by Shelly Crane
“No. It’s ok. And no I haven’t seen it before actually. Matt and I weren’t...like that,” I said, feeling myself blush again and wondered why I thought I had to explain myself.
He seemed to ponder this thought, then moved on.
“I meant, about his death. I shouldn’t have spoken so callously about him.”
“No. Really. Matt was a...I mean, I’m not glad he’s dead but in all honesty, I’m surprised something like that hadn’t happened already with as much as he drank, but he was a jerk. He was...very cruel to me.”
“I know.”
“You know?” I asked, raising a questioning eyebrow.
“Yes. I...I told you I watched Danny, sometimes I saw you too. I saw that he wasn’t nice.”
Lies.
“Why are you lying? I have a gift. I can tell when people are lying to me and I know you know that already. Course I’m a horrible liar myself but...what is it that you keep trying to hide from me?” I said inching a bit closer looking into his extra green eyes.
As I asked him, I had completely forgotten he was standing there in nothing but a towel from the waist down, dripping and steam all around us. Avert eyes Sherry.
“I’m not lying,” he lied coolly.
“Yes. You are,” I insisted taking another brave inch closer.
He looked down at me as if he was wrestling with himself. His eyes went from hard to soft, confused to more confused. He looked like I felt.
“Merrick?” I waited but he took a deep breath and still didn’t say anything. “Fine. Don’t tell me now but one day soon, I’ll get it out of you... So what’s the plan for today?”
It was not at all odd for him that he was having this conversation in a towel? I mean, he wasn’t human, he probably didn’t even get shy or worry about modesty right?
“As soon as you get ready, we need to head out for supplies. The others will be here after lunch. They will have supplies for themselves as well. We’ll be down here, I hope for about at least a month before having to leave again. We’ll see how that goes-”
“A month? Whew. That’s quite a stint,” I mused.
“It’s probably short compared to what some of the other stints may be. I told you. I came early, and I have no idea how early. Our time is not the same as yours. It may be years before-”
“Years! Merrick. You’re telling me that we could be stuck down here for years? What about my job? What about.. our parents? What about-?”
“Sherry,” he interrupted as he tilted his head and spoke softly and sympathetically. “Were you listening yesterday? The world you knew is no more. Your collected, logical, gadget filled world is over. The world of the Lighters has begun. They will not stop until every Special is gone or taken and they can be the majority over the humans. They are here to take over your world, Sherry,” he said and pronounced each word individually and with emphasis.
“I was listening. I just think... what do these Lighters gain from the Specials being gone, not fulfilling the task?”
“They want to live your life. They want to take over your world, to live here, but there are billions of you and thousands of them. They knew they couldn’t just come and take it from you. And they are like us. They can only come to earth when someone dies, to take their body. Only thing is, the ones that are already here are persuading people who aren’t ready to die yet to be reckless. I told you, they are very suggestive. It’s compulsion. People are listening and are dying and carrying out their deeds. Soon, every Lighter will be here and it will be near impossible to stop them. Listen. Take a shower and we’ll talk more later in the car. We’ve got to get going.”
As I watched him leave, I realized something for the first time since I met this so called guardian. If he was right, this was the end of the world. Days end. What could that mean? What would happen to Danny after he fulfilled his task? What would happen to Matt, still be dead once Merrick leaves his body? Of course. That was stupid. Merrick would go home then I guessed. Wherever that is.
The water was really hot down there, even though Merrick just took a shower the water was still deliciously scalding and the pressure was wonderful. The water in my apartment wasn’t even that hot. It felt great on my frazzled nerves.
I wondered if we could work out a way for a door to be put on that particular room. I wouldn’t have been so cool about it had Merrick walked in on me. Course, he probably would have announced his arrival, or knocked. I was so spacey sometimes. He probably thought I was rude. Poor little prodigy’s sister. I laughed out loud and heard the echo at the thought of Danny as some prodigy.
Danny wasn’t too happy about being left behind but held tight. He had his Nintendo DS in his pocket. It wouldn’t be long until the battery was dead but Danny would probably sleep most of the time anyway and I could pick him up some batteries. We’d be back as quickly as we could. After Merrick’s pep talk, I was pretty anxious about being out in public.
I wondered how we were going to pay for all the stuff we needed? I hoped he wasn’t expecting my meager wages to sustain us.
Once he put the key in and turned it, the elevator creaked to life, the doors shuddering open. We stepped inside and I got ready for the long ride to the top. I was ‘asleep’ before and didn’t realize the elevator lights were blown and it was pitch black in here.
Silence is a killer. I felt the need to say something and that was as good a time as any.
“Merrick. What did you mean yesterday, that you’ve waited? That you couldn’t believe you were here...with me?”
Saying it out loud was suddenly terribly embarrassing and my cheeks flushed and burned hot. Thank goodness for the darkness.
“Sherry, I’d...I’d rather not do this right now, if that’s ok. Let’s focus on getting to town and back safely.”
“So you’re blowing me off again and still lying. Ok. Fine, we’ll focus,” I said and snorted a humorless laugh.
“I’m not...Sherry, I’m sorry, ok. I can’t imagine how weird this must be for you and I’m sorry if I made it worse with my...gibberish. It’d been a long day.”
“It didn’t sound like gibberish or lies to me. You did tell me you would answer all my questions didn’t you?”
Silence in the small space, ignoring me. Fine. Awkward silence it would be. Instead he asked me a question after a moment.
“Is it weird for you, confusing? With me in Matt’s body?”
I thought for a minute and went over the things I’d realized. The eyes were different, the body language, in fact everything was different.
“Not as much as you’d think I guess. Matt didn’t talk or walk, really do anything like you do. Your eyes are green and his were brown. Even your facial expressions and tone of voice are so different. He never talked to me or looked at me the way you do, or anybody for that matter. He was...a character. Can you walk egotistically?” I gave a small laugh, shaking my head at my own stupidity. Thankfully he couldn’t see my face. “That’s sounds dumb, but that’s how I saw him...you’re not like that at all.”
“Hmm.”
“Hmm? What? No insightful wisdom this time?” I jested.
“I’m just wondering what you ever saw in him to begin with.”
“Wow. That’s...direct,” I mumbled. “Um, I don’t know. He was just the first guy to show interest I guess.”
“Hmm.”
As the elevator slowly and graciously opened, relief swept over me as did the warm sunlight, blinding me. What a strange conversation and thankfully it was over. He hurried ahead of me, probably just as eager to go and get back as I was.
“You drive,” Merrick commanded tossing the keys to me.
“Ok. Seeing as how it’s my car, I won’t object,” I said as I climbed in the driver’s side.
The top was already down, they’d left it down last night before heading down under. Men should know better than that, you would think.
“Remember to be careful, ok? Don’t speed. We’ll have to be on our guard at all times,” he s
aid in a firm tone.
“Ok, sir. I will, sir.” I gave a soldier salute which, in turn, I received a raised brow and slightly amused smirk.
I cranked the car and turned on the radio, then grabbed my emergency hair band out of the glove box and pulled my hair back, shaking it back and running my fingers through it before grabbing it to pull it into a loose bunch. It was particularly unruly this morning what with no hairbrush or styling products.
I saw in my peripheral that I was getting the look again. What was with him? I mean, hey, if he thought I was cute, I was all for that but, that’s not what this was.
This was a...something else.
Like I was the last piece of candy in the bowl sitting on the boss’s desk, taunting him day after day- because you can’t take the bosses last piece of candy. I would figure this out but first, shopping.
“So, can you drive? I’m assuming you didn’t drive last night.”
“I can but...driving a manual is new to me.”
“Really? Hmmm. I think I’ll let you drive home then. You really should know how to drive the getaway car,” I teased as I put the car in first gear and started down the road.
“Mmmm...I don’t know.”
“It’ll be ok. I’ll teach you. It’s easy,” I said as I glanced over and flashed him a reassuring smile.
“Ok. Whatever you say.”
He returned my smile but it wasn’t reassuring. He looked ill.
They had driven us all the way to Gary, Indiana last night. ‘Music Man’ town. How my grandma would love to be here, under different circumstances of course. She loved old musicals and forced me to watch them. I say forced, but in honesty I loved them too, but I wasn’t about to let the old lady know that.
We were going to the city, far enough away that no one would recognize our faces. Somehow I could tell if he was speaking to me with his mouth, or with his mind. His mind voice sounded softer, more husky, a different voice altogether. Maybe that was what his real voice sounded like.
Did the clothes fit ok?
“Yeah. They’re fine. Definitely the latest fashion.” I smiled to show him I was joking.
We can get you something else, anything you need. Do you have your Costco card with you? I should have asked you that before we left.
“Yes,” I said out loud. Kinda not fair he get’s to be lazy with the chatter. In fact I’d tell him that. “How come you get to the do that and not me.”
I could see the smile in his profile. A real smile, not a fake baby-you-know-you’re-the-one-for-me smile I had always received from Matt. I didn’t remember Matt laughing at anything I ever said.
“Sorry. It’s habit.”
“So Costco then? Is that it?” I said as I readjusted the seat back to my short legged setting.
“Should be. We can get some clothes and toiletries as well as food there. This car is going to be stacked up pretty high. We might need to buy some of those things...the cords...
I knew exactly what he was thinking about, but it was hilarious watching him struggle, waving his hand in the air, trying to force it out. His expression turned into a five year old, frustrated over figuring out the answer when the teacher called on you.
“Bungee. Bungee cords,” I saved him.
“Yes. Those.”
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. It was easy to forget he wasn’t human. If he only knew things from earth from watching Danny, no wonder he didn’t know about bungee cords. Wait a minute. I wondered.
“Is Danny the only Special you’ve ever had?”
“No. He’s my seventeenth.”
“Really. Out of that many, of course Danny is the problem child.”
“Not exactly. I was the Keeper for Orville Wright. That was a problem child.” He chuckled. “It took me three trips to earth to keep him from breaking his neck before he could finish his task.”
“Wow! Really? That’s kind of neat actually. I bet he was a really nice guy. Adventurous and a pain in the butt, but nice. Guys were gentlemen back then.”
“Not everyone was a gentleman but yes, he was and it was fun. As fun as it can be watching someone everyday, all day.”
I caught his tone.
“That’s sounds miserable, actually.” I didn’t want to get started on the negative so I changed the subject. “So what are you like? I mean, if you don’t mind me asking. What do you look like?”
“I look pretty human. Very pale and blonde, we all are. Skin is almost translucent, albino.”
“So, what, you just sit in offices up there and watch us on the TV or something?” I said, not sure if he got jokes or not.
“Ha ha,” he said smiling and the breath left my body at how genuine and gorgeous he looked with that real smile on. I smiled back, happy to see he had some humor. “No, its not that elaborate. I can’t really describe it. We aren’t really anywhere, we just...are. No needs, no discomfort. Coming back to earth is always a shock, but it gets easier every time.”
“How many times have you been here?”
This was the most he’d talked, though I had only known him a day, I was going to keep him going. He looked amused. I guessed he wasn’t upset at my questions, not these anyway.
“Ten.”
“Three with Orville,” I reminded him I was listening.
“Yes. Three with Orville.” He smiled at my remembering.
Wow, that was a good smile.
“Do they usually know who you are? What you are. Do you tell them or...”
“No. Not unless it’s an extreme situation and we have no choice. We just do what we can. A strangers kind word or advice, a helping hand with something heavy, a question about directions that leads to something else. We don’t know until the time comes what the Special is meant to do nor what we are meant to do for them.”
I couldn’t think of anything relevant to say after that. He was so selfless. This was his life? Making sure others fulfilled theirs? How old was he? Could he really be happy like that? He seemed to be. What a useless life I’d lead and look at him. This guy made me look like Dahmer.
He looked over at me just in time to see my tortured expression.
“Are you ok? What did I say wrong?” he said as he twisted in his seat a little to look at me better.
“Nothing. You might want to put your seatbelt on.” I laughed a humorless laugh under my breath to cover.
“What is it, Sherry?” he ignored my suggestion and probed further.
“Are you happy? Living this way?” I looked over to see his eyes.
I wanted the truth to my question.
“I am what I am. Why fight what you can’t change?”
“I guess so...” I said as we pulled into the half empty parking lot.
It had taken longer than I thought because I had driven so slow, lost in thought and conversation with Merrick. I wondered if Merrick had already seen all this, our conversation and everything in his glimpse of the future.
We got out and I pulled on Danny’s thin blue corduroy jacket that was left in the back seat last night. It shouldn’t be cold in June.
The sleeve got caught outside in as I tried to force my arm through, quite comically and unsuccessfully. Merrick grabbed my arm to help me and reached in the sleeve, grabbing my fingers instead and readjusting to grab the fabric out gently.
I watched his face as he did this with great interest. When our hands touched he looked up into my eyes, then jolted his gaze away. The look. He refused to meet my gaze again as we started towards the doors but instead he briefed me on the rules we discussed earlier.
“Remember, no thinking of Danny or the warehouse. No thinking about anything you wouldn’t want one of them to see. Let’s get in and out as quickly as possible.”
“Okay. Understood.”
I flashed my card and the door attendant flashed a smile. We snagged a squeaky shopping cart and he pushed as I grabbed. Then I pushed while he grabbed. I thought we were getting too much but, when you started to add how much three people
eat in a month, I guess it did add up pretty quick.
How the rabbit would hold all this was beyond me. Beyond. Then I remembered a pretty important question still left unanswered.
“Uh, Merrick. How are we going to pay for all this? I’m sorry but I definitely don’t have the cash.”
“I’ve got it under control. Now, uh, you want to go and get some... personal items. For yourself. I’ll keep going and meet you in the toilet paper aisle in fifteen minutes, ok?” he said looking a little uncomfortable.
“Oh, I’ve only dreamed of a guy saying that to me...”
He looked at me puzzled, going over in his head, no doubt, what he could’ve said to have prompted my dreaming. I pursed my lips to keep from laughing.
“It’s a joke, Merrick. A joke.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry. It apparently wasn’t that funny,” I said as I chuckled and walked over to the ‘personal items’ section.
After grabbing a few things I made my way over to the clothes section of the warehouse for a five pack of underwear and then two pairs of jeans and two tank tops. I mean, if he’s paying.
I grabbed a pack of socks as well, and a new under wire bra. A girl couldn’t live on one bra alone. I was set, Where was Merrick... Oh yeah, toilet paper. I chuckled to myself as I made my way down the aisles.
I heard my name being called behind me and swung around thinking I somehow missed the toilet paper aisle, but no. It was Racine, Matt’s flamboyant gorgeous older sister. Oh no. What in the world was she doing there? I’d have to keep away from the toilet paper aisle.
I ran to her as I usually did or she’d think something was up. Crap. I wondered if Merrick saw this too in his future glimpse. Racine and I had been friends since grade school. Surely this would be ok, we didn’t have to worry about her.
“Racine! Hey! What in the world are you doing way out here?”
