Face Behind the Mask

by Leo King

  “Gino!” Dixie staggered toward the doorway, only to find Hannah suddenly blocking her path.

  “Nope. That’s against the rules, bitch.” She cackled as she jumped and punched Dixie in the face. The impact was enough to send her flying, momentarily knocking her out. When she regained consciousness, she was slumped against the entrance to the hallway. Hannah, who had a chef’s knife, was stalking toward her, licking the flat of the blade.

  God, she’s fast. OK. Engage her. Distract her.

  Leaning against the wall, Dixie held out her hand. “I don’t get it. Why do you have to kill? I thought krabinay didn’t normally do this.” Her vision blurred in and out.

  A few feet from Dixie, Hannah hunched down. She seemed a bit disappointed. “You know what I am? Bah! This host musta spelled it out for you with that Scrabble board.”

  Then she twirled the knife around. “I guess it can’t be helped. The girl’s will is shit, but psychoactive drugs can weaken even the strongest possessions. I remember the good old days when all they had were leeches and smoke from burning dung.”

  Taking the knife, she pressed it against her throat. “I guess at some point, I need to make her commit suicide. That’s what she wanted anyway, eh, mortal? To end her life ‘cause of what happened to Granny?”

  By then, Dixie’s vision had fully returned. She saw movement go past the doorway. It seemed like this interrogation could actually work. “But why are you doing this? Krabinay don’t usually kill mortals. So why are you?”

  Leisurely, Hannah slid the knife’s blunt end over her body. “You know what it’s like to follow orders, don’t you? Of course you do! That’s why I love you cops. You obey without question.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?” Dixie asked.

  Without warning, Hannah stabbed at her, stopping less than an inch from her eyes. While Dixie stared back without flinching, she shrieked in terror on the inside.“I’m the same way, mortal,” Hannah said. “When our king, the Lord Baron, tells us to do something, we do it. I’m not one to question why he’s become such a prick. None of us are. Maybe he’s not getting some with the queen. Who knows? Point is, when he says to kill, we kill.”

  Who is this king and queen? Dixie suddenly wished she had taken voodoo more seriously.

  Hannah kissed the knife and then exhaled to mist the blade. “But every time I kill on an order, the life energy that flows from death goes right back to him. That’s the sweetest of ambrosia to us, but I don’t get any. How is that fair?”

  “Sounds very unfair,” Dixie said, having no idea what Hannah was talking about.

  But then Hannah’s sick grin returned. “But that’s where you come in, Lieutenant. You really pissed me off with that music stunt, so I got special permission to kill you. And you’re pregnant. So when I off you both, I’m going to get double the ambrosia. And I’ll savor every single drop.”

  “Special permission? From your king?”

  “Yup.”

  “So, then, you were told to murder Hannah’s family?”

  “You guessed it.”

  “And all those people at the hospital?”

  Hannah stood up and bowed and then twirled around as if she were a ballroom dancer. “Correct on all counts. And the mortal who placed me inside this girl didn’t specify when I could leave. So now I’m stuck here until she dies.”

  Dixie’s eyes widened. She sat up. “A person did this? Who? Who put you inside her?”

  With a giggle, Hannah twirled one more time and reclined against the couch. She ran the knife up and down her small body. “Dunno the guy, but he’s a real pill. He’ll likely waste away with how much he hates living. But he has our king’s pen, so what he writes, we have to do.”

  What is she talking about?

  Dixie saw that she and Hannah were alone. Outside, the helicopter flew around again, shining its light momentarily into the room. Surely they were getting ready to strike.

  Yawning, Hannah gripped the knife. “But enough talk. I’m hungry. Time to perform an emergency C-section.” With a suddenly menacing expression, she crept forward, brandishing the knife.

  Just then, “November Rain” restarted again in the background.

  As Hannah continued to stalk toward her, Dixie inhaled and then started singing. “And when your fears subside.”

  Suddenly, Hannah stopped, her body jolting. “What are you doing?”

  Dixie swayed side-to-side with the music. “And shadows still remain.”

  Hannah’s face tightened into a frightful grimace. “Shut up, you twat!” She again stabbed at Dixie, but this time, her hand jerked. She ended up stabbing beside Dixie’s head, embedding the knife in the wall.

  Dixie locked eyes with her. “I know that you can love me, when there’s no one left to blame.”

  Hannah’s fighting it.

  With the knife stuck, Hannah stumbled back, her hands shaking. “Damn it! You’re connecting to this little bitch with music. Does her heart find that much peace with this song?”

  Keeping her eyes on Hannah, Dixie pulled herself to her feet. “So never mind the darkness. We can still find a way.” Silently, she begged Hannah to fight back.

  Hannah’s entire body started to tremble. Blood dripped down her cheeks. “Fuck you! I’ll kill you with my bare hands.”

  But as soon as she took one step toward Dixie, Gino rushed into the room and grabbed her with his good arm.

  “Ugh! You?” Hannah said. “I’ll kill you both, I swear it!”

  “Tania!” Gino said. “I have her like you asked.”

  Coming out from the hallway behind Dixie, Tania clasped her hand over Hannah’s face, her pupils so dilated that they were almost completely black.

  “Pa volonte m 'yo, pa pouvwa mwen, parte sa a soti nan pitit! Vini non nan m '! Trase nan m '! M 'mande nou antre nan m' koulye a!” Tania’s voice, heavy with authority, reverberated throughout the apartment. Her hair blew around as if from an invisible wind, just like when Sam and Blind Moses had fought on the wharf.

  The helicopter started coming back around.

  Gino pulled Dixie away. “We must give her space!”

  By then, Hannah’s body was twisting and writhing as she foamed at the mouth. Tania’s eyes widened until they were like the sockets of a skull, her teeth bared until they were like the fangs of a wild beast. Only when Hannah went limp did Tania let go. Then she roared in agony. Her veins went black and bulged. Then they subsided and then bulged again.

  “It’s in me! Stay back while we destroy it! Stay back!”

  With another screech, Tania stumbled back into the hallway, convulsing as if having a seizure.

  “Tania!”

  “No! Don’t follow me! Stay back!”

  The sound of the helicopter grew louder.

  “Lieutenant!”

  Rivette and Landry were at the front doorway, their pistols drawn and aimed at Tania. Now standing, she started foaming at the mouth before rampaging toward the back of the apartment, punching holes into the walls. Her bellows were like a beast from the depths of one’s nightmares.

  “Stay back!” Dixie ordered her men. “Leave her alone!” Suddenly, her apartment was flooded with light. The helicopter hovered right outside, turning so that its side faced the window. The sound was almost deafening.

  “Lieutenant,” Rivette said, his voice barely audible, “look out!”

  Dixie turned to see Hannah stagger back on her feet. The girl looked around, her body shivering. Her eyes were no longer bloodshot. Her pupils were no longer dilated. She held out her hand, her face clouded with confusion and fear.

  Smiling gently, Dixie reached for Hannah. She’s OK! My God, Tania, you did it! She’s—

  Then the side of Hannah’s head exploded, blood, bone and brain matter spraying the dining-room table. Her fingertips grazed Dixie’s as she fell to the ground. Outside, the helicopter turned away as a police sniper lowered his rifle.

  For a few seconds, Dixie watched Hannah’s lifele
ss body, her eyes wide and her lips trembling. Gino, Rivette, and Landry all had horrified expressions. Then Ouellette rushed into the room. The moment he saw what had happened, he hit a wall, making the panels shake.

  “What the fuck is wrong with them?”

  Hannah’s eyes were still open, a look of innocence there. Trembling, Dixie slid to the ground, reaching over and pulling Hannah to her lap. The girl was still warm. Cradling what was left of her head, Dixie screamed as loud as she could. When her vocal chords started to ache, she cried, rocking Hannah’s lifeless body back and forth.

  It started to rain a cold, cold rain.

  Dixie’s Epilogue

  Nothing Lasts Forever

  Date: Friday, November 6, 1992

  Time: 12:00 p.m.

  Location: Desire Street Cemetery

  New Orleans Ninth Ward

  A cold November rain sprinkled the cemetery as Dixie lay flowers upon Hannah’s grave within the Davis family mausoleum. Then she caressed the plaque, her fingertips lingering over the memorial etched in bronze, which said, “It is nothing to you, all you who pass by.”

  “They murdered her,” said a voice behind Dixie.

  She turned to face Tania. “They had no idea she wasn’t a threat.”

  Tania wore a black dress with high heels and a small jacket, seemingly unaffected by the weather. Her eyes narrowed. “After everything you saw, you still want to believe that?”

  With a defeated sigh, Dixie shook her head. “I don’t know what to believe anymore, Tania. You obviously got rid of that krabinay and saved her. Yes, loa and ghosts exist. I can’t deny that. But to suspect that the people in charge of this city willingly executed a ten-year-old girl? That’s a lot to swallow.”

  Tania snorted with disdain. “And what about her social worker? Didn’t she say she was going to the press about this? Where is she now?”

  Dixie scowled. “Miss LeBeouf? She had a nervous breakdown and was committed for treatment.”

  “And you honestly believe what they tell you? Where’s that detective’s intuition you supposedly possess?”

  At that, Dixie said, “Tania, I’m not a detective anymore. The mayor himself had me placed on indefinite leave. And after what happened, I don’t know if I want to go back. I don’t even know if I want to stay here in New Orleans.”

  Tania firmly tapped above her heart, getting her attention. “This, right here, will never stop being a cop. And you’ve never struck me as the kind to lie to it.”

  “Thanks. I’m sure I’ll figure it out in time.”

  With a much gentler pat on the shoulder, Tania turned to leave. “You may not have time. There’s an ugly storm coming. If you ain’t gonna fight, you need to get out while you can. For you and your child’s sake. Me? I plan to find others like me. Then I plan to fight.”

  Others like her?

  Before she realized what she was doing, Dixie took out Dr. Lazarus’s business card and presented it to Tania. “Here. Call this guy when you get a chance. I’m sure he could use someone with your, um, talents.”

  Tania looked at the card as if it were a trick. Then, with a sigh, she snatched it away. “Not promising I’ll call it. But thanks.”

  Dixie watched as she left. Then the same white orb that had helped her several times before appeared and floated around Tania, who shooed it off. For a moment, it formed the ghostly shape of an unrecognizable older man in a trench coat. Another ghost. Why did this one seem familiar?

  It gazed in her direction and then faded into mist. She frowned, turning back to Hannah’s grave. This is how the world is now—an ugly, unkind world. Can I run from it just because it terrifies me?

  Running her fingers over the bronze plaque again, she sighed. “What kind of a person would I be if I ran away? For the sake of all who’ve died, I need to fight, too.”

  Then, closing her eyes, she fondly thought of those who had died: Hannah, who would have been a bright, talented member of her community; Mama and Papa Olivier, who gave her a chance to live; Rodger, a friend and partner who never stopped believing; and Michael, who was always with her through thick and thin.

  And then she remembered going out with Michael to the French Quarter—the night they shared their only kiss.

  Dixie’s memories stopped short with that one. Wait, we kissed?

  Her face grew flushed as she remembered. At the beginning of July. We had worked all night. We went drinking. We were sloshed and… something happened. He had a breakdown. He wanted to know if he was truly… Did we…? Did we sleep together?

  She placed her hand over her stomach. Is it possible?

  Closing her eyes, she trembled. Is my baby really Michael’s?

  “Dixie, honey, are you OK?”

  Opening her eyes, she saw Gino waiting out in the rain, his arm in a cast. Even in the cold weather, he looked as enchanting as the day they’d met. She melted into that smile. Does it even matter? If I knew, would it change how much I love Gino and will love my baby?

  Holding out her hand, she said, “Yes. I’m OK. Just memories.”

  With a tender gaze, he kissed her hand. “Let’s go, then, shall we?”

  “Yes. Let’s go.” They walked away together. She stole only one last glance at Hannah’s grave.

  No, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m alive. And to honor those who have fallen, I will fight as well!

  The sun broke through the clouds, ending the cold November rain.

  Chapter 12

  Always with You

  Date: Tuesday, October 13, 1992

  Time: 7:00 p.m.

  Location: Evergreen Sanatorium

  New Arrival Block

  Several weeks before Dixie learned of her whereabouts, Sam awoke in total darkness to the sound of someone whispering her name.

  “Sam, honey, you need to wake up.”

  With a groan, she rolled her head to the side. Cool fingertips gently caressed her cheek as two other people spoke.

  “We need to talk to her before they arrive. Just shake her!”

  “Hey, don’t treat my niece like that!”

  “Shhh! Give her a second, you two! Sam, honey, please wake up.”

  Feeling groggy and sluggish, she looked up, and her heart ached at what she saw. In the darkness before her were the ghosts of Rodger, Michael, and Richie. They were mostly solid, with a white glow around them.

  “Guys…” Her throat tightened. Tears came to her eyes.

  “Shhh.” Richie leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. They were like a cool breeze. “Sam, honey, we’re here.”

  Michael folded his arms. “We finally secured Edward. He’s chained in Papa Ghede’s meadow now. Now he can’t get to you, even if Vincent commands it.”

  Rodger kneeled down next to her. “Edward says he’s sorry, Sam. He wants you to know that he loves you and that he’d rather stay bound forever than be able to hurt you.”

  She tried to wipe away her tears but found that she couldn’t move her arms. She sniffed. “I’m sorry, guys. I’m so sorry. I love you three. I’m so sorry you died—”

  “Shhh…” Richie stroked her face again. “It’s not your fault. It’s Vincent. It’s always been him.”

  Michael knelt beside her. “Listen, Sam. Right now, we need you to be strong. Strong and brave.”

  “Why?” She wanted nothing more than to hug each of them.

  “Vincent’s hunting for us,” Rodger said, running his fingers through her hair. “We have to stay on the run. But if we can find a way to save you, we will.”

  “Stay on the run? Save me? Wait, what’s going on?” She struggled to move.

  Michael suddenly looked around. “Vincent found us. His loa are coming. We have to go.”

  She strained against what felt like invisible chains. “No! Please don’t leave me again!”

  “Don’t worry, Sam. We’ll find someone to help you.” Rodger rubbed her head as he used to in the old days. “Be brave and don’t give in.”

  Ric
hie kissed her once more. She could almost smell his manly scent. “I hope you find someone who will make you happy,” he whispered, cupping her belly. “And love our children.”

  “No! I don’t want anyone else. Please! Don’t leave me!”

  And then Sam was alone in a dark and quiet room, lying on the floor. Beads of sweat poured down her brow and the back of her neck. Her mouth was open so wide, the sides of her face hurt. Her entire body shook as if she were freezing. Her cry for her friends cracked out like a dying lamb’s bleat.

  It hadn’t been a dream. It couldn’t have been a dream. It had been too intense, too real.

  “Richie. Michael. Rodger.” Just speaking their names hurt. For a few more minutes, she dwelled on their words, the sight of them, their touch and smell. Then she tried to make sense of her situation.

  Clearly, she was in some sort of dark room. She could feel her children inside of her. And she was wearing something that not only kept her from moving her arms but also wrapped them around her and secured them at her back. It took her a few more seconds to realize that it was a straitjacket.

  Carefully, she shuffled to the side until she felt the soft material of a wall.

  I’m in a padded cell.

  Leaning against it, she pushed herself to her feet and then carefully walked along the walls. She felt light-headed, and it was difficult to concentrate. After several attempts that ended with her falling on her face, she figured each wall to be about ten feet. She also found a single metal door in the middle of one.

  She rested her head against it. “Hey! Hey, I’m awake! Who’s out there?”

  Nothing.

  “Hey, dipshits! Let me out!” She felt woozy, her knees buckling.

  Suddenly, there was a loud clanking sound. Then, as the door opened and light poured inside the room, she was blinded. With a cry, she fell back to the farthest wall.