A Piece Of The Heroes’ Heart:
Prologue:
Eliza, Texas 1862 6:28 P.M.
Self-appointed Sherriff Peters, the law in this small town of Eliza, writes a letter on his desk with intense focus. I, Deputy Marshal Louis Coits, continue to pace around the Sherriff’s desk holding my chin between my fingers as I think. The holding cell doors were busted open this mornin’ by an unknown creature described only as a monster with lots of hair and yellow eyes. Could it really be a monster? Peggy Ann Darcy said she saw its eyes when the creature ran past her several days ago, near her hen house. She described them as “bright yellow, like the shinin’ sun”. She also described the rest of its body as being covered by its own long dark hair. The creature ate some of Peggy Ann’s chickens and killed her watch dog, Mumpsey. As for the creature’s most recent attack, it tore off the holding cell door to get to Benny Whitstone, who was securely resting after having enough of the local saloon for the night. The Sheriff says he left him for thirty minutes—tops, after locking Benny in the cell. He left Benny alone here to go deal with some local drunkards brawling in the same saloon. When he returned, ol’ Benny was gone and so was the metal door. Accordin’ to the locals nearby, none of them heard a sound from the sheriff’s office or from Benny durin’ the attack. Before findin’ Benny gone, the sheriff requested professional help from the Union days ago and they sent me to investigate. After my arrival here, I spoke with the sheriff for any clues, but he had little. I decided to search the scenes for myself. Durin’ my investigation on the Bassett’s land, the third attack took place. A letter from the sheriff brought me back early. The sheriff told me what had happened and I sent word to my partner, requesting a second hand. Awaiting her arrival, I did happen to locate the missing metal door many yards away from the sheriff’s office, out toward the farmland. There were no signs of Benny or the creature that supposedly took him. No hair, cloth, footprints or trails to follow. Interestingly enough—
“Deputy Marshal Coits, what did Peggy Ann say the monster had? Yella’ eyes and black hair?” The sheriff’s scrunched face questions me as he scratches his ear. I stop pacing to face him.
“Long dark hair, Sheriff Peters; it had long dark hair.” The sheriff nods to me and looks down at his paper again to continue his letter. I cock a brow at him. Interestingly enough, the Sheriff seems to be quite distracted from the matter at hand. Taken that this is a very strange and serious matter, his focus is misplaced. What could be so odd and colorful enough to take his mind away from such a bizarre situation? The sound of hooves in the distance catches my ear. “Ah, that must be my partner now.” I announce as I turn toward the office door. The sheriff continues to scribble his note as he replies to me. I respectfully remove my hat from my head and fiddle with my hair to make it more presentable for the Marshal.