Mignight Game Macavity Prologue

"When you seek revenge, dig two graves."1

-Anonymous2

Prologue3

It was the kind of night that induced an unnatural feeling of stillness over everything. Like its dark fingers touched over everything. Even the moon seemed to pause its ascension and sit like a weary eye over the vast spans of the city. The wind had stopped blowing as soon as the last rays of the sun were buried beneath the Pierre horizon. And at such a height the stagnancy seemed quite out of place.4

Then a distant, yet curling howl broke the evening stillness. Somewhere in the depth of the city of southern Riverside County, a man curled his arms around his body and dug his fingers tightly into the loose fabric of his coat to ease the slight shivers that raked over his skin. Though they had nothing to do with the weather, as the night was still quite warm. He looked out over the city lights below him that glimmered like a sea of tiny jewels. 5

It was an impressive view, but his mind could hardly keep to that train of thought. The mass of colors blurred into one glaring light beneath his steady gaze of the full moon. 6

“Doesn’t sound like a coyote?” Said a guard then he turned his attention at his partner, who was reading a newspaper, not paying any thought about the howl. “What do you think Mr. Stefan?” He asked but got a grunt for an answer from the elderly security guard. He scratched behind his head that had a crop of silver hair indicating old age caught up to him.7

“I don’t really know, I’ve hardly see these animals in Riverside but they’re commonly more north of here. Forget about it, it was probably some dog maybe. You worry too much Cunningham.” Replied Stefan as he looked at his younger counterpart who was completely the opposite. A young man in his early twenties with short blond hair and matching blue eyes. Cunningham rubbed his eyes as he stared at the monitors that were connected to different cameras in each room. In monitor eight somewhere in the lower section of the museum.8

“I’m going to get a cup of coffee, you want anything sir?” Getting up from his chair that scraped against the tile making it scream.9

He stretched and yawned as the elderly officer nodded not taking his grey eyes off the paper but would give a side view at the monitor then return back to his paper. The young officer held a walkie-talkie in one hand and said, “Hey do any of you guys want coffee or what? Over.”10

The walkie-talkie replied, “Yeah make it five with two sugars but the rest black. Over” It clicked and Cunningham walked off to retrieve the drinks.11

The crescent moon was set in above the midnight blue sky, cloudless to say. And long, dark shadows made even Riverside County seem romantic. While scanning through the monitor—something ran pass a camera. Stefan looked at the monitor no. one, he squinted his wrinkle eyes then another black blur appeared in another camera but it was too quick for the old man to identify it. “What the hell.” He murmured, Stefan was startled when his radio came to life. “Sir, what coffee would you prefer again? Over.” It was just Cunningham on the other side of the radio.12

Stefan had to take in a breath before he answered and said, “Dark coffee kiddo, remember. Over”13

“Got it. Over.” It hissed, after that everything went quiet again as the eerie silence slipped back again. Stefan continued monitoring the screen hoping to catch that blur but no, nothing except a timber brown dog walked in through monitor six. Probably a German shepherd lost, poor guy. Seeing the beautiful creature sniffed then looked up at the camera. Though strangely enough it seems the dog was actually smiling back at him. 14

Then a sudden tap came from the glass door, Stefan looked up seeing a shadowy man outside with his face hidden under his hat. He looked back at the monitor but the dog wasn’t there anymore, the tapping came back catching his attention. 15

“Sorry, were close today but come back tomorrow morning, when it’s open to the public.”16

Tap, Tap.17

“Come back tomorrow.” Stefan yelled but the man hadn’t said a word as he continued tapping at the glass. Stefan walked toward the door thinking that the visitor didn’t hear him. Only his footsteps accompany him reaching for the door, he mouthed the words, “Were closed.” Pointing at the scheduled that was printed on the glass. 18

Tap Tap, Tap, and Tap. 19

Continually tapping with his finger not paying attention to the officer inside. Then Stefan fished into his pockets to retrieve a set of keys and unlocked the door. Opening it a bit to a crack; the dark figure smiled, revealing yellow canines. 20

****21

A short while Cunningham came back with two cup trays in each hand filled with steaming coffee, “Sorry sir, it took so long the coffee maker was acting weird on me but I finally got it down.” Returning to his seat he sat down after placing both trays down near Stefan. Who sat quietly in his seat, legs crossed above the counter and his security cap tilted downward overshadowing his face.22

He picked up his walkie-talkie and said, “Hey guys coffee is here, you better come otherwise it’ll get cold.” Only the hissing of the radio responded back with nothing. Cunningham reached out and gently shook Stefan shoulder, nothing. No response.23

He shook harder this time, “C’mon wake up.” He urged his partner. Then out of nowhere Stefan’s head fell off his shoulders, rolling down a bit on the floor with his eyes staring widely. Not at Cunningham but beyond some empty distance. Cunningham yelped back in horror staring down at the head. The glowing monitor shared its light allowing Cunningham to see a trail of blood that the head left behind; as he looked in horror he couldn’t scream because it was clog up in his throat.24

Staring at the head following back at the body where it was cut clean; his eyes glimpsed at the screens. There standing in one of the screens—monitor seven, the camera was set in the hallway not far from the lobby desk. An unfamiliar person stepped into view; he looked as though he didn’t seem quite bothered but more as if he was browsing through the building. Before Cunningham took action he called for back up in case if the intruder carried any weapons.25

After calling, he pulled out his gun and proceeded to the subject. By the time Cunningham got there the culprit disappeared, looking around cautiously as he motioned slowly trying not to make a sound. Something slipped into the shadows behind him. He turned pointing the gun at the darkness feeling the presence that someone was right there, watching and waiting. Studying his every movement. Who’s hunting who?26

“Where are you, you bastard?” He muttered under his breath, his heart hammered inside him drumming his ears as anxiety and excitement were slowly rising up. Sweat poured down his face trying to remain calm as best he can, suddenly the air turned cold when suddenly the shadows caught Cunningham from behind. It twisted the man’s head around until a gruesome crack sounded.27

Cunningham slid to the ground, where he laid motionless his blue eyes remained open but no longer seemed to be looking at the ordinary things in the room or through the window. He had gone, eyes and whole being, far into a place that no one could not perceive and where no one could follow him.28

****29

There was a considerable uncomfortable silence at this, disturbed only once by one of the guards slightly annoyed ‘tch’. While another yawn came to the man next to him and checked his watch, “Ten P.M already?”, said the guard, he tried his best to remain awake but slumber would sneak in but his conscience would return him back to the living.30

Today at the Palm Springs Desert Museum was a special day, a famous painting of Van Gogh stood in the middle of a separate room from the rest of the others. But placed in a life size glass fortress that stood over six feet tall with four other guards standing around it, while only a light shined above it. One guard looked back to get a glimpse of the piece, he eyed it for a moment but for some apparent reason the painting was drawing to him under the glaring light. Then he smelled something sweet, almost a cinnamon fresh kind as he inhaled it his throat became hot and pain shot right down through his body.31

They began coughing violently as their throats turn from what was close to sore throats to burning intense unimaginable heat, few of them collapse crying in withering pain as if their orgasm were on fire burning from the inside but the rest of the men began to cough up blood almost to the point that it was pouring like river. Until one by one they all collapse on the ground and lay there motionless.32

“Heh, Ten P.M. Exact, timing is everything. With all these guards a little help from my help friends special home-made poisons. I guess it wasn’t a bad idea. I suppose I should increase your cut, huh?” Said a figure, kicking a gun within safety distance from the rent-o-cop. He felt uneasy even if the cops were dead, surely his instinct remain on high alert. He expect for at least one of the cops to get up but his friend guarantee that it is full-proof, guess he was right but he wasn’t taking any chances.33

A hazy voice spoke from his micro-ear set, “Save the compliments—was it really necessary to kill the first two guards? Man seriously.”34

The figure didn’t hesitate and bluntly said, “Yes.”35

“You have no sub-conscience what so ever. Now steal that piece and get the hell out of there, Macavity.” It hissed then it went dead. Signaling his buddy was off line and was probably setting up ready to leave but not before Macavity. Macavity chuckled at his friends last comment as he drew a circle on the tall glass with a sharp intermit object that he hid in his gloves. 36

The glass popped opened after drawing in the surface he then caught the circular piece and gently set it down. “Poor thing. Locked in this dark place, guarded by these fools no less.” Stepping inside that glass stall, he reached in for the painting and carefully held it in his grip as if it were a delicate child in his hands. “But don’t worry. I’ll take you away….37

To a place in the sun that’ll suit you much better.”38

Holding the picture high before him in triumph as he began to chuckle then it evolved into laughter of a villain from those cartoons. That echoed in the building filling in the walls with no trace of his footsteps as he headed back towards the same entryway he came in. Like a ghost he disappeared but not before leaving a sign with a lettering that was written in blood that was coated on the floor by the guards.39

Macavity is back….. 40