by J.R. Bowles
CHAPTER 11
In the lower West Village, Jamal glanced at his watch as the pain he had felt eased.
He had been standing on the staircase when the pain hit him. It had doubled him over and he had felt his stomach to see if he had been shot. When he came to he was collapsed on the stairs.
“Damn!” he cursed. The Messiah was here in New York. He felt him. He also felt someone with him, someone, whose name was Billy. He thought quietly for several minutes, trying to regain his own sanity. He had been touched by whatever had happened, and he had seen something he didn't understand.
He knew the other person's name, the name “Billy,” but he did not know who the Messiah was. He knew this Billy was with the Messiah.
What had the vision been? And why had they experienced so much pain? As if he had exploded into pieces and was floating away?
Jamal struggled to stand and had managed to gain his equilibrium just as Azid returned.
“Jamal, we can't find her. Jamal–what's wrong with you?” He shouted the alarm, rushing to help Jamal and led him back up to the apartment.
“I'm okay now.” Jamal protested but accepted his friend's assistance. “I've seen him, Azid. I've seen the Messiah.”
“Where is he?”
“He's here in New York. But I was wrong, dead wrong.” Jamal shook his head. “He's not black, I can tell by what just happened to me. I can sense him. He's not black.”
“What are you saying? He was supposed to be black?” Azid asked as he helped Jamal into a kitchen chair.
“I don't know, but I think we're going to have to kill him.” Jamal paused and looked at his friend. “Azid go call off the hunt for the white girl.”
Azid nodded and left Jamal there alone. As he left, he didn't think it was possible his friend could have been so wrong. Jamal knew everything; how could he have been wrong? Jamal had a gift. Azid had been with him longer than anyone and he knew Jamal had powers. Was it possible for them to kill the Messiah, no matter what color he was? Was it possible? If Jamal said they had to, well, he guessed that was exactly what they had to do.