The Changeling Knight: Chapter Three

 A thunderstorm had rolled in overnight, leaving behind puddled thick with mud and a sky full of rolling gray clouds overhead. Sydnie had always loved storms. Who didn't? In the ever present roar of the city, storms had a calming influence, dragging the daily grind to a halt and allowing everything to be covered in the misty blue patience of rain and thunder. Even now she found herself looking out the window at the fat droplets colliding with the back porch and it made her drowsy. Now she felt as if it she had too much time to think. 

The events of the past few days had all come in a blur of activity. The hospital visit, the calls from the grandparents, the police and nurses asking her all the usual questions. Do you have anybody who might want to hurt you or your family? Could someone have followed you from Chicago? Do you have a history of mental illness? 

To which she had answered; No, no and who doesn't these days? 

Roger had taken the kids out to give her a chance to rest. Her arm sat in a sling, still aching from being popped back into socket. A few superficial cuts and bruises, but overall she was no worse for wear physically. She was more concerned with how this reflected on her mental acuity. They'd given her a little something to help her calm down, but she'd been awake long enough to hear her husband defend her.

He'd told them she had no history of mental illness.

Sydnie couldn't knock that night from her brain. It replayed on an infinite loop, as if trying to hammer home some kind of point. Maybe she was rehearsing her story somehow, it certainly felt that way. She couldn't remove the sound of that creature’s voice, creaking like tree branches in a violent wind as it threatened the lives of her family. She tried to rethink every detail of its figure as it had loomed over her. At the time her first concern had been the safety of her child. Now she was trying to think if there had been any hint of humanity there. For all she pushed and prodded herself in the direction of the stable and the real world, she could not make that meet with the mental image festering in her head.

Maybe that was from the pain killers.

She had told Roger everything. The kids were asleep on the couch of the hospital room which folded out into a bed. Bryce had been taken to the children's unit to be sure he hadn't sufferer any injuries. The basket had gotten turned over and since the room was full of glass and twigs it simply felt reasonable. Yet even though Roger had awoken to find the room in shambles, he had eyed his wife with reservation and disbelief. Could she blame him?

“You're telling me there was a monster in our bedroom trying to kill Bryce?”

“I'm telling you there was an eight-foot-tall person with skin like tree bark talking like an episode of the Tudors trying to kill Bryce.”

He didn't believe her. She tried not to be angry about that but she wasn't doing a very good job. It was difficult to be mad at someone right to their face when they were stroking your cheek and promising you everything was going to be okay.

“Maybe we should think about going back to Chicago?”

Sydnie looked out the window at the large oak tree smacking its branches against the glass. The steady thwack thwack thwack amid the gusts was hypnotic. If she looked out of the corner of her eye, the twigs almost looked like a handful of long, knobby fingers reached towards the sill, preparing to draw it open. A knock at the door kept her from drifting off into a pleasantly druggy stupor. She sat up and grunted as she lifted herself up off the couch, snuffling across the floor to the door. Sydnie peeked out through the spy hole and frowned. She didn't recognize the woman for a moment or two, then it occurred to her she'd seen the lady wave at them a few times as she headed off to work in the morning. There was a moment of doubt until she saw the woman had a Tupperware container neatly tucked into her arms.

Roger would get a kick out of that. He'd always said it had been his baking skills that won her over. Sydnie undid the locks and opened the door with a smile. “Hello.”

“Hello! Sydnie, right?” She shuffled her umbrella under one arm, the dish now threatening to slip from her grip as she held out a hand with a bright green leather glove which matched her bright green umbrella. “Tricia. We live about a block down that way. I've seen you a couple of times here and there but I don't think we've had a chance to talk yet.”

“Yeah. I see you wave from the car sometimes. Come on in. You like coffee?” She stepped back, letting the woman shake out her umbrella and put it by the front stoop. She came in and fussed when Sydnie tried to help her with her coat. She had told Roger she'd be fine by herself, that she needed time to collect her thoughts and get some sleep, but she was almost grateful to have someone stop by. The house felt too big and too empty.

“No no! Not with that arm. I'll handle myself fine.” She put it up on the coat hanger. “I'll just try to not drip all over the place. Should I take my shoes off? It's muddier than Noah after the flood out there.” She kicked them off and tucked them into the cubby as Sydnie instructed. “Oh. I'm so sorry I should have thought to call but it seemed much more awkward to just dial you up not having introduced myself simply because I knew the phone number.”

“No, it's fine. How did you know our phone number?” The woman gave a prim smile.

“My husband and I used to go out on Fridays with the Hofsteangs, the family that owned this house before. We'd have a few drinks, go out to dinner and a movie, have a few more drinks. Not much else to do around here. I meant to introduce myself when you all first moved in but time just got away from me.”

“I feel like we've just gotten here but I guess it's been a few months. We haven't really gotten to know anybody yet. I feel like everyone in a small town must already know one another.” Sydnie found Tricia easy to like. She had a charming way of speaking and a somewhat eccentric style of dress which frankly reminded Sydnie of a hobbit. 

“It makes for some great gossip, I'll tell you that much. To be honest if you're not a member of the church or the PTA it can be a bit difficult to worm your way into a group of friends. But don't worry. Most of the people around here are very nice though. Just go on down to the Pizza Shack on a Friday night, order a pint, watch the game and they'll warm up.” Tricia smiled keenly and put her container on the counter. “Not too different from Chicago.”

“But with less shootings hopefully.” Sydnie grabbed down the mugs and picked up the sugar caddy. She started the coffee pot and sat down, smiling as the woman peeled off the lid and the smell of fresh chocolate chip cookies wafted through the air, cheering her whole mood. “So, I'm guessing you're after the skinny on what's been happening around here then huh?”

Tricia smiled, not the least sheepish about it. “I told you. Small towns run on gossip. And word is you've had a rough time in the last week. Two break-ins and you come back from the hospital all banged up? If you were the Smythes or the Franklins I'd say there was something domestic going on but your husband doesn't seem the type. And you look like a woman who can handle herself.”

Sydnie laughed at the thought of Roger ever raising a hand to anyone outside of a mosquito. “You know we had a break in back in Chicago, we weren't even home but...” She thought for a long moment, trying to put things into context to a woman she'd just met. “Things feel different in a city. Something bad happens, someone down the street gets mugged or your tv gets stolen, you just kinda think it's par the course, right? Call the police, buy a new flat screen and get on with your life. But when something happens out in the country it's a lot easier to let things get away from you.”

“Every town has some kind of crime. Around here the biggest problem is somebody always had a brother or a cousin who works at the drive-through and will sell them beer without an ID. They'll go tearing up and down the backroads in a beat-up pick-up. Every now and again some kid will steal some snacks from the Sheffields or get caught with a buck out of season.” Tricia loaded her coffee up with sugar and creamer till it was almost white before she took a sip. “But a break in? Especially a violent one? Something like that would get around town fast.” Her lips drew down into a deeply concerned expression as she passed the cookies over to Sydnie. “You oughta get a dog. Someone comes in the window and they'll think twice when they see a big ass Rottweiler lift its head up.”

“Tobias is allergic. We had a cat when he was born and had to give it to my mom. He'd break out in hives every time the poor thing tried to come sniff him.” Sydnie chewed into a cookie with immense pleasure. The woman had clearly planned this visit for the day. The cookies were still warm and the chips still gooey. “I loved the damn cat.”

“That’s parenthood for ya.”

“You got kids?”

“I had one, almost.” 

Sydnie wanted to smack herself. “I'm so sorry. I didn't know.”

“Don't fuss. I've got my fur babies now.” Tricia smiled brightly and whipped out her cell, opening the photos to a trio of dachshunds staring brightly at the camera. “That’s Boomer, Onslow and Rags. Spoiled rotten little shits each one of them.”

Sydnie looked down at the dogs with a smile. “Don't show that to my daughter. She'll come over every day wanting to pet them.”

“Well you tell her to come on over. They need exercise.” Tricia slid the phone into her back pocket and took another sip of her coffee. “I need to get a move on. I just wanted to stop by and see how you were doing. Now if you need anything, me and my husband are right down the road, less than a mile away. I'd be happy to give you my phone number. Paul can't shoot for shit but I've got a twelve gauge I'd be happy to put between the eyes of anybody who come knocking at the wrong hour.”

“That’s very sweet of you. Thank you, Tricia.” Sydnie said and got up to walk her to the door. She hadn't exactly gone out of her way to make friends, not for lack of interest but everything had been so busy she just didn't have the time. It felt good to know there was someone not that far away if need be. Her mind skipped forward a few steps and she stopped before she opened the door. “You said you knew the people who lived here before us? Did they ever get any problems like this? Any weird shit that would happen?”

“No. Nothing I can think of.”

“Do you know why they left?”

“Their son got into a college in Michigan. They moved so they could be a bit closer to him.” Tricia's eyebrow quirked in curiosity. “You've seen something odd around here?”

The concept of a small-town grapevine crept in over her mind and Sydnie decided it was better to keep it to herself. “No. Not odd. Just trying to get some information you know?”

“I'll keep my ear to the ground. If I hear about anything I'll let you know.” Tricia shook her free hand warmly and slipped her shoes back on. She took out her green leather gloves and stepped out onto the from porch. She looked by the front door and paused. “Did...did I have an umbrella when I walked in?”

Sydnie blinked and looked out. There was a few splatters of water from where something wet had clearly been left by the door, yet that was all. “I'm pretty sure you did. You didn’t leave it inside did you?”

“No I don't believe so.” The woman looked around here and there as if it would manifest itself somehow before turning to Sydnie with a pinched expression. “Get a dog.” She advised again with a firm air. “Or at least a very loud bird.”

“I might consider it.” She waved goodbye before she closed the door and locked it out of instinct. Maybe the wind had blown it away and one of the kids would find it while playing? Something about the country always gave one the sensation that odd things could happen. Perhaps it was the sense of distance from others, or the fact that she could look out her back porch into a vast sea of pine wood and brambles. The same atmosphere that had drawn her to this place now seemed vaguely desolate, and the dark skies overhead did nothing to help that fact.

Sydnie turned back to the living room, grabbing her coffee from the kitchen as she walked past. She was going to take a pain pill, wrap herself up in blankets, and sleep till Roger got back with the kids. She reached for the bottle on the side table and realized it wasn't there. Sydnie looked around her immediate surroundings, not spying anything even remotely pill bottle like, before kneeling down on the floor and trying to shuffle herself down low enough to look under furniture. She tucked her sling up into her chest and lifted the dust ruffle of the couch, spying nothing but how badly she needed to vacuum, then pulled herself around to check under the coffee table.

Tap tap taptap taptaptaptap!

She jerked up so fast she almost smacked her head on the top of the table. Her breath stilled in her lungs as she sat back on her heels, swallowing hard. A pair of fat, claw like feet clacked across the wooden floor on the other side of the table, rushing past as if in a hurry for something. Sydnie tried to remember if perhaps she'd already taken the pills. Maybe she was lying on the couch having one of those lucid dreams where things seemed real, but it was just your imagination trying to contextualize what it was overhearing on the television.

Tap tap taptap taptaptaptap!

“Fucking son of a bitch!” She got up on her feet, jerking around to try and follow the sound. Her heart beat fast in her chest, and Sydnie eyed the door. She had her keys in the pocket of her coat by the door. She could haul ass and be in her car in seconds, phone Roger from the gas station and tell him to meet her there. A shudder clung to her spine and she ran, shoving past the side table and through the foyer, hand snapping locks to the side.

Rattle rattle rattle rattle.

Sydnie turned her head at the sound in the living room.

A squat, wrinkled looked creature was sitting in the chair, it's knife-like grin directed at her as it rustled the orange medicine bottle. It cackled to itself, lips curling out to show off pale pink gums. It's beady black eyes watched her keenly as it played with its stolen prize. “Don't want to leave without these do you, poppet?”