by R. L. Wilson
I twist the knob but they locked the door. Shit, what do I do now? I pace the hallway floor. Hell, I’ve come this far. I charge toward the door and kick as hard as possible. The door bursts open and I trot right in. I’ve stepped into a spy’s room. There are several dozen monitors with different views of the city, all being recorded. I walk toward a box in the corner with dozens of collars inside. Waiting on new victims, I guess. Prentiss thought he would control crime by enslaving paranormals. I am revolted at the twisted ideas. I continue walking through the halls of the apartment.
A door sits at the end of the dark hall. But I came here to knock the security system out so the paranormals can come in. The red lights from the machine glint off the walls. It’s a huge system with dozens of switches. There are switches for different addresses. Some say electricity, some say wires. I don’t know which to choose.
I scan the room in search of a manual. I have to find it. Bingo. A thick pamphlet hangs on the wall. There are hundreds of codes for different locations. This just confuses me more. Even so, I have an idea.
I flip off the main switch and it shuts all the security systems down. I don’t care if it fucks with all of his operations.
I walk back towards the door when I see one monitor blinking red. I step forward to get a closer view. Morgan is tied to a chair with a gag stuffed in her mouth. Gasping in fear, I grab my head and step back, fighting back tears. I can’t cry now. I have to fight for Morgan.
Chapter 22
Where is Morgan?
Furiously, I try reading the monitors. Silent tears stick to my face. I finally get the location: she’s on the second floor. I just raced past the second floor and hadn’t seen Morgan anywhere. I have to think smart. I sprint down the stairs.
My heart skips a beat. The guard was lying on the floor. Now he’s gone. Shit where the hell did he go? Can’t worry about him now. I narrow my gaze on the door.
Infuriated, I kick the door in. There, I find Morgan drenched in sweat, crying. My heart cracks at the sight of her. With my trembling grasp, I snatch the cloth out of Morgan’s mouth. She lets out a loud sigh.
“Where were you? I screamed for you,” she cries.
“I thought you left the apartment. We have to go NOW.”
I untie her from the chair. My heart heavy, I can’t cry. It’s a race against the clock. I don’t want Morgan to know how scared I am. The guard is definitely coming back. He might bring Prentiss with him.
I snatch the collar from my neck and throw it to the ground. After all, there’s no need to hold on to it, my cover is blown. I help Morgan out of the chair and we spring to the door, only to find Randy standing in the doorway. We both step back. Morgan grabs my arm. I let out a sigh.
He walks in, and we continue backing up until we reach the window.
“You’re an ungrateful bitch.” He backhands me and I fall to the ground holding my face. What type of supernatural man hits a woman? Morgan cocks her fist back with the little strength she has. Randy grabs her fist before it lands on his face.
“It’s ok, Morgan.”
Prentiss walks into the apartment clapping while giving me an evil stare.
“You thought you had me fooled, he taunts. “You are quite the fucking actress.” His lips tighten as his eyebrows knit together, forming a unibrow.
I rise to my feet, letting go of my fear. There’s nowhere else to run or hide. I have to face him head-on.
“All the shit I did for you, and this how you fucking repay me?” His shout makes the glass windows rattle.
My cheeks burn hot from the slap and the anger. My bottom lip quivers. How dare this asshole claim he’s done anything for me. Is he kidding? He has made my life a living hell.
“Done for me? You treat me like a slave, forcing me into being a healer for you. You use people until they are all used up. You only care for one person: yourself. Healing was taking a toll on my body, but you didn’t care. You told me to rest because you needed me.”
“I gave you an apartment and took you out of the shack you lived in. I help all the paranormals of Detroit.” He squints. “You must be out of your damn mind,” he snarls in my face.
“You care so much for the paranormals, you are planning to make them all slaves?” I arch a questioning eyebrow in his direction. The insult pierces my ears. I can’t believe what I’m saying, but it’s true.
His eyes bulge and the veins in his neck become enlarged. His hands turn into fists. In my peripheral vision I see the paranormals rushing through the front door and my heart pounds in my chest. Either Prentiss and Randy will leave in peace or it will be a war.
“We can end this now,” Randy says as he glares at me with a frown sliding down his face.
Morgan walks next to me. “That won’t be in your best interest.” I stare him down and shrug.
“How the hell do you keep busting through the collars?” He realizes I can make him sick, so he better back the fuck up.
I close my eyes, reaching into my magic, and show him how strong it’s gotten. I see sickness within him. I concentrate and realize he has pain in his shoulder from a pinched nerve.
The magic tingles within my being. My sight becomes luminous and I glare at Randy’s shoulder. His muscles relax and his eyes widen. He rotates both shoulders in a circular motion.
“How did you do that?”
I remember Randy saying not all things need to be healed. In this moment I get what he meant. He gave me a clue without even knowing it. I can’t just go around healing people, because it takes a toll on me.
The sound of a stampede pounding up the stairs holds me frozen. I stand in front of Morgan as Prentiss’s foot soldiers storm through the door and rush in our direction. One of the soldiers glares at me, as if I’m his intended target. I concentrate and strip him of his health; within a millisecond, he falls to his knees.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Prentiss growls.
“He was going to attack me.” I fold my arms, waiting for the next soldier.
The super-naturals swarm in just in time to save our asses.
“Prentiss, I suggest you leave and quietly,” Big Sam says.
Kato cuts through the crowd and stops in front of me. “Randy, we meet again.”
The other super-naturals have quieted down, gasping at the showdown in front of us. Randy doesn’t say a word but with his nostrils flaring and his teeth clenching, I’m sure he’s ready to battle.
Randy lunges toward Kato. I grab Morgan, jumping out of the way. Kato falls to the floor with Randy landing next to him. Kato then jumps to his feet without using his hands.
“That’s all you got?” Kato says, standing over Randy.
Randy stands to his feet and squares off with Kato. They circle each other and Kato lands the first punch. That starts an all-out brawl with the supernaturals and Prentiss’s foot soldiers cheering them on.
Kato slams Randy up against the wall. “I broke the fucking curse,” Kato says.
Randy’s face red and sweating. He grabs Kato, swinging him across the room. The floor shakes beneath my boots. I close my eyes as Randy throws a punch. I hate seeing fights. They remind of the bullying I witnessed in elementary school.
Morgan squeezes my hand as my heart hammers against my chest. I’m rooting for Kato to kick Randy’s ass, and I know Morgan is too. He took a hard blow across his face, and we nervously watch to see how he recovers.
Kato, still on his feet, swings a swift kick that knocks Randy to the ground. I’m overjoyed, although I don’t want to show it.
While standing over Randy, Kato says, “Eye for an eye. I return the curse.” He slips the top off a vial and throws it on Randy. His body shakes, rattling the room. It was a small earthquake. The monitors rattle on the table. The chandelier shakes above our heads.
Within seconds, all that’s left is a skull as Randy’s body turn to ash. Prentiss’s eyes dart around the room. One of his tall, thin soldiers steps toward me and with one sharp look, he’s bent ov
er, holding his chest. Prentiss’s warning to not fuck with me.
Kato walks to my side and nods his head, glaring in Prentiss’s direction. He doesn’t want any more problems. With his Hoodoo priest gone, he has no one to cast spells for him.
“Stop, men. Let’s go.” All of his foot soldiers exit the place as the paranormals stand united, waiting.
“Be careful, Harmony. This isn’t over.” Prentiss warns before he exits the apartment. We watch as he races from the building. Screams roar from the apartment. Everyone is happy and laughing. The elves, dragons, witches, shifters, we’re all celebrating together as one community. I haven’t seen this in years.
Chapter 23
A week has gone by since the big showdown. My powers are back, so I can tell if someone is supernatural and sometimes what they’re thinking. Morgan and I are enjoying the new apartment. It’s fantastic, and a new management company has taken over. We lay on the couch watching television when there’s a knock at the door.
Morgan looks over at me, the rise and fall of her chest more rapid. Who the hell could it be? We’re not expecting any company. Prentiss knows better than to show his face.
I look out the peephole and a big smile graces my face. I open the door to find Scott standing there with a bottle of champagne in his hands.
“Hey Scott,” Morgan says. Her eyes shift to him as she darts from her seat to give him a hug. We haven’t seen Scott in two weeks or more. Prentiss had threatened to do something to Scott so I’m glad he’s stayed away.
“I brought a drink to celebrate the new place.” He turns and looks at me. “And to celebrate your freedom.”
Freedom…I love the way it sounds rolling off Scott’s tongue. I’m free. I can go anywhere I want to go and I don’t have to worry or look over my shoulders.
“Oh yeah, one more thing,” he adds as he pulls a small black velvet box from his pocket. “I’m going to ask Bethany to marry me.” He opens the box to reveal a stunning diamond ring.
I embrace Scott. I’m so excited for him. I’ve gotten over any romantic feelings I had, realizing we are better as friends. I can’t say that I don’t feel a little sting anyway. I know Scott, and Bethany is not the one.
“I’m happy for you Scott, but I gotta run. I’m going to see Momma today.” If I don’t have anything nice to say, I should excuse myself. If he’s happy, then I’m happy for him. I’ll lend my shoulder for him to cry on when it doesn’t work.
The streets are quiet. All the super-naturals realize Prentiss was right about the crime. The streets are safer, not perfect, but everyone is helping each other.
I hurry to Momma’s house but the faster I walk, the faster the footsteps behind me get. My mouth goes dry and I pick up the pace. Who the hell is behind me? I’m just four houses from Momma’s house.
The footsteps are nearly on my heels now. I start jogging slowly.
“Harmony!”
I freeze and chuckle. I thought it was trouble following me. I twist around and give Kato a hug.
“How are you, Kato? And stop sneaking up on me.” I punch him in the arm.
He grabs his arm and grins. Then his smirk disappears, and he puts on a more serious face. I know whatever he has to say is important. The fading bruises are nearly gone from his face.
“I’m glad you didn’t take the first step of the cure while I was under Randy’s spell.” He looks at the ground. “It could have gone wrong for you.”
He doesn’t look me in my face. Just continues staring at the ground, as if he’s ashamed.
I grab his chin and hold his head up, looking into his eyes. “It wasn’t your fault. Besides, I finally got a sense of who I am.”
I know now I need balance. Constant healing without refueling myself can be detrimental to me. I need to strip health from certain people and restore health to some. And not everyone needs to be healed.
“I’m glad everything is better. I’ll stop by and see you tomorrow,” he says before making his way down the block.
Knocking at Momma’s door feels different. I grab the knob and twist as the door swings open. It’s odd, Momma always has her door locked. She was always fearful of a burglar coming in. There is no smell of food cooking. And the walls are bare. Momma removed all the pictures.
I continue to Momma’s bedroom to find her throwing her clothes in a suitcase. I’m confused and concerned. She never goes outside much because of her mental illness, and now she’s packing.
“Mom, what’s going on?”
Without looking my way, she says, “I’m going home.”
This is her home, what is she talking about? I need to see her eyes. Then I’ll know if she’s in her right state of mind.
“Where’s home?” I ask. I know where her home is, I wanted to hear her response.
She looks at me with a grin on her face and her eyes sparkling. “New Orleans. Why do you ask such a crazy question?” she laughs.
She is completely normal, she doesn’t have a blank stare. She was born in New Orleans and has family there. But why would she want to leave me, her only child?
She continues to fold her clothes. “I can’t wait to see my cousins and all of my friends. Harmony, I’m sorry I’ll miss you, but I’m so lonely here.”
“But you have me.”
“Yes, I do. You can come.”
“No,” I shake my head. “Momma, my place is here. Detroit.”
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