Spoiler: A walk at night
Big cities never sleep, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, it doesn't matter. Even in the dead of night you can feel the city breathing all around you with police sirens and the howl of alley cats just adding to the ambiance. Shadows stretch out between the street lights hiding the stealthy footsteps of the wicked out in search of new victims. But even in the darkest of alleyways a miracle can happen.
Tonight a lone woman coming off a double shift at a convenient store will see her life flash before her eyes and nearly stolen from her by the blade of a knife. But the timely interference of a drifter gives it back to her before he goes back into the balmy night without a further word.
And so it begins...
The sounds of soft footfalls bounces around the narrow red brick corridors between Earl's 24 hour diner and the townhouses of 5th street. And a tired woman's face is lit up by the screen of a cellphone her eyes just glancing up from time to time to make sure a wall wasn't suddenly jumping out in front of her.
B home soon luv u!
The phone chimed as the message was received and with a wistful smile the woman pocketed the phone and opened the top few buttons of her powder blue blouse exposing her chest a little and fanning herself with her hand. This was the third night in the row of 80+ degrees at night. It almost made you want to move out to the country where you can at least hope for a cooling breeze.
But the woman was almost home to her husband and their brand-new AC Unit. It would be just what she needed after today, cool air, some wine, and the man of her dreams. And best of all she had tomorrow off, her smile broadened and a pep came into her step. She was only a block away from home, but a harsh voice and a man's sudden looming shadow at the end of the alley stopped her dead in her tracks.
"Well, well, it's my lucky day! And hear I thought no one would be dumb enough to be out in the city this late!"
The woman scuttled back reaching into her purse fumbling for her mace. The man laughed mockingly then the sound of a pistol's hammer cocking back filled their air between them and the robber began striding quickly after his backpedaling victim. "Don't even think about it lady, it's too damn hot for a fight. Just give me all your money, jewelry, and other valuables and I'll be on my way." The woman's back hit a wall and in a panic she grabbed onto the mace cannister and blasted it into the mugger's eyes. Only in her frantic state she missed his eyes entirely, instead she sprayed the top of his head staining his ball cap. Some of it got into one eye, but before more could he threw the hat aside and backhanded the woman hard sending her smacking into the wall forcing her to drop her mace and her purse.
He tackled her face first into the wall using his greater weight and muscle to hold her in place while his gun hand pressed the cool barrel against her temple, his free hand then ripped her blouse the rest of the way open and began hiking up her long skirt.
"Damn it you bitch, should've just given me the money! Cause now I'm pissed and not only am I taking all your shit. I'm gonna take that ass as well. You scream you die!" The woman tried to fight back, but the robber had all the leverage. He sneered pressing his chapped lips to her cheek while his hand went to work on the woman's panties.
He almost had it when a calm but commanding voice stopped him.
"Enough, please let her go now."
The man looked all around until he saw an even larger shadow than himself appear from the streetside of the alley. It was a heavily built bearded man in a shabby coat. He was carrying a toolbelt over his shoulder and was covered in sawdust by the looks of him, just a good Samaritan sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. The robber scoffed pressing the gun back to the woman's head. "This is none of your concern man she maced me so you fuck off!"
Undeterred, the Samaritan dropped his tools and fully entered the alley holding his hands up peacefully, but walking with confident steps towards the pair.
"It is very much my concern, you are committing quite a few crimes here. And this woman has done nothing but defend herself. I do not want this situation to devolve any further, just please let her go."
Bringing his free hand up he used it to press his victims face more into the brickwork, her tears straining the dirty wall and her quiet sobs filling the space between the words of the men. He aimed his pistol at the big guy and clicked the safety off.
"Or what you asshole?"
The other man was now only a few feet away from the mugger and his victim, his eyes were sad and everything about his demeanor said he wanted to end this peacefully. But with a sigh the Samaritan responded. "I will stop you." And then before the mugger could spit anything the big man's hands came down and twisted the gun away before a swift elbow connected with the mugger's forehead knocking him down and away from the victim who quickly fixed her clothes, grabbed her stuff, and ran the rest of the way for her home, not even being able to thank the drifter her hands already scrambling for the cellphone in her pocket to call the police.
The construction worker listened to her tear-filled words until they went out of earshot. He let out another deep sigh and looked down at the unconscious would-be robber. Tossing the gun aside the bearded hero bowed his head in prayer.
"Father see this man, and judge him not too harshly. He used to be a good person, but losing his job and his son have been very hard on him. Please Father let him pay for his crime in peace and come out a better person." The big man crossed the gently groaning robber and walked back to his tools lifting them up and disappearing down the street just as the shrill screams of sirens came roaring around the corners towards the crime scene.
**An hour later**
Four police cars and eight polices officers were clustered outside the alleyway near the woman's home. Curious onlookers were gathered outside the police line, cell phones were recording and snapping pictures of everything they could, the people already filling their feeds and stories with the outrage from all sides of the political spectrum.
The man, now sporting a bandage over his nose was seated in one car with his head down and his hands cuffed. The woman, now joined by her husband was talking with an officer. A dark-skinned woman with a Star of David necklace hanging around her neck and a Detective's badge on her belt.
"So can you go over the description of the man who saved you again? Just so I know I have everything right."
With a shaky breath the woman nodded huddling closer to her husband.
"O...ook, he was a big guy. Like 6'5 and weighing I'd say close to two-hundred pounds...he-he was wearing a shabby leather coat, a white t-shirt I think and blue...blue jeans and he had black boots on. I-I think he was a construction working...coming home from work or something cause he was carrying a tool belt and was covered in sawdust."
The cop hmmed circling a few things before continuing and glancing at her watch it was 2:30 in the morning.
"Kinda late for a construction worker. Did he sound like he was drinking or anything? There are a few bars around here the blue-collar boys like to hang-out in."
The woman shook her head narrowing her eyes in thought.
"No he sounded completely sober and oddly calm, like he was expecting the man to try and rob me. He asked him to let me go twice." She laughed weakly. "He even said please both times, like he really thought the bastard would listen to him if he said the magic word."
The Detective nodded circling a few more things.
"Anything else? Even the smallest most insignificant detail can help us find the man and thank him for you."
The woman shook her head, she felt a strange resistance to divulging anymore even if she had anything more to say. "No nothing, most of it is a blur, and I don't think he wants to be found because after he knocked the guy out he must've just left. Cause I was only gone a few minutes between him saving me and calling the cops and when you guys showed up he was gone like he was never even there."
The woman sighed looking over her notes quickly pulling a business card from her pocket and handing it to the still shaking woman.
"Ok thank you Mrs. Laban, here's my card if you think of anything else. This guy seems to get around a lot, he's interfered in a number of crimes that were being committed."
The husband quirked his eyebrows.
"Isn't that a good thing Detective Levy? Someone doing good for others?"
The woman closed her notebook and shook her head.
"Vigilante's are never good outside of comic books or movies Mr. Laban. Someone who isn't trained in how to deal with dangerous criminals can get themselves and others hurt. This sort of thing is best left to the police, but I have all I need you two have a good night ok?" The woman smiled and turned from the couple letting the uniforms take it from there. She needed to get back to the precinct and go over the other notes of this big vigilante's heroics.
Spoiler: Showdown at Camp Silver Lake
Camps are places for fun and outdoor activities. Camping, fishing, hiking, you name it there is a camp for it. But another thing that camps are used for are festivals and gatherings. The rolling hills and shady trees give everyone a place to sit and share stories. And under the endless skies all stories are equal and free to be shared.
This weekend in the middle of summer a Spiritual Festival for Women is being held at Camp Silver Lake. Women and girls come from all over the country to partake in the celebration of magic and nature. Many are simply seeking a vacation from their jobs and husbands, some come for the shared belief in spiritualism, but one came with a different intent. An intent born from dark lies and past pains. But her greed will be met by the purity of two nameless workers defending those she sought to destroy.
And so it begins...
It was the beginning of summer, but the dusty roads going through the luxurious grounds of Camp Silver Lake were busy as if it was the height of the season. Cars and trucks were motoring to and from the main office building, women and young girls were jumping out of stopped cars and husbands or sons were waving good-bye before heading off to their own guys' weekends. Older women with long hair and tie-dyed clothing were meeting and greeting the new comers handing out welcome bags and little handmade charm bracelets. Camp staff and groundskeepers were moving across the lawns getting the last minute preparation for the three day festival.
Mystic sounding music played through the speakers while the festival goers bustled between their vehicles and bunk houses carrying their bags and other affects. Soon the steady stream of vehicles quieted and it seemed that everyone who was coming had arrived. The Greeters were moving around their welcome tables gathering up their extra bags and bracelets getting ready to head to the mess hall for the opening ceremony. But the sound of a rumbling car coming down the main road stopped them. Looking up a black jeep was seen coming towards them. Inside the jeep were two women, a sharp queenly looking older woman and a younger somewhat exhausted looking one the younger woman was driving and her face looked stressed.
"So this is nice mother, us getting away for a relaxing weekend yea?"
The regal woman next to her sniffed haughtily her hair was done up with feathers and bone charms and wore a long gown and black boots.
"Call me Jezebel, Magdalene."
Magdalene, or Maggie as she preferred sighed deeply.
"Yes Jezebel."
Jezebel smiled proudly and answered her daughter's question.
"It will be nice, as long as all these men leave. They'll taint the spirits and insult the Goddess of the Night."
Maggie rubbed her eyes, she was used to her mother's harsh views. But they shared a belief system where these sort of ideas were common.
"I'm sure most of them will go Lilith, but even if they don't I'm sure the Goddess will endure."
The old woman scoffed glaring at the dirty working men that were watching the jeep as it drove past.
"Pfft, men are impure beasts! Using their privilege to try and control our bodies and make demands for our affections when none of them are worthy of the mothers who gave them life!"
The daughter sighed looking around at the dirty men in torn working clothes watching them.
"Not all men are like that."
The older woman hissed at Maggie waving her hand angrily at her words.
"You've spent too long outside the walls of the convent Magdelene! Men are only necessary for creating more daughters for the Goddess, and none of these filthy worms are even worthy of consideration for coupling." The jeep had just driven past the greeters and slowed as a large group of workers moved to the side to let them pass. Jezebel stared disgustedly at the men forcing each of them to look away before she did. Only one man didn't look away, a large bearded fellow with a neon orange t-shirt and torn green work pants and a shapely blond woman wearing sunglasses, a matching tank-top to the man, and an old baseball cap atop her head with a long blond ponytail weaved through the back. Jezebel's expression changed from disgust and she smiled eyeing him up. "Well except maybe that one. He looks powerful and potent."
Maggie watched the man and nodded.
"He's kinda hunky yea."
The man never looked down as the jeep passed and Jezebel found herself smiling inwardly. Finally a man with some guts, he would do for the new world order the events of this night would bring about. The jeep stopped and both Jezebel and Maggie exited, the Greeters were quick to see them, and once they saw it was the High Priestess and her daughter they nearly fell to their knees before her praising her and the Goddess of the Night. Jezebel glowed at the pride, but Maggie only sighed grabbing the bags.
As the High Priestess and her daughter exited their jeep and moved deeper into the camp. The Foreman let loose a loud whistle and the many workers looked up.
"Alright youse guys quittin' time. This camp is closed this weekend, so we'll only need a few of you around for basic grass cutting and such. We'll call you tonight with who." The bearded man and blond woman put their tools away and moved towards an old white pick-up truck.
"I don't know how you can do stuff like this all day JC. My back is killing me." Said the woman pulling the hat off her head and undoing the ponytail letting her long hair fall down to her lower back.
The large man, JC laughed wiping dirt and tree sap from his forearm.
"It's not that bad Mary, besides I'm sure you're used to back pain." He laughed poking the woman's large bust.
Mary blushed then slapped the man's hand away. But the look on her face was playful and eager for the contact.
"You filthy sinner you, at least wait till we get to the truck before getting handsy."
The man laughed pulling his keys from his belt and clicked the fob unlocking the truck. "You love it when I get handsy, you can't lie to me."
The blond smirked and rolled her eyes climbing into the truck. She grunted slightly and lifted a heavy wrapped object out the way before grabbing two bags and tossing one to Jason. "Yea and it's massively unfair, so think that old woman was the one Zoo-Zoo told us about?"
JC's smile faded some and he nodded shouldering his shower bag.
"Yes, she's working for Elder Brother's favorite concubine. She plans to make some kind of blood concoction tonight then force feed it to one of the girls here so her Mistress can take a physical vessel and further the his end game."
Mary frowned slinging her own shower bag up across her back.
"Nothing I hate more than woman being forced into being vessels for some man's evil deed. Zoo-Zoo said it'll happen at midnight at the very height of Midsummer's Eve. What's the plan Jason?"
Jason looked up at the sky noting the lowness of the sun.
"We need to find the sacrifices and get them out. Then try and talk sense into the Jezebel woman."
Mary quirked her eyebrow scoffing gently.
"You want to try and talk sense into a woman who calls herself Jezebel? I'm not even sure your tongue is silver enough for that."
JC nodded relocking the truck smirking.
"I'm not sure either, that's why I'm bringing a big pointy stick."
Mary rolled her eyes walking to the maintenance building where the workers who lived too far from Silverlake could sleep and get cleaned up between works days.
"Not sure even that is big enough to calm down a woman with an ego like her's."
Jason laughed following the woman into the building wrapping an arm around her waist and hugging her close.
"Let's hope the talking will be enough."
**twenty minutes before midnight**
Deep in the woods behind Camp Silver Lake, a thick walled pen stands ominously in the middle of a ring of fire. Huddled in the middle of the prison was a group of six males dressed in course white colored vests and pants. Three men and three boys., each was a well formed and handsome creature, but no two were of the same race. The men were doing their best to comfort the terrified boys, but they were scared as well.
Besides the ring of fire, they were being guarded by ten strange dark clad women carrying black spears that seemed to be carved out single pieces of gleaming obsidian. They said nothing, they did nothing, but the nothing was more terrifying than if they were actively trying to terrorize the prisoners. The boys wept quietly and the men were doing their best to hold back the tears, they had been snatched right out of their beds from a nearby camp days ago and aside from being tossed a few packaged lunches stolen from Silver Lake the prisoners have had no contact with anyone.
Tonight felt different though, the guards were agitating and moving around the pen now looking impatient. And glancing up at the climbing moon, it was nearing it's zenith. The prisoners didn't know what was about to happen, but they could tell it would be happening soon. Just then some rustling came from the woods on the other side of the dirt road that led to the clearing. The guards immediately went on the defensive. Their spears bristled and they all clustered around the entrance of the pen. One of the men was able to peek through the bars and saw a big guy walk out with a large bundle of something strapped across his back and he was dressed in blue jeans, black boots, a white shirt, and a long cowboy style duster coat. He held his hands up and spoke loudly.
"Be calm Knights of the Night, I only wish to see your prisoners. Please let me pass."
The largest Knight banged the butt of her spear on the ground making the air ring with a hollow ping. Her voice sounded unnatural, like if a falling tree had been giving a voice. Large, hollow, and drifting up and down in volume with each word.
"No one sees the worms without the High Priestess's consent. Leave now fool, or we will make you leave."
The man was undeterred he kept his hands up, but also continued to approach the armed women.
"There is no need for this to turn violent, please these young men are scared and have families that miss them dearly, just let them go." Now the man was mere feet from the wall of unnatural women. But they had no more words for him they only attacked. They charged him, but like a blade of grass in the wind the man ducked and avoided all their attacks.
It wasn't the women had left their posts that the prisoners heard someone at the back of the pen. Quickly turning they saw a women dressed in black jeans and a hoodie squeeze herself through a hole made in the wall a small knife in her hand. At first the prisoners were fearful, the men even going so far as to pick up rocks in an attempt to arm themselves and protect the children, but as she pulled her hood down and quieted them they tentatively relaxed. The one who had watched the big guy lead the guards away spoke first.
"Who the hell are you?"
The woman smiled motioning for them to follow her.
"Just friends, I'm Mary now come on JC can only keep them busy for so long! I need to get you guys outta here!" Their apprehension held strong, but as the sounds of the angry women drew closer back to the pen the prisoner relented, at least out of this pen they could at least run if this new woman turned betrayed them. One by one they fled through the hole and once everyone was through Mary led them into the night to safety and gave a single shrill whistle telling the big guy everyone was safe.
JC heard the call then stopped fooling around pulling the bundle from his back he pulled the cloth away and spun the blood stained spear around his hand and in a large arc threw each of the guards away from him. Their hoods were thrown back revealing dark beautiful faces and black curved horns. Their eyes glowed with angry purple fire. Before they could respond the big man was upon them the flat of his spear's blade connected heavily with each of their horns. Whipping their heads to the side and knocking each of them out cold, it was quick and it was painless. He never killed, but he could sure put his enemies to sleep with little effort. Once they were down he crossed them and bowed his head in silent prayer. The women moaned weakly in response, but the man and his spear were already gone. There was one more place he had to be before he could rest.
** Five minutes to midnight**
A huge bonfire and many smaller ones lit up the night before the small amphitheater on the shores of the actual lake the camp was named after. The women were gathered around dressed in a mixture of animal skins and modern underwear. They danced and partook in the homemade dishes and drinks they had prepared for the opening night of the Spiritual Festival.
It was a joyous scene. Barefoot girls ran between the groups playing tag dressed in just small loinclothes and flower tiaras in their hair. While older women cackled endlessness around their cups of Nectar and incense rich fires wearing long revealing dresses adorned with all kinds of beads and small carved totems. It hinted to a time where nature lived peacefully with the people of the land, before huge cities of steel and glass tore them away from the simple existence Mother Nature had intended for her children. And seated on a throne of carved wood on a small platform made of stones sat the High Priestess of this group Jezebel. She was wearing an outrageous coat made of black wolf hide with only a pair of white panties and a bone and leather bra underneath it. Despite her age she was still a physically fit and attractive woman and with an iron crown adorned with raven feathers upon her brow she looked every inch the primeval shaman of an ancient human tribe.
Her sisters and daughters were enjoying the peace and freedom men stole from them eons ago. No one was afraid to be called fat or ugly and forced to hide their own perfect natural form. Classically beautiful women mingled happily with those the patriarchal society deemed less worthy. This made the Priestess overjoyed and as she had hoped there wasn't a single impure man in sight. And she could only imagine the joy and freedom they would feel once the Goddess of the Night returned to lead them in eradicating the unworthy from the Earth Mother's perfect world. Men would learn their true place as breeders and nothing more. Women can hunt, build, and farm with far better skill and cooperation if men were just removed from the equation. And this world would never know another war once the boys get their fangs taken away.
Standing up from her throne the High Priestess descended to the grass and smiled benevolently at her followers as they bowed slightly to her before going back to their games and private chats. Jezebel looked up and saw the moon was almost at it's apex. She let out a single note of a chant, the women all knew their spiritual leader would be speaking soon so they quieted themselves and as a group they moved to sit on the grass before her throne each of them chanting quietly until their combined voices became a cloud of nonsensical words and swaying bodies. Jezebel's voice rose the highest, her hands reaching up as if embracing the full moon above her congregation. The chanting continued for a full minutes before the leader screeched the last word her hands coming down and silence instantly falling over the crowd. No one would dare speak while the High Priestess was talking so she only needed to speak slightly louder than the usual speaking voice.
She stood upon her dais looking out across the face of her people.
"My sisters! My daughters! Tonight is a night of celebration and it will be the first of many more! Here we are under the beautiful eye of Luna! In our natural states, no make-up, no restrictive clothing forced upon us to hide the beauty we were born with! We are Women and we are the givers of life!" The entire field erupted in cheers at her words. Jezebl let them carry on for a few seconds before continuing. "As pure and right as our Earth Mother before us we have embraced her teachings and lived by her example! We carry on the natural order of life and we keep the blood of life flowing through our loins! We are the most powerful force in existence! Without us there would be no life!" More cheers and some women even stand up and applaud. Once again the High Priestess lets them go before she waves her hand for silence and her face glows angrily in the firelight. "But since the beginning one group has been slowly chipping away at out natural power! One group has been tearing us down, forcing us into the submissive roles of wives and sex toys! Taking away our power and worth simply because we bleed every month and choose not to kill our neighbors for harming out egos!" Many still cheer, but not quite as many as before.
Undeterred Jezebel continues on her rant now pacing slowly along the edge of her little stage. "For centuries we have been oppressed and sold off to some slobs who only wish to injure our bodies and abuse our natural gifts for their own weakness and vanity! Lifting up the son while the daughter is repressed and forced to partake in the same cruel cycle her mother and grandmother were subjected to! Being told from childhood her worth would only be seen if she birthed sons and let whatever man that had decided she was his property to insult and degrade her into a simpering kitten whose only purpose in life was spreading her legs and allowing his seed to infect her womb! Then he would leave her to rot as soon as her youth ended and her elasticity faded!" Some cheers, but mostly silence met Jezebel's words. Her eyes had gone wide with some kind of madness, many close to her weren't even sure if this was the same woman they knew.
Now her voice reached a hysteric shriek and her hands her claws ripping at the sky as she spoke. "BUT ON THIS NIGHT THE ERA OF SYSTEMATIC OPPRESSION AND SOCIETAL ABUSE ENDS! TONIGHT OUR FIRST PRIESTESS! THE WOMAN WHO DARED TO DEMAND EQUALITY IN THE GARDEN OF PARADISE WILL RETURN! LILITH, GODDESS OF THE NIGHT HEAR MY PLEAS! ACCEPT THE BLOOD OF THESE FOUL SONS OF ADAM, LET THE LINE OF THAT UNFAITHFUL SWINE END WHITHER BEFORE YOUR GLORY AND POWER!" Her words howled into the sky over the shocked and sober faces of the congregation. Agape with shock and not small measure of fear they all jumped as the night suddenly darkened with storm clouds and thunder rumbled through the black clouds above. Jezebel began a mad crackling chant as the woods besides her shook with approaching feet. The woman was expecting her guards with the blood of the prisoners, but what emerged was not them and it stopped her wild chant dead in it's tracks.
JC followed by Mary and the six prisoners walked into the large ring of firelight. The men were dressed in the clothes they had been kidnapped in and anger had replaced the fear on their faces. All six of them, even the boys stared out accusingly at the women some of them quickly covering themselves in shame and embarrassment. Mary shook her head in disgust, but Jason's eyes were locked onto the nearly frothing madness of the High Priestess. Leaping from her dais she stomped towards the big man her eyes wide and blackened with unnatural power. "YOU DARE TAINT THIS SACRED GROUND WITH YOUR TOXIC MASCULINE ENERGY! THIS IS A RITUAL FOR THOSE FAITHFUL TO THE EARTH MOTHER AND FIRST WOMAN! TAKE YOUR WEAK-WILLED WHORE AND LEAVE BEFORE THE GODDESS OF THE NIGHT WIPES YOU FROM HER MOTHER'S LANDS!" Her hands were clenched into bony claws and the air around her began to crackle with energy and lightning began lancing across the underbellies of the saturated clouds.
Mary growled gripping tighter to her wicked little knife. It had been many years since she was a whore, but still that word burned her up. She moved to respond but JC's gentle heavy hand stopped her. She glared at him and at the witch, but she knew he was better suited for dealing with this crazy bitch than she was. Walking calmly to the woman he held his spear upright with no indication of wishing to fight. But still he kept himself between Lilith and the others. His voice was calm and his face still, he held up his hand.
"Please Delilah, you know this isn't you. You are a good loving woman, you have three wonderful children and nine wonderful grandchildren who love their Nana very much. And their Nana would never harm a fly."
Jezebel's madness and anger faltered for the first time at the mention of her real name. Then images of her dressed in a long floral patterned dress and her grandchildren helping her in the garden flashed like the lighting above across her mind's eye. Her face was the picture of joy and fulfillment even when her youngest Grandson, a chubby little boy with red hair threw a clod of dirt at her in frustration at being forced to be out here instead of inside playing his newest video game. Tears streamed down Jezebel's face as she saw herself hugging the little boy closely until he stopped fighting and quieted into her warm embrace apologizing for throwing dirt at her.
The visions progressed, now she was reliving the memory of her husband of over fifty years dying five winters ago. And her subsequent spiral into depression and a burning desire to see him again. That desire led her to an antique bookstore where she purchased a book on magic as a way to contact him and something to try and connect with her eldest granddaughter who was into magic and such. But all that book did was open her once guarded mind to darkness and lies. She began a war on all men, forgetting the goodness of man she had been shown many times in her life. They were all only monsters and rapists stealing the innocence of girls and actively working to bring womankind down never letting them excel at anything but making babies.
Delilah regain some control over herself, but as another charge of lightning lit up the black sky Jezebel took back over.
"YOU KNOW NOTHING SON OF ADAM! AND NOW I WILL SHOW YOU JUST HOW WEAK AND PATHETIC YOU AND YOUR RAPIST OF A SKY FATHER REALLY ARE!" It wasn't the High Priestesses voice anymore it was deeper more husky woman's voice and each word dripped with venom and hatred. She screeched a spell and lighting shot down from the sky aimed directly for JC's chest. But with the utmost calm and the definitive motion of his hand he planted the spearhead into the ground and waved his hands wide as a blast of blinding white light jumped out to meet and counter the lighting. Repelled the lighting shot back and arched from the end of Jason's spear to the High Priestess's crown. The bolt had lost much of it's power after colliding the the white light, but still it sent Delilah many feet back burying her shoulders slightly in the ground leaving her in a gently smoking heap.
Pulling his spear from the ground he quickly wrapped it in the white clothe from before and handed it to Mary. He looked at the shocked people around him. Each looked just as terrified and confused as the last, but Jason simply let out a breath and looked directly at Magdalene who had come from the back of the gathering as soon as she heard her mother begin to rant, but was too shocked to stop her. "Please call the police Maggie, I'll take care of your mother."
She didn't know why but she obediently nodded to Jason and grabbed her phone from the box besides her mother's throne and dialed 911. Jason looked at Mary nodded to her. "Time for crowd control Mary, I need to heal this misguided woman." He nodded to his companion who nodded back and lifted her knife into air. She made a grabbing motion with her hand then with a quick slice she cut their air and like dropping the curtain at the end of a play the crowd's eyes glazed over for a few seconds while Mary and Jason went to tend to the High Priestess.
Despite the lessened power of the lighting Delilah had still been deeply injured. And as much as it saddened JC it had to be done, but luckily he could heal her. Mary knelt by his side and dropped her head in prayer placing a hand on his right shoulder. Along with her ability to wipe out recent memories Mary was a conduit of sorts. Her presence gave JC focus and extra energy to pull from so he could heal more grievous wounds than he could on his own. He placed his left hand over her own then a soft green light began glowing in his right hand. He held it until it had become quite bright then in slow precises motions he began rubbing his hand over her body, injuries and burns vanishing instantly even old scars and skin blemishes were wiped away. The operation only took a handful of seconds before Delilah glowed gently with health, all the darkness from before completely removed.
The pair heard sirens wailing in the distance and after rolling the old woman to her side they vanished through the thick woods managing to reach their truck and slip away before the police locked the entire camp down.
**A half hour later**
The embers of the dying bonfire still glowed with enough light to field and allow the police to search for clues and evidence. The missing men had been a top priority for the entire week they had been gone, and while the State Police and Marshals were doing all they could they still needed to pull from other precincts for the clean-up.
This is what drug Detective Levy from her warm bed in the middle of the night. Once again she interviewing witnesses and once again she was one step behind this vigilante who she now knew was called JC and had a girlfriend named Mary he traveled and did vigilante crap with. That was about all she could get from the six guys, and dozens of women who had apparently been present for some kind of magic fight. Like the five cases from the last couple of months all anyone said was it was a big guy and he seemed unnaturally calm about all of it. But at least she got a name to but to the face and an accomplice now. She had just interviewed the last of the male prisoners and was making her way to the supposed prison in the woods where they were being kept all week when her partner, a well-built man with black hair and a deep voice caught up with her having just finished his own round of interviews.
Falling in step besides her he chuckled looking at his notes.
"So you get the same roundabout description of superman in the flesh as I did?"
The Jewish woman nodded rubbing her eyes, her day off was tomorrow but she had a feeling that had just been thrown at the window and run over by a semi.
"Yea pretty much, he didn't have a cape though just and old coat. You'd think with all these people someone could give us something other than a big guy named JC with a beard and a hot blond girlfriend. I swear Naza it's like we're actually in a comic book or something."
Naza chuckled shaking his head shoving his notebook into his coat pocket.
"If only, I would love to have Iron Man's money. Imagine me with one of those suits like the Hulkbuster, oh that would be awesome."
Levy smiled and shook her head. Naza has always been a goof, and despite him being a bonehead sometimes he's a good cop and those muscles have come in handy a lot in the past.
"Oh please, like you need anymore weight I've had to put the car into the shop three times this year because your fat ass wears downs the shocks. Now come on I gotta see this prison before I get to go back to bed." Picking up their pace the two Detectives find the pen. Crime Scene investigators are already on site taking pictures and logging away evidence when the Detectives show up and flash their badges to the uniforms guarding the perimeter. After grabbing some gloves they join in.
Ten minutes pass with nothing really conclusive being figured out. This was definitely the place the men had been held. Old food boxes and other refuses were tossed into a corner and makeshift beds had been made from leaves gathered from the ground inside the pen. They could also see where the prisoners had escaped and the path they took to get back to the field. But no evidence of who was keeping them in the pen or why. In the end the only thing of interest was a series of scuffled foot prints in the dirt path leading to the clearing. It was definitely more than one person JC was one, Levy and Naza assumed, but aside from someone really heavy and possibly possessing ten feet or ten people of the exact same height and weight there wasn't much they could gather.
At least until the woman walked back into the woods and saw something most people would easily miss. Her brother was a martial artist and he loved to practice on the tree out the back of his house. His favorite weapon was a long spear and it left a very distinct wound on trees. And about seven feet from the path she saw that same wound embedded deep in the fattest part of a big oak tree. That would require a lot of power, a lot more than she would expect from even a big guy like this JC was being described as, but the better question was who or what was he using a freaking spear to fight? Too many questions and not enough answers, she called the Crime Scene guys over and let them snap pictures and speculate to their hearts content. She needed to get some sleep and figure this crap out tomorrow. She bid good night to Naza and after a quick call to her Captain was given leave to head home and get some sleep. But her entire ride back home she couldn't stop thinking about this case and who in the world this JC and Mary were.
Spoiler: The soft voice of reason.
Desperation: A state of despair typically one that results in rash or extreme behavior. There are many ways to read such a state, pain, long term suffering, even pure madness. But the most common is something very simple, money, the love of which many say is the root of all evil. But in a world built upon it money is a necessary evil.
And when desperate enough, crime become an attractive option even for someone who has lived a good life and would never before think of breaking the law. But like all who go astray if help comes before they step forever into the darkness they can be led back to the light.
And so it begins...
The balmy nights continue to plague the city. Steam wafts up from the grates and the streets are nearly barren, all expect a single young man dressed in black jeans and a hooded jacket. He was walking nervously down the sizzling streets his head down, and his hands were shoved deep into the pockets of his jacket. A short distance ahead of him the bright lights of a convenience store glared out of the shadows of the rundown street.
He looked out corner of his eye as his twitchy steps slowed. Squaring up with the door he took a few deep breaths trying to calm his nerves and psych himself up for...something. He had passed the store three times each time before his courage failed him, but the night was getting late and he had to get this over and done with. Looking at his watch he groaned lightly as it read 11:30 PM Friday the 6th. He rolled his shoulders out and quickly walked up the three steps and into the small store. Pop music played softly through the speakers and a young man with a shaved head and dressed in a pair of shorts and a tank-top. He was reading some texts on his phone and just glanced up as the bells above the door jingled. He gave the hooded man a slight nod before back to his phone.
The nervous young man nodded back and pulled his hood further down hiding from the cameras above. Heading for the coolers he opened one and let the cold air flood over him. It filled his jacket and sent chills throughout his entire body. Here he was...he was going to do it. Once the cooler had cooled him enough he closed the door and pulled a nine-millimeter pistol from his jacket, a pillowcase and moved for the counter. The clerk looked up and his eyes went wide with fear and his hands shot up in surrender.
"Whoa man, take it easy!"
The robber's gunhand shook and his face was just a panicked as his victim's.
"Give me the all the money in the register and the safe! Do it now or I'll blow your fucking head off!" He tossed the impromptu money sack onto the counter.
The clerk licked his lips nervously nodding.
"I...can give you the...the money in the register, but I can't o-open the safe! Only the manager can!"
The Robber cocked the pistol's hammer back and shouted his voice cracking some.
"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN! GIVE ME ALL THE MONEY NOW!"
The frightened worker opened the register and pulled out the whole drawer taking all four-hundred dollars and tossing it fearfully into the sack making sure none of it fell out. The robber wasn't satisfied though, he pushed the barrel of his pistol closer to the other young man's face.
"Now...now...give me the money in the safe!"
The worked jumped back vigorously shaking his head.
"I told you man! I can't open the safe!"
On the verge of either seething rage or pure panic the robber shouted again some tears beginning to form in his eyes his whole arm trying desperately to keep his hand firmly clamped onto the gun.
"I DON'T CARE I NEED ALL THE MONEY!"
The bells on the door jingled again then a soft deep voice spoke up.
"No you don't kid."
The robber spun around his quaking gunhand lining up with a new target he thought would be a cop, but instead it was a large man with a dark beard and dressed in a white tank-top, torn blue jeans, and black boots he was carrying a long coat in his arms. His shoulders and upper arms sported strange winding blue tattoos that almost seemed to be glowing under the florescent lights. His face was kind looking, but his eyes looked sad and worried. The robber faltered at the man's sudden appearance, but didn't lower his gun.
"Who the hell are you?!" Panic was still very present in the boy's face, but he had come too far to let some homeless looking guy stop him.
Unperturbed by the gun in his face the big man shushed the robber like a father would his scared child.
"Just a friend, take a few breaths and please put the gun down before anyone gets hurt."
Using his free hand the robber pulled his hood down sweat streaking down his pale face. His mixed heritage obvious, long dark blonde was plastered to his head, sweat and tears trickled down his tan skinned face giving a slight sheen to his Hispanic features.
"You ain't a friend of mine! Just mind your own damn business pendejo! I need this money!"
The big man shook his head inching a little closer keeping his hands lifted in a peaceful manner.
"No you don't kid, I promise you. Let's just talk for a few seconds ok? What's your name?"
The robber sniffed quietly, but refused to lose his nerve this close to his goal.
"Pablo...Pablo Martinez."
Offering a gentle smile the big man nodded.
"Good name, I'm JC. You're doing good Pablo, now keep breathing with me ok?
Pablo breathing slowed, but he still refused to lower his gun and even moved it center mass to JC's head stopping him from coming any closer.
"Please just go, you don't understand what's at stake here! I...I...need this money!"
JC stopped and kept his hands held up.
"Why don't you tell me? Maybe I can help you yea? Why do you need money so bad you're trying to rob a convenience store in the middle of the night?"
The young man used his free hand to wipe sweat from his eyes.
"It's none of your business why I need it! Besides you look poorer than me?! How can you possibly help me gringo?"
JC chuckled lightly slowly reaching into his coat pocket pulling out a small stack of one-hundred dollar bills. He showed it to Pablo.
"I just got done with a huge construction job. Got paid 1,500 dollars for a month's work putting some rich guy's second summer home up. I can give it to you."
Both Pablo and the Clerk's eyes went wide at the stack of money this dirty drifter just magically pulled out of his pocket.
"Just like that? No way what's the catch?!" Pablo shouted his hand slowly ceasing it's shaking.
JC smiled tossing the money at Pablo's feet.
"Just talk with me. Tell me why, doesn't even have to be the full truth. Getting paid a grand for just talking seems like a sweet deal to me yea?"
The robber nodded and quickly ducked down scooping up the money and stuffing it into his coat pocket. He could just shoot this bum in the face, get the rest of the money from the store and book it out before anyone calls the cops reporting a gunshot. This was a shitty neighborhood they might not even bother to call the cops, but something about this JC stayed Pablo's trigger finger. He kept the gun trained on the bum, but decided to see what his game was.
"Do you have a dad"
JC laughed nodding his head.
"Yes, two actually."
Surprised Pablo continued to probe.
"What happened to them?"
A noticeable sadness filled JC's once smiling eyes.
"One died, a long time ago. The other...well let's just say he's very far away."
The sadness in the big man's eyes didn't go unnoticed by the would be criminal.
"He abandon you and your mamá? The other one I mean?"
JC smiled again and shook his head.
"No, he loved us both very much, but he couldn't be with us, his job kept him busy at all hours."
Tears began anew in Pablo's eyes.
"At least you had one. I never knew mine, just me and my mother ever since I was a baby. Until..." For the first time Pablo looked away from his target tears blurring his vision completely now, but JC didn't move to grab the gun. He simply stood still waiting for the boy to regain his composure, he even motioned for the clerk to move away from the alarm button hidden under the counter. The young man did so, he even silenced his cell phone.
JC's voice softened some more.
"Until what Pablo?"
The boy sniffed loudly again wiping more tears from his face.
"Until he came to our apartment a few weeks ago. Dressed in some kind of expensive suit with a couple of thugs at his back. Mamá tried to make him leave, but he talked his way past her. He said he wanted to be a family again, And I like a retard and believed him." The boy's focus faltered again this time the gun's barrel dipping slightly as the strength seemed to be leaving his arm.
"At first it was kinda nice, but soon he began to get angry over nothing. Hitting my moms and I whenever we didn't do something fast enough. But after each episode he apologized and begged our forgiveness. Mamá never really said she forgave him, but she put on a show for me. He brought me along on some of his jobs...trying to show me the ropes...always saying I will make him proud someday when I take over his business."
The big man nodded softly.
"Sounds rough."
The boy chuckled.
"You don't know the half of it amigo. Last week he completely lost it, he put my mother in the hospital while I was at school and told me if I ever want to see her alive again, I would need to pay 10,000 dollars by this Sunday. This store and a few others on this block have enough to let me pay for her safety. She's all I got...I....can't lose her." He shoulders shook and he completely dropped the gun.
Taking this chance JC kicked the gun away with his foot and wrapped the terrified young man in a powerful hug. Unable to fight JC's superior strength Pablo gave into his fear and sorrow and held tightly onto the large man crying into his shoulder the tears trickling down JC's powerful shoulder. Holding the young man up JC patted his back and let the teenager cry.
"You won't lose her Pablo I promise, but you must give up this crazy idea that you need to rob innocent people to save her. This man is not a father, he is just a monster who destroys all he touches. You have your mother and the best way to protect her is to bring this man down."
Pablo cried for a few more seconds before he pulled back and looked up at JC frowning.
"How? He has goons...everywhere I even heard him say he has some in the police department."
JC smiled patting the boy's shoulder.
"By telling the truth, when you leave here go the 77th precinct and ask for Detective Rachel Levy. Tell her everything she'll keep you and your mom safe ok?" He patted the boy's cheek looking into his eyes and smiling.
Pablo smiled back and nodded.
"O-ok thank you JC." Pablo stepped back and looked at the clerk.
"I am sorry, please call the police. Might as well surrender here."
The Clerk nodded and called them up nodding to JC who smiled back and patted Pablo on the shoulder.
"You're making the right choice, don't worry I'm sure they'll go easy on you if you give them what they need to stop the man who hurt your mamá."
He turned to leave but Pablo grabbed his shoulder.
"Wait I should give you your money back." The boy quickly pulled the 1,500 from his pocket and tried to give it back to JC, but the big man only smiled and shook his head.
"No you keep it, I have enough gas and food to get me to the next town. Big guys like me have no problem finding easy grunt work." He chuckled making a show of flexing his muscles like some kind of Mr. Universe contestant. "You just use that money to help you and your mother move on ok?"
Pablo smiled and put the money back in his pocket.
"Thank you again amigo, you saved me."
The big man laughed again patting Pablo's shoulder.
"Naw you saved yourself, I just gave you a few more minutes to think about it. Be good the both of you." He pointed at both young men then exited the store whistling a happy tune as he drifted back into the night.
**twenty minutes later**
Seated at her desk Detective Levy was chugging her third cup of coffee pouring over everything they had on this mysterious JC and his mystery girlfriend Mary. She'd somehow become the lead investigator on a case that had only five incidents in her actual jurisdiction. Usually she hated when the Feds or someone else muscled her out of the loop, but right now she'd welcome the break.
The elevator dinged and she only barely noticed her partner Samson Naza step out and wrapped his heavy knuckle on her desk. "You Levy, just got a call. An attempted robbery of some convenience store on 54th street."
The woman let out an annoyed sigh rubbing her eyes.
"Did I miss the promotion that made me the Deputy Chief of the Central Robbery Division? Can't you see I'm neck deep in this comic book plot?"
Naza chuckled handing the woman her coat.
"Well if you did get that promotion I'm glad it your turn to buy lunch tomorrow. But your superhero struck again, this time he managed to talk a potential robber into not only surrendering, but giving us the name and base of operations of the Esteban Martinez Cartel. He's in interrogation room three with his mother one Rebecca Einz."
Levy dropped the pile of notes she was studying and practically jumped up from her chair. Grabbing her coat she rushed to the room eager for the chance to shut down such a huge crime syndicate.
**An hour later**
Seated on her queen sized bed Detective Levy was sipping some warm tea, she was dressed in a tight half t-shirt and black lace panties. Her AC hummed lightly in the background and she was going over her new notes after sending a text to her adopted son, who was sleeping over at a friend's house this weekend telling him she loved him, good night, and warning him that if she heard any bad news from his buddy's mom that she would not only ground him, but ship him off to the Police Boot Camp for the summer.
He responded with a yea love you too followed by a rolling eyes emoji. The woman smirked and put her phone on the charger for the night. Secretly she was enjoying the silence and privacy for a change. Even with the AC it was stupid hot in her apartment and sleeping nearly naked like this was way better than her normal pajamas. But even with the tea she was having trouble sleeping, and the new info about this JC guy continued to bug her. Now he had really intricate tattoos and some kind of Jedi mind trick that can talk a troubled young man into not committing crime and handing over the last of the evidence needed to shut down a multinational drug cartel. This guy was some kind of...something. Rachel couldn't even put it to words, the man wasn't committing any crimes himself, but she just knew his interference would screw something up eventually and really didn't need that kind of crap on her conscience becasue she couldn't stop this nutcase in time.
As the clock on her wall chimed 1 AM the Jewish woman sighed and stacked all the files up and dropped them on the floor to deal with later. Sliding down her bed she pulled the shirt off and just laid in her bra and panties letting the cool air of her room flood over her. She needed a break...or some kind of advice, but at this time of night no one would be up. Reaching over to her clock radio she tuned to a metal ballad station and sat in the darkness sipping her tea, trying to get her mind off of this case and get some sleep before she had her brunch date with her friend Zari. She was a bit of a fish out of water in the big city, but she had surprisingly good insight into things that often bothered Rachel. A particularly good song came on and the tired Detective lost herself in the melody.
Spoiler: Getting caught in the rain
Love, the most powerful and most dangerous emotion known to mankind. Whole wars have been fought over love. Families are made and broken by it and people's lives are defined by who they love.
A man's love for his wife, a mother's love for her son, or a Grandfather's love for his granddaughter. Familial love is often the strongest, but love in any form is a force to be reckoned with.
The thing about love though is the most powerful shows of it are in the smallest of gestures. An offered coat on a rainy night, a warm arm around the shoulders when a cold win blows, or a simple look of fondness when your partner says something silly. Huge romantic gestures have their place of course, but love, true long lasting love is measured by the tender moments between the flashes of lighting and the booms of thunder. One such love is seen upon the rain soaked streets of the city.
And so it begins...
The hot days are finally at an end, rain has been falling since before dawn and one can feel the sun scorched streets sighing in relief as the cold rejuvenating water washes away the dust and dirt cleansing the city. Despite being only the late afternoon people were wise enough to stay indoors...well most people.
"Ugh...couldn't you have compelled her to rush the repairs on the truck Jason? As glad as I am to be done with that heat wave being soaking wet isn't a great alternative." Mary said with a sniffle huddling deeper into the too big coat. She was dressed in jean short shorts, an old blue t-shirt tied up in the back and calf booties. Besides her wearing just a tank-top, jeans and boots was Jason his clothing soaked through and clinging to his body. Despite that though he was smiling broadly, his hair pulled back in a ponytail but clinging tightly to his head. "You know I couldn't do that to Tammy, she's too good a friend. She said she'll have it ready by tomorrow morning."
The woman besides him rolled her eyes and sighed shaking raindrops from her head. "Coulda at least had her knock the price down some. Are you sure we don't have enough to get a cab or something?"
Jason shook his head.
"Not if we wanna get the truck back, she said she'd knock a hundred off the price, but anything more and she wouldn't be able to make payroll this week. For all the things wrong with it nine-hundred and thirty-four seems fair."
Once again Mary sighed.
"Well you helped her build the stupid thing, couldn't you just like rent her tools and fix it yourself? At least then we could be dry!"
Jason chuckled looping his large arm around the shapely woman hiding in his coat.
"I'm not gonna steal work from her, besides she's already moving us ahead of people who have been waiting a few days for the work to be done. She knows we live in the Beast, she wouldn't make us wait so long."
Mary nodded scooting closer to the man.
"I guess, and I know if she had room she wouldn't have let us leave her house for the night to walk around in the rain."
Jason leaned down and kissed the woman's soaking head.
"Yeah with three kids and her in-laws under one roof, someone else woulda lost their bed or couch. Besides when's the last time we were able to spend some quality time together?"
Mary snorted elbowing him away, but gave him a playful smirk.
"We spend 365 days a year of quality time together ya goon, we live in a pick-up truck for goodness sake."
Jason groaned lightly taking the hint and moving his arm away, but like her he had a grin on his face.
"Yeah, but we're usually moving to some place, or working some lead Zoo-Zoo gave us. When was the last time we really had time to ourselves?"
Mary laughed shrugging her narrow shoulders.
"I can't even remember, maybe we were still in the big sandbox overseas?"
Jason nodded wiping rain from his eyes.
"Ha probably seems like so long ago since we were over there."
The blond woman nodded a slightly sad looking crossing her beautiful face, before she pulled the collar of the coat higher up around her ears.
"Yes, I never thought we'd get out of there, and I hoped once we did you'd want to settle down and start our family."
JC frowned, mournfully slipping his hands into his pockets and nodding.
"I know Mary, I know, but..." He stopped as Mary's hand quickly grabbed his and she forced the tall man down to kiss her on the lips.
"But...you're mission makes it impossible to stay in one place and the road is no place to raise a family." She rubbed her hand along his cheek smiling. Jason smiled back and cupped her hand stroking the soft flesh with his rough thumb before returning the kiss. "Yeah and I'm sorry for that."
Mary smiled and opened her mouth to say something before a particularly load boom of thunder seemed to shake the ground at their feet and caused her to scream in surprise and jump into the man's arms. The tender moment passed and Jason picked his traveling companion up laughing loudly.
"Don't be scared one of the angels just scored a strike in Heaven's Bowling Alley!"
Mary scoffed and squirmed out of his arms shoving him into a building.
"I wasn't scared! Just surprised any of those featherheads could do anything that didn't involving singing Hymns or spying on women in the shower!" With that Mary huffed loudly and started back down the street grumbling lightly to herself.
Jason shook more rain from his head and followed her chuckling to himself. He caught up and slipped his hand around her waist pulling her back to him.
"You know about half of the Angels are female right? Do you think they watch you in the shower too?"
Mary put on a show of trying to pull away from him, but she was just playing and rather liked it when he took control.
"I know Zoo-Zoo has she's the one that told me you left a hickey on the back of my shoulder a few weeks back ya savage!"
Jason blushed a little, but was glad the dark sky and rain hid it.
"Oh...really! I...I don't remember that maybe it's a birthmark you never knew about?"
This time it was Mary's turn to laugh loudly.
"You are horrible liar! You're a dog and you love "marking your territory" leaving hickeys and bruises all over! But it is the reason I love you." She gave him a chaste peck on the cheek.
Jason smiled winking at her.
"Just the one reason?"
The woman smirked winking back.
"There are more, but I can't say them until we're in the safety of our truck again. Especially with all the Angels bowling right now. Don't want their poor virgin ears to hear me. Their heads might blow up."
The big man laughed again pulling her close again.
"Yeah can't have that now can we?"
The woman nodded and leaned into the man some more. They walked on in silence for a few blocks, the rain never let up in fact it increased in it's fervor and as the sun finally went to bed the air became much colder. The pair saw a few cars roll on by and one distracted fool hit a huge puddle and soaked them even more, but Jason, being on the outside got the worst of the splash. He shivered and had to spend a few seconds wiping his eyes. They slipped under an awning while he did. Mary looked, the coat had kept her mostly dry, but as she watched Jason she noted he was shivering quite a bit, he'd been through worse than being cold and wet, but seeing him shivering made her heart ache.
"Hey Jason thanks for the coat, but you look like you could use it now." She began to pull it off, but he stopped her shaking his head smiling.
"No, I'm fine, you keep it. I'm already soaked to the bone anyway." He tried to control the shivers, but couldn't and Mary pouted making him put the coat on.
"Don't make me hit you, you men are so miserable when you're sick, but too stubborn to try and stop it!" Crossing her arms under her bust she glared at him until he conceded and put his coat back on. The leather was naturally waterproof and as soon as he felt it's familiar weight and warmth on his shoulders the shiver stopped. He smiled at Mary then walked up and wrapped her in the folds of his coat pulling her close to his body and resting his chin on her head while his hands looped around and gripped the front of her hips.
"Fine, but I don't need you getting sick either so we'll share the coat."
Mary giggled moving his hands around to her stomach rather than her hips.
"Well that is very sweet, but I don't think this coat is big enough for the both of us. Come on I think I see a diner ahead, I'm sure we can spare a few bucks for some sandwiches and coffee." She began walking and he followed intent on not letting her out of the coat. I was an awkward but loving sight and the light laughs they gave when they tripped over each other's feet just added to it. They soon found the diner and quickly walked inside, while just around dinner time the rain had kept people away, only them and the workers were present. Looking up from the counter the waitress snicked lightly. "Well it looks like you two took a dip in the river on your way here, come in we may have some towels in the back for ya." She was an older white-skinned woman with graying brown hair and brown eyes. A surly voice from the back barked up. "Be sure they buy something! We ain't running a charity here!" Then the cook, a large man with short cut hair and Polynesian tattoos looked out and studied the newcomers. "Especially the big fella, looks like he could eat more than me!"
Jason and Mary smiled moving to the booth closest the door so they wouldn't track water all through the diner. Jason pulled the coat off and hung it up on the hook attached to the booth, reaching into his pocket he pulled out a soggy leather wallet and shook the water away he pulled out a twenty and a few ones and placed them on the table to dry.
"Here, we may be able to talk Tammy down twenty-three bucks so let's hope we can buy dinner on it."
Mary nodded ringing some water out of her hair.
"Hopefully."
The waitress returned with a couple of old green towels and two menus.
"Hey there, I'm Sharon can I start you two off with some coffee?"
Mary nodded wrapping herself in the towel.
"Oh yes please. french vanilla and two scoops of sugar for me. And big man likes his with half-and-half no sugar."
Jason smiled nodding his head.
"She knows me so well, and we're sorry for dripping all over your floor. We'll use the towels to dry up what we can."
Sharon chuckled shaking her head.
"Don't worry, we gotta clean the floor when we close anyway, I'll just put a wet floor sign up. I'll be right back with your coffees." She smiled at them both and walked back behind the counter to brew the coffee. Letting the warmth of the diner fill them Jason and Mary sat in quiet reflection hands clasped together while they waited for the warm drinks.
They've been together so long and had fought through many hardships with only each other to rely on. The deserts of Iraq, the jungles of Vietnam, the plains of Africa, they've been all over the globe following a single purpose. "Help those in need." Many times it was hard and seemed to make little difference in the greater scheme of things, but on a few occasions they made measurable difference and the feeling you get from doing that much good for someone fills you with such ecstasy it's like you've died and gone to Heaven. But no matter what the type of day Mary always had Jason and Jason always had Mary. To hold in their arms, to cry onto their shoulder, and to be there to pick them up when they fell. It was a love that went beyond the physical intimacy it was spiritual bond not easily broken. It has spanned many years and many miles, it has survived wind and rain, fire and sand. It's seen them through war and pestilence and even death.
And still they endure.
Sharon arrived with the coffee and smiled at the still soggy couple.
"There ye go dolls, can I interest either of you in some food? Our special today is tomato soup and a half sandwich. We also have lots of good burgers and full sandwiches. And of course plenty of pies and such for dessert."
Jason smiled studying the menu.
"I'll have the bacon cheeseburger please, with just cheese, ketchup, and bacon. No lettuce or such."
Mary chuckled kicking his leg.
"You should eat more vegetables, you're gonna have a heart attack before your next birthday."
The big man laughed scooting his leg away rubbing it slowly.
"I didn't claw my way to the top of the food chain to eat the food food eats."
The woman laughed again aiming to kick him again, but he held her leg down. "Then I'll eat the veggies ya big child! They'll go great with the soup and half sandwich." She wiggled her leg free and tried to punch him playfully, but Jason wrapped her in a tight bear hug holding her in place. "Fine put the lettuce, tomato, and pickles on the side of mine please." He growled lightly and held Mary close who was squealing trying to get away.
Sharon took down the orders and laughed wrapping her notebook on the table like a stern schoolmarm.
"Calm down you kids." The pair laughed and settled down obediently. The older woman smiled again shaking her head. "You two are adorable how long have you been married?"
Jason chuckled nervously looking down, but Mary saw the chance for a quick joke at her man's expense.
"Well we've been together for what seems like forever, but Mr. Cheap-O hasn't sprung for the ring yet." She nudged him slightly smirking mischievously.
He made a raspberry noise at her.
"Oh shush you."
The Waitress chuckled thumping Jason lightly on the head with her order pad.
"Well get to it young buck, before some rich guy swoops in and steals her away from you. She quite the pretty catch, I'm surprised no one has tried yet. You think about it, I'll go put your orders in."
Jason waited until Sharon was gone before he quickly put Mary in a headlock and gave her a noogie.
"Keep it up you, and you'll be sleeping in the back of the truck when we get it back."
Mary giggled and freed herself from his bear like arms fixing her hair.
"Yeah baseless threats, you can't stand being away from me at night. You'll be back there with me before the next hour had passed."
The big man made another raspberry noise then turned his mind to enjoying his coffee the warm liquid flooding his chilled frame giving him new life. Mary did the same and let out a deep pleased sigh settling into Jason's side as she held onto her cup for dear life. Another comfortable silence filled the air around them, most of their daily meals were in places like this. They had a small grill in the truck and a pot for boiling water, but sometimes camp food can't hold a candle to meals from a restaurant or diner. The selection is bigger and you don't have of the bother involved with cooking your own food or gathering wood to keep a fire going. Sure it cost money, but drifters like them often spend so much time on the road that they sorely need a place to just sit down and cool their feet. And if you're willing to look many big cities and small towns have hidden jewels of dining you never hear about unless you go looking.
Nearly extinct mom and pop diners, little cultural nooks hidden on some back street, so many choices to find. But like with everything else in the world money sets the pace. Luckily they had some tonight, in a few minutes Sharon returned with their food. The rain was still roaring down outside, but the diner was warm and dry. Before their meals were done both customers were dry and in good spirits, chatting with Sharon and even the grumpy cook who they had learned was named Kami after he came out for a quick bathroom break. It was quite the merry little gathering, but soon Jason and Mary had finished their meals and had paid their bill. The rain was still falling relentlessly and the streets were beginning flood a little. Mary looked out at it sighing gently, as much as she didn't want to go out in it, they couldn't hide out in here all night.
Grabbing Jason's coat and handing it to him Mary smiled at the two diner workers.
"Thank you both so much, have a good rest of your night." Jason smiled and pulled on his coat moving for the door. Sharon stopped them though. "Wait up you two, let one of us take you home or at least call you a cab to take you to a motel somewhere. It's not fit for man nor beast out there."
Jason shook his head smiling.
"No we couldn't impose, you two have already been so nice to us. Besides we wouldn't be able to afford a cab and still be able to pay for the repairs on our truck."
Kami spoke up now.
"It's ok brudda, we'll give you the money. It's not often we meet such pleasant customers."
Mary smiled.
"That is very kind of you but..." The door suddenly swung open an the harsh and wet wind from outside roared in chilling everyone. And a deep male voice sounded clearly throughout the diner.
"Jason I thought that was you!" Mid-turn Jason was lifted up by an equally large man dressed in an overcoat and slacks. Sharon and Kami laughed at the sudden entrance and decided to let the trio talk in peace.
Jason laughed recognizing his cousin instantly.
"Well Samson, good to see all those years eating donuts and sitting behind a desk at the police station haven't made you soft."
Samson put Jason down and smiled at Mary giving her a much more gentle hug.
"I see you're still dealing with his crap everyday."
The woman laughed hugging the man back.
"Well without me he'd wind locked in a cave again. So what brings you out here? Isn't your house like on the opposite side of the city?"
Samson nodded shaking some rain from his hair.
"Yes normally, but I'm watching my parents' house this week while they're off in Caribbean. I just got off my tour and thought I'd swing by and get a quick bite. But what are two doing here? Usually you don't stay in one place very long."
Jason nodded settling his coat into place around his shoulders.
"Yes, normally we don't, but our truck broke down. We took it over to Tammy's but she won't have it done til tomorrow."
The big cop nodded rubbing his chin softly.
"So what? You two plan to just wander around all night or find a motel?"
Mary shook her head slumping her shoulders a little.
"No...we need all the money we have to get the truck back."
Jason frowned nodding.
"So it looks like it'll be wandering for a bit."
Samson shook his head vigorously.
"Not a snowball's chance in Phoenix. You'll come with me and stay in one of the guest rooms of my parents' estate!"
Mary's face lit up and she looked to be on the verge of crying.
"You....you mean we can sleep in a real bed for once maybe even use a shower that has more than just a cold water setting?!"
Jason shook his head.
"No we couldn't impose on you like that Sam...ow!" He said quickly lifting his leg up and rubbing his shin where Mary had kicked him.
"You shut up! It's been a long stinkin' time since we've been able to sleep on a bed, and even longer since it was a bed we didn't have to pay for and fumigate first! And I'd like a nice hot shower, after walking around in this freezing rain for the last few hours!"
Samson laughed nodding to Jason.
"Sounds like your mind has been made for you JC, now come on. Since I'm having guests I can whip us up a small meal. Come on!" Samson waved to the workers and led his cousin and his girlfriend outside and into his pick-up truck before motoring off. Mary was ecstatic and despite his apprehension Jason soon warmed up to the idea of having a real roof over his head that he didn't have to pay for.
Spoiler: Summer Passions
Summer, the time of year beloved by many. Picnics, carnivals, county fairs , where people come to spend their evenings in revelry. Games of chances and skill, rides, and according to some the best selection of food they would see all year. No matter the reasons they are often the highlights of every person's year, truly fairs are the quintessence of summer.
But even at these wonderful distractions from the hum-drum of everyday life troubles can be found. Cross words and short tempers boil up under the dull orange lights of the grandstand. But like an evening rain a level head can cool the hottest of summer passions.
And so it begins...
The weather has finally found a happy medium. After record high temperatures followed by two weeks of near constant rain, now the skies were crystal clear and full of stars twinkling against the ebony night. The temperature was hovering around the high sixties, it was perfect fair weather.
The sounds of silly games and the deep rumble of a small roller coaster filled the air and mingled with the joyful screams of a child who had just won a stuffed blue dog. Being the first good night out in nearly a month the fair grounds were packed. Most with children, others were just couples out on a date night two such people were a large bearded man wearing a white tank-top, old jeans, and scuffed black boots and a well-shaped blond woman wearing short-shorts, a blue shirt tied up in the back, and calf booties. She was simply sipping from a cup of lemonade, but the big man was happily munching on a large burger with cheese and barbecue sauce while he cradled two plates with four slices of pizza and a large soft pretzel. The woman chuckled shaking her head. "It's a good thing we live on the road, or you'd be a whale from all the crap you eat JC."
Jason laughed giving the woman a playful wink finishing his burger before responding. "Well between that and your libido Ms. Mary it'd be impossible for me to get fat."
Mary blushed deeply then quickly punched him in the side.
"You and your big mouth! Come on let's sit down before you spill everything on the ground!" With her face still red she sped past her man and found an unoccupied picnic table in the food court planting herself down on the end.
Despite the pain of the punch a man never loses his food so with a chuckling wince Jason followed shortly after and sat opposite his red-faced lover.
"I have never dropped food and you know it. Such a thing would be sacrilege especially fair food, this stuff is a gift from God himself." He said matter-of-factually before tearing into one of the slices of pizza before sliding one of the plates Mary's way. "Now come on have your dinner before I eat them too." He smiled wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
Placing the lemonade down between them Mary smiled and pulled the napkins from her pocket and threw a couple at the big man. "I'd have to stab you again, now use a napkin you savage, I swear Mary one would be ashamed to see her eldest son be such slob."
Chuckling Jason wiped his mouth.
"I'm sure he would, but that's why she left Mary two in charge of him."
With a roll of her eyes Mary focused on her own food. She liked eating healthy especially since she lacked Jason's impossible metabolism that made it seemingly impossible for him to be anything but a big musclebound stud who never gained fat just found more muscles to bulk up. But fair food was indeed a divine gift, and besides she was allowed a cheat day every now and then. The pair ate in content silence listening to the dozens of voices and sound all around them vying for attention.
*Near the food court*
Also out enjoying the night was a trio who looked as out of place as Jason and Mary. Detective Rachel Levy, her young son Jack, and her good friend Zari. Rachel was wearing a short windbreaker coat, black t-shirt, jeans and white sneakers, Zari was wearing a short plaid skirt, white tank-top, and sandals. Her hair held back with a white cloth. Young Jack was dressed in a red shirt, blue jeans and a pair of hiking shoes a huge smile on his face carrying a big panda toy on his back as he bounced between game stalls looking for his next big score.
While keeping a wary eye on her over sugared child Rachel chatted with her friend. "I don't know Zari, how is this gonna help me relax? And get answers about this J.C. guy?" She quickly whistled as Jack skipped further than three feet from her making the kid stop and come back to their agreed distance.
Zari chuckled shaking her head. "Because sometimes the best way to find a hard to get answer is to stop looking for it. Besides you promised Jack you would take him to the Dutch County Fair for his birthday."
Rachel smiled watching her adopted son enjoying himself. She's been his mom for his entire life, she met his father while working a case and they clicked right away and fell in love. It was her first real good relationship which is kind of sad considering the boy's dad was an animal trapper convicted of poaching. "I guess, but I'm having trouble relaxing knowing my kid is gonna be wired for sound well passed his bedtime." She laughed lightly slipping her hands in the pockets of her coat.
Zari giggled elbowing her friend lightly.
"Maybe he'll crash soon and you won't have to worry about it."
The cop rubbed her side smirking.
"I can only hope, but what do you think about all this? I was gonna ask you at brunch, but work came up and I've been busy ever since." The woman frowned rubbing the bridge of her nose slowly.
The dark-skinned woman was silent for a few seconds before sighing.
"I don't know, I've been following the case myself as best as I can. I personally agree with what most people are saying. He's a hero, the type of person our world needs."
Rachel scoffed lightly looking up at the sky.
"Yeah that's what they say, but this isn't a comic book Zari. Vigilantes like him set up a bad precedent. As capable as he may be some day he's gonna screw up or worse someone who isn't as capable will follow in his footsteps and get killed or kill someone else." She said with tired groan her shoulders sagging some.
The other woman frowned patting the Jewish woman's back.
"Maybe, but maybe he won't? We don't know the future and stressing too much about it will only make you sick and crazy. You're a good cop Rach, but you can't protect everyone."
Rachel frowned deeper looking back at her son.
"I know, but that doesn't mean I can't try. If this J.C. was another cop or something I'd be all for backing him up. But he's not and he shouldn't be allowed to just take matters into his own hands. Whose gonna hold him accountable if he screws up?" She was growing more impassioned by the second, but Zari's calming hand rubbed her back massaging the passion away some.
"Relax Rachel, relax! You're a young woman whose gonna stress herself into an early grave. Now come on let's gets some food, maybe something greasy and covered in cheese will soak up some of the sugar in Jack's stomach." She grabbed the stressed out cop's hand then Jack's shoulder and began dragging them both towards the smell of fried food.
*A few minutes later*
"Gah I'm gonna have to run twenty miles to work all this off!" Mary pouted rubbing her taut stomach some. "Why did I let you talk me into two helpings of fried oreos?"
Jason laughed wiping his mouth and hands off.
"Cause you didn't want your man to look like a gluttonous monster by himself. Besides we'll do some exercise later tonight." He winked at her throwing the dirty napkin away.
The woman blushed again, but gave him a playful smile nodding slowly.
"We'll both need it if we keep eating like this." She cleaned her own face before taking the man's hand pulling him close and giving him a kiss on the cheek.
Jason smiled down at her and patted his own stomach.
"Well I'm full now, so I think we'll be safe for the rest of the night." He was about to say something else when the sound of loud shouting stilled the words in his mouth.
"HEY FUCKFACE I TOLD YOU TO NEVER COME AROUND HERE!" A young man's voice roared above the din of festivities.
"THIS A FREE COUNTRY YOU ASSHOLE! YOU DON'T OWN THE FAIRGROUNDS JAMES!" Another young man responded the general din dying down some.
Jason's head snapped around and he saw a group of six young people two boys and a girl on each side. They were squaring off besides the dunk tank, the speakers were a black kid dressed in jeans an a baggy shirt and a white kid dressed in cargo shorts and a tank-top. The black kid shouted back his fists clenching tight.
"DOESN'T FUCKING MATTER CARL! AFTER WHAT YOU DID TO MY SISTER YOU'RE LUCKY I DON'T KILL YOU RIGHT HERE AND NOW!"
The white kid snorted pointing an accusing finger at the girl next to the black kid dressed in a skirt and breezy blouse. Her eyes looked to be on the border of tears.
"WHAT I DID TO HER!? HOW ABOUT WHAT SHE DID TO ME?! I'M STILL PAYING THE MEDICAL BILLS FROM HER TRYING TO KILL ME!"
James snarled and lunged at Carl punching him hard in the face the two other boys then joined in wanting to help their friend win. Soon it was a wild vicious fight. Jason did his best to get at them.
*On the other side of the fight.*
"Mom there's some boys fighting by the dunk tank!" Jack shouted grabbing Rachel's hand dragging her away from winning a new portable grill at the shooting gallery. Figures she had just begun to relax and now some stupid kids were being stupid.
She heard the sounds of fighting and pushed Jack behind her before trying to work her way through the crowd. Times like this makes her regret leaving her gun and badge at home. But she heard a loud shout and say a big shadow rush towards the fight.
Jason finally broke through the crowd of on-lookers and charged into the fray.
"Hey stop it all of you!" He shouted trying to grab one of the kids and pull them apart, but it was Carl he had grabbed and in the heat of the moment the fit young man jumped at Jason and head-butted him hard dazing them both. But adrenaline was coursing through the young man and he recovered quicker and pulled Jason down to the ground where he and the others were tearing up the ground.
Rachel reached the edge of the ring of people just as Jason went down. She knew the description anywhere that was her mystery vigilante. Now she really wished she had her gun and badge. But just as she was about to shout a loud roar-like sound was heard and Jason came back to his feet holding both James and Carl by the fronts of their shirts blood actually trickling down his right eye. "I SAID STOP IT NOW!" He hurled both kids away as a bright yellow light flashed all around him. He then proceeded to yank the other two apart his much greater strength and loud voice making the rest of the fairground go silent as he was panting heavily. "THERE IS NO NEED FOR THIS VIOLENCE! YOU SHOULD ALL BE ASHAMED!" He pointed to James his voice coming down some. "James what Carl did to your sister was bad, but so was what she did." He then pointed to Carl. "And you! She did not try to kill you, stupidity and alcohol made you fools try to imitate a kung-fu movie and she just got a lucky hit in and cut your side. Not something worth posting personal pictures of her all over your school!"
The kids were stunned at the man's knowledge. Phones snapped pictures all around them. As much as Jason wanted to remain invisible things couldn't stay like that forever. "This the last chance for all of you. Repent and make peace." He said lowly having regained all his composure. He didn't wait and see though because he saw Rachel finally reacting and with a slight nod to her vanished into the crowds before she could get him.
*Fifteen minutes later*
Someone had called the cops at the beginning of the fight. And being the first on the scene technically Rachel hung around until the others showed up. Samson was on duty, and simply smiled and shook his head upon seeing Rachel glaring at the six kids while Jack and Zari were sitting at a picnic table.
"Trouble loves finding you doesn't it Levy?" Samson chuckled looking between the woman and the kids.
She snorted letting some patrolman take over watching and getting statements from the brawlers.
"Bite me Naza, at least I got a break through. Our vigilante was here and stopped the fight. I even saw him do it." She rubbed her eyes walking to Jack and Zari.
Following the big man whistled.
"Wow talk about luck, you seemed to be the only one."
Quirking her eyebrow Rachel said in disbelief.
"Wait how? There was at least twenty people watching the fight and damn near everyone had a phone out and was taking video and snapping pictures."
Samson shrugged handing her some of the statements the police had gathered.
"Yes, every phone was collected and checked for evidence, but not a one had anything from the fight nor the aftermath. And everyone we asked said it all happened so fast it was a blur even the kids who were fighting. Just the beginning of the fight and a yellow light."
The Detective blinked a few times then sat down heavily on the bench placing her head in her hands. "Who is this guy?"
Her partner shrugged patting her shoulder.
"We'll find out Rachel, but you've done all you can here. You're tired, Jack and Zari are tired head home. I'll call you if anything comes up." Knowing he was right Rachel got up and took Jack's hand before walking slowly back to her car with Zari.
*Later that night*
It took some time, but Jack had finally settled down for the night and Rachel was seated on her couch with Zari. Rachel was sipping wine but Zari wasn't a drinker so she was just enjoying a virgin Pina Colada as Rachel called them.
"How can that happen Zari? Everyone saw him, but only me and you remember? Not even Jack fully remembers." The woman said running a hand through her messy hair taking a long sip of her wine.
Sitting back on the couch Zari kicked her feet out and shrugged studying her drink.
"I don't know Rachel, we saw enough flashes that this fight should be trending on all social media sites. But nothing, not even a Facebook comment. Only thing I can think of is him, his girl, or someone they know is some kind of magician or super hacker. Neither of which makes a lick of sense."
The women sunk into silence before Zari finished her drink and looked at the clock on the wall. "Wow it's past midnight, I got work in the morning. Be sure you get some sleep Rach." She placed her glass in the kitchen and slipped her shoes back on. With a frown Rachel placed her glass down and followed her friend out. "I don't know if I can, but some wine might help. Are you sure you can't stay? It's no fun drinking alone." She giggled lightly her face from the drink.
Zari smiled giving the other woman a big hug. "Yes, unlike you cops I don't get many days off from my job in the big scary government." She sneezed lightly chuckling. "Before you drink too much more wine maybe hit the showers. I think you got some angry teenager sweat on you dealing with those kids." She winked lightly before walking out.
Rachel rolled her eyes before closing and locking the door behind her friend. She didn't notice any smell, but she always slept better after a nice hot shower. Finishing her glass she put the bottle of wine away and moved to her bedroom stripping out of her clothes and grabbed a towel before heading into her own bathroom. She turned on a small radio that was hanging on her wall then turned the shower on stepping into the steam. Breathing in deep the woman simply stood under the water letting it cover her fit nude body.
Her mind began to wander as it always did when in the shower. First about the case then at the finer details between all of the incidents, her mind was at a complete loss as usual. So many pieces that didn't fit and others continuing to be found. Soon her mind wandered to the man himself. He was pretty much exactly what the witnesses described, but seeing him in person was a different thing altogether. She saw a pain and a sadness under the anger, then the yellow light.
The rippling muscles, swirling tattoos, his wild long hair...the definition of an alpha male. Leaning against the wall of her shower the thoughts twisted around and around her hands moving of their own accord to react. How long had it been since she was with a man like that? She couldn't even remember, what could he do if given the chance? She didn't know, but her imagination filled in the blanks, a soft moan left her lips before she came back to her own shaking the images away and going back to her shower finishing it quickly and getting out wrapping herself in a towel her face still a little red. Did she really just almost do that?
Shaking the rest of the thoughts from her mind she finished up her nightly rituals and dressed in a short gray night gown and climbed into bed laying down. She stared off into the night feeling the wine working it's magic, just before she shut her eyes she saw Jason strong face twisted with regret before he vanished into the crowds and Rachel's eyes drooped closed and she fell into a dreamless sleep.
Spoiler: A Mother's Love
Special thanks to StormyNyte for being my consultant on the ins and outs of Motherhood for this rather emotional story. You rock Fangs!
Mother is the name for God on the lips and in the hearts of little children. A short phrase, but one that holds such potent truth. In many childhoods, the mother is a central influence. The nurturer, the feeder, the wise and loving deity of their young lives.
But not all mothers are created equal, some are abusive even cruel. Some are just uninterested, and others are just young women in over their heads and afraid. Desperation brings about the worst in many of us, but if nature has proven one thing it's that a mother's love is a force not to be taken lightly.
And so it begins...
The warmth of summer had come and gone, now the tickling chill of autumn was dancing through the blowing winds. Leaves were painted in blazing waves of color fighting till the very end before their cycle of life came full circle. Early hints of Halloween were decorating the porches and store fronts of many small town outside the city.
Music played on every other channel and commercials were advertising early costume and candy specials to try and get just a little ahead of the game before the season got into full swing. Tonight though only the distant sounds of traffic and the occasional bark of a dog disturbed the peaceful silence of the Shelton Motel off Route six just outside the big city. Not the most high-end of establishments, but beats sleeping in the truck hoping you don't freeze to death or get killed by some mutants living along the backwoods road your parked on.
A dog barked distantly and the opening and closing of a door answered followed by the tired yawn of a woman. Mary was dressed in the only pair of warm pajamas she owned. One of Jason's old t-shirts and an even older pair of pink flannel lounge pants, she pulled on Jason's long leather coat yawning a little. Her blond hair was messy and unbound, on her feet was a pair of black moccasins. She shivered clutching the dull green of a few dollar bills in her hand. "So glad I talked that big lump into renting a room, but should've picked up some drinks and snacks before the jerk went to sleep." She closed the door after making sure she had her key then shuffled quickly towards the lonesome glow of the vending machines.
She could've maybe woken Jason up and talked him into some late night shopping. But after years of dealing with him Mary knew she'd need to set off a M80 next to his head to even get a grunt of recognition, let alone get him up once he was asleep. She reached the machines and stared owlishly at them the bright lights hurting her eyes. She first got a bottle of water, but was stuck between getting a bag of mini muffins or chips when her muffled ears began picking up a very distinct sound. The cry of a baby, now any woman be she a mother or not knew that sound and her instincts demand she investigates. Holding the water in one hand she shoved the rest of her money into the pockets of her pants and moved towards the sound. In hindsight maybe she could've tried to wake Jason just in case, but as the cries of the child became louder she could sense the fear in it's raspy little voice and quickened her pace.
Her ears brought her to the back of the motel near the dumpsters. Already she wasn't liking this. Slowing down just a little she waited around the corner watching the small cone of white light that illuminated the rusty green dumpsters. Trying to hone in on where the sound was coming from. It drew closer and soon Mary's heart dropped to her feet. Wrapped in a long coat that was obviously borrowed a red-headed young woman...nay a girl maybe fifteen appeared clutching the screaming bundle of a baby wrapped in an old yellow blanket to her budding chest. She was trying the shush the child looking fearfully around her, large bags hung under her eyes and they were red and puffy from crying too many of her own tears. Choking back a small sob the girl sat down on an upturned crate she held the child awkwardly unsure what to do while she keeps glancing around her. She looked more like a big sister than a mother, once again Mary contemplated going to get Jason.
But her eyes widened in horror as the teenager grabbed the edge of the blanket and held it over the baby's face trying to smother it. Her arms locked in place but hands shaking violently her face scrunched up in pain as all new rivers of tears began falling down her face. Mary moved forward startling the girl who yanked the blanket back some kind of instinct kicking in cause her to hold the still screaming baby protectively to her quaking chest. "Who...who are you!" She said half jumping to her feet the sudden movement causing the squirming child to nearly fall from the young girl's skinny arms.
Calming her own instincts Mary crouched down a few feet from the new mother hoping to calm her nerves before she does something else to hurt the child. "I'm Mary, I'm not here to hurt you. Please...please just sit down." Grabbing another crate the blond woman sat down herself looking as nonthreatening as possible. She could tell the young woman didn't want to actually hurt the baby she was just lost and scared.
Hesitant at first, the girl soon did as she was bid looking almost relieved at someone finally giving her guidance. The baby still screamed, but the girl seemed too numb and tired to care anymore. "He never stops crying." She said weakly the little boy more laying on her thighs than she holding him anymore.
Mary gave a weak smiling hoping to ease some of the girl's suffering. "Yeah babies do that sweetie, does he have a clean diaper?"
The girl nodded slowly. "Yeah not too long ago."
"Maybe he's hungry?" Mary supplied.
The girl looked up lost again. "I don't have any formula?"
The older woman smiled. "You make your own sweetie."
Equal parts surprised and disgusted the girl looked around for the answer. "Huh?" She asked tiredly, it was obvious the young mother hadn't slept in days. Her mind was a mess, Mary recognized that look anywhere. "Your boobs, they produce milk when you're pregnant. It's for feeding babies."
Some lucidity returned to her eyes and her cheeks reddened.
"Re...really? How?"
Mary scooted a little closer smiling kindly. "Well first lift your shirt, then just press his mouth to your nipple he'll figure the rest out."
Weakly the girl lifted the ratty blue shirt she was wearing the sudden cold making her skin pimple she shrugged more into her coat then lifted him to her pale bust and like Mary said the crying little boy finally quieted and began suckling hungrily at the teat. A disbelieving smile crossed the young girl's long exhausted face she pulled the coat a little closer around them.
Leaning back some Mary watched the pair memories of her own trials in motherhood flooding her mind. "What's your name sweetie?"
Mary wouldn't peg the little boy more than a couple of months old judging by the girl's face which was still somewhat absorbed in what is obviously her first experience with real motherhood. "Eleanor, but my friends call me Ella."
The woman smiled watching the little boy feed his small pale hands flexing and tugging at the fabric of his mother's shirt. Mary smiled bigger now moving to sit besides Eleanor. "I know what you're feeling Ella. The emotions it can elicit... when you're holding the tiny little person you created and gave life to, looking down into those little eyes that are so bright and new that are looking right back up at you like you're the only God they'll ever know, the first time that happens they become the absolute center of your world and there is nothing in the world you wouldn't do to keep them safe, healthy, and happy. Does he have a name?"
The young girl nodded sadly stroking the still suckling child's cheek. "Joey, his name is Joey. And I don't think you really know Ms. Mary, I don't see you holding a screaming little brat to your chest behind some crappy motel."
Mary sighed and placed her hand tentatively on the girls shivering shoulders. She then pulled her own coat off and draped it across Ella's small body. "No, sweetie I really do. There are times of resentment, enmity, feeling trapped and hopeless, the desire to just disappear and leave it all behind, be free and not have to worry about someone else, to be able to do what you want when you want again." Her voice quieted as she wrapped her arms around her now chilly body.
Ella nodded as little Joey pulled back from her breast letting out a small burp before he settled down to sleep in his mother's arms. Mechanically the girl pulled her shirt back down rocking him slowly. "His daddy Callen, works all the time. He has to so we can afford formula and keep the lights on, I'm stuck all by myself in the apartment. Can't even make myself toast with him screeching all the time." The girl began to cry again huddling more into the two coats. "I just don't know what to do. Our parents are all gone and none of our other family members are close by. I can't....I can't even...talk with Cal. He comes home and just falls right asleep." Her sobs threatened to burst loudly from her heart and awaken Joey, but she bit her lip and stopped them.
Mary wrapped her arm around the girl and hugged her close. "Many years ago, I was in nearly the exact position as you Ella. Only I had twins, a boy and girl. Jeremiah and Sarah, it was just me and my Jason. Our families were gone and we had to scrape by every second of every day." Mary's eyes began to water and she held the girl and her gently snoring child close. "I lost them both. An accident that shouldn't have happened, but one I still regret everyday. Please Ella don't make my same mistake."
Ella leaned into Mary joining her in crying. "What...do...I do?" She pleaded through her tears.
Mary kissed the girl's red hair. "Just remember this advice. It's okay to cry, it's okay to walk away for a few minutes, it's okay to not focus on worry about anything else but the baby, it's absolutely okay to reach out to others for help if you need it, it's okay to feel what you're feeling because those feelings are absolutely valid. But when they get overwhelming, it's okay to reach out, it's okay to call on someone if you need a break." She brushed some stray hairs from Ella's face. "You are a strong young woman, motherhood is one of the greatest gifts, but also one of the greatest burdens we women have. Men are the hunters, warriors, and rock we rely on, but we are the foundations they need to even stand tall and the reason they need to be the best they can be." Mary rocked with the girl who sobbed quietly into her chest. "Talk with your Cal, grab him and sit him down if you need to. The fact he stuck around tells me he's a good one." Joey began to stir, but Mary smiled down at him waving her hand over his little head a soft pink light filtering down over his tiny body a broad smile creasing his wrinkly face before he settled back to sleep.
Ella's tear dried up and she looked at Mary eyes wide with amazement. "How did you?" Mary lifted her finger and shushed the girl before she kissed her forehead brushing her cheek like a mother would her troubled daughter. "I'm simply a servant to the greater good and this is just a sad dream." She kissed the girl again a soft purple light filling the space between them. Her voice echoing through the girl's mind as her eyelids grew heavy. "When you awaken you'll forever feel God's love and never be alone even in the darkest of nights or in the most violent of storms, be they internal or external. Treasure little Joey, be loving and faithful to Cal and he will return the affection in kind. In a few days call Detective Rachel Levy at the 77th precinct. Tell her your story and ask for help. She will guide you from there just say J.C and Mary sent you. I love you Ella and little Joey too, I always will, now sleep my child."
Ella let out a quiet yawn and cuddled her sleeping son to her chest. Tears flowed freely down Mary's face even when she felt a kind heavy hand land on her shoulder followed by the smiling bearded face of Jason looking proudly down at her. "You are always the best with people Mary." He leaned down and kissed her lips. "Let's get these two back home." He went to scoop Ella up, but Mary shook her head sniffling lightly. "I got'em." He gave her one more kiss and they took the young mother and her son back home.
*Three days later*
The sudden cry of a telephone made the hard working Detective start slightly as she was pouring over the J.C. case. Clearing her throat she answered. "Detective Levy, Robbery."
"H-hello, Detective Levy. My...my name's Eleanor Manchester, J.C. and Mary sent me?"
The Jewish woman dropped her pen to the desk her undivided attention set on the caller. "Hello Ms. Manchester, what can I do for you?"
*ten minutes later*
Rachel's eyes were a little moist, but her composure was unflinching. Her pen busily scratching across her note pad. "That was quite the dream Ms. Manchester, thank you for sharing it with me. Those numbers I gave you will set you, little Joey, and Cal up with all the government assistance agencies you'll need. Just be sure you call my friend Philip Golarg, he's one of the best Lawyers I know. And if he gives you any trouble just call me and I'll fix him up. John Baptiste will also be a good man to call if you're ever feeling overwhelmed, he's a therapist that specializes in this sort of thing."
"Thank you so much Detective, this has really been a godsend. I've been feeling so depressed and...and desperate for so long. I was at my breaking point a few days ago, but an angel visited me in my dreams and then everything became so much easier."
Rachel chuckled nodding slowly placing her pen back down. "You're welcome Ella, but before I forget. Why did you say J.C. and Mary sent you?"
There was a silence on the other end as the girl pondered the Detective's question.
"I...I...don't...know? The angel just told me to say that. She was beautiful, but also felt so real. She was blond and came to me wearing a long leather coat at the back of the...the Shelton Motel. Don't know why that was in my dream, sure it's right down the road from my and Callen's house, but that place is nasty and full of drug dealers and stuff. Is it important?"
The Detective frowned shaking her head.
"No, just curious. Now go call those numbers, I'll check on you in a few days to see how it's going. Feel free to call me anytime you need to ok sweetie?"
Ella chuckled. "Will do Detective Levy thank you so much. Have a good day!" With that the girl hung up, Rachel listened to the dial tone for a few seconds before she too hung up and leaned back in her chair running a hand through her black medium length hair. Being a cop she ran into a lot of cases that hit close to home. But hearing about a mother even having a dream about harming her child was like jamming a knife into her heart and slowly rotating it counter clockwise.
She could never even think of seriously harming Jack even on the days where she really wanted to. Sometimes a quick spank was needed, but smothering him and dumping him in the trash. It...it made her sick just thinking about it. Shaking the thoughts from her brain she added the new notes to the file and lifted her cold coffee taking a small sip from it instantly pulling a grimace.
"Well I need to go talk with the Captain anyway. He wanted to know any new developments on this comic book adventure." She let out a sardonic chuckle. "Coffee first then try and tell a fairy tale story to a fifty-five year old man." Tossing her cup away the woman let out a yawn and made her way to the break room.
Spoiler: The Lines of Fate
Fate a curious idea. Many times used interchangeably with the idea of a Divine Intelligence that dictates the happenings of the universe. Other times it's a completely separate entity, a force neutral of good or evil and oftentimes preferred over the comfort of a Deity protecting and guiding you through life's trials when the inevitable harshness of life and it's truths make you question that Deity's supposed compassion.And other times still Fate is considered a tool of the Divine.
All ideas are valid, but much like everything else in life humans rarely know the truth. This is because most peoples' fates are murky and too big to grasp in one lifetime. But for the unlucky few who can see the "man behind the curtain" as it were they can see lines of fate it becomes painfully clear. Huge lines that alter the course of history, medium sized ones that spindle off into nothing and only impact the lines closest to it. And most pathetic, small ones that die off suddenly leaving no trace or impact on the flow of time and space. And with each day the huge lines become less and less as people become stagnant in a world with very little drive or initiative to be something more than a bump on a log.
And sadder still they see their own line and must learn to accept it is beyond their control. Whether the line end well or end bad they cannot stop it, it takes many years to come to terms with it. Seventeen years, thirty years, five-hundred it doesn't matter they know how the story ends. And all they can do is make the most of length they have left to live. But once you see the man behind the curtain you can speak with him and ask the most burning question..."Why"? Just be ready...for you may not like the answer.
And so it begins...
No matter how far you travel, no matter how many times you cross the seven continents, there is nothing like the sheer desolation and emptiness of the desert. Just miles upon miles of sand and sun scorched rock. Death always walks these barren wastes. Be it under the blazing sun or the lonesome glint of the full bone moon.
Even here though life found a way to thrive, it is the ultimate juxtaposition of existence. Where there is death there will always be life no matter how small. And for the large man seated on the edge of a cliff overlooking the shadowy sands it so closely reflects his own life. A deep sigh lifted from his lips and mingled with the quiet whimper of the desert wind as it whipped around him and his parked truck. Jason has spent enough time in deserts to last one hundred lifetimes, but still he always finds himself in one whenever he is feeling at his lowest.
Even with Mary sleeping soundly in the back seat mere feet away he felt so alone. He often questioned why the Holy Father let such places besmirch his creation and bring even more death and despair upon his children...Jason included. With a wave of his celestial hand he could fill the earth with verdant fertile fields, soft rolling hills, tall proud forests and jungles. He could remake the Garden...but then how would people learn?
The same doubts and counter doubts raced through the man's exhausted mind. The same arguments he has had with himself since he was thirteen, leaving him to the same conclusions. "Trust in God and his plan." But tonight that band-aid wasn't quite good enough, at least not on it's own. Resting his head in his rough hands Jason let out another sigh mumbling something under his breath before standing up and walking back to the truck. He needed to take a walk. Quietly opening the door he pulled out his long coat, an old leather skin canteen and a long object wrapped in white cloth. He then just as quietly pulled the white cloth off and draped it over the sleeping form of Mary before closing the truck door. The object under the cloth was a long ancient looking spear, but while ancient it was far from brittle. Still he placed it delicately against the side of the truck so he could pull on his coat and sling the canteen over his shoulder. Dawn was still a long ways off, but he would be back before Mary woke up.
Lifting the spear and using it like a walking stick Jason began descending the small mesa he had parked the truck on. Usually when he couldn't sleep he would whittle toys or little trinkets for Mary, but they had no wood. Work has been scarce recently, it's why he and Mary had come further West. Ranchers and cattle farms usually hired them because they know their way around horses and cows and can help on the drives. A friend had told them about a man looking for help in Arizona, it was a long drive, but the pay would be good and last them about two months. It being October now meant they could maybe spend the winter months out here doing odds job before heading back East for Spring work.
The worst part for Jason is having to cross desert to get there. For many years he has had a fear of these dead patches of land. He knew the reason behind the fear, but just knowing they Why of it isn't always enough to overcome it especially when the Why of it resulted in the hardest and most traumatizing journey of his life. The loneliness, the helplessness, the constant doubts and pain racking every inch of his frame. Not even his time in Antarctica could compare to it. Even now several years later and a short walk back to the comfort of Mary's embrace and the safety of his truck. He shivered, hugging himself deeper into his coat and tried to talk himself down from crying like a frightened child. His eyes were downcast watching small rivulets of sand crumble under his heavy boots and the quick scurrying of the night time critters as they darted across the cool sand looking food and better shelter before the blistering sun returned. His mind an endless ocean of regrets from a lifetime of living with the ability to see the lines of fate and being unable to do little more than nudge things back to the center line of balance.
All his experiences, all his knowledge and skill were useless against the unalterable binds of fate. He could fix the entire world at his full potential, but like many things in his life, that potential was locked away, a prisoner of Fate. Only when the time was "right" would he be able to do unlock it. But he was never told when that "right" time would arrive. And with the world around him sinking deeper and deeper into madness and despair that potential was desperately needed. Like a King on a chessboard, he was key to victory and setting everything right, but in the end he was simply a piece and the one moving him the player. Rubbing his eyes some more Jason was thankful he had eaten a full meal before stopping for the night. Hunger makes everything worse when you're feeling down. But where once he was hounded by thoughts of food, might, and wealth, now he is simply plagued by esoteric stupidity. He did this desert walking once before and he wasn't keen on reliving any aspect of it. Yet here he was...wandering the wretched sands again looking all around him for an answer, a sign, anything to tell him his life and lifelong duty weren't for naught. But much like before only wind and cold answered him. He shivered lightly and fastened the front of his long coat continuing on letting his feet pick the path they take him down.
Jason wasn't sure how much, if any time passed before he found a bad omen. A cross roads in the middle of the desert, two roads overlapping at a single point with a pair of decrepit signs swaying weakly from their rusted chains. His breath caught in his throat as he found himself standing at the dead center of the intersection. He quickly reached for his spear, but the smell of fire and the feel of an intense heat washed over him before he could spin to meet the new arrival. Luckily as he felt the being's aura he relaxed a little, still he kept his hand firmly on the spear turning to look at the smiling face of a young woman. She was much shorter than Jason, and had curves almost as perfect and perky as Mary's, but had a more punk girl look about her. If it wasn't for her glowing orange eyes she'd be quite attractive.
As the girl saw who had stepped into her domain a huge toothy smile creased her face. "My, my, my, look who stepped into this lowly Crossroad Demon's Office. The great JC himself, my nether regions tremble." She let out a low lewd moan rubbing her hands over her fine curves while she walked around the stoic man her eyes devouring him. Jason kept his face still and his hand firmly clutching the shaft of the spear. Her red nailed hand glided along his muscled arm leaving small scratches along the leather of his coat. Her fingers sizzled lightly as she brushed along his hand. She let out an almost pleasurable hiss as she pulled her hand back slowly licking her smoking fingers. "Hmm so tasty, but I simply must know. What brings you out here big man? Thought you had your fill of aimlessly wandering sandboxes." She kept an unnerving cat like smile on her face as she pulled the shoulders of her leather jacket down exposing her tight white tank-top and pale skin to the cool night air. And as a suddenly cold wind blew it was made obvious underwear was optional in Hell. Jason averted his eyes making sure to stare into her own. "Hello Demona or are you Jezibel?"
The girl pouted lightly the metal in her lips quivering lightly. "I'm Naamah! One of the first Demoness of seduction!" She sounded like a whiny girl which did fit her appearance and sphere of power. She then stomped hard making the chains on her coat and her chest jiggle. "How can you confuse me for one of those uppity little bitches?! I was scoring deals before they were even jammed into their mommy's twats!" Her eyes actually began to water some as she spoke.
Jason sighed and shook his head. "Easy now Naamah, it's just unexpected to find you so far from Israel. I'm sorry." How odd it was to say sorry to a demon, but it was in Jason's nature to do so.
Naamah crossed her arms under her bust pushing it up slightly as she looked skyward blinking back the tears. "And here I was planning to give you a freebie for your first time! You can forget about it now!" Jason scoffed lightly and simply began walking back in the direction of his truck.
The Demoness's eyes quickly cleared as she saw the biggest potential feather in her hat not only failing to fall for her upset pretty girl act but actually walking away. In a panic she hop-skipped after him and grabbed onto his arm hugging it close to her very warm body. "B-but-but I can be convinced to give you another chance if you ask reeaaally nice." She said sweetly pulling him down a little to her lips. With ease Jason pulled back actually lifting the small woman up off the ground causing her to clutch onto his arm in fear for a few seconds. "Ok! Ok! Ok!" He stopped and she dropped back to the ground wrapping her coat back around her slender body before she pulled the legs of her blue denim short shorts back into place where they had begun to ride up. Jason watched her for a few seconds his eyes half-lidded in interest. Naamah pouted some more as she finished straightening her outfit. "Can I at least join you on your broody walk? This post sucks, almost no one comes out here so I spend most of my time playing checkers with Coyote or some passing Djinn. They cheat better than me and don't talk much."
Jason gave another low sigh and nodded. Maybe she could be a good distraction from his own thoughts. Naamah gave a trilling sound and bounced up besides Jason managing to keep pace with his much longer strides. "Oh thank you so much. There's only so many times a girl can listen to bestial grunts and see her pieces knocked about into the the wee hours of the morning, before it gets boring." She said this in such an unironic way Jason wasn't sure if she was talking about checkers or sex.
"I will take your word for it. So why are you out here? Last I heard Demons like you don't hop the pond, and why are you dressed like that? The desert is hardly the place where a punk rock girl would fit in"
Naamah shrugged placing her hands behind her head ruffling her hair some.
"The Boss has been dealing with a lot of wannabe worshipers and witches who have binge watched too many shows that make the "Devil sexy" So he's shuffled us around to where we can throw off the idiots who mispronounce a word or two, but look like the the demons on TV. So Bast got my old post and I got stuck with Moloch's spot after he got exorcised by some Priests of the Broken Cross. As for the punk rock girl look, I kinda like it. Plus there's a cult living in some makeshift shakes a little South of here. Not legit cultists, just more TV kooks, but they all have this look so it's what I pick when I get summoned."
Jason couldn't help but smirk. "You really shouldn't be telling me all this. I'll be compelled to stop you or get one of the others to stop you."
The woman shrugged bouncing lightly as she walked. "You can smite me with a look if you wanted JC. Totally wipe me out of existence, wouldn't even go back to Hell just...poof. Besides it's not like the Boss will come check my numbers anytime soon, Moloch went crazy out here because no one ever came by. Kinda the downside of being a demon of child sacrifice, no one sacrifices their kids nowadays. But I'm a Lust Demon, I just need something with a desire and working bits to get by. Men, women, an...mphh!" Before she could finish Jason's hand came up holding his coat's sleeve against her mouth. "I get your meaning, but if you finish that sentence I will have to smite you."
The Demoness made an indignant squeaking sound before she pulled back wiping her mouth. "Still such a prude, fine let's talk about you. What are you doing out here? Get bored with Barbie and decided to go looking for someone a little less vanilla?" She said pressing herself against the big man again giggling lightly causing him to roll his eyes and pull his arm free.
"No just need to do some thinking. Not feeling well." He said morosely which caused the woman to frown lightly.
"Really? How's that work? You're Mister Bright Side like 24/7. To quote some of my sisters your smile is like staring point blank into the sun and is hotter than the Seventh Level. You are the subject of a lot of fantasies down there." She giggled lightly, but saw the man's frown deepen and pouted again hugging her arms around herself. "Sorry JC."
He nodded lightly. "It's ok, but as much as you all love to fantasize about me. I'm still just a man, can't be happy and positive all the time. Just like you Demons can't be evil and depraved all the time. Perfect examples of that; Saoirse and Redwing."
Naamah almost gagged at the mention of Saoirse's name. "Ugh there's not being depraved then there's being an insufferable Saint among born sinners. Ya know she's on the boss's hit list, right? She slips up once or moves away from that Redwing guy's flamy sword of protection she'll be dragged right back down and tossed into the Boss's oven."
Once more Jason chuckled. "Good to know, gotta be hard to break the lines of fate and stay safe forever though."
Naamah nodded looking up at the moon, it had moved well past midnight at this point. "Yeah, but as you feathery types always say. Fate is part of His plan so every twist, turn, and surprise is written down long before we even exist. So did they break the lines or simply go down a strand they didn't expect was already there? I neither know nor care, just try to not worry about it. I'm a Lust Demon playing the role of a Crossroad Demon, if redemption lies in my future so be it, but if I'm destined to be damned until the Big One happens and get poofed out of existence, whatever. I'll just keep doing my job."
The big man nodded surprised at such an insightful point coming from a Demon. "Or until someone else poofs you like Moloch?"
The woman cracked and smile and nodded.
"Yup! So why worry about things like Fate, Destiny, or whatever. When your time comes it comes. All worrying about it does is distract you from the now and make you sick. And no one likes being sick."
Jason smiled lightly, loosening his grip on his spear for the first time since he stumbled across Naamah's post. "I guess." He stopped at the foot of the mesa where his truck and Mary were.
The Demoness stopped with him, a genuine smile absent of her usual sleaze and lewd eyes crossing her face. "You don't need to guess, you've known since you started your broody walk. You just needed someone not brainwashed by your holy man shtick to say it. And if there's one thing we Demons are good at it's telling it like it is...at least to you feathery types. Way more fun to say your wings and toga look stupid and run away from your fiery swords than bothering to lie and get found out."
Jason gave a genuine laugh. "Especially when we can tell you're lying by looking at you."
Naamah gave Jason a wink leaning up giving him a soft kiss on the cheek. There was a soft sizzle, but only for the split second before she pulled back . "Hehe that too, well best get back to Barbie big guy. I'm sure she misses how warm you are. Just remember if you ever wanna take a walk on the wild side, you still have that freebie to call in." Her lewd smile returned as well as a salacious wink as she turned around to face him, her leathery wings sprouting from her back intentionally tearing her tight tank-top off in the process so Jason can get a sneak-peek of what will be waiting for him. He chuckled and shook his head, covering his eyes as he began walking back up the mesa. There was a low feminine chuckle and flap of heavy wings behind him before a sudden rush of heat flashed almost lovingly across his back signalling the woman's departure.
Opening his eyes he saw Naamah's backside and wings vanishing into the distance. He found himself smiling despite what he knows about Demons and their deals. Nothing is every really free with them, but at least not all of them are mindless killers or compulsive liars. As with everything there are multiple sides to look at and consider. But right now Jason was feeling good, and he finally felt the soothing fingers of sleep creeping into his mind. Letting out a yawn he moved silently to the truck, opened it up, and placed his coat, spear, and canteen into the front seat. Another yawn made him wobble slightly as he stripped down and crawled into the makeshift bed pulling the door shut as he went. The last thing he remembers is wrapping his arms around Mary's warm comforting embrace and kissing her lavender scented hair before dropping off into another dreamless sleep.
Spoiler: Hunting Fear
Fear: noun, an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm. verb, be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or harmful.
A simple definition for something so primal and complex as fear. Not to say all fears are complex, a child being afraid of the dark is usually just that a simple childish worry. But the complexity comes from the very nature of the emotion "Fear" arguably the first emotion mankind developed. Fear drove us to harness fire, form communities, create tools and weapons, and as some believe it drove us to create religion to try and explain those fears.
Even nowadays with our city lights and technology fear drives us. It will always be with us, it might have even become more common than happiness or anger in the broken little world we now live. But as powerful as fear is it does not have to control us. Even when faced with someone...something, that can be called the very embodiment of all of mankind's fears. When the need arises, one person can fight such a creature...when no one else is able, a single person can hunt down fear itself.
And so it begins...
"This is an odd place, for a monster to be." Jason's voice rang out dully as he stepped onto the forgotten asphalt of a cul-de-sac somewhere in middle America. Nearly all the buildings were either falling down or fully collapsed, overgrown lawns, rusted swing sets rattling gently in the musty wind, the sound of a house actually falling down making the large man jump suddenly.
Jason has never been one to harbor fear. He's lived too long and seen too much to let fear into his heart. But every once in awhile he's reminded of that emotion. This job was one of those times, Zoo-Zoo had come to him a few weeks back talking about some kind of monster terrorizing this part of the world. Huge, black-skinned and looking like some kind of twisted centaur, bad enough with just that, but apparently it has vicious mouths on the palms of it's hands that can rip through someone in seconds.
Jason agreed this thing needed to be stopped, but he couldn't help but question why the woman had come to him about it. He's happy to help protect the world, but killing things even evil things wasn't something he enjoyed doing. And creatures like this were within the jurisdiction of the Order of the Broken Cross, they were the ones called upon to rid the mortal and immortal worlds of evil and from what Jason reckons had an exceptional track record of doing just that.
And to her credit the Angel of Justice did go to them first about it. But after investigating the lore of the beast this "Night Buck" as the Priests called it was something, while not beyond their abilities to slay would be gone before they could figure out how to kill it. Apparently it was either an ancient and corrupted Pagan God of the Wood or some primordial force of nature akin to the Leviathan or Behemoth. Neither of which were easy to slay and as luck would have it this beast, whatever it was, is on some kind of life cycle that would be over soon.
But instead of dying it would vanish into the thick old growth forests around this dilapidated cul-de-sac and not be seen again for about five hundred years. Like a cicada or something, sleeping for so long only to wake up, choose an unfortunate target to hunt down, terrorize, and eventually devour whole for thirty some years, before going back into hibernation. There was some talk of it being summoned by cultists, but digging deeper only proved that to be some kind of sick coincidence. Now the beast was nearing the end of it's wake cycle, it needed to be killed as soon as possible before it went back into hiding for half a millennia. That means calling in the biggest gun possible and giving him a mere forty-eight hours to find the place and prepare to fight something possibly as old as himself. Not the most impossible thing asked of him, but really close to it. Especially considering he was almost a week out from this location when asked. Following rumors and police reports, Jason found the area, with the unfortunate report of a teenage girl going missing in the area being the final piece he needed to pinpoint the Night Buck's hunting grounds.
If this creature really was as dark and hateful as Jason was told he was sure it would find him before he found it, but that still meant picking through the ruins for evidence of it's passing. And maybe, just maybe he could find some closure for the girl's family. He knew what it was like losing a loved one and even as strung out and hungover as the girl's father seemed to be Jason recognized the pain and hurt in his bloodshot eyes. The big man knew his whole story just by looking at him and the young boy with him at the police station. A man broken by life and luck forced into the bottle to stave off the pain and tied up in gambling to pay for his bad habit. The man looked sober for the first time in a long time and his hands shook from both grief and withdrawal.
Other reports Jason came across told a long line of similar stories. People going missing, people with no obvious connection aside from simply being from the area. But they had also all been in contact with a missing Professor who the Order assumed was the Night Buck's original target as his was the latest missing persons report before the teenage girl's. Evil like this is often all the proof people need to dismiss any kind of divinity. If there was such a positive force in the universe why would it all such badness to happen? Jason has heard this argument so many times before he could recite it word for word in his sleep. And he'll be the first to admit he doesn't have all the answers even with his history and existence being a prime example of the divinity being true. But now wasn't the time to argue them in his head, he had a giant death deer to unalive.
The first few houses he checked out were empty of giant death deer, unless the Night Buck liked spray painting phallic symbols and hip-hop lyrics onto faded wallpaper. Other houses were too broken down to hide anything reported to be the size of a prehistoric moose with pale blue, glowing eyes. The old woods would be a perfect hiding place for such a giant creature, but Jason was not eager to meet the Night Buck on his home turf. He would need to lure the beast into the open. His spear should be long enough to kill the monster without him getting within arm's reach of it. Considering the nature of the Night Buck though, it might not make much of a difference.
Continuing down the broken street, Jason was running out of houses to investigate. Empty lots were outnumbering even the fallen down houses, and soon it would just the desolate roundabout and forest ahead of him. But as the big man rounded the corner leading into the roundabout one house and an oppressive aura told him he had finally arrived at the Night Buck's hunting grounds. The house, while still standing was quite broken down, the windows were all smashed out and there seemed to be holes in a few of the walls almost like someone had shot a cannonball through them. This had to be the place. Gripping his spear Jason cleared his throat and approached the ominous looking house. Glad for his armor, the large man stepped onto the wildly overgrown grass noting deep indents in the ground that look like massive hoofprints. They appeared to be a week or so old, which lines up with the reports of the missing girl. He just hoped the beast hasn't gone back into hibernation yet. His next clue came with the discovery of a broken skateboard with bits of glass around it, the girl had been a skate boarder according to her father and little brother.
It did his heart some good to see the girl didn't go down without a fight even if it only prolonged the inevitable. Jason's next clue was dried blood on the bits of glass still in the busted windowsill. And as he poked his head in through the window the girl's final moments became painfully clear and as he made his way through the front door he could recreate it with his imagination. The girl had likely come into the house looking for something, what it was Jason could only guess, but judging by how skinny the boy looked and how old and worn out both his and his father's clothes were, it could be guessed she was looking for something she could sell for quick cash. Once he got done with this Jason would try to find away to help the boy and his father get back on their feet and moving forward.
But for now he needed to deal with the thing that killed the girl and many others before her. The boot of his spear thunked across the hollow floor as he stepped around the many huge holes in the floor where the Night Buck's hooves had impacted. Following the steps Jason wondered how this creature had managed to dent the floor like this but not break through it. He could tell there was a basement or den underneath what he was assuming was a living based on the old couch and remnants of a recliner that had been tossed across the room. Looking up he saw even bigger holes in the ceiling possibly where the Night Buck smashed it's hands through to try and grab the girl that had managed to escape upstairs.
The small inkling of fear in the back of Jason's mind grew slightly as he watched the haphazard way this thing had destabilized the floor above one more good hit and it's possible the whole ceiling could come down. But even with all this damage he couldn't find any current sign of his quarry. He was about to step into what could've been a dining room at one time his boot kicked something plastic. Looking down he angled himself so the remaining rays of sunlight could show him what he had stepped on. It was what used to be a camcorder, smashed to bits, looked like the Night Buck had crushed it when he grabbed the girl from above. It might've had some clues on it for Jason to use, but it was worthless now not even the tape survived. Letting out a deep sigh Jason moved on.
He searched the house and the immediate grounds with no luck. For all intents and purposes the Night Buck had moved on, and had it not been for the growing feeling of dread lurking all around him Jason would've likely left it at that for the house and tried his luck in the woods. But as the last fingertips of daylight vanished behind the trees and plunged the house and backyard into darkness Jason heard the rapidly approaching sounds of thunderous hooves echoed up from the darkest parts of the woods around him. Looks like it was time for quick bite before bedtime. Quickly moving back to the house Jason's large frame burst through the back door knocking it off it's hinges just as the Night Buck's bellowing cry filled the early evening air.
By how quickly the thing approached it could be assumed it wasn't a traditionally physical being like Jason or the door he had just busted down. Like many old Gods or Natural Forces it was something that could ignore some of the laws of nature as it wished. Becoming like smoke one second while turning itself into a battering ram the next. Jason would need some supernatural powers himself to catch and beat this thing but which ones? Wishing more time to think Jason ran upstairs his heavy boots thudding up the rickety stairs. Upon reaching the top his first idea came to him, summoning a blinding blue light he channeled it into his foot and stomped down with all his might. The steps splinted and what plaster that was left came tumbling down to the filthy living room floor, one more hit should do it. Jumping up Jason came down with both feet and broke the steps free making them smash onto the first floor. The whole ruined house shuddered, but didn't collapse, at least now the creature would need to use it's cheat powers to get upstairs.
And considering it could just punch through the floor at him the plan would only buy him a short bit of time to come up with a better plan of attack. Just as the last rumble of the destroyed steps settled the beast's otherworldly roar replaced it as well as the sound of heavy hooves clattering around the bottom floor as if looking for it's newest victim. Jason has never been accused of being a stealthy man so finding him wouldn't take too long, but the benefit of being able to control his fear gave Jason the edge of clear thinking. Kicking out the remainder of an upstairs window Jason climbed onto the window frame and got himself up off the floor just as the Night Buck's toothy hand punched through the floor boards like a hot knife through butter the small mouth that was in place of its palm gnashing nightmarishly at nothing before it vanished back below the almost annoyed roar of the Night Buck making Jason smile.
Still trying to think of how to beat this primordial thing Jason quickly summoned a ball of bright white light into his hand and tossed it down the hole in the floor. It lit up the downstairs like a flash bang grenade and the beast's roar of annoyance was replaced with one of surprise and much toe Jason's joy sheer pain. Of course it was afraid of and greatly pained by the light, it did spend most of it's life hiding in the dark. The Night Buck stomped around downstairs before it quickly burst through the southern wall of the house causing the whole structure to shudder and begin to fall. Thinking quickly Jason leapt from his perch and landed in a rolling tumble near the old property line of this house and the empty lot of the next door yard. Shielding his eyes Jason held his spear out before him ready to skewer the beats if it came at him while he was temporary blinded by the dust and debris from the crumbling house.
He waited for a number of seconds for the creature to take advantage of his position. But as a minute passed and nothing came Jason opened his eyes and looked around at the dark yard. It was a new moon so near total blackness had fallen upon them. And with the house gone Jason was out in the open now, the Night Buck couldn't ask for a better chance to strike. Maybe Jason's lightshow had frightened it? Could be possible, creatures like the Night Buck aren't used to having to face a foe able to wield such power, too long were they the biggest creature around. Going up against markedly weak humans only that it's able to control with fear or overpower. Just like any bully.
Jason began moving slowly back towards the road, he wanted to be someplace he could easily hear the beast coming if he couldn't see it perfectly well. But just as his heel was about to hit the road the hoofbeats rumbled up behind him and he felt a tremendous force practically throw him back onto the grass followed by the searing pain of the Night Buck's hands bite through the back of his arms, his armor saved hm from a potentially crippling blow, but the pain on his arms was very real. He landed on his stomach and before he could get back up the creature actually ran overtop of the big man it's hooves ringing off his armor like a bell before the weight left and he could hear it taking a quick turn to come back and run him over again. The first time hurt enough though and Jason was not keen on reliving that experience. Timing his roll Jason quickly darted to the left just as the Buck's heavy feet ran across the man shaped indent in the gnarly grass.
This time it wasn't as quick to turn so instead it took a ball of blue light directly in the face. It's skin sizzled and it's blue eyes quickly shutting before it stumbled back falling onto the grass with all the grace of a truck falling off a flatbed. The first stampede had liberated Jason of his spear, but summoning more balls of blue light Jason began hurling them at the downed creature peppering it with the glowing orbs each impact cause the creatures to howl with pain and rage and try to squirm away from the balls of holy light. The man knew this might be his only chance to beat this thing so as he got with six feet of the burning creatures he lifted both hands up and summoned a sphere of white light the size of a beach ball into his cupped hands and lifted them to drop the final whammy on the Night Buck. But with a freak bit of power and instinct the creature kicked out with it's diamond like hooves actually denting his breastplate before launching him no less than thirty feet back towards the woods.
He actually impacted the stout trunk of an ancient oak stars alighting his vision as he sat stunned for a few seconds. The Night Buck continued to scream in pain and roll about the grass trying to put the blue flames out before they totally immolate him. He succeed and quickly regain his feet seeing Jason and beginning another full-bodied charge towards him. Before it may have wanted to just tenderize the large man before it ate him, but now rage and pain clouded it's already bestial mind. Now all the Night Buck wanted was to crush this annoyance and rend him limb from limb before stomping whats left into the dirt to feed the worms and carrion birds. And with Jason lying there still stunned that was exactly what was going to happen.
Moving at speeds to rival Jason's truck with the petal down flat the Night Buck let out a triumphant roar lowering it's head to gore Jason's limp body. It was a mere ten feet away and still Jason didn't move...eight...six....at five feet it looked to be the end the ground under Jason shook trees let loose leaves as if in fear of the impending impact of the Night Buck's impossible antlers. Just before impact though Jason reacted quicker than the Night Buck could register rolling away the creatures crashed headlong into the old oak Jason had just been laying against it's antlers impaled the bark and split the tree almost totally from it's roots. It held fast and the Night Buck roared in confusion as it tried to wrest it's head from the tree.
That confusion quickly turned into rage as Jason lunged back into view his spear was back in his hand and now it glowed with holy light. The Night Buck first wailed form the burning light then howled as the spear pierced the left side of it's manlike torso. The holy light surged through it's black body burning the creature from the inside. Jason quickly withdrew his spear and crossed himself as the Night Buck began to turn to ash it's cries deafening from such a close range, but if they bothered the big man he didn't show it as he began to chant steadily in Latin. It sounded like a prayer or Last Rites of some kind, even burning to ash the words affected the dark creature the last tendrils of it's body trying to twist away from the chanting man. It was to no avail though and as Jason finished his chant and waved his hand across the creature's body the ashes scattered like dandelion seeds. In hac caelesti lumine: et liberabo te ire in pace (With this heavenly light, I free you, go rest in peace.) And with that the screams of the Night Buck faded away and the crushing heaviness of the night fled. Nightbirds and field insects began carefully chirping again. The distant cry of a coyote joined them shortly there after.
Everything came to life and with a low pained groan Jason's shoulders slumped and he dropped to his knees in the tall grass. "Ugh next time I have to fight a corrupted Pagan God or Primordial force of nature I'm bringing Samson. He can get run over by a giant death deer for a few minutes while I think up an easier way to get rid of it." The big man sat there for a few more minutes letting the cool night air whisk away the sweat on his face and arms before he collected himself and shouldered his spear beginning the long walk back to his motel. Mary was gonna be so ticked off at him for doing this alone, but right now Jason just wanted a hot shower and a long nap.
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