Jack Gettleman's mind was still in a nervous state as he was sitting in his black van parked in the dark alley on Pittsburgh's north side. The portly man used his right forearm to wipe the sweat from his brow. Then brushed his damp fingers through his short cropped blond hair. He pulled at the collar of his blue T-shirt to try to expose his neck to some cooler air. Jack had the forethought to wear a pair of blue denim shorts on this hot summer day. But he was still overheating. Jack was nervous because he was aware that the police were after him. They had taken the issue of his latest child luring attempt seriously. Jack knew that this latest attempt at child molestation, in light of his past offense, would land him back behind bars for a more prolonged period than his first five year conviction for child molestation. Jack's excuse was that he could never help himself around children. But it would seem that now his attraction would permanently cost him his freedom. Unless the individual that he came here on the North side can help him. That person was known as the Sandman.
Jack got out of his van and looked down both ends of the alley. At the far left he saw the alley leading the street. It was the same thing to his right. He saw the street and a black car driving by. But not one of the Pittsburgh police cruisers that he was eluding. Jack looked at his watch. 11:55. It's almost 12:00. I'm gonna be late, was his frantic thought. His appointment with the Sandman was at 12:00 midnight. He had to reach the Fallen Angel tavern at the next block, while at the same time avoid being spotted by the police. Reaching the Sandman was his only hope for escape. Jack decided to move fast and try to keep a low profile. He headed to the right. Exiting the alley and stepping onto the sidewalk. Jack felt fortunate that there was no one else walking here. Looking up and down the street there were also no cars approaching. Certainly not any police cars. He proceeded down the sidewalk. Keeping his head down. He passed three store fronts on his way to reach his destination. The Fallen Angel Tavern. Jack was drawn like a firefly to the glowing neon sign in the tavern's window. He opened the door and stepped inside.
The tavern was dark and had the strong odor of cigarette smoke in the air. Someone smoking in here? Jack wondered. Who the hell smokes indoors anymore? Jack went up to the bar at the left side of the room. At the right of the bar were four tables were a few patrons were seated while enjoying their drinks.
Jack approached the bartender. A bald middle aged man wearing a black short sleeved Pittsburgh Penguins t-Shirt. Jack nervously cleared his throat before he spoke. "Excuse me pal. I'm here to see..." Jack found it difficult to finish his sentence. Given the sensitive nature of his visit.
The bartender gave Jack a nod. "The Sandman?" he said in a hushed voice. He pointed to a doorway at the rear end of the room. "Just go through there."
"Thanks," Jack replied. He headed for the doorway. He stopped just a foot away from the doorway and peered into the darkness beyond. He received a feeling of dread. A faint voice in the back of his mind was telling him not to enter the room. But at this point Jack did not care if the voice was shouting a warning through a bullhorn. He had to enter if he wanted to escape being caught by the police. Jack took in a deep breath and then stepped into the room.
Jack entered a small room with a dim light. Standing against the left and right walls were tall stacks of boxes containing a variety of alcoholic beverages. In the middle of the room was a small round wooden table positioned under the dim light bulb on the ceiling. Sitting at the table was a mysterious figure dressed in black pants tucked into black knee high boots. He had a black long sleeved shirt and necktie. His black gloved hands were resting on the table top. He was also wearing a black hooded cape. The hood concealing the features of his face. This was the person that Jack came here to see. The Sandman.
The Sandman greeted Jack in a jovial tone while holding out a gloved hand to the chair at the opposite side of the table. "Jack. You're just in time. Welcome. Take a seat."
Jack took in another deep breath. Then sat down in the chair. For a moment he studied the Sandman, wondering about the face that he could not see beneath the dark hood.
"Something wrong?" the Sandman asked.
"No. Not at all," said Jack. I'm just wondering about the outfit."
"I hear that a lot," the Sandman replied. "It's not what you would see in a Newport News catalog. But it suits me just fine."
"It's just that I find black to be a creepy color," Jack explained.
"Black isn't a color," The Sandman pointed out. "Black is actually not a color. It's a lack of color. So you should actually say that you find my lack of color to be creepy."
"An interesting science lesson. Can we get down to business here? I need help."
"I'll say. Hanging around kids the way you do. You ever think about getting a girlfriend or something?"
Insulted by the Sandman's jab, Jack hesitated before he answered. "My issue with kids goes a little bit beyond needing a girlfriend."
"I'd have to disagree with that," Said the Sandman. "Some of your activities with these kids falls right into the category of romantic. Maybe even a little too romantic."
Jack was again insulted by the Sandman's words. "Look. I didn't come here to listen to any character assassination."
"Character assassination?" The Sandman laughed. "Come on Jack. if I wanted to assassinate your character then I'd shoot you in the face with a crossbow. But look on the bright side. Most pedophiles don't have much of a character to begin with. So that should land you in a safety zone."
"I don't care much for that word."
"Which word is that?" the Sandman inquired. "Pedophile? Sorry. Maybe I should use something a little more politically correct. How about if I call you creatively sociable? Does that put a band aid on your bruised ego?"
Jack said nothing.
"So you mentioned in your E-mail that you wanted to get out of the country. I can imagine with your past history of child molestation. A guy like you goes shopping for kids like a regular person shops for potato chips."
Jack had now lost his patience with the Sandman's sarcastic comments. "Look. maybe this was a bad idea. Sorry I wasted your time." He rose up from his seat and headed for the doorway. The moment Jack stepped out of the room his attention was drawn to the tavern's window several feet away. Outside was the red and blue flashing lights of a police car. The car was not passing by. But parked in front of the tavern. Jack felt as through his heart had stopped beating. He stepped back into the room with the Sandman.
"Back so soon?" said the Sandman. "You surprised me Jack. That was quicker than I thought."
"The police are outside," Jack exclaimed.
"Yeah. I know. They found your van parked in the alley. In a minute they'll be inside."
Jack let out a gasp in fear. "They're coming here? Will that bartender turn me in?"
"Sure? Why the hell wouldn't he? You‘re a criminal."
"Would you turn me in?" Asked Jack.
"No," said the Sandman. "When the police enter this room they won't see or hear me. They'll just see you. And I don't think that they'll offer to buy you a beer. Pedophiles, excuse me. Creatively sociable people are about as popular as a salt pretzel in the Sahara desert. But I can save your ass if you and I are going to do business. So. Are we?"
Jack felt trapped. The ominous feeling that he was getting from the Sandman was still nagging him. But the close presence of the police was screaming out even louder. Jack sat back down in the chair. "Yeah. We are."
"Great," the Sandman's cheerful reply. "That's good to hear. Although we're going to have to work fast. The police will be here soon. So you already know how this works. You tell me about one of your dreams or nightmares and then I'll grant you your wish. In this case I already know what you want. You want out of Pittsburgh and away from the cops."
Jack nodded his head rapidly. "Yes. Yes. You can do that? You can use your magic, or what ever, to get me out of here?"
"Sure can," said the Sandman. Crossing his arms against his chest. 'But first it's going to cost you."
A dream, Jack thought. "That's easy enough. I had this dream this morning. I'm on this boat. And I think I'm at the ocean because I turn back and see the beach. I look out and floating in the water is this kid.”
"A kid? I'm not surprised."
"Excuse me?"
"Sorry. Just adding a little commentary."
"Can I tell this story without any interruptions?" asked Jack. Annoyed.
"Sure thing. Please continue."
Jack resumed telling about his dream. "As I was saying. I'm in a boat and I see this kid in the water. It's a boy around eight or nine years old. And he's surrounded by sharks. About four of them. I can see their fins sticking out from the water as they swim in circles around the boy. But all they do is swim around him. They don't attack. So I paddle the boat over to get closer to the kid. Then I try to reach for the kid so that I can pull him out. And each time I stick my hand in the water the sharks try to take a bite out of me. They never bother the kid. But each time I try to reach into the water and grab the kid the sharks try to attack me. that's my dream. Any idea what this means?"
"First off I'd say that your dream is a warning not to take up surfing. And second, I'd take that as a warning that sometimes the children are protected by a stronger force. And if you try to cross that force then it will have your ass for lunch. But overall I'd say that your dream is pretty descent. Looks like you've got yourself a deal."
Jack was overjoyed by this news. "Really? Great. Then you can get me out of the city?"
"Absolutely. Any place special that you want to go?"
Jack had to give thought to that question. Were do I got? he thought. Then he began to wonder. If this is really going to happen then why should I settle for just getting out of the city? If he's going to get me out of the city then why not go out in style? "You can send me anywhere?"
The Sandman nodded his hooded head. "That's right. Anywhere on the planet."
Jack's mind pondered the possibilities. Then a plan came to his mind. "Ok then. I want you to send me to an island in the pacific."
"An island in the Pacific?" the Sandman asked. "You got a sudden taste for coconuts?"
Jack ignored the Sandman's question. "Yeah I want to go to an island. One of those remote islands that are uncharted. Like the type that you see in the movies. No police. Nobody knows I’m there. With simple minded natives. And their kids."
" And their kids. I was wondering when you'd get to that," The Sandman told Jack. "Ok. You got it. And I've got the perfect place to send you. A quaint little spot in the Pacific. It's completely uncharted. Totally cut off. So you'll be the first and only American to step foot on the place. The natives are simple. And best of all, kids are there."
Jack smiled in anticipation of getting to this island. "I love this place already."
"And trust me. They're going to love you," said the Sandman.
"Great. When do I leave? How do I get there?" Jack asked.
The sandman turned his head to a black door on the wall behind him. "Just go through there."
"That door wasn't there before," said Jack. He noticed that his feeling of dread was starting to return.
"I just added it. That's your ticket to paradise. And you better move fast because the police are in the bar and on their way back here."
Jack gasped in fear. He rushed around the table and reached the door. He grabbed the doorknob and pulled the door open. Beyond the door Jack could only see darkness. He held his breath and then stepped inside. Jack was expecting to step foot on a solid surface. Instead he found himself falling down a dark void. jack screamed as he felt his body going through a spinning freefall. Seconds later Jack felt a painful impact striking his face. He closed his eyes as he felt a stinging pain in both his nose and his mouth. The coppery taste of blood washed over his tongue. His tongue swiped over his teeth and two hard objects rolled over it. Jack opened his eyes. He was no longer in a dark void. He was now staring face down at a surface of sand, small green weeds, and round grey rocks. Jack Rose up to his knees. Then he sat back. The pain in his mouth was growing stronger. As did the taste of his own blood. His tongue swiped over the two hard objects in his mouth. He spit the objects into his palm and confirmed his fears. Two of his front teeth were broken out.
"Oh dammit," Jack shouted. He looked down at one of the grey rocks and concluded that he had hit one of them when he fell out of the dark void. "This is one hell of an arrival."
Jack looked around at his new surroundings. He was astonished to see that he had stepped from the back room at the Fallen Angel to a sunny beach scene. He was sitting at the edge of a dense wooded area. Past this area was a beach with bright white sand. Blue waves were washing up against the shore. Past the shoreline was a endless horizon of blue water.
"I'm here," Jack exclaimed with joy. "I'm here. I'm on the island." Jack stood up and looked back at the forest. Then he looked back to the waves. "I'm really here."
Jack bolted out to the shore and ran into the water. The cool water soaked his feet and legs. He reached down and slashed up the water with rapid strokes of his arms. "I did it! I'm free! No more police!" Jack ranted. He ran back to the shore and shouted to the air while waving his arms. "No police! Nobody can touch me now! I've got my own island! I can be a king here! King Jack!"
Then jack started to think. A man can't be a king if he doesn't have any subjects. He looked about. People. I've got to find the people. The Sandman said there would be people.
Jack ventured into the forest. As he moved past several trees he encountered brush that was reaching up to his elbows. Ferns with broad green leaves. And Thick bushes with small white flowers. Jack continued to push forward. Brushing the plants aside. He continued moving for several yards. So far all he could see were the trees and brush.
Where the hell are the people? Jack wondered. He was anxious to meet these simple natives that the Sandman described. And more importantly, their children. Jack was thinking that if these natives were simple and docile enough then they can be easily manipulated. Even dominated. Then he could be free to do what ever he wanted. Out here on this uncharted island there were no police and no laws to restrain him. Jack could indeed be the undisputed king of this island. And it's children.
Jack continued walking through the forest until he came to a village of green pyramid shaped huts in a small clearing with a few ferns growing out from white sand. "A village. Now we're getting someplace," Jack gleefully said. He strode into the clearing to explore the village.
Jack stood in front of the huts. "Hello!" he called out.
There was no answer.
"Hello!" Jack called out again.
There was still no answer. There was an eerie silence over the village.
Jack approached one of the huts. It's five foot high, square entrance was covered by a thin white cloth. Jack brushed the cloth aside and entered the hut. Inside there were two grey bedrolls. But no sign of the occupants. Then from outside the hut jack heard a high pitched squealing sound. It resembled laughter. A child's laughter. Jack smiled and rushed out of the hut. He looked about but saw no one.
It was a kid. I heard a kid, Jack's thought. He looked about at the huts. Then he went deeper into the village. Jack was surrounded by several huts. He approached a hut at his left and went inside. There were three of the grey bed rolls, but no people. Jack again heard the squealing sound outside.
"I hear you out there," Jack gleefully said. "Stay right there. Uncle Jack is coming for you."
Jack exited the hut. He looked about the village but saw no one. He heard the squealing sound coming from behind him. With a broad smile on his face he turned around and came face to face with the source of the high pitched squeal. Perched atop of a hut ten feet away was a bizarre insect creature. By Jack's estimate the thing was six feet long. It resembled a wasp. But far larger than any that Jack had ever seen in his life. It's black, hard shelled body was supported by six long spindly legs. It's four broad wings were folded against it's back. It's two long antenne on top of it's head waved in Jack's direction. It's two dark yellow eyes were locked in a prolonged stare with Jack's. The wasp opened it's mandibles with it's serrated edges and let out a loud high pitched squeal.
Jack was at a loss for any words or thoughts about his encounter with this creature. His mind was beyond any mere feeling of dread. He was now in a full blown state of panic. Jack took a step back. That was when the wasp spread out it's huge wings and leaped into the air towards him. In less than a second the wasp was on top of him. Forcing Jack to the ground so fast that he had no time to scream. Jack felt intense pain as the wasp bit onto his face with it's mandibles. Jack frantically thrashed his arms about. Then he felt a sharp stabbing pain in his right thigh. He felt the pain stabbing in a different spot on his leg. Jack realized that he was being stung by the wasp. He felt the wasp's painful sting three more times. Then his leg began to turn numb. Seconds later Jack had lost all feeling in both his legs. Then his arms went numb. He was unable to more them, or any other part of his body. Jack's vision grew dark and he lost consciousness.
Jack awoke with the pain of the wasp's stings still burning through his thigh. He was also having difficulty breathing He tried to open his mouth but his lips would not budge. Jack opened his eyes and discovered that he was in a dank cave. A wide beam of sunlight was shining through a large hole in the cave's roof. It was providing his only source of light. The right half of his body was stuck to the rock wall by a hard mass of grey material that had a strong smell resembling freshly printed newspapers. A blob of the material was covering both his feet. His left hand was raised up over his head, and also cemented to the wall. A thick strip of the material was covering the lower half of his face. From his nose to his chin. Jack did not know what this material was. But it was sticking so close and tight that he felt that it had replaced his own skin. Jack tired to struggle but the material had him bound so firm that he could hardly move.
Where the hell am I? What is this? Jack thought. His eyes rolled from left to right. Scanning over the cave. Crawling across the ceiling, near the hole, was the large wasp that attacked him. There were three others with it. Jack tried to scream when he saw these creatures. But with the material stuck over his mouth he could only let out a muffled whine. One of the wasps crawled down to the cave floor and stood near a cluster of white, oval shaped objects. Each one a foot long. The wasp turned around and aimed it’s abdomen near the cluster. Jack was horrified as he watched one of these oval objects emerging from the wasps rear end. Now Jack knew that these things were. The word, eggs, came to his mind. The wasp laid two more eggs near the cluster. Jack heard a squishing sound coming from his left. He moved his eyes over to see another cluster of wasp eggs sticking to the wall close to him. One of the eggs was moving. The top of the egg split open and a foot long, worm like creature with pasty white skin emerged. Oh holy crap, was Jack’s thought. He watched as a second egg split open to release the larva inside. Then a third egg hatched.
Jack heard a faint squealing sound coming from the rocks near his feet. He looked down and saw a larva crawling towards him. Jack let out a muffled groan and squirmed in his bonds in a feeble attempt to back away from this creature. The larva was joined by several others. All emerging from their hiding places among the rocks. Jack groaned and moaned while trying to twist his body to escape his bonds. Jack was helpless and stationary as the larva began to slowly crawl up his exposed legs. His eyes widened in horror as small mandibles opened at the front of each larva to display their arsenal of small pointed teeth. The larva began to bite Jack's lower legs and thighs. Jack emitted rapid groans in place of the screams that he would have let out if his mouth were free.
Jack squirmed as the larva were taking small bites out of his legs. Through his agony he glanced up and saw the wasp. It had now stopped laying eggs. There was a loud, deep buzz as the wasp rapidly beat it's wings to fly up through the opening in the ceiling and out of the cave. As Jack was enduring the agonizing torment from the larva he gave thought to the wish that the Sandman had granted him. He had asked to be sent to an island where the natives were simple. And nothing could be simpler than the mind of an insect. Driven by it's instinctive needs to survive and reproduce. Jack wanted to be on an island with children. In that regard he had also gotten his wish. He was now trapped in a cave with the children of the mother wasp These same children that were now slowly devouring him alive.
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