Episode 20

___________

"No, he doesn't get one," Gerald said.
"Am I really supposed to walk in without any weapons?" Dylan protested.
"Yes."
Gerald handed Alaire a small black pistol, "Know how to use one?"
"Yeah, point and pew."
Gerald's forehead creased and he reconsidered for a moment. Aaron was already stashing extra clips in his leather jacket, a pistol of his own hidden on his backside. The tension still felt heavy between him and Alaire, but after the threatening phone call, it seemed trivial.
"Can I have... a stick?" Dylan asked.
"You can have my foot in your ass if you'd like," Gerald said. Alaire grabbed the detective's sleeve, "It's stupid to bring him along if he's defenseless, isn't it?" She tried convincing him with logic, but no one was ready to trust Dylan just yet, "He could get himself killed. Or one of us."
"I'm not giving a delinquent, your captor, a gun."
"Then give the boy a stick!" she pressed.
Gerald hadn't asked them to come along. The man on the phone specified each of their names, but Gerald offered to go alone. Noble, but Alaire knew that if they didn't all come then the detective's friends were certainly dead. Also, considering the villain knew where they were, it was likely he could get them to do what he wanted anyway. That's how it all worked, you don't tell the cops and you show up as requested.
Even then you were risking everyone's lives.
Gerald groaned in exasperation, "Here."
He handed Dylan a pocket knife. It wasn't much, but Dylan looked satisfied.
"Do anything stupid, and I will stop you," Gerald flashed his gun as he shoved in a new clip, "Now get in the car," Gerald ordered.
Dylan slumped away and closed himself into the backseat. The detective turned to Aaron and Alaire, "None of you should come. He could kill us on the spot."
"I don't think so," Aaron said, "If this guy is in the cult then he'll be into more elaborate deaths."
"He'll take his time," Alaire nodded, "We might have our own time to make a plan."
The plan so far was - go in guns blazing, literally. Gerald geared them up with at least one gun, ammo, and a switchblade. The detour to retrieve the weapons from his house already put them behind schedule.
"My job wasn't to put you in danger."
The silent snowy night waited and watched the three outside of Gerald's car. He felt a small hand tug on his sleeve again, and he looked down at Alaire, her dark eyes reflecting the moonlight, "To be fair, you did find me with the intentions of rescuing me. I know you're a good detective."
Her gesture was cute, but nothing could put Gerald at ease until the killer was found. Imagining Maren and Ryan being tortured tore at his chest. Images of every past murder case he'd ever worked on flooded his mind like his consciousness was painting a mural of blood. His quickening pulse was like shock waves jolting his entire body.
"Let's get in the car at least," Alaire suggested, "I'm freezing my butt off out here..."
"I still think we should tie the kid up," Aaron grumbled.
Gerald sighed, "There's still time... You can hide out in my house and not-"
The buzzing of Aaron's phone sounded again. He didn't have to check to know who it was.
"Gerald!" the sickening pleasant voice boomed.
"What do you want."
"Just checking in. You're running out of time you know..."
"We're coming."
"Are you?" the voice mulled, "Detective, tsk tsk tsk. I don't want to have to remind you how important it is that all of you get here. Soon..."
This time there was no screaming on the other end, but the silence was worse. Gerald didn't respond, but the man didn't continue either. All Gerald could hear was steady breathing. Well if that's how he's going to be... Gerald was tempted to hang up, but cautious that could anger him.
This time, the voice didn't sound so cheerful, "Looks like you do need an extra push detective."
Beep beep beep. He hung up.
"What the-" Gerald spat.
"Gerald?"
An older woman's voice called out to them from another house over. She waddled out of her front door in fuzzy pink slippers and a matching bathrobe, "Is everything okay?"
"Yes, Mrs. Johnson," Gerald waved, "Just uh, late night McDonald run with my... niece and nephews..."
"O-oh alright," she didn't sound convinced, "I just heard some yellin' and then some growlin'?"
Growling? Both Alaire and Aaron looked confused as well, but confusion quickly turned to terror.
Slow at first, two figures appeared under a street light, only they weren't human and not entirely animalistic either. It was like a scene in a horror movie coming to life. Gerald blinked a few times before accepting what he was seeing was real.
One short one tall both fleshless creatures. Their breathing was wet and rough like they were choking on their own tongue. Heads were bald, and one of the monster's skulls was smushed inward. They staggered forward like zombies, creeping closer towards Gerald's house.
Aaron pulled out his gun and ushered Alaire into the passenger seat. She resisted, but Aaron was a lot stronger, and with one arm he tossed her into the car. "What are we looking at detective..."
"I shouldn't be surprised by this shit anymore," Gerald muttered, "But..."
His neighbor spotted what everyone was gawking at and started to shriek. "Demons! DEMONS!"
One of the creatures cocked it's head to the sound of her screams, and with startling speed charged towards Mrs. Johnson.
"Mrs. Johnson!" Gerald ran towards her, gun raised at the ready, "Get inside! Mrs. Johnson!"
The beast pounced onto Mr's Johnson, clinging to her chest. Gerald aimed a good shot in its shoulder, but that didn't stop the beast. It reared its head in annoyance, making a scratchy gurgling screech. Before Gerald could fire another shot, the beast's claws plunged into Mrs. Johnson's chest and ripped her rib cage wide open.
"Oh hell!" Gerald fired three more shots at the monster, each making contact but with little effect. The loud gunshots pulled it's attention away from the now exposed woman. Gerald noticed the creature had no eyes, just dark pits. No nose or ears, but holes and more holes.
"Detective!" Aaron bellowed.
Both creatures took off at high speeds towards them. Certain that his gun wasn't going to help, Gerald rushed to the car where Aaron had started the engine. As soon as Gerald's body was inside, Aaron gunned it.
Even without eyes, the creatures were able to dodge the car before it ran them over. Aaron whipped the car around a corner, but the creatures weren't too far behind.
"Okay... that's new," Alaire looked to Aaron.
Dylan's eyes were glued wide open and he clung to his pocket knife like it was a life force. Gerald checked the back window for their pursuers and sure enough, they were keeping a steady pace only a few yards behind them. He punched the roof of the car and cursed, "Argh... Looks like we have an escort..."
"You think those things are with the cult?" Alaire asked. She forced herself to speak like each word caused her pain. Her body was cramped into a tight ball as she hugged her legs in the front seat, "I'm sorry about... your neighbor..."
Gerald didn't take his eyes off the monsters. They followed them, even onto the freeway. It was late, but there were bound to be a few other drivers that would see this. Why risk exposure now? 
"Looks like we're in this together now," Aaron's voice shook, "Unless we want to take our chances on these guys..."
Gerald grumbled.
"Detective," Aaron pressed.
"I know! I know... if you're certain the clue was to lead us to the cabin... here's where we need to go," Gerald gave a resigned sigh, "How did they even know where to find us..." None of this was making sense. By now he would have some sort of concrete explanation, but there was nothing. All he had was a cult, monsters, a serial skinner... A serial skinner making monsters? No...
"That sick bastard," Aaron's hands could barely hold the stirring wheel steady, "I didn't think I'd see this place ever again..."
Alaire placed her hand on his. They looked at each other, the same fear from only months ago resurfacing in their eyes.
"Let's end it. For real this time..." Alaire said.