‘Wake up, Ricky.’

Ricky Webber shrieked, leaned backwards, and fell out of his chair. He scrambled around for a bit before the sound of Gregg laughing made him calm down. Ricky started to laugh.

‘Bastard.’

‘Hey, your snoring was annoying everybody. I’m just a messenger.’

Ricky sniffed. ‘What time is it?’

‘Ten.’

‘Meh. At least I woke up on time.’

Ricky stood up slowly, feeling very drowsy and slightly stiff in the back. He had fallen asleep at his desk the night before, which he usually did. He was a police officer, and was in a county Sheriffs office. He was thirty-five, had a bushy mop of black hair on his head, and had a gravelly voice; it made him sound like he had been smoking a pack a day since he was five years old. Luckily, he would just laugh it all off and poke fun at it himself it was ever brought up.

Gregg Maglin was twenty four. He was very tall, about an inch higher than Ricky, and spoke like a boat propeller. He had only just become an officer, but Ricky was his older cousin and had had him taken out to the Sheriffs department. They were good friends.

As soon as he had fixed up the desk and the chair, Ricky started out of his office.

‘So, Greggey,’

‘My name’s Gregg.’

‘what did you get me for? Anything in particular?’

‘Nah.’ said Gregg. ‘I just felt like annoying you.’

Ricky gave Gregg a fake punch. Then he shivered.

‘It’s a little cold, isn’t it?’

‘Yeah. There was a huge storm last night, gale force winds, rain... the usual. The road was so wet... I almost drove off.’

Ricky coughed and then sat down at a desk. He closed his eyes for a second.

‘Hey, Gregg? What time is it?’

‘My watch broke. Dunno.’

Ricky opened one eye and looked around the desk. There was a digital clock on it.

It was 10:34 in the morning.

x-x-x

Edward was running through the trees. He had gotten separated from the group and was all alone.

There’s still one left.

He couldn’t think straight; the only thing going through his mind was that he had to find it and dispatch of it. His palms were sweaty around the handle of the gun, the rifle, what he felt was his one source of protection from them...

A cracking stick made him stop and spin around in all directions.

Where is it?! come out, ya little runt, I know you’re here...

‘John?’ Edward said softly. ‘John? You there?’

This is useless... they don’t know about communicating anymore...

Edward spoke again, raising his voice.

‘WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU, YOU ROTTEN LITTLE SUMBITCH?!! HUH?!! COME OUT!!!’

He waited.

Nothing.

Nothing at all.

He calmed down, and continued to run, trying to keep focused.

They can’t have gotten very far... I know that they can’t...

x-x-x

10:46 AM

Ricky was finishing off his coffee. The long sleeved shirt that he wore was crumpled slightly, and was rolled up below the elbows. His trousers had somehow remained in almost after-ironed condition; that is, with no creases. Sleeping in his clothes wasn’t hard to do, because he did it all the time. He walked down the small hallway back to his office and sat down. Other officers were arriving, as well as the secretary for the Sheriff.

‘Hi there.’

Ricky spun around slowly in his seat. Lucille, his girlfriend, was at the doorway. Ricky smiled and stood up.

Lucille was thirty one, and had met Ricky when he had first arrived at the station. They had become friends and had then hooked up. Lucille had amber hair at shoulder length, but she tied it back when on duty. She was a little bit shorter than Ricky, but only slightly so. She was a very popular person.

‘Hi.’ said Ricky. They hugged.

‘You slept here again?’ Lucille said with a smirk on her face. Ricky smirked as well

‘Yeah.’

Lucille got a funny look on her face and started down the hall.

‘What? I do it all the time! It isn’t THAT bad!’

Lucille waved and entered her office. Ricky went back into his.

God, I love her...

Ricky was sorting through files on his desk when someone knocked at the door to his office. It was Gregg. He looked urgent.

‘Hey, what’s wro-’

‘We just got a report that a body’s been found just off of Roundhill Turnoff.’

‘Really?’

‘Yeah.’ Gregg gestured. ‘C’mon, let’s go.’

This could be interesting, thought Ricky. He nearly fell out of his chair as he stood. He grabbed his leather jacket and put it on. He grabbed the gun off of the rack, and followed Gregg outside to a parked patrol car.

Lucille was inside.

‘Hello boys, I’ll be your driver for today. First stop is...’

‘Very funny, Luce.’ Ricky stepped into the car.

x-x-x