South Park: Bloodlines, Book 2: New Horizons, Old Shadows

Dawn of Vengeance, Part 1

Officer Howard steps outside the lodge, the cold night air biting at his face as he takes a few cautious steps away from the door. He reaches for his radio, turning the dial and pressing the button to call for backup. Static crackles through the speaker, and he frowns, trying again.

Officer Howard: "This is Officer Howard, requesting immediate backup. We have a potentially dangerous situation at the old camping grounds near South Park. Multiple casualties and several kids unaccounted for. Repeat, requesting backup."

Only silence and static respond. He furrows his brow, glancing around the dark surroundings as he adjusts the frequency, trying once more, he starts speaking more urgently.

Officer Howard: "Dispatch, do you copy? This is Officer Howard, South Park. I need assistance out here. Over."

The radio remains silent, the static fizzling ominously before cutting out entirely. Officer Howard shakes his head, hitting the side of the radio in frustration.

Officer Howard: "Dammit... of all the times..."

He pulls out his phone, checking for a signal, but the screen flashes with the dreaded "No Service" message. A chill runs down his spine, and not just from the cold. Something wasn't right. Communication shouldn't be down out here, not this severely.

Officer Howard: Alright, looks like it's just you on this one, Howard." he mutters to himself.

He glances back at the lodge, the dim light from inside casting long shadows across the ground. His gut twists with unease. He had left Wendy and Red inside, and something about Red's calm demeaner hadn't sat right with him. But right now, his priority was finding those kids. Taking a deep breath, he steps away from the lodge, his flashlight illuminating the narrow path that stretches into the darkness. As he walks, he reaches for his sidearm, ensuring it's secure in its holster. A rustling noise echoes from somewhere nearby, and he freezes, shining his flashlight in the direction of the sound. The beam of light catches on branches swaying in the breeze, but there's nothing there—just shadows playing tricks on his mind.

Officer Howard: "Get a grip, Howard. It's just the wind..."

But as he turns to continue down the path, another sound catches his attention—a faint, almost imperceptible whisper, coming from the woods. He stops, listening intently, his hand instinctively moving to his radio again, even though he knows it's useless. He scans the darkness, his flashlight beam slicing through the thick, oppressive shadows. The whispering fades, replaced by an eerie silence, and for a moment, he wonders if he imagined it.

Officer Howard: "Who's out there? Show yourself!"

All there was, was Silence. Then, a soft crunch of leaves from somewhere deeper in the woods. He swivels, his flashlight sweeping across the ground, catching the glint of something metallic on the path ahead. His heart skips a beat as he approaches cautiously, kneeling down to inspect it. It's a familiar object—a broken radio, its shattered pieces scattered across the dirt. He picks up one of the fragments, his brow furrowing as he examines it. This was no accident. Someone had deliberately disabled the only reliable line of communication he had. He straightens, a sinking feeling settling in his gut. Whoever was behind this was watching... waiting. Suddenly, a loud crash echoes from the direction of the lodge, followed by Wendy's faint scream from inside. Officer Howard's head snaps up, his instincts kicking in.