The Creature He Is

CHAPTER 12

Night comes, and Craig's mind had all but been made up. Despite what he had told Kenny, he still wanted to go to the town hall and get any possible clues from there. Which is why when he and Kenny parted earlier that day, he said he wasn't feeling well and for Kenny to skip coming over that night. And why he was now packing a small bag of gear and dressing in all black.

When it reaches close to midnight, Craig carefully sneaks out of his house, not wanting to explain where he was headed at such a late hour, or why he looked so suspicious either.

Craig makes his way through the empty night streets and arrives at the town hall. He walks along the outside of it and makes his way to a side window. Once he reaches it, he sets his bag down and opens it, pulling out a crowbar that he took from the garage. As he gets ready to open it with the bar, the sound of nearby bushes causes him to stop and panic a little. But when he sees that it's just a small raccoon passing by, he lets out a sigh.

"What are you doing?" a sudden deep voice asks from behind him.

Craig just about has a heart attack, before he quickly turns around and is met with a pair of bright blue glowing eyes.

"Uh, hey," Craig greets awkwardly.

"Didn't I say not to come here?" Kenny asks, his tone sounding hard.

"I know, but," Craig lets out a sigh, "look, the security here for the most part isn't too bad, because of the public affairs of the townsfolk coming in and out of this place. So I thought that as long as I'm careful and avoid the few cameras set up in there, I should be good. Besides, I brought a mask," he explains, "So no need to worry about being recognized."

He hopes it sounds convincing enough for Kenny to buy it, but by the way his gaze seems to harden, he guesses not.

"Craig, go home," Kenny tells him.

But Craig instead, pulls out a black mask and pulls it down over his head as an act of defiance to those words and pries the crowbar under the window.

"Craig—" Kenny is cut off by the sound of the window cracking open. And as Craig goes to push it up, he grabs his arm to stop him. "Go home," he repeats.

"If I go now, you may never get the possible answers hidden here because you're too afraid of the risk," Craig says and looks at him, "But I'm not afraid to take it, if it means helping you." Kenny's gaze softens and he slowly lets go of him, "You can wait here if you're worried about being spotted on camera," Craig says as he opens the window. "It should be okay for me though, even if I am seen, because my face will be hidden from it."

"I'm going with you," Kenny says.

"You don't need—"

"I'm going." Kenny states, "If I can't change your mind, then I'm coming with you."

Craig gives a small nod as he grabs his bag and puts the crowbar away.

"Then let's go," he says, before hopping through the opened window. "How did you know I was here anyways?" he asks quietly, as Kenny climbs in next to him.

"When you said you were sick so suddenly. I had a feeling," Kenny replies.

"Oh."

"That and your scent..."

"Huh?" Craig says confused.

"I said it was strong before, didn't I?"

"Well, yeah, but..." Craig trails off, unsure of how to even finish his response.

As they make their way down a long dark hall, they eventually come across a set of large wooden doors.

"Here," Craig says, shining his phone light on it, "I'm sure this is the room. At least from what I remember from an old school field trip anyways."