NOTE:
Asazi
Chapter 22
My eyes slowly blinked open. I wasn't in the hospital. Trees and tall buildings were flying by in a small frame of glass. A window. Pain. In my stomach and all around my chest.
It took a few seconds for me to realize that I was in car, going down a highway. I slowly sat up and looked at the driver. He had pitch-black hair that reached his shoulders in a ponytail, small streaks of blonde going through it. He was completely focused on the road, not noticing my awakening. I looked in the passenger seat and there sat Summer. She turned around to see me and said, "Lay down, Asazi. Your wounds are still in full so we need to be careful."
I frowned. "I thought the doctors pulled out the bullet."
She seemed to smile again. "They did but you're still hurt. Rest, Asazi." She turned back around and said something to the driver. I couldn't make it out but we picked up a little more speed. The sun beat down on my face through the window. I felt it's warmth and smiled.
Travion and Summer had saved my life, back in the hospital. They cared…but Shawn never did. He used me to satisfy his urges; his wants were things he didn't really need. Forever I'll hate you. And I'll never forget you.
The warm sun seemed to dull my senses. I suddenly felt tired and decided that Summer was right. I sunk back into the sleep that protected me from the real world……
-_-
"Your birthday comes…so soon…"
The hoarse almost-whisper voice, evil sounding awoke me. I looked around to find that I was surrounded by darkness. A small light was in the distance and looked behind to find a creature…a monster. It was a mixture of dragon and bat, its huge leathery wings about the size of a car, it's head the same and its torso the size of a semi. Its legs bulged with obvious muscles that could squash me in seconds…
The dragon's head had a nose that seemed to be shoved up, like a bat. Its breathing was slow, rugged, yet I didn't think that the voice…
"So soon…"
Chills went up and down my spine. Nemesis.
I whirled around, my wounds forgotten.
There was an old man, walking toward me. He looked like he was Japanese or Chinese, his short blackish-graying hair tumbling down to his waist and his long, bony arms folded over in front of his chest. "They never lie, do they," he asked.
"So you're Nemesis," I said flatly. I tried not to show emotion but fear was overwhelming me.
The old man giggled with joy, shaking his head. "No, young lady…this is Nemesis!" Suddenly his skin began peeling away, wings fluttered out and a skull fell from the dead skin that was melting away and—
"AAAAAAAAA!"
I sat up as fast as I could. Cold sweat seemed to rain down my face and back. I was in a bed, the room pitch black. My breathing was fast and adrenaline surging through my veins…
I took a deep breath, remember that Nemesis was my imagination…wasn't he? Or was he a read thing…something that I couldn't…forget it.
I shook my head in frustration. There are so many things that I don't understand I just…just wish I had the right answers… I sighed. Who has the right answers? Who has any kind of answers that make sense…?
I laid back down and tried to think, searching my thoughts for an answer that would cease the questions that pour rapidly into my head.
Suddenly, Mrs. Renton's voice came to mind. I remembered her answer, when I asked her about Nemesis…
"Asazi, I know you're young to know about these things but I know some children that have encountered demons before too. Umm…let's just say that this 'Nemesis' is…not good for you. He's evil and he does want to hurt you. But there is also someone that can protect from, uh, 'Nemesis'."
I tried to remember what she said after that but…it slowly came back…God could protect me. God…if he could protect me, then why didn't he do that when Shawn came into my life? Why didn't God protect me when the gangs started following me around, looking for me?
He is protecting me, I slowly realized. How else could I have fought off Brink and his gang on that hillside, when it was raining? I have some experience in shooting but not that much…and when I jumped out of his car when he committed suicide…I landed on Atone…he is protecting me…just not from everything. But why not protect me from everything in this world? Why forsake me at times, then come back and aid me in my survival?
Why let me imagine…hopefully imagine Nemesis in my dreams?
I realized it at the age of six, almost seven…I realized that if there was a God that was protecting me, then he was letting Nemesis happen to me. I still don't know why…I don't think I ever will…perhaps he let these things happen to me so I could get involved with Dr. X so I could meet my…my secret…
I fell asleep with the comforting thoughts that no matter what was happening, God was watching over me, and Travion and Summer were my guardian angels……
-_-
I awoke to Summer scooping me up in her arms. I had been sleeping in the bed I had awakened in earlier. "What's going—," I started to ask but Summer hushed me.
"Ssshhh, Asazi…," she put me back down and looked out a window that was in the room. Moonlight streamed into the room. She turned back to me and whispered, "Asazi…would you like to move away from Miami, away from the gangs and the people that want you? Would you like to go back to school?"
My heart leapt at the idea of going back to school…and leapt even higher at the possibility of me being away from the feuds in Miami. "Yes, please…"
Summer smiled and whispered, "Good. Travion and I are going to take you away from Miami and we're going to start a new life, okay? Would you like to live with us?"
My face literally erupted with joy and I started to nod when Travion rushed into the room. "Summer…we're in trouble…can I talk to you?" Summer looked at me, then back at Travion and said, "Yes." She turned to me, saying, "I'll be right back."
I nodded and sat back down on the bed…
A new life. Away from Miami and the gangs…away…free… My thoughts from the nights before slowly filtered back into my head…my thoughts about God. It was true…he was truly watching over me. I just had to see it before he could really rescue me… A sudden feeling of serenity seemed to come over me and I stood up. I was happy…I wandered over to the window and looked through it.
I still didn't know where I was but Travion and Summer were here, and that meant it was okay. We were in the city still, in a neighborhood with a nice road and houses up and down the street. A car streamed down the road, a very nice convertible…a very…familiar convertible…
It was the convertible that…I was being taken away from the Renton's, we were driving down the road when those other people attacked our car and then…the people that attacked…that convertible was theirs! The gangs know where I am! Travion and Summer! Oh NO!
I ran to the door, whipped it open and started to run when Summer was suddenly there. "Asazi, we have to go, now."
I nodded. "I know…I saw them. They were in a convertible, driving down—''
"You can tell me later, okay? Right now we've got to go, now!"
Travion appeared behind her shoulder and said, "C'mon Asazi. Let's go."
They guided me through the house and into a garage where a large white van was. Travion unlocked it with swift speed, then got into the driver's seat. I followed Summer around to the other side and got into the only bench while she got into the back of the van. I looked at the back…my eyes widened. The back was a bunch of electronics and guns. There were no windows to see inside and a thought hit me…Travion and Summer aren't members of a gang…they're police…
Travion whipped out of the garage and Summer began loading various pistols and rifles. As she did so, she said, "Asazi, this ride may get a bit bumpy. The gangs think that you're a major threat and are after you." She paused, looking at a pistol. She then handed it to me, saying, "You know how to use it…" I nodded, understanding what she meant. She was basically saying that they may not make it out alive and if they obviously weren't going to, go down fighting…
God help me, I said as we pulled out of the neighborhood and onto the freeway…a convertible tailing us…
-_-
About half-an-hour later, we were still on the freeway, leaving Miami. The traffic had been very slow the past hour and we'd only gotten a few miles… There had been a Miami police car on the freeway, stuck in the traffic the whole time we were there so the gangs couldn't find a time to get us…but the cops pulled off the freeway quite suddenly a few minutes ago, probably answering a call somewhere else…leaving us to deal with the gang.
The four people in the convertible were obviously preparing for an attack. Summer and I could see that they were bending over, fixing things at their feet so no one else could see what they were messing with. Summer had four rifles and six pistols fully loaded and ready to be used. She had arranged them on the floor of the van so that she could use one and the second it was out, throw it off to the side and get another one in a matter of seconds.
I kept watch. I made sure that there were no other cars visibly following us. I didn't know what to look for but at least I could help out.
Suddenly, I heard car doors slamming in the midst of the car honks and overhead airplanes. I looked out the back door windows and saw the people that were in the convertible getting out, their hands in their coat pockets, the butts of guns sticking out of their pant pockets…they were fully loaded and ready to go…
"Summer," I said quietly. "They're coming."
She looked up at me and then out the back door window. "Right now?! In the middle of traffic?!" I kept the pistol she gave me close to my side…if I was going down, I was taking everyone with me… Suddenly I heard more car doors slamming and I hopped into the passenger seat, looking past Travion, who had been silent the past hour.
I could see in his rear-view mirror…uh oh…there were two more cars that had people getting out of them and walking our way…
"Summer, we're getting ganged by—," I quickly counted. Four from the convertible, three from that station wagon and…six from that van…, "Thirteen people."
"Shit," Summer said…
And all hell broke loose…
Hey people! Long time, no write, eh? I'm sorry it's been so long…and I hate to say it but it'll probably be another week or two before I can put up chapter 23. School starts tomorrow, August 14th (FRESHMAN, YEAH!) and, as if that's bad enough, my first day of work is tomorrow too so…huh boy…pray for me, eh? Or something like that.
Anyway, I apologize for the long delay for this chapter. Please accept my deepest apologies.
CV