by Alexie Aaron
"I'm glad he was there. I'd hate to explain to Ted that the last we saw of you was you floating downstream heading for the Mississippi."
"Nah, I figured that I'd be able to climb out at St. Charles."
"I'll keep that in mind next time you float away."
Mia laughed at the silliness of their conversation.
Tom didn't want Mia to brush off what he had to say. He stopped walking and took both of her hands. "Mia, I was a coward back when we were teens. I let a lot of horrible things happen to you."
"Tom, you weren't at fault."
"Doing nothing to stop it is as bad as doing the crime."
"That's the law enforcement professional in you talking," Mia said, shaking her hands free. "Now, you and I have to go in there and clear the place of all debris. That includes Two Face Tony."
"I take it you have a plan."
"Oh yes," Mia said, digging in her pocket and pulling out a sealed plastic bag. "It only takes this piece of green chalk and some Latin."
"You're going to have to explain yourself. How is that going to get rid of a ghost?"
"Oh, Two Face Tony isn't a ghost, Tom. He's a demon. I came into contact with a few when I was down in New Orleans. I now know that Tony is a demon. He can't be eliminated, but he can be sent to hell for a while. I thought, if ever he and I were in conflict again, I would use my newfound knowledge to get a little payback. I swiped this chalk for just such a meeting."
"How long have you been carrying that around?"
"Since I stole it from Father Peter. I suspect any green chalk would do, but why take the chance?"
"You stole from a priest."
"Yes."
"You don't have to look so proud," Tom complained.
"You don't know Father Peter," Mia said, rewrapping the chalk and stuffing it back into her pocket. “Come on, let's get the big doors open. Bilbo is going to need all the room we can afford him."
Mia waved Burt over to join them on the old loading ramp. The three of them muscled the doors open after Mia picked the lock.
"Seems to me, Mia, you've been hanging with the wrong crowd. Stealing from priests, picking locks," Tom said.
"What if I told you John Ryan showed me how?"
"I would have to ignore it," Tom said, rolling his eyes.
The three walked into the dimly lit space. The late afternoon light came through the cracks in the shuttered windows and roof. Mia took note to keep the elephants away from the northern half of the space where the rain would most likely come in.
Tom watched as Mia poked around in corners and stooped to pick up some large pieces of broken glass. She removed a small flashlight from her pocket and knocked it hard in her hand a few times to shake off the residual river water before turning it on.
"I'd like to make sure there isn't anything that the animals can hurt themselves on," she said, lowering the light to floor, looking for anything shiny.
Tom did the same while Burt walked outside to stop the progress of Bilbo and company until they had cleared away anything harmful.
Mia smelled sulfur. "Tom, he's here. I can't see him. Can you?"
Tom turned slowly, casting the beam of his light around. "No, but it smells like rotten eggs in here."
"I agree." Mia reached into her pocket and extracted the green chalk. "I'm going to draw a rectangle on the ground," she explained. "It's important that you don't get anywhere near it once I open the portal. You may want to make sure I don't get pulled in too."
"Portal?" Tom squeaked. "To where?"
Mia just looked at him.
"Okay, I know where. Are you sure you have to do this? It sounds dangerous."
"Oh, it is."
"You've done it before?"
"Once on my own. It's not permanent, so don't feel bad for the creature. But it will buy us a few months."
The smell became overwhelming. Mia turned slowly, and out of the north corner of the grinding room walked, what looked like to them, like a human male. He wore castoff clothing consisting of jeans and a hooded sweatshirt. His feet were bare and his legs bowed. His head was covered by the hood which shadowed his face.
"Tony, I ask you to voluntarily leave this place," Mia began.
"My place," he hissed. "You leave."
"Unfortunately, we need it for a few days. I ask again for you to voluntarily leave this place."
The creature sniffed the air. "Little crying girl, delicious tears, salty," Tony said, pulling his hood off.
Tom watched in horror as the first face of Tony stared at him while a second face pushed out of the misshapen head. The two faces were complete with the exception that the creature only had one set of large pointed ears. Two sets of yellow eyes flashed as Mia stepped around Tom, hissing, "He thinks you can't see him. Let's let him continue to think this way."
"Leave here. Leave me alone," Mia said, feigning fear.
"Do you remember me, little girl?" the demon asked in a duet of voices.
"You're Tony."
"You do remember. I've waited for you, little girl."
"Why me? Why not the others that defile your mill?" she asked, turning as Tony circled around her.
"They're not tasty. They can't see me." He sniffed the air and frowned. "You're different," Tony said and pointed to Mia's leg.
The heat of her burn returned.
"You've been marked," he spat. "Vile creature," he called out. "I shall tear your mark from little crying girl's body."
"Who are you talking to?" Mia asked, preparing herself to evoke the rite of passage into hell.
"Your demon lover," he said as one face looked at her accusingly and the other with disgust. "Why go so far, little crying girl, when Tony has been waiting for you?"
Mia felt a violent heave of her stomach and tasted bile in her mouth.
"Mia," Tom asked, panicked, "how can I help you?"
Hearing Tom's voice brought Mia back from her pain. She reached out in her mind and pushed Tony hard.
The demon was surprised when he was knocked back a few feet.
She pushed him again.
This time, Tony was waiting for it and stepped out of the way. He laughed. It sounded like a chorus of screaming children.
Mia moved herself and Tom behind the rectangle and began to chant.
Tony hissed a bit but seemed unconcerned about what she was doing until the chalk bled inwards and the rectangle was awash with green before it was one dimensional no more.
Tom put a hand on the back of Mia's pants, looping his strong fingers around the tightly-cinched belt, and hung on. Just in front of Mia, the very floor had opened up and strange lights illuminated from the darkness.
Mia continued to chant, pulling at Tony with her mind at the same time.
To give Tony credit, he was surprised by the portal. He spat and sputtered, but he was no match for the pull of the underground. Once again, the green tentacles moved out of the portal.
"Tom, lift me up," Mia pleaded.
Tom scooped Mia off the floor into his arms.
The searching kraken arms identified Tom's legs as human and moved around until they had latched onto Tony and slowly pulled him in.
"Demon, I cast you into hell. Take your time returning," Mia said.
Two Face Tony’s two sets of eyes locked on hers a moment, and he cursed, "Be wary, Judas, I will be back for you."
The tentacles pulled down sharply, and Tony disappeared.
"Smudge the line," Mia instructed, clinging to Tom.
Tom reached his foot forward to the edge of the abyss and moved it along the edge. The portal vanished. He set Mia down, and she pulled her shirt sleeve over her hand and rubbed every last bit of the chalk away before curling up into a ball and crying.
Tom didn't know what to do. She was in such despair. More so then the first time Tony had attacked her. He knelt down and put a hand on her back. "Mia, it'll be alright. It's over. Do you want me to get Ted?"
Mia forced herself out of her self-pity and li
fted her shirt. There, etched in a thin bloody line was the name TONY.
"Tom, I'm in trouble. Big trouble," she said, accepting his help as she rose to her feet. "I think it's what I get for taking revenge. I step off the path and get slammed," she said sadly.
"How can I help?" he asked.
"By being my friend and understanding that I may be a lot of things, but I'm mostly human," she said wryly.
"Oh, you're human alright. Spoiled by Murphy, adored by Ted, and lauded by PEEPs. Pull it together, Mia. There’s twelve tons waiting for our help out there."
Mia brightened up. "You're right. Let's get them in before the rain starts and the Wanderers come."
It was Tom's turn to feel uncomfortable. "Wanderers? What are you talking about?"
"With your sight, I'm surprised you haven't seen them yet," Mia said. She quickly told him her story. "Stick with me. I'll help you avoid them if I can."
"Is it all clear?" Burt asked from the doorway. "It's starting to sprinkle."
"Tell Jane to bring them in. I hope..."
The sound of a distant truck horn interrupted Mia.
Mia stepped aside as Bilbo entered the building. He did a walk around before he would let Little Suzy inside. Once in, the cow settled down. Behind them, Jane was talking to someone and giving them instructions. "Bedding and feed as soon as possible. I need the SAT phone. I need to communicate with Doctor Abimbola."
Mia walked around the small group of people, looking for a familiar face. Walking towards her, under a big red umbrella, was Ted, carrying Brian safely in a front pack. Mia ran through the rain to them.
"Oh my god, I have missed you two so much!" she exclaimed.
Brian sputtered and Ted laughed. "Minnie Mouse, you've only been gone a few hours."
"It seemed like an eternity. Come, want to see some elephants?" she asked.
Ted's face lit up, but he faltered, "Is it safe?"
Mia sighed, happy that one of them was thinking like a parent of a six-month-old. "Yes, but we'll keep a distance all the same. Come and meet Bilbo and Little Suzy," she said, taking Ted's hand.
"Mia, you're soaked," Ted said. "How long have you been out in this rain?"
"Not long. I have to confess, I fell in the river," she said. "I wouldn't be surprised to find minnows in my pockets."
"Great, fish and chips for din din," Ted teased. "I've got your go bag in the car."
"You think of everything," Mia said as she shivered. "First, let's see the elephants."
Brian reached his hand out, and Mia took it and shook it. "So good of you to come, sir."
He responded with a constant stream of sounds until Ted stepped into the mill and turned sideways so Brian could see the two elephants. The child became silent.
Bilbo flapped his ears as he gazed at them.
"The tall one is Bilbo. He's Little Suzy's protector. He's her Batman."
Brian cooed and gestured with his hand. He opened and closed it as if he wanted to touch the elephants.
"Bilbo and Little Suzy have had a hard day. Let's let them rest, sweetheart. We'll bring you back to see them another time," Mia promised.
"I'm amazed," Ted said. "I just didn't think that anything could be so big and yet so gentle."
Mia nodded. "I'm worried, Ted."
He looked down at her and asked, "Why?"
"There's a black shadow following the elephants. I think Bilbo senses it. I don't know how gentle and well-behaved he will stay if it gets too close."
"Do you think an offensive move would be in order? Where's Murphy?"
"Recharging, I imagine. He had to drag me out of the river, and ghosts and water..."
"Don't mix," Ted finished. "What about Two Face Tony?"
"Taken care of, for now," Mia said. "I gave him a trip downwards to think a few things over."
"I take it he wasn't happy about it," Ted said, seeing the fatigued look in her eyes.
"No, he wasn't. But let's not dwell on the negative. Look at those beasts. They're a miracle."
The sound of ATVs approaching had the Martins moving away from the doorway.
"Let's go to the car and get Mommy some dry clothes. Then I'm going to hug both of you until you throw up," Mia threatened.
Chapter Six
Mia wasn't surprised to see the additional county patrol vehicles parked behind their car. The large supply truck had made it as far as the old blacktop. From there, provisions were being unloaded onto the backs of off-road vehicles. Two sets of deputies were handling whatever traffic came down the country lane.
"Where did those come from?" Mia asked, pointing at the ATVs from the shelter of the car. "I smell Gerald."
"Actually, it's John Ryan's nephew's off-road club. They arrived just before the feed truck. Mrs. Braverman found out that the land around the mill has been off-roader's territory for a few years now," Ted explained. "The club has been leasing the acreage from the Anderson heirs. John called in a few favors. They were more than happy to do something positive for nature, since they've been taking quite a hit in the press recently. They gave me the key to the mill loading door, but I noticed you had already dealt with the situation."
"Why would you think it was me?" Mia said, pulling off her wet shirt.
Ted noticed the bloody scratches but held his tongue. Mia would explain everything later. Right now, a storm was coming in, and Mia needed to get into dry clothes.
Mia pulled on the warm sweatshirt and pulled her undergarment off underneath before sticking her hands through the sleeves. Ted handed her a blanket to put over her as she wiggled out of the wet pants and changed into the sweats. Mia emptied the pockets of the cargo pants and dumped the soggy supplies into a plastic bag. "Damn, not much worth saving," Mia said. She pulled on the socks she suspected were Ted's, as they were mismatched and extended up over her knees. She put on her dry boots, sat back a moment and sighed. "Man-oh-man, I'm tired. I think I'm getting too old for this."
"Elephant herding or dressing in a car?" Ted asked.
"Both."
"Nah, you're just overwhelmed."
Another low rumble of thunder reminded Mia that she needed to hurry.
"Tom's mother is going to be at the farm soon. She'll pick up Brian and take him to her house for tonight," Ted notified Mia. "I'm going to grab some gear, plenty of lights and energon cubes, and come right back," he promised.
Mia pulled on her pack and wiggled into the yellow rain poncho before kissing Ted and Brian. "I'll be safe. Promise me you two will be too?"
"We promise. Now get, before the rain gets worse," Ted said.
Mia exited the vehicle and trudged towards the mill, being careful to be out of the way of the constant flow of ATVs.
Safe under the roof of the old mill, Bilbo allowed himself to eat. Jane fussed over Little Suzy, but he sensed that the young female was already recovering. Artie had come over to see him. Bilbo moved his trunk along the man's strong shoulders.
"Don't worry, Bilbo, I know you were taking care of Little Suzy. You saved her and the truck, for which I'm very appreciative.” The man stroked Bilbo's side before he left.
Bilbo kept his eye on the large open door. Several of the support staff, he was used to seeing with Jane, were busy coordinating the storing and dispersal of food and bedding. He sensed that Little Suzy's illness was the reason that they didn't just board another transport and continue on their way. A small, bright yellow creature moved in out of the rain. It flipped off, first, the hood and then the whole yellow poncho before the creature became the small woman he followed here to the mill.
He watched as she hung the yellow covering on a protruding nail before lowering the heavy pack she had on her back. She pulled out a large blue box and proceeded to line the walls with a thin line of white stuff. She moved unchallenged around the mill, ending up on the opposite side of the open door. She set the box down against the door before she made her way over to him.
"Bilbo, I wish you could talk to me," Mia said. "I've a hunch t
hat you know what's out there waiting for you."
The elephant moved his trunk over and took in Mia's scent. She seemed more confident than she had in the beginning. He guessed that it took humans time to trust elephants, as it took them time to trust humans.
"Mia," Jane called. "Come over here a moment?"
"Mom's calling," Mia said and winked at Bilbo before she left him. Mia walked over to Jane who was busy signing documents.
"Thanks," Jane said and handed the papers back to the aide.
"You called?" Mia asked.
"I wanted to thank you for getting us here. The weather system is almost on top of us. I'm going to let most of the staff go. We don't have facilities here that OSHA would be happy with. Can I count on you staying?"
"Yes, and my husband will be returning as soon as he drops Brian off with the babysitter."
"I saw the three of you earlier. You make a nice picture."
"Picture?"
"I mean family. Sorry, I see things in odd ways. Like photo stills. There was your tall husband holding your son while you looked up at both of them. So much love. I took your picture with my mind. This way, I'll never forget what love looks like."
Embarrassed, Mia changed the subject. "Speaking of never forgetting," she said, turning to the two elephants. "Is it true?"
"Elephants have a keen sense of smell, and as in humans, smell evokes memory. An elephant can recognize a person they haven't seen in years just by their odor."
"Oh my," Mia said, impressed.
"Sometimes I wish they could forget," Jane said. "Little Suzy went through a horrific childhood trauma that has never left her. It's one of the reasons we were able to get her so young. The magician that owned her couldn't control her. She would be fine for months, and then all of a sudden she would bolt. She had to be restrained and tranquilized. That's no way to live your life."
"So in a sense, Little Suzy is haunted by her memories."
"To her, they are very real," Jane said solemnly.
"What about Bilbo?"
"He's my rock," Jane said. If he is haunted by memories, he manages to keep himself under control."
"What if he's haunted by something else?"
Jane looked at Mia, trying to decipher what the woman was saying. "You're going to have to explain that to me."
