Shadow Guardians - Genesis

by Albert Long

  “We’re a rarity,” Matt said. “Those who refuse to let their souls be taken because we have work left to do on earth. Besides Mimi, Miguel, and you, I’ve never met another like me. I used to think I was all alone when I died and decided not to go with the Soulcatchers. Sometimes I wonder if God understands why I elude his kingdom to stay in this place that has to be close to what hell is like. I remember the day that I met Miguel. I was out near the valley. I had just come from rescuing a six-month old from a trash bin and taking her to a hospital—to safety. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, but I could hear what sounded like lightning, and there were blue streaks of electricity pouring into the sky. A flock of geese was passing, and it looked like the electricity was being aimed at them. One of them was hit and fell to the ground. I heard someone yell, “gotcha”. I hastily made my way to see what was going on. I hovered just near the geese and looked down to see a ghost with flaming blue eyes hovering just above the ground, fists clenched, with blue electricity streaming from them into the sky. I yelled to him to stop. He shot a bolt in my direction, but it passed through me. He seemed angry at the world. We talked and found that we had some things in common—the least of them being a desire to keep what happened to us from happening to as many kids as we could protect. A gang of ghosts with a common cause, we called ourselves the “Shadow Guardians”, and we combed the city looking for children to help. Every so often, we would find a chance to make a difference, and we saved many kids from the evils of this world. It was about a year later that we met Mimi. She was doing the same thing that Miguel and I were doing, only by herself. She had saved as many kids alone as we had together, since she had the power to sense them and their need for help. Adding her to the team gave us the ability to help more kids and to do it faster. Mimi located the children in need, I appeared to them and led them from danger, and Miguel was the punisher. It’s been that way for three years now,” Matt finished. “Any room on the team for a rookie,” Jericho laughed. “You’re with us for now,” Miguel said. “Come on. We’re here at my Mother’s house,” he added.

  “If you don’t mind, I want to do this alone,” Miguel said. “We’ll be out here,” Mimi said. “With Jordin around, we probably shouldn’t stay too long,” Matt added. “I’ll just be a minute,” Miguel replied. Mimi, Matt, and Jericho stood on the front porch in front of the picture window, peering inside the house. Miguel phased through the front door and entered the house. He looked around. Not much had changed since he was last here. The television was on, and a soap opera was in progress. Miguel’s mother was lying on the couch, still dressed in her nurse’s uniform. Miguel knelt next to her. “I know you can’t hear me,” he whispered. “Just know that I love you and will always protect you,” he said. “Miguel, go clean your room,” his mother mumbled. “Ma, you can hear me,” Miguel asked. “Okay, it can wait until after you’ve finished your dinner,” his mother said. “Just a dream,” Miguel said, disappointed. His mother rolled over on the couch.

  Miguel kissed her hand. He walked to the back of the house to look around. He was curious to see what his old room looked like, and he wanted to pick up a pair of leather gloves he used to wear. He entered his room. The pictures he had on the wall when he lived there were still in the same positions. He opened his dresser and found the black gloves that he wanted. His clothes were still there, neatly folded as he had left them years ago. Miguel felt sad. His mother obviously wasn’t moving on much with her life—just working and being alone. There was no sign that any other human but his mother lived there or visited with any routine. “Miguel, I sense Jordin and Orin nearby. We have to leave,” Mimi said. Miguel didn’t hear her enter the house. “Okay. Let me look in on Todd’s room, before I go. I sure miss him,” Miguel said. He and Mimi walked across the hall to Miguel’s brother’s room. “I never understood why he decided to go with the Soulcatchers,” Miguel said. “There was work left here to do. Look at this room—still a mess just like he left it. I don’t think Ma ever comes back here. I guess the pain is still fresh, losing both her sons on the same day,” Miguel lamented. “I’m sorry, Miguel, but we have to leave now. Getting away from one of them is hard; beating two of them is nearly impossible,” Mimi said. “Okay. Let’s go,” Miguel said. He put the black gloves on his hands and clinched his fists. Blue electricity emanated from them. “Show-off,” Mimi said. Miguel chuckled.

  When they came out of the house, Jericho and Matt were kicking a soccer ball around in the front yard. Jericho, obviously, had some skills in doing so. He looked like a pro. Matt barely got the ball to go three feet with all his effort. “Boys,” Mimi said. “Let’s get out of here.” “Your best option would be to surrender and come with us,” a voice boomed. They turned around to see Orin hovering over Miguel’s house. “Run,” Jericho yelled. “Separate,” Matt added. “I’m going to take care of him,” Miguel shouted,” anger in his voice. “How dare you defile my Mother’s house by coming here,” Miguel said, as he fired a bolt of blue energy towards Orin. The soul catcher dodged it with ease and pulled out his flaming sword from its sheath. “Miguel Menendez, today is your day,” Orin said. He charged towards Miguel. Miguel held both fists together and formed a circle of blue electric around himself. The soul catcher swung his blade over and over at Miguel, but could not penetrate the force field. Jericho, Mimi, and Matt had abandoned their hiding spots and were watching together from behind a shed on the side of Miguel’s mother’s house.

  “Miguel has to be the most powerful ghost I’ve ever seen,” Jericho said. “It’s unheard of for one of us to battle a soul catcher alone and hold his own,” he added. “Miguel is so stubborn and full of rage that it seems to boost his powers and his control over them,” Matt said. “We have to do something to end this stand-off,” Jericho said. “What did you have in mind,” Matt asked. Almost on queue, Miguel’s mother came out of the house and walked to her car. Jericho approached her and whispered, “repeat after me. In the name of the most Holy, I command you to leave this place.” Miguel’s mother repeated the phrase aloud. Orin looked at her and shrieked in agony. He put his sword away and flew at a high rate of speed away from Miguel. “I will see you again,” he warned. “We will never stop”.

  Miguel lowered his force field and fainted. He was drained. Mimi walked over to him and touched his forehead. Cold energy rushed through his body. “I’m okay,” he said as he stood up. “How did you know to do that,” Matt asked Jericho. “Soulcatchers are agents of heaven, not evil,” Matt added. “They are bound to do the bidding of the Father. They do nothing but serve,” Jericho said. “If a human commands them in the name of the Father,” they have to obey,” he added. “I used my power to get your Mother to command him in the name of the Father, and she did,” Jericho said. “That was terrific,” Mimi said, hugging Jericho. Matt gave her a look of jealousy. She winked at him, still clutching Jericho.

  Let’s find somewhere to rest and recollect ourselves,” Miguel said. “Then we can figure out our next steps,” he added. The four of them flew south, away from town, towards the ocean. “I know a café on the beach that I used to go to with my family,” Mimi said. “Let’s go there and get something to give us energy, rest, and think about our next mission,” she said.

  CHAPTER THREE: A GREATER GOOD

  Matt hastily slurped the glass of sugar water, as did Jericho, Mimi, and Miguel. “It’s the only thing we’ve found that we can take in that gives us energy,” Matt said. “Actually, I’ve found that anything with high sugar content gives me a boost,” Jericho replied. “If this is all you guys have been using for energy these past years, you’ve been missing out,” he added. “Let’s find some pineapple juice—this café does have a bar,” Mimi said. “I’ll go,” Miguel said. “I’ll go with you,” Mimi replied.

  The two of them on their way to find other energy foods, Matt and Jericho stood silent drinking their sugar water. Finally, Jericho broke the silence. “You’re very fond of her,” he asked Matt. “She’s like a little sister,” M
att replied. “Nothing more,” he added. “That look you gave her when she hugged me suggests otherwise,” Jericho said. Matt was silent. “I understand,” Jericho said. “I’m not trying to invade your turf,” he added. Matt chuckled. “Humans are funny to watch,” Matt said, changing the subject. “Look at them,” he said, pointing to a family at a table. “I like to sit near them and listen to their trivial views on life and the problems they think they have,” Matt said. Jericho was silent. “Take that guy over there on the cell phone,” Matt said. “He’s talking into the phone and motioning with his hands so furiously, you’d think he didn’t know the person on the other end can’t see him,” Matt chuckled. “Let’s see what’s so urgent”. Matt walked towards the man. Jericho followed. “I’m telling you. I need fifty more of them by the end of the week, or I’ll never make production on the contract, Sam,” the man said. “I don’t care. Get them from group homes, orphanages, off the streets, wherever. I just need labor,” he said. Matt and Jericho looked at each other in amazement. “He’s not talking about what I think he’s talking about,” Jericho said. “Yes, he is,” Matt replied. “God leads us where we need to be, and this is destiny, my man,” Matt said. “My friend,” I think we’ve stumbled on a child labor problem that needs our special attention,” Matt added. “Let’s tell the others,” Jericho said.

  “Point him out, so I can get close enough to feel his emotions,” Mimi said, after hearing Matt and Jericho’s news. Miguel’s eyes glowed a flaming blue, and static electricity crackled around him. “Is he always that intense,” Jericho asked. “Actually, given the news, he’s rather calm,” Mimi said. “Now, which guy is it,” she asked. Matt took a gulp of pineapple juice and pointed to the man on the cell phone. Mimi floated over to him, as the others watched. The man was inhaling a hamburger and fries. When he looked up from his plate and saw Mimi, he screamed, “a ghost”! People around him began to stare. “Don’t you see her,” he said, pointing at Mimi, and quickly fleeing the table. Mimi motioned for Matt, Jericho, and Miguel to follow her, as she gave chase to the man. He leaped into a black sedan and sped away. The guardians followed, Miguel leading the pack. “What did you sense from him, Mimi,” Jericho asked. “It was weird,” she said. “I couldn’t sense anything. It was as if there was just a black hole there. He must be evil though. How else could he see me, if he wasn’t,” she asked. Let’s see where he goes,” Matt said. “We can’t risk spooking him any further, or he might change up to throw us off,” Jericho said. “Let’s ascend about a hundred feet and stay with the car,” Miguel said, leading the team upward, but still keeping pace with the speeding car.

  The guardians followed the man for what seemed like an hour before he turned into a parking lot, stopped the car, and got out. “Weaver’s Stitchery,” whispered Mimi. “It’s some kind of business. He must work there or something,” she added. “From what he said on the phone, I bet he owns it. Look at what he drives too. He’s not your Odinary citizen,” Jericho said. The man looked around him, as if scanning for Mimi or to see if anyone else had followed him. “Stay in the shadows,” Matt whispered to the team. They all descended to the ground and hid behind another car in the parking lot. The tall man with the pointed nose and grey hair that they had followed was joined by an Asian man wearing sunglasses. He held a large cane rod in his left hand and walked with a limp. “Can you hear them,” Miguel asked. No one responded. “Matt, go human, and walk by them to the grocery store next door. Stand out in front and drink some juice, while the rest of us make our way to the other side of the building,” Miguel said. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Matt said. “They’ll clam up when I walk by,” he added. “Don’t worry about that. We just need some ears closer to them. Now do it,” Miguel commanded. Matt morphed into human form and stood from behind the car. He took several quick steps to the side to appear as if he had just gotten out of an adjacent car and started to walk near, but not too close to the men. They were speaking in Asian. “Just my luck,” Matt said to himself. Matt walked to the front of the grocery store next to the stitchery. The two men continued to chatter, Matt unable to make out a word of their conversation. From where he stood, Matt could see inside a window in the stitchery. He saw tables with sewing machines and empty chairs. No humans were visible. Miguel, Jericho, and Mimi were still behind the car hiding. “Guess they decided not to risk being seen,” Matt muttered. Matt began to walk back to where they were hiding, when a third man, African American with braided hair and a long scar diagonally across his face, joined the two outside the stitchery. “Stop that Asian garbage and speak English. This is America,” the man said. The gray haired man and the Asian laughed. “My friend, how is it going,” the Asian asked. “The sewing machines are all ready and refurbished. All we need are bodies to man them and get some garments made. We have orders to fill,” the African American man said. “Too bad we had to get rid of our previous workers,” the Asian added. “They were too sick to keep around. I wasn’t going to risk catching small pox,” the African American said. “And we couldn’t take them to the hospital or a doctor, now could we,” the gray haired man added. “It was best just to put them out of their misery.” “I made some calls today, and Reddick is out now recruiting our new workers. We’ve disinfected the housing quarters, changed all the linens, and got a hold of some vaccine for small pox. When we get them to the quarters, we’ll vaccinate them and have them on the machines within a day. Should take about two days to train them, and then we’ll be back in business,” the gray-haired man said. “I hope you told Reddick to find all females this time, no younger than ten and no older than fifteen—they make the best workers,” the Asian said. “They’re good for a little recreation, too,” the African-American man said. That’s what you’re really after, isn’t it Gung,” he asked the Asian. The man gave a huge belly laugh. “You two are sick,” the gray-haired man said. “Sick. Using children to make clothes for free is one thing. Using them for perversion is another. Whatever you do, I don’t want to know about it,” he said with a frown. “Oh, you won’t know,” Gung said. “Say, do you believe in ghosts,” the gray-haired man asked the other two. “No. When you’re dead, you’re dead. No heaven. No after-life. No ghosts,” Gung said. “That’s what I thought until today,” the gray-haired man said. A crackling noise came from behind the car where the guardians were hiding. “What was that,” the gray-haired man asked. “You’re awfully paranoid, Rick,” the African-American man said. “You sure you can handle this”? “I guess it was nothing,” Rick said. “Tell us about the ghost thing,” Gung said. “Well, I was at the Cabana having a burger before I came here. Out of nowhere, this blonde child in a white gown appeared, floating about six feet in the air,” he said. Gung and the African-American laughed hysterically. “You’re seeing dead children, huh,” Gung said. “We’ve been doing this for over seven years, making tons of money, and now you’re starting to crack-up on us,” he said. “Are you still shooting that stuff into your veins at night,” the African-American asked. “I still use, but it’s not the heroin. I haven’t used in two days,” Rick said. “Well, after what we had to do to those nine kids, I think your conscience is eating at you. This is no business for anyone with a conscience,” Gung said. “I’ll be fine,” Rick replied. “Maybe it was just my imagination.” “You keep your imagination in check,” the African-American said, running his hands through his braids. He lit a cigarette and puffed smoke into Rick’s face. “Yokim, if you do that again, we’ll have a problem,” Rick said. Yokim laughed. “Get Reddick on the phone, and see what he’s got for us, he said. Before you get your old white fanny dusted by a Rasta”. They all laughed.

  “Reddick, this is Rick. How many kids we got,” he asked. “I see. That’s good. That’s good. Those kind will make the best workers,” Rick said. “What’s he saying,” Yokim asked. Rick waived his hand and put his index finger over his mouth to shush Yokim. “Okay. See you at the quarters in about an hour,” Rick said. “So. So. What’s up,” Gung asked. “
Dig this,” Rick began, “he’s been over on 18th Street picking up runaways strung out on drugs. He said he got the idea from a pal who used to work the streets, but traded that business for dealing. Says that they can go for hours on end, working with no food and little supervision—are trained to obey and only want a little high at the end of the night. It’s perfect. He’s picked up three so far, and they’re at the quarters chained to the beds asleep. He’s looking for five or six more within the hour, and we’re in business,” Rick said. “Couldn’t be more perfect,” Gung chimed in. “And their ripe for whatever else we need them to do,” Yokim said. “I told you to keep that to yourself,” Rick replied.

  Matt morphed back to his ghostly form and joined his teammates. “Well, what’s up,” Mimi said, anxiously. “It’s bad,” Matt said. “Really bad. We can do a lot of good here”. Matt filled the team in on what he overheard, and gave them the names he heard the men call each other. Miguel’s eyes didn’t turn their usual blue. Instead, they were a fiery orange mixed with yellow. The veins in Jericho’s head seemed to grow even larger. Tears flowed down Mimi’s face. “We have to stay with these guys and find the quarters where they’re keeping the girls,” Matt said, breaking the silence. He extended his hand into the middle of the group. One-by-one, the rest of them put their hands out and on top of one another. No one spoke a word. It was understood what each of them was thinking.