Chereads / HOBO / Chapter 19 - Hard Bargain

Chapter 19 - Hard Bargain

"Something is definitely wrong! Zion isn't answering...!"

HE'S LAID UP WITH HER, WHILE...CHERUB IS THERE! LORD I DIDN'T ASK FOR ANY OF THIS! THIS IS THE WORST CHRISTMAS I'VE EVER HAD TO ENDURE! EACH MINUTE IS AN ETERNITY... I REMEMBER WHEN THEY THOUGHT CHERUB WOULDN'T BREATHE, AND AN ANGEL GAVE HER BREATH! LORD I HOPE U HAVE SENT HER AN ANGEL!

"Honey, just stop pacing! Put it in God's hands!"

WHAT DOES SHE KNOW! SHE DON'T EVEN HAVE CHILDREN! I KNOW WHY!

"Jesus please...ZION ANSWER THIS PHONE! I'm leaving! I can't just sit here..."

"Chile it look like u standing to me, u ain't sat down more than 5 minutes since we been here!"

I CAN'T!

"I'll go fix us some hot chocolate, are u going to eat anything? Please Honey, eat something!"

*****

"911 Whats your emergency?"

(Call Ended)

*****

"Hiii! Where's Mommy? Its too cold for u to be out in this!"

"I'm not suppose to talk to strangers..."

"Oh I know! What was I thinking...I teach my children about strangers and the harm they could bring, but this is a little different, Im sure Mommy would be glad I asked."

"Do u like my coat? I have a green one too!"

"U do! Oh green in my favorite color!"

I DON'T KNOW WHO THIS PRETTY LITTLE GIRL COULD BELONG TO, I HAVE TO GET HER OUT OF THESE FREEZING TEMPERATURES!

"I have a daughter around your age! Would u like to meet her?"

SHE CAN'T BELONG TO THE MYERS...THE INGLES' ARE ON VACATION, HMMMM...I HAVEN'T SAW CHARITY AND CLYDE IN A WHILE...

"Well no, do u know where Ms. Aunt Brenda lives?"

"Noo Sweetie! Are u lost? How did u get out of the house?"

"I opened the door the alarm is going off inside! The phones were ringing...too much noise! And Mr. Zion was sleep. I think Auntie hit her head. The 911 sounds like the drive thru."

"Oh I see! Well lets get u inside, ok?"

"No, I remember where she lives...and I have a new coat, I think its Tori's."

WHERE DO I KNOW THAT NAME FROM?

"No sweetie, I'll get in trouble If I leave u out in this!"

"Well u can stay but we have to find Mommy and Prayla...and I have a gingerbread house! Auntie didn't have any candy, only waffles and whipped cream...lots of it."

ITS FREEZING OUT HERE!

"Ok, Ok...Im Camille, what's your name?"

"Im not supposed to tell u, hey! I have a new name...Tori!"

Oh Lord Im confused

"What's your real name sweetheart?"

"Cherub Morris...Do u know Prayla?"

"No! Is she like u?"

"Well I'm better, she can't snap her fingers. I would show u but I cant feel my hands...or feet.

LORD IF SHE DOESN'T GIVE IN I WILL HAVE TO SNATCH HER!

"Let's just go drink some hot chocolate and u can meet my children, my car is right there...see! My husband is driving but when we get to my house, NO BOYS! YUCKIE!"

"YES YUCK! AND DO U KNOW JORDAN? HE KEEPS PUTTING HIS HANDS IN MY PANTIES!"

*****

"The call came from this address..."

(LOUD KNOCK)

"The door's not closed good..."

"POLICE!!!!"

"The alarm is still sounding, phone's ringing in the bedroom...request another unit for backup, bedroom door is closed. All that training and we are still not prepared for these situations."

"PHELPS...IS THAT DYNAMITE!"

"Oh no! We need the ATF!"

"LETS GO!"

"No! it's against protocol!"

"WE ARE ABOUT TO BE CHITTLINS!"

"Calm down rookie...where's your flask."

"(Phone Ringing)

I HAVE TO OPEN THIS BEDROOM DOOR

"Hail Mary...Hail Mary..."

(Twists Knob)

"WHAT ARE U DOING!"

"OH MY GOD! CALL AN AMBULANCE! I HAVE TWO BODIES...LOOK LIKES GUNSHOT WOUNDS! WAIT...NO, NO BLOOD ON THE MALE! WE HAVE A MURDER SUICIDE! (Radio) DO U COPY WE HAVE A MURDER SUICIDE! WE NEED UNITS TO 553 CATALPA HILL CIRCLE!"

"HE STILL HAS A PULSE!"

"GOOD! BASTARD...ITS CHRISTMAS FOR GOD'S SAKE! WHERE'S THE CHILD? HER PICTURES ARE ON THE WALL! SEARCH THE HOME!"

"HER CLOTHES ARE IN HERE...A GREEN COAT...CHERUB MORRIS!"

(PHONE RINGING)

"Hello!"

"HELLO?! ZION?"

THIS DOES NOT SOUND LIKE ZION...SOMETHING IS WRONG!

(Call Ended)

*****

"What is Mommy's name Cherub?"

"Her name is Toya Denise Morris! Wow, a trampoline!"

"Yea, a frozen one!"

Toya Morris? I had a classmate named Toya Morris...Criminal Justice, such a common name.

"Ill tell u what, why don't u play with all the new toys while I find your Mommy? Are u hungry?"

"YES! She forgot about the waffles..."

*****

"Lord, I don't know where I'm going, but I must find my child and my man..."