Chapter 6
A child's love
Breckler’s was relatively quiet today. Sitting by myself, I looked across the table at ghosts of the past smiling back at me, while waiting for my lunch. Funny, for being a self-proclaimed loner and introvert, sometimes . . . just sometimes . . . it got lonely.
“Mr. O’Leary, got your lunch ready, all nice and hot, right off the grill.” The young fella placed a plate full of wonderful in front of me; it was a cheeseburger and an overabundance of french fries. “The fries are probably still really hot, so be careful please.”
“OK, will do.” Picking up a fry, I popped it in my mouth. It scalded my taste buds. He wasn’t kidding. “Looks like a bit overkill on the fries, but I will try and not waste it.”
“Well, the boss lady says you are one of our longest running customers . . .” The young fella looked happy with himself. “. . . so to make sure you’re treated right.”
“Did she also mention that I’ve probably caused the most trouble over the years too?” Chuckling, I tested a second fry for ouch factor. “That’s probably what most of the rest of the town remembers me for.”
“Yes, sir, actually she did mention that fact.” Leaning over, he looked like he was going to let me in on a secret. “That’s another reason why we do our best to keep you happy.”
Laughing, I picked up the burger to start on it. “Don’t worry, most of my trouble days concerned girls, and I am way over that phase of my life, so you guys should be safe.”
“Connor! Surprise of surprises, you actually left Carla’s,” Nicky’s happy voice bellowed from somewhere behind me. “You not get in any more trouble? Now that is a very unlikely scenario, laddy.” Swinging his leg over the bench, he sat down across from me.
Somehow his bright red mutton chop sideburns made his contagious smile seem bigger. “Nicky, give a fella a break. Maybe I’m trying to change my rebellious ways. After all the years we have known each other, you’re going to paint a bad picture of me for this young fella.”
“Oh, I don’t know if it will be bad, but it will definitely be colorful if he listens long enough.” He was scanning the room behind me like he was looking for someone. “The living legend, that’s what you are, my friend, in all the best and worst ways depending on who you ask.” Laughing, his gaze locked onto someone and his smile widened.
“I will leave you gentlemen to your lunch.” Backing away from the table, the young fella was trying not to laugh at our antics. “Just flag one of us down if you need anything at all.”
“Pop-Pop, look at all the food they gave us today!” Little Becky, his granddaughter, climbed up on the bench beside him with a tray of food. “But they didn’t give us any ice cream?”
“Well, little lady, we need to eat up our lunch first.” Nicky dropped his face down to her level. “Then we get ice cream. What made you think you didn’t have to eat lunch and go straight to dessert?”
“Well Momma’s not here.” Becky smiled up at him. “Everyone knows the rules are different when I’m with you.”
“Oh really? And where did you get that idea?” He was righteously trying not to laugh. “I do not remember ever saying anything like that to you.”
“You didn’t ever have to say it.” She paused, looking back and forth between us. “You just have to pay attention, and it’s obvious.”
A woman at the table next to us looked like she was about to spit out her soda as she snorted, smiling at me.
“Oh, so you’re riding me about my nefarious ways, and yet you’re starting her down the road of child delinquency. I see how it is, buddy.”
“Now ya see, darlin’, I’m sure what I meant to say was . . .” Nicky began blushing at the fact he had been cornered with no way out. “Sometimes, only sometimes . . . it might be OK to . . .”
“Nicky, I’m pretty sure she heard it right the first time.” Laughing, I shook my head trying to figure out what to say next. “I can back you up from personal experience, Becky, I’m sure you heard it right.” Stuffing the last bite of burger in my mouth, I was just enjoying watching him squirm.
After a few minutes of listening to Nicky try to redeem himself, my waiter buddy showed back up with a bowl of strawberry ice cream. “It looked like you might be ready for this, so I went ahead and brought it over, Mr. O’Leary.”
“Do you ever order anything else?” Nicky was valiantly trying to shift the discussion back my way. “Because I’m not sure I have ever seen you order anything else.”
“Nope . . . once you find perfection, I would rather not risk it.” Sticking a spoon in it, I glanced up. “I had not ordered this yet, but thank you, I was about to.”
“Well, sir, you always do, so we were just trying to be efficient.” Smiling, he retreated before he got caught in another of our exchanges. “Enjoy.”
“Mr. Connor?” Becky tugged on my sleeve to get my attention. “Do you still miss Mrs. Kimmy? I do. A lot . . .”
Nicky gasped. “Becky!” Whispering, he tried to stop her, but it was too late. “That’s not . . .”
Staring into her perfect little green eyes, face framed with brown hair pulled into two pigtails with green bows, just like most days . . . just like my angel had most days at her age. An invisible hand squeezed my heart, and I summersaulted into the darkness of my mind to another happier time.
***
“Conna’! Poppa just drop me off . . .” Kimmy was literally bouncing across the yard toward me, distracting me from the hunt. “He said I could stay the whole day!”
“OK Kimmy.” Trying to concentrate on the task at hand, I got down on my hands and knees in the dirt, pushing my little bucket along. “We’ll have plenty of fun later.” Carefully, I peeked under every set of leaves I came to.
“Whatcha doin’?” Quickly, she had scaled the fence even while wearing her dress and was wading into the leafy mess surrounding me. “Ya lose somethin’?”
“Nopers . . . just tryin’ to find the little buggers. They all hiding today.” Ah-ha! Coming across a deep red gem hiding under a big leaf, I held it up in victory. “Strauburrys!” Smiling, I dropped it in my bucket.
“Can I help?” Ignoring the dirt she was getting on her dress, she kneeled down beside me. “Momma says I’m good at losing things, but I can find them too, most of the time.”
“Sure. You look under the leafs on that side.” Meticulously working my way down the row, no leaf went unturned, just in case a treasure was hiding under it. “Poppa said there should be bunches of them.”
“Found one!” Kimmy held up a giant strawberry to show me before dropping it in the bucket. “Maybe there anotha one nearby.” Back over she bent, peeking under more leaves. Her green and white checkered dress was officially a mess. She did not care one bit.
The next couple hours passed uneventfully. Our treasures eventually filled my bucket, at which time Poppa came over and emptied it, ruffling the hair on each of our heads as he walked by.
We continued our hunt until we came to the end of the final rows. Looking up, Momma was waving at us from the porch. Both of us stood up holding the bucket, and together we hauled it to the porch. Momma’s smile sparkled. “That’s great, kids. Why don’t you go get cleaned up a bit while Poppa gets everything set up.”
“Set up?” Questioningly, I looked up at my Momma. “What we doin’ next, Momma?”
“Don’t worry. I can guarantee you will like it.” Guiding us through the front door, she gently pushed us toward the bathroom. “You too, Kimmy. When I talked to your mother, she thought you would like it.”
“OK ma’am.” Holding my little hand, she walked down the hallway with me toward the bathroom. “If Momma said it’s gonna be good, it probably is.”
“Yep . . .” Grabbing a small stool, I made sure Kimmy got to the sink first to wash up. “Momma always tells the truth . . . always.”
After removing at least some of the dirt, down the hall we went, back out onto the porch, hand in hand. Turning to my right, my excitement almost got the best of me. Oh yeah! Ice cream!” Poppa had a barrel of ice and the cranky thingy with a bag of salt near it. And that meant yummy! “You gonna like it, Kimmy. Fresh strauburry ice cream!”
“You make it?” Walking over to the cranky gizmo, she looked at it. “That’s kinda neat. My momma buys it at the store.”
“This will be a lot better! It always is.” Taking her hand, I led her over to the porch swing to sit down and watch Poppa get to work on making yummy perfection. It was Kimmy’s first time.
Sitting on the porch beside me, Kimmy suddenly giggled. “You the bestest friend ever, Connor.” Wrapping her arms around me, she gave me a big hug. Silly girls . . .
***
A quiet little voice pulled me back to the now. Something was wrapped around my neck. “Mr. Connor, I’m sorry . . . I won’t ask that again. I’m sorry.”
Blinking my eyes, there were tears on my cheeks. Becky had wrapped her arms around my neck and was hugging me, sounding like she was going to cry any moment. Gently pulling her close in a hug, I held her tight to my chest. “It’s all right, darlin’. Yes, I still miss her. I miss her a lot.”
Kissing her on top of the head, I closed my eyes, focusing on the little body in my arms and tried to find peace for at least the moment . . .
Chapter 29
A visitor from the past
The drizzle continued to fall from the cloud-filled sky. Occasionally the almost full moon peeked through the overcast blanket that covered the city tonight. My boots clicked against the wet concrete as I prowled the night in search of relief . . . relief from the pain of my tortured soul. Flexing my right hand into a fist, the neck of a ganger still seemed to fill it, pulsing with life, until I had started squeezing . . .
A smile crept onto my face. He had been the third tonight, an OK run so far, but I needed more. As I glanced up from the concrete as I walked, a seemingly familiar woman rounded the corner at the end of the street. What? Who?
My pace increased to a jog as an image of the woman floated in the air before me. Lingering as if to make sure I saw it, fifty feet from the corner the image faded out of existence. The soles of my boots scraped and slid on the slick pavement as I skidded to a stop. Moving quickly in this part of the city at night could become deadly or painful in the least real quick. Why was I rushing?
Reaching under my coat, my hand comfortingly caressed one of my Long Colts. Always good to know options were available. Rounding the corner at a casual pace, I took in the alley before me. Shadows covered almost every nook and cranny. Where had the woman gone?
Almost immediately small piles by the dumpsters began to move, sprouting arms and legs, heads with faces. The homeless looked up at me without hope as I passed each one. None of them even asked. It was as if they sensed I had nothing to give them, but pain . . . and that they already had.
What? There? Halfway down the alleyway, she was slowly walking. Reaching down to touch each homeless person she passed. It wasn’t real. No way was it real. Her long dress almost covered her ankles; its pastel fabric flowed down from her hips, barely moving in the breeze. The blouse was pristine white, showing off her very feminine figure. Golden hair cascaded down her back past her waist.
Turning toward me, she wore a look of concern. Why are you here, Connor? It was a simple question. Why did you come back to the city?
Stepping up to her, I could almost see through her now. Reaching up to touch her face, my fingers passed through it, tingling. “Why are you here? There is no reason for you to be here. There is nothing here for you or Flynn.”
But you are here, my friend. So there is something important here. Her smile seemed to light up the alley. That is all that is needed. Seek your friends. They have what you need. Turning, she began to walk away from me.
“Wait . . . where are you going?” Quickly, I moved to keep up with her. “Stay, help me, then, if there is another way.”
She just continued walking, ignoring me, rounding the next corner. Jogging after her, I stopped abruptly. Lana was kneeling by a dog in the street. Looking up, she shook her head. Connor, you had everything you needed at home. Nothing here will help you. Two-legged or four. You have people who will help you. Leaning down, she kissed the mangy mutt on the head before rising to her feet and continuing down the street.
“No, what I need is here.” Walking after her, I tried to sort out the confusing thoughts in my head. “I tried it your way and it didn’t work.”
Yes! We tried it her way, and it was no fun at all! My little demonic figment just had to add his two cents’ worth. The city has it all! Everything we need!
Shut up, you stupid figment. The moment he broke my concentration I lost her. Glancing around, Lana was nowhere to be seen. Jogging down to the end of the alley, I looked around trying to figure out which way she had gone.
Why do you care about a dead girl? We need to concentrate on the cure! Mr. Annoying apparently didn’t get the message. She is a figment, so she does not abide by normal rules like you. She’s gone . . . tired of you. Unable to help . . . like the rest of them. Remember who is really helping you.
“Yeah, you are . . . in theory.” The darkness seemed a little less foreboding to the right, so I jogged that way. “Did you know you are distracting?”
Oh my, yes, definitely. Mr. Annoying Figment seemed to be overly chatty today. That is just a small part of the fun of being me . . .
Wonderful, just my luck . . . Following my gut, I roamed the streets for maybe ten minutes. Connor? The voice startled me from my right. Spinning, my hand was in my coat on a Long Colt. Why? Why are you roaming the city hunting misguided sheep?
Flynn sat on a top step looking at me. His arm was around Lana, his only love. You have no reason to be here. None at all. You exacted your revenge; just leave the poor sheep alone.
“Sheep? I don’t kill sheep, only the folks who deserve it.” Why was I discussing this with Flynn and Lana? Since they could not actually be here . . . “This city has what I need. And I’m going to take it. As much of it as I want . . .”
Yes, what you need is in this city. But it is not what you think. Lana looked down at me from her spot beside Flynn. This city has your cure, but it also is full of poison. Which you do not need . . .
Stay away from the poison, Connor my friend. Flynn chimed in all philosophical. It will not heal your soul. Someday we hope to see you again. A small gold cross around Flynn’s neck flickered, catching the moonlight. I hope you find your way, my friend. Each raising a hand waving, they slowly faded away into the oblivion of my mind where they had most likely sprung from.
A gunshot shattered the silence of the night. In the far corners of my head, Lana’s whisper floated. Stay away from the poison.
Another gunshot rang out. Flynn whispered. Please, stay away from the poison and find your way home.
The third gunshot jerked me the whole way back to reality. The steps before me were empty. A wrought iron railing flaking black paint led up to an old wooden door that had been repainted white too many times. A tarnished bronze handle beckoned to be pulled as a fourth shot rang out.
Taking the steps two at a time, I grabbed the old bronze handle on the church door, jerking it open. Yes! It is time for some more FUN! My little friend was back. Enough talking, time for another dose of what you crave!
Lana whispered in my left ear. Stay away from the poison.
Flynn seemed to beg in my right. Find your way home.
As I stalked into the main sanctuary of a church, three men stood up at the front. One of them was in the robes of a Catholic priest. Two obvious non church members flanked the father. Each had a handgun. “I have had about enough of your preaching, old man,” the one on the right taunted. “Nothing you say changes anything.”
“My son, you can always turn from the darkness.” Father sounded very nervous, rightfully so. “There is always room for you here. The light does not ask for perfection, only that you turn from the darkness.”
Number two jumped in. “You really think your little church here means anything? How many people actually show up on Sunday here? A tiny fraction of the people in this area. This building is a relic of the past.”
“It may be a relic, just as I am. But that does not mean the path I’m offering you is not the right one for you to walk.” Father seemed to be gaining his confidence back, glancing past his visitors. I think he spotted me. “To walk it you must only take the first step tonight. The rest of the journey takes a lifetime.”
“Man, I’m not walking anywhere.” Number one was hardcore. “Nothing you can offer me can touch what I have now, which is where I live . . . in the now. There is nothing in the great ever after. Nothing but the cold ground and maggots.”
“If that is the case, then why did you come here tonight?” Father stood up a little straighter. “If one lost sheep comes back to the fold, then it was all worth it. If it is only you two and me in this relic of a building, then the Lord’s work is being done.”
The hair stood up on my neck even before his arm began to move. “Stop!” The word was out before I realized it. Number one raised the gun to Father’s head and pulled the trigger in one fluid motion.
“Why did you do that?” Number two was startled and a bit out of sorts. “He was just an old man. No reason to do that!”
“I was sick of his preaching.” Tough guy was trying to justify it. “All he ever says anytime we come in here.”
Somehow, they had not heard me, because they both looked very surprised when they turned around and saw me standing at the back of the sanctuary. Stay away from the poison. Flynn whispered in my left ear. Leave now, find your way home . . . Lana quietly encouraged in the right.
YES! Finally! My little figment buddy felt like he was jumping up and down in excitement. Finally time for the PAIN!
Chapter 59
Surprise visitors
The sun was bright and warm; sitting next to my angel, the world seemed utterly perfect. Gently the wind rolled across the park, causing Kimberly’s fine brown hair to float in front of her face. Giggling, she brushed it aside and rewarded me with a perfect smile. I always loved our afternoon trips to the park after school. It was such a peaceful and simple time.
My paradise was shattered by the sounds of commotion. Glancing around, I could not see the source of the ruckus. Kimberly leaned close, kissing me on the cheek. Her voice was music to my ears. “Come on, Connor, let someone else handle the trouble for once.”
Placing her hand on my cheek, she turned my head to look into my eyes. I knew that look; my heart began pounding in my chest.
The world around me shook. No, not the world, just me. Kimberly looked sadly at me as I drifted up and away from the park. “Connor!” The voice was very insistent, almost scared. “Connor . . . wake up, like now!”
***
Rock’s bellow assaulted my ears as my floating body shook violently once more. Then again. “Connor! Now would be a really good time to wake up!” Again, my world shook. The smell of bubble gum filled my nostrils.
When I opened my eyes, Neon looked down at me extremely concerned. “Good, you’re back.” Jumping off the bed, she grabbed her handgun off the nightstand while heading for the bedroom door. Quite an odd picture, she was only in her bright green underwear and a tie-dyed T-shirt. Why did this seem familiar?
It sounded like a wrecking ball was crashing through the main room. Rock continued bellowing and cursing. The reports from Neon’s gun rang in my ears as she unloaded it into apparent targets in the living room. More voices reached me from the other side of the door. Rock, Copperhead, and Over Drive were all out there fighting for their lives. Oh God no! I have been here before . . .
Rolling out of bed in only a pair of boxer shorts, I slammed my knees against the hard floor, sending pain shooting up my legs. I launched myself at the doorway and didn’t even pause to grab a weapon. Wolf coursed through me instantaneously. Halfway to the door, I was now staring at the top of the door frame.
I must protect my princess from the darkness. My heart hammered in my chest as images from the nightmare began filling my consciousness. No! It might not be real . . . But what if it is?
Bursting into the room, the shattered glass of the second-story window reflected a glowing blue eight-foot werewolf. The current status of the living room was that of a war zone. Rock had someone dangling in the air from his left hand; the punch he threw propelled the poor person out the window.
Bullets almost immediately began slamming into my torso as I entered the fray, trying to figure out what was going on. Reaching down, I grabbed what looked like a ganger by the scruff of his neck and shook him like a rag doll. Unceremoniously, I threw him through the wall into the kitchen. Oops.
“Mr. O’Leary, it is so good of you to decide to join us this morning.” Copperhead had not lost any of his dry humor. “I do believe there are a few left for you if you should feel compelled to assist us.” Turning quickly, he raised a shotgun, blowing the head off an intruder who was trying to sneak up on him.
Brrrrrttttt . . . Brrrrttttt . . . the normal glorious sounds of Martha shredding someone brought with it a foreboding feeling. Glancing over, I spotted Over Drive backing up out of the stairwell down to the garage. “They’re downstairs too, smashed in through the garage door. Not going that way.”
Raising what looked like an AK-47, he blazed away at something out of my line of sight down the stairs. Martha continued her carnage down in the garage; bet it was a mess down there. The garage stairs? That was where they had come from . . .
Glancing through the hole in the wall into the kitchen, the ganger I had deposited there was on his feet leaping back through the wall and onto me. What the? No way should he be up. “Hey, buddy, time to cool it off.” Catching him midair by the neck, I held him dangling above the floor.
The ganger’s eyes suddenly glowed an eerie red, and he lashed out with what I realized were talon-sharp fingernails. Blue sparks flew off my chest where his talons raked across it. What the? Again startled, I stumbled backward, holding him away from me as far as I could.
My captive monster bared his fangs at me, hissing, “We have come for your woman. Our lord commanded it. So it must be done.” Hanging by his neck, he tried to kick me. He might as well have tried to kick a brick wall.
The roar escaping my fanged maw brought everything in the room to a stop for a moment. Everyone looked my direction. “I warned him what would happen. The coming carnage he brought on himself.” I squeezed my claws together, and his head popped from his shoulders.
They were everywhere, pouring up the stairs, swinging in the broken windows . . . everywhere. I glanced around frantically for Neon. She was still in the doorway to our room, sending gift packages of lead to our unwelcome visitors. How much ammo did that girl have squirreled away in there? So far so good.
Knives, bats, guns, claws, these fellas had a little bit of everything scattered amongst them. Something large caliber, probably a shotgun slug, slammed into my back. Spinning, I brought my claws around in a roundhouse swing, destroying the shotgun-toting ganger’s face. Dropping the weapon, he grabbed his face screaming.
Turning to my right, I waded through the bodies and reached Rock. I grabbed two off his back by their necks. Smashing their heads together with a sickening crunch, their skulls disintegrated.
I glanced over my shoulder, and the fella with the destroyed face was on his feet, mangled face regenerating before my eyes. Picking up his shotgun, he chambered a round, swinging to his right and pointing it at Neon.
The world began slowing down, or maybe I was speeding up. I was still unclear on how that worked. Closing the distance in the blink of an eye, the shotgun blast was deafening at point-blank range. The impacting slug sent pain spiking through my body, but Wolf still protected me, so no hole.
Punching with all my might, I drove my fist through the ganger. Even as he was screaming in pain, he single-handedly racked another shell, swinging the barrel around for another shot. Pulling my arm back, I brushed his spine, my hand grabbing it; I pulled hard, hearing and feeling a satisfying snap. The ganger went limp in my grasp.
Throwing the body aside, I headed toward Over Drive, who was failing at stemming the tide rushing up the stairs. Towering over him, I reached down, decapitating gangers with every swing, spraying him with blood.
“Hey, Big Dog!” Over drive was somehow holding on to his sense of humor. “Glad you could join the dance party.” Slapping another magazine into his rifle, he blazed away some more. “I hate to hog all these energetic dance partners to myself.”
Four of them managed to reach the top of the stairs at once. Oh God no! I remembered this . . . One body blocked Over Drive, sending him flying while absorbing his hail of lead. They tumbled to the floor behind me. Three more hit me, the sheer weight throwing me off balance. Back over I went, crashing to the floor. No . . . No . . . NO!
Counting three sets of feet run by, I tried to ignore the talons raking across my body. Then the scream I had known was coming reached my ears. Neon’s cussing and fussing had shifted over to a scream of abject terror. Terror of when a little girl’s nightmare comes true . . . Coming from the normally fearless lady, it energized me more than a dozen cans of Nitro Bull.
Punching and kicking, I was on my feet in moments, bodies flying off to the sides. Ignoring the three who had landed on me, I charged back toward our room. The last place I had seen Neon . . . alive. An invisible hand squeezed my heart.
Rushing through the doorway, the world almost came to a halt, every beat of my frantic heart pounded in my ears. Only three bodies were apparent. The first was missing the side of his head, torso riddled with bullet holes. The second was missing the back of his head, jaws locked down on a florescent green gun barrel. A hand still held the gun . . .
Following the hand and arm, it disappeared under the third body. Focusing, I realized the third body was on top of Neon. She was not moving, but it was, head bobbling up, down, and sideways as it gorged on the side of her neck.
“Noooooo . . .” Roaring, the world slammed back into full speed. In two strides I was across the room towering over the evil creature. “Nooooo . . .” The guttural scream sounded demonic in this form.