Girl with all the Pain

by Michael Herman

  He punches in their location on his truck GPS. When the traffic light turns green, he accelerates and, using the GPS as navigator, makes his way to their vicinity. After he parks, he texts them and asks where they currently are. They send him a picture of Isabel and the big man sharing food sitting next to a chain-link fence. The image is accompanied by a description of their location.

  He studies the image and wonders about the small girl sharing food with the big man. A friend or relative maybe? Doubtful she’s his daughter. She’s too well dressed compared to him and, based on the image, there’s no resemblance. He had expected the big man to be alone, sleeping on a park bench or going through a dumpster for food. Maybe the girl took pity on him and bought him food. He takes a selfie and sends it to Doctor Cruz’s two people to let them know what he looks like, so they’ll recognize him when they see him. Moments later, a selfie of them arrives on his phone. It shows an adult, younger than him, and a child somewhere between ten and twelve years old. Judging by the selfie, they’re mother and daughter; the child has the mother’s eyes and mouth.

  He heads off, scanning people on the sidewalk and street for them. They see him first and wave. He waves back. After introductions are made, he asks where the big man is. The young girl points up the street to a small girl seated on the ground with her back against a chain link fence.

  He squints, studies her for a second and then asks in Spanish, “Where is the big guy?”

  The woman tells him to concentrate on the darkness next to Isabel.

  After a moment of Forbes peering hard at the grey shadow, like studying a stereogram, the grey area suddenly pops alive with the man he is after. “Just like one of those trick images,” he says to the adult.

  “I know. It’s hard to follow him. My daughter has no problem, but for me, it’s exactly like that. You see past him until you adjust your eyes and then when he suddenly becomes visible to you, you’re amazed that you couldn’t see him in the first place.”

  “But he shows up in photos and video.”

  “Machines can’t be fooled like humans can. He plays with your sensory input, scrambling it when your eyes alight on him, scattering reflected light until you have to mentally readjust and organize them back together. Very unique. We’ve not seen anything like it.”

  “And the girl?”

  “He met up with her at the church. He walked her to a local restaurant and then stayed across the street while she went in. A few minutes later, she was chased out by a pack of girls. I have no idea what that was about. She ran back and hid behind him. They chased after her, but stopped when he fended them off with his scent.”

  “Like what Dr. Cruz has?”

  “Like what I have,” the daughter says proudly, and lifts her shirt to expose mottled stripes across her stomach.

  “I thought only Dr. Cruz and a few older people displayed that ability,” Forbes says.

  The mother shakes her head. “Some do and some don’t.”

  “Can your daughter make herself hard to see like this guy?”

  The woman shakes her head again. “Only him.”

  Forbes looks back at Isabel and once more sees only darkness beside her. “What about the girl? You recognize her?”

  Both the woman and the child say they don’t. “We aren’t from this neighborhood. I’m guessing she lives here. Probably why she was in church. Dressed the way she is, I would be surprised to find that she’s homeless like he seems to be.” She glances at Isabel and then looks down at her daughter, then back to Forbes. “Do you want us to accompany you when you speak to him? Having my daughter there might put everyone at ease.”

  In the back of Forbes’ mind, he is thinking that this might be his little girl screamer sitting next to the big guy. A quick image of him and the mother and daughter fused into a car just like the boys flashes through his mind.

  “Thanks, but I think it might be better if I handled this alone. You’ve been a huge help, but if something goes wrong, I worry for your daughter and you. I think it would be better if the two of you left before I approached them. Do you mind?”

  The woman frowns and starts to ask how they might be in danger, but reconsiders when she sees obvious concern on his face. She thanks him for his worry and agrees to leave. After the two of them walk away and round the street corner, Forbes turns back to Isabel and the dark shape. He takes a deep breath, rallies his courage and begins walking towards Isabel. As he draws closer to Isabel, the big man becomes clearer and suddenly their eyes meet. The big man stares impassively at him and continues chewing his food while Isabel busies herself with her small plate of warm dinner, ignoring Forbes amongst the smattering of people on the sidewalk around them. Only when Forbes stops immediately in front of them does she look up and register his arrival.

  “Hello,” Forbes says evenly in Spanish to the big man and asks, “Remember me? We met where the police had cordoned off the block. You accepted money I gave you.” When the odor of the man reaches his nose, he uses all his self-control to suppress his natural reflex to wince.

  The big man gazes at him and doesn’t respond.

  Forbes turns his attention to Isabel and says, “My name is Forbes. I tried to help your friend here, gave him money for food. Don’t know if he really needed it. What’s your name?”

  Isabel looks quickly to her friend, who is focused on Forbes, and then she turns back to face Forbes. “What do you want?”

  Forbes crouches down to her level and eyes her plate of food. “Empanadas?” he asks. “Any good?”

  She answers with a wary tone, “They’re okay.”

  “I was wondering where the best empanadas might be found. Thought maybe the two of you, being locals, would know.”

  “You don’t sound like people around here. Where are you from?” she asks, starting to loosen up.

  “No. I’m not a native. I grew up in California...”

  Isabel brightens and interrupts, “Really? California?”

  Forbes nods. “You know about California?”

  She smiles. “Everyone knows about California. Movie stars come from California. Do you know any movie stars?”

  Forbes laughs an easy laugh. “Sorry, can’t say I do. But I think one of my friends knew Gepe...”

  “Oh! He is so cute!”

  “Maybe when I see my friend, I can ask him for an autographed picture for you. What name should he sign it to?” He glances over to the big man, looking for a reaction, but gets none.

  “Isabel. That would be great.”

  “Should I have him send it to your home?”

  Instantly, Isabel’s demeanor changes, she looks away from him and goes silent.

  Forbes silently curses himself for the mistake. He needs to back up and regain rapport with her. But he decides, the hell with it, let’s be forward and grab this bull by the horns.

  He looks at the big man and says, “I can give you shelter. I can provide you with food, clothes and a safe place where no one will bother you.”

  He addresses Isabel, “Your friend could use a change of clothes, don’t you think? Those look a little worn out. Maybe something nice like what you have on. I love those shoes. And your jacket makes you look like a fashion model.”

  Isabel smiles at the compliment. “Sister Mary bought these for...” but cuts herself off and goes silent as the reminder of her guardian angel taking Sister Mary away from her brings back the pain of her loss.

  Forbes asks, “Sister Mary bought those for you? She must be a very good person, not to mention a great judge of clothes. She certainly knows what looks good on you. Were they a birthday present?”

  Still frowning, Isabel looks straight ahead and shakes her head.

  Forbes looks at the big man for guidance but gets nothing.

  “Maybe if we picked out some new clothes for your friend, you could come along to help. Tell us what looks good and what doesn’t.”

  Isabel glances at the big man’s clothes and then looks Forbes up and down. “He’
s big like you. Your clothes look nice.”

  “Well, maybe we can get clothes, like what I wear, for him. Have you two been friends for long?” Forbes asks Isabel.

  “I’ve known him forever,” Isabel answers and then places her hand on top of the big man’s hand. “He’s always around for me. We’re best friends.”

  Forbes, recalling her change of demeanor when he asked about her home, considers asking if he is a relative but decides to let it be. “Well, best friends help each other, don’t they? It would be great if you could help him choose some new clothes.”

  “He doesn’t like going into stores.”

  “Maybe you and I could pick clothes out for him while he waits outside the store. We could use me to test them inside the store. He’s only a little bigger than me. We’d just find stuff that’s a little too large for me. What do you think?” Forbes turns to the big man and says, “That be okay with you?”

  Isabel says to the big man, “We can do that, Ángel?”

  Ángel grunts, looks away, then back to Isabel and slowly gives her a warm smile. In a heavy voice resonating from his chest, he says kindly, “For you, Isabel. Only for you.”

  Forbes thinks to himself, “Ángel. Well, that’s a start.”

  Suddenly, a colorful butterfly alights on Isabel’s knee and slowly flexes its wings. Delighted by its appearance, she extends her finger to it and watches happily as it crawls up onto her hand. She brings it close to her face and studies it, admiring the colors on its wings. Two more alight on her leg and flex their wings. Fascinated, she puts her plate of food on the ground and extends her other hand to the new arrivals that crawl up her other hand.

  Forbes says nothing while he watches the interplay. A butterfly alights on his arm and crawls towards his hand. When it gets to his fingers, he holds it out to Isabel, who extends her lone butterfly out to his. The two butterflies meet and then fly up into the air, swirling in a circle to then alight on Isabel’s hair. She laughs when they tickle her scalp as they crawl around.

  Suddenly, they all fly off into the air and away from the three of them. Isabel watches them disappear and then turns in surprise when a voice exactly like hers, coming from the other side of her big friend says, “Hello Isabel.” Standing next to her big friend is a mirror image of her, same clothes, same hairstyle, same shoes, same everything.

  When the big man turns to the mirror version of Isabel, his face displays shock that is quickly replaced by a knowing look. “We are found,” he says then looks to Forbes. “You will provide for her?”

  Forbes nods and says, “To the best of our abilities.”

  “She is delicate and needs understanding.” He addresses Isabel, “You will get the warm bed you have been wanting. Hot shower, fresh clothes, good food, and safety.” Then back to Forbes he asks, “Your people will provide love and nurture? She is wanting right now.”

  Forbes nods.

  Isabel looks on in confusion. “Ángel, what’s going on? Why are you talking like that? You’re not leaving me are you?”

  “No, little one. I will remain at your side.”

  He looks at Forbes and says, “Won’t I,” as a matter of fact rather than a question.

  “Of course. The two of you together.”

  The mirror version of Isabel holds out her hand to Isabel and says, “Come with me if you want to be free, Isabel.”

  “Free?” Isabel asks.

  “Take my hand and you will see,” the mirror version says.

  Isabel reluctantly stands, walks to her twin and takes the offered hand. Instantly, she is transported back to her dreamed world atop the mount that hosts the Sanctuary of the Immaculate Conception statue. It is nightfall and the city lights below dazzle while the stars above twinkle and dance. She is on all fours at the foot of the statue. Her long Black Panther tail swishes through the cool night air. Next to her, the big man looks off into the distance to the north. Deep below ground she hears the low thrum of something immensely large shifting and moving. On the other side of her stands a woman in her twenties, looking in the same direction as her big friend is looking. They murmur to each other in quiet conversation. Below her and scattered around the base of the monument are the boys sent to the mountains and into the car. Beyond them are people sent to the stadium. Sister Mary is not among them.

  When the woman strokes Isabel’s black fur, Isabel purrs loudly and makes clicking sounds. She knows she rests between friends who will not allow the ones below the base of the statue to harm her. The woman looks down at Isabel and says, “At long last, I have found you. You have not been forgotten. You and your people will return. We will end your long-suffering. You will no longer be alone.”

  Isabel looks up at her with her black cat yellow eyes, and purrs. But below her feet, the ground trembles with the might of her enemy. The woman acknowledges the terrible presence beneath them and stoops to Isabel and says, “Only you can restore order. Only you can save them. Only you can end this. When your knowledge of yourself matures and you flower to your destiny, you will fulfill yourself and your time will be complete. We will join you and make it happen. Do you understand?”

  Isabel snarls in response and lets out a mighty roar.

  Then she is back on the daylight street holding hands with the mirror version of herself. She looks into the mirror self’s eyes and a shudder ripples through her body. The mirror version releases her hands, smiles, looks to Ángel and says, “All is well.”

  He nods in agreement and says to Forbes, “We leave with you.”

  Chapter 26

  Day 2

  Santiago, Chile

  It’s obvious to Father Donovan that the hospital staff scurrying around him is overwhelmed by the quantity of injured coming in from the stadium bombing. Rushing his search for Isabel is futile. All he can do is watch, wait, and query the police and ambulance staff about her. Praying for and sometimes with the victims as they arrive, he keeps vigil outside the emergency room entrance, carefully checking the incoming for Isabel, but frustratingly finding no sign of her.

  Recognizing a young man stepping out of an ambulance, he calls his name and rushes up to him. The man gives him a sidelong glance and grimaces in weariness. Blood and dirt are smeared across his forehead. His clothes bear the blood stains of others. Yet he appears to be otherwise uninjured.

  “Father Donovan. You are here to help,” the man says in Spanish in a tired voice.

  “Of course. But it would help if I knew what happened. Can you tell me what you saw?”

  As the man recounts his experience, he admits to being part of the student demonstration protest but says no bomb could have done this to the demonstrators. No one can explain what happened.

  When Father Donovan asks the man about Isabel, the man says there were no children in the demonstration, and there were none in the stadium. He is sure of that. Suffering only minor injuries, he was one of the first to start helping people in the stadium, separating the seriously injured from the less injured, and leaving the dead.

  Father Donovan asks him if he remembers Sister Mary from the injured.

  “Of course I remember her. She was one of the first attended to.”

  “And there was no child with her?” Father Donovan asks.

  “No. She was alone.”

  The answer is alarming. If Isabel was with Sister Mary on the street, but not with her in the stadium, where is she?

  Father Donovan presses the young man about the dead. Could she perhaps have been one of the dead, still at the stadium?

  “Doubtful,” is the man’s answer. “I walked among the dead and saw only adults.”

  “But you saw people half buried in the ground. Could she be completely buried?”

  The man has no answer for that but is adamant that there was no evidence of people completely buried.

  Yet, the story the young man gives of the incident is riddled with holes and confusion. There are too many things that make no sense; the biggest being how everyone could be march
ing on the street and then suddenly find themselves thrown about in the stadium. Cars, protesters, police. All dropped onto the field in one fell swoop.

  It had to be a sort of mass hysteria or the result of government chemicals used on the protestors. The whole thing smacked of conspiracy and government cover-up. Yet none of that was helping him find Isabel. Where is she?

  In a moment of doubt, he considers the possibility that she may not have been with Sister Mary at all, or if she was, she escaped the government dragnet that scooped up all the protestors and delivered them to the stadium. Maybe she’s still near the government building. Or better yet, maybe she escaped and made her way back to the neighborhood. He knows she is adept at using the subway to get around the city. In the past, Sister Mary has commented with admiration on Isabel’s survival skills. Maybe she is safe and looking for him, just as he is looking for her.

  Considering everything he has learned so far, he decides to return to his neighborhood and conscript some of the lay people for his search; the more the better. He does not want to disappoint Sister Mary by reporting that he has not found her. In her current condition, fretting about Isabel would just make matters worse.

  On his way to his car, he texts one of the parishioners he works closely with and asks them to alert others in the parish about Isabel, and to please report any sightings of her. Pocketing his phone, he stops, closes his eyes and silently beats himself up for sending Sister Mary to the government office during a protest. Keeping abreast of events is a point of pride with him. He should have had his finger on the pulse of the disgruntled students.

  The pinging of his phone disrupts his self-flagellation and he is surprised to see that it’s the parishioner he texted.

  “Good news, Father. She was seen in church not long ago. She was alone and praying,” the text reads.