Chapter 17

"Do you owe the Sheriff money?" Mark whispered to Stella beside her, breaking the silence. As he noticed, Eben's gaze frequently returned to them in the rearview mirror while driving. Mark's attention shifted to the passenger seat, where the stranger remained cuffed and seething, a visibly broken nose adding to his disheveled appearance.

Glancing toward the front, Stella answered with a soft chuckle, "He's my husband." Mark feigned clutching his heart dramatically, and Stella rolled her eyes at his antics.

Undeterred, Mark discreetly ran his fingers across Stella's thigh, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. Stella, catching his drift, shook her head subtly, silently warning him. Ignoring her protest, Mark continued his playful advance, his touch growing bolder with every area his fingers covered. Stella bit her lip, trying to act normal, her eyes silently pleading for Mark's restraint, all the while keeping her focus on the road ahead.

Feeling frustrated with Stella's jeans, Mark decided to change tactics. He gently pulled Stella's hand, letting it rest on his lap, he then put his bag on his lap to block the view from the front of the vehicle and subtly shifted his body. He shot her a knowing look. Stella hesitated for a moment, then brought his rod out, adjusting her grip accordingly.

In that moment, Mark felt an inexplicable surge of excitement course through him. As he sat there, a realization dawned upon him like a revelation. He understood, perhaps for the first time, the peculiar fascination that some 'passionate' protagonists experienced. The power, the control—it was intoxicating. He couldn't deny the adrenaline that came with it.

'This doesn't feel bad. Let's do this more often,' he mused inwardly, a sly grin curling his lips as he look at Stella. The rush of power and desire coursed through him, leaving a feeling of exhilaration in its wake. 'I shall cuck the heavens!' He declared in his thoughts, his confidence and mischief evident, enjoying the newfound thrill.

His thoughts, however, were abruptly interrupted when his phone vibrated, momentarily pulling him back to reality. He retrieved it stealthily and thought, 'Finally, the mission.' As he read the message, his expression shifted from curiosity to disbelief. 'You disgust me...continue.' He saw the words displayed on his screen.

'What the hell, where's my mission?' but his phone remained silent, offering no answers. He shook his head, then, with the help of his phone, he turned his focus to editing photos, an i.d. of him and crafting a believable crime scene using images from his original world. Despite his frustration, a sense of calm washed over him as he savored Stella's soothing touch.

He whispered something in Stella's ear. She glanced at the front and quickly brought her head down. After a few moments, Mark sighed in relief as Stella snapped her head up quickly while wiping her lips. Feeling smug, Mark continued with his tasks, a self-satisfied smile playing on his lips as he worked.

**

They arrived at the sheriff's station. Eben promptly locked the stranger in a cell and turned his attention to Mark, firing questions about his identity and why he was in town.

In the room, Stella sat beside Eben's grandmother, who was focused on the computer screen. Stella observed the two closely, her attention fixed on Mark as he was being questioned. Across the room, Eben's brother was engrossed in a game on his computer, the sounds of gameplay filling the space. Despite his focus on the game, he cast wary glances at the stranger.

Mark acted as if he had just remembered he something.

He pulled out his phone from his coat and showed Eben a photo of his ID. Eben raised an eyebrow, glancing at Mark's smartphone.

"Impressive technology you've got there," he commented, a hint of surprise in his voice. He continued to scrutinize the photo after finding no problems he nodded.

Mark chuckled, a touch of amusement in his voice. "Yeah, technology moves fast these days," he said.

Eben then gave detailed information about the recent happenings in the town.

"You know, these things sound familiar. Let me check online.", Mark said, pretending to browse the net. After a brief pause, he showed his phone screen to Eben.

Headline: Unraveling the Horrors: Survivor Recounts Terrifying Events in Isolated Town

By Investigative Reporter Johnny Sins

In a special interview, a survivor shared the terrifying events that happened, painting a dark picture of the isolated town's fall into chaos. It all started when their beloved dogs were found brutally killed under the cover of darkness. The townsfolk, gripped by fear, soon realized this was just the beginning of a nightmare.

The attackers, brutal and systematic, spared nothing in their path of destruction. Working vehicles, vital lifelines in this remote town, met a tragic end—destroyed beyond recognition. The once-bustling streets, now eerily silent, witnessed the devastation inflicted upon these transportations.

As residents struggled to cope with losing their loyal companions and essential transportation, a new wave of terror swept over them. Communication lines, their link to the outside world, were suddenly cut off. Simultaneously, the power lines that illuminated the town and provided vital energy were severed, plunging the area into complete darkness and silence. With both communication and power lines disrupted, the town found itself isolated and defenseless, with no way to ask for help or connect with nearby communities.

A group of crazed individuals attacked, showing unimaginable cruelty. These attackers seemed almost supernatural, biting their victims' necks as if trying to drink their blood and then decapitating them. Despite residents' attempts to fight back by shooting at them, it seemed ineffective unless they aimed for the attackers' heads stunning them just long enough to escape their deadly clutches.The town was caught in a nightmare, struggling to understand the terrifying threat they faced.

In an astonishing turn of events, the brave survivor from the small town managed to capture horrifying images of the assailants who terrorized their community. Thanks to their quick thinking and courage, we can now see the faces of those responsible for the attack. Please take a moment to view the chilling photos below:

Eben furrowed his brows as he read the article, his eyes narrowing in deep concentration. As he examined the assailants' photos, pale skin, dark eyes, razor sharp teeth, then his expression turned to one of recognition. He noticed the familiar silhouette of the stranger in one of the photos, his features etched with suspicion.

"Maybe you should ask him about what's going on. Show him the photos; see if he recognizes anyone." Mark glanced at the sulking stranger in the cell, he handed his phone to him. Stella stood beside him and asked about it. He told her about the article.

Eben approached the cell. "Do you know these guys?" he asked, showing the photos to the stranger.

The stranger widened his eyes in recognition. "Impossible," he mumbled, his voice barely audible.

Eben's expression turned to one of deep concern as he observed the stranger's reaction to the photos. His worry deepened.

His lips thinned with worry, Eben turned to give Mark's phone back as he look at Stella close to Mark. No time for that now. He then directed his attention to his grandmother, Helen, asking her to search for more information about the article. When Mark heard it, he couldn't help but think. Oh, crap.

As Helen began her search, the internet suddenly went down. She banged at the monitor in frustration. "Computers down, Eben," she said, her voice filled with exasperation.

Eben furrowed his brows. "Okay, I'll call Gus at the tower station." he said, his voice tight with concern. To his dismay, he discovered that the cell network was also down. He slammed the receiver down. He recalled the details from the article. The stranger was now looking at him, a sinister smirk playing on his lips.

"Mr. Sheriff, so helpless against what's coming," the stranger whispers as he stood inside his cell looking at them. He then turned his gaze to Mark, munching on potato chips, his hand buried in a crinkling bag. "And you. I'll spit on your headless corpse."

Stella felt creeped out by the stranger, and Eben's brother, while trying to focus on his game, was visibly freaked out by the atmosphere in the room. She reassured him that he's just trying to scare them.

Mark simply tosses the chips at the stranger. They landed on his hair and nose. He winced when he felt the salt on his nose. The stranger wiped his face clean, his eyes filled with chill.

Eben, observing the stranger's actions, said, "I'll check on Gus at the cell tower."

"Check on Gus. Board the windows. Try to hide," The stranger whispered mockingly. "They're coming, and this time, they'll honor me for all I've done," he hissed in anticipation.

Eben inquired, "Who are 'they'?" just before the lights flickered and plunged the room into darkness. Stella instinctively clutched Mark's hands for reassurance. Feeling her grip, Mark gently squeezed her hand. Outside the station, the entire town was engulfed in blackness, the result of the widespread power outage.

"Board the windows.. Try to hide." The stranger's whisper cut through the darkness.