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Chapter Ten
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2024-10-29 19:42:56As Mark walked towards the Ridge he kept rubbing his stinging eyes, but he couldn’t bear it any longer and fell to his hands and knees crying. The image of Hayley and Joel was etched in his memory. He couldn’t bear it. Last night at the pool Sarah began to feel tired and went back to her cabin, while he decided to grab something to eat before calling it a night. He headed to the kitchen from the dining hall side and on his way out is when he saw them, together, on the couch by the fireplace.
The calls of the birds echoing in the mountains gave him the strength he needed to stand up; as did the soil beneath his hands. Steadily he forced himself to stand even though it felt the ground had disappeared.
Before long he stood upon the Ridge and looked across the horizon. His eyes followed the dips and folds within the hills and over the sun’s reflections of streams and lakes squeezed within those hills. He knew just like the
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“Would you please stop that?” Stan lifted his head and pushed his sunglasses to the bridge of his nose.“Sorry.” Ray had been going through files after files, taking notes, and began tapping his pen on his notepad. “Nothing makes any sense.”“You’re just chasing bare-backed Jackals.”“Have you seen these photographs?” Ray said standing and slammed the table in anger. “This is not something an animal would do, this is something...” He flopped back into his seat, feeling defeated. “I don’t know what it is, but it’s something.”After receiving all the Silver Springs Farm documents and files from Angie, he scrutinized every detail, dot, and dash. Nothing seemed out of place. Even taxes were up to date - information which he didn’t really need.”“Why don’t you just calm down, go on a coffee run or something, you’ll feel bet
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The sun had faded, the streetlights were on, and neon painted faces glowed brightly in the dark. First came the police in full uniform riding their motorbikes slowly down the road, squad cars with the blue and red lights flashing, followed by proud officers upon horseback. A few meters behind came skateboarders performing tricks, gymnasts bending over, some doing handstands continuing along the road. The crowds roared in delight. Security guards marked by bright yellow jackets patrolled the road ensuring no one broke through the barricades.Four fire engines were flashing bright lights, headlights flickering, siren blasting. They stopped briefly then continued slowly down the road.“Finally.” Sarah shouted excitedly above the noise.” Grinning at Hayley, she said. “You were right. I’m glad we came here.”People pushed balloon carts, blowing hooters, threw bunches of balloons at the crowds, arms stretched out to catch them. In t
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The morning sun shone through a gap in the curtains, squinting his eyes Ray lifted his hand to block the bright light. In his mind, he heard the typical Sunday clanging and banging from the kitchen, sounds of laughing, and the smell of sausages and eggs floating into the bedroom, it consumed him. Turning away from the window he knew it was not real. Every night his dreams carried the sweet memories of the two most important people that were taken from him. Pushing himself up, he brushed his hand through his shaggy hair, if his wife were alive she’d be on his case to get a haircut. He knew he had to go see the old woman from that Farm, but right now, it could wait. Time for a jog, he thought. As he was about to leave his phone rang, it was an unknown number. Ray decided to call back after his run, right now the world could wait-for one damn minute of his time.Panting and his chest heaving, Ray thought his time had improved and he felt better; much b
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A chill ran down Ray’s spine as he left the Farmhouse knowing Margaret’s gaze was upon him, watching from the second floor, stubbornly he made every effort not to look back. Briefly skimming through his notes in his dark blue Ford Ranger he found nothing that he could use to pinpoint that she had anything to do with the disappearances.Her son’s disappearance had nothing to do with the case, but something was off, he felt it deep within his gut. His hunches were never wrong, but he knew he had nothing to substantiate a search warrant for the premises. Was it just a coincidence that the tiny innocent little girl from years ago happened to be staying here? Did she know about her mother’s involvement with Margaret’s son or was it all just pure coincidence? He didn’t believe in coincidence.He remembered the tiny hands that held his arm as she whispered her name, and realized he knew nothing of her. So many questi
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Ray knew there was something not right about this case as he drove en route to Himeville, not even Barry White, singing through the speakers about how wonderful the world was, could convince him otherwise.Thomas Mortuary was only a ten-minute drive away. In his mind, he kept replaying his conversation with Margaret and how quickly her demeanor towards him changed. He couldn’t blame her after the photograph incident, but why had she been so aggressive? Why was the relationship between her son and Sarah’s mother not in the case file? The police officer that investigated the case at that time soon retired then passed away eight years later. What other information was missing? What was he missing?The paled blue signboard bearingThomas Mortuary in thick black letters had seen better days. Still clearly visible just off Mackenzie street, and not far from the Himeville Nature Reserve. He found the gravel driv
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“Joel is taking a long time,” Sarah said with a shiver. She was covered in a spare blanket that she’d found in one of the cabin cupboards. She and Hayley sat outside on the veranda just off the dining hall both nursing a mug of coffee. As the day progressed the air grew colder, there was a chill about it. The clouds covering the mountain grew darker it was just a matter of time before the clouds burst.“I wish we never came here,” Hayley said taking a sip of her coffee and blew inside the mug. She looked distant and stared ahead at nothing.Sarah looked sympathetically at her friend. “I don’t know what to say, Hayley.” She looked into her mug. “I kind of feel like it’s my fault.”“You can’t blame yourself,” Hayley said without expression. “What will your Aunt say? She’s expecting you tomorrow.”“I tried to call her a few times but she hasn&rsq
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It was eerily quiet inside the dining hall, the light began to dim as the storm approached, and the usual distant chattering of bird calls was silent. Time seemed to have stopped yet the clock was ticking. Sometime later Margaret’s porters would collect their luggage and take them to the large Guesthouse. With the upcoming storm, she had thought it would be wise to have the three of them stay in the Guesthouse. Those who booked over the weekend had already checked out, leaving just the three of them. Margaret had wanted them to join her for dinner before they left and thought it safer they stay at the Guesthouse rather than return to the cabins during the storm. She hoped it would cheer them up after the disappearance of their friend and vandalism to Joel’s car.On the table, three mugs of coffee remained untouched. Sarah, Hayley, and Joel sat in silence staring at nothing, thinking of nothing. Hayley’s phone lay on the table as if it were a sickly thi
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“We’d better get to the Guesthouse quickly.” Joel peeped through the curtain, “Before the storm gets worse.”Surprised Ray looked up, “Why at the Guesthouse?”“Margaret invited us to have dinner with her before we left and because of the storm she thought it better for us stay over," Joel said casually. "We are the only guests here anyway, and she said the company would be nice.” He sighed and looked at the girls. “I suppose it isn’t such a bad idea now that we know about Mark.”“So, when are you leaving?” Ray thought he wouldn’t mind taking a look at the SUV and considered impounding the vehicle for further investigation. Three slashed wheels. He made a mental note to check whether a Swiss Army knife was found amongst Mark’s possessions.“Hopefully tomorrow,” Joel said, hands on his hips, and explained his plan to find the nearest place to replace
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The Ice Cannibal Chapter Thirty - Epilogue
It was quiet and beautiful underneath the soft lights, gentle music playing as the wind howled outside, and the rain slowed to a mere drizzle. The Chef had preserved the surprise Margaret had promised. Few of the staff had been given extra days leave because the weather had been so bad.“Cheer up. It’s your favorite.” Margaret smiled. “I gave Chef specific instructions. Eat up.”“Thank you.” Hayley feigned a smile. “You know how much I love sautéed brain, especially clever brain. I don’t know how Chef managed to keep Mark’s brain fresh.”Margaret chuckled. “I have not lived this long to not learn some secrets along the way.”“Do you think that Sarah will find her way out of the cave?”“Are you worried that she will find us?” Margaret said, taking a sip of the thick red content
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Joel and Sarah began to throw bowls of fire at the approaching beast, every bowl that hit its icy body, landed on the floor shattering into pieces.“It’s not working.” Sarah cried.“In the heart!” Hayley yelled as she joined them. “You’re wasting the fire.”“How the hell are we going to do that!?” Joel’s body tensed with every growing step, closer and closer. “I can’t just walk up to him and push one of these things in his heart.”“I have an idea,” Hayley said. “But, you have to do it, Joel. You have to trust me.”“Hayley,” Sarah wiped the tears from her eyes. “Are you going to be okay with this? It’s Harry, Carl…our father.”“No, Sarah.” Hayley grabbed Sarah’s hands in her own. “He is not human anymore. Margaret lied to m
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“I tried to find you,” Carl said, weaving his fingers through Sarah’s hair. “Your hair. Your eyes are every bit as beautiful as I remember. I hope our daughter looks like you, my love.”“Don’t touch her!” Joel warned, feeling helpless watching this rotten half-man, ice creature caress Sarah’s face. He was nauseated.“Carl,” Margaret said. Her voice was sweet and gentle. “Isn’t she beautiful?”“Olivia, my Olivia.” Carl lowered his hand, a pained expression swept over this usually happy face. “You turned me away, just like that.” He clicked his fingers. Sarah felt a tremor through her body as she made eye contact. The legends were true, within this icy creature lived a man with a heart of madness. Her body trembling, she slowly began to back away.“What are you doing?&
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Sarah's body slowly became limp, sweating, her breathing labored as she moaned in pain."Stay with me, Sarah." He licked his dry chapped lips. "You're hyperventilating. Slow deep breaths."Feeling weak Joel struggled against her limp body. The icicle burned his hand but he was determined to not let it go. The tunnel grew wider and bigger, small bowls of fire burned within the ledges of the rocky wall. Joel almost dropped Sarah as he fell to the ground.Eyes barely open, she said. "Where are we?""I don’t know but it looks ancient." Joel's eyes darted around following meticulous carvings along the wall. "I've never seen anything like it."The bowls of fire lit up a descending passageway to smooth pillars creating an archway.“I can stand, Joel,” Sarah said breathing slowly as he began to lift her. “I am feeling better now.”Leaning against him, Sarah felt at ease welcoming the
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The cave had a pungent smell of rotten water, a gentle sound of dripping echoed faintly. Hands entwined Joel and Sarah carefully crept forward down the dark narrow tunnel as Harry instructed.“I’m scared, Joel,” Sarah said. “My entire life has been a lie and I don’t know what I am. They said-”“Who cares what they said, Sarah.”Sarah said quietly. “I - I wanted to eat more! Even after I knew, I knew it was Mark.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I couldn’t control myself. I am a monster.”“No! You are not a monster; you are the kindest person I have ever known. What they did to you was unspeakable. When we get out of here, I will make sure the world knows what they are.”Joel sighed. “I love you, Sarah, and I always will.”“Let’s not do this now.” She said, with a pained expression.Joel nodded. “Ok
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"Here they are!" Boomed a loud voice followed by hurried footsteps. Sarah and Joel gasped as they woke and stared into the face of Harry. His workers were not far behind him."I knew I'd find you here." He laughed. Bending down, leaning forward, hands resting on his thighs he said, "Why, you leaving so soon?"“Come along now.” Harry beckoned with his hand, “Before the weather gets worse. You don’t expect me to come to get you now, do you?”Joel and Sarah came from under the ledge and Harry offered them jackets. “You shouldn’t have left the barn. Running around in this weather is not good for you. Don’t know what you were thinking.”“Please just let us go, Harry,” Sarah begged. “You don’t need to do this.”“I can’t do that, I’m sorry. You’re a decent group of people and Margaret wants you. She really likes you, hasn’t been this excited i
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With a loud groan, Joel opened his eyes, head throbbing.His hands were bound by thick rope.The ground was cold and felt hard like smooth concrete, tastinglike dirt and grass. The air was dry and dusty with a strong earthy smell. Not too far away he saw Sarah sitting quietly leaning against one of the hay stalls.“Sarah?"Joel blinked trying to make out the room in the darkness. “This is the hay barn. I remember when Harry took me around to see the incinerator.”“How long have we been here?” Joel asked as he pulled himself up from the ground, wrigglingaround to getcloser to her. Sarah shrugged. “I’m not sure but it feels like we have been here for hours. You have been sleeping for a long time.”“What happened? The last I remember was Margaret and Hayley.” He frowned. “There was something weird going on.&rdquo
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Overnight the snow gently dusted the mountains, a mass of white against the thick heavy mist. Gusts of wind whipped the trees below, pushing dust and bits of litter and scraps around the streets. Heavy rainfall slammed against the foothills and flooded the streets. Dressed in thick coats people were drenched, umbrellas floated into the air twisting and turning as the wind howled.Despite the weather, Ray sped off to the police station. He didn’t care the road was slippery and muddy. All he thought about was whether or not the disappearances over the last two decades were connected or not, he had enough information to request a search warrant for Silver Springs Farm.Over the course of the night without sleep, he repeatedly called the Farm but there was no answer. Neither Joel nor Sarah answered their phones. Hayley’s phone was still at the precinct, according to Kyle she had either changed sim cards or had two phones because the number he had for her was ou
The Ice Cannibal Chapter Twenty-Two
Staring at the one person she cherished and trusted in the world, Sarah was crushed, her world, shattering before her eyes. Joel was wheezing as he lay on the floor.“Joel?” Sarah shuddered, her eyes burned and left a salty trail down her pale face. “I don't believe all this is happening.”“That piece of shit just wanted your pants!” Hayley shouted. She jumped from her chair, a knife clenched in her hand, holding the point to Sarah’s throat. “It's because of you they said I couldn't have the baby, his father didn't want a scandal." “Relax,” Margaret said sternly, "Sit down or you’ll hurt yourself."Hayley sighed and putthe knife away. "Heloves you, wantsyou." Her voice trailed to awhisper as she sat down."I tried, but not me." Her face suddenly looked distant,"Even father. He didn’t
