The Unknown: Darkness Among Us #1

0 - The Trunk

Stepping out of the car, James was immediately greeted by the sharp smell of smoke. Accompanied by a cloud of ash that was still fluttering down from the heavens. Leaning against his car door. James gazed upon the ruins that laid before him. He could only imagine what this place would have looked like in its prime. But he guessed that it was most likely a farmhouse once, long ago. It had probably lived a long and quiet life on these moors for decades. Before a fire decided to rage throughout its halls and bring this once peaceful place to its knees.

Remnants remained of what had probably been a grand timber frame, that held the building together for many years. A few walls here and there were still standing strong, some even still trying to hold up small parts of the second floor. The roof had completely caved in and had joined the devastation below. Large pieces of rubble were scattered throughout the garden, some bits had landed miles away.

But the thing that surprised James the most, was the chimney. As the fireplace chimney had appeared to try and remain resilient through whatever had happened here. But was left severely battle scared. A nasty large crack had wrapped itself around the structure and somehow, the top had shifted round ever so delicately off its perch. As if it was just waiting to drop down on the first foolish person that dared to approach.

"Jesus", James choked, he covered his nose as the smell hit him hard. "This was no ordinary fire was it?", the gentle sound of his partners London accent filled his ears, as a car door banged shut. James glancing over to the passenger side of the car to his colleague, Pamela Potter.

Pam was a slim and average height woman, of thirty-years. A relatively young Detective Inspector (DI), who was always mistaken for being younger than she was. Her shoulder-length light red hair was pulled back into its usual pony's tail and as normal, she came to work wearing a bright colourful jumper over her shirt. She was also in her usual dark-coloured trousers, after declaring many times over the years, that she would never be caught dead in a skirt or high heels.

James watched, as Pam gazed upon the house. Her dark brown eyes staring on in horror, as she covered her mouth and nose with the sleeve of her jumper. Her eyes were becoming watery, the longer she gazed upon the ruins.

Although Pam was known to be a great detective and could stand her ground, she still had a kind and caring side that would appear as a crack in her armour. She would never let her softer side interfere with her work. On occasion, when the job was done, James had seen her become teary-eyed when she thought no one was watching. But no matter what, she would always bounce back and be there for the next victim or family that needed her to help find closure. And James respected and admired her for that.

James, on the other hand. Was of average height, slightly overweight and in his late forties. He was also a Detective Inspector. But compared to Pam, James was as average as he could get, with his short, more grey than brown hair, dark brown eyes and the slight stubble on his face. While Pam always looked presentable with the way she dressed. James tended to always appear as the rebellious teen he had been in his youth.

His shirt was always untucked, his tie never done properly, his top button never done up and his work trousers tended to be covered in mud more often than not. Not to mention the tattered old trench coat he always wore, had seen better days. But it had been a gift from his father for his eighteenth birthday and it was a miracle it still fitted and hadn't fallen apart over the years.

But while Pam had a kind and caring side to her. James didn't. He felt pain and sorrow for families and the victims they helped. But his mind always seemed to be focused on the job. When he was a young officer, fresh out of the academy, he used to let his emotions slip through when he returned home. Remembering all that he had seen that week. Shedding a tear for all the car wrecks he had seen and suicide attempts he had to cordon off.