~ Dead Things, Part 3 ~

~ Dead Things ~

~ Part 3 ~

The 26 foot Delivery Box Truck pulled onto the right shoulder of Interstate 64 just outside of Richmond in response to the blue and red flashing lights of a silver Virginia State Police SUV. Trooper Dale Karnes remembered his recent admonishing from the First Sergeant. “Dale you have to stop pulling over citizens for no reason.”

“Sarge. Suspicious activity is a reason. Those heads in the back seat ducked as they drove past and …”

The Sarge stopped him cold. “You’re observant, your clever. I get it Dale, you want to be a Detective. But, and this is coming directly from the Area Commander, your tapped out. No more harassment complaints. Understand?” Dale understood perfectly. This stop damn sure better pan out.

The driver, a fit middle aged Asian man, sighed to himself, “I don’t have time for this.” He adjusted the .380 Ruger tucked it in his belt made sure it was covered by his oversized sweat shirt. As the Trooper warily approached, he opened his door and climbed down. Trooper Dale put his hand on his sidearm and stopped. “Why did you exit the vehicle, sir? Hands against the truck.”

The driver complied and asked, “What is the problem, Officer? I know I wasn’t speeding. What did I do? Have you run my plates?”

“You’re registration checks out and you weren’t breaking any traffic laws. I want to see your license and cargo.”

“Why?”

“Your company name is Jo Jo’s Seafood. You even have that animated lobster drawn on the side.”

“Yeah. Larry the Lobster. He’s our mascot.”

“There isn’t a refrigeration unit anywhere on the truck. How do you deliver seafood?”

Hmm. Good point. Mental note. Point it out to Lilith when this mission was over. “Look Officer.” The driver turned and the State Policeman stepped back and drew his Sauer .357.

“On the ground…Now!” he touched his lapel mic. “Dispatch, I need backup.” The driver had not moved. “Get on you belly, now! I mean it!”

“Before this gets ugly Officer, you should run my MC number by the Feds. Really. You should do it.”

Something about his calm demeanor was convincing. “Sarah, put me through to the FMCSA.” After a moment Dale read the number stamped on the side door of the truck over the radio to the Government dispatcher. After a look of surprise, the State Trooper holstered his weapon visibly annoyed. “Your free to go. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

Lucy Lange shifted his sitting position inside the back of the truck. After such a long drive, he was uncomfortable and yearned to stretch out his newly acquired body. The necromantic transfer of his soul to this 10½ foot tall, 500 pound physique was an unparalleled success. A Draugr they called it. Invincible, demonic warrior brought back from the dead. He was anxious to test this new power that coursed through him. Examining the raiment and weapons at his disposal brought a smile to his face. Prison manacles for the Witch. A U.S. Black Ops tactical helmet and body armor custom made to fit his colossal frame. Bolas, the underrated tool and weapon made famous by the Gauchos of the vast plains of Argentina. With 3 weights of 2 pounds each, it had the crushing power of a cannonball. A gargantuan spiked Mace and two Zweihanders. Oversized German swords from the Middle ages, both forged from osmium, arguably the heaviest metal found on earth but merely short swords in his hands. Also his special request, a 15 foot Bullwhip made from kangaroo skin. Not so much for combat as for inflicting pain.

Wisty sat on a blanket in her leather dress seemingly consumed by the screen on her cell, legs tucked, as far from him as the cargo area would allow. She had avoided his gaze and attempts at conversation for many hours trying to keep her mind blank. Her telepathic abilities, though proficient, were no match for Lucifer’s psychic dominance of human minds.

“We’re almost there Witch.”

No Response.

“If you would turn but a few inches, I could see right up your dress.” He chuckled.

Still silent, she covered her lap with the corner of the blanket. Don’t think!

“Look at me, Witch!”

They locked eyes. Her defiance was palpable. “I have a name.”

Lucifer smiled. “She speaks. Yes and such a name. Wisteria Wanda Wix the Witch. Wisty they call you. Whimsical, capricious, quirky.” Derision invaded his tone. “But don’t forget abandoned, heartbroken, handicapped. Void of ethics and carrying the child of a sadist.”

“I don’t understand. If you have something to say, say it. If you’re just trying to hurt my feelings then you’re on a long road.”

“I have much to say, Wisty. I know you think you can kill me.” Wisty tried to hide her surprise. “Even if you could kill me right now, it wouldn’t matter. They would simply make another Draugr, and another. We won’t stop until we have the 13 Crystal Skulls. You know that. It wouldn’t save your precious David E. anyway. Unbeknownst to him, the tracker implanted under his jaw contains an explosive charge. He will be dead by tomorrow regardless of you or me. If Lilith truly owns you now like she claimed, then I am at least a shareholder. I heard every word spoken between the two of you when you assumed I was still dead. Since I know all of your plans, I’ll tell you mine. First and foremost, you cannot kill me. I’m not sure that I am capable of being hurt, let alone dying. My strength feels limitless. Whatever resistance we encounter at the Hybrid compound will be futile.”

“We?”

“We are in this together Wisty. You, me, the baby you carry, and David E. of course. Shareholder, remember? It must be distracting to be so invested in the survival of others.”

“You would kill your own grandson?”

“Are you serious. I would drink his tiny body dry of blood and throw the husk by the wayside without a second thought. It’s of no consequence regardless. That little freak, all of my bloodline for that matter, are cursed.”

“MOMMA, NO!” Blurted the tiny, tremulous voice in her head. Wisty gently rubbed circles on her stomach. “It’s okay Mon Petite. He is just joking. Are you proud of yourself? Scaring a child?”

“Wisty, it’s mind blowingly naive that you believe that boogeyman inside of you is anything akin to a Human baby. He’s a monster. The Christian prophets called him the Anti-Christ. Yes, let that sink in.”

“That’s not true. That can’t be true.”

“Think about it. Sired by my son Lucius, the son of Lucifer. It tells you to do bad things and you do them. Why? He has turned you against everyone you love. His plans will destroy the world as you know it and you don’t even see it happening.”

Mon Petite’s sweet voice filled her head. “No Momma. Don’t listen to him.”

Wisty was stunned by his words. Was it possible? Stop Thinking.

She blurted out. “You are the most hideous creation in God’s universe.”

“Sticks and Stones Wisty. Where was I? Oh yes. After dispatching the resistance, we will go to the vault. Using you and the baby as coercion, I will force David E. to open it. Once I have secured the Crystal Skulls, Lucius and I will restore the Technology of Dark Matter and Celestial energy that has been so rudely denied us these 13,000 plus years. Then the Earth’s resources and this solar system will be, as they say, our oyster. That is unless your Spawn takes over. How does that sound?”

Her mind reeling, Wisty needed to know more. “How does Lilith fit into all of this?”

“She doesn’t. Next time I run into her, I’ll humiliate her and then kill her. She is supposed to be immortal, so just to be safe, I’ll dice her up and bury the pieces all over the Earth.”

“And Humanity?”

“What’s left of Mankind will be my sandbox, if you will. For the times in my life when I am bored or crave distraction… or blood.”

“What name will you go by now, with this new body?”

Sarcastically he replied, “I’m torn between Master Blaster and Big Daddy. But your special, so you may still call me Lucy.”

“Why me?”

“Why indeed Wisty.” He gathered his thoughts. “I had my whims and ways with this planet and your civilization for all of its history. My Sight gave me total mastery of this realm. I allowed The Comista of Earth's efforts to thwart the Great Cleansing. She was nothing but a parlor game to me. A diversion. Jesus of Nazareth, my alleged Archnemesis, was little more than a hiccup in time. The precious Mother Earth that you Witches worship, bent to my will. Even God gave me a wide birth. Then everything changed. There appeared a hole in my Sight. The future became blurred. For the first time since my physical manifestation, my path was uncertain. My choices became suspect. I found out recently that event happened on the day you were born. I cannot foresee your actions and their consequences, Wisty. You are my cross-to-bear, my Karmic Manifesto. But as to why you are special? I have no clue. Why do Sasquatch smell so rank to every other race? Why were you born missing a hand? Was Mr. Rogers gay? It’s just another of life’s mysteries that we may only ponder. What I do know is that you have to die to restore my Sight to its former glory. After I retrieve the Crystal Skulls, of course.”

“I have a proposition for you, Lucy.”

“Really. Let’s hear it. I hope it’s nasty.”

His slimy grin made Wisty shudder. “I convince David E. that we give you our full cooperation obtaining the Skulls. Then, and I swear this on Gaia, The Mother Goddess, we will disappear underground and you will never hear from me again.” She waited.

“I might consider that proposal except for the fact that I will receive your full cooperation anyway. I am calling the shots here Wisty. I hold all of the aces, while you hold no cards at all. Ultimately you both will die.” He held up his finger with pause. “But I do have a counter offer. Cooperate voluntarily and I will kill David E. quick and with mercy. Because my current plan is to force David E. to watch while I rape you, rip the child from your womb and devour it, and then I will kill that man slowly, painfully, while you bleed to death.”

Incredulous Wisty whispered, “Rape me?” She reflexively glanced at his crotch and quickly looked away.

Lucy chuckled, “I saw that and yes Wisty, it’s as big as your wondering and it will be, how did you put it about my soul transfer? Monumentally painful. But I think secretly, you want the agony and humiliation I’m going to reign down on you and your soul.”

“Damn you Lucy,” she mumbled through clenched teeth. Then locked her burning gaze to his eyes and shouted vehemently, “DAMN YOU TO HELL!” There were restraining knocks on the partition from the cab to keep the noise down. She fingered the Sanctified Bloodstone around her neck wondering if her Dark Majik could really destroy him. Should she try to kill him now? Even if she succeeded, which seemed a long shot at this point, David E. would surely die. Stop Thinking!

“I didn’t expect you would go for my offer, Wisty. Just out of curiosity. How is it you would kill me?”

Wisty was thrown for a loop. She was just thinking about that very thing. Had he lost his telepathic abilities in this new body? As a test she formed an image in her mind of herself, Doreen and David E. having a menage a trois. That should prompt a reaction. Suspicion crept into his face. “What, Wisty. What are you up to in that little brain of yours?”

It was confirmed. Her mind was her own. Sight or not, Lucy seemed oblivious to her thoughts. “I would kill you with Dark Majik, of course.”

Lucy snickered with skepticism. “Good luck with that. I come from Dark Majik.”

“I’m just wondering how you intend to hack the Crystal Skull Computers?” That should keep him busy talking. Contacting The Comista of Earth telepathically was unsuccessful. All of the leaders at the Summit would be cut off from the outside world for its duration. She probed the ether for David E. and connected with his thoughts. He was asleep or unconscious. She needed to wake him, warn him. They would arrive at the Hybrid Compound within the hour. Not much time left to make a plan. Stimulating his hormonal fight or flight response would rouse him. Focusing on the amygdala and the hypothalamus in his brain, she discharged the message, “DAVID E. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!”

**********

Nuuakhwahu, Hopi word for Eagle, stepped into the bedroom. Corrine and Luce sat chatting idly while they kept a watchful eye on David E. sleeping on top of his made bed. He was out when the USSF chopper had unexpectedly dropped him off. The soldiers related a vague tale about him being drugged and said The Comista’s message was to let him sleep it off and she would contact the Eagle as soon as she was able. What happened to him? Why hadn’t Debbie already called? The pilot was clueless, just following orders. The whole situation was odd but The Comista had her ways. She left the Eagle in charge and against Luce’s objections, he decided they would let David E. rest for the time being and wait for The Comista to contact them.

“Any change Luce?”

“No Nuey. He’s still out.”

David E. startled all three as he sat up dramatically, arms out, calling Wisty’s name.

Luce and Corrine took his shoulders and tried to calm him. He held up his hand for silence as he cocked his head as if listening. Luce gave Eagle a questioning look and started to speak. “Nuey?” The Eagle stopped her with a finger to his lips, then grasped David E.’s hand to join with his mind.

A moment later, David E. fell back exhausted and said to The Eagle, “Did you get all of that, Nuey?”

“I got it D.E. Corrine, issue everyone a transceiver, timing will be crucial. Arm the compound’s perimeter guns and bring Robert Hazer straight to me. Luce, find Chevy, Wolf, and Will. I need them now ready for battle. Have Dermott and Charlie Sue take all of the animals to the bomb shelter and stealth the entrance. Tell them not to come out until the Comista herself shows up, no matter what. Then gear up ladies, things are about to get interesting. We have a lot to do and not much time.” He pulled his razor sharp bone knife from his battle belt. “David E. bite down on something. I need to get that tracker out of your neck. It has a bomb in it.”

**********