[DOUGLAS CLACHER. Countryside, Surrey, England. Wednesday 7th of September, 1881 Gregorian Calendar].
Douglas Clacher led the group of four riders through the thickening morning mists which had reduced visibility to a few meters. The fog had greatly slowed their progress and delayed their planned early noon arrival at Young Hearts Hospice.
"Damn mist is going to stop us reaching the asylum before lunch time," cursed Douglas.
Even as a child growing up in Scotland, he had hated the fog. It interfered with his senses and made it difficult to gaze upon the majestic beauty of his highland home.
"This fog feels different from what we get in California," stated Henry.
"This is sea fret and comes from the waters," stated Douglas. "While the stuff you get in California is formed from precipitation of the land. Though I have to admit, this thickness of fog is usually found much further north."
"At least it's not smog from the city," said James. "I still can't believe how polluted London city was. Why do the English still need to use so much coal?"
"Demon cores are monopolised by the government to power their weapons and vehicles," explained Douglas. "Private industry finds it much cheaper to simply use coal. The Queen did try to clean up the city of London. Mainly because it embarrassed her in front of all the foreign leaders who sent their children to study in England.
Then someone came up with the bright idea to simply start shifting foreign students to the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Even the Coalition moved their Academy north. Since then, London has become even more polluted. A true monster of industry."
"That's sad," said James.
"At least you won't have to be based there for your apprenticeship," consoled Arina. "Even though Douglas and I were relatively mobile. We spent far too much time in that city."
"Master Ning, where will we be based?" asked James as he directed his mount to walk beside his mentor's horse.
"Focus on the current task," Master Ning reprimanded him.
"I was just curious," said James. "I'm definitely still focused on the upcoming mission. With the four of us, I'm sure will be able to successfully investigate and bring to conclusion, the strange happenings at Young Hearts Hospice."
"Something is wrong," said Douglas. "I can smell smoke. Burnt wood and… burnt flesh. This fog is obscuring the smoke, but I can tell it's fairly fresh. Maybe from this morning or late last night. It's also within a few kilometers."
"There's a small farmstead about two kilometers of here," stated James. "I remember it from the map you gave me to study."
"We'll head that way then," Douglas decided. "Demons haven't been cited near London for a while. But this fog is the perfect cover."
Douglas grabbed his rifle from the saddle pack. The other members likewise drew forth their weapons.
"Diamond formation," commanded Douglas. "I'll take front. Master Ning and James will be our wings. Arina, you're in the rear. I want you to use your mind speech to keep us connected."
"What's mind speech?" asked James.
((This is.)) Arina smiled as she sent a telepathic message into James' mind.
"That's amazing," said James.
((I know I am.)) Arina winked while she sent a second mental communication. ((I've got a range of about a hundred meters. As long as no-one strays too far from me, I can allow us all to communicate with our thoughts.))
((Alright.)) Douglas nodded. ((Keep a steady pace. No more than three meters between each rider. Hopefully I can detect whatever is out there before it detects us. But my most developed sense is that of smell and this fog is being a pain in the ass.))
Douglas led his group towards the smell of smoke. His Gift was his enhanced senses. The most powerful of which was his sense of smell. Douglas could identify and track quarry using their scent.
The smell of smoke was becoming clearer. Painting a picture as clear as any visual canvas. There were burnt animals, mainly sheep. As well as burnt human flesh. At least one of the humans was well fed. Possessing the high fat content of one who is obese.
This meant a level of wealth. The farms surrounding London were poor, so it was most likely a visitor. There was also perfume. Not the floral scent easily made by farmers and herders, but the stronger and more expensive version which contained urea and ambergris.
What was more troubling was that there was the clear smell of semen and other tell-tale scents indicating sexual intercourse. The freshness of which indicated that the people burned as they engaged in coitus.
((We should dismount)) Commanded Douglas. ((There's a burnt farmstead ahead. I smell at least seven distinct human corpses. Two of them aren't locals. They're too rich to be. However, I can't smell any coaches nor horses. Burnt or otherwise. So, someone could have taken those.))
((You can tell all that from smell?)) Questioned James.
((Now is not the time for such questions.)) Declared Master Ning. ((Arina and I will stay here with the horses. Douglas and James should investigate further.))
((Alright.)) Agreed Douglas. ((Arina, keep the mental channels open. But no chatter unless absolutely necessary.))
After giving his commands, Douglas dismounted and headed for the largest structure. A partly burnt barn. All but one of the human bodies was within the building. Making the building the obvious choice for investigation.
"What is this?" muttered James in shock at the sight before him.
((Mental speak only.)) Douglas reminded the other man.
He moved closer towards the six corpses in the barn. All were burned to death but not beyond recognition. Furthermore, the positions they were entwined backed up Douglas' previous olfactory observation. These people were engaged in sex while they burned.
((This is crazy.)) Stated James. ((I think these people were having an orgy. Then they were burnt to death.))
((No.)) Corrected Douglas. ((They were engaged in coitus while they were on fire. Perhaps they were on some kind of drug and couldn't feel the pain. At the very least, they were unaware when they accidentally knocked over the lamp in that corner. It was clearly the first source of flame.))
Douglas pushed aside the tangled bodies. Seeking signs of identification. After a few minutes of searching, he made his speculations known.
((There are two groups here.)) Explained Douglas. ((The overweight male has an insignia ring identifying him as a local factory owner. The young woman who shares his wedding ring is clearly his wife. The large fellow is a coach driver by dint of his remaining uniform. The older couple are the married farmstead owners. The teenage male is most likely their son.))
((We're twenty kilometers from the asylum.)) Communicated Master Ning. ((Do you there's a link?))
((I'm fairly sure there is a link.)) Affirmed Douglas. ((But I need to check the final corpse first.))
Douglas and James quickly left the unsettling carnage of the barn and located the seventh corpse. A young girl around the age of seven. Unlike the others, her burns were only slight. Not enough to be fatal.
((This child fled when the fire started.)) Explained Douglas. ((She died of fear.))
((Seeing her parents and the others burn like that, must have been terrifying.)) Stated James.
((She ran before they had died.)) Clarified Douglas. ((Something else scared her. She fell here like a rag doll.))
((Was it a Demon?)) Asked James.
((More than likely.)) Replied Douglas. ((I know Banshees can induce this kind of response in children and the infirm. But I can't smell any residue of their presence. I also can't find traces of the coach, which I know was here. Nor of the horses. Though I can smell opium, bromide, alcohol, chloral and other medications used in hospitals and asylums. They're mainly sedatives.))
((Douglas! Something is....)) Arina's message was suddenly cut off.
"You are interesting bugs," a song like voice seemed to come from nowhere. "I was going to squish you. But instead I'll keep you for study."
Without warning, tens of octopus-like tentacles suddenly manifested. Each of the free-floating tendrils was as thick as a human arm and over five meters in length. They surrounded Douglas and James, cutting off any chance of escape.
Douglas shot at the closest tentacle and missed. His senses provided near perfect aim and the occurrence should have been impossible.
James too was having problems connecting with the tendrils. His skillful ax slashes seemed unable to make contact.
"Are they illusions?" asked James. "Or intangible?"
"Neither," said Douglas. "I can feel the disturbance of the air when they move. Though their lack of quickness, yet ability to avoid us, entails some kind of deflective ability. Though I can't fathom what it is exactly."
"My bugs," stated the song like voice.
As if on cue, the tentacles shifted from containment to capture.
Douglas' senses and James' skill should have allowed them to dodge the slow and obvious grasping tendrils. However, they were instead quickly apprehended. Each man having their limbs quickly constrained by incredibly strong grips.
"Aaarh!" Douglas screamed out as his senses were suddenly overloaded.
The scenery of a fog covered countryside was replaced by a poorly lit study.
Bleh!
Douglas vomited the contents of his breakfast.
"Douglas!" James assisted him to feet.
"I'm fine," said Douglas. "My senses were overloaded. That doesn't happen very often."
"Gentlemen," a slim, well-dressed man announced his presence from the shadows.
"Doctor Jekyll," replied Douglas.
He had previously met the doctor on an earlier visit to the asylum and could identify him by appearance and scent.
"Special Agent Douglas," said Henry Jekyll, clear relief on his voice. "Thank goodness you're here. Perhaps together we can escape this place and send out a warning."
"Where are we?" asked James.
"In a nightmare," replied Doctor Jekyll.