Even though Addison was very curious about why these people had visited their farmhouse, it puzzled her even more because it was a well-known fact that only a few people, including her close friend, ever came by.
Her farmhouse was nearly a rundown one, teetering on the brink of closure, with the threat of being sold off by debt collectors or the bank looming over them.
Addison narrowed her eyes, carefully observing the unfamiliar group stepping out of their vehicles.
The tension in her shoulders eased slightly when she noticed they didn't appear hostile, though their sudden presence was undeniably strange.
Her grandmother, Gaylen, looked equally perplexed as she stepped down from the tractor, her gaze fixed on the approaching strangers.
Jojo led the group, his confident stride and long dark coat setting him apart, exuding an air of mystery that only deepened Addison's curiosity.
Beside him, Freya kept a watchful eye on their surroundings, her posture alert, while Alice followed close behind, her gaze flitting around the farm with evident curiosity, taking in the dilapidated barn and overgrown fields.
Thud~ thud~
thud~ thud~
The sound of boots on the gravel mixed with the occasional snort from Addison's horse, Rocket.
"Stay here, Rocket,"
Addison murmured softly, patting the horse's neck before dismounting.
She tied his reins to a nearby post, giving the animal one last reassuring stroke before walking toward the approaching group.
"Grandma,"
Addison called quietly as she neared Gaylen, who stood at the tractor, her weathered hands gripping its edge.
"Do you know them?"
Gaylen shook her head, her eyes never leaving Jojo and his companions.
"No, Addie,"
she replied in a low tone.
"But they don't look like they're here for small talk."
Even though Addison had suspected this, she wanted confirmation.
If they were acquaintances of her grandmother, she didn't want to risk offending them or causing a misunderstanding.
Jojo came to a halt a few paces away from the tractor, his sharp eyes scanning the expanse of the farm.
His gaze lingered on the weathered house, the barn, and finally the ground beneath their feet, as if he could feel the echoes of something buried there.
Creak~
The rusty gate groaned faintly as the wind nudged it, breaking the silence.
Jojo's expression tightened momentarily, as though sensing an unseen presence.
"Good morning,"
Jojo greeted, his voice calm, his smile gentle but deliberate, offering a sense of ease despite the tension lingering in the air.
Addison hesitated, startled by the sudden warmth in his voice and demeanor.
Except for her friend Buddy Hooks, no one had spoken to her with such friendliness—least of all someone as striking as Jojo.
"Good morning... uh... can I know who you guys are?"
Addison asked, her words slightly rushed.
She felt a blush creeping up her cheeks, unaccustomed to someone like him paying her any attention.
Hearing Addison's question, Jojo gave a slight nod, his face turning serious.
His eyes shifted past Addison to Gaylen, who still sat at the tractor, her gaze fixed on them with a cautious edge.
Jojo spoke calmly, but his words carried weight.
"We're here about something important. I believe you might have information that can help us."
Gaylen's eyes narrowed slightly, her mind racing.
'Could it be...? No, it can't be that...'
she thought to herself, a brief flicker of concern crossing her face before she masked it with a defensive posture.
Crossing her arms tightly, she stood straighter and replied,
"Information? About what? We're just farmers out here. Nothing more."
Her tone was firm, but there was a slight tremor beneath the surface—enough for Jojo to notice.
Alice stepped forward, her approach softer, her tone more reassuring.
"Ma'am, you might not know this, but you're in danger. Please, listen to us."
Despite Alice's measured voice, Gaylen could sense the urgency in her words.
Her expression darkened, the weight of those warnings pressing down on her.
"Danger? What do you mean, danger?"
Gaylen's voice rose sharply as her defensive demeanor cracked.
She turned to Addison, her voice taut with fear.
"Addison, step back!"
Confused but obedient, Addison retreated a few steps, her wide eyes darting between her grandmother and the strangers.
"Don't panic, ma'am,"
Jojo interjected, holding up a hand to calm her.
"We're not here to harm you or your granddaughter. Quite the opposite—we're here to help. To protect you from the danger that's approaching."
Gaylen's wariness didn't ease, but she paused long enough to let Freya step forward.
Freya's tone was calm, though it carried the confidence of someone who'd done this before.
"We're from DMC—the Department of Metaphysical Containment,"
Freya began.
"We solve supernatural cases. We've been tracking something dangerous, and its trail led us here. It's a creature known as the Creeper."
At the mention of the name, Gaylen's breath hitched.
Her arms fell to her sides as her face drained of color.
Leah, standing beside Freya, quickly added,
"We're not here to alarm you. But we believe this creature might have some connection to your farm—or your family. Anything you can tell us could help us stop it."
Gaylen's wide eyes betrayed her inner turmoil.
Though her son had never told her what hunted him, the fragmented memories of his frantic words, the events surrounding his death, and the forewarning of something unnatural all pointed to one thing.
"The Creeper..."
she whispered, her voice shaking.
"It's real, then."
Jojo nodded, his voice steady.
"It's very real, ma'am. And we need your help to stop it before it strikes again."
After hearing Jojo, Gaylen also finished her confession, the room fell into a heavy silence.
Addison's wide eyes filled with disbelief as her mind raced to process what her grandmother had just revealed.
The words "eaten away by a demon" echoed relentlessly in her thoughts.
"Grandma… what do you mean by that?"
Addison's voice trembled, barely above a whisper.
Gaylen looked away, her hands gripping the edge of her chair tightly.
Her lips quivered as she searched for the strength to continue.
"I'm sorry, Addison,"
she said with a sigh that carried years of guilt and pain.
"I didn't tell you because I wanted to protect you. I thought if you didn't know… you wouldn't be drawn into any danger. But now, with these people here, I see there's no avoiding it anymore."
Addison's heart ached.
The happy memories of her parents—their laughter, their warmth—played in her mind like fleeting images on a broken reel.
And now, the revelation that something so monstrous had taken them filled her with a sense of helplessness.
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
she asked, her voice tinged with both sorrow and frustration.
Gaylen sighed again, leaning back in her chair, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Because knowing wouldn't have brought them back. And I didn't want to burden you with something so… horrifying."
Jojo, who had been standing quietly, finally spoke up.
His tone was firm yet understanding.
"Ms. Gaylen, I know it's painful, but the more we know about your son and what he left behind, the better chance we have of stopping the Creeper. If there's anything—anything at all—that might help us, please tell us."
Gaylen hesitated, her gaze drifting to Addison.
Seeing the determination in her granddaughter's eyes gave her the courage to continue.
"Twenty-three years ago,"
she began, her voice steadying,
"my son, Kenny, came here in a state of panic. He told me he'd buried something on this farm. He wouldn't tell me what it was, just that it was dangerous. The next day, he and his wife were gone."
She swallowed hard.
"I searched for years, tried to find out what really happened. That's when I met Sheriff Dan Tashtego. He was the first to tell me about the Creeper. He believed it was connected to Kenny's death."
The group exchanged glances, their expressions grim.
"What exactly did Sheriff Tashtego say about the Creeper?"
Freya asked gently.
"That it wasn't just a story,"
Gaylen replied, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"It's a demon. It comes back every twenty-three years for twenty-three days to feed. And my son—my Kenny—was one of its victims."
Addison's breath hitched.
The weight of her grandmother's words pressed down on her chest like a heavy stone.
"So… it's real. It's not just some nightmare or a legend. It's real."
Gaylen nodded slowly.
"I wish it wasn't. But I've spent years piecing together the truth, and I know it is."
Jojo stepped closer, his voice calm but resolute.
"If what your son buried here is connected to the Creeper, we need to find it. It could be the key to stopping it for good."
Gaylen hesitated again, her fear of the unknown battling with her desire to protect Addison.
Finally, she nodded.
"There's a spot near the old oak tree at the back of the farm. That's where Kenny spent most of his time before… before he left. If there's anything, it might be there."
Jojo exchanged a glance with his team, then turned back to Gaylen.
"We'll handle this. And we'll make sure no harm comes to you or Addison."
Addison looked at her grandmother, her fear giving way to determination.
"Grandma, whatever this is, I want to help. I don't want to be kept in the dark anymore."
Gaylen placed a trembling hand on Addison's shoulder.
"Just promise me you'll stay safe. That's all I care about."
With a deep breath, Addison nodded.
The atmosphere buzzed with a mix of anticipation and unease as the group prepared to uncover the secrets buried beneath the soil.
When Jacob passed the foul-smelling bundle to Jojo, who carefully unwrapped it, the first glimpse of the dark, sinewy appendage sent a chill through everyone except Jojo, whose expression remained impassive.
As the cloth fell away completely, the sight of the hand caused an audible gasp from Gaylen and Addison.
The discovery of the grotesque hand unearthed a mix of fear, fascination, and confusion among the group.
It was a misshapen, clawed appendage, with leathery, almost reptilian skin.
Despite its age, the hand had not decayed completely, exuding an unnatural presence.
"Oh my God,"
Addison whispered, taking a step back, her face pale.
"What is that thing?"
Jojo crouched beside the hand, observing it carefully.
"This is what we came for,"
he murmured, his voice calm but laced with seriousness.
"It's a part of the Creeper. Somehow it's survived all these years… still alive."
"Alive?"
Gaylen echoed, her voice trembling.
"How can that be possible?"
The answer came unbidden as the hand twitched, its claws flexing faintly.
"Holy shit!"
Darry exclaimed, stumbling back in terror.
"It moved! I saw it! That thing moved!"
Trish grabbed onto Jojo's arm, her grip tight.
"Jojo, what is this thing? Why is it still moving?"
Jojo didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he stood, holding the grotesque appendage at arm's length.
"It's a part of the Creeper's regenerative ability,"
he explained.
"Even separated from its body, it retains some level of life. And it reacts to stimuli."
Freya's scientific curiosity piqued as she stepped forward.
"Stimuli, huh? Let's see just how much it can feel."
She lit her lighter, holding the flame beneath the base of the palm.
The hand twitched violently, curling as if in pain.
"It reacts to pain,"
Freya confirmed, her voice tinged with intrigue.
Rosalie, unable to resist, snatched the lighter from Freya and ignited the top of the palm.
The hand recoiled, trembling even more violently as though trying to escape the flame.
"Unbelievable,"
Rosalie muttered with a sly grin.
"It's like it's trying to run away. Almost… sentient."
Klaus, watching the display with growing excitement, stepped forward and seized the hand from Freya.
"Alright, enough playing with fire. Let's see if it can withstand this!"
He picked up a saw from Gaylen's toolbox, his grin widening with anticipation.
"Seriously, Klaus?"
Elijah sighed, shaking his head.
"Come on, brother. This is a rare chance!"
Klaus retorted, placing the hand on a nearby wooden surface and beginning to saw.
The blade screeched against the unyielding material of the hand but failed to leave even a scratch.
The hand writhed, claws scratching at the air, but remained intact.
"Well, that's disappointing,"
Klaus huffed, lifting the unscathed hand.
He turned to Elijah with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Let's take it back. It'll make a fascinating little souvenir."
"No,"
Jojo interjected firmly, stepping forward.
"This isn't a toy, Klaus. It's dangerous."
Klaus shrugged, handing the hand back to Jojo with a smirk.
"Fine, but you're no fun."
Jojo secured the hand in a reinforced bag and turned to the group.
"We need to study this back at our base. If it's still connected to the Creeper in some way, it might give us clues on how to stop it."
Gaylen, standing with Addison at a distance, crossed her arms protectively.
"I don't care what you do with it, as long as it's far away from here. And if that thing is what I think it is… you'd better make sure it doesn't bring any more trouble to my family."
Jojo nodded solemnly.
"We will. But this is only the beginning. If this hand is here, then the Creeper isn't far behind."
The weight of his words hung in the air as the group prepared to leave, their purpose clearer than ever.
As Elijah clasped the grotesque hand to see it, his expression shifted from curiosity to a blank stare, his eyes losing focus as if staring into another realm.
"Elijah?"
Klaus called out, his playful demeanor evaporating as he watched his brother freeze in place.
The hand's clawed fingers tightened around Elijah's palm, almost like a desperate, lifelike grip.
"Elijah!"
Klaus shouted again, this time moving with supernatural speed to pry the hand away.
He yanked it off, tossing it to the ground with force.
The hand twitched violently before going limp, its grotesque form unsettling in the dirt.
Elijah staggered back, gasping for breath as he clutched his head.
"What happened?"
Freya demanded, stepping closer to examine him.
Elijah raised a hand to stop her, his breathing steadying as he composed himself.
"I… I saw something."
His voice was calm but laden with tension.
Jojo stepped forward, his expression sharp.
"What did you see?"
Elijah took a deep breath and met Jojo's gaze.
"It was… another place. A vision, I think. It felt like hell itself. The landscape was scorched, the sky burning red. There was this… creature. I believe it was the Creeper, but not as we know it now. It was different, primal. I saw it being hunted, captured, and…"
Elijah hesitated, as if searching for the right words,
"…transformed."
"Transformed?"
Klaus echoed, his tone skeptical but laced with curiosity.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************
(Author's POV)
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give a review and power stone!!!