Avescope HORROR

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Dela cursed once Gage disappeared into the murk. This was why she hated working with men. They never thought to plan. They always just ran ahead, which meant she had to go in and save their asses. Saying a short prayer to any divine presence willing to save fools from themselves, Dela rushed in. The darkness swallowed her. It washed over her as if she had run under a waterfall. The space on the other side felt dank and thirty degrees colder than it had been. Dela didn’t see her companions. All she saw was darkness. There were no trees, no leaves, no bushes or scrubs - just blackness. Dela froze, searching the gloom. The last thing she wanted to do was run into a tree. As she stood there, a hut made of twigs shimmered out of nothing. It was a crude structure; not big enough for an adult to stand up in. A drum beat grew out of the silence. The notes warbled in and out of existence. An emaciated form of a stooped little man became visible. He wore a plumed headdress that flowed down his back. A string of bones ringed his neck. Nothing but a loincloth covered his body. His arms were held up; his hands curled like claws. A moment later, both the horseman and Gage appeared. The rider and his mount were trapped in mid-gallop. A bright point circled them making rings of blue light. Gage knelt on one knee. He clutched his limp arm. His weapon effectively neutralized. No one in the tableau noticed her appearance. She crept, flanking the group until she could see the old man in profile. Dela flipped one of her daggers around. As she cocked her arm back, the Shaman turned his head towards her. Dela shivered. She could see that his head had indeed turned but it also remain forward focused on the other two attackers. “Not so fast, child.” The Shaman’s voice came out like a dusty valley. Dela’s instincts shouted. He moved and didn’t move at the same time. Dela tumbled, avoiding an arrow of blue fire that the Shaman had shot at her while moving and not moving. No time to think; Dela leapt sideways, chucking her knife. The knife ripped through his form while the Shaman also dodged the shot. The two images merged back together. The Shaman smiled. That was the self-important smile she had become familiar with. Dela smiled back. Not only had she tried to hit the Shaman, which she knew would miss, she had also aimed at Gage. The opal inlaid knife shimmered as it missed her partner’s head catching the shroud that trapped him. He toppled over as time found him. “Excellent,” Gage crowed getting to his feet still grasping his arm. The Shaman snarled. His double form turned back towards Gage. Only Gage wasn’t there. He had sprinted towards the Horseman. Dela pulled out a dart. Running, she threw it underhanded. A second Shaman flung out his arm, stopping her in their tracks. The point of the dart scratched the Shaman as it flew through the images. A red line marked the spot on his chest. Dela watched as Gage ran through the rings holding the horseman in place. A cry escaped his lips. The lights broke apart, shattering like glass. Gage stumbled, falling into the horseman’s form. The horseman broke into real time. The horse reared up as the rider morphed. The apparition turned from shadow into full color. His head lifted as if he had just bowed a moment earlier. face stared out from the head. He reached back on the saddle and withdrew a Calvary sword. Faster than he should have been able to go, both horse and rider charged. The sword swung as he passed by his target. The Shaman and several shadowy duplicates tried to move in several different directions at once. He was stuck together at the chest unable to pull away. The drums stopped when the Shaman’s head thudded to the ground. The darkness lifted. Dela stumbled as the force released her. The hut and Shaman faded and the woods reappeared. Dela rushed to Gage’s prone body. His skin was cold; his eyes lifeless. She should have protected him. She remained there until a set of hooves trotted up beside her. Gage’s face looked down at her. He grimaced and dismounted the horse, leaving the headless rider as the horse’s only occupant. Gage stood as a hazy image of himself. His halfhearted smile paired with a hand that rubbed across the back of his neck. “Damn, I hate it when I’m right.” Gage spoke. “Right? What do you mean?” Dela pushed herself up. “You know...premonitions. Had them since I was little. I don’t want the clods at the Society getting my inventions. That’s why I wanted you to be my last partner.” “You don’t even know me.” “I know your reputation. That’s good enough for me.” Dela’s mind raced. “You knew this was going to happen?” “Not this exactly but yes. It was my time.” “But,” Dela sputtered, “Fine. I’ll have you know I don’t appreciate all this being dropped in my lap.” “Noted.” Gage smiled, “and thank you.” “You’re just going to leave?” Gage looked back at the horseman. “I guess. His presence is the thing keeping me here. Once he’s gone, I have no idea what will happen.” The horseman’s mount shook its head. The rider saluted with two figures against his non-existent head. He pulled on the reigns and the steed peeled away. As he trotted through the woods, the apparition disappeared. Moments later, Gage faded from sight as well. Dela cursed. She grabbed the odd grappling hook and the detection device. Dela counted her way back to the buggy. <strong>Avescope</strong> | 37
Along the way, she retrieved the pipe weapon. She dumped all of Gage’s gear into the vehicle before leaning against the side; her head cradled in her hands. A moment later, she kicked a tire and gave a guttural yell to vent the frustration she felt. She retrieved the keys she had safely tucked away. The next hurdle was to find a telegraph and let The Society know where to find Gage’s body. The review and subsequent inquiry would take months of her time. Dela climbed into the driver’s seat. Her mood did not diminish the fact that this was the first time she would be driving a partner’s vehicle. That gave her a small amount of satisfaction. Before she managed to turn the key, Gage’s voice split the silence. “Her name is Bella.” Dela jumped, leaning away from the passenger’s seat. There sat Gage in all his ghostly glory. Dela scowled at him. “I thought you were gone.” Dela accused. Gage shrugged. “I’m really not sure why I’m back.” “Well,” Dela harrumphed, “I hope you’re not a chatty ghost.” Gage smiled. He gestured with his hand to indicate she was free to continue. Dela turned the key and Bella burbled to life. The horseless carriage rolled down the road towards the town of Jasper. Gage’s ghost would have to be her secret. Dela would never live this down if any of the boys found out. She really hoped, he was worth all the trouble. <strong>Avescope</strong> | 38
Page 1: AVESCOPE HORROR O C T O B E R 2 0 1
Page 5 and 6: Horror. A feeling of extreme shock
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Page 19 and 20: Inside, I got kinda cold. Outside?
Page 21: Bela - Joanna Hatton Avescope | 18
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Page 44 and 45: Eric Danes was awake, and something
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