“Hi.” I gave a tiny wave. The girl curled into a tighter ball. “I’m not going to hurt you.” I paused. “Then again, I’m sure you’ve heard that before.” The girl eyed Old Lilith. “I know,” I demurred, my hands palm down on my lap. “But it’s empty. It can’t hurt you either.” The girl blinked at me. “Do you have a ma or dad?” The girl shook her head no. “Brothers or sisters?” The girl shook her head no again. “Okay, no family. You’ve probably been kidnapped.” The girl just stared at me. “Listen, I’m honestly not going to harm you. I promise. Did you want to come out of that box?” There was a prolonged period of quiet trepidation. The girl moved to her hands and knees before crawling out.
She took in the building around her. She’d probably never seen more than what she could make out from her crate. She was a little under four feet tall. Her knees were scabbed, and her fingernails were dirty. She tucked her lip over her large buckteeth, but they were far too long and bulky to completely cover. Her gaze wandered from the boxes to the railings, to the two dead bodies on the floor. The woman who’d dragged me off the stairs was blonde with blue eyes and the one nearest was grey haired with olive skin. I didn’t think they were related, but then again, it didn’t make things much better. The girl blinked several times, eyes locked on the corpses.
“Yeah.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Sorry about that. But they were going to kill me.” I cringed at my own words. “Were they related to you?” The little girl shook her head. “Were they your friends?” She furrowed her brow and frowned before shaking her head again. Then she stepped toward the woman with grey hair and dipped her fingers in the old woman’s wound.
She rubbed the blood on her face and spat at the old bag.
Holy shit, this kid was too legit to quit.
I watched how the girl stared at the crone. Her mouth stiffened, her forehead creased, and her hands balled into fists. Grandma over here must have done something real bad to this kid. I walked behind her. She was barely to my waist, but she still made me nervous.
“Did she hurt you?” I asked. The kid nodded. I took a shot in the dark. “Did she touch you?” The girl looked at me as if I were wearing polka dots and a clown nose. She wiped her nostrils with her hand before shaking her head ‘no’ again. “Did she try to get you to do bad things?” The girl looked up to me and nodded briskly. “Ah,” I said while smacking my lips. “I see. They were using you as a weapon.” The girl didn’t say anything. She just stared down at the body. “Well, hey, I can take you somewhere if you want. Do you know anyone that will take you in?”
There was a pause before she lifted her head and shrugged.
“Okay. You clearly don’t have anyone. How about we just get out of here for now and come up with a plan as we go. We’re kind of hanging out at a crime scene.” The girl remained hush, but as I started to test the waters by heading toward the exit, she followed. I kept track of her as I walked to the car near the neighboring warehouse. She pursued, putting safe distance between us while observing the empty road, warehouses, and the summer sun. I wondered how long she’d been cooped up, but my concentration changed beats once I noticed that the Audi once parked outside was gone. Dillinger had escaped, and he was now aware of my presence. He was a professional criminal and would likely go into hiding.
The summer heat baked the inside of my vehicle to volcanic temperatures. I turned on the car and air conditioner before retreating back outside to wait for everything to cool off. I hid in the shade of the perched gargoyle and advertised for the cigarette companies. I puffed the cancer-stick and blew out. The girl fixed her sights on the cloud plume. I took another waft and blew out a few smoke rings. The girl watched them rise and disintegrate. Her face went from a frown to blank.
“Okay kid,” I annunciated slowly as if she spoke another language. “Lesson one.” I pointed to the cigarette. “This is dumb.” I then tapped on my head. “I am dumb. Please, don’t be dumb.” The girl titled her head at me. The slightest tickle of a smile spasmed along her lips. “Dumb,” I repeated while lifting the cigarette and throwing it. “Now that we’ve established my intelligence level, it’s time to go. You can come with if you’d like, or you can stay.” I hoped she wouldn’t want to be left here alone. Ditching her was a bluff. I couldn’t abandon her. I opened up the driver side door and slipped in. The cooler temperatures were a relief. The girl moved to the passenger side door but didn’t come in. I fanned myself and mouthed the word cold. She blinked several times. I could see sweat coming from her forehead. She slowly opened the passenger door, inspected the interior, then slipped in.
“See.” I put my hand by the air vent. “Cold.” She held her hand up and put it along the airway. Her eyes shut as her little fingers wiggled. She opened them back up, looked at me once, and then buckled her seatbelt. “Well, alright,” I said as I put the car in drive. “Destination unknown.”
We cruised out of the Westside and onto the northbound highway. I didn’t really know what to do with the girl or what the hell Dillinger wanted with her. So I did what I usually did when I hit these little snags. I headed to my favorite gaming store. Gamer’s Pair-a-Dice was a hobby and role-playing shop where local gamers met to escape the world. The little money that the place made on role-playing books and miniature monster sales barely paid the rent, but what it did for the outcasts of Chicagoland was priceless. The weird neighborhood mail delivery guy or nerdy tech support girl at the office didn’t have to worry about being judged here. They were accepted without question. Though most patrons were as socially awkward as the Dalai Lama getting a lap dance, they made up for it in brains. The place had more MENSA members than NASA. I visited whenever I needed some perspective, as intelligent people who pretended to be elves were surprisingly insightful.
I parked the car along the side lot and shut off the engine. The once-growling girl I now dubbed Little Wolf stared at the poorly painted logo on the exterior’s side wall. The tropical tree’s coconuts were replaced with Icosahedron shaped dice known to nerds everywhere as “twenty-siders.” I patted my chest, and for reasons unknown, spoke to her in caveman.
“I go in building,” I announced way too loud. I pointed to her. “You go with?”
Little Wolf pursed her lips over her rabbit teeth while furrowing her brow. I was fluent in the subtle art of dirty looks and this one said, I’m not stupid or deaf. She watched as a squat fat kid and acne covered boy with thick glasses emerged from the store. They were as geeky as they were harmless. Little Wolf didn’t say anything.
“Okay, it’s fine,” I said as I opened my door. “You can stay inside. I’ll be right back. By the way, there’s napkins in the glove compartment if you want to wash the blood off your face.”
I left the car and started to walk toward the entrance when I heard a second door slam shut. I turned to see that Little Wolf left the sedan to follow me as she rubbed a McDonald’s napkin on her cheek. I gave a half smirk and waved her over. “Come on then. Let me show you what a room of virgins smells like.” She followed with a raised brow.
A gale of chilled, musty air hit Little Wolf and me as we entered the gaming store. Darren, the middle-aged man who worked the register, sported his frequently worn Hawaiian shirt. If you looked close enough, you’d notice that the hula girls were replaced by roaring orcs. He was talking to a pudgy man with an outfit that screamed lower-office management. Darren spent most of his work day patrolling the seven tight isles for gamers sadistic enough to take pieces out of boxes or read books without purchasing them. When his great patrol was over, he tormented visitors with conversation.
“Mark my words,” Darren warned as he tied his balding ponytail into a man bun. “China will beat everyone else to Mars and then they can hold the entire world hostage with their planet- to-planet laser. They have the technology you know?” The pudgy man with no neck opened his mouth to comment, but Darren quickly cut him off. “I mean, if you like communism that’s fine, but if not, I’d be ready to build the second Great Wall by 2
030.” Darren’s eyes grew to saucers when he saw me. “Buck, what a pleasant—”
“No,” I objected.
“Wait.” Darren’s eyes followed me. “What are you—”
“Shush,” I interrupted again, standing in front of Little Wolf in order to shield her from the shameful display of a man. I could feel her little fingers tug at the hem of my pant leg. “I’m busy now. Can I ignore you some other time?”
Darren frowned. The two of us had a rare dislike for one another similar to a buzzard and a crocodile. Darren loved to squawk about his vast knowledge until it was downright demeaning. Then I would remind him that I had killed people in the Army. It tended to scare him into leaving me alone for the remainder of my visit. Today wasn’t the day to play our little game though. I had proper nerds to consult. I pushed Little Wolf, who now clung to my leg, ever so gently by the shoulder, guiding her to the gaming room entrance decorated in a chain of Hawaiian-themed leis.
Little Wolf and I entered the back room, which was as large as a typical old basement, and just as dingy. It had several makeshift tables that were strewn with tiny castles, forests, and other battle maps. My group, who we’d dubbed “Sword’s Edge,” was scheduled for this afternoon at Table Five. It was strange, but just seeing them made a unicorn tap dance in my heart. I had no real family or friends of my own, so these guys and gals were the closest thing I had to a healthy relationship.
“Dhat‘s’ when the pregnant ogre comes chargin’ at you,” Nolan exclaimed in his thick Chicago accent that comes complimentary with any working-class family. “Her club in the air. You see, she had been protecting her young and now yous’ guys are trespassing on her home.” Nolan was our Game Master, and he was a damn good one. He stood at the head of the table like the one-hundred-and-thirty-pound king that he was, describing his imaginary scene.
“Damn it, Nolan,” Nikolai, who joined us three years ago as an exchange student from Russia and had never returned home, complained. “Why must you make every scene some, how you say, existential crisis? I don’t want to question my character’s morality. I just want to kill some monsters.” Nolan gave a grin that matched the evil smirk from Lo-Pan on his t-shirt.
“Perhaps you’d like to join Table Three,” Karen, an overweight Native American accountant with a preciously dark sense of humor, jabbed. “I’m sure they have a spot for you.” Nikolai grunted.
“I have an idea,” Beth, the career band nerd, cut in. “I cast Sleep on the ogre. That way we don’t slay her but win the encounter.”
Atari, yes, that was his real name as far as we knew, cleared his throat.
“That’s true,” Atari declared with a crack in his voice, pushing the bridge of his glasses upward. “According to Dragon Wiki, you do not need to slay the monsters to gain the experience.” Nicolai’s shoulders dropped.
“Why did I even make a blood thirsty barbarian?” Nicolai slurped his Red Bull. “I should have made a damn Red Cross volunteer.” The group laughed.
I waved Little Wolf to follow me as I loomed over Table Five. Nolan smiled when he saw me.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Nolan announced. “Our resident wizard, Sarsicus, is here.” Nolan’s brows raised when he saw Little Wolf. “And he’s brawt a friend.”
“Greetings, homies.” I saluted. “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to play today.”
Nicolai, whose cheeks were covered in craters from old zits, leaned down to Little Wolf.
When Nicolai wasn’t gaming, he was abusing basement-brewed steroids or using his discount hair clippers to buzz bizarre designs into his temples. It made him look like Ivan Drago’s ugly stunt double.
“Hello, Little Girl,” he greeted with his thick accent. Little Wolf hurried behind my leg.
Beth swatted Nicolai’s arm.
“You’re scaring her,” Beth chastised in her helium pitch voice. She offered Little Wolf an unwrapped Snickers bar. “Here you go.” Little Wolf grabbed the candy bar and scarfed it down in two eager bites.
“Gosh,” Karen cried out. “Buck, when is the last time this girl has eaten?”
“Great question,” I said. “That’s actually why I’m here. Um, Nolan, can we put the game on pause for a quick second. I need a little smart people advice.” The group shared in a collective set of blank stares.
“Hey team.” Nolan clapped his hands together. “Why don’t we take a ‘tirty minute break.”
“Great idea.” Atari held onto his stomach. “I’m starving. Anyone want some Wendy’s?”
“No,” Nicolai objected. “I will solve Buck’s problem,” he declared with the confidence of
a bull charging a red cape.
“Oh gosh.” Beth slapped her forehead. “I’ll stay to counter any advice Nicolai gives.”
Karen sighed. “I’ll go with you, Atari. We can take my car.” She tossed her keys up in the air before catching them.
“Pick me up a pop, please,” Nolan requested. The pair walked out, leaving Little Wolf and me with Nolan, Nicolai, and Beth.
“So, buddy,” Nolan said while waving at Little Wolf. “What exactly is going on?”
“I found a kid.” I looked down at Little Wolf. “And I don’t know what to do with her.”
“Well,” Beth hummed. “Isn’t it obvious. You need to take her to the police.”
“No can do,” I objected.
“Uh, Buck,” Nolan stepped in. “Why not?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Nicolai spoke up. “He kidnapped her.”
I cocked my head back. “What? No. Damn it. I did not kidnap her.” Nicolai shrugged.
Nolan twisted his lips, tapping on his chin.
“‘Den Buck.” He tilted his head. “It still begs the question. Why not?”
My little gaming group didn’t know that I was a hitman. There was never a time to just open up about how I killed people for money. Instead, I masqueraded as a wounded veteran who lived on government checks. Little Wolf was my only link to Dillinger, and I was pretty damn sure she was a damn werewolf, so I couldn’t just give her away. I needed to dream up a reason why a war vet wouldn’t want to give a little girl up to authorities. Then it hit me.
“She’s Denise’s niece,” I lied. Everyone knew about Denise and her murder and walked gingerly around the subject. “Yeah, you see, Denise’s sister is addicted to well, everything, and her daughter here ran away. I barely recognized the kid on the side of the street and decided to pick her up. If I turn her in, she’ll go to the State, which we all know isn’t any better. So, I’m kind of in a funk. Suggestions?”
“No father?” Beth asked in a calm, inquisitive tone.
“Afraid not.” I shrugged.
“No udder family?” Nolan jumped in.
“None that are responsible.” I patted Little Wolf’s shoulder.
“No clothes?” Nicolai asked while inspecting Little Wolf’s raggedy shirt and pants.
“I’m working on it.” I frowned. “This all just happened.”
“Well, buddy.” Nolan took a deep breath, “I can only tell you what I’d do.”
“Yeah.” I smiled. “It’s kind of why I’m here.”
“I’d hold on to the girl for a few days,” Nolan continued, unaffected by my response. “I’d let her Ma know she’s safe of course, ‘den check in with her periodically to see if she’s cleaned up.”
“What?” Beth argued. “He can’t do that.”
“Beth,” Nolan called out, turning to her. “I was adopted. I remember how bad the orphanage sucked before my parents picked me. It’s cruddy food, wounded children, and underpaid care. You can’t hand her over to the cops. I don’t see anything wrong with Buck being the girl’s guardian angel until Ma is better as long as he lets her know that her girl is safe.” Beth bit at her lip. Nicolai crossed his arms.
“Suppose you’re right.” Beth blew her blonde bang from her face. “How will Buck know when he should give her up?” Nolan looked me in the eyes.
“I trust Buck.” Nolan nodded. �
��He’ll know. Won’t you, buddy?”
“Okay.” Beth bit her lip. “She’ll need some clothes for starters. Buck, my sister’s fifty daughters are outgrowing clothes like spring plants. If you want, I have a wine date with her after our game tonight. Come here tomorrow morning and I promise I’ll have loads of extra clothes for…” Beth paused and stared at Little Wolf. “What’s your name, Sweetie?” Little Wolf gave a blank stare.
“Uh.” I swallowed a lump in my throat. “Funny story. I only met her once. I don’t know and she won’t speak. She must be really spooked about her last few days.”
“Oh.” Beth frowned. She bent down, hands on her knees, and smiled to Little Wolf. “You don’t want to speak?” Little Wolf shook her head. “What would you like to be called, Sweetie?” Little Wolf pointed to Beth. Beth looked to the three of us. Nolan smiled.
“Look behind you, Beth,” Nolan laughed. The four of us took a glimpse behind Beth. Displayed in a clear plastic display shelf was a miniature of the fantasy goddess with midnight skin, white hair and pointed ears. She held a moon shaped sword in her hand. It was Luna, Queen of the Night Elves. Oh, sweet irony.
“That’s Luna.” Beth smiled. “Goddess of the Night Elves.” Little Wolf grinned, and I swear to you, I’d never seen anything sweeter.
“Luna it is then,” Beth laughed. Nicolai put his fist to his chest.
“This little girl,” he said with a furrowed brow. “Is what we call in my country, a badass.”
“No, uh,” Nolan said matter-of-factly. “‘Dat ‘s pretty universal.” Nicolai leaned down and patted Little Wolf on the head.
“Luna.” Nicolai saluted her. “You may join my army someday.”
“On that twist of fate,” I cut in. “I had one piece of business I wanted to discuss. Who would I talk to in order to ask about vampires and werewolves?”
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