The Chronicles of Malcolm Harris: Fear No Evil
Copyright© 2009 by Terrance G Kilpatrick
Chapter 66: Master of the House
June 1999
I looked at my watch, as it was 4:55 pm. The California sun was shining brightly in the summer air. It would be dark in a few hours. I stood up to face the Dragon, only to find an empty window. Where were they? Someone was calling my name out somewhere on the estate” horizon. I could see Dread with a sniper rifle in his hand, and Anubis with a pair of binoculars in his. They were running toward me. I started to run away from them, thinking I was their target, but they caught up with me to explain they had shot at the Dragon. They had hit him, knocking him back inside the room.
My first thoughts were about my wife. Where was she? Dread assured me she was ok, and that she had gone after the kids. However, she had not returned yet. We returned inside the house, only to find another mystery. The Dragon was gone, and Julie had suffered a severe head injury. The Dragon was even cleverer than we had thought. He was able to change identities again, first posing as Rosalva, then as Julie to make us hit her instead of him. He had Julie transformed as Rosalva, standing over him, with a pistol at his own head. He must have seen Dread as a sniper. Now Julie lied unconscious on the floor with a grazing wound to her head. Dread called for Scabs. I wondered why Dread and Anubis were not confused because I certainly was.
“Your wife explained everything to us. Malcolm Harris, we are at your service now. We have no other life to lead. This is all we know. You are the master of the house, and we are your employees if you will have us,” Anubis replied.
Far away, out on the highway, Talon’s limousine was slowing down to make the turn into the long drive leading up to the mansion. I hoped the wife and kids would be home soon. Home? Is this our new home? My head was spinning, as I was not sure if I should rejoice or grieve. I slumped to the ground, as I was suddenly very exhausted.