Chapter 16
It was getting late with the sun was already set when Shaun, Elisabeth and Dwayne arrived at the bike shop with no sign of Treyson or Esther except for a piece of paper hanging on the door which caught Dwayne’s attention and after reading it he showed it to Shaun who read it out loud, “Back in a little bit went for food. WAIT HERE!” They had to find a place to rest; Shaun was barely able to walk and blood was showing through his bandages so they went into the shop. Because of darkness Elisabeth nearly tripped over the decomposing body causing a short chuckle from Shaun and a mumbled curse from her lips. Dwayne led the way passed the counter to a room with a cot, desk and a recliner. Probably the owner’s dog house, Dwayne thought with an audible snicker. A laptop lay closed on the desk and a flat screen hung on the wall opposite the recliner.
Shaun lay on the cot complaining of soreness from the lion attack, yet was asleep within minutes. Elisabeth covered him with a blanket she found in a closet, she also grabbed one for herself as she sat in the chair by the desk, but Dwayne coaxed her into the recliner. Dwayne covered himself up as he sat in the chair propping his feet up on the desk listening to both Shaun and Elisabeth snore and fell asleep.
Shaun was dreaming he was a little boy and his mother was washing his face with a rough irritating cloth and its smell was atrocious, making him squirm. He awakened to find a large lion licking his face and its hot breath making him nauseous “are you following me,” he said quietly as he sat up? Rubbing his hand through the lion’s mane he saw through the window that it was still dark outside, he wished that his cellphone would have been charged then he could check the time. He felt refreshed, but knew Dwayne wouldn’t be, sleeping in that uncomfortable position with feet propped up, he would be hurting in the morning. He started to get up to give the cot to Dwayne when he heard a car pull up out front and after he had risen the lion jumped and took his place on the cot, his weight crushing it to the floor. The noise woke up both Dwayne and Elisabeth, but before they could speak Shaun put his finger to his lips shushing them as he pointed to the door. “Somebody’s here” he mouthed, “in a car.”
Shaun saw a beam of light pierce the darkness in the bike shop, “someone’s coming in,” he whispered, motioning to the others and feeling the lion’s hot breath on his back. He heard Treyson’s calling his name, bringing calm to his apprehension as well as the others who stood up and followed Shaun out to greet him.
Treyson stood wide eyed as Shaun held out his hand and spoke, “glad to see you, my friend,” with his leprechaun voice.
Treyson stuttered barely able to speak but just pointed and managed, “l-l-lion!”
Shaun turned saying with a big grin as he rubbed his hand through the lions mane, “don’t worry he is magically my friend.”
Treyson smiled, he understood, Shaun had used his gift. “Care to explain the whole lion thing?”
Shaun started at the zoo showing his bandages and worked himself backwards through the story to when they had left. Elisabeth interrupted him at the last and asked where her sister was, expressing a worried look on her face. Treyson reassured her that Esther was ok and that she was in the van, motioning them to follow as he explained what had befallen them since they had left. Treyson’s flashlight and the full moon allowed them to see the van, Esther in the backseat and a man in the front passenger looking their way as they emerged from the shop. Elisabeth moved hurriedly past the others as she ran to the already open van door as she hugged her sister, both saying “I missed you,” at the same time. Esther’s eyes grew big when she saw the lion exit the building, nervously saying, “What is that?”
Elisabeth explained to her what had occurred since they last saw each other. As usual Esther rolled her eyes when she heard the part about Elisabeth singing, but the part about Shaun using magic on the lion made her smile as “cool” escaped her lips. It made Elisabeth sad inside when her sister acted so, why don’t she believe me, she thought. Esther showed Elisabeth the gun she had taken from Jim, explaining how she had for the first time used Krav Maga outside of training. Elisabeth hugged her again, “and we thought dad was crazy when he signed us up for those classes,’ she said making them both laugh.
Treyson put his hand on Shaun’s shoulder, “you know you are going to have to set the lion free. There is no room for him in the van.”
“I know,” he said sadly hating to defriend him. “Can he just ride on top,” Shaun asked?
Treyson just stared at him and shook his head while saying, “No.”
“Everyone better get in the van I’m not sure the lion’s reaction when I set him free,” Shaun said. “He still might be a little hungry.”
Elisabeth climbed in sitting on the bench next to Esther while Dwayne sat behind them. After Treyson got behind the wheel, Shaun got in and sat beside Dwayne. Reaching his hand through the window and touching the lion on the neck, he said “you’re free.” The lion sat there staring as they drove away and out of sight.
It took about fifteen minutes to get to Prospect Park which Treyson was familiar with, but he would need help in finding Jim’s house. Jim though, was a little reluctant on providing the information needed even with the coaxing of Esther and the nine millimeter pistol.
“We still have a gas can in the back, Jim if that’s what it’s going to take,” Esther said.
“This time we are not going to stop with your feet, but drench your whole body, making you into a bonfire,” Treyson said giving Jim a smirk.
“Ok, I will show you, but let me talk to them first. They will listen to me. I think I can convince them to give up the girl,” he said with a little cower to his voice.
“Good I’m glad you see it our way,” Treyson chuckled.
Jim was good for his word in giving the directions to Treyson, not wanting to be burnt, remembering the time as a little boy he had spilt hot grease on his legs and feet. He did not tell them of his fear, of his phobia, he would not tell anyone because he didn’t want to be deemed weak. He shouldn’t have tried to take Esther, but it was too late now, hind sight is always twenty-twenty and now they would take the van and Ye Min also. The other men wouldn’t want to give her up, but not if it meant fighting these people for they had watched a girl defeat their leader.
When they arrived they knew it was the right place because lights were on in the house. It was large, with two stories, a country style porch and an attached two car garage. One of the men was outside sitting on the front steps smoking; he stood when they pulled up. The headlights flashed upon him and they could see his hair was long and unkempt which matched his dirty jeans and polo shirt making Treyson wonder what they are using the electricity for. Treyson got out and buckled on his sword then walked with Jim until they were close allowing him to talk with the man alone. He heard the man yell “no way”, but Jim continued to argue to no avail as the man waved him off and started walking back to the house. Treyson looked back towards the car waving for them to get out then he pulled his sword from its sheath. The van doors opening and closing stopped the man in his tracks as he looked back seeing Esther aim the gun up and hearing a shot fired into the air.
He turned to speak, “we found this girl and have kept her fed. We have a right to keep her. There is no law of the land anymore.”
Esther felt her anger rise, but it was Shaun who answered, “There is always a law of the land, it depends upon the people. Until now you have got away with your law because no one had the power to disagree with it. We’ve come to override you’re law.”
They all walked up forming a rank behind Treyson, for a show of strength, but the man showed no fear. He smiled as he faced them, “there are more of us then you and we also have guns. Leave now while you still possess those pretty young things, they would make a nice addition to our family.”
Esther again felt her temperature rising as she raised the gun and aimed only to have Shaun reach out and touch her arm, “wait,” he said “let me go talk to him.”
Slowly Shaun
walked towards the man who just stood there smiling with arms crossed defiantly. He only needed to touch him using his magic then he would pay no mind to them as they just took the girl. There was a slight pause in his step when he noticed two other men standing near the garage holding shotguns, but he kept going reaching out his hand. “Hi, my name is Shaun,” he spoke.
The man withheld his hand and with a sneer said, “I’m listening.”
Realizing he wouldn’t be able to touch the man unless he lunged, he moved without thinking reaching out to grasp his arm, but the man stepped back. Shaun felt the man’s fist connect with his jaw driving him to the ground. The man’s laughter quickly became a groan as from nowhere a lion leaped pinning him to the steps and sinking its teeth into his neck ripping it wide open. One of the men standing by the garage dropped his shotgun then ran, the other man raised his an aimed at the lion, but Esther shot him before he could pull the trigger. More lights came on in the house and other men started coming out of the door, one dragging a young black haired girl by her arm, but stepping back when seeing the lion. Shaun rubbed his jaw after picking himself off the ground and patted the lion. Esther walked over taking the dark haired girl, who looked to be oriental, without any resistance by the hand and reassured her as she led her to the van.
Dwayne opened the vans back door and started tossing the food out on the ground. Elisabeth asked him what he was doing when she climbed in and sat beside Esther and the girl. “Making room for the lion, after the show he just put on, he’s got to be part of the group,” he answered.
Treyson sheathed his sword then unbuckled it putting it back in the van and sat in the driver’s seat. “Let’s go,” he yelled to Shaun, who turned and walked back to the van. He called to the lion, “come on boy,” while standing by the open rear door,” let’s go,” he added. The lion held its head up proudly as it casually walked towards Shaun allowing him to pet him and say “thank you” on its way past then sprinted into the street and disappeared into the darkness. As he closed the doors and walked to the front, Shaun wondered if he would ever see his friend again.
Esther and Elisabeth talked with the dark haired girl finding out that her name was Ye min; her parents emigrated from North Korea before she was born and that she was only sixteen. She also told them amongst tears that the house they rescued her from was her home. Esther was instantly furious, wanting to go back and take it back for her, but Ye Min said after her ordeal there she didn’t want to go back, saying she hated that place. With tears Elisabeth hugged her telling her she was safe and part of their family now.
The Renewal Page 16