1. Chapter 1

1. Victim 10: Shane Allen, September 30th, 1990

It was a sultry, laid back Sunday afternoon in Lynnwood Heights. The neighbourhood children were playing soccer in the streets, while their parents sat out on their porches deep in conversation; drinking iced-tea as they watched their children enjoy the last warm rays of the day. The abductions of 9 young boys and the hunt for the immoral villain that stole them away hung on everyone’s lips.

Twilight soon approached as did the uneasy feeling each parent felt as they closed their windows and locked their doors; watchful eyes peering through lace curtain, vigilant against monsters lurking in the shadows. Each parent sighing in relief when a black and white police car drove by during its routine patrol.

As night time went on and morning drew near, all lay snugly in their beds ignorant to the fact that yet another 10-year-old boy at that very moment was being snatched from his warm bed. In the face of locked doors, secure windows and overwhelming police presence. The very monster they had attempted to keep out struck one last time; securing his final quarry, then faded back into obscurity once more.

Young Shane Allen’s abduction would only be discovered hours later when his parents woke; hoping to surprise their son with his birthday gifts. Instead they found his bed empty and the boy nowhere in the house. No signs of struggle, no unlocked doors, no open windows only a chloroform soaked cloth lying on the floor of their son’s bed.

1. 2pm, STT HQ, 10 hours after abduction

In a state that seemed a mixture between enervation and extreme fright, young Shane Allen impassively walked down the navy blue carpeted entryway of the first floor serial task team building. On duty agents overlooked the lost boy until an ever growing putrid stench grew stronger with each step which, brought the boy closer. The smell smell had become almost unbearable; forming its own presence in the room by the time the boy had reached reception.

On duty agents overlooked the lost boy until the ever growing stench grew stronger with each step that brought the boy closer to them. The smell was almost unbearable by the time the boy had reached the front desk; the odour had formed its own overwhelming presence in the room. Covered in what could only be explained as a mixture of blood, bile, faecal matter and urine the blond haired, blue-eyed barely recognisable boy stood motionless at the edge of the desk; eyes cast downward.

“Are you okay son? I’m agent Lloyd, is there something I can help you with?” A robust agent with piercing blue eyes and wavy blond hair prompted the child. The boy stood his ground not shifting an inch; his gaze still cast down. Lloyd had seen a lot of street kids begging around the city, but for some reason his instincts screamed that this was no beggar. Soon a bevy of agents gathered around Lloyd including lead agent Kegan George.

“Is there a problem here John?” George asked, scanning the boy from head to toe. Lloyd shrugged, exchanging confused glances with George and the other agent who shielded their faces from the overbearing smell.

George slowly lowered himself to the child’s level mindful not to seem to threatening or to startle the boy, “I’m agent... I’m Kegan, what’s your name?” his raised eyebrows and soft smile clearly having the desired affect on the boy.

“S-Shane,” his almost inaudible voice cracked, “Shane Allen, I live at number 10, Lynnwood Heights.” his almost robotic response surprised George. It was as if the boy had rehearsed it a million times before; his gaze still frozen as if he just wasn’t there mentally. George reached, extending his long arm toward the trembling boy; guiding the child to the nearest chair.

Each of the team following quietly, George knew shock when he saw it, and if this was in fact the missing boy Shane Allen he most definitely had reason to be in shock. As much as he didn’t want to traumatise the boy any further or prolong his ordeal, he had no other choice.

“Shane, can you tell me who took you?” The boy suddenly shifted turning his attention to the pocket of his dirty blue and white stripped pyjamas; pulling out one small blood covered brown paper bag, handing it to George.

George nodded, setting each parcel down on the desk he was now sitting on.

“Someone get the boy a glass of water, he must be thirsty.” he ordered and moments later a vibrant red headed woman with a equally vibrant floral dress and flamboyant red lips appeared from nowhere with a tall glass of ice cold water in her hand.

“Thank you Genie.” He branded the overzealous receptionist when she handed the boy the glass. Shane reached out finally looking up at Genie’s smirking face while Kegan gently tugged on the dirty pieces of twine which, held each parcel securely together. As soon as George had removed the brown paper from around the first parcel Shane’s body began to jerk; his eyes rolling back in his head, plunging the boy into a state of rigid unresponsive catatonia.

The only signs of life; the thick yellow bubbling foam which, brimmed from between the teeth of his clenched jaw. His cold frozen face bore into the souls of every agent there except Genie who seemed disgusted rather than concerned.

“Get an ambulance here now!” George roared just as the paramedics arrived; George clutching the small frame to his chest.

“don’t you worry my boy, you’re going to be al right... everything is going to be al right, I promise He soothed; oblivious to the fact that the first parcel’s contents lay  exposed; on display for all to see.

Agents left and right began gasping and gagging.

“Oh you men going on like that over a little smell Genie scoffed as Lloyd; George’s best friend, confidant and second in command doubled over; retching the gist of his stomach all over the floor. Kegan rose; shocked and sickened by the sight of a child sized dismembered hand neatly severed just above the wrist; realizing only then the full grizzly extent of the horror Shane Allen and the other 9 boys must have endured at the hands of the monster who took them.

“DEAR GOD,” He exclaimed, ordering his team to follow Shane to the hospital and Lloyd to rush the hand to the lab, “Cole, Anderson follow the ambulance, I want to know when he wakes up. You stay outside that hospital room, am I clear? Sanders you and Bowen go tell the family the news. John I want you to personally rush this to the lab. I want to know who this belongs to and I want it done within the hour Agents rushed around like their lives depended on it.

“What about this, it’s addressed to you,” Lloyd asked pointing to the crumpled up envelope of which, fell from the parcel as he gathered the evidence. George had completely overlooked the letter during the humdrum. Apprehensively he tore it open; his eyes glided across the words; each more horrific than the next.

1. Page 1

“Hello again agent George,” It started.

“I’m pleased to see you’ve received my my little gift. You’re probably wondering where the other hand is yes? Well that one I kept for myself to use in my demonstration. Don’t worry though I’ll make sure to explain how to harvest and prepare it, I know you agents aren’t very bright so I’ll make sure I’ll go slow. I promises it’ll be a finger liking show... no pun intended. You’ll see once you’ve tasted human flesh you’ll never eat beef, pork or chicken again. Be seeing you Kegan, be sure to keep your computer on.”