Chapter 24

    Salome was the first to notice the darkness.  It was as if someone spilled ink on the daylight.  Only except the ink don’t have sparkles in it. Salome thought with disbelief.  Derek watched in horror as the daylight slowly vanished from the sight.  No it can’t be. Derek thought. No!

    “Legacy, do you know anything about this?” asked Alex.

    “No, I’m afraid I don’t but I believe I do know the person who is involved with this.” replied Legacy.

    “Who might that be?” Nick wanted to know.

    “None other than Derek’s good friend, Randolph Hitchcock.” answered Legacy.

    Derek was shunned when he heard the news.  “I assumed you knew the entire story.” He managed to speak.

    “Yes, I do.” said Legacy.  “Something to do with Ms. Alicia Summers, Mr. Hitchcock’s fiancée.”

    “Yes, you’re right.” replied Derek. “How do you know?”

    Legacy shallowed.  She had found this incident to be extremely painful.  The sounds of Alicia’s screams as she was being brutally murdered.  But there was something else.  Randolph’s involvement with the monster.  Legacy knew something that Derek didn’t but now was not the time.

    “Legacy.” Derek’s voice cut through the air.  “If you have something to say, I suggest you say it now.  Even if it’s small, it might be as extreme valuable to the battle.”

    Legacy sighed.  “Very well.” replied Legacy.  “But you will not like what I am about to say.”

    Derek’s eyes burned into Legacy like hot coals.  “I don’t care.” said Derek.

    “It happened when you were 21, Derek.” Legacy began to explain.

    Derek and Randolph were to go on a mission to track down the spiritual killer.  Alicia wanted to go along to see what her fiance do.  Derek disagreed and pointed out it was not safe.  But Randolph had an another idea.  He agreed and Alicia came along on the mission.

    They arrived at a secluded spot and they told Alicia to stay in the car.  Alicia said OK, no problem.  Randolph and Derek then went off to the cave where they were to set up the equipment to gather the valuable data.  Fifteen minutes later, they left the cave.  It was supposed to be twenty to thirty minutes but Derek had a feeling something was wrong.  They had barely gathered enough data and left.

    When they arrived at the car, there was no sign of Alicia.  Only of blooded handprints on the door.  Randolph dropped the equipment on the sand.  Derek looked around in horror.  A few paces from the car were a line of blood.  They followed it…

    What Derek did not knew was that Randolph knew Alicia was in high risk of being killed if left out alone.  The killer was unpredictable.  Ever since Alicia’s death, Randolph had been successful in the cover-up by blaming Derek.  There was one thing Randolph did not knew was that there was a witness to Alicia’s murder.  Her name was Legacy and she was in spirit.

    Legacy stopped and looked at Derek.  His eyes were shining with tears.  “I’m sorry, Derek.” she said softly.

    “Why?” Derek wanted to know.  “You did nothing wrong.”

    “Yes,” agreed Legacy.  “But Randolph should not have put you through this.  Derek, that is the battle, between Randolph and me.  I’m here to make him pay for the crime he committed over twenty years ago.”

    “Count me in.” replied Derek.

    “Are you sure?” said Legacy.

    “I’m sure.” snapped Derek.

    Legacy nodded.  “Very well, Derek.” said Legacy.

    “Wait.” said Justis.  “Who’s the other guy with Randolph?”

    “That is the problem.” replied Legacy.  “I was not told who was involved, only that of Randolph Hitchcock’s.  I believe the answer would be in the battle.”

Stories are copyrighted by Kalaya Karringten 1997-1998