Welcome to the Archive
My name is Earl Briarwood, I work for the Leviathan Institute. Hunting, Watching, and Recording the strange anomalies that grace our dying planet. I have worked here for the past 20 years as one of the few known to hold a favor among the growing horrors.
The Horrors ranging from Death, to Claustrophobia, to even the growing fear of insects. Each hold their own name to make things easier but in the eyes of the institute we just call them Horrors.
My Favor is within the Horror known solely as The Deathless, and it does have it perks makes the job a bit easier if you can't die.
Today being no different as my boots suck deeper with every step, the field before me lined with blood and bodies of The Pit. This horror is one no one wishes to face daily but as time ticks away it grows ever hungry. The feel of nails against my jeans dragged me deeper into the muck until all that was left was darkness.
Only then, did my body jolt itself into wakefulness, hitting the carpeted floor as my burning lungs gulped for air, my eyes clouded with tears, and all senses went into overdrive.
On the outside it would look like I was having a seizure but, as quick as it came it evaporated my body going still as the world began to clear.
"EARL!"
"Yeah!" I shout back, pushing up off the floor, using the bed as leverage and falling back into the sweat stained sheets.
"You got a call!"
Groaning, I get up, pluck some pants off the floor, and yank them on. Opening the door, a wafting smell of bacon hits my nostrils. Fixing my jeans, I hop down the steps and towards the kitchen where a stout black woman stood. Miriam Harker, one of the best women in my life, and not counting the other ladies that had to keep their eyes on my sorry excuse of an ass.
"Elliot called was wondering if you were coming in today?"
"What did you tell him?" I questioned her back walking passed the phone and towards the table where two plates sit. Falling into the seat, I take the fork and start shoveling food into my mouth.
"Earl?" Miriam questions getting up to round the table her finger lifting my chin up to look at her.
"What's up?" I muffle through a mouth full of eggs.
"Did you notice your nose." Miriam grabs a napkin on the table and wipes it under my nose. Confusion plain on my face as I swallow. Pulling the napkin away a decent amount of blood has soaked through it. "Is that new?"
"What the hell?" Taking the napkin from her hands, I lift my fingers to the underside of my nose, pulling away more blood cakes from the tips of my fingers. "That different..."
"Did you wake up from one of those last night? I don't remember you coming in."
"I didn't... they had me in The Pit last night." I breath leaning my head back.
"The Pit, again!? Hadn't they finished looking through that thing already?" Miriam nearly shouts, throwing her arms out.
"The Pit is far more then what most assume Miriam you haven't the slightest clue the things I have seen in there." I grumble watching her from the corner of my eye.
Years ago, Miriam was part of The Leviathan Institute, the Archivist before Nico took the reins. Now she stays here with her anxious fingers over the table watching me leave every day and return to my room with the mark of Deathless upon my arms.
"What did you tell Elliot anyway?" I say holding the napkin in my nostril.
"Oh, yeah I told him you might not, you might it's all up to how you woke up this morning." She grumbles taking a bite from her toast. "Besides with how much noise you were making last night I might just call him and tell him no."
"Well thank you dear but I--" The phone rang cutting me off and making a low groan hit Mariam's throat.
Getting up she grabs the phone. "Lockwood Residence? Oh, hey Elliot... yeah, he's up one sec." Taking the box off the wall she hands me the receiver.
"Hey Elliot?"
"Where are you?" Elliot's exasperated growl rings through the receiver.
"Just got up I'll be in, in about an hour... give or take." I shrug keeping my head leaned back as Mariam relaxed in her seat.
"We have some news about The Pit please hurry." The dial tone rang in my ear as soon as those words came from his mouth. Shaking my head, I let the receiver fall from my hand.
"This is straight up bull..." I grumbled lifting my head up and taking a bit of what was left of my cold food.
"The Pit again?" Miriam questions, quirking a brow in slight confusion.
"Yeah, something is going on... I'll have to talk to Nico."
"Are you and Nico still not talking?"
Getting up from the chair I gather up my plate and put it in the sink.
"Yeah obviously... I shot his fiancé..."
"Well how were you supposed to know?!" Miriam exclaims chuckling a bit as she stands up, taking her plate and putting it in the sink.
Shrugging I make my way back upstairs, into my room, and quickly dress. Pulling on a grey shirt, and my jacket that lay haphazardly in front of my bathroom door the smell of decay upon it. Smirking I throw it on and hop down the stairs, grabbing my boots, and yanking them on.
"Earl."
"Yeah?" With hand on the wall and the other pulling the back of my boot Mariam steps over with a satchel in her hand.
"One you reek of death, and two this should help you and Nico." Taking the satchel from her hands, I slammed the bottom of the boot against the floor.
"Gotcha." Throwing the satchel over my shoulder, I threw the door open and made my way towards the Institute. "Seeya Mariam!" I shouted over my shoulder.
Kicking my foot I walk the streets, taking my time as the familiar sound of sneakers scuffing the ground reaches my ears.
"Mariam made us something." I leaned my head back, not really looking at Nico but the low hum that sounded gave him away.
"What is it..." Nico mumbles stepping up to walk beside me. His greying eyes behind dark-purple round shades, stare down at me as we walk.
"I have no idea." Shrugging the bag off my shoulder Nico's gloved hands take it. Opening it up he chuckles shaking his head. "What?"
"You got to love that woman..." Pulling his hand from the bag he removes a wrapped plate of biscuits, small dabs of colored icing on each one.
"Oh, hell yeah!" I laugh taking the plate from Nico's hands. "Haven't had these in a while." Pulling the wrap back I take one of the biscuits out and hold it in between my teeth, handing back the tray Nico takes one out before putting the tray back into the bag.
Walking in silence we reached downtown London with ease, The Leviathan Library sign hung haphazardly on rustic chains as I wiped my hand on my jacket and opened the door. Nico slips inside holding the satchel and his own bag close to his sides.
"Welcome gentlemen, how are you doing?" An older man behind the counter greeted a half-crooked smile on his face.
"Good afternoon, Jeremiah, any business?" Nico asks, walking past him and towards the back of the store. Jeremiah shrugs his shoulders.
"Same old, same old..."
"So dead then?" I quip smirking as a swift smack landed on the back of my head. "Shit!" Laughing, I rush over to Nico's side. Nico grabs one of the books, and like one of those secret mystery movies the shelf draws back to reveal a pristine hallway.
Stepping inside it closes with a loud click. The tapping of shoes meets us, Elliot rounds the corner cane in hand.
"There you both are! Come, come we have important things to discuss."
"Here we go again..." I mumble.