Angel without a halo

The doll

The crack of sunlight coming through the window woke me up. I opened my eyes and saw Jack facing me. He was asleep and also shirtless. I was eye level with his chest. I was intrigued by all the tattoos. There was two hands with a rosary in between and that fish sign that means jesus and kiss lips and all these colorful designs. Now that I think of it, isn't it ironic that an angel has tattoos even though it's against the bible?

I looked at one tattoo that was a rose. The more I looked at it the more it appeared to slowly start getting brighter. Maybe it was just me. No it wasn't just me it was getting brighter! It started outlining around the flower in a bright glow. I put my hand out to touch it. I passed my index finger around the glowing part and it felt like when you have a scar. "ow!" Jack woke up falling off the bed. He stood up hissing in pain. He put his palm over the flower and covered it. He looked back at his hand and it was outlined in the shape of the rose in blood. He got his shirt and put it on. I sat up on the bed to check if he was okay. "Jack?" I said worried. "I'm fine, I just scratched myself there earlier." I shook my head. "Jack your tattoo was glowing?" I gulped even though my throat was as dry as the dessert. "It's nothing, it's nothing don't worry about it." He walked to the living room. What's he hiding from me?

I went to the bathroom and changed my clothing. I put on my jeans and t-shirt. We're gonna be in the car for some time now. I brushed my teeth and put my hair in a messy bun in a 'screw it i'm tired way'. "Jack, Carlie.. You guys are gonna want to see this." I heard Theodor say. I walked to the living room and saw Jack and Theodor staring at the T.V. "Turn up the volume." Jack told Theodor. The volume bar raised from 30 to 40. "Carlie Maine was reported missing at 12:55am last night. Her father has suspicions her ex boyfriend, Eric Lanes is behind the case. The boy at this moment is being investigated by the police. If you have any information on the case please call 1800-missing." The blonde news reporter said. They put a huge picture of me on screen. My blood pressure hit the floor. Theodor's
phone started beeping. "I just got an amber alert.." He said. "me too." Jack looked at his phone. "We have to get out of here now, if Eric mentions you, you'll be dead." I said now terrified looking at Jack. "I agree.." Theodor said.

We shoved all our bags in the trunk and left unseen. "Georgia is 3 hours away from here. Do you know specifically where to go?" Jack looked at Theodor. Theodor paused looking at Jack. "All I know it that it's in Georgia.." Jack rolled his eyes in frustration. "Jesus christ Theodor, so now what!" Jack yelled. "Relax I'll call a friend of mine who might know where the first heirloom is." Theodor pulled out his phone. "What is the first heirloom?" I asked suspicious. "The doll." Jack replied. I googled on my phone the doll of salem in Georgia and luckily I got the answer. "Guys! guys! I found where it is!" I clicked on the link Its in a souvenir shop. The doll has been put up for display for 14 years. Good luck trying to get the owners to give it to you." I looked up at Jack and Theodor. "What's the shop called?" Theodor asked. "CC's discount shop. The owners are Carlos Castro and Loretta Castro. They sound hispanic." I said. "We'll do whatever it takes to get that doll." Theodor said looking out the window.

Three long, exausting, boring hours later we made it to Georgia. The city is gorgeous. I can imagine how it must look at night. I live around the mountainous side of Tennessee so we don't see much skyscrapers there. "There it is." Jack took a sharp turn and stopped in front of a busy shop with a big sign on top that said CC's discount shop. The front of the store was crowded. We got out the car and entered the packed store. People were yelling and laughing and making all sorts of commotion. "Where's the doll?!" Jack yelled over the noise. "Let's look for the owners!" I replied. "Get your postcards and key chains for only 50 cents!" A man standing on top of a stool yelled out. I looked up at him. "Um are you Carlos?" He looked down at me and jumped off the stool. "Are you interested in a postcard?" He smiled at me. "Um no, we're wondering if we could purchase the doll of Salem?" His smile faded. "Follow me.." He walked behind the counter and whispered in his wife's ear. They both walked into a door down a hallway. I guess it was like their office.

"Sit." He pointed at the chairs in front of a desk. "So you're looking to purchase the doll?" Carlos said in a hispanic accent. We all nodded. "It's not gonna be an easy price." He looked for something in a box and pulled out a display case that had the doll inside. It was hideous. It was all raggedy and dull and broken. It gave me the creeps. It had button eyes (one was about to fall off) Yarn black hair and a ripped pale purple dress. It was a sown doll. The stuffing was coming out the sides. "How much for it?" Theodor asked pulling out his wallet. "5." "5 dollars? Alright-" "No, no, no five hundred." All of us held our breath. "500 dollars for that old, disgusting doll?!" Theodor almost fainted. "You want it or not?" We all looked at each other. "Since you're the first customers to want to buy this doll we'll give you a discount. 300 dollars, take it or leave it." Theodor sighed and put down the money. "Have fun with your new doll." He smiled counting the money. We took the doll and pushed our way through the herd of people. We put the doll in the trunk and headed towards our hotel.