Eldritch Noir

Part X

It was two o'clock. Alaric woke up on his couch, his head pounding, lightning driving through his skull. Wet sandpaper swiped his cheek, followed by a slight whimpering sound. Alaric reached out and rubbed Icarus's head. Alaric groaned, sitting up. Icarus stared up at Alaric, waddling like he did when he had to use the restroom.

After letting Icarus outside, Alaric took a cold shower, washing the sweat and booze off him. After changing into new clothes, he let Icarus back into the house and checked his phone, seeing he had two missed calls from Beth. Alaric called her while heating up a bagel in the toaster.

"Oh, thank goodness," Beth breathed. "You can't just not answer your phone. What if you were dead?"

"Well, I'm not dead, just hungover." Alaric popped an aspirin in his mouth and chewed it. It was like swallowing gunpowder.

"Out drinking while working a case," she chastised. "When are you coming in?"

"I'm not sure." Alaric considered telling her they were no longer officially working on the case but decided against it. "I have a lede I'm chasing down. For now, just find out whatever you can about Romano. See if he has any enemies."

"I'm on it..."

Beth got quiet, and Alaric knew she wanted to say something.

"Yes, Beth?"

"I know this will make you mad," Beth admitted. "But I pray for you. I pray for you every day."

Alaric seized up. He didn't know what to say.

"Oh," was all he could muster.

"I'll let you know what I find."

Then she was gone.

Alaric went into his bedroom and sat down in his reading chair. The window was open. Sounds of traffic filtered through it with a soft fall breeze, and Alaric smelled the pine trees. He squeezed his fists shut when he remembered Layla's words from the night before. He remembered Marlboro's disapproving stare.

"I'm the Anti-Christ," Alaric said to himself. "I'm going to do bad things. I'm going to want... to hurt people sometimes. That doesn't make me bad. I'm not bad."

Alaric's heart thundered in his chest. He glanced at his bookshelf and saw the line of books Meredith had given him.

To Kill a Mockingbird is centered in a town where being different makes you wrong.

Dune is a story about a young boy inheriting a terrible destiny.

The Scarlet Letter is the story of a woman who is outcasted for her sin.

Frankenstein, a monster, is brought into the world without choice and is hunted and killed.

Alaric called someone. He heard the irritated voice on the other line.

"Hello?" they asked.

"It's Alaric," he greeted. "I need your services."

"When?"

"Now."

A short scoff.

"Jesus, I'm not driving all the way down there..."

"I'll pay whatever you want. Just get here now."

The voice was silent for a long time.

"Okay," they decided. "I'll be there soon."

Alaric didn't have to wait long. There was a short rap on the door, and Alaric opened the door to see a man about his age, with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. He looked like a Kurt Cobain knockoff. He must've just left the shower because his long hair was wet and unbrushed. His hands were on his hips.