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Gremlins: Night and Day

Out now from

Love You Divine

Officer Day what happened on that roof? Come on Larkin, what did you see? God no man should look like that, no strung out druggie could do anything like that!

The questions and comments began to swirl together in her head as they flew at her from all directions. Her squad captain, her lieutenant, IAD and fellow officers had surround her in the emergency room until she felt liked she was being cluster fucked by all of them. The doctor gave her a look of pity; she assumed he could see the building panic in her eyes. He finally saved her telling them she was in shock and to give her a few hours to deal with her trauma. The reprieve would not be long lasting because even thought hey told he she needed to stay in the hospital or observation; they couldn’t make her do it. She had no visible injuries and she wanted to go home. The precinct captain had stood outside in the rain as they put her in a Squad car to take her home. His mouth make a thin hard line on his face and but his eyes held worry. Beside him the rest of the brass stood watching her, chomping at the bit to grill her about what happened.

“We’re going to need you to come in tomorrow first thing Larkin and make an official statement.” He said as gently as he could with those around his with in earshot. When he bent to close the car door he whispered for her ears only to hear. “Don’t worry Lark, I’ll be there and we got your back.”

She nodded as the car pulled away from the curb its tires making the slick wet sound against the street covered in rain. It reminded her of how Carmines breath had wheezed out of his body mixed wit the blood in his throat. Larkin leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes biting her lip against the sobs that were trying to erupt from her chest.

‘Hey are you ok?” The gentle voice of the officer driving the car filtered through.

She opened her eyes and looked at the young recruit. He’s probably been on the job less that six months she thought. “Yeah I’m fine, thanks.”

He nodded but she saw the questions in his eyes as well. It was probably all over the city by now and the guy driving would love to be the one to carry another tidbit of juicy information to the rest of the precinct. What can I tell them? Larking thought cynically. Oh well I heard Carmine screaming for help and by the time I got to him it looked like he was attached by a shark, but we were on a roof go figure. Oh but here is the kicker something attacked me and when it did it was a monster, no seriously don’t laugh a monster! Oh are those guys wit the straight jacket for me? I’ll be on my way then, toodles.

Her internal monologue made her smile in the middle of disaster, but the humor was gone as quickly as it came when she thought about the thing that had her pinned. It was grotesque, she knew she did not imagine it, the strength of its bulk body and the stench of it was not something that could be hallucinated. If that guy hadn’t come along when he did she would have been toast. That guy! Her eyes widen as she remembered how he fought. He was so quick and took down the things that were feasting on Carmine easily. He held her and even then she didn’t dare open her eyes to see what he looked like, by the time she did he was already a shadow being swallowed up into the night.

The car pulled up slowly in front of her building. She looked up at the ten story brick and mortar structure and finally felt a bit safer. “Thanks, she said simply as she got out of the car. The door of the squad car slammed and she didn’t wait to see when he pulled away. She headed up the steps of the brownstone and into the security of her building. When Larkin opened the door of her apartment and closed was then she let herself break down in the privacy of her sanctuary. Her hands trembled as she put on the deadbolt and harsh sobs wracked her entire body. Her legs became jelly and al the bravery was gone from her core. Larkin cried, she cried for Carmine and not being to save him, she cried for his wife and kids who would have to bury him, she cried because she thought she should have stronger and been able to fight more.

“I have to get this smell of me,” Larkin muttered between sobs. She wiped her grimy hands across her face as she stood stripping the dirty uniform of her body as she headed for the kitchen to grab a trash bag. Each article of the uniform went into the black plastic bag. Front here we went straight into the shower and made the water as hot as she could stand it. She lathered her self over and over again as if the soap could wash away the even of the night. By the time she wiped the steam from the mirror she has rubbed her skin until it was slight sore. Hollow, sad green eyes stared back at her from her reflection in the mirror. Her full lips trembled as more tears threatened to erupt. She sucked in a breath and began to dry her braids that were dripping water down her chocolate colored back.