The old man materialized next to Test, and once in solid form, gave the young Shadow a nod. “Everything okay?” he asked somberly.
With a deep sigh as he looked to Nicole, Test replied, his voice full of pain. “I guess.”
“Prim and Maggie back yet?” asked the old man.
Test looked back to Cliff and shook his head slowly. “Not yet. Jenz thinks they’re okay, but I figured they’d be back by now.”
“They’ll be here soon.”
Jenz’s voice floated into the room from behind Thad, causing both he and Nicole to jump. Though Cliff had told them about Prim and Jenz, the sight of the albino woman was a shock to the both of them.
“Hello,” spoke Jenz in her graceful voice. “Welcome to my home.” Jenz focused on Thad and could see the heavy bags under his blood shot eyes. “You look like you could use a place to rest.”
Still staring wide eyed at the strange woman, Thad replied. “Thank you, but I’m….”
“She’s right, boy,” interrupted Cliff gruffly. “You should get some sleep. You’ve been a big help the last couple days, but now you need to take care of yourself.”
Thad glanced back and forth between his grandfather and Jenz. With a nod of his head to the strange woman, he spoke graciously. “Yes, ma’am; I guess I could use some sleep.”
Jenz flashed a subtle smile as she stepped back and held out her hand, motioning for Thad to follow. “I’m afraid that Lauren is sleeping in Prim’s room, but we have another couch and a recliner downstairs if that would be okay for you?”
Thad bowed his head and replied. “That sounds fine, ma’am. Thank you very much.”
Glancing to Cliff once before she led Thad out of the room, she nodded her head in recognition of the old man.
Thrusting his hands into his pockets, Test’s frazzled mind reached for conversation. “So,” he asked looking at Nicole who stood visibly uncomfortable with her thumbs in her back pockets, “how’ve you been?” The instant the words left his mouth, he heard Cliff huff.
“Still ain’t too bright, is he?” said Cliff to Nicole. Turning to Test, Cliff spoke in a paternal manner. “Her and Thad’s got some luggage out in the car. Why don’t you go bring it in for them?” He spoke the words more as a direct order than a question. “There’s a cigar in the back seat. Bring that in too.”
The old man walked to Nicole and smiled with a wink. “How about we go ask Jenz if you can use her shower? I expect that’d make you feel a little better, wouldn’t it?”
Nicole nodded her head quickly and turned away from Test. Cliff followed her lead.
“It’s really good to see you, Nicole,” said Test as she walked away.
For a split second she paused, and without turning, spoke so softly that he could barely hear her. “I wish I could say the same.”
****
Test stepped outside just as the sun began to peek over the horizon. He closed his eyes and let the light shine through his eyelids like he had done when he was a child. The air was heavy, but a slight breeze provided some relief.
With a deep breath, he opened his eyes and walked to a line of three vehicles that were parked in front of the house. The moderately long driveway was paved with small rocks in various shades of brown, and it wound through a couple of turns that led to a sandy road. As he stepped through the damp grass to the cars, he laid his hand on each of their hoods, stopping at the first one that was hot to the touch. He could hear the sound of oil dripping from the engine and into the oil pan as he walked to the rear passenger door to glance into the back seat. There, still in its wrapper, lay the cigar that Cliff had instructed him to retrieve. He couldn’t help but smile as he remembered the day that he’d met the little old man in the convenience store who gnawed incessantly on an unlit cigar. “And I thought things were hard back then,” he mumbled to himself as he lifted the door handle. Having retrieved the cigar, he walked around to the driver’s door, hoping that the keys were still in the ignition so that he could pop open the trunk. As luck would have it, Thad had either been too tired to pull them out or he just plain didn’t care if he left them in the car.
Test removed the keys from the ignition, walked around to the back of the car, and opened the trunk, lifting out the bags one by one and setting them on the ground. As he closed the trunk lid, the sight of a man standing at the front of the car caused him to fall to the ground in reflex.
“Drop something?”
Test rolled his eyes, recognizing Prim’s voice. As he lifted himself from the ground, he replied with an annoyed tone. “Damn. Why the hell does everyone feel the need to sneak up on me lately?”
Standing tall, Test brushed off his knees and looked to Prim.
“That doesn’t bode well for you then does it?” asked Prim.
With an annoyed look, Test replied. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that I guess you’re lucky a Reaper hasn’t shown up yet. If you can’t sense me standing ten foot away from you, you’ve got no chance.”
Grabbing at the luggage on the ground, Test lifted them with an exaggerated flexing of his arms. “I wasn’t….”
“Paying attention?” said Prim, finishing Test’s sentence. “That’s something you’d better start doing.” He walked around the side of the car and took a bag from Test’s hand. Staring at him sternly, he continued to speak. “There are a lot of us risking our lives for you. Perhaps you should start being more aware.”
Test detected a hint of bitterness in his voice. His first instinct was to reply defensively, but deep down he knew the Shadow in front of him was right. The shock of Prim’s arrival wearing off, Test suddenly remembered the reason for his absence. He then became aware of a spirits presence beside him, and released small pulses to bring his mother forward.
“Hi, Mom,” said Test.
Before she had materialized completely, Maggie had her arms wrapped around her son. “Is everything okay here?” she asked.
Test nodded his head and looked to Prim. “How’d your trip go?”
Prim grinned and huffed. “Trip? I suppose that by definition that would be correct.”
Struggling to regain good standing with him, Test closed his eyes and exhaled through his nose. “I’m sorry. I just meant….”
“It’s fine,” replied Prim. “I’m sorry, too.” He reached out his hand for Test to shake. “It’s been a long night and I’m tired.”
Taking Prim’s hand into his, Test replied. “I bet. We were pretty worried.”
Turning from the car, the three of them began to walk to the house.
“We would’ve been back sooner, but I used every ounce of energy I had to create the distraction,” said Prim.
“Yeah, we saw it on T.V. last night. It was pretty amazing,” replied Test. With an inquisitive look, he asked, “Why New Mexico?”
Prim laughed and slapped Test on the back with his free hand. “Everyone knows that’s where all the aliens live.”
Rolling his eyes, Test shook his head. “Riiiiight.”
****
The tension in the house was unbearable as Test stood quietly in a corner of the kitchen with Alyssa by his side. The small table was surrounded by five chairs, though it was barely big enough for four, and he listened as Jenz, Prim, Lauren, and Cliff discussed Lauren’s idea from the night before.
“It’s actually quite brilliant,” said Prim with a glowing smile to Lauren.
Test watched as Lauren’s face took on a bright red blush, and her eyes gazed upon Prim with a fierce passion. “Thanks,” replied Lauren simply.
“What I don’t understand is why does it only seems to work when a spirit is on the other side,” said Cliff with his new cigar clenched between his teeth. “It don’t make sense.”
“Actually,” replied Jenz, “It makes perfect sense. When a spirit manifests, it is using the Shadow’s energy. In essence, it appears as a living human instead of a spirit. Everything that is living releases energy in some form or another, so instead of bei
ng the void of energy that blankets the Shadow, they are simply channeling it.”
Cliff scratched his stubbly chin while mulling over Jenz’s explanation. “I see,” he replied. “I suppose that does make some sense. But if this theory is true, a Reaper would just have to step to the side and, without the spirit standin’ directly between him and the Shadow, he would be able to feel the Shadow again.”
“That’s exactly what I said last night!” proclaimed Test as he pushed himself from the corner.
Cliff raised his hand to Test. “Hold on now, son. You didn’t let me finish my thinkin’.”
Test watched as Cliff scowled at him. Though the look from the old man was uncomfortable, he forced himself not to look at Lauren whom he knew would be shooting daggers at him for the comment.
“The thing is,” continued Cliff as he turned back to Lauren, “if the Shadow is paying attention, then he already knows that the Reaper is nearby. As long as he can sense the Reapers whereabouts, he should be able to keep the spirit in between them and.…”
“I’m sorry,” interrupted Jenz, “but your logic is flawed. You are forgetting that a Shadow and a Reaper are one in the same. The presence of a spirit will also hinder the Shadows ability to detect a Reaper.”
From next to Test, Alyssa chimed in. Trying hard not to speak in an I-told-you-so tone so as not to offend Lauren, she questioned Jenz. “So you’re saying that a Shadow is safer if we spirits are on this side, using your energy?”
Jenz gently ran her index finger over her lips while considering Alyssa’s hypothesis. “I don’t know if it would make anyone safer,” she replied softly, “but it certainly appears as though the benefit of one choice would negate the benefit of the other.”
Unable to resist the urge any longer, Test glanced to Lauren whose face twisted as Jenz spoke. It was obvious that she hadn’t taken the fact into account either, and the truth was that neither had he. He watched as she slapped the table while leaning back in her chair and mumbling to herself.
“It’s still an incredible observation,” said Prim in a comforting voice to Lauren. “Think about it—Shadows have existed for centuries and you have discovered something that no one else has.”
Lauren glanced up with her chin pinned to her chest. “Thanks, but you don’t have to try to make me feel better.”
“Why not?” asked Prim. “You have no reason to feel otherwise.”
“He’s right,” said Jenz, speaking more to the point than to comfort Lauren. “Though this discovery has its detriment, the potential for use is still there. We shall have to continue to consider its possibilities.”
****
Nicole stood silently in the hallway just outside of the kitchen. She’d been listening long enough to hear talk about Shadows and Reapers. While she hadn’t been told what these words meant, she was smart enough to figure it out.
Resting with her shoulder and the side of her head on the wall, she craved a fix, something that she knew she had no chance of getting where she stood. She had secretly stashed some heroin in her bag before she’d left Kansas City, but when she went to retrieve it she’d discovered that someone had gone through her things. Her junkie mind had immediately begun to race, considering different possibilities. The only logical place she could think of was to find a medicine cabinet and see if the owners of the house had anything that could take the edge off. Deciding she’d heard enough, the conversation in the kitchen serving as a slight detour for her mission, she pushed away from the wall and turned straight into Thad who had been standing behind her unnoticed.
“Jesus,” she grumbled, being careful not to draw the attention of those in the kitchen. “What the hell are you doing, stalking me?”
With an odd expression that she’d only seen from his grandfather, Thad replied with a mixture of discipline and understanding. “I’m sorry if I startled you, but that isn’t reason to speak to me that way.”
Knowing that she was wrong, but struggling as to whether or not she cared, she apologized. “Sorry,” she said in a short, quick breath.
Stepping to his side, she walked passed him.
“Where are you going?” asked Thad. “Smells like breakfast is ready.”
Nicole turned towards him and replied nervously. “Nowhere, why?”
A trademark Johnston grin appeared on Thad’s face. “There’s nothing in there, you know.”
Angling her head, Nicole tucked her hair behind her ears and began to tap her foot. “What are you talking about?” she asked.
Thad took as step towards her. “You forget, I have Cliff’s gift too.”
She folded her arms across her chest, her foot tapping more rapidly. “So?” she replied.
Thad folded his arms as well, mirroring her posture. “So,” he answered, “I saw you going through the albino lady’s medicine cabinet.”
“Really?” she asked with a callous tone. “You’ve got nothing better to see than me looking for….” She stopped herself as she realized she’d just given her intent away.
Thad took another step towards her and spoke in a stern voice. “Okay, so I lied. It doesn’t take a psychic to guess what an addict taken away from her supply is going to do first thing in the morning, especially when she’s found out that her private stash is gone.”
Instantly enraged, Nicole stepped forward and reared back to punch Thad in the chest.
“Where is it you son of a bitch?” she shouted.
Thad grabbed her arm and restrained her. “Now you just settle down!” he shouted.
The hallway was instantly filled with those from the kitchen.
“Where is it?” screamed Nicole.
“What in the sam hill is goin’ on out here?” shouted Cliff as he grabbed his grandson’s arm. “Let her go, boy!”
With a scowl on his face, Thad let go of Nicole’s arms, leaving himself open to a cheap shot that landed square on his jaw. Being the first time in his life that he’d ever been punched, he was dazed, and as he came around to confront the young girl, he watched her arms snap to her side. She struggled as if there were rope tied around her torso, her head whipping side to side causing her hair to blanket her face.
“Let me go you fucking freaks!” she screamed. “Let me go!”
Thad turned around, confused and with a throbbing split lip, looked for assistance. He then noticed Prim standing in front of the others with an outstretched hand.
“I will let you go when you decide that you can control yourself,” said Prim in an unemotional voice.
“Fuck you!” screamed Nicole.
Test stood at the back of the hallway, almost in the kitchen, in shock at what was going on. This was not the Nicole that he knew and had once loved. He watched her flail in Prim’s grasp, screaming obscenities over and over again, almost as if she were possessed. He stared at her face, noticing the heavy bags beneath her eyes and her pronounced cheekbones that seemed to jut from her sunken cheeks. It was horrifying.
“Let her go,” he exclaimed, unable to watch any longer. With no response, he shouted. “Prim! Let her go!”
Prim glanced calmly over his shoulder to Jenz who nodded in approval. Instantly Nicole’s arms flew from her sides, and she turned away from the group sobbing hysterically. In several long strides, she ran down the hallway and into the basement.
Everyone stood quietly in shock of what had just transpired as Test took a step forward. He felt Alyssa grab his hand, and he turned to meet her troubled eyes.
“This is my fault,” he said to her softly. “She’s like this because of me—because of what I did.”
Her bottom lip began to quiver and her eyes swelled with tears as she listened to him speak.
“I have to talk to her,” he paused and looked down the hallway to the basement door. “I have to help her.”
Alyssa bit her quivering bottom lip as she nodded her head. Test bent down and, placing a hand on her cheek, kissed her gently on the lips.
“I love you,” he said, placing his foreh
ead to hers.
Alyssa closed her eyes, a single tear falling from the right, and replied. “I love you, too.”
Test pulled back, kissed her forehead, and then walked past the others to the basement door. As he was about to step down, Cliff’s somber voice came from behind him.
“Be careful, son. That girl’s a fragile soul.”
Test gripped the door frame tightly, staring into the dimly lit basement as he replied. “I will.”
He could hear Nicole’s sobs with each step he took. He trekked down the stairs slowly, trying to come up with something that he could say to make things better for her. He had nothing. As he reached the third to the last step, the stair creaked and he could hear papers shuffling. He stepped away from the final stair and, through the dimly lit expanse, could see her curled up in a recliner that was tucked away into the corner of the long room; the only light coming from a fixture that hung in the ceiling, of which one of two bulbs was burnt out. In her arms, clutched to her chest, was a notebook that looked as though it had seen better days.
He walked towards her without a word, and sat on the couch that rested on the same wall, but was a few feet away. The couch was disheveled—Thad’s bedding still piled up on the end closest to Nicole from the night before.
It was several minutes before he could work up the courage to speak. He stared at the plain beige wall opposite him.
“You okay?” he finally asked solemnly.
Her breathing coming in short huffs, she replied after a few seconds. “Do I look like I’m okay?”
He leaned back on the couch, lacing his fingers together over his stomach, and rolled his head to the side towards her. “No. You don’t,” he replied seriously. “And I’m worried about you.”
Nicole sniffed deeply and wiped her nose with her wrist. “Oh really?” she replied with a hint of sarcasm.
Test sighed. “Yes, really. What happened, Nicole? How did you.…”
“Get this way?” she interrupted as she lurched forward in the chair, planting her bare feet on the tightly napped tan carpeting on the floor. “What, you don’t think this is a good look for me?”
The Reverence of One: Book Three of the Shadow Series Page 19