As the fog rolled away, Raven couldn’t help but be taken by the beauty of her surroundings. While Alcatraz was a crumbling relic held together by stories and the ghosts of the past, the surrounding area was nothing short of beautiful, especially with the rising sun painting it in shades of red and gold.
The creatures were all in place, each of them excited at the prospect of exacting revenge on their captors. Raven had warned them that Salem was off-limits, but she also knew that these were feral animals with a thirst for blood. It was her job to protect her daughter and hers alone.
Rather than go back up to the highest level of the island, where the prison lay, Raven opted to hide out in the building closest to the dock. Had she known or cared anything about the history of her hideout, she would have known that it was where the guards and their families had resided when Alcatraz was still a functioning prison.
As she made her way through the building to a vantage point looking out across the bay, she could feel the eyes of those who had died here watch her passage. She could feel their fear and confusion, and while it pained her to see spirits trapped in such a way, Raven forced herself to focus on the task at hand.
Settling herself by a window on the third floor, she sent her thoughts out into the ether, looking for one more talk with her daughter before the fight began.
***
The helicopters flew side by side, the rays of the rising sun bouncing off the gunmetal grey exterior of the craft. Salem sat between Bits and Bytes, watching as they pecked away silently at their laptops.
The two security personnel, who had introduced themselves as Chalmers and Madison, sat on ither side of the helicopter, ball caps turned backwards on their heads and guns aimed out the open doors.
“Salem. Can you hear me?”
She flinched at the sound of the voice, louder than usual in her head. Bits grabbed his laptop, which almost fell when Salem nudged against him.
“Everything okay?” he asked, a legitimate look of concern on his face.
“I’m scared of flying,” Salem lied, offering up a weak smile.
“We’ll be there soon, and trust me, these things are completely safe. We see to it,” Bits said, nodding in the direction of his partner.
“SALEM…PLEASE ANSWER.”
“I hear you.”
“You must be close. I can feel it.”
Salem looked into the cockpit and out the front window of the helicopter, seeing the San Francisco skyline not too far off in the distance. “We are close. I’m scared.”
“Don’t be. I will make sure nothing happens to you, even if that means giving up my life.”
“I don’t want that.”
“I’ve lived many lifetimes. I’ll tell you about some of them if I make it out alive.”
The conversation was interrupted by Drake’s voice filling the cabin as he radioed in from the other chopper.
“Listen up,” he ordered. “We are five minutes out. Soldiers, remember, tranquilizer rounds only. Salem, if there is an attack, do your thing and protect the people by your side.”
Never one to enjoy being told what to do, Salem resisted the urge to flip the bird. Instead, she reached out to Raven. “Five minutes. Be ready.”
“Bits, what is the Wenlutah’s current position?”
A couple of taps on his computer later, he replied, “On the high ground, outside the prison.”
“Copy that. My guess is that they’ll all be there, forming a protective circle around the bitch.”
“Don’t call her a bitch, asshole,” Salem hissed.
“We will land our chopper on the roof of the prison. You will land on the main level by the boat landing dock. It’s a tight fit, but not a huge problem. Hold your position and stay in the chopper. We will come to you. Got it?”
All but Salem spoke their assent.
“Salem?” Drake said.
“Yes.”
“This should be a quick in and out. We will drive them in your direction. Do what you do and take them down without inflicting injury. Am I clear?’
“Crystal.”
“Keep the comms open, and good luck.”
“They are landing on the prison roof, Mother. My helicopter will be down by the water.”
“I’ll be nearby.”
Beyond the city skyline, the sun rose across the bay. Alcatraz appeared, looking calm and peaceful, a state that would not remain that way for long.
***
WHUMP WHUMP WHUMP.
The sound of the approaching helicopters reached Raven before they came into view. It wasn’t until she saw the glint of metal in the sky on the horizon that she knew they were really close.
Closing her eyes, she willed her creature to remain vigilant, reminding them that Salem was off limits. They had obeyed her since their release, but the prospect of fresh blood and some revenge might change all that.
Once the helicopters flew past the main wharf on Alcatraz, Raven moved quickly, descending the stairs and heading for the main entrance of the guard quarters. There were limited places for the helicopters to land, and she wanted to be as close as possible to the one that carried her daughter.
***
“Circle the island,” Drake said, signaling both pilots. “Bits and Bytes, I want to know where these fucking things are at all times.”
“The Wenlutah is still by the prison. The heat signatures show two more there, plus one down by the main building on the lower level.” Bits replied.
“Where’s the witch?”
“Lower level.”
All eyes trained on the island as they performed a slow loop.
“Police boat by the wharf. Any signs of life?” Drake asked.
“Negative,” Bits replied.
Thorn moved his head from side to side, looking out though both open doors of the helicopter. “Are those bodies down there?”
Looking though a pair of binoculars, one of the guards responded. “Looks like a couple of cops torn apart and what looks to be a fucking horse.”
“The Nuckelavee,” Thorn whimpered. “Dead?”
“Looks to be, sir.”
After one full loop and no sign of any movement, Drake sent out the order. “We will take the roof of the prison. Chopper two, take the wharf.”
The pilot of Salem’s helicopter watched as his partner slowly lowered onto the roof of the prison. Once it touched down, he moved around to the front of the island, cursing at the limited space available to land. “Make sure you are all buckled in. This is going to be tight.”
“Shit,” Bits said.
“Relax, kid. I’ve fit bigger choppers than this into tighter spots. I got it.
“No, you don’t understand. The Wenlutah is coming, and it’s coming fast.”
“Where?” Chalmers asked, gripping his weapon tightly.
“Other side. Madison, she’s coming directly to you.”
Looking down the sight of his weapon, Madison said, “I don’t see it.”
“I’m telling you, she’s close.
Salem looked beyond Madison and caught the movement of the creature bounding down under the cover of trees. It was unlike anything she had ever seen in her life, and she suddenly wished that she was back in her little house with Terry arguing about paint colors.
As the creature broke into the open, Madison finally saw it. “What the actual fuck?”
“What is going on?” Drake asked over the intercom.
“It looks like they are bringing the fight to us.” Madison yelled as he pulled the trigger.
Reading this story is taking me back to how it felt at the movies in the early 90s. Kicking back in my comfy chair with the big tub, a Coke and some Raisinets... paradise. Thank you, Mr Watson. I am enjoying this adventure IMMENSELY!!! 🍿🥤💕💕