"Tanika, you must stay home, where I am headed you can not follow," said Athena.
Athena understood the task at hand but she never wanted to be accepting of it. She only wanted to run from it. "Yes, father Tennenabaum...where are you now?" she'd recite in her head. "Yes, father Tennenabaum you know I never thought of it that way. Yes, I'd really try to find this leaf ward, it is indeed the key. Goddamnit, I don't understand why I am really this personified chosen one. Fuck! I don't understand how this can beat them?" she recited louder. "MOM!" said Tanika. "Yes, dear." said a comatose Athena only staring off to somewhere else. "I am leaving now Tanika." said Athena.
Athena had a brisk run and then it turned into a full-on sprint. She sucked wind and ran in a straight line as fast as she could go, arms whipping at the side. She sucked more air and made herself back home. She searched for some notes and wrestled with the idea that she was trying to finish something. She found it. A purple piece of paper that led to a name on it. George Noory, COAST TO COAST NUMBER. 1-889-090-5532, "Yes is this Coast to Coast with George Noory, yes-this is indeed urgent I need to talk with him immediately. I have to talk to him, ma'am. Just let me talk to him." Athena said. "Yes, this is George who am I talking to? Uh-huh--you say you need to speak to him. Yes, I have his number near my studio folder. I can grab it for you. Let me understand correctly your name is Athena and you're trying to what? And you need Mr. Tennenbaum that did the exorcism long ago? But you need me to witness this with you. So you need me and father Tennenbaum. I am writing your name and number down. I am texting you Father Tennenbaum's number right now. It is 103-103-1057. Thank you, Athena. Yes, we will meet up." Noory said.
There it was all lined up for her. She knew it was time to take a trip. The air was still damp-- "TANIKA, you're in charge for the next couple of days, I am leaving." said Athena. Athena gathered her purse, her travel bags and stuffed a bunch of her multicolored tops in, her pants a couple of skirts, underwear and jumped into her car. The rev of the engine was still cold and then warmer. To ease herself a bit she brought her coffee and sped off. She arrived at the airport and started on her journey to Rock Park, Connecticut. It was a boring flight and she could only contemplate the horrors that await. She looked at some kids playing in the aisle and getting bitched at by some grandparents. Each one looked like a shriveled raisin and they were extremely small in stature. She made out maybe they were Korean. Everyone was extremely excited for take-off and then a headache like some back alley brawl happened. In effect, something like drinking too much and then winding up with a goddamn pool cue on the back of the head headache. Athena closed her eyes for a little bit and was knocked out cold. It must have been about an hour into the flight. No lights were on and the ones that were on were far in the back of the Boeing 939 jumbo jet. She opened her eyes once more and in front of her was a smiley face. She giggled a little bit as the headache consumed her. Where there were was one there were many smiley faces and they all propagated towards the lavatory. Curious, she blinked 3 times and decidedly was not convinced. She had no fucks anymore and fell directly to sleep. When she awoke they were in Connecticut. She took her phone out and called up Father Tennenbaum. "This is father Tennenbaum of the Agrostic Parrish in Hamden, Connecticut speaking. Oh, I see. Wait, what? Do you need that? But getting that ...well okay...and you want me to go where?" Tennenbaum said startled.
Athena left the airport and entered a taxi. "Hey, man I need to go to Rockport ASAP, I really can't wait. "said Athena (She handed him 40$ to speed up the process) . The Taxi driver took the 202 and then hopped on to the 126 North Ramp and sped furiously down the road. He passed many Uber and Lyft drivers along the way. The purple glow of the Lyft symbol lit up their dashes. Cars started blurring as the Taxi waved in and out of busy traffic. It was noon and she had to get there by 12:15 as she congregated Father Tennenbaum and George Noory. She pulled out her phone again and made a call. "Yes, there's some traffic up ahead by I will be there momentarily. And make sure Father Tennenabaum has the Leaf ward, please, it is extremely important." Athena said. "I know a quickerrrrrrrr wayyyyyyyyyyyy ----jusssst ---upppp---- around--- here---- said the woman driver. She had auburn and wavy hair like a movie star but an immense stutter. "IIIIIIIIII ---donnnnnn't know why you have come ouuuuuuttt - herrrreeee---butttttttt-good---luck. She had a blue patch on her eye. She had a white top that said "Anywhere but Connecticut and had a fish with a pair of spectacles on it." But the peculiar thing was that she had whitewashed Gucci jeans. "Thanks" Athena muttered. "Heeeeeere---we---are----Rocccccckkkkkk Port." said the woman driver. Athena swiped her Visa and got the hell out of the Taxi rushing to the spot Noory and Tennenbaum said to meet. It smelled like syrup for some odd reason. But the air was a calm sweet. She rushed over and almost tripped over some pebbles mixed with wood chippings. "Sorry Father, Mr. Noory I am huge fans of both of your work. And I am sorry to bother you today of all days but I have to do this," said Athena. "Athena it is great to meet you but you are frantic and I am trying to understand why." said a clammy Father Tennenbaum. "Yes, I am going to concur with Father here, Athena, what has propelled you to such lengths?" said Noory. Father Tennenabaum had his traditional white and black robes on and George Noory had a bomber jacket with blue corduroys, his mustache brimmed with confidence and he had aviators that covered his eyes. It was sunny in fact. "You don't understand I have been seeing things. I have been haunted by images. And the only way for this to stop is for me to visit the house you did the exorcism in. And the only way out of any of this bullshit an apparition told me is with a leaf pendant or a leaf ward. Yeah, that's it a ward." said Athena. "But what my dear lady does a ward have to do with that exorcism," said Father Tennenbaum hastily. "Athena, this ward, the one Father Tennenbaum has brought, how can it fight whatever?" said Goerge Noory. " I am not sure but I am going with my gut on this," said Athena. "Well, lady if you're certain we have to give it the care and a try, and that is why George is bringing a recorder with him and not a team, just him," said Father Tennenbaum. The wind crossed their paths, gust a little and blew Athena's hair back. "Father, George,--we have to give this a try, I have been tormented too long. I have to make sure this it! I have to try!" Athena said.
