General Population Read online

  CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Call to action

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  About the Author

  GENERAL POPULATION

  Malevolent Prisoners Book One

  Eddie Jakes

  Copyright © 2015 by Focus Pulp Publishing. All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, events or locales is purely coincidental. Reproduction in whole or part of this publication without express written consent is strictly prohibited.

  Click or visit:

  www.eddiejakes.com

  Dedicated to everyone that stood by me when I was at my worst so that I could become my best.

  Remember Matthew …

  CHAPTER ONE

  Most children go to sleep at night in fear that the monster who lives under the bed will murder them while they sleep. Most parents assure them that there are no monsters under the bed or the closet. The few that are not convinced are told that their toys would protect them or that if they just pray to God a little harder that he will keep them safe from harm.

  The years go by and children grow into adults, have children of their own, and repeat the cycle of fear and comfort. They take pride that they have done well by their loved ones, not realizing that there truly are real monsters out there … locked away.

  Hidden from society by an old enchanted gate is a prison, which has been there since the founding of the United States, with every aberrant horror that ever existed in the human world. They have lived there and thrived for hundreds of years creating their own community in the process. They affectionately called the prison Malevolent Town, although the powers that be would call it Malevolent Prison. Like most prisons, there is a warden who watches the residents and keeps a record of all activities. Maddix Benbrook didn't know how or why he was picked to take over as Overseer, he only knew what he had to do.

  As part of standard operating procedure, Maddix's memory was wiped. He couldn't remember whom he was in the real world, or anything leading up to his entry into the prison. The job could make someone homesick to the point of insanity, so it became obvious that the only way to prevent a breakdown was to remove one's past from his or her memory. You can't miss your home if you don't know where home is.

  He wasn't alone though. Tara Cherane was with him as his assistant and they meshed well as a team. She was very personable and intelligent, making it easy to survive the days and nights surrounded by creatures of pure evil. Not that they were of any real threat, because as Overseers of Malevolent Prison they were protected from willful harm.

  There were some side effects to the memory wipe; flashes of images or strange dreams were commonplace. Maddix and Tara would have them often. For Maddix, it was the same vivid dream every night and it would burn in his memory when he awoke.

  He walked down the long corridor. Everything was familiar and unchanged. The shelves lined the side of each wall, all dusty and bare. There were outlined shapes in the dust, as if things that once sat on the shelves had been removed and stored somewhere for safe keeping. Over time, Maddix would come to accept that these missing pieces were his past. According to everything he read this was normal. Some recollection of dreams was a side effect of the magic. He was the overseer and it would not do well for the overseer to get homesick.

  Farther down the line the shelves started to fill with various types of books, statues, and even assorted weapons. He understood that this represented his life as it currently was. He was proud of this part of himself. It was the only clue to who he may have been before, and he pictured himself as a dedicated soldier or possibly an agent serving king and country.

  The last few dreams were different, though. As his walk down the hallway ended a large wooden door with a decorated deadbolt lay before him. Although he would always try, no amount of effort would cause the heavy deadbolt to budge. I get it. The future!

  Turning to leave, Maddix was smacked in the face by the most horrid scent, a combination of mold and decay unlike anything he had ever experienced before. The world around him started to rot before his eyes; first the walls and then the shelves. The varying objects of his history either melted or burned away into nothingness. Every statue began to bleed from the eyes and mouth. This was new … and was too real to be a dream.

  Instinct took over and Maddix ran toward the front, but no matter how fast he moved his feet there seemed to be no progress. His legs tired out and he struggled to catch his breath. The breaking of wood behind him caused him to jump.

  The door to the future was swelling slowly and splinters of wood sprayed everywhere. Beneath all the chaos was the sound of pounding that grew louder with every passing second. The door exploded to reveal a creature, unlike anything Maddix had seen in his life. Its large body was covered in fur with a human face resting on its shoulders. When it flashed its teeth, two large incisors descended from its upper jaw.

  The abomination made its way toward Maddix, hissing, snarling, and dripping blood from its mouth. Behind him—through the door—was a world of pain and suffering. Thousands of souls cried out for help. He watched as all manner of creature and demon preyed on the weak, sucking the life out of the world.

  "No!" Maddix reached out for the door, hopeless.

  A raucous laugh erupted from the creature, echoing throughout the hall. With barely a twitch of a muscle, it grabbed Maddix by the throat and pulled him to its hideous face. The smell of dead flesh still lingered on its breath.

  "You will fail!" It's voice sounded like demons in a chorus; it was frightening and beautiful all at the same time.

  Maddix struggled with the large arm of the monster but was powerless in its grip. Like a fresh apple picked from the tree, the creature sank its long teeth into his neck and let the juices drop down its chin. Feeling the blood drain from his body, Maddix screamed as the sharp pain in his neck turned into a burning sensation that spread throughout his limbs. The beating of his heart began to slow as the last of his blood ran dry through his arteries. Death crept into his soul, transforming his soft skin into a rock-hard shell.

  "Maddix," an ominous voice called out to him. "Maddix, wake up!"

  "Maddix!" The ominous voice was changed.

  His eyes focused and he could see Tara trying to shake him out of his waking dream-state. His heart was beating out of his chest, but he was relieved to know that it was still beating.

  "What the hell were you dreaming about?" Tara Cherane released her grip on Maddix. "You were mumbling the whole time and then I heard screaming."

  Maddix swallowed hard. "Seemed so real."

  "Was it the same dream you've been having? You know, the one you won't tell be about."

  He rolled his eyes at her. It was an old conversation that he did not feel like having again.

  "I know, I know. The dreams are personal. I just don't see why we can't talk about this kind of stuff if we are going to work together for … who knows how much time." Tara folded her arms and raised her eyebrows.

  "It's the rules." Maddix's voice cracked due to his dry throat.

  Maddix didn't agree with everything laid out by the Founding Fathers, but there were strict rules about overseers getting too
personal with their assistants. Discussing things like sex, emotions, dreams, etc. were considered too intimate and those kinds of relationships made the job more complicated. It was tough because they both considered one another attractive, but they were also dedicated to the work they had to perform.

  "You sound terrible," Tara remarked as she reached for a carafe of water sitting next to him on the end table.

  Maddix grabbed the drinking glass that was usually sitting at his side. He spent many hours reading the journal and textbooks required for being the overseer of the realm. The position was pretty uneventful, but it was in his nature to be prepared for the worst. Besides, there wasn't much available for entertainment in Malevolent Town.

  Maddix grabbed the carafe and began to pour. He swallowed one glass after another. It seemed as if his thirst was unquenchable.

  "You know, I have dreams, too. You're not alone."

  He slowed down his drinking and looked into her eyes. He knew she was trying to be sincere and helpful, but it was not a good practice to analyze one's dreams of the past. Any semblance of homesickness and the whole operation could break down. He didn't want to be known as one of the overseers that lost his mind because he couldn't control his curiosity or his emotions.

  "I know, I'm sorry. I just don't think it's a good idea." Maddix took one last swallow of water. The carafe was almost emptied.

  Tara was visibly annoyed, but she had to understand, especially in her position as his assistant. She wasn't just a partner; she was the next in a chain of responsibility. If something happened, she would be it. She would bear the burden.

  "In any case," she changed the subject, "you have a guest waiting in the office. A very lovely one at that."

  Maddix asked her to elaborate. No one every came to see him except Ephrain Ketter to play some cards every now and then. When Maddix first arrived he tried to make himself available to everyone in the prison by having a big introduction out in front of his office. He plastered the whole town with notices but It was a bust. The prisoners just didn’t seem to care about meeting their newly appointed warden.

  "Let's just say she is the tall, pale, and perfect type. Says her name is Drahomira Statsny. Corrected me five times before I pronounced it right."

  The name was familiar, but Maddix couldn't quite put his finger on where he'd heard it before. Malevolent wasn't a typical town with your run-of-the-mill census bureau. There were a few families condemned there but keeping track of some of the names was difficult considering how long some of them had been there. The whole population was one gigantic melting pot of aberrant culture.

  "Tell her I'll be down in a minute. I just need to freshen up and put on my best cologne." Maddix winked at Tara.

  "I'm sure you'll need something a lot stronger."

  Maddix began to straighten himself up as Tara stepped out of the room. He opened up the secret door behind the bookcase and walked upstairs into the washroom. The whole building wasn't much, but it did offer all the comforts of home without too many modern conveniences. There were lights and running water, that was all Maddix really needed. As long as he had a place to sleep, read his books, and enjoy the occasional spirit every now and then, he was happy. He assumed that was just another small clue as to who he really was, but in the end it didn't really amount to anything. Do your job and be prepared for the worst was his motto.

  Before heading back downstairs, Maddix grabbed a jacket and tie from his closet. He liked the idea of professionalism, even though it wasn't really necessary to fulfill his obligations as overseer. He shuffled down the stairs while getting the rest of his ensemble together.

  Drahomira Statsny was beautiful beyond compare, bordering on perfection. She had flawless pale skin, black hair, and silver tinted eyes without a single wrinkle. She sat patiently in front of a plain desk in the rear of the office. She recognized the werewolf's craftsmanship and scoffed at the woodwork.

  “Ms. Statsny?" Tara said, a hint of envy in her voice. "Overseer Benbrook will be with you promptly."

  "I thank you."

  Tara slowly made her way into the room. The woman's presence was intimidating. There was something special about her for sure, but what? Her accent was distinct and thick. Romanian maybe? Or Czechoslovakian?

  "Is there anything I can get you while you wait?" Tara asked.

  "No. Thank you."

  "A drink perhaps? We do have a decent selection."

  "I am fine. It is not necessary for you to bother yourself over me."

  "Well, I hope you don't mind, but I need to tidy up a bit. I swear that man would let this place fall apart if I weren't here."

  Tara began to fumble with various things. Hopefully, their visitor would fall for the charade and not pay attention to her little subterfuge. Maddix always kept this decorative candle behind his desk. It was gaudy, but he liked it for some reason. Tara couldn't get him to part with it for something a little more stylish.

  She removed the half burned candle from the base and placed it in one of the small drawers to the desk. inside was another one, not as big with a yellow and orange swirl to it. She grabbed it from the drawer and placed in onto the base. Striking a match from the box next to the candle she lit the wick.

  Just a little aromatherapy will do the trick, Tara thought. She had suspicions and the candle would reveal the truth.

  "I hope I didn't keep you ladies waiting too long."

  Drahomira turned quickly, slightly startled. She seemed surprised at this. Maddix cleaned up very well, everything fresh and scrubbed except for a perfect trim of stubble that he preferred to wear.

  "Not at all," Tara said, all business. "Maddix Benbrook, this is Ms. Drahomira Statsny."

  She rose from her seat and extended her hand. "Very pleasant to meet you, Overseer."

  "Please, you can call me Maddix."

  He approached his desk and noted the candle burning. After exchanging a few glances with Tara, it was all clear to him. He smiled and nodded.

  "How may I help you today, Ms. Statsny?" Maddix took his seat behind the desk.

  "I have a problem that I am not sure how to deal with," Drahomira replied, taking her seat.

  Tara vacated the room.

  "What kind of problem?" Maddix asked.

  "It is my brother. He appears to have been killed."

  "I am so sorry for your loss. What makes you think he was murdered?"

  "I can not say for sure," she paused, "but it appears as if someone has attacked him in my family's garden. I found his body lying there."

  Maddix watched her carefully, looking for a sign. "Any idea why someone would want to do this?"

  "My family," she coughed, "has many enemies. Could be anyone."

  I just need one more tell, come on! Maddix waited and watched as she became more uncomfortable.

  The coughing continued.

  "Are you okay, Ms. Statsny?"

  A single bead of sweat began to drop from her forehead. It was clear now. "I think you are attempting to make a fool of me, Ms. Statsny."

  "No," she continued to choke. "I assure you. My brother has been killed."

  "I don't mean to be rude, but someone of your … shall we say heritage, does not die that easily, nor is there usually a body to be found afterwards."

  Her coughing gave way to tears. That was enough proof for him. She was definitely a vampire.

  "Your magic candle has revealed the truth?"

  "It's not magic." Maddix turned to blow out the wick. "It's infused with some garlic essence. Quite useful to spot vampires in a crowded room actually."

  Her mouth stretched to a thin line. She wasn't amused. Garlic was such an annoyance to be near, and could be lethal in the right doses. The weaknesses of the undead were a cruel joke and bitter ironies.

  "Now that all the cards are on the table, what is this really about, Ms. Statsny?"

  "Just as I said," she replied, wiping her eyes and mouth with a handkerchief. "My brother was attacked in my garden, and his body
was laying there lifeless."

  "Not possible."

  "I know how this seems, Overseer. I can not explain it myself, which is why I am coming to you now."

  "Have you reported the incident to the constables? They usually handle crowd control."

  "Crowd control?" She was visibly annoyed by the remark.

  "Yes, problems with the prison population are their responsibility. Has been for decades."

  "Incompetent fools all of them! That so called captain of theirs is the most incompetent of all."

  "I won't argue with that." Maddix couldn't hold his smile back. Larouche could be inefficient, and a dick. "Let's say I believe you, what would you have me do? Investigations are not something my position handles. We aren't equipped for it."

  "I am only asking that you see for yourself and draw a conclusion about who could have done this. I suspect the dogs may be to blame. Disgusting things."

  It was the most likely theory. It's no secret that werewolves and vampires were mortal enemies. There had been a few foul words exchanged but never any serious fights in his time as overseer.

  "There are some guidelines I am supposed to follow. Staying within town lines is one of them. I'm not sure that—"

  "You are protected in Malevolent City, no?"

  Maddix nodded.

  "Then don't think of yourself as the warden, consider yourself a guest in my humble home."

  "I'm not a warden, just an overseer."

  "To most of us here, there is little difference."

  Curiosity was swelling in Maddix. This was a chance to get outside and really do something. The responsibility was great, but the job was boring.

  "All right," Maddix perked up from his thoughts, "I'll look into it. I will be over sometime today."

  Drahomira stood up and extended her hand. "Excellent. My servant, Stillwel, will assist you with anything you need. I may be in slumber when you arrive."