C&C Excerpts--Episode 5: Memento Mori, Memento Insanus

Parking in a snowdrift-laden parking lot, Alestor exited the car and opened up the back doors, stretching his legs. “Ah, what clean crisp air.” Mei shivered, and rubbed her arms for warmth. “Cold…” she mumbled to herself. She was wearing a white cotton button down shirt, and black skirt with a lace trim with black thigh high leggings—hardly appropriate wear for snowy American northeastern weather.

Leo was stretching his arms and jumping up and down. “Man, I hate 6 hour car trips.” He jerked a thumb to the cold and lonely building, which seemed completely abandoned. The lights were out, and there were no other cars parked in the lot. “Alestor, we gonna unload now or what?”

Alestor was tapping the keypad on his cell phone. “I’ll call Peter right now.”

Yoko was observing the lot and campus with a pensive look on her face. She turned to look at the campus slowly, as if taking in every individual detail.

Softly, the tinnying melody of the theme from the movie Halloween floated through the air, becoming louder as it went along.

“Mei, is that your phone?” asked Alestor, raising an eyebrow.

Mei shook her head. “No, mine plays Tubular Bells from The Shining.”

“You disturb me sometimes,” Leo said. From around the corner came the source of the music, a cell phone in the fumbling hands of an elderly gentleman with white hair and a receding hairline. He was clad in brown slacks, an untucked white button down shirt, a loose tie and a long over coat. He reminded one of an aged Timothy Dalton, something that didn’t really impress him. The phone bounced out of his hands as it went about the chorus of the song onto the icy pavement.

Alestor rolled his eyes discreetly. “Peter! How good it is to see you.” He shook hands with the clumsy professor, sweeping the cell phone off the ground.

“Alestor, my boy! You look well,” he returned with a hearty shake. He then clapped Alestor shoulders briskly. “Its wonderful to see you.”

The professor looked around Alestor and nodded at Leo. “Leo.”

“Professor,” replied Leo, looking obviously on guard.

The professor then made his way to Yoko, whom smiled graciously and bowed her head slightly in greeting. “Yoko, my dear, you’re looking ravishing as ever.” He kissed her hand. “Flattery gets you nowhere, but don’t let that stop you,” she cooed, tracing a finger coyly along the old man’s jaw.

Alestor chuckled, while Leo rolled his eyes. When the old man came to Mei, whom was making a mental checklist of American etiquette, he glanced back at Alestor. “This must be Asakawa-san, your newest recruit?”

“Newbie victim, more like,” muttered Leo. He was unlocking the trunk.

Mei, quickly into introduction mode, bowed demurely and said, “I’m very pleased to meet you, Professor Arkham. My name is Asakawa Mei.”

“How precious!” exclaimed Arkham. “She speaks very good English!”

Mei’s face turned red.

“Well, that’s the thing,” Alestor said, leaning on the old man’s shoulder. “She’s not really Japanese.”

Mei replied by way of a swift kick to his shin.

“And she’s quite the spitfire, isn’t she,” chuckled Arkham genially. Mei started her patented pout position. “In your line of work, you’d do well to have the energy.”

Alestor was rubbing his shin. “Energy my ass.”

Arkham turned to Leo whom was starting to unload suitcases. “Leo, the rooms you’ll be using are on the third floor, so be careful on the stairs.”

Leo muttered expletives and started hoisting bags onto his shoulders. With Arkham leading the way, Alestor and Yoko followed the pair to the darkened building. Yoko patted Mei’s shoulder. “Sweetie, why don’t you wait here while Henri wakes up, ok? Someone needs to watch the car.”

The girl nodded. “Ok, Yoko-san.”

Yoko then handed her a rather sizable mallet from god knew where. “And if anyone attacks you, just use this. But be sure to stop while they’re still breathing.” After a pause, she then added, “But only if its human. Beat the tar out of it if it’s a monster.”

Mei’s eyes widened.

Yoko chuckled. “Just kidding,” she sing-songed, but even Mei could tell that she was only kidding a little.