by E R Landron
“Aw man, it was a joke. Can you immigrants take a joke. I love you Taliban anyways.”
I walk to the man and kneel next to him as he is putting his hands pleading mercy. I put my hand in the man’s hand, crossing each of his fingers and slowly twisting the man's hand. A scream of agony comes from him. Now tears are coming out of the man's eyes as they are accompanied by sweat dripping from his forehead. I feel the break of each and every single finger. I don’t stop. I continue until his wrist breaks too. In the blink of an eye, I bite the throat. He whimpers and struggles for a while and tries to pull me apart but he's not strong enough to do so. And I’m getting stronger. A sucking sound fades out by a passing horn. My skin starts to look better as it is healing before my eyes. And the man’s eyes are slowly moving upwards. My skin is back. Dark and beautiful. You really can miss what you used to have when you lose it.
DIANE Day - Mieke’s Apartment, 7:00 AM
What in the world? There’s noise outside. I wipe the drool from my mouth. I grab a picture frame and heads towards the door slowly. I open it. It’s from the kitchen. I raise my hands holding the picture frame and jump towards the kitchen. As I’m about to scream I see… is Mieke just finishing putting some breakfast on the table. My hands fall in both relief and confusion.
“And this?”, I ask.
“Morning. It's been a crazy week, hard week, I'm exhausted and wanted some breakfast. By the way all veggie for you.”, she says with a smile.
I walk slowly to the stool on the peninsula and sit awkwardly down and put the frame down. I continue to stare at Mieke who continues to work on her breakfast, beating some eggs in a bowl. The immediate smell of sausage hitting the pan made me nauseous. I ignore the doppelganger of my sister in the kitchen concentrate on my plate. Everything smells good. I take a bit of an egg and toast. Hmm… well-seasoned, fresh organic butter. In the plate some orange juice and fruits too.
“OH my... this so good!”, I say.
“What? I'm not all guns and badges you know.”, she whines.
She’s not a doppelganger or cyborg or what not! I figure it out! With my mouth full I open my eyes and point with the toast to Mieke.
“You had sex last night didn’t you?”, I yell probably alerting everybody on the building.
“Wait? What?”, Mieke drops the fork on the bowl all red.
“Super good mood. I hope you have a lot of sex then.”, I say with a smirk.
“I’m trying to do things differently. It seems I'm going to my usual self and it's been stressing me out. This city...”, Mieke sighs deeply.
“This city?”
Another huge sigh came from Mieke again, and she pressed her lips as she threw her hands down like in defeat. They fell on the other side of the peninsula.
“You’re right, this is not me.”
Oh, no. Now I feel bad. I don’t want to burst her bubble. I stood up from the stool waved my hands palm face down slightly going side to side.
“No, no, no, I didn't mean to pop your bubble, please continue. I like it. You know you can talk to me.”, I say embarrassed.
“Again I don't know if it's the stress but... I feel like I'm not in control anymore. Little things look unfamiliar and yet weird things are starting to look normal.”, she presses down her lips.
“I don’t get it… Anyways, I know you don't believe in vacations and with Tony at the hospital is very unlikely you'll get forced time off. How about I dunno church maybe? Dad used to do it when he wasn't himself.”
“Maybe, probably.”, she says looking down.
“You are not a shopping girl, so my options for you are limited. There's no art gallery for months for now. I don't go to shooting rings or fight a huge sandbag that hangs from the ceiling. We can meet up there after work?”
“I guess... so.”
MIEKE
At the moment, the church is the last place I want to go, yet twice things have been messy close to it. I need to find more information about that weird fellow. I don't know if it will work, but maybe Ortiz can help me do a sketch, and I'll run it to the face recognition program. It won't be completely accurate, but maybe I'll get a hit. I force a smile, and while Diane drinks a little bit of her orange juice, I take a bite of my sausage. Diane makes a face of disgust.
“Or you can smoke and take the edge off…”, Diane says.
I almost choke. I shake my head in disapproval. I can’t do cannabis. I’ll get fired.
“I’ll do my best to get to church.”, I say.
“You get things done on your best.”
Day - Police Station, 7:45 AM
I get to the police station. I arrive in an office with lots of face sketches on the walls. Besides the face sketches, there are some actual paintings of beautiful sceneries of the city, fantasy, and superheroes. A woman on a wheelchair is typing on her computer as I knock on the open door. Ortiz’s head pops out of the computer screen.
“I’ve always said you are super good.”, I say.
“Ahhh, a little appreciation... most welcome.”, she says moving some of her purple locks from her eyes.
“It’s a man's world.”
“James Brown. Although people like my work it is hard to move in these wheels to different crime scenes through the city. But thanks to technology and video phone calls I can do more sketches now. What you had in mind?”, she says with a smile.
“A sketch.”
“Shoots. For a moment I thought we were going dancing later.”. a fake frown formed in her face.
“Funny.”
“Let me get my pad so we can work this out.”
Ortiz gets an electronic pad and changes her monitor a little bit sideways so I can take a look of what she is doing. Ortiz nods at me to begin. I describe the face of the homeless man. She dives quickly sketching on her virtual pad, "facial hair, long brownish hair, piercing eyes, caramel I think, and a face that says I look young, but I have a couple of years on me." Ortiz stops and reaches for her computer and starts typing fast and the only thing moving behind the monitor is her short black and purple hair. "Ha," says Ortiz as she turns her computer monitor.
“If you are looking for the singer of Thirty seconds but with caramel eyes, let me know, please!”
I chuckle. The resemblance, though.
“I must admit they could pass as siblings.”
“I did say please didn't I?”
Ortiz widens her eyes and bites her lips as she continues to draw. I keep describing his features to Ortiz. Long brown hair. Pale.
An officer enters Ortiz's office and interrupts with a knock.
“Morning. Detective Hertz? Have you seen officer Martinez?”, he says.
“Not since the other day.”, I press my lips.
“I was told he was with...”
“Nope, sorry, I haven’t seen him.”, I say seriously. I force a smile and keep nodding.
“Thanks, detective. Miss Ortiz! Morning!”
The officer tips his hat as he walks away. I feel a sting in my stomach and my weight in my head. I stare down the officer as he walked away. Fucking Martinez wanted to kill me, is he a douchebag like him? Besides Tony, I think Ortiz is the only one I have a little more of respect in this precinct. I mean I know I chose to come here because this was where dad used to work but, they all look like students waiting on the teacher to tell them how things are done. No go-getters whatsoever. And they have the audacity whine and cry about what they do here. They wouldn’t last a day in the armed forces. Breathe, breathe... this is a vacation compared to the feds. The scribbled continued until Ortiz brakes the silence.
“Funny he had invited me out before the accident. I think he's on a religious group called, No Sex No Date.”
“I thought... whom we're sketching?”, I’m confused.
“No... Officer dufus, miss Ortiz morning walking away!”
“I’m sorry...”, I shake my head.
“Don’t be... I'm currently
dating though. An artist! Maybe… not as hot as your mystery man but not a cop. Which is good. Different good… ergh… Btw I think I'm done!
Ortiz broke my thoughts, and I'm not even concentrating anymore. I'm starting to wonder where everybody’s stance lies. I want to get this over with. Find where mystery man is and check who else is corrupted in this shit hole.
Ortiz moves the monitor completely to my side.
“Already?”
“That’s what she said.”, she says with a smile.
I chuckled. I stare at the monitor looking at every detail. There you are! Hope I could find more information on you! Ortiz keeps tapping her keyboard and moves her mouse and clicking it here and there until a printer machine begins to warm up.
“I made Mieke chuckle twice? I must have broken some record have not I?”, her smile was wide open showing all her teeth.
“Tony has three in a day.”
“Aww, shoots. So... is he good or bad?”, she makes the same caricature frown as earlier.
Ortiz takes a piece of glossy paper and hands it over. I grab it and examine it.
“I don't know yet. Gonna run it through the facial recognition see if I get a hit.” I take a deep breath.
“Good luck with that. Anything else? Something else you want me to run?”
“Yeah. Do you know who is Dr. X?”
Ortiz looks at her wheelchair and back at me pressing her lips sideways.
“Har har yar har har! Very funny. Didn't know you knew anything about the comic world.”
“It wasn’t for your wheelchair. Ermm, my dad, I heard him talk about him once. His alter ego when he was not doing police stuff. However, to make sure... he can speak to people through his mind?”, I feel the warmness in my cheeks and neck.
“Yes, he uses telepathy to talk through his mind and read them as well. Awesome character.”
“Interesting…”, I tap my upper lip.
“And your mom? What does she do?”
“She passed away too. Died when giving birth to my sister.”
“So Diane never knew her. I'm so sorry to hear that.”
My cheeks burned again. I lick my lips to try and change to change my expression to an unfazed one.
“Thank you though.”
C'mon Mieke, is not like you to open up! And less at your work. I look down to the sketch and press my lips hard. I wave at Ortiz with a forced smile.
“No problem, but please let me know when you find my celebrity crush doppelganger.”, she forces a smile as well.
I mouthed a "Thank you" at Ortiz and leave the office.
I arrive at what it seems a hoarder’s desk full of papers and start the computer. Problem is… I’m the hoarder. I take some papers up but put them back where they were. I'll do this later. I see the sketch and go back to my computer opening some few programs and typing passwords on some pop-ups on the screen. I move a little from the squeaky sounding chair to a scanner, put the sketch on it and presses the START button. The light of it starts to run from top to bottom and makes a beep when it finishes. I turn back to her computer to see some number scrolling and a pop up that states: Estimated time 48 hrs.
I press my eyes and take a deep breath. Plenty of time to do other things. I think I'll... I'll go to the church just because Diane asked me too. At night after work. I dunno, maybe it would be good for me. Who knows...
I get out of the desk and block the computer. I get the sketch. I take a picture with my phone. To the shredder. The tiny blades eat the piece of paper as if it was nothing. Don’t want anybody checking my stuff. Let me catch up with the captain.
Night - Streets - 7:32 PM
Tired. Hungry too. At least Lucy and Tony are keeping updated the captain. No need for me to visit him every day then. I’m heading towards church now. Some music. 90s rock. I’m not interested much on the new things though. What happened here? Traffic jam. I take out the phone. Let me call Diane. After a couple of rings with no answer, the voicemail starts.
“Hey this is D, let your message after the beep thingie…”, the machine beeps afterward.
“Hey D, I haven't forgotten about church. I'm on my way, just on a traffic jam. Love you.”
Now I’m stuck on all sides. I get out the car and see a taxi driver out of his car too. He’s a couple of cars in front of me.
“Hey sir, you know what's going on?”, I yell.
“Something about an accident. Also, hear about some ninjas bout it all sounds like cuckoo stories.”, he yells back.
“Thanks.”
I smile at him. I turn the radio com. Move from one frequency to another. No information on the traffic at the moment.
“If ye ask me... another government bullshit. You know how this goes. They will create anything to keep us like sheep.”, he yells again.
I force a smile and nod. I roll my eyes when he turns. I hope Diane doesn't mind, being a little late. I'll take a picture just to make sure she thinks I'm lying. I take a selfie with the traffic jam as background. A big sigh leaves me.
KOKOLITE Night - Church, 7:33 PM
A knock on the door makes me wake abruptly. It’s always the same thing. God forgive me. God forgive me. I wonder when I’ll be forgotten. A girl on the other side. Weird ball. Something of her sister. Their thoughts rush through my head. As she closes the door. I stretch and get out of the booth. Diane is her name.
“Forgive me, father, for I have sinned.”, she says.
I wave to the priest. He hurries up.
“Father? Hello? Father? Are you there?”, she continues.
Before entering the booth, the priest exchanges a smile with me. We get along well and have a mutual understanding of one another. The priest jumps inside the booth.
“Tell me, my dear…”, he says.
I stretch again and head up where the holy water is. Only two people here. I get my fingerless gloves wet in the holy water and use it to adjust my hair into a ponytail. Towards the main hall in the church the cross at the far end of the wall. I stare at it. The Jesus on it portrays how the artist tried to express the pain Jesus was at that moment with his hands and the huge nails encrusted in them. His feet and his ribs all bloodied from the spear that penetrated his skin. Those thoughts are not lovely. Someone new has entered the game. I turn slowly. Five ninja outfitted men stand close to the church's entrance. They have knee to shin pads, chest plates and shoulder pads with teeth coming out. Somewhat of a Japanese oni inspired uniform.
“This is a temple! A place for peace!”, I raise my voice.
The two people praying see the men and run towards the exit of the church. The Priest and Diane heard as well.
“Please my dear stay quiet, don't make a sound.”, the priest says.
“uhu”, answers Diane.
My head spins as I hear their thoughts wondering what is outside. “Stay there.”, I say to the priest on his mind.
The men don't move. The five men stand aligned side by side, the only one without his face covered is one with Japanese features. All the others have that same oni looking face masks. One of the masked men has two small horns a top. He has very pronounced eyebrows. The Japanese has a small high ponytail. It looks like a mini palm tree in his head. He smiles at me passing his tongue through his lips.
“I haven't seen the priest; I don't know if you guys want a confession. There are lots of empty benches, I can get him while you wait...”, I rub my fingers trying to make them ready to grab firmly.
“You’ve come across something that doesn't belong to you.”, says Laim. At least that’s what I think the others call him.
“I just took a little of this water, I'm so sorry, was it yours?”, I say while pointing were the holy water is at.
I start squeezing out the water in my hair to the bowl where holy water is. Just a drop fell to the bowl.
“All back to its place.”, I force a smile that is evident.
“Majo, majo, majo. Don't play
games. The orb, where is it?”
Definitely Japanese. Did he call me a witch? I tense up. Open the trench coat and take out my tungsten baton stick that extended to the size of a bo. As the staff is finishing extending I raise my arms with it only to be just close to a sword hitting me. The sound of the metal of both weapons echoes through all the church. One of the ninja looking men is forcing with me. My elbows push back a bit. That ninja landed in front of me with immense super speed. Holy lord. I barely read his mind. I can't read the others now.
“Almost majo. Almost. Orb?”, Laim smiles mischievously.
I push a little bit the first ninja and go backward. Two hits of metal with metal sounded. Now the first ninja and a second ninja were forcing their blades on my staff. That metal echoing blasted through my eardrums. I watch Laim mocking. The other three of the ninja I can’t tell anything about them just one next to Laim with more bushy eyebrows. Here we go again.
I push the ninjas and throw my staff to stop three blades this time. I feel the veins popping. They are not that strong. But their speed, make their swords land with so much force. Laim and the bushy eyebrow ninja are standing close to the doors, and I’m here defending myself against three ninjas. Beads of sweat are starting to form on my forehead.
“No?”, Laim says mockingly.
He nods. A chill run down my spine as I hear their thoughts once again. They are going to kill me. The three ninjas with lightning speed start attacking. I’m barely getting in time to stop a blade from piercing or slashing me. They are so fast, and so are their thoughts.
The priest and Diane are still in the confession booth. I feel her tearing up. The priest is giving very low shh to Diane.
The blades are going so fast that they are making swoosh sounds when they don't hit the staff and a hard metal hitting metal sounds when I finally get to stop them.
