The Curse of 1977 (Book 2)

Chapter 43

"Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the six o' clock edition of Action Seven News. I'm Ted Hall.As you can see here behind me, one of the three Hollis Estates buildings is on fire. This content is © NôvelDrama.Org.

Now, the fire department has managed to contain the blaze, but there are a lot of questions and concerns surrounding this fire. Fire officials do believe that it was arson, but above that, a macabre discovery has been stumbled upon here, notably the findings of five dead bodies, all of which looked to be mutilated and burned beyond recognition, as well as multiple, vacant apartments where bone fragments were discovered.

That's right, you heard me correctly, ladies and gentlemen. Within this abandoned building behind me were found five dead, mutilated and burned corpses and bones and skulls. Police are speculating that over the years ever since the Estates were condemned that homeless squatters have inhabited this area, but they also are surmising that the animal or animals that have been responsible for the recent attacks have made their home here as well; perhaps making Hollis Estates a feeding ground of sorts.

The five bodies that were discovered have not been identified as of yet, and to be perfectly honest, it may be a good while before deducing their identities becomes a possibility considering the extensive damage to their corpses. However, no sign of the animals has yet to be discovered.

Police, as of now, are checking the other two buildings to see if there are any other bodies or skeletal remains to be found. When this blaze started is still a mystery, but that goes along with the uncanny and unannounced eclipse that overcame Cypress earlier today as well. Stay with Action Seven News for more developing details. I'm Ted Hall."

Appearing fatigued, Ted dropped his microphone before looking over at his cameraman and asking, "Are we off?"

"Yeah, we're good." The cameraman replied before shutting off his camera.

Holding to his umbrella, Ted looked all around at the hectic firefighters, police officers and investigators who were shuffling in and out of all three buildings like busy ants in the rain.

"Can you believe this?" The cameraman looked on in dismay.

Stuffing his thin microphone into his coat pocket, Ted stared up at the smoldering middle building before saying, "Are you kidding? I'm surprised these shithole buildings are still standing after all these years. Maybe now they'll demolish all these places. For all we know, we taxpayers could've been paying rent here ever since '71, for Christ's sake. Let's get back to the van before we float away from here."

As Ted turned and headed towards the area where various other news vans were parked, his cameraman tugged the reporter on the shoulder.

"Hey, hey, do you see that kid over there?" He pointed. "The little black kid."

Ted turned back around and squinted before he spotted the obscure, shabby looking boy that was wandering around the grounds as though he were visible only to the two men. Every other firefighter and officer seemed to completely ignore him.

"Holy Christ," Ted gasped. "Turn on the camera! We may have a witness!" He clamored in astonishment as he chased after the boy. "Come on, Brad!" He yelled. "Hey, kid! Hold up!"

But the little lost boy, without saying a mumbling word, simply turned and walked away in the opposite direction, towards a wooded area behind the buildings with the newscaster and his partner chasing right after him.