by E R Landron
“Your powers won't help you forever majo!”, Laim screams.
As I’m defending from the ninjas, I see Laim and the bushy eyebrow ninja. Sweat is now pouring like an open faucet. I’m using so much energy to just defend against these inhuman speedsters. As I blink, something seems out of place. The bushy eyebrow ninja disappeared. I panic. The bushy eyebrow ninja appears in front of me between all the sword slashes and staff swinging, and he strikes me with his palm so fast that I fly over the church hall easily ten feet back. I didn’t even fell the…oh, there’s the burn. His hand passed through the swords so fast he didn’t even get cut. I cough. Blood comes out of my mouth. As I get up fast, the three ninjas rush to me. I stop the three blades again with the staff. They attack me full throttle. Cloth is being slashed as I’m is starting to slow down a bit. That other one was even faster than these three. I didn’t read his mind even when he actually hit me…
“Maaaaajoooo...”
Laim's mocking is upsetting, but survival is the primary mission. I swing the staff to block the swords. I change direction and hit one of the ninjas. I change direction again and hit another. I’m starting to get their patterns. As I’m about to hit the third, the bushy eyebrow ninja disappears and appears in front of me again and sidekicks me. I just saw his foot. My vision blurs completely. Air leaves my lungs. I feel a breeze as I’m flying. I feel another hit on my back. I hit a wall. The pain rushes all over me. Besides me the statue of Jesus crucified. I’m over fifteen feet in the air. As I’m barely defining the laws of physics, the bushy eyebrow ninja jumps towards me again. My body is just bouncing off from the wall, and the ninja lands his knee first to my chest sending me back to the wall again. Something cracked. I can’t control my body. My hands open up to the sides. The ninja stabs my right hand. I feel every nervous point alarming me of the pain. At first, I don’t feel it because of the speed. Now my left hand it’s being pierced. I’m Jesus’s doppelganger. Side by side we hang from the altar's wall.
The screaming doesn’t take away the pain. I feel blood all over my face and hands. The smell of it is giving me nausea. Laim walks towards me and from a single move stabs a dagger on one of my feet. My other foot is moving abruptly from the pain with no synchronization whatsoever. Another huge scream echoes through all the church. I could barely hear it. Sweat. I’m dizzy. I can’t see. I can’t breathe.
“There, there majo. Now you are like your God. Pity following someone that was killed by his own people.”
“Please…”, I barely can speak.
“I can burn your haven you know.”
“No... please...”, I can’t think anymore.
“Orb majo!”
“Cat alley…”, I’m tired. I need to explain.
“Taro? Street cats?”
“While fighting with shadows. I don't know if they have them. It fell…”
“Damare!”, shouts Laim.
Laim begins to walk out.
“I didn't say they have it! I didn’t say they have it!”, I scream.
I need to go another place in my mind. I can’t bear the pain. I hear my blood dripping. I’m sure my hands and feet are making down a puddle of blood.
“Burn it!”, demands Laim.
I scream at them but is futile as they start to exercise their orders. The ninjas go to the lit candles of the church and press it on the tunics, wooden sits and anything close by. All of them stare at the fire that is starting to consume everything in its path. Laim gives a mocking smile at me extending his hands as if he was crucified. The fire starts growing even bigger on the church as all the ninjas exit the church. Everything is fading…
DIANE
I get out and from the other side of the confession booth. The priest follows. It’s already warm. The smoke is making me gag. It’s being hard to breathe. I start coughing as the flames get higher and the smoke dense up.
“We got to help him!”, screams the priest.
I stated no with my head. I see who he referred to. I heard the ruckus. I think he’s dead.
“I know you are terrified, please. He is good. On the name of God please!”, he pleads.
I clean my tears and follow the Priest towards the man. The fire continues to grow and we cough. The priest gets a ladder from behind the altar and sets it next to him. I recognize the man. I think he’s the church’s hobo. He has yelled at me a couple of times about the cats in Cat Alley. We see the dagger on his feet. The priest tries to pull it out. He’s using all his force. I help him. We give a hard tug and scream, the dagger flies as we pull it out. The bloody man lets out another agonizing scream. And his head drops once more. Blood keeps pouring down. The church statues, candles are melting fast. The priest climbs the ladder and gathers himself below the man’s arm and pulls the knife. It is very deep, and he uses all his strength to take it out. The priest’s veins are popping, and he gives a scream trying to use all his force. He manages in the third try to take out the knife on his hand, and the man falls on the Priest almost bringing the ladder down. I run to make sure the ladder is more steady. I’m sweating. I’m getting dizzy. The Priest sees the other knife farther. He tries to reach it, but he's on the brink of falling. The flames had reached the ceiling already, and parts of it are starting to fall. A huge piece of wood lands on a bench crushing it instantly. My heart stops for a moment. That could have been us. The Priest closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He opens them and jumps from the ladder, pulls the other knife making them both fall to the ground with the stairs too. I get away of the falling ladder. Both of them hit the floor hard. I go to aid the priest. He is moaning. Bruises form and a cut on his forehead.
“He has lost a lot of blood.”, I say to myself
I see the bloody man’s eyes open and rushes to bite me on the neck. He’s teeth are sinking deep. I freeze I can’t scream. It hurts. It hurts! I cringe until a screams leaves my mouth. I try to pull him away. The priest gathers he's strength and stabs the man with the same knife he took out. The bloody man is starring at the Priest with piercing eyes. His caramel eyes are looking reddish.
“No! Let's leave! There's blood on the back.”, the priest says in a demanding tone.
The man’s fangs look larger than before. I grab my neck. Blood is in my hands. I’m confused. What is going on? The priest keeps his serious face trying to order around the other man. He keeps starring back at the priest.
“Kokolite! Move! Now!”, yells the priest.
Koko… Kokolite gets up first and extends his hand to help me and the priest but without changing his demeanor. All three are up now looking like people who had a really bad beating and also covered in ash all over. We head to the back of the church.
MIEKE Night - Streets, 8:04 PM
The traffic jam begins to move. I raise my hands in the air in victory. What was it? An accident. How lovely. You got to love the accidents produced by cellphones. Don’t text and drive. Since it hasn’t happened to me, I’ll do it. Then Wham! You rear end a car making it slide, hit a light pole and it lands on the street. Terrific. I slam my hand on the wheel and starts maneuvering out of traffic.
“Finally.”, I exclaim.
Cellphone goes off with an alarm. I frown and hit the wheel hard.
“And I'm late! Diane, it's gonna kill me.”
Cellphone rings.
“What now?”
I pick up.
“Good evening.”
“Can we speak to Mieke Hertz?”, a woman on the other side answers.
“This is she.”
“We are calling from the community hospital. Your sister has been injured. For more details, we'll have to speak in person.”
“Ergh, yeah. On my way!”
A knot forms in my stomach. I speed up towards the hospital. What in hell happened to D?
Night - Hospital, 8:25 PM
The elevator door opens. I rush out of it and go to the nurse’s counter. I take out my badge.
“I’m lo
oking for Diane Hertz. My name is Mieke I was called earlier. Which room is she at?”
A nurse points to a screened area. I powerwalk towards it and opens the screen were Diane lies in a cot. I shut the screen. As I turn around, I see an elder man on a separate bed with his forehead patched with a blood stained in the middle. Who is this fellow? Besides him a priest uniform. I feel my blood boiling through my arms, chest, and neck.
“You’re the Priest aren't you?”, I raise my voice, without being too loud.
The Priest nods. My veins pop out, and I scoff. My hands change into fists. I want to break something now.
“Mieke, mieke, mieke.”, Diane says leaning outside her bed.
“This has to do with that homeless man?!”, I exclaimed trying not to raise more my voice.
“Is not like that.”, Diane continues.
I turn to her.
“What happened? Are you OK? Why the bandages on your hands and neck?”, I’m checking, examining Diane.
“There was an attack on the church. Some nin… a gang. A gang entered the church and trashed it. They torched the place. The Priest and myself were hiding. Koko... the hobo, tried to fight them off.”, she’s trying to sell my what happened.
“Tried? Torched the place?”, I feel my nostrils expanding. Is getting hard to swallow.
“Sit down my dear, please. I know you have encountered, these weird things before. Something is coming, you should stay out of it.”, says the priest.
“Aren't you a man of God?”, I snap.
“Mieke!?”, cries Diane.
“The moment my family is hurt... I ain't staying out of nothing. Where is he?”
“I need my sister! Please, Mieke! I need my sister…”
Diane pulls my hand. I start taking deep breathes trying to calm down. Diane wraps her hands to my hand. I pull a chair and sit in the middle of both beds.
“You know where to find him. Be careful.”, said the priest as he accommodates to the side.
My demeanor does not change at all, but I see Diane trying to calm me. I can’t stop to stare at him. This can’t be happening! I can’t lose my sister too. She’s the only thing I got left.
RIPA Night - Ripa's office, 10:05 PM
I’m pressing my lips and doing little nods and pressing hard my already formed fist to my chin. I’m trying to get away from the phone. I’m bloody sure I said fast and clean. These merchants have made a bloody mess. The voice of Claude summoning to council before schedule. I bet some information leaked. I bet someone is not doing what they are supposed to. I spend too much bloody money to be in this position. I hang up. I get up. I stay up. I sweep the whole desk making everything fall to the wall and floor. Papers, folders even the phone flies off. Fucking cunts! A beep goes off, and a red light starts flashing in the desk. I hesitate. I take a deep breath and lean to press it. The desk connects to the secretary. No need for a phone here.
“What?”, I try to stay calm.
“Nikolay Lazovsky just arrived sir.”, the secretary says.
I press my lips hard. My cheeks go hallow. I feel my neck veins popping. I breathe heavily to calm myself. I crack my neck as it turns it to the side of my right shoulder. I fix my suit and cufflinks.
“I don’t have an appointment with him.”, I say calmly. I’m annoyed.
“My apologies sir. He says that what he needs to say can affect you, sir. “
“…Let him in.”, I say between my teeth.
Is not her fault. I always talk to her calmly. She still fears me. She is my snack after all. I calmly sit in my chair still taking deep breathes to calm myself. I cross my fingers. The office door opens Lazovsky with a cheerful attitude. The man's suit looks better than what he usually wears. He tries to be on the kumori level. He’s gambling addiction won’t buy him shit. His eyes are green navigate through the messed up office. He smirks.
“Zdravstvuyte Ripa.”, he says with a huge smile.
“What is this about Mr. Lazovsky?”
“Straight to the point eh? No hello? No what can I get you?”, he’s smirk does not go away.
“You’re like a little brat that wants something. I have things to do.”, I say annoyed.
“Like clean this mess huh?”
…
“Ok, I get straight to the point eh. Here it goes then. I want to be promoted!”
Nikolay smiles, and for a long lasting second there I don’t respond. His stupid Russian accent makes me want to vomit. I look down pressing my lips and go slowly up to Nikolay's eyes as he takes another breath.
“You are not part of my clan. I can't promote you.”, I say calmly.
“But you can talk to mine!”, he’s smirk goes away, and his eyes widened.
“You are mad mate.”, my annoyance is evident.
“You say that, but I have a card under my sleeve.”
A slow sigh leaves me. My eyebrow raises and I pucker my lips. I lean my elbows on my desk and rest my head on my thumb and index finger.
“Anything else?”, I continue.
“And I want the Bloody Mary Club. The club and be promoted.”
“Why the club?”, I roll my eyes.
“Resources, stop playing sucka. I told you what I want.”, he’s upset now.
“And why would I attend to your demands? What is the card you got under your sleeve?”
Nikolay's smiles form from ear to ear, and he gets a little jumpy from excitement. He starts moving his hands continuously up and down like he was trying to make his hands warmer.
“You messed up. You messed up pretty good eh! You brought outsiders to the city... The council won't be pleased.”
“Outsiders?”, I say sarcastically.
“Stop playing suka. Once I tell the council, I will own you!”
I tilt slowly my head and raises an eyebrow while fixing my cufflinks again. I get up and stroll in front of the desk and lean back. I put my hands on the edge of it. Stupid boy.
“How old are you Mr. Lazovsky?”, I lick my lips.
“What’s that has to do with anything?”, he raises his voice.
“Everything little boy.”, my words are sharp as a knife.
I clench my hands into fists. I drag them to my waist. I feel the tingly sensation behind my back. Is getting bigger as shadows hands slam Nikolay to the wall. The shadows are covering almost all of his body making it difficult for him to move.
“When you threat somebody older than you. Make sure you have the upper hand.”, I posture myself.
“… I'm sorry. I’m so sorry Ripa. I didn't tell anyone. I swear. Maybe not the club, I could just work for you. Do your errands. I could be your errand boy. How about it eh?”, he says whimpering.
“I know you are sorry and that you won't say a thing.”
A squint from my eyes makes a giant shadow spike comes out of me. You’re going to suffer Lazovsky. I walk toward him. He starts to sweat quickly while struggling to get out, and saliva starts going out his mouth while he tries to talk.
“Ok, ok, ok... I'm sorry comrade. Let me make it up to you.”
The spike goes through Nikolay slowly. His flesh ripping little by little continues. Nikolay starts screaming, blood starts dripping out of him, the gushing sound of the shadow like spike is the only thing that accompanies Nikolay's whining. The whole room starts getting muted, and the noise goes back with more screaming. My demeanor looks unfazed as I feel no remorse for this wanker. Nikolay stops screaming, and his head drops abruptly. I assume posture and all the shadows leave Nikolay and return to me. The blood on the spike falls to the floor. Nikolay's body drops to the floor and starts aging into an older man, probably twenty years older. I turn to the other side and points my finger to a corner.
“This is on you, old man.”, my voice is sharp once more.
Drake comes out of the hall to the office, but shadows cover him almost entirely revealing little of his face. I undress. I double tap a button on the desk.
/> “Make sure Laim cleans this up. He’s already causing a scene. Is too early to meet with the council.”
A painting in the wall lifts. My closet is next to the elevator. I like everything close to me. I take another of my expensive suits. Change my watch, shoes, tie, and cufflinks. I cannot deal with spots of blood on my clothing. I see my lean body on the mirror and do a little flex. I look like a rock climber. All of my clan use the same color to distinguish from one and another. White, black and grey tones. Looks a little monotonous but it makes this clan work with our shadows. Better to disguise them through our clothing.
“Yes, sir.”, answers Drake.
“And fix my bloody office too.”
“Will do sir.”
The door of the office bursts open and a cleaning crew enters quickly. Two men grab the body and move it to a plastic matt. They lift the body out of the office. Another person is spraying some liquid on the floor. Another is mopping. Between all of them, they are making the office clean and spotless. Is what I pay them for.
MIEKE Day - Hospital, 6:30 AM
Aw, shit. Uncomfortable. I stretch out and yawn. Diane is still sleeping. Stupid chair will leave me with back pain and… The priest stares at me. I move my sit so that it faces his bed and lean closer. We whisper.
“The homeless man?”, I ask.
“I told you, you know where to find him.”, he does not show any emotion.
“Are you in deep too?”
“No. But your world is just going to get much wider my dear.”
“What do you mean?”, I squint.
“Oh, I think you have an idea. Moreover, you will wish you were wrong this time.”, he puckers his lips and sighs.
“My sister life was in danger.”, I point to Diane.
“Everyday our lives are in danger.”
“I know but...”
