by S. E. Meyer
“I am here to harvest the willing for the Father.”
“You mean harvest slaves for your ruler,” retorted John.
The figure ignored him and gestured for John’s parents to get into the pod. They both tried to stuff their bags into the white capsule. “You won’t need those.”
“Are you sure?” John’s dad asked.
“Yes”
They both climbed in and John began to panic. He walked over and grabbed his mother’s hand. “Don’t do this mom. You have no idea what you’re doing. You have no idea what is about to happen to you. Please stop. Get out of there now. We need to talk about this more.” John continued to plead. He dropped to his knees still holding his mother’s hand.
“Get in here John and come with us, hurry, you don’t want to miss your chance. It’s what I’ve been waiting my entire life for; Heaven.”
“Mom, that's not where you're going! You have to believe me. You can’t go.”
The shining figure spoke again. “He cannot come with you. His mind and judgment have been clouded and he bears a device that will not allow it.” The capsule began to glow and was getting brighter again.
At the last second John jumped in next to his parents in the crowded pod as he yelled out. “No!” John felt a very strange sensation and then the capsule was gone, leaving him to land with a thud on the floor underneath. The figure was still there.
“You!” John screamed. “I can’t believe you are doing this to people, taking advantage of the elderly. You are messing with their minds. No wonder you have been taking so many willingly. You are using their beliefs against them, to lead them to a fate worse than death. It’s horrible and disgusting!” John spat.
“John, your parents speak the truth. You just can’t see it.”
“Liar, do not try to corrupt my mind, you can’t fool me. I know the truth!” John moved closer to the figure as he became enraged. “Bring them back! Bring them back now!” John reached out to attack as he leaped towards the white figure, but only caught air. The figure disappeared and John once again fell onto the hardwood floor with a thump. He looked around the silent, empty room, feeling alone and helpless. I couldn’t save my own parents, he thought as he curled up onto the couch. A tear streaked down his face as he lay on the cold leather, wondering what would become of the man and woman that brought him into this world. Terrified of what awful fate now awaited them, knowing there was nothing he could do about it.
Into the Lion’s Den
John woke up with his cheek and lower lip stuck to the leather of the couch he had been sleeping on. He saw light coming through the window above his head and realized he must have slept there through the night. John slowly got up, feeling the kind of stiffness in his joints that only a night of sleeping on the couch can produce. He looked at his watch. The display read 08:42. James. John thought to himself. I’ve got to find my brother before it’s too late. John knew he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself for not saving his parents. Losing James on top of it would be too much to bear. He went in the bathroom, splashed some water on his face and headed for the front door. He paused in front of the china hutch where his mom kept several family pictures. There was one of John and James from their mom and dad’s wedding anniversary party a few years ago. John opened the frame and pulled out the picture, folded it, and put it in his pocket. He wiped away a tear as he walked down the steps and got into his car. With one last look in the rear-view mirror John drove down the street to the next main intersection and headed for the Interstate.
It was only about a two-hour drive to Chicago. John spent most of the drive listening to the radio and keeping up on what was going on. Not knowing the fate of his parents gnawed at him, and he welcomed the distraction of the radio. Everyone was being asked to go to the local clinics and hospitals and get in line for the implant that would save them from the terror of being abducted. Braedon was right. The people were demanding to be protected and accepted the implant solution without any opposition. It was passed into law within hours of the President’s speech the night before. It flew through the house and senate and had already been signed by the President that morning.
John was nervous about going into the city. Along with the disappearances came panic, and looting was starting in the urban centers. Most people were scrounging for food since the grocery stores couldn’t keep their shelves stocked. The continued hoarding made sure they stayed bare and only sporadic deliveries were coming in. It didn’t feel safe and as John entered the city there were already signs of panic in the streets. Graffiti was littering several overpasses and billboard signs. They said things like, ‘The End Is Near’ and ‘Repent Now’. Most people were staying in their homes, so there wasn’t much traffic, and no one was walking around with the exception of a few small groups of people holding up signs saying things like; ‘The Rapture is Here.’ and ‘Take Me Next’ John shook his head in disbelief as the religious believers shook their signs at him. They just have no idea. Just like mom and dad, they think their savior is here but they’re about to find out it’s their captor.
The people who were missing came from all walks of life, so emergency crews were short on staff. Police and fire were shorthanded as well as paramedics, hospital staff, garbage crews, construction, utility workers and manufacturers. Between the panic and the shrinking labor force, the people who were left were so terrified to leave their homes that everything just about screeched to a complete standstill in only a few days.
John didn’t have a current address for his brother. James was a bit estranged from his family after dropping out of MIT and then Med School. His parents were not happy with James’s inability to follow through on either school endeavor, along with the wasted tuition money. He had been in and out of jail a few times, mostly for small petty Internet and computer crimes. Last John knew he was still in Chicago and out of jail. The only thing he could think to do would be to go to his favorite hangout and hope he would either bump into him, or someone who knows him.
John made his way down to Chicago’s south side and pulled up behind James’s favorite Tavern; The Beaver Tail. It was a small bar, and John remembered everyone was very nice the last time he was there with James. As soon as John entered the tavern all eyes were on him. There wasn’t a large crowd, but the people who were there could smell he was from out of town, or at least out of the neighborhood. He sat down next to a middle-aged fellow watching the TV in the corner and ordered a beer from the young blond bartender with tattooed arms. She was a good looking woman, and John thought she probably received a lot of tips because of it, but she also looked like she could take care of herself. He pulled out the folded picture he had put in his pocket and glanced around the room. He would have to ask a few people if they’ve seen James in here recently, or knew where John could find him. He finally worked up the courage to ask the blond behind the bar when he ordered his second beer.
“Hi, I was wondering, do you know this guy?”
“Well, maybe, or maybe not. Kind of depends on who’s asking.”
“I’m his brother, John. I need to talk to him, but I don’t have a current address or phone number or anything. I just know he used to hang out here a lot.” A group of three black men were sitting at a table behind John and one of them stood up and came over to where John was. John kept talking to the blond as she grabbed another beer from the cooler.
“His name is James, does that ring a bell?
The man behind him spoke up. “James?” he said laughing out loud. “No, don’t know no James, but I have seen your brother man. He go by J-Bone now. We be head'in over to his crib, you want to ride wit us?”
“J-Bone? Seriously?” John asked the man. What the hell is he thinking? Thought John.
“Ya, or just J, he go by dat too, so you coming wit us then?”
John wasn’t sure if he should take the guys up on their offer, he was a little worried about leaving his car, but it was a rental and he really didn’t want to drive around the city
by himself with everything going on. “Okay, I have to grab my briefcase out of my car and then we can go.”
John followed the men outside and got his briefcase out of his car. They all got into an older Cadillac with bright shiny mag rims and dark maroon paint, except for the hood and front fender, which were a silver primer. The interior was tan and with the maroon paint it reminded John of the ‘Peanut Butter Jelly Time” song. The thought made John smile. The smile faded immediately as soon as they got in the car. All he could smell was weed. The smell was so strong John thought they must have dipped the interior in a vat of THC. Maybe the car itself is made of hemp, John thought. Either that or there were twenty pounds under his seat. John didn’t want to know. He almost got out, but then thought this might be his only chance to find his brother. He just wanted to get to James.
“So how far are we going?” asked John.
“Not too far man, we just got a couple stops to make first,” said the heavyset man in the front passenger seat. The man seated in the back next to John was thinner with long dreads hanging out from under a flat-brimmed hat. The overweight man in the front spoke again.
“So I’m J Dog, dats Skinny next to you and dats Juice driv’in.” J-Dog’s phone rang non-stop as they drove and he kept answering it. John couldn’t understand most of what he said because he was talking so fast. In between calls, he kept saying how ‘da bitches was blow’in up da celly.’ Juice pulled the car over in what looked to John like a housing project. I guess this is it, it will be good to see James, it’s been a long time. John thought to himself. Skinny got out of the car and went around the corner while Juice pulled out a dime bag of weed and started rolling up a blunt. By the time Skinny made it back to the car, Juice had the blunt lit and was passing it to J Dog, who was still on the phone.
“Are we here? What number is James in?” asked John.
“No, we ain’t there yet man,” answered J-Dog The blunt now went to Skinny and he took a few drags and handed it to John.
“Um, that’s okay man. Thanks, but I only smoke cigarettes.”
“What are you a cop?” asked J Dog
“No, I just don’t smoke.”
Juice started talking now. “Shit man, I tol you he was a cop. J is gonna B.O.S. our ass’s man.”
“I’m not a cop, jeez guys. He’s going to what? I told you I’m his brother.”
“B.O.S. Man, it mean he gonna ‘Beat On Sight’. And just cause you his bro don’t mean you aint a cop tho,” said J Dog
“He look like a cop,” said Skinny, still holding the blunt out for John to take while staring him down.
“Only folk I know dat don’t smoke weed is cops man,” added J Dog.
“Ya, I think we be tak'in you back to your car now big fitty,” said Juice.
“Christ’s sake you guys, I told you I’m not a cop. Fine, give me the God damn thing.” John grabbed the joint from Skinny, took a long drag and passed it to Juice. “There, see? I told you I’m not a cop,” said John as he slowly exhaled.
No one answered him and J Dog was back on the phone. Two women walked up to the car. Skinny opened the door and let them both into the back seat and then he got in next to them. The Cadillac was a good size car with a large back seat, but not nearly enough room for four. The white girl that was closest to John was almost on his lap and the black girl was squeezed in between her and Skinny. She started talking to J Dog.
“So you got something to get me by, a lil somthin? Get me by, jus ta get me by.” She was rocking back and forth and had dark circles under her eyes. John immediately knew what was going on and didn’t like it. Great, I’m in a car with drug dealers. I am going to kill James for what I’m going through to get to him.
“You got the cheddar shorty?” asked J-Dog
“Fo sho, we just gots to go to the bank. But just a ‘lil sum‘thin to get me by.”
“I don’t talk bid’ness until I be see’in da chedda.” J Dog said and passed her the blunt instead. It wasn’t what she wanted, but she took it anyway to calm her withdrawal symptoms. Juice started driving again and after about ten blocks pulled into a bank parking lot just off the street.
“I be right back now.” The black girl said as she got out. The blunt was passed around again and John took it, but only pretended to inhale. He was already feeling the effects of the first round and it was starting to make him a little paranoid. He hadn’t smoked weed since college and forgot about some of its effects. Thinking back he would have used the term, freaking out. That’s what he was doing right now, freaking out. It seemed to take forever for the woman to come back to the car. Finally, after about twenty minutes, John saw her walking across the parking lot. She got back in the car and handed J Dog several one hundred dollar bills. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny white envelope. He pulled out two small white chunks of something and put them in her hand. He then pulled out another, much larger, piece and handed that to her as well.
“Since it be the end of the world and all I might as well be gett'in high. Oh shit, I dropped it,” she said.
“What? Damn girl, what you mean you dropped it?” J-Dog was turned around in his seat and his eyes were wide. John was really starting to freak out. Oh my God, not only am I in a car with drug dealers, I’m in a car with crack dealers. This is so bad. John thought as he looked out the window. How did I manage to get myself into this situation? He thought. The woman kept looking on the floor for the crack rock she dropped. She kept running her hand over the thin carpet on the floor while the other girl was bent over with her ass in the air in front of John, trying to scan the seat next to Skinny.
“It not here,” the black girl said in desperation.
“It prolly fell into the seat man, shit.” J-Dog said. John could tell he was getting frustrated. The woman moved and started looking on the seat and her friend started helping her. After several minutes of searching they still came up with nothing. John kept looking out the window trying to ignore what was going on, trying to put himself somewhere else. This is insane, what a terrible idea. I should have just got the address and drove. J-Dog and Skinny both got out of the car and motioned for the women to get out too. Juice got out of the driver’s seat.
“Come on John, get out the car, we gotta look fo it.” John got out and stood behind the car next to the two women. The black girl kept chattering about how she couldn’t believe she dropped it and that it was probably J Dog’s fault for not being more careful when he handed it to her.
“I tol him he should put dat stuff in a lil bag or sumthin,” she said to John. “Not just hand’in out rocks like they was candy or sum’thin, dang.” John shrugged and gazed into the car through the back window, hoping this matter would get resolved as soon as possible so they could get going again. John watched as J Dog pulled out the entire back seat and placed it on the concrete parking lot next to the car while still talking on the phone. There were a few other people in the parking lot and they stared at the scene. Two crack heads dressed like hookers, three black guys, and a paranoid looking white boy, all hanging around a Caddy with the large back seat sitting on the ground in the parking spot next to it.
“Why yo seat come out just like dat?” asked Skinny.
“Cause the po po neva put it back togetha after they was done. Sheet man, da bacon tore it all up. I just got dis car out the impound dis morning.” Juice replied. He and Skinny both got back in and kept searching the back of the car. Oh my God, what the hell? Are they going to strip the whole car down? Tell me this doesn’t look just a bit suspicious. John thought. I’m just glad there aren’t too many people around. He was getting more paranoid by the minute, but even without the weed, he knew that six people tearing a Cadillac apart in the parking lot of a bank in broad daylight was bound to attract some attention. Not to mention the fact that the car had been in police impound that very morning. John saw a cop drive by and his heart jumped. Yeah, that’s what I need right now, to get arrested. The black girl was searching through her purse
, still chattering away.
“Oh, never mind, I foun it. I foun it. It must of fell in my purse is all.”
“Oh ya, sure,” said J-Dog “Good thing you found it.” John could tell his tone was condescending. He didn’t believe her, and obviously spent enough time with crack addicts to know she intentionally dropped it into her purse when he handed it to her. He had seen that trick before; claim it was ‘lost’ in hopes that they would give her more. The need for a fix must have finally taken over and she couldn’t wait any more for the guys to give up the search and replace the ‘lost‘ rock. They put the seat back in the car and John got in with the other five passengers. They drove about another twelve blocks and turned the car down another street. At this point John had no idea where they were. The black girl kept chattering away and J Dog stayed on the phone. They went another five blocks and stopped in front of an apartment complex. There was a tall black man standing out front eating a huge sandwich.
“See girl?” The black girl said as she slapped her friend’s leg. “Remember I be telling you I be hungry all da time since I gots pregnant. Been eatin nacho’s and shit. My baby been hun gry! Well, see that?” She pointed out the window at the black man who was now moving towards the car as he shoveled another huge mouthful of sandwich into his face.
“Dat’s how I know Tyrone be baby daddy. Dat boy always be snack’in.” They got out and John could breathe a sigh of relief now that there was enough room for him to sit comfortably again. Smoking crack and she’s pregnant? John couldn’t believe what he was experiencing. He hadn’t really been exposed to this kind of lifestyle, except for on television and in books. He felt bad for the girls and how they were living. He felt bad for their situation, but he also had hope for the future. On top of that, watching the tall man eating his sandwich had now made John very hungry.
