INITIATOR

INITIATOR
By Ngosong Taku

PREFACE
I think it will be coherent to say that the one thing which prompted me to turn this artistic piece of imagination into my first novel, is that I grew up separately from home, but together with my elder brother, at my grandmother’s house, where we learned how to imagine anecdotes that we believe have never been told before and tell them to one another, as a competitive way of forgetting the fact that Mom and Dad were away, and to recover from grief of the tragic loss of our kid sister in a ghastly motor accident.
But when my elder brother was also separated from me, at the time when I needed him most, it pushed me into writing more anecdotes and hiding them underneath my bed, until the day we meet again. But unfortunately we grew up into manhood without him getting to read it, and when we met he was already into poetry and play writing. So his writings gave an overwhelming inspiration and the courage to write, since I already knew how to create. The anecdotes I have gathered over those years of solitude now fitted themselves suitably into the first chapter of what today became INITIATOR.

Chapter One
The Creepy Tale
Many decades ago in small town of Veloria, in East Verolina, about some sixteen hundred meters away from the Ocean, lived a small peasant family. At the edge of Serenity Street, to the right, was the Williams residence, which lay amidst the homes of the well-liked industrious men in East Verolina.
Lester Williams was a first son to the belated Agronomist, Dr Edward Williams, and an attorney; Mrs. Marylyn Williams - a private lawyer, who already made a fortune but still, cultivated the soil to keep her late husband’s love for agronomy.
Lester was eighteen and a teenager with a first-rate intellect. He had deep blue eyes and a slender body. He often was very curious to know things that he believed might be of superseding importance to him in the near as well as far future. He had always admired the police force, military intelligence and spent a greater part of his leisure time reading novels or watching movies about scientific detection. This best explained why he studied criminal law, scientific detection and a general application of military intelligence at the university.
Lester’s kid sister, Sidney Williams, had just turned sixteen and was doing standard five of the secondary school. She had long black hair drummed to the back of her head. She liked watching TV shows and infant programs like cartoons. She did not cherish reading a lot, but acclaimed listening to her brother’s scary and detective stories. Sidney Williams spent a lot of time with her teenage friends; Arleen Marcel and lea Jackson. They talked about school and pleasure.
Mrs. Marylyn Williams was forty- five years old, and she was a widow who devoted all her life to raising her two kids after she dreadfully lost her husband to excess consumption of alcohol, when Lester was only two and Sidney still in the womb. In spite of her being so indulged in raising her kids and living her late husband’s dream, she could not allow her ill health to be the center of all her worries, so, being an asthmatic, she moved around with spray in her wallet.
Lester was sitting in the orchard with Sidney and he was reading a story to her, which was all about some very fierce and scary monsters called Vindigoes, which emit blue light as they fly in the air. The end of the story was very unusual for her, because Lester had always read detective stories to Sidney, and not scary ones. So she became so scared feeling in her mind how fierce and astonishing this monster could be.
“What will happen if your story turnout real?” she said.
“No my love, it’s nothing but a story, and that is just a pure invention of imagination in your mind - and Sid, you just can’t keep having such weird imaginations, a story like this one is meant to relax your mind and take away stress, and not run it out of decent reasoning.”
“But I can sense that something dreadful will happen while we are asleep,” she became persistent.
“Why and how is that going to happen? I told you it’s nothing but an imagination in your mind,” he protested.
“Because you read that story, I am scared. Can I sleep in your room tonight, Lester?
“No, that’s out of the question, if you are scared then go sleep with Mother.”
“Lester, don’t say afterwards that I did not inform you that these creatures have long been trapped in that story, and so, by reading it to the end, you have detonated their coming into the real world.”
“Hey Sid quit those fantasies, you make me sick, I don’t think it would be such a brilliant idea for me to read my stories to you again. Consider this one the last one,” he said to his sibling.
“Deal,” she replied.
As they were about to leave the Orchard, Mrs. Williams called out loud from a large living room window to her two adorable kids; “Lester my love, can you come inside with your baby sister? Supper is ready.”
Lester and his sibling moved in and went straight to the dining table for a Saturday evening dinner. Lester sat at the edge of the table, to the right, facing the living room, and Sidney sat next to him on the left. Lester served himself some spaghetti, four pieces of plantains and two meatballs. Then he cut some chicken with a table knife. Sidney ate the same combination, and Mrs. Williams took some chicken and six pieces of fried plantains. She poured orange juice into the glass of every one on the table. Once they started eating but Lester was not, he did nothing but swirl the food on his plate, thinking about the anguish he had felt the day before. Mrs. Williams looked up to him and became a little troubled. “Hey Sweetheart, you aren’t eating your food?” Lester did not respond. She ate on, knowing that he would eat when he pleased.
Lester leaned back on his seat as his kid sister and mother ate on. She shouldn’t have done that to me, no! Not after all the vows and promises we made to each other not to break any of the vows, no matter what. It was previewed that we would make love only on the eve of our marriage, because she is the only girl I ever knew in my entire life. Women are a curse to the entire humanity…he kept thinking. Gretchen Jefferson, his one and true love, had an affair with his best friend, Eddy Bowman, breaking a vow and love story that she and Lester had built for close to half a decade.
“But then again, who am I to judge her?” - Or rather – “there is nothing to even think of judging. She took her stand;” - as well as - “I am in a better position to take mine now, and if there is one thing I ever learned from this situation, it would be that true love sucks and a man who wishes to be happy in his life should never invest in it. I tried loving and I am lovable, but no matter how hard I try I still get tilted to one edge.”
“I know what that face represents,” Sidney said to Lester. “Sometimes the universe tries to knock it out of you, but if you believe in yourself the way some people believe in fairytales, and keep away from the things that make you sad, you will never have to buy a smile to wear it,” she continued.
“Whose face represents what? Am I missing out on something Sidney?”
“No Mama, it’s just a little sister– to- brother talk.”
“This has nothing to do with you Sid, you are a great little sister,” Lester pointed out.
“Oh yeah!”
“I think I am missing out,” mother came in again. “Does anybody want pepper? I take the silence for a no,” Mrs. Williams seemed not to be talking to her kids, but to herself. “Sweetheart, you still aren’t eating your food. What in the world could be troubling my son?”
“Nothing, Mama”, he defended, as he walked into his room.
“Mother, can I ask you a favor?”
“Yes my love, go ahead.”
“Mother would you mind if I pass the night with you? I am a little scared from the story that Lester read to me this evening, I can see it happening tonight.”
“What are you talking about, baby; it’s been a while until now that you have been acting weird, and now your brother too has begun his own scene of strange doings. I don’t understand my children any more. Lester is refusing to talk to me and you are seeing some monsters from a mere storybook come real. No, I wouldn’t mind though! But there are no monsters okay?”
“Thank you very much, Mother. I don’t know where I will be without you.”
Sidney cleared the table and went to her bedroom to put on her nightgown, while Mrs. Williams stood lamenting on the circumstances.
“What could be happening to these children?” she kept thinking. The doorbell rang. It was Gretchen at the door. Mrs. Williams headed for the door, and as she opened it, she greeted Gretchen.
“Hey, come on in Sweetheart, Lester is in his room, but before you go up and meet him, there are questions I would like to ask you. First, I want to find out if there is any misunderstanding going on between you two?”
“No, not in my knowledge. Everything is fine, Mrs. Williams;” she defended.
“Are you sure you are not hiding anything from me?”
“No Madam, all is well.”
“Okay Gretch, go upstairs and meet him, but be careful, for he’s been acting strange, in a way that I have never seen my baby boy behave before.”
She was still convinced that there was a problem between those two. “I know my son well enough,” she whispered to herself as she walked into her room, where Sidney lay on the bed, fast asleep. She watched her sleep for a while and then recited her usual prayers.
"My Lord, my God, you have all your angels gathered around you to watch over us, guide us through life, don’t let us through the bad path but deliver us from all evils. The devil is a liar and will always be. So my God please watch over my kids for me and take away what ever is disquieting them. Amen."
Meanwhile Gretchen knocked at Lester’s door and went in, then she tossed herself on him, as he was lying on the bed, and then she attempted kissing him, but it did not work. “Hey my love what is happening? Is there a problem?” She asked, as she squirmed to the back of the bed.
He was still for a moment then impulsively broke out minutes later, “I should be asking you that” he replied. “You probably want to know what the problem is..Huh! Eddy, yes Eddy Bowman and my girl friend. Leave my room now that you know the state of my mind,” he said.
“Baby, please this is the hand- work of the devil, you wouldn’t understand.”
“Yes, that is exactly the point; I don’t understand my girlfriend any longer,” Lester said.
“Eddy was paid by Regina Roberts to come between us, Susan Russell, a friend of Regina’s told me everything yesterday, and I was planning to inform you, for you to know what a bad friend Eddy is, only for you to start acting this funny.”
“Yes that’s it; I am the one acting funny now, and you now yell at me too,” he protested.
“No one has ever laid a finger on me but you my love believe me. It was all framed up by Regina so that she would get you as her boy friend. Eddy was paid by her to move around campus saying that he made love to me. Wake up Sweetheart, they are all stories. You know I will never break our vows for nothing in the world.”
She told him all that she knew, and besides. “If you can bear your own faults then while blowout the fault in someone closer to your heart.” She opened the door and left in a hurry, crying.
He had hardly bought her story, so he did not actually make a move as she left. “As if I am the one faulty here.”
As Gretchen left, the night was almost still young and humid but was vividly growing old as from the annoyance on Lester’s face. Lester decided to watch a movie before going to bed. He turned on the TV and went to the kitchen to fetch some fruit juice from the refrigerator. Once he was comfortably seated with his glass of fruit juice on a side stool, he began watching his movie, which was a detective story.
The movie was proving very attention grabbing to him as he focused all his awareness on it, as it was in his utmost plan to get rid of his annoyance of a cheating girlfriend. He was already replacing the main character of the movie by himself, in his mind, as he always does in most of the times he watches an interesting movie. It was kind of weird, as he felt the presence of a bad spirit, then he thought it could just be his distress for his recent tribulation with his girlfriend. On another note, he reminisced on what Sidney had told him earlier in the evening, and then he puffed as if -of all the things in the world - only that one found its way to his mind, which gave him a little relief again..

Chapter Two
The Glooming Blue Illumination
Before long, Lester overheard dogs in the neighborhood barking. He put out the TV for a while, and then he saw Blue light reflections gleaming into the living room, via the large living room glass windows. This was to the point where the whole room turned blue for sometime. Then came a loud scream which grew louder and louder. His mind just switched in to an intuition. He thought for a while, “Now more than ever I know! Sidney was right; they have come to annihilate mankind…but that was only a story.”
He kept thinking; “the lights truly resembled those of the Vindigo monsters as found in the book. He went into Sidney’s room and she was not there, and he became a bit disconcerted, and then into his mother’s, where she spent the night. Then he took a deep breath. “Good God -thought she was gone with the monsters.”
As audacious and heroic as he was, Lester took a mirror and a video camera to film his target, and he took his late father’s pistol out of its case in a drawer and quickly screwed the silencer to it.
Closing the door behind him, he went up the empty streets through the quiet night to the home where this was taking place. The monster was real and had the exact description as in the story. Jesus Christ! He murmured to himself as he spied via a large glass window and his eyes fell on the creature. He began filming the scene. It was tall and gigantic. It was the ugliest animal he had ever seen walking on two feet.
Lester moved flipside from his spying point for fear that the monster may perceive him, while continuing the recording. He then moved into the Bowman living room through the door that the Vindigo monster had broken passed, leaving a passage that was almost motor able. He stood on a far end and shot at the monster with his pistol, but the bullet bounced back and almost stroked him. “Jesus of Nazareth!” He cried, while moving to the rear and crossed over the dredged lifeless body of Mrs. Bowman, as his camcorder also fell on the floor near Mrs. Bowman’s body. The monster had already seen him and was about to flutter briskly to get him, but he still had one method of defense to use. So Lester pointed a mirror at the monster and it became puzzled, just like in the storybook.
In a jiffy, the monster was very confused, and made high-pitch whistling noise, which disturbed the entire neighborhood, loud to the point where people in Serenity Street observed a short-lived blockage of the eardrum. It turned and saw the little boy, Ken Bowman, who heard the noise made by the monster and came to see what was going wrong. The Vindigo picked him up and flew away but later on dropped him in an out- cold state on the terrace while flying away.
Eddy Bowman had hid himself at the rear of a cupboard, all this time, while the monster was dredging his mother's body. He was helpless and consumed by fear. At the time he sensed the absence of the monster, he came out of his hideout, only to find his mother's body lying on the floor with her blood and body fluid dredged to the bones. He wept spiritlessly and came up to the spot where she was lying. His tears had almost soaked his pajamas.
Mrs. Bowman could only be recognized by the clothes she wore. Lester went down and took his camcorder whilst asking Eddy to dial 844 and ask for two ambulances to come and take the body of Mrs. Bowman and the comatose little boy to the hospital, and then 855 to alert the police. Eddy turned and started making vociferous clamors, saying that Lester is to blame in view of the fact that he came to take revenge on him with the monster, as per the rumor that devastated the campus in which Eddy is said to have had an affair with Lester’s girlfriend.
“Eddy, you should be ashamed of yourself for being up to no good, and of your wishy-washy attitude. When are you going learn how to be a man of your own reputation? I walked through the wrong path when I used to take you for my best friend, as clearly you’re the opposite. Thanks anyway for finally showing me your mind; but between us I recommend you change your attitude, if you are interested in living amongst people and being reputable.” Lester who had had it up to his neck poured it out to the friend he had always believed in from childhood.
“Spare me all the sermon; you deserve all that is happening to you now,” Eddy grinned saying.
When he reached the phone, he called two ambulances, and called the police. At this time Lester went out to the yard, and while moving to the spot where little Ken was lying, he took out the tape from the camera and put it in his pocket, throwing the camcorder in to a flowerpot in the orchard while keeping the cassette. Then he went down and took the little boy inside. Ken was still out cold due to the grips of the monster with its flippers, and how the monster dropped him from a height.
Until then, Lester could still not believe his eyes, and that the monster he read about in some story book turnout real. “But Sidney told me all this and I did not believe her; I totally disregarded the fact that it at times occurs to her to see into a near future. But this is more like in a dream.” He kept memorizing. “I will have to nourish her intellect again so that she can tell me more about this whole mystery.”
By Lester’s estimation, the monster was about 2.5meters tall and the largest creature he had ever seen walking on two feet. In the place of a mouth, there was a large sucker adapted for sucking blood and even flesh. Hands and feet made of tentacle structures or flippers with the two lower ones adapted for walking and the two upper ones adapted for gripping at and most imperatively tearing. Between the flipper structures were translucent flaps of skin adapted for flying swiftly in the air. Then the whole body was stratified dorsa-ventrally into cracks that emitted blue light as it flew through the air.
“Oh no! The novel, the monster will get the novel, and also harm my family,” Lester rushed outside saying but it was already too late for him, because the police were already present. But the monster had nothing to do with the novel.
“I saw Lester change into human from the monster. He came here and transformed into a monster, then he killed my mother and wounded my kid brother ferociously,” Eddy explained to detective Jacob Childers and his patrol partner, detective Devine Marshal. “He has been acting weird all this while and has been reading all sorts of mysterious books,” Bowman added.
“But that isn’t true; he is just trying to set me up so that he could date my girlfriend. But check and see if that was not a kind of decoy.”
The police officers, on viewing what the monster did to Mrs. Bowman, had no time to listen to Lester’s version of the story.
Childers asked Lester; “what could you be doing at the scene of a crime if you are to be innocent?”
“I just came to help out after…” Lester tried proving his innocence.
“End it right there”, Childers said to him. “You are coming with me to the police station, where the rest of your story will be explained right there in the presence of the captain.”
At this time, there was a commotion already waiting in front of the Bowman residence. Everybody was talking at the same time. Detective Jacob interviewed two of the neighbors who said they saw nothing but an eccentric creature flying in the air and emitting blue light.
Detective Jacob Childers made calls to Captain Trump and inspector Freeman, who were in their respective homes and informed them about what they saw at the Bowman’s Residence.
The Captain in turn called inspector Freeman and asked him to immediately join him at the office, so they could think of how to remedy the situation, which only be arbitrary for in the meantime.
Mr. Bowman himself was on a business trip to Maindream. When Eddy told him via phone what happened, he hurried immediately to the train station to catch a train. He was consumed by chaos and grief for his family.
He created a chaotic situation at the train station when the ticket seller refused to sell him a ticket, with the pretext that the only train that leaves Maindream city - the capital city of Vaitnia - for Veloria, was full. He was taken by the police to the police department, where he was allowed to express his mind, and when he did, the Maindream police made a call to the Veloria police who confirmed that an unknown monster attacked his family.
As Mr. Bowman came back to the rail way station the train had kicked off and so he jumped and hung on one of the doors, and as they advanced, the train captain saw him through the screen and opened the door to let him in. “Sir, can I see your ticket please?” He demanded.
“Sure, why not. Here,” he pulled out his ticket.
“But Sir your train is not this one but the one that leaves early in the morning. Why are you fighting to get aboard? You could have gotten yourself killed, if I did not see you through the screen,” the captain said to him in little half annoyance.
“I know I am not on the right train, but - believe me, if you are in my shoes at this moment you will want to do even worse than this to get home. My son just called and told me that my home was attacked by an unknown creature, my wife was killed and my younger son’s been hospitalized.”
“Oh no! I saw your wife’s body on the news. Oh, I am sorry Sir; I hope the police are doing something about it,” said the captain of the train.
“That is my wish too.”
“ I wonder what kind of creature will kill somebody and render them unrecognizable like what we just saw on television!”
As the shriveled body of Mrs. Bowman was loaded into an ambulance, and the little boy rushed to the hospital in another ambulance, Lester was taken to the police Department in a police patrol vehicle. This was beyond all explanations that he could imagine. Not only the monster he read about emerged from the blue, into reality, but now he is being taken to the police department for unjustified crime.”
When Lester got to the police department, he was interrogated by the police captain; Mr. Phillip Trump of the East pack police department. But before he was questioned, detective Jacob Childers said to Trump; “we also found this teenager on the crime scene with a weapon in his hands, and a mirror with which he pretended he puzzled the monster with.
“Now the boy whose mother was murdered by the monster, told us he saw this youngster transforming back to human, after killing his mother. Afterwards, two neighbors told us how they heard the screaming, and later on saw a creature in the form of blue light flying away in high speed.” Childers told the police captain.
“Eddy is a liar; the neighbors are telling the truth.” Lester protested.
“Hey, would you shut the hell up? You have not been asked anything as far as I know. Here, you only talk when I ask you to do so, understood?”
“Yes Sir,” Replied Lester.

Chapter Three
A Night in Jail

“Gentleman, you are Lester Williams, the son of the late Dr. Edward Williams. So can you tell me briefly what you were doing on a crime scene?”
“Well! Sir, I came there to help scare away the monster,” answered Lester.
“Have you by any chance ever seen this creature before this night?”
“In real life, no Sir, but I read a story which talked about a similar creature, so when I saw blue light in the air which eventually reflected into our house, I knew exactly that this creature was real; my kid sister, who sees most of the time into the near future, told me that the story I read to her was going to turn out real tonight and will result in many lost of lives in our city, but I thought she was over-reacting, basing her fears on having listened to a creepy story - but my instincts can’t have been any worse than just the center of deception -in view of her vision -which until now still remain a mystery to me, for the only reason that I have never believed in her “forecast”, as have the habit to call it, whenever she comes up with one. This creature has come to annihilate mankind, like in the story book.” Lester told the police captain all he knew about the creature.
Trump took his phone and called for Inspector Freeman. “Yes, Freeman, it’s me, I would like you to immediately send patrol teams to Serenity Street, Veloria center, and the little town of Devina. Make sure they are armed with the best weapons we possess. We have to act fast in order to get to the root of this tragedy before things get worse than we already have here. As for the kid, he is passing the night in a cell for us to be quite sure he has nothing to do with the outbreak.”
“Consider that done! - and for the kid, that is rather a good approach, Sir.”
As it was his duty as the captain to co-ordinate all other police sub-stations in the state of West Velorina, he then called the Velorine police post, which had the greatest number of officers, and instructed them to spread patrols around the city of Veloria, and alert every other police Department around West Velorina - especially in Seka Blue Lake City, which -his instincts told him - most of such kind of wild creatures considered as home, as a result of its vegetation and litter; lastly the Polivenia department should also be notified about the alien invasion which could result in a great lost of humanity in the state, and elsewhere in the country.
“Well! Mr. Williams, I’m afraid you are staying the night at the police department, until we get clear cut information about this creature, and the entire mystery, then that can put you in an innocent position. The story you recounted is not credible enough for me to let you go Scott-free.”
“But Sir, I have lectures to attend to in the morning,” Lester protested.
“I am afraid I just can’t do otherwise. I have to let instincts speak to me at this time and not emotions; it is called foresight. I wouldn’t be a policeman if I don’t believe in it. We are here to protect lives and not lead them into ruin, Son!”
“I am not your son.” Lester protested with a grimace, as if he was ready to do something which could, for once in his entire life, exceed the bounds of reason, but the fragility of the problem - visa vi the personality that he had planned to build in his ever- yearning career- life, was at this point held by a single string, and it would be prudent if he did nothing to break that one- but- only string.
“That’s correct you are not, but it is also true that the late Dr. Williams was a very good friend of mine, and I would not like to see his only son buried into such a mess; but then I still have to carry out the duty for which I took an oath - that of protecting lives, remember! - If not, tomorrow, when many lives are taken and many fingers are pointed at me, no one else but me would be held accountable.
“I can’t do otherwise in such a situation,” went on Captain Trump. “The most I can do is call your mother.”
“No! That is too dangerous; don’t call her.” Poor mother, if she finds this out she won’t be able to endure it this time, consider how much she is already very sick, Lester though in his mind.
“Okay Mr. Williams, I won’t,” responded Captain Trump.
For reassurance, Lester dug his hand into his trouser pocket to feel the cassette, in fear that he might have misplaced it. He knew how importantly the cassette would serve for negotiating, should he not be released in the morning. But in his thoughts he felt it would be better for him to keep it for his personal use, especially for the writing of his project, as the quest of his career, in the police force, grew immensely.
Freeman made the patrol teams ready and as they kicked off, he went into Trump’s office to find out what was actually going on. When Trump told him, he immediately called his wife and asked her to take their two kids into the basement and lock it up from the inside, and not to open unless it was him.
“What is going on Sweetheart?” Mrs. Freeman asked her husband.
“Just go ahead and do as I say, we have an alien attack and these creatures are taking lives, and destroying the entire city, so please do that quickly, I don’t want anything to happen to you and the boys. My instincts tells me that this one is big, so go in there with mattresses and food - whatever you can lay hands on - our opposite neighbor was attacked, and the wife died in the incident, so do it right away and I will join you and the boys, the moment I get through with the captain.”
In the following morning, it was discovered that six other lives in the neighborhood were taken by the monster, and a call came in from Serenity Street to keep the police informed. Calls also came from Devina. As Lester was being released, police patrol teams were sent to the homes where these incidents took place. Lester was called by the captain into his office. He warned Lester; “never you step a leg on a crime scene again, Son, and try as much to stay out of harm’s way. I can imagine the state at which you have put your poor mother and sister, now that you’ve past the night here, so let the police handle these cases -that is the reason why we are here, to protect the General public. Then he asked a police officer to take Lester back home in a police car. Crawford Grant, the police officer who was assigned to take him home, came up, and they left in a police patrol car.
Lester was released without having to use the cassette for negotiation. Just before he boarded the cab, he ran back into the captain’s office and gave him the little cassette saying, “in here is the video I recorded, while in the Bowman residence.”
This cassette was to the captain like having plenty of treasure, without living in an Eldorado.
Once in the car, while galloping away in a great speed, for Lester not to miss his lectures, here are some of the questions Caporal Grant asked Lester:
“So Mr. Williams, did you actually see the creature - or rather, creatures?’
“Yeah,” Lester replied.
“And how did it look?” The officer went on.
‘It is a large and tall walking thing, capable of flying. Hooking other animals that it finds on its path, sucking blood and flesh from them with the greatest pressure that you can ever imagine. This creature emits blue light as it flies through the air. Its body is tough to a point where a bullet at it will bounce back.” Lester briefly described the monster to Grant, who became nervy by Lester’s words.
At about 7:00 am, Mrs. Williams knocked at Lester’s door to check how he slept. She was convinced that her son wasn’t in good health. This was due to the anguish he had on his face the night before. “Hey Sweetheart, how did you sleep?” She said as she pushed open the door to enter. But to her greatest disclosure Lester was not in his room. Then she dialed Sidney’s room. “Hey my love is your brother there with you?”
“Why do you ask Mama, is he not in his room?”
“No he isn’t. He isn’t in the shower either.” Sidney left her room and went into her mother’s room but Lester was not there either. “Mama, do you think that he has gone to see the incident that took place last night?”
“Well, that could be the answer, you got it right Sid, he loves events like that, and he always says it enlightens him in his upcoming career in the police force.”
After Mrs. Williams returned to her room, the phone rang. It was Gretchen.
“Hello Sid, is Lester there with you?”
“No.” she replied, “I imagine he should be off to the scene where a monster manifested last night”
“He loves events like that to help him built his up coming career;” Gretchen said to Sidney. “I will be over there anyway.”
She dropped the phone and rushed out to her car, and drove to the Williams’ residence in a hurry. It was too much for her to even think that he must have slept over the anguish he felt for her the day before, and that things will come back to normal at dawn.
In a police patrol cap, scientific detectives Devlin Robert and Alvin Reyes, who was sitting behind the driving wheel, were moving towards the second scene of the monster’s dreadful attacks. “It’s kind of strange to me Alvin, what this creature could actually look like, from the victim of last night. She was sucked dry in a way that I have never seen nothing happen” Devlin said. “I have a strong feeling that this creature could be an outlandish creature.”
“Well then that is what we are going to find out,” Alvin said calmly.

Chapter Four
The Bolt from the Blue
Devlin and Alvin had ridden for close to thirty minutes, and had just taken a turning towards the alley that leads to Devina, where the monster killed four other persons, when Devlin saw a police car parked at the entrance of the alley where they would turn, to get to the crime scene. Alvin stopped the car, and Devlin jumped out to see what was wrong with the police car, and also, which of his colleagues had parked the car on that position and to offer help if need be.
Nothing had ever been beyond belief in his entire life. The top of the car was warped; the windscreen and driving screen were all broken down. Two bodies lay dredged inside the car, one on the front passenger seat and the other one behind the driving wheel. He told Alvin to get out of the car at once. “My friend we have a situation here, can you remember which of our colleague were on guard here in Devina last night?” Devlin spoke aloud to his partner who was still about to get out of the car.
“Well man, that should be Jacob Childers and Devine Marshal,” Alvin responded.
A police patrol vehicle stopped in front of the Williams’ residence, and Lester jumped out and ran into the house.
“What is she doing here?” Lester asked the moment his eyes fell on Gretchen, while he moved into the living room. Gretchen too, on noticing the way Lester scorned at her, replied horridly.
“I am not here for you, but to see Sidney.”
“So, Sid you became friends with this cheat?” He asked his kid sister.
“First I am not a cheat and secondly, I have always been friends with Sidney.”
She replied -again in Sidney’s place.
“Fair enough!” Lester - who was not even addressing to her - replied.
“That is a little uncalled for, don’t you think? You are scaring her, and don’t forget she is innocent, and you are clinging to baseless rumors to get rid of her. She was framed, for goodness sake, can’t you see?” Sidney whispered in her sibling’s ear, as she pulled him to the dining room.
“Too shy! I even feel so ashamed right now and should be crying for my broken heart. Stay out of my business Sid. And wait until you are eighteen and then, when you get your first deception, that is when you will feel the way I do right now. Does that ring a bell?”
Gretchen was not far away enough, to start pretending she did not hear what Lester said to Sid. So she got into her car and drove off.
As Lester moved further in to his room - but at the verge of closing the door - Mrs. Williams came out of her room, and took her son in her arms, and thanked heaven for giving back her son alive;
“I and Sidney were already being panicky, after we find out that you were out of the house. Sweetheart, why would you bear such risk in the name of a career?” she said. “Do you realize how much you are jeopardizing our little family?”
“Mama it’s not what you think. By the way, I came here from the police department; I passed the night in a jail cell.” On hearing this, Mrs. Williams fell on the floor and was out cold, then in a few seconds was caught in an attack by asthma.
As Lester and Sidney went down to hold their mother, he told his sister to call an ambulance. But she kept saying, “It’s all your fault, Lester. Mother should be in herself, if not for your impish conduct.”
“Hey! Look here my friend, it’s no time for ranting, and I thought I told you to call an ambulance without delay.” Lester started fanning his mother, and then he ran into her room and took her spray. Before the ambulance arrived Mrs. Williams had regained consciousness, after inhaling her spray several times. So the ambulance left again.
“Never, ever go out of this house at night without my approval. If that happens again, then I shall have no alternative but to deprive you of your car. And Lester, be careful for I already lost a husband but I refuse to lose my only son.”
“Copy that mama. But you know it is all about what I have chosen as a career, and it would be hard for me to let go something that I have so much passion for but I can assure there shall be no late night outings again, at least until I become a full grown man,” he responded.
Lester in his immense curiosity about Sidney’s vision the evening before, called for Sid in his room and asked her to tell him everything she saw, in that vision. When Sid told him that she had said everything she saw, he believed her, but told her he would feed her imagination again by reading the novel, so that she could see other things that may came true. As he began the reading, Sid started feeling pains in the head; she felt as if her head was going to explode, as some of the vision began to come to her, and she shouted “Stop! Stop! You are hurting me,” and fell to the ground. “My head is on fire. I can’t continue.”
Lester quickly closed the book and asked her what she saw. “An old building very far from here,” she replied.
“How far?” He asked. “Far enough for one to believe it is not in this city. Please do not read that book to me again. The path through which my vision is taking me is too rough, and I am in pains the moment it starts.”

Scientific Detective Devlin Robert took out some gloves and a test tube from a first aid box inside the car, and ran back to the smashed police car. At the time Alvin was unrolling a tape of “no trespass” around the police car to encircle the crime zone. Devlin began looking inside the car for any piece of stuff that could have fallen off the monster’s body during the dredging process, so that he would take it to the laboratory for analysis, to prove what the creature rely was. He found no hairs but some blood and broken shell-like calcium pieces.
Devlin turned to Alvin and said; “I bet you Alvin we are dealing with some very hard- skinned - or let me say, exoskeleton -creature.”
“What makes you think that?” Alvin demanded.
“The particles I found are shell-like but thick and very hard in a way that only a great strength or pressure will make it fall off. You know like twisting the top of a car and pulling off the car doors.”
“Don’t tell me we are dealing with a very large snail!!!” Alvin became a little play humorous.
“No, I did not say that,” Devlin said, tapping him on his back, and they laughed it out for a while. “But I strongly believe this creature must be a reptile that feeds on other animals’ blood and flesh by sucking with great pressure involved. And I don’t think it is found in the classification and nomenclature of living organism.”
“I see what you mean now, it could be an extraterrestrial organism which missed its way and came to our peaceful planet to cause chaos.” Alvin said to Devlin.
Devlin then extracted the drop of blood on the inside handle of the car door whish was lying on the ground. Two ambulances and a police car in which was Captain Phillip Trump and Inspector Billy Freeman, who was sitting behind the driving wheel, arrived.
Trump and Freeman put on some gloves and closely examined the two bodies. “Hell no; it’s Jacob Childers my nephew and Devine Marshal.” Trump got so grieved the moment he found out that it was Childers his nephew. “Why did they go out again, weren’t they supposed to be off duty when they got back? Freeman, I believe you have an explanation for this.”
“Sorry for your loss, Sir, but I had to reassign them for the night after they came back with information about the creatures, because we ran out of men to send out on the field, so - as you told me to use up all the men we have - I assigned them last night to watch out to see how the whole monster attack thing developed, and make sure it don’t kill other victims here in Devina.”
“Oh! I am finished. He was to me like the son that I never had, and what am I going to tell my sister, Freeman; that I killed her only child?” Trump kept lamenting.
“My condolences, Sir,” Freeman forwarded, as Trump’s bottom headed for the ground.
Meanwhile the bodies of the two policemen were loaded in an ambulance, Trump and Freeman took off in Freeman’s service car. Inspector Freeman assigned another team to take care of the four victims killed by the monster. “Devlin,” the Captain called out, while stretching a hand out of the car window, “take this tape and study the content. It might be of paramount importance to your research.”
Devlin and Alvin also left the scene and headed for the laboratory where they would find out what the creature is. Once in the laboratory, they presented the sample to Mss Cynthia Jackson and Detective Sean Russell. Jackson and Russell - together with Devlin and Alvin -immediately commenced work.
“Ok; Lady and Gentlemen, we are starting with this video tape that the Captain gave to me. This will enlighten us about the creature’s physical appearance, and also clues to its behavioral patterns amongst other characteristics,” Devlin explained.
“God have mercy,” Alvin said, as he saw the creature in the video. “Cracks on the body emitting blue light, large round sucker with hooks in place of mouth; creature must be exoskeleton.” He added all this to his jotter “- and lastly, creepy whispers that can destroy the ear drum.”
“Rewind the video,” Devlin said to Alvin,
“Hey, what for?”
“Just do as I say and you will find out. Right there! Stop! Play it now. It seems to be afraid of something.”
“And there is a source of light pointing to it at ninety degrees.” Cynthia pointed out brilliantly.
“You got that right Miss Jackson; unfortunately we wouldn’t be able to know more.” The video ended. “Alvin, get the Captain on the phone to contact the boy. I want to know what puzzled that creature. Cynthia and Russell, let’s get down to work, I have a presentiment that there is a colony of these creatures somewhere, and from the look in his eyes, there is something cooking up, he seems to be calling for help through the noise. I have seen that exact same reaction in another creature, believe me.”
Analysis and result proved that this creature had an eccentric genetic modification, which cannot be compared to that of any other living organisms on Earth.
“Hey Cynthia you guys got to be quick in obtaining results for the Captain for he has been attacked by the monsters, so there is a high tendency he gets in here and start giving people query letters and firing others. Knowing this, you wouldn’t want to be on his hit list if you still care about your job.” Alvin said, and everyone in the lab broke out in laughter.
“Hey Alvin I know you are a big fan of expensive jokes, but what if the Cap walks in and fires your big mouth for being such a freakish buffoon?” Cynthia seemed to have sown Alvin’s mouth with a very hard thread. The laughter quenched almost simultaneously.
“That serves you right ‘Cosby’,” Devlin recommended.
When Captain Phillip Trump came into the laboratory, his face was stained with a grave annoyance, which altered his usual gentle face, and he scared everyone by his presence. His eyeballs looked relatively bigger than usual and had turned red, as the result of weeping, even though, in the eyes of many who knew him, teardrops would be a sign of weakness, and - in its most miserable meaning - deformation of character. He could no longer contain his loss, but the one thing he wanted more than anything was to see through the extermination of these unknown creatures, which took over the city and left him with a dead nephew.
Devlin began to explain to the Captain what they had so far; “Our results with carbon dating and specimen identification have proven that this creature has a different type of genetic makeup, which has never been examined before, an organism with a highly developed exoskeleton like no other on earth,” he said.
“We also found that our target could be some outlandish organism which looks more alike with reptiles because of its highly calcified and stratified outer body and the fact that it could possibly feed only on blood, body fluids and maybe flesh, by sucking. It has eight- to- ten centimeters depth of the calcified skin, body- wide, such that a bullet at it will bounce back to its origin depending on the point of focus.” Cynthia explained.
“Yes Freeman, I remembered the boy said some thing like that,” the Captain interrupted.
“We also detected the presence of flippers, which are used during hooking - by the four upper ones - and the two lower ones adapted for walking,” Russell said.
“Sandwiched between all the ten flippers are flaps of almost fragile and semi transparent skin, which enable it to fly swiftly in the air,” Alvin added.
“Carbon dating indicated the creature that attacked Childers and Devine was between the ages of one hundred and eighty to two hundred years old, which means it is in its third age a clearer point of view, this means a very old Vindigo monster. Most of what we have so far may not be as exact as in the case of a creature we have already mastery of its behavioral patterns, but we are not in any way far from reality,” explained Devlin.
“In detailed cross- examination, the result from the dredged bodies showed that this creature has suckers…or a large centre sucker in the place of a mouth and uses it to suck blood and body fluids with a pressure estimated to be plus or minus two hundred and fifty thousand Pascal’s.” Cynthia added.
“This is far greater than the earth’s gravitational force.” Alvin said.
“If I’ve heard correctly all that you boys have put across, then we are dealing with some specie of dinosaurs,” inspector Freeman said. “Well Sir, that’s what we haven’t been able to prove so far, because we can only go as far as our equipment takes us. But from all that we have so far, it can’t be a dinosaur, but a more advanced creature than dinosaurs,” Devlin said.
“That is, it is much nearer to our generation than the Dinosaurs,” Russell pointed out.
“Do you know that Vindigoes are good swimmers too?” Cynthia asked.
“So you already named the creature?” asked the Captain.
“Yes Sir, it is one of the rules of classification especially in the early stage.”
“And how is swimming possible with these man - eaters?” Trump interrupted.
“They have webbed toes, which seem to enlarge during swimming.”
“That’s brilliant,” replied the Captain.
“I don’t want to know what it is any more, it has done a lot of destroying just for a single night and it wounded my heart, too, and people are in danger all over the city and beyond. I want it out of the way. If we are unable to put it out of the way then the military will come in, and remember we have just two days before the military intervenes. I don’t want us to fail or to let the military do our job for us; we both know how they will handle it, if they get their way. So Freeman, I want you to set up teams that will go everywhere to look for these creatures and get rid of them.”
“Sir, here is the written report of the video and the results of the analysis of the sample we took from the scene.” Devlin said while handing the report to the Captain. “And Sir like Alvin called and told you earlier, we would need to get more details of the video from the boy.”
“I will get the kid to tell whatever it is that he knows and we don’t.” The Captain gave his word to Devlin.
“Also, I would like you to assign more men to find out where these creatures may possibly be breeding and get rid of the young ones or eggs or whatever you find in their nest. I want that to be done tonight, else in two day we shall lose this mission to the military. The president will address the state in five minutes from now, so do what you have to do.”
Inspector Freeman assembled all the police officers and partitioned them into groups of four, and then he sent every group to a quarter, each with enough ammunition - AK47 and Grenades - believing that this would be enough get rid of the heartless creatures. “I have done my job, but you boys must be able to do your own,” Freeman said. They all set off for their respective directions.
After the president’s speech, Trump sat back and thought, but why would the president say that he has confidence in me, where does he know me?.. And I am only human; these monsters would crush me down regardless of who I am. Well but I don’t have to let him down.
Phillip Trump thought for over two hours what he could use to stop the monsters from manifesting again. Then it came to his mind what Lester told him concerning the monsters: he’d found one of the things that Lester said was proven right by the scientific police. Then he decided to look for Lester. “I need to take the bull by its horns,” he said to himself.

Chapter Five
The Mirror that Befuddled the Monsters
Time, they say, is of the essence, and waits for no man, but judicious use of it will always provide convenient room for obtaining better results in what so ever one is engaged with, especially when you know from where to start. At about 2:00 pm, a police cab halted in front of the Williams” residence and Trump stepped out and rang the bell.
Lester, who was back from lecture, and now glancing to see if he could find any information that would tell him more about the monster, went up to the gate to open it. Then he saw Trump, and his annoyance of having passed the night in jail cell resurfaced in a hot anger. He stepped forward.
“If you have to arrest me newly then go ahead,” he said, after stretching his arms forward.
“No, Son,” the Captain ventured.
“How many times will I tell you that I am not your son?” Lester protested.
“In short, I am here because I found out that I should have trusted and listened to you at the in police department,” the Captain said. “On behalf of the entire police Department, I am sorry for everything that was done wrongly to you.”
“Okay I let me have it now, go ahead and give me all the credit in the world but it will not save my reputation,” Lester was kind of over- reacting. I know but I will chill out your heart.
“All I need right now is for you tell me how you scared that monster away in the Bowman’s residence”
“Of what importance will that be now? The last time I told you what I knew, I found myself passing a night in a jail cell so its better I say nothing, because I could say something that would be taken against me like you did before.”
“Not this time, it’s different my son.”
“Oh no! Mr. Williams, so what guarantees me that you will not incarcerate me again?”
“You have my word, and protection of you and your family, if the situation gets beyond expectation.”
“With a mirror,” Lester replied. “By pointing at it with a mirror.”
“Thank you, Mr. Williams, you will probably hear from me again. When all this is finished, I will have you rewarded by the police Department.”
Trump drove back to the police department and arranged for mirrors to be distributed to all the policemen out on the mission. Then he told them to inform the households to move around their houses with mirrors in their hands. It was when he scared away one of the monsters with a mirror, that Devlin began to understand why the driving mirrors of the car which was driven by Childers and Marshal were destroyed. Then he informed Trump that it worked, “but worst-case scenario could arise, as the creatures may develop immunity, to counter the mirror effect, because their minds didn’t have any pictures of how they looked themselves, yet, so the image in the mirror is an enemy that I believe could challenge them, or even do them harm, like when a dog sees itself in a mirror. But it might not be long until they find out that the image in the mirror is their own. We shall start back at zero if this happen without us finding another way to get rid of them. But for now I think it’s better than nothing.”
“I understand what you mean, but for now that is all we have, so let’s do with it while research is underway to find a suitable weapon that will eliminate these creatures. The military is working on something as we speak.”
“You said the kid who was incarcerated last night told you about the mirror? Please don’t let him go away; he may still retain some relevant information that could be helpful, Sir.”
“Yes I heard you Devlin, just do your job and I will make sure the kid provides more of what he knows.”
Captain Trump Drove back to the Williams” residence, his objective was to be able to lay hand on more solutions to the elimination of the Vindigo.
Four Vindigoes invaded the Seka Blue lake City police Department and dredged four policemen in revenge of police action on them in the fields, but the situation was immediately contained with the used of mirrors, getting them confused and then blowing up with grenades; but even the use grenades and AK47 meant nothing to the Vindigoes; the body of these things is petrified.
Once in the Williams” residence, the police captain explained the situation to Mrs. Williams. “Now listen to me Mrs. Williams, what I am doing is for the safety of everyone in this city, and most importantly, to save the name of this country.
“So if your son is retaining some vital information which can help to remedy the situation, then why not do this for the sake of everyone in this city? We are not letting go the least help that comes our way now,” he said.
“Yeah I should believe you, because last night that help turned into incarceration. No, Lester is my only son, and if anything happens to him I will die, because I cannot live to see my son dead after all what we have been through without his father, you should know better Captain, you were one of my husband heartfelt friends. Get help elsewhere; he will not be leaving this house for what so ever.”
Mrs. Williams sat back and thought about what she saw on the news, the activities of the Vindigoes and how they had become man-eaters, and were taking lives; she further thought how one of her friends, Mrs. Bowman, was sucked to the bones by these same creatures. It was hard for her, to actually take a stand, but she also wanted peace to be restored in the city,
Viewing that it was about life and death, Mrs. Williams called for her son. Lester saw the Captain and was like;
“What do you want from me again? You took me to your jail and locked me up for a night, and still when you came back and met me, I told you what you wanted to hear. Right now, if I have all details about the deadly Vindigoes, I don’t think it would be safer for me to confide it to you. And I think I have gotten enough from you and your boys.”
“Look here Lester, we’re trying to get rid of these monsters whose presence is resulting in the untimely death of members of this city. Lives are at stake here, and you know it better than anyone does, because you started the fight against it. That is while I must confess to you that every bit of information or cooperation counts a lot, not to me, but to the entire people of this city. I will personally make sure that your family is protected. You have my word,” said the Captain.
Lester thought for a while and then turned to the Captain and said “I will come with you but I need to be sure that my mother and sister will be fine.” The main reason for Lester’s collaboration was that he wanted to witness his career before he completed his studies.
He took a few clothes and his timberland. Then he hugged his sister and mother goodbye.
“Lester, are you sure you want to do this?” His mother asked him.
“Yeah Mama, now more than ever I want to make a name for this family.” He left the arms of his already crying mother and took off with Captain Trump.
“Lester,” Mars Williams called out to her son from a distance,
“Never forget what I am about to tell you now; he who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying, even though I know how much this is important for you. Trust me it would not be a thing for you start living your career before getting through with studies. Believe me once you get a little taste of what it, you wouldn’t be able to finish your studies. I want you to promise me that you will go back to school after this.”
“Mother, there is nothing to worry about, it just help, and besides, it will help me to write my project.”
Once in the police Department, Phillip Trump allowed Lester meet the people he was to be working, with and to get to know them personally. They were seven in number, including Lester to make a team of eight. Four scientific police who were Devlin Albert, Cynthia Jackson, Sean Russell and Alvin Reyes. And three security Agents were: Ryan Murray, Nicolas Bennett and David Moseley. Here Lester Williams, the one that knows much more about the monsters. The special mission to find a means via which the safety of the city could be restored, was in place. This was what the Captain called a perfect team for the investigation.
Sidney began having visions again. She saw the destruction of the city of Veloria by Vindigoes, she also saw in her vision the building in which a king seemed to be in command of the Vindigoes, and then her vision gave her the information of her life, the death of her mother. She screamed and passed out on the floor. On hearing her daughter scream, Mr. Williams ran into her room and found her on the floor. “Oh merciful Lord why are you letting them take away all that I have left in this world? First, I don’t even know if Lester will make it back home and now Sidney. “
She went down in great exasperation, took Sidney in her arms and laid her on the bed, and then she felt her heart beat, which kept her reassured, but she could not help but wonder why Sid passed out. In a moment, she went to the living room to call an ambulance, and to get cold water, in which to soak a towel, to gently massage her whole body. But when she got back with the water, Sidney had regained awareness.
“Mama for how long was I out cold?”
“For close to ten minutes, I thought I was losing you, you left me panicking Sid, tell me what happened.”
“I had a vision,” she replied, “and the Vindigoes destroyed Veloria. Mother let’s stay in the basement until we are sure that the danger is gone, and please promise me you will be careful.”
“Why, what is the matter, my love?”
“Nothing but just be vigilant.” It would too painful for her to explain to her mother that she saw her dead.
Lester had brought his novel along with him, and his goal was to review some points in the novel, which he thought could be important for the investigation. He also wondered how he would convince his would-be collaborators to see with him in his hypothesis. He made up his mind to strike the rod when it is still hot. Believing in his findings, he decided to meet with one of his new team members to sort it out with him, or her. He knocked on the door next to his.
On opening the door, Cynthia saw Lester and was like, “Ah! The mysterious kid, there are no monsters in my room.” Then she closed her door.
“Hey! Don’t go away; I don’t bite!” He held the door, which was almost closed.
“Okay! So what can I do for the little genius?” She asked in a ferocious voice.
“I know you are not going to believe me but trust me, it’s worth listening.”
“Go ahead and done waste my time, Mama’s Boy.”
“I found some interesting phrases in the acknowledgement of this novel. All the details we need to get relevant information on the monsters.” He handed the novel to Cynthia. “As you can see the ideal of scaring the monster with a mirror came from this novel, I read it the evening before the monsters started manifesting, and when I witnessed the destruction caused by the Vindigo monsters, I was guilty of a crime that does not exist.”
“And which is that crime that does not exist?” Cynthia asked.
“I read the novel and released the monsters out of ignorance. That is why I must do everything within reach to get rid of those heartless creatures.”
“So you believe what you read from this novel is real and is manifesting out there? Then you should be completely out of your mind, or maybe something has unscrewed upstairs. Come on boy, you must be sick to come knocking at my door to tell me nonsense.” Closing her door behind her, she went back to her research over the internet.
This was at the time the other guys opened their doors to find out what was happening. They all criticized the ideal and even snubbed at Lester; “You should better get yourself a video game and stop disturbing others,” Sean Russell said.
Lester saw that it would be of no importance continuing to convince them, so he went back to his room. Then Devlin reached Cynthia on the phone, and told her that the kid was right. “I used a mirror to scare away one of the monsters and it works so he should be given more credible attention, and let’s get what he has to say.”
Devlin and Cynthia knocked at Lester’s door. “We now understand you and we are ready to work with you, It’s important to us, having someone like you in the team.” Then Alvin and Russell joined in.
Being happy that some one ended up believing him, Lester continued with his findings. “I found more substantial information on where to get the details about our Vindigoes. The acknowledgement of this novel tells me that our target is found in Lailand in a place called Sandcova. This information about the monsters is in an abandoned building that once served as a library. Apparently this building has been abandoned for close to fifty decades.”
“Yeah, that’s it; now bring out the little genius in you so that we can all follow a kid’s lead to some unknown location far out in the countryside.” Alvin sounded like he was going to continue the search on his own.
“I know this kid is saying something reasonable guys,” Devlin backed Lester up.
“Thanks Dev!” said Lester, who was far from hoping that any one could hear him out, since the encounter with Cynthia.

Chapter Six
The Trip to Sandcova
Devlin, who was the leader of the team, called for the rest of the guys and said to them; “It’s true that we are experts, but that don’t mean that we cannot listen to some one like Lester here, who just gave us a radiant idea, which we have been searching for everywhere, including the internet. So let’s get ready, for we are going to Sandcova in the state of Lailand.”
“Well, if the kid said he knows where we could get information on how to extinguish these man eaters, then let’s give him the chance to prove to us how smart he can be, but if this fails… I mean I could be mean to any extent as far as security is at stake,” Murray said.
“Or when you are pushed to the wall, man, don’t tell me you become a mean person when everyone else is in danger? Did you all hear that guys? Men let’s send this chap home; if he isn’t even fit to take care of his own ass, then just how the hell is he going to make sure all of us are safe, when danger comes our way?”
“Men, don’t mind Alvin, he was joking. He has been like that since we were kids,” Devlin said to Murray.
“No, I am not kidding any of those words, that man is scared, meanwhile he is suppose to more spirited than anyone else in this mission, because that is the reason why he is leading security to the mission,” Alvin said again.
“Oh no! I should be crying for not being able to protect you from the so-called Vindigoes right? Well let me tell a fine little story…”
“Guys! This is not what we should be doing. It’s time to get down to work. Our success is going to bring joy to the heart of millions of persons out there, but in the mean time, let’s just stop fighting ok?”
“Yeah, that is what I thought myself, until this junky came out with his own protection plan,” said Alvin.
Cynthia was not so sure she had said the right thing, but that did ring a bell to the minds of the two knocker-heads who, in the event, quenched their anger as if someone had poured dead cold water on the radiator of a car which had just done fifteen hundred km per hour.
“Well, Guys, you all heard the lady, it’s no time for settling of a score, let’s move down to work. I think you could do that when we have taken away the danger in our city. And you Cynthia, call the Cap and make him know our position on this mission. For the rest of you guys, make up your luggage, for we are all embarking on the journey to Sandcova in the state of Lailand. Lester, please come with me, let me see what we could get for you from the supermarket.”
“No Dev, not from the supermarket. I could rush back home and get my things, whilst there I profit from that to say bye to my mom and sister.”
“No Lester, as you can see, there is no time for distant affairs, we need to hit the road now or we have more dead men on our consciences than ever. From the present statuesque, I don’t think I will be able to compound any more dead, that is why I have to do it right to stop these man-eaters with the last bit of strength that I still have.”
“You mean like in dead men walking?” asked Alvin.
“Hell no! That is one movie I don’t like to talk about, or to even remind myself that I once watched a movie like that.” Devlin got a little wobbly as if in his mind he seemed to be comparing the realities of life to some dreadful movie memories.
While Lester and his team packed up luggage for Sandcova beach, in the state of Lailand, the Captain, after getting all the details of Lester’s proposal, went to the Williams resident to inform Mrs. Williams about the latest development. But Mrs. Williams was so worried about the decision to risk her son’s life, all in the name of saving lives. “It sounds like a setup to me, Sir that you take my only son from me and expose him to such danger. If he gets devoured by those monsters, I will do to you what no-one has ever done to a policeman,” she said to the captain.
In a moment she calmed down and then informed the Superintendent that the monsters attacked at her house the night before, and in the morning, Lester’s dog was found dead, sucked up to a point where only the skin was left on the bones.
When the police superintendent heard this, he decided to protect Lester’s family. He then took Mrs. Williams and her daughter to his home, where he thought they would be safe because of the high security present there, until the Mayor gave his accord for the two stadia to be used to accommodate people during the crisis.
Lester and his collaborators arrived in Sandcova and rented a truck, which would be taking them around to achieve their different goals. They bought the necessary materials that they would need for their adventure, such as torchlight’s, knives, gloves, water, and many other items including food. Alvin drove the truck as usual.
“Hey Guys, can anyone imagine how this ancient museum looks like?” Alvin would never stop being provocative.
“It isn’t a museum but a library,” Lester defended.
“It’s a museum, Alvin replied.
“No it’s not,” Lester said.
“Museum! Library! Museum! Library! Can you two stop that, museum or library, it changes nothing until we get rid of those cold-blooded creatures,” Cynthia pointed out clearly to them.
“I think you should be driving prudently and not make too much noise Alvin,” Devlin said to his best –man- to- be; the man who was going to stand by him on the day of his wedding with his lovely fiancé, Miss Kelly Skies.
They reached the beach where the large monument was found. “So this whole place is isolated from the rest of the city,” said Russell, while everyone hopped out of the car and stood looking at the gigantic building.
The outer walls of the building could already tell them what the interior would look like. It was very old and dilapidated and the one and only door was intact but also suffered from the weather and its agents.
“Guys! Here is the drill, Let’s make a u-turn, its not going to easy in there; I can already feel the great danger inside this jungle. Well don’t take it too personal Guys, that also came from where all my other jokes come,” Alvin told his colleagues, who all were looking at him as he poured out his joke.
“Well I think we can go ahead and see what is hidden in this weird building.” A text message came in to Lester’s phone, and Sid was warning him about weird happenings in the building.
In a moment’s notice, they moved up to the building’s entrance and Alvin drove to follow them with the car. Murray and Bennett broke open the main door. The time was exactly 10:00 am as Lester called aloud to everyone, “Listen Sirs; our target in there is a golden book, with the phrases on it written in the writings of the old. This information is found on the acknowledgement of the novel.”
Once in the main hall of the building, they started with an entire new adventure, which would save an entire city. It was so strange, and very astonishing, that the torches could no longer light. Russell and Alvin were so astonished. It was so dark in the hall. “Is it just me or is everyone else is in the dark too?” Alvin poured out another joke. Everyone laughed.
As Lester moved forward in the dark, he saw a slide reflection of light coming from a centre point, and then he touched the surface, which was sending out the light and felt it to be a pillar made of glass. All of a sudden, the entire hall brightened to a point where every spot in it could be seen. Even a pin could be found if missing. After about seventeen minutes, seventeen other pillars were seen emerging from the floor, which itself was also made of glass, with water beneath, and in communication with the ocean.
Flowers were seen everywhere underneath the glass tiles, and the place looked as if people lived there. The floor of the hall solemnly resembled a gigantic fish tank. “Magnificent!” Russell remarked; “this place looks to me like an aquarium.”
“So it is here that God lives,” Alvin supported.
“No it is not, can’t you see that it is connected with the ocean’s water?” Cynthia - who also nevertheless admired the floor - said to Alvin.
“This must have cost a great fortune to the owner,” Alvin remarked.
“Well, that will depend on what context you are basing your judgment, for it could be state-owned assets,” Devlin pointed out. “What did you say is this place, Lester?”
“A library,” he responded
“But this is far more classic than an abandoned library,” said Cynthia. Then she went closer to a small office at the corner of the hall, on top of which were some documents, books, an old typewriter and a coffee cup. She found that the coffee in the cup was still hot and so she took the documents, which were free of dust, and began to look through, but there was nothing she could actually understand, for they were written in a strange language. She placed them back were she found them and in a moment the coffee inside the cup vanished. She began to figure how dangerous the place could be, too inquisitive.
Alvin came up to her and murmured to her ear, “Beware of phantoms in this hall, they can’t be lacking, visa-vi the weirdness of the place.”
“Don’t try my patience Alvin, I could be mean at times too but for now just let me be the smiling volcano that I have been trying to be, all along this mission,” she said, heatedly.
As would ever be more astonishing than any of them in the search team imagined, the others also went closer to a dining table, which also just emerged in the centre of the hall, and found that the food was still hot, and the wine fresh. The food and the wine also volatilized as they came closer.
“This is amazing;” remarked Alvin, “So you guys meant to get rid of me, why not just deliver me to the Vindigoes at once,” he continued. “I would rather be devoured by the Vindigoes, than be in a place where I cannot even see dead coming. It’s too dangerous in here guys,” he added.
Lester himself could not believe his eyes. They observed a moment of unanticipated silence.
“Hey - but this is strange all together, don’t you think?” Devlin broke the silence by saying.
“We must leave this place in a hurry or else something very strange will happen to us,” said Russell.
“Mark my word we are close to the goal and even if we would die in the process, let’s look for the book,” Lester said.
“He is speaking some sense right there; we can’t just pretend that there is danger in here, when we have seen nothing yet. We’ve got to find that book, if not, there are lives that are being taken away from our people back in the city, and these lives depend utterly on this mission , on everyone of us here present, and we have accepted to carry it out. Why not take up to the end?” Cynthia backed Lester up.
“She has a point,” Devlin said. “We took on this mission, we must fulfill it.”
“Well, this is no time for a quarrel, I think we should all move down to work,” Murray said.
“That’s a better thought!” Cynthia replied.
They could sense the presence of danger but could not see it yet. As every one dispersed further into the other parts of the hall, too-curious Alvin placed a hand on one of the pillars, and the eastern wall turned in to a library full of books. “Strange things will never stop happening,” he remarked as he shook his head disbelievingly.
“Let’s see what we have here,” he began to open the books one after the other. For him, there was only one word in his vocabulary at that moment. “I will triumph if I get to find the book first. And that so-called Lester the “genius” will only take his orders from me because I will be in control of everything; even Devlin the leader of the mission will follow my lead,” he told himself in the lowest tune ever.
“Hey Alvin, did you find something on those shelves?” Devlin asked, as he approached the shelves.
“No, nothing compared to what we are searching for, so far.”
“It’s kind of weird in here, and I think it won’t be long before something really dreadful happens to us in this mighty hall.” Devlin told his partner what a mess he believed that they have gotten into; “Thanks for reminding, it something that I have lamented on for as long as we got in to this toy heaven.”
“I will remember that only some time later when we are out of this place,” Alvin was so glad to hear this coming from his best friend and partner.
Cynthia and Lester joined in the search on the shelves; by this time, many other shelves had emerged, almost everywhere in the hall, but not around the dining table and the little office. Cynthia counted the number of rows of shelves, and it gave her a total of forty. She looked at her watch and it was exactly forty minute since the first shelf had emerged. “This is amazing,” she remarked.
“What is amazing?” Lester asked.
“We have a total of forty shelves in this hall and the time was 11:00 when Alvin signaled the presence of the first two shelves. Meaning that it’s been exactly forty minutes since then, and we have forty shelves.”
Lester who was quick in calculation said. “Oh!”
“You’ve got the brains,” she commended.
“That is what I am talking about,” Alvin shot out a preposterous slang.
“That is not all,” she continued.
“What again?” Alvin screamed.
“It was exactly seventeen minutes after we saw the first pillar that the seventeen other ones appeared.”
“I think this is trying to tell us something.” Devlin said.
“What could all this be trying to tell us, if it’s not danger?” Russell said.
“Don’t nobody relent boys! For this is going to be tough but if that will make those heartless creatures disappear for good in our country, then count on me for the retrieval of the… what is it called again Lester?” Devlin asked.
“The golden book,” Lester replied.
“Men this how the search goes; Lester you and Cynthia embark on the first two rolls next to the left side of the dining table; Alvin and I will take the ones next, and the rest of the guys fall on one of the following shelves. And remember our goal is a large encyclopedia with golden covers. See Lester, if any one of you needs any other details about what so ever.”
Text from Sidney came in again. “Be careful Lester. One of your colleagues will touch something he ought not to, and there will be a disaster in there.”
“Guys - everybody should stop touching everything!” Lester screamed.
“What has come over him?” Alvin asked inquisitively. But it was too late for him to do whatsoever to stop it from happening, when the text came in. Nicolas Bennett, one of the security agents, was advancing towards the shelf where Devlin had assigned him and the other security guys, when he placed a hand on a pillar and the big fish tank began to break open in slates of glass marble of about forty square centimeters each.
It was breaking and following his direction in high speed. “Take your hand off the pillar!” Lester shouted. Bennett took his hand off the pillar and it stopped just on the tile beneath his legs. Before he had noticed, he was already in the water. Then the glass marbles closed up, in the same manner that they had broken open.
“You know Guys! When I said this place was full of strange happenings, I had not seen all what it was reserving in its reservoir; this place sucks and we all know it.” Alvin made use of his large mouth again. “Are we going to wait until another man is swallowed by this gigantic aquarium before we know that there is danger?”
He continued; “This mission is moving from ordinary search to extraordinary disappearances.”
“Who told this was going to be ordinary, your mother maybe! Is the situation in Veloria ordinary?” Cynthia asked Alvin.
“As if that does not make you afraid too, my mother gave birth to only one child and that is baby me,” Alvin responded furiously, but to everyone he seemed to be using his large mouth as usual.
“Hey, Stop! That is Nic under those tiles, we have to do something,” said Murray. As he was hitting the glass floor with his weapon, he could still see Nicolas below it. “He is here, let’s break this thing and take him out.”
“No, can’t you see he is gone. If we break the glass then we are all going to drown,” Devlin, who was caught up in the greatest trepidation ever, replied.
Cynthia and Lester were petrified and almost buried with fear. Too enraged, Murray came up to Lester and said; “This is your entire fault, and yours as well “Miss I know everything”, but for the two of you knocker heads, my friend and hilarious partner would still be here now with us”. He poured to Cynthia who looked him in the eyes and said:
“Put your blame on those heartless creatures in Veloria, they are still taking lives even now, and if Nicolas died trying to figure out how to stop those monsters from taking more lives, then he died a national hero - okay?”
Russell moved over to the point where Nicolas was lying underneath the glass tiles to see how death had started manifesting its true colors. Then, Nic’s body disappeared. Russell walked over to Devlin and said, “Dev! I am not the fearful type but I suggest we leave, there is more danger in this place than in Veloria, the whole place is stinking with death, don’t you get it?”
“Good thing you also gave in Russell, I thought I was alone, this place is a dead end and we all know it.”
To thrill, Alvin said; “I can see the hysterical faces, it is too dangerous in here and it’s true that something even more dangerous is in Veloria, but we are not going to abandon the mission just like that.”
“We shall all move to a hotel where we can pass the night, and figure out a second plan that will put us on the right path to find the golden book tomorrow,” Devlin said to everyone.
“That is what you should have said a long time ago; when we started seeing strange happenings, now that there has been a loss of life you want everyone to run away like cowards. Well but all the same, if that will keep me away from death for several hours then let’s go.” Alvin used his large mouth one more time.
“No, it will be sundown in two hours from now, and we have done nothing to find the book up till now. I will stay the night right here and I will continue to stay and search until I find that book.”
“Same goes for me,” Lester and Cynthia took a rather harsh direction as far as dropping all searches to have a meeting and pick it up where the left off the next day was concerned.
“Well, if you guys are staying here, then let that be at your own risk. It’s too dangerous in here, and until we can make out other strategies to find the book then I will not step a leg here again,” said Devlin.
“Me neither,” Alvin said.
“I will go with Dev,” Russell declared.
“Dev is the leader so I take my others from him. I am going to the hotel,” David Mosley yarned
“It’s kind of weird for you to sound like that Devlin, what has gotten into the bravest man we have in the east pack VDP -Veloria police department?” Cynthia yelled at the top of her voice.
“Is that supposed to be harassment? Look I refuse to let my life be a response to traps which pragmatically may or may not even be existing, so spare me all that bow shit.” Devlin yelled aloud to Cynthia in return. Then he turn to the other guys and said, “Now, if anyone thinks that staying is good; fine, then stay.”
Everyone else agreed with Devlin, excepting for Lester and Cynthia who normally refused to let the fact that there is danger in the hall, be the reason why an entire city will be wiped out of existence. And Murray, whose boundless anger about Nic”s death was not quitting him easily, also gave in to stay behind.
Devlin and the rest of the team left for the hotel, while Lester and Cynthia stayed on together with Murray, who decided to do some good to change situations in Veloria and to avenge a friend’s death.
“I don’t like you so much, but I am staying here for the sake of my partner and best friend whose death I am sure is not going to go without revenge, and will for ever be printed on my mind, thanks to the two of you.”
“Ok Murray, if that is your game then go ahead and play it but be careful. Do not touch anything, we do the touching here and you wait for any dreadful outcome, to act with your weapon,” Lester told Murray.
“Ok, little genius. No touching of things would be made by me, right?” Murray said to Lester.
“Perfect,” Lester replied.
It was here that Cynthia began to realize and admire Lester’s courage and intellect. “So Lester, finally we are in the building?”
“Yes we are,” replied Lester.
“Now how do we get to know where the book is precisely?”
“By leaving no stone unturned then we shall find it, maybe in one of the many book shelves.”
Lester placed his hand on the pillar that was touched by Alvin, and the library books became arranged with all the books on the shelves set in their order of importance.
“Amazing, how did you do that?” Cynthia enquired.
“I guess Alvin’s button is multi-functional. That was smart, but pushing a button like that could trigger another horrible trap and that will not be a gift this time around.” Then he kneeled down and pulled a string under one of the shelves and a screen appeared on a wall, and was made to remain visual, then with a remote controller that he found on the shelf, he started to scroll through the list of all the books in the library.
“We can now search for the damn book without any hassle.” He said as he moved towards the large screen on the wall.
“Sometimes I look at you and think you are the most intelligent man in the world, my God you are good, but be careful when you push those buttons okay?” Cynthia gave to Lester the congratulations she had never given to anyone else.
“I don’t know, it just came to my mind that I should squash beside the shelf and see what could be underneath,” Lester said.
“Hey that was dangerous too. What if the action corresponded to another dangerous action? What shall we do then?” Murray said in annoyance.
“I thought we agreed, I and the lady here do the touching, and you stay alert for any unforeseen outcome, so it’s best we keep it that way,” Lester said to Murray.
“Ok little genius! Keep your sermons and continue your search, will you?”
“You know Cynthia; I was the one that scared away the monster for the first time at the Bowman’s residence. What will the press and the public say about me if we don’t get rid of those creatures? They will believe me to be a nuisance right?”
“No Lester, you are so young and have already done too much for your nation to turn you down just like that,” Cynthia told Lester.
“It’s true that I have done not badly for a guy of my age but my dreams, I have always thought, will take me up to the top of the world some day. I want to be a popular man and also get what I have been striving every blessed day of my life to achieve,” explained Lester.
“And what have you been striving to achieve every day of your life?” Cynthia questioned.
“To be a cop and do my job judiciously without favoritism or racism and the word corruption will be far from my vocabulary.”
“That is marvelous Lester; you speak like a decent cop. I will help pray sincerely for your dreams to come true.”
“Thanks for being there for me,” replied Lester.
They went on talking while searching for the Golden book amongst encyclopedias and other books in the glass bookshelves.
“Lester, do you know that you are a genius and also a very enthralling guy?” She praised him for a while.
“Not until you said it a while ago, I have always taken myself to be a nuisance, since no one has ever told me that I know how to do something,” Lester, who was impressed by Cynthia’s remarks on him, said.
“You really have a problem if this book is not found, don’t you?”
“We all have this problem, Cynthia because in the process of raiding the city, the monsters are leaving no stone unturned. The only way to save our heads and those of our loved ones is by getting this information that will help us get rid of those monsters for good.”
Meanwhile Devlin, Russell and Alvin were in a hotel, and together they held a meeting in Devlin’s room, after bathing and resting for two hours. The goal was to figure out how they would get the book without any further loss of lives.
“I will not risk my life to that extent, my family is safe and more to that I don’t want my daughters to grow without their father. That I can’t allow to happen,” Sean Russell said.
“I can’t sit on this end of the bed and deny the fact that I was sent out on a mission, but what I saw in there is not of this world and I don’t think it would be advisable for a mere mortal like me to loiter in there in the almighty name of a book. I think we should let the military do the cleaning,” Alvin said to Trump, who was now connected with them.
“No, it’s out of the question that the military comes in to this, we shall get the book and make sure the monster is out of the way,” Devlin told Trump.
“What about the kid and Mss. Cynthia, are they okay?” The superintendent asked.
“Well, it would be an over statement if I told you that I know how they are doing, because they decided together with Murray, who lost his partner in a big fish tank found on the floor of the building, to stay and look for the golden book, and when I told them to stay at their own risk, they did nothing but stayed in that perilous place.” Devlin gave explanations to Trump who was a little troubled about what could happen to Lester. Then he told Devlin that he was going to let the Military in, so that people will stop losing their lives to the hostile creatures.
“No Sir, it will even get worse if we let the military in, for there isn’t any weapon that they possess that can actually destroy these creatures massively - except for the utilization of a nuclear weapon. And as we all know, the nuclear weapon will devastate the city and cause far more casualties and chaos than even the monsters themselves, and that I think is going to be an immense failure on our part. I still suggest we follow the boy’s plan, and if it falls then we ask for the evacuation of the city completely, before any eventual military action.”
Trump was very pleased with Devlin’s plan and told him to do everything in his reach to get rid of the monster. Then he dropped the phone.

Chapter Seven
The Mysterious Door
“Cynthia, I have an idea, why don’t we see if there are other rooms in this building, and then continue the search in there?” Sidney had texted Lester to inform him that there were other rooms in the building, and that what he is looking for is in one of these rooms.
“You just have to look on the pillar and you will find directories,” she quoted in her text.
“No Lester, don’t you think figuring out where the doors to the rooms are would be too dangerous an idea? This place has rendered me so cold already.” Cynthia asked. Little could she even think that Lester was receiving help from someone who was not part of the mission.
“No, I will take all the blame, risk, and all that…” Lester had seen a little notice written on one of the pillars, where he had read how to carry out the different tasks in the whole place. He went toward the pillar and touched the door icon and the door appeared on the walls and in a moment was open. He went inside with Cynthia.
“That was risky but brilliant at the time; did I ever tell you that you are genius already?”
“You know Cynthia my father always said knowledge is not sold in the market place, but a good career is a complete layout of true education. Unfortunately, he died - but gave me the strength to accomplish whatever task I have before me. Even though part of me went with him, I still keep to his philosophy.”
Hearing these words, Cynthia felt tears coming down her cheek before she could completely assimilate what her new partner just put across.
In a press conference, General Norman Skies explained how he would set up his little test to tear apart these monsters with cannons; “If that fails then a nuclear weapon will be instituted,” the general explained to the members of the press.
“But this will take so many lives - and at a rate which is faster than the monster’s,” Trump protested rapidly. “I have not completely lost hope on my boys, I think they will make it, but it’s going to take some time until they put the entire tragedy into history.”
“Ur. Excellency a nuclear weapon will be the worst thing to do to our people in a large city like Veroline. We both saw the analysis, this monster has not done up to a hundred deaths, but a nuclear weapon will do triple this number time a thousand, or a figure in it’s neighborhood, then there will not fail to be injured persons which might be up to sixty times the overall number of deaths. Ur. Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, members of the press, mark my words, there isn’t going to be enough medical care and attention for this entire people,” he added.
“You know that is not correct, because we have to evacuate the city,” the General protested.
“And if we are going to evacuate half of the city of approximately eight million people in less than a week, then we shall still get an overall death rate of close to what I first mentioned, and a total number of injured persons not far from my figure.”
“I like that guy,” Governor Memphis Craiseth remarked to his technical adviser. “I want to meet him when all this is over.” He then turned to the audience and said:
“A day more, and if your men are not capable, then we don’t have any choice but to evacuate part of the city for some time.”
The audience and members of the press was given the attention to ask questions of the Governor. John Bold, a senior political analyst for Journal Wizard TV, stood up and asked:
“Ur. Excellency would you be adopting the Military method to deal with the situation still, because from what Mr. Trump just put across, it would be a man-made catastrophe if we follow General Skies” words, and your words are putting us in suspense as to whether we would adopt this plan or not, if Dr Trump and his men fail us.
“What is your name?” The Governor asked.
“Bolt, John Bolt; political analyst for the Journal Wizards TV,” he replied.
“Yes John, can I call you John? It’s simple, we are going to evacuate half of the city, like I said, and it would be easier for us to deal with the monsters in an empty space, than in a crowded area - where many would not only lose theirs lives to the Vindigo monsters, but also to arms and ammunition that would be applied. Far from that, I have not thought of any measure or solution to be applied if Mr. Trump and his boys fail, I am not saying that they will.
“Yes, the man in red, say what you have to say, briefly.”
“Your Excellency, the General brought out the plan to evacuate half the city and deal with the monsters while half of the population is pending; if the plan of Mr. Trump fails, and it happens that his has to be applied, does this mean we shall go ahead to apply his plan, if the Vindigoes overstep the Veroline boarders to a neighboring city or state and -who knows - spread through out the country; that is "the whole of Vaitnia"?
“Let me take that,” the General said. “You know, ladies and gentlemen, that we are making sure none of the Vindigoes cross any boarders to a neighboring city or town, so that in time of action, we shall devise a means to destroy all of the creatures without any traces before you know it.”
Simon, Stephen, Brad and Donald just reached the spot where they sensed the presence of two Vindigoes and a young one. They immediately surrounded the whole place and then shot out cannons, which explode after three seconds, but did little or no impact to the Vindigoes. Only the one-week-old Vindigo was killed; the adults passed out for several seconds but regained consciousness. And the angry mother Vindigo and her male quickly sensed where the threat was coming and attacked, whilst whistling loudly, dredging Simon, Stephen and Brad, but Donald succeeded in evading. From his hideout, after the high-pitched whistle of the Vindigoes stopped, he called the colonel and told him all what happened.
Meanwhile the conference prevailed, and General Norman Skies went to a corner to answer the phone call that he thought could make him change his mind from using a nuclear weapon, in favor of a simple missile with cannon. But unfortunately for him, Colonel Stone told him that lieutenants Simon Davis, Stephen Braddock and Brad Edmonds - except for Donald Cooper - lost their lives to the monsters, while attempting to explode it with the cannon, which did not cause any measureable impact to the monsters.
“There is nothing as bad as bad news,” he turned, and told the Governor how his first and most convenient plan just failed.
When Lester and Cynthia entered the newly found room, after he received a call from Sidney, who in her vision had guided him towards the hidden door on the wall, the time was 10:30 pm, and Cynthia saw shadows of people on the walls and even heard them talking. But Lester could not see or hear anything, he only felt the presence of bad spirits. Murray felt the spirits too.
“Lester, we are not alone in this place,” she whispered.
“And how did you know that?”
“I can hear people’s voices but their words are not so clear, and I can also see shadows on the wall. These shadows were struggling to come out of the walls and to take the human form at the time.”
“Yes, there are very powerful and evil spirits inside here, I can feel it too,” Lester told Cynthia, “but I am neither seeing nor hearing them, but you.” Just then, he came near to the chimney, and raised his head up to look on the top of it.
It was too astonishing for him to discover that the top of the chimney was made of gold and diamonds; then in a small chapel full of light, reflecting on the gold and diamond walls that surrounded, it laid the golden book.

“Mama, I can feel that Lester is in the midst of very bad people, and he will become one of them because they are convincing him to become one of theirs.” Sidney told her mother.
“Don’t talk like that because it is giving me a cold,” Mrs. Williams said. I am here, and don’t even know how my boy is doing or his whereabouts. Mrs. Williams kept thinking.
“Look Sid, I know how you feel too, and I understand what your vision is putting you through, but we have to be strong. As I said to your brother before he left, you and our Lester are all I have left after your father passed away. There is nothing that is going to take the two of you away from me, not even those monsters out there,” she said, while taking her daughter into her arms.
Poor mother, how can I stop what I saw in my vision, had it been I know how to prevent some of these tragedies that I see all the time, or even have the courage to tell her. Sidney broke into tears while holding tight to her mother. Oh good God, give me answers. Don’t take her away from me, I don’t think I will ever recover from such a loss, she did nothing but think.

Chapter Eight
The Unearthing of the Golden Book
Lester’s hand then stretched for the book as he saw a Vindigo monster in a mirror next to him, and the shadows of the wall were now walking up to Cynthia, who stood in the middle of the room, and could not move or make a gesture. At the time that Lester had the book, all the spirits disappeared and the Vindigo monster bowed to his new master. “So this is what I have become?” he asked Cynthia.
“Become what?”
“One of them, of course,” he replied. “That one in the mirror must be Shabaky’s prototype of what he wanted his first monster to look like. I am kidding of course,” Lester pointed out. Cynthia laughed aloud.
Then wordings began to appear on the cover of the book in the form of light, to form readable phrases in a strange language. A button appeared on the book and on it was a written translation; he pressed it and every phrase came out in English.
Before Lester could open the book and take full control of it, one of the malicious spirits entered into Murray, and took control of him. That made him want the book in order to continue the destruction. It was so because the spirits discovered that Lester had a pure blood, and would not use the book to accelerate the destruction of mankind by the monsters.
A couple of hours after Lester found the golden book, Devlin and the others came in to the building, and headed for the book shelves which were left open by Lester and Cynthia. They began to search for the golden book. Devlin called Cynthia, who could not respond due to the absence of a network. He could hardly imagine where she, Lester and Murray were, since the door of the room was sealed and there was no trace of a door on the walls. Russell and Alvin concluded that Lester, Cynthia and Murray were all dead.
“I think one of them must have touched the wrong pillar and here we are with missing colleagues and no explanations,” Alvin said.
“I don’t believe they are actually dead or missing; they must have found a clue about the book, and gone some where else to find it.” Devlin said to the others.
“Now what can you say about Cynthia’s phone being unreachable, would that be the absence of network too?” Russell asked inquisitively.
“Possibly,” Alvin replied.
“Look here every one, we are staying here until they come back, even if it takes all day,” Devlin told them.
“In the end of the story, in my novel, the one thing that still stroked my mind, and still does till today, is that Shabaky, the goddess of Vindigoes, was pushed back into the book by a ten-year-old kid whose victory saved the lives of an entire nation for over half a millennium today. But I still don’t know how he did it, but will soon find out in the golden book. Here we are only trying to prevent him from moving out of it.” Lester explained.
“Yeah, as if mankind can just disappear into nowhere, and without a trace.” Cynthia was hardly convinced by Lester’s words.
“Instructions on the back of the book indicated; “Anyone who opens this book will automatically acquire the spirit of the great “SHABAKY” (God of all Vindigoes, Shabbily is a callous Vaitnian Demi-God who once defied the people at the time they needed him most, to walk out of famine and epidermis resulting from the abandonment of the ancestors), meaning that the person becomes superior to the Vindigoes and will therefore command the Vindigoes; but if the book is opened, without being fed with fresh human blood, then the one that opened it will turn into a Vindigo and will be indestructible, and will increase the numbers of Vindigoes with the goal of destroying the whole nation, and of creating a monster world in the whole of Vaitnia.”
“In the same vein this book should never be opened by a mere mortal unless the ritual of fresh human blood is performed. So, Cynthia, how do we get blood for this ritual?”
“No we are not performing any rituals, it is too dangerous,” she replied.
“If we don’t do this we would lose more people than the monster will destroy because, if our mission fails then the military will act and believe me a nuclear weapon will not only destroy mankind but will sweep everything on its path. This will also release the great Shabaky. Then I will look in your eyes and you will tell me; ‘had I known,’ ” Lester told Cynthia.
“Who is this Shabaky, and what the hell is going to happen if he is released?”
“Like I told you, he is the creator, and if he comes out of this book like in the story book, then the rest of mankind left will be turned into slaves, and the Vindigoes will occupy our beautiful homes, jobs - you can imagine the rest by yourself.”
“Well then let’s go ahead and perform the damn rituals. But where can we find fresh human blood?” she asked.
“I know of a place not far from me,” he murmured.
“Where?”
“Get a knife and I will show you where.”
“No, Lester your blood will not be accepted for you are the one that has been chosen,” she said.
“You are right but then your own will,” Lester said.
“No! No! Lester, my blood is not good enough for it.”
“Yes it will do,” he said, as she took a knife and wounded her self on her left leg.
“No - it’s the right leg, if not, the ritual stops, we face the military and Shabaky,” he said.
“That is out of the question, if you think it’s a little game of yours for me to wound my self, my body over, then you are mistaken. I can’t wound myself a second time.” She categorically refused cutting any part of her body again.
“Then let’s get out this place, fly back to Veloria and watch Vaitnians, (persons from the country where all this takes place) die across the entire nation, and then that is going to be fine by you,” he said, as he dropped the book and began moving out.
“No Lester wait, it’s not…” she started a sentence.
“Quit that ok, I did not come here for some baseless reasons, we already lost lots of lives in Veloria including one of us in those stupid floor tiles, and we will certainly not come out alive if we walk away with all we already know about the book and Shabaky.”
As he was still speaking, Cynthia turned to look at the book and her eyes fell on the statue of the great Shabaky, on top of the golden book, as it was already shaking, and trying to break off, so that the spirit of Shabaky could be released. There were strange noises from all corners of the room whispering the name of Shabaky.
She took the knife and wounded herself on her right leg before even letting Lester see what she saw, but he could also get the noise. “Hey look at that, it was not there when we found the book.”
“You are right and this exactly what I was telling you, in the next half an hour, if nothing is done he will come into me instead, and the whole of Vaitnia (the imaginary country where the entire event is taking place), will suffer from an apocalypse,” he replied, as he took back the book.
In Veloria, the situation was getting out of control. The mirrors were no longer serving a great deal to scare the Vindigoes; the police weaponry was not even up to the task. Trump had managed somehow to get the mayor’s authorization for the two stadia that were built with hard concrete and steel, to be used to lodge as many people as possible. The usually open tops of the stadia, made of steel, were now closed in fear that the Vindigoes may fly into the stadium, and the projectors were turned on. Food was also brought in, in large quantities as no one knew whether the city would return to itself in due time.
Gretchen and her family found themselves in one of the stadia where she couldn’t help but wonder where Lester could be. She prayed to God:
“Oh Good and merciful God, you created everything in this world and today some of the things you gave free to, have decided to destroy our own world to feed their personal ego. I pray to you to have mercy on us poor sinners and send these creatures to where they belong. In the same vein, I pray that may Lester my love and family benefit from your protection, amen.”
Then she took out her phone and called Sidney. “Hello Sid! Where are you guys? Are you safe?”
“I and mother, we are in the basement at Captain Trump’s house but Lester is in Sandcova, together with the police men who are working to stop the monster’s invasion,” Sidney replied.
“Whatever the situation I am praying so that God help keep us all alive, and grant peace to the lost souls of this cruel invasion of monsters.”
“Thanks Gretch,” responded Sidney.
At the airport, some people who had the means, were leaving as fast as they could, but some were only too unlucky enough to end up in the claws of the Vindigoes or as good as dead itself. Four flights were programmed every hour but this was far from solving the problem, because the population was by far greater than what the planes could carry, and everyone wanted to leave at the same time. The airport services had stopped functioning, except for the airport police that were leading people into the planes.
At the entrance of the airport was a high traffic jam of cars, hence causing people to abandon their cars on the street. Sounds made by the Vindigoes could not be left out of the problem faced by the population, as they were sending shockwaves to temporarily block the eardrum.
For the record, following the outcome of latest lost in humanity in the city of Veloria, the Vindigo monsters had made close to two thousand victims, most of whom were civilians, and a few cops. Nobody knew exactly how many the Vindigoes were in number. Sergeant Stanley Beckford, who now led the team of cops after Devlin left, gave a report on the victims. He said to Mr. Trump on the phone, “We have lost eight of our colleagues and close to two thousand civilians, both on the high way to the airport and in the quarters, making a grand total of about two thousand deaths recorded so far.
“We also found that the monsters are numerous and they just attack any kind of animal for food. They feed on blood and body fluid by sucking. You wouldn’t believe me if I tell you this; we passed a ranch that is found somewhere around the airport, and I saw something magical; some Vindigoes prefer sucking the blood and body fluids of cattle and pigs as opposed to that of humans. It was quite spectacular to me as they flew past - over human beings - to get to the cattle and pigs.”
“I want you guys to use grenades Stanley. These things should die at the explosion of grenades; they are not made of metal, are they?”
“No Sir, there is an idea that I came up with.”
“And what could that be Stan? You know any idea as pending to the elimination of these heartless creatures is welcome.”
“Sir it’s not about killing, getting it out of the way now, but giving it enough to eat so as to delay them while waiting for Devlin and his team, to furnish us with Good news about the elimination of the monsters. After witnessing them go for cattle and pigs, I realized an important thing. We are only a second choice as far as their nutritional need is the question.”
“That seems to be a good idea, keep it coming!” Trump now listened with an undivided attention.
“Yes Sir, like I was saying, all we need to do is start evacuation, and where there is space already, we let in all the cattle, sheep, Pigs and Goats, as the animals move to an open field. This will trigger the Vindigoes that will follow them to the fields and be feeding with these animals until we get the means to do away with them for good. On another occasion we shall be able to evacuate a good number of civilians. These things may be man-eaters but they remain beasts. The last time I checked we had about thirty-five ranches and close to fifteen million cattle, pigs and sheep, not forgetting a count of the horses. All I am saying is that we do not have to shut the doors of reason by letting faith decide on our part.
“Do you ever ask yourself what we would do if the Devlin’s team fails? A statistical approach of the result will be a gain in several days,” Stanley could not have that which will end the massacred; but it was worth a sum of a deal by applying it right away.
“Good suggestion, Stanley, I will call Freeman and he will work out a warrant of animal use with possible compensation by the state after this nightmare. Meantime keep your ears on the ground and avoid more losses in our troopers and civilians.” Trump - after telling Freeman what consisted his new task - called the Governor to let him know the president had to give his approval for the immediate evacuation of civilians, by the help of military aircraft and helicopters.
“God! You are brave; this is the first time I witness a lady cutting her own body voluntarily.” Lester told his new best friend.
“Do you have another suggestion? I will gladly welcome it.”
“Yes, rip out the nail on your ring finger; it will serve the same purpose.”
“That is out of the question!” She defended.
“It is only a joke to make you come out that shell of yours.”
“Not funny at all. Wait until I get my own pound of flesh.” She scorned at him, saying, “And besides who does not everyday surmount a fear, has not learnt his first lesson of life.”
“That is correct,” Lester supported.
Just before the blood was introduced on the book, Murray moved up to Lester and held the book, and pulled it with force out of his hand; then he opened it and began to transform into a Vindigo, while the book fell to the floor and Lester took it anew and quickly introduced Cynthia’s blood on it. The statue of Shabaky disappeared immediately the blood was introduced on the right spot, on the cover of the golden book. Then he opened the book, and began to read the scriptures, which were written in a strange language. Only Lester could understand the writings in the book, at this point in time.
“Cynthia, look the scripture says, if I don’t read the important verses and go through them before Murray finishes transforming, then he will take control of all the monsters, and I will only take orders from him.”
“Hell no! That means you will only be a servant of his,” she exclaimed.
“Exactly,” he replied.
Meanwhile Murray was hitting and breaking equipment in the room as he transformed in to the Vindigo monster. “Let’s get out of here; if not he will dredge you in other to get his first strength and who knows what could follow, Shabaky could also use his body if we allow him to acquire strength.” They moved to the main hall. “We don’t have to go outside with the book either.”
Stanley’s plan was applied and was functioning just the way he had imagined it, as the cattle and pigs and sheep were being forced toward a vast empty land, the Vindigoes also moved in the same direction. So many cars and homes were destroyed by them. Helicopters came to pick up people in far cry areas. One of the military aircraft collided with a flying Vindigo and crashed a few miles away from the airport, leaving everyone aboard dead. But this did not stop the others from continuing the evacuation.
Eddy Bowman, the son of the first victim, while moving with his father and brother to the airport, stopped by the side of the road to ease himself and something stroked his curiosity; he went into the nearby bushes while his father and brother moved on. Then he went down and watched closely the dead remains of a police officer. “What I have been looking for. I need to get my pound of flesh with those heartless creatures that took mother’s life.” He pulled away the AK47 of the dead policeman and took off, rushing back home.
His goal was to find any of the creature and shoot at it, little was he aware of the fact that Vindigoes can’t be destroyed with a gun, not even a grenade could be of help to him.
On reaching the airport, Mr. Bowman could not find his son, so he handed the little Ken to an officer who took him into the plane, while rushing back to look for Eddy. There could only be a single direction he knew his son would go towards, and that was home. He found him sitting on the balcony of the living room.
“Son you know, your mother would be proud of you, up in heaven, for protecting her from those heartless creatures,” he said as he joined him on the balcony.
“No she won’t, she was dying and I ran and hid. I am such a coward; even Lester had the courage to fight back at the monster, to save the life of my own mother and I spiritlessly stayed in my hideout and watched her die, and do you have the slightest clue where my own courage came in dad?”
“Eddy, stop doing this to yourself,” Mr. Bowman interrupted his son.
“I called the police and told them it was Lester who transformed into a monster and killed my mother. And I was only being self-centered and jealous of him for being the most brilliant student, for having one of the most beautiful ladies in the entire campus as his girlfriend, for helping every single person in difficulties and forever wearing a smile on his face no matter what the circumstance are. I created a scandal about his girl friend just to see them separated, and until now I thought it will do me some good seeing them apart – and, my question being this, why does he always have to receive credits on what so ever he does and I am seen as the loser that follows him around?”
“Things aren’t always going to be fair in the real world, but for the most part, you get strictly what is the outcome of what you put into the system. You need to work out your own personality, by learning from your mistake, and showing him how much he can count on you as his friend too, but first you must tell him the whole truth.”
“He is a good person and considers me his closest friend, but I just did not accept it; each time I am with him I only pretend to be his friend, Dad.”
“Son, stop tormenting yourself. You need to let go of whatever it is that makes you think that you are not as good as everyone else and having such a friend is like treasure, Eddy. Lester is a good-hearted person, so are you, he will surely forgive you. You just have to bring yourself lower to his level and he will live to trusting you again the way he once did.”
“Thanks, Dad…but Dad, did you ever have such problems back in school?”
Mr. Bowman thought for a few minutes. Mine was even worse than his, he remembered all that he did to Lester’s dad, for dating the girl he had done everything to make love him. Until the day Dr. Williams died, I still had not forgiven him for taking Marylyn away from me. But up until today, she has never talked to me, for all the things I did to her and to her then boyfriend, who became her husband. Not forgetting all the awful things I did to most of the students in my class like urinating on their books when everyone was out for sports. Oh my God! Eddy is only responding to hereditary genes…but sometimes it takes a different kind of love to raise a child…he reminisced.
“No son, I was an exemplary student and loved everyone on campus. I even received prizes for most disciplined student amongst others.” He responded to his son.
“Thanks Dad, I promise to be a good person, as from now on,” he said while hugging his dad, but Mr. Bowman thought only of how disappointed in him his son could be, should he find out the contrary, but the only persons who could tell him the truth were his wife who passed away and Mrs. Williams, and he knew that his secret can never be revealed to his son, and all he expected of his son was to be the better man, that he had not been, his entire life.
“Look Son, in life a lot of people find excuses to do harm to others, but they always end up regretting, while they allow the devil to steal away their minds. I don’t want you to be one of such persons. Let’s go now, Ken must be gone already.”
Just as Bowman and son came out to the scanty and dead-bodies-infested street, a Vindigo flew up to them and gripped Mr. Bowman, who shouted to his son, asking him to run back into the house and hide. The boy went and took the gun he had abandoned on the balcony, to come and shoot down the monster, but before he came back, the monster had disappeared with his father. He went down on his knees and broke into a cry, shooting the gun in every direction. “Lester said I was up to no good, and he was right, I watched this thing take the life of my mother and now they abducted my dad, and still I was not able to stop it from taking my father.
“Father was right after all, Lester is a friend I mustn’t let go.” He finally decided to wait in the house until the monster took his life as well, but - on a second thought - he remembered his dad’s last words, and how if he gives away his soul, his only brother will have no-one to take care of him. Then he took off anew for the airport, but on his way, he ran into another Vindigo, which flew ferociously to grip him, but was lucky enough to have found a little covert along the gutter and quickly crawl into it. The Vindigo, not being able to force itself into the covert, stood waiting for him to come out, whistling harshly, but Eddy held tightly to his ears allowing limited sound to pass in, and in several minutes, the Vindigo became discouraged and flew away.
Eddy came out and began trailing his way to the airport again. He had walked for close to twenty minutes when he heard the noise of a helicopter. He stopped and started waving hands in the air. Lucky enough for him, he was seen and it landed, and he hopped in, and the helicopter left for Maindream city, where he knew he would find his younger brother at the airport waiting for him and his dad.
At the airport, a fight broke out and resulted into a shootout which took the lives of two men; when a man was asked by the police to give away his chance of getting into the plane to a pregnant lady, he refused, and used force to move forward, and was running into the plane, which waiting just for a single person to take off. He was intercepted, but he started fighting back at the police, and a friend of his joined in and pulled out a gun and the police officer shot him down and also pulled the trigger on himself. The man who originated the fight was taken into police custody, and locked up at the airport cell.
It was just a matter of several hours for the Vindigo to be done with the animals set aside to distract them, and the hostility became so unusual at the airport and other areas where the population was still concentrated. Stanley’s plan was exhausted. The president had already given his authorization for nuclear weapons to be used, even though it was tough decision to make, but from the advancement of things.
As for the civilians who have not been able to make it out of Veloria, they should move into neighboring cities where they can find safety within twenty-four hours. Many of the surviving Veloria dwellers were against the use of a nuclear weapon, as they knew the consequences of this later, in several years ahead. But unfortunately there was no chance for them to come out and strike against what most of them considered being worse than the Vindigo attacks.
“I just don’t get it, but this is cruel altogether, don’t they see we’ve already lost enough lives, a nuclear weapon will only to help lose more souls and accompany many more others in to grief for the rest of their lives. I mean these people, because they are the leaders of this nation, just make decisions that may affect the minority negatively, without any remorse about the consequences. I can’t find my only son, because of this worse tragedy - and now a nuclear weapon will make me lose all hopes of finding him,” an angry man said to a friend of his. “But those government officials are privileged; they have long since flown their own children out of this city.”
“Well all I will tell you is that if you are waiting for life to be fair, then go out of this stadium and let those creatures kill you, maybe you will have the privilege of a fairer life in another life time,” his friend replied.
“Thank you, I will never forget that.”
“You are welcome!”
At about 2:30 pm back in the town of Veloria, the military were getting ready for complete intervention. It was just a matter of hours until the orders of General Norman Skies would come from the St. Loona Military Base, for Colonel Alan Stone and his troop to fly high in the skies of the city of Veloria, looking for potential target areas, as would be convenient in the goal of finding and eliminating the monsters with the use of small nuclear heads, with the length of two-point-five meters long.
Before long, Lester got through with the important verses, at the moment Murray just finished transforming too, but Shabaky was not released, due to the careful execution of instructions by Lester. So at this point in time, he could command the monsters already in town, but not that which transformed from Murray.
All of a sudden, there was some confusion amongst Devlin and his boys - including Cynthia, who ran, and abandoned Lester, whose powers were still building up. They ran out of the building in fear that Murray would dredge their body for blood and flesh. Now the monster turned to grip, Lester but he could not because Lester changed in to a spirit and stood looking. Then Murray ran out into the main hall.

Chapter Nine
Vindigoes Elope from Veloria
All hell broke loose in Sandcova because of Murray’s transformation. Some Vindigoes from Velorina flew over and into the building, while many others spread around the small town.
It was close to an apocalypse. A five-year-old boy named Chat, who saw the monster attacks of Veloria on TV, advised his three older brothers to use mirrors to scare away the “big walking animal,” as he called it, but they would not listen - with the most senior one saying; “That guys; is from cartoon network and no one is going to buy it.”
The third brother said; “That is the sleaziest opinion someone has ever given to anyone.” But as they walked through their home garden, before they knew it, they were on the street, and the first thing to their view was their father’s car, which was twisted beyond repair. The four teenage brothers approached the car and Brandon, the oldest of the brothers, at age twelve, looked inside and found two dredged bodies. He felt like his entire world was chopped up into a million miniature pieces, but he took the courage to tell his younger brothers that there was nothing inside the car.
Many other inhabitants of Mainstreet, especially those that lived just around the Sandcova beach, lost their lives to the Vindigoes; even the police of Sandcova were unable to handle the situation, and had left, with their families, and anyone else who could get away.
It was in fact Mr. and Mrs. Wheelfields in the twisted car. Mr. Wheelfields had picked up his wife from her job site as usual, and they drove all along the mainstreet, with everything being normal, except for one thing; the ten beautiful parrots that used to sing in the evening, while perching on a tree branch near their home, were not there. It was kind of weird for Mrs. Wheelfields because they took away the long day’s stress before she arrived home, to her adorable kids, each day.
“Don’t you think its kind of weird sweetheart? The parrots are not there, you know they are my third joy of coming home every day after you and the boys. It was at that moment that she and her husband perceived blue light in the air, and as they watched it closely, the monster attacked, dredging the two of them and leaving the car in a ramshackle state.
Brandon asked the second brother; Joshua (Jojo), “Was Daddy supposed to pick mom at work for them to come back home?”
“Yeah, I heard him say something like that on the phone.” At this point Brandon confirmed that their parents were actually the ones who lay dredged in the car.
Not too long after they saw the car, the third brother, Jeremy broke out. “You wouldn’t believe me but some thing is kind of weird out here; first the blue light, which is reflecting everywhere and then this strange smell.”
“Yeah, something stinks,” Jojo said.
“Guys wait a minute, could it be the monster that stinks and sends out the blue?” Brandon said. He was right. It was a Vindigo monster, which came out of one of the neighboring homes after dredging its occupants.
Now all four brothers pulled up together for self defense, as the Vindigo approached, and little Chat Wheelfields thought it wise to point the mirror at the Vindigo monster, just like he saw on TV. As the Vindigo became terrified and flew away, something dropped from one of its forewings, which served as its hands most of the time. Chat picked it up while his siblings were buried in premonition.
“Hey look everyone, look! It is Mom’s. The monster dropped it.”
“Let me see,” Brandon took the necklace and opened the medallion on it. In it, he saw the photo that his parents took on their wedding day. A single tear dripped from his right eye and he wiped it up.
“Hey Brandon, are you crying?” Chat asked.
“No, no Chat I am not. Take this it belongs to you.”
“No that is Mom’s”
“It’s no longer; it belongs to you now, put it over your neck. Mom would like you to have it, it’s for the love she has for you.”
“But where could she be at this time that we are so lonely?”
“Over there,” Brandon said while pointing up at the sky.
“You mean she is with the angels? Cool! I will go with her next time so that I shall not see those big walking animals again. Mom told me that angels are very kind and caring. Do you think that they are taking good care of her Brandon?”
“Yes they care about a lot of people including us.” Chat became a little curious about his mother. The other two brothers already understood what the necklace meant; she was dead.
“Pardon me for saying Guys, but are monsters as enormous as what we saw a while ago?” Jeremy asked, “Because I thought of monsters to be ugly and very detrimental not gigantic.”
“Well that is how you see it, but a monster could be colossal or small; now what actually makes it a monster is the fact that it is frightful, and in most cases it can take away lives spiritlessly. A monster could as well be a human being.”
At this time in Sandcova town, the Vindigoes were everywhere and had destroyed more that half the total population of Sandcova in a time frame of eighteen hours. There were twisted cars and broken buildings all over town. The only safe place, where people were being taken into, was a stadium, which was used as the sports complex, with it walls made of steel. This stadium could contain well over sixty thousand persons. And it was where all the rich who were unable to fly out of the town could seek refuge.
A man who shot his wife, and one other man who took the defense of the lady, after a long quarrel with her husband inside the stadium, was thrown out. The Vindigoes that were already waiting around the stadium got him and dredged him.
As they took a second turning, which led to the stadium, a Vindigo landed in front of them and Brandon pulled every one behind him as the monster attacked him and dredged him. Jojo came up and slapped the monster’s leg but only felt pains. Chat pulled out his mirror but it was too late for the monster had already dredged Jojo as well, before he was bewildered by the mirror and flew away. It was in a river of tears that Jeremy realized it was the mirror that chased the Vindigo.
When the two younger brothers arrived in front of the stadium, there were close to ten Vindigoes waiting, but since Jeremy and Chat were too small to be quickly noticed, they passed unperceived by the Vindigoes. The boys could be seen on the video camera inside the stadium, but there was nothing to do for them to get inside, since the Vindigoes had taken over the guard of the stadium’s entrance.
As disgruntled as they were, Jeremy and Chat headed for the beach, thinking that there they would find some place to hide. “Jeremy let’s go back home and take a larger mirror in Mom and Dad’s room, so that these big walking animals will not suck our body.”
“No, this one we have is okay. Let’s look for a safe place instead.
Murray, who was now transformed, asked the other Vindigoes, via their whistling language, to bring to him all the humans there present, but unfortunately for him, the monsters could not take his orders but Lester’s. Now the irony was that Lester was not yet ready to command these Vindigoes because he had not completed his readings. And he did not have the book either, because of confusion, as the book fell into the hands of David Mosley, who then headed for the door.
“No!” Lester shouted, but it was too late, as Mosley became answerable to Murray, who dredged his body to the bones. The book fell and Alvin took it and threw it back into the hall, then he too was dredged immediately by Murray. There was a lot of chaos with monsters everywhere around the building. Devlin, Cynthia and Lester were the only members of the crew left.
Cynthia managed to call Mr. Trump who told her that his wife and the mother of Lester, were attacked, and Mrs. Williams died because, in the cause of eloping, she misplaced her spray; when she was attacked by asthma she was helpless, and as her little girl searched everywhere for her mother’s spray, she also passed out but later on regained consciousness.
“She is okay now, but has been weeping while lying on her mother’s body since then, saying she had the chance to save her life but did nothing,” explained the Captain.
At this time in Veloria, the Vindigoes” hostility had subsided for the last couple of hours.
“Yes, that is thanks to Lester. We found the golden book, and he read some verses, which made them move back here to take instructions on how to proceed with the annihilation of mankind from him. But they have been a problem here lately; Murray took the book before Lester prepared it for the rituals, and he too became a Vindigo, and has devoured every one except for me, Lester and Devlin.”
Lester finished the reading and achieved his full strength, but he remained untransformed. He then commanded all the Vindigoes to leave the city of Verolia and move back in to the building, which was executed. Some and many others stayed back but became less active.
Lester further read another phrase that rendered them quiescent. The hostile creatures that Cynthia knew became statues with very hard surfaces, inside the building as well as in the two cities where they had caused so much devastation, both in Veloria and Sandcova. “This is incredible,” she yarned. The only setback now was Murray, who was now more aggressive than ever. He was after Devlin and Cynthia. He was callous to a point where Lester told Cynthia:
“You are good in making traps, make one for our colossal Murray - if not, he will suck you all dry.”
Back in the city of Verolia, there was a lot of elation and carousing to mark the end of dead bodies in homes, on the streets and in public places. For some of the inhabitants of the city of Veloria who believed in God, it was God’s victory and so he should be praised. Mr. Trump met with the Governor and explained to him how the plan of an eighteen-year-old hero worked perfectly to safe the lives of an entire city.
“He is the hero of the year,” the governor said. “I want to meet this wonderful youngster when everything is over,” he added.
Little did they know that there was a serious problem in Sandcova faced by Cynthia and Devlin - but not Lester because, as the possessor of the golden book, he was out of harm’s way; but they watched it on the news, which talked about the small town of Sandcova that was also attacked.
As she overheard Lester, telling her to make a trap, Cynthia ran into the building, together with Devlin, holding hands, and then the monster followed swiftly. She ran and turned a knob on one of the pillars, and the marbles began to break open, as before. She and Devlin jumped across the three foremost opened ones and the monster fell into the water. At this moment Lester, who was hanging onto a pillar, stretched a hand and pushed back the button and the glass tiles all closed with the monster inside.
“Great job,” Devlin remarked. Then Lester read a phrase that was supposed to liberate him from all the spirits, and render the book latent, but unfortunately, he read the wrong verse.
“No!” Cynthia shouted and pressed her wound, and took fresh blood. Then Devlin pulled the book from already- transforming Lester’s hands and gave it to Cynthia who quickly applied her blood on it and asked him to open and read the last phrase on the tenth scripture. As Devlin read, Lester returned to human and became free of all the spirits.
Cynthia told Devlin to enter the next room with the book, and place it on top of the chimney, then close the little door on the chapel so that no light would enter the chapel, and then run out immediately.
She pushed the button and the door of the room closed as she, Lester and Devlin ran out of the building, and the building began to sink. They ran to the beach and Devlin called Mr. Trump, who had already sent a military helicopter to pick them up for home, as he knew they were not yet out of jeopardy.
“Hey Guys, this should be the end, I suppose,” Cynthia alleged.
“Yeah, that is what I think myself,” Devlin also supposed.
“No, the air is stinking, they is something wrong,” Lester whispered.
“No - not again,” Cynthia by now was very tired, and wounded on the face and her two legs.
“There it is!” Lester hollered. The Vindigo was emerging ferocious from the ocean. They started running for their dear lives.

Chapter Ten
The Unforeseen

“It is a blur and I can’t see clearly, but they are right under us, and you have to land right now on the beach,” inspector Freeman said, to lieutenant Terry Diamonds, an air-force pilot, who was flying the helicopter. Then, “Hell no! Try to gain altitude and pass over them, we have trouble; one of the Vindigo is still alive and is after them. Now arm your missile and shoot it at our target before we touch down.”
“Orders received Sir,” Diamonds replied.
When they reached the beach, the two lonely boys witnessed the entire scene as the monster fought with Lester, Cynthia and Devlin.
“Oh God, what is this creature that is sucking people up,” Jeremy murmured to himself as he covered the eyes of his younger brother with his hands.
“Stop it!” Chat shouted.
“No, Chat, you will have horrible nightmares if you continue watching.”
Nothing had ever been as astonishing to the three survivors; the Vindigo monster had gripped the three of them at once, and was ready to start dredging. Devlin pulled out a knife from his cluster of keys, and stabbed it through the joint of the Vindigo’s elbow, and the monster dropped Lester and Cynthia on the sand but Devlin was still unable to free himself from the grips.
Lester found a thick metallic wire on the beach, made a knot with it and placed it just on a spot where the monster’s next step will pose, and it caught its right leg.
“Come on Chat let’s see if we could get some help from those people in the helicopter.”
“Can we trust them?” Chat asked Jeremy.
“Well let’s try and see.”
“But they seem to have anomalies too.”
“Yeah but lets just see what they are up to. If they brings us nuisance, we leave and go back to town, I have the impression the monsters are gone.”
“Okay but that will be your fault - if we get into any anomalies with people we don’t know. Mama told us not to be inquisitive with strangers.” Chat defended.
“Well, but in cases like this one it is always good to seek the little help that one can get.”
As the monster moved on it stumbled and fell to the ground, releasing Devlin, whose body was infested with wounds. An extra knot on the string held it on its flippers and even passed round its body. It began to crawl on the ground as it pulled the wire along little by little. “Thanks for having my back man, you have got a good intellect but we got to run now,” Devlin eulogized Lester’s bravery.
Lester and Cynthia tried further to help Devlin to run, because he could barely move, but part of the thick wire held Devlin’s leg, so that he could make no further movement. The monster started pulling him as it crept along anew.
“God I am being pulled away again, let me out!” he shouted, as he fell on the ground, and the monster was pulling him away. Lester and Cynthia followed while holding his hands. “Don’t bother Devlin; we shall get you out of this.”
This went on for close to twenty minutes as the military helicopter appeared in the air. The monster had reached a cliff and was about to fall off in to the thick Lailandic forest, when the helicopter fired a missile which not only destroyed the monster but also caused a large part of the beach to slither down the cliff.
Devlin was hanging head down and feet up with the help of the wire. “I should be dead by now, he shouted.”
Lieutenant Terry Diamonds sent down a ladder to help him mount back up. Devlin’s leg had almost broken apart, and he felt many pains as he was carried in the air by the helicopter. When he was deposited on the beach, Cynthia and Lester ran up to help him get out of the wire.
As the helicopter touched down, Freeman jumped out to see the degree of devastation, and Terry Diamond hopped down from the helicopter with a first aid box to carry out the first treatment.
“I think we also will need a metal cutter to cut the wire,” Cynthia said to Diamonds who rushed back into the helicopter to fetch the cutter. Devlin’s leg was finally liberated and, after first aid was administered to him, he was carried into the helicopter.
At the moment that the helicopter touched down, the two lonesome boys had run up to the spot, and stood watching Devlin’s first aid. Lester approached them and asked them what they were doing in such dangerous ground. “Hey boys what are you two littlies doing here? Go home to your mother and father. They must be looking for you now.”
“We ran from home because of the monster. We saw it kill my two elder brothers and my Mom and Dad are missing,” Jeremy said.
“That is true. We have wondered about looking for help, but when we got to the stadium where everyone went to stay safe, the entrance was locked and there were monsters every where.”
“Wait a second; are you two kids trying to tell me that the beautiful town of Sandcova was attacked by those monsters too?”
“Exactly.”
“Oh no! Cynthia, did you get that, the kids say the town of Sandcova was attacked by our Vindigoes too.”
“I think Murray should be behind that. He shouldn’t have taken that book. Now here we are with two cities destroyed,” she replied, as she continued with the bandaging of Devlin’s wounds.
“Boys! Come with me.” Lester led the boys into the helicopter, telling Cynthia that they will drop at mainstreet and check to see if the boys” parents could be traced.
Once inside the helicopter, he saw the medallion on Chat’s neck and held it in watch for a while, then opened it. He found the wedding photo of the boys” parents. “Hey! Where did you get this from?” he asked.
“It dropped from one of the monster’s hands, and Chat took it.”
“Excuse me, who amongst you two is Chat?”
“He is, and I am Jeremy….and then Brandon who together with Joshua was killed by the monster took it and put it on Chat’s neck.”
Lester already understood one thing, the parents of the two little boys were dead, and so too were their two eldest brothers. “Its okay boys, you just stay here and drink this juice, from the refrigerator of this helicopter; I think it’s going to do you boys some good.”
The two boys could not have been happier than they had already been, with Lester, for listening to them. Lester hopped out of the helicopter and joined Cynthia on Devlin’s first aid, and then he told her all what he heard from the kids.
Inspector Freeman - who just then walked up to the first aid place - told Lester; “my Son, do you know you have the spirit of a charitable leader in you? Keep up the good work and you are going to be rewarded incessantly for it.”
“Thanks Sir,” replied Lester.
“It is over now,” he said to Cynthia.
“We can now go home without looking back.”
“I think we should take a vacation you and me, where do you think we can go?”
“Oh no! My poor little Lester you have it all wrong. I cannot have a date with you, but I know someone who will give up everything in the world to go out on a date with you.”
“And who could that be?” Lester became a little curious.
“Gretchen is my cousin, and she has done nothing to destroy your relationship with her. I know the entire story. She is just another victim of Eddy’s plot with Regina. She is the truest and steadiest teenage person I know.”
“If I may ask! So you are now some sort of attorney for her right? She did things that were way out of the regular and she deserved the treatment she gets.” He replied, as he jumped into the helicopter.
“And so you blew them out of proportion. There is a wise saying of the sixteenth century that goes, “Happiness consists more in small conveniences or pleasures that occur every day, than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom. If you really want to be happy in your life, you have to stand up and say “no” to all negativities. A greater part of your mind believes she actually cheated on you with your friend, that is the negative part that leads to all deceptions by overshadowing the small portion of your mind, which knows she wouldn’t do a thing like that to you, because of the nice little things that she has been doing, and the beautiful moments you have had in her company. Not excluding the fact that she has never lied to you before, has she?”
“No she hasn’t, but this time she did by not confiding to me the moment all this began. It became the subject matter of every conversation on campus without me being knowledgeable about anything.”
“If you allow your mind to explore the beautiful moments, then you will have your answers, but if you don’t then you will live in deception you whole life.”
“I am sorry Cynthia, let’s change the subject, this is bad day talk. Talk about you now. With all what we just went through, I don’t want to talk about something stressful. Are you going to have dinner with me or what?”
“Yes but it must be with my little cousin if I have to accept your demand,” she answered.
“I can see you don’t want to change no subject. Did she also tell you our vows and promises?” Lester asked.
“Not really, but she told me you are going to be the only man that she will ever be with for her entire life, if God intercede in your relationship with her.”
“Well, that is what I thought myself until she screwed everything up, by sucking up to another guy behind my back,” he pointed out.
In a moment, the helicopter took off and later on landed on mainstreet in Sandcova. Everyone jumped out except for Devlin and the boys, who stayed back in the helicopter. The place was weird with desiccated dead bodies everywhere and what in a several hours back represented hell in another form had became solidified statues of Vindigoes doted all over the place.
“So this is what took place here?” Cynthia asked.
“As far as you can see, but if the building had not submerged with the golden book then I will say some day this heartless creature will come back again,” Lester told them.
“Do you mean these loams of concrete could some day wake up and destroy mankind again?” Diamond asked exasperatedly.
“Exactly. They are not dead, they are only dormant, and if the Golden book could be read again they will all become active again.” “Then the best thing to do is to find the book and destroy it,” Freeman said.
“That cannot be done either, if the book is destroyed then Shabaky the goddess of Vindigoes will walk the streets and reincarnate them one after the other. And then since there is no book to read and render them dormant, he will take over the world and make revolting humans serve as food while the submissive ones will be thrown into slavery.” Lester knew much more about the golden book than any one told his new friends.
“That was brilliant my son,” replied Inspector Freeman.
Nature sometimes brings us to realizing where we faulted and redressing, even though for Lester coming from Eddy it would be like witnessing the dark ages in the twenty first century, he received a called from his friend who a few days back had declared war against him.
“Lester, please don’t hang up, it’s Eddy. I know I hurt you and I am not proud of my actions in the past couple of days but right now, I am a changed man and would like to asked for forgiveness.”
“Look here, for the records you can say that to your dead mother for all I care, because I sure will not listen to any apologies coming from you for it would be like an insult on my part to do so. I mean I have been there for you practically all my life and found my friendship to you as the greatest error of my life, so I think it’s time for repairs. I don’t want to ever see you anywhere around me again. You got the girl, so you won but all I will expect from you right now is to take absolute care of her.”
“You got it wrong Lester, Gretchen is yours and will always be. She would never do anything to hurt you. She has never addressed a word to me from the day she found out that I connived with Regina to separate the two of you. I am the bad guy here for scandalizing her name for the simple fact that I am unable to cultivate the type of personality that you have, and that makes me envy you with hot jealousy,” Eddy forwarded his apology.”
“I know all that, but what guarantees me that I will have my best friend back? What have you done to him?” He still did not believe that Eddy had changed.
“Forgive me, even though if you don’t I would totally understand, but on my path as a changed man, it’s worth trying.”
“Maybe I will forgive some day but until that day bear in mind you wounded my heart and it will take some time until I know that you are incapable of doing anything to hurt anyone again, then that day I will call my friend for us to picnic together, but that cannot be tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.” Lester told Eddy while dropping the phone.
“Was that Lester?” Ken asked his elder brother.
“Yes Ken.”
“Is he the one that stopped the monsters?”
“Yes but was not alone in the fight.”
“Who was he with?”
“The police,” Eddy replied. “I wish I had a brother like Lester! He tried to save mother’s life and we did nothing but watch her die.”
“Hey! Lester is a very good person, okay but I am your brother and I am here for you,” Eddy defended.
“And father, where is he?” Eddy knew that Ken would ask, even if he had the answer to the question it was way too hard for him to explain what happened to Mr. Bowman to his tender sibling. “He is…he stayed back to help people who need help.
“Do you think those monsters will come again Eddy?”
“No, they are gone for good. I am going stay here in Maindream with Uncle Malone. I am not going back to Veloria.”
“It’s okay Ken, you live wherever you feel good,” Eddy responded. “But I think Veloria is still, and will always be home for me. And besides, I still have to go through with my studies at the university.”
Cynthia led the way back to the helicopter and they climbed in and took off. She moved close to the boys, and took Chat who had fallen asleep in her arms, and then she told the rest of the people in the helicopter, “I am going adopt these two kids or at least one of them. They are endearing.”
“That will be if I don’t decide to take Chat with me for I have always said the name of my first child is going to be Chat, I don’t know how God loves me so much that he now answers my prayers with these kids, as you said, they are adorable,” Lester told her, and she revolted, saying,
“I thought about it first, so I have to adopt the kids and beside you are not yet good enough to handle kids, so do not embark on something you can’t back up.”
“That’s what we are going to find out,” he said vividly. “I am going to keep Chat, and you shall keep Jeremy.”
“No, they are my kids and I am sharing them with no one, not even you.”
Chat awoke astonishingly and in intense fear. “Mama!” he screamed.
“What is wrong, did you have a bad dream, buddy?” Lester asked.
“I saw the monster flying away with mother.”
“It’s okay sweetheart, I am here, everything is fine.” Cynthia caressed his arm gently to console him, as she spoke to him.
“Jeremy, do you have any family left?” Lester enquired.
“Yes, Uncle James, he lives in Veloria but father always said he is not a good person because he is a drug addict.”
“Trust me; I understand that one,” Lester murmured.
It was 4pm as they landed in front of the Verolia Police Department, where Captain Trump and others were waiting to congratulate them.
All along, Cynthia had wanted to tell Lester about the death of his mother, but on a second thought, she knew it would be better if he were told by the Captain himself.
“Lester my boy, you made it, I am proud of you son, and your mother and father should be proud too, where they are.”
“What is he talking about?” Lester thought, as the Captain moved on to Cynthia who murmured into his ear, saying that Lester was not yet informed about his mother.
“I thought it would be better you be the one to tell him, and I didn’t want to lessen his spirit of positivity in the mission,” she said.
“Thank you, young lady; you did just the right thing. I will take care of that.” He moved to Devlin and congratulated him. Then he turned to Lester and said:
“I want to see you in my office my son, you just made yourself the hero of the year.”
“What could be his pre-occupation at this point?” Lester turned and asked Cynthia. “He used some figurative language, and I don’t understand a thing.”
“Just go to his office and you will find out, okay? “ She replied.
“Mr. Williams, I have the profound regret to tell you that while you were away things did not go well in your family; your mother had an attack shortly after the monsters attacked my home, and she could not find her spray. Your sister looked everywhere without finding it. She also almost took her life had it been I did not come to find out how they are doing.”
“Oh my God, that can’t be true, I…, I should be…! I…, its all my fault, no, no, I want to see her. She should be alive if I was together with her. Where is Sidney? I want to see my sister. It’s not right Sir, you promised to protect my family in return for my co-operation with the police. You have not met up with your own part of the deal. You killed her; I should have stayed behind to protect her, if I knew that you were up to no good.”
“Your sister is safe.” Mr. Trump said.
“I want to look for my mother.” Lester continued weeping and before long, he was out cold on the floor, and Mr. Trump had to call an ambulance to take him to the hospital.
When Lester waked up from his coma four hours later, he found Gretchen sitting by his side. She was about to call the doctor when he refused. “I want to stay with you for some time,” he said to her.
“Are you sure you are okay?” she asked.
“Everything is fine. I’m sorry for not trusting you lately and consequently putting you through that entire trauma.”
“No, you don’t have to be, I am the one that should be excusing here, for negligence, and I thought it was nothing, since he did not lay a finger on me. Baby, I am so sorry for your mother, she was such a sweet mother.”
“Eddy telephoned me and confessed. Baby, I feel bad for not listening to you.”
“Yeah, that is because you are a guy Lester. Guys are so predictable and jealous but I guess that is one your charms and you got me crying for a fortnight with your hot jealousy and unfounded reproaches,” she said, while tapping him on the head, followed by a peck.
“Hell no! You drive me into it. Had it been you told me when it all started –but its the past now, and I will never put your words in doubt again. And I will try not to be insanely jealous again.”
Sidney entered the ward. “Hey little sis! I missed you so much, come on over.” She ran up to the bed, and gave him a huge hug.
“Lester, the last thing Mama said was your name, even though in my hideout I could not see her or even do anything to protect her from those heartless creatures, or even find her missing spray when her shock after seen the monsters provoke her asthma. And the worse of it all is that I still owe myself the guilt of not being able do so. Unfortunately, my grief is so huge that I don’t even know if I will be able to cry it through.
“Oh Lester, remember my role in your success does not have to go public, if it does, I will lose my vision gift, that is one of the two conditions the old lady gave me when she came to my dream and designated me as the next bearer of her visions,” Sid whispered in her brother’s ear.
“For how long have I been missing out on that one?” He was a little astonished.
“For as long as I told you the first vision that turn out true, and it has been two years.”
“As long as you do not transform into an old lady, you can count on me for that, little Sis.”
“If I transform the first person I will go to is you,” she defended.
“Then in that case I will have no choice but to tell your secret to the whole world to have my sister back.”
“Okay! You have always cheated me in order to win,” she surrendered.
“That’s a lie and you know it. No, little Sis you don’t have to blame yourself for whatsoever, for if you were somewhere near mama, I would have lost a mother and a sister too, wouldn’t that be too much for a single night? If I did not have you now, I would feel awful to the point of taking my own life for losing the persons that mean the most to me,” said Lester.
Gretchen shivered in reaction to Lester’s words as if she too would stop her own breath if Lester’s ceased, and then pointed out solemnly, “Sid, your brother is right you know, but the one we should have in our hearts forever is your Mama, and besides you two still have me, and I am going to be there to see that you are getting on well.” She took Sidney into her arms and hugged her tight.
Straight from the hospital bed, Lester met with the Governor of East Verolina in his office for an exclusive meeting where the governor congratulated him for being the bravest man in the whole of Vaitnia.
“I must confess nothing like this has ever been seen in the world before. You must be heaven-sent to look after the misfit. On behalf of the entire city of Veloria, I apologize for the loss of your mother, and I would seize this opportunity to let you know that the city owes you a career and your sister’s education, to the highest level she would like to study. You can count on me, and I will see that all of this is brought to you without much ado,” said the Governor.
“Thanks Sir, the pleasure is mine. But I want to ask you for something else.”
“Anything, my Son,” the Governor replied.
“Sir I would like to adopt one of the kids we found in Sandcova. Chat is his name, to be precise, and my teammate Cynthia says she will go with the older one named Jeremy,” Lester pleaded with the Governor.
“The kid is yours my son, viewing what you just did for an entire nation, I know the kid cannot find a better home than yours. It takes more than just teenager parentage to raise a child, but if you are sure you will get a nanny for the kid, and follow up his education and well-being, then congratulations for you just made yourself a father,” said the Governor.
“I lack expression for my feeling right now Sir,” Lester said.
“So, Mr. Williams, was it just the book, or you have some hidden talent that only came out at the time all this started?” Asked the Governor.
“Sir, I think I am an optimist, and from that moment in my life when I started visualizing things on my own in different perspectives, my aspirations and ambition brought me in to regarding our society in particular, and the world at large, with positivism, and from that moment, I became an activist and promised to devote myself in the fight against cynicism, cruelty, nepotism and those who defile the laws of our beautiful country including murder of innocent persons, child abuse-which is seen every day in our society -oh my God I can’t believe I am crying.”
“You sound like the next president of the Federal States of Vaitnia, what a beautiful speech you just made, but I strongly advice you keep up the good work,” said the Governor, with emphasis, on Lester’s new career.
“You are watching J.W. TV, and that was the Governor of the state of North Verolina who had an exclusive interview with our hero of the year; Mr. Lester Williams, on the National Television, and I am Stephen Crier for J.W.TV.”
A day after, in a ceremony of rewards for excellence, which started up with three minutes of silence for the departed, Lester was given the Medal of Honor for the hero of the year and was made a police officer by the same occasion. Cynthia and Devlin also received Medals of Honor, and a lift in ranks. In the Governor’s opening speech, he asked the entire city to observe a day of prayers for the souls that were lost during the monsters” invasion in Veloria.
A year later, Lester was given the opportunity to adopt Chat Wheelfield, and Cynthia adopted Jeremy Wheelfield. Gretchen Jefferson became engaged to Lester Williams and went to live with him at the Williams” Mansion in Serenity Street. Cynthia Jackson was married to her colleague, Devlin Roberts, after he suffered a great deal for the death of his fiancé, and they now live together in an apartment in downtown Veloria, with a baby on the way.

It is said that not all what we read from books, or watch on the media, is marked as true sources knowledge, but what we possess inside makes us believe if there were neither books nor media, we would still have our place in the world simply by believing in our selves the way Lester did. Reasons why so many people are capable of a lot more than they actually give themselves credit for, especially in domains closely related to compassion and the promotion of benevolent endeavors that leads to the well being and self-awareness of people, not only in Vaitnia but around the globe.
The End