Episode 9: Blood Sugar

“Mom’s calling!” Jody Alonzo snatched up her cell after taking another shower and tossing her dirty t-shirt in the laundry. Blood on it after cleaning up the front yard the best she could, in all reality the shirt should have been burnt. Phone in hand she and Raven Mourn huddled side by side as Jody put her mother on speaker. “Mom?”

“I’m okay honey! I got a ride home. I’m going to get cleaned up then I’ll drive over. Is everything okay there? Wait! Don’t tell me, do that in person.”

“Okay! How long do you think?”

“Give me an hour and a half. I have a lot to tell you.”

“So do we.”

“Alright! Be safe! I love you.”

“Love you too.” Both girls said aloud, Raven gritting her teeth and whispering, “Don’t know why I said that.” Jody found it cute. Gwen merely got a shiver and hung up. “Why DID you say that?”

“How the hell should I know? Love conquers all I guess, and I needed the boost of confidence.”

“You can tell me you love me.” Jody jabbed Raven in the rib playfully.

“I think that’s where this all started.”

“Loving me?” Jody looked hopeful.

“No, with a rib.”

“Huh?”

“God using Adam’s rib in creating Eve.”

“Oh! That’s kind of dark.”

“And, then there was light...”

“End of the tunnel?”

“End of conversation, get dressed Streaky.”

“You get undressed.” Jody attempted to take Raven’s t-shirt off. That led to a firm no as Raven bulged her eyes at the brunette with a pucker of stop that.

“Not right now. I have things to do.”

Rolling her eyes Jody groaned out of disappointment, “Like what?”

“Count birthday moolah.” Raven turned heel and headed to the bedroom, Jody tagging behind closely and lifting the back of Raven’s shirt to play with her butt. Swats became vibrantly playful until Raven finally had to grab Jody and growl, “DOWN GIRL!” Angel fell silent and flopped on the bed with a stare of obedience, almost puppy dog. Plucking up her suitcase Raven rests it on the unmade bed and opens it up, sitting on one leg to go through birthday cards from the girls and the employees at Crowley Manson Girls Home.

“Here’s the card your dad gave me before all this crap started.” She shares it with Jody. Seeing his handwriting made her tear up a bit.

“He gave you money.”

“He gave you more money.”

“True! I’m not surprised. Daddy was a very giving man. He got me anything I ever wanted.”

“I think I know he was a great guy having lived with him for a day. I wish I’d treated him better. I nearly ate the guy’s soul I think.”

“How did you pass his soul into me? I mean I barely felt anything when he was in me.” She winced at how that sounded, eyes darting with almost an embarrassment. “You know what I mean.”

“Maybe the barrier gift I somehow conjured prevented you from pain or even feeling on the inside...” Raven shivered at her out of body experience yet again, fearing she might have hurt Jody by fisting her possibly worst she imagined. Then it dawned on her what she had just pointed out. Maybe she was invincible on the inside too. Interesting! “Anyway, you ditched daddy into Gwen, I’m sure she loves spending more time with Hector.”

“Are you kidding? They’re probably at each other’s throats.”

“He loved your mom. I could tell, I felt his emotions, he mine. Ooo! My roomie Angela’s card. When did these wenches get out to buy me a card? I hadn’t left Crowley Manson in a month or more before I got set loose. Pretty sure they didn’t either.”

“Maybe dad bought cards in bulk for everyone.”

“Maybe! Sounds like him, doesn’t it?” She opens the card and feels a wetness on her fingertip. Looking at it, Raven bulged her eyes. “Oh crap! Blood?”

“Where? I don’t see blood. Trust me after cleaning up the yard I’d know blood.”

“Right here on my finger. The card’s interior has bloody fingerprints. How can you not see it?” The card was signed, “H E L...” beside her name. Looking up at a bewildered Jody she mumbled, “HELL?”

“Only you can see it evidently.”

“OH FUCK! Maybe it’s H E L P! Noigel must be going after the girls.” A quick survey of the other cards found bloodier H E L’s on a male orderly’s card the role changed to a batch of letter P’s on their sides with a tiny notch on the rounded part of the P. “The P’s are made to look like Penises. FUCK!”

Another male devoted card had the same P’s on their sides but these were looking as if cum shooting up out of the tiny lines in the circular arch of the P. “SICK MOTHERFUCKER! How is Noigel doing this?”

“I don’t see anything.” She did find money. Technically, blood money. Jody then took the card and held it under her opened palm just to see if her abilities offered her a deeper insight. “Sure, enough a faint glow illuminated the blood so that her eyes could now see it. In a panic she tosses the card back into the suitcase.

“He doesn’t want me to use the money. He wants me to have trouble surviving out there.”

“Then we use my money.”

“What if he taints it?”

“MOTHERFUCKER!” The demon Incubus kind of was considering he tapped Gwen while possessing Brandon. Nothing new for Noigel, pussy was pussy.

“I have to check on the girls. Let me see your phone.” A hand off Raven looks up the number, but the Crowley Manson reception phone went to voicemail. Hearing the recorder say, “Heye! You’ve reached the Gates of Help. Eye’m taking the girls on a field trip right now. If it’s important leave your name, number, and reason for screaming at the tone.” BEEEEP!

Hanging up with a look of horror Raven’s eyes began glowing red until Jody touched her hand. The second she did Raven’s eyes returned to their normal baby blues. “Just breath!”

“He’s going to hurt my friends. I have to do something.”

Hearing sirens in multitude Jody looks away, “Hear that? It sounds like it’s coming this way. Did the cops find you?”

“SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!” Raven leaped up and grabbed her clothing, tossing them back into her suitcase, uncaring if blood got on them from the cards. She simply felt the need to run. “I’ll be in contact. Just act normal if they knock on the door. Better get dressed!”

“Right!” Jody grabbed another t-shirt from Hector’s dresser and threw it on in a blur just to keep up with Raven heading for the front door. Before she even opened the door the Crowley Manson bus came to a loud crash into Hector’s mailbox which was surrounded by a brick foundation. Demolished foundation now!

“OH, FUCK! He brought them here.” The picture window offered a nightmarish view toward the front of the demolished bus buried in bricks and mortar. A tree on the street adding to its crumpled state. Driver’s window down the bus driver obviously possessed was slapping the side of the bus laughing his ass off. The thing was, the driver’s arm looked twisted from a break, bone sticking out of his skin. Looking over at Raven as she rushed to open the door the driver chuckled pointing at the splintered shard protruding.

“BONER! HUMERUS!”

Raven at least could see hands by the dozens slapping murky smoked windowpanes from the interior and immediately sensed their trauma. Tears began to fall to the point Raven gave up and just tossed her suitcase aside. “I can’t run. They need me to fix this. Somehow!”

“Right behind you Babe!” Jody lay her chin on Raven’s right shoulder. Raven patting the girl on the cheek felt grateful, it was when she turned to her left shoulder that she worried. Angel on the right, little Devil on the left? Maybe she was the Devil. Raven knew one thing; she was pissed off.

Responding to a hijacked bus call Detective Heather Choi looked at her partner at the coffee machine who was gabbing with a female officer and decided to abandon him. Racing to her police issue cruiser, Heather hopped inside and sped out of the Precinct lot and followed a horde of patrol cars. “So much for my need to call Crowley Manson. Sounds like that evil fucker beat me there. Has to be him, right?” Turning on her own flashing lights to stop traffic it was a race against time.

Weaving in and around ignorant drivers ignoring the pull over code she cursed under her breath calling them every name in the book. At an intersection she worried sensing someone might blow the stoplight, so instinctively slowed down. A good omen it was as a bright red Jaguar came fishtailing into the crossroads cutting her off and gunning it in pursuit of the other cars. “IT’S HER! 6SEX6 on the plate. Is she going to the call too? What the hell?”

Hot pursuit took on a whole new meaning as Heather spotted flaming tire tracks that went out as fast as they lit the pavement. So much for that good omen! “What am I getting myself into? I should just quit and move back to Seoul. Take Keith with me and live happily ever after.” Definitely not Heather Choi to run away. “Fuck that!”

90 in a 30 just to keep up with the Spitfire Grill she followed her and the police unit, SWAT on the way. The blocks all around Hector’s home were packed with priority units all backing one another up. Seeing the Jaguar zip past an on-foot Officer warding traffic around for safety, Heather took the initiative to follow the car instead of doing the right thing and going to assist the force in rescuing the bus load of terrified girls.

No more than seeing the Jag make a turn three blocks down Heather slowed to find the car parked in the grass of a yard, driver’s door open. Parking Heather drew her gun just in case and crept to the door as if expecting the redhead to still be inside. It should have been impossible to vacate so quickly when Heather was so close behind her, but the seat was empty. What she did find was something she did not bargain for. In the passenger seat was a black cat sitting in a pile of men’s clothing neatly folded. The cat quite docile simply looked up at Heather mewing.

“Where’s your owner?” She examined the grass expecting dug in heel marks on the lawn but found nothing to track the woman. Hissing more than the feline was, she opted to take out a pocketknife and puncture a back tire, the escaping air hot and turbulent. “You’re not getting away when I’m not looking.” She thought to herself while abandoning her own car to walk the neighborhood. As if attracted the black cat hopped from the car and followed her, Choi noticing and frowning at her secret admirer. “Go away! I’m a dog lover.” Not a chance! She gave up and investigated the yards nearby still finding nothing.

“Where the hell did, she go?” Climbing over a backyard privacy fence in hopes the cat might go away she found it right on her heels. “What is it with you? No catnip in my pocket Slim Shady.” She liked Eminem! Just not her current tail.

Shaking her head she kept on the move, finding neighbors out in their yards being nosey as to the events a block over. Finding a lone old woman standing in her house coat merely looking as if lost in thought Heather stepped up to her. “Excuse me! Did you happen to see a redheaded woman run by here? Walk even!”

“The one with the tight leather pants and the huge bouncy boobs? Didn’t see her.” She said smiling warmly. She wore dark sunglasses to mask her eyes.

“Seriously? At a time like this you make jokes? Do you have any idea what’s going on over there?”

“Pretty good idea!” She sighed, “Nothin’ you can do Missy! For your own safety I’d just go on home.”

“Protect and Serve they say.” Heather offers her badge.

“Shiny! I bet you could almost see yourself in that.”

“What?” Heather examined her badge and did indeed see herself; the only thing is her reflection was battered and bruised; one eye nearly sealed. Shocked she looked up at the old woman and realized she had stepped away. “What the blazes?” Pretty much! After not finding her anywhere she headed through the next yard to reach the crime scene. The bus door opening she heard the cries of young girls.

Before witnessing the driver debark, a body was kicked off the bus’s steps in a bloody clump. Silva Pemberton part of the new Crowley Manson staff, may he rest in peace. Darting past Heather, the black cat ran into Hector’s yard behind the blindside of the bus where she couldn’t see it anymore. Getting a chill, she noticed the Bus Driver stepping off and stretching, popping bone back into place as much as possible. Looking about him at over 2 dozen police officers he found an equal number of guns trained on him. Looking over at Heather, he saluted her then danced in a jig as if bullets firing at his feet in an old Western movie. He then turned and walked around the bus.

“Why are those idiots not tackling him?” Heather examined the police force, 80% of whom were men. The female officers held at gunpoint by their own. Even Heather found a gun pointed at her. Hands in the air she swallowed dryly. “How is he doing this?” One of the officers approached Heather, his eyes black as ink.

“You people are so naïve! That kid thinks Eye can only inhabit one body bag at a time. She doesn’t know shit! Neither do you Foxy.”

“What do you want with Raven Moore? What has she done to you?”

“Just lookin’ to impregnate her is all. Evidently the first round didn’t work, or Eye wouldn’t still be here. Don’t worry Eye won’t be long. She won’t resist me once Eye start bringing out her Barbies. Wolves in the Ken House Baby!”

“So, you’re using innocent young girls to lure her out?”

“CATNIPples! Purrrrdy Lady!”

“Does the black cat have anything to do with you?” The word catnip made her wonder.

“Roadkill Eye slay! So, mommy is here, huh? How did Eye not detect her? Eye usually smell her hot sauce a mile away. Must be casting an illusion to block my snot. No worries mommy can’t stop me. She should know better. Same for her whole coven of bitches!”

“Mommy? Who’s mommy? Raven’s?”

“Smarter than that average cunt hair Booboo.”

“Coven?”

“We’re done here! Unless you want shot down in the prime of your life and never see Morgue Boy again, stay out of my way.” Turning away the officer headed for the bus going up into it. Returning shortly, he dragged a young girl out by her hair kicking and screaming. Heather found herself uncertain what to do, she had too men guns trained on her to be of any use. Grumbling she could only observe.

On the other side of the bus the possessed Driver stood in Hector’s front yard with his broken arms wide looking at Raven Moore and Jody Alonzo in the doorway. A quick glance at the tree where the neighbor had been he puckered, “You two have been busy. Cleanest concrete I’ve ever seen. Bet that was a birch gettin’ him down.”

“What do you want with me Noigel?”

“For one, stop annoying me with that stupid name. Eye was joking! Legion backwards in a mirror? Come on! RORRIM! RORRIM! NO EHT LLAW!” He laughed. “Who’s the studliest Incubus of all? Gimme a shout out? No? In that case let’s get down to beeswax Birdy! Notice what I did there? Birds ... Raven ... bees ... my stinger in your honey hole?”

“Not happening!” Raven defied him.

Sighing the demon shook his head then looked over his shoulder, “Bring up Vestal Virgin number one!” He then winked at Raven. “I love talking to myself!” The Incubus grinned as it became evident to both Raven and Jody that Noigel or whatever his name truly was could actually inhabit more than one male at a time. He was only toying with her up to this point. The shock multiplying when she saw a police officer dragging her former roommate Angela Fitzgerald up to the Driver. Once there next to him the cop held Angela by her throat and one arm turning her back to the Driver. In a goofy manner the Driver reached over and yanked Angela’s shorts down to her ankles, underwear and all.