Defiance

by R. S. Broadhead

  Her solemn face answered my question and sent a nervous shiver down my spine, making the hairs stand.

  “I did use dis on him, but it hasn’t worked. His fever is still spikin,’ and he hasn’t woke up yet. I have one more thing I’m gonna try. While we wait, you get clean. I know you in a hurry to get out from dis place, but you need to be patient.” She motioned me to follow her, stopping at a tiny closet in the hall to hand me a towel and bath cloth. “Take dese and shower.”

  Before I could protest, she turned and walked away. I practically dragged my feet to the bedroom and peeled off the gown. I picked up the Demoral uniform balled up in the corner of the room and placed it in the hall. I wrapped the towel around my waist and darted across the hall to the bathroom. Despite not wanting to enjoy the shower and act like the ass I wanted to be for her making me get in here, I couldn’t. It relaxed me, making me temporarily forget what was going on.

  When I was done, I toweled off, once again wrapping it around my waist, and peeked out the door to see if the hall was clear. My clothes had vanished, and no one was in sight, so I tiptoed down the hall to my room.

  My hand had just reached the knob when the sister who’d made the first comment rounded the corner. “Oh my, dear sweet Heaven! Thank you fo you know what I wanted!” She licked her lips, causing my cheeks to burn.

  Why were my cheeks burning? This had never happened to me. I shot forward into my room, slamming the door harder than necessary. Her loud chuckle seeped into the cracks, reaching me as she passed my door.

  I found some clothes laid out on the bed. A pair of kaki dress pants, two sizes too big and a white T-shirt. I managed to pin the pants with some sewing needles I found laying on Shiloh’s bedside table covered in tiny bottles full of herbs and other weirder items. My guess was she helped a lot of sick people in this room. The clothes made me feel awkward. Like an everyday human getting ready to go out into the world and do every day human stuff. Although that seemed fitting considering all these odd human emotions I had experienced lately. Shaking it off, I practically bounced out the door, hoping not to run into the sisters again. My wish was granted, as the house was empty. I went outside, the air already muggy in the early morning. I hoped whatever she had in store for Ryker worked.

  I was about to turn the handle to the shed when the door burst open. “Gah, child! You scared me good,” Shiloh said. She laughed at her own embarrassment, fanning the light shade of pink through her caramel skin.

  “Sorry. How’s he doing?” I tried to steal a glance past her shoulder, but she pushed me away and shut the door behind her. I wanted to protest, but after her grave look, I decided it was best to hear what she had to say first.

  “I’ve just done de other ritual on him. Give it a little while. I’m hopin’ dis works, but he goin’ need some time to process what I did. Alone.” I nodded. Her emphasis on the last word told me I wasn’t allowed in that room until she said it was okay. Fighting the urge to be with him, I wasn’t going to disrespect her since she was trying to help him.

  I glanced around the grounds of the house. I was tired of being cooped up. “What’s there to do around here?” I asked, waving a hand toward the trees. I never had much time to explore Earth on my own free time.

  A small smile graced her lips, reaching the corners of her eyes. “Well, Justice is down by the creek, tryin’ to catch some fish fo supper tonight. If ya want to go join him, just follow dat trail, but I’m sure you can already hear de water,” she said, pointing in the direction of a small clearing in the woods.

  “Sounds interesting. I’ve never seen ‘fishing’ done before. I need something to take my mind off things.” I glanced at the door to the shed, longing to go inside and scream at Ryker to get out of the bed because we had a job to do. “Let me know when I can go in.” Before I went to the creek, I made her promise she would come and get me if anything changed.

  A cacophony of shrieks rolled down though the twisting limbs of the trees. I craned my neck, trying to see the source of all the noise. Something rustled, shaking the leaves with fervent hostility. A spot of red jolted out from a patch of thick vegetation. The bird narrowed its view on me for a split second before disappearing. A squirrel scampered by, nearly running across my foot before darting up a knotted tree with several rotted spots. The Earth was full of life, living together peacefully. Something I thought at one time Nekroun Earth had. For a moment, I stood in the middle of the forest admiring its vibrancies, oozing with excitement. With a heavy sigh, I pushed thoughts of what was my home to the back corner of my mind and kept following the trail.

  I found Justice sitting on a wooden crate, his bare feet dipped into the dark, rushing creek. He let out a groan before humming something to himself. He looked so serene I almost didn’t want to bother him. I turned back toward the house, trying not to let him know I was there, but the snap of a twig breaking under my foot made him jump, nearly falling off.

  “Don’t do dat to me, boy. I’m old. And de fact dat it’s you, don’t make it any better.”

  I laughed. Really, no one had any reason to fear me, but I guess no amount of persuasion could change their mind. “Come on now, Justice, I thought I was warming up to you—at least a little,” I said, squatting beside him. I picked up a tiny pebble, tossing it into the water. The water swallowed it up in a swift gulp. It was cooler down here under all the overhanging trees, but still just as humid. A thin layer of sweat already coated my face. I ran it across the sleeve of the T-shirt before swatting away a bug darting around my eyes.

  “I don’t think you bad, son. It’s just dat at my age, you can’t ever tell when a Reaper will sneak up on you. By de way, nice clothes.” He paused, sticking a worm on a hook at the end of his string.

  I watched with little interest. I wasn’t really concerned with his ways of getting food, I just told Shiloh that to satisfy her.

  “You ever fish?”

  I barely heard his question. A white building just beyond the trees on the other side of the creek caught my attention. “Ummm, no. What’s that over there?” I pointed in the direction of the house.

  Justice didn’t look up. “Dat’s Shiloh’s grandmother’s house. She’s a little on da crazy side, so she mainly stays to herself up dere,” he said while tossing his line out into the water.

  “Grandmother? Shouldn’t she be living in the house with Shiloh? I would think she’d want to keep a closer eye on her rather than letting her live alone.” I stood, trying to get a better view.

  “Shiloh wanted her to move in over here, but she refused. Stubborn old bitch if you ask me. The woman is ninety-six years old and blind, but refuses help. Hell, every time Lady Shi goes over to check on her she just screams at her through de door to leave.”

  I shook my head with disbelief. “How long have you known them?”

  Justice rubbed his chin with his free hand and looked up to the trees. “Oh, probably bout forty years. My older brother was best friends with Shi’s daddy. I just hang around to help her since she never got married. Not dat dat woman can’t take care of herself, cause she can.”

  I looked down stream. There had to be a way to get across. I don’t know why the house intrigued me so much, but I could feel it practically calling me. I needed to get over there. “I’ll catch up with you a little later. I think I’m going to take a walk down stream.”

  Justice nodded before taking a swig of something in a brown paper sack sitting next to his crate. I walked beside the creek, jumping over a few decaying logs along the way. About ten minutes later, I pushed a bush to the side and found a small wooden bridge. It was old and barely hanging on as it swayed and groaned under my weight. I couldn’t care less. I ran across, searching for the house. I couldn’t get there fast enough. On the other side, I jogged the trail that led back to the house. Once it came into view, I was careful to stay low to keep Justice from seeing me.

  Something sweet reached my nose as I stepped onto the porch, like thousands of freshly blooming flowers
competing for the strongest scent. Two rockers moved back and forth with the breeze. They were worn from years of use. I couldn’t help but to imagine a smaller Shiloh playing out in front with her grandmother sitting, watching her. I took a few meager steps and stood in front of the door. The screen was torn on one corner, hanging down. I didn’t know if I should knock. I didn’t even know what I was doing here.

  Doubt made me think twice. I glanced back toward the way I’d come, considering going back and not bothering her. There was a strong possibility I would be screamed at from the other side too, and the last thing I wanted was to upset a woman in her nineties. My feet remained planted as if letting me know I wasn’t leaving this porch without trying. I pulled the screen door back, preparing to knock on the closed main door, but it flew open before I could. I rocked back, shocked.

  A short elderly lady with a small hunch in her back stood there. Her white hair was pulled up with a few strands down, which blew around her delicate face. Her skin was the same caramel as Shiloh’s and in many ways, I could see the family resemblance. “I been waitin’ fo you,” she said in a raspy voice. She looked up at me with solid white eyes. “Dis way.” She motioned me into the house. With a walking stick, she carefully maneuvered around her furniture. We went into a back room. The walls and ceiling were made up of windows. Running along back and forth across the top were strings and attached were drawings. My Reaper symbol, every twist and turn, were sketched out. I looked at other drawings, and my face, every detail of my features, stared back at me.

  All of a sudden, it was hard to breathe. “What is all of this?” I asked, still in shock. There were ones of me sitting in my cell at the prison, others of both Ryker and me at his apartment, and me running from the Hellhounds. My heart pounded in my ears as I realized this was my life drawn out before me. When she didn’t answer, I searched the room, but she was nowhere. I pushed past a few drawings and found her in a white wicker chair, staring outside. I sat across from her, not really sure what I should do.

  She looked in my direction. “I wasn’t always blind.” She paused, taking a sip of water. “Back ‘bout twenty years ago, I was outside. Right out dere, hanging clothes on de line,” she said, pointing in the direction she was just looking at. “A man came up from out of nowhere. At least I thought it was a man. He was tall, with the most beautiful purple eyes. Normally, I woulda been a little shaken over a strange man comin’ up in my yard with it just bein’ me in dis house, but there was somethin’ ‘bout him. Somethin’ dat just made everythin’ feel all right.”

  I sat back; cold sweat ran down my back. Grim was here. I didn’t think Grim ever came to Earth anymore once he created all the Reapers to carry out his work. “I invited him inside and poured him a glass of sweet tea. He said dat I was meant for somethin’ more dan just sittin’ around gettin’ old. He knew I was strong. He could feel it radiating off me like a force.” She looked down as she folded her shaking hands. Tears spilled down her face. “He told me my sight wasn’t meant to see dis world anymore, and dat I needed to watch another. The day would come, and I would need to help him.” She reached out and took my hand. “Dat person was you, Cadeus Reaper.”

  “I…I don’t understand. How could Grim know I would be here?” If he knew, then why couldn’t he just tell me back then? It would have made this so much easier.

  Her cracked lips pursed. “Dat I don’t know, child, but I’m sure you’ll find dat answer soon.” She shuffled papers around on a table near her, feeling the lines drawn on each one. One fluttered to the floor of the two of us sitting in these exact chairs across from each other. A shiver ran up my spine causing goose bumps along the way. “I draw every time a vision comes to me, and believe me, I’ve had thousands. It nearly broke my heart to see your days in dat cell.” She stopped once she found the paper she was looking for. “Today I had another vision. It was one dat frightened me deep into my soul. Dat’s why I’m glad you came.” She turned the paper over and handed it to me.

  I didn’t know if I wanted to take it. What if the other side was something I didn’t want to know? Despite every doubt and insecurity running through my mind, I flipped the page.

  Fear gripped me. Ryker lay in my arms with blood running out of his eyes, nose, and mouth. He was dead. Everything I had tried desperately to think about not happening was there staring at me in this drawing. The pain etched on my face was much like what I was experiencing now on the inside. “When does this happen?” I asked, unable to take my eyes off his lifeless face.

  She shook her head grimly. “Dat I don’t know. I can tell it’s soon, though.” She leaned forward suddenly, taking me by surprise. “You have to save him. You don’t know how important he is for what is to come.”

  I cocked my head. “What do you mean for what is to come? Have you had other visions?” I asked, panicking.

  She jerked away, standing. She walked around the drawings, touching each one as she passed. “I’ve said too much. Grim said nothing is destined to happen until it becomes clear, and dese other visions aren’t clear. They’re hazy.”

  I stood and walked in front of her, forcing her to stop. “Please, just tell me what you saw,” I said, willing her to confide in me.

  She looked to the ground. “A war. Here on Earth. I saw you, your friend, and two others dat I don’t know. All on horses. That’s how I know Ryker can be saved. He was there. Which means if you save him, he’ll be dere to help you.”

  I turned away from her, running a hand through my hair, and exhaling. “I don’t know what to do. If I did, I would’ve already done it.”

  She stepped close, taking the arm that had the Reaper symbol burned into the flesh. “You help him with dis. Grim’s blood runs deep into your veins, boy. More dan just dis symbol. Dat’s what makes you different than all the others. Ryker needs somethin’ more powerful dan de spells my grandbaby is tryin’ to do for him.”

  I wanted to kiss her I was so thankful. “That’s all he needs?” I asked in disbelief. I had his answer the entire time, and it took someone else to point it out to me. Normally taking a large dose of Grim’s blood would kill any other type of Reaper other than a Demoral, but hell, Ryker was dying anyway. It was worth a shot. What other choice did I have? “I need to get down there to him now, before your picture comes true.” I turned to leave, but she grabbed my arm.

  “Before you go, Grim told me to give you dis.” She handed me a large, clear key. “Said you’d need it to get back home without prying eyes seein’.” I took the key from her, shoved it into the pocket of the kakis, and rushed out of the house.

  Heading back to Shiloh’s seemed to take three times as long as getting over here. My anxiety built as the seconds ticked by. The constant pound of my feet against the ground, kicking up dirt as I tore through the woods did nothing but intensify my emotions. When I got back, breathless, no one was outside. Commotion from the shed Ryker was in sent my heart into overdrive. I ripped the door open so hard it hit the wall and bounced back, and found Shiloh, Justice, and her four sisters around Ryker. His body was convulsing, causing him to jerk off the bed. Blood ran out of his open eyes, mouth, and nose. The drawing was practically sketching itself out in front of me. All it needed was me beside him. I was too late.

  Twelve

  "Get out of my way!” I said as I grabbed a pair of scissors from a cup sitting on a table. I had already stabbed them deep into my tattoo before reaching Ryker. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. Grim’s blood sizzled like it was being scolded on a stovetop. I ran a finger through it, gathering it on the tip. “Hold his arm down.”

  “What’re you doin’?” Shiloh asked, softly. Her voice lacked confidence in my actions. There was nothing but sickening pity in an attempt to comfort me. I didn’t need it. I would save Ryker. There was no other option. Him dying was a concept I refused to believe.

  I ignored her. “Please just trust me. He’s going to die if you don’t help me.”

  They all looked at each other, but did as t
hey were instructed without another word.

  I ran the blood along his forearm, making every twist and turn as quickly as I could, until the Reaper symbol was complete. Suddenly, the convulsing stopped. Ryker laid perfectly still, his eyes shut. I held my breath, hoping what I had done worked, and I wasn’t too late. Before anyone could say another word, his back arched, and his eyes went wide, purple light blazing out.

  “What’s happenin’?” Justice asked, backing against the door.

  Shiloh and her sisters huddled together in a corner.

  “He needed the blood from my tattoo. It’s powerful.” The words trailed aimlessly off my tongue.

  A few moments later, Ryker dropped back down. Everyone in the room was scared to move or even breathe, like our next actions would cause a turn for the worse. I took a few steps toward the bed, terrified of what I was going to find.

  Ryker blinked a few times, coughing. His eyes narrowed, zeroing in on my face for a good solid minute before speaking. “Cade? Where am I?” His voice was higher than normal, almost like he didn’t know if he could speak until the words were out. He managed to sit up, finally breaking the stare, as I came over to his side. Relief flooded my insides. I wanted to squeeze him and never let go.

  “I’m here, buddy.” I tapped the top of his bloodstained pillow, my eyes lingering on my fumbling fingers picking at the hem. “You were sick, so we’re at a friend’s house to get you taken care of.” It was hard to look at him. Blood was everywhere. Grabbing a towel from the floor, I wiped his face. His pale, milky skin remained stained a rosy pink.

  “All that came from me?” he asked, staring at the discolored cloth with a slacked jaw. I nodded, my lips pulling at the corners. He slouched back into the pillow, rubbing his bloodshot eyes and squinted up at the ceiling. “I think I’m going to be sick.” Quick to respond, I handed him a glass of water, which he greedily drank and then placed the chilled glass to his temple.