The Night Zoo by Damian Magee

 

The Night Zoo

By Damian Magee

I

‘It came out of the windy desert into the small forgotten towns. Within days those towns and its people were no more’. He paused, ‘Because the Night Zoo had come. I was sixteen in 1933, the dust bowl had destroyed most of the land and some towns. You know what the dust bowl was, boy? I tell you, we over played our hand on the land, not only it was time of the depression, we had drought across the land, those farmers kept on ploughing and planting and ploughing and planting until nothing would grow, and the dust bowl came.’ He spoke in a deep Southern accent.

The old man took drink of water before he continued.  I have come to interview Daniel Spellman about the time in the 1930s, where mid-west America was blanket by dust across the heavens, which darken the skies for days covering houses and furniture layer of layer thick dust. Many used gas masks from World War One to walk outside or go to school.

How this all came about- Talking about this mysterious Night Zoo and meeting Mr. Spellman.

I was in a coffee shop, I bump into an old friend from school, she was working as a nurse in an Aged home, she asked what I was doing.

‘Well’ I said. ‘I’m doing a research on the dustbowl, the effects on the towns and the people. Some these towns had disappeared due to these huge dust storms, I came across headline ads from different broadsheets called The Night Zoo, which visits these town, a travelling carnival I guess. Very mysterious, there is no there seems lack information about this Night Zoo.’

Sue, looked at me and smiled, she told me that where she worked, they have resident who talks about the Night Zoo. I first thought, great something to go on. Sue would call me if she could arrange a meeting with Mr. Spellman. We exchange phone numbers. Few days later I had call from Sue; that Mr. Spellman was happy to speak to me, only in private and not to tell anyone what I did for a living, if anyone ask I was a lost relative and work for the board of health.

On the day, I arrive at the home, I went to Mr. Spellman’s room, he sat up on his bed. The first thing I ask about was the Night Zoo, he looked at me with annoyance.

‘Boy, you need to know the beginning of our town, the people, then the day when the Night Zoo arrive in town. I will NEVER forget those people, no, CREATURES! is best describe them’. Mr Spellman clam down a bit, he drank some water, he turned to me and smile, ‘So, your friends with lovely nurse Sue?’

‘We were friends in high school, its being awhile since we last met, I guess it was Sue who let me know about you, why?’

‘No reason. But, I want Sue to be here when I tell you about the Night Zoo, not now.  Just image our township, population over two thousand people lived there in 1933. I knew only around 460. Our town was founded at the end of the Civil war, 1865 by people wanted freedom for all, Whites, Blacks and Indians, later there were Chinese, we were best secret in the territory.’

Daniel Spellman looked at me, his grey blues eyes looked so sad, his smallest grey head bow down from the bed he was sitting on. He took another drink of water, “Our lovely town was called Ferrie”. He spoken under his breath, “All those lovely people gone.  The town was built on best grazing in the territory, not only we had cattle but sheep, those woolly creatures came later. Also, some mineral was found, it wasn’t gold, I remember it was a rather black and grey rock, but during the mid-1920’s that got all mine out”

“Did you have a local newspaper?’

“yeah, it was called Speculative Chronicle. Its owner was Johann Hannds, it has been his family since they arrive in town 1870’s I think.  I remember I had a part time job at the newspaper office.”

Daniel paused in his story, his mouth began waver, his eyes light up and his left hand clutched the bed sheets, then he looked straight up me; “That when I met HIM!”

“Who did was that?” I felt very conserved that I got up from my chair about ring for Sue, when Daniel Spellman grab my arm and whispered” The Master of the Night Zoo”.  He fell back onto to bed, he waved his hands for me to go.  Sue came in, she could see that Daniel was very much under stress. As I left, Sue said to me that she will let me know when I was able to speak to Daniel again.

Sue smile at me, ask me out for Dinner, I smile back and nodded yes.

 

I felt what Daniel had told, I could really start my research on his town, why it had disappeared, and who is this master of the night zoo? My first port of call was the state library, I’m hopeful that possible maps other documents to this town even area of Ferrie are there!

I went to the fourth floor of the library where the historical records were kept, the librarian in charge was very young woman, who wore her hair in a 1940’s style. Her green eyes fair complexion matched her red hair, I ask what I was looking for, the librarian smile and got up, she was very tall woman and moved across the floor like a dancer with ease. The librarian shows me the maps and newspapers of the time and left me to search for them.

I spent the rest of the day at the library researching the town called Ferrie in the mid-west.  My plan was start at looking at old maps between 1890’s to 1930’s to check where the town was situated, most these maps the names of the towns were faded. I was beginning to think Mr. Spellman memories were fading too.

It was hour within my search and the maps dated 1900-10, I founded the name of the town, the area of the town was huge, 200,000 hectares of land, I took copy of the map to show Mr. Spellman next time he saw me. The last map I checked dated 1934, The town of Ferrie and that whole area that surrounded it was blank, like nothing was ever there.

 

Next step was to see if the Library had any documents on the town or even some examples of the local paper.  I went back to the librarian in charge, she was happy to try to locate the documents, it may take time. I gave her my number so contact me on my cell phone. Also, she told me that City records may hold some documents, I nodded and said that was my next destination.  I left the library.

As I reached the city records, I went to see the head clerk, I told her what type of documents I wanted to see, anything about a township called Ferrie from 1880’s -1930’s.

She looked at me under her brimmed glasses and told me that such documents are down in the basement, and she wasn’t going down there to find them in such a dusty place.

 

I ask her was there someone who could do that? Then She looked at me and smile and pointed at me. I smiled, and she told me which way to go to the basement.

When I reached the basement, which was four flights down, I could see that no one has been down here past thousands of years, lots spider webs, boxes left open, I’m sure that contains in those might be destroyed, sad really, documents that might whole a key to something, I was hoping it was not the case for me.

 

 There were boxes of where the dates and titles had been written badly or faded away.  This was my worst nightmare many of the documents were not in their right boxes or not be there at all.  Then I spotted something in the corner of my eye, a box titled -Missing Townships

 

The box was on its own, I went over toward it, Open the box, to find all the documents were dust, I saw a small piece, hand written, Ferrie-Night Zoo!

It was a clue, very small one, but a beginning.  I return from the basement, and told the head clerk, “No wonder this city keeping losing population, they are all lost, like the boxes” She didn’t care at all.

 

That Night I had dinner with Sue, in fact she had made dinner at her place. I began to think to last time I saw Sue was the last days of high school, I had always had bit of crush of her, her wondrous dark eyes and gorgeous smile had melted my heart, I enjoyed her company.

I was always bit nervous to ask Sue out.

 

Time had moved on, we talked what we did after school. I always wanted to write, so I went to university to study journalism, after graduation I went to work for local newspaper followed by one of the big dailies for number of years, I wrote couple small nonfiction books about America of past. I’m on leave absence from my latest job to do this research.

 

Sue after graduation always wanted to help people, Sue went to university to study Psychoanalyst, after graduation Sue worked as a therapist and counsellor within schools, yet she found the work hard with some success, Sue got tired losing so many battles. She left the work and started training as a nurse, after few years working in hospital system Sue left to work in the Aged industry, and she found most rewarding.

 

We both talk about our past relationships, we both agree, we still had not found one.

 

After the meal and sat having coffee, I had told Sue what I had find so far.

 

“So, what do you think about this Night Zoo?” said Sue.

“Well” as I place my coffee cup down. “Whatever this Night zoo was it seems to part of the disappears of these towns, I just wonder if there more survivors out there?

 Also thinking out loud, could the government have destroyed these towns early version of an atomic bomb, and something went horribly wrong!”

 

“Surly not, such a thing would come to light by now, if our government did such a thing” Sue had horrible look on her face.

“It maybe that government doesn’t want anyone to know. But, I’m just speculative could be something else, I mean I found those broadsheets reference to the night zoo. until I get more information from the librarian. I really don’t know”

 

Sue and I continue to talk about old times and nicer side of life, rather than the dark.

 

Within few days I got a phone call from the librarian in question, what she managed to get was gold, I was certain this might fill in some of the gaps, not all. I still need Daniel Spellman’s tale. The information were old documents of the town birth and its people. Much more number of issues of the town’s newspaper, Speculative Chronicle, which I thought would be missing,   

 

I don’t know how the librarian had manage got these for me.  The librarian told me I could take these copies home with me, if I brought them back within three weeks. That seems to suit me fine.

 

II

 I stated my research my reading all the issues of the newspaper, at first the paper was called ‘Liberal Square’ over time changed its name to ‘Speculative Chronicle’ It seems that publisher wanted to express their opinion of events of the world.  From the newspapers was the personal history of town and its townspeople (sound like typical small-town soap opera) with all births, loves and deaths.  The names that found in the city hall records I crossed reference matching the founding families in the paper.  I saw different ads in various issues of all sorts entertainment that came to the town; live theatre, singers, dancers, various itinerant and evangelistic travelling shows.

Towards the end of the last issue of the paper I had dated 1933, I found an ad for the Night Zoo.  So, Daniel Spellman was right about the night zoo.

 

Question-What the Hell is or was the Night Zoo? I would have to wait for Mr. Spellman to fill in the gaps, hopeful that his memories will be clear.

 

Mr. Spellman was correct about the birth of the town.

 

After the American civil war in 1865, a group of young settlers wanted set up the idea town for freedom, as they saw the constitution; form a perfect union, all men and women whether of colour or creed with liberty and justice for all.  In this group included white and black settlers and guiding them were odd mixture of Blackfeet and Chippewa Indians who the settlers made friends with and managed to persuade these Indians not all whites felt the same, there did try persuading some Sioux but failed.

 

The group found this large area in the mid-west, it seems the land was mixture of green pastures and very large mountain range. (I would think if you tried found the land today, the geography would have change to make any identification harder.)

 

The town grew in population, what I read it was town had the harmoniously towards everyone. Like most towns they moved with the changing times, the coming of technology, not much crimes, lots of pretty stuff, no outlaws or real Indian trouble, like the town of Ferrie was out of reached from these people.

 

Only these travelling shows seems to find their way to the town, one of the was the Night Zoo.  I tried the Free Information in Washington to see if they had anything called “The Night Zoo”. I had a contact who might be able help me in old military records that might put a lead, he came back to me within few days, only thing on record about Ferrie was a small report and a photographic picture the town’s sign all the buildings, animals, land formation and people had gone and just desert now. The picture was taken by a sergeant Willian Hannds, the report stated that the sergeant Hannds was born in the town and knew the location, and found was wandering sixteen old boy coming out of the dust, only thing this boy said, ‘It’s all gone! The Night Zoo’ and collapsed into the arm of the sergeant.

The sergeant stated he knew the boy was Daniel Spellman.

 

The report stated that Daniel for many months in a hospital, later in an orphanage for few years, then he joined the army, he saw action in the war after he was discharged Daniel Spellman had disappeared.  That was all in the report.

The missing information about what happen to the town of Ferrie lies with the tale of Daniel Spellman, hopefully piece together of what was or is The Night Zoo. Late that evening I had phone call from Sue that Daniel Spellman was ready to speak to me.

 

III

I arrive at the nursing home on the time that Daniel Spellman, he sat on the bed upright, on his lap was safety deposit box, he pointed to the box.  He said, ‘Once I finished my tale I will give you this box, fill with all the documents.’

Daniel took some water before he began, he looked at me. ‘Sue said you know about the town history and sergeant Hannds finding me’

 

‘yes, the report doesn’t give a lot of details what happen before or after. Did they ask you what happen? If so, did they do full report?’

 

‘In the hospital, I gave them what I knew, in fact, sergeant Hannds pointed out in the same ward were others as me, two guys and girl, all round sixteen. I don’t know if they kept such report or not. I guess jumping bit in the story here.   Shall we begin, oh no interruption, I will lose my train of thought, if I stop, I’m tried, you go, until call you again, agree’

 

‘Agree, Mr Spellman’

 

So, Daniel Spellman begins his tale, he began with his take what is fear?

 

For Daniel, fear was not a failure to do something, fear is part of us, being human. Fear is the unknown when we are born. For the children that we raise we do the upmost to protect them from harm, from the fear.  As we are older, we fear mainly ourselves, the outcomes of life. It is not mapped out for us, just happens.

 

Just Happens.

 

We cannot find a way to stuck the fear down and make ourselves and those around us, a smooth ride in life. Nothing like the truth. So, hold fear towards us, hold it tight, one day the fear might just go way.    

 

Daniel Spellman stopped for a moment, he turned to me, in a spoke in a soft southern accent.

 

‘If we are to know what creatures we are, first see ourselves in the true light. The version of us is like watery shadow, the darker side of human nature. That was spoken to me by the Master of the Night Zoo, Mr Van Der. More about him later.’

 

(I now have name to this Night Zoo, I thought)

 

Daniel Spellman continued his narrative, at first was about his daily routine in his town. His family were farmers, he would get up early around 5 to feed some of the sheep and bring milking cows to be milked, awhile his father would do the milking. Around little after six he and his father would go into house to have breakfast, his mother would cook up bacon, eggs and toast with pot of hot coffee on the table.

 

Daniel described his parents were loving, you could tell by their eyes, how much love. He never saw them had disagreement.  ‘Poppy was very tall man, dark black hair, green eyes and had booming voice. He never had much education, he knew it was important for me learn, and take over the farm one day, like his father did. Mawmy was different she was full of education, she wanted me to learn to my upmost, hoping to get another occupation. Mawmy was a gentle woman, with hazel hair and eyes, she too was tall”

 

I did ask if he was their only child, he told me he had a sister who died aged 10, her name was Jessica, but the family called her Jess. He told me Jess was very image of his mother was she was that age.  He stopped, and shed a tear for sister, then drank some water. 

 

Daniel continued.

 

After breakfast, he would get ready for school, by 8 he had left to walk to school, which was 15 miles walk to the centre of town. The school was near the town hall, just off centre to the right. The school its self was large enough to fit in 150 students.  The teachers there very uninspiring for Daniel. Few days in a week he went to part-time job at the newspaper, for those days he was not at the newspaper he did his farming chores, later dinner around the table, which the family talked about their day, after the dinner would to the lounge and listen to the radio; the comedy of Jack Benny, action adventure series of The Green Hornet or listening to the World Series.

 

 It was his days going to helping with the newspaper; Speculative Chronicle.

His duties at the newspaper were sweeping up the floor, taken down the ads and delivering the paper.  

‘The owner Johann Hannds took a shine to me, he taught me how to write for the paper, I was able to write the ads, sometimes as me to reviews the books that was reading or sometimes the acts that came to town, to give a child perspective.’

 

Johann’s son, William had left the small town some time ago to see what was out there beyond Ferrie’s hills and mountains, of he joined the army.  Daniel told me that Johann felt lost without his son, he thought that his son would came back and take over the paper.  Within Daniel he saw the next generation to take over the paper, understanding the issues.

 

Ferrie’s paper was very much low key, full of local items and some nation building issues that Johann Hannds would make an editorial about. When Daniel talks about him, there always a smile on his face, Johann Hannds was blonde hair man, his face was a live-in face full of cracks, his eyes has seen America, the World and beyond, a thought that Daniel wanted to consider.

 

 

However, Hannds did had some bad habits, he drank too much if he felt too much pressure and smoked endless, yet, he got the newspaper out. During his bouts of drinking too much, he would talk about his son and why he left him, just like his wife who left him with another man soon after William was born, he always told William she had died in childbirth, until he found out.

Daniel stopped. He looked at me his eyes lowed, and took another drink of water. He told me what he saw of Johann Hannds, never made him drink or smoke.

 

For Daniel Spellman that was his days, weeks living in his town. Until the day something changed, like the air we breathe no longer clean, but dark and sinister, the day when the Master of the Night Zoo arrive; Mr Van Der. Daniel felt tired and ask if I could come back within few days times, along with Sue. I closed my note book and left.

 

 

IV

These few days gave me chance to looked for this Mr Van Der and the mysterious night zoo.

 

That night awhile slept I had some imagery of the night zoo; fill with carny performers doing fire breathing, bearded Lady and shortest adult. Yet, also imagery of eyes coming from a tent, those hot green fiery eyes, and laugher of some odd animal, making mix sounds like a walrus and hyena, the sound got louder and louder.

I woke up in a sweat, the window in my room was just blowing warm air.  Now thinking how much do I want to go on.

 

Next day after breakfast I contacted my man in Washington to see if any information the night zoo Mr Van Der. Meanwhile I will back to the library to see that helpful librarian.

I ask the librarian was there any information about carnys or sideshow around the 1930’s in the Midwest.

The librarian took off from shelf only six books and one large scrapbook about the world of the Carnys. I checked the index of each of the books for Night Zoo or the name of Van Der. Only the sixth one had the name Van Der, I went to the pages; I find this sentence about him.

“Van Der the owner and operator of the Travelling Carnival, known as The Night Zoo was a singular person of unknown content, where this person came from or disappear is unknown. There are no descriptions on or what the Night Zoo contains, one may think this had all other carnivals at the time. However, there been few suggestions that Van Der and The Night Zoo could be part of criminal actives or even more sinister. The last known date of the Night Zoo was 1938.”

 

At least reference to the Night Zoo and Van Der, yet still in the dark.  I hope picture or a drawing in the scrapbook I might find.  I open the book, turning each page; on each page was ad of the Travelling Carnivals and opposite page was information what each carnival had. The scrapbook had nearly 200 pages of information, getting towards the end of the book, there were two pages stuck to each other, I went past those and nothing on the night zoo, so could be the stuck pages be about night zoo or nothing at all.

 

I had to know.

 

I pulled out set of keys from my pocket to use them to pull the two pages apart, slowly the picture was releveled itself.  One side of the page was the poster and other brief outline about the night zoo.

 

It was a poster of the night zoo and standing in the centre of Van Der, wearing Victorian/Edwardian evening wear, top hat with coat tail. He had a small pencil moustache.

His eyes and smile in the poster looked so inviting, yet sinister. He was only person in the poster, along picture of circus tents.

 

The second page said this “The Night Zoo was mixture of circus acts, rides, stalls and freaks.

The freaks were most unusual different from any other freaks shows, no bearded lady or midgets, they were creatures of the night. It seems to prey on weaker side on those walking into the tents. The creatures are hard to define and described.”  This piece was written by Daniel Spellman -circa 1940.

 

There was whole mystery about Van Der and The Night Zoo with its creatures, which Daniel Spellman use when I first met him. I’m hopeful that more information may come from my Washington contact, Van Der must has paid taxes, voted in some election or even a medical or war record.  Of course, the days what happen to the town of Ferrie when Van Der arrive with his Travelling Carnival all hangs with Daniel Spellman.

 

 

V

For two days, I waited for my contact from Washington, he finally sent the information; strangely I felt I was no closer to the Van Der or the night zoo, as I open the information,

It was in two sections, one on Van Der and other on the night zoo.

 

First section I felt it would be, there is no evidence that Van Der was born in US nor had emigrant from elsewhere. There was no evidence that he had pay taxes awhile operation the night zoo, nor had a war record.  Just he appeared and disappear along with the Night Zoo. The last known acknowledgement about the night zoo was in the early 1940’s.

 

Second section gave me bit of hope, it was the full report written by sergeant Willian Hannds, weeks before what happen to the town. Hannds had started to investigate Van Der and Night Zoo due to fact they were near few government and Army sites in various areas.

Which some of the information are blacked out, I have no doubt due some secret work by the government.  

 

Question- did sergeant William Hannds stumble onto something that government was doing?

 

Question- were the night zoo and Van Der a cover for something else?

 

Question- what happen to those sites and the town of Ferrie?

 

Question- is sergeant William Hannds still alive?

 

Also need Daniel Spellman continue to talk to me, so I could put sequences in order.  The pieces of the mystery were started to take shape.

 

I rang my contact for one last favour, was sergeant William Hannds still alive and if so, how can I contact him. He told me that he was alive, living in the same city as I was and he gave me his number. My contact told me I was all out of favours and hung up.

 

Just as I had put down the phone, I had a call from Sue, Daniel Spellman would like to see next day. Also, Sue asked if I like to have dinner with her. I said yes, as I have lots tell her.

 

That night during dinner I told Sue what I had found. I ask how was Daniel Spellman’s health?

Sue considered my eyes and hold my hands and told me that Daniel Spellman looked tired and during the day sometime would cried out from his room in sheer terror; saying Van Der’s hand is near. Therefore, Daniel Spellman requested me to see him. Sue thinks he may not last much longer.

It even may Sue uneasy about Daniel Spellman.  Sue asked me stay and hold her until she felt tired.

 

After dinner, we sat on the couch, I held her into my arms we talked more about old times, until Sue felt tired.  I left her apartment to go mine. I told Sue I would pick her tomorrow to go see Daniel Spellman, as it was her day off, and he wanted Sue to be there.

 

As I left Sue apartment I felt a presence or prescience of someone or something there. I could hear something, strange creepy breathing. I could see a tall shadow of a man (I thought was a man), could hear a sound like a bowling bowl hitting the pins. As I turned around nothing, as I turned back my left eye caught a shape of a top hat. The night playing tricks.

 

Before I left to pick up Sue and to see Daniel Spellman, I made a quick phone call to Willian Hannds.

An old man answered phone I explained who I was and what I was asking. The phone went silence.

 

‘Why do want to know?’ said raspberry voice at end of the phone.

 

‘Mr Hannds, I be talking to Daniel Spellman today about the night zoo, from my research your name has come up, when you found Daniel in the dust storm that day, also l like know about your investigation into the night zoo and Van Der, so I could complete the picture, can I make arrange to meet?’

 

There was more silence on the phone. ‘Hello Mr Hannds, are you still there?’

 

‘I let you know, I have to think now.’  The call ended with that strange silence.

I left my apartment and drove to Sue’s place, I face uneasiness to all.  As Sue got in the car and told her so, Sue felt the same way. We both understood, this could be Daniel Spellman last days. I also told Sue about phone call to William Hannds and I ask if she like come with me, if I’m able to get a meeting with him. Sue told me yes, just get the full story of Van Der and the Night Zoo.

 

We arrive at the Home, we saw an ambulance leaving. We both hoping that Daniel Spellman was still ok. Sue checked the front desk, the ambulance was not for Daniel. We both found Daniel sitting up on his bed, bright and alert. He smiled and see both of us. He waved to Sue sit on the bed and me on the chair.  Before I took out my notebook, I told Daniel that I had found his entry in a book about the Night Zoo and I had been contacted by William Hannds.

 

Daniel nodded he was ready to begin.   He lay out his documents from his strongbox, what unfolded before our eyes, it was very hard to comprehend to Daniel’s tale.  Yet, something was there in what he said.

 

VI

 

Daniel Spellman took a drink before spoke.

‘It was September 1933, a Friday, when the mysterious Mr Van Der arrive. During course of his stay and the creatures of the night zoo came to know the people of the town, things at my age didn’t know about certain people in our town, but he knew, and later I would too. But, I will get to those people when they appear in the narrate.   I arrive at the newspaper office after school had finished at 3.30pm, Mr Hannds had lay out the copy for me to check before he placed on the settings.

 

Mr Hannds I remember was had very tired face, lines across his brown eyes, I knew he was sad that William, his son had left the town and join the army, he was hoping that Willian would continue with the business. We both turn around when we hear a car stopped, the car was all red pale colour, it was very unusual Car I remember at the time, it had a long body, very futuristic looking, the hood was rounded and the back was lower down. Its body shape reminded me of long dachshund, what so also interesting about the car, there was no running boards, or fenders, the lights of car seems to be raised from the body work, the front and the back. And there were no door handles, the doors seem to open by themselves, and out stepped Mr Van Der from the back of the car, the driver door open next, the driver I was so amazing could such man, wide, huge and muscly could get out of such car.’

 

Daniel Spellman went on to describe Van Der and his driver as they walked in the newspaper office. They could see the driver bushed down Van Der as he stood near the car.  Van Der was very tall thin man, very straight in his stance, at the time he wore a dark brownish frock coat, with red carat and small stoked hat carrying a silver cane, with head of an animal, which they could not see from the window.

 

Van Der and his driver walked towards the office.  Johann Hannds got up from his typeset to the counter to greet Van Der, Hannds extended his hand, Van Der Took off his purple gloves and they shook, Van Der put his glove back on.   Van Der was very pale in the face, only his thick eyebrows and his thin moustache seems to stand out among. He spoken in elegant way, his accent was not American nor British, there was no accent at all. The animal head on his cane seems to change each time Daniel looked at it.  First it was a wolf, then an Eagle, and followed by furry creature that the mouth seems to be animated, that it yawns, then looked at Daniel.

 

‘Now let me introduce myself, I’m Van Der, the Master of the Night Zoo, I would like to have these ads placed into your paper, please. My driver’ Van Der pointed to other man. ‘Jerah Jusol, also his is our strong man and does other things around the night zoo.’   

 

Daniel said that the man known as Jerah Jusol was very grey in the face had long yellow (not blonde) hair and teeth to match, he wore a stripped short sleeve shirt to show off his muscles. But his eyes were different, one was blue and the other was green, then one of the eyeballs kept on changing colour.  He did not say a word, Jerah Jusol remain motionless, only his eyeballs were moving.

 

Daniel Spellman stopped his narration, he looked at me and Sue. He took another drink of water. He paused. He said that Van Der knew his name, he asked how did he know? Van Der looked at Daniel;

 ‘In time, my boy. In time.’ Van Der turn to Johann Hannds, ‘now when these flyers to able to put into this paper?’

 

‘Your too late for this run, beside you need to talk to town council and the sheriff getting permit, once you get that we can placed the ads for you Mr Van Der’

 

‘Ah yes the council, that should not be problem with those gentlemen, Jerah. Sheriff Grace, that different. Mr Hannds we shall return with the permit and you shall place our ads within the week’

Van Der smiled as he left. I turn around and asked how did open your car doors without handles.

 

Van Der turned towards Daniel and placed his finger to his lips as it was a secret.  As Van Der and Jerah Jusol left the newspaper office both Daniel and Hannds could see the doors on the car open again like magic, as Van Der went into back and Jerah Jusol was in the front. And they could see the car moved down the street top the council building, as the two from the car went inside, ten minutes later Sheriff Grace walked over to council building.

 

During that time Daniel Spellman and Hannds talked about the strangeness of the two gentlemen.

 

‘Daniel, there is something afoot about that man, I’m going do some digging’.

 

‘I felt weird, that he knew my name. And the sheriff’s? Shall we have look at the posters he wanted. It seems offering same as most carnies, but the freaks look unusual, don’t you think, Mr Hannds?’

 

‘Only gives you shadows of what they are, hairy, claws and long fangs. I guess we see if our town council and Grace gives Van Der a permit, which I doubt it. Now let get back to work, and get the paper out.’

 

 

Daniel Spellman had said he felt uneasy about Van Der, like some forbidden darkness.

VII

Few weeks had passed in the town of Ferrie, all was normal. Daniel continue to do his farm duties, doing stuff with his friends and working part time at the newspaper office. The town had been lucky unlike other parts of the mid-west, with the depression and the dust bowl in the area.  Town was still green as ever and everyone in town was fully employed.

 

One week before the Der Van return to the newspaper office, Daniel arrive at the office.

 

‘’I could see that Mr Hannds had his head down on his desk’’ said Daniel. ‘’I approached him, I could smell the alcohol on him. I touch Mr Hannds to wake him up, he brushed his hand from me. He looked up, his eyes were all swell up with tears. I ask was there anything the matter.  He told me had been in contact with his son, hoping he would return for visit, at first, he would have, then it turned into fight of not coming home at all.  Then Mr Hannds turn to me and said that he was sorry. He pointed to a document on his desk to read and to keep, if something happens to him.”

 

The document that Daniel had was the first in his strong box, he read out what the document was.

It was a report about Van Der and the night zoo, that five towns that they had visited had been destroyed, two was by fire and the others just disappeared without trace, with one or two survived from two of the towns, as for the others; no one. Hannds’ son William was investigated these incidents.

Also found that Van Der seems to arrive by boat from a European town called Bled, Slovenia.  Yet, other documents that Daniel had, will show that Van Der arrived differently and his origin still unknown, even Interpol had a file on him.  Daniel told me that all the documents in his box was from the time when he still in Ferrie and was in the army, the same unit as William Hannds before the war had intervene their investigations.

 

This where Van Der and his Night Zoo could be a criminal organization might be founded? Yet no real proof is on hand.

A week after this happened at the newspaper office, both Daniel and Hannds was surprised by Van Der and Jerah Jusol had walked in, Van Der still dressed the same. Jerah was different, he wore a brown suit and yellow tie with stick pin in shape of fire, and his eyes continues to change colour.

Van Der walked up to the counter and looked at us with big grin on his face, and spoke in a charming voice in a sinister way.

 

‘Now then, may we discuss our posters please, how much for full spread in your paper, and course free passes to you and Daniel to cover our first night in your charming little town, it’s so green!’

 

‘The cost will be $25 for one big page, and $15 for the small size. That be total of $40 for one day”

 

‘How much for three weeks?

 

‘Three Weeks!’ said Mr. Hannds. ‘No one ever stay more than one night. How did you managed get the council and our sheriff on side?’

 

‘The money we will bring to the town and as for sheriff Grace, only me and Jerah will come to town, our companions will stay within the zone. Unless, we discuss or motivate other ways.’

 

Mr Hannds told them $250 for the three weeks, Van Der open his wallet, at the time Daniel Spellman had never seen so much money, as Van Der lay out the cash for the posters, and quickly put back rest of the large cash. Which Daniel comment at the time.

‘You better not show that kind of money here sir, you never know what sort of temptation others may do’

‘My dear boy, the sheriff will deal with them. Thank you for warning. Also, this flyer to go in this issue of your paper, interesting title “Speculative Chronicle”. Tell people of our wonderful parade before the carnival opens, within few days.’

 

‘Sure, I put this flyer in for you. I see the parade is two days from now, I’m sure it will be interesting. If you don’t mind if I could take some photographs as you come down the street? Just like other Towns you been’

 

Van Der looked straight into Mr. Hannds eyes; ‘take them by all mean, I love have a record as well.’

 ‘I thought you might use some photographs from those other towns you been through?’

 

‘Sadly, those photographs did not come out, maybe yours will!’

Then Van Der looked at Jerah, Jerah just nodded with both his eyes like on fire. Van Der shook Mr. Hannds and Daniel’s hand.

 

Both Daniel and Hannds saw Van Der and Jerah leave and get in the car, it seems the car just moved on cushions as zoom down the street and disappear.

 

Johann Hannds looked at Daniel, ‘They are not telling all about themselves. Let take look at these posters, then I’m going to see Grace’

 

They looked both at the posters, Hannds decided to place the large poster on the third page and the smaller one end of the paper. The large poster that Daniel describe was the one I saw in the book at the library.

 

Daniel Spellman took another slip of water and continue his narrative. He related what happen when Johann Hannds talk to the sheriff Grace. He found Grace sitting in his chair, staring at the wanted posters on the board, his eyes seem to be transfixed. He asked Grace, what was his thoughts on Van Der and why are they here so long?

 

The answer he got from the sheriff was less animated, he was told Hannds, Van Der and his group are good people, there be no trouble with them. They will stay in their zone, while they are here. If anyone cause trouble and put them in danger, will be dealt with.  Grace continued in this vein, which did not make scents.  Hannds questioned Grace about the other towns that Van Der visits and what did he mean about who would be dealt with?

 

Grace looked at Hannds and rosed up from his chair and walked towards Hannds. ‘There is nothing to see, any trouble will be dealt with by law and executed. The council was excited by the money will be spent here by Van Der.  There is no point talking to the council. Those has no interests here. The answers in time will come.  As for other towns, what that has do with Ferrie, as long we behaviour.’

Then Grace walk back to his seat and continued to stare at the wanted posters. ‘Our talk has ended Johann, time to leave.’

 

 

VIII

Daniel Spellman, took out another document from the strong box, it was a piece from Speculative Chronicle, it was a review of the parade by Daniel. He gave me the document to read out loud, awhile he closed his eyes. I began to read.

 

The day of the parade came. The council declared a holiday, so there was no school on that Friday. The parade would start at 2. Most of the population of the town all line up on the street. At the end of the line was a large staging area for the mayor and other council men to greet Van Der. Of all the travelling shows that had passed through the town, no one got a reception.

 

Daniel and Johann Hannds were outside the newspaper office. Hannds had two cameras, one set up

to take the photos of the parade, and the other set up near the staging. Daniel would take the shots coming down street and write the review, and Hannds for the reception.

 

When I began to read the review, it just words no pictures of the event.

 

 

 

 “There twelve loads of wagons coming down the streets, at the head of the parade was Van Der, waving his top hat and yelling for everyone to come to the Night Zoo for the fun, curious and strange occult that people will find. With musicians playing circus music loud, so whole town hear and know that something special was happening.

This was followed by Jerah Jusol, showing off his muscles, with some of the young girls swooned as he went pass them. There was arrange of clowns, firewalkers, acrobats and dancing ladies. Followed by rest of the wagons, what sort of interesting exhibits does night zoo bring us, what is the Hairy beast, The Reptile, The Baron and many others, I guess we see on the days ahead.

People of Ferrie were all excited, what will the Night Zoo had in store. The parade ended at the end of the street where the stage was set up, Mayor Gothnan welcome Mr. Van Der to our fair town as he gave the key to city. Mr Van Der smiled said, ‘welcome all, for fun and excitement, all remember the Night Zoo came to Ferrie’.  As Van Der left the stage, the sounds of musicians, the troop and the wagons left the streets, as the travelling show making their way to the outer zone to set up camp, where in two days the night zoo will be open for business”.

 

Daniel open eyes then, he looked at Sue first, then me.

‘That what I wrote officially for the paper, however, things were different when Van Der and his creatures came onto the street. It was before 2pm, me and Mr Hannds waiting outside the office. Mr Hannds wanted me take good clean shots of the parade, also If I could do a close shot on Van Der and Jerah.  Townspeople were lined up like soldiers, waiting for their commander for a salute. I knew what I saw and what I wrote were differently, so I wrote second piece, what really took place.

 

 I could hear the musicians playing at the end of the street, at first, sounded like circus music, that seems to morph into howls and cries of owls, or some other type of creature, I really don’t know.

The wagons began to roll down the street, with Van Der on top of the first wagon, he did have a top hat waving in the air and yelling and I remembering what he said, “Come everyone to the Night Zoo to find your true selves for our fun and the curious and strange occult that you people will find to induce or to destroy.”

 

Jerah followed, he was showing off his muscles, also, he turned his eyes towards me, one eye ball was blank, and other was full of fire. He smiled at me, I could see his teeth was yellow and one tooth was rather long. I could hear him laughing with a husky voice. The camera became bit smoky as he went passed, Mr Hannds told me his camera became smoky too.  I also remember that some the girls became very strange as Jerah went pass, they were removing some of their clothing and their eyes went wild. But, once he left that section of the street, the girls clothes went back to normal and so did they. As sixteen old, I never saw women’s underwear before. ‘

Daniel took another drink of water and continued the true nature about the parade.

 

‘The others that came afterwards, clowns, firewalkers, acrobats and dancing ladies seems normal to me. Other wagons that passed I saw shadowy figures inside them; I first saw a large reptilian claw in one wagon, then a white and grey fur of a large bear; only saw the back of him first. Third had some charming oriental music I could see a feminine hand calling me through the cage, I almost went, then stopped as that wagon went passed. The fourth wagon that had something inside, it was dark, but I could hear squeaking sounds. The other four wagons had other creatures that was not visible, until it was time to show them. The Last lot of wagons coming down was the night zoo equipment.

 

Mr Hannds at the other end of the street, where the stage was, describe to me what he saw. Once Van Der reached the stage, he shook hands of Mayor Gothnan, the mayor become stilled. He nodded to Van Der, he could see Van Der’s face grinned with delight, as the mayor gave his speech and the key. Mr Hannds swears he overhear these words between them and what Van Der really said to the crowd.

“Gothnan you will deliver on your promise?”

“I have every intention deliver what you ask, but, you will honour right promise of knowledge”

“Of course, Mayor Gothnan, eternal knowledge. Now hand over the key of this town and its people”

Which Gothnan did. All smiles. The crowd was cheering as Van Der got the key. As Van Der turn to the crowd and said, “There will be fun and excitement and no one from Ferrie will not remember the night zoo, all are welcome!”

Van Der left the stage, at my end of the street everyone felt bit daze once the wagons and the rest of the night zoo left main street. I felt I could not move. I saw corner of my eye, Van Der smiling at me and his lips moving like a whisper; ‘The time will come my dear boy, you will know.’

 

Once they had gone, everyone went back to their home or stay in town go to the diner.

 

Mr Hannds ask me to stay and help develop the pictures, so he could to do two things; have photos of the event and to send to his son for identification of Van Der and Jerah. As we began to the start to develop the photos, and the images were beginning to form; one by one each one caught fire and disappear. Even the negatives were wiped.

We both knew it was Jerah when he used his eyes straight into the camera, he had destroyed the photographic evidence.

 

Mr. Hannds turn to me and said that why there no pictures from any of the towns. Also, he didn’t think that Van Der is a criminal in term as criminal, but something. Something he never even thought of, something more evil and supernatural. I just laughed a bit and said like those Dracula or Frankenstein films. He just shook his head. We left the office around 5, outstepped sheriff Grace.

 

The sheriff looked at Mr. Hannds and said in very raspy voice, that no evidence was found in others town that Mr. Hannds had talked about. Then said this, which at the time was odd thing to say.

“Mine the steps you take Johann. Make sure that Daniel comes trusting, when the time will come. Goodnight both. Sleep well. I’m sure both will be busy at the outer zone, soon.” Then the sheriff left into the darkness.

 

I went home, had dinner. And wrote up what I saw and heard.’

 

Daniel stopped as the nurse came in carrying his lunch, both Sue & I left to have ours and told Daniel we will be back at 2.

IX

Awhile having lunch, I received a call from William Hannds when we had finished with Daniel come and see him. I looked at Sue and said that they had been talking. I wonder how this story and the puzzle will end.

We both arrive back at 2 for Daniel Spellman could continue his story. We found Daniel in a quite state, before he continues he told us that he had been in contact with William Hannds, and has the rest of the documents that I may need.

 

‘It was the couple days before the opening, we received a note from Van Der, it was delivered by Jerah. He didn’t say anything. When he saw me, he just smiled, trying to be nice and eyes balls was shape of a daisy. As he left we observed him going to the sheriff office. Mr Hannds looked at me and said, he wishes could be a fly on that wall.  The note written in such elegant hand writing, wanted us to come to the night zoo for a preview, just before the grand opening night.

 

I remember Mr Hannds looking bit worried, yet excited in founding out more. The note said come for lunch and Van Der will give us an honest tour of the grounds. However, the note also stated no photographs allow, as many of his travelling companions (as Van Der put it) thinks will take their souls away.’

 

‘Souls away!’ I said ‘did you found that was strange? I know some tribes along the Amazon river think that.’

 

‘Yes, I did. Yet, the life of a carny is strange I guess. But, Mr Hannds thought, more likely these people didn’t want to have their photographs taken for some reason. There was something else about Mr. Hannds he was very good sketch artist, could a draw a picture within an hour or two meeting you. ‘

 

‘Then why didn’t Johann Hannds sketch what he saw at the parade?’

 

‘When the photographs were destroyed like that, and the meeting with sheriff Grace, he took to the bottle.’

 

Daniel Spellman described the outer zone was a mixture of landscapes. As you leave the town limits the road become dirt, with lots greenery and trees, as move towards the zone, the greenery disappears and harsh desert appears with strange formation rocks shape like clouds and huts. The outer zone according to Daniel was very eerie. Once pass these rocks, the greenery reappears.  It took from the town by car only twenty minutes, but, thirty by walking.

 

Once reaching the area where the night zoo was, Hannds and Daniel could see the large tent in the middle of the ground.  The tent took most of the area, the canvas was grey in colour and just of red rings at the top, at the top was a flag, Daniel describe the flag, almost like the jolly roger, only not bones and cross, but a magical wand and rabbit ears. They could see the other smaller tents being put up; these tents will be different side show acts; each tent seems have a range of colours.  Also, Daniel and Hannds could see all the different booths all coming together; like the games of chance, and different types of foods.

 

Both were walking towards the main wagon, where Van Der was. As they reached the wagon, the front door open and outstepped was Mayor Gothnan. Daniel looked at the mayor, he seems, as Daniel had put it; under a spell, he looked dazed. The Mayor looked both Daniel and Hannds and said ‘Gentlemen, make sure give Mr Van Der and his wonderful entertainment very best publicity. We will make sure nothing will be coming under towards you.’

 

I looked at Daniel Spellman and asked what was the mayor trying to say? Daniel looked at me and Sue. “At the time, I felt a puzzled by it. Later, I knew it was a bit of a warning. Next thing we know that Van Der was on the wagon steps, this time he had only his waistcoat on, he looked at his watch and closed it again, and smiled. That smile, just gave me the shivers. He said lunch is waiting, and after lunch, we will take the tour.

The food, was very interesting, from the orient said Van Der.  First, we had some noodles called Yi Mein, I remember it was chewy and spongy.  This with followed by a pork dish with rice, the pork was glazed with flowering cabbage, which he called Choy sum. We drank down with green tea. Van Der claims the tea properties have lots of health benefits, you could live without any disease.

 

During lunch Van Der only talk about the orient, saying he grew up with his father and he noticed how interesting world of circus acts were in those parts. Mr Hannds did ask about the small town of Bled in Slovenia, Van Der smiled a bit. He said. “Well, Mr. Hannds you done well with research, but that where my father was born, unfortunate, that town” Then Van Der stopped. He looked at his watch and got up and said it was time to start the tour of the Night Zoo.’

 

‘The tour consists of showing how the tents were lay out in a semi-circle, so where you stopped in would be in front of the big top. Van Der explains it made easy to people around and able to see everything or just one tent.  First, they went into the big top and there were two rings, so two acts could be on at the same time, as Van Der pointed they made not finish at the same speed.

They could see number of acts rehearsing, one was highwire act, the line reached almost the top of the tent to one side to another, as Van Der pointed out these were two great highwire families that joined together from Romania; The Carpathians and Omus, were could one family coming towards the other, stopped in the middle of the wire, then exchange sides. We were both amaze at this feat. Van Der called the act, “I val”, way he said sounded like eye high.’

 

Later I looked up the word, “i val” in Romanian means evil.

 

‘Next down on the ground were the clowns, jugglers and firewalkers’. Said Daniel, ‘In the other ring was the acrobats doing their set ups, jumping from top of each other and jumping from boards into the air. This group was called Der Ugeists; which translate The Demons from German, Van Der explain these acrobats were best in Germany, he said he was lucky to get them.

 

Hannds ask for was any animals acts?  Van Der smiled and told us that have small animal acts, not large dangerous one. The acts he talked about were mainly of feathered kind, Owls and birds of prey.

We left the big top, Van Der talked about his acts, how he found them all over Europe, always wanted to come to America to bring a show that was different.

 

Hannds asked Van Der, where he had performed, Van Der raised his hands and said over the world.

I remember what they said together other.’

 

‘Name just few?’ said Hannds

‘Very well, we been to Bonn, Marseille, Strasbourg. And after this little town we are planning to go Hallsands, Anaconda, Cossack and Locust Falls, you know these places?’

‘No, but, I will.’

‘This way gentleman to the special tents of the curious and occult’.

 

As they walked towards the special tents Yet, Daniel could remember that heard Van Der whispered under his mouth, ‘These places made be intact, for -the- moment.’

 

These special tents housed what Daniel called creatures of the Night Zoo. Most carnies this would be Sildeshow Alley, along with the game of chance. Van Der, we could only visit one or two these tents as some of the occupant are still asleep, only wake during nighttime. The First tent that the three approached, held very handsome woman. As Van Der had introduce to her as the beautiful lady of China; Yi Xan Tan.

 

As Daniel put it, Yi Xan Tan was most exotic beauty he had ever seen. Yi Xan Tan lay on the long wooden Chinese sofa, that had two dragon heads each end. She wore red silk dress with dragons’ lines against each other, in one she had a long cigarette holder, she began to take a puff, and looked at Van Der.

Van Der smiled and waved at Yi Xan Tan so she began her tale. She spoke excellent English.

 

Yi Xan Tan was born in Shanghai, her family was unknown to her and she was sold as small child, she grew up on a farm, she worked dawn to dust, as she grew older, her beauty and special powers

became to attention of governor of the province. They took her the governor, Yi Xan Tan told the governor she could read the present and the future, and men minds.  

 

 

 

Van Der interrupted the flow of the story and told Daniel and Hannds if you wanted more of the story they have come back later time. Daniel did notice that Van Der put his finger on his lips and little smile towards Yi Xan Tan, and she bow towards him and the guests, as she raised her head Daniel could also see little smile, and smile of wickedness.

 

The next tent of special was known as the beast, Daniel remembered only see the back of the creature; a white and grey fur. The creature was eating, looks like some meat. Something moved.

It was the meat, it was a deer, and it was alive!

Van Der turn to them and said ‘That we have come in bad time. The Meh-Teh is having his lunch. We must go before he turns’ the quickly left the tent. Van Der explain that the Meh-Teh is creature of the snows of Tibet and he rescue poor creature trap in a small cage. He continued ‘if we were still there before his belly was full, he would turn on us’

 

‘So, what does this creature do?’ said Mr Hannds.

‘That would be telling, you have to find out when we are open. Now, on too next one, please, this gentleman, afraid, was born like a reptile, including one his hands like a claw, something like a crab.’

 

They went into the tent, there sitting in a tank of warm water was a young man, half his skin had a

Reptilian scale, the other half human like.  His name was James Morke, he spoke with a Cajun accent mixture of Southern draw and French, mainly from Louisiana.

 

‘Pure welcome gentlemen. James Morke is the name. As calls himself, “The Riptile”. I must ax you to be respek to yeo. Mr Van Der save me from worst faith death. I was an outcast, living with my Mamma Cadence in Bayou, my family cast me out along with the town, no Doctors were unsure about how I got this. Mamma Cadence said I was born half-moon near the swap and Alligator man creature slept with mother. Well I guess, Mr. Van Der, dey, unsure what dey fink of the tale I spoke of. If excuse, you all, have to make some water’

 

Van Der looked at Daniel and Hannds took them out of the tent. Daniel looked at Van Der asked what did James Morke said. Van Der translate that ax (Ask), repeck (Respect), dey (they) and fink (think). Making water meaning had go to the bathroom. ’He was brought up by grandmother and they were living hard times, so I paid the grandmother for James’ education, take him away safe. Like, most these lost souls.’

 

Hannds ask to see more of special tents, Van Der said the rest are resting only come during the night. As we were talking, Daniel remembered Jerah coming up to them, he whispered something to Van Der. Van Der nodded. ‘Well, Mr Hannds and Dan-iel, the tour has ended, there something I must do, Jerah will take you out. And we see you at the opening, along with your family I hope.’

 

Daniel continue that Jerah Jusal took his hand wave them on towards the entrance; Hannds ask how did come to know Van Der? Jerah spoke in a rash voice; ‘I have no story to tell. I’m the strong man.’

“How did you get those eyes, like that?’

‘Birth, nothing else to see. Go. Remember Daniel, you call.’

 

Johan Hannds looked at Daniel, with interest, as they left.  They drove back into town with no talking. As they reached back town, Hannds told Daniel go home and write up a small piece what they saw, he would do some sketches. Then ask Daniel, what made of Jusal comment. Daniel was blank, he didn’t know about Van Der until came into town, yet, Daniel thought he knew of me.

Both separated that day. As Daniel tell it, all truth with be known soon.

 

 

X

 The following day, Daniel had finished his piece, already to go, two days before the opening of the Night Zoo. Daniel opening the door of Speculative Chronicle. The office was very quiet, he could not see Johann Hannds. He felt something was wrong, the tense within his body was churning over. Office was dark. Daniel walked towards the printing area, he called out, then a loud enough scream came, Daniel rush towards the screams, there on the floor was Johann Hannds, his hands had been tored apart, along with the sketches that he had made, Daniel rushed out of the door and made his way to the sheriff office.

 

In the office, there was the Sheriff and the Mayor, Daniel had a fear in his face and told them what had happen. Grace and Gothnan, clam Daniel down both went to see what had happen to Johann Hannds. All saw Johann sitting down, his hands were intact. Grace and Gothnan thought Daniel seeing things. Then Both went up to Hannds, and said ‘you were told, you’re lucky, next time.’

Then Both left.

 

Daniel went towards Hannds. Hannds was very shocked.

 

“I was afraid losing my hands, something came into my mind. It said that, these sketches are destroyed. Never tell what you saw here. Be careful.’ Hannds took the article that Daniel wrote. ‘Is this your piece! let’s get the paper out. And then you go home.’

 

They struggled to put the paper out that day. Finally, it was printed late afternoon. Hannds asked Daniel to delivered the paper tomorrow, as he was not up to doing the delivery, he felt his whole being had been destroyed. As Daniel left, he overheard Hannds talking to his son, William.

 

Daniel had said he felt, some darkness had come into the office. Maybe, something to do with Van Der and The Night Zoo. Daniel felt it was up to him to find out, find out more of those creatures’ story and those that had not met.  As Daniel left the office, he saw sheriff Grace, Mayor Gothnan talking to Jerah Jusal. Jerah waved at him, with his eyeballs showing the stars and stripes with fireworks.

 

That night Daniel wanted to tell his parents, but didn’t. If he did how would he describe the day too them. After he did some of his chores, had dinner and sat listening to the radio, he went to bed. He lay there for a while, the drifted off to sleep. 

 

What Daniel describe next he was not sure it was real or just his mind playing tricks, due to recent events. Daniel felt hot inside whole body, he pulls the covers off his bed. He felt the bed spinning around and around, he felt his whole soul taken from his body, he could see himself laying on bed above celling of his room. Daniel to move into the void of space above his head, his soul moving with it. As he moved deeper into the void, he saw red roses as he tried to touch them, the petals turned into a dark coal and faded away.

 

Moving along with all the elements within this void, a wondrous exotic woman with dragon tattoos,

she waved her hand to Daniel to approach her, as he moved closer towards her, she grab him by the lips and kiss him, while kissing her, Daniel became aware of himself his mind was enlighten by shades of light of grey and blue. Then she let herself go from him, and spoke in a soft voice, ‘That is on account’. Then she disappeared.

Daniel touched his lips for a moment, he felt odd, he felt embarrassed. He continues his journey into white dark void, until he heard a voice of a little girl crying, Daniel moved forward towards the crying. There small girl in the corner, with long brown hair wearing a blue ruby dress.

He Stopped.

 

He asked the little girl what was matter? As the little girl turned around, he saw it was Jessica.  His lost ten-year sister, he shed a tear. ‘Oh Jess, where are you?’

The little girl spoken in a velvet voice, sounds of humming birds in the morning.

‘I miss you all. I cannot wait to see Poppy and Mamma. Dear Dan, you must wait before seeing me. You did the right thing by calling the them. They will cleanse the town.’

 

‘Who will cleanse the town and who did I call, Jess?’

‘That would be telling! Dear Dan, you leave must soon. besides, you know, all will reveal itself. Its

time to go’.

 

‘No, don’t GO!’ As Daniel try to touch his dead sister, her voice changed so did her appearance.

 

The image of her sister seems to be melted away, something more sinister replace the image.   A shadow figure grew before Daniel’s eyes. Thorns started to poke out from the blacken skin, the arm and hands grew longer with sharp thorn like nails with drips of blood hanging off from the tips. The Image turned towards Daniel, its eyes were a fiery green like emeralds. Its mouth was wide open with teeth that were razor sharp, it spoke in a howl of all torture souls of the world and beyond.

 

‘Leave. Awake or destroy Now!’ The monster grab Daniel by the throat and squeezing it so tightly, that Daniel’s face began turn blue. Daniel tried so hard to yell, nothing came out, but silence. He felt his body leap back from the void to his bed, his soul was returning. He felt the bed had stopped spinning around. Daniel awoke, as he sat up in bed, lack of air in mouth, trying to breathe. Felt his heart pumping faster and the heavy sweat from his face, almost wetting the bed.

 

As Daniel got up from the bed and went over to the window, he thought he saw outlines two figures; he was sure one was Van Der and other a woman, it could be Yi Xan Tan?

Daniel felt sadness and life as token, most of all his heart had been torn out. There was silent in the house, Daniel lay back on his bed and went to sleep. Hoping the next day will be a peaceful day.

 

Daniel awoke to wonderful sunny day. He dressed. Helped his father some of the farming duties. After which breakfast was made. The family didn’t talk much this time. Daniel did tell his parents that he be delivery the paper today, as Mr Hannds was unwell. His father suggested that he hook up the wagon to make the deliveries rather than his bike, that Mr Johns’ farm is very rugged and could damage the bike. Also suggested could call on Elly Stone and ask her to the carnival tomorrow night.

 

Daniel gave not much of thought of Elly. He just considers her just a class friend. His parents and Elly’s parents had other ideas. Daniel had always focus on being a reporter nothing else, he could not wait when came of age to leave the farm and explore the world.   The wagon was hooked up along with copies of Speculative Chronicle, Daniel’s mother gave him basket of food so he could share with Elly. Daniel just smiled as he begins his journey. Each farm and house Daniel had placed a copy of the paper. By noon he came across Elly Stone’s place.

 

Daniel remember Elly was just fifteen, tall for her age. Had silk black hair and dark features, with ruby red eyes. Yet, she seems older than she looked. All the boys at school had ask her out, most of the time she happy that they had notice her. Yet, felt unhappy that Daniel didn’t take that much notice. She too had plans to leave the town, she need to know how.

 

 

Elly’s parents saw Daniel and invited him to stay for lunch, he told them that his mother had pack lunch for him and to share with Elly. The parents had smile on their faces, and call to Elly that Daniel had brought basket and both can sit down on love swings on the perch. Elly rushed down from her room and open the screen front door towards Daniel on the wagon. Daniel took the basket of food as he got out of the wagon, Elly so excited seeing Daniel. Both sat on the love swings, Daniel felt bit shy on them, while Elly was over Daniel. Daniel could see that Elly’s parents were looking on.

 

During lunch Daniel remember talking about general stuff, he almost forgot to ask Elly to come with him to the opening night of the Night Zoo.  Elly squeak with delight being asked.  He guesses that his parents will pick them up Tomorrow night. After lunch, Daniel said his farewell and continue with his deliveries.

 

In the late afternoon Daniel had finished delivery of the paper. As he arrives home, there waiting for him was his mother and father with large smiles on their faces. Both were pleased that he asked Elly.

He looked at them and said. ‘Only taken her to the carny show, it’s not like we are engaged or something. I unhitched the wagon and put Orville in the barn.’

 

‘Time will know, Daniel’ both said his parents.

 

Daniel look at them both, he thought both set of parents were acting strange. He was really hoping to be alone awhile exploring the Night Zoo, he wanted to know more about the creatures in the special tents, so much mystery, especially likes of Van Der, Jerah Jusol and Yi Xan Tan.

But, with Elly she be pulling him doing other stuff. Yet, he should enjoy himself first, then look for the mysteries.

 

 

XI

The Night of the opening, it seems come around so fast. Everyone was there. The smells and the music of the travelling show was all around the town people.  Everyone was in a happy mood.

Johann Hannds looked worst to wear, he had not slept well, people could see that his clothes were slept in. As Johann passed through the gate, he was greeted by Van Der, along with other town people. Van Der smiled at everyone as their pass through the gate. Johann was going to pay his money, but Van Der wave his hand, with no money need to pay for the press. Indeed, selected few got this treatment, the mayor and the sheriff and their families.

 

Van Der Looked at his watch, then looking towards the gate. Hannds overheard Van Der saying to Jusol; ‘He’s running late, we must start soon.’

 

This was related to Daniel later from Hannds.

 

Daniel’s family was running bit late, due the fact picking up Elly and her family. Daniel and Elly sat at the back of the truck, awhile the adults were in the cabin of the truck. Daniel didn’t much on the trip there, he was really listening to Elly talking, even if he could get in a word in, Elly would have kept on talking. Daniel was thinking about the dream and strangeness of his family.

               

 Ten minutes later Spellman and Stones arrive. Van Der had the biggest smile for Daniel, his smile dropped a bit when he saw Elly and her family, yet, still friendly. Van Der welcome them all.

 

‘Now the S-h-o-w-now can begin. Is this your girl, Daniel?

 

‘She just a friend’ said Daniel in very low voice.

Elly, just shook her hair and laugh, looked at Van Der. Then she stopped. Both knew what she wanted from Daniel. ‘Daniel my beau!’

Daniel begin to walk off. Van Der shouted, the big top is about to start, and looked at Daniel

‘I have your reserve sitting tickets for three. I’m afraid my dear’ Looking at Elly, ‘You must take a chance in the seating arrangements, of course no swapping allow. See you at the big top. Come Jerah.’

 

Elly stomped her feet, that was not going to sit next to Daniel. In fact, Elly was not interested going to big top, Daniel turned around and made agreement to Elly, if she allow him to go to big top, then he would take her where she wanted to go. Elly, stopped putting her tantrum, and was all smiles again.

 

As they walked towards the big top, Daniel looked at Elly. ‘Elly, I’m not your beau, ok.’

 

The two families separated to find their seats.  Daniel’s family were sitting the front row, along with council members and their families, awhile Elly and her family was sitting right at the back. Daniel could see Mr Hannds from the second row across the other side. He really did look where Elly and her family was. The big top was full of people.

 

Daniel’s mother looked at him; ‘Daniel you should be, little more polite to Elly. We have high hopes for you two, for future arrangements.’

 

As Daniel was about to say thing, the lights on the big top dimmed. Out stepped Van Der in his ringmaster outfit. His black top hat, white pants and vent, and bright red coat, with a whip in his left hand and a whistle around his neck.  Van Der began.

 

‘Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, welcome to the night zoo’s big top. We have acts from faraway. We offer you the world of seer delights, that you be talking many years to come. We have two rings of entertainment. As you look up we have highwire. So, without any further ado.’ Van Der crack the whip and continued ‘In ring one with have the acrobatic talents Germany’s Der Ugeists, The Demons,’

 The group of six walked in ring one as there jumping boards appeared in the ring. Van Der continue his announcement ‘And in Ring two, Mr Olwly and his mysterious Owls.’

 

A strange skinny looking man with feathers part of his costume, his nose rather long beak with caged Owls, and some birds of prey all different types.

 

The music had begun.

 

The acrobats were doing their act as Daniel saw in rehearsal.

 

Daniel was more interested in the act in ring 2, he looked towards the owl man.  He remembered hearing cries of owls.  Mr Olwly, took out his first owl, it was Eurisian Eagle Owl, it was a huge bird, he said had wingspan of 6ft and 3o inches tall, could be found in Tibet and Western Germany low mountains of Eifel, the bird flew over the ring, it opens its wings like just floating in the air. The owl then came back to Mr. Olwly, the others owl did the same things with some tricks of flying, one owl, the smallest one known as an Elf perched near a seat, where Farmer Wilson and his family were sitting, and stare at them, looking at the children, then flew off, back to its master.

Other owls in the act was the Egyptian and Snowy, all did tricks and seems to select certain people in the audience and fly back again. The Big eagle was let loose as the climax, its aim was the mayor. The crowd roar with laughter.

 

Each act in the ring had 20 minutes each, which Daniel timed. Then Van Der come back on and announce next two acts, Ring one was the clowns, and clowns did what clowns do. Another was two performers in ring two, three fire eaters and other was Jerah Jusol doing his strongman act.  The fire eaters move towards the crowds as the fire coming towards them. Jerah lift weights with two hands also with one hand, they kept adding the weights. He moved toward the young woman with his muscles pulsating on each arm, like seeing a mountain on the rise. Each a young woman swoon, one his eyeballs would change colour.

 

The climax that fire eaters and Jerah would join, two of the eaters would blow fire into Jerah’s face as began lift the third one in the air, blowing fire across the tent, Jerah then swing the eater around and around, the flame went faster and faster, people eyes followed the fire. No one notice the change in his eyeballs, only Daniel, because he wishes it too. Daniel saw some people under the flames, their clothes were ripped off, all naked, dancing and oozed with blood in their eyes and foreheads.

Jerah threw the fire eater in the air, and he then summersaulted, blow out the torch as he landed.

 

It was amazing, the crowd was on their feet, young woman wanting to leave their seats as the acts left the rings.

 

Next were the jugglers and a magician. The magician was called Czarodziejtwo, he was from Poland.

His act was normal to watch, had three assistants, an older woman, a young teenage boy and very small man, all three looked rather satanic as went through the magic. One of the feats with woman sawing in half, and the other rather amazing, was the bicycle going through cabinet. The young man would get on the bike and go through cabinet, then at one point the magician made a flash as the young man about come through for the fourth time, instead in was the smallest man that came through, thus ending the magician act.

 

The finale was the highwire families that joined together from Romania; The Carpathians and Omus, where one family coming towards the other, stops in the middle of the wire, then exchange sides.

The crowd once again were amaze at the feat. Van Der called the act, “I val”, way he said sounded like eye high.’  During the middle of the act, one of the highwires instead on his feet, he uses his hands to get across the other side. What amaze Daniel this was done without a net. I guess to have extra suspense.

 

At the end of the Highwire act, Van Der came out and announced the big top entertainment was over, but the side acts have just begun.  Quickly Elly ran down from her seat to meet up with Daniel. She grabs his hands, yelled to their parents ‘Mama, we are going fairwheel first, then catch me a dolly’

Poor Daniel was up in the ferris wheel with Elly, she moved towards him, with those sweet innocent eyes. ‘Hold me Daniel, my sweet!’

‘Elly, I’m not your beau. I have no interest you!’ spoke Daniel.

‘You just shy, that all. You don’t have any intentions with anybody else, like the redhaired, Gloria Potts?’

‘No. Lets…’ No more to be said by either person.

 

After going on to the ferris wheel, Daniel and Elly took to side alley, Elly, wanted Daniel to test his skills throwing balls at coconuts to get her cute doll, that just looked like her. As Daniel began his turn with the three balls, he was bump into by Ned Walker.

 

 

Ned Walker, according to Daniel was the school bully, his brother Talyor Walker was towns, both brothers had been involved with number of girls, this has been kept quiet, since their father been on the council.  Ned was tall for his age; six feet 5’, Ned could almost look like an adult. He was almost built like stone wall. All the walker family had dark deep blue eyes, fair skin and dark hair.

 

Daniel looked at Ned, an acknowledged him, and stepped away.  Ned looked Elly, his tongue licked his lips, and spoke to her. ‘Well Elly, dear. How long you been going with Spellman!  You be going out with REAL MAN! ‘

 

‘Ned Walker, that none of your dammed business, who is my beau’ spoke Elly. Yet, in her voice and her action towards Ned was flirting. Ned enjoyed it. Daniel just couldn’t care all, who took Elly.

Ned wanted to prove he could get the doll for her, but failed on three attempts. It was Daniel turn, he knew he couldn’t throw the ball very well, that why he was never chosen to pick for his baseball or football team.  It was luck on Daniel’s part the first ball hit the coconut off the stand, and wow the doll for Elly.

 

Ned just laugh and thought just beginner’s luck, and left to join his friends and his brother was, next to dancing girls tent.

 

Elly was pleased with the doll, that Daniel had won it for her instead of Ned. Yet, deep inside Elly, the thought of Ned getting the doll also pleased her. They continued with slideshow alley, getting hot corndogs going to store to store. Daniel wanted to see next was people he had met in those strange tents. Elly, didn’t want to go. Daniel tried talk to Elly into it. Just then the two families saw them told them it’s time to go, both father must up early for their farms. As they walked back to the truck, Daniel could see Van Der, Jerah and Yi Xan Tan wave at him, he saw Van Der whisper into Yi Xan Tan’s ear. Daniel waved back. He knew he be back tomorrow night.

 

 

XII

After dropping Elly and her parents off their farm.  Elly did expect a kiss from Daniel, but he just waved them goodbye. As the Spellman reached their farm, Daniel ask about his date with Elly. He said it was fine, and told them he would be going back to the night zoo tomorrow. Then he went back to bed.

This time he had no dreams or nightmares, he just slept through the night.

 

Unlike what happen during the town; a couple young women had disappeared; all their clothes were still in their house. Two older men, drunks, had their faces torn out.  A young child had scratches on its face and body, just like birds’ crawls. On Howie Zach’s farm, cows and sheep were torn in half.

 

That morning the families went to Sheriff Grace to considered these events.  Grace took notes and send his deputies to investigate.  Later as his deputies reported back Some of town people turn towards the carny people. Grace told them, that he had station a man, so that he knew no one from the night zoo had left their camp. ‘Maybe there is a rouge wolf pack on the loose that took animals on Zach’s farm also two drunks.’ He continued ‘As for the girls, runaway to with boys I guess, and the girls were over 18. As for child, the doc said just chicken pox. So, nothing sees here’

 

‘So, I can quote you, Sheriff Grace’ said Johann Hannds. Grace nodded to Hannds. As everyone left Grace’s office, Johann Hannds could see a figure coming out of the storeroom, it looked like Van Der, yet he was still unsure. Johann Hannds felt his heart beating bit faster, as he went back to newspaper, and waited for Daniel to arrive.

 

 

That afternoon Daniel arrive at Speculative Chronicle, found that Johann Hannds writing up last night events. Johann Hannds asked Daniel what did he see last night. He told him what happen. Hannds felt disappointed. Daniel told Hannds he will be going tonight to look the rest of the night zoo tonight. Hannds jumped from his seat and took Daniel’s hand and told him to be careful, its only beginning with this, yet, Hannds felt could be the end tonight. ‘William will be arriving soon, with possible evidence for the sheriff about Van Der’.

 

As Daniel left the newspaper office. There was Van Der’s Car waiting for him, the automatic doors opened for him, in the back seat was Van Der. He waved Daniel to come into the car.

The car was amazing, the back seat was long silverly red in colour, there were button on this long silver instrument panel, that Van Der with touch of his fingers. As Daniel sat next to Der Van, the automatic doors closed.

 

‘Can I give you a lift home Daniel, awhile we have a chat?’

 

‘Sure. But, could tell me where did you get this amazing car and what does the buttons do?’

 

‘As for the car, it was custom built with secrets. I can only show some of the buttons, the rest of the buttons have secrets This button in the middle opens the doors. This one on the left-hand side I’m able to speak to my driver. Cecilla drive on to Daniel Spellman’s home please, and not too quick please’

 

The driver spoke back in very husky female voice. Daniel did not see the driver as the shields between the back seat and the front. Daniel could only image a tall glamorous woman behind the wheel. As the car begins to drive, Van Der smiled and ask Daniel how did like the show last night? Daniel felt had be honest, he was amaze at the acts in the ring, but disappointed, he was not able to see the real sideshow, because of Elly, who has no interest in that area.

 

Van Der said that some of the others did express disappointment not seeing Daniel, Yi Xan Tan, who been wanting to tell her story to Daniel. Daniel felt bit honoured, but worried a bit.

 

‘Do you mind’ said Van Der. ‘what is status with this Elly person?

 

‘Elly is just a friend, no more. But I do have a feeling both sets of parents are up to something. Fact is I don’t like Elly, she is rather backward. I’m sure would have love me have a fight with Ned Walker.

She and Ned really suite each other.  And I have no idea where she into her head that I’m hers. I have plans, I want to see the world.’

 

‘You may be right about the parents, my dear Daniel. Of course, you do Daniel, all young and intelligence people should see the wide world, beyond and underneath too. Life is full of mixture of love, hate and the despair. There is a bubble within ourselves to seek those ideas and struck down those who pin anyone down.  Are you planning to come to tonight, without this Elly person?’

 

‘Yes, I was. You didn’t give us enough time to talk or see rest of the unknowns!’

 

‘Grand. We were planning stay for couple of weeks, plans have change, so tonight will be our last night.’

 

‘I see. Why?

 

‘All will reveal itself. My dear Dan.’

Daniel, felt uneasy as this what his dead sister had spoken about, it seems Johann Hannds warning to Daniel about, this maybe the end might be coming true, and what about his son, will he be too late.

Daniel wanted to tell about his nightmarish dream to Van Der before he could the car stopped.

Van Der spoke. ‘Ah and here we are. You can leave car Daniel.  See you at 6:30, bring your parents too’

 

Before Daniel could say anything, the doors open, Daniel left the car and the car went off.

He stood in front of the house. Before he stepped into the house, his parents came out of the house yelling that they had won free tickets, just for two of them to see the big top show again and more.

Daniel thought at least it would be without Elly.

 

‘Before you come into house, make sure you check your chores, son’ spoke Daniel’s father.

 

For the rest of the day, Daniel did his chores. As he was cleaning out the barn he heard a noise as he turns around he saw Ned Walker with group of friends. Ned walked up to Daniel.

Ned pointed his finger at Daniel’s chest and looked squarely into Daniel’s eyes.

 

‘Tell me SPELLMAN are you really Elly’s beau!’

 

‘Gee Ned, not true at all. And don’t why she kept on saying it. We all knows Elly’s likes you the best, Ned.’

 

‘You’re a worm Spellman. Elly’s my girl. But, we do allow ourselves take on others. If the others don’t touch. You get me! Spellman.’

 

‘I do, Ned’

 

‘Even if when you do marry Elly, you can’t touch her’

 

‘Why would want to marry Elly, I want to be free, beside I don’t love her.’

 

‘Spellman’ Then Ned punched him. ‘You have make my Elly happy’.

As Daniel looked up, Ned and his friends were gone. It felt strange what happen.  He didn’t say anything to his parents about this as he went back to the house. He liar to his father that he had finished his chores and went to bathroom to clean himself up and to change for tonight.

 

As Daniel and parents left the house, he turned around looked at the house and farm, then his parents he felt it would be last time that would see them again, alive! They pass through town, it was very eerie sensation, the town was empty.  Only small breeze of wind as old newspapers floating across the street. As they pass the office of Speculative Chronicle, the lights were still on, Daniel wanted to stop, but his parents continue, from the corner of his eye Daniel could see Johann Hannds coming out of the office, looking like he was badly injured and fell to the ground.  He told them to stop the truck to check to see if he was ok, as he turns to see if he was, Johann Hannds was nowhere to be seen. He had vanished.

 

The truck continues to drove towards the Night Zoo.

 

XIII

 

As the truck continue to drove to where the night zoo was, Daniel could no longer hide his feelings and the strange sensation. The felt a sadness that his heart is about to tear out and life for him will be token. Friendships, families will be nothing more the empty shells within our skins. Only the darkness of the horned monster that he had encounter in his dreams, the drips of blood from its tip, its blood of the town. Those creatures held by Van Der will be released upon the town. Daniel now realized that Johann Hannds came out of his office dying, whatever Van Der’s creature came to get him, the town had just died. 

 

He told this to his parents, they seem not to listen or not wanting to know. Daniel felt alone now.

 

Van Der will give him the answers to the questions.

 

The truck drove in and wave in by Jerah Jusol and his eyeballs show fangs dripped blood. As the truck parked, Jerah Jusol walked up to them, he told Daniel he would escort his parents to the big top, he will go to see Van Der at his wagon. Daniel saw Jerah’s eyeballs had change again into fireworks and he lead Daniel’s parents away.

 

As Daniel walked towards Van Der’s wagon he could see the whole town was here; from the sheriff and his deputies with their families; whole Council and their families.  He sees Ned with Elly.

 

 As he reached Van Der’s wagon, he knocked on the door, Van Der came out all ready for his performance at the big top, he did not say a word, he took Daniel to see Yi Xan Tan.

 

‘Yi Xan Tan will show you, my dear Daniel’ Then he left.

 

Daniel looked at this Asian beauty, he felt his heart beating faster as Yi Xan Tan took him by the hand. She felt so soft. Yi Xan Tan smile at Daniel and spoke softly.

 

‘Come I shall take you beyond, to see the others. And will answer some of your questions. But first you can observe what I do when people come and see me, and give you more of my history. Please, Daniel, must be silent as we take this tour’

 

Daniel walked beside Yi Xan Tan holding hands. Passing Ned and Elly. Daniel could see the shock on their faces, especially Ned’s. Daniel felt he could read what was Ned thinking, ‘Your Dead, Spellman! You upset Elly, I’M COMING FOR YOU!’

 

As they came to Yi Xan Tan’s tent, she pointed by her right hand that Daniel was to sit behind her, in the dark and listen what people wanted to know. Yi Xan Tan sat down on her large wooden Chinese sofa, stoking the two dragon heads as smoke came out from the mouths and eyes lit up green.

 

The first customer arrives; Daniel could see that was Sheriff Grace he stood there, never spoke. Yi Xan Tan began to read his mind, horrible images of war, death, lifeless bodies. There was tears in the Sheriff eyes as he killed a man face to face with his bayonet. Later, it shows the sheriff return home as a broken man, yet, a strange taste to kill. Before Grace had arrive Ferrie, he had been a law officer in the south, hanging seems to be daily sport. There were two horrific murders that happen on his watch, young mother and her son, they found an old hobo with some stolen items from the house, the hobo denied he did the killing, Grace in charge, took it upon himself to hang the man without trial. The young Mother and son was his family.   The case was unsolved. No one really knew who killed them, the town folks thought maybe Grace himself. Soon after he left the town.

The eyes on the dragons changed colour to red, Yi Xan Tan probe further into Grace’s mind. The torture soul was breaking into pieces, Yi Xan Tan could see how Grace walking into office of Speculative Chronicle and attacked Johann Hannds, so brutal, when Daniel did see Hannds fell outside the office, not only Grace was there also the Mayor and Jerah Jusol that made Johann Hannds disappear.

 

 Yi Xan Tan looked deeper into the mind of the sheriff and his future, he will leave here, go to his house to find to be empty, the souls of dead will be waiting for he will considered the mirror, at first his face will melt, then his whole body and with the flames the house will vanish.  Yi Xan Tan stopped. Grace, felt his heart sank and his eyes fill with blood. He could not speak, he left the tent in silence.  The dragon’s eyes return to green and Yi Xan Tan stopped stoked them.

 

Yi Xan Tan turned to Daniel and spoke ‘His destruction will begin soon.  Along with those do evil.  We do have time before others arrives.  I will continue with my tale’

 

As they waited for the next customer; Yi Xan Tan began her tale again. With her beauty and special powers of reading men minds, the governor of the province asked how she could do that?

Yi Xan Tan was unsure herself, it seems when she able to consider the soul and the mind, she sees their future, if their souls are pure, they would have good fortune, however their souls are full of wicked thoughts, their minds are twisted.

 

 The farmer who brought her, confirm this, a young man in the fields wanted her, she considered his eyes, and whole face was so twisted, like watching ice and fire tearing his flesh out.

Governor saw her as weapon to keep the all-in line, also to gain his fortune. For a while seems to work, he never touched her, until desire Yi Xan Tan’s beauty too much for him, one night he came into her room and started to attack Yi Xan Tan, she uses her powers, governor’s face began to split in two, he yelled screaming, he felt his whole heart leaping out. His guards came running, as Yi Xan Tan turned towards them, all of them fell and broken just like terracotta warriors. In the end Yi Xan Tan escaped, not only destroyed the governor also whole village. 

 

 

Mostly she wandered thru out China and trying to hide her powers. She did have a family once, but killed by bandits, she took revenge on these bandits one by one using her exotic beauty and powers to destroy, Yi Xan Tan at one time become a powerful Queen of crime, until she was betrayed by her lover; Wai-chung Hi. Before she could use her powers, Wai-chung Hi and some of his men threw a sack over her and toss her in a river, where by chance Van Der was able to save her.

 

Van Der ask her to join him and Jerah Jusol for his travelling show, this was the beginning of the Night Zoo. Others joined the show after their following mishaps in their lives.

 

Next thru the tent was Ned and Elly. Dragons once again heaved smoke and the eyes turn red as these two walked into the tent. Both stood silence. Never that Daniel saw these two not speaking or even moving. Yi Xan Tan looked carefully into souls of these two. What Yi Xan Tan saw were two heartless and black souls.  Ned had got Elly pregnant and both set parents thought be best if Elly married a nice boy, hence, Daniel parents would supply the nice boy. Unknown to the parents, Elly had gotten rid of the unborn child. Ned and Elly hatched a plan, that would involve liars and murder. Ned who dislike all the parents had planned, one by one killed them with help of Elly by poisoning them.  Later Daniel will take the fall.  And sell all three farms and leave the town.

As Yi Xan Tan looked deeper, she found both Ned and Elly had set up traps for each other and move on other people. Both Ned and Elly looked each other in a rage, both their muscles in their brains were burning up, their rage took them to the river, both burst into flames and their bodies were ashes floating upon the river. They too left in silent with their hearts and faces in twisted in agony.

 

XIV

 

Yi Xan Tan stood up the dragons went silent. She looked at Daniel. ‘It’s time for you see the others.’ As they left her tent to move towards the Meh-Teh and James Morke, hold Daniel hand she whispered ‘I long for you, in my dreams. You see Daniel, most of the creatures in the Night zoo are ageless and they also hungry, we all seek out lost, cruel and corrupted souls, there have been individuals, groups, even towns of these souls to feed upon.’

 

‘Had you come to cleanse the town! How? I had a nightmare from my dead sister, given me a warning.’

Yi Xan Tan pressed her lips towards Daniel to be silent as they approached Meh-Teh’s tent.  The white hairy beast was behind his cage singing and dancing awhile a small crowd was looking at him, one of the young man, showing off to his girlfriend making fun of the Meh-Teh, so much so, it started to annoy the Meh-Teh.

Yi Xan Tan grab Daniel out of the tent, she knew what was about to happen and explain to Daniel to move from the tent.

‘The Meh-Teh’s tent was design differently if anything happen there would be steel shutters coming down, with no exit for anyone, the bar of the cage would lift up and Meh-Teh would be able to attack his prey. First, he ripped out the throat, clawed the chest, if he missed, he started ripping out the arms, and eat their hearts’.

 

Daniel felt sick. He stopped and vomited.  Yi Xan Tan continued to explain, there be nothing left of the small crowd. Just then the steel doors open again, and another small crowd walked in.

Yi Xan Tan stopped Daniel; ’That is destiny these people to be killed this way. Come. James Morke is expecting you’

 

They went to the tent of James Morke- Lizard man. He was in middle of finishing what was left his small crowd, his large lizard tongue touch head of twisted young woman. The clothes the people wore just disappear into the soil.

Daniel’s eyes were so shock, he yelled ‘WHAT are YOU! Tell me why you done this?’

Yi Xan Tan spoke ‘You call us, my dear Daniel. Through your sister. She knew how corrupt this town was’

James Morke continued, ‘We all creatures of the night zoo. You been save.’ James looked what he had done. ’Mais, those Vielle and vieux taste like chee wee. At least not much of De’puille. Can’t wait next taste of chee wee. These people will destroy others in their way, we come help. Van Der saw what was within us, you better go, Daniel, soon Van Der will see you. Ah, more little chee wees’

Yi Xan Tan took Daniel by her hand out of the tent, awhile others went in. They could hear a steel door closed. Yi Xan Tan translated the words that James Morke used (Mais) well, Vielle (old woman), Vieux (old man), Chee wee (cheese sticks) and De’puille (anyone in a mess). Yi Xan Tan describe that James Morke’s tongue was poison with acid and he feeds on the blood and bone within the skin of his prey.

Daniel didn’t want to see anymore. But, Yi Xan Tan told him he must see the others to understand.

Next tent they went to, a young man little bit older than Daniel, he was tall dark skin. His eye was shocking blue. This was Donald James. He sat there in the corner, weeping.  Daniel went towards him, but Yi Xan Tan pulled him back, and nodded no, ask Daniel to stay where he was, and be silent. Slowly Donald turn around to see who was behind him; Daniel was so shock; whole face went pale. For Donald James twisted mouth, it covered to one side to another, like one big grin, with razor sharp teeth. Yi Xan Tan told Daniel that Donald cannot speak due to his month and teeth, he cries not for those he had killed, but it way lured his victims to him, he just pours some kind of acid that melt the bodies. Yi Xan Tan grab Daniel’s hand out of the tent.

Daniel looked at her and spoke ’I need to see Van Der and understand How did I send for you people, what my sister got to do with it?’

‘We have few more tents to show you and then Van Der will speak. Come!’ Grabbing his hand Yi Xan Tan took him a very dark tent. He could hear squeaking sounds of bats. There stood a very tall woman, flowing red hair outshine her white complexion, she was drinking a glass. She looked at Daniel and spoke in odd accent a mid-European, mixture of Turkish and Romanian.

‘He very young for here. Come closer my dear. Good. Ah it’s the one, Daniel Spellman. Let me introduce myself, I’m Lady Sophia Saha Rolfe. I live within the darkness, slept by day. Come Daniel taste the wine’ She held out her long-pointed fingernails to touch Daniel by hand. Daniel moved back to arm of Yi Xan Tan. ‘No wine, the Mayor and his family didn’t mind that much’ There lady Sophia revealed, several bodies up-side down with wine taps into their necks, just like wine barrels.

‘You Just like Dracula!’ said Daniel in horror.

‘I nothing LIKE that Creature! Stoker has lots answer for. I’m as human as you. I just like taste the finest Reds!’ Then she laughed and moved back into the dark.

As they left the tent, Daniel felt he needed to throw up. Yi Xan Tan sat down with Daniel and place her arms around him. And whispered just one more tent, then see Van Der. Daniel nodded and got up from the ground. They walked slowly to the last tent. This tent housed something chilling. Daniel and Yi Xan Tan could hear very heavy breathing. There was odour of a wolf, an odour of death. There is a cage a wolf growling, yet, it looked like a man, on caged door was a name Ju Santio and underneath in brackets is the sign Rougarou. Daniel and Yi Xan Tan looked straight at the cage, the creature rosed on its hind legs, its eyes bright red looked into theirs, a kindly voice came out of the creature.

‘I’m sad to destroy. My features which I am born with, that of a wolf. I’m Rougarou, a werewolf. As a child I was alone, bullied. Until I met Van Der who gave me hope, to pursue, those who pursue me.’ Suddenly his voice changed in harsher tone. ‘Those who are evil must be Ripped out’ Its hands changed into claws as tried to grab them. ‘I can smell them coming, the flesh will be ripped out.’  Daniel and Yi Xan Tan back out of the tent, passing them were others going into the tent, as the steel doors closed behind them.

‘It’s time for Van der explain everything to you, Daniel. I’m glad you had not run away like the others. I’m very fond of you, Daniel. The others resisted. But their towns did not. As they walked toward Van Der’s wagon, Daniel could that see some of the towns people were leaving without harm, even his mother and father were leaving. I wondered how many will remember the night zoo.

 

 

Arriving at Van Der’s wagon, sitting near the stairs was Cecilla, chewing on a carrot, breaking it hard like was someone leg or arm. Yi Xan Tan left Daniel outside as she went back to her tent. Cecilla stared at Daniel and spoke in harsh tone; ‘You’re not much, to take over, I guess. Yi Xan Tan has her hooks into you, much as same with me with Van Der…’ Just then Van Der came out, and waved his hand for Cecilla to go. Daniel walked into Van der wagon again. He sat down. Van Der gave Daniel a cup of coffee and sat down opposite.

‘You want to know about this Daniel, there been others I felt could be part of this, but I could tell there never would. Some I allow to live, but their minds are different. Others were less fortunate. I ask you one thing, Daniel allow me tell you without any questions, yet, from you, please!’

XV

The older Daniel Spellman laid on bed, he took glass water. He looked at me and Sue.  He put down the glass. ‘What he told me, I never forgot. I never knew about the towns that they had visit, nor about my town Ferrie and town people. Many I thought were working, yet others were as ugly, and why my sister’s death I was beginning to understand about it. I sat quietly and drank my coffee and he begins his tale about the night zoo.’

‘Daniel, what you think of your town’ said Van Der, ‘The most harmonious of the land. In the beginning perhaps, but there are those who had arrive this town that brought in their sins that had corrupted the town, your sister Jess, saw it. But, was too late for her, and this what the night zoo is for’

Van Der continued origins of the Night zoo. ‘I was in born in small village in Europe, as a child I hunger for knowledge, I wanted the world who I was and I wanted me to know the world. My family never understood this. As I grew up, I saw the world was, and how ugly it was; I took an interest in fantastical, of magic, light or dark. I met an old man who came from the woods outside our village, what he saw in me, he knew that I could learn the arts of reality and fantastic. Every day after school he would take me to his house and show me, spells mixing science with the touch of magic.

The old man also knew I had a power to read and control people. He told me the power could be used for Good or evil, yet, sometimes these are both used in the purpose that we do. I was also able to talk to those souls who had passed away, soul who died of violence, neglected or souls just broke in two.

This took many years of study under this old man. My family nor the village knew of this. They were very suspicion about this old man. He never told me his name. When this old man died of old age, he left me enough money to leave the village and go to higher education, of course my family wanted the money for themselves, I found out their sins, sins I dislike.’ Van Der paused and shook his head.

‘My family were cruel, what they did, I cannot describe to you, nor I wish you to learn as it is my pain. I left that village, and promised I would never to be back, yet so many type of villages and towns were like that, and needs to be cleanse.’  Again, he pauses. He drank some red wine, not blood but wine. ‘I went to university and I was instructed by the old man to seek out two another, who would teach me about this world and of that other worlds; worlds belong into fairy tales, myths and legends, this man and this woman, were more than mother and father to me, soul mates in the fantastical.’

 

‘I continued to learn from them, the couple called themselves Neweugh, their never gave their first names, the man was very handsome darked eyes and olive skin. The woman was very elegant, her face was greyish she had emerald eyes and bright long red hair flow in the air. During my studies with them I found other worlds open in their house that you could pass through them and out again, you only spent only matter of minutes of each world or you could never get out.  I finished my university studies with two years, and for another year with the Neweugh.  When it was time to leave there, the Neweugh gave me my costume and my first wagon to seek the world. I was 22, and the year was 1870’

Daniel jawed dropped, Van Der should be in his nineties, yet he looks in his thirties.

‘I can see that you are confused about my age.  Sometimes it’s a curse or a benefit.  There was time I was normal, during my travels across the villages and towns of Europe with my powers of magic, I built up little success, until I met her, she would come dear to me. Her name as Sariah, she too had the power, much more advance than mine, I didn’t care because we complimented each other, Sariah and I became a team, could say the origins of the night zoo, yet not what would become.

Sariah had most beautiful face I had ever seen, her long dark eyes and long dark hair fitted her lean statue. Sariah at each performance magically change colours of her nails, to make the world bit brighter. When Sariah smile made my heart sink into love with her, I just adore her. Never had I met a woman could do that to me or since. 

We entertain many towns people, without much cause to the officials, we never took money in false way or sold anything that had secret or magic oliments, we just entertain with my powers of movement and Sariah with fire and the reading of the cards. We only stay each town or village two days and then we move on. Most of the time everyone was happy to see us, and they knew we did no harm to them. We travel like this for nearly three years.

Until we arrive in the town of Bled.  As we arrive I saw them flogging a young man near death, it was Jerah Jusol. Jerah as child had strange eyes that could make things happen, if he was angry, the results would be ….’ Van Der pause in his tale. He took a drink and looked at Daniel.

In the present, Daniel Spellman looked at me and Sue, he too drunk some water.  Like Van Der he paused in his story. What happen next, that Van Der had rescue Jerah, by paying 100, 000 gold pieces to stop the flogging to the officials of the town of Bled. Van Der and Sariah took turns looking after Jerah, his whole back was cut very deeply by the force of nine tail whip. Van Der had a feeling that police officer enjoyed his work under the leadership of the Mayor.

Following day, Van Der went to see the mayor about performing for towns people, with magic tricks and reading of the cards and told the mayor and the rest of councilmen that they were here not selling anything. The Mayor ask what will he do with Jerah? Van Der told him he had not gave much thought about it, and Jerah is just resting in their wagon.  Mayor agree to Van Der to perform, only one day and he must leave town and Jerah must not be part of the show and leave with Van Der.

That Night, while Jerah Jusol was resting, Van Der and Sariah were performing, the town of Bled seems to enjoy it. As the police officer look on, Van Der could see that police officer’s eyes were transfixed on Sariah, he could see his lips getting wet by his tongue, in fact, men in the town were behaving the same way.  But the woman saw them differently. Both Van Der and Sariah felt uneasy. The whole town was about to devouring them. After the performance, their pack up the wagon and quickly left.

 

XVI

Van Der made the horses go like a gallop out of the town after 30 kilometres from town Van Der stopped the wagon near a river. That night over a fire, Jerah Jusol walked out the wagon and joined Van Der and Sariah. Over dinner Jerah began his tale. Jerah told them with his eyes he could make things happen, it was depending on his mood, he was born like this, his mother and father felt afraid of Jerah as he grew older. At age twelve both parents helped placed a sack over him and tired him up and was later dumped at monastery, some 50 kilometres away from his home. The treatment that Jerah got from the monks was harsh, they saw within him the devil.

Over time Jerah could control his eyes and controlling his mood by building up his muscles, as he grew into a young man his mood was in good spirits. With no major incidents happen within the monastery walls the abbot thought was time Jerah to leave to go on a journey, as the abbot put it, to find his soul and fight those inner demons that might take control.  Just like Van Der, Jerah travelled to towns and villages showing how strong he was, most of the time his eyes would show happy faces or fireworks, until he got into Bled.

The town was under a spell of evil. There is a small castle just outside the town, this castle is own by Alexandru and Mihaela Cel Tradat. When Jerah was doing his act for town, the couple saw him. Alexandru a tall man with dark black hair with yellow paste for his skin, and his eyes was bloodshot. He dressed good fine gentleman should. His wife Mihaela was also tall, dressed all in red. She too had same colour hair, same paste of skin and same bloodshot eyes, hers were darker richer, than her husband.

As they rode pass Jerah; their eyes went into his body and soul. Jerah could see the evil within those eyes. Alexandru and Mihaela Cel Tradat approached Jerah, and asked would he performance for them, and they would pay him with 20 gold coins. Although he felt something not right; he never seen so much money. The night that Jerah perform for Alexandru and Mihaela was a night nightmare that had change him.

Jerah arrive at the castle, Alexandru open the door and led Jerah to the dining room. There sitting in the middle of the table was Mihaela Cel Tradat in the most lavish red-blooded dress that Jerah had seen. Alexandru took his seat next to wife. Alexandru clapped his hands and servants of the castle brought in the food and drink for them.  Then it was Mihaela to clap her hands for Jerah to begin.  Jerah stood in the front of the table showing his muscle, bending them and muscles seems to be moving on their own, along with change of mood within his eyes. He could see Alexandru and Mihaela Cel Tradat were starting to eat and drink, at first slowly, then faster and faster, keeping time with Jerah’s muscles.

Only Mihaela Cel Tradat threw down her turkey leg onto the floor and jump on the table with excitement glaring at Jerah, awhile Alexandru thumped his fist on the table with crazed looked that his eyes drooling with blood. Jerah stopped. Started walking backwards towards the door, each time he stepped backwards, Alexandru and Mihaela moved forward, with their mouths open. Both jumped on to Jerah, licking him, just like some meat on the table. Jerah mood change, explosion sound came from his eyeballs that pushed back Alexandru and Mihaela towards and hitting the table, and there was bleeding from their ears and mouths. Both were stung for the moment, given enough time Jerah to leave the castle.

He ran out of the darken woods, he had no scent where he was going. Until came upon small cabin. There was a light and smoke from the chimney, he knew this was his only chance of hiding, before leaving. He knocks on the door. A young woman opens the door, Jerah fell in.  He looked up, and saw most beautiful face he had ever saw, her green eyes that sparkled emeralds.

Jerah spoke to her ‘I’m sorry. Please help me! I think I may have killed Alexandru and Mihaela Cel Tradat’

The woman spoke in a gentle voice as she looked down on Jerah. ‘How?’ Jerah describe his action to young woman. ‘Let me help you up. My name is Christina Albu, I’m a white witch. I’m afraid you have not killed them, just made them bit upset. The whole town is under their evil spell. Men, women and even the children do horrible nightmarish things. I try as much to anti the damage that they cause, and keep the town in harmony. You can rest here tonight, but you must leave tomorrow before towns people catch you. ‘

‘so, who or what are they?’

‘Alexandru and Mihaela Cel Tradat that has made deal with a creature that lives beyond our realm of existence, they were getting old, and wanted to be young again, and this creature, made them creatures that live on blood, lust and madness of the mind. Alexandru and Mihaela Cel Tradat torture the souls of the towns people, they too at times become just like Alexandru and Mihaela.’

Christina Albu looked into Jerah eyes, and saw his life and what he was and what will be become in the future. ‘My friend, time is short. You will meet others. This town may not let you leave. But you and your friends will change this, also I see some tragedy. You will find other towns as in an evil state such as ours. And along way your friends will collect more of your kind. There will be many sacrifices along the way, we cannot change what is about happen. So, sleep for now’

Jerah fell asleep in Christina’s lap.  Christina felt uneasy about tomorrow and the next few days to come, she knows that her time has come to face the evil in the town and beyond.

Early morning Jerah left the cabin without telling Christina. Jerah was hoping to avoid the town people before anybody woke up, as he approached the town. There were two horses that Alexandru and Mihaela Cel Tradat sat, surrounded by the town people, both yelled in such horrible sound and pointed to Jerah, the Mayor and local police official grabbed Jerah by the arms and neck, both powerful strong, to overcome Jerah strength. Mihaela Cel Tradat got off her horse and walked up to Jerah and whispered in his ear ‘We could have been good together, I sense a present.’ She turns to the mayor and the police official. ‘Teach this dog a lesson, he so strong! Thousand leases of cat’s tail, unless someone comes with some money, we will return to pick the pieces, if any’. Mihaela Cel Tradat get back on her horse, both started ride off with their mouths drooling with blood.

They striped off the shirt of Jerah and begin the flogging, with each stroke the town people grew with such delights. It was up to thirty stokes, this when Van Der stepped in and pay the money. Jerah end his tale. All three sat on camp fire. Van Der wondered the meaning of Christina Albu words about the future. He scents that should start before dawn. Jerah looked at Van Der nodded he would take first watch and Van Der second before moving on to the next town or village. Sariah tried to sleep was beginning to be worried, Van Der promised Sariah all will be well.

Jerah watched for first four hours, he was ready for anything. The first shift was quieted. Van Der came from the wagon to take over. Jerah would sleep on top of the wagon, yet, he felt uneasy. He looked at Van Der and told him that they should look for Christina Albu, she only one that may know how to deal with that Alexandru and Mihaela Cel Tradat, maybe the whole town of Bled. The second shift was quite too, the men started preparing for the journey, Jerah got the horses ready to be hitched to the wagon, awhile Van Der packing up the camp site. Both men allow Sariah to sleep, awhile move the wagon slowly out of the woods.

 

XV

As they reached outskirts of the woods onto the next town. They felt safe. The town itself small. They saw very few people. They stopped the wagon and went to the local inn, those in the inn was very quiet. Van Der and Jerah went inside, leaving Sariah still asleep. Van Der asked the landlord about rooms and where he could put his wagon horses for a while. The landlord very solid built, forehead was rather large that made his eyes just sitting on his nose. He just stares at Van Der and Jerah without a word. Both men felt something odd, and ran out of the inn. Dragging out of the wagon was Sariah by led by Bled’s police official, his eyes were all glowed. Sariah using her powers made the police official rise above the wagon, then making him fall to the ground, crushing the official’s body into two, his head split in half.  Not blood coming out from his body was worms and maggots.

Sariah ran towards Van Der. All three could see the police official was not human or maybe not alive. As they moved towards the wagon, the whole township became alive with the people of Bled. In the middle of the street was the mayor and Alexandru and Mihaela Cel Tradat. Mihaela saw body of the police official, she smiled. She asked who did this.  Sariah moved towards Mihaela. Both stares each other.

Mihaela yelled. ‘BATTLE!’  Her eyes melted with blood, her nails drew longer and sharp. Sariah used her powers to pushed back Mihaela onto the ground. Mihaela got up and moved towards Sariah, with one swipe with those large nails made Sariah bleed on her right side.  Sariah stood her ground. Sariah looked straight into Mihaela’s eyes the biggest brightness flash of light from Sariah’s hands. The light burned through Mihaela’s bloodshot eyes, deeper the light, Mihaela felt her eyes melted from her sockets, she yelled as she fell on her knees with pain. No one came near her, even Alexandru, who felt helpless. He turns towards Van Der. Van Der and Jerah combine their powers to bring down Alexandru’s horse, he lay twisted with agony.

As both Alexandru and Mihaela Cel Tradat lay there in pain, both their bodies were slowly disappearing as pile of ashes. Both Alexandru and Mihaela yelled with pain, and called upon the creature that gave them their power. Both could hear the voice beyond dimension of the underworld. ‘Little people your time is over, it will I who rule these humans now.  It is time to come to me sit beside me, as I need new lap dogs. I shall grant you a wish revenge, used your minds on these fleas, one more time.’ The voice had disappeared.

Alexandru and Mihaela with their minds contacted the town people of Bled for one last time to surround the three and attacked the outsiders. The Mayor cried out to the people, men, woman and children to kill, those who will kill their masters. The people crowded Sariah, Van Der and Jerah. As Alexandru and Mihaela made the most horrid sound as their agony bodies melted away. The town people started attacking Sariah was hurt the most, the boys stood in front of her in way protecting her, each bouncing each town folks off to the ground.

Unware small group children, all glowing with reddish-brownish eyes carrying a small sharp knifes got behind Sariah and stab her first in the legs, then in the upper body. One small child came in from and stab Sariah in the stomach, lashing the opening wound that Mihaela had made. As Van Der and Jerah were holding back main crowd, both felt something splattered onto their backs, as they turned around both saw Sariah on her knees dripping with blood, like animated dolls the children kept on stabbing.  Both lost focus, as the crowd came upon them. Both barely unable hold back the crowds of town people, then with a flash of light pulled back the crowd, it was Christina Albu.

The flash was so great that the town people had disappear back to Bled, leaving Van Der holding the dying Sariah, while Jerah could only comfort his new friend.  Christina Albu looked at them both. Jerah walked up to Christina and ask if she knew this would happen?

‘I told you Jerah, there will be many sacrifices over many centuries’ said Christina. ‘Sariah and Alexandru and Mihaela Cel Tradat are just the beginning. There are many such towns not only in Europe other places around the world in different time periods, there also the innocents that been sacrifice to feed the evil of these creatures, you must save them...’

Van Der cried ‘She dead. You knew!’ Van der was too upset to realized what he was doing he grab one the knifes and stabbed Christina. Van Der dropped the knife as Jerah put his friend away. ‘I’m sorry, I would never …’ Tears were falling from Van Der’s face, it would be his last.

Christina Albu white dress was now covered in red blood. She smiled at both of them. ‘I too. Part of this sacrifice. Only way to destroy the evil, I placed a curse and the powers upon you and others you will find on your travels. The destiny you hold for centuries. There will be one who replace and unite all to destroy the creature within the darkness and release all those taken souls. You will, received a calling from those innocent souls to seek out the evil of the town or village any time period. There be no records of your coming. It time. You shall receive the first request, the destruction of Bled and those souls, this from me.’

Both Van Der and Jerah stood there as they saw Christina Albu melt into a white speck, along with Sariah. Only Van Der and Jerah stood in the middle of nowhere, along with the horses with the wagon. They both knew what to do, both felt a strange power going thru their veins, hearts and minds, the powers they did have, are now enhance. So much so, no ordinary beings cannot bring them down.

Van Der looked at Jerah and spoke ‘This day is beginning of the Night Zoo, already there is another presence, not of this land. The barrier around Bled has begun, those souls will not escape the revenge. I feel sorry for those children.’

‘No need feel sorry for those children, those ugly dolls. See my eyes balls are changing. I see their soulless destruction. I feel the strength breaking mayor in two.’

‘Bled will be no more. We will leave it as barren land, with a barrier no one or no creature from this world or beyond can appear. ‘

Van Der and Jerah made their way back to Bled. The wagon past through the barrier that Christina Albu had put on. The town and its inhabits of Bled were frozen. Unknown to them, they were nowhere to run. Van Der stopped the wagon, both of them got down from the wagon. Stood in the middle of the ground, both eyes balling the inhabits. With their mind combining they unfrozen the people. The Mayor at first looked horrid seeing them, yet, he thought if made the same deal he made with Alexandru and Mihaela Cel Tradat, he town could be save. As he approached Van Der, he bends down on his knees and spoke.

 

 

‘You have destroyed our old masters, we offer you to be our new ones. You can see, we are a town that seek hunger of wickedness. Our eyes are upon you are masters’

Jerah walked over to the mayor. ‘You had me flogged for your pleasure and you took gold from this man’

‘I’m happy to return it, even more if you wish. There plenty of ladies who wish take upon you sir, we are forgives?’

Jerah looked into the mayor’s eyes. ‘Look into my eyes and see what will become of you’

The mayor saw the fate of himself and the town Bled. It was too horrible for the mayor, that his whole head was blowing apart and his body shatter into pieces. The rest town folks stood there, they could not move. The combined wills and minds of Van Der and Jerah crushed the people, giant talons of birds ripped apart the men lower bodies, woman screaming as blood appearing from their eyes, many cried out and took their hands ripped the eyes out. Of children pray for being save, they thought too young to know better, some of the children hissed at Van Der. One child holds her hand out and her eyes were saddled what she had done in the past. Van Der’s heart no longer soft, but black hearted, he just gave a creepy smile, just torn that child into dust. As for the fate of the other children; some grew sharp talons where their nails were and started to tear other children apart, well as the adults.

Van Der and Jerah stood back from carnage, the town of bled will continue to bleed for infinity of time and will be a waste land, as for other towns will be. Van Der and Jerah got on the wagon walk through the barrier. Van Der could see the beginning of Bled as barren waste, no more touch of evil.

Van Der looked at Jerah. ‘We are not destined seek that creature to the infinite battle, that up to the others that we seek, the one that has that power’

‘When we find the one. Would they reject the calling?’

‘They will at first. It may take themselves a lifetime realizing at that. In the end will return to us, or one that they will fall for. They too will be curse until that time when battle between dimensions. Come. The time across the world and time for new recruit, I feel she about fall into a river.’

Like some sort of magic the wagon was transported to the ancient land of China.

This was the end of Van Der’s Tale to young Daniel. Of course, all the acts could tell how they met and join Van Der. Daniel could guess what others history were. Daniel was so much taken aback of this strange tale of Van Der, that made him a saviour to others, a terrify monster to others. Daniel felt a bit that his town could not be grab of wickedness, people without souls, he could not think that his own parents may be one these soulless creatures. How could he call The Night Zoo to his town, and true tale of death his sister Jess?

Daniel now spokes. ‘It time tell me about why you come here, and about Jess’s death. That was not a nightmare, when I saw her. Jess was telling me something’

Van Der nodded.

Still, Daniel found it hard to understand, all that is going on. Awhile listening to Van Der’s tale, the beginning of the town’s death and its habitants, somehow Daniel never saw or heard the monstrous acts of violence and carnage that behold on the town of Ferrie.

 

XIV

What transpire on that day change for Daniel, what he knew about his parents and his sister, and the future outcome of his life. Daniel knew he should leave the grounds of the Night Zoo and warmed the towns folks, he felt unable to do. He was glued to the tale of Van Der.

Van Der looked straight into Daniel’s eyes; Daniel could see that Van Der’s eyes and face was getting older by the minute. He spoke quietly to Daniel that his time is almost over. Van Der continued to tell that the Night Zoo journey seeking out wickedness of small towns and villages over the world. Many sell out their souls to undefine creature that lives beyond realms of exists. This creature can shape its figure and the evil it spreads. These creatures from the zoo, in a way fighting to destroy the creature spread, under the promised of Christina Albu. During their course has been close to find the innocent soul that could be the one takes over from Van Der and battle with the creature.

With every town or village without much luck finding that someone. There has been some too scared to take up the challenge and are the sole survivor of the destruction. There been others who has been turned and destroy after an intense battle. Lastly, those who been sacrifice before Night Zoo had arrive, this was the case of Daniel’s sister Jess.

When Jess was born there was something different about her. Daniel only knew her for short 10 years. Jess had glow to her, Daniel didn’t know that his sister was destined to play a major role of defeating the creature beyond.  

It was a day during summer time, when the skies went dark, everybody excepted some rain.  It was day, when William Hannds left the office of Speculative Chronicle, when very dark black winged car, its undercarriage was all in bright red, the car went straight to the mayor Gotham. William called to his dad, Johann, both wondered who was about stepped out and walked towards the mayor’s office. They could both see all the windows were sealed up from the black winged car, they could not see the passenger nor the driver. Only the mayor steps out and into the car. Gotham was only in the car for fifteen minutes and step of the car, bit dazed. And went back to his office as the black winged car and its mysterious person left the town. Willian and Johann went to talk to the mayor; the mayor told them a change is coming that will help the town to survive without given any details.

The passenger of the black winged car stopped at all the habitants’ houses, all but Willian and Johan. Those who lived in the town approached the car, only took one or both members of the household stepped into the car, each session lasted only that fifteen minutes, each time their faces had changed a little.  Going towards the farms was different. This was how Van Der explain to Daniel, how the disease was about to begin, and the bulk of the town will be effected.

Unknown to Daniel he did not see the change in his parents, his community, nor his friends from school. When the car arrives at his parent’s farm, Daniel was already at school, only six-year Jess saw it all.  Daniel looked at Van Der and asked how does he know? Van Der told that Jess had communicate to them the story, and was Jess’s death and Daniel’s grief that gave the Night Zoo’s permission to come to Ferrie.

Van Der explained some of Daniel’s family are heighted with supernatural powers, not all generations have this power, Jess was the strongest, followed by Daniel. This power is Unknown to the parents, just in case the parents become under influence of evil or don’t understand, this is only way to protect the children with this power. By age of six, most girls know of this power and keep it a secret, the male’s power is small around age sixteen, not until age of twenty does full power of the power comes to be. This why both Daniel and his sister, jess was not affected by the evil.  

Van Der continued his narrative to Daniel, he still unsure what took place at his home. The Black winged car arrives very silently to the Spellman’s farm. Jess could see out of her window the car arriving, the back-seat passenger got out of the car. The creature was in human form.  Jess knew what and who it was.  It had a dark oura around its human shape body, with its dark red eyes as it appeared up to Jess’s window. The creature walked slowly towards the front door, the clothes the creature had chosen were all dark colours. The creature just opens the door and let itself in. Van Der told Daniel that his sister had powerful mind, she could see what was about to happen with her parents and the creature. Jess remined in her room.

The creature at first was tall dark skinned with red darkish beard and introduce itself as Velnias (Lithuanian for evil). As it sat down the creature body shape change into an overweight white skinned with greyish beard, the eyes were still dark red. The creature sat on side of the lounge looking at the parents, as the creature’s eyes moved into the souls of the parents, he felt bit of evil between them, enough to tap into, enough to change them. The creature Spoke in a very harsh southern accent.

‘I come to the point, I can offer you both, forever life if you serve me. Many others in the town has agree to come to me. I know your souls has black inside. I look at your Mr Arthur Spellman, the second son, who murdered his brother over this woman.’ As the creature turned Daniel’s mother and pointed ‘A murder you, Dear Joyce Cordall wanted to happen, also you destroy with your mind your rival, for this man’s hand, Mary Lucy, who lies in an institution which shock treatments are the norm. How delicious!’ The creature licking its lips with its double tongue.

Both parents were shock with the truth that lay before them, yet, never really felt sorry. Both felt something warm with idea life forever. The creature knew that Daniel’s mother had lost her power to evil, and transfer it to her daughter, Jessica.  Then, the creature scent Jess’s powerful mind, and it knew that had to turn Jess to its will.

‘In order, this pact to be complete, you must your children part of it. Your daughter has the power, you MUST convince her be part of Ferrie’s hunger of wickedness for its new masters, if not you must sacrifice her at the age of ten, before her power get stronger and before she is able to transfer the power to your son.’

Arthur and Joyce turned white and looked down the floor, then lifted their heads slowly with their biggest grins with their teeth dripping of sweat.

‘Your son, when he of age, he must be married, this is this family. He too will be part hunger, yet, he will be sacrifice, as I see the greater wickedness lies with a couple of the future.’

The creature stood up from the lounge and its body shape had change back when he came in. He left the Spellman’s house. Jess saw get into the car and leave the town Ferrie and never to return. 

From that day, once peaceful town of Ferrie is now path of the hunger just like other towns and villages, it will be path that will lead the destruction of the town. The hunger starts slowly at the beginning.  Strangers that arrive, some join be part of the town, like Sheriff Grace. Other strangers were consumed by the hunger and die without a trace. Only very few had escape this hunger as their souls had no darkness to them.

Some left and move on, others like Johann Hannds and his son knew something was not right, yet, both were blinded were unable to see. Hannds always thought the evil was Van Der and his Night Zoo to came to save these towns, even if many innocents were sacrificed to stop the spread.

Daniel Spellman looked shocked and spoke. ’What about my sister Jess?’

Van Der stood up from and stared at Daniel, ‘Would you like see and speak to Jess, this will be last time you see her, for Jess continue to fight with the creature within and beyond this dimension’

‘Can you do That!’

Van Der closed his eyes and spoke strange words, slowly his cat like eyes open, Van Der eyes were golden yellow. Daniel could see whatever happening to Van Der and the power taken its toll him.  Out of the void came an opening, instep was Jess. As a ten-year-old, Jess looked wearily. Daniel smiled and ran and hug Jess. Van Der could tell much both had missed each other. Jess placed her hand to stopped Daniel to speak.

‘Dan, so good see you. But, I have a such short time here before I go back. So, you must listen, don’t ask questions, I know what you must be thinking. I’m dead and I cannot return back, I’m fighting creature that wish destroy in the void. When I saw you, I was trying give you a sign, to trust Van Der and his troupe, when I died pass on some of my powers, so when it time to awaken, you know what to do. Mammy and Poppy took in turn, slowly at first, to corrupt me with the hunger, to steal, to spread gossip to hopeful someone would do harm to themselves. They did this awhile you at school, Dan. I rebel against them. My powers were getting stronger. I could move objects, small things at first like knives and forks, and I could bring bees and hornets to farm and attack them.

One night the hunger was so great in mama and pappy, they came into my room and attack me. Please Dan, don’t cry. The attack made me stronger. I started moved tractors and cars. You remember when we those deaths in town; just after my tenth birthday. Old man Seymour and his son, Joe, they prey on the innocent. When night I came upon them, tearing a young woman apart. That use my powers to tear them apart, like a bear had killed them. I did the same with Campbells, the whole family were devouring this young black man. I had tear in my eyes, I felt heart -broken when I saw little Misty was part of it, she was my friend. Misty started attack me, with those animal like teeth, so I tore them apart.

Dan, I can see you are hurt all this. I felt over welded by it all, I knew I need help to destroy the town before another innocent was taken. At first, the town council and the sheriff thought was a bear or bears, they tried hunt them down.  Mama and pappy knew was me. Those four years they had kept me a secret, always trying to change me, always failing. In the end, our parents had fully lost all humanity, both knew they had failed the creature.

On the night of my death, our parents met Sheriff Grace, Mayor Gothan and the rest of the council and place a plan of action with the help of the creature come and kill me. I knew what happening. That when I went to your room and gave you some of my powers, and when age sixteen, you in your dream will ask for Van Der’s help.  I left your room and got dressed to meet my enemy. I walked to Amonds field, to find most of the town people, leading them was our pappy, I could see the hunger in their eyes, and could see the children kneeling down, with their claws and teeth showing. The sheriff had big club in his hand, the mayor waited for the word. I could see Elly Stone with her family and Ned Walker with his; all hunger with tongues rolling out their mouths. Pappy ask me to join them, I told them, I shall destroy some of you, in the end their fates will be done by others.

With this statement, the battle had begun. I did manage to take some out at first, they did not know much power I had and how I was going to use it. Soon I was overpowered and of course died. Our parents told you that this bear had got me.  That how my story end dear Dan.  You must accept the power and do battle. If you unsure, you have time.  My time is ending. Choose wisely brother.’

XV

At the moment Jess had return to the void to continue the battle against the creature and those who serve it. For Daniel, it was too much take in.  Daniel yelled, and fell down the ground, there standing over him was Van Der and Yi Xan Tan. Yi Xan Tan placed her arms around him and gave Daniel comfort. Van Der spoke slowly. ‘The choice is when Daniel, it may not be now, could be in the future. Your sister has chosen you to take some of us into the final conflict with the creature.’

‘I really don’t understand! Why ME?’

Yi Xan Tan spoke lovely to Daniel. ‘My love, your heart and soul pure kindness, and we cannot do this alone. Mr Van Der’s time is almost up. He will be soon joining your sister, Christina Albu and most all his love, Sariah. We need you Daniel Spellman’

Daniel stood up and looked at both in the eye, ‘How could I ask you come, I don’t know you people?’

Van Der struggled with body, the power that brought Jess had drained so much from him. ‘Daniel, you send for us in the dreams you had, ever since Jess died. Those dreams about fire eaters, owls, the circus. Your sister Jess gave you those dreams to help us to come to you. Along the way we followed the creature other towns.’ With smaller breaths Van Der continued ‘Daniel- you are-to replace me’

Daniel nodded no. ‘It’s a trick, liars. Your creatures are the evil ones, not my parents. You placed something in my head about my sister. You killed Mr. Hannds. You’re the ones who feed on the town. Town people not evil. I stopped you’

Daniel begun to run off seeking his parents. Van Der yelled out ‘We cannot stop you Daniel. We shall wait, when the time has come’ As Daniel continued to run and turned towards Van Der, Daniel could see Yi Xan Tan and Jerah Jusol standing next to Van Der. They could all see that running towards his farm. Somehow Daniel heard Van der saying to the others ‘The Final destruction, start to remove the left overs. The dust is coming soon’

 Daniel ran to his farm. What he saw just shook him. He felt his own mind will explode. The barn had been blowing apart. A trail of blood was found in the house. Inside the house he found four bodies that were ripped apart by talons, eyes sockets burned though, arms and legs over the floor, he was unsure which parts belong to which. Daniel was sure these bodes was not of his parents, he did not know was these were. He could hear number hearts beating, he walked over to stairwell to found four hearts on the stairs, still beating.  He yelled for his parents, he could hear voices in their room, rushed up to the room. The door was locked. He yelled them to open the door. He heard his mother voice.

‘Daniel. You have destroyed us. We know that you’re not our son. You never took up the hunger, our time ran out.  Mr Velnias save us, we will come part of you.’ Just for a moment Daniel’s mother voice had change in soft motherly tone. ‘Run Daniel, the dust of destruction, RUN!’

Daniel started to hear the harsh wind, he looked out of the window, the biggest dust storm he had ever seen. He turns to his parents’ door, then heard screams upon screams and blood flowing freely out of the door. Daniel run out of the house as he ran the dust move towards the house and it disappear along his everybody inside.

Daniel just ran hard; the dust storm seems to slowly as it is consuming everything insight, Daniel could see bodies everywhere, just he saw a them as ahead of him or corner of his eyes, the dust storm made them vanished. Soon Daniel run into the edge of town, where the sign post was, into the arm of sergeant William Hannds. Daniel whole body was full of dust. Daniel looked up to Hannds and told him ‘The Night Zoo had come’ and collapsed.

VXI

Daniel Spellman looked at me and Sue, he collapsed on his bed. He felt tired. His old tired eyes told a tale that even I was unsure of.  We got up a leave, and thanked him for his story. He took a glass water and asked if he could see us tomorrow, maybe one last time. Both Sue and I agree.

We left the centre and went to William Hannds’ place.  As we drove his place both of us stand silence. I didn’t make any scent of the tale. I guess one lose end. When we got to Hannds place, I rang the bell. Much older man opens the door, he had a look of a dying man. I introduce myself, James Craver, the Journalist, that spoke on the phone about the night zoo. He rushed us both in, and quickly closed the door.

‘The Night Zoo’ he said, ‘was cause my father’s death. He called me day before he died, saying he knew what Van Der was doing. Also, he knew that Daniel Spellman was going to be fine, to tell the full tale. I was too late get to the town, it had vanished, like the other towns that had surround it.  We at first look it was due to the dust storms that been happening. Funny, later on when we looked at the map and when you draw a line along those towns, they made a symbol’

‘What symbol?’ said Sue

‘A hexagon or pentagram, maths was not my strong point. Anyway, I took Daniel to hospital, where others survived from other towns. Daniel was the only one who made a strong recovery. While others the doctors felt really unbalance, saying seeing creatures with acid tongues and with strange eyeballs and plenty horrid bloodletting.  Daniel did not confirm this, all said Van Der was to blame. I took charge of Daniel, he joined the army and my unit, we followed Van Der to more towns, always missing him, we could never able be ahead of him. Then of course 1942 all hell broke loose. Daniel and I went different part of the force. After the war, we did try continued where we left off, the trail went cold, and our unit was disbanded in 1950. Daniel and I went our separate ways…’

‘From the reports I read, I knew most of it’ I said, “What I’m after is some sort of insider information, how did your unit worked, and what happening to the other survivors?’

‘I’m sorry, most that work is classified, as for survivors some of them never came out of their nightmare, couple I heard self-combusted. If you only came few days before, I was told to burn all my reports, my time is limited. I’m afraid Mr Craver. I thought I could do this, I’m sorry. Could both leave please. Next time if you see Daniel, tell him to accept the fate’

William Hannds ushered us out of front door, with a big bang closed it again. We could see that he was looking out of the window, making sure we were going? I wonder who gave him those orders to burn those files. As we walked to the car and I looked at Sue. ‘This does not make lot of scents.’

‘What can you do?’

‘Another talk with Daniel Spellman, he too had files. I wonder if could see us again’

As we drove off, sue notice a shadow across William Hannds’ house. At the time, we didn’t know what was about to happen, until we went back to see Daniel Spellman. Along the way, I felt something inside.

 

XVII

As we reached back at the nursing home. Both Sue and I felt a cloud over us, our bodies felt changed. We found no one at their station, we arrive back to Daniel Spellman’s room. He is sitting on his bed, like he was waiting for us. Daniel felt not so tired after we left him, two hours ago. I explain what happen when I talk to Hannds, and asked if I could pick up his files. Daniel Spellman looked at me and said he had no files to give. Those paper he was reading out was blank. I ask him about his tale? I told Daniel what William told me that Daniel should accept the fate.

‘My dear boy, accept the fate. My tale is true. Please both sit. As I was thinking about the tale of the Night Zoo, there one aspect I had forgotten, after I run out my house, I could see the landscape changing around me, I could buildings turning into dust, I saw what left of some town people had turn into dust, I could see their hands almost touching the sky. Even before I reached the signpost, there was Van Der and his creatures waiting for me, asking me to join them. I felt sick, I felt he was the evil one, which I told William Hannds. Van Der said to me that he would wait for me, along with Yi Xan Tan and Jerah Jusol, the other were all tuck away in their Carriages.  Yi Xan Tan walked towards me and kiss me on the lips before all had vanished.

When I walked out into the arm of William Hannds, I was tired and shock with events. As I lay there recovering in the hospital, I told the events to Hannds, just like others who survived. Unlike me, others could not cope what they saw.’

‘How did you void this’ ask Sue

‘Jess came to me in my dreams, and told me never tell, just yet, I had get well, survived and build up my strength and power to defeat the creature when the time comes. I just lay there listening.  There were some had a touch of the hunger and one of the doctors who treated them was called Doctor Velnias, if this was the creature in disguised, it couldn’t bring them out and they went into world of full madness, some had electric shocks, which made them lifeless souls for anybody or anything. Then this Doctor Velnias was no longer there. The hospital had no record of him. I think he was destroying evidence’

Daniel took a glass a water into his mouth and looked at me and then Sue. He continued.

‘I did see this Velnias, he tried to examine me, he couldn’t, he let others doctor do that. And I never saw him again. I lay there thinking, all I wanting to see Van Der caught and pay what he did. Yet, we could not prove it. Over the years we followed his trail, all too late, other small towns had gone. Soon Van Der and the Night Zoo was gone. The dust bowl ended in 1936.  

Just before the war, we had some reports that Van Der and the others had been seen from Japan, Germany and even the outback of Australia, a place called Broome. Of course, when the war had started, reports seems to have ended. During the war I saw deeds, remined what happen in the town of Ferrie. Later I was taken off the battlefield worked as company clerk for the rest of the war. I realized then, Van Der and the rest were part of this cycle of the hunger, what is good and what is evil, are the same coin.

After the war, it was 1946, I met up with William Hannds again. Our unit had fours years to find Van Der. There had been reports small European towns were in ruins, not by the war, by a travelling show. There was one town, only buildings remain, I saw a poster of the Night Zoo, I took photo of it. We continued followed them throughout Europe, only seeing the results. We even went to Japan. By 1950, the trail was cold. So was beginning of two wars, the cold one and the Korean. Our unit was disbanded, I signed on to go Korea, I knew, Van Der will be there next.’

Daniel got up from his bed, he walked around. His body movement looking less stiff of an old man. He continued his tale; his voiced had little change too, less of husky southerner.

‘During some fighting near a village, I saw a light from a bubble that surrounded the village. I moved towards the light and saw Van Der and the zoo fighting the villagers. I could see the hunger within those eyes, awhile I was watching, I too was attack by this small child with razor sharp teeth, I kicked it with my rifle butt with no impact on this child, she kept coming at me, then something inside me happen, some sort of power came into my hands, a beam of light, it smashes into the skull of this child, the scream, nothing I could subscribe, it was too horrid. In the end Van Der had destroyed Villagers and village, if a bomb had been place on it.

I moved into the village and saw Van Der and the rest of the Night Zoo.  We exchange eye contact.  I walked towards them. Yi Xan Tan ran towards me, and gave me a hugged. I must admit I was pleased to see her.  As I walked towards Van Der, I could see how much he had aged, the fighting had taken so much of strength. I spoke to him.’

‘” Van Der its time the settled this. I want you to come back with me and stand in court for things you did. I still don’t understand, yet, I just fought a small child and beam of light through me killed the child’”

“Daniel, my boy, I’m tired and dying already, I will face my court soon. I thought you must able to understand by now. I can see you are not ready yet, to face it, even join us.  Your Jess is still fight this creature, trying stop it coming out of the void, yet, it has managed to slip by now and again and cause havoc among the innocent. ‘”

“’you’re the one causing the havoc or at least part of it. It neverending is it!”’ I got so hungry at him a shot of this power I had to him.  I looked what I had done, I had wounded Van Der deeply, went on my knees and started to cry, then something happens, Yi Xan Tan shielded me with the biggest hug, with tears in her eyes, she spoke slowly at me.’

“’My sweet love, the hunger trying to twist you to its side, look into my eyes, what do you see?’’

What I saw was Jess fighting for me as she halted the creature back as it trying to stab me with its black hearted sharp nails. And two persons love me the most, Jess and Yi Xan Tan. My heart bloomed of white yellow flowers, that seems to push back the hunger. Then I knew what to do. I pushed back Yi Xan Tan and got up. Yi Xan Tan said to me; ‘’We will be waiting, you must age first. However, when time is right, we can use our powers to reverse the age.”’

With that I left the village, I finished the war, came home. I took up writing for a newspaper for a while and I had career in teaching. I had come close to marriage few times, for one, Helen, she had been sacrifice order to save several students to be part of the hunger. The other, was part of the hunger, Serniea, but her power was bit weak, some drunk hit her with car. So, I decide not to marry.’

Daniel Spellman walked towards the door and closed it. And looked at me and Sue.

‘And if you were wondering about William Hannds, I asked him to destroy his files, as I think you know why. Didn’t you both felt a strange presence, your bodies changing. You must some sort of hunger. I can tell what you seek I know you killed William’

We both looked Daniel oddly, we both stood up, Daniel threw his drink at me and Sue with his mind made our bodies twisted and scream, I could see both our bodies were splitting in half, there in front of us was Alexandru and Mihaela Cel Tradat.

XVIII

Both Sue and myself tried to leave Daniel’s room, but was locked. I looked at Daniel and said.

‘How long have these creatures been inside us, and how did you know?

‘At least few days, I guess when you were both asleep that when they crept inside your souls. You did have bit of darkness, not enough to turn, just enough to be use. How did I know, only when you went to Williams’, he felt something was wrong? William could transport his thoughts to me, that why they killed him’

Daniel looked at Alexandru and Mihaela Cel Tradat. Both seems not move, waiting for some orders.

‘You will be dead old man, I shall lick your blood on my tongue’ said Mihaela

‘I too’ said Alexandru ‘and will take your mind adsorb into mine. As for you too we will adsorb your bodies into ours’

Mihaela turn towards Sue; ‘I cannot wait feel warmth and feeling like woman again’

Daniel looked at us and smile, and wave his hand if to say, there nothing to worried about. Then Daniel looked at Alexandru and Mihaela Cel Tradat’s eyes, their looked into his eyes. All standing still, yet this fieriest battle is just beginning. Both Sue and I could see that Daniel was changing from an old man to a younger man, from the corner of my eye, I saw two more figures arriving, they were Jerah Jusol and Yi Xan Tan.

They went behind the Cel Tradats, awhile Daniel’s power was started to burn through their eyes, Jusol placed his hands through the body of Alexandru and started to turn and twisting the organs inside, Alexandru face started melt, his eyes were dropping out sockets and blood was pouring out of his body, Jusol grab Alexandru’s black heart squeezed it, that busted into pieces and he fell onto the floor.

Yi Xan Tan used her mind to twisted heart and soul of Mihaela, that using her cat like claws started clawing herself to death, her whole blacken tongue stuck out, with her right hand pull it out onto the floor and with her claws starting to be ripped herself to pieces. Finally, she too lay on the floor.

Alexandru and Mihaela Cel Tradat were nothing more than dust, then disappear. The room had gone back to normal. Only what Sue and I saw was not normal. I looked at Daniel Spellman, he was young as I was in his early thirties, what Daniel describe Jerah Jusol and Yi Xan Tan, they too looked young.

‘Ok’ I said ’what just happen?’

“I feel bit sick’ said Sue, ‘And I wish to understand, I hope you not going kill us, in what we saw, no one will believe us ‘

Daniel looked at us; ‘Trust me will not kill the innocents anymore’

‘Change of leader, change how we do things’ Said Jerah Jusol.

Yi Xan Tan looked at Daniel; ‘It’s time to go My sweet love, continue the trail. I’m afraid your parents have plans.’

‘Wait’ I said, ‘This has been a trap all along, and me and Sue were part of that trap?’

‘James’ spoke Daniel.’ I needed your help, both your help. Forgive me, lovely Sue. If you write this up James, treat this as fiction, it may get publish.’

“What about your big battle with this creature?’

“it’s coming soon. But we have few more agents to deal with. He cannot take control of small town anymore, due to combine powers of my sister Jess, Christina Albu, Sariah and Van Der himself. ‘

‘What happen to Night Zoo?’

‘Ah some are here, others are fighting elsewhere. Over the years we had lost few, James Morke the Lizard man. He died helping group of children. I’ll send you a line how it all going, so one day you can finish this tale.’

‘Just one more thing? Do you age?’

Yi Xan Tan looked at me and said, ‘We are young as time, but old as the earth’

With that all three had gone.

The door open.

As Sue and I looked around, we saw an old man resting. As we left, Sue saw his name on his chart.

His name was Van Der.

 

 

 

-End-