by Stormi Lewis
“Yeah, but you could hear that too,” Sophie insisted.
“No, Honey,” Tina said softly. “No one heard it except you.”
Sophie replayed the moment in her mind, slowly realizing that she did hear things before others registered it. She had originally thought that they had just blown out their hearing from listening to loud music all through their life.
“Sophie, you may still need to heal like a normal person, but your timeline is much faster than others,” Ben added in his doctorly tone. “It doesn’t take a couple of days for cracked ribs to completely heal, and bruising doesn’t disappear within hours.”
Sophie looked at him as if she were a lost child while she replayed what memories she could pull forward of every time she had ever been hurt and healed within hours and days while other kids remained in casts for months.
“You are definitely more graceful and faster than anyone I have ever come across,” Tina smiled at her.
James looked at his friends madly before settling his eyes on Sophie. His own memories of her ability to jump over the van like a cat, her rapid fighting skills, and everything else he had witnessed Sophie do unlike anyone else he had ever met before.
Sophie turned to James, obviously overwhelmed by various emotions all at once. “So, I’m a freak?” she asked him desperately, unable to find a better word. It was Tina that turned Sophie to face her and pulled Sophie into her arms.
“No, Sophie,” Tina soothed as she ran her fingers lightly through the back of Sophie’s hair as she calmed her. “You are NOT a freak,” Tina emphasized.
She let Sophie have a couple of sobs from the realization that she was more special than even she knew. Tina pulled Sophie back, and put her finger under her chin to make Sophie’s eyes meet her own.
“You’re the protector,” Tina stated matter-of-factly. “Somehow you were altered,” Tina rushed on before her friend could get lost in the negative. “And your alterations were turned into strengths and incredible assets. I don’t think you were just designed to keep the key safe,” Tina stated honestly.
“What do you mean?” Sophie asked as she stared at Tina, desperate for answers to a puzzle she didn’t even knew existed.
“I am not a hundred percent sure,” Tina answered truthfully. “But the key is only a small part of the puzzle, Soph,” Tina continued. “Something bigger is coming, and only you will be able to keep everyone safe from it,” she finished looking at her friend firmly.
“What are you talking about?” Sophie asked feeling sick to her stomach.
Wasn’t the key enough? Wasn’t the man with the cane enough? She felt James put his arms around her waist and pull her against him.
“Your parents have visited us all,” he whispered softly in Sophie’s ear. “They don’t seem to know what’s coming either, but they want us to be prepared.”
“Which includes getting more information on what shots you received, and just exactly how badass you truly are,” Ben said forcing an encouraging smile on his face while he winked at Sophie. “Your dad gave me two names, and both Dr. Cox and Dr. Dallas will be at the convention. We just need to figure out the safest way to get them alone and find out what they know.”
The room began to spin as Sophie’s brain tried to absorb all the information she had just received in the last couple of minutes. She laid her head against James’ shoulder and tried to get the terrible chill that consumed her body to thaw out.
“You ARE the protector, Peanut,” she heard her mother’s voice whisper in her ears for the first time in what had seemed like forever. The reminder she needed to find the floor again.
Sophie lifted her head, opened her eyes, and looked each friend in the face with determination and confidence. She put on her Cheshire smile before asking, “So, what’s the plan?”
Halloween had finally arrived, and a solid plan was in place. Horror movies had played on every channel throughout the night and day, with the occasional news announcement of all the parties taking place in the French Quarter. Kids grew eager to get their costumes on and go trick-or-treating, and the atmosphere shifted with the promise of the dead coming to play with the living for one night only.
The group of friends stayed silent for most of the day, going over their portion of the plan a thousand times inside their head. Although they would be in masks, they would still be out in public where anything could happen.
Sophie was sure she had left a distinct trail that ended in Nashville, Tennessee with no future location to be found. She was taught by the best when it came to being seen and not being seen. It didn’t seem to keep the chill off her back though despite being indoors all day.
Her dreams had been peaceful enough the night before. Sophie’s memories had played out like a rapid movie as she came to realize how different she actually was. It was a feeling she had always had, but nothing that she had taken the time to consider.
Sophie had simply accepted that she was weird and would never fit in anywhere. Well, until she met James and his friends. Sophie realized the strength of their love for her.
Even after finding out that someone was trying to get her, and would do anything to have Sophie including killing anyone that got in the way, they stayed. They gave up their lives to live on the run until whatever this was had been finished. They knew before Sophie did that she was weird and not normal, and they had accepted her and loved her anyway.
Sophie spent a lot of her time wondering if she was being selfish to keep them, and if she was ruining their lives instead of saving them. Finding out that they accepted her this much no matter what made Sophie realize that it wasn’t being selfish if you were protecting the people that refused to leave you. It had given her some peace in knowing she was doing the right thing after all.
However, too many questions remained. Sophie agreed that this was their best option, because she had questions of her own that needed to be answered. Like why she had been altered, and by whom? The room grew darker as the sun started to hide behind the horizon, along with Sophie’s concerns about herself. She needed to remain focused to keep everyone safe.
“It’s time to get ready!” Tina whispered with excitement in Sophie’s ear.
“You’re enjoying this way too much,” Sophie chuckled and shook her head at her friend as she got off the bed.
“We never get to dress up,” Tina whined. “And I can’t WAIT to see my final masterpiece!” Tina exclaimed; way too excited to use Sophie as a barbie doll for the night.
“You are drop dead gorgeous regardless,” James said as he came over with his boyish grin and kissed Sophie on the cheek before Tina dragged her into the bathroom and slammed the door.
“I love my wife,” Ben said with a chuckle, “but poor Sophie.”
The boys gave a light laugh and clinked their beers, trying desperately to settle their own nerves.
“What if we find out something really bad,” James finally breathed out his worries to his friend.
Ben put his hand on James’ shoulder.
“There is absolutely nothing I have witnessed that points anywhere in that direction,” he assured James. “I honestly think it’s about unlocking the actual key. We just didn’t know it would be Sophie instead of the necklace,” Ben shrugged as he took a sip of his beer.
“You don’t think it will shorten her life or anything crazy like that?” James asked Ben out of nowhere.
Ben thought about it and then started to laugh. “My friend, I’m pretty sure that girl’s going to outlive us all.”
James processed his friend’s remark while he took a sip of his beer. He had never thought of Sophie outliving him, although that made much more sense with all she could do. James was still a little mad at himself for not seeing it first, but Ben made a good point.
He was too busy falling in love with all of Sophie, badass skills or not. She was the light and force that woke up his own deadened heart and kept it beating. James knew all too well that love is blinding. He tried not to be too a
ngry at his friends for not letting him in on their suspicions. James understood they had to have all the puzzle pieces before making such a claim.
The boys got dressed in their tuxes and watched numbly as Freddy chased down some teenagers that had made the mistake of falling asleep so he could kill them.
“Why do they always go up when someone is chasing them?” Ben asked out loud.
“Right? Like they suddenly have the ability to fly once they get to the roof?” James agreed. “Then again, they always go towards the noise instead of going the opposite direction, too,” he muttered in annoyance.
“I never understood that,” Ben said shaking his head. After a second he turned to James in urgency. “Let’s make a pack!” he said in excitement. James looked at him cautiously and wondered where this was heading.
“We will never follow creepy sounds, and we will never run in stupid directions that will get us killed,” Ben said proudly holding out his hand to James.
“What?” James laughed.
“Seriously,” Ben urged. “We’ve seen enough of these horror films to know what NOT to do in order to survive,” he rushed on in excitement. “We have no idea what’s going to happen. Maybe if we don’t do what all the stupid kids that deserve to get killed do, then we can beat that douche bag and live to tell the tale!” Ben exclaimed as he thrust his hand out at his friend again.
“You’re a dork,” James said shaking his head, but took his friend’s hand and shook on it.
Ben had a point. They had watched enough horror films to know certain things you just don’t do if you wanted to survive.
The boys heard the door open, and Tina cleared her throat. They turned eagerly to see their girls all dressed up, and their jaws dropped open immediately.
Tina stood in the doorway with a sleek shiny, emerald green spaghetti strapped dress with a slit up the side nearly to her hip. Her mask covered the top portion of her face and cheeks with matching emerald green material and feathers with rhinestones shining to capture the light just right.
Her killer blue eyes shined brightly through the eye holes, and the color complemented her shorter brown hair with blonde streaks that was curled to perfection to frame her face. Her ruby red lips and gold dangling earrings made the complete package.
“Whoa,” James breathed out.
“She’s mine,” Ben said distracted.
His mouth had stopped producing the saliva it required to be able to function properly, and he crossed his legs to hide his immediate excitement from James’ view. Ben knew with as tight as that dress was, there would be no underwear worn underneath.
Tina chuckled, glad to turn her husband on so immediately. She let him stay seated until the blood dispersed back to where it belonged for the party. Tina sauntered over and sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“I don’t think that’s going to help,” Ben whispered dryly into her ear.
“Who says I came to help?” Tina taunted as she kissed her husband’s check gently.
“I don’t see how you think I can do any kind of protecting if something goes wrong in this massive thing,” they heard Sophie grumble from the bathroom.
“Stop fussing,” Tina warned. “It’s a BALL,” she emphasized. “And every princess needs to wear a Cinderella dress once in their lifetime.”
“You’re not wearing one!” Sophie retorted back from behind the wall.
“Well, there’s no time to go shopping, so stop complaining and get out here,” Tina ordered. “Wait until you see this,” she whispered into her husband’s ear.
“I don’t think it’s very practical,” Sophie mumbled, fussing with the large skirt as she barely made it through the bathroom door opening. James’ heart stopped beating.
Sophie was wearing a strapless black corset ball gown that was covered in sequins and feathers. Despite her efforts, the bottom flowed out from her tiny waistline into a giant hoop around her feet. Her mask was a copy of Tina’s, only with black material, feathers, and rhinestones to match her gorgeous black dress.
Her breasts were held tightly and pushed together to show a distinct crease down the middle. A touch of white glitter sparkled off her shoulders, while her dark wine lips matched her very vibrant dark red-wine hair that was pulled back with strangling pieces framing her face. Silver simple dangling earrings hung from her ears. Her deep crystal blue eyes were undeniable when she looked up and saw the open mouths of the boys staring back at her.
“What?” Sophie asked in panic, completely self-conscious.
Tina grinned from ear to ear. No one else responded.
“I told you it’s too much!” Sophie mumbled to Tina.
“It’s just the right amount, Babe,” James whispered as he fought to get his heart going and find his voice.
“I’m not sure you girls are going to be doing much blending in,” Ben said in his own whisper. “We won’t be able to do the plan, because we will be too busy fighting the guys off you two.”
Tina kissed her husband on the cheek again and smiled.
“I’m still wearing my tennis shoes,” Sophie declared.
“You will not!” demanded Tina immediately.
Ben held onto Tina and James jumped up between them.
“No one’s going to ever see her feet,” James assured Tina who was frowning immensely.
“Let her be comfortable in something,” Ben whispered quietly. “She’s still a breath taking masterpiece, and no one will be the wiser,” he added quickly.
“Fine,” Tina said rolling her eyes, and standing up to cross her arms in defeat.
“I can’t even bend down to put them on!” Sophie whined.
“Let me,” James said getting down on one knee.
Tina and James held their breath, but James reached over to pick up her black tennis shoes and put them gently on her feet. Completely oblivious to his friends’ reaction. Ben looked at Tina realizing she knew about the ring too, and finally shrugged.
“Should be an interesting night,” he said smiling at his bombshell of a wife.
“That it shall,” Tina said in response. Then the boys escorted the girls like gentlemen to the uber waiting for them outside.
The Morial Convention Center laid up river from Canal Street along the Mississippi River. Black bats and masks decorated the large glass windows that stood as a welcome mat around the front of the building. A large red carpet led the way inside much like the red carpet of the Hollywood award shows Sophie had seen on tv.
The inside was decorated in shiny cobwebs, with various masks hanging on the wall. Popup bars were stationed along the vastly wide walls along the sides, along with scattered mini tables covered with black floor length table clothes and various glittery Halloween decorations that represented center pieces.
“How are we going to find anyone in here?” Sophie whispered to James once they entered.
“It will be easier than you think,” James whispered back. “I let dad know what we needed before we left.”
A large bodyguard dressed in black held out his hand for their invitations. James held out the burner phone so the guard could scan the barcode.
“Right this way,” the bodyguard said flatly as he held open the door for them.
“Well, at least that was easy,” Tina said taking in the sight before her.
“We’re going to have to divide and conquer,” James said quietly. “Mom should be collecting Dr. Cox outside the theater. Sophie and I are going to meet dad and see if we can’t find Dr. Dallas.”
“We’ll hear everything with these coms no matter how far away you are,” Tina assured as Sophie scanned the crowd before her. They smiled, nodded, and split in opposite directions.
The place was much more massive than Sophie had originally thought. She scanned each person they passed carefully while James searched for the familiar figure of his father.
“Hello Dr. Samuel,” James heard his mother’s voice ring in his ear. She didn’t miss a beat when it came to gett
ing Ben and Tina’s attention. “Mrs. Samuel, you are absolutely breathtaking!” Sally exclaimed.
“Thank you, Mrs. Moore,” Tina said grinning from ear to ear. “It’s been a long time.”
“Too long, Dear,” Sally said with a hint of frustration. “I think Dr. Cox is around the corner. He had mentioned he wanted to speak to the two of you,” she said smiling sweetly again. “Let’s go see if we can find her.”
“I think you dropped your earring,” Tina said slyly. “Is this yours?”
Tina handed her the ear com discretely as Sally took it from her hand and slid it into her ear while pretending to put her earring back on.
“Most of the time I find these things to be quite boring,” Sally rambled as she pushed the ear com into her ear. “However, I think this will be my favorite one yet!”
“Missed you too, Mom,” James whispered with a smile.
Tina and Ben watched as Sally’s face faltered for a second and she blinked wildly at the tears that suddenly filled her eyes, but within seconds she was back to smiling and chatting about the places they had traveled to while being on the run.
Sophie squeezed James’ arm, and he turned to look in the direction that locked her gaze. Roger stood talking to a tall blonde man with broad shoulders that made his tux look like it was too tight. James nodded and they headed in Roger’s direction as casually as possible.
“Wow,” Roger said the second he saw Sophie. Her cheeks blushed a rosy pink. “So nice to see you again, Dr. Hughes,” he said keeping his eyes on Sophie, and extending his hand to his son.
“Absolutely stunning, isn’t she?” James said smiling at Sophie, as he took his father’s hand to shake it.
“I’ll say!” said the blonde man beside Roger.
Sophie recognized him to be Dr. Dallas immediately. “This dress is over the top I’m afraid. It’s nice to finally put a face to a name Dr. Dallas,” Sophie said smoothly while holding out her hand to shake his.
“Please, call me Corbin,” he beamed his wide smile and emerald green eyes at Sophie while taking her hand and bringing the back of it to his lips for a kiss.