The PA crackled, “That’s Alberto Marquez injured on the play.” the crowd was deathly quiet. “He’s giving a thumbs up to the EMTs.” the energy started to return to the crowd and light applause started. Demetria looked around, she stood up and walked to a couple who were fixated on the field.
“He was playing magnificently!” she said and stifled a sob.
“Thank you!” Mrs. Marquez said. Demetria gestured down to one of her girls. She brought a huge bouquet of roses up the stairs and bowed to the Marquez family and handed the flowers over to Mrs. Marquez. Demetria returned to her seat.
They rolled Berto off on a stretcher and he waved to the crowd. The energy started to return. “How noble!” Demetria wiped away a tear. “He sacrificed himself and they appreciate it.”
Morgan nodded, for the first time, he could feel the ebb and flow of all the energy back and forth from the crowd, and somehow, Demetria was at the nexus of it. He realized he could partake in the energetic flow. It was at once intoxicating and frightening. He took her hand and smiled at her. She smiled back and squeezed his palm. She felt his decision click into place before he even knew it happened. She kissed him.
Demetria beamed. She was incandescent in the crowd. Tracy watched them together and felt a pang of loss, but didn’t know why.
Chloe tugged her arm, “C’mon sistah. It’s our big moment.”
Tracy refocused her energy on being positive, “Oh I hope it’s you, or anybody else but me!” Chloe raced down the stairs and Tracy struggled to keep up with her. They joined the rest of the court, except Berto. Keith was at the game to stand with both girls. As an inside joke, Tracy had signed her name as “Tracy Marte Wells” in her biography and she wrote that Chloe was her sister.
Mrs. Rosewater presented the entire court, then cued the drum section. The snare drums, and bass drums started rolling and the cymbal player got ready. She read the King and Queen from a sealed envelope.
“The Homecoming King for 2014 is….. Berto Marquez.”
A cheer went up from the crowd. His mother cried on her husband’s shoulder and hugged the bouquet of roses Demetria gave them.
“And the Queen is…. the lovely Chloe Marte!”
Tracy exploded into a roar and threw her arms around Chloe’s neck and hugged her hard and kissed her over and over. Keith just hugged each of them, then stood aside and applauded. In spite of herself, Chloe wept. She hugged Mrs. Marquez and shook his fathers’ hand.
Mrs. Rosewater put a tiara on her head and gave her a sash, then handed her the microphone. Chloe said, “Thank you all!” she waved at the sea of faces. “I wish Berto could be out here. Let’s all give him a hand.” The crowd applauded and Mrs. Marquez wept. Chloe concluded simply, “I’ll see you all at the dance.” and handed the microphone back.
The court filed off the field, except the few football players who trotted back to the locker room.
Demetria wiped tears away. “I feel we should go get ready for the dance, but first, I want to congratulate the people from the other town for putting on a good display.” As the crowd murmured and shuffled around she cued the girls to sing again. They started another hymn, and the entourage departed.
With Demetria gone, there was a gaping hole in the bleachers where her people sat. The crowd’s energy level deflated, and they felt sorry she wasn’t there. The empty seats slowly filled as other spectators returned from the concession stands.
The small group of friends and family of the visiting team watched Demetria’s procession make their way around the field. She climbed the bleachers and walked through the crowd and thanked them and reassured them about their future prospects. When she departed, they were all beaming. The line of cars pulled up to the main gate and swallowed her entourage.
She and Morgan and Marta climbed into the Audi. Morgan drove. Demetria sat in the back seat next to Marta.
She said, “What a brilliant show. I’m exhausted!” She cuddled up next to Marta. ”Do you see it, yet?” she asked Morgan.
“Yes. I did, very clearly.” Morgan said.
“Good, I know.” she smiled. “You might not know the whole story. For years, the Brotherhood has used me as a whore, but I feel a change is coming.”
He looked in the rearview. “What? I didn’t follow the whore part.”
She patted his shoulders. “You saw that emotion, that feeling, that energy, all genuine, human, and tied to me, and actually to you. At least a little bit. I’m tied to them, too.”
“Yes. I did, it was incredible. I’ve never felt that before. It’s like a living energy.”
“The Brotherhood uses that, not for the people, but to feed a beast.”
“A beast?”
“Yes, but we are going to kill it, or die trying.” She said calmly. She hugged Marta.
Morgan nodded, and the gears in his mind were almost audible. “You said it’s a gilded cage? Like this car.”
“Yes, endless grubby deals. I am supposed to steal books from your friend, Tracy, to earn my keep.”
“Whoa! No way.” Morgan said. He stopped the car in a driveway. “Grrr.. A freaking trick. A scam.” He got out and started walking down the sidewalk. She trotted after him and grabbed his arm.
“I am telling you now!” She said.
“For money… Bah!” he threw up his arms and backed away from her and wiped his face with his hands.
She hugged his waist. “Yes, and because they took over my cult and I need them to bring me over. It’s pathetic. I’ve failed my people. But I feel a change coming. I need you!” She kissed him.
He sighed. “OK. I understand this consort thing much better, now.”
She looked at him and he wiped a tear from her eye. “You do?”
“It’s you and me against the world, even the fucking gods.”
Her strength returned and she pressed herself against his side. “It is that. You are my consort, now.”
Marta clapped and hugged them both.
“It’s time to dance!” Morgan shouted.
Chapter Nineteen
For the first time in years, the Hilltoppers held their homecoming away from the school. It was in the ballroom of the lodge at Punderson. Morgan dropped Demetria and Marta at the lodge then parked the car far away. He jogged back. The ladies took his arms and they entered the hall. Music was already thumping away.
Saul was sitting in one of the parked cars, “They are here.” he said into an earpiece. “She’s with a boy and the maid.”
Ralph was monitoring their conversation, “Yuri? Got eyes.”
Yuri said, “10-4 good buddy.” in a mocking tone. “She’s dancing with them. Now she’s pulling the Wells girl into the dance. It’s very provocative. She’s really turned the energy of the room up. She’s like a force of nature.”
“Stop the admiration.” Ralph said.
Saul countered, “You’re a fine one to talk.”
Ralph cleared his throat, “Point taken. We need to get back on top of this.”
“She works for us.” Yuri said matter of factly. “She’s not doing her job. Why should it be any different for her than any of us?”
There was a long silence. Ralph finally said, “She takes up millions of dollars. Inefficient.”
Saul said, “Plus she’s a bitch.”
“You changed your tune.” Ralph said.
“I haven’t experienced them directly before.” Saul said. “All lies.”
“Take her out?” Yuri asked.
“Yeah, and the boy and the maid. We’ll roll it all up, then just B&E for the books.” Ralph concluded.
“My apologies for this scheme,” Yuri said. “It was a big mistake.”
“Hey, we all make mistakes. You’re a go. I’m off. Contact me when it’s over.”
Chapter Twenty
Flashback
Each day Matt hypnotized Tracy then sang to her, encoding the contents of the library in song. It was exhausting for him and Tracy remained asleep for hours after. When she woke
up, she was groggy like she had the flu. Telia sat with her and stroked her hair.
They really weren’t sure what was going to happen on the day Seth called. Telia put the phone on speaker. “Well?” was all Seth said. She nodded. Matt said, “yes, we’re in.”
Seth said, “Good. Hold for instructions.” Strains of Holst’s The Planets played.
Matt shook his head. “Geez. I bet they commissioned that, too.”
Francis’ cheerful voice came on, “Hello?”
“Yeah, hi Francis.” Matt said.
“Drive your car to the first rest area east of state route 306 on I90. You’ll see two tractor trailers parked there. The cabs are black and the trailers are black. Can’t miss ‘em. Park behind those and we’ll take it from there.”
“Should we bring anything?” Telia asked.
“Oh no. Just like you were running an errand. We’ll take care of you, don’t worry.”
“OK.”
“See you soon.” Francis said.
“Well?” Matt sighed heavily. “Should we go save the world?”
Telia wept and sobbed. “My god, it’s impossible.”
Matt said, “Yes, it is. Let’s say by to Tracy. She’s still a little out of it.”
Tracy was asleep. Telia kissed her forehead and she mumbled. Matt did too and said, “Goodbye kiddo. We’ll see you soon. We’ll always be with you.”
Telia slipped a short love note under the Sparrow Hawk figurine. Then they left the room. Telia was almost numb with grief as they drove to the rest stop. He parked behind the semis. A man with close cropped hair was waiting between them. He gestured, and said, “Quick. Follow me. In there.”
A man in a lab coat swabbed their mouths with test tubes and walked into a room at the back of the trailer. Some 90’s grunge music was playing.
“With the lights out… It’s less dangerous…” he sang.
Another man led Telia to a chair. “Hold still.” A bar of lights spun around her. Then he donned a lead robe. “Don’t worry, it’s actually really low dose.” There was a buzz as another bar swung around.
They repeated the procedure with Matt.
“All done.” he announced.
“What was that?” Telia asked.
“Shhh….” he said, you hear that. They heard whizzing and clicking from the room. “Come on.” he smiled.
He pointed at a large table. Two bodies were being 3D printed.
“No way!” Matt said. He was impressed.
“It helps to have an unlimited budget.” the man smiled. “Anyway, you guys can go across to the other trailer, and I think that’s about it. We’re done here. Have a good…. Well, a good new life.” he shook their hands.
The other trailer was a rolling living quarters. They felt the truck start to move. Through a dark tinted window he saw a couple of men working on their car. He waved goodbye to his former life. Telia put her head on his lap and curled up on the couch.
The phone rang. Telia put it on speaker again.
Francis said, “You’re on your way. I’ll be meeting you at a cabin in the Adirondaks. Everything you need is in that trailer, and it’s going to go there non stop. If it does happen to break down, just stay in the back. If you absolutely had to evacuate wear the hoodies up over your head--they’re in the dresser.”
Telia said, “Thanks Francis.” and hung up.
Matt poured a couple of drinks and they just sat quietly and watched the scenery.
Chapter Twenty One
Present Day
Demetria was in the center of the dance floor and she kept moving through the crowd, dancing with anyone and everyone. The girls and the boys, the hotel staff, the DJ, and the entire homecoming court. Tracy and Chloe began to adore her, but she kept returning to Morgan.
Yuri was looking for a good place in the hotel to get her alone and kill her. He wore a maintenance worker’s jump suit. He decided he’d slit her throat, and he skulked around the perimeter of the room and waited for an opportunity.
The DJ stopped the music, then invited the homecoming court to the stage. Richard stood in for Berto. Chloe waved at the crowd, but she felt a great sense of unease. She caught Yuri out of the corner of her eye, but didn’t get a good glimpse.
“What the….” she said and shielded her eyes.
The crowd thought she was kidding around, looking for Berto.
Yuri whispered, “I might be made… Get in here Saul. Chuck, Watch the gate.”
He heard Chuck. “Roger.” He pulled his sheriff’s car up to the exit and shut the lights off.
Chloe stepped off the stage and walked through the crowd. Yuri slipped around the group making his way toward Demetria. Chloe started trotting. The rest of the crowd was watching her wondering what she was doing. Richard hopped off the stage and went to cut Yuri off. Tracy watched them.
Saul slipped into the room through the back door. He was wearing a black turtleneck and black cargo pants. The other students were all preoccupied with Chloe’s motion, so he moved toward Demetria who was glowing like a star in the center of the room. A spotlight shone on her golden dress.
Chloe caught up with Yuri. “Hey, who the fuck are you? I know you.”
“No you don’t I’ve never met you before.” he shrugged and looked at her. Richard stood behind him.
“You’re one of them.” she snarled. Richard did a double take.
Yuri let the knife slip into his hand, and folded his arms. He imagined if he cut her, the chaos that would ensue would let Saul finish the job, and he’d be able to make a clean get away.
“I get that all the time,” he said. “I look like everyone. Maybe you need a closer look.” he moved toward her. Chloe read his body language and saw his right arm tensing up she wheeled around to his left side as he slashed the air.
A girl screamed and backed away from the scene.
Chloe collapsed Yuri’s knee with a powerful kick. He went down awkwardly backward, still holding the knife. She stomped on the knife hand and drove the blade into his upper chest. “GRaaahrg.” he gurgled and pawed at the air as the knife punctured his right lung.
She looked around the room. Saul was moving toward Demetria. “Stop him!” she shouted. Morgan saw the man and clumsily jumped in front of him and caught a bullet through his right arm. It fractured his humerus and the fragments of the bullet tore into his bicep. He groaned and collapsed to the floor. Demetria screamed.
Richard Golden grabbed Saul’s gun arm and they spun around together in a crazy dance as the crowd parted like scared horses. A couple rounds discharged into the parquet floor and they both become wildly desparate. Richard was much stronger than Saul, but lacked his training and couldn’t get the gun away. Saul kept trying to break his hand free or point the gun at Richard’s body.
As Saul wheeled around, Chloe stepped in, and stabbed Saul in the side of the head. Blood sprayed all over her face and arm. He went limp and crumpled to the floor in a spasming mass. She pulled the knife out and stabbed him again.
Richard said, “the dude’s got an earpiece.” He picked it out of his pocket and put it in his ear. He held up a finger for quiet.
He heard Ralph, “Is it done? Chuck? Yuri, Saul?”
He tried an imitation of Yuri’s voice. “This is Yuri.”
“Is it done?!” Ralph said.
“Of course.” Richard said.
Chuck spoke up, “is it clean?”
“Yes. Clean.”
“I’m at the front gate now, I’ll pull up at the chalet for extraction.”
“Over.” Richard said.
He looked for a mute button. He clicked it with a shaking hand. “Holy fuck!” he said. He climbed up on the stage and took the mic. “We were just attacked. There’s more of them. Umm.. Everyone stay calm keep an eye on the exits. Scream if you see anyone that shouldn’t be here.”
Some of the girls were screaming and crying. Several of the boys actually formed up quickly and stood watch at the doors.
Demetri
a was holding onto Morgan. Chloe knelt down by him, “Oh god, Morgan!” Tracy ran to their side.
“Direct pressure. Elevate it.” she grabbed a tablecloth and tried to tear it. Chloe shredded it for her. She took Morgan’s jacket off him and made a pillow.
“Owww…” Morgan said as Chloe moved his arm and felt his side.
“I think it’s his arm.” Tracy said. “Hold this on.” she put the bundle on the wound and put Demetria’s hands on it.
Chloe said, “Richard, what did you hear?”
“They’re waiting at the Chalet.”
“Where’s that?” she took Saul’s gun.
“Follow me.” He said. They trotted down the road.
“They keep saying ‘Chuck’ this and ‘Ralph’ that.” he said. “The Ralph guy’s nervous.”
The Chardon Chronicles: Season One -- The Harvest Festival Page 34
