Slash (Novella I) (12 page)

Bravo lounged back with Sidnee cuddled in his arms. “A guy likes me.”

“
That’s great,” Sidnee said. “No haunted house, no ill parent, at least things are going good for somebody.”

“
Don’t speak so soon. This guy makes me really hungry. It can never happen.”

“
No, don’t say that. There has to be something you can do to curve your appetite.”

“
I’ve been looking,” Bravo said. “None of the books I have read offer an option.”

“
How many dates have you guys had?”

“
None, he keeps pursuing me and I keep fleeing. I’m too afraid I will eat him.”

“
Then make sure you’re both never alone,” Sidnee suggested. “And if things go well, you’ll really get to know and like him as a person and not a meal. You reached that point with Ford and I and a few others. Let him in gradually. You’re a sweet person. You deserve to have somebody to hold.”

Bravo squeezed his arms tighter around Sidnee. “I got you right now though.”

“
You’ve got me always.”

Bravo smirked as he decided to take Sidnee’s advice when it came to Milo.

Chapter 14 – Gummy Candy

Fran maneuvered through the thick flea market crowd as she did her best to hold on to MT’s hand. The maze of shopping booths smelled like the various different perfumes and incents being sold, tobacco and sweat. People from all walks of life shopped for the best deals: used video games, pocket knives, electronics, bundles of socks, fruit and many more. Fran arrived to a booth that displayed wall paintings.

She looked down at MT. “Do not wander off.”

MT pointed at the aquarium booth next door. “Can I just go look at the fishes?”

“
Yes, but I’m not buying anything especially a fish. The last fish I got you didn’t even make it home.”

MT yanked her hand away from her mother’s. “Okay, okay.”

MT skipped off and stared into one of the tanks of multicolored fish. She did her best to count the fish but got confused as they swam from one side of the tank to the other. MT looked over her shoulder to discover a booth that sold candy. She skipped over to the booth and her eyes widened as she zeroed in on a jar of gummy bears. She slowly reached for the jar only for her hand to be smacked away by a man wearing a light blue tuxedo and had his face painted like a clown’s.

He leaned over. “And what’s your name little girl?”

“
MT.”

“
And how old are you MT?”

MT held up five fingers. “Five. What’s your name?”

“
Doesn’t matter,” He said with a wide smile.

“
How old are you then?”

“
Veeeeeeeeeery old.” He laughed.

“
I’m going to call you Clowny.”

“
Feel free to do so.” Clowny stood up right. “So, you like gummy bears, huh?”

“
Yes sir, can I some?”

“
Twenty-dollars.”

Maria looked over to where her mom still shopped. “My momma won’t buy it.”

Clowny placed his hand on his chin. “Fine, you can always exchange it for something.”

“
Like what?”

Clowny poked MT in the chest. “Your soul.”

MT focused back on the jar of colorful gummy bears. She shrugged. “Ok.”

MT sat at Tatu’s kitchen table replaying that moment over in her head. She had no idea how she let her childhood encounter with Clowny at the flea market slip from her mind. MT remembered eating a couple of the gummy bears that day and throwing them away because if their dull, bland taste.

She sipped her cup of coffee. “I gave my soul away for candy…fucking candy.”

Tatu, who sat opposite of her, nodded. “It sounds as if you encountered the endless.”

“
The endless?”

“
They specialize in bargaining for souls. The more souls they consume the longer they live.”

MT motioned at herself. “But I was just a child.”

“
Nothing easier than taking candy from a baby or in your case a soul.”

“
I’ll just have to ask for my soul back. Then I’ll be fixed.”

Tatu wagged her finger. “It’s not that easy. He owns that soul. You have to take it back.”

“
How?”

“
Kill him.”

“
I can’t kill a man.”

“
But you have too,” Tatu said. “If you want to truly live you have to kill him.”

“
This is too much. First I have to find something to do with my momma and then kill somebody.”

Tatu slapped her palms against the kitchen table. “Stop being weak, you’re not a child anymore. You were robbed of your soul and you’re sitting here whining. I will find a place for your mother, trust me. No more worrying about a mad woman. You get out of my trailer right now and go get your soul back.”

“
Why are you being so helpful?”

“
Because I hate watching people waste their lives looking after those who can’t be helped.”

MT stood from her seat. “I understand. I just need to say goodbye to my momma.”

Tatu pointed at her trailer door. “A mad woman doesn’t know any hellos or goodbyes. Leave.”

A tear streamed down MT’s face. She couldn’t take her eyes off the closed door of the room her mother slept in. MT took one step toward the room only for Tatu to clear her throat. She turned away from the door and exhaled heavily. MT whispered her goodbye under her breath and left the trailer.

She made her way by feet to the bus station. The flea market was located in a town two hours away called Gooseville and she had a couple of dollars left over to catch the bus there. She sat outside the station on a wobbly wooden bench waiting. MT lowered her head and shut her eyes as she brainstormed ways to kill the endless.

“
If you don’t wake up you might miss your bus,” A male voice said.

MT opened her eyes and raised her head to find a young brown-skinned guy sitting next to her. “I’m thinking.”

“
What’s up, I’m Maxim. So, what are you thinking about?”

“
I’m MT.” She brushed her dark hair over her narrow shoulders.

“
Are you going to tell me what you’re thinking about or is it top secret?”

“
It’s a bit out there.”

Maxim laughed. “Surprise me.”

“
It involves death.”

“
Trust me; I know a lot about death.”

MT scooted away from him a bit. “What do you mean?”

“
Well, I’m homeless because what I am. I happen to be somebody who’s drawn to death. I’m a slasher.”

MT tensed up. “And I’m your next target? You can’t just kill me out in the open.”

Maxim shook his head as he laughed. “Nah, you’re too cute to slash.”

“
Oh, why would you admit to being something like that to a complete stranger?”

Maxim shrugged. “I guess I hope to one day tell that somebody and not be pushed away. So, death, huh?”

“
Someone stole my soul when I was a kid and I can only get my soul back by killing him.”

“
Shit, well how are you gonna kill him?”

MT shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s supposedly endless so I don’t know how I will actually end him.”

Maxim raised his hand. “Heck, I’ll do it. Every slasher needs a challenge. I can’t even imagine the bragging rights.”

“
Are you sure?”

Maxim nodded. “Yeah, so where is this asshole?”

“
A flea market in Gooseville is the last time I ever saw him.”

Maxim dug into his pockets. “I’ll use my last twenty to get a ticket and we can go end this endless.”

MT watched Maxim as he headed inside to buy a ticket. She barely knew him, but needed him greatly.

Chapter 15 - Guest

Sidnee spent her entire day doing a book signings at two separate book stores in the state. Her face was sore from all the smiling she had to do and fingers numb from signing her signature over a hundred times. Bravo was there to help her as usual, but it was still a stressful process. Sidnee entered her home to discover Levi sitting on the living room watching television.

She joined him on the couch. “What time is it?”

He kept his focus on the television. “It’s almost midnight.”

“
Traveling takes up so much time.” She kicked off her shoes. “Are you going to bed soon?”

“
Nope, I try to be awake during odd hours to hopefully catch the house misbehaving. You?”

“
I’m too tired to walk upstairs to get into bed. So, just carry me upstairs when I fall asleep.”

Levi laughed. “You’re just trying to get me in your room.” He poked his tongue out at her. “Creative slut.”

Sidnee tried to resist but set free a laugh. She rested her head against her couch and watched as Levi stared blankly at the television. His favorite food was cereal, he loved cartoons, he wore superhero pajamas around the house and his humor never took a vacation. All of those things brought a smile to Sidnee’s face when she would think about Levi.

“
I’m interested in knowing something, if Tatu is your grandmother, who are your parents?”

He did not remove his eyes from the television. “That’s a random question.”

“
I want to know more about you.”

“
Don’t fall in love with me. It’s awkward.”

“
I’m not. I just want to know this stranger in my house.”

“
My father pimped my mom out for drugs. It didn’t take long for my grandmother to disown my mother and take me in. My parents were arrested when I was ten for possession and prostitution. They‘re in jail rotting away and I have no plans on visiting them. Yes, my grandma is a bit over possessive, but she’s my hero, Web-Man second.”

Sidnee frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“
You’re the one who wanted to know.”

Sidnee noticed how he watched television with his mouth opened. “That’s adorable.”

“
What is? Never mind.” He rolled his eyes. “I can’t hear the television.”

She reached for his face and pushed his mouth close. “That’s so damn cute.”

He slapped her hand away. “No touching, you’ll only want to do it more.”

“
I don’t know if that’s humor or arrogance.”

He grabbed the remote and turned up the television. “Sidnee, go upstairs.”

She poked him on the cheek. “I told you, you’re going to have to carry me.”

“
No deal, now go upstairs.” He leaned away from her. “And I don’t want to find you naked in my bed.”

“
I think you’re using reverse psychology on me.”

There was a knock on the door. Sidnee quickly kissed Levi on his forehead. He tried to trip her as she made a run for it and headed over to answer the door. He ranted in the background, Sidnee sure she heard something about him vowing to shave her head as she slept.

She opened the door to find her older brother standing there, holding duffle bags in his hands.

He raised his bags. “I need someplace to stay.”

Sidnee gripped the doorknob. “Evan,” She groaned out.

She didn’t know if she should slam the door closed or invite the drama inside.

The sight of his face only took her back to childhood.

A young Sidnee stood in her brother’s bedroom doorway watching as he packed his bags. This had become repetitive in their home. He would get in an argument with their parents, threaten to move out, pack his bags and mope around the house until he eventually unpacked everything and had a private conversation with their father.

Sidnee watched and snickered as her twenty-one year old brother behaved like a five year old. Instead of folding his clothes, Evan aggressively tossed anything of his, into his duffle bags. His packing routine had changed, he wasn’t stalling

Sidnee raised her right brow. “What happened this time?”

“
Shut up.” He started stacking all his DVDs into one of the bags.

“
I’m just asking. Did you break the curfew again?”

He pointed his finger at his chest. “I’m too damn old for a curfew.”

“
Yeah, but dad said as long as you live-”

“
-I know what he said,” Evan shouted.

She raised her hands in defense. “I’m not the one kicking you out, calm down.”