Gloom Rising

Gloom Rising

Neil Hartley

V21a.ii

Dedications:

Thanks to all of those for their ideas and support when I was writing this, you know who you are!

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Thanks to Z for the prologue crit, I know you would have done more.

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Special thanks to HS for your advice, suggestions, and simply making it all the way through! ;)

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And not to forget Vanessa, the love of my life, who is always there to encourage me, unless she’s kicking my ass for some strange woman thing I don’t understand.

Prologue.

The underbelly was his favourite. It was where the dregs hung out, the ones who had fallen to the very lowest rung of the ladder. The addicts, the deformed, the outcasts. Murderers, rapists and worse, far worse, all lurked within the comforting shadows.

Easy prey.

He moved through the night as only one born into darkness could, the black cloak trailing behind like a shadow with a life of its own, whirling and flapping as if mist in a chill breeze. Long boots splashed lightly through shallow pools of foul liquid and filthy debris. Black. His garments were all black, so that only his face, pale and white, could be seen, like a sinister, shocking skull floating through the underworld.

The vast weight of the city seemed to press down upon this, the lowest of all the levels, adding to the feeling of oppression and hopelessness as he searched for his victim.

There she was. Sprawled against one of the massive ‘crete pillars, her drug riddled body laying in a pool of her own filth.

She was blissfully unaware of the world around her, the euphoric sensations the drug had bestowed overriding all else.

He smiled to himself and withdrew a large, serrated edged knife from the interior of his cloak. Such dropouts were usually poor specimens, but the night was yet young, and this lost soul would serve as an appetizer for the slaughter that was promised.

Squatting next to the woman he took a second to examine her more closely, savouring the moment, holding himself back so the act would, ultimately, be all the more rewarding.

She was attractive, even in this bedraggled state. Dressed in faded blue jeans and a simple dark blue t-shirt that emphasized her curvaceous figure. Long dark hair was spread out around her head like a negative halo, emphasizing the smooth pale skin of her face, the full red lips, the gently curving nose…

It was too much, the internal pressure had mounted to the point where it must be released. He pulled her top down, roughly tearing the material to reveal the full, rounded breasts beneath. A faded tattoo on her taut stomach proclaimed love for someone called ‘Matty’.

His breath was coming harder now, the excitement rising with the imminent act of desecration. A shudder ran through him as the knife moved lightly along, tracing a line up the smooth skin of the belly. Over the left breast and the dark nipple, up past the neck, over the chin and nose. The cold metal caressed the flesh as it went, a lover before the act of penetration.

The eyes. The window to the soul. They had to be open, the victim must be aware of her fate. He flicked the knife with precision a surgeon would have envied. There was a splash of colour in the grey of night, and a gasp. She stirred, pain would be trickling through the pleasure of the high now. Light, albeit dim, filtering into her vision, now the eyelid had been sliced away.

The blade moved again, another quick cut and she was unable to look away from the face of her killer. He smiled down, black teeth shining against white skin, the reverse image invading her hallucinations.

Tears of blood slid down the side of her face. Whaa…? Lidless eyes widened, and shocked breath came in deep gasps.

Your time has come. You should be honoured. The voice seemed to wake her as the pain had yet not.

Hurts…

It shall hurt more yet.

The knife shifted and cut into the flesh of the breast, slicing the nipple off easily, the tender meat no match for the razor edge of the dagger.

This time she screamed, a lone sound cutting through the quiet of the night.

Immediately shadows moved, as other residents of the gloom scuttled away from the disturbance, wanting no part of it.

You are alone with me now, he said. Another slice, and more blood flowed, running down her body, eclipsing the declaration of love for Matty under its dark red river.

Ohh, he moaned with excitement, barely able to restrain himself from finishing her. The pain flowed upwards, and he absorbed it, feasting on every nuance, drawing the power to his dark centre.

Noo... please… She was stirring, the injuries sending messages that pierced her cocoon of euphoria, replacing it with another kind of bliss, a dark one, both the opposite and yet the same.

It’s nearly done, you’re lucky. The knife went down, slicing the skin as it moved to the junction at the top of the legs, cutting away the flimsy fabric as it neared the place that gave pleasure. The irony was it could give pain too, exquisite, excruciating pain.

Her scream pierced the dark, loud and clear and beautiful, so that those asleep in their warm beds so far above surely shared the moment.

"You! What the fuck are you… oh my god!"

The light. Invading his space, violating the climax, robbing him of his meal. He flung himself backwards, away from the foulness.

Figures. Men, women in uniform. All food should it be another place, another time. Now they brought light. Hated light. Light he wasn’t strong enough to endure, yet.

He hissed and was forced to retreat, sliding into the protective cover of the dark, leaving her sobbing and bleeding on the ground behind.

The lights stabbed after him, like daggers striking blindly, futilely slashing through the dark in a mad attempt to locate him.

There was a flash of white as one passed over his face, and then he was gone. This was his domain, they wouldn’t catch him, but he would be back, and he would feed. They would know his name; they would know his touch. They would fear.

And he would feed on them all.

Chapter 1. Dirty Cop.

Detective Inspector Gavin Gloom pulled the cruiser up in the handicapped space. Stubbing out his cigar, he swung the door open and stepped outside. Pausing for a moment in the dim light filtering down through the Heights, he scratched the stubble on his chin and spat on the floor.

Glaring at a woman who was passing by, he closed the car door with a slam and walked around to Donny’s Pizzeria. The front of the shop was clean, unlike most along this street, which disappeared into grey shadows quickly enough. At least half of the giant lights hanging high overhead were out, and this level of the city received little natural illumination from above.

Pausing for a moment, Gloom ran a hand through his slicked back dark hair, admiring his reflection in the glass of the shop window.

He was a healthy man, physically at least. Standing tall, his enhanced muscles bulked out his form, making him look like someone you wouldn’t want to cross. Brown eyes glared out from under bushy brows. The square jaw was covered with cultivated stubble, enough to make the ladies look twice.

He was wearing his favourite black jeans and tan leather jacket, his non-regulation firearm protruded a little more than it should have from his shoulder holster, but he liked it like that. It reminded the punks who he was. One of New Fallows’ finest. Ha! There was a joke. Finest indeed.

Smiling grimly to himself, he took a deep breath. Donny hadn’t paid his fees lately, and the people who pulled the strings had become annoyed. The usual collector was otherwise occupied, so they’d sent Gloom in.

The door tinkled as he opened it and strode through. It was early yet, and the small eating area beyond was empty of diners. Ten or eleven basic plastic tables were set up, ready for customers. A chequered cloth covered each one, making the otherwise sterile environment a little more welcoming. A skinny man with short black hair was cleaning the black and white tiled floor. He looked up as Gavin entered.

Good afternoon. May I help you?

You Donny? asked Gloom in clear, confident tones. Straight down to business, he had a date with a whore from the lower levels later, and didn’t want to be late. The little bitch was into some seriously kinky shit.

Immediately the little man became defensive. "Did they send you?" He gripped his mop in both hands, psyching himself up for the encounter almost visibly.

Yeah. You’re late. Hand over the payment right now, plus a ten percent surcharge, and this won’t go at all badly. Gloom kept his face neutral, always the professional, and held a hand out, palm up.

Okay okay! Wait a moment, I’ll get it. Donny leant the mop against the wall and scurried around to the cash register, opening the till.

Gloom’s mind was still on the upcoming date, so he reacted a little slowly when Donny came charging out, knife held high and a look of hatred twisted onto his face. "I’ll kill you! Send them your body instead! I’ve had enough of you bullies!"

Shit! Gloom danced back, barely avoiding the swipe that cut a slash down the side of his jacket.

You little fuck! he shouted. Dodging behind a table he pulled his gun out and shot the man in the leg. Blood splattered and bone splintered as the bullet took out the joint. Had he been using hollow point, it would have taken the leg off entirely, as it was the lower half remained attached, hanging on by several strands of muscle.

Donny fell to the floor screaming, clutching the wound. His leg bent back at an obscene angle with the bone protruding, a white splinter against a shock of red.

Daddy! Another voice came from the back, and a girl, young, maybe late teens, came running out, to crouch over the shopkeeper. Oh daddy!

He’ll be okay, wrap it up with this. Gloom threw a tablecloth over and examined her. Tight bod, nice tits, long black hair. He was always a sucker for long black hair.

Who are you? What have you done? The girl sobbed as she wrapped the cloth around the leg, staunching the bleeding only a little. Donny cried out in pain as she touched the injury.

You’re late for payment, Gloom said, unmoved as he holstered the gun. Added to that, I could charge your pop here with assault on a police officer. He flashed his badge.

Pig! the daughter spat. You lot are all the same.

Pay up and I’ll call in an ambulance, was Glooms only reply.

Help yourself, she said, gesturing at the checkout.

Gloom stepped over the girl, admiring the view down her top for a second as he passed by. Moving over to the register he opened it and rifled through the contents. There was enough, just about.

There’s not enough here, he said, pocketing the cash.

Fuck you! the girl cried, saliva dribbling down her chin as she tried to help her father. Just call for help, he’s dying.

Gloom picked his nose and examined the result before stepping back up to the two. Tell you what, to make up the shortfall how about a little action? You’re cute enough. How old are you anyway?

I’m fifteen you sick fuck! she wailed, still clutching her fathers’ leg. Donny had just passed out.

Fifteen eh? Gloom scratched his chin. They grew up fast these days. Still, pussy was pussy. Nice and tight at fifteen too no doubt. What’s it to be? he said.

Fine! Whatever you want! Just call for help! The girl wiped her nose, spreading mucus over her face.

The cop nodded and touched his radio. Civilian down, Donny Pizzeria on 212. Urgent.

He waited for the confirmation and then nodded. It’s on the way.

Thank-you, whispered the girl, cradling her father in her arms.

The man was turning blue from blood loss; there was a spreading pool of it on the floor around them. Gloom stepped back and cursed. He’d got some on his shoe. Looking around he pulled a cloth off a table and wiped it off his boots. By the time he’d done that he could hear the sirens approaching. There was a screech of tyres outside.

Moments later the door burst open and two men in green overalls ran in. They paused and looked at Gloom, who pointed to the man on the floor.

The first medic knelt down and shouted at Donny, slapping him gently around the face. Sir! Do you have insurance?

We have cover, First National, screamed the daughter. Just help him!

The paramedic nodded to his partner, and they pushed her away as they started their work, spraying the wound with med-foam to keep it clean.

Gloom stepped up to the girl and pulled her hair back so she was forced to look up at him. She was pretty alright. I’ll be back for my payment later, he said.

She nodded numbly. Probably had had five boyfriends already he thought, little slut. Tell your pop that he better not be late with the next payment, or I won’t be so forgiving. You understand?

She nodded again and he let her go. How will he be? he asked the medics.

He’ll be okay, said one. He’ll need a new knee is all. No biggie.

Alright then. The cop looked at his watch. Still enough time to make his date. He left the shop, leaving the sobbing girl and the wounded man behind.

By the time he started his car, he’d practically forgotten them.

~ * ~

Control to five five, come in five five. The radio squealed, making Gloom start.

Shit, he said. He pulled his arm from underneath the naked body of the whore and sat up on the bed, reaching for his radio.

Baby, don’t go, she said sleepily.

Shut up,