The White’s Way

Josh and Matt have been expecting Usha anytime now; they haven’t seen her for one week and hope this meant she had found their father. But when someone appeared it wasn’t Usha but Irene.

“Where is Usha?” She asked annoyed looking around.

“We thought you knew.” Josh replied even more annoyed. “We haven’t seen her in a while.”

Irene eyes narrowed and looked at them suspiciously.

“Any news?” She asked sitting on an old armchair dust flying around her.

The brothers shook their heads.

“Very strange…” Irene started folding her legs and staring at both brothers.

“What?” asked Josh.

“Well I haven’t talked to her in a while, you haven’t. I wonder what she’s been up to.”

Josh frowned. “Research I guess.”

“Yeah. Maybe you are right. I’m just tired today.” She said waving her hand and resting in the armchair. “Still, I think…no forget about it.”

“Irene if you know something in any way related to our father, just say it or leave.” Josh said coldly Matt nodding behind him.

“Well,” she started standing and walking to the window. She hesitated, thought about her words well, then turned to look at the brothers.

“Well,” she repeated, “Haven’t you ever wondered why Usha is related to your father?”

“Our father helped her.” Matt said.

“How? I mean, how could a human help a demon?”

Both brothers remained silent.

“And why hasn’t she mentioned who she really is.” And this Josh stood and went to her.

“You know?”

“Of course I do! We come from the same place!”

“Then tell us!” Josh demanded furiously.

“And have her kill me? No thanks. It’s not like you can force me.” She looked at him, and his weak body and smiled.

Then moved away and sat on the armchair again.

“But I’m sure she has her reasons. Usha has always her reasons. And she really wants to find you father. Alive.” She tried to sound apprehensive but her bored expression gave her away. She looked around noticing the spider webs at each corner of the room, she touched her head just to make sure nothing was on it.

The brothers were silently considering what Irene has just said. Though each immersed in his own thoughts they were thinking the same thing.

“Well I guess she is not coming.” She said standing. “Tell her I said hi.” And without waiting for a reply she vanished.

Josh looked at Matt.

“I’m tired of this.” he said mouth clenched, “I’m tired of being used by these…things.” He said waving his wands where Irene was just standing. Matt nodded.

“We need to change things.” Matt added looking seriously. “We need to make things our way.”

Josh nodded, “Yes the White’s way.”

Desserts

Usha found nothing about Marie. Nothing more than what the brothers told her. As far as she knew, Marie didn’t exist as a human. This meant two things; either she was an angel or demon, or she, as a human, was hiding something and had to erase anything that lead to her.

She entered a restaurant sighing. She chose the table next to the window and opened the menu. She wasn’t hungry for human food, but in order to get the attention of men sitting by the bar in rush hour, she had to play this scene.

It didn’t take long before a man, holding a glass of wine, came toward her.

“May I join you?” he asked with a smile. Usha smiled back. A part of her pitted those men who couldn’t control the attraction they felt for her. She was a temptation they couldn’t resist.

Usha was about to make a better offer when Arech suddenly appeared.

“She already has company.” He bluntly said as he seated himself in front of Usha. The man scratched his head and left without a word.

“That was my lunch.” Usha said annoyed pointing toward the back of the man.

“I know.”

Usha rolled her eyes and went back to look at her menu. Maybe I drag him inside the bathroom, she thought as she flipped the pages of the menu. The waiter came for the orders, but Usha dismissed him.

“What do you want Arech?” Usha snapped closed her menu and folded her arms. Arech gently closed his menu and looked at Usha.

“I said I would help, and here I am.”

“And I should believe that? I think you are only trying to keep me away from my meals.”

“What are you investigating on now?” Arech asked ignoring her remake. He called for the waiter and ordered two caesar salads.

“Something strange happened when I was patrolling with Josh.”

“What?”

“I blacked out and found myself in a motel in bed with Josh.” Arech tensed and raised an eyebrow as his jaw stiffed. Usha smiled as her memories perfectly decoded this posture.

“And what happened?” He asked rather listlessly.

“I don’t know, I don’t usually black out.” Usha said. The waiter came with their orders. As he placed the plate in front of Usha he smiled at her and hesitated more than usual. She smiled back as she imagined what she will take for dessert. Then he was called, and he left reluctantly.

“I didn’t mean that. I mean with you and Josh…” He didn’t change his posture; he remained tensed with his arms folded.

Usha took her fork and started picking at her salad, strangely enjoying this situation.

“You mean..”she started smiling, “if we slept together?” She eyed him but Arech didn’t reply, but his silence was clearly a yes.

Usha shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know, maybe.” She left the fork in the plat and rested on the chair. “What? You’re jealous little angel?”

Aresh tensed as he looked outside the window. Usha on the other hand, took the opportunity to look around. The restaurant was empty; everyone had gone back to work and she was only left with waiters and women. The waiter that served them looked at her and smiled. She smiled back. Apparently she didn’t have a choice.

When Usha looked at Arech he was still looking outside the window. Usha took the fork again and picked a piece of chicken. She ate other two pieces before Arech looked back at her and spoke.

“What did you find?” He asked. His mood changed; now he was nervous and irritated.

“Nothing.” Usha said as she put back the fork in the plate. “But whoever did it, it’s not human.” Arech nodded.

“Why would someone do that anyway?” He asked as he took his fork. He held it for few seconds then he placed it back on the table again. Now Usha tensed. No matter how much she knew him, she didn’t trust him. Arech was one of the others, he turned her back on her once and he could easily do it again.

Usha decided not to tell him of her plan once she found Adam. No one knew about it and Arech was the last one that needed to know. He wouldn’t approve anyway.

“Well,” she said as she looked outside the window, “they are Adam’s sons. I got them into all this, if something happens to them, Adam wouldn’t forgive me.” As the words came out, Usha realized she had said more than needed and too near the truth. She thought what would happen when Adam would learn the fate Usha led them to. She only hoped it would be after he saved her.

Arech seemed to accept the reply Usha gave as he nodded then stood up.

“If it involves the safety of humans, we need to give it priority. I’ll let you know if I find something.” And before Usha could tell him that his help was not needed, we walked toward the exit. Usha knew it had nothing to do with humans, but before her thought could go any further the waiter came at her table.

“I hope you like the salad, your friend left rather quickly.” He took Arech full plate and asked if she wanted to order something else.

“I think I’ll have dessert,” she said smiling resting her chin on her hand. “But before,” she said standing up “could you show me where the restroom is.” She took Arech plate and placed it back on the table. The waiter rubbed his hands on his trousers and quickly showed Usha where the restroom were.

Usha checked if the women’s restroom was empty. Then she dragged the waiter inside by his shirt and locked the door.

“I think I’ll have the dessert here.”

Purgatory

Zooey stopped , as the group continued to follow the man named L in the endless fog.

Second Chance? She thought confused. She remembered clearly what happened before she woke up in that strange place. She remembers the pills, the vodka, the music.

“I don’t want a second chance.” She found herself suddenly saying. The group heard her and stopped slowly turning to look at her. The blond woman Zooey had talked to earlier ran toward her and grabbed her arm, pulling her hastily.

“Just walk,” she whispered, but Zooey pulled free her arm. The blond woman looked uncertain around her. Suddenly the group opened and L walked, hands in pockets, toward Zooey.

“What’s the matter? We are already late.” He asked annoyed.

“Nothing nothing, she was still sleeping and she is a bit confused.” The woman started playing with a strand of her hair, obviously nervous. L looked at Zooey waiting for a confirmation.

“I don’t want a second chance.” She repeated slowly. L raised an eyebrow while the blond woman behind him, widened her eyes. L took out a hand from his pocket and scratched his chin looking behind him, toward the waiting group.

“Everyone wants a second chance.” He said annoyed.

“She does, she does…she is confused. Just confused.”

“I’m not confused. I want to go where I’m supposed to.” Zooey asserted irritated she couldn’t understand what was going on. She didn’t care really. The moment she had decided to take the pills, was when she wanted to end everything. And this was not the end she has expected.

“This is where you are supposed to be.” L said with a sigh scratching his forehead. The blond woman looked with anxiety at Zooey and L. And decided intervene.

“I’ll explain everything to her. We won’t bother you anymore. We will follow you.” L looked at her, then at Zooey and without saying anything he walked toward the group. When he disappeared in the group it started walking again.

“Listen to me young lady.” The blond woman said pulling her arm. “I don’t care what you want. I won’t let you ruin this for me. Understood? If you don’t want to do anything, don’t. Just follow.”

“Do what exactly?” Zooey asked trying to free her arm. But this time the woman was holding her tight. She started walking and Zooey found herself following her.

“This is Purgatory. We are given a second chance. We can still go to heaven and I’m going and I’m not letting you take it away from me. Understood? Now follow silently, do nothing and we will all get what we want.” She finally let go of Zooey’s arm and walked quickly toward the group.

Zooey rubbed her arm. Purgatory? Heaven? Second Chance? This wasn’t what she wanted. This wasn’t why she had taken the pills. She wanted to end all the doubts, the questions, the choices that life always offered.

Am I still alive? She thought as she reluctantly followed the group.

Second Chance

Zooey, strangely, woke up looking at a white ceiling. She frowned thinking she hasn’t made it and eventually ended in hospital. She closed her eyes then opened them again hoping for a new vision. But all she could see was the white ceiling.

“Looks like sleeping beauty is waking up.” She looked around her and realized it wasn’t only the ceiling that was white, but everything around her was white. There were no furniture. No walls. Just endless white. And Zooey was immersed in it.

She sat and looked around her trying to find who spoke. As she turned she found a group not standing far from her all dressed in white. They were all looking at her, confused and anxious.

“Where am I?”

“Well sleeping beauty, if you’d waken up early you would have heard the introduction.” None of the people in the group she could see spoke. But someone was trying to make him way through them. A man emerged, dressed in a white suit, and walked to her. He offered his hand.

Zooey hesitated, but accepted his hand and he helped her stand.

“Now if you could gently follow me as we are late and L is waiting for you. And he doesn’t like waiting.” Zooey followed the man that stopped in front of the group. He made sign to her to stand with them and she obeyed confused.

“Wha-” The man held up with hand and Zooey stopped.

“I’d love to repeat, but we are late. Ask your group.” He adjusted his blazer. “Now go.” He smiled, snapped his fingers, and he was gone. The immense white was gone. Instead they were under a cloudy sky. Their feet on hard pavement as the wind gently blew their white clothes.

“Finally.” The whole group turned and found another man standing. Dressed more casual and with a harder, colder look.

“What’s happening?” Zooey asked the blonde woman standing next to her.

Without turning to look at Zooey, she whispered, “we are given a second chance.”

Shadow of the Day

Zooey opened her pill bottles. As she took the pills out she tried, as much as she could, to concentrate on the pills; on their size, color and shape.

She placed them on the counter of her modern-styled kitchen. With her fingers she divided them first by color, then by shape. She then went back and divided them by color grouping them in a descending order, with one last white pill at the end.

She took two glasses from the cabinet above the sink. She placed on the counter near the fridge and opened the fridge. She took the half empty bottle of water and the vodka she had bought couple of days ago.

She placed the bottles next to the pills as she closed the fridge with her elbow. Then she took the glasses and placed them near the bottles; each glass in front of a bottle.

Zooey took a deep breath. Then remembered she was missing something. She went to the coffee table in the living room and turned on the TV with the remote control, then switched to the radio. She let the remote control fall carelessly on the sofa and went back to the kitchen. Zooey opened the bottle of water and filled the glass. She closed the bottle, then took the vodka and filled the other glass. She closed it, and took both bottles back to the fridge.

As she went back to the counter with the pills, the TV radio started playing an old song of Linkin Park, Shadow of the Day. She smiled remembering the old days. She tightened an already tight robe and dried her sweaty hands. She took the glass filled with water in one hand and with the other hand, took the first pill.

Zooey played with the pill between her fingers, than placed it as far as she could go inside her mouth, and quickly swallowed it with some water. She did the same with the remaining 15 pills, feeling a bit dizzy as she swallowed the last one. Then she took the glass of vodka and smiled as she drank it all. She coughed a little, then placed both glasses in the sink.

From the TV Zooey could hear another song she recognized and staggered to the sofa as she higher the volume on Missing by Evanescence. She opened the window and let the cold wind inside. She shivered as tears started flowing down her cheeks. She closed her eyes and breathed slowly. Then she bent, holding her stomach as pain started filling her whole body.

***

“The new batch has arrived.”

“One seems purer than the others.”

“She’s mine.”

Who is Marie?

“Where is Marie?” Usha asked as she lit a cigarette and sat on the armchair next to the window.

“She is out, she said she had something to do.” Matt said he reviewed a news online on his laptop. Apparently an old woman said she saw some men dragging another men into a cave. The news also said the “men” weren’t humans. Matt suspected it had to do with their father, Usha knew it wasn’t like that.

“Where did she go?” Asked Usha as she slightly moved the curtain to look out of the window. It was winter and everything had shades of grey. The trees had no leaves left and something out there told her time was running out.

“She didn’t say.” Usha turned to look at Matt still scanning the news.

“What do you mean she didn’t say?”

“She always does that, she just leaves and comes back when she is done.” Matt said rather frustrated from Usha interruptions. Usha stood suddenly. She never really paid attention to Marie’s usual errands. She never really cared about Marie. She needed the brothers and thought to dump Marie somewhere when Usha had to go.

But after what happened with Josh, and the risk of her killing him, made Usha pay more attention to her surrounding. Usha knew nothing about Marie, she didn’t care, but now she had to find out who she was.

“I have to go.” Usha didn’t wait for a reply and vanished.

“Just like that.” Mat remarked as he continued to read other related news in search for his father.

Investigating

Usha snapped the neck of the demon and stepped on him. She was getting frustrated. She had spent the last days trying to understand what happened with Josh and who let it happen. Someone had drugged her and Josh, hoping that she would kill him, as she usually does in these circumstances.

This would ruin all her plans. Plans she hadn’t told anyone, but her attachment to the brothers probably caught the attention of someone and Usha had to find out who, or else she had no hope of freeing Adam. She sat on the armchair and lit a cigarette. She closed her eyes and smelled the blood that filled the room. She smiled for a second then opened her eyes again and went to the window.

The house, where the demons were hiding, was in the middle of the woods surrounded by tall tress. The real owners were probably dead or used this house for vacation. The three-story house had nothing that would suggest humans lived there; food, medicine, water. Instead, the floor smelled of human blood and there were bodies lying in the hallway. Usha puffed her cigarette and went out to the room toward the stairs. She didn’t bother avoiding the dead demon. She went downstairs and turned left heading to the kitchen.

She opened the fridge and took out a bottle filled with red dense liquid. She took a bottle of rum from a lower counter and a clean glass from the sink. She mixed the red liquid with the rum and smiled smelling her cocktail. She sipped her cocktail as she exit the house sitting on a bench on the porch. She didn’t bother to take an ashtray but let the ash fall on the wooden floor instead.

She drank her cocktail. She knew she had to go back to the brother, but hesitated tempted by the tranquillity of the place. She took a deep breath and finished her cocktail. She stood, took a big puff  on her cigarette and inhaled the smoke. She tossed the cigarette on the floor, then vanished.

Alliance

Arech appeared in front of Usha.

“You should knock.” Usha said wiping her mouth with her hand. She had been investigating what happened with Josh. She found a place were demons seemed to hide, and she needed to be in shape, if she was going to face them alone.

Arech looked at her disgusted. The man lay face-up, with chest completely eaten.

“What was his fault?” He asked still looking at the man.

Usha look at the man too and shrugged. “I was hungry.”

Arech went to sit on the other bed in the room. The room was small and bare like most of the motels room.

“I’m not here under anyone’s orders.” Arech clarified. Usha raised an eyebrow and stared at him. He didn’t look back. The room was still for a moment. Usha decided to light a cigarette and sat in front of Arech, half-naked and covered in blood.

“You should stop doing this.”

Usha brusted laughing.

“Are you threatening me?”

“No. I’m trying to let you understand that what you are doing is wrong.”

“Oh really, wrong for who?”

“You can stop, and everything will be over.”

Usha smiled.

“I’m not stopping Arech. Not until I find Adam.”

Arech looked at her. “if you stop, he’ll come back.” The room was silent again. Usha hardened. She knew what he was trying to say.

“I’m not going back Arech.”

Arech nodded. “Then save him, but not like this.” He said looking at the dead man on her bed.

Usha snapped furiously. “You think I have a choice? How can I fighting demons when I’m weak.” She stood and went over to him pointing her finger. “I’m the daughter of the devil, I cannot be weak. They have to fear me.”

Again silence. Usha went over to the window to finish her cigarette. Arech sneakily look at her. No matter the blood, he still found her beautiful.

“I’ll help you.” He found himself suddenly saying. Usha turned, cigarette in her fingers.

“What?”

“I said I’ll help you.” He stood up. “But you have to promise this won’t happen again.” He pointed at the dead man. Usha looked at the man too.

“I won’t kill them, but if I need to I’ll feed on them.” Arech sighed, it was better than nothing.

“I have to go now,” Usha nodded and looked out of the window again. Arech vanished.

Usha looked back to where he was standing seconds ago. Then at the dead man. She shook her head and continued absently to look out of the window.

Usha and Josh

Usha woke up stretching her arms. The clock on the end table read 11.30.

She didn’t know the room. She couldn’t remember where she was, or what happened last night.

She sat on the bed and realized she wasn’t wearing anything clothes. As she dressed she noticed a man in bed next to her. She smiled.

It must have been an amazing dinner,she thought. The man was still breathing though. She could hear his heart, relaxed and calm.

Room service she thought with delight as she moved to the other side of the bed to finish what she started last night.

She took off the blanket and realized with shock she knew the man; it was Josh.

“What are you doing here?”

“I don’t want to get up, I can still see the sun.” Murmured Josh half asleep. Usha shook him to wake him up.

“What are you doing here!” Usha repeated. Josh woke up reluctantly and looked around.

“Where am I?” he asked, “why are you in your underwear?”

Usha shook her head frustrated and went to look outside the window. She couldn’t recognize the highway. Josh sat on the bed hands on his head.

“My head, I think I had too many drinks last night,” he looked at Usha,”probably you did too.”

“Don’t be ridiculous” she said turning to him, “alcohol has little effect on me.”

“Then you had way too many.”

“What is wrong with you?” she asked, “Don’t you understand what happened?”

Josh smiled. “I do believe me,” he said standing up, “But its not like you can get me pregnant with the a demon baby. You should be lucky; you slept with the best man on earth!” He went to look for the bathroom without waiting for Usha’s reply.

Usha shook her head. He must be still drunk she thought. Josh wouldn’t accept something like this, would he? He didn’t plan something like this? He wasn’t the most noble man on earth, but he wasn’t her fan either.

“So what happened last night?” He asked coming out of the bathroom zipping his jeans.

“I don’t remember.”

“Neither do I. Which is weird.”

“You could have died.”

“What?” Josh asked alarmed.

“I usuallyeat men I sleep with.”

“Well you should have told me thatbefore.” He went to the armchair and took his t-shirt.

“I thought you hated me. Why are you ok with all this?”

Josh put on his t-shirt. “I have slept with so many girls, I really don’t care what I feel for her. I don’t really hate you. I don’t trust you. And this has nothing to do with trust and it is seems to bother you more which is something I’m enjoying.”

Usha nodded and turned around.

Maybe Josh is ok with this, but I’m not. She had to know what happened last night. Someone must be behind this, someone who wants to ruin her plans.

 

Adam

“I’m sorry but your name is not on the appointment list, you should reschedule with my assistant.” Adam scanned through the list once more, but the girl’s name was not there.

These were the side effects of opening his psychiatrist studio at home; people may just come inside and expect to have a session without appointment. But at least he could have more time for his kids, Josh and Matt, who started developing concerning attitudes; Josh was starting to surpass the limit of his rebelliousness and Matt was always quite, too quite, and isolating himself.

He didn’t want his kids to be too exposed to his patients. But despite his efforts in keeping them away, especially Josh, they always seemed to peek behind the door whenever they had the chance.

“I’m not your patient” Adam glanced to the girl, still sitting on the sofa. He still couldn’t explain how his assistant, Vicky, let her in without informing him first. When he got inside, she was sitting there, hands on laps, long loose blond hair. Her serious expression made him doubt they age her body showed. She had no shoes, which might mean she was someone from the neighbourhood.

“Then how can I help you?”

“I have a message to deliver.”

Adam saw many patient, different patients, with different problems. Some believed to hear the devil talking to them, others believed they heard God himself. Others had problems with their fathers, mothers, brothers. All though, had always a message to deliver. Adam took his pen as he glanced at the wall clock; he had half an hour anyway.

“From who? Adam asked taking notes.

She simply pointed up.  Adam took notes.

“Who gave you this message in specific?”

The girl’s expression hardened. “Don’t analyze me, I’m not your patient.”

“Very well,” Adam said noticing this route wouldn’t help him.

“What is the message?” he asked.

“Don’t help her.”

“Why?”

“Because she is not who you might think she is.”

Adam frowned trying to decode the message and the girl.

“It will only harm everyone.” She added.

The room was silent except for the tic toc of the clock. Adam took notes with many question marks. As far as he knew, she wasn’t clear. Which might mean she either wasn’t ready to give the full message or is currently testing him. All he knew a girl, other than her, was supposed to come and ask for help. And he should deny it, for the greater good.

“If I don’t have more information, how could I recognize the girl?” Adam tried to tempt her into giving more information. And he was succeeding; the girl was clearly considering his question as plausible.

“She is not human.”

“An Angel?” Adam asked presuming whoever gave her the message was connected to this girl he shouldn’t help.

“She is the devil’s daughter.”

Of course, Adam thought, whoever gave her the message would make sure he wouldn’t help the enemies. Adam continued to take notes. Despite the fact that everything seemed so vague, it was getting clearer.

“Why are you taking notes, I told you I’m not your patient.” The girl suddenly said.

“Just a reminder.”

“You don’t believe me”

Adam took a deep breath, “I believe,” he started, “that you might also need help.”

“I knew you wouldn’t understand, in fact, I voted to kill you.”

Adam raised an eyebrow. Treats were custom, but they were usually accompanied by anger, not calmness.

“Why don’t you,” he said referring to her and apparently Angels, “stop her coming to me.”

“We tried and failed.”

The girl stood up and went over to Adam who remained seated.

“I will make you believe.” she said, “And you will always remember her name.”

“What’s her name?”

“Usha” she said, putting a hand on his head.

Then, they were gone.