Even as I sat in that chapel looking up to the altar I couldn't process what had transpired, it seemed like almost yesterday when I met Claire, now she was gone taken from this world because of me, I should have listened, I should have just taken ONE'S offer maybe, none of this would have happened.
" Zoe, it's time"
Rachel seemed calm and poised as she led me to the front to say my goodbyes , Harrison had organized the funeral quickly and discreetly In Claire's home town, Mayflower Quaker province , it was short notice for the family of Claire's mother, which were her aunt, cousin and uncles. We walked past them to the casket where, Rachel held onto me as we bid our sister goodbye. She seemed so peaceful laying there like she was asleep, the worries of this world having had melted from her face " see you later 123".
I dreamt of Claire often after that day, seeing her pristinely immortalized in my memories brought a bit comfort.
When the entire process was done, Harrison handed the Claire's ashes over to Aunt Liza so she could take her home, she seemed rather pissed though pushing the urn back " now that she is ash is when you want to return her to us, take her with you, I don't want to intern another family member!! , killed by Daniel's war I cannot !!!".
Clara took her mother away leaving uncle Charlie, who expressed his displeasure by spitting then walking off.
Harrison was hurt, I could tell, seeing how he lowered his shoulders as the Matthews drove off . He walked off towards Eleanor holding the urn so closely, I wanted to go after him but Rodriguez stopped me " el mano needs to be alone right now mija, give him space to clear his head like a man."
He needs a shoulder to lean on..
" you mean your shoulder, I have been watching you, your two are getting too close to each like your not... "
What are you insinuating Ese??
Am just saying, grief makes people act some type of way, it better to stay away let him heal on their own, he will come around.
Rachel came out of chapel, having had thanked the funeral director and the pastor for the emergency service.
" you idiot!!!, you can't smoke that shit in front of a church "
Come it's just weed!! he spoke talking a whiff of his blunt, he blow the smoke in my face, walking off to the corner of the chapel , Rachel and I sat on the stairs burning up in those dark clothes when the sun hit its heighest point . " am sorry I threatened you back in blue bay, that wasn't very sisterly of me"
Nah I was being a bitch, I need that talk, you were right the first path were ready for me, thanks for stopping me.
" Claire was good at this sister thing , am not, I don't even know how to be a person let alone a big sister, it's hard ".
tears welled up in Rachel's eyes though she was staying strong the cracks were appearing in the dam, I just held her letting her know everything was going to be alright. I hummed mom's favorite reggae song as Rachel rested her head on my lap, she dozed off a few minutes later . It was about the afternoon when Harrison drove Eleanor up, minor repair had been made, Sealing the bullet holes , Harry had the camouflage system on the RV with different color's and markings since the First pat and the police were most likely looking for a certain kind of RV. " the wesster lands acknowledged my report, we are to rendezvous with a contact in Prague spring, Libertas province.
" Libertas?!, that a days drive west"
I know, the road will be filled with danger but this is what trained for, we will take turns driving. There is enough gas and power to cover 200 miles at least, so mount up we got long road ahead of us.
Harrison was so stoic now that he didn't even show any emotion, Rachel took the first trek taking us out of Mayfield, through Mid-Appalachia were we fueled up a couple times and had supper, we avoid Freedom province driving through West Val, where I almost drove us into a rig for sleeping on the wheel. Harrison took over from there driving the rest of the night trek. Rachel and Rodriguez were sound asleep, I couldn't even manage to get a wink, Claire haunted my dreams everytime I closed my eyes I saw her face, I had enough of the nightmares , I moved to the passenger seat keeping Harry company as he drove, the radio buzzed with rant of midnight conspiracy radio.
Why are listening to that crap ??
" it keep me awake and focused, I have to keep sharp if am to get to Libertas in one piece "
You carry to much on your plate, learn to share your burdens…
" soldiers don't complain they follow orders to letter "
But you are not a soldier anymore...
" look at that my baby sister is a shrink"
Why do you all treat me like am some dumb kid that needs protection, I am 15 and i took on ONE the big bad boss, I stuck a knife in him.
" it was ballsy what you did back there, kid but don't under estimate ONE you caught him off guard with that move "
Yeah yeah
" next time when I give you an order though you obey it okay"
And let you die no freaken way
" am expendable Zoe,you 3 are all that matters your are my babies "
You matter to me Harry, you re my brother I know I don't say this a lot but you matter a great deal to me, all of you matter. I don't care weather it some protocol I will stand with you to the bitter end .
"thanks Zoe that's good to know"
We practically talked all night about life, Harrison opened up a little about his past, he listened to my long winded tails about my boring life, I even told him about my mom's illness and disappearance.
Does Dad have an Anglo-Saxon friend ??
Harrison looked away from the road for a sec expressing astonishment " are you talking about uncle Hopper, quirky looking and somewhat strange.
Yeah that's him ...so you know him
" kind of, Dad's family are a strange bunch of eldritch being which you don't really see too often, when they come around it means trouble "
Well this uncle Hopper kidnapped my mom, she was in the room on second floor of the hospital, she just disappeared .
" am sure your mom's alright, Hopper is a benevolent entity he doesn't assist nor hinder mortals dad might have sent him, so your mom is safe "
I didn't know how to feel about dad's primordial side, knowing their more being's like him out there, Scares the bejesus out of me.
Don't worry so much you will see your mom again, mumbled Harrison, he seemed so confident about it that I believed him.
What are you smiling about so early droned Rachel, she just woke up rubbing the sleep in her eyes, the sun was coming up on our left the rays gleaming across the rocky terrain, that was the first time I been this far in Freedonian new landscapes, town and people to meet.
"Welcome to Libertas province" read the road sign.
My eyes were glued to the windows not wanting to miss anything.
"Guys we have a problem "
Rachel was right up ahead was a checkpoint manned by police." alright hide those weapons in the hatch make sure the wardrobe panels are sealed".
We rushed hiding everything, Rodriguez stuffed his pot in that lavatory hatch clearing the hemp seeds off the the floor, whilst Rachel pulled out some old scotch and brandy.
Am an accessory to a crime remember what if he recognizes me, What the heck are you doing ??
" Prague spring is party town we will draw less suspicion if we pretend we were drinking, i might have a wig from my cosplay character outfit , it should fit you, change your description up a bit.
I look ridiculous
"Hold on"
Rachel adjusted the wig so it went along with what ever style she was thinking, the hair was seemed less synthetic when brushed down, she contoured my cheeks a bit, I didn't even know she could do make up with her disposition of not being a girly girl.
We were a car away from the actual traffic barricade when we finished setting up everything the RV screeched to a halt on the stop line as one of the officers walked up to the driver window, he wore dark shades and had a thick mustache giving him a typical hard ass officer look.
Harrison: morning officer
Officer: Prague spring huh...???
Harrison: ... ahh yes.. we just getting into town hoping to have some fun in Prague Spring...you know holidays and all that
Officer: teenagers just parties and not care in the world...license and registration ???
"Here you go sir "
The officer scanned through the registration papers and looking at the RV then back at the papers screening Harry one more time.
Officer: mind if I have look in inside
"No problem sir"
He walked in checking out the interior of the RV his gaze resting upon me out of the whole suspiciously wagging his fingers as if to state something?
Officer: I know you from somewhere girl ???
Ahh No sir...
Officer: you sure ???
Positive officer. sir....
He glanced at me before checking the back I could see Rachel holding on to her concealed pistol ready to pull it out should trouble arise.
what you keep in here
"Just Clothes and the booze chief ".droned Rodriguez looking over his shoulder those Vintage ray burns glinting in sun, I knew he was going to ruin it.
" its officer to you dirt bag, let me see some ID..."
My name is ..ow.. what was that for Rachel
" sorry sir my friend is just inebriated hence his behavior, his from Espana, show him your pass port Marco, I don't even know where they got the passport and Visa card from the officer seemed satisfied with it turning to me " ain't you a little young to be drinking girl "
Ahhhh ....
My girlfriend is sober she doesn't drink, I make sure of if droned Rachel rubbing her nose to mine, hugging me close even, the officer expressed discomfort with the display finishing his search elsewhere.
" if your old man ever thinks of selling this baby you let me know you hear."
Will do officer ???
" thats Officer Steve McCoy" son I run this here town now scram you are holding up traffic
Harrison didn't hesitate and we were already at half-speed at when the gate closed, breathing a sigh of relief.
Thank you Rachel your wig saved me..
" why don't you keep it, the owner isn't coming back for it anytime soon" Rachel being nice to me all of a sudden was weird and what this about a girlfriend was she really gay, could have fooled me.
It was almost lunch when we arrived in Prague Springs Rodriguez eyes were glued to the window the entire time, waving at the girls with keen interest
Rodriguez: This town is party heaven,the girls the drinks mmumwa!!! Its to die for...
Harrison: first thing is first rendezvous with contact at the coordinates then figure out where we go from here.
I know where am going, between someone thighs
gross !!!
"Chill hermana one day you will learn the birds and the bees then you will see how beautiful love is "
What about the celibate thing isn't it like important we don't mess around so much since we don't want to make more monsters
" you can stay celibate Zoe don't let anyone force into to doing what you don't want, sex is a big step not that Rodriguez here will know "
Why am I the bad example huh, Harrison used to sneak out to get some from Naomi, why don't you shame him for that droned Rodriguez seemingly upset, he looked out the window pouting. " stop slut shaming Rodriguez, Rachel unless you want me to bring Amanda
" point taken "
Who is Amanda ?? Come on someone tell me please, the fuck is Amanda
We drove around town a bit before we located the Motel where the rendezvous point was. Prague springs was one of those seasonal towns where people flocked to during holiday time with spring break in full swing there were a lot of people around. The motel's lot was almost full of cars lining most of the parking space Harrison cut off some poor fellow before he could park the men honked loudly whilst fussing up until Rachel flipped him off.
Harrison: ait remember buddy system dont get isolated be aware of your surrounding all the time.
We split up with me going with Harrison while Rodriguez went with Rachel, Harrison and I searched inside of the hotel lobby. He held a device in his hand which oddly looked at what Scarface was holding back at the Cafe in New Hemisphere.
What is that ????
"Its a locater we emit a low-frequency bio-radiological signal like a cellphone tower we can use it the contact if thier half primordial"
Wait we are radioactive????
"Kind of.., Daniels DNA emits a unique bio signature which appears on the radio spectrum, every one who is of his blood has this unique trait, it why the First Path can locate us in the first place "
I couldn't hear most of what Harrison said after that due to the loud music blurring down the hallway, we continued inside where locater began to beeping loudly.
" signal is a bit weak who ever they are they must be far inside "
What would the contact be doing here ???
"I don't know "
The back yard was packed with college kids drinking there was a DJ on the stage keeping the party alive, she wore a purple hijab and a novelty tank top with the words its Prague spring beaches!!!!!.
"Oh no !!!"
What ????
Harrison's locater blinked loudly when he aligned it with the girl. She looked towards us and a smile grew on her face
Is she first path ???
Harrison was still in a trance...
"Hey snap out of it is the first path "
The girl hopped off the stage and ran towards us embracing Harrison in a hug.
" little brother you have grown so much!!! wow...look at you... "
I noticed the tattoo on her wrist 117.
Harrison had an embarrassed look on his face it was comical.
"Oh you must be Zoe 125 "
The girl looked at me with interest, her hair was hidden behind the purple vale, her brown skin so vividly caramel she was obviously of Hindustani descent.
I extended a hand but was instead hugged.
Another sister yeah.....
.
Declassified information
Anomaly #000/B117
Threat Index: Beta level.
117
Age: 23
Gender: female
Status: alive
High level empath with mental manipulation abilities,auditory coercion and adept illusionist.
Recommendation
Mental and auditory blocking equipment recommended to all personale engaging this entity.
Standing orders : Observe