Chapter Ten: The Toys in His Attic
By Richard LeBlanc
Calloway was taking a few moments to collect his thoughts outside of a large structure that was designed to look like a giant toy box. So far - he had encountered ghoulish squids, vampire hunters, vampiric elephants, deranged deathtraps. He closed his eyes for a moment as he tried to make sense - if any that such a place could serve.
"I see you got out of that mirror place," Luther remarked.
"I was sort of hoping you would stay gone," Calloway remarked with a sigh. He took out a small bag of trinkets and items he had won at the booths by the mirror mazes he had escaped. "What purpose do these serve?" he asked as he looked at the odd assortment of trinkets and makeshift prizes he obtained.
His mind flashed back to the carnival booth keepers and the odd assortment of prizes that littered the various booths. Everything to powerful destructive firearms - medieval weapons - coins - keys - stuffed toys - wads of cash - along with numerous items that he could not make heads or tales of.
He remembered how the ghouled servants of the keeper of the madhouse tried to entice him to play for weapons and money. Although the money games did seem easy enough - in a place like this - money would not serve much of a purpose. As for the gun booths - even if he knew how to use half of the weapons they were trying to offer up as prizes - he could tell that the game was rigged so that the prizes could not be won.
"If the booths you went to are like the ones over there - my god - you chose piss poorly. I saw a rocket launcher as a main prize in one booth," the ghost remarked. Calloway studied the prizes he did win through skill luck and careful cheating.
"One - I went through all the booths - both sides of the Big Top. Two - I don't know if that rocket launcher works. Three - I don't know if it has ammunition - or if any of the guns do for that matter. Four - I have no clue as to how such devices work. Five - there is no way to actually win it," he explained - not taking his attention from his prizes.
"Who said anything about winning. Kick his ass and take it," the ghost rebutted. Calloway blinked as he looked over at the ghost.
"I was thinking something like that - but I watched - how they moved. At all times - they kept one foot or one hand on a particular spot in their booths. If I tried anything like that - they move - more likely than not - the booth goes boom," he said as he returned his attention to his acquired items.
"So what are you going to do with this crap? Barter with the natives?" the ghost mocked. Calloway sighed as he picked up an item that seemed to be crafted from a human finger.
"I have a feeling - I will know when the time comes," he replied as he put the stuff back into the bag. "Three places left - this place - that Lab - and that Maze of Cards," he began as he pointed to the distance where that structure was. "And something tells me - that is where Jest will be," he added as he slowly got up.
"Okay - question of the day - if you know where he is - why waste time?" the ghost asked.
"Because - this is all a fucked up game to him. he put all the pieces here - if I try skipping levels - I will end up in a situation I won't be able to get out of," he replied rationally.
"Playing his game by his rules - what a good little puppy you are," the ghost taunted. "So what makes you think this is the place you have to be? Wasn't the lab closer?" he asked.
"Instinct - told me that - this was where I had to be," he muttered as he looked at the scratch marks on the walls around the door. "I hope," he muttered as he pushed on the door. It creaked loudly as it slowly opened.
"So much for the element of surprise," Luther muttered as Calloway slipped inside. Both of them were stunned at what they saw. The entire room - the size of gymnasium - was designed like a giant bedroom littered with toys.
"You have got to be joking," Calloway muttered. On the floor he saw an elaborate set up of plastic army men - all of which were scale to his size. In another spot - he saw an assortment of GI Joe toys - again that were life-size. He saw scorched building blocks - a half-ruined Lego fort - he saw toy soldiers that were dressed like nutcrackers as well as various models hanging from the roof. On the edge of the bed he saw toys that looked like Barbie dolls and numerous beanie baby toys. "I have a really - really bad feeling about this place," he added.
"I guess someone is still a Toys'r'us kid," Luther remarked as he vanished. Calloway looked over and sighed. The ghost chose to leave. He chose not to question good fortune when it showed itself.
He knew that only some of the toys in the room were traps or agents of Jest. The trick would be - determining what was what before it was too late.
He looked around the room - hoping to see some sign as to where the exit to the crazy place was. The only door he saw was a giant one that was opened a crack - everything within was a shadow from where he was. He didn't know for certain - but something told him -that was note the way out.
He looked away from the door and looked up the messy shelves. Many were littered with giant comic books and some porn magazines. It was then that he saw an abstract picture on the top shelf. It was of a house - and a door.
"Something tells me - that is the way out," he began as some of the toys seemed to come to life. "And something tells me - they won't make it an easy run," he added as he watched as ghouls dressed as GI Joe characters got into vehicles and began heading his way. He made a break for the ruined fort. As he ran - the army vehicles began shooting. They clearly weren't toys - they were real army surplus designed and painted to look like toys. "Not good," he muttered.
Luckily for him the room was a complete pigsty. Giant laundry and - massive pieces of crumpled up paper dust - dirt - moldy food items littered the floor offering a great deal of cover.
He ran and took cover in the slovenly kept terrain as a volley of potent shots leveled the Lego fort. He carefully moved through the hills of stinky laundry - taking care not to move or move anything that might compromise his position.
"Where the hell did he go?" one of the people dressed as a Cobra officer asked.
"He can't be far. Find him!" a Joe atop a tank ordered. Calloway carefully stalked through the mounds of laundry and debris until he found himself behind one of the vehicles.
Silently he moved up behind the vehicle and watched as the riders looked for any sign of him. he shook his head as he slipped down and got under the vehicle. He would only get one shot at taking them down before the others noticed and meddled.
"Time for the bag of tricks. What am I looking for?" he whispered to himself as he reached in and pulled out an oddly shaped corkscrew. He looked around and saw the gas tank. "Please do not blow up in my face," he muttered as he gripped the corkscrew - held it up to the tank and pushed it up. gasoline began to pour out from the hole all over his hand and onto the laundry. It was then that the vehicle and the others drove ahead towards the smoking Lego ruins.
Calloway remained still - but watched as gas continued to leak from the tank. He smiled as the vehicles clustered close together by the ruins. With his hand that was not soaked in gasoline - he took out a book of matches he had won from a booth and took one out.
"Light em up," he muttered as he lit the match and dropped it. He watched as the flame followed the stream of gas all the way towards the cluster of vehicles. "Run away," he added as he hopped up to his feet and bolted to a friendlier area. He could hear the ghouls. They spotted him. just then - the vehicle he had sabotaged exploded. The flames spread out engulfing all of those that were near by.
He watched as the ghouls began to flail about as the flames continued to spread and burn.
"That leaves one problem," he began. It was then that an alarm sounded. He looked up and watched as a sprinkler opened up from the roof. "Oh - shit," he muttered as a gusher of water all but exploded from the roof with the force of a waterfall.
He watched as the water smashed into the floor smothering the flames and saturating everything on the floor. He watched as the plastic soldiers began to float as the water levels began to slowly rise - yet the nutcracker soldiers - did not.
"The smart ones always prove to be me the most trouble," one of the nutcrackers remarked as they made their way to where Calloway was. He smiled as he saw what they were armed with - toy guns - with bayonets.
"I do like your toys woody," Calloway mused as the disguised ghouls charged. With relative ease - he disarmed one ghoul - and broke the fake gun over his head. Calloway fished out the bayonet and smiled - it was real enough. A bone knife in one hand - a bayonet in the other - the water levels still rising - he motioned for them to try to bring him down.
In spite of the numbers - their lack of skill in fighting was their bane. More often than not - Calloway dodged - allowing his foes to hurt themselves in their effort to hurt him. After several minutes - he had incapacitated all of them. The water level now hip deep. Numerous plastic soldiers floated by.
"This place is going to completely fill. If it does - that will make getting out somewhat difficult," he muttered as he looked up at the bed. The bed touched a row of shelves that led to the bookcase that went to where the exit was. "Something tells me - that getting out of here - won't be near as easy as I am hoping," he added as he began to climb up the drenched blankets.
As he neared the surface of the bed - he head muzzled laughter. He poked his head up and looked around - on the center of the bed - an odd-looking beanie baby was doing seemingly obscene things to a life-size Barbie doll.
"Leave well enough alone. It wants to fuck around with that," he muttered to himself. Instantly the head of the beanie baby spun around and looked in his direction. "There goes that idea," he muttered.
He watched as the beanie baby tossed the Barbie aside and slowly made its way to where he was. Again - he heard muzzled laughter. Calloway moved to the right - the beanie baby followed - and barred the way.
"I don't want to fight - I just want out - get in my way - and I will hurt you," he warned. The muzzled laughter began again. The beanie baby slammed its paw-like hands into his chest and then savagely ripped the costume apart. Calloway backed away as he saw what he was about to face. "A fucking - undead - lupine," he muttered. It giggled and howled as it focused on him.
Calloway closed his eyes - when he opened them - they were like that of a serpent. The werewolf tilted its head to the side as it stared at the vampire. The vampire smiled - he had the beast paralyzed.
"Oh - please let there be something silver," he muttered - he fished through the wet bag of prizes he had. He pulled out a yo-yo. "No - I wanted," he began as he noticed that the cord on the yo-yo was a long thin silver chain. "Clever," he muttered. He took out the other yo-yo and found out it was the same.
Without taking his eyes from the lupine. He tied the ends of the chains together making an odd-looking bolo.
"I hope this works," he muttered as he began spinning the bolo around. He glared at the lupine as he threw it at the paralyzed beast with all of his supernatural strength. The bolo tightly coiled around the lupine's neck. The werewolf screamed out. "Time to do this and fast," he added as he leaped at the distracted lupine. Slashing at it with his weapons.
After a long - tiring fight - a battered Calloway was standing over the broken lupine's body. In all his years - he had only faced one lupine before that day. If he never had to face another one - he would consider his life complete.
"You look like shit," Luther remarked. Calloway groaned as he looked over at the dry looking ghost. "But you look a lot better than that thing - ick - what a mess," he added.
"I will so not miss this place when I am out of here," he limped away from the unmoving beast. The eyes of the lupine fluttered open. The ghost looked over and saw the werewolf slowly making its way back up to its feet. "Fuck - it's getting up," he muttered as he turned around and glared at the drenched lupine. "Time to do this the long way," he added.
His eyes shifted to look like a serpent's. The werewolf struggled to resist - but found itself paralyzed. He stalked closer and then lashed the least with his serpent-like tongue. As he repeated this process - the water level had risen so that it was up to the edge of the bed. It was then - drained wounded - and barely able to stand that Calloway kicked the werewolf off the bed - causing it to sink lifelessly into the water.
"Feeling any better?" the ghost mockingly asked. Calloway concentrated and focused his efforts on healing the wounds caused by the lupine's claws and teeth. He ignored the ghost as it continued to ramble. He picked up his pace and began climbing up the headboard of the bed to where the wall shelves.
He tensed up. He looked down and watched as the werewolf he had been fighting climbed out from under the water.
"That beastie don't give up easy," Luther remarked. Calloway looked down and watched as the limping werewolf - bleeding and battered - followed the path he was taking. Calloway shook his head as he climbed up onto the shelf and looked for something to beat his pursuer with.
"How the hell is that thing standing? It should be barely able to twitch after the abuse I put it through," he muttered as he hurried along the shelf. He smiled as he saw a sword stabbed into the shelf. The blade had an unnatural glow to it.
"Company's here," Luther remarked. He looked over his shoulder and watched as the battered wolf creature staggered up onto the shelf. a crazed look in its eyes - locked onto the vampire. Calloway backed away from the werewolf - taking caution not to slip on the wet shelf.
"You just don't give up," Calloway stated as he backed into the imbedded weapon. He reached back and carefully pulled it free. "If this don't work - I give up," he muttered. The werewolf growled as it pounced. Calloway spun around and stabbed the sword into the lupine's chest. Then - using the beasts' momentum against him - threw him over the edge of the shelf to the rising water far below.
"Pity you tossed the sword - it might have helped you later on," Luther pointed out as they both looked to the water below - half-expecting the undead terror to rise again.
"If it keeps that damn thing down - it helped me enough," he retorted as he limped over to where the centerfold of a magazine draped drown from the bookshelf next to the shelf. "Please - do not rip - do not rip," he muttered as he carefully gripped the wet magazine and began to slowly climb up the picture of a naked woman. "That boy Jest has way too much time on his hands," he muttered - doing his best not to be distracted by the water or the image before him.
After a slow long climb - he reached the shelf second highest to the roof. He looked down and wagered he was at least twenty stories up. carefully he began to climb up the bookshelf wall - putting his hands and feet in the holes used to support removable shelves. It was a few minutes later that he reached the top of the inside of the bookcase.
"What now fearless climber?' Luther mocked. Carefully - Calloway reached up and got a firm grip on the top of the bookcase. "Oh this should be interesting," he mused as Calloway took a deep breath reached over and mimicked the action with his other hand.
"Be silent for once," Calloway requested as he lost his footing. Luther quietly laughed as he relaxed on the bookcase - looking down at the vampire that killed him.
"This little piggy did a bad deed," he mocked - flicking one finger loose. Calloway looked down at the final death-causing fall that awaited him. "This little piggy was rude," he continued flicking another finger free. "This little piggy wouldn't listen," he continued - flicking another finger. Calloway gasped as he lost his grip with that hand.
"I won't let you play me like this!" Calloway growled as he began rocking himself back and forth.
"Planning on a dive?" the ghost mused. Calloway rocked himself to the point where his feet touched the inside of the roof of the book case - swung out so that he was looking straight down at the rising water below. Did one more swing - this time - using all his strength - he pushed off with his free hand and feet, the ghost watched as the added momentum proved to be enough for the vampire to arch up and land on the top of the bookcase. "Bad form - I give you a four," the ghost remarked. Calloway panted as he slowly looked over at the ghost that tried to kill him.
"Keep it up - one day - I will find a way to be rid of you completely," he hissed.
"I'm hurt - or might be if you hadn't murdered me," Luther rebutted.
"You set me up to be killed at the hands of that prince!" he argued.
"You were going to kill me! What kind of choices did I have? Be loyal to a bastard that all but outright told me he was going to have me killed? Be loyal to the weapon that was sent to strike me down?" Luther rebutted.
"You were given more than enough time," Calloway began.
"Bullshit," he interrupted.
"Had you stayed focus instead of getting greedy," Calloway continued.
"You mean if I just served him blindly like you do? If I did what he asked on that timetable - I would have been blood hunted for my efforts!" Luther retorted. Calloway walked over and stood toe to toe with the ghost. "But I don't expect his viper to understand. You have your head so far up his ass that you can probably see the back of his teeth," he added.
"I do as he asks. You would have been wise to do the same," Calloway rebutted coldly as he limped over to where the picture was. True to his suspicions - the door was there.
"You just can't admit it," Luther remarked. As he followed the vampire towards the door. "You just can't get it through your head - that maybe - just maybe - the almighty Snake - the Prophet of Lord Set - could be wrong," he added. Calloway stopped as he looked over at the specter.
"He hasn't been wrong yet. He said that you would turn on him - you did. You are just bitter because your new bedfellows couldn't protect you," he stated as he returned his attention to the door.
"Keep telling yourself that," Luther remarked - Calloway shook his head as he tried to open the door. It was jammed. "Maybe the key is down there," he taunted - pointing to the rising water. The vampire snarled as he stepped back and threw his weight into the door. It busted open. Calloway turned pale as he fell out and found himself about to fall over ten stories to the unforgiving ground below. He struggled to maintain his balance. "Out with ya," he mocked as nudged him over the edge.
"You filthy," Calloway began but was cut off as he fell into a transparent surface. "Ow," he muttered as he began to slowly slide down. Luther looked down and sighed.
"Would have been funnier if it wasn't a slide," he called out.
A short while later Calloway fell ten feet down from the almost invisible ramp. He was about to say something when he heard the sound - which could only be described as a giant toilet flushing. He sighed and shook his head.
"You have the devil's luck," Luther remarked.
"Oh no - if I did - you sure as hell wouldn't be here," he rebutted as he slowly got up and made his way towards the next place he had to go before confronting Jest - his Lab! "I can hardly wait to see what insanity awaits me there," he muttered - trying not to think about the pain or the annoying ghost.
To Be Continued...
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