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“What DO You Do On Halloween?”
by Jade Griffin
10-19-00 to 1-9-01
the day before Halloween,
Oct. 30th 2000 –
The Chocolate Man stared at the dark green gargoyle and she
knew she’d touched on another of his many quirks.
“Eh… I give out candy.”
“No. I came by last year. Bertran gave out candy for the
factory.” She leaned forward as he sat ill at ease in his chair, she on the
couch. “You don’t like to participate in Halloween?” She wasn’t trying to press
him. Just curious, because she found the human holiday a lot of fun.
“Not particularly, but a chocolate factory not giving out
candy on Halloween is just bad manners. Old John loves the holiday so I let him
be spokes-ghoul.”
Jade Griffin let the topic rest, knowing by his unwavering
eyes that she wouldn’t get any farther.
It was the only night of the year on which he left at a
meticulous 5 PM. The short man grabbed his coat and keys and headed downstairs.
Emerging onto the back street, signs of Halloween’s inevitable
approach lined his way. Jack-o-lanterns, colorful shop window paintings of
friendly ghosts and vampires, and the occasional school child costumed up. He
smiled at the sights but sighed his regret. He didn’t dislike Halloween. Seemed
to be a lot of fun. But he was afraid of it.
The crosswalk on Cooper Dr. had no light. He looked both ways
before cutting over. The police station was two blocks down. He entered and
went up to the front desk but didn’t have to ask for Sheriff Whiteburn anymore.
Every year it was the same.
The broad-shouldered police officer grinned white teeth at
seeing the little man. “I’m tempted to set my watch by you, Chuck-O.”
The Chocolate Man offered a polite smile, waiting for
Whiteburn to put the deputy at the front and come out of the cubicle. He would
never say he hated the nickname. This was always worth that.
The Sheriff stood a good two-and-a-half feet above his guest.
He waved the Chocolate Man past the open door. “Got your room all ready.”
The maker of sweets gave him a rye smile. “I should hope not.”
Whiteburn chuckled. “You’ve been coming here, what, twenty
years? Have I ever set you up wrong? Well, not counting ’82. It’s just like
it’s always been.” He took up the lead and opened the empty cell’s door. “Just
like I know a sweet little package’ll be waiting for me Thanksgiving and
Christmas, and the wife’s anniversary!”
The Chocolate Man nodded, entering the prison cell. “As
always. Thank you.”
The metal bars clanked shut. The key twisted and locked it up.
Whiteburn paused. “Now, you don’t think you’re gonna turn into a werewolf or a
vampire, do ya? The boys last year saw you pacing an’ all but very much
normal.”
The Chocolate Man, again, decided to humor him. He always had
some wild theory for the yearly visit. Sadly, but for both their safety, he
could never know.
“Dinner’ll be in a little while. Wife wants to stop by and see
you, if that’s okay. You’re something of a celebrity to her, and right now, a
captive audience.” He grinned, twirling the keys.
“Yes. That’s fine.”
“Good night, Chocolate Man.”
“Good evening, sheriff.”
Dinner, as promised, arrived at 7:49 PM. Whiteburn’s wife,
Celia, brought it and watched half-nervous as he ate.
“I assure you,” he commented between chewing, for she looked
concerned over it. “I haven’t had better fried chicken and mashed potatoes.”
“Thank you… I don’t mean to hang about, Chocolate Man. It’s
just odd seeing someone behind bars that didn’t do anything wrong. Especially
you. Jason’s told me not to bother you on it but even for Halloween, Susan City
is pretty quiet. What could make you scared enough to have yourself locked up?”
He handed the empty plate back to her. “A precaution, Celia;
merely a precaution.”
Shaking her head, perplexed, the woman finally left.
He watched her go and sighed in relief. At least most everyone
had given up on finding his name. At his first request over twenty years ago,
he’d had to suffer through a background check. They hadn’t dug any of his past
up, but there was always the chance that they’d find something… detrimental… to
his goals.
He found no sleep on Halloween. He never dared. But instead of
pacing, he lay out on one of the two cots in the cell. 12:28 PM. He sighed, glancing
from pocket watch to ceiling. It was half over.
It wasn’t that he didn’t feel safe here. There was perhaps no
safer place. But his guard could not be dropped.
Footsteps. He kept motionless on the cot. A wraggly young man
was pushed forward by a junior police officer he couldn’t recall the name of.
And the cell door was unlocked. The sorry-looking young man was placed in and
the cell door clanked shut.
It was a mistake, of coarse. One that he had to be sure would
never happen again. Because he didn’t know what he should do now.
First, estimate how dangerous he might be. Second,…? I
should have said something to the officer… Not the time to kick myself now.
In all the predicaments he’d found himself in, this was a first. Just for a moment,
he wished he was a lot bigger than the prisoner, instead of much sm—
The newcomer spotted him, an ugly scowl along his brow. And he
just stared for a while. Scheming. Interest in him was soon lost and the wraggly man
moved to the window to stare out at the barred sky.
It was a third mistake of the evening to take his eyes off the
tall man. He wasn’t sure when but the other must’ve thought his closed eyes
meant he slept, for the pummeling of fists upon his body brought them open
again. Until his body sagged, unconscious from the assault.
The Chocolate Man was coerced awake by the concerned voice of
Sheriff Whiteburn.
“Hey, you okay, Chuck-O?”
“I’m real sorry, Sir.” The junior police officer at fault was
kneeling by his side at first sign of consciousness and looked most worried.
Two other officers stood about at the ready.
He blinked at their attention, one eye obviously swollen. He
felt very sore but nothing broken or badly damaged. “I’m all right.”
Whiteburn helped him sit up in the cot as the junior explained
what had happened.
“He was only brought in for drunk and disorderly so he was
released earlier this morning. He made it look like you were just asleep there.
I’m really sorry, Sir.”
The Chocolate Man would have told him that the matter was done
and to let it pass but a review of his current state put his mind to other
things. His clothes were all disheveled, shirt undone and pulled out. One of
his more prominent scars was visible so he covered that. Pockets… His wallet
was missing but that—His breath froze like ice as he felt for the secret
pocket, across his heart… It was empty!
“You okay?” Whiteburn asked, for his face must’ve gone pale.
“My, eh… my wallet has been stolen.” he covered quickly,
looking about the room, everywhere, only to confirm his fears. It was gone.
“We got an APB out on the guy. We’ll find him, Chuck-O.”
But that would be too late. Enough play. The Chocolate Man
turned an all-serious face on the sheriff. “I need a picture of the man.”
That paused the tall policeman. “I don’t know about that…”
“Sheriff, I am not placing blame on anyone for this
occurrence. But, likewise, do not question my reasons. Don’t worry. I’m no
vigilante. I need the picture for a private detective. Please.”
Whiteburn didn’t say how much he hated ‘Dicks, or anything
about thinking the little man didn’t trust the police to do their job. He kept
his opinion to himself and folded, turning to one of the other officers. “Make
a copy of the guy’s mug shots.”
The others didn’t question Whiteburn’s decision until the
Chocolate Man had gone into the morning sunshine outside. To answer their
surprised look, he commented, “Gentlemen, I have learned NOT to ask with that one.
But I’d still feel safer findin’ that guy first. Tony, take Striker and get on
it.”
Jade Griffin awoke with a healthy roar and found a great
surprise waiting for her. Never mind the fact that the Chocolate Man was facing
her in a chair or how on earth he knew how to find her. He looked terrible. A
black eye, bruised cheek, rumpled clothes, lack of sleep, and harrowed
expression forced only two words from her mouth.
“What’s wrong?” she queried, body tense.
He stood, slowly. “I apologize for not asking your permission,
Jade Griffin; but I had to come… I need your help.”
She nodded, all ears as he explained that he’d been robbed but
not what had been taken.
“It’s a … a small piece of jewelry worn about the neck.
Silver.”
“A necklace.”
“A locket. Jade Griffin, I am asking your help because you
promised not to delve further into my name. Please. I have to get that
locket back.”
In other words, no questions asked. The gargoyle nodded. “Will
you be staying here?”
“No. I’ll meet you at my place.”
She nodded again and headed out, not looking back.
In the city, Jade Griffin surveyed the humans wandering in and
out of shadows below. She glanced at the picture. He was a distinct and hairy
human, but she hadn’t seen a sign of him.
Moving to another
rooftop, she scanned the alley below. It was dark but not too dark for gargoyle
eyes; and luck was with her. The limp caught her attention, and a better look
at the face revealed her quarry. Gotcha…
The alley was empty for a change; perhaps why the thief had
slithered down it. But she waited until he moved farther into the dark length before stepping
off the roof edge.
She didn’t land on him directly. She wanted to scare him, not
hurt him. And scare him she did; landing in his path and cuffing him up by the
shirt-collar before he could run. He cringed greatly and his hands came up, as if to
protect from fists. The gargoyle frowned at the terrified man.
“W-whadd’you want??” He was almost hysterical, but there was a
strange fear in his voice. She didn’t understand, nor could she place a name to
it…
“A locket. You stole it last night at the prison.” She kept
her tone even, almost business-like, and left the glow out of her eyes.
“B-but I already gave it to you!!”
“What?” Her eyes narrowed and she grabbed one of his
half-flailing arms.
He immediately let out a cry of pain, fainting in her grasp.
The arm must be broken. She set the human down and looked
beneath his clothes. He was bruised nearly as bad as the Chocolate Man…
A more thorough search
proved that he did not have anything of the Chocolate Man’s on his person. And
she didn’t believe he’d lied. Which left only one possibility…
Her wariness increased, eyes flicking about but not for humans
who might see her. She’d better go and talk with the Chocolate Man. First, have
to do something about this one. She looked down at the battered human. He
needed more than one means of help. The gargoyle knew of only one thing to do
with him.
She put him over her shoulder, climbed up the nearest
building, and glided him back through the city to the police building.
Chocolate Man paced in his kitchenette, worry increasing at
the passing of each quarter-hour. Fifteen such quarters passed, until finally
her claws grabbed at the frame of his open window.
“I wish this thing was a little wider.” she commented,
climbing in the opening which wasn’t big enough to glide through, or even land
on properly.
What she was really doing was putting off an explanation. His
expectant face begged for one mightily.
The gargoyle eyed him steadily, caping her wings and leaning
against the wall. “I found him but he didn’t have it.”
The man’s bruised body sagged with his crushed hope. “He sold
it…”
“No. When I found the guy, he was beat up worse than you.
Someone took it from him; and… and he claims that someone was me.”
Total perplexion fell over his face. “I don’t understand.”
Jade Griffin sighed. “I’m afraid I’m starting to.”
He knew reluctance; could see it right away. And so he
implored, “Please. You know what the locket means to me. Will you explain?”
“Yeah… I just don’t understand all of it yet. Ya see, it
happened almost a year ago. I told you what happened to the ‘cyberverse’.”
“Yes?”
“The night that
happened, my child side encountered a gargoyle who looked very much like me.
Her face was different but… Let’s just say my child side was really freaked.
And sometimes, I get this feeling. Like I’m being watched…” She turned to look
out the window. “No. It’s more than that. Mostly when my child side is out. I
think it can sense that. And I think she knows it.”
“’She’?”
“She must know a lot about me. Comp knows her. I guess pretty
well. So if she… I don’t know. I have the feeling this other gargoyle follows
me around. A lot. So she must know about you. Maybe even watches you, too. How
else would she know you’d been robbed? And by whom? She must have your
locket.”
“Oh my…” He sank into a counter stool.
“I’ll do what I can to find her and get it back but… I can’t
tomorrow; because of my child side. But after that, I’ll try and find her as
fast as possible. I know her name.”
The Chocolate Man continued to slump. It might already be too
late. He’d never even considered that some individual was spying on him…
The locket would have been returned by now if this other gargoyle wished to do
so. No. This new player stalked him unseen for clues to his past. He had no
doubt… That stupid locket! Cynthia begged him to destroy it. It was the sole
remaining link and the biggest and last clue.
“Chocolate Man?” was the dark green gargoyle’s worried query.
“Eh?”
He wasn’t even looking. In shock… She had to get it
back if it meant this much. “I’ll get it back. You have my word. Don’t wor—“
A knocking at the door interrupted her. Chocolate Man leaped
up—half-startled, half-hopeful. Should he dare? A glance to see Jade Griffin
out of sight and he opened the door.
Bart Concord, the night watchman, stood looking a bit
apologetic in his outer hall.
“Don’t mean to be knocking so late, sir.”
“Yes?”
“It’s just that a woman stopped by to drop this off.” He held
up a lightly bound package.
The Chocolate Man immediately relieved him of it but contained
himself enough not to open it in front of the guard. “A woman?” He glanced back
up at Bart.
“Yeah. About so high, very cordial, walked a little funny but
that might’ve been the clothes she had on. She said it was very important to
have this delivered right away. I guess you were expecting it.” The
guard put his hands on his hips, quirking a heavy brow at the Chocolate Man
clutching the package.
He forced himself to relax. “..Yes. Thank you, Bart.”
“Any time.” He tipped his watchman’s cap and quit the
Chocolate Man’s doorway.
Jade Griffin popped up from behind the couch after the door
clicked shut. “That was no woman. What’s in it? Is that it?”
He’d already torn the wrapping open. His wallet was within,
and under that… He lifted the ancient oval locket out slowly before clasping it
in both hands. “Yes. And my wallet.”
He looked over at her but she didn’t come closer. “Thank you.”
She smiled her relief. “Hey, I only caught an explanation.”
“I hate to ask but… Jade Griffin, would you take that dish of
chocolates to the roof for me?” He pointed out the one on the counter that he
never left empty.
She frowned, but then knew why. The dark green gargoyle did so
without question.
The Chocolate Man opened the locket quickly. The faces of his
mother and father stared back. Yes. He was a sentimental old fool for not
destroying the blasted thing. But he couldn’t bare it.
He snapped the thing shut, only now noticing a slip of paper
fallen from the packaging. Slipping the locket over his head, he bent to pick
it up. It was folded quite neatly…
He was very glad Jade Griffin was outside at the moment and
didn’t see him pale at the header of the short note.
WS~
You should keep a closer eye on your belongings.
She’d known they were his—the initials on the back of the
locket. Or… could it in all hopes have been a guess? Calm down! Jade Griffin
returns…
He busied himself with stuffing note and locket under his
shirt.
“I couldn’t see anyone around but I’ve never seen this
gargoyle at her game… Are you okay? Everything there?”
“Yes. Everything. Eh… Would it be possible to meet with Comp?”
“I don’t know. I can ask him. I can also tell him to tell her
not to spy on you if you want.”
“No. That’s all right.” He looked her face over. “You aren’t
concerned about this gargoyle spying on you?”
“Not really, no. As long as she doesn’t bother me and doesn’t
impersonate me. I want to know why she’s doing it. Maybe… Maybe she
could …” A lengthy sigh escaped her.
“Your original Clan?”
“Yeah. But she couldn’t be. They’re all gone.” It had been a
harsh reality but Jade Griffin had long since accepted it.
“Hm.” He didn’t mention the other possibility that came to
mind for such identical-seeming gargoyles.
“Hey, I gotta go. Sunrise comin’.”
He nodded. “Again, thank you for everything.”
“Sure…” She made her exit through the open window.
The Chocolate Man slouched in his barstool seat. What an
evening… What a day! Both overwhelming and trying. He took the note from his
shirt and read it again. He must, indeed, be very careful, though the gargoyle
who’d written the note probably didn’t think of herself as incentive for the
warning. Or had she?
Claws at his window had him looking up in an instant. He
blinked, assuring himself that it was Jade Griffin.
“Here.” She handed him back his empty candy dish.
His brows rose with him and he collected the item. “How much
is this gargoyle like you?”
“I’m beginning to think too much.” was her ender as she
pushed off for the day.
The Chocolate Man stared into the empty dish. This new
gargoyle consumed chocolate much faster than Jade Griffin. He wouldn’t be able
to afford offering this one a similar business proposition. He conceded that a forced confrontation was the only way.
The short human refilled the dish and started out to the
stairs.
The dish was filled similarly next night, and the one after.
He didn’t mention it to Jade Griffin when she arrived, or after she reported
not being able to find Comp yet. Never around to answer questions was very
typical of fey, he knew. He asked Jade Griffin the name of the spy and also how
she planned to search before leaving her to it. When he entered out onto the
roof and found the dish empty of even chocolate flakes, again, he knew the
stage was both set and well-lit for his confrontation. Jade Griffin would not
find her look-alike before him.
It was the very next night that he waited before sunset, a
full dish of chocolates not twenty meters away and he well-hidden behind a
trick door installed years ago for an entirely different purpose. With steady
patience, he waited.
Such diligence was rewarded an hour later. From seemingly
nowhere in the sky, a shrouded gargoyle dove so fast toward the dish, he
thought for sure an impact was inevitable. But this new chocolate fiend was
expert with her wings and engulfed the dish almost delicately. The Chocolate
Man had a flashback of the tormenting harpies from JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS as
the hidden gargoyle devoured the full dish. He must act quickly.
Stealthing from his spot, the cloaked gargoyle seemed even too
engrossed to notice him at first. But the figure froze, then stood, a grin in
the odd voice as she faced him.
“Hah, s-ho it vahs a teh-rap.”
Not really Jade Griffin’s voice, and with an unidentifiable
accent. The gargoyle stood her height, was dressed in tight black clothes with
shrouding hood and unusual cape fitted for an individual with wings, yet the body mirrored that of the gargoyle he
was so familiar with. Even the black tips and tufted tail hair color. How could
any two gargoyles be so much alike?
“No whords? Hyes, I look much like Jahd Greef’n. Ahnd much
tahnks foor deh chocolahts.”
He took a few steps closer. She didn’t react in the least. “I
need to speak with you. You’ve some questions to answer.”
“Oh, no. I most be ohff.” She turned slightly but paused at an
unwelcome and highly unexpected sound. The cocking of a gun’s hammer.
“I’m afraid I insist,
‘G. I warn you that my aim is excellent. Don’t force a demonstration.”
Hm… Very sneaky. ‘G turned back and faced the mystery man, who
had somehow gotten her name. From Jade Griffin, most likely.
He kept the ancient gun pointed at her shoulder.
“Ahsk deh kee-westions.”
“What is your intent with the knowledge you have of me?”
“Pear-sonehl pear-suit. Whhy so up-set?”
“You know very well the purpose of a secret.”
“Ahs hyou know see-krets ah-trahk qweriose.”
“We all have reasons, it seems, but mine are quite dear to me.
So I repeat my question. Do not toy with me on the matter.”
She’d never known such seriousness from the human, even
observing him with Jade Griffin. No, she couldn’t toy with a deadly serious man
holding a gun and expect zero repercussions. And she really didn’t want to
anymore. The accent was becoming difficult to keep up in this scenario… “Hyou
are kuriose to me, ahs I to hyou. Deht ehs ree-sohn. Deh een-tent. Bote to
unwhra-vael Choc-laet Man ehs no een-tent. Mee-st’ray ehs fahn. No mee-st’ray
ehs no.”
“And you will stop your prying into my affairs?”
“Hyes. Whould aneewhay. No mee-st’ray ehs no fahn.” She
replied with mild rebuke.
“But will you give the knowledge you have to anyone else? Or
sell it?”
“Whhy geeve whhaht took long to ak-wire? Ahnd sell? Hyou tink
so poorly.”
“I have no idea who or what you are, madam.” The Chocolate Man
wouldn’t budge.
“Whhat, hyou know whell. Whho? I ehm mee-st’ray, ahs whell.
Dose whho air an’ geeve oor sale mee-st’ray, sale dehmselves.”
It made too much sense. He kept his eyes
trained, mouth closed, and gun ready. “I find it difficult to believe you. As
good at what you’ve already done to uncover me, I can only assume someone hired
you to dig up my past. I should kill you right now.” He narrowed his eyes along
the sight of the gun.
For a half-second, she was convinced he would. Control and
years of training alone kept her in place for that moment. But then she
realized. He was lying. She spread her arms slowly. “Whhy hyou do not
ehl-ready? I tael hyou. Whho whould hhire a gare-goyle? Fae? Dey doe-naht kare.
Hhyu-men air too … eh … ‘skaredie’… to hhire gare-goyles. Whe ahlso doe-naht
hhire air-selves. Ahnd, hyou whould have killed me ehl-ready eef soos-pect I
whas sent. Ahnd ahs fair ahs training, een-tents ahnd paer-posehs doe-naht
ko-een-side dis time.”
The Chocolate Man considered the accented words carefully.
“Ehf I gehv whord, whill hyou poot a-whey deh goan?”
“It will be considered.”
The covered head nodded. “Dees mee-st’ray whill no longaer
paer-sue hyourse. Hyou hhaev ‘G’s whord or haer life.” She really wished she
could give it with her own voice, to really express that she meant it, but
seeing ‘Jade Griffin’s’ face or hearing her voice from under the shroud, which
was hers as well, would complicate things beyond her control. The Chocolate Man
may never then be able to keep such a trust in Jade Griffin, for fear that he
was talking to ‘G instead. She would never allow that. “Have I hyourse? ‘G
keeps own seek-rehts.”
“One dark green female gargoyle is enough for me. You have it.
Looking you up would no doubt prove dangerous.” He lowered his gun.
“No da-out…” she back-tracked to pick up the dish and walked
slowly up to the short human, careful of her face.
He kept his place, though her proximity at first alarmed him.
“You… you do know that Jade Griffin is on to you.” He accepted the dish from
spookily similar taloned hands. “My word is not hers.”
She merely chuckled, leaped over his head in a lightning swift
move, and was in the air before he could react.
