yards.

Blahhh! Blahhh! Blahhh! Steady toward us.

Thirty yards.

I could now see his horns.

His horns?

Twenty yards.

Ahhh, I screamed.

Blahhh. Blahhh, he harmonized with me.

Ten yards.

Ezekiel raised his arm and fired. A thin, silver cord ripped through the night.

It hit the running man hard at throat level. His body tried to continue its run but only managed to scamper to my feet where it fell still kicking. His head achieved just enough elevation for me to catch it. Which I did.

The impact stumbled me backwards.

Ahhh, I continued to scream, looking down at the mute facade of a scream