by E R Landron
“Mieke?” he asks.
“What?”
“Hannah… she did it…”
I sting hit my stomach, and for a second the pain was gone. My knees tremble. Kokolite help me not lose my balance.
“Help Ezequiel. He's badly hurt.”, he says.
I’m still hurt, but I’m trying to channel all my strength to help Ezequiel. I turn back to Kokolite.
“How ... how are you?”, I ask.
“Probably some broken bones and ribs. Believe me; I'll be much better than you soon.”
I crack a very vague smile. The pain is intense. I bet I broke a human tossing record. Kokolite laughs at the thought and grunts and grabs his ribs at the pain again. Ezequiel is covered in sunlight all over. That's why Kokolite wanted me to help. I keep limping until I get to Ezequiel and just drop to my knees. Ezequiel is breathing and with his eyes closed.
“Don't worry about me habibi. I'm taking a sunbath.”, he says.
I give a vague smile and squint. I think my lips are broken. The adrenaline is slowing. I know all the pain I’m going to be, minutes from now.
“Kokolite! How are you akhuy?”, he says.
“I've been better. You?”, Kokolite responds.
“Happy to be alive! Hannah! I don't hear you!”, Ezequiel says.
“Ezequiel...”, I say, swallowing deep.
“Hannah?”, he raises his voice.
“Zeek!”, I raise my voice.
“What?”, he asks.
“Hannah sacrificed herself for us. She pushed herself out of the window. It is morning.”, I say.
“Madha? No, no, no, nooooo.... shakhs shabun...”
Ezequiel tears up. He grunts as he gets up. He cleans his tears as he stands. He helps me get up, and we walk towards Kokolite who is on a wall not receiving any sun. Kokolite receives Ezequiel with a hug. Kokolite whispers something to Ezequiel who makes him weep more. They embrace hard. I don’t know. Is it a vampire thing? "Human thing actually, I told him to let it go. He wouldn't be less of a person if he just bottled it up": Kokolite says in my mind. I look back at the destroyed office yet now that sunlight shines in all its might. It seems more tranquil — the city all through looks calm. I went to the broken window. Downstairs, cops, ambulances, firetrucks are on the lobby of the Bloody Mary Club. Nothing to the building. I see the club from here and farther away from the hospital, police station and even what is left of a burnt church. He could see it all. I bet he thought he was God himself already. The harbor is far away. I glare at the horizon. Oh, Hannah! You saved us all. I raise my head to the sky covering receiving the beaming sun. You sacrificed yourself for me. Even when you're not here, you still give me strength to continue. I love you, dad. I go back to the guys.
“I don't know how we will go without being unnoticed.”, I say.
Ezequiel points out the elevator behind a very damaged wall.
“I recognize the elevator. It has a key to get to this floor different from the one we took from a security man. I have a key to the lobby, and the hall will take us to the club or the lobby.”, Ezequiel says.
We all nod and step in the elevator. The three keep watching the messed up office as the doors close.
Day – Mieke’s Apartment, 7:03 AM
I knock on the door. Some footsteps get close to the entrance in a hurry. The door swings open. Diane smiles and quickly her face changes to utter terror. I bet I look worse than what I feel. I force a smile, and Diane hugs me and starts crying. I also cry. We embrace harder. I’ve been bottling for so much my emotions. Why hold them now?
“Are you ok? What the hell happened?”, she asks.
I squint. The hug hurts, yet the warmth of her feels like I reached the finish line of a long-lasting marathon.
“Easy peasy. We have a lot to talk about.”, I say.
“We sure do!”
“Plus I'm going to take some forceful vacations, how about a road trip? We haven't done that in ages.”
Diane smiles from ear to ear and hugs me again. I squint.
“I'll get some stuff done quickly. And we'll be on the road ASAP.”, I say.
“Make sure one of those things is a bath cuz you stink.”, she says.
Diane presses her lips and swallows hard. She has never seen me in this state. I give a vague laugh and walk to my room still limping. I go to the bathroom. I take my cloth off little by little as the pain comes from parts of me I did not know I got hit. I see my reflection in the mirror. A body full of bumps, bruises, cuts. It's going to hurt like a bitch! I’ve never looked worse in my life. I feel stronger though. I feel bigger. My world is getting bigger, and I feel... alive! I'm a survivor. I've done crazy, stupid things in my life. It's time to take care of myself. Take care of Diane. For some reason, I like what had happened. Maybe I’m a masochist, whatever; the only downfall was Hannah. But I feel like I have a new purpose. I open the faucet and let the waterfall for a second before entering. Once I walk in the water, I feel like a soothing hand caressing my body. Like how a dog feels when someone begins to pet it. Waterfalls off my body dragging blood, dust, dirt down the drain. I smile seeing all that going away. I feel as if I’m being cleansed away from bad things, from evil, from the boredom of what life seems. I have tackle all my missions with ease until today. The guilt of the memory of dad's death fades as I now know the culprit. I know now what I have to do. But for now, water is my best friend.
“I'm alive.”
A few days later - Day - Tony’s House
Diane and me arrive at the suburbs where two-story houses seem to be the norm, and the American flag almost is skipped in every other house. Some have the garage on the side, no picket fences but looks very tranquil. We park at one of the houses that has some garden gnomes in the outside all over. Tony and his wife Lucy come out. Tony has his arm wrapped and still has parts of his skin bruised but seems to be in good health. Both of them wave as we get out of the car. Tony's huge smile lights up the already sunny street.
“Oh, this must be my lucky day! Mieke visiting his partner hmmm!”
Lucy laughs at Tony's high spirit, but both faces change in concern when they finally see me also wrapped, stitched and with some more bruises than Tony has at the moment. I’m wearing a short-sleeved jacket with a white shirt and some Capri jeans while Diane has a floral dress with a yellow cardigan. I wave my hand as in a "don't worry," but Tony and Lucy didn't listen.
“Oh, my child what in God's name happened to you?”, Lucy says.
I laugh scratching the back of my head.
“I was a little jealous of Tony being an attention hug that I wanted on the action too and went to do a little mischief.”, I say.
Diane rolls her eyes and Tony just gives me half a smile.
“I'm OK though really. Thanks for the concern. How are you by the way?”, I ask.
“I am OK. Bored but OK. These days just surrounded by old farts like myself as all the kids have grown up and moved away. It is more tranquil here than in the city I must admit.”, Tony says.
“It sure is… hey… I got you something.”, I say.
I reach on my jacket and extend some lottery tickets. Tony smiles as he grabs them and was showing them to Lucy. Lucy presses her lips doing her best not to laugh at the funky dance Tony is doing in the middle of the street.
“You see this Lus! We are going to win by the way. After this, we will take a trip, to wherever and I won't accept a no! I mean we all are going to take a trip!”
Diane and me laugh and nod.
“Nah ah, mister, first you get better and then we do that trip. I'm tired of moving the lawn for you.”, Lucy says.
“No, but for real. Mieke... you should be proud of yourself and Diane too. You kids turn out to be good. That's all a father can ask for. I know deep down. Your father is telling them angels of how good his daughters are.”, Tony says.
We got a little bit choked up, and our eyes start to sparkle as the sun hits our
teary eyes.
“I will visit him, and maybe start going to chur... We both are going to a vacation. Road trip and afterward, I'll see him. It's been long overdue now.”, I say.
“Yeah. Do you first. Have some fun, smile. A lot! Laugh, cry. Diane, you make sure she has a good time!”, Tony says.
“Will do sir! I promise!”
Diane salutes Tony with a half-smile.
“After that, visit him. Cemetery, kneeling, going to the coffee shop, whatever. Maybe that will help you heal a bit.”, Tony says.
I smirk and walk over Tony and hug him and then to Lucy. Diane did as well and right after we say our goodbyes. We enter the car. As the vehicle starts moving Tony is waving the lottery tickets and saying in a loud voice and soon fading after, "Now think of a place you want to travel after we win this bad boy!". Tony keeps doing the funky dance and Lucy is covering her face in embarrassment. I continue watching them on the rear view mirror and smile as I speed up. Diane is texting and giggling. "I hope one day I can at least meet who got you that giddy," I say. "Not now, maybe later!" Diane moves her phone sideways, and I see the person stated as K, but couldn't tell what she wrote. I raise my eyebrow and mouthed a "Nah" as I continue driving.
One Week Later - Night
We get off the elevator laughing. We still have a tan. I roll my suitcase and Diane has a backpack and a goofy hat that doesn't go much with her white sunglasses, sleeveless jean jacket, and a white shirt. She also wears her shorts with designs with triangle and square patterns. She does not care as she likes putting on what she's on the mood at the moment and likes all expressions of art. The small phoenix tattoo on her right thigh looks cool. It’s still healing. "I can believe you did that Mieke." "Me? How about you throwing yourself from that high? The nerves!" We keep laughing while exchanging our vacation memories. Before getting to the door, Diane stops me and raises her phone to take a picture. I frown, and Diane took the photo anyway. She shows it to me and says: "This is how I'll see you every day once we go through that door, for God knows how long." I roll my eyes and smile as Diane postures the camera once more for a selfie. We both smile as the cellphone takes the most adorable sister selfie we’ve seen in years.
"I really hope from now on, from time to time we can do this again!", I say.
Diane half smiles and submerges her head to her phone as she receives another text. She giggles and responds "I know... we should!" I smirk, "...well maybe next time we can maybe take the mysterious K to one of our vacations?" Diane shuts one of her eyes and sticks her tongue out mocking me. I take the keys out of my jacket, and the jingle of them fill the whole hall. I turn the key and open the door. As we step in, we notice one of the lights is turned on. We stare at each other, and I go straight to the kitchen to get one of my guns. I open a cabinet at the bottom part I hit the end revealing the secret storage. Only some scattered bullets. What the hell? I rise to see a petrified Diane. I move slowly to were D is standing. I see the reason why she trembles. Squinting. Oliver points my gun at her temple. Fire rushes through all my body. He has a red cap and sunglasses. Grey shirt that was covered by a hoodie jacket. I bet he went to much trouble to not to be seen.
“You have some nerve to come here and do this... do this to Diane.”, I say.
“I hate to do this. Diane is like a little sis...”
“Oh shut the fuck up and quit the bullshit!”, I interrupt him.
He presses his lips, but he was trying to hold them tight as much as he could still his teeth were being exposed. He looks angry and looking like he’s having a mental breakdown resulting in him weirdly smiling. His stare looks like it could burn anything. Diane was doing her best to stay calm while I wish I have Ripa's power and spike this sorry excuse of a man. He grabs Diane by the neck with a force that makes her squint even more. She presses her teeth as he hurts her. I press my lips. I don’t even blink leaving a serious dead stare on him.
“You! You fucked me! You fucked me! It seems you’re playing hero game has resulted in a freaking commotion, to the whole city!”, he says.
I’m confused.
“What do you mean?”, I ask.
“Oh C’mon Meeks…”, he says.
“Don’t call me that!”, I shout.
“This whole city is going to crumble! Because of your actions! You’ll have to be accountable for what you did!”
“Can you say it already? You sound like a freaking politician not saying what it needs to be said!”
“Hmm Hello, I don't wanna die here. Can we tone it down a little bit.”, Diane cries.
I wave.
“For God's sake can she just sit down? We aren’t going to move. You're the one with the gun.”, I say.
He took a while to react. His breathing is heavy. Oliver nod still upset, still trembling from anger. He forces Diane to sit. He presses his gun against her shoulder.
“Because of you, my name means shit now. The streets are talking and the powers to be are shifting. You don't know how you maybe have doomed us all. Including your sister.”
I’m trying to absorb and analyze each word, but the stress of watching Diane on harm’s way has left me vulnerable. I’m not thinking right. The only thing I did was help a physic vampire, an Egyptian guardian. At the end city’s kingpin has died and Hannah’s clan was murdered. Including her. So, somebody is taking Ripa's job I guess.
“So, another big shot takes Ripa's place? Is that it? And you are taking your frustrations with us? I think you're more pathetic than I thought.”, I raise my voice.
“You don't get it, do you? Is not just another bigshot, it's his or her resources. It's his or her people. For what we know, maybe the whole line of gangs can come here without mentioning what it's installed with them freaks. New crimes, new drugs, new fucking rules that we all have to adapt. Every time this happens… blood fills the streets. People get killed. I wish it was just humans taking on each other. We are just puppets. This city… this city will burn Mieke. It will burn because of you…”
Oliver takes a deep breath, and I notice a subtext. Something important is going to come out of his mouth yet he hesitates, and I’m losing patience.
“Spill it, Oliver! You look like a rook trying to ask permission to go to the bathroom.”
Oliver gives another smile that makes the whole room feel awkward. Sweat pours from his forehead. He throws his cap to the floor and licks his lips.
“To keep myself above in the pyramid... I'll have to kill the detective that killed Ripa. And as a bonus, I can say I tortured you by killing your sister in front of you.”, he says.
Oliver's face is of determination as if he just finished fighting a battle he had inside on what to do. I feel like I just been punched in the stomach. Diane’s whimper makes it difficult to talk. I analyze the distance between Oliver and me. If I sprint, he'll get enough time to pull the trigger on Diane and just enough time to maybe hit me on the leg or on the chest before fighting him, making it difficult to continue afterward. Perhaps he will turn the gun over me shoot me first and he'll easy over-power Diane. I feel sweat forming. The whole room tilts. Vertigo. My knees almost give up. Nausea. I want to puke. Another sounds in my mind, "or I can knock on the window, and when everybody is looking at me, Ezequiel will run and beat this mofo up. By the way, you left your door opened." My eyes are still fixed on Oliver, and I try to mask scan elsewhere, so I put my hands on my ears and shake my head like I can’t believe what is happening. As I shake side to side, I see a crouching Kokolite on the catwalk waving in the night time. "Hello you, detective that killed Ripa you! You're famous now!", Kokolite continues telepathically. He knocks on the window, and Oliver's attention is drawn. His eyes were as if he just saw a ghost waving at him and blowing him a kiss. Oliver panics and goes to shoot me first. As he moves the gun towards me, I squint awaiting impact. The gun blew the bullet out, and it flew to its mark without hesitation. A metal hitting metal sounded as the bullet ricochet from Ezequiel's bracelet. "Come
on man that was our thing!", a muffled voice of Kokolite says from the outside throwing his hands downwards. Oliver’s eyes are of disbelief and quickly become of total fear. Ezequiel runs towards Oliver who shoots like a maverick and continues as Ezequiel holds his hands upwards pressing it hard. I am still on the floor ducking right after the first bullet ricochet. I get up and run towards Oliver, who’s hand is almost turning purple from the force of Ezequiel and superman punch him knocking him out instantly. I was going to continue hitting but stop as some neighbors peek from their open doors. Whom the hell gets to see where bullets are flying? Get inside and locked yourself up! Geez!
“It's all under control guys. This drunk man got in, and he's under custody at the moment.”, I scream.
The neighbors are in disbelief. They close their doors. They are going to call 911 either way. Let me call it in, and I'll deal with this tool later.
“We can’t harm him anymore… we got witnesses. Let me take him to the station and afterward have a little conversation with you guys.”, I say.
Ezequiel nods and Diane runs to me. We hug.
"Can you guys let me in? I feel ignored! I helped.”, Kokolite says.
“You are coming with me, mister. We will do our thing now!”, I say.
Diane goes to open the window, and Kokolite enters in a hop. He stands up. His stature looks noticeable next to Diane, and he smiles at her showing his fangs. I take Oliver and carry him outside the apartment.
“Can you stay here for a while Zeek?”, I ask.
Ezequiel nods and smiles to Diane as she presses her lips and forces a smile as well. "You will be safe I promise. You are in good hands!", I say to Diane. "Good way to finish vacation though..." Diane replies. I bit my lip with a disappointing face and continued lifting Oliver. Kokolite helps me. We drag him to the elevator and quickly on to my car. We open the door and toss him in the back seat. I enter the backseat as well and got on top of him, and I punch Oliver twice. One to make sure he’s unconscious, the second because he ruined my vacations.