I sat up and looked around, trying to gather my thoughts. I couldn’t recall anything. My mind was a complete blank. “I’m glad you came back to us, you’re safe here.”
“I came back? What am I safe from?”
Dain responded, “Yes. Jr. kidnapped you and I sent help to save you. You’re safe now from him and his psychotic family. As I said, they’re trying to destroy your life.”
Even with my mind clouded, I knew what he said did not sound right.
“I didn’t want to have to tell you this, Caleb. There’s just no other way around it, now. Not only has Max Jr. been trying to kill you, he has also been pursuing your wife this whole time.”
“What? What did you say?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry. You recall that day you went home and he was already at your house in the front yard, fighting? Well, he was with your wife, trying to seduce her. How do I know this, you’re thinking? After hearing some of your marital issues and problems the other day made me think.”
Dain added, “Seeing the stress on your face made me very concerned. I wanted you to come back and help you. So that’s when I sent Joxel and Zitaya to your house, and that’s when they saw Jr. there with your wife and confirmed it. Oh, that look on your poor little girl’s face. She was so confused and upset.”
My mind cleared instantly when I heard that. There was no more confusion, I added it all up. Dain’s underlined cold heart and cut throat demeanor. His freak family behavior and disturbing parties. And that poor innocent little girl covered in blood. They attacked me and Nalla at the gas station. Now he said that? Nah. This is not me. I want no part of this.
Jr. may be crazy, but this guy is one demented sicko. I’ll stick with my gut here. Liar.
It‘s my turn to mind-fuck.
I yelled, “You’re fucking kidding me! That piece of shit…I will kill him!”
Dain said, “Don’t worry; he will be taken care of. Listen, I know you may have heard a few things about us, here. One of that being we’re the Mirtaza family. We are. As I told you, what you have heard about us is not true just as I said. We have been seriously misunderstood for a long time.”
“We have powerful and serious influences, which help us help others. And this is something you can be a part of. I see your potential so much it’s scary,” added Dain.
“Oh, I know. I feel good here. You and your family have embraced me from the start. Most of all, you have saved my family. How would I be a part of what you’re saying?”
“Yes. That’s the other reason we wanted you back. I want to bring you in with us, Caleb. You’re ready and you will be a huge asset for us. Your mind is about to be blown. I want you to meet the one who leads us, Lucio.”
I said, “Lucio?
Dain replied, “Yes. He is the one who has helped me open my mind to everything. You will be fully enlightened and uplifted. Once you join us, your financial woes and worries will be over. In order for us to help you fully, though, you have to join us.”
Enlightened? My troubles and finances would be taken care of? At the cost of another blood sacrifice? Fuck that! This psychotic murderer! I can only act so much. I’m done with this freak secret society bullshit. No money or reward can buy me for this.
I told Dain I would think about it. It was getting late and I had to get back home. Dain, however, insisted I at least check it out. He wanted me to meet Lucio.
My stomach sank when I noticed that look. I knew he would not let me leave.
Suddenly, I felt something. I realized I didn’t have to be scared. I keep choosing to be. And, I’ve always known this. I know I can outsmart him. I can outdo him. Yet, as much as I knew this, there was something stopping me. I feel like a bomb ready to explode on him. For some reason I couldn’t do it!
This entire time I had been held back. Why? “I can see you’re troubled. Something vexes you. I don’t want you to feel pressured. Stay the night tonight and rest. Tomorrow you can see for yourself what I’ve been saying. You will be awakened when you meet Lucio. You won’t regret it,” Dain said.
Even though he made it seem I had a choice, I knew I didn’t. I went along with it for now. Sleeping with these freaks was the last thing I wanted. Man, I hate this prick. In front of Dain, I called Tiana letting her know I would be home the next day and had to stay as part of repayment.
I, however, already knew that was not going to happen. Tonight, while they slept, I was getting the hell out of there.
That night, Dain showed me to a room. He told me he would see me in the morning and to rest. He closed the door. This is not the room I slept in before, I thought. I walked into the large room and immediately the scent of old must hit me. It smelled like decay. It was like an old church with stained-glass windows.
The room was somehow darkly dimmed red with no lamps. The eyes in the pictures, from the mid-century figures, were unsettling. It was as if they were real. I wanted to walk right back out. I knew I couldn’t, not yet. I looked around the room and I became more disturbed.
The beast-shaped Victorian bed was hypnotizing, with strange markings. The crosses on the wall appeared to bend. The mirror was blackened and seemed to call to me. A familiar fear hit me and I sat in the animal-shaped chair to gather myself. I looked up and noticed the strange, black, red, and gold tapestries were made of a type of beige Hyde.
What the hell? I felt something move.
I looked down at the armrest and realized what it was. Flesh! This fucking chair is alive! The arms and legs of the chair grabbed me and I struggled to break free. I heard hissing. A lizard-like tongue wrapped around my neck and choked me. I can’t breathe!
The small figures in the pictures turned into zombies and slowly crawled along the wall toward me. The angels in the stained-glass windows turned demonic, and flew toward me with outstretched hands.
That same wicked figure I saw in my bathroom emerged from the dark mirror and crawled toward me, backward.
I broke free, ran toward the door, and noticed the room was smoky. The vent on the floor had smoke seeping into the room.
Dizziness hit me. I reached for the door knob and stumbled to the floor.
Ahhh, I feel so groggy. I awoke to the howls of the night outside. I was on a bed. I sat up on the side and realized I was still in the room. I’m losing it! The room was now darker. I looked at my watch, and it was 3:22 a.m. It was time to get the hell out. I stood and panned the room and felt my skin crawl. There, in the dark corner, was the silhouette of a figure. There was someone sitting in the chair. I was paralyzed.
“Dain?” I said faintly.
There was no response.
My breathing intensified through an unsettling silence. I knew I had to be strong.
He growled.
Oh, fuck that! I thought, and dashed toward the door and opened it. But, I did not go through it. Something triggered. Listen within? I’m a badass? The effect of Jr.’s words struck me to the core.
I turned and faced him through the darkness.
He stood. “Caleb …” he said.
I recognized that voice. It’s not Dain’s. It was him! The many nights he would chase me and I would run. My tormentor of the night.
I felt my nose. There was no blood. I closed the door back and locked it. I’m not running anymore. And, neither is he.
I clinched my fists and heard my knuckles. Fuck him, too! I ran to hit him and noticed his head was down. He slowly looked up at me … What? I thought in horror.
I was face-to-face with myself.
“Hello, Caleb. My boy…” he said with an evil chuckle.
With a wicked grin, he raised an eyebrow. Suddenly his eyes became large as he tilted his head back, and before I could blink he head-butted my nose, knocking me to the ground. “Uh…” I uttered as I sat up in shock. I looked at my hands and saw they were covered in blood. My vision began to blur and everything slowed.
He laughed as he stood over me. I turned over onto my hands and knees and saw the splatter of my gushing nos
e.
This is why my nose has bled. My reminder of him. It was at this moment my whole life hit me, and I was reminded of the person I had become.
My entire life, I’ve listened to the deceptions and lies that surrounded me. I believed what life is supposed to be about. My double life. My mother’s desperate cries. My daughter, whom I muted and crippled forever. The echoing gunshots that killed my father, who sacrificed his life so I could do all of that? All of this because of me.
No. It was because of him!
He is the who has guided me. I believed and trusted him! And he turned me into someone else! This is my true enemy. A remnant of the person I once was now stands before me. This is not me. My fists felt hot and began to glow with rage. Deceptor!
“Well, what are you waiting for? You know what time it is. It’s time to run,” he said with a sarcastic chuckle.
My eyes began to water. I wiped them; it was blood. Without a word, I looked up and swung and hit that motherfucker in the face so hard I felt my fist crack his skull.
He struggled back to his feet. “Wow. I didn’t think you had it in you. You, however, just fucked up. You will never defeat us!” Before he had a chance to gather himself, I charged. Wham! I pummeled him on the ground. I roared with a rage from deep within, and I unloaded fists, elbows, and knees on him. I hit him with everything I had, as hard as I could. Blood was everywhere.
His face was bludgeoned, as he spit out his teeth. He looked at me, unfazed, and laughed. Suddenly he caught my fists and fought back. I grabbed him and punched him in his throat.
I stood over him as he desperately gasped for air. I reached my hands around his neck, while he shook his head.
I looked into his fear-filled eyes as he grabbed my arms with his weakened hands. With no hesitation, I squeezed. “I’m not your boy.” I continued squeezing until his last breath.
He gargled and gasped as his eyes slowly closed and he fell to the ground.
I killed him.
I stood over his now lifeless body, knowing he would plague me no more. I knew Dain would continue to pursue me and eventually put my family at risk. I would stay and confront Dain.
25
Knock-knock
It was the next morning, and I felt different. I felt surprisingly bold and fearless. What the shit? I looked around, and for a second I thought I was in another room. I wasn’t. Everything in the room was different. The windows and mirrors were clear and not darkened. The chair and bed and the pictures were regular normal old antiques.
I looked back as I walked out and thought, Fuck that room! I shut the door.
I was ready to go along with meeting Dain’s friend. After, I would decline his offer and leave. “Morning, Caleb. I trust you slept well,” said Dain. “Like a baby,” I replied.
“Follow me,” said Dain, and we headed down the hallway
He led me upstairs, to a fourth-floor, dimly lit room filled with candles.
What the? How did a fourth floor appear out of nowhere? I thought.
“Where is this Lucio?” I asked.
Dain replied, “Oh, he’s here. We have already been preparing for this. You have always been one of us.”
One of us?
I walked into the middle of the large, dark room, filled with statues and bizarre markings. There I stood, surrounded by Dain’s brothers and sisters—the notorious Mirtaza clan. All of them were wearing odd-looking red and black sleeveless robes, exposing their striking tattoos and body art. The art on their bodies was like nothing I’d seen before.
I proceeded with what appeared to be some sort of ceremonial ritual.
The lights dimmed as others behind me start chattering softly in an unknown language. The entire room that surrounded me began to change its look and color before my eyes.
Four others walked into the room, wearing white robes, as a light mist of smoke covered the floor. Dain’s sisters, Amitiel and Zariall came out of the darkness topless. Mist seeped up from beneath my feet and shot into my nostrils. I was dizzy, in a trance-like state. Amitiel gave me a drug, putting it in my mouth as both sisters caressed, kissed, and fondled me.
“All there is to do, Caleb, to become enlightened and freed in every way, to become powerful, is to deny all other gods and swear a life oath and allegiance to our god, Lucio, the angel of light.”
Angel of light? Hell no! I thought. I want to get this shit over with and get the fuck out.
The mist thickened and filled the dark room. Dain stood in front of me, raised his head and hands, and said, “To you, light-bearer Lucio, we give Caleb…”
I looked around and saw I was surrounded by others. They all continued to chant in an unknown tongue while waving their heads in a circular motion.
“Join us, Caleb… become one with us and live like a god,” Zariall whispered and licked my neck.
Bam! I heard a bang as Dain and the others look at each other, confused. Thud! Boom! Louder and closer the banging continued. Dain pointed to a few of his brothers, to go investigate.
I know exactly what that banging is. Jr.!
The bangs and the thuds became even louder as the others in the room looked around, concerned, and looked at Dain.
Dain walked toward me with Ithuriel and Valoel, his other naked sisters and the four sisters kissed and rubbed me all over as they moaned.
Dain held his hand out in front of me as a mystical, beaming, white orb appeared in his hand.
I looked into the orb and saw myself. Inside the orb I saw that I had everything I ever wanted. People were bowing before me, and I was surrounded with lavish things of all kinds. It was as if I was having it now, as it all was so real.
I reach out to the inviting orb, and when I did, I heard within. I started to feel the new found strength and my fists felt hot.
I looked at Dain. “Fuck you and your god!”
Shocked, Dain’s eyes grew large and he stumbled backward.
In a fit of rage, Dain yelled in a bizarre language and his face began to morph and distort into something or someone else.
Dain said, “Why Caleb, you disappoint me. After all I have done for you and your precious wife and daughter.”
I heard someone else say in a low, demonic grumble, “Perhaps you just need to witness the sheer power we yield. Behold the power of the one and only true god…Lucio!” I realized, it was Dain.
He closed his eyes and slowly raised his arms, his palms up halfway, as Joxel, Gibborim, Rahmiel and Gadriel emerged from the dark and stood by his side.
Dain began to levitate and the lights and candles flickered, and it went pitch black.
His tattoos began to illuminate and glow with a beaming, light-blue color, revealing hidden messages exalting Lucio.
“All to the enlightened one. Glory and praise to god, the angel of light,” I read on one of Dain’s arms. The other arm read, “True god—Light Bearer.”
The chants and utterings continued.
Dain opened his eyes, and when he did, they were all white.
I was surrounded by Dain’s brothers and sisters, who also had white eyes as their tattoos began glowing. The faces of the four sisters standing around me morphed until they were inhuman. Their gentle touch turned to clawing and hisses.
“Jr., in here! Help me!” I yelled.
I heard moans of agony and pain from outside the bedroom door.
“The door!” yelled Joxel.
Krrsshhh!
The door to the room was smashed through. As the dust settled in the dimly lit room, a shadowy figure stood in the doorway.
Dain lowered to his feet. The lights came back on. Everything was normal again. I saw it was him, it was Jr.
He stepped forward into the dull lighting and was alone.
Humatiel, one of the brothers, uttered, “Mestre de Batalha,” and stepped back.
Breathing heavily, and covered in blood, Jr. had the most intense look of sheer furry as he stared down Dain.
“Bitch,” said Dain.
Jr. clinched his fists.
“Little Jr., I don’t believe it was locked. So, I guess the jig is up, huh?” Dain said with a smirk.
“Jr.! Help, they’re hurting me!”
With a shake of his head, Jr. looked at me, “Hurting you, really? C’mon already, Caleb, you don’t need my help! It’s like I have been telling you all along, you’re one bad motherfucker. Remember what you did last night? You have the ability to destroy everyone in here, alone.”
Last night? He knows?
“And, what’s hilarious, is all these other fucks around you already knows this. They don’t want you to know or remember. I’m not the only bad actor here,” chuckled Jr.
I felt a groaning inside.
“Fuck you,” said Dain.
Dain stepped in front of us all and waved his hand to his brothers and sisters, motioning them to get behind him. Zitaya and Amitiel kept their grasp and dug their nails into me tighter.
There they were, Dain and Max Jr. standing face to face, staring each other down. The intensity of the room was thick. It went silent.
Dain laughed wickedly and his eyes rolled back. The lights flickered and he raised his palms upward and chanted. Jr. turned to me. He said, “Stay strong and listen to me. Right now, I’m the one who is going to need your help. I won’t be able to do it alone this time. I need you to unleash that power within you. Now c’mon, Caleb, snap out of it! Let’s fuck their world up. Just like old times,” added Jr.
26
Tit for tat
His words began to ring louder in my ears… I looked at Dain levitating before me. Jr. turned back to Dain and to my surprise, he spoke their strange language. Dain raised his arm and pointed in Jr.’s face.
Jr. yelled, “Trazem!” which I knew meant “Bring it” in Portuguese.
Without warning, one of Dain’s brothers lunged right at Jr. from behind, grabbing him. Jr. threw him off as four others swarmed Max Jr. from all sides.
“Caleb! Get them!” yelled Jr.
He needs my help!
I looked down and my fists felt hotter and lit up.
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