Midnight Shadow

Chapter 5 - Eric Moore

It was always a little disappointing to leave the artifacts of my home and resume the facade of my assumed existence. Entering the street, I felt the flood of emotions wash over me again.  It was always so easy to tune out the feelings of those around me in my home. Now, on the streets, they invaded twice as strong. The feelings of the people around me were the typical mix of every day human emotions. Early on it had tormented me. The constant push and pull of feelings around me influenced my thoughts and actions as I'd learned my new "life". I ambled along the streets of downtown soaking in the atmosphere. Residents and tourists created an interesting mix of wonder and boredom. Walking by restaurants always made me hungry, shops made me apprehensive and art galleries left me content yet infatuated. But it wasn't difficult to discern my feelings from those around me any longer. I walked by an open bar filled with people debating the state of affairs in the world. Frustration, tension and confusion wafted over me. It wasn't pleasant and I sped up to leave it behind.

I felt it, very faintly at first. A soft melancholy overcoming the human I'd sensed. I slowed outside the garage style doors of the bar and reached out with my senses to the human in pain. She was hiding her grief, it wasn't melancholy, it was pain. Utter pain. I'd experienced this before and felt terrible for intruding. I'd decided to leave the woman in peace when I noticed the twist in her feelings. It was a strange undertone to the emotion. Some one she'd known was dead.... and it was been a mystery. I was intrigued and fought off my chivalrous nature for a moment longer. I focused on the woman and felt the familiarity solidify. Suddenly her thoughts streamed into my head as I shared her consciousness. Yes, it had been a friend of hers. She'd found out early this morning that he'd been found dead. Close to his home in the middle of the night. It had been a strange case... the body was horribly mutilated. The police had questioned her because she'd spoken to him last night according to his cell phone. They knew she hadn't done it but had no other clues. Another wave of grief consumed her... Eric. His name was Eric.... Eric Moore.

I thought about the woman as I walked along 2nd Street towards Beale; touched by the depths of her pain. Her grief had been so real. So all encompassing. Even now amidst the tourists and fun seeking denizens of Beale St. I couldn't shake the anguish she felt. I walked down Beale in the mid-afternoon sun without taking in the sights. This area changed so often there was always something new to see. But I couldn't shake the impression that something was wrong. Waiting at the corner of Beale St. and Handy Circle I noticed a couple of police officers across the corner in front of the Hard Rock Cafe preparing for the crowds of people that would be on hand later that night. Beale was a major party on weekend nights in addition to the Basketball game this evening. It would be busy for them. As I listened from across the intersection I heard the change in conversation to the action from the previous night. I froze as I heard the name.... Eric Moore.

"How 'bout that caller last night, huh? Craziest thing I've ever seen" said a taller officer.

"Tell me about it. Guy was mangled beyond recognition. But who does that and leaves a wallet and phone?" Responded his shorter, but stronger looking, partner.

"Yeah, weird, not like a gang banger at all. Good kid, no record. Not even traffic ticket. Weird"

"Almost like someone wanted us to find and identify him. Like they were sending us a message."

"But did you hear the way they found him?"

"Yeah, like he'd been attacked by an animal. Mangled but no blood splatter or anything. Just down the front of his shirt. Like some one tried to clean up or something."

"Weird...."

I froze. The cross walk sign went from green to red three different times before I was aware of it. Mangled? No blood? Left items of value on the victim? That was no message of the cops. Wallets and cell phones don't matter if the crime was simply... dinner. I shuttered to myself slightly. I wanted more information but I couldn't go ask the cops. I knew where I needed to go.