We went to the hospital together with the thought of my father's death in mind. Alpha doesn't look like he did it and I hope to find out if he's bluffing. It's all gonna be different afterward. I need to find things out.
A call came in from Sarah and I know she's close by. I know I need her closer to me and we need to see through this together. This time it was a different hospital we went to. Damien was losing blood before we got in. I followed them because he didn't look like he wanted me dead. He looks innocent and not like the rough called Alpha.
I stared at him, for a long time, trying to decide what to think. Then I went towards the ICU where he was strapped in a bed close to another bed. A woman sleeps soundly in it with a ventilator covering her chin. The thought of my father flashed into my mind again, I stumbled forward reclining on the door.
"He's asleep now," Alpha said. "And we need to get to the end of this. Who sent you to me?"
"I don't understand. You should be telling me why you went back to kill my father. Why did you come back to have me killed by your men."
He blew hard through his nose. The essence in him was growing and he thought he needed to unleash his wolf side but something kept pulling him back. He knew it was the bond. He feels it in his chest but there's a need to suppress it until he knows she is worthy of his attention.
"You have to tell me." She said again strolling out of the ICU.
Alpha crouched in the only chair present. The ICU seems to be designed only in such a way that more visitors can't sit down so as not to disturb the patient's recovery. Looking at that in other ways, that is lame. He stared at a painting of an abstract woman in front of him, close to the door, her hair flowing down her back to her legs. She held a child in her hands and a smile radiant on her face illuminated the sun. He snarled, "Is this what to believe?"
He has questioned himself so much that nothing appears unquestionable to him. He believes too many questions lead to answers and there are lots of happenings needing answers now.
"She's not even acting like Elvira. What's she?" His face is puzzled.
***
It was rapidly getting dark. The whirlwind came pulling the trees into chaos, wanting to break in through the shut windows, she sat outside for a while rethinking her life.
"They have begun to spoil everything with politics. What's happening and why is that dumbbell staring at me?"
A voice called behind her.
"It's odd to be out here. The weather is at its awful , today."
She glanced back and saw Alpha walking towards her. He's holding a bottle of water and he looked more handsome. Perhaps it's the light falling on him from the east causing that. His eyes look prettier and he walks briskly.
"You need some water. Have this." She took it from him not wanting to have another look at his bare chest. They are huge and firm.
"Thank you," she said.
"The winds come like this sometimes," he sits beside her and clasps his hands into a ball. She stole another glance at him. He smiled.
"We think it's a sign of growth. Our farmers get to plant organic products and not some shit from Figma P. They don't want to see the rain coming here."
She blushed but didn't know why. She always wants to have a reason for doing something. She thinks she should be able to control all her emotions.
"Why is that?" She said.
"Why?" Alpha looked at her. She seems clueless to him and lost in another realm.
"Yes, why are they stopping the rain here?"
"The elites work with scientists over there to make sure we return all to them. It's not fair. Walk into the streets, you'll see starving people. They don't come out much but we know. We run the streets."
"Are you saying, they are sabotaging Smallsvile economically…?"
"I am saying it's more than that. They want more." He looks into the sky, the cloud formations are nice, he smiles then said, "it's about to rain. Let's go inside."
***
It rained for three days. After the third day, much of the topsoils were washed away. Erosion and broken houses. Flooded barns and farms. The stores and restaurants are closed and pack leaders wouldn't want to settle their feuds. It's a world of disharmony.
On the fifth Alley, RRA is protesting. Placards everywhere like confetti and bearded men and ponytail women in uniforms chant along with their children to end the regime. A regime they don't even understand though protesting it ends.
"Andrea," a quick voice called. "Andrea, look here, I have something for you."
Andrea turned still holding his placard with the name of Alex Guero on it, saying we need to end the regime. The voice said again, "I'm here. The blood is hereditary. We sniff quickly."
"Carl," Andrea reached into the crowd smiling. "Carl Mathews. You look changed and quick. What happened?"
The two men hugged smiling like it's been a century they last met but with a deep instinct of their shared friendship.
"Man, I have searched for you all my life. Asked, Mark and the Crew. You still remember the crew?"
"Of course. Where are they now?" He asked, a bit puzzled and reclusive. They'd been underdogs, fighting for the LGBTQ right.
"Mark is gone. And the crew disbanded. Allie said we don't need it since you're not around anymore. You left us, man. We're the genuine freedom fighters till you joined those snitches. I saw it when you betrayed us, Andrea but I still love you. That's why I didn't tell the crew."
Andrea knows he knew something and knows he should wipe him out. He doesn't love him. All they did, to him, was evolutionary benefits. That's what he now calls it. Just that. Nothing more.
"Come with me, Carl. It's been a while."
"Sure, man." He spanked Andrea's ass and walked with him into a lone corner. Andrea kissed him, he kissed him back softly.
"I have missed you, Andrea." He said pulling him closer. Andrea kissed him harder. He ran his tongue into his mouth, giving him pleasure, leaving him weaker and vulnerable.
They were at it for some minutes curled up naked in a dingy room. Carl stood up to put on his pants, the protesters still at it. Andrea pulled the trigger on him. He shot him dead.
"Dumbass!" He said, wiping his pistol. "It's time to get to Elvira."
***
"Hello, when are you getting here, bitchy."
"Shut up, you sound clumsy and clammy."
They both giggled.
"It's been raining here, Sarah. Lots of it and I haven't been home in three days."
"What! You dumb your car somewhere…"
"Forget that. There is something I need to tell you but not on the phone."
"Oh, you bitch finally fell in love right? Don't say anything, your voice is clumsy."
"Damn!"
"Don't kiss him before I get there. My flight is tonight. Canceled because of the rain over there."
"Alright, love. See you."
"Bye!"
Aiden Alpha walked up to her minutes after the call, he has been speaking on a phone too.
"There was a protest in Fifth Alley."
"Yeah. Saw the brief on tv this morning."
"A placard was found. Your dad's name was on it."
"Was he there?"
"I asked my men to find out. Rachel runs our forensic. She found his germ cloud on the placard. She said 85 percent was his. So…"
"Are you saying he's not dead?"
"Possibly. We'll have the placard ove sooner to get more data."
"Alright." She smacked. "And how is Damien?"
"Oh, he's getting better. Wanted to tell that he asked to see you first."
"Me?" She said.
"Yeah. He's like that sometimes. He wants you around."
Catherine smiled. She wanted to tell him she isn't Elvira right there but then she holds back hoping it will become a comeuppance soon.
"Possibly, he'll be discharged tomorrow. The doctor said he's better."
"Alright." She walked towards his room happy that they found something linking her father to a placard and hoping they will find him soon.
***
Damien sits up smiling at the story she's telling him. He has never read Overstory and never thought so much will be in Richard Powers' writing that'll make him long for so much more. He wants to write too, someday. He wants the world to understand what it takes to be a werewolf and not so much about humans. He wants to create a world, in his books, where the universe will reach harmony. He thought of ending entropy someday. But knows they must solve what plagues Smallsvile.
B
"If you'll like me to read you his other books, I'll gladly do so."
"Sure, I'll love that."