Heart Shadows
Note: It is intended for mature audiences. Rated "R" first draft. Leave your comments and feedback, thanks.
Heart Shadows
by: Joaquine G.
Lucy was her name at least that was what she was called in that dirty Brothel between Bryant and 21st in San Francisco. She came from Fresno, California five years ago during the infernal summer of ’03. Other than that, not many people know what her previous live was like. Of course, I know since it is my job to know stuff about people. I know she graduated from a Visalia High School as an honor student in the spring of ’01. She came from a rich family, owners of many farms and restaurants.
But, as in every family there is always a black sheep. And Lucy, or rather Esther Pausini that is her real name, is the black sheep of the Pausini family. After her father died in the summer of ’01, her world went down the tubes. She began doing drugs and began hanging out with the wrong people. This I was told by my contact, that I should talk more about later on. She was kicked out of her house during that winter, and all her bank accounts were closed as well. This only led to more drug abuse and to life on the streets doing petty crimes to get her fix, and to prostitute for shelter or sometimes just a simple pill of ecstasy.
A few months later, her boyfriend from High School saw her outside of a Downtown Club, and when he told her that if she needed help he was there for her. She accepted, and this boyfriend took her to his apartment. He asked her what she had been doing after they graduated. She hesitated and was embarrassed to tell him of how the months had been after her father died. But, at the end she told her everything. The dude felt heartbroken listening to her story. He told her that she was welcome to stay with him and his family as long as she needed to.
For a few days, she seemed to be doing fine, and he thought she was on her way to recovery. But, on the fifth day after midnight she left the house, but not before killing the dude little brother when she was discovered stealing money from the kitchen jar of money. Police looked for her all over the place and there was no clue where she had gone. The dude was enraged and heartbroken at the same time, he asked himself how it she could have done it, she that was such a sweet and loving girl. The girl with he fell in love with in the 10th grade… tall, bright green eyes, and an inviting smile that always made his heart melt. Now was the killer of his little bro’ that one that always cheered him during his soccer matches, and the one that always was telling him how much he wanted to be like his big bro.
He looked everywhere for her, from the Downtown Club he saw last to their old hiding places where they used to make love during high school. After a few months of fruitless search, he returned to retake a few of the classes he had failed, and in the spring of ’03 he got a tip that one of his old classmates had seen Lucy around an abandoned building with a group of addicts. He considered calling the police when he got the news, but then decided that he needed first to see her and ask her a few questions. He left the dorms as night was falling and drove to the empty building, he saw a few junkies coming out of empty buildings and he parked his car in front of the building where his old classmate told him that Lucy was at. At around eleven she came out of the building, with skirt too short revealing her thinning legs and he had to look hard to recognize her face. When he did, he was surprised how much she had changed. Her air of innocence was gone now completely, and now she was part of the rest of the junkies.
He stepped out of his car, and followed her close until she was by herself. She turned to the corner and went inside the store, and came out with a brown bag. Probably booze and he walked faster and when she reached to her, the penetrating aroma almost made him vomit. But, he controlled his breathing; he needed to be strong for what was to come. He called her name, and at first she didn’t turn around, then he tapped her shoulder. She turned around with a sharp dagger and struck it in an instant in his stomach, blood began to flow and he struggled to speak. And she seemed to recognize who she had stabbed and quickly dropped the dagger, and her little brown bag. She got in her knees and tried to stop the blood with her hand, but it continued to flow. A fast growing crowd of people passing by and junkies began to form around her. She quickly picked up her dagger, and fled the scene.
I watched her pushing people that were on the sidewalk, and then disappear into the night. I stepped out of my car and pushed the people around the bleeding dude to aside, and when I put my hand on his wound it turned dark red instantly. With my left hand I closed his wound, and with my right I put my hand on his head. He was hot as coal, and I began to read his mind and heart. It was full of despair, sadness, love and revenge. I whispered if he wished to make a contract with me, and promised him that I would do whatever he wished for. He nodded that he agreed and I sealed the contract by draining his soul from his body. For that is the price of my contract. I left his soulless body on the sidewalk, and then the ambulance came, as always late. I drove away.
It took a few months to locate Lucy outside Wal-Mart in Portersville. It was in the middle of summer of ’03. She was now walking with confidence with two young girls, probably junkies too around the parking lot. With their small tops and shorts to combat the infernal heat. I watched them from my car, and I was hungry. Souls of junkies do not fill me that much up, but Lucy was another case. She once was a role model in a sort of way, and everyone that she has betrayed just made her look like a smoking ham in two legs. I needed to get her before her soul got darker, with two kills under her belt it was going to taste a little bitter, but I like spicy souls once in a while. Lucy and her girls were now street dealers from the look of it, a few cars approached them and they handed them something from the small pockets of their tight shorts and they got something back in return, probably folded dollar bills.
I observed them for a few minutes, and then I began to get dizzy with the heat and the hunger and I got sleepy. I drifted off and when I opened my eyes at the distance I heard sirens coming from many directions. Lucy and her girls quickly ran off from the Wal-Mart parking lot, and my blood began to boil with frustration. I started the car. Stepped on the gas pedal, and felt my intense hunger returning and every nerve in my body turning into adrenaline. Sweat ran from my forehead, and then in a stupid move I crashed a cop car with my old car. The cop car made a 180 degree flip on the asphalt, and in less than a minute the whole city cops were ordering me to put my hands up and to step out of the car. I did I was bid, I could have done more. But, I was outside my territory and the Mayor of this region liked to keep things quiet, the less we used our powers the better. An old and foolish way of doing things, but it kept most of his men and women under control, and I was just a guest. I was booked in jail for a few days, and then I was released. Obviously, the Mayor had paid for it to be arranged but I never heard from him. I got a new car, and after I fed from a few junkies and stupid drunk teens. I went to look for Lucy again.
I was pissed. It was now not just about fulfilling a contract, it was personal. I began to contact my most trusted contacts to keep an eye for her, and I continued to look everywhere in the Central Valley. Then, I was sidetracked by other business for a few years. In the early spring of ’08 I got a call from one of my contacts in San Francisco, and he told he had seen a girl matching the description of Lucy. At once I drove to San Francisco, and began to look where my contact had told me he had last seen her. The first night I did not have that much luck. As it is usual sometimes whores have different schedules and go to different brothels. After a few raining nights, I saw her stepping out of a Yellow Cab; I didn’t need to see her face to recognize her. She now looked a little bit chubby, and she was wearing a little red dress that was too tight for her body. The man at the door greeted her with a smile as he opened the door for her.
I waited a few minutes, and then got off the car. It was still pouring rain. I grabbed my bag and I had to run inside the Brothel at Bryant and 21st. The place greeted me with a few familiar aromas of urine, cheap perfume, and old wood. The man at the desk asked me if I was staying for a night. I said that yes, and I paid the eighty bucks, and he told me that it did not include the extra service. I smiled, and he handed me a key. It was room 172. I opened the door, and was greeted once again with aromas of vomit and who knows what. The bed seemed to be clean, but I knew better. I walked around the room inspecting it for any hidden cameras, or peepholes. It was just a stupid precaution, since I could just use my powers and make blind spots anywhere I wanted. After a few minutes a knock came to my door. I checked that my bag was on the little table and my heart began to beat faster at the smell of the person behind that wooden door. It was Lucy, it was really her. After all this time, my mouth began to water. Then I composed myself.
“Come in. It is open.” I said.
Lucy opened the door and stepped in. She still retained that pretty face under the heavy junkie eyes, and pale skin. “Did you order extra service, Madam?”
“Yes, you are beautiful.” I said, with a big smile and trying to keep my watering mouth shut.
“Thanks, and you look beautiful too. You look nervous, take a sit over that bed and I will make you relax.” Lucy said closing the door behind her.
I sat on the probably bed bug infected bed, and Lucy kneeled on the bed behind me, and helped me to take my black wet coat from my shoulders, and her finders began to work on my tensed shoulders.
“Relax.” She said and the aroma of alcohol emitted from her mouth.
I began to get turned on in a weird way, it was not sexual desire. It was the anticipation of devouring her soul in every way possible. It might sound strange, but the feeling of finding such special soul is better than any sexual feeling I had felt. Sure, it was already darkened outside by the years of prostitution, drugs, and killings. But it still had that creamy center, that just made my mouth water, and the feeling was intensified by the soul of the dude that she killed inside me.
“If it is your first time with a woman I will guide you, it is almost the same as with a man. Just relax, and we will both enjoy ourselves.” Lucy said and began to kiss my neck and caress my breast. My body responded; it shivered and gave in little by little. But, I quickly regained control of it. I could not slack once again, and lose her once again. I whispered a few words in Latin.
“What is that… some foreplay?” Lucy asked.
But in an instant Lucy body dropped like a heavy stone in my shoulders. I pushed her into the bed, and got up. Went to my bag, and opened it. Revealing my instruments as I call them, and my felt like flying with all the excitement I was feeling. I turned on the lights and I put on my favorite pair of gloves. Even if I have done the ritual thousands of times, I still feel at times excited as if it was the first time I was doing it. I had come prepared; with sharp knives and plenty of little toys to bring the juices out of the delicious soul.
I tied Lucy hands and feet to each side of the post. I needed to work quickly. I set my timer next to the bed, counting backwards from 30 minutes. It was plenty of time. I placed my noise cancelling device in the middle of the room, and monitoring systems in the four corners of the room to keep an eye out. After I placed my surgeon apron I told Lucy, “It will just take a bit. Relax.” Then I placed a heart monitoring device on her finger. I am not big fan of technology but this little device has made the work easier over the years, still I have my old ways to know when I have gone far enough. Of course, killing the subject might seem like far enough, but is not. It is actually damaging the precious soul too much.
“Now, before we begin. I want to tell you why you are in this situation.” I said and tears began rolling down Lucy cheeks. I cleaned them up with my tongue.
“Don’t cry, I haven’t started yet…” I said and caressed the sweaty colored hair from Lucy face.
She tried to scream, but no words came out. Yes, a simple spell is that powerful. I smiled and said, “Don’t struggle, and listen to what I have to tell you.” I paused, and put an anti-shocking ball with a strap on her mouth. It looked kinky I thought. I didn’t want the tongue to get spoiled. “I don’t need to hear your words. I can read your mind. Yes, I know you are wondering who I am. Well, that would take long time to explain, and that I don’t have. But, what I can tell you is that I contracted to ‘save you.’ Who do you ask? Well I don’t know if you remember your sweetheart from High School. Yes, the one you stabbed and killed his little brother.” I said and with my large sharp knife pointed to her belly where she stabbed him. More tears rolled down her cheeks.
“What are those tears for, regret, satisfaction, or something else? I know what those are. But, it is too late to ask for forgiveness. You know that I have been chasing you for around 7 years. Almost no one escapes me for too long, but your soul is precious. You must have been protected heavily, and yet you must have rejected everything that was sent your way, that I was able to find you. Took sometime but I did, and that is all that matters.” I said with a smile on my face. Then, she went pale.
When I touched her forehead once again to read her mind, she was hot and images of the many people that tried to help her along the way were being replayed. She turned everyone down, including some Angels that tried to reach to her, no one can force an unwilling soul it is even difficult for Angels. My mouth watered and I salivated a bit, like a dog I thought. With my knife I began to cut her red dress carefully to not cut her, not yet. She was had the mark of many injections all over her body, probably from every day drugging, and a few burns. I began to wonder how some men would desire a body marked like that, but I guessed that it was not that bad as other junkies I had eaten before. Her large breasts were begging to get a little saggy, and they were covered with small bite marks, probably done by some of her clients.
“I sorta feel sorry for you. You had beautiful body, a beautiful soul, and probably a successful life ahead of you. But, I understand what the dead of a parent can bring into one’s life. Just look at me, I had a very disturbing and poor family but the loss of my mother was still hard on me. But, we do what we gotta do in order to survive. Now, I do not have it too bad. When you eating souls you learn more and more about the world, and it prolongs your life for another 10 years. You cost me almost more than half a soul. Your soul shall last me at least 50 or more years, but I don’t know it is too covered in darkness. I might even get sick, but it will be worth it.” I said, and took a small vibrator from my bag, then parted Lucy legs revealing her badly shaved pussy.
I caressed it back and forth a little to relax it, then inserted the egg shaped vibrator, and she got wet as the vibrator worked its magic. Her body reacted quickly; maybe she was also into kinky stuff. I smiled and pushed the vibrator further in. She came as I was taking out of my bag another of my little toys, “Dirty girl.” I said teasing. Then, took another pair of vibrators from my bag they hook to nipples easily. These are just some of my toys I picked from Japan, I thought it would be good to go back there and pick some more stuff as I hooked the vibrator’s to Lucy’s nipples.
I caressed her face as it was in full orgasm and felt her face muscles move back and forth and her mind trying to fight the feeling. “It feels nice, doesn’t it? Even our bodies betray us in such moments. Just like you did to that little kid when you were craving for meth or cocaine got too strong that you were blinded by it, and then once again outside that store when you killed Him. I watched your killer eyes from my car, I could have prevented it. But, there is nothing more delicious than watching a great soul being in such state.” I said and made a small cut just below her breast and drops of blood began running down her body. She had another orgasm, and the never ending stream of tears continued to flow.
I was beginning to have an orgasm of my own with all the small drops of blood flowing over Lucy body. I succumbed a little and licked the drops of soul dropping out of her body. 20 minutes were left according to the countdown clock. I cleaned my mind. It would do not good to drain her out blood, and soul. I wanted it mostly whole. I wanted to hold it in my hands and devour it slowly. I took a needle and a substance out of my magic bag and showed it to Lucy. “You must be familiar with something like this; of course my stuff does not make you high, it just intensifies your orgasms and makes you see flying unicorns around the bed. You did have such dreams once, did you not? Anyways, I thought it would be appropriate to give you the best ‘high’ there is in life… fitting for a junkie like you.” I said and injected on her arm and her over abused vein jumped up, like a trained dog.
Her eyes went white at once, and a smile appeared on her face. “Yes enjoy it… it will be your last.” I said and with a smaller knife began to carefully cut off her face, in a few minutes it was ready to be separated. But, she continued to smile like she was living a dream. I untied the leather strap around her mouth and made the last two cuts, then in a skillful move lifted her face… once beautiful now with the marks of drug addiction and bad skin care. She did not feel any pain; I made sure the drug was strong enough. I was fascinated how the muscles under her face still looked too young unlike her face, and I smiled too be able to look at a person that “naked.”
Sometimes I like to collect faces, but hers was not that beautiful with all the damage she had done. But, perhaps something else would worth while keeping, perhaps the creamy center of her soul. I smiled just thinking about it. “I will probably sell this face to some fetish collector. It might worth some; after all it goes together with an interesting story.” I said, and Lucy didn’t seem to hear what I said.
It would be useless to try and harvest anything if her face was in such bad condition; the rest of her body was probably in worst condition. I proceeded to the heart in a matter of speaking, but I just laughed to myself because it was after all the heart that was go next. I took off the hooks of the vibrators on her still hard nipples and put them in my bag, and flipped her nipples just for fun with my fingers. 15 minutes to go, I thought mentally and then I saw that clock and I was right. I had to move faster, all the foreplay just delayed my schedule.
I took out a sharper knife out of my bag and began cutting between her sore breasts. At times like this I always wish for more hands to work faster. My heart beats as each long cut was done slowly revealing the muscles under the skin of her chest. I looked at the clock again and I had 8 minutes to go. In a hurry a take another neat device from my magic bag, and set it on top of her chest. I pressed a button and it sprung into life. The touch screen lit up, and I put my password with my bloody gloves and it begins to tear apart muscle and bones with laser precision, after all it is a laser. I was hoping to do it by hand like old times, but time was of importance. Sweat ran down from my forehead. The aroma of the incased soul near her heart made my mouth water once again. I took out the silver soul container out of my special bag as the laser continued to do its work. I noticed that the drug was starting to lose effect as Lucy tears ran along her faceless face.
I felt as if my heart was stopping for a moment. Any wrong movement and the laser could cut right through the precious soul. I whisper once again the Latin incantation, and her bright green eyes stopped moving. I turned off the laser machine and folded it into the large book looking case it came with, and then picked up the small knife once again. This I needed to do by hand, my stomach protests in hunger and my felt my hands shake a bit. I closed my eyes, and took a deep breath. 4 Minutes were left; I opened my eyes and made the small cuts around the heart. It was still beating softly and calmly. I carefully made a cut around the cavity where her soul was, everyone has the soul in different places. Hers was not surprising right next to the heart like if it was part of it. Made me wonder how it was possible, but never mind that. I grabbed the silver soul canister with my right hand and opened it with my left hand, a bright light came out of it, then and I turned it over the soul cavity and it locked into place like a sucking machine. I turned it on and it began to suck the precious soul without dropping out that much, and filtering the darkness around it. Silver purifies most souls, but I guessed that it would still leave some bad stuff behind with hers.
My hands began to shake once again, the canister got heavy like a few pounds more. I quickly took short breaths and waited for it to fill up. 2 Minutes were left. When it was full, I closed it and quickly put everything in my bag with crazy speed. I took the vibrator from between her legs and sealed it on a plastic bag and put it with the other stuff. Then, I looked at the soulless body there when its faceless face, and open chest. It brought a smile to my face. Then in one quick move I took out her hardly beating heart, and then bit. It was not that damaged. Blood dripped down from my blood and I devouring it eagerly as quickly as I could. Thirty seconds were left; I threw the remaining pieces of the heart inside the chest. And took off my operating apron, and threw it into the bag and cleaned my face, and then picked up the rest of my equipment and put on my wet coat. I loaded checked my loaded gun, and images of Lucy agony began to replay in my head. I guess some of her soul leaked into her heart. It feels like a heavy headache. I take a few seconds to compose myself, and then I take my bag and exited the room 172.
When I stepped out of the Brothel the rain was slowing down. But, no one saw me exciting the brothel and if they did the spell would make them forget in a few hours. Perhaps later on the night they will find the heartless and faceless body. But, that was still some hours away. As I drove across the Golden Gate I saw something like a star failing from the sky, but I felt like if a soul that was stronger than the one I had just picked up passed me by, I almost crashed against a pickup truck. Then, I opened my bag and felt the silver canister in my hands and I smiled. Probably it was just my tired mind playing tricks on me. Now I had to plan in ways to slowly enjoy the soul, like a fine wine. Perhaps I will drink it once in a while, not too eager to know what went on when I lost track of Lucy, but I am certainly curious.
Napa, yes… yes it will be my next destination. Perhaps, I will eat a bit of Lucy soul with some aged wine and some fine cheese.
Copyright Joaquine.com 2011.
Axhel – Prologue
Prologue
***Note: First Draft of Prologue... Still work in progress. Let me know what you think on the comments, and I am open to suggestions. Thanks and enjoy.***
Crossing Hades was never Victor’s favorite part of his trips to the human world. But, as a General in the Royal Army, he needed to make this journey at least once a year. His long brunette hair was sweaty under the weight of the big golden helmet and the unusual suffocating hot air that Hades, was covered in around this time of the year. Victor tried imagining he was in his homeland where the cold breeze of the sea entered his house that faced the rising sun above the Blue Sea. He sighed, and then was interrupted by one of his soldiers. “Sir, there is something ahead that is blocking our way.”
Victor pushed the sides of his beautiful Black Stallion, named Marino because of his almost dark bluish color of his fur when it was wet, and at once Marino galloped forward at the command of his master. Victor signaled his man to follow him close, and he held to his long golden sword with his right hand and with his left hand held tight to his horse. Any delay, on the trip would be bad, since they only had a brief window to go across Hades, just when the New Moon appeared, and only then most of the spirits were away. Victor arrived to where a few of his soldiers were trying to figure out what was blocking the way, illuminating it with their torches. Victor got off his horse, and walked towards it to inspect. “Any idea of what it might be?” Victor turned and asked a soldier that was touching it.
“No Sir, it just feels like a big ball of fur.” The soldier said and once again pushed his hand against it.
Victor pushed his hand against the thing, and it was indeed furry as the soldier had said. But, Victor kept pushing then felt it move as if it was breathing. “Step back!” Victor screamed and the big furry ball began to move. The Soldiers drew their swords and stepped backwards, Victor held to his horse and Marino was frightened as the furry creature began to make roar noise, like those of a bear.
The ceiling, walls and roof began to shake as if an earthquake was happening. Victor closed his eyes and began to recite the protection spells he knew; whatever that creature was he was sure he was going to need them. “Formation!” he called his Soldiers, and the soldiers at once formed a wall of shields and spears around him. Victor ran his left hand over his sword cutting a bit into his hand and the blood quickly covered the sword with an intense white light that was almost blinding. The Creature stood up and under the light of the torches looked like a giant Puma. The Soldiers were frightened when the creature roared again and again. Its bright yellow eyes glanced at Victor and the Soldiers with anger.
Victor stepped forward from the wall of shields, and continued his prayers. He took off his helmet and it revealed the sharp features of his face and big gray eyes. He took one more step and then he lowered his head and bowed before the creature and put both of his knees down. “We are sorry that we have disturbed your Highness.” Victor said with his head down, and then he put his sword down. And the rest of his soldiers followed. A few of them whispered questioning what their General had just done.
The creature roared once again, but this time less intense and then stepped forward and with its big nose approached to sniff Victor. Victor tried to hold his breath as the loud sniffs continued above his head, his heart pounded harder and harder. But, he remained with his head down and his straight composure. The creature stepped back and then, the big creature in a flash disappeared leaving on its place a beautiful tall woman with long black nails and long black hair covering part of her naked body. Then she said, “I Ixchel, order you to lift your head mortal.”
Victor lifted his head and was met by the beautiful yellow eyes of Ixchel, he was speechless and waited for her to say a word. The rest of the soldiers were dying of curiosity to see what was happening. “I Victor Ioso, General in the Royal Army of Tlaloc, we are protectors of Tlalocan. We are at your service your majesty.” Victor said and bowed his head once again.
Ixhel gasped and covered her mouth with her long fingers, then at the snap of her finger she made a staff appear on her right hand, and it had a bright blue flame dancing on top of it. The Soldiers and horses felt a sea of spirits approaching like a giant wave, it sent shivers to their spines and then thousands of whispers began to be heard all around them, each time closer and closer, then Ixhel waved her staff and the soldiers found themselves surrounded by thousands of women holding lanterns with the same bluish dancing as Ixhel staff. Fear ran through the Soldier’s bones, but they did not lift their heads. “Why is Tlaloc sending you to the human world?” Ixhel asked with a voice that echoed throughout ancient walls.
Victor lifted his head and looked around him at the sea of women around him all with bright yellow eyes, and their head covered in with dark hoods. He felt their eyes on him, he took a deep breath and said, “We have never consulted with Tlaloc since, he is one of our land’s Gods and to your question majesty, we have been doing this journey for thousands of years. It is vital for us to gather information about how the Humans are progressing and we learn from them. Since, we are cut off from the tools that other beings have at their disposal to gather information without having to travel there.” Victor said like if he was reciting a book he read many times during his military training.
Ixhel in anger shook the ground with her staff, and the place began to shake violently, a few parts of the ceiling came crashing down, and it sent a few soldiers to the ground. “Don’t lie to me Mortal, tell me the truth” Axhel said and quickly grabbed Victor by the neck with her sharp nails.
Victor tried to gasp for air but he felt as the nails were penetrating his neck, and blood began to drip down. “I am telling you… what I know your majesty.” Victor said strangling to speak. Axhel left go of his neck and he fell to the ground, and he landed on his bare hands.
“Alright, I did not smell or felt deception from you.” Axhel said and walked backwards then waited a few seconds in silence thinking. Victor felt that it was an eternity has he felt fear like never before, and he wanted to throw up. But, he had to be strong in front of his soldiers. Images of him saying goodbye to his wife back home played on his mind, the last kiss he felt from her lips. It was dry and dusty, but it was still a kiss from his beloved. With a child on the way he had looked forward returning for the first time Home, he imagined of him teaching his kid how to hunt with the bow he hunted as a child and he was sure it was going to be a boy, he felt it on his gut. Victor opened his eyes once, again and saw that a few of the hooded women were whispering to Axhel ear, and they seemed to float on air. Axhel pointed the end of her staff to lift Victor’s head and said, “You got the unforgettable aroma of Traloc, I would never forget that aroma that he left when he betrayed all of us. But, worse of all he betrayed the humans he was trusted to protect.” Axhel said and exhaled then turned her back.
Victor felt as if his blood was burning throughout his body as Axhel said those words. His mind was racing to find the answers to the many questions he was having, like if it was open library and he was running from hall to hall looking for the book to give him the answers he needed. He did not remember any mention of such thing in any of the books he had read, or any of information on the official records. Victor after a few seconds of silence said, “The history of our Gods is still being studied day by day and I guess we still have a few things to learn.” Victor said sounding nervous.
“Mortal, I guess I was wrong in accusing you for something that you have no knowledge of, but now you know. You must inform the others.” Axhel said, and with a snap of her finger two tall hooded women appeared at each side of Axhel. “These are my disciples, they will accompany you back to your homeland, and they will be my eyes and ears there, since I can’t step into that world. To the right you have Sacnite, and to the left you have Teicuih.” Axhel said and both of the women stepped forward one with a staff shaped like a rigid snake, and the other with long bow and arrows on her back. Axhel, waved her staff and the sea of women disappeared, then she said, “Now Mortal, go and tell your Priest and man of power that Axhel sent you, and that trips to the Human world have been suspended for now.” Axhel said and she waved her staff once again, a lighting came from the ceiling and struck Victor and the soldiers sending them to the ground. Victor felt as if his insides were turning upside down, then everything went black.
I Cried
This is my first draft of a new project I am working on. It still on the really early stages. I just wanted to share some of it, and I hope you enjoy it. I will post more updates soon, when I have more parts of the draft. Enjoy.
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I Cried.
By Joaquine
My mother told me this morning that I wasn’t going to classes and that I needed to dress up with a pair of white jeans and a gray woolen Poncho. The poncho still smelled like new but it was itchy, and my white neck was all red after just wearing it for a few minutes, I tried to take it off, my mother insisted that I need to keep it. I tried to fight the itch and just ended up scratching my neck, when we left the house it looked as red as a tomato and now that there are no mirrors around I can’t see how it looks.
After walking a few blocks I see my classmates hurrying to their classes and a few of them ask me why I am dressed like that. I say nothing, and my mother just pushes me to move faster, I almost fall down but she just grabs me by the poncho and picks me up to walk faster. I have never seen my mother like this before, she has not said that many words since we left the house. She seems lost and I can feel that she is worried about something.
We walk a few more blocks and a crowd of people become denser as we approach the place my mother is taking me. I sight, and wonder how we going to make it through all that much people, but somehow my mother just pushes her way in and pushes me in front of her. People, just whisper and I can hear the wind carrying a few times my mother’s name, “Clarissa,” and mine grandmother’s name, “Diana,” my skin shivers at the thought of what might have happened. We continue making our way through the crowd and as we approach towards where everyone is watching, the place gets louder with people crying and some others scream obscenities.
Tears begin rolling down my mother’s pink cheeks and her green eyes get wet. She holds me tight and kneels besides me hugging me and covering me with her long black shawl. I feel the air being sucked out of me and I begin to get dizzy at the sudden events that are taking place. I feel and hear her heart beating faster and faster as my ear gets pressed against her chest, her tears wet my messy hair and my body feels like it is going to go into shock. My eyes can’t stop my tears from flowing and I feel as my body shakes compulsively; mucus and tears mix in a salty combination when they reach my lips. I sob and hug my mother as hard as I can. The noise around me disappears and there is nothing more than my mother and I.
I still don’t know what is happening, and when I try to turn around my grandmother comes running towards us with tears in her eyes. She hugs me just as hard as my mother and I inhale her so familiar perfume of roses, her heart does not beat as fast as that of my mother, and I feel like a baby once again. I sob now and then, and I feel my body getting heavy and everything around me begins turning black. I can’t move my body, my eyes just see everything blurry and my grandmother arms is the only thing that is holding me up. I begin hearing people at the distance screaming and my grandmother covers me with her gray shawl. I feel my body getting hot and as if thousands of needles were piercing my body at once. I hear my grandmother at the distance screaming for help and I feel around my body still covered with the shawl, a pair of strange arms that carry me inside a house. I try to scream but my mouth does not move, I feel like my heart is shutting down. I feel like I can’t breathe and my body goes into panic mode as I try to get some air. Everything gets dim and darker.
Business as Usual
Business as Usual
By: Tanner D.
My eyes dot frantically beneath electric light. Peering through the neon geometry of my hud overlay, I trace a path back to a frequently used audio file in my specks’ on board memory. A binaural beat. A beta wave around 30 hertz. The first of an entourage of aspects to compile my business face. My specks immediately interpret my double blink as the activation code for the file. In the space of a synapse, the micro-amps in the base of my synthetic skull drop the break-beat techno and employ the soft hum of a binaural pulse. I backtrack to my specks main screen to find the file on my contact. Got to make sure I am in the right place at the right time ya know? After all, the life of a hitman isn’t all blazing guns and explosions like you see in the movies. Yet in my case it happens like that more often than not.
I’d probably be dead by now from all this violence if it wasn’t for a particular ace up my sleeve, or should I say under my skin. I should be dead. But one life-changing story later and here I am with a body filled with so much techno-junk that I don’t think I’ll see death for a very long time. Even in my particular field. And be that as it may, I have also found it takes quite well to a large sum of abuse both externally and internally.
This brings me to my second and final phase of my business face. My hand slides into the chest pocket of my blazer with well tempered accuracy. It finds what it is looking for with ease. A baggy of pills. Everything I need to make the perfect cocktail. Abrums, Vamp, D-9s, and a few pharmaceuticals to ween off some unwanted effects by these fine drugs. As if having a teched-out super body wasn’t enough, I throw it into overdrive with these pills. The pharms first, then the D-9. I wait to drop the two Abrums in thirty seconds intervals and seal the deal with the Vamp. It all gets washed down with some Flavor 4 soda pop to boost the D-9s effect.
As I wait for the drugs to kick in, I finish up scanning through the file on the contact. I close all the windows in my hud and focus my eyes on a symbol in the overlay. A symbol aptly named “Business Time”. I double blink again and suddenly feel my body tingle. That’s how I know it’s on. Both the guns tucked under my arms let out a short vibration to let me know they are active now too. I stand with my eyes closed, take deep breaths and wait for a very distinct feeling.
Suddenly the feeling of a bubble inside me pops, exposing a new person. His eyes dazzled by the electric light pouring into his iris. The binaural frequency throttles his brain. He feels the electricity in his body. Now the Vamp hits hard, pushing him to feel faster than time itself. As he swiftly darts out of my shell he exposes himself true. Meet my business face.
He tools over the last vestiges of his former reality, wondering about the style in which he executed former contacts. Two dead and his gun’s four shots shy of a full clip. Not feeling that today. As he palms both his guns he thinks about all the exciting things that are about to happen. With one firm blow, his foot levels the door and he smiles.
First Day of Work
First Day of Work (1st Draft)
“Happy!!! I am happy!” he yells in front of the mirror and keeps combing his hair. With a big smile he checks his clothes one more time. He adjusts his tie a bit, and turns off the lights. This is his first day at his new work place, and he is surprised to have gotten his dream job after that many years. He walks faster than usual and gets on the bus.
He tries to remember if he closed the door right and if the stove was off. Even after he checked like three times after he left the house. This morning the bus noises are louder than usual, the opening and closing of the doors seem as if they were talking to him. Each bus stop is getting him closer to the first day of his dream job. All last week he practiced going on the same bus route and just stand just a few buildings from his workplace and look at the building where he was going to be working. Every morning he would do the same routine, but this morning was for real.
His heart beats faster as the bus just has a few more stops to get to where he needs to get off. His sweaty hands and stomach begin to hurt. He checks his watch for the fiftieth time and takes a deep breath closing his eyes. There is still time. He thinks, and the bus stop to pick up a couple of people in wheelchairs, the bus kneels down and the sun comes through the windows a little stronger making the air heavy and harder to breathe. He puts his head against the bus window and it feels cold, he can see his reflection on the glass. A long shaved face with big brown eyes and a somewhat small nose. He remembers how kids would make fun of his nose during all his schooldays. Once, he tried to operate it to make it bigger or something but he was too young for such surgery, then he gave up.
He sits straight in the seat and checks his pale reflection on the glass one last time to see if his tie is in the right place. He gets off the bus. The cold morning air greets him as his heart beats faster and faster and his stomach feels like it is turning upside down. He walks to the front door and checks his watch once again, he has five minutes to spare, so he pauses for a moment and waits for some else to come and open the door. The glass door permits him to peek a little as to what is going inside, no one seems to be around and the front reception desk is still empty. Cars and buses pass by and his heart almost stops every time the bus makes a stop next to him. He waits for someone to come, but the wait seems to be eternal. He reads the golden letters on the glass door:
Inks Inc.
126 Wallpaper Avenue
A group of people finally begin to approach the door and getting in fast as fast moving trains. After that another group of people follow, he tries to get in but just as he is about to go to the front door another group of people zoom by and get in before him. He waits for them to get in, and then again tries this time he runs to the door and feels the cold steel handle when he opens the door. He feels the warm AC air coming from inside. He steps in and his lungs take in the artificial air. He waits for the elevator, the fourth floor, he says to himself and the elevator doors close. The elevator numbers light up as it is going up and it stops on the third floor. Another guy keeps staring at the numbers on the top of the elevator door and pushes the button to call the elevator for the tenth time in three minutes. He gives up and uses the stairs.