Tentacle University pt. 6

Greek Row was dark.  No parties, no drunk frat brothers or sorority sisters wandered the street.  Everything was buttoned up, and quiet.  That meant that Bradley Cummings was bored of out of his mind. 

He sat in his cruiser, parked in front of the KAPPA ALPHA OMEGA sorority and took a long drag off a cigarette.  Bradley knew he wasn’t supposed to smoke in the cruiser, it was school policy after all, but his bosses never seemed to care, or notice.  They were rent-a-cops.  Most schools had their own police forces, but Hartmore was too small for that.  Instead they hired a few guards, gave them radios and pepper spray, and had them wander around campus. 

It wasn’t like the place needed a police force.  Compared to his old alma matter, Hartmore was fucking serene.  Sure, the Greeks had their parties, but all of them were pretty tame.  When he had take the job Bradley had dreamed of drunken sorority girls flashing their store bought titties at him as he drove by, or jumping in and breaking up a fight between a couple of hot headed, well lubricated frat boys.  Little did he know that Hartmore kids tended to actually be a pretty well behaved bunch.

Kids.  He had actually thought of them as kids.  At 27 he wasn’t much older than most of them.  Hell, he had been one of them not only a few years prior.  He hadn’t been as well behaved though. 

His radio buzzed, then crackled before a voice finally came through.  “Hey Cummings, you do your foot patrol yet?” 

Bradley picked up his radio.  “Not yet.  Things are pretty calm out here.  Don’t really think I need to.”

The radio crackled again. “Dude, the school just had its first murder in…  what? Ever? Get your ass out of your cruiser and get some fresh air.  Make yourself seen.  It’ll make the kiddies feel safer.”

Sure, Bradley thought, seeing a rent-a-cop who didn’t even carry a gun would make everyone feel like they were protected.  What bullshit.  Still, getting a little exorcise wouldn’t hurt.  Ever since graduation, and a string of low paying jobs left his dietary options entirely of the fast food variety, he had slowly managed to pack on the pounds.  He wasn’t fat, not yet at least, but he definitely wasn’t in shape. 

“Fine,” he called back.  “I’ll let you know if I spot anything.” 

The head guard didn’t even bother responding.  He was probably sitting at the front gate, locked up in his little Security Shack watching free internet porn on his smart phone.  God knows he could use a little fresh air himself. 

Bradley couldn’t help but laugh at that one. 

He made his way down Greek row, sticking to the sidewalks.  He had been told to make his presence known, but so far there wasn’t anyone outside to even see that he was patrolling. 

He didn’t really blame the kids, though.  After he had heard what they found in that old dorm he wouldn’t be out wandering the campus either.  Sounded like some straight up nasty shit. 

As he neared the end of the block he could feel the sweat starting to build up under his Hartmore Security cap.  He lifted it up, running his hand through his curly red hair, brushing the moisture from his scalp.  He really was out of shape.  When he was 21 he could have run this block six times without even breaking a sweat.  Now he was starting to soak through the pits of his shirt, and he hadn’t even rounded the corner of the first block. 

A sudden yelp made him freeze.  He turned, taking in his surroundings.  The street was still deserted.

He must have just been hearing things. 

Then he heard it again.  It was close, coming from one of the alleyways between the houses.  He was sure of it. 

He pulled his LED flashlight from his utility belt and clicked it on.  The light sputtered and died. 

“Long lasting my ass!”  He slapped the flashing against the palm of his hand.  No dice.  “Fuck.” 

Now he could hear heaving breathing, and what sounded like as strangled moan.  He went for his radio. 

“Hey, boss.”  The radio crackled.  “Boss, you there.  Come on man, I think I got something out here.” 

No response. 

The noises were growing slightly louder. 

“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath.  He had no choice.  He had to check it out.  If he didn’t, and someone ended up like one of those kids from this morning, then his ass would land in the deep frying. 

He crept along the narrow cement sidewalk that led between the buildings, his hand hovering over his mace.  He thought about crying out, announcing himself, but quickly decided against it.  The last thing he needed to do was announce his presence to some psycho.  At least with the element of surprise he had an edge. 

The alley was dark, but as he made his way closer to the backyard of and PHI ALPHA EPSILOM house a cloud moved, letting a ray of moonlight illuminate the small grassy backyard. 

Bradley froze, his whole body locking up in fear. 

Standing in the middle of the yard was a… creature.  It had to be almost seven feet tall, with a body covered in rippling muscle.  Its skin was a sickly grey, its hands and feet large, vicious looking claws.  It was smiling, it’s thin lips pulled back to reveal sharp, dripping fangs, and its eyes glowed a bright, hellish red.  From it’s back spouted several long, slippery looking tentacles. 

There was something else, something suspended in front of the creature.  It was… a guy.  His clothing was ripped, and the tentacles seemed to glide over his skin, pulsing and probing him.  His head was thrown back, his cheeks flush, and he was moaning softly.  His mouth was open, one of the vile appendages gliding in and out.  His body was twitching, writhing in the air. 

Then the guy went stiff, his eyes popping open.  He let out one final weak moan.  Suddenly it looked as if all the moisture in his body was sucked out.  His skin withered, his eyes dried up into dust, and his skin suddenly looked brittle and leathered. 

Bradley could feel a warm trickle of urine running down his leg.  He couldn’t move.  The watched as the tentacles retreated and the guy’s body dropped to the ground, the impact seeming to vaporize parts of him, releasing small puffs of dust and dried skin into the air. 

It was at that moment that Bradley’s radio buzzed to life.

“Cummings, what the fuck are you talking about?” His bosses voice seemed to boom through the quiet night air. 

The creature turned towards him, and before Bradley could answer his boss one of the tentacles shot out, wrapping around his neck, and lifted him off his feet.  He could feel himself being pulled closer to the creature, towards the wide, fanged mouth.  He gasped, clutching at the slick tendril that tightened around his neck. 

“No, please…” He managed to choke the words out. 

When the creature spoke his voice was a low, cruel growl.  “But I’m still hungry,” he said. 

Then Bradley made the same mistake the others had made, and opened his mouth.

-*-

When the creature was done with the security guard he dropped him to the ground next to his earlier meal.  He would be smarter this time.  Back in the old building he had been sloppy, leaving the carcasses behind.  And he had made such a mess of the female.  There was no hiding that. 

He had been desperate, starving when those two had stumbled into his hiding place.  He couldn’t think straight.  This time, however, his mind was clear and his belly was fully. 

He looked down at the two hollowed husks that you use to be human.  They would be easy enough to dispose of.  The bodies would be nothing more than dust in a couple of days, anyways.  He didn’t plan to wait that long, though. 

The school still had an old incinerator.  That would take care of the evidence.  As dried out as they were, the two men would burn quickly, and most likely would leave no trace behind. 

He reached down, easily picking up both of his kills in one large hand, and melted into the shadows that surrounded the small backyard. 

This new hunting ground was proving fruitful, he thought to himself as he traveled silently through the shadows. 

He was going to like it here at Hartmore University.