The days pasted in a haze of pain. Katie didn’t suffer through any more rapes. The smell in the basement became so unbearable, they left her alone most of the time. Thank God for that. She suspected her fingers and toes were infected. She couldn’t feel anything from the waist down but she could feel the swollen state of her hands, the pain excruciating. They gave her water once a day. No food. She could tell she had lost massive amounts of weight. She finally admitted to herself that they wanted her to die; just a matter of time.
One day, Tomas came into the basement with something in his hand. He reached up to the cage hanging over her table and dropped something in. She idly wondered if he was feeding something. Occasionally she would look up and see the cage in motion. But it wasn’t enough to hold her attention for long. Her pain and misery overwhelmed her most of the time.
Kelly never spoke when she brought the water. Katie tried to engage her in conversation but found the effort too difficult. Her feelings of hopelessness intensified; most of time she slipped in and out of consciousness. Days passed. Katie vaguely noticed a change in Kelly’s behavior. She fed her extra water. The slop bucket that sat under the cut out in the table to catch her feces and urine was taken out and emptied. Kelly actually washed the crusted gunk off Katie’s face and her neck. The smell in the room noticeably improved. Something was definitely up. The extra water allowed Katie to maintain consciousness more often, although she felt so weak, she could no longer move her head.
Katie dozed off, not hearing the three of them enter. They fanned out around her table, their voices coming from far away.
“Wake her up, Kelso baby. I got places ta go. I wanna git the grand finale over with.” Armoni rubbed his hands together, dancing with glee. Kelly slapped the side of Katie’s face, forcing her eyes to stay open. Kelly’s hands held a short black rubber tube. While she watched, her heart beating wildly, she saw Tomas reach up and unhook the cage that hung over her table. He set the cage down, right on top of her stomach and lifted the covering. She could see the cage was covered by a fine mesh screen. The faint whispered rattling that came from inside the cage increased as Armoni slapped the mesh sides.
“Hey there, babies. Wake up! Duty calls!” Katie could see a writhing mess of baby eastern diamondback rattlesnakes inside the cage. They were only about a foot long, their rattles very faint. They were a beautiful snake, more than happy to bite, their venom stronger than an adult for they were not yet mature enough to have learned their venom must be used judiciously for actual prey. Stunned, Katie wondered what the heck they planned to do with the snakes. Looking into their excited faces, she felt dread descend in waves, paralyzing her thoughts.
With a jab in the ribs from Armoni, Kelly took the hose and connected it to a covered round opening in the cage. She slid the cover of the hole up, allowing the snakes to bolt for the tube. The men grabbed the sides of Katie’s face. As her eyes popped, Kelly quickly secured the other end of the rubber tube to Katie’s mouth; sliding it in as far as it would go, opening a direct pathway down her gurgling throat.
Katie’s face turned purple. Kelly quickly secured the tube with duct tape around Katie’s mouth. She tapped the sides of the tube until she was convinced all of the snakes had descended to the end around Katie’s mouth where she prevented access back up the tube with a clamp. There was only one way for the skinny buggers to go now.
###
Armoni watched with delight as Katie stopped her feeble struggles. Was she even conscious anymore? He knew she was still alive. He wished he could hang around to see what killed her off first; the snakes or a heart attack. Probably, the heart attack. It’s not like this was the first time he had tried this, after all. But duty calls.
Slapping Tomas and Kelly on the back, he declared, “Time ta saddle up, gang.” And with that, they climbed the basement stairs, walked out to the little white Volkswagen and drove off to Lily Pond Road. Not even a casual glance back to see the last death twitch of a young seventeen-year-old girl who had just wanted to be kissed by a boy.
Chapter 11
Scotty and Jose pulled into their driveway. Opening the garage door, they unloaded all of the equipment and supplies they purchased at the hardware store. They each took a can of paint and paintbrushes heading for the back yard where they found the rest of the family. Yes, they were clearly a family. It felt right. Looking over at Abby as she lay sprawled on the ground with Echo and Barney, Jose kept the feelings for her hidden. He knew she couldn’t deal with a relationship right now with her world so turned upside down. He needed her to see the merits of what was happening on her own. He delightedly watched the three of them romp on the ground, as if they didn’t have a care in the world. Abby looked up.
“Oh, you guys are home. Anyone feel like something to eat?” They all agreed; no one was hungry. Except Barney, that is. Abby got up to get some dog chow from the kitchen, while Scotty and Jose studied the magnificent structure in the tree.
“Brothers, why do you stare at the tree house? You look unhappy. Do you need to go up in the tree house to eat?” The aura wafted in their minds, golden color swirling.
“No Echo,” Jose answered. “We need to figure out how we’re going to dismantle it and hide it in the garage. Otherwise, someone will steal it from us. But for now, we’re just going to paint it so it doesn’t draw any unwanted attention.” Echo just stared as Jose and Scotty did their best to cover the tree house with paint. It didn’t have to be perfect. As a matter of fact, the more haphazard, the better. The job took them quite a while, dusk descending by the time they finished. Scotty went in to clean up while Echo and Barney stayed with Jose as he finished the job, stashing the tools in the garage.
Moving from the garage to the back yard, Jose happened to glance up the hill and notice the white car parked in the same place again. It looked occupied. The thought occurred to him that the car looked just like Tomas’s white Volkswagen. It couldn’t be. What would Tomas be doing spying on them? He wouldn’t dare. Dismissing thoughts of the car, he shooed Barney and Echo into the house.
“Abby, we’re done for now,” he called. “Where’s Scotty? I’d like to make some plans and I think he should be in on this.” Abby came into the room, laundry in her hand. Jose looked at her and stared. Gosh, she was so pretty. He sure had it bad.
“What are you staring at?” Abby set the laundry on the table, snapping her fingers. “Scotty ran out to get the mail. He should be back by now. Just look out the window and see if you can see him.”
Jose went to the window and reported Scotty squatting on the ground. He noticed a young boy with him.
“That’s Kimir. Scotty used to follow his brother around when he was little. I don’t even think Kimir was born yet,” Abby said coming up behind Jose and joining him at the window. “What are they looking at?” She peered out the window.
“I’m not sure. It looks like a box turtle. Holy shit, no.” He grabbed his sunglasses and tore out the door as Scotty’s tail unwound itself from under his shirt, standing up, high over his head, pointing to the turtle and unleashed its magnificent power.
Too late, Jose stopped at the mailbox, joined by Abby, who also thought to grab her new sunglasses. Little Kimir sat on the ground. He cradled his arm that sported a nasty gash. His tear stained face, a stupefied expression of astonishment. He picked up his turtle, rubbing a spot on its back. He tapped the turtle’s shell and glanced up at Scotty with confusion. Scotty’s tail was just retracting its membrane and winding itself back under his shirt. Snapping out of it, Kimir stood up and screamed at the top of his lungs. Picking up his turtle, he ran across the neighbor’s lawn screaming, “Mama, mama,” as if pursued by demons.
“Oops!” Scotty displayed a guilty visage on his face. Looking over to an angry Jose and a bemused Abby, he confessed. “Believe it or not, it was an accident. I couldn’t help myself. My tail has a mind of its own. I couldn’t control it. Gosh, I’m so sorry.” He looked into their faces, looking for forgiveness, seeing only a
larm. Peering in the direction Kimir ran, Jose scanned the area to see if anyone else had observed them. Seeing nothing but the annoying white Volkswagen, he hustled them in to the house. Scotty flopped down on the sofa, his head bowed in consternation. Barney padded over, his tongue offering sloppy succor, making Scotty feel better. Wiping Barney’s saliva from his face, he turned to Abby, innocent guilt in his wretched posture.
“Ab, I know I made a mistake. Maybe nothing will happen. Kimir is only a kid. Who’s going to believe anything he says?” Taking a chair from the kitchen table, Jose carried it over to the deformed sofa, setting it down in front of Scotty. He took another chair and brought it over for Abby, indicating she should sit down.
“Okay, champ, why don’t you tell us exactly what happened. Don’t worry, no matter what, we’ll work this out. We’re a family, now. Just give it to us straight.” Taking Abby’s hand, he gave it a squeeze. She rewarded him with a tentative smile.
“Okay, I was going out to get the mail. On the side of the road, I saw a bunch of big kids. They were picking on Kimir. I could see he had some kind of an injury on his arm. He was jumping up and down, trying to retrieve his pet turtle the boys were holding over his head. One ass in the group took the turtle and set it down on the ground, ramming a walking stick down on the shell. It split the shell through, blood and guts, geee-ross. Kimir went bonkers. The turtle was probably not going to survive. I chased the big kids away. Honestly, I absolutely didn’t plan to do anything else. Before I knew what was happening, my tail was having a field day, the turtle was healed and you guys were glowering at me.”
“I noticed the bad cut on Kimir’s arm. Why didn’t you heal that?” Abby asked.
“Don’t know, Ab. I had no control over anything.” While they were talking, Echo climbed up on Jose’s lap, showing interest in their conversation. Jose looked pensive.
“Abby, did you have any desire to heal the boy after we got to the mailbox?”
“No, I didn’t. Did you?”
“No, I didn’t. Don’t you find that a bit strange? Echo, I think it is time to fill us in on a few things.” Echo remained silent. Abby and Jose looked at each other, wary and a little fearful. Tipping Echo’s soft golden head up so he could gaze straight into her eyes, he just glared. The golden rainbow swirls were hypnotizing but unreadable. Jose felt Echo’s presence in his mind.
“My Brothers and Sister will not understand.” Echo sounded tentative. “It is against the law to heal a human. But it is compulsory to heal a creature.”
“But you healed us. And Scotty healed Abby. Are you trying to say God’s creatures come before humans?”
“My Brothers, my Sister. The creatures do not belong to God. They belong to themselves and to the Womb.” Jose felt bewildered. Unconsciously, the creeping wariness began to worm its insecure way under his skin.
“What the heck does that mean? The creatures belong to the Womb? You have got to be kidding me! And what about us, Echo? You’re part of our family now. We love you! Barney loves you,” cried Abby, her passion taking everyone by surprise. Echo turned her face down. She leaned back against Jose, crushing her tiny wings and snuggling in as if to ask for protection. The now very familiar auras flashed pressure. They could feel emotions warring in their minds; human emotions from Echo; frailties and imperfections.
“I am sorry to say, I have defied the Womb. But the Womb has forgiven me, just as it forgave my Brother, so long ago. We are not here to heal the human population. That is not our mission. But we are a lonely species. I picked you for myself. I have been selfish. And I could not live without My Barney (Barney whined, as if he had heard his name). If I am able to stay part of the family you will be very happy. I will make sure. You have been chosen.”
“Of course, you’re going to stay, Echo. We all belong together; protecting one another. What is this mission you’re talking about?” Abby appeared appeased and relieved. Perhaps this was not the time to bring up Echo’s mission, Jose thought; especially since Echo clearly did not feel inclined to answer the question. He watched her climb down off of Jose and curl up inside Barney’s tummy.
Echo said a final, “Good night, family,” and was fast asleep with Barney as her pillow.
“Well, I guess that’s that. I don’t think we’re going to get much more out of Echo tonight.” Scotty said. “I’m beat. Do you mind if I go to bed? I know we have a big day tomorrow.” Scotty looked really tired. It had been an emotional day. No one really cared why Echo healed them or what her mission was about at this point. They were just happy they were the chosen ones. It felt good to be chosen; real good. Kissing Abby and mock punching Jose, Scotty took off to bed.
Abby rose, looking after Scotty as he walked down the hallway.
Turning to Jose, she smiled. “Thank you. What would I do without you, Jose? He looks up to you. You make us both feel safe.” She put her hand on the side of his face, patting his cheek, softly. “See you in the morning.”
“Night, Ab.” Jose smiled to himself as he followed her down the hall to his own bedroom. At least she noticed him as a grown man, instead of a kid. It was a start, a real good start.
###
In the diminutive white Volkswagen they looked at each other with astonishment. “What the fuck was that?” Armoni jived around in his seat so fast Tomas thought he would wet his pants. Yeah, the little fucker, Scotty revealed himself to be a freak show.
“Things are get’n mighty interesting, my friend. I think we need to include little Scotty in our investigation, don’t you? We can make a fortune off a that tail a his. This keeps get’n better and better. Can’t wait ta tell my sister; she’s gonna love it. Hope she got rid of the fat cow’s carcass. Don’t want to deal with that now; do we? I got me some strategizing ta do.” Armoni removed a frayed cigarette from behind his crusty ear. Lighting it, he took a deep drag of gratification, exhaling in Tomas’s submissive face, the scurvy bouquet of cheap tobacco and halitosis redolent in decay.
“Come on, boy. Maybe I’ll give you a go at Kelso tonight to celebrate. I think I might have her suck my dick while she’s at it.” Sneering at Tomas’s red face, he double punched him playfully, “I promise I won’t make you watch me and her get it on again. Now boy, let’s go celebrate.”
Chapter 12
Jose woke early the next morning. He had a few ideas he wanted to discuss with Abby but he and Scotty were swamped with so much hard work to do today, he doubted he would find the time. His biggest challenge was to start chopping up the gold in their back yard; if you wanted to call it a challenge. He preferred to think of it as their salvation. This was going to be what enabled them to escape from Tomas and his buddy Armoni. And to escape the potential of discovery after yesterday’s incident at the mailbox. Washing up in the bathroom, he admired his tail. He loved looking at it. It gleamed. He wished he didn’t have to keep it hidden. He wasn’t ashamed. On the contrary, he felt proud. It made him special. He felt confronted with a destiny. And it linked him to Abby in the most special way. Wiping his face, he thought he heard raised voices in the living room. Oh, please, it’s too early. Sighing, he hurried down the hallway to confront the newest crisis of the day.
Entering the living room, Jose was confronted by Abby and Scotty’s sickened faces. Echo and Barney were playing catch me in the kitchen. Well, it couldn’t be that bad if Echo was ignoring them.
“What’s up, guys?”
“Jose, it’s gone. Our treehouse is gone. Do you believe it? Look out the back window.” Scotty stamped around, angry as a honeybee caught under a horse’s blanket. Looking over to Abby, Jose saw her nod with confirmation, clearly dumbfounded.
Going to the window, he confirmed the treehouse was missing. It appeared as if it never existed. Letting himself out the back door, he walked over to the tree. Looking down at the ground, he searched for signs that someone had been here in the night to steal their treehouse away. Nothing. So what the heck happened? He walked back into the house, where Abby and Scotty anxio
usly awaited his pronouncement.
“We are royally screwed.” Jose sat, feeling as broken as the busted sofa on which he sat, bracing his head in his hands. Abby and Scotty looked at one another in consternation. Abby slipped over to the sofa, her arms wearing sympathy as she slid them around his neck.
“Jose, don’t be upset, things aren’t that bad. We still have each other and the house. Maybe we can get our jobs back.”
“No, Abby. I had plans for us. We need to get out of here. It’s too dangerous here for us to stay.”
“Jose, what in the world are you talking about?” Abby demanded.
###
Just that moment, the doorbell rang. Abby’s hand rose to her throat. Shaking off her sudden fright, she stood up to go to the door, musing how she had better stop letting Jose’s paranoia get to her. Opening the door, she discovered Kimir’s mother standing there, with Kimir hiding timidly behind his mother’s skirt. She didn’t look happy, by any stretch. Kimir’s mother was a rotund Muslim woman, wearing a standard Hijab. Her no nonsense face exhibited a respectful demeanor but she clearly had a mission on her mind.
“May I help you? Oh, hello there, Kimir, why don’t you come in?” Abby held open the front door.
“No thank you, Ms. Preston. If you could be so kind to answer a few questions for me, I would be so grateful.”
Although Kimir’s mother looked like she would be anything but grateful, Abby said, “Of course.”
“My Kimir told me how your brother chased off the bullies that were tormenting him. He told me what they did to his turtle. I would like to thank him. Is your Scotty at home?” Abby would prefer Scotty not be exposed to Kimir’s mother. He was not equipped to deal with a suspicious mama, but she had been caught off guard. With Scotty lurking in the background, it was pretty clear he hovered inside. Moving aside, she called to Scotty.
Echo Page 10
