by L. E. French
“I’m sorry to see you go,” Delusion told me with a heavy sigh. “But I think I understand. Thank you for saving my mom.”
“You’re welcome.” Slinging the pack onto one shoulder, I stood and shook hands with Delusion. “I hope to see you again.”
“Yeah.” Delusion looked away, sniffled, and nodded for me to go.
[Splice: Anytime, Doc. I’m staring at five gun barrels.]
[Doc Soo: Dammit. Meet me where you dropped me off earlier, I guess. I’ll get out somehow.]
Monster crossed his arms behind the kid and I thought I understood the message in his curled lip. I had no exit. Except I did. I flashed Monster a smile I hoped would infuriate him and bolted across the hall.
Wraith had left the door open. I slammed it shut behind me and locked it. Then I wrapped a latex glove around the knob and tied it to the fridge door handle. Good thing they gave me such a tight little room. With the lights off, I dashed to the window, locked it, and made sure the curtain covered it.
I peered through the gaps in the curtain while Monster shouted with Delusion in room nine. Outside, everyone I could see ran for the front door. They’d get past my stupid extra lock in no time.
[Doc Soo: If you can, swinging back right now would be really helpful.]
I snapped the window lock and tossed the glass pane open. Jumping off the bed, I ducked my head and sailed through the window. My shoulder hit first and I splatted on the pavement. The dozen aches and pains my tumble caused took me by surprise and kept me lying flat for a second before I realized that adrenaline would smother it.
Switching off the emotion regulator saved my life. The wash of hormones cascaded through my body and pushed me to my feet. I lurched to the side and heard the loudest bang imaginable. Something smacked the asphalt where I’d been lying only nanoseconds before. Glancing over my shoulder as I sprinted along the wall, I saw Wraith pointing his gun at me. He fired another shot as I ducked around the corner. It hit the wall.
[Doc Soo: New plan. Meet me around the back.]
I sprinted for the next corner and kept going straight at the fence. When I reached the top, a horrifically loud crack startled me enough to fall into the weeds on the other side of the fence. I landed to the sight of Monster throwing the spiderweb-cracked window open in room nine. Apparently, they had bullet-resistant windows, and it worked in both directions.
He pointed a gun at me through the screen. I froze, lying on the ground, like a fucking bunny rabbit. Wraith rounded the corner, his gun raised.
Both men ducked for no apparent reason. Then I heard rapid, thunderous booms from behind me. Puffs of smoke and debris exploded off the black brick wall. Rolling to my back, I saw Splice screaming toward me on her motorcycle, sitting up and firing a machine gun with both hands while the bike kept going straight.
The sight stupefied me. Of all the things I thought Splice might do, this hadn’t made it on the list.
[Splice: New new plan. Run for it in a straight line and I’ll catch up.]
[Doc Soo: I like your plan.]
As soon as she passed me, I scrambled to my feet and ran as fast as I could. The gunfire kept popping behind me until it stopped abruptly. Not looking back, I kept pumping my legs, expecting Nightmares to chase me down.
Two intersections later, Splice pulled alongside with a grim smile and I hopped on the back of her bike.
[Splice: I estimate we have about twelve hours before Wraith talks my boss into letting him in for a “visit.” I can pack up my shop in about four hours, but I don’t have anywhere to take it that I can get on such short notice.]
The wind on my face tasted like freedom and safety. I took a minute to calm down and noticed the aches and pains building everywhere. My body didn’t like what I’d just done, but my brain thought it was brilliant. High on victory, I had an audacious thought.
[Doc Soo: I have an idea.] I sent her a location.
[Splice: I’ll check on it.]
Chapter 14
Dear Ai,
I’m sorry.
I know an apology won’t fix anything, but you deserve at least that much. You were a wonderful wife and I dishonored you with my arrogance and stupidity. I know Miko will grow into a good person because you’re a good mother. Someday, I hope you can forgive me enough to allow me the honor of seeing her again.
In humble shame,
Hideo
I set my calligraphy pen in its inkwell and blew on the yellowed parchment to dry it. No one used paper and pens anymore, but Splice knew a guy who supplied retro enthusiasts. Matching the corners, I folded it exactly in half with a firm crease. The page fit perfectly into its matching envelope, which already had her address written on it. For an added touch of elegance, I dripped melted red wax along the seal, though I had nothing to imprint it with.
Finally done with this project, I stood and stretched. Ideally, I’d deliver it myself and catch a glimpse of my daughter, but I didn’t think I could manage it without getting caught by the police. Over the past week, I’d resigned myself to the knowledge I may never see her again. At least I could rest knowing Miko lived and her mother would take care of her. The nightmares and random bouts of feeling sorry for myself would eventually fade away.
Leaving the tiny, gleaming office behind, I stepped into the front room of the gas station. It had been scrubbed from top to bottom by a small army of kids delighted to have us on Mead First Rats turf. I passed the envelope to a teenage girl named Little Chimi, our gang liaison and receptionist.
“Thank you for taking care of this.” I pressed my hands together bowed to her, determined to be better than the man I’d been two weeks ago.
“No prob, Doc.” Little Chimi tucked the envelope into a worn denim backpack and resumed using her ’link to do whatever teenagers did these days. Her curly brown pigtails bounced with her movements. “Should be able to get it there within a few days.”
“Thank you,” I repeated. As it turned to join Splice in the converted mechanic’s bay and prepare for a patient later tonight, I noticed movement through the window. Late afternoon sunshine, a rarity for DeeSeat, glinted off a black SUV as it parked alongside a defunct gas pump. Monster, Wraith, and Delusion stepped out.
We knew they’d find us eventually. We’d hoped it would take a little longer.
“Little Chimi, we have Nightmares incoming.”
She pulled a shotgun out from under the counter. “I’ll handle it, Doc. Go hide.”
I messaged Splice to let her know we had company. “No, I think I’ll stay. They aren’t shooting up the place already, so this may be a social call.” Curiosity kept me in place anyway. Why had they brought Delusion? Did Misery die after all?
Splice entered the room wearing her leather apron and goggles, grease smeared across her face and hands. “Any messaging going on with them?”
“No.”
Wraith stopped several feet from the door and held up his empty hands. I had no doubt he carried several weapons under his black trench coat, so this gave me small comfort.
Monster opened the door and stepped inside. Delusion rushed past him with a huge grin and hugged me. This behavior clearly annoyed Monster. The big man’s lip curled as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“Doc Soo! I’m so glad we found you!” Delusion squeezed so hard I couldn’t breathe.
“How are your mother and brother?” I asked when he let go.
“Both fine. Oh, cool, you got the wristband off. That’s why we came. I talked mom into not being mad at you anymore.” He took my hand and set a key-shaped piece of chrome into it. Leaning in, he muttered, “Monster is still cranky about it, though.”
Unable to suppress a chuckle, I closed my hand over the key and bowed to Delusion and Monster. “I’m pleased to know we can be something other than enemies.”
Delusion noticed Little Chimi and blushed. “Hi,” he said with an awkward wave.
“Hey,” Little Chimi said, the shotgun held out of sight.
Mo
nster’s eyes narrowed dangerously, so I cleared my throat to interrupt what looked like a charming connection between two teenagers. “Thank you for bringing me this gift. I appreciate the thought behind it and will cherish its intent. Should the Nightmares require any medical assistance, consider our door open. Our fees are reasonable, and we’re willing to be flexible in the face of dire circumstances.”
“You fuck with Mead First, though,” Splice said, “and you’re off the guest list. Is that clear?”
“Yes.” Monster’s mouth puckered in distaste. “Let’s go, Delusion.” He settled a large hand on Delusion’s shoulder and dragged him out.
When the door shut, Splice snorted. “Like I trust them.”
I shrugged. “Neither do I. Well, I trust Delusion. He has a good heart despite his family’s best efforts to destroy it.”
The trio returned to the car and Delusion waved before Monster rolled his eyes and stuffed him into the back seat.
Splice nodded. “There’s hope for him.”
Little Chimi tucked her shotgun away. “He’s cute.”
Grinning, I turned away from the window to get to work.
[Delusion: Would you give Little Chimi my ’link code?]
[Doc Soo: Of course. Good luck.]
[Delusion: Thanks, Doc. You too.]
Legal
Darkside Seattle: Street Doc is a work of fiction. Names, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously.
Published by Clockwork Dragon Books
Copyright © 2016 by Lee French
All Rights Reserved
ISBN: 978-1-944334-13-0
About the Author
L.E. French is the cyberpunk pseudonym of Lee French, a fantasy and superhero author. She lives in Olympia, WA with two kids, two bicycles, and too much stuff. An avid gamer, compulsive writer, and casual cyclist, she can often be found on myth-weavers.com, sitting in her BeanBag of Inspiration +4, or riding her bike around the city.
If you liked this story, please take a minute to post a review on Amazon.
Other Books by Lee French
Spirit Knights
YA urban paranormal adventure
Girls Can’t Be Knights
Backyard Dragons
Ethereal Entanglements
Ghost Is the New Normal (coming April 2017)
The Maze Beset Trilogy
Superheroes in denim
Dragons In Pieces
Dragons In Chains
Dragons In Flight
In the Ilauris setting
Standalone fantasy tales
Damsel In Distress
Shadow & Spice (short story)
Al-Kabar
The Greatest Sin series
Epic fantasy co-authored with Erik Kort
The Fallen
Harbinger
Moon Shades
Illusive Echoes
Non-fiction
with Jeffrey Cook
Working the Table: An Indie Author’s Guide to Conventions
Anthologies Into the Woods: a fantasy anthology
Merely This and Nothing More: Poe Goes Punk
Unnatural Dragons: a science fiction anthology
Missing Pieces VII
Artifact (coming November 2016)
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
