Sunday Serial: Professor Hokum – Newborn

  
Hi all. I hope everyone is or will have a lovely Sunday. The weekend is going by fast and as sleep usually does and evades me, I thought I would post this earlier than usual in the morning.

This week has been busy with hectic work schedules and writing the Sibling novel. I’m finally in the last act and bringing everything to a close in the first draft. There will be more of an update next Saturday. The posts on my blog may not have a real structure into the first draft is finished. But the Sunday post are guarantees unless something major happens.

This post is all about the Professor Hokum story. I left in on a cliffhanger last week so thought I would make this one slightly longer and go in to more detail. If you haven’t done so already it is worth checking out the last two Sunday posts to make sense of what is happening. 

                    Professor Hokum – Newborn

Professor Hokum watched on as Evie stroked the stake with a delicate touch and eyed it with curiosity. 

“This is my destiny? What am I going to do with this? Kill a vampire or something?” Evie chuckled as she thrusted the weapon back to him.

Professor Hokum held his hands up and smiled. “It is not mine anymore. That is for you, and tonight on our walk, you will need it.”

Evie slumped her shoulders and held the stake to her side. “I just started to think you was alright, old man. Now I think you are just weird.”

Professor Hokum ignored her as he collected his violet robe from the coat horse. “Wrap up in some of the clothes I bought. You will need them.”

Evie had protested about going out in the dark as she was still nervous of it. Professor Hokum had assured her that everything would be okay as long as she stayed by his side. That comment prompted the young girl to laugh and retort with a witty remark about him just being an old man. It made Professor Hokum smile too. If only she knew.

Half an hour later they were out the door and heading towards the park. The night had set in and the sky was starless and pitch black. Professor Hokum was wrapped up in his violet robe, his long greying hair tied up and his goatee beard platted so that it wouldn’t blow in the wind. Evie had opted for skinny jeans, a top and a big grey hoody. She had concealed the stake Professor Hokum had persuaded her to take in the large pocket and she hid her face with the hood. 

They did not speak the entire fifteen minute walk; Professor Hokum keeping to the shadows and Evie stayed in the spotlight of the overhead lamps. When a rare person approached, she hid herself in the shadows close to the Professor. 

Once they reached the park entrance, Hokum gripped Evie by the elbow and led her down the path. There was no conversation between the two as they headed down the weaving path and towards a group of dark ominous conker trees.

“Make sure your hand is on the stake,” Professor Hokum whispered, knowing what to expect once they reached the destination.

“Why?”

“No questions. Just keep going.”

The night was becoming misty and thicker the further they walked. The park area was dimly lit by lamp posts but as the mist drifted over swings and slides it left an eerie presence. They reached the shadows of the conker trees close to the play area and Professor Hokum released his grip. Evie huddled up, her arms tight around her stomach as Professor Hokum let out a whistle and took a few steps back.

Rustling came from the fallen tree leaves and a second later two deformed men in full biker leathers emerged. Evie let out a gasp at their features and kept close to Hokum. The taller of the two had skin of a lizard but the face of a man and the shorter one resembled a hog with tusks formed at either side of his nose.

“Well, well, well,” the hog creature snorted eyeing the girl in the hood. 

“Ain’t seen you around in these parts for sometime,” the Lizard man said, directing his attention to Professor Hokum.

Hokum had never been fond of these turning up but knew they were nothing but street scum. They didn’t harm anyone apart from a few petty thefts and scaring the locals when it felt fit. Unfortunately for them, a lesson had to be taught that evening. 

“I must have been too busy reading or something,” Hokum responded with a grin.

The hog creature approached Evie who backed off further behind Professor Hokum. He waited until the hog got closer enough and raised the palm of his hand. “Don’t get any closer. I wouldn’t mess with her.”

The two creatures eyed her with suspicion and broke out in to laughter, tapping each other and laughing some more. Professor Hokum had enough at that point but used his willpower so he wouldn’t intervene just yet, choosing to step to the side and brought Evie into full view.

In a second, the creatures turned from jovial into sadistic beasts. There eyes were wide, froth built up at the side of their lips and claws extended from their fingers. They jumped towards Evie who fell back releasing her grip from the stake. 

Professor Hokum watched on as the lizard crawled towards her and the hog poised over.

“Evie, fight,” Professor Hokum demanded.

Evie squealed and through her sobs came incoherent ramblings. He had thought it would be too soon for her to fight but she needed to see to believe. Hokum stepped in, gripping the two by the collar and with the magnificent strength for an older gentleman threw them a few feet in the air and hard on to the floor. Evie’s hood had come loose and she was left staring in shock with her face streamed in tears.

He lifted up the stake, turned towards the creatures who were now standing and took a step forward. He gripped the lizard by the throat and rammed the stake into the neck of the hog who gurgled his last few breaths before dispersing into ashes. Hokum cocked his head to the side and snarled. “Tell the others to beware. The dark days will see the light. The newborn has risen, and her name is Evie.”

Hokum relinquished his grip and pushed the lizard back into the shadows. He loathed the lizards lifestyle but at the moment in time he was better alive than dead. 

Evie whimpered behind him and adjusted her hood back above her head. Hokum thrusted the stake into her hands which she begrudgingly accepted.

“You okay?

She nodded. 

“Good. That’s the first lesson taught. Never back down from a challenge no matter how unexpected it is.”

Hokum headed back towards the house not saying another word to Evie, allowing the events of the night to soak in. He needed to be strict with her, and at times he knew she would despise him. But it was worth it in the long run. It would take some doing but she would be ready for the greatest battle of her life.