Pixel Peaks - Chapter Nine
The jukebox played golden hits just low enough so you could still here the nonsense from the old regulars at the bar. They had placed themselves just by the beer taps so they could convey their nonsense to Abbey, the bar owner, as she filled up glass after glass.
Others had placed themselves a little offside.
Abbey: What a nice surprise to see you in here doc, haven't seen you in quite a while.
Abbey: What are you having?
Derek: Nothing, yet. I'm waiting for my date.
Derek cleared his throat.
Abbey: Well, well, I'll be damned. A date. Are you trying to make me curious? But I might have an idea, I have a sense about these things you know.
Abbey: Ah yes, I definitely sense something. I can see her in front of me. Wow, she's a knockout!
Abbey: Raven haired, wears a uniform, likes the law a lot.
Derek: How did you know that?
Abbey: She just walked in, sweetheart.
Derek: Hi.
Saga: Hi.
Derek: Do you want to get a table?
Saga: The bar will be fine.
Abbey: Well then, everybody's present! What can I get you two crazy kids?
Derek: Saga?
Saga: Whiskey sour, please.
Derek: Same for me.
Abbey: Coming up.
Derek: You look nice.
Saga: Oh. I came straight from work actually..
Derek: I would never have guessed.
Abbey: Two whiskey sours, drink responsibly now.
Derek: Cheers then.
Saga: Cheers.
Derek sipped carefully on his drink, while Saga poured half the glass down her throat.
Saga: Nice sting.
They sat silent for a moment.
Saga: So.. how's Nathalie?
Derek: Why pissed off of course. She thinks I'm stalking her. Can you believe that?
Saga: Well you can be pretty persistent, Derek.
Derek: What, no more Dr. Lane?
Saga: If that's what you prefer..
Derek: It's not.
He grabbed her fingers. They felt small and smooth.
For a moment she squeezed his hand back, but then her grip loosened and she pulled away again.
Saga: I got to go.
Derek: What? Now?!
Saga: I have to meet up with Red.
Derek: RED?! But I thought..
Saga: I said I would buy you a drink and I did. Now I have to get back to my responsibilities to this town. Another time, Derek..
Abbey: That was one short date, doc.
Derek: I guess it wasn't.. a date..
Abbey: Here honey, it's on the house.
Derek: Thanks Abbey.
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He longed for a shower. The air betweens these mountains could get so damp, even though it was cold outside he'd be sweating after just half an hour of walking the woods.
The fog had clinged to his coat and dripped down the floor as he took out his keycard and unlocked his door.
Maybe he'd allow himself half an hour of sleep before returning to his mission..
Bo: You bald bastard!
The seams of the coat almost ripped when the hand grabbed the collar.
John: Bargeld.
He pressed the name through his teeth.
Bo: John Mole. I haven't seen you since you left the bureau and went underground. What a happy coincidence that we checked in to the same hotel at the same time don't you think?
Bo: You could have least come up with a better alias than Mole Johnson.
John: Why? I'm not trying to hide from you.
Bo: No, you're following me around in plain sight aren't you? Why are you here?! Why are you following me?!
Bo: Is this about the case? Huh?! Is this about the werewolf? Maybe you are the werewolf, I can't know for sure. I should shoot you just in case!
Bo pressed his old colleague further up the wall.
But then the more steadily built man had had enough. He pushed Bo back.
John: Damnit Bargeld, I'm not your werewolf.
John: Look outside, the moon is already up.
Bo: Then why are you here?!
John: I'm here for Cerium. I'm here for your wife.
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Nathalie was deep in her dreams when the sound of the telephone woke her up.
She waited a while for her father to pick it up, but when it kept ringing she gave in.
She cleared her throat from drowsyness before she answered.
Nathalie: He-hello?
Abbey: Is this Nathalie?
Nathalie: It is.
Abbey: This is Abbey down at Abbey's Bar. I'm sorry to disturb you so late, but I have your father here and he's.. unable.. to get home.
Nathalie: What do you mean?
Abbey: Honey, he's hammered.
Nathalie: That doesn't sound like him.
Abbey: I'm afraid it's my fault. He had some love troubles..
Nathalie: That sounds like him.
Abbey: Yeah, and I kept giving him drinks on the house. I had no idea he was such an inexperienced drinker, poor thing. Look, I'd drive him home but I have to close this place..
Nathalie: No of course, I understand. I'm on my way.
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Bo: Cerium is dead.
John turned on the lights by the window.
John: She's undead, and a killer.
Bo: So? I don't know where she is!
John: She knows where you are, that's good enough.
Bo: I haven't seen her.
John sighed.
John: Don't do this Bo, don't protect her. She's not the same woman you loved. Not anymore.
Bo: Don't you think I know that?!
John: I think you forget! You've buried yourself in another case with another animal, just so you don't have to think about the things she's done!
Bo stood silent.
John pulled a piece of wood out from a concealment at the back of his coat and walked back to Bo.
John: Here, take this at least.
John: In case she's not her usual undead charming self next time you see her.
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Abbey was in the middle of hydrating her weary old body when Nathalie walked in.
Abbey: Nathalie?
Nathalie: Yeah.
Abbey: Thanks for coming down so late. I'm sure you have school tomorrow..
Nathalie: I'll survive.
Nathalie saw her father's sad figure lying across the bar.
Nathalie: It's beyond me how you ever became a doctor, you are such an idiot.
Derek: Nat honey?
His breath reaked of whiskey.
Nathalie: Yeah, it's me dad.
Derek: What a nice surprise!
Nathalie: Sure.
Nathalie propped him against her and started walking out.
Derek: Sheriff Avenua was in here earlier!
Nathalie: I figured.
Derek: She's so beautiful! It's like.. wow.
Nathalie: She's quite a woman.
Derek: I thi-think she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen!
Nathalie: Thanks for taking care of him.
Abbey: Anytime honey.
Nathalie: Come on dad, car's right here.
Derek: I don't feel so good..
Nathalie: Please don't vomit on my car!
Derek: Why doesn't she love me?!
Nathalie: I don't know dad, can you just get in the car now.
There was a loud thump when the animal jumped up on the roof of the car. A dark shadow spread over Nathalie and Derek.
Nathalie barely had time to turn her head.
It leaped down with it's claws first. It grabbed Derek by the shoulders and pushed Nathalie aside.
A pain shot through her back as she hit the ground.
When she looked up she saw the shadow rising above her father's limp body.
Nathalie: DAD!
The beast turned it's head towards her scream. It didn't see the figure come running out of the fog.
Ludvig threw himself towards the beast with full force. His shoulder hit the animal's upper body and lifted it off the ground.
It landed a few metres behind Nathalie. The sounds roaring from it's mouth as it rose again was like nothing she's heard before.
But Ludvig had also recovered from hitting the ground, and the beast hesitated when he pointed a gun towards it.
Ludvig: You don't want to stick around to find out if this is silver bullets or not, buddy.
The animal ran away with a bent back.
Ludvig rose and Nathalie crawled towards her father.
Nathalie: Dad?
Nathalie: Can you hear me?
She pulled out her hand from underneath him. Blood ran down her fingers and stained her old sweater.
Nathalie: Dad! You're bleeding!
A police car emerged from the fog and pulled up behind them.
Red: What's going on here?
Nathalie: We need an ambulance, quick!
Red: Central come in. This is Deputy Red requesting an ambulance to Main Street and Industrial. Hurry! Over.
Nathalie: Dad, can you hear me? Please say something..
Ludvig stopped for a moment when he heard the echoes of her sobbing, before disappearing again.
A/N
- Now let's all act really surprised about Bo and Cerium's relationship.
- I hate shooting werewolf attack scenes. It's hard!
- John Mole's pretty badass is he not?
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pixel_trade stars this chapter:
Saga by lostavenuea as Sheriff Saga Avenua
Silas by dorkasaur_sims as Silas the fisherman (in the background)
Marty by alfredaskew as Marty Gallagher (in the background)
Redheaded male by jensmustles as Deputy Red
Special guest star:
Abigail Prescott by potential_fate as Abbey of Abbey's Bar