It's a start...

2002-11-03 - 1:20 p.m.

Heh... Here is the start of the novel I'm writing... only 35 pages into it. >.< Enjoy!

PS. I keep on switching back and forth from calling the main girl Margaret or Margery. It;s the same person... I'm not sure which to call her. :P

Maggie and Jay

Margaret Anne O’Hare, Maggie was a cute little thing, being nineteen years old, and barely reaching five foot. When she grins her nose wrinkles ever so slightly, and her freckles become more apparent. The most outstanding characteristic is her fiery red hair, which she has cut chin length, and it twists perfectly into thousands of tight spirals. The only way she can manage her hair is to tie it back with an accordion headband. You'll often see her in her favorite Grey plaid petal pushers, and white blouse that she’s cut into a mid-drift. A large silver crucifix hangs over her belly button. Her two inch platform sneakers look almost comical on her tiny body, but with her funky style there’s no way to decide whether they are or not. Her dark brown eyes scan everything as though they have never seen any of it before, because Maggie’s motto is “Attention to details.” When standing next to her best friend they look like the odd couple.

Jayme Richard Phillips, Jay is a tall, towering, fellow, being twenty-four years old he is quite worldly compared to his sidekick. She assumes that it’s because he’s six foot three so he can see more of the world in a glance. His face is nearly always in a shy grin, with one brow arched higher than the other one. His hair is neatly buzzed, because he hates to have to comb it. He wears blue contacts, just to make people make a double take when he walks by. He’s always the center of attention. You might often see him in his ice blue de-go tank, and baggy black jeans. He wears a silver crucifix that matches Maggie’s, they had bought them together when they were little, and had worn them ever since.

They had been best friends for years, but lately Maggie had been getting this new feeling every time he came around. She couldn’t explain just what it was, but her roommate Laura thought she knew just well. She was determined to tell Maggie just what it was as she banged on the bathroom door.

“Maggie, aw, come on. Are you gonna make me beg or what? Where are you and Jay going tonight that you have to look different? You always look different.” Laura giggles as Maggie comes out of the bathroom with smeared make-up all over the place.

“Laura, are you going to help me or what? Jay’s going to be here any moment, and I look like a drag queen.” Laura smirks and moves past Maggie to get a wash cloth from atop the faucet. She drenches it in makeup remover and walks back over to Maggie with her little “I told ya’ so” grins. She starts wiping the makeup of Maggie’s face, and does her best to not start laughing again.

“So? You’ve got it bad, huh?” She smirks a little as she looks at her washcloth, now covered in numerous types of makeup. She looks a little discouraged.

“Got what bad? Besides no skills in putting on make up, I have nothing…” Maggie manages to fumble out as Laura tosses the washcloth in the hamper, and moves to get another one. She drenches it in makeup remover once again.

“Damn, girl, haven’t you ever used make-up before? This powder is supposed to last more than one use, hon. I suppose it’s okay, considering Maggie’s finally got a boyfriend.” She says this is taunting tones, making Maggie blush red. As she removes the rest of the make-up thoroughly she takes out her cosmetic bag, and starts trying some of her stuff on Maggie’s wrist. I think this color will work. Dabbing on cover up, and brushing on all sorts of colors all over she keeps her concentration rather than teasing. Once she’s done she shows Maggie the mirror. Maggie frowns, with a sigh.

“That’s still just me. I have less freckles, and bigger eyes, but that’s still just me. I don’t want to be me tonight I want to be like…” The doorbell rings as she tries to finish her phrase. Her eyes grow big as she jets for her room. She throws the first dress she can find over her head, and puts on some red heel platforms. She hears Laura answer the door, and a familiar male voice comes drifting into her room.

“Okay, that’ll be thirteen-fifty.” She nearly screams as she hears the pizza man’s voice. She stumbles out of her room in her dress and heels, to find her roommate rummaging through her purse. She takes out fifteen dollars and gives it to the pizza man. “Thank ya’, ma’am.” When she shuts the door Laura turns around to see Maggie glaring at her.

“What?!”

“That was not funny.” Laura bursts out laughing again, and tosses Maggie a headband.

“You should have known better. I mean, you ordered it for me.”

“I most certainly did n… OH SHIT!” She stomps her foot on the floor. “I did. Sorry, girl.” Laura starts to take control of her laughter as she comes over to give her roomy a hug.

“It’s okay, Hon, and everything will be okay tonight. You guys have always been the best of friends, and I’m sure he knows what a good girlfriend you’d be.” She pauses with a sincere smile on her face, which soon turns back into her cocky smirk. “Well, if you need me I’ll be at Pat’s. We’re going to be studying our chemistry.”

“You don’t have chemistry together.”

“We have plenty, trust me doll.” With that she takes the pizza and walks out. Maggie blinks at the clock; she sees he’s already ten minutes late, typical of Jay. She scurries back to her room to see what kind of ensemble she just had created. She notices she’s wearing her black cotton jumper with her super heels.

“These have to go.” She changes from her super heels to her everyday platform tennis shoes. She goes ahead and puts on some jewelry, and paints her nails. Before she knows it another hour has gone by, and still no Jay. Her roommates’ birds squawk loudly when it gets dark, but no one has covered their cage. So she gets up to cover it, staring at the clock. “Where could he be?” She stays staring at the clock until sleep overcomes her.

She wakes up in her bed, and rolls over to see the alarm clock. When she sees it blinking twelve o’clock she nearly falls out of her bed. When she catches herself, and looks over to the pictures of jay and herself in the roller coaster at Six Flags. Him pushing her down into the seat, because she nearly flew out, her smiling big as ever. She glares at the picture and throws it along with her alarm clock across the room, and tries to go back to sleep. As she tosses and turns in an attempt to hide her face from the sun light just a bit longer, she hears her roommates’ birds squawking loudly.

“Bitch, bitch, bitch.”

“Whore, SQUAWK, whore.” The birds reply to one another. This could only mean one thing; her roommates were fighting once again. She stumbles out of bed, and sits up against the door so she can decided whether or not she should even go out. She listens to her roommates yelling more clearly now.

“Beth, you’re just being a pussy. You’ve know her the longest, and so you should tell her. Who wants a stranger telling you something like this?” Maggie sighs, thinking maybe they’re not even talking about her, but she’ll have to listen a little longer.

“Excuse me Laura, but who had to explain to her why that guy asked her if she liked spoons? That was a pretty tough one if I may say so myself.” Nope, they were talking about her. She couldn’t believe that guy last week. He asked if she liked spoons, as he rode by on his skateboard and goosed her. She wanted to see if she could still make her classes. So she hopped up and walked to see the clock in the kitchen. As she walks in, the girls immediately stop and look in her in horror as she reaches past them for a glass. Looking at the clock as she bends down to turn on the faucet. She sees it and takes her glass of water back to her room. She looks in the mirror, her curls matted together from all the moose, and the white dress now wrinkled. She shrugs and drinks the water, and walks to the bathroom. She drenches her hair, and puts on another headband, while searching around for her toothbrush. She finds it on the opposite side of the sink where Jay would leave it if she had left it at his house. She muttered something as she brushed her teeth, and as soon as she is done she heads for the door determined to make it to class. As she reaches the door, she feels her gal pals pulling her back. “Hey wait, hold it girly. Did you hear about Jay?”

“Oh I know all about Jay, Beth.” She says with rejection in her voice. With that the girls both release her hands, and look blankly at each other. Then she slams the door, and runs out to the street to hail a cab. She hopes Jay doesn’t see her, considering his apartment is just on the other side of the street from hers. She asks tells the driver which building she needs to get to, and waits impatiently. When they get there she throws a ten at him and runs to class. When she sneaks into class, she notices Jay is not at his desk either. She rolls her eyes as she hears some girls behind her whisper.

“Ouch, she must be seriously hardened to come to school after last night.”

“I know, it makes you wonder if she did it herself.” She turns to see the girls giving each other all knowing glances. The teacher calls on her.

“Margery, you know very well, that being more than 20 minutes late is considered an absence.” She nods. “I’ll excuse it this once, considering the circumstances.” She feels relieved, though thoroughly confused. At the end of class she hands her work to the teacher. “My condolences, dear.”

“What, what are all of you talking about?” She looks around at everybody seemingly disgusted. She sees some guys talking against a wall and one approach her. He comes over and puts a hand on each of her shoulders, and moves her to a corner.

“Have you honestly not heard about, Jay?”

“Heard what? All I’ve heard is my own self calling him the scum of the earth for standing me up last night.”

“Sweetheart, he didn’t stand you up last night. He was killed yesterday afternoon. I thought you knew.” She slides down against the wall in shock, falling down onto her butt. She stares up at the guy to see if he’s just messing with her. He shakes his head, and looks down to her. Watching the reality flash before him in her eyes. “I’m sorry sweetheart. I guess we have lit together today too. I can ask the Prof. for your assignment if you just want to go home.” She stares up at him, jaw dropped, and feeling extremely sick, she stands and utters something to quiet for him to make out. “What?” She glares to him.

“No.” She walks to the professor and asks him. “Did Jay have this absence planned?”

“Dear, you know and I know we can never prepare for these kinds of things. Such a sudden death is completely unexpected, especially for someone so young.” She stands there in shock a bit longer. She runs out from the school as fast as her little legs will take her. She runs all the way to her apartment, and opens the door quickly, dropping her bag on the floor. She locks the door, and throws the sheet over the birdcage. Completely exhausted she collapses onto her bed and stares up at the ceiling. She just lies there for hours until a single tear falls down her cheek as she drifts off to sleep.

The phone rings thunderously in her ear, as she once again peers up at where the clock had once sat. She moans a little and climbs out of bed. The clock in the kitchen says 7:13, and she assumes evening, because it is dark. She stumbles to the phone that has been ringing for at least a couple minutes now.

“Hello?”

“Hey Maggie? Wanna come out dancing with us, come and clear your mind? It’s 'free liquor for the ladies night' at the Jam.” Laura is obviously trying her best to get more people to get smashed with. At this point it doesn’t seem like a bad idea to Maggie. She sighs and says

“Can you get me a ride? I’m broke.”

“Um yeah, Beth is still at BJ’s, I mean, DJ’s. Um, just call and he’ll give you a ride.”

“Sure, thanks girl.” She sighs and hangs up the phone and presses speed dial 1. DJ was Beth’s long time boyfriend, and Beth was the mechanical whiz, so it was obvious that his was going to be the first number on the speed dial. “Hey DJ, are you guys going to the Jam tonight? Can you take me? Just knock on the door when you guys are ready.” DJ just happened to get a dorm two doors down from Beth so it wasn’t going out of his way to knock on the door before they left. She walked to bathroom and cleaned her face, but she felt something past her. She brushes it off, and starts brushing her teeth. A hand touches her shoulder, she doesn’t see anything in the mirror, and there is nothing when she turns around. She slaps herself, and continues to brush her teeth. When she’s done, she walks back out to the living room, and picks up the paper. Normally none of the girls ever bought the paper, but today I guess it was worth their 50 cents. She stares at the cover, but decides she’d rather not read it. Instead she picks up the phone, and dials the number for Jay’s mom’s house. She had always got along with his mother, and was sure that I wouldn’t be too bad, because she always tried to be strong and never let emotions show. Though this time she hears a quivering voice on the other end of the line.

“Hello?”

“Um, Hi Mrs. Phillips… this is…”

“Oh my God, thank God… You’ve sent me an angel. I’m glad to hear from you Maggie. When I heard I didn’t know who was around or anything. Are you alright dear?”

“Oh yes, Mrs. Phillips, I’m fine. How are you feeling?” She cringes when she hears these words escape her lips. How could she be so stupid? This lady’s son had been killed and she asks how she’s feeling. She hears the woman’s voice crack for the first time.

“As well as could be expected I suppose.” Maggie sighs, as she hears a knock at the door.

“Well if you need help with anything just gimme a call, and I’ll get down there as soon as I can.”

“Actually we’re holding everything up there. If you could meet us at the Soul of God Catholic Church, at two, it would be a great help.”

“Sure I will. I’ll see you there at, two?” Beth comes into the room, staring at Maggie and talking to DJ.

“Well, I hear you have company, goodnight.”

“Night Mrs. Phillips.” She sets the phone down, and jumps to, grabbing her purse as she leaves.

DJ starts bobbing his head to the music that starts booming immediately as he starts the car. He smiles at Beth, and she rolls her eyes. She looks back to Maggie with one of those “Why?” looks. Then Maggie yells over the seat to DJ. “You’re crazy!”

“What?!” She yells louder this time, with a slight smile on her face.

“YOU’RE CRAZY!” She laughs as he turns down the music.

“What?”

“Turn down the music.” She sighs and messes up his hair. She peers out the window and her mind wanders. The “What if's” dance around in her head. What if she had gone to practice? What if she hadn’t asked him to pick her up? What if this was all just a cruel trick? Still not knowing the details of this all, she couldn’t even know what “What ifs” to contemplate. She sighs and stares at her hands until they reach the club. DJ drops the girls off at the door, and drives around to the back.

“I’ll be right in.” Beth kisses her boyfriend, and they two girls walk in. Maggie immediately makes her way up to a corner of the bar, a spot where she’ll get lots of attention from the tender, but little from anyone else. Laura immediately sees her and makes her way over to her.

“Oh no you don’t lady, you’ve got class in the morning.” Maggie glares at Laura.

“Then why did you bring me here? I don’t want to go to class. I’m going to be sick.”

“Come and dance with me.”

“What?”

“Dance with me.” She rolls her eyes and follows her buddy onto the dance floor. She dances very well, but rather lifelessly to a swing song. She swings Laura around taking the roll of the man in the dance, and fakely smiling just for show. She shakes her head, and stops quickly as the song end. She moves quickly back towards her seat as she feels a cold hand on her arm.

“Laura! I don’t want to d…” She spins around quickly, and stops. She stares around in awe, as there is no one near her. Just several people looking at her strangely for yelling. She felt as though her heart had skipped a beat, and was now trying to catch up as she shivered. She sits down on a stool, and orders a double shot of JD. Round after round she drinks herself into oblivion.

She comes out of her coma-like stasis with a throbbing headache, and misty eyes. She looks coldly at her water bottle on her desk. Oh, how it seems so far away. Yet she urges herself to stand, and go get a drink. Even though she’s not particularly thirsty she drinks and drinks. She can’t be like this when she goes to meet…

“Oh SHIT!” She jumps to running to check the clock in the kitchen once again. Swearing that she should have left her own alone. She runs out to check the time, and it reads 10:04 am. She rolls her eyes and sighs. “Thank God I’m a morning person.” She stumbles back to her bed, and takes another big drink of water before going to the bathroom to refill her bottle. She sighs and stares at the paper still on the living room table as she fills her bottle. She walks to the table, taking another bug drink of water. She sets down her bottle and stares at the paper before opening it. She shrugs and goes to the “Police Beat” to read about the crimes of the past day. She browses through the page after page of crimes until she finds what she’s looking for.

“August 25th, 2002 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Jayme Richard Phillips was found dead, on the corner of 6th and Central. Cause of death being vehicular homicide, and beheading. There are no leads and no witnesses at this time. Any information? Call Albuquerque Police Department at 555-9793.”

She reads on for more, but there is nothing. Too many people are killed in this city everyday. Why should this case be high priority? But why would anyone behead him?

Maggie rides in a cab to school once again, watching the world around her turn without any contemplation of what has been racking her mind. She peers out the windows as the rain starts dripping from the heavens above. The black umbrellas seemingly all pop out of nowhere, as people hurriedly move for cover. One fellow in particular catches her eye as he slowly turns to face the cab, not hurrying at all to get out of the rain. His bright blue eyes the same as ever. He just smiles, and winks as the cab passes by.

“Um, actually, driver? Could we go to the church over that way?” She glances down at her watch, and sees that it is only a quarter after ten. That is okay though. She’ll need this bit of time to get her wits about her. She had just seen Jay, how mad she must be to be seeing such crazy things. When the driver reaches the church she hands him a ten, and slips out with her backpack heavy with books and notes for tests she should have been making up today. She wonders for a moment if the instructor might still be home so she could call, and tell him that she will be late for class. She shakes her head as she takes her phone out, realizing she herself had been running late. She simply walks in the church, hanging her phone on the pocket of her baggy indigo-blue jeans. She walks in, not having been to this church before. She stares at the empty walls, and notices little that stands out. In this plain church there are few statues of saints, and no stained glass windows like she was accustom to. She walks through the entry dipping her fingertip into the holy water, and makes the sign of the cross. Then once again makes the same pattern as she kneels before the crucifix, before she enters into a pew. She pulls out the kneeler, and sits in silent prayer a few moments; even though she cannot concentrate long enough to think up quick prayers she tries. When she rises from the kneeler and tucks it back into the pew in front of her. She sits in silent contemplation in the isolated confines of the empty church. She glances down at her watch, hoping a good bit of time had gone by, when the first twinge of impatience rose. She looks over her right shoulder to the church office to she if there was anyone she could talk to while she waits. She suddenly feels a cold hand on her left arm, she whirls around in a flash to see Jay, smiling and sitting right next to her. She feels all color fade from her face, as her jaw quivers. He leans over and hugs her.

“Hey Doll, what have you been up to? I haven’t seen you around lately.” She gasps feeling his strong arms around her, and starts to cry. He sits there in silent consultation, waiting for her to stop. He kisses her forehead as her tears start to dry.

Maggie turns up to look straight in Jay’s eyes, and slaps him. She pushes him away feeling his shoulder, wet from her tears.

“What the hell were you doing faking something like that?! You wouldn’t believe what I’ve been through, what you’re mother’s been through! To think that I…” With that Jay moves to kiss her. As their lips touch Maggie feels a dreadful sensation, and is suddenly in another place and time.

She finds her self on the corner of 6th and Central on a cool night. She sees Jay walk down the street towards her as a man and a woman emerge from an old impala. He walks past them indifferently. Then suddenly, the man grabs him by the shoulder and throws him several yards. He crashes into a brick wall, and falls limply to the ground. He scrabbles to his feet, gasping for breath and as the man approaches once again Jay moves quickly to kick him in the gut. As he runs for the street, he is pushed against the wall. The woman who had been seen with the man holds him there. Then Maggie can make something very strange out. Long fangs extend from the woman’s mouth. Then as Jay winces and turns his head away from her she sinks her teeth into his neck in a savage manner. The man emerges from the ground at this point, and is there with her, and they take turns indulging themselves upon his blood. Maggie screams out to stop, but they are completely impassioned by their feast. They don’t hear her. When they seem done they throw him to the ground. Then Maggie feels the sensation change, and she sees the man and woman standing over her paralyzed body. She watches the blade of a katana emerge from behind the woman. She holds it above her head, and in a flash the blade slices through.

Maggie pulls away from the kiss with all her might. She falls back into the isle screaming, and curls into the fetal position in the middle of the church, crying uncontrollably. The secretary runs from the church office to try to see what had happened to the girl. Maggie trembles as the secretary tries to help her up. She gasps for air, and stares at where Jay had been sitting beside her. She fumbles out... “Where is he?”

“Where is who Darlin’? I haven’t seen anyone else in here but you for hours. What’s wrong sweetheart?"

"Nuh-nuh-no one." She puffs out between breaths, she slowly runs her hand across her face, now damp with sweat. “I’m sorry ma’am, pardon me.” The astonished woman stood there, leaning on a pew, looking exhausted. The girl walked out looking quite somber, as if nothing had happened. In her daze she walks to the nearby store, and buys a black skirt. When she returns to the church a bit later, she does so in her gray wool sweater, black skirt, tall shoes, and gray ribbed tights. Through her eyes you could see her soul. Her soul looked to play the part of the widow. If anyone would be, it was she. Her fingers get tangled in her curly locks, yet she rips them out quickly. She walks slowly backwards, moving towards the door. She watches the woman. Creeping ever so slowly away as the woman stays there kneeling in awe at the strange scene the girl had just played out. The priest walked by, going in to change into his robes, and see what details Jay’s mother had asked for the service. He looked at Maggie awkwardly, and she simply stated.

“Making sure there are no more beheadings before the funeral.” The priest sighed and looked at his feet as the girl watched him enter the church. He was a young man who had recently entered the priest hood. He had only finished his mission and took his sacrament a few months ago. The previous priest was getting old, and couldn’t handle the stresses of the “big city”, as he used to call it. Thought it probably had no more than 2 million people. She runs outside only to run into someone. She screams a fearful scream as a police stop her and grabs her by the shoulders. He looks down at her suspiciously, frowning. She returns his glance, though her own is filled with horror.

"Ma'am we've had a bit of vandalism over here, and I was wondering if you knew anything about it?" Maggie looks around in shock at the large group of police officers gather around.

"Wha-What vandalism?"

"It seems that someone has decapitated all the statues out here, and thrashed red paint over them." Maggie watches the man in a daze as she stands there listening to this. The officer takes her name and phone number, then he soon joins his counterparts as they continue to investigate the scene. Slowly the world stops spinning. Her horror growing in intensity as she slowly starts to walk around the church. Every modest altar with a broken saint echo the tragedy in her heart. Slowly, the echoing of her heart moves beyond her chest and resides with the pain of the beautiful saints. Martyrs in another life. Martyrs here as well. Despite the slow realization of what had been going on as she had been inside scaring a poor old woman out of her mind, she was taken off guard.

The head of Saint John the Apostle lie before her, nearly ready to trip her as she made her way around the church. This saint was one of the few she knew well. She had been baptized under his name. At this moment she wondered if his fate was to be her own. As the patron saint of friendship, that is exactly what influenced him most. His friendship with the savior, Jesus Christ, inspired him to be charitable and virtuous. After all was said and done, and his life was over, he had written three epistles, one gospel, and part of the book of Revelations as the lord deemed he should. For this, a great church was erected over the tomb where his body lay. Yet, it did not take very long for it to be transformed into a Mohammedan masque, and all due respect due to disappear. She stared on in a shocked daze. She did not live a holy life. Only one thing rang clear to her, and that was that she must choose right now where her influences lie. They had always lied with Jay. He had been her best friend since as long as she could remember. Since she moved to a small town, a couple miles north of Albuquerque with her family at 7 years old, he became her everything. Now he is gone. Or is he?

With a staggered walk, she convinced herself to leave charity, virtue, and friendship behind. The cost was too great. The risk too high, and the loss is immanent. She has already been robbed of her riches. She has been broken from the fall of taking risks. She has lost her love, friend, and perhaps sanity. What more could happen?

Contemplating the possibilities, she moves slowly to kneel at the feet of the broken Mother of God. She too had been beheaded, and had smears of red paint running down her long marble robe. A bit of the gold painted tile in back was still in tact, but for the most part it was shattered, and covered the feet of the blessed virgin mother, where there had been two identical cherubim. The soft cool grass and the wet earth beneath her helped to sooth and center her weary thoughts. Slowly, she gathered herself to pray. God knows how long she was there, or how many confused stares received by people passing by on the busy street. Nothing helped. Just the sigh of the wind and the occasional spattering of raindrops mixed with her tears. It seemed as if she and the heavens had an agreement as she started to cry, the sprinkles would soon follows. Though, not even the heavens dare mourn this death for long. As the sky stopped, so did Maggie. Turning up slowly to look over the dewy looking grass on this dismal day, she smiled. ‘The heavens watered the earth with their tears.’

As she looked around, something amazing happened. Nearly all the red paint was gone. Just the stains that will never disappear completely were left. Now, only the heads of the saints strewn across grass and gravel relay the tail of what truly happened. Perhaps they can be mended. Jayme’s mom had always told her: “Even with broken wings, angels still have to fly.” Maybe something will happen, and these saints would be alright. Maybe things could be okay… Now sooner did the thought cross her mind than did she see Mr. Phillip’s car drive past.

She stood slowly, wiping the grass and rain droplets from her clothes. Today, it was a good thing that she had never learned to put on her makeup properly. Pulling up her stockings as she walked out from behind the church, she stomped on the cement to also get the grass off her shoes as she does so. Probably looking a touch ridiculous she forces herself to keep composure as she watches Mrs. Phillips rise out of the car. Covered in black, and her dark brown skin, pale with heartache, Mrs. Phillips looked as though she were no more than a corpse herself. Maggie walked to her with a stilted gait, but seeing how she moved and the burden she was carrying; she was certainly real. Maggie jogged over to her, and wrapped her arms around the tall woman tightly. Her tiny figure looked like a child embracing her mother as she stood there wrapped up in this woman’s embrace.

When she looked up, she found tears sliding down her cheeks, but they were not her own. Jay’s poor, broken, mother was crying. Maggie would have given in to tears as well, had she not stepped back and saw many droplets of the rain from her own clothes on the plain black dress that the woman wore. It was just a swirl of darkness on the large round form, sprinkled in a lovely pattern, yet wild enough to be noticed. The pattern was beautiful, and it made her smile gently. The smile was soft and reflective as were the thoughts in her head. As the woman looked at her in awe, she extended a hand for Mrs. Phillips to take. Mr. Phillips simply shook his head and waited by the doorway of the church.

“So what can I help you with?”

“Yes, Margaret, if you would just help me set out a few things before people start showing up, I’d appreciate it.” Maggie looks up to the devastated woman, not allowing her to say more. The words coming out of her mouth tremble as is. All of the torture and anguish of a mother that has lost her child has lumped itself up in a ball in the back of her throat. The father looks much better, but he does not move. He does not speak. He simply stands in the doorway of the church waiting for the urn that carries his son to arrive. Discouraged and tired the dreariness outside doesn’t let the light shine through the beautiful stained glass windows at the ends of the cold wooden pews. Yet, in this dark place of solitude would be where the remains of what was once a bright young man would spend the night. Alone, besides the watchful eyes of his mother, father, a few close friends and relatives the entrapped ashes would stare out. The soul of who should be entrapped is forever lost.

Despite the common crashing of lightening, and groans of thunder, the endless time seemed like and eternity. The night is long and cold, many a time those around must have fallen asleep for at least a small amount of time, because not a word was said. Not a soul did stir. Not a sigh was released from the remnants of the open church. Only a few mocking images of the once robust young man were strewn about the altars with some of his favorite things. What was most disturbing though is that Maggie could not remember him without a smile on his face. Her mind would not let her. Yet, not an image on pillar nor pew saw him smile. It seems he left the world remembering him as dashing or debonair. Everyone would think of him that way, it seemed, everyone accept Maggie. When the night came to an end, and the sunlight started to slip into the windows, people emerged from the wake to realize the rains have gone.

The rays of light bounced joyously around, blinding the few that had remained through the wake ‘til dawn. The mock energy and excitement exerted by the dim light on the dewy grass furthered the realization of where they had been. After walking Mrs. Phillips to her car, and sharing one more exhausted embrace, Maggie took a bus home to rest. Tonight was the funeral. Certainly she should be better prepared.

If anyone was home when she arrived, she did not notice. Instead, she went about her normal routine; drinks some water, use the bathroom, and brush her teeth before going to bed. Slowly she crept into her covers. Finally, a place of security from all the evils of the world. Certainly, this would be an escape. It may have been had the situation been better…

The images Jay released into her mind played over and over. When she woke many a time that night, the face of the woman was permanently fixed into her mind. The force of the man with her ingrained itself into her memory. And Jay, she would never be able to tell people what happened. If this is what did happened. Was it some sort of cultist ritual? When sleep finally did overtake her, she watched the images play out in slow motion the continual haunting in her soul. The final image was that of the broken head of John the Apostle when at last she woke up to the sound of the bass bumping from some vato cruising in his lowrider down the street, trying to promote his favorite band. Maggie moaned as she looked at the clock, once again she would miss class. Yet, she felt surprisingly refreshed as she rolled out of bed, sitting on the edge of the bed, she shook her head trying to get rid of all the fuzzies in her brain.

As she sorts through her closet, she shakes her head. The only thing in black she owns is the black cotton jumper she was going to wear two nights before when she had a date with Jay. How could she wear this for the funeral? ‘With class, that is how.’ With that she placed it on a hanger and took it into the bathroom with her as she showered to make sure there were no wrinkles. Slowly she got ready, but did her hair the way she would any other day. Today she was just Maggie. Slowly she emerged from her room into the outside world. The bright sun burned her through her black platforms, black tights, black jumper, and black shrug. Her hair tied back with her typical accordion headband, she started off. Catching a bus that would put her within a couple miles of where she needed to be, she was glad that she had left early, because she was barely going to be on time to help Mrs. Johnson with all those people. In the smoldering heat of a hot dessert day, with the asphalt to reflect the heat, the walk helped to exhaust her so she did not have the energy to get upset if anyone had any problems.

For this reason it was a rather uneventful service. The priest gave the typical eulogy, despite being uncomfortable with the fact that the parents decided to cremate the body. It was the churches belief that the body would join the spirit in heaven one day, but since Jay was already in pieces him mama didn’t pay that one bit of mind. Everything went smoothly as the priest brought up a number of wonderful memories of Jay’s short life. Nearly everything he mentioned, Maggie saw visions of in her head. From their kindergarten play, to graduation, everything mentioned was so vivid to her. When people stood to speak, many had urged her to do so as well, and she agreed.

Slowly she rose to go to the front of the many people at the church. She had no clue what she was going to say, but she did not want to make this just another “he was a good man” speech. Slowly she opened her mouth to speak.

“Hello, uhm, I am Margret O’Hare, but if you know me, you know that I go by Maggie. I’ve known Jay since I was six years old, and Jay who was… eleven I suppose, anyway… I met him first when he stole the training wheels from my bike to make his commandos a buoy for their deep sea trips. I guess my most vivid memory of Jay is…” The woman that Maggie has seen feast upon Jay now enters the room. At once, Maggie sees the flash of his last breath. Stiffening noticeably, the crowd stares at her. All eyes upon her, and lost for words she sighs a huge breath until she could keep her composure. The woman from the vision slowly paced through the back row, where Maggie noticed her mother had seated herself. The woman’s long claws swept through Maggie’s mother’s hair. Her mother simply brushed it back over her shoulder, revealing to the woman her pale neck. At this, the woman’s eyes go wide with delight, and the man from the vision slowly enters. They look at the urn and snirk a foul grin of delight, then turn to Maggie and wink. “It is… uhm… something I’m sure my mother, Thrine O’Hare, could help me to elaborate on.” Maggie breaths a sigh of relief as her mother rises to join her. The duo get an annoyed face, and move to leave the church. But before they do, the woman turns to Maggie and half smiles, revealing her long canines. It finally makes sense. ‘How could they be in a church?’ she whispers to herself as her mother makes her way to the altar. As she moves to stand next to Maggie, a crash of lightening hits directly atop them, making the earth tremble beneath their feet.

With a trembling hand, and an equally shaky voice, she asks her mother to speak about their senior trip, and how they were allowed to bring along Jay with them to Disneyland. Her mother slowly starts, not realizing she would be asked to speak. Maggie sits down, once again, behind Mrs. Phillips.

“Well, I suppose the thing I remember best about Jay in Disneyland was the second day we were there, Jay bought mouse ears.” (Be grateful for the forces that be, he is neither man nor mouse.) ”He kept those mouse ears on everywhere we went, even though he was almost twenty two years old.” (Age is of no consequence for him now.) “He sure loved those mouse ears.” (You are his most passionate love.) “Nothing could separate him from those things.” (Be with him for eternity.) “Well, when we went on Space Mountain, he still refused to take those darn things off.” (To deny him would be futile.) “When him and Maggie got off the ride he had his hand clinging to his head, but no mouse ears.” (You would be unable to find the love you genuinely desire.) “When he gathered himself long enough to feel on his head, he found that he had lost them.” (Regardless of your choice, you live a damned existence.) “But you should have seen his delight as he turned around, and that silly hat was covering Margaret’s face.” (You shall have what you desire.) Maggie gave a half hearted hug and smile to her mother as she stepped down from the podium. Something was turning inside her. She felt as though she had just been spoken to by the devil himself. Perhaps it was Cain, the father of all vampires. With his raspy, yet soothing voice it was clear. The words seemed so pleasing to her ears. Who else could it be? Certainly these creatures were vampires. Nothing could do as they do, and have the great effects that they have. Were they what caused the lightening to strike as they left the church? Her entire body grew cold as she trembled with fear. In a place of sanctuary and refuge she trembled not before God, but before the Devil.

“I’m sorry professor, I think you went over this, but how do you identify which equation to use for which set up?”

“I suppose I’ll have to repeat that again, for the third time, Margaret…” It was nearly a month later, and things were much the way that they had always been. With the exception of missing the only thing that had ever been constant in her life, Jay, things were okay. There were no more visions of him walking around town, and no more sightings of the woman nor man. In fact, things were almost… okay. She jumps a bit as a guy sitting in back of her taps her shoulder. She smiles that toothy grin as she turns around to see him. He slips her a note: Hey Maggie, I was just wondering if you wanted to go to lunch. If you do, wait for me after class and we’ll do something. ~Dan With this, her heart danced with delight. This was the first guy to be there for her, since Jay died. He’s been there ever since, and now the way he phrased that note, she was excited to hear, he must want something more.

Even though they were out on a “date”, Maggie was still running errands along the way. Now back on her feet, Maggie had decided that she would get a job. That afternoon, she wandered into a drycleaners to give her resume and get an application. The sign on the window said they were hiring, but the people inside said that there were no more positions available. When she came out of the shop a little disappointed, but not surprised as this had happened many times today during her job search. She smiled, and went back outside to join Dan again.

They went to lunch at a dim little dinner on the other side of town, close to Maggie’s apartment. She had not been there, but Dan said it was excellent, and really it was. There was just something different about this place… something that reminded her of the church on the day of the funeral. The waitress approached them. A tall, pale, beautiful woman carried herself towards them with a fluid elegance, the likes of which Maggie had not seen. The woman’s long legs, extended from a trendy black waitress dress, with red lace on the short cuffed sleeves. Her rather robust bottom filled the dress well, contrasting her tiny waist, and meager chest. Her well toned arms flex slightly as she digs through her little apron to find the slip for their order. As she pulls the pen from behind her ear, a lock of dark brown hair drips past her high, cheekbones. A steady glace looks over Maggie in a manner that most would find seductive were it not for the woman’s already sultry disposition. Emerald green cat eyes stare out from the pale face.

“Wow, I love your contacts.”

“Thank you.” A light accent, the likes of which, Maggie had never heard before floats from the pouty lips of this exotic beauty. The light tone and the clarity without breath is magnificent. Maggie grinned to herself as she realized why Dan liked this place so well. All men think with their pants, and even Maggie couldn’t help but be amazed by this woman. She was… perfect. “Can I help you with order?” Even if her English was a little bit off.

“Uhm, yes, I’d like the chicken Caesar salad, and an orange juice, please.” Maggie spoke slowly, making sure that the woman understood her words clearly. Though, Dan did not have as little faith in the woman’s ability to understand English. He spoke as quickly as ever, which was rather quick for a man. Some people thought him to be gay, because he seemed to talk “valley” more often than not.

“Yeah, I’d like… like, um, a burger, with sweet potato fries, cole slaw, a coke and a coffee- regular, and can you bring some cream, sugar, honey, ketchup and mustard with that? Thank you.” Maggie giggled a silly grin in disbelief as Dan ordered. Not even she would have been able to get all that, and she spoke English perfectly, if not correctly.

The food was good and the company was excellent. Time seemed to go by in a flash. She paid her bill and Dan paid his, despite Dan’s protest. Maggie never wanted to feel indebted to anyone, and it had already been such a lovely time she nearly felt indebted to him anyway. Of course, as they left, she asked if they had been hiring. To her delight, the woman gave her an application and told her to bring it back after eight at night, and request to see the manager. This catches Maggie a little bit off guard. She looks at the hours on the door, and it seems the restaurant had just opened. Their hours were from twelve to twelve. This shouldn’t surprise her, since “a city never sleeps.” She nods, and takes the application, giving Dan a hug before he left; she only lived a block away. This would be convenient if she got the job.

Returning at eight on the dot, she slipped into the café which was now starting to come alive with customers. A handsome older waiter approached her with the same fluid grace of the woman before.

“How many?”

“Oh, I’m not here to eat. Could I please, speak to the manager? I’m here to apply for a job?”

“Yes, jus moment.” Maggie wondered if this was a family owned business, because the man seemed to have the same accent as the woman who she had spoken to before. Perhaps he was her father. Looking at the other waiters and waitresses, it seems that everyone plays a part. They are the utmost desirable piece of artwork depending on the people they serve. They must size up their customers. But her thoughts are cut short as she turns to the back to see a woman. The world freezes and slows, as if in slow motion, the woman starts to walk towards her. Now Maggie realized the familiar grace of these people. This was the woman who tried to feed on her mother the night of the funeral. Now, she was dressed as though this were a wild club of guilty pleasures. White platform stilettos with clear levels make her seem nearly 5'10". A pair of white PVC flair leg pants, tightly hung to her wide hips, and accentuated her robust thighs and rear. Yet, her tiny mid-drift was bare for all to gawk at As your eyes move up, a lose hanging halter top drips over her front in ribs of fabric, tied only at one tiny spot on her back. Long, smooth, waves of jet black hair cascade down her bare back. Wearing no jewelry, her hair glitters with gold. Her make-up is dark and accentuating her wild ice blue cat eyes. Maggie lets out a small gasp and turns to go, but her feet freeze beneath her. Not ‘til she feels the woman tapping on her shoulder does she have the freedom over her body to move and run.

Run is exactly what she did…