FICTION
Editor’s Note: This story is a work of fiction published in the fun spirit of Halloween. This story is on the opinion page and is a work of fiction, not a factual account of events in Cibola County.
A year has passed since the mysterious events in Grants. The last time Mortimer struck was on Halloween night, and after that the flowers and letters ceased to come. The victims' former homes are now occupied by new people. Nearly none of them think the tragedies actually happened or are certain it was an event that won't happen again. The authorities were, however, certain that the phantom-like ‘Mortimer’ would attack again. So the investigations went on for weeks after October, but to no avail.
On the evening of September 30, police officers patrol and keep an eye on the surveillance cameras installed throughout Grants. One policeman travels by the cemetery, alert for any suspicious activity or moonflowers. For a brief moment, he can see a dark figure in the distance, but it quickly vanishes behind something else. The cop takes out his walkietalkie. 'I saw something at the cemetery. Is there anything on the cameras?”
'No, I don’t see anything.'
“Are you positive?”
'Yes.'
“I'm going to check it out, just in case.' '10-4.'
The police officer parks at the cemetery. As he approaches the gate, he turns on his flashlight and shines it all around his perimeter. Nothing. He moves in the direction where he saw the figure.
Nearly an hour later, an officer and his partner arrive at the cemetery. The sun will not rise for several more hours. Nearly an hour earlier, they had lost communication with another officer. The unoccupied police car and the moonflowers are both seen upon arriving at the cemetery. They examine the car before entering the cemetery on foot. Just the silhouettes of trees and tombstones are visible due to the moon being slightly hidden by clouds. The female officer sees a small beam of light a few yards ahead of them. The two make a careful approach to the place. The flashlight is lying on the ground, illuminating an aconite blossom and a warning sign that reads, 'Be cautious. Inference is fatal.”
The next day, the deceased police officer's death is shown to have been animal-related. The precise animal, however, has not yet been identified. Because of this, the officers working at the crime scene are extra careful to look for prints, but they are unsuccessful. Except for the several letters placed in various locations, there was almost no indication that Mortimer was striking.
The letters read 'There is peace before loss.' 'All will fall in time.' And “Beware.”
On October 13th, Mortimer managed to cause an explosion that killed nearly everyone on on that street. “My time is ever so close” was written on a letter that was next to a bouquet of black roses, aconite, and moonflowers. Several days later on a Sunday morning, a local pastor discovered footage of Mortimer on his security cameras. The tall, slim man was dressed in a grey notch-lapel suit and trilby hat. The officers start working with the data they are able to obtain, in hopes that it may help them capture Mortimer before he strikes again.
Halloween day comes around quickly.
Few residents from the year before choose to trick-or-treat, and only the town's newcomers set up haunted houses. There is a tremendous sound as the sun starts to set. There have been several collisions between vehicles to completely block the route on both sides. One of the drivers manages to stammer 'M-Mortimer.' Instead of continuing, he points to the built-in screen. After dealing with the other aspects of the collision, the police inspect the built-in screen. They are able to discover a hacker and track him.
Deep in the mountains, a group follows the trail and finds a little farm. A metal placard reads 'Morthill.' They approach the cabin with caution as others stand around it. They see dried blood on the floor and on the door doorknob. They enter the house through the unlocked door and notice aconites, black dahlias, moonflowers, multiple black roses, and the same paper that the notes are usually written on. There's a sound as they make their way to the back of the house. White, but audible. A few moments later there is another noise, like a snarling animal. A dark figure, a few feet high and long, comes out of one of the back rooms. Running towards them, the creature tackles an officer to the ground. Another officer realizes it's a wolf and tranquilizes it, but not before it seriously hurts the victim.
Assuming Mortimer is aware of their presence, they pick up their speed and head for the room where the wolf emerged. The room appears to be empty except for a computer on a desk.
After reassembling with the other cops, they search the rest of the house. 'We’ll wait here for him.' They fill in the town's police officers.
They hear the house door close after two hours. A cop quickly blocks the doorway Mortimer can’t turn in attempts to escape. But the officers fall to the ground in a matter of seconds. Mortimer turns to the rest of the officers, in one quick move the officers all collapse. The remaining officers attempt to stop him, when backup arrives.
After a great deal of time, the officers uncover the truth behind the October happenings. Mortimer suffered from childhood trauma, which led him to do such things. He raised the wolf up since it was a pup, training it to attack others swiftly at his command. He had also taken up the hobby of planting moonflowers, black dahlias, black roses, and aconites, which he used to show his condolences, because he did slightly care. 'I guess that pastor was right,' an officer realizes when they returned to the station. He pulls up what the preacher had told him several days ago, on his phone.
An evil man will be caught in his wicked ways; the ropes of his sins will tie him up. Proverbs 5:22