Page 95 of Dark Obsession

Demetrius was surprised Sheriff Grubbs took the lead as their party moved along the back alley. He had expected him to be last in line. As it was, Grubbs directed Lucia to bring up the rear before he moved in front of Demetrius. Lucia’s expression showed exactly what she thought of the sheriff’s lineup. But she followed his order, waving Oliver into place behind Demetrius, and Dave behind him. She gave a thumbs up to Grubbs, and the sheriff set off, moving quickly and quietly down the alley. To their left were the brick and aluminum-sided rear walls of the businesses. On their right, the wide expanse of blacktop, a mix of cars and trucks still waiting for their owners. Demetrius wondered if the people found burned beyond recognition owned any of them.

The sheriff kept a good pace, but Demetrius could hear his labored breathing, and when the sheriff paused and pressed his back against the wall, Demetrius could see the man’s belly hanging over his belt. Despite his physical condition, however, he had obviously been well-trained.

They passed the cut-through to Main Street, and Demetrius caught a glimpse of Cody looking back at him before both groups moved on. They were behind Bryerson’s Frame Shop now, and the next storefront would be Margie’s. Grubbs moved past the frame shop’s solid metal rear door, but before Demetrius could get by, it banged open, swinging toward him. He put out his hands and felt the shock of impact travel all the way up his arms as he stumbled back. Oliver caught him under the arms, keeping him on his feet. Out of sight on the other side of the door, the sheriff let out a scream that abruptly cut off. It was followed by a wet, choking gurgle, and the bright copper penny smell of blood filled the air.

Lucia came up alongside Demetrius. Her expression was grim as she extended one arm to hold him back against the wall. All of them were out of sight behind the door that still stood open. A slurping sound drifted out from the other side, and Demetrius swallowed hard as sweat ran down his sides and back. Lucia met his eyes and gave a single nod before she moved to the edge of the door, her weapon held up. She resettled her grip on the butt of the gun, then stepped out from behind the door and, a breath later, fired. Demetrius felt Oliver jump beside him. Seconds later, a spreading pool of thick, dark liquid oozed toward them under the door.

Lucia avoided the stuff as she pushed the door closed, exposing the sheriff where he lay on his back, staring up at the smoke-filled sky. His throat was a mangled, bloody mess, his uniform soaked with his own blood, and the vampire’s. All that remained of his killer was a flannel shirt, a pair of jeans, and heavy black motorcycle boots.

“Jesus,” Oliver whispered, staring at the sheriff’s body.

Lucia crouched to pull the gun from Grubbs’s hand and passed it to Demetrius. The grip was coated in blood, simultaneously slick and sticky. After making sure the safety was on, Demetrius used the hem of his polo shirt to clean as much of the gore from it as he could.

“Ready?” Lucia asked.

He ejected the clip, gave it a quick visual check, then slapped it back home. After flicking off the safety, he said, “Ready.”

“Don’t shoot me in the back.” She turned her head toward her mic as she stepped around the sheriff’s body and said quietly, “Sheriff Grubbs is dead. I’m taking lead on group two. One hostile taken out. Stay sharp.”

They were at the rear entrance to Margie’s when Gayle’s whispered single-word response came back. “Copy.”

Demetrius adjusted and readjusted his grip on the gun. They were all very familiar with the diner’s layout. The rear entrance opened on a hallway with restrooms on the right and a utility closet on the left. The hallway led to the dining area near the counter, built-in stools standing in a line along its front. Kitchen access was through a single swinging door just behind the counter.

“We go in at the count of three,” Lucia whispered. “Demetrius, you clear the bathrooms. Oliver and Dave, stay with me. We’ll pause at the end of the hallway to assess the room and wait for Demetrius to catch up.”

Demetrius wiped sweat from his forehead, feeling the sticky swath of blood he’d left behind.

“Here we go. One, two, three.”

Lucia slowly opened the glass door and, mimicking her bent position, they followed her inside, Demetrius bringing up the rear. He bumped open the door to the men’s restroom. The motion sensor inside activated the overhead light. The room was empty, water dripping slowly from the faucet, but the door for the single stall was closed. He cocked his head, listening, then stepped farther into the room and pulled the handle. Empty.

He left the men’s room, keeping a hand on the door to close it quietly behind him. Ahead, Lucia was looking around the dark dining room, and Dave and Oliver had their heads turned, watching him. Moving to the women’s room, he took a breath and carefully pushed inside.

The light was already on, shimmering across the pink tiled floor and walls. His heart pounded harder when he heard quick breathing and whispered shushing sounds. The air was heavy with the smell of sweat and piss. No one was in sight, but the door of the accessible stall at the end was closed. More shaky shushing sounds came from inside it. He hesitated, wondering if it was a trap, then, steeling himself, crossed the room in two quick steps and yanked it open.

Two young women crouching on the toilet screamed and, squeezing their eyes closed, turned their faces toward each other as they clutched one another tight. Demetrius said in a fierce whisper, “Stop! I’m not going to hurt you. Please, be quiet.”

They settled a bit and slowly turned to squint at him. One wore a headband with werewolf ears, the lower half of her face slick with snot and tears. The other had the hood of her pink zip-up over her head, her eyes red and watery.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” Demetrius whispered. “Okay?”

The women nodded, still sniffling.

“You need to go. Follow me to the back exit. When you get outside, run to the right, all the way to Memorial Park. Do you know where that is?”

More nodding.

“Good. Come on.”

He peered out into the hall. Lucia, Oliver, and Dave were all staring at him, Lucia’s eyebrows drawn down tight. Beyond them, nothing moved in the heavily shadowed dining area. Demetrius rolled his eyes at them, then led the women back down the hall to the exit. They held hands as they followed, the headband sitting askew on the one woman’s head.

“Our friends are inside,” the one in the pink hoodie whispered. “Can you get them out, too?”

“We’ll try.” He pushed the glass door open and held it, allowing them to slip past. “Run, as fast as you can.”

They ran.

He let the door close quietly before turning back to the others.