Chapter 51: Guardian

Chapter 51: Guardian
Jesper stopped his truck in front of the cottage. He climbed out feeling tired but too wired to rest. He looks at the note on the other seat before reaching for it. It said simply, ‘help me’. He closed the door before he reached for his backpack slipping it onto his shoulders. His eyes scanned the sky as usual. The crows weren’t flying in the skies but seem to gather on a high cable. He shrugs his shoulders and starts walking in that direction.

“I am hungry,” the voice said coming from behind the garbage can.

He briefly halted removing a few dollar notes from his pocket. He stretches his hand waiting for the person to take it. He counted until five in his mind before he heard a sudden shuffle. The next moment the money was grabbed from his hand.

“Follow the cat,” the man said sharply.

“Thanks,” Jesper start walking again. He has walked a few steps when the cat nearly jumped onto him. The moment it landed on the ground it hissed furiously at him. He stayed motionless not moving. Once the cat has finished sniffing him it starts walking ahead of him with its tail high.

Jesper scanned the area around him. Since the groundskeeper simply vanished it has become his duty to care for the grounds. It didn’t take him long to realized he has hidden squatters. Another problem was the undead scrambling around between the graves.

“Help me!” the voice startled him into reaction. Just ahead of him he noticed three dirt people cornering a young girl.

“Hey,” he said hard moving fast. The moment the undead saw him approaching they scrambled back into hiding. He found the girl shivering just watching him like he was a ghost. “You okay,” he questions.

She didn’t answer just keep looking at him with eyes filled with fear.

“Are you alone?” he questions.

She slowly shook her head. She then looks towards an open tomb. He watched another three young women coming into view. They all look frightened but clearly in need of help.

“You can stay in my cottage,” he said turning around.

The girl who called for help looked at her older sisters. They shared a look of sinister intent and the only one aware was the cat who studied them with a side ways look. The animal suddenly turns to follow Jesper.

“I know,” he whispered to the cat. He opened the cottage door standing aside to allow them entrance. He noticed a single crow landing on the roof of the cottage. He closed the door before moving to the small kitchen. He removed the backpack from his shoulders placing it in the corner. He starts to boil water placing five mugs onto the table. He then swiftly went to work preparing a simply pasta dish.

“Sir,” the youngest girl peeked around the door.

“Yes,”

“You need help?” she asked quiet.

“Sure, get the table ready. Everything is in that cabinet.” He said over his shoulder. He saw the cat sitting attentively in the corner near his backpack. Once the food and hot coffee was ready, he went to sit down at the table. He instantly starts eating.

“I am Sally,” the young girl said sitting down at the table.

“I am Molly,” the second oldest said pulling out a chair.

“I am Jolly,”

“I am Nancy,”

Jesper just nods his head and keeps eating. Once he was finished, he stood from the table. He reached for his backpack leaving the cottage. He noticed the cat now curled in the corner but there was tension in his body. He found this curious but also understood whatever was going on will come to light. Right beside his door stood his shovel. He grabs it and walked towards the new designated spot where the current grave needed to be dig.

“Where is he, Sally?”

“He is digging a grave,” she answers from where she watched through the window.

“Okay, keep a sharp eye on him.” Nancy said as she starts cleaning the dishes but her true intent was to search the man’s home. It didn’t take her long to realized whatever was important was in that backpack.

“Jolly, can to see what’s on the computer?” Nancy carefully restores everything she has disturbed. She now starts another pot of coffee. They should play their cards right, as she was now certain the most valuable thing that man owns is in that backpack.

The sudden ringing of the phone startled them all. Wide eyed they stood there watching. Once it was clear the man didn’t even attempt to return, Molly reached for the phone.

“Hello,” she answered carefully.

“It’s me,” the man said.

“Master, we are in the cottage,” she quickly answered. Her face full of happiness. She watched her sisters’ circles around her wanting to hear the conversation.

“You have done good. Where is he?” Erick Dawn asked in a smooth voice.

“Working outside.” Molly answers eagerly.

“Did you find the book?”

“No, master.” The disappointment clear in her voice. She looks at her watchful sisters.

“You need to find that book for me. Once you have it, I will reward you all with protection and love. You will be my special girls.” He said smoothly.

“We will find it master.” Molly promised. “I think it might be in that backpack he keeps with him.”

“You are right. Prepare a special meal for him. Once he sleeps you bring that backpack to me. I will be waiting in town. Make sure he keeps feeling protective towards you.”

“We will master,”

The phone call was disconnected.

Jesper keeps working. Sometimes he would rest looking around him. On various graves he noticed the crows arriving quietly. He noticed all their beady eyes watching the cottage. He simply wipes the sweat from his face and keeps working with a certain rhythm.

“Hello,” the voice talks behind him.

He stopped working looking around. The girl Sally stood there holding a glass of water. He now leaned onto his shovel watching her.

“I brought you water.” She said carefully. “I tried walking careful.”

“Thanks,” he reached for the glass. Watching her he simply swallows the water before giving her the glass again.

“My sisters and I, we are making a dish. Will you join us?” she asked smiling through the dirt on her face.

“Once my work is finished.” He said matter of fact.

“We will wait for you.” She now happily starts running back to his cottage.

Jesper noticed the cat watching him again now from behind the soil he has digged up into dune. “I am aware,” he said. “The veneer of helpnesses is just a trick to get into my home.”

In the back of his throat, he tastes the drug they slipped into his water. He slowly placed his shovel on the heap of sand reaching for his backpack. “Time to play the fool.”

Jesper and the watchful cat now walks back to him cottage. “My guardian, Grace. You have reincarnated into this feline.” He said matter of fact. The truth of his remark in the way the cat walked beside him.