“Well, Rae and I really aren’t in a relationship. It’s just…” I trailed off.
“It’s complicated?”
“Only for me.”
There was another pause of approximately twenty-two seconds before he broke it.
“What do you think I should do with that stuff?” He pointed to the corner where his black armor was lying.
“You’ll look pretty conspicuous if you wear it around here." Even after I told him that, he still continued looking at the thick metal plating. “Are you sad?”
“A little. I mean, I never want to see that armor again, but I liked being one of the 80’s. I felt like I was going to make a difference; like I had something to fight for. The Men of the Temple always told us we were going to make Jamestown a better place. I wish I’d known what their definition of ‘better’ was beforehand, and I wish I'd known how it would end.”
“If you liked having something to fight for, why don’t you just fight for the Gray District?” I asked him.
He looked confused for a moment, like he wasn’t exactly sure what I meant.
“You still have all the knowledge they gave you. Just use what they taught you to fight for your actual home.” The concept seemed simple to me, but Scott seemed to have trouble grasping it.
“How would I even do that?”
I pulled out a bin of discarded clothing I had accumulated through the years, and rooted through it until I found what I was looking for.
“Try that on.”
“A black leather jacket?” He stood up from the table and put it on, then pulled up the dingy hood that had been stitched on by the previous owner. “I like it, but why would I ever wear it?”
“Because it’s like the Gray District; it’s worn out and dirty, but rugged. That armor is like the Sunset District; it’s clean, polished and very expensive, but it didn’t do anything to protect you from getting a knife in your back. Wear that jacket, be tough and go out and make the Gray District a better place. Kill the dealers who are flooding the streets with vapor. Feed hungry children so they don’t have to steal anymore. Maybe even fix a few of the broken catwalks. If you liked being one of the 80’s, then keep being an 80, just be an 80 in the Gray District… does that make any sense?”
“Yeah, actually it makes a lot of sense.”
He stood there for fifty-three seconds, his eyes tracing the seams stitched into the leather. I don’t know what he was thinking, that’s only for him to know, but the decision he made at the end of those fifty-three seconds was one of the most important in the history of Jamestown.
“I’m going to fix this place. You, me, Tex, Jack and maybe even Rae can start making a difference in this shitheap.”
“What about that Truand girl?”
“Her? She’ll probably go back to her people once things calm down in the Sunset District, but she can help if she wants to.”
“You never did tell me what happened over there. Was it some kind of riot?”
“A monster got inside the walls. One of the 80’s used it as an excuse to stage a coup and turn everyone against the Men of the Temple.”
“Damn. I thought maybe a block party got out of control or something. And the girl?”
“I found her in the crowd and dragged her to safety, then Tex and I let her tag along with us.”
“What about the wound? You never actually told me the specifics.”
Nine seconds of silence. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Fair enough, I suppose.”
Scott walked over to the mirror and looked at his reflection in the glass. I noticed how different his posture was. Even with the pain in his torso, he still walked with his head up, shoulders square and feet pointed directly forward. Despite my having encouraged him to pursue fighting for the Gray District, that moment, seeing him in the black jacket, standing with his head held high and wearing a facial expression I have only ever seen on soldiers, something I can only describe as calm ferocity, was the moment I realized that he really did have a chance; that things could actually get better.
“The first thing I want to do is eliminate the vapor problem, once and for all. If we drive out all the dealers, the junkies will have to either get clean or leave. But, maybe we should try to wean them off gradually? What do you think is best, Revy? You’re the doctor, after all.”
I thought for only a moment before deciding on my answer. “We may as well do it quick. The length of time won’t matter.”
“Ok then, let’s get started.”
Chapter 18 - Sirius V
“Prepare yourself, young one.”
My heart was beating faster than ever before. Excitement was boiling deep inside me.
“I am ready.”
The Shaman of Honor pulled the curtain aside, allowing me to see the transcribed history of my people for the first time. I had waited years to finally be able to lay eyes upon Canis’s Testimony. Deep in the tunnels beneath the Cages, below the eyes of the fairies and their pitiful police force, the Shamans discussed our people’s future and plotted our course to ultimate triumph. It was also where the Empowered Ones came to speak to one another and where young wolves came to learn the history of Canis.
“Sirius V, on this wall is carved the story of our people; past, present and future. Canis himself handed down this knowledge to the Shaman of Prophecy and it was recorded here.”
He moved over to the wall, explaining every intricately carved picture.
“The story begins with the creation. The Great Power was released and it spread quickly. Every person who was bitten became one with Canis. The Omniscients, being cowards, feared the Great Power. They built walls to halt those under Canis's influence and they keep us caged to protect themselves. They say that it is because we are a threat and they are right to think that. Wolves cannot remain caged forever.”
Despite my excitement and how much I had looked forward to this moment, something about the next picture was unnerving. Enormous wolves stood with bloody fangs around stacks of bodies, many of them torn and broken. I finally realized what was so unnerving about it when I saw a young girl being ripped in half by a beast. She looked just like the girl who brought me the serum.
“We shall become more than wolves or men, young one. We shall become a mighty army for Canis. Using the dog serum, we shall kill the fairies and lap up their blood with our tongues.”
“That is… exciting.”
“Of course it is. Our destiny is to use the serum to render every fairy lifeless.”
“Was the first dosage put to good use?”
“It was. On the night our brother left, we could hear the sounds of chaos from the district where the sun sets, home of the Men of the Temple. Our brother did not return, but he did his job well.” The Shaman pulled a black box from his sleeve; the spare dosage we had kept. “They think us beasts and so beasts we shall become.”
“Will we continue to send people to die?”
“Young one, we are not sending them to die. We are sending them to live with Canis.”
“But we know how the police treat beasts. They respond with no mercy.”
“It is a one way journey, but an important one. Their efforts put fear into the hearts of the fairies, the government and the Men of the Temple.”
Despite what he told me, and even though I hated the Men of the Temple, the deaths of our people still made me uneasy, and the words of that fairy girl still echoed in my ears.
“Shaman… what if not every person in the Ring lives a decadently?”
“What are you talking about?”
“What if some of them are poor? Is it possible that there are Omniscients who are oppressed? And if so, perhaps they could be brought into our fold. They wouldn’t deserve to die, would they?”
He laughed. “Oppressed fairies? There is no such thing. When we leave this place you will see for yourself. They are lavish and wasteful, and deserve only death.”
“I apologize, Shaman,” I said, not ent
irely convinced. “And after Jamestown, when we gain enough of the serum for all of us to turn and we bring the city down, what is next for the Tribe of Dogs?”
The Shaman smiled. “Once Jamestown is nothing but hot ash and cold bodies, the true battle starts.”
I looked to the next part of the wall. It showed us, the Tribe, opposing a huge and menacing silver creature.
“What is that?”
“The dragon. It has been foretold that when Canis has led us out of this place, the dragon will return. We shall hold the power of the wolf and he shall hold many powers of his own, but we will slay him regardless and eat his body to gain his power.”
“May it be done as prophesied,” I said, though I hoped that not everything would come true.
“May it be so young one. However, there is one more thing you must be aware of.”
“What is that?”
“It is possible that you shall become Canis’s truest servant. You will have the chance to lead our people into this new age, as our singular leader.”
“I would be honored to do so.”
“You will have to prove yourself, first. When we are ready to leave, the Empowered Ones from each Cage will fight to see who is the most worthy. The one who wins will lead us on this glorious campaign, but, for now, we will continue to terrorize the fairies; put the fear of Canis in them.”
Again, the image of that girl crossed my mind. “And after that, they’ll all die?”
“We will kill every last one of them, leave Jamestown a shadow of its former self and carve the world in the image of the wolf.”
A stone seemed to fall into the pit of my stomach. “I must… I must go,” I said, stuttering as I tried to excuse myself.
“That’s right, you have a delivery coming, don’t you?”
“Yes, Shaman.”
“Bring it back to me as soon as you can.”
“Yes, I will do as you say.”
Chapter 19 - Scott Vale
“Are you ever going to sell here again?”
“No,” he said, blood dripping out of his nose.
“Who owns this district?”
“The Black Jackets.”
“That’s right,” I said, before kicking him in the gut. “Now get the fuck out of here.”
Jack released the drug dealer from the full nelson, allowing him to drop to the ground. Admittedly, I probably took a little too much pleasure in watching him crawl away through the snow, but I couldn’t help it. These fuckers deserved what they got.
“Damn, Scott. You really love kicking the crap out of these vapor dealers.”
“I have a lot of frustration I need to work out.”
“You should show me some of your moves sometime. When you restrained that last guy, that was some military shit, right there.”
“What can I say? I’m talented.”
Ok, I was definitely taking too much pleasure.
“Hey,” Jack called to a sketchy looking figure in an alley. “What are you doing out here?”
They took off like a rocket and we chased after them.
“Get the fuck back here!”
Lucky for us, the bastard slipped on a patch of ice and went crashing to the ground. I jumped on them and pinned them down, careful not to slip on the ice myself.
“Holy shit, it’s a girl.”
“Get the fuck off me,” the dealer yelled. “I didn’t do anything!”
I started searching her pockets and found a vial of vapor in the very first one.
“I’m holding that for a friend.”
“Yeah, sure you are,” I told her, my tongue dripping with sarcasm.
“I say, we teach her a lesson,” said Jack. I was about to agree with him, before I looked up and saw him holding a fire axe.
“Where the fuck did you get that?”
“Found it.”
“We’re not cutting her with an axe, Jack. Put it away.”
“Well, don’t go soft on her just because she’s a girl.”
She cried out again, “I told you, I didn’t do anything! I’m not dealing.”
I wanted to believe her, but it only took thirty seconds of searching to find seven more vials in her pockets.
“Do you know what this shit does to people?” I asked her.
She didn’t respond.
“Keeping quiet, huh? Maybe I should help you find out.”
I grabbed her jaw, trying to force her mouth open.
“If you struggle, I’ll just pour it up your nose.”
She stopped squirming as much, allowing me to slip the entire vial of colored liquid into her mouth, with the cap still on tight.
“You know how dangerous this stuff is, don’t you?”
She nodded, her whole body shaking and her eyes wide with fear.
“But you’re selling it anyway?”
She nodded again.
“Are you going to keep selling it?”
She frantically shook her head, telling us no.
“Open up.”
I pulled out the vial and threw it against the nearest wall. She breathed a sigh of relief as the glass shattered and the neon liquid dripped harmlessly into the snow.
“The next time you deal vapor, I’m going to take every vial I find in your pockets and shove them down your throat.”
I allowed her to stand and she ran off as fast as she could.
“Goddamn. I thought she was going to piss herself. If she comes back, are you really going to make her drink a whole vial? That could be dangerous, without a tolerance.”
“Nah, I just wanted to scare her. But I will beat the shit out of her next time.”
“Good, don’t go soft on her.”
I looked to the sky above us and saw the first rays of sunlight starting to peak out, reminding us both how long we’d been outside.”
“I’m going to head home, Scott. Goodnight, man.”
“Goodnight, Jack.”
He walked off, still holding the axe he had found. I made a mental note not to let him bring it the next time we went patrolling. I didn’t want things getting out of hand. Just because I enjoyed a little violence now and then didn't mean I wanted my crew turning into hardened killers.
“So this is how you help people?” a female voice said from behind me. I turned and saw a black jacket standing there, but had to think for a second before I recognized the voice.
“Oh, Vera. You’re still here?”
“Nice to see you to, asshole.”
“Why are you wearing one of our jackets?”
“It’s Rae’s. She doesn’t want to be seen in it, because she thinks you guys are acting like a bunch of immature bullies and, from what I just saw, I think she’s right.”
“Do you mean what I did to the dealer? She's garbage. All of them can die for all I care.”
“What about the guy you were beating up before her? He was bleeding and could barely walk.”
“He was a dealer too. I’m taking care of the vapor problem and making the district a better place.”
“Do you really think that beating people to a bloody pulp is the best way to help?”
“Hey, you don’t get to judge my methods. You don’t know what this drug does to people. I’ve seen junkies drop dead from this stuff, foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog. I’m doing the district a favor.”
She reached into her jacket and pulled out a sheet of paper. “Take a look at this.”
I unfolded it and read the first line out loud.
“Marty Frost, age thirty-two, wants a new house. What the fuck is this?” I asked her.
“Rae and I went around the entire Gray District asking people how we could make their lives better. A surprising amount of them are just simple things. Maybe you should read it before you keep attacking people.”
“Look, Vera, I know what’s best for the Gray District. While we're on the subject, why do you even care? This isn’t your home.”
Just before she looked down at the ground, I saw tears well up
in her eyes. That was one of the lowest points in my life, making a girl who had lost her home feel like she wasn’t welcome in mine.
“I’m sorry, that was a horrible thing to say.”
“It’s fine. You’re completely right. This isn’t my home.”
“No, it is! You’ve already done more to help this district than I have by making this list. Without it, I never would have known…” I quickly looked down at the second name. “...that fifteen year old, Timmy Hull wants to learn to read… Wait, how can he not read?” I asked, totally perplexed. “He’s fifteen years old. He should know how to read by now.”
“I guess you don’t know as much about your people as you think.”
I felt like a complete ass. I guess I just hadn't realized that there was more to making a difference than just beating up bad people.
“I’ll do better.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” I told her, and I meant it. “Is this the full list?”
“There are seventeen more pages.”
“Fuck. Well, then I guess there’s no time to waste. May as well get started.”
Chapter 20 - Rae Johnson
Assholes. They were all assholes, and I wanted nothing to do with them. I was so hot under the collar that I’m surprised the falling snow didn’t boil on contact with my skin.
I didn’t care as much about being stealthy, both because I was distracted and because there had been less police officers patrolling the Cages recently. However, I still stopped and hid in the bushes for a moment and took a quick look to make sure the coast was clear.
The only one there was my business partner, standing on the other side of the bars with a big bag of food for me. He seemed sad, but it was hard to tell. The tattoos made his facial expressions hard to read from a distance.
He perked up as I stepped into view, a smile coming across his face.
“You came,” he said, as if he was surprised.
“Why wouldn’t I? We’re still trading, right?”
“Oh, yes. That’s what you came here for.” With definite sadness, he picked up the bag and handed it to me, not even waiting for me to give him his package first.
Black Light: The Deplorable Savior Page 8