| Empty Graves Part Fourteen: Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled Halifax was a large city and it seemed as if Jake and Mary were constantly surrounded by towering blocks of concrete, open road and silence. It was an eerie sight to see something that would usually be bustling, standing totally silent and threatening. "Where do you think we'll find a place to hide?" asked Mary as Jake drove around the town slowly. "I don't know, but I reckon we should start at the waterside. If we get attacked, there is always the possibility of a boat," replied Jake as he made a shallow left turn to drive towards the waterside where the docks were. "But what if there aren't any boats?" asked Mary. "Then we're stuck." Jake sighed as he pressed down on the accelerator a little more so that they would reach their destination faster and soon enough they were approaching the docks. In the near distance they could both see a row of warehouse-like buildings occupying the space next to the water. They were all black or gray and were as dull and un-homely as the entire city of Halifax. But if they were okay then this would be their home thought Jake. There was a possibility he would have to drag some furniture out of one of the department stores around town before the dead got back, but he didn't know what they would find inside as yet. Their final approach to the docks was slow as they both scanned the area around, in front and through the large steel gates that closed off the only access route past the long stretch of fencing. The docks were locked off from the rest of the city, this would be perfect. It was only a matter of getting in now thought Jake. "I think we're gonna have to climb over the fence and find some keys by the looks of things," said Jake as he pushed on the padlocked gate. "But Jake," said Mary. "What?" "The padlock is on the inside." Jake looked away from Mary and down at the padlock. Sure enough, it was on the inside. Had someone already been here and locked themselves inside the dock lands? "I guess you should come with me, I don't want to leave you around out here on your own," said Jake as he began to grip onto the fencing. "Okay," replied Mary as Jake began to clamber up the fence. Mary followed suit and copied Jake's movements up and over the fencing until she came over the top and Jake caught her on her jump down. The docks were quiet and nothing stirred. It seemed okay for now, but why was the padlock on the inside? There had to be another person or group of people inside the dock lands. But where? "Follow me," whispered Jake as he grabbed hold of her hand. Jake began to walk further into the large empty expanse of concrete in between the sea and the buildings. Nothing stirred at all, not even the wind, which seemed to have disappeared to Jake and Mary, but it still blew and whistled around the large metal-roofed buildings. Approaching the door to one of the three buildings that were lined up in a row, Jake proceeded with caution when he began to twist the handle. It squeaked as the salt-air rusted metal grinded against the door itself. Mary held onto Jake's hand tighter as the door swung open and they were confronted with a figure, cloaked in darkness at the opposite end of the building. Only a small shaft of light, that slithered down a portion of the figure's body, illuminated the fact that they were confronted with some humanoid form. "Shit," said Jake under his breath. "What is it?" asked Mary, hiding herself behind Jake's body. "I don't know. I can't see from here." "Let's get the hell out of here, there's probably more of them around here!" "Wait," said Jake as he saw the figure opposite him on the other side of the warehouse begin to move. "What?" asked Mary. "It's getting nearer," said Jake. "Then let's get out of here before it attracts anymore!" "No, wait, I wanna know for sure!" replied Jake, still whispering. The figure was slow and awkward to move, but the darkness retained the identity of the form all the way up to Jake and Mary. The figure was getting closer and closer, it's steps shuffling. "Jake! It's one of those things! Let's get out of here!" she shouted. Jake began to back away from the doorway, as did Mary who was tugging on his arm. "No! Wait!" spoke the figure suddenly. Jake and Mary stopped in their tracks. Could these monsters talk? Surely not, they had only seen those monsters eat and devour the living. They couldn't talk, but this could not surely be another human? The figure stepping into the light, almost dwarfing the wooden frame of the open door. The figure was human; someone else was alive amidst all this mess. It was incredible for Jake and Mary to think that this was true, but it was and this other human was standing right in front of them. Time seemed to pass in slow motion. "Come inside, you'll be cold," spoke the tall man standing in front of them as he motioned for them to enter the building. |