by A. D. Smith
“There are those among us who are not as they appear …”
Facing us, she continues. “… demons walk this earth as mortal men. They are persuading many to join their uprising. Any man or woman you see could be one of the Persuaded: your mailman, your doctor, the woman in the car next to you, even members of your family. They normally wear the Shadow and they bear the Mark as a brand or tattoo on their arm or wrist.”
“You mean, like the Mark of the Beast that’s talked about in Revelation?” Tre asks.
“That is correct, Tre. I’m sure your father has preached about it before.”
What? I have to jump in on this one. “Wait. YOUR father is a Reverend? Unbelievable …” I’ve heard it all now. Tre opens his mouth, but obviously can’t think of a good enough rebuttal.
“And what’s this Shadow business?” asks Zeek.
“The demonic-influenced people I speak of—our kind likes to refer to them as the Persuaded—they manifest a portion of their inner darkness outwardly. It rises like—”
“—like a black, smoke-like, haze,” Zeek finishes.
“You have seen it?”
Each of us nods. Anna shakes her head as she paces around the suite. “Time draws nearer than expected. It should not be happening in this manner. We are not ready.”
“Wait a minute. Slow down.”
“Every few generations, God chooses Three to assist him in this ever present battle. Some say Jesus’ most inner circle, Peter, James, and John, were the first Three. God assigns them individual and collective powers that exceed any myth or fable.”
“Okay!” shouts Tre, bobbing up and down like an excited child. “So, we’re like modern day superheroes right?! Now that’s what I’m talking about! How many superheroes do you know, hunh Gloria?”
It doesn’t take much effort to ignore his comment. “So these Persuaded, I think that’s what we saw today. That was a demon?”
“Not a demon, per se,” Anna answers. “Rather, demonically influenced. The Persuaded are mortal, but can possess supernatural abilities, just as you. It seems as if they are increasing in number. There has to be a Familiar in close proximity.”
“Oooookay,” Tre says, not trying to hide his sarcasm. “And that is …?”
“A Familiar is a spirit, a true demon. A demon enclosed in flesh. It is not uncommon for disputes to arise in Hell and for demons to be banished or attempt to leave on their own.”
“Maybe that’s what we saw in the park,” I say.
“I suspect not, my child. Familiars are much more powerful than the Persuaded. Your countenance does not wear the fatigue of battling a Familiar. Besides, the last Familiar to enclose himself in flesh was the demon Beelzebub. But he was cast out forty years ago. This new Familiar could be masquerading as anyone.”
“Okay, this still doesn’t make sense,” says Zeek. I’m sure by now, Anna’s descriptions of supernatural occurrences has Zeek’s logic turned upside down. “I mean why me?” Zeek goes on. “This guy’s dad’s a preacher. She’s probably some goody-two-shoes,” he says pointing to me, although that is definitely not the case. “And me? I’ve never even really believed in a god, much less stepped foot inside a church.”
“This is not about any church, Zeek,” Anna says firmly. “This is about a Kingdom. One the Enemy wants to control … or destroy. What if I told you there IS a God?” she continues. “The same God your wife believed in, and He is just as real as anything you’ve encountered the last few days.”
Zeek’s defenses swell up. “Whoa. Wait a minute lady. What do you know about my wife? Who are you?”
“I am Anna, the Prophetess. I see and I know. I know you loved your young wife very much and I see you still live in the past.”
“What’d you say lady? Look, I’m out of here—”
“Hold up Zeek!” Tre pleads. “Let her finish, then it’s your call.”
Breathing heavily, Zeek stands by the door.
“God has shown me your paths,” says Anna. “He has sent me here to help you. To guide you.”
“So, you’re an angel or something?” asks Tre.
“Oh no, Tre. As you, I am flesh and blood. I am simply here to—as you say— fill in the blanks.”
“So you knew we would meet in the park.” I say.
“Not exactly, my child. I was led to this city. Once I found Tre, it was only a matter of time before your paths intertwined. I knew once your Gifts began to manifest, it would probably—what do you young people say now?—freak you out? Of course it would be apparent I was an individual completely peculiar to Tre’s surroundings. So peculiar, I may be the only person willing to believe the abnormalities happening in his life, thus yours as well.”
Makes sense to me. Tre too, we both nod in agreement. Zeek, however, is not so easily sold. “So you’re saying God, or whoever, set up this whole day—my daughter being abducted, me nearly being choked to death by some devil police officer, just so I could meet you and become some assassin of his?”
“No, of course not, Zeek. It’s much more complicated than that. You have to—”
“Save it,” Zeek cuts in. “This is ridiculous. I’m outta here.”
Anna raises her voice just as Zeek is about to walk out. “I know that like me, you have the gift of Seeing. You see visions. And when the time is right, I won’t have to find you … YOU will find me.”
Her last statement does little to bring Zeek back in. Tre and I follow.
“Hey, Zeek wait up!”
“For what?!” he yells back. “To hear more ghost stories? I’ve heard enough.”
Now at the elevator, Zeek punches the down button.
“Zeek, I know it doesn’t all make sense,” I try to reason. “But you’ve gotta admit, something is definitely going on with us and she seemed to know a lot.”
Tre joins in. “Yeah man. You saw that thing at the park just like we did. I’m not trying to be a guinea pig for God or anyone else for that matter. But if there’s gonna be something coming for me, I wanna be ready.”
The elevator doors finally open as Zeek steps inside. “Look. It was great meeting you guys but I was doing just fine before today and I’ll be just fine after this day is over.”
The doors begin to close. “Tell your fairy godmother thanks, but no thanks. Sayonara.”
“What is with that guy?” Tre frowns. “Every time I see him I get a headache.”
“Maybe people say the same about you,” I say making my way back to the suite.
“Say what?”
“Nothing …”
Back in the suite, I watch as Anna casually puts up the yet-to-be-touched lemonade and cookies. “So what do we do now, Anna?” I ask.
“Give him time, my children,” she responds. “This is much to digest for anyone. The day has waxed into night. You two should go home and rest. We have tarried long. Today, our enemy tried to abase. Tomorrow we will abound as we continue the journey!”
Tre and I try our best to make to make the most out of Anna’s jargon.
“Uhh, yeah. Sure … okay.”
She smiles. “Return tomorrow my children. Upon then, you will learn more.”
“Oh okay,” grins Tre. “Cool. We’ll be back tomorrow. Thanks.”
“Nice to meet you, Anna,” I smile, as we head for the door.
***
“Mannn, what have we gotten ourselves into?” Tre asks as we wait for the elevator.
“I … I don’t know,” I laugh.
“Wait. What’s that?”
“What?”
“You smiled,” he says. For a brief moment, he almost seems … charming. Key
word—brief.
“And?”
“Why do you act as if you don’t like me?” he smiles. I quickly erase the grin from my face, can’t give him any fuel. “Maybe it’s because I don’t,” I say blankly.
Tre looks at his reflection in the buffed, polished steel doors of the elevator. Flexing his shoulders he says, “Nah … can’t be that …”
“But I’m close enough,” Tre snaps back.
“Ugggghhhh,” I grunt as the elevator doors open. “Why do I put up with you?”
“Because I’m your personal superhero,” he bows. “I’m here to protect you, my lady.”
“Oh please. How ‘bout I protect you.”
“If I recall, it was I who saved you at the park.”
We continue our debate all the way down the elevator.
-----------T H E A S S I G N E D-----------
“What’s with these people?!” I shout through the drab parking lot. No one is there to answer back as I head for my bike. First, all this talk of soldiers and demons. Now, some lady I’ve never met is rambling off about Angel? That’s where I draw the line. I’ll just have to figure this thing out for myself. Or better yet, just leave it alone. It’s sure to die down on its own. One thing’s for sure, powers or not, I don’t owe God, or anyone for that matter.
Three stalls later and my bike still won’t crank. This is definitely not the time. It’s enough I’m parked at this ritzy hotel. The valet boys are already starting to mumble. Don’t worry guys, I’ll be gone before you build up the nerve to approach.
Okay, let’s try this again. I attempt to jumpstart the aging and stubborn chopper but she won’t budge. Frustration sets in as familiar voices shout at me from across the street.
“Hey Zeek! You okay?!”
I nod, at the same time speeding up my process. Key, clutch, kick. Again. “Come on!” I shout. Tre and Gloria are headed this way and that’s the last thing I need.
“Are you okay, Zeek?” asks Gloria.
“Everything’s fine,” I say, wildly jumping up and down on the start.
“Looks like you’re the one who needs a fairy godmother,” laughs Tre.
“Haha. Funny guy—ehh.”
“Sorry man,” he says. “But you’ve been out here what? Thirty minutes now?”
“Yeah Zeek. Why don’t you let Tre take you home?”
“Yeah man. It’ll be no problem. C’mon.”
“I … SAID … SHE … WILL … CRANK … ANY … SECOND,” ramming the start with each syllable spoken.
Tre looks at Gloria. “Do you think that old piece of metal is really gonna start?”
“Doesn’t look that way.”
“She’s not an old piece of metal,” I grumble. “She’s a classic.”
“Yeah, I bet. Just like that old television in my grandma’s living room. It just sits there. Kind of like your bike, hunh Zeek.”
“And what are you driving anyway, lover boy?”
“Well, keep in mind I’m in my spare but …” A chirping sound is heard over the parking lot as Tre clicks his car alarm. “2011 Mercedes CLS.”
“Figures,” I say, frowning at the flashy ride. “No style. No story behind it. Just show.”
“Well, the only show you’ll be watching is the homeless guy fighting the pigeons if you don’t take this ride.”
“What about my bike?”
“Trust me. That bike ain’t going nowhere.”
***
Wow. And he says this is his spare car. Some guys have all the luck. Tre TNT Turner. Seeing his name stitched in the peanut butter armrests makes it easy to remember. And now I sit in the backseat as he goes on and on about us forming his version of the Justice League.
“Zeek, don’t you get it?” he shrugs. “The three of us could possess something no one else in the world has. We could be like Morpheus, Trinity, and Neo.”
Gloria rolls her eyes. “You watch waaaayyyy too much TV. You know that right?”
“I’m serious,” Tre continues. “With these special powers or gifts or whatever you wanna call ‘em, we could kick some serious a—” Tre pauses, looking towards the roof of the car. “Okay, sorry God. Starting now, I’ma stop cursing … promise.”
Wow. Funny thing is, I believe him. Wish it was that easy for me. “You two can do whatever you want,” I say. “I didn’t ask for this. I just want my life back the way it was.”
“What would your daughter say, huh Zeek?” Tre asks. “What would she say if she knew her dad was a quitter?”
My voice grows firm. “Leave my daughter out of this, okay bro? I just got her back and I don’t intend on losing her again. Not for anyone. Not you, not God, not anybody.”
“Yeah that had to be scary for you at the park,” says Gloria.
“Yeah, that too,” I answer.
“That too? Whadya mean?”
Pausing for a moment, I lean back on the leather head rest. “Me and Chrissy’s mom, we got married when we were 18. Chrissy was barely a year old. Her mom, Angel, she—she died that same year.”
“Zeek, I’m sorry,” says Gloria.
“Yeah, sorry man,” joins Tre. “I didn’t know.”
“Then last year Chrissy got all sick. At first, the doctors thought it was pneumonia. Then they began to change their diagnosis. Some said it was Gehrig’s Disease. Others said a rare form of leukemia. They even put her on radiation but none of ‘em really knew. All they could tell me was that she was getting worse.”
The memories are so vivid. It’s not until now I realize that I’ve never told this to anyone. “A week or two ago, Chrissy’s body completely shut down. The docs finally gave up on her and said—said I should make final arrangements. Well, everybody ‘cept this one chaplain at the hospital. Anyways, the next day, Chrissy is up playing as if nothing ever happened. They couldn’t find anything wrong with her. It was like …”
“Like a miracle …” Gloria smiles.
“Well all I know is I won’t—I can’t lose her again. She’s all I got. And I’m not gonna let you two get me involved in some sort—” Movement outside my window catches my attention. “What’s going on?”
The street is flooded with cars and people. Tre slows as traffic comes to a near stand-still. “Looks like Sin City is extra swoll tonight.”
“You mean that old warehouse they turned into a nightclub?” Gloria asks.
“Yep.”
She watches as people fill the street. “My goodness. What’s so special about it?”
“Sin City?” Tre asks in surprise. “The place is hot, no doubt.”
He honks and waves as high skirts, low tops, and oh my’s flood the road.
“Typical,” Gloria mumbles, folding her arms.
“Should’ve known lover boy had been here,” I say under my breath.
“Wait a minute, what’s today?” Tre asks.
“Twenty-fourth. Why?”
“Oh yeah, that’s right. Ya boy, Jason Bale is supposed to be in the building tonight.”
“The movie star?”
“Yep. And looks like all these hunnies are out just for him.”
“He’s not all that,” frowns Gloria. “Trust me.”
“Hater is sooo not your color,” blabs Tre.
Jason Bale. Now that’s someone I actually wouldn’t mind meeting. “He’s the one bringing all those jobs to the city right?”
Tre glances back in my direction. “That’s what I heard—well speak of the devil.”
People erupt as an all-white stretched Hummer pulls up. A massive man steps from the elongated vehicle. I remember seeing him on the news. He wears a white blazer, white shirt, and blue jeans. His shirt, mostly unbuttoned, hints at his ripped frame. Next, four security personnel exit the limo. Varying in size and shape, the four men all wear similar white suit coats, with the exception of one. The guy with the mohawk and torn sleeves. I remember him too. Dark tinted sunglasses protrude from each of the men’s faces.
Jason Bale emerges from the Hummer. The crowd of twenty-somethings goes wild. Along with some who look too old to fit in. I’m not the star-struck type but I must admit, this is quite something to watch. Jason Bale seems to take it all in stride. He mingles with the crowd as his bod
yguards watch in close proximity.
“Are you ready to party?!” the actor shouts to the crowd.
The mob erupts. One man definitely seems out of place as he pines for Bale.
“Mr. Bale! Please sir, one moment of your time!” says the older man as he scratches his way through the crowd. The man who looks to be in his sixties is definitely too old to be carrying on like this. Even Jason Bale takes notice, waving to the man.
“Everyone will get a chance to party with Bale!” the actor yells, referring to himself in third person. Guess he really is a star.
“This is ridiculous,” says Gloria.
“What?” says Tre. “I kind of like it. I mean he’s not Tre Turner but it’s kind of hot.”
Gloria rolls her eyes. “Give me a break.”
I agree.
“Look at that old man,” says Tre. “He’s persistent. Wonder who he is?”
Sporting bifocals and a dinner jacket with patches on the elbows, the out-of-place chap presses his way towards the idol.
“Bale!” he yells, approaching as close as the guards will allow.
The celeb smiles as he responds, “In the flesh!”
The man’s demeanor changes. “You are an abomination! You must be stopped!”
Bale grins as he turns his back. The older man reaches into his speckled blazer.
“He’s got a gun!” yells someone from the crowd.
People panic as the obsessed fan pulls out a bottle filled with some sort of liquid and splashes it over Bale’s back. Two of the celebrity’s beefy guards immediately subdue the man. Bale carefully wipes the foreign substance from his neck. “What the … what is this?”
Pushed to the ground, the man looks up. “Holy water, you demon!”
The actor smirks. “I rather you had a gun. Now get him out of here!”
Two of Bale’s security personnel place the lunatic in the stretched Hummer and speed off as the celebrity and his largest bodyguard enter the club. The two remaining guards patrol the outside of the club as they scour the crowd.
“Did you guys see that?” Tre asks.
“Yeah,” says Gloria. “I wonder what that was all about?”