When Terror Strikes Part 13
By: Stacy L.
PART 13
Toni Brigatti sighed heavily in frustration after hanging up the phone. She wanted to ask Hobson about giving their relationship another chance, but she just couldn’t seem to do it! She’s been spending a lot of time thinking about him. She was still very interested in Gary Hobson and continued to hope that some day they could renew their relationship. Now that her schedule was a little less hectic she could make time to date. She had strong feelings for Hobson, feelings she couldn’t even begin to understand. She tried to deny those feelings for so long but just can’t seem to do it. She decided to go to bed. Tomorrow would be a busy day.
Toni rapidly fell asleep. Her dreams were calm and relaxing but soon she dreamed of Hobson. He smiled at her, offering her his hand while requesting a dance. She smiled back at him and graciously accepted his hand. The two danced apart for a bit, but as Chicago’s “You’re the Inspiration” began playing Gary pulled her gently to him. She willingly slipped into his open arms. She moaned in happiness as their bodies connected. She loved to feel his body against hers. She wrapped her arms around him and he wrapped his around her. She rested her head against Gary’s shoulder and Gary bent his head forward gently propping his chin on top of her head. He pulled her closer saying, “I could dance like this forever with you so close to me. It just feels so…”
“Right…” replied Toni smiling.
“Yes, right.”
As the song came to an end she spoke up, “Oh Gary, I’ve waited for this moment for so long. I’ve missed you so.”
“And I’ve missed you.”
“We’re together now…”
“And we’ll never be apart again. I promise you, Toni.”
They continued to dance as another song came on. Toni concentrated on the song harder this time. The song was important but why? She listened but still couldn’t make out the words. Why did she feel she had to hear those words? Why did it seem so important to her to hear those lyrics? No matter how hard she concentrated she couldn’t hear the song.
Gary stopped then looked at his watch before saying, “Toni, I’ll be back in a moment.”
“Gary, where are you going?”
“I’ll be right back. Don’t go any where.”
He left then reappeared with a look of worry and fear on his face. He grabbed her hand quickly saying, “Let’s go.”
“Where?”
“We have to go.”
She heard the urgency in his voice and felt fear as she recalled hearing those exact words coming from him once before. She quickly questioned, “Where? Why?”
“Toni, trust me on this will you?”
“Sure but Gary…”
She heard the screams first then saw people rushing for the exits. She was in some kind of theater. She looked around seeing Gary standing some distance from her. Burgundy curtains hung on the wall behind him and he was scanning the room. Suddenly the burgundy curtains behind Gary burst into a wall of flames. The flames framed Gary, outlining him perfectly, making him look like some wild beautiful, forbidden creature of the night. Gary was all man and every inch sexy as sin. He was beautiful and the flames danced around him as if he were untouchable, as if he himself were one with those flames. The image quickly faded as Gary broke into a run pulling her with him. They ran outside into the cool night air and held each other tightly.
Her dreams flashed to her bedroom and there Gary stood before her fully clothed in a black tuxedo and she in a beautiful crimson gown. His eyes roamed her body examining her with a dark seductive intensity that nearly made her blush. Her heat beat grew faster and the temperature in the room seemed to rise as she saw that he was very pleased with her. He then stared deeply into her eyes with such a strong intensity that she felt as if he had undressed her already, but she still wore the gown. As she felt the familiar gentle touch to her face send warmth through her like a shock wave she looked into those beautiful eyes of his again. She knew what would happen next for she had this dream before only less intense. This time the dream felt so real that it scared her. Gary spoke up again, “I need you, Toni Brigatti. I need you to make me feel alive. I need your strength and courage to pull me through…”
Before she could stop herself she replied, “Pull you through what, Gary? Gary is something going to happen?”
Again he silenced her with an intensely sweet kiss. She wanted that kiss, hungered and burned for it, but her heart felt ice cold as she thought of what was going to occur next. She prayed the dream would not end as before. She found herself silently hoping this dream would end much differently. She’d rather dream of their final joining instead of Gary’s final demise. She could feel her anxiety and fear as she waited…waited for the moment when he would again be ripped so cruelly from her arms. She prayed that moment would never happen again…of course dreams never were to easy to manipulate.
Toni knew what was coming next. She felt suddenly hot and restless. She threw her covers off of herself in her sleep as in her dream Gary worked at unzipping her dress ever so slowly. It was such sweet torture for her mind. She felt the t-shirt he wore under his jacket and was satisfied just to feel the warmth of his body pressed so firmly against her own. She heard her breathing coming in short gasps and noticed that Gary’s breathing now matched her own. He finished pulling the zipper down on her gown and left out a soft groan as he felt bare flesh under his hands…his hands were incredible. His hands felt so wonderful. They set her flesh aflame. Gary slowly dragged his hands upward until he rested them on her shoulders. Then he broke the deep, penetrating kiss pulling back from her. She suddenly spoke up in urgency, “Don’t go!”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” came his raspy reply.
He slowly pushed her gown down. She felt it drop carelessly to her waist and then she tore Gary’s shirt off. She began to pull the bottom of his t-shirt out of his slacks feeling her heart beat racing and her body responding readily in preparation for what was to come. She felt Gary’s hands at the back of her strapless bra and couldn’t breathe. She suddenly couldn’t get enough of him. His simple touch at her back wasn’t enough she wanted more. She wanted all of him. Again she uttered her simple request, “Gary, make love to me now. Please?”
“Yes ma’me…”
Gary bent his head kissing her softly, brushing his lips tenderly across her own. She wrapped her arms around his waist pulling him closer wanting him to continue his sweet torture. She didn’t want him to ever stop. As his arms fell away from her she screamed out in complaint then she felt the icy fear envelop her. She said, “Gary, what are you doing? Come back here…”
Gary looked at her again reaching for her. She reached for him also but to no avail. This time their hands just touched but not enough to grab onto. He yelled out as if he had been injured somehow. Toni felt scared and very, very afraid that there was something terribly, horribly wrong with him. Before she could get to him he disappeared before her. He was gone in an instant, gone in a flash. The only indication that Gary had even been there to begin with was his quiet, haunting, echoing whisper: “Toni, help me please! You must help me!”
Toni jumped upright in her bed feeling even more terrified than the previous night. Why did she have the dream again? Having a dream that intense once was unusual but to have the same dream a second time, even more detailed than the last was downright unheard of. She never had that happen to her before and it made her even more certain that something awful would soon befall Gary…unless she found a way to prevent it.
Toni felt her heat beat begin to slow its erratic pounding and heard a cat meow. A cat? No way…she had to be imagining that sound. She didn’t like cats and she never owned one so hearing a meow was impossible. She heard it again and glanced up. There sitting at the foot of her bed atop her hope chest sat a cat…not just any cat, Gary Hobson’s cat. She could see the cat clearly as the moonlight cast its bright yellow light shining on the cat. It was a full moon tonight but instead of seeing light shining in from all of her windows it appeared as if the moon’s light only fell on the cat. The cat seemed almost ethereal and magical. Toni shook her head to clear it. What a bunch of bull!
The cat was eyeing her up, watching her intensely. Toni reached for the cat but it jumped up and took off out her bedroom door. Toni yelled, “Hey cat, wait! How’d you get in here?”
She searched her house for Gary’s cat. She was positive the cat she had seen belonged to Gary. She had no luck finding him anywhere. It was as if the cat just…vanished without a trace. She would have to call Gary to let him know his cat had run off. He would be upset. She remembered quite clearly how Gary had reacted the first time they had met when she ordered his cat be removed from his home. He seemed to have a very strong bond with that cat of his. She couldn’t just let it go. She had to tell him that his cat ran away. She decided to call him in the morning with the news.
She planned on going to bed with the sole intent of going to sleep again but she ended up tossing and turning as again and again she saw people screaming and running, the curtains of theater catching fire and Gary standing right by those curtain of flames. Eventually sleep did find her but it wasn’t a very deep sleep. She was very worried and very scared for Gary Hobson. She actually sent a silent prayer up to the Heavens for his safety and protection. Toni hadn’t prayed in quite a long time…
* * * * * *
“Meow!”
Gary Hobson jerked up out of his bed in response to that cry. Why didn’t his alarm go off? Just as he asked himself that question the radio clicked on. He vaguely recognized the song as one of the band Chicago’s old songs. What was the name of that song? “Hard for Me to Say I’m Sorry?”…No, no it was “You’re the Inspiration”…that was it! Boy did that song take him back…
“Meow!”
Gary jerked his head towards the door. The cat was demanding his presence so he quickly shut the alarm off then raced to the door. He opened it seeing his tabby cat sitting staring up at him from atop the latest issue of the Chicago Sun-Times. Gary smiled then said, “Well, good morning to you too, Cat. Did anyone ever tell you that you’re a persistent…?”
The cat rudely interrupted Gary in mid-sentence with a rather loud, “Rowl!”
Gary just rolled his eyes then said, “Yes, you can come in… You’re also rude, Cat…”
The cat simply glanced at Gary then traipsed into his home as if he owned the place. Gary again rolled his eyes then picked up his newspaper. As he turned to reenter his home he caught the faintest whiff of perfume. The smell was subtle but it was there and it was a familiar scent. He asked, “Well, where were you at last night, Cat? Searching for a mate?”
The cat just sat there watching Gary with those keen eyes of his. Gary remembered that scent: Toni. Toni Brigatti wore perfume like that on occasion. She never wore a lot just a little. She was very subtle. He thought of her briefly. He still wanted to work things out between them. No matter how hard he tried he couldn’t deny that he still had feelings, strong feelings, for Antonia Brigatti. Just hearing her name sent his heart racing and the smell of her perfume still hovering faintly in his home made it rather difficult for Gary to get his mind off of her and onto his task at hand.
He poured some milk in a dish for the cat and started heading to his bathroom to shower when the ringing of his phone pierced the morning air. Who would be calling him this early? Gary walked over to his phone, picking it up he questioned, “Hello?”
“Gary…”
Gary felt his mouth go dry and his insides clench in response to that voice. He knew before she even spoke her name who it was. It was Brigatti and he couldn’t help but notice just how pleased he felt that she had called him. She continued, “This is Toni…”
“Good morning, Toni. Two days in a row? This is a record for you.”
“Don’t get cocky, Hobson.”
“Sorry. Wh…what did you want?”
“Well I… You see… Well… This is stupid.”
“Go ahead.”
“Your cat…”
Gary felt his mind go on alert. Why was Toni asking about his cat all of a sudden? Especially when she made it quite clear she wasn’t too crazy about such creatures? Gary became suddenly worried. He glanced over at his counter to assure himself that the cat still remained with him. There on the counter sat his cat lapping hungrily from the fresh milk he had poured for him only moments before. The cat suddenly looked up at Gary almost as if he had sensed Gary’s eyes on him. Then he licked his lips and continued to casually observe Gary from his vantage point on the counter. Gary hesitantly questioned, “Wh…wh…what about my cat, Toni?”
“He ran away…”
“He what?”
“I tried to catch him…really I did, but he was too quick. I know how much that cat means to you. I’m sorry I didn’t…”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa wait… Toni, what are you trying to tell me?”
“Well I had a dream…when I woke up…he was there, at the end of my bed. I don’t know how he got in. He was just sitting there watching me and then he took off. I’m sorry. I tried to catch him to return him to you, but I had no luck.”
Gary chuckled suddenly. He didn’t mean to, but it slipped out. Toni heard the chuckle and felt suddenly angry. She spoke into the phone, her voice devoid of any humor at all, she said, “Now what do you think is so funny, Hobson?”
“No…nothing. I’m…I’m sorry. I just know how you hate cats…”
“Hate is a rather strong word, Hobson.”
“I’m sorry…how you dislike cats. I just…I…I’m having a hard time trying to picture you searching your house for a cat that’s all. I thought you were allergic. I just…I’m sorry Toni.”
“I am allergic to all cats…except yours. I don’t understand it but you’re cat doesn’t make me sneeze any more. It’s kind of odd.”
“Well my cat’s kind of odd.”
“Gary, I’m really sorry. I’ll help you look for him if you’d like…”
Gary thought of that idea. He even considered taking her up on her offer. His cat wasn’t missing but it would be an excellent excuse for him to be close to her. Gary cleared his mind of that thought then spoke up, “He’s here.”
“He…what?”
“He’s sitting on my counter watching me.”
“You’re serious?”
“Yes.”
“But…how? When?”
“He was at my doorstep again this morning like he is every morning.”
“But I don’t understand. Cat’s can’t find their way home that quickly.”
“Actually supposedly they can. They say that cats can track their owners over very long distances…”
“Oh well look, I have to go. I have to get ready for work. I’m…I’m glad your cat returned.”
“Thank you and thank you for your concern. Good bye Toni.”
“Gary wait!”
Gary tensed again as he heard urgency in her voice. He started to get a tad bit worried and asked, “Yes?”
“Gary… Take care.”
“I will.”
“And…and Gary… Be careful…please?”
“Toni are you all right?”
“Yes I’m fine. Why…why do you ask?”
“You still seem a little…upset. Are you sure that you’re all right?”
“Yes Gary.”
“All right. Bye Toni.”
“Bye Gary.”
She hung up the phone still feeling uneasy about Gary’s safety. Then she took a shower and got dressed for work.
* * * *
Gary hung up the phone and looked at his cat. He asked, “Now what were you doing over at Brigatti’s last night, Cat?”
The cat didn’t offer any kind of response to that question. In fact, he acted as if nothing had happened. Gary smirked then said, “You’re lucky she didn’t shoot you.”
“Rowl,” came the cat’s quick retort.
Gary laughed then shook his head muttering, “I’ll never understand you, Cat,” then he headed into his bathroom to begin his shower.
After his shower he quickly made himself some pancakes to eat then scanned his special paper. He mumbled, “Doctor dies of heart attack…” then made a mental note of the time and headed downstairs.
Gary entered the bar, exchanged a few quick words with Marissa, then rushed out the door. He didn’t even notice that Detective Armstrong was sitting at the table near the door, or even see Armstrong get up, casually pick up his jacket and follow him out onto the sidewalk. The doctor was supposed to have his heart attack shortly and Gary could only focus on getting to him in time. He had no time to waste.
* * * *
Armstrong was not the only person to take a sudden interest in Gary. Jake Peterson decided to get a look at the man he might have to save tonight. He still didn’t understand completely why his boss was demanding this Hobson guy be unharmed and alive. Was Hobson really that important? Jake only shook his head in wonderment…damn he hated to even think that he would soon, quite possibly, save this stranger. He loved setting fires and he loved watching them. He never left an arson fire he set himself. He always drifted into the crowd of onlookers who were trying to satisfy their own curiosities. He derived great pleasure out of watching fire consuming everything in its path. He admired the way the flames would dance and lick at the structures of buildings. The flames would taunt and then attack consuming more in its hungry path leaving behind only blackness and ashes. Fire always has a very veracious appetite…fire was also very wild and untamed. Jake loved the smell of smoke and to watch fire at work.
He focused again on Hobson feeling his hands tingle with anticipation. He couldn’t wait to set that fire.
* * * *
Gary arrived at the restaurant where the doctor would soon have his heart attack. He approached the man saying, “Excuse me…uh, Doctor…” he tried to inconspicuously glance at his paper for the doctor’s name and when he found it he continued, “…Uh…Doctor Levins?”
“Yes?”
“Uh…”
“May I help you?”
Gary was at a total loss. He couldn’t seem to think of a single lie. He felt foolish then suddenly spoke up, “You’re needed at the hospital right away.”
“And how would you know that? Who are you?”
“Uh…I work at the hospital…”
“As what?”
“Candy striper…”
Doctor Levins looked at Gary as if he were totally crazy. Gary looked away then said, “I…I…I’m a volunteer, Doctor Levins. Look, I was told to come get you…immediately.”
“Why wasn’t I called?”
“They tried to reach you but…”
“Fine. I’ll go.”
“Uh, Doctor Levins…take your time heading to the hospital.”
He eyed Gary up suspiciously then said, “You just told me I was needed there immediately.”
“Oh you are…”
“Then how…?”
Gary quickly glanced at his newspaper catching the difference in the title. He sighed then looked up at the doctor as the man said, “Are you supposed to working?”
“I’m no my break…”
“Really? And you were asked to come and get me?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
The doctor was eyeing Gary up like a bug under a microscope making Gary feel very uncomfortable. He quickly glanced at his watch then spoke up, “Wow look at the time… I really have to go, Doctor Levins. Sorry.”
Then Gary was off racing as fast as his legs would carry him away from the doctor. He felt totally ridiculous. Well that save could’ve gone better…
Once he had some distance between himself and the doctor he double-checked the headlines. When he saw there was nothing else in immediate need of his attention he began to relax once again.
* * * *
Armstrong continued his silent vigil over Gary. He was still afraid for the man but now he was also angry. Something wasn’t right here. He’s been following Gary for several days now and was still confused and perplexed. Hobson spent all day and most of the evening running from one place to another, from one mishap to another. Armstrong knew he would have to soon confront Gary about his odd behavior and unusual knowledge of what was about to occur. He had a strong feeling that his paper, the newspaper Gary carried around with him everywhere, was the key to Hobson’s odd behavior. Armstrong planned on getting to the bottom of this great mystery of Hobson. Hobson was hiding something; he had a completely different life than what Armstrong had always thought. He watched Gary as the man again pulled out his newspaper and started reading it. He then saw Gary fold the newspaper in half, put it away and reenter McGinty’s.
* * * *
Marissa heard Gary entering the bar and knew who he was almost immediately. He walked over to her and sat down beside her. She smiled then asked, “Back so soon?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s unusual.”
“Yeah, I thought so too.”
“So when’s your next save?”
“Tonight…8pm.”
“Wow. You mean the paper is actually giving you a few hours off?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s going on tonight?”
“Fire down at the old Civic Opera House.”
“The Opera House? What happens?”
“Fire destroys the place. Several people get killed and others injured by the crowds…”
“The crowds?”
“The fire alarm goes off, which makes people panic and stampede…”
“Oh, I see.”
“Now all I have to do is prevent it…some how.”
“You’ll figure it out Gary. You always do.”
“I have to stop that fire before it spreads…only way to do that is to locate where it originates.”
“What does the paper say?”
“Not much…fire breaks out…believed to have started at the back of the theater and spread form there. That’s it.”
“Well that’s better than nothing.”
Gary sighed heavily then looked up at his friend. He muttered, “Yeah, I guess so.”
“Gary, stop worrying. You’ll do fine.”
Gary remained silent. He hated fires, especially big fires. If he didn’t stop the fire almost immediately it usually got pretty nasty. He had plenty of experience over the last five years with uncontrolled fires. After being caught in that old abandoned warehouse, being blind and only able to hear the sounds of the fire and smell the smoke he wasn’t too fond of them. Fire made him feel a bit uneasy…that particular time had scared the hell out of him, but he had managed to get out with the help of a troubled teenager who willingly stepped in to save his life. Gary was used to saving people, not being saved…it was a new experience for him.
Marissa interrupted his thoughts as she questioned, “Gary? Gary, are you all right?”
“Yeah. Yeah I’m fine Marissa…just thinking.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re remembering, aren’t you?”
Gary looked at her in shocked surprise. How did she do that? How could she possibly know what he was thinking? He didn’t answer her question though.
Marissa noticed Gary was silent and remembered the last fire he tried to prevent. He had been haunted by that experience, she knew he had. He had nightmares after that time. He had called her several nights just to talk. Gary kept most of his feelings private and hidden but Marissa saw them all. She knew Gary, she knew how he was feeling and she was worried about him.
Gary suddenly spoke up, “Don’t worry Marissa. I’ll be fine, all right?”
“I’m not worried.”
Gary looked into her eyes. He could see how she was feeling by her facial expressions. He gently gripped her right hand in his own giving it a gentle squeeze as he lowered his voice saying, “Yes you are.”
Marissa smiled at Gary. He smiled back then said, “Marissa, I’ll be fine.”
“But Gary, after the last time…”
“I’ll be fine. Stop worrying about me. You have enough to worry about already. Okay? Okay?”
“Yes. Okay.”
“Good.”
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