{"id":16,"date":"2010-08-26T14:54:42","date_gmt":"2010-08-26T14:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lightningbugpress.com\/blackhoodpress\/?p=16"},"modified":"2012-07-02T21:58:16","modified_gmt":"2012-07-02T21:58:16","slug":"the-hundred-dollar-baby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lightningbugpress.com\/blackhoodpress\/the-hundred-dollar-baby\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hundred Dollar Baby"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

A Black Spectre Adventure<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

OSCAR TRAVERS grabbed another shot from the bar in his anvil-like fist and tossed it back like a glass of water.\u00c2\u00a0 His body was steeled from years of working on the docks, and now, thanks to a combination of whiskey and rage, his nerves were steeled as well.\u00c2\u00a0 He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d never beaten another human being to death before, but he was more than capable.\u00c2\u00a0 On this night, especially so.\u00c2\u00a0 His pride had been severely bruised, and he was smarting for revenge.<\/p>\n

Feeling the alcohol work its way into his system, he glanced again out the window to the Orpheum Theater just down the street.\u00c2\u00a0 The doors would open soon to let the rich and influential step out among the masses for just a moment, then get in their expensive cars and ride back to their posh mansions in exclusive Lakeview Heights.<\/p>\n

And Oscar Travers would be waiting.<\/p>\n

Inside the Orpheum, the audience applauded as the curtains fell across the stage.\u00c2\u00a0 The sounds echoed through the small, but ornately-crafted theater.\u00c2\u00a0 Brent Gregor clapped, too, from his wheelchair in Box Five.\u00c2\u00a0 As much as he enjoyed the show, a musical farce about love and mistaken-identity, it only served to remind him that he was very much alone.\u00c2\u00a0 Of course, he had his faithful valet, Bernard Worthington, at his side \u00e2\u20ac\u201c the only other living person who knew him as The Black Spectre.\u00c2\u00a0 But Brent longed for companionship of another kind, and those thoughts always led in the same direction. Vicky.<\/p>\n

As the fates would have it, Victoria Rose, the headstrong, auburn-haired reporter for the Daily Crusader, actually sat far above him in the uppermost balcony.\u00c2\u00a0 With her was her boyfriend and co-worker at the Crusader, Denny Morris, who toiled daily in the newspaper\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s archives.<\/p>\n

They were celebrating the anniversary of their first date together and Denny had wanted to do something special.\u00c2\u00a0 He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d saved for many months and managed to pull a few strings to take her to the opening of a new show.\u00c2\u00a0 Though he wished he could have done a lot better than the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153nosebleed section,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he was just glad to have a special night with her without having to encounter his chief rival for Vicky\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s attention (aside from the newspaper) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Brent Gregor.\u00c2\u00a0Vicky was an angel, his angel.\u00c2\u00a0 And on this night, dressed in her beautiful soft-blue gown, she looked just like one.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

As they got up to leave, Denny\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s eyes quickly scanned the crowd below.\u00c2\u00a0 He was surprised by the number of famous faces: Mayor Eugene Barker, wealthy industrialist Julius Kennelly, prominent attorney Cecil Davenport IV, and others.\u00c2\u00a0 The curtains shielding the box seats kept him from seeing the one face he secretly hoped would not be there.<\/p>\n

After much of the audience had left the theater, Worthington pushed Brent Gregor down to the lobby in his wheelchair.\u00c2\u00a0 Brent stared deeply at the gold-set fire-red opal that adorned his finger.\u00c2\u00a0 It was this ring that gave him the power of the Spirit Force \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and the ability to walk as long as he used those powers to fight for justice in an unjust world as The Black Spectre.\u00c2\u00a0 It was this ring that both brought him closer to Vicky and kept them separate.\u00c2\u00a0 In order to tell her the truth about his feelings, he would have to tell her so much more.\u00c2\u00a0 Perhaps he would, in time, but that day was a long way off.<\/p>\n

As Worthington wheeled him into the lobby, he spotted Denny and Vicky emerging from the staircase across the hall.\u00c2\u00a0 Brent\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s face lit up at the sight of her, just as Denny\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s dimmed at the sight of him.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Brent!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Vicky called out.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Look, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Brent!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she chirped happily as she tugged Denny by the hand and rushed over to greet him.\u00c2\u00a0 Denny smiled politely.\u00c2\u00a0 It was a common expression for him.<\/p>\n

As the lobby bustled with men in tuxedos and women in fancy gowns, all chattering happily about their wonderful evening, no one paid any mind when Oscar Travers pushed his way quietly into the lushly decorated room.\u00c2\u00a0 Travers silently scanned the crowd, searching for one person in particular.\u00c2\u00a0 He couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t help but notice Brent Gregor, the only one in a wheelchair, talking to a beautiful redhead.\u00c2\u00a0 Only a man with that kind of money could get a woman to forget he was crippled, Travers thought.<\/p>\n

Then his eyes landed on the man he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d come to see:\u00c2\u00a0 Cecil Davenport IV, the wealthy attorney and heir to the Davenport fortune.\u00c2\u00a0 Davenport had everything \u00e2\u20ac\u201c handsome good looks, his beautiful wife, Julia, dutifully at his side like a trophy to be admired, and a modicum of fame and fortune.\u00c2\u00a0 But there was one thing Davenport had wanted that he couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t produce \u00e2\u20ac\u201c an heir of his own.\u00c2\u00a0 No, that he had taken from someone else.\u00c2\u00a0 Taken from Oscar Travers.<\/p>\n

Travers pushed his way quickly through the crowd and grabbed Davenport by the collar in a vice-like grip.\u00c2\u00a0 Before the stunned aristocrat even had time to react, Travers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 iron fist connected with Davenport\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s glass jaw with the speed of a locomotive.\u00c2\u00a0 The rich man\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s head jerked back from the fierce blow and he spat a mouthful of blood across his beautiful young wife\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s gleaming white gown.<\/p>\n

The crushing blow knocked Davenport straight to the floor.\u00c2\u00a0 The young Mrs. Davenport screamed at the sight.\u00c2\u00a0 In that split second, her concern was not only that her husband was loosing blood, but that she found it on her dress.<\/p>\n

He was about to spill more.<\/p>\n

With the speed of a man possessed, Travers quickly scooped Davenport off the floor and assailed him repeatedly in the face and gut.\u00c2\u00a0 Davenport was so dazed by the onslaught that he could only cough up more blood.\u00c2\u00a0 He was completely unable to come to his senses, much less retaliate.<\/p>\n

The crowd quickly parted in shock and horror.\u00c2\u00a0 Men shouted and women screamed.\u00c2\u00a0 It was a brutal sight.\u00c2\u00a0 Vicky looked up at the melee with widened-eyes.\u00c2\u00a0 Brent quickly assessed the situation to see if he should act.\u00c2\u00a0 Denny just stood back in shock.<\/p>\n

Travers hauled back to pummel Davenport to the floor once more, but an unseen force stayed his clenched fist.\u00c2\u00a0 His arm felt strangely numb.\u00c2\u00a0 In the instant of his fury, Travers thought it was someone behind him.\u00c2\u00a0 He didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have time to realize he was standing alone.\u00c2\u00a0 Brent gripped the handles of his wheelchair as he focused his concentration, thankful he could use the power of the Spirit Force without being noticed.<\/p>\n

Travers could only shout in frustration, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You stole our baby!\u00c2\u00a0 We already paid!\u00c2\u00a0 That baby was ours!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Two burly Ushers stormed quickly through the horrified crowd and grabbed Travers by the arms to hold him back.\u00c2\u00a0 Travers was momentarily stunned to find that there had previously been no one behind him.\u00c2\u00a0 He then struggled against their solid grasps and shouted, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You stole our baby!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

They quickly drug him out of the lobby and into the alley.\u00c2\u00a0 Denny only had a moment to look up at Vicky to see her follow right behind.\u00c2\u00a0 Her reporter\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s instinct had kicked in as usual and she had no choice but to follow the story.\u00c2\u00a0 Literally.<\/p>\n

Brent gave Denny an understanding nod, seeing him standing there alone, their special evening brought to a tragic and unexpected end.\u00c2\u00a0 Denny watched as Worthington wheeled Brent outside.\u00c2\u00a0 He then looked over at the men who helped Davenport to his feet as he coughed more blood into his handkerchief.\u00c2\u00a0 The women attended to Mrs. Davenport, as she cried in terrified confusion.<\/p>\n

Worthington helped Brent into their dark, luxurious car, then settled himself into the driver\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s seat.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What do you suppose that was all about, Sir?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Brent stared thoughtfully out the window, pondering Travers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 words as Worthington put the car in gear and pulled away from the curb.\u00c2\u00a0 He had his suspicions.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve heard rumors of a baby-selling racket.\u00c2\u00a0 More like a baby auction,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Brent told him.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Supposedly, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a doctor in town who helps \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcunfortunate\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 girls, then sells the baby to the highest bidder.\u00c2\u00a0 I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m guessing that man was outbid by a wealthier buyer.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153My heavens!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d was Worthington\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s response.\u00c2\u00a0 He could not believe the words.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Every time I think that mankind has sunk to his lowest depths, he seeks to prove me wrong.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Brent added that he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d looked into this before, but had only come up empty-handed.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Whoever this doctor is, he does a very good job of covering his tracks.\u00c2\u00a0 But at least now there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a trail.\u00c2\u00a0 And with more than one path.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The Black Spectre, of course, wasted no time in following that trail.\u00c2\u00a0 Cecil Davenport may have been well-guarded at the hospital to which he was taken, but that didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t keep him from having visitors.\u00c2\u00a0 Most especially, one visitor in particular.<\/p>\n

Despite the doses of morphine and expert attention at Terminal City\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s finest medical facility, Davenport did not rest well that night.\u00c2\u00a0 Nestled in his hospital bed, his face was heavily bandaged around his crown and his nearly-broken jaw.\u00c2\u00a0 Davenport was jostled awake by something uneasy and unexpected.\u00c2\u00a0 He struggled to open his eyes.\u00c2\u00a0 Through the drug-induced clouds of his mind, he saw Death standing over him.<\/p>\n

Or something that looked very much like it.<\/p>\n

Davenport let out a very loud gasp as his heart stopped momentarily.\u00c2\u00a0 A dark-gloved hand quickly covered his mouth.\u00c2\u00a0 Without time to think, Davenport\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hand shot out for the small hand-bell he used to call the nurse.\u00c2\u00a0 He shook it violently, but it made no sound.<\/p>\n

He looked back at the dark figure before him.\u00c2\u00a0 Surely he was dead.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Tell me,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said The Black Spectre in his deep, scratchy voice, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153who is the doctor that sold you the baby?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Davenport stumbled on his words as he attempted to speak.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I \u00e2\u20ac\u201c I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The Black Spectre leaned directly over Davenport\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s face, so that all he could see was the gleaming white skull of his mask.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t lie to me!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d demanded The Spectre.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Do you really want to spend eternity in Hell?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Davenport blinked through tear-filled eyes and answered, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153No, Sir!\u00c2\u00a0 Please!\u00c2\u00a0 I swear!\u00c2\u00a0 I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know.\u00c2\u00a0 But I know the name of the hospital.\u00c2\u00a0 It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Hollyvale Country Hospital.\u00c2\u00a0 That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s where they take all the unfortunates.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Just at that moment, the door flung quickly open.\u00c2\u00a0 Davenport turned to look.\u00c2\u00a0 There, bathed in the light of the hallway, was a pale-blue angel.\u00c2\u00a0 Now that he had told the truth, he had purged his soul from the darkness of Death.\u00c2\u00a0 She was there to save him.\u00c2\u00a0 Or so he believed when he saw her.<\/p>\n

Her reaction, however, was not so angelic.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What are you doing here?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she demanded of the dark-cloaked figure.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The same as you, I imagine,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d answered The Spectre.<\/p>\n

With a wave of his hand, the lights in the hallway went out behind her.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Come with me,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d was all he said as he whisked her out the door.<\/p>\n

Davenport could only look up in confusion.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Angel, come back!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he called out.<\/p>\n

Though he only touched the fingers of her hand, Vicky felt herself being pulled down the dark hallway until they quickly came to a stop.\u00c2\u00a0 He moved around her in a sudden, fluid motion, then loomed over her, face to face.\u00c2\u00a0 She wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t so easily intimidated.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Meet me at the Hollyvale Country Hospital,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d was all he said, then disappeared into the shadows.\u00c2\u00a0 She blinked a few times, wondering if her eyes had played tricks on her.\u00c2\u00a0 She\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d seen him do that many times before, but never up close.\u00c2\u00a0 She shook her head, completely unable to make sense of it.\u00c2\u00a0 But there was no time to ponder such puzzlements now.\u00c2\u00a0 Despite her disdain for The Spectre, she had the information she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d come to retrieve and, to her way of thinking, she wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t about to let this phantom character rattle her into letting go of it.\u00c2\u00a0 Even if he was the one who gave it to her.<\/p>\n

Moments later, The Black Spectre ducked unseen into a long, black car tucked safely some distance away in the darkness of the night.\u00c2\u00a0 Worthington looked into the rear-view mirror to see the smiling face of Brent Gregor staring back at him.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I trust you were successful, Sir?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Worthington asked.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Certainly,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Brent, giving him their next location, then added, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re meeting Vicky there.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Worthington looked back at him curiously as they drove off.<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

SEVERAL long miles later, well outside of the city, The Black Spectre swooped in on the small country hospital.\u00c2\u00a0 It was a quaint little place, like a rather long home that had been extended in both directions.\u00c2\u00a0 Certainly the kind of place where unfortunate girls would feel as welcome as they could during their extended stay.<\/p>\n

As he expected, The Spectre found Vicky at a back door, hunched down, working the lock in frustration with a hairpin.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Allow me,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said, startling her.\u00c2\u00a0 With another wave of his hand, the door unlocked and swung open.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You knew I was coming.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Vicky could only respond with an aggravated grunt as she brushed quickly past him to get inside first.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Stay quiet,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said, barreling into the hallway and having to suddenly stop short by the sound of her clacking heels on the slick, tile floor.\u00c2\u00a0 She let out another aggravated grunt as she stopped to take off her shoes.\u00c2\u00a0 The Spectre moved silently past her and she was forced to follow.<\/p>\n

As they reached the office, The Spectre opened the locked door and led her to the filing cabinet.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Can I at least do this part?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she asked in frustration.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153This is what I do.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The Spectre stepped politely back, pointing her to the files.\u00c2\u00a0 She thrust her shoes into his gloved-hands as if he needed to do something useful.\u00c2\u00a0 She went to the first drawer and gave it a quick tug.\u00c2\u00a0 Of course, it was locked.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Try it again,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said, without moving a muscle.<\/p>\n

As much as she hated to, and without even glancing in his direction, she gently pulled on the drawer again.\u00c2\u00a0 It came right open.<\/p>\n

Still refusing to look at him, she went straight to work.\u00c2\u00a0 Like a highly-trained specialist, she whizzed quickly and quietly through the file drawers, pausing every moment or so to hold a folder up to the dim shafts of light that bore across the dark room from the street lights outside.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I still don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re a criminal or a savior,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said, finally looking up and staring him down.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m no criminal,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he replied matter-of-factly.<\/p>\n

She only made a sound of disbelief before going back to the files.<\/p>\n

After another few moments, she let out a slight sound of satisfaction.\u00c2\u00a0\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Here.\u00c2\u00a0Girl\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s name is Susan Harris.\u00c2\u00a0 Checked out two days ago.\u00c2\u00a0There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s some numbers and initials written at the bottom \u00e2\u20ac\u201c I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m guessing they sold the baby to Davenport for $100 dollars.\u00c2\u00a0Travers had only paid fifty.\u00c2\u00a0Looks like she hasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t given birth yet.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Who\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the doctor?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d The Spectre asked.<\/p>\n

She looked up at him as if to ask if he really thought she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d reveal such a vital piece of information.\u00c2\u00a0 As much as she wanted to withhold it, there was no way she could have kept it from him.\u00c2\u00a0 And if that wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t enough to really irk her, it was a name she didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t recognize.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Dr. Zachary Wellman,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she confessed.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153You know him?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she asked, both hoping that he did and irritated that he might.<\/p>\n

In fact, The Spectre knew Dr. Wellman rather well indeed.\u00c2\u00a0 He lived in Lakeview Heights, a few blocks from the Gregor Mansion.\u00c2\u00a0 His home backed up against the long-empty Patterson house, which Brent and every other child that grew up in Lakeview Heights knew to be haunted. \u00c2\u00a0And if that wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t enough, Dr. Wellman had attended to Brent and his mother that fateful Halloween night so many years ago.<\/p>\n

Again, The Spectre told Vicky to meet him there.<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

AFTER the several-mile drive back into the city and on to Lakeview Heights, Worthington let The Spectre out near Dr. Wellman\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s house before taking the car on to the mansion.\u00c2\u00a0 Vicky wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t far behind, though, and quickly rushed in through the open front door to find him waiting.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t seem to be anyone home,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he told her.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Have you looked upstairs?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she asked, not waiting for him to answer.\u00c2\u00a0 She barreled quickly up the grand, circular staircase.\u00c2\u00a0 Since this was only the second home in Lakeview Heights (the first being Brent Gregor\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s, of course) she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d been in, her mind was momentarily distracted by the thought of how much she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d have liked to see this home with the lights on.<\/p>\n

They rushed into the study to find it dark and empty like the rest of the house.\u00c2\u00a0 As Vicky glanced over the papers on the desk and found the drawers locked, she could have sworn that she saw a flash of light in the house directly behind them.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t that the old Patterson House?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she asked.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The one that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s supposed to be haunted?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yes,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d answered The Spectre, knowing full well that it was.\u00c2\u00a0 For on the same fateful Halloween that had changed his life, he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d had his first brush with the otherworld.\u00c2\u00a0 Like all the kids in Lakeview Heights, he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d peered in through the front door while completing the neighborhood children\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s rite of passage, and something \u00e2\u20ac\u201c something ghostly, something frightening, something not from this world \u00e2\u20ac\u201c had called out to him.<\/p>\n

Vicky\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s voice shook him from those terrible memories.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153If you were going to hide someone and you wanted to make sure she was never found, where would you hide her? A haunted house maybe?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Before he could answer and even think to hesitate, Vicky was down the stairs and out the back door.\u00c2\u00a0 The Spectre caught up with her as she charged across the yard, finally stopping at the back porch to look up at the ornate, eerie edifice that had frightened so many and left scars on more than a few.<\/p>\n

She turned quickly back to look at him, waiting impatiently for him to unlock the door.\u00c2\u00a0 For once, he actually hesitated.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Oh, my goodness,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she exclaimed, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t tell me you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re afraid of this place?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Of course, he couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t answer.\u00c2\u00a0 And he especially couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t confess to the terror that his childhood memories of that night evoked.\u00c2\u00a0 He knew there was no backing down.\u00c2\u00a0 At least they weren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t going in the front door.<\/p>\n

With a quick wave, the back door opened with a long and resounding creak.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Great,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153just like a horror movie.\u00c2\u00a0 Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s just hope Bela Lugosi isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t waiting inside.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

In a quick glide up to the porch, he stepped in front of the door and blocked her path.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Please, allow me,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he said, now leading the way.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153About time,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she answered.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thought you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d feel right at home here.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She shook her head, puzzled, thinking to herself that maybe he was human after all.<\/p>\n

The Spectre led her quietly in.\u00c2\u00a0 Even with his ghost-like movements, he couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t avoid the quiet creaks as he made his way across the floor of the empty room into which they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d entered.\u00c2\u00a0 Vicky did much worse, only this time she wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t about to take off her shoes.<\/p>\n

As they went into the main hallway that led to the stairs, The Spectre found the unsettling prospect of staring out the front door himself, taking on the vantage point of whatever it was that had looked out at him.\u00c2\u00a0 He wondered if he would encounter that visage again now that he was deep within the house.\u00c2\u00a0 An eerie chill ran down his spine.<\/p>\n

As if on cue, they heard a muffled scream from upstairs.\u00c2\u00a0 Vicky grabbed his arm and practically pulled herself under his cloak as she let out a gasp that left her breathless.\u00c2\u00a0 As anxious as he was at that moment, having her in his arms and the need to protect her supplanted the childhood fears that still lived within him.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Think it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a ghost?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she asked.<\/p>\n

Before he could answer, they heard it again.\u00c2\u00a0 This time, he was reassured.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Come on,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he replied, his voice strong and commanding once again.\u00c2\u00a0 He led her up the stairs, keeping her tight under his cape.\u00c2\u00a0 It felt good to move together as one.\u00c2\u00a0 But as much as he treasured this moment, he knew he would have to let her go when they reached the top.<\/p>\n

At the end of the long black hall, they could barely see a thin bit of light creep under the last doorway.\u00c2\u00a0 Then they heard another scream.\u00c2\u00a0 This time, Vicky was sure, too.\u00c2\u00a0 It was no apparition.<\/p>\n

The Spectre backed her to the wall, finally releasing her from the safety of his grasp.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Stay here,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he whispered. \u00c2\u00a0She nodded silently.<\/p>\n

He floated over to the door and commanded it to open silently, and just barely at that.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Push!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d shouted Doctor Wellman as the poor young Susan Harris lay back on a bed with the doctor and an older nurse, waiting at her feet.\u00c2\u00a0 The Spectre immediately recognized her, too, as Mrs. Wellman. He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d heard rumors that the Wellman\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s were having financial troubles.\u00c2\u00a0 Had it really come to this? Had he known, he could have easily helped.<\/p>\n

Susan bit down on a rolled up rag as she screamed and gave it her all as Wellman had commanded.<\/p>\n

The Spectre watched wide-eyed as Susan gave birth at that moment to a healthy baby girl and the room was filled with the cries of both mother and daughter.\u00c2\u00a0 Susan flopped back on the old, rumpled mattress in exhaustion as Mrs. Wellman dabbed her forehead with a wet cloth.<\/p>\n

Handing the baby off to his wife, the doctor soon realized that they weren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t alone.\u00c2\u00a0 Surprisingly, he didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t seem startled.\u00c2\u00a0 Perhaps he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d experienced ghosts in that house before.\u00c2\u00a0 Mrs. Wellman, however, had the complete opposite reaction.\u00c2\u00a0 She shreiked even louder than Susan had; though, to be fair, she didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have anything to bite on.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s okay, Muriel,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Wellman reassured his wife.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Attend to the baby.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Wellman turned back to The Spectre.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153How did you find me?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he asked as Mrs. Wellman nervously bundled up the newborn. She was afraid to take her eyes off the dark visage as she placed the infant in a make-shift cradle.<\/p>\n

The Spectre well knew the voice that came from the old man before him.\u00c2\u00a0 He knew its kind, reassuring tones.\u00c2\u00a0 It was weaker and softer now, but it was still that same voice that he had known so long ago.\u00c2\u00a0 He could only regret this moment.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Just followed the clues, that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s all,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d answered Vicky as she marched through the doorway and went straight up to Wellman.\u00c2\u00a0 Her voice wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t so kind.\u00c2\u00a0 After all, she hadn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t known the doctor before and could only judge him by what she saw then.<\/p>\n

It was a near deadly distraction for both of them.\u00c2\u00a0 While The Spectre was lost in memories of both this place and the old doctor that stood slumped and exhausted before them, Mrs. Wellman quietly took a syringe from a nearby table.\u00c2\u00a0 She moved silently behind Vicky.<\/p>\n

Then, in a motion surprisingly fast for an aging woman, one born of desperation more than strength, Mrs. Wellman went to plunge it straight into Vicky\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s neck.<\/p>\n

This was not the kindly woman that Brent had known as a child.<\/p>\n

The needle had nearly pierced Vicky\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s flesh when a black-gloved hand stopped her.\u00c2\u00a0 Only the hand hadn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t even touched her own.\u00c2\u00a0 Instead, it was several feet away, outstretched with fingers extended, tense and shaking from exertion.<\/p>\n

Vicky screamed with a start as Mrs. Wellman struggled against the unseen, numbing force that had stopped her.\u00c2\u00a0 Another equally powerful and invisible force pulled Vicky quickly away, then sent the syringe flying from Mrs. Wellman\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s hand to smash against the wall.\u00c2\u00a0 In that same instant, Vicky found herself once again in his arms.\u00c2\u00a0 This time, staring him face-to-face, she thought for a fleeting moment of wrapping herself completely in his cape.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Well,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she finally said, struggling for the words.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I guess you are a savior after all.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

As much as he wanted that moment to last for an eternity, and seeing in her eyes that Vicky was considering the same, The Spectre reluctantly let her go.\u00c2\u00a0 He secured the Wellmans, tying their hands with dark cord, then led Vicky back out into the hall.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The police will be here soon,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d he told her.\u00c2\u00a0And with that, he was gone.\u00c2\u00a0 Just like before.\u00c2\u00a0 Perhaps he wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t a man after all.\u00c2\u00a0 Vicky rushed over to the bed to look down on Susan Harris.\u00c2\u00a0 Despite all that had happened, she was smiling at the sight of her healthy baby girl next to her.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Will they still take my baby?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Susan asked weakly.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153No, not now,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Vicky reassured her.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t worry.\u00c2\u00a0 You get to keep her now.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Oh,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d said Susan, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153looking away.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153But what about the money?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

A SHORT while later, the wealthy residents of the neighborhood poured from their front doors as flashing police lights filled the usually tranquil streets.\u00c2\u00a0 There was many a shriek and murmur from both children and adults alike when the black and white cars pulled up outside the old Patterson House.\u00c2\u00a0 Vicky rushed out to meet the grizzled and burly Detective Shayne as he moved cautiously towards the front door.\u00c2\u00a0 Then there was an audible sigh of relief when they all realized that she wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t a ghost, though one man in the crowd did notice that she looked like an angel.<\/p>\n

That man was Denny.\u00c2\u00a0 He rushed over and clutched her by the hand, pulled her to him and, he presumed, to safety.\u00c2\u00a0 In that instant, she realized that just then she didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t feel quite as safe as she had before, upstairs in the house that was haunted and wrapped in the cloak of a man she didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thank goodness, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re okay,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Denny exclaimed.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What happened in this old place anyway?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the baby-selling racket,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Vicky shouted, both to Denny and Detective Shayne.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153An old doctor and his wife, a young girl and her baby.\u00c2\u00a0 They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re right inside, upstairs.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153You don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t say!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d shouted Detective Shayne with a start before charging up the steps and directly inside.\u00c2\u00a0 The crowd gasped again at the sight of someone actually going into that old, frightening edifice.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Talk to you tomorrow, Detective,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d called Vicky, as she heard him clomping up the creaky old stairs.\u00c2\u00a0 Then she turned back to Denny and added, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Come on, let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s get out of here.\u00c2\u00a0 I need to get back to the office.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Despite his desires to the contrary, Denny dutifully agreed.<\/p>\n

When Detective Shayne reached the upstairs room, he found the Wellmans, Susan Harris, and the baby just as Vicky said.\u00c2\u00a0 But one additional detail immediately caught his attention \u00e2\u20ac\u201c two strips of tape stretched across the window formed the shadow of a large \u00e2\u20ac\u0153X\u00e2\u20ac\u009d across the room.\u00c2\u00a0 Shayne could only nod knowingly.\u00c2\u00a0 This was the work of The Spectre, no doubt.<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

AS VICKY drove out of Lakeview Heights, she passed the Gregor Mansion.\u00c2\u00a0 There, in the upstairs window of his bedroom, was the familiar silhouette of Brent Gregor, ever-watching.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Black Spectre Adventure OSCAR TRAVERS grabbed another shot from the bar in his anvil-like fist and tossed it back like a glass of water.\u00c2\u00a0 His body was steeled from years of working on the docks, and now, thanks to a combination […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-black-spectre"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lightningbugpress.com\/blackhoodpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lightningbugpress.com\/blackhoodpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lightningbugpress.com\/blackhoodpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lightningbugpress.com\/blackhoodpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lightningbugpress.com\/blackhoodpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lightningbugpress.com\/blackhoodpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lightningbugpress.com\/blackhoodpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lightningbugpress.com\/blackhoodpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lightningbugpress.com\/blackhoodpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}