Perverse Thirst: A Ghost Walkers Prelude

Chapter 21

Rain steadily beat against stone surfaces. Horse's hooves clicked off of the hard street. The moonlight hid behind the clouds, giving life to shadows, extending the darkness of the corners. Lack of business kept the streets, on this side of the city, empty at night. Trash collected in the puddles of the poorly drained street edge. Pulling back on the reins, the coachman, wearing a long black jacket and matching wide brimmed hat, brought the carriage to a stop outside of an alley. His passenger, in matching attire, jumped down from the driver's box, sinking his tall boots into a large collection of rainwater, and walked to the rear.

The stagecoach only had one door in the back secured with a large lock. There weren't any windows available on the sides. After opening the lock, the shadowy figure opened the back door of the stagecoach, and let some light inside the dark box. Even with the door open, the person inside couldn't see anything, with the bag over their head. Stepping up into the stagecoach, the man grabbed the prisoner by the restraints, and pulled him out of the door. Shackled by his wrists and ankles, connected with a chain, the prisoners landed on the wet ground with his pale bare feet.

Led down the alleyway, the prisoner shuffled along, without making a sound, or resisting. Unable to make an escape, the prisoner hung his head low, and awaited his fate. Inside the alleyway, the escort unlocked another door for them to proceed into. As the door opened something flew inside, making contact with the escort's hat.

"What the hell was that," the escort rhetorically asked his prisoner. "Was that a bat? I hope that wasn't a bat."

Once they were inside, the escort made sure to lock the door behind them. Out of the rain, the men entered an unofficial detention center. Unknown to most P.A.C.E. agents, this space remained secret for special cases. The special cases filling this room were cursed individuals. Lodsto took off his wet coat and hat, and began to light the lamps around the room. As the fires lit up the area, the other prisoners came into view. Six cursed people waited in the dark for the new addition to join them. Along the walls were six cells, three on each side. In the middle of the room were tables, and torture contraptions used to hold experiments. Movement from Lodsto got the attention of the prisoners, and caused them to react in anger.

Fuel from within the lamps made the flames grow, and brought the prisoner's torment into the light. In the first cell on the right, a man cursed with thirst, had steel poles ran through his body, securing him in place, off of the ground. The middle cell, on the right, had a woman, cursed with thirst, without arms or legs, that had been taken since being captured. At the end, on the right, the cell held a man, cursed with thirst, without any teeth.

The first cell on the left held a woman, cursed with thirst, with her arms recently sewn back on after being cut off. In the middle cell, on the left, held a man, cursed with thirst, recovering from severe sun burns. Only one cell remained empty, and it waited for the cursed man Lodsto recently took into custody, with Pilo's help. Only one cursed person survived Lodsto's raid, and he now stood in chains.

When enough lamps were lit, Lodsto grabbed his chained prisoner. and forcefully led him into the open cell. He had the cursed man get down on his knees before taking off the ankle restraints. After closing the cell door, he pulled the chain through the bars, and took off the rest of the restraints. Released, the man quickly took off the hood to bring his horror into view.

"Don't say a word," Lodsto said, with his sword pointing directly at the rookie prisoner. "I'm not in the mood." Sheathing his sword, Lodsto took a seat in a stool next to the main experimenting tables. Pulling out his flask, Lodsto took a sip to numb his mental comprehension of the atmosphere around him. When he had a buzz, he enjoyed the sight of his prisoners a little more.