Kayin's Fire

by Alica Mckenna Johnson

  Kayin moved closer to Gavin. “Danger?”

  “Yes, when the Dreamer saw you, she also saw a walk-in, a minion for the Sons of Belial, nearby hunting you. That’s why we needed to leave your home so quickly,” Gavin said.

  Kayin took a deep breath and tried to focus his mind. Gavin’s words acted like a dust devil, swirling out of control. How can this be real? Nothing made any sense. It couldn’t even be the truth, yet his hands had been on fire. He wanted to ask questions. But he couldn’t form a complete thought. Why did this have to happen to him?

  “Speaking of which we need to go,” Brian said, throwing away his trash. “You drive. I’m going to sleep.”

  Kayin stood, doing as he was told. As he focused on cleaning up, his mind began to settle a little. “Is he a Child of Fire?”

  Gavin packed their stuff. Kayin helped by gathering the trash. “Yes, but his power, like most Children of Fire, is very weak. He can tell if someone is lying to him, a form of empathy. Come on, you can help me get to Harare.”

  “Okay,” Kayin said climbing into the front seat. “Where are we going after Harare?”

  “New York,” Gavin said. “Have you ever flown on a plane?”

  Kayin shook his head. “No, I’ve seen them, but I haven’t been on one before.”

  “As soon as we get your papers, and if you don’t want to go back to try and talk to your dad, then you’ll get to fly in one.” Gavin smiled at him as they drove down the freeway.

  Kayin stared out the window watching as they passed by trees, farms, and mud huts with thatched roofs, like the hut his mom had chased him from this morning. “What will I do in New York?”

  “Well, you’ll stay with me and my wife, Anali. We’ll make sure you get training for your powers, and keep up with your schooling. Anali won’t let your schooling fall behind. She’s already researching schools you can attend remotely, on a computer, while we are traveling,” Gavin said, his voice warm as he talked about his wife.

  “I get good marks,” Kayin said. “Baba says an education is important, even more important than being a good hunter.”

  Gavin nodded. “Your father is a wise man.”

  A herd of zebras grazed along the side of the road. Kayin looked out the window at them, turning away from Gavin. “I don’t feel anything. Shouldn’t I feel something?”

  “Kayin, you’re in shock, that means part of you shut down.” Seeing the boy frown, Gavin tried to explain. “Think of shock like this: so much is happening that part of you fell asleep, because it can’t deal with everything right now.”

  “Like when you get a bad injury but it doesn’t hurt right away?”

  “Yes, yes exactly like that.”

  Kayin frowned. “When will I feel again?”

  Gavin shrugged. “It could happen in an hour, or tomorrow, or a few days from now. Your emotions can also come and go. There is a lot yet to come—flying, New York, learning about your magical gift. I’m not surprised you’re having a difficult time. Try not to worry. And remember I’ll help you.”

  Nodding, Kayin yawned.

  “Go ahead and nap. We have a long drive ahead of us still.”

  “If you need me wake me up,” Kayin said closing his eyes.

  “I will. Thanks, Kayin.”

  Chapter Two

  Kayin pressed his hand against the cool air-conditioned glass. Harare glowed against the black sky, making it hard to see the stars. He’d visited Harare before. He wasn’t some ignorant bush kid—he helped his father at the lodge, he knew about indoor plumbing, TV, and he spoke, read, and wrote in Shona and English—but nothing prepared him for this.

  Oh, he’d seen the Monomotapa, or Crowne Plaza Hotel to the tourists, from the street. With nineteen floors it's one of the tallest buildings in Harare, so it’s kind of hard to miss. The walls of mirrored windows glowed as the hotel towered over the city. Kayin thought the lodge was fancy and beautiful, but this hotel took his breath away. The floors were made of polished stone. A huge bed took up most of the far wall, and a couch, two squishy chairs, and a TV stood on the other side of the room. All this plus a desk and chair, and a bathroom with a tub that looked big enough to swim in. His hut could fit inside this room. Who needed this much space?

  He didn’t belong here. His faded and stained school uniform and worn tennis shoes had no place here. The staff seemed to know right away he didn’t belong. They didn’t look him in the eye and only spoke to Gavin, which was fine since he didn’t know anything anyway.

  The bathroom door opened. “Are you sure you don’t mind sharing the suite? I’d be happy to get you your own room.”

  Kayin shook his head. “There is plenty of room here. I can sleep on the couch.”

  “Okay. It might fold out into a bed—let’s check.” Gavin lifted the beige cushions with blue flowers decorating it and grinned. “It does.”

  Kayin watched as Gavin lifted the inside of the couch and opened it, making another bed. “I’ve never seen a couch do that before.”

  Gavin pressed on the mattress. “It feels nice; I hope it’s comfortable. So what do you want to do tonight?”

  Kayin frowned at Gavin’s back as he gathered sheets and pillows from the closet and began making the bed. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, I know this isn’t how you ever imagined spending your birthday, but we could go and do something. It’s only seven, and already dark.” Gavin shook his head. “In New York, it’s the longest day of the year and summer right now. Anyway, we could go get dinner, or go to the movies, or I can find out if the mall is still open and we could get you some new clothes.”

  “Oh.” He forgotten today was supposed to be a special day. “Um, I think dinner and maybe clothes?”

  Gavin clapped his hands. “Sounds like a plan. Any type of food you want to get?”

  “Pizza?” His father always took him for pizza when they went to Harare.

  Grabbing a jacked, Gavin smiled. “Teenagers all over the world, bonded together by their love of pizza. Come on, let’s try to have some fun.”

  Kayin followed, trying to find some enthusiasm but feeling more overwhelmed than happy.

  * * *

  Kayin stretched and opened his eyes. Sunlight peeked between the curtains. The bed was so soft he couldn't sleep in it, so he’d moved to the floor. He put everything back onto the bed. After pulling the tags off a tee shirt, jeans, and boxers, Kayin went to take a shower.

  Gavin groaned and rolled over. Kayin froze, but Gavin stayed asleep. Turning on the shower, Kayin sighed at the warm water which ran over his body. He smiled when he thought of last night. After stuffing themselves with pizza, Gavin found a mall and bought him far too many clothes. Gavin used the excuse that he wasn’t sure how long they would be there, but Kayin suspected Gavin felt guilty about what happened with his mom and was trying to make up for it. He’d never gone to a mall before. With his baba, they always went to the market stalls to buy things. The white lights and harsh noises that echoed all around them, and the different smells of the mall had left Kayin feeling confused and vulnerable.

  He could track a gazelle through the grass but lost Gavin three times in the mall. Finally, he held the man’s hand so he wouldn’t get lost again. Gavin smiled and walked slower, pointing out different clothes and shoes he might like, until Kayin yawned every few minutes. Gavin had fussed over him as he got ready for bed. So he had waited until Gavin went into the bathroom then cried himself to sleep.

  Drying off, Kayin rubbed himself with oil then got dressed. The clothes felt stiff and smelled like chemicals.

  “You look great,” Gavin said as Kayin stepped back into the room.

  “Thank you, and thank you for my new clothes.”

  “My pleasure, when we get to New York we’ll get you a full wardrobe,” Gavin said, shutting the bathroom door.

  Kayin raised an eyebrow and looked over the bags he’d tucked into the corner of the room. Why would he need even more clothes? Hopefully, Gavin’s wife would
set him straight. Surely she wouldn’t let him spend so much of their money. Kayin folded the blankets then, and after several failed attempts, managed to get the bed folded back into the couch.

  “I’m starving,” Gavin said his wet hair dripping onto his shirt.

  Kayin frowned. They had eaten last night, how could Gavin be starving? It took a full day without food for Kayin to feel ‘starving.’

  “Let’s go get some breakfast, then we have to meet with Brian and get your passport. He knows someone who will help us with the papers we need,” Gavin explained in response Kayin’s confused look as they headed for the elevator.

  Kayin followed. He’d figure things out as they happened.

  “I thought we’d eat at the buffet this morning,” Gavin said as they entered the dining area.

  “I’ve never seen so much food,” Kayin said as he looked over the hot and cold silver tables. This could feed his village for days.

  Gavin grinned. “Yeah it’s a lot, and you can eat as much as you want. Grab a plate.”

  “Okay.” Kayin stayed close to Gavin as he put fruits, French toast, and scrambled eggs on his plate.

  Gavin poured syrup over his French toast and took a bite, his lips pursing before he began to chew. “There’s pepper in this.”

  Kayin nodded.

  “I’ve never had French toast like this before. It’s different but good. Are you enjoying your breakfast?”

  “Yes. My mom made food like this for special occasions,” Kayin said.

  “What do you eat most days?”

  “Porridge.”

  “My wife Anali makes a delicious porridge with spices and dried fruit in it,” Gavin said.

  “That sounds good,” Kayin said. “My mom does hers with honey and milk.”

  “I love honey,” Gavin said. His phone buzzed. “Brian will be here in thirty minutes, hopefully this will go well.”

  * * *

  Kayin glared at the light skinned fingers running down his arm.

  “I can see why you’re in such a hurry,” the man said, sweat beading on his upper lip. “He’s a very lovely boy.”

  Gavin cleared his throat and took Kayin’s hand pulling him close. Kayin was happy to get away from that man. Brian sat on a leather couch held together with duct tape, texting on his phone.

  “Yes, we're grateful you can help us,” Gavin said his voice cold. “Brian said you’re the best.”

  The man grinned and pointed to an X on the floor. “Have your boy stand there.”

  Gavin’s hand tightened around Kayin’s as he moved him into place, keeping himself between Kayin and the sweaty man.

  “It’s very kind of Brian to give me such a glowing recommendation.”

  Brian raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything.

  “Well, let’s get this done so you can take your boy home. He’s a bit older than most of the kids, but I can see the attraction.” The man began taking his picture.

  Kayin forced himself to hold still when what he wanted to do was run away. Did Gavin find him attractive? Did he want things from him? The fat man scared him, but Gavin made him feel safe. His mom had always said to trust his instincts about people, but he would keep an eye on Gavin just in case. Not that he knew what to look for, but surely that kind of evil couldn’t be hidden.

  “Perfect, we’re done.” The man reached towards Kayin, and Gavin slid in-between them. The man grinned. “Possessive. Now there is the matter of payment.”

  Gavin handed over an envelope.

  Kayin watched as the man counted the American money. He wanted to leave, right now.

  “Give me a moment.” The man went into another room.

  “I don’t like him,” Kayin said.

  “No one likes him,” Brian said. “But you asked for the best.”

  Gavin’s jaw clenched. “I will remember to be more specific next time.”

  Brian shrugged.

  Gavin’s phone chimed. He skimmed over a text, and nodded. Looking at Kayin he tried to smile, but it was more of a grimace. “Kayin, do you know how to play Fruit Ninja?”

  Kayin shook his head.

  Thirty minutes later, Kayin beat Gavin at Fruit Ninja, a stupid yet strangely addictive game, for the tenth time.

  “Here.” The man held out a dark green passport book.

  Brian took passport and looked it over. “Looks great. Thanks.”

  “Hey, anything for a friend.” The man winked at Gavin. “I hope your boy there is worth all this.”

  Gavin took the passport from Brian. “He is, thank you.”

  Kayin let Gavin lead him down the stairs and onto the sidewalk.

  “Get in the car,” Brian said.

  Kayin fastened his seatbelt and watched the two men, unsure of what was happening.

  Brian drove several blocks before speaking. “Sorry about that. My task force has been watching that guy for a while. Now we know for sure that he’s forged documents for child trafficking, and we can pursue him.”

  “I didn’t agree to help you with that,” Gavin said. “Kayin, I'm so sorry I took you there.”

  “Relax,” Brian said. “You got what you needed, I got good information, and I knew you would keep Kayin safe.”

  Gavin snarled. “I feel like I need a shower just being near that scum bag.”

  Brian huffed. “Look you needed a good passport and I needed info—two birds. one stone.”

  “Just take us to the market,” Gavin said.

  Kayin frowned. He’d heard of kids going missing or offered jobs and never heard from again. “Did we help?”

  Brian looked into the rear-view mirror making eye contact with Kayin for a second. “Yes, you did. We didn’t know for certain how involved in child trafficking he is and now that he said it in front of me, I can investigate him and hopefully find who is selling the children.”

  “He was creepy and I’m glad I wasn’t alone with him, but I’m also glad we helped.”

  Gavin turned and smiled at him. “You’re a good kid, Kayin.”

  Ignoring the kid comment, Kayin smiled back.

  Brian pulled in front of the market with a screech. “Good luck, Kayin. I hope you like New York.”

  “Thanks for helping me, and I hope you stop those people.”

  “I’ll do my best.” Brian said before taking off.

  * * *

  “Are we looking for anything special?” Kayin asked as they entered the open air market. Tension melted from his body. This he knew, this felt familiar. The sights and sounds of hundreds of people talking and the scents of food cooking, flowers, animals, and unwashed bodies filled the air, pungent and overwhelming but still familiar.

  “Not really,” Gavin said looking over the piles of fruits. “Is it okay, if we just wander around for a while?”

  “Sure, I love the market.”

  “Great, if you see anything you want, or if you get hungry let me know.”

  “Okay.” Kayin smiled as Gavin went from one stall to another. How is food sold in America? He wondered as Gavin grinned at the tomatoes stacked in little towers.

  “What is the difference?” Gavin asked looking over piles of potatoes.

  “The light skinned are sweet potatoes, they are yellow inside, and the darker skins are yams—they are orange,” Kayin answered then explained in Shona to the merchant that Gavin was just looking. The man huffed and complained about tourists getting in the way of real business.

  On the edge of the market a boy sold his family’s produce: tomatoes, lettuce, and bell peppers. His table was created from a thin piece of plywood balanced on two buckets.

  “These look good,” Gavin said squatting to look at the red tomatoes. “At so many of the other stalls the tomatoes were all pale, but these are nice and ripe.”

  The boy grinned. “Very sweet, my mama grows them.”

  Gavin smelled a tomato. “Yes, we need some of these. Can I have five please?” he asked, holding up his hand and spreading his fingers.

  Th
e boy nodded and made a big deal of picking the nicest tomatoes and placing them in a bag.

  “Thank you,” Gavin said handing him ten dollars.

  The boy’s face fell. “I don’t have this much change.”

  Gavin stood. “I don’t need change.”

  The boy looked at Kayin who smiled. “It’s fine, these are lovely tomatoes.”

  Tucking the money into a pouch around his neck, the boy smiled. “Thank you, have a good day.”

  Gavin continued like this, looking over all the stalls, but buying from the little ones, the toothless grandmother selling chilies, and the three women selling spices with babies wrapped over their backs in bright cloth. Gavin gave all the food to a mom with two kids begging, then started buying more food.

  Kayin tugged on Gavin’s shirt. “You need a basket.”

  “I do but I haven’t found the right one yet,” Gavin said looking at the bags he carried.

  “I bet she has something.” Kayin pointed to a young girl sitting on a blanket surrounded by hand-woven baskets. They didn’t have colors like the bigger stalls did but the grasses were woven well, and the handles wrapped in leather. “They look sturdy.”

  “Perfect.” Gavin knelt on the ground in front of the girl. She giggled watching as he looked over all her baskets.

  Her bangles clicked as she took the money Gavin offered her. Her smiled faded as she saw how much was there. She looked at Kayin while Gavin put his purchases into one of the baskets.

  Kayin smiled. “It’s for the basket.”

  “Two,” Gavin said handing Kayin an empty basket to hold. “I want two, did I give her enough money?”

  Snorting, Kayin said, “Yes, it’s more than enough.”

  The girl giggled. “Enjoy the baskets, sir.”

  “I will. Come on, Kayin. I’m hungry, let’s get something to eat.” Gavin waved to the girl and headed towards the smell of cooking spices.