Aberration

Chapter 2: Blood will fall like Raindrops

"Did he seriously leave?"
"Looks that way. But he did warn us to get going as soon as possible."
"Can I be honest? I think that's the first time he's ever given us vague orders. You know?"
"Oh shit... you're right! No 'have her home in exactly forty-three minutes'."
"Keh-heh-heh. Kinda scary though, ya know? If he didn't think out an exact schedule, that means he didn't plan for this shit. Means he was actually wrong about something. That's a first."

The two jovially spoke like old friends at a lunch break. In fact, the spirits were so high that they'd nearly forgotten about the girl struggling between their arms. "Will you quit freakin' out? Jeez. Don't worry so much, this guy'll be done in less than five."
"Like you can talk. When was the time we found a girl her age? The whorehouse is full of college girls and housewives whose husbands are down on their luck. We always get those freaks who want younger girls." The first man covered Ami's mouth with his bare hand that tasted of grease and salt. She gripped as hard as she could, thrashing about but the second man held her legs like a vice grip. "Yeah, she's spunky. They'll like her. Hey, pick her up right! I'm doin' all the work!"
"You can't carry a little girl?! She's half your weight."
"Oh I can't? Whatever. Mr. Kuzuki's gonna get pissed if we get caught. Just move your ass."
"But we ain't got to test the merchandise yet. Gotta make sure she's fit for the job."
"You can do that in the van. Move your ass. She ain't even that hot..." In a temporary lapse of attention, Ami managed to free her right leg and kicked the second man in the face, knocking him over as the first dropped her weight. "Shit! Bitch!" He grabbed ahold of his nose, blood gushing through his fingers. The pain refused to subside and blinded him. Ami picked herself up, making a mad dash for the front door, but her arm was quickly snagged by the first man's hand. He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her tight—

"You're gonna be still for us. Shhhhhh. Hey, look what I have here." From his pocket, he produced a small folded piece of paper with a bulge that made the middle droop: "Yeah, this'll calm you down."
"What... is that?"
"You know what it is. Plenty of you kids like this stu-" he dropped the package, taking a step back from Ami, gripping his chest. He salivated wildly like a dog, gasping for air that refused to enter his lungs. He screamed, though sound refused to escape his burning throat. He fell to his knees then, and collapsed, his eyes rolled back into his skull. Her gaze gravitated towards him only to find that the second man was deceased as well. She opened her mouth, looking around the room scrambling for something to make sense.

She gripped the sides of her head and broke down, completely losing the sensation in her knees "What is happening?! Mom?! Dad?! I... I just wanted to come home and take a nap... I... what..." her grip began to tug at her unkempt hair, ripping at the sides when she tried to breathe. "Who are these people?!"
"It doesn't matter."
"Why are they dead?!"
"Because I don't like dirty men touching me. I presumed you felt the same way."
"Where are my parents?!"
"Dead, naturally. A bullet in the head will do that to a human."
"I don't know what to do..."
"That's alright. Just close your eyes and I'll take the wheel."
"Who are you...?"
"My name? Ahh... that's a story for another time. Sleep and dream of milk and honey, Ami Shirai. Sleep, and everything will be over soon."

•••

The sound of a meteorite crashed within the backyard of the Shirai residence. The formerly airborne Exorcist had finally arrived, hastily turning around to enter the back of their home. "Shit! It's oozing out of the house now. I better be getting backup. That bastard didn't even tell me what I'm supposed to be looking for." A roundhouse kick blew the door off of its hinges and tossed the Exorcist into the damned mansion.

Death greeted him. To all five senses, Death would graciously invite into his embrace: blood and the corpses of four adults lie motionless in the open space of the room all enveloped in the looming mist of a rank odor like iron, fat, and gun smoke. These three things were all smells he'd experienced before and was naturally almost desensitized to him, but what stood out most to Arash Shang was the scent of an animal. The scent of a musty hide, wet and old. Mildew filled his nostrils, tickling the hairs in his nose to blossom spores of nausea. The beast's wet fur shook, sprinkling more drops of blood along with a sticky, black sap from its fingers that dripped to the floor almost like amber or oil.