"Ahhhh"
Adam woke up screaming. His hands gripping his bed sheets tightly. His teeth grinding against itself. Drenched in sweat. His throat ached, dry.
He reached to his side for a glass of anything. His hand knocked over a bottle of scotch, spilling some of its content.
"Shit." He said raspy.
He leaned over, grabbing the remainder of the drink.
Then.
Chugged it down quickly.
"Ahhh." He let out a dry sigh.
He needed this. Luckily this body was a drinker.
His eyes darted across his new room. Bottles littered the floor, memories of a broken man. The room was moldy and dusty but it held up.
He got to his feet. Kicking bottles aside as he made his way to the bathroom mirror.
"Holy crap." He whispered.
He examined his new face and body. It was nothing like the last.
Despite the sorry state of the room, it was clear this new body was definitely not a slouch.
Well structured muscles, carved in the right places. He was built for agility and endurance. Adam guessed he was either a fighter or a runner.
He let out another sigh of resignation before heading back to the bed.
As he sat down, he began to think—think of how it all began.
—————
About three months ago, Adam worked for the Metropolitan police. A young detective whose skills were unmatched. He gained both admiration and jealousy from his peers but he didn't care for either. All he cared about was solving his case. He never had an unsolved case and was always the man for the job.
So when the body of a young lady was found in an alley with strange carvings, he was the man they called.
"Good morning Julia." He greeted, jumping out his cab.
"Morning Adam. You look well." She greeted back, her cracked face forcing a smile.
"Can't say the same for this young lady." A joke in bad taste but he never really cared. "So what's the story?"
"Bar owner across the street says he was taking out his trash when he heard some weird noises coming from the alleyway. He decides to check up on it and found the lady this way." She paused. Her eyes shifting.
"What?" Adam asked. "Something else?"
Julia scanned around hastily before closing the distance between them.
"The bar owner said she wasn't alone." She whispered. "Three other men where in the alley with her. They carved her up with symbols and then vanished into thin air."
She stepped back. Her eyes dropped.
"That's what he said." She emphasized.
"Do you believe him?" Adam asked, now curious.
His hands hovered over his bag. He reached in, pulling a pair of rubber gloves out.
"Doesn't matter if I believe him." She replied. "Nobody acts on stories like that."
He scoffed. Bent down and raised the tarp up.
"Holy crap." Adam muttered. His eyes now dropped back to Julia. Her gaze met his and without saying a word she pointed across the street.
"Thanks." He whispered, throwing a slight smile.
He pulled out his notepad and crossed the road. His shoes echoing against the cobblestone sidewalk.
He halted at a small bar built of bricks. Some parts of it eroded from the constant rain. Above a sign read
"Lucky Charms."
Adam's brow raised. A smile tugging at his face.
A closed sign hung on the handle of the door but Adam paid no mind to it. He opened the door gently but the alarm bell gave away his entrance.
"Who's there?" The owner called out.
Adam halted. His hairs stood on end. His arms raised.
Crack!
"Who the fuck are you?" The owner asked, his arms wrapped around a loaded shotgun.
"I am Adam Reed." Adam said. His breath steady and calm. "I am a detective of the Metropolitan police. I just want to ask a few questions about what you saw."
"I already told the police what I saw." He said, his finger approaching the trigger. "They all mocked me. Ain't nobody believe me."
His eyes dropped.
Adam watched closely. The man's arms trembled lightly, his eyes steady. He had no hint of lies in him.
"Tell me." Adam said. "I'll believe you."
He stared at Adam for a moment. Silence fell in the room, tension so thick it could be cut . His fingers still slightly hovered the trigger and his gaze was cold and distant.
He let out a sigh and began.
"It was late last night, around eleven or twelve. I ain't quite sure. I was throwing away me garbage. It was fucking cold and I remember having a cigarette in me mouth." He paused, making sure Adam was paying attention.
"I heard a scream," he continued, "I shoved it off as nothing at first. But then I heard weird voices echoing through the streets. Chanting some language I ain't heard before. Then I saw it."
His eyes widened and he entered some kind of trance. His skin went pale. He gripped the gun tighter and his finger approached the trigger.
"What did you see?" Adam asked. Hoping to snap him back.
It worked.
"Right." He muttered. " I saw flashing red lights from the alleyway just out there. Usually I wouldn't give two shits but me curiosity had peaked. I went over, walking quietly. I peeped the corner." He paused again.
His eyes widened in horror like he was seeing it all again.
"Three figures dressed in black. Surrounded the lady. With knives in their hands they carved her body. Marking it with strange symbols. Then they vanished into thin air."
He stopped. His gaze falling back on Adam.
"You don't believe me right? You think i'm crazy?"
Adam knew he had to be careful with his words here. He thought hard for an answer and finally came up with one he thought safe.
"I believe there is an explanation for what you saw. That's what I will find out." He said calmly.
His response seemed to get through.
The owner lowered his gun and his breath became stable.
Adam lowered his arm slowly.
"I wasn't drunk or high or nothing like that." The owner spoke again.
"I know." Adam said. "You don't seem like you would be."
Both men spend some time going over the night. Taking note of the smallest details. After Adam had gotten enough information, he began his investigation.