Chapter 13

"Don't let the suction cups touch you," screamed a voice down the street.

Grace and Archer watched in horror as large purple tentacles, adorned with darker purple circular suckers came smashing up through the ground on the busy pedestrian-filled street.

A demonic, animal-like roar could be heard from underneath them, as the large, unknown creature tried to further break free. Its tentacles reached approximately two stories high above the street and were thrashing blindly around trying to grab anything in its path.

Bikes, scooters, hotdog carts, and an empty baby stroller became victims of the suckers, dragged down underneath the surface. Then the tentacles reappeared looking for something else to grab. Fortunately, all the bystanders were quick to jump out of the way and knew how to stay clear of the suckers.

This wasn't the city's first tentacle monster, after all.

"Try stabbing it," suggested a woman two tentacles over.

As one, the crowd all sifted through their belongings for weapons or found something sharp on the street to use to stab the closest tentacle.

"What the hell are you doing?" Archer asked as he watched Grace produce a knife from her bag.

"You heard them, we're going to try stabbing it," she said, like it was a normal thing to do.

"I'm not letting you get close to that thing," Archer shouted over the noise, stepping in front of her to block her way.

"Rule number one, when dealing with tentacles, don't turn your back to them," Grace warned.

Just then the tentacle crashed down, just missing Archer. With it stuck momentarily on the ground, Grace leapt forward and stabbed the appendage.

"It's too thick," Grace yelled to others, and she heard similar reactions in return.

"What if we tried holy water?" screamed a man four tentacles down.

Without a second thought, those who carried, dug out their vial of holy water and sprayed or poured it on the waving foreign limbs when they could get a clean shot.

"What, no holy water?" Archer asked sarcastically.

"No, I'm all out. I freaked out after Jake's attack, and I sprayed it around all the entrances of my townhouse."

"Smart," he admitted. "So what did you mean about Scarlett?"

"Holy water is just pissing it off. Let's try fire," someone screamed.

"What about Scarlett," Grace asked while she dug through her bag. "Here, I have two."

Grace produced two large lighters, specially designed to shoot fire, and handed one to Archer.

"Not only do you have one mini flamethrower on your person, but you carry two?" he asked, accepting the one being offered.

"Did no one prepare you for your move back here?" she asked in astonishm ent.

"Clearly not. When I last lived here, things just happened. I don't remember people fighting back."

"We got tired of relying on others," she shrugged. "Okay, wait for it to come down and get stuck on the ground again, then we'll blast it."

"Right. Anyway, you said that it wouldn't be harmless if Scarlett found out that Gus was jealous of me. Why would that matter?" Archer asked as they stood there watching the giant tentacle flail around.

"Because of your date," she said, her tone conveying an ‘obviously' inflection.

The Tentacle slammed down on the ground. Grace and Archer hurried to where it was momentarily stuck and shot fire at it."

"Abort, abort," someone screamed.

"Yeah, the fire is just pissing it off even more," agreed another.

Grace and Archer backed up, waiting for the next idea.

"It wasn't a date. She found me in the lounge of the restaurant and invited herself to dine with me. Lucas confirmed that his planner disappeared for an hour, so I can only assume she saw my reservation and just showed up."

Grace knew that that was exactly what happened, but kept her face neutral, revealing nothing.

"But you went home with her," Grace stated.

"Are you asking me if I slept with your assistant, Grace?" Archer asked, unable to hide his smirk.

"UV flashlights," screamed someone from the crowd.

"Get out your flashlights," others joined in.

Grace put away her mini flame throwers and grabbed her UV flashlight. Not waiting for their tentacle to hit the ground, she pointed her beam towards it. As the crowd collectively did the same, the creature beneath them started to scream in agony.

"Keep it up," a m an yelled.

The tentacles were becoming more violent and unpredictable, trying to hit or grab anything in its path, desperate to stop the cause of the pain, but the light from everyone's flashlight allowed them to stand at a safe distance.

The tentacles were starting to slowly retract.

"I'm not asking that …it's none of my business what you do with my assistant," Grace said.

She stood facing Archer, while she waved her flashlight in the tentacle's direction. It flopped wildly from side to side, trying to avoid the torturous beam of light.

"It's true, I walked her home. If you recall, she didn't give me much of a choice."

"She is persistent when she wants something," Grace agreed.

"She invited me in, but I–"

"Mr. Kennedy, you don't need to tell me this," she interrupted.

"Archer," he reminded her.

"Archer. You don't have to…" she trailed off as she adjusted her stance. Her arm was getting tired, so she moved the flashlight to her other hand.

"I know, but I feel like I have to. She invited me in, I said no. She then tried to kiss me, and I politely turned that down too."

"Why?"

"Why didn't I sleep with your assistant? Wouldn't that be a little weird?"

"It would," she admitted. "But she is also stupid hot and rarely gets rejected."

"She is attractive, just not my type," he admitted. "Besides, I couldn't."

"Red-haired vixens with legs longer than my entire height are not your type? "

Archer didn't answer but turned to watch the progress Grace was making with her flashlight. It was slow but steady. Down the street looked the same. The creature was retreating, albeit slowly and stubbornly.

"What do you mean you couldn't?" Grace asked and then cursed under her breath. "Fuck, Archer, I'm sorry. Forget I asked. This is none of my business."

Archer laughed.

"It's fine, Grace. It's normal to talk about people's relationships. I mean, I already know possibly too much about you," he chuckled.

"Yeah, thanks Scarlett," she muttered. "So you have someone," Grace clarified.

"Yes. No. Not exactly. It's still pretty new, I don't know how to label it, or if I even should."

"Oh my God, are you Susan's sugar daddy?" Grace blurted out.

She slowly turned to face Archer, her shoulders tense, eyes wincing as she instantly regretted what just fell out of her mouth. Her brain betrayed her, allowing an inside thought to spew out. She braced herself, preparing for a tongue-lashing, but was met with laughter instead.

"Is that what the rumour is?" he asked, laughing so hard he was bent over with his hands braced on his knees. "That I'm screwing the intern?"

"Uh…yeah…" she replied. "Sorry?"

"That explains all the whispers after I asked her to find out how to service the copy machine," he said, barely keeping it together.

Grace giggled with him, while she battled the large monster's appendage.

"I'd like to clear up that no, I am not hers or anyone else's sugar daddy," he clarified. "Besides, she is what? Barely twenty? That's way too young. "

In the distance, sirens started to wail, becoming increasingly louder every second.

"Finally," Grace said.

The large purple tentacles had finally retreated into the ground. Those with flashlights stood over the large holes, shining their UV lights down into the earth to prevent the creature from popping up again. The Special Monster Unit Squad arrived, suited up in all their gear, ready to take over.

"The monster retreated, what more can be done?" Archer asked as he watched the group spread out and run to each hole in the street.

"They'll go after it. Kill it," Grace said, nodding in the squad's direction.

They watched as the group threw ropes and flares into the holes and propelled down, ready to hunt and destroy whatever creature lurked below.

Ambulances arrived on scene next.

"We're not taking statements today. If you require medical assistance, please move to the south side of the street, if not, please vacate the area. We thank you for your assistance and bravery," instructed a voice on a loudspeaker.

Complying with the announcement's directions, Grace and Archer left the area and continued walking back to their office.

"That was…" Archer trailed off in contemplation.

"Scary? Horrific? Why you moved away in the first place?"

"Amazing," he said excitedly. "At first, admittedly, I almost shit my pants, but seeing everyone overcome the initial panic and work together! We need to harness this energy, this feeling somehow and incorporate it into our campaign."

"I was working on an angle to appeal to wannabe monsters and cryptid hunters. What if we were able to film instances like we just lived through? "

"Yes, this is brilliant. Do you have anything else scheduled for the day? I'd love to set up in the conference room with you and iron out some details."

"No, Gus was my only appointment. I'm good."

"Perfect. I'll call Lucas to get us set up."