Cherry Wood

Chapter eight

I could smell the stale air of night, another day, and more anxiety before tomorrow's police raid. I told the police about everything, thankfully they were onboard since more and more cases had been opened about missing persons. Although I do feel guilty about not telling the family I was hired to find their missing daughter that I had a lead. Luckily she was in that place, dead or alive. I find myself circling the area near the church/homeless shelter. The smoke of my cigarette was just coming back to my face, and the night wind was making it impossible to do a stakeout. I could last longer if I had the proper attire, but being a detective doesn't pay for expensive clothes, only rent. Although the average pay for a detective in Ohio is $54,222, they don't want any inexperienced people on the force. Maybe if I stuck with becoming an engineer I would have a better life. My sister would be with me if I wasn't completely brain-dead. Although that girl I met at the park would be stuck if I wasn't there. At least I can think of one good thing I have done.

Be back by midnight, maybe by two. I don't care much about scheduling, although I do have a deadline this time. Just like before, I need to find someone that is stupid enough to be out at this time. I didn't need a car to get where I was going, this town is very small and has its buildings close together. Very convenient, very smart. I feel like I'm having my own main-character moment when I'm outside, basking in the light of the half-moon. I hummed and searched for a place to make my move. I'm very good at what I do, though it took me a while to truly figure out how to interact with other people and make it seem that you are not a creep. Social queues are hard too, but studying other people helps to figure out what the right reaction to things is. I've never struggled with being social, only with how I should react. I needed to work my personal Claude magic tonight. Luckily, I spotted a group of friends getting out of a movie theater. Good looking guy decided to walk by himself, around seventeen maybe nineteen. Not scrawny, but not toned. I followed him for a bit before making my move, being quiet and staying in the shadows. Before he made his way into an alleyway I announced myself.
"Hey man, you want a ride?" The kid turned around and saw me. He must have been surprised because he just stared for a bit.
"Whoa, no way dude. Sorry." I laughed at his response.
"Sorry? Don't be sorry. It's totally alright, just a suggestion. Just concerned about someone walking around this late, especially since there have been people missing around here. Heck, since my brother went missing I guess it's a habit to pick up strangers, maybe I should stop."
"Ha probably, don't worry I get it man. I was hesitant to walk by myself, but I knew that my buddy couldn't drive me home after he snuck a few drinks into the theater."
"You're lucky you're not idiotic, some people wouldn't hesitate to get in a car with a drunk driver. I guess that's life though, hey have a safe night man."
"You know, I might take you up on that offer. My place is a bit ways from here though."
"No problem uh, what do I call you? It's rude not to introduce yourself when you meet someone. I'm kidding you, kid."
"Marty, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, Marty, no time for introductions though from me. Let's get you home." Although I had no car in my possession I know I could fool him long enough to find a secluded place to take him. I could smell the alcohol lingering from his breath as I moved forward toward him. He follows me down the alley and talks about school and other things. I know I couldn't pass as a high school student, I'm very much a grown adult. What do they teach kids in school these days to tell all their personal information to a complete stranger? I do find myself letting people open up about themselves though, I don't like it, however. It always feels like they're hovering around me. The farther I take him back, the more uncomfortable Marty looks.
"Hey, is your car over here? My parents are probably worried about where I am and I need to get home soon," Marty says quietly, he looks around noticing that we are getting further away from town.
"Just a little longer, I tend to park farther away to get more exercise," I uttered, not the best excuse but he seemed to unwind a bit. I felt my pocket to check if every tool was in place for an excellently executed abduction. I knew that there was a rusted junk pile around here, one that had an old car conveniently. I felt my heart pounding in my chest and my eyes couldn't blink. He drunkenly saw the rusted car and went towards it, staggering a bit before opening the door. I took my position and shoved myself on him, my chest pressing against his body so I could hold him down.
"What the hell are you doing!" He shouted.
He fought back, trying to wriggle his way out of the situation, and trying to bite my face. I held back my brute force to bite back and instead uncovered what I had in my pocket. A small white cloth that was drenched in a familiar chemical. I wanted a moment for him to try to pull his weight and fight back but he didn't act smart with all the alcohol he consumed.
"I don't like your attitude, quite frankly," I comment while positioning myself to better hold him down.
"What did I ever do to you, man?!" He screams. I hold the cloth to his face and he looks at it before I put it to his nose.
"Does this smell like chloroform to you, Marty?" The cloth is shoved in his face, making him inhale the chemicals and pass out on the car seats.
"That's hilarious," I say to myself. I checked the time on my phone, it was nearly midnight. I dust off my hand before getting off the lifeless Marty. The repetitiveness of the task I had to do was routine. I wish Pearl would be more original, like when we were living in Memphis. Ten years really does change a person. I played with Marty's face, making it do all sorts of silly expressions and treating him like a ventriloquist puppet. With heavy-duty tape and a blindfold, I make sure that Marty can't escape or move when he wakes up. I slump Marty over my shoulder and carry him towards the church. I knew that Pearl would be proud of me once again. I know I joined the church a while back, eleven years or so but I don't know why she needs three people for the ceremony or party. Handling two people already requires a whole lot of work on its own.

"I'm so very happy that you acquired another lovely individual for the ceremony. It's been so long since we had another go at a balanced world," Pearl expressed, her happiness for what Claude did, distracted her for a moment at her disappointment that Claudette disappeared for an extended period of time.
"I'm glad you like this one, I'll be in my room if you need me, Pearl," Claude responded.
"I know that you are tired, but we have much to prepare for before the ceremony. Decorating, cooking, outfits, and things like that are to be done now." Pearl looked at Claudette, she was standing nervously, fidgeting with her hair and picking at her skin.
"Don't think I forgot about you," Pearl said disappointedly.
"Pearl, I have been working my butt off and I think I deserve to recharge and unwind for a bit," Claude intervened. She looked at them and gave them a glare before Claude defensively held up their hands. Then there were two. Claudette felt an icy stare and looked at her shoes. The thumping of her heart could be heard echoing in the hallway. Pearl inched slowly to her and stopped.
"You know I love you. Ever since I took you in I have clothed you, bathed you, and fed you. You were nothing. I gave you everything a growing girl needs. Yet, you betrayed me, my daughter. I thought I meant something to you. I asked you to watch after one person, yet you run off," Pearl strictly remarks. Claudette's blood boiled, yet she put on a mask and played along. She slumped to her knees and bowed at Pearl's feet.
"Please forgive me, mother, I was distracted and I forgot. I love you mother, more than anything. Please forgive me. Love me, mother," she begged.
"How can I trust you? You can't even listen to simple instructions, get up from that floor and look at me." Claudette swiftly gets off her feet to face Pearl.
"If you really love me, you will stay up all night helping set up tomorrow's ceremony." She nodded her head, not trying to insinuate anything further. With a final look, Pearl went away and started calling down more people to set up different decorations and other commodities. People started coming into the dining hall to further discuss how things will go. There were all sorts of people that were gathered around, old, and young, people who looked like hippies, and others that looked like their aesthetic revolved around the church. Soon, the room filled about fifty or so people, all looking at Pearl sitting on a chair, smoking a pipe. She looked dazed and full of emotion she wanted to express.
"My people, the end is coming," she spoke, to which many responded in a fit of cheer and applause. She held her hand and set down her pipe. The room went silent.
"I'd admit, I didn't expect the end to come so soon. I'm glad that I was told previous weeks ago, I was at a party when I was suddenly put in a trance. The vision of fire and destruction was all that I could imagine when looking into the future. And when I heard the whisper of a femme voice, I knew that the world would be set ablaze," Pearl spoke with great solemnity. She took a puff from her pipe and made a ring of smoke.
"I remember fondly how I first got these visions. I was at my darkest hour, alone in a small van. I traveled alongside a horde of free-spirited people like me, an era of nobody telling us what to do. I was a nonconformist actor who just wanted to live and party. I was with my first child at the time, a single mother just trying to make her way. I was out of the acting ring and was left with no money after spending it all on narcotics. I dug myself a deeper hole than I thought I would ever come out of. One night, however, I was sitting and watching my son sleep when I heard a voice on the right side of my ear, although no one was there. I had a vision, and the next thing I knew I could only see a woman with undefinable features that were haunting. Her body illuminated light and she told me secrets of the world. She told me to go and share what she had told me, although many did not want to listen. As I had more and more visions, she told me what she was, a being of chaos and destruction coming to sabotage the earth. The only way we would be spared is that we do everything she tells us to do. Tomorrow is her final test to see if any of you are worthy to live. Be ready to face judgment day." As soon as she was done speaking, one by one people left and hurriedly went to do their tasks. The rooms started to transfigure into an ethereal sanctuary.