Shadow Guardians - Genesis (2 page)

“I was kidnapped by some men who didn’t like my skin color,” Jericho said. They hung me from a tree about two miles south of here. When the soul catcher came for me, I bolted. I was filled with rage, dying the way I did. I made a promise to hunt them down and get revenge. That was a year ago. I found where they used to live, but the family moved out of state. I don’t know where. I won’t rest until I find them.

“We found each other and made a vow to use our deaths and our powers to save children in danger, who are abused, and who need someone to look out for them, like we did,” Miguel said. “That’s what we do—at least while dodging Soulcatchers”. “Mimi’s house is just beyond that hill,” Matt said. “You want to go alone, or do you want us with you,” Miguel asked.

Let’s stay together. There might be Soulcatchers around,” Mimi said. “Agreed,” Matt, Miguel, and Jericho said in unison. First, they went to Mimi’s house. They entered through the back door, which was ajar. “My Mother always liked to keep a door open in the house—said it helped circulate fresh oxygen inside,” Mimi said. “Mama, can I watch tv,” a girl’s voice echoed from upstairs. “After you do your homework,” a woman replied. Mimi, Miguel, Jericho, and Matt glided into the room where the woman sat on the couch brushing a little girl’s hair. “That’s Tina, my older sister,” Mimi said with a grin. “Mama looks so good. I just need to see Molly, and I’m done here,” Mimi said. The three of them glided up the stairs. Molly was in her room watching television, her stack of homework lying on the side of the bed next to her. She laughed aloud as one of the cartoon characters hit the other with a pie. Mimi smiled a huge grin. “I wish she knew I was here,” Mimi said. “She thinks about you every day,” Miguel said. “You saved her from him”. “He’s in hell now, and I’m glad the three of us saw to it,” Miguel added. “You ready to leave,” Matt asked. “I’m feeling uneasy about Soulcatchers being around. They know we come back here,” he added. “Yeah, let’s go to your house,” Miguel said.

“You never did tell us what your gift is,” Miguel said. “I have the power to wield electricity. Matt can morph into any human form he chooses, and Mimi has the power to see inside people and feel their emotions and, of course, to charge the dead with energy like she did for you.” “My ability is to control humans by whispering what I want them to do, as long as it is for good and not for evil,” Jericho said. “I always wanted to be a preacher when I was growing up—help people take the right paths in life. I used to spend hours lecturing anyone who would listen about Heaven and about God and about making the right choices in life. I was called a prodigy. Every now and then, I can use it on animals too. “That’s an interesting gift,” Miguel snorted with a laugh. “If God decides to flood the earth again, you’d be the man to help load the ark,” he laughed. “Lay off, Mr. Static Cling,” Matt said. Miguel and Matt locked eyes. “Boys,” Mimi shouted. Let’s focus. The four of them continued on their journey.

Moments later, they arrived at Matt’s house. Matt looked around to see if anyone was nearby, then morphed into human form. He pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked the front door, then changed back to his ghostly form. The four of them entered the house. It was quiet, save for a television on in the front room. “I don’t think they’re here,” Miguel said. They drifted room-by-room through the ranch-style house. Not a soul in sight. “Don’t be disappointed, Matt,” Mimi said. “I can feel them”. “Them,” Matt asked. “Yes, your Mother and her boyfriend,” Mimi said. “They are in love, and it’s true love. She’s happy, Matt.” “I wish I could see her,” Matt said. “We’ll come back another time,” Miguel replied. “Let’s get to my house and then get out of this town before we run into Jordin,” Miguel said. “You think maybe we could stop by the farm, so I can look in on my old man,” Jericho asked. “That’s risky, since you’ve been chased by Jordin,” Miguel said. “Miguel,” Mimi said with a bit of disgust. “Okay. Okay. A quick stop,” Miguel said.

“So, Mimi had the most to say about how her death happened and the aftermath,” Jericho said. “Well, duh,” Miguel replied. “She is the one with the gift of empathy and a sixth sense. She’s all emotional,” he added. “I was just wondering,” Jericho began. “Let me stop you there, partner,” Miguel said. “I don’t discuss it”. “I prefer to let it be, too,” Matt said. “You know as much as necessary for someone we’ve only known for about an hour,” Miguel said. Mimi was silent. “Speaking of spilling secrets, you never did tell us the details of your run-in with Jordin,” Matt said. Jericho laughed, and then a very stern look came over his cinnamon skin. A vein in his bald head bulged, and his well-defined lips and broad nose flared. His eyes grew a darker shade of brown.

“I was out at the lake over by farmer Miller’s house. You know where it is,” Jericho said. I was remembering the first time my father took me there as a boy. The water went from the calmest body without a ripple to a raging tempest of spray. The sky got dark, and there was an icy breeze. I didn’t bother to look; I knew what was happening. I leaped into the air and flew as fast as I could. I barely dodged the flames from his sword, feeling the hairs on my arms singe. I turned to see how close he was, and I looked into his fiery eyes. He was wearing his usual black robe with the hood. All I could see of his face were his eyes, like there was nothing else there but them. He said to me in a deep voice, “it’s time for your soul to rest, son”. He drew back to wield flames at me again, and I dropped to the ground and began running through the tall grass, hoping he wouldn’t see me. I ran and ran until I couldn’t take another step. I fell in the grass and lay there. I saw him fly over me, and I stayed as still as possible, holding my breath. He yelled, “I will never stop until your soul comes home, Jericho”. I didn’t make a peep. I lay there. About two hours later, you guys came by, and you know the rest.

“We’re a rarity,” Matt said. “Those who refuse to let their souls be taken because we have work left to do on earth. Besides Mimi, Miguel, and you, I’ve never met another like me. I used to think I was all alone when I died and decided not to go with the Soulcatchers. Sometimes I wonder if God understands why I elude his kingdom to stay in this place that has to be close to what hell is like. I remember the day that I met Miguel. I was out near the valley. I had just come from rescuing a six-month old from a trash bin and taking her to a hospital—to safety. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, but I could hear what sounded like lightning, and there were blue streaks of electricity pouring into the sky. A flock of geese was passing, and it looked like the electricity was being aimed at them. One of them was hit and fell to the ground. I heard someone yell, “gotcha”. I hastily made my way to see what was going on. I hovered just near the geese and looked down to see a ghost with flaming blue eyes hovering just above the ground, fists clenched, with blue electricity streaming from them into the sky. I yelled to him to stop. He shot a bolt in my direction, but it passed through me. He seemed angry at the world. We talked and found that we had some things in common—the least of them being a desire to keep what happened to us from happening to as many kids as we could protect. A gang of ghosts with a common cause, we called ourselves the “Shadow Guardians”, and we combed the city looking for children to help. Every so often, we would find a chance to make a difference, and we saved many kids from the evils of this world. It was about a year later that we met Mimi. She was doing the same thing that Miguel and I were doing, only by herself. She had saved as many kids alone as we had together, since she had the power to sense them and their need for help. Adding her to the team gave us the ability to help more kids and to do it faster. Mimi located the children in need, I appeared to them and led them from danger, and Miguel was the punisher. It’s been that way for three years now,” Matt finished. “Any room on the team for a rookie,” Jericho laughed. “You’re with us for now,” Miguel said. “Come on. We’re here at my Mother’s house,” he added.

“If you don’t mind, I want to do this alone,” Miguel said. “We’ll be out here,” Mimi said. “With Jordin around, we probably shouldn’t stay too long,” Matt added. “I’ll just be a minute,” Miguel replied. Mimi, Matt, and Jericho stood on the front porch in front of the picture window, peering inside the house. Miguel phased through the front door and entered the house. He looked around. Not much had changed since he was last here. The television was on, and a soap opera was in progress. Miguel’s mother was lying on the couch, still dressed in her nurse’s uniform. Miguel knelt next to her. “I know you can’t hear me,” he whispered. “Just know that I love you and will always protect you,” he said. “Miguel, go clean your room,” his mother mumbled. “Ma, you can hear me,” Miguel asked. “Okay, it can wait until after you’ve finished your dinner,” his mother said. “Just a dream,” Miguel said, disappointed. His mother rolled over on the couch.

Miguel kissed her hand. He walked to the back of the house to look around. He was curious to see what his old room looked like, and he wanted to pick up a pair of leather gloves he used to wear. He entered his room. The pictures he had on the wall when he lived there were still in the same positions. He opened his dresser and found the black gloves that he wanted. His clothes were still there, neatly folded as he had left them years ago. Miguel felt sad. His mother obviously wasn’t moving on much with her life—just working and being alone. There was no sign that any other human but his mother lived there or visited with any routine. “Miguel, I sense Jordin
and
Orin nearby. We have to leave,” Mimi said. Miguel didn’t hear her enter the house. “Okay. Let me look in on Todd’s room, before I go. I sure miss him,” Miguel said. He and Mimi walked across the hall to Miguel’s brother’s room. “I never understood why he decided to go with the Soulcatchers,” Miguel said. “There was work left here to do. Look at this room—still a mess just like he left it. I don’t think Ma ever comes back here. I guess the pain is still fresh, losing both her sons on the same day,” Miguel lamented. “I’m sorry, Miguel, but we have to leave now. Getting away from one of them is hard; beating two of them is nearly impossible,” Mimi said. “Okay. Let’s go,” Miguel said. He put the black gloves on his hands and clinched his fists. Blue electricity emanated from them. “Show-off,” Mimi said. Miguel chuckled.

When they came out of the house, Jericho and Matt were kicking a soccer ball around in the front yard. Jericho, obviously, had some skills in doing so. He looked like a pro. Matt barely got the ball to go three feet with all his effort. “Boys,” Mimi said. “Let’s get out of here.” “Your best option would be to surrender and come with us,” a voice boomed. They turned around to see Orin hovering over Miguel’s house. “Run,” Jericho yelled. “Separate,” Matt added. “I’m going to take care of him,” Miguel shouted,” anger in his voice. “How dare you defile my Mother’s house by coming here,” Miguel said, as he fired a bolt of blue energy towards Orin. The soul catcher dodged it with ease and pulled out his flaming sword from its sheath. “Miguel Menendez, today is your day,” Orin said. He charged towards Miguel. Miguel held both fists together and formed a circle of blue electric around himself. The soul catcher swung his blade over and over at Miguel, but could not penetrate the force field. Jericho, Mimi, and Matt had abandoned their hiding spots and were watching together from behind a shed on the side of Miguel’s mother’s house.

“Miguel has to be the most powerful ghost I’ve ever seen,” Jericho said. “It’s unheard of for one of us to battle a soul catcher alone and hold his own,” he added. “Miguel is so stubborn and full of rage that it seems to boost his powers and his control over them,” Matt said. “We have to do something to end this stand-off,” Jericho said. “What did you have in mind,” Matt asked. Almost on queue, Miguel’s mother came out of the house and walked to her car. Jericho approached her and whispered, “repeat after me. In the name of the most Holy, I command you to leave this place.” Miguel’s mother repeated the phrase aloud. Orin looked at her and shrieked in agony. He put his sword away and flew at a high rate of speed away from Miguel. “I will see you again,” he warned. “We will never stop”.

Miguel lowered his force field and fainted. He was drained. Mimi walked over to him and touched his forehead. Cold energy rushed through his body. “I’m okay,” he said as he stood up. “How did you know to do that,” Matt asked Jericho. “Soulcatchers are agents of heaven, not evil,” Matt added. “They are bound to do the bidding of the Father. They do nothing but serve,” Jericho said. “If a human commands them in the name of the Father,” they have to obey,” he added. “I used my power to get your Mother to command him in the name of the Father, and she did,” Jericho said. “That was terrific,” Mimi said, hugging Jericho. Matt gave her a look of jealousy. She winked at him, still clutching Jericho.

Let’s find somewhere to rest and recollect ourselves,” Miguel said. “Then we can figure out our next steps,” he added. The four of them flew south, away from town, towards the ocean. “I know a café on the beach that I used to go to with my family,” Mimi said. “Let’s go there and get something to give us energy, rest, and think about our next mission,” she said.

CHAPTER THREE: A GREATER GOOD

Matt hastily slurped the glass of sugar water, as did Jericho, Mimi, and Miguel. “It’s the only thing we’ve found that we can take in that gives us energy,” Matt said. “Actually, I’ve found that anything with high sugar content gives me a boost,” Jericho replied. “If this is all you guys have been using for energy these past years, you’ve been missing out,” he added. “Let’s find some pineapple juice—this café
does
have a bar,” Mimi said. “I’ll go,” Miguel said. “I’ll go with you,” Mimi replied.

The two of them on their way to find other energy foods, Matt and Jericho stood silent drinking their sugar water. Finally, Jericho broke the silence. “You’re very fond of her,” he asked Matt. “She’s like a little sister,” Matt replied. “Nothing more,” he added. “That look you gave her when she hugged me suggests otherwise,” Jericho said. Matt was silent. “I understand,” Jericho said. “I’m not trying to invade your turf,” he added. Matt chuckled. “Humans are funny to watch,” Matt said, changing the subject. “Look at them,” he said, pointing to a family at a table. “I like to sit near them and listen to their trivial views on life and the problems they think they have,” Matt said. Jericho was silent. “Take that guy over there on the cell phone,” Matt said. “He’s talking into the phone and motioning with his hands so furiously, you’d think he didn’t know the person on the other end can’t see him,” Matt chuckled. “Let’s see what’s so urgent”. Matt walked towards the man. Jericho followed. “I’m telling you. I need fifty more of them by the end of the week, or I’ll never make production on the contract, Sam,” the man said. “I don’t care. Get them from group homes, orphanages, off the streets, wherever. I just need labor,” he said. Matt and Jericho looked at each other in amazement. “He’s not talking about what I think he’s talking about,” Jericho said. “Yes, he is,” Matt replied. “God leads us where we need to be, and this is destiny, my man,” Matt said. “My friend,” I think we’ve stumbled on a child labor problem that needs our special attention,” Matt added. “Let’s tell the others,” Jericho said.