Reign Of Darkness

by E R Landron

  “Here we go.”, my annoyance is evident.

  One of the agent signals to the other agents and they approach other officers and specialists. As the other agents get to different places on the scene, they flash their badges and start taking over what other officers and examiners were doing first. The agent giving signals approaches Tony and me. He puts his sunglasses on his shirt.

  “Mieke.”, says Oliver showing his perfect teeth.

  “Oliver.”, I respond with less energy.

  “C’mon man we just got here.”, Tony snaps waving his hands.

  “You know the drill.”

  “Oliver?!”, I snap.

  Oliver looks at both of us upset.

  “Just you Mieke. Tony can get us all coffee or whatever. “

  “Ha! Asshole!”, Tony says while flipping the bird.

  He throws his hands in the air as he leaves. We walk almost side by side from other agents. People are dusting for prints, collecting tissue samples from the walls. We walk away from the group. I already knew what he was going to say; Oliver was predictable and I felt the urgency just to get out quick.

  “You grew your hair?”, he says examining me from top to bottom.

  “Just a bit.”, I say while caressing the back of my head.

  I have a bob style haircut at the moment that practically looks more like a messy bob because I just don’t pay attention to maintaining it. Before I had more pixie look haircut that made me look even more serious. Diane suggested this.

  “What do you know?” he asks.

  “You know what's going on already. What was on the ship?”, I say as I cross my arms.

  Oliver forces a smile that goes from ear to ear. We have been partners working for the Feds before. I know how things work. I need information to tell the captain on why we have to go from the scene. The feds take over, case closed, move on to the next unless they ask for help. Oliver won't ask for help from the department, just crowd control.

  “Some weird middle eastern artifacts. Apparently to a museum or some exhibition crap, but the no blood caught our attention fast. Just checking for any sign of terrorism or drugs.”

  “Are we going to have any problems?”

  “Don’t think so, maybe tell the captain to send some routine police officer to keep this calm as it can be and we'll do this as fast as we can. Don't want to start a quick media frenzy when I haven't had my coffee yet.”

  I hand him my coffee. It’s cold anyway. He sips it and stares at it. Yep it so cold he can’t swallow it.

  “Thanks, Mieke. We do miss you though.” His voice lowers down.

  I miss being a kid, I don't say it every time we meet.

  “I know I've said it before, but just tell me when and we'll make it happen.”, he says while placing his hand on my shoulder.

  His hand feels familiar. Warming. I pat him on his muscular shoulder and walk away. Oliver and I dated for a while which sometimes make these encounters awkward. Not that we ended bad, but it was more of a sex thing rather than a serious relationship. At least to me. Things were shaky back then. When dad died it was the perfect excuse to end things and move on. All the feds continue taking over the scene from the policemen, CSI, and others; others are asking questions to people who already were examining the situation. A few steps are coming my way. As I turn I bump into Martinez. I feel his gross odor that makes me gag. I close my eyes and breath trying not to make it evident.

  “Ay ya yay, sorry Meeks.”, says Martinez with utter fear.

  Martinez gives me a quick pat on the shoulder. Breathe Mieke, breathe. I force a half a smile and nod. He nods as well and runs off. She sees Tony leaning against his car while drinking his coffee wobbling his head.

  “We miss you, come back, we do this fast? That order?”, he said annoyed doing a bad impression of Oliver.

  “No, but we can stop for better coffee, I don't think I can sleep again.”

  “Better coffee? You know with that attitude you won't win Miss Congeniality.”, he said while pointing his finger.

  We head inside the car and leave. Some officers handing their work look upset. Some drop their hands in defeat. It's absurd yet I get it. When I was with the Feds we used to do that all the time. Taking over police work like we owned the place. It felt grandiose. Now I see what a bunch of assholes they look like, what I must have looked like back then.

  LUCAS

  Cops are faster these days. I’m sure going to get my ass handed to me. Dirty suit. Dead crew. So much for a promotion now. Bellow the light spectacle looks promising. I can’t see if he’s around. Vibration. Oh boy. My eyes shut and a deep breath leaves me. My phone flips.

  “Tell me.”

  “Lost two men.”, I say tapping various times my forehead with my knuckles.

  “You got it?”

  “Not yet... cops.” I open my eyes annoyed.

  “You know you failed... Do whatever it takes.”

  I see some hands signaling a car. It’s him. Tony's car drives out of the docks. I feel a smirk growing.

  “Don’t worry... it just has been handed to me.”

  The phone claps as it closes. I leap off the crane and land on a rooftop. My feet land so swiftly in that thirty feet drop. I continue to jump from rooftop to rooftop following that excuse for a car.

  MIEKE Dawn – Tony’s Car, 2:02 AM

  Tony drives while I stare outside the window. The streets look deserted. Dirty buildings, some trash, fog and fumes coming from the manholes. Looks kind of like a Batman's Gotham city yet no supervillain making a scene. Just mankind, cats and echoes of barking dogs. After the docks, there's just lines and lines of buildings next to each other. The only thing separating some of them are alleys that usually have dumpsters overflowing with garbage. Tony broke the silence from the car. It seemed it has passed a long time, but we only left the docks a couple of minutes ago.

  “So... Diane?”

  “Good I guess.”, I say blinking abruptly.

  “Ah, Mieke. At least you got her. Believe me, I appreciate you being here. I don't know if I told you this before, but you are the least smelling partner I've had.”

  I chuckle.

  “No way! A laugh? Mieke laughing? Shit. This must be my lucky day. I'll play the lotto, I swear, and when I win it, I'll give you something. There is no way in hell that this day is a bad one when you laugh. I should have videoed you or something.”, his grin showed some silver caps on the back.

  “One, you are driving. And two, you don't know how a phone works.”

  “That hurt. That old joke hit me hard.”, Tony grabbed his chest while taking a few times his sight from the road.

  It’s true what Tony said; I haven't enjoyed myself in a long time. After dad died, I left the feds to become a detective. A good recommendation letter and I got the job quickly, but it has been weird adjusting. We were more uptight over there, one mission after the other. Oliver's offer sounds in my head every day, but not until Diane is completely settled.

  Night - The church, 2:13 AM

  The car slows down at a red stoplight near a church. The street is isolated, still dirty, papers on the floor. At daytime, it would have been more of a circus. Cars, taxis, buses everywhere, bikers, cyclists. Everybody is always running from something. No rest in this city. Not to mention the people glued to their phones walking like zombies. Our only company tonight is a homeless man with long hair at the stairs of the church. Tony’s finger drives to the windshield.

  “You know what I don't get?”

  “What?”

  He taps the window in front. Signaling to the homeless with a trench coat that looks dirty, gloves. He had a ponytail, and his face didn't look as dirty as his clothing.

  “Hobos! They ask for money, they don't want to work, they whine... if it was me getting close to that stage, I'll join the army or something, at least the government will pay me and feed me, plus I can kick someone's ass in war, and I don't need to file
a report on why I used brute force... ha, ha, ha.”

  Tony hit the wheel. I sighed and rolled my eyes. I take a good look at him. Just another homeless. God knows why he is in the streets. I pass my fingers through my eyes annoyed. I can’t be mad at Tony. He’s good. He used to work with dad for a couple of years. Nice man, good morals, liked to joke a lot and when he asked how you were. It was genuine.

  I used to come to this church what it seems light years ago. The pointy edges from the elongated columns at the top feel familiar. I don’t know how many times I’ve cursed God for taking dad away. I grab the door handle with force. My knuckles turn white. It doesn't feel quite right to enter church nor to pay him a visit at the cemetery.

  “What was it like overseas?”

  “Stupid. Paranoid all the time. Sleepless. At least while you are here, the streets seem peaceful even if there's too much traffic?”, she says while passing both her hands from her head to the back of her neck.

  Overseas was a nightmare, to be honest. Between stupid men thinking they are better because of their genitalia and lots of fallen comrades. I got a high rank pretty fast and decided to get to special missions that were off the record. There's stuff that still gives me chills and nightmares. At least that earned me some points to move through the government a little easier. Insomnia is a bitch!

  I let go of the handle, as I was going to brush my hair; there’s a weird bump on my jacket. A sphere like object with some weird design glows white. What in the world is this?

  “And the feds? I bet you still have your suits and...”

  Tony's sentence falls short as he notices the homeless man racing towards their car. He grasps his wheel with his jaw on the floor.

  “Is the hobo running towards us?”, he asks.

  A hard thump goes off on the top of Tony's car. Both look up surprised.

  “What in the hell...?”, cries Tony.

  KOKOLITE

  Usually, cars at this hour pass by. Maybe it’s a cop. Good cop? Don’t want to get closer. All their thoughts running in my head. Everyone’s feelings, stories. I wish I could stop hearing people’s thoughts. This is going to be a long, long night. Boring one. What was that? The street looks calm. It’s weird. Shadow! Oh lord, shadow. Look at me God I’m saving people today. A shadow silhouette jumps from another building. Run Koko! So much for being headache free. Those guys are up to no good all the time. The silhouette lands on the police car. Looks like a young adult with those fancy smanchy suites. He covers his body in shadow. He makes a shadow knife from his arm and impales the roof of the car cutting the driver’s arm deep. A loud shriek came from him. Blood is spilling as the knife leaves his arm. I’m getting close. I hear their names. I hear their pain — the passenger. Mieke it’s her name. She dodges as more knives were going in and out of the roof of the car. I hear their desperation. Her gun is on the floor. The shadow man keeps his assault. Mieke opens her door and throws herself out. She’s petrified at the sight of a man with knives for hands. She’s baffled. Getting close. As Mieke turns, she closes her eyes awaiting impact. I got this! Ain’t nobody got time for dat! I jump over her and tackle this shadow manipulator. We wrestle on the floor. Nice seeing this guy’s suits getting dirty. The other is a Tony. I hear he’s agony. I feel his pain. Mieke I think she’s calling for help. Tony is dazed. I’m feeling dazed as well. The connections. I feel like Powder.

  “Officer down! Repeat! Officer down! Need back up ASAP!”, Mieke screams.

  So I got their names. You are young shadow manipulator. I got your name. Lucas shoves me aside and runs towards the cop car. Mieke takes out a baton and goes to a fighting stance. The shadow man’s hands turn into knives. As the shadow man lunges out with his knife, I leap over the car with my flashlight. I am right beside Mieke and aim the flashlight towards the knife. The light makes the knife become a human hand upon contact. Mieke reacts in disbelief. The shadow man turns his other hand into a whip slamming both of us to the car and making a shiny orb falls from Mieke’s jacket. Shiny? She felt the burn from the whip. I feel it too. I take Mieke’s baton from the floor. I rush to the shiny object. Mieke sees the flashlight. She takes it and throws it to me.

  “Catch!”, she screams.

  I catch it and aim it at the knife, and again it vanishes as the light begins to hit it. I use the baton to hit the hand of Lucas, he pulls his hands against his chest and kneels from the pain. My boot lands on Lucas’s face, sending him flying a couple of feet in the air. He falls to the floor, and the pale man in a black shirt and pants is unveiled again. His white silver hair is all mess up. Sorry, Richy Rich.

  Lucas tries to get up, but he is received by two punches making him unconscious. Mieke shakes her hand and quickly puts cuffs on him. She takes out her ankle pistol. Sirens sound close by and engine roaring. Mieke points her gun at me. She doesn’t want to shoot me. She wants an answer. Oh dear. If I could talk to you in your head and you wouldn’t shoot me. She’s very afraid. Her adrenaline is very high. She won’t understand. Can’t say to her, her own name, she’ll freak out! I raise my hands and point to the shadow manipulator.

  “He's unconscious,” I say.

  “What the hell was that!!!?”, she says blinking hard and catching her breath.

  “Not hell... evil. Your partner is badly injured, help him!”

  “But uh?”

  “Keep him in the light! The one on the floor, keep him in the light!”

  I feel her hesitation. I run off.

  MIEKE

  I can’t stop my heart from pounding. Is going to break my chest. Breathe Mieke. Tony is down. Move your feet now Mieke. Finally, my feet begin to follow the next one jogging. I shake my head. Cop cars arrive and an ambulance. Martinez steps out of one of the cars and runs towards me and whoever, that attacked us. Focus on Tony. I hear Martinez scream at me, but I ignore him.

  “Meeks you ok?”, asks Martinez.

  Paramedics rush to Tony. Blood is spilling from his arm. Tony is badly injured and is not responsive. Three paramedics cut his shirt and patch with speed. One of them puts Tony a bag valve mask. He notes that is working. Another is setting some heart monitors to him. The machine starts beeping. I pan and tiptoe behind the paramedics. Focus. Attack. Tony got stabbed. A man attacked us. We used a flashlight? A flashlight?

  “Don’t worry mam, we got this. We'll get him ASAP to the hospital. He has lost a lot of blood.”, said one of them.

  The paramedics continue to handle Tony, applying pressure to his wound as they cart him towards the ambulance. Martinez is in Tony's car. What is he doing? The assailant is at Martinez car. I’ll take him to the station. I arrive in no time in his car. Open door. Engine roar. The thug is on the back still unconscious. Some steps are closing in fast.

  “Hey, hey, hey Meeks I got this. He's unconscious and...”, says Martinez with a forced smile.

  “Call me Meeks one more time...”, I’m so mad my voice is cracking. I hate that name.

  “All I'm saying is...”

  “I’m not getting out! You can ride with the other officers if you want to!”, I hit the wheel to make my point heard.

  He forces a smile and nods. Martinez looks upset as he gets in the passenger's side. Other officers are examining the scene and are stunned to see the top of Tony’s car ripped away like a tuna can.

  “You are a part of the scene.”, Martinez says.

  I gripped harder the wheel and signaled I’ll start to drive.

  “Yes, mam.”

  The door closes. He buckles up. The car drives in haste. I can't believe Martinez had the balls to take this asshole in custody. I really wish I can punch his stupid face until my hands can’t go anymore. I don't know what the hell happened. It was all so fast. I'm gonna interrogate this son of a bitch!

  Night – Police Station, 2:48 AM

  Martinez’s car stops in front of the station. The precinct door opens, and a line of officers rush. They drag the unconscious thug out. I wish I c
ould just put a bullet on him. Make it even.

  “Is this the son of a bitch that hurt Tony?”, one officer asks.

  “Mieke wants to interrogate him ASAP.”, Martinez says.

  The officers start checking the thug’s pockets. My hands are shaking more of anger than the stress. The pacing isn’t helping to calm down. An officer approaches me. I can’t focus at the moment. I lick my lips. I said “No.” I think he was checking me for wounds. My time with the FBI and suicidal classified missions have let me be on my feet all the time. For quick reactions and helped prepare to keep stress levels low. This time was something completely different from what I’ve had experienced. One police officer presses twice on a pocket from the thug and reaches inside.

  “Just a cellphone.”, he says.

  The policeman flips it open, it only appears received calls from various UNKNOWN. No outgoing calls.

  “I’ll check if I can get something on unknown. Trace the calls, see if I get a hit.”, Martinez says.

  I nod annoyed, and the officer hands Martinez the phone and proceed to move the thug to the cell. The captain enters the room. His height and posture demanded the attention of everyone in the room, regardless of his rank or titles. Even the janitor got out the way as he passed. The only tells of his age were the wrinkles in his neck. You could tell he works out constantly.

  “I’ve been briefed already. Tony is stable. You can question the man tomorrow.”, the captain says.

  My eyes almost got out of my sockets. My neck is burning up. I clenched my fists with all my strength.

  “Captain!”, I yell.

  The captain held his hand out. I stopped like a dog obeying orders. I’ll bet he’ll give me some sort of treat.