by Aaron Galvin
A low rumble beneath him gave Garrett cause to believe the room moved, like the time before his father died when they drove to Missouri in an old RV. He looked out the window into the night sky and black expanses of rolling lands.
Whoever had put him into bed had left him dressed but removed his socks and shoes. He found them beside his bunk. He felt for his pockets in hopes of finding his cell phone.
Everything had been taken.
His head and body ached. Garrett rubbed his eyes. What happened to me? Where am I?
He remembered Sherriff Hullinger bringing him to the station. A marshal questioning him. Then…
The dwarf! Garrett sat up. Lenny…
Garrett felt his chest. Sore to the touch, but otherwise unharmed.
Why did he shoot me? Why bring me here? Garrett wondered as he looked around the unfamiliar room. His eyes felt drawn to the dolphin nightlight. Wilda.
The mermaid—
No. Garrett’s conscience argued. Not a mermaid. She didn’t like that word. She called herself a Merrow.
Garrett thought back to the wonder he felt upon seeing her for the first time leaping out of the Indianapolis Zoo dolphin pool. Her gentle voice when she answered some of his questions and promised more answers to come.
I reckon someone’ll come to call. He remembered her stately Southern twang. You’ll know ‘em when you see ‘em. Ask if they been Salted, or if they’s born a Salt Child.
Garrett swung his legs free of the bed and stood up, felt the floor rumbling beneath him. Is that what happened? Did she send the dwarf?
He supposed so. After all, Garrett had met Lenny at the same zoo earlier that day. Recalled Lenny had also yelled for him to stop and told him not to leave after the shark-man’s tank exploded.
Did I screw everything up? Is that why Lenny and his friends came to the jail? To rescue me? Garrett pondered. But if they came to rescue me why not say something? Why shoot me?
His mind reeled from all the questions and scenarios he envisioned. He looked around the room for anything that might clue him in to where he was and why. Aside from the bed, he found only a small dresser with a mirror screwed into the wall and a picture tucked into the mirror corner.
Garrett took it and knelt to the dolphin nightlight.
He didn’t recognize either person, but assumed them father and son. Both wore matching sweat suits that reminded Garrett of the onesie pajamas he wore as a kid, except these pajamas had hoods attached to the neckline. Unlike the bright red pajamas, littered with various superheroes Garrett recalled from his youth, these suits were pearl-white.
Garrett placed the picture back where he found it. Carefully, he slid open the dresser drawers one by one. He found them all empty. What do I do now? Wait for whoever put me here to come back and ask why they took me?
Garrett supposed he should try the door first. To his surprise, the handle turned easily enough and cracked open. So I’m not a prisoner…
He opened it further. Peeked out. To his immediate right, he saw an open door with a toilet and small sink. Across the aisle way, another door, this one closed. Garrett looked left, his eyes following the illuminating blue track lighting on the floor.
A pale light cut through the dark not thirty feet ahead.
He ventured out of the room, took a deep breath, then started up the aisle. Where the track lights ended, Garrett saw a giant windshield and empty highway rolling beneath it as they drove.
The driver loomed over the steering wheel.
Garrett put his back flat against the wall in hopes the dark might conceal him. He slid further up the aisle, inched closer to the light. He reached the edge. Peeked around the corner.
Lenny Dolan sat on a bar stool, his little legs dangling off the side, not even close to touching the floor. A glass of milk and half-eaten crust of bread sat on the remainder of a broken countertop. Lenny seemed not to notice the disrepair. He sat quietly among the wreckage, staring down at a notebook, his forehead wrinkled in deep thought.
“You…” Garrett said as he stepped around the corner.
Lenny’s head jerked up, then relaxed. He snorted. “How ya doin’, pal? Sleep all right?”
“I don’t—”
“Sure hope so.” Lenny resumed his study. “Real nice of Oscar to give up his captain’s quarters for ya. Real generous, if ya know what I mean.”
Garrett didn’t. He looked around the room again.
“Hey. Ya speak any other languages?”
“N-no.”
“Yeah, me neither.” Lenny scratched his head. “Can’t make any sense of this mess. The only one who—” Lenny cut himself off.
Garrett stepped closer to see what Lenny studied.
“Don’t matta.” Lenny closed the notebook and slipped it into a leather bag. “She’s not here no more. So, kid…” Lenny winced. “Weava, I mean. That’s ya name, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Right. Sorry about shootin’ ya back at the jail. Nuthin’ personal, ya understand. Just easier that way. Didn’t have the kinda time back there we got now to do this sorta thing.”
“What are you talking about?” Garrett asked, his voice raising. “Where are we? Where are you taking me?”
“Boss—” A deep voice came from the front. “You okay?”
Lenny raised a hand, but kept his eyes on Garrett. “Keep drivin’, Paulie.”
“What’s he?” Garrett asked. “Your body guard?”
“Ya think I need one?” Lenny cocked an eyebrow.
“I don’t know much of anything right now.”
“Right,” said Lenny. “See, that’s what I’m talkin’ about. We didn’t have time to do this at the jail. No time to do the introductions.” Lenny leaned forward, propping his left elbow on the counter and extending an open hand. “Name’s Dolan. Lenny Dolan.”
Garrett didn’t accept the handshake. “I know who you are. The marshal told me.”
“Oh yeah?” Lenny sat back. “What’d he say?”
Do I tell him? Garrett watched Lenny polish off the rest of his milk and rub the white moustache off his upper lip with the back of his sleeve.
“You tell me something first,” said Garrett.
“Fire away.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“What? It’s not obvious? We’re goin’ fishin’, boss.” Lenny sat back in his chair and crossed his arms.
“Fishing.” The bus driver said with a laugh. “You’re killing me, Len.”
“Shuddup, Paulie.” Lenny said over his shoulder. He shifted in his chair and fixed his baleful stare on Garrett. “What’d the marshal say to ya?”
Tell him. See what he says. Garrett swallowed to wet his throat. “He said you and your friends had been moving around to different aquariums. That you were looking for something.”
Lenny nodded. “Anything else?”
“Did you find it?” Garrett asked. “Did you find what you were looking for?”
“Yeah…” Lenny said after a long pause. “Yeah, I found it.”
Garrett shrugged. “What was it?”
“You,” said a British voice behind him.
Garrett jumped forward. He turned around and found himself face to face with the teen from the picture. He can’t be any older than me, if he’s even that old.
“Oscar Collins.” The teen smiled and extended his left hand. “Thrilled to make your acquaintance, Garrett.”
Garrett shook his hand and let go as quick.
Oscar looked past him. Pursed his lips. “Lenny, is this how you treat all our guests? Eating in front of them and not offering a nosh?” Oscar shook his head and shooed Lenny off the stool. “Go on, then. Wake Ellie and have her put together some breakfast. You like eggs and bacon, Garrett?”
“Y-yeah.”
“Right. I’ll have some too, then. Go on, Len.”
Garrett watched the dwarf huff down the aisle. He felt a hand on his back.
Oscar grinned back at him. “Come.” He guided Ga
rrett further up the aisle. “Sit with me. We’ve loads to talk on. Paulo, lights.”
“Aye, aye.”
The lights flickered on.
Whoa. Garrett looked around the room. Did someone set Wolverine loose in here to sharpen his claws?
Most of the leather chairs and couches had their fluffy insides exposed. Gash marks lined the mahogany walls. Bits of broken glass, wedged into the carpet, twinkled.
“Do forgive this mess,” said Oscar like one personally injured by the sight. He shook his head. “Vandals.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Please,” Oscar motioned for Garrett to sit on one of the unblemished cushions. He took his own seat in the opposite chair. “I expect this is all quite sudden for you. Can’t imagine what it must feel like to wake in a new place amongst strangers. You must have a great many questions.”
Garrett relaxed into the seat. “Yeah, I do.”
“Inquire away,” said Oscar. “Happy to shed light on anything I can.”
“You said you were looking for…me.”
“That’s right.”
“Why?” Garrett asked.
Oscar grinned wider, something Garrett didn’t think possible. “You’re special, Garrett. Surely you must realize that.”
Garrett shrugged. “I-I guess I didn’t.”
Oscar’s eyes narrowed. “Has no one ever told you what you are?”
You are a painted beauty, child. Garrett recalled Wilda saying to him. Don’t never let no one tell you different.
Garrett shook his head. Laughed nervously. “If you’re talking about my skin disorder—”
“No…no, you’re quite a lot more than that. For instance, I’m only a Selkie.” Oscar frowned. “Albeit a wealthy one, but you…you, Garrett, are a Salt Child.”
Garrett sat up. “Can you tell me what that is?”
Oscar smirked. “I think it’s better if I show you.”
“O-okay. Show me.”
“Well, I can’t very well do it here and now. That’s why we’re going home. You do want to go home, don’t you, Garrett?”
“No, I want to know—”
Oscar raised a hand to quiet him. “Not the home you know of. Your real home. Don’t you want to see it?”
Garrett closed his eyes, pictured the endless sea of blue from his dream. The home the voice spoke of. Garrett opened his eyes and noticed Oscar watched him still. Ask him.
“Are you the one who came to call? Are you the one Wilda spoke of?”
Oscar smirked. “Of course I am.”
CHIDI
Henry led Chidi out of the cornfield, his hand clasped around the back of her neck.
She did not fight it. Better to let him take me away so Allambee and Zymon can escape.
Chidi glanced skyward. The night felt darker here than most places, almost like the home she remembered as a girl. She loved the nights her father would build a fire and tell them stories.
Such times had long since been stolen away.
She pushed the memories away as they reached the gas mart.
The SUV that had been her escape lay flipped on its side between the fuel islands. The police unit Henry drove looked the worse for wear. Smoke drifted into the night sky from beneath the hood that had crinkled at the onslaught to the SUV.
Chidi offered a silent prayer for the remote location and time of night. Any persons chancing by to witness the horrors Henry left in his wake would surely join them. She no longer held any notion someone might happen along to rescue her. Such folk existed only in fairytales. Chidi knew only nightmares.
“Oh…man…” a voice came from inside the SUV. “What happened?”
Henry paused and stopped Chidi with him.
“I dunno,” a second voice answered. “My head is killing me.”
“You’re bleeding bad, bro.”
The door behind the driver’s side opened. Gravity closed it again.
Chidi heard a male voice curse.
“Where are we?”
“I dunno.”
The door opened again. Stayed open.
Henry squeezed Chidi’s neck. Guided her forward as one of the teenagers peeked his head out like a gopher emerging from its lair. The teen’s face had purple bruises and flecks of glass in his cheeks, but otherwise, he looked unharmed.
The teen surveyed the damage. “Whoa…Marrero, you gotta see this, man.”
“What is it?”
“This cop—” The teen stopped short seeing Henry. He cursed again and climbed out of the wreckage.
“What, man?”
Henry shoved Racer’s suit into Chidi’s arms. He released his hold on her then ran for the SUV.
“Come on! Come on!” The teen atop the SUV pulled his friend up and out.
Mistake one. Chidi’s mind ticked off. You should have left your friend.
Her conscience noted the irony of the thought. That she judged the teen so quickly when she had made the same error in the same night.
I might still be running. Right now.
She watched Henry pull the first teen, the white one, down off the SUV. Slam him against what was once the roof, now a wall since tipped on its side. Henry brought the black dagger to the teen’s throat and held it in warning before the other one assaulted him.
“Get down,” Henry commanded the other teen, the Hispanic one. “Or I keel your friend. Zen I keel you.”
“Do what he says, Marrero!”
“F-fine, man. J-just chill, okay,” said Marrero. “I’m coming down. Nice and easy.”
Trust is a trap and loyalty its bait. Chidi watched Henry shepherd both teens toward the police car.
Henry reached inside with his free hand and popped the trunk. He ushered the teens over, took a bundle of clear-coated zip-ties from the back.
I should have left them all.
“Your names,” Henry said to the teens. “Now.”
“B-Bryce T-Tardiff, sir,” said the white one.
“And you?”
“Marrero. Juan M-Marrero.”
Henry nodded. “Do as I say and you both leeve.”
“Wh-where’s our friend?” asked Tardiff. “Wh-what’d did you with Bennett?”
“I keeled ‘im,” Henry said matter-of-factly. “As I weel keel you if you don’t leesin to me. Chidi!”
She hurried over as both teens took notice of her for the first time.
Marrero straightened like one not wishing a girl to see him frightened. Tardiff sniffled.
“Oui?” said Chidi.
Henry sniffed the air. Looked around the area. His eyes settled on an azure blue 4X4 truck with an extended cab parked beside the gas mart. “’Ere,” he said to the teens. “Turn around.”
“Wh-why?” Marrero asked.
Henry slapped him across the face.
Marrero whipped back, his face scarlet and snarling.
Henry stepped close. Glared down at him. “Do. Eet.”
Chidi saw Marrero wilt.
When both teens obliged Henry’s command, Chidi watched as Henry turned his back to her. Do something. Tackle him. Punch him. Something! Chidi looked at the back of the teens’ heads. Heard Tardiff not sniffling now, but openly weeping. Marrero seemed not far from it.
No. Chidi realized. I can’t count on them helping, even if I do surprise Henry.
Her owner moved to sheathe his dagger, then paused. “Give me your ‘ands.”
Chidi lifted her arms. Watched her owner encircle a zip tie around her wrists and yank the end so tight she felt her circulation might cut off.
Henry put his hand to the side of her face. Then he swung back to the teens. Zip-tied their wrists together. “Move.” He nudged them in the back. “Come, Chidi.”
She marched alongside them toward the blue truck and noticed a rollway top covered the bed of it.
Henry opened the tailgate and let it fall open. He patted the metal. “Up.”
Tardiff shivered as he looked inside the dark hold. “No way, man. I’m not go�
��”
“Do it,” said Chidi, surprising even herself for speaking up. “He’ll kill your friend if you don’t.”
Henry grinned at her. “Ze girl speaks true. So…which weel eet be?”
“I-I’ll go first,” said Marrero. He walked steadily forward and slid onto the truck bed.
“Lie down,” said Henry.
When Marrero obliged, Henry zip-tied his ankles together.
Chidi watched Henry push Marrero further in then repeat the routine with Tardiff.
Henry took Racer’s suit from her, tossed it inside. “Now you, my love.”
Chidi swallowed the lump in her throat as she hopped onto the truck bed.
Unlike the boys, Chidi felt Henry place his hand behind her head and gently guide her down. He tied her ankles together, though not so tight as her wrists, before placing something soft under her head. Almost like a pillow. Racer’s suit…
Henry brushed her brow with his hand. Leaned forward and kissed her cheek. Then he closed the tailgate, pitching his captives in darkness.
Chidi heard one of the teens, crying. Tardiff, she assumed. She perked her ears, listening for any sound of Henry waiting outside the truck bed to hear what she might say. She heard nothing. “Listen to me,” she whispered. “Both of you. What—”
“Who are you?” Marrero asked.
“My name’s Chidi Etienne.”
“Wh-why is this h-happening to us?”
Chidi didn’t know how to answer. Why does anything happen to anybody? Did you take a wrong turn? Did I? Is that why I was taken?
“We don’t have much time,” she said. “I need you to—”
“Why not?” Tardiff’s voice was panicked. “Why don’t have we much time? Is he going to kill us? Is that what you mean?”
“No,” said Chidi. “If he wanted to kill you, he would have—”
“We’re dead, Marrero—”
“Listen to me,” Chidi interrupted. “Whatever he says, you do it. No questions. No backtalk. If you want to live, do as you’re told.”
“That guy killed Bennett,” said Tardiff. “Bennett, man. We’ve known him since like first grade—”
“Shut up, Tardiff,” Marrero said, his voice cracked with pain. “You said your name is Chidi, right?”
