Chapter 18: Facing Fears_The Scarlet Jane Files

I know it won’t be easy. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that it will be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life.

 But I know I have to do it.

 With the scissors held in one hand, and my eyes set on the simple mirror in my apartment’s bathroom, I look upon my beautiful black hair and try to determine if I am making the right decision.

 “You know,” Shadow says as he helps secure my hair into place, “that you don’t have to do this.”

 “I know,” I reply, reaching back to ensure the ponytail has been tied securely. “But I have to.”

 “I don’t understand. Why?”

 “I told myself I would start fresh when I became a Hunter. Besides,” I then say, and laugh not long after, “it’s not like it won’t grow back.”

 “I know, but still.”

 Still.

 That one simple word holds so much reservation and speaks of contempt for the thing I am about to do.

 It is odd, I understand, for a woman like me to cut her hair—for a girl to shed her beautiful black locks and discard them as if they are nothing more than old baggage. I have spent years growing my hair. Countless hours in salons. Who knows how much money on supplies to maintain it. But the more I peer at my reflection, the more I realize that I look like an older version of myself.

 I am no longer the person I used to be.

 With the Trinity Serum in my bloodstream, I have been officially reborn.

 With a nod, I pass the scissors over my shoulder and wait for Shadow to take them. “Do it,” I then say.

 The simple act of letting go is empowering. Like conquering the highest mountain in the world, or diving to the deepest depths of the ocean, I feel, as I cut my hair, a catharsis I could have never imagined. I imagine the act is much like an ascent to Heaven through fire, born anew from the ashes of my life like a phoenix. But even with seven inches of hair from my ponytail gone, it isn’t over. I still have the hair on the top of my head to consider.

 With the knowledge that this is all part of my rebirth, I reach forward, take the hair clippers Shadow had brought in hand, then set the number 1 guard on atop it. “Will you?” I ask, looking up to face the man I have quickly come to consider as a friend.

 “I will,” he says.

 With a simple flick of his thumb, he brings the clippers to life. Then he begins to buzz my hair.

 This is for Mama, I think, who was robbed of her life.

 For Ariana, I think, who was robbed of my friendship.

 For Coach Vasquez and the Bluejays, I think, who will go to nationals without me.

 And this is for me, I finally conclude, who will make everything that has been made wrong right.

 Soon, it is over.

 My locks have been shed, and the hair gathered at my feet are the ashes of my old life.

 As I look upon my reflection—taking note of my strong cheekbones, my full lips, and the soft skin upon my temple—I find a determination in my eyes that I could’ve never imagined seeing before.

 There is fire there, I now see—burning strong, bright, with the intensity of a thousand suns. In those flames I see myself running. See myself fighting. See myself screaming.

 It is in those flames that I see myself slaying my mother’s killer.

 After all is said and done—after the hair is removed, the trash taken out, and room service called—we will leave the apartment and prepare for what is to come.

 I know, deep down, that there is only one thing left to do:

 It’s time to end it all.

 * * *

 The weapons I choose to end the creature’s miserable existence will have to be discreet. As a result, I pilfer, from the depths of the armory only accessible by members of the Guild of Hunters, several daggers imbued with silver, as well as a cross that, when engaged via a button at its center, emits a blindingly white light.

 “Do crosses really work on vampires?” I ask. “I mean, considering they’re aliens and not, well… damned?”

 “Yes,” Shadow replies. “Sanguine are repelled by crosses.”

 “Why?”

 “No one knows for sure. The Sanguine are extremely hard to communicate with at times, particularly when their state of being is inhibited by the rot that controls their mortal hosts. We cannot speak with the parasites directly, so we must speak with the body they inhabit. You as well as I know that the rot of a corpse can also affect their comprehension.”

 “But they follow the Agency’s laws?” I then say. “They’d have to. Otherwise, everyone would know about them.”

 “Some do, to a degree. Others are reckless and do not take the proper procedure to reintegrate themselves into a proper host, hence why some go mad.”

 “Like the one that killed my mother,” I say and sigh. I affix the cross into a leather satchel that can be rolled out and slide the daggers into place alongside it. Then I take hold of one of the police-issue pistols and slide it into a holster at my side. “So how are we going to do this?”

 “You mean investigate your mother’s murder?” Shadow crosses his arms over his chest and considers the weaponry I have selected for our mission. “I assumed we would go back to your family home and see if we could detect any trace auras the creature may have left behind.”

 “You can do that?” I ask.

 “Depending on the state of the home, yes, I can.”

 “What do you mean by the state of the home?”

 “How well it’s been cleaned.”

 “Oh,” I say, then sigh and shake my head. “Let’s just get going. I don’t want to think about this.”

 “We have to pick up our supplies from the acquisitions department first.”

 “I take it this is where we get our cash?”

 “Precisely,” Shadow says. “As well as any other supplies we might need before we take off.” He pauses. “Did you inventory everything you’ve chosen to take.”

 “Do I have to?” I groan.

 “Yes, Scarlet. It’s part of the procedure.”This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

 “It’s not like I planned on keeping anything,” I say but turn to look at the whiteboard that details the various weaponry in the armory. “Wait a minute. There are rocket launchers and grenades in here?”

 “There are some Supernatural creatures that require a… would you say… special approach.”

 “Special enough to merit a rocket launcher?”

 Shadow smirks.

 I, however, frown but take hold of the red marker and mark, then sign my initials next to the number of items I have taken, including the amount of pistol rounds in my possession. “All right,” I say and nod as I consider the board. “Does this look good?”

 “It looks perfect,” the Wiper replies.

 “Then let’s get the hell out of here,” I say.

 We make our way from the armory and into the Training Chamber, then through the Induction Chamber, and finally into the elevator. We rise, swiftly, toward a floor I have never visited and exit onto a level that is swarming with people behind desks.

 “You weren’t kidding when you said some of you have desk jobs,” I offer as we make our way up the aisle.

 “I was not,” Shadow replies with a smile.

 Most of the people appear to be human. Some are freakishly Supernatural. The creature that appears from behind the mesh wiring separating us from the acquisitions department, however, is undoubtedly the most outlandish I have seen. It resembles a bright green praying mantis, one that frightens me to even look at.

 “Acquisitionssss,” it hisses, flexing its mandibles to imitate human speech.

 “Special Agent Shadow and Hunter number 136,” Shadow replies, flashing his badge and gesturing me to hold up the simple gold bar that hangs from around my neck. “We’re here to pick up the supplies afforded to us for our mission in Shreveport, Louisiana.”

 “One moment pleasssssse,” the creature says. It turns and stalks into the darker parts of the room, leaving the two of us alone.

 “What is that?” I ask.

 “A Manti,” he replies.

 “I know what it is. I just don’t know what it is.”

 “Ah, Scarlet,” Shadow says with a laugh. “You have so much to learn. But to answer your question: it’s an indigenous species to Asia. Its scientific name would be giganticus Hierodula membranacea.”

 “And they’re intelligent?”

 “Yes.”

 “Where are they found?”

 “Generally, the Malay peninsula in Myanmar.”

 “How have they avoided detection for all this time?”

 “Their natural ability to camouflage themselves.”

 The creature returns before I can question Shadow further, carrying a box filled with supplies in its pincers. “Provissssionssss,” the creature says, “for one month.”

 “Thank you,” Shadow says, reaching out to take hold of the box. “We’ll be on our way now.”

 The creature utters several clicking sounds that seem to be some kind of language, but Shadow doesn’t stay to study them. Rather, he turns, makes his way to a vacant table, and begins to sort through the contents of the box—which include, but are not limited to:

 Keys to an explicitly numbered vehicle. Two fake IDs with nondescript names such as Nicole Brown and James Lee. A black credit card I imagine is only for the rich, and a set of clothes suited for both of us. Where they’d managed to get the information for my clothing size, let alone a picture of me that resembles something that would be taken at a DMV for my license, I am not sure. Regardless, I do not dwell on it. I simply take the wallet offered, slide the fake ID inside, then wait for Shadow to make final preparations before we finally walk to the elevator.

 As we had when I’d first arrived, we descend into the parking garage and make our way through it until we came to a number of vehicles on numbered parking spaces. Shadow appraises the keys, looks to the Lincoln in question, and gestures Scarlet to wait while he pops the trunk.

 “We’ll get more clothes if they’re necessary,” he says. “You’re probably getting hungry as well.”

 “I haven’t eaten at all this morning,” I reply.

 “Nerves?”

 I nod.

 The Wiper forces a smile before closing the trunk. “Very well,” he says. “Let’s get you some food and be on our way.”

 * * *

 I gorge myself on a cheeseburger and fries as we make our way out of the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolis. Hungrier than I’ve ever been, I struggle not to devour the burger in three bites as Shadow drives without so much as looking at me.

 “I take it the meal is satisfactory?” he asks.

 “It’s duh-licious,” I say through a mouthful of food. I swallow before adding, “Sorry.”

 “You’ve no need to apologize to me. You’ve had a lot happen within the past few hours. You deserve to relax while you can.”

 While I can, I think and sigh.

 I lower the hamburger in its foil wrapping and take hold of the plastic cup of soda before leaning forward and downing it.

 It’ll be a few hours, I think, before you’re back home.

 The idea leaves me in a state that borders on dread. Fixed, suddenly, by the notion that I will soon be hunting down the creature that killed my mother, I straighten my posture, suddenly not hungry.

 The truth of the matter is that I know nothing of how we will discover the vampire’s origins or how we will track it down. Beyond what Shadow had said about the house, I have little idea on how we will track the creature, let alone force it into a position where it can be cornered and exterminated.

 Soon, I will be home—a place where my heart was shattered, where my life was ruined, where my existence was, without any compassion, made null.

 Try as I might to push past the feelings, I cannot prevent the tears that come.

 “Are you all right?” Shadow asks after allowing me a moment to compose myself.

 “I’m just having a hard time. That’s all.”

 “You shouldn’t be ashamed of your emotions, Scarlet. Your mother died a horrible and tragic death, and you’ve been tasked with righting the wrong. That’s a lot to deal with, especially at your age.”

 “I know. But I have to do it. I have no choice.”

 “We can always turn around, tell the board you’re unfit for—”

 “No!” I cry, wide-eyed, mouth agape. I take another moment to compose myself before saying, “I mean—no. I have to do this. It’s my job. It’s my responsibility.”

 “I understand,” he says. “Please don’t think I consider you weak. In all actuality, you’re one of the strongest people I’ve ever known.”

 “Thank you, Shadow.”

 “There’s no need to thank me.” The Wiper tightens his hold on the steering wheel. “Relax, Scarlet. There’s nothing you can do right now. Eat your food, enjoy your meal, and if possible, try to sleep. We have four hours of road ahead of us.”

 “All right,” I say.

 I lift the hamburger and continue to eat, all the while dreading my arrival back to my hometown.

 * * *

 Returning home is unlike anything I could have ever imagined.

 A town, haunted by a past. 

 A place, cursed by death.

 A land, besieged by evil.

 As we pass beneath the green signs that indicate our proximity to Shreveport, I begin to feel a sense of betrayal in my gut.

 For everything I’ve lost, I think, for all I’ve endured.

 For everything I no longer have, and everything that will never come to pass.

 I stew, almost violently, in anger—and at one point feel as though I will scream.

 But I don’t.

 No.

 I cannot show weakness—not here, not now, and especially not when I begin to hunt the monster that killed my mother.

 I’ll find you, I think, balling my hand into a fist, and when I do, I swear I’ll—

 “Which exit do I turn onto?” Shadow asks.

 “The next one,” I reply, allowing my hand to relax until my fingers uncurl from around my jeans.

 “How are you holding up?”

 “I’m doing all right,” I say.

 “There’s no need to keep things from me, Scarlet. I know you’re struggling.”

 Does he, though? Does he really? Even despite all our time together, I have yet to determine whether Shadow possesses emotion or if he can even decipher or relate to it. I understood that he can at least understand it, but whether or not he can feel as I do is another thing entirely.

 “All right,” I say and sigh. “I’m struggling.”

 “We’re going to leave this place only after the vampire’s been killed. It’s a public menace and too dangerous to be allowed to run loose.”

 “How are we going to find it though? I mean… we’re just two people.”

 “You mean two Supernatural people,” he replies, tightening his grip on the steering wheel. “Besides—it’s likely that the creature has not gone far. They normally do not.”

 “Then how would it have evaded detection by the locals? The police? The people with all their guns?”

 “Vampires are elusive creatures. They don’t have to feed all the time, just once in a while, after their blood supply has depleted within their bodies. It’s likely that your mother, as unfortunate a victim as she was, would have sustained it—”

 I slam my fist against the window. “Dammit!” I cry, tears streaming down my face. “Dammit!”

 “Scarlet,” Shadow says. “I’m sorry I upset you.”

 “It’s not you,” I say and pull my hand away from the window, surprised that I hadn’t cracked, or even put my fist through, the glass. “It’s… it’s the situation.”

 “I understand. Try not to let your anger blind you, however. Your rage will only inhibit you.”

 “All right.”

 As Shadow merges off the highway and begins to make his way into the heart of Shreveport, I feel a dark seed begin to grow.

 It spreads its roots. Sows its seeds. Begin to grow into a dark and twisted tree.

 Soon, it will all be over.

 And maybe my suffering can finally end.

AliNovel

Chapter 18: Facing Fears