Chapter 90

Soft breeze lifts my long skirt up as I walk trough the town square. It caresses my skin and I feel alive, the horrible images of this morning not really forgotten but dulled and locked away for today, I plated his breakfast and waited for him on the porch, I couldn't be near him, the weird unsettling images and feelings would come back, his innocent eyes and smile only made it more difficult for me to really see him as a child an not as the large disgusting man that abused and raped that little girl. I could help him, I could change it, he would never to it. Scary thought came to mind a knife ripping the flesh of his neck as he slept. Crushed pills in his food and him chocking up vomit as the life in his eyes extinguished.

"My God I could never do that, he's a child" the small voice inside me screamed, yes it was this body's conscience. I would never do it.

He could be a killer in the future, but it's not written yet, it's not done yet, everything could and would change. I would make sure it did.

I heard the wooden door open and the small shuffling steps. I couldn't look at him; there were too many negative feelings. I saw his feet in small Spiderman sneakers, those knobby knees, his denim shorts and a matching Spiderman Shirt, but that's about as far as I would dare.

He touched my shoulder and his childlike angelic voice called out "Maria, can we go now? I needs to find out if Ben is gonna bring his book today"

I smiled at this and grabbed his hand. We walked side by side.

The walk was quiet and I kept my mind on other things, pushing the horrible images that his touch would torment me with. As soon as we got to the school gates he pulled my hands hard enough for me to bend down and he kissed my cheek tenderly, my eyes closed and the images of his older self flooded my brain, I could hear and feel the huffing of his rancid breath on my face, and his fingers digging into my young little girl flesh, the smile and the twinkle in his eyes and the shadow behind him bending in odd shapes as if trying to beg forgiveness.

He let go and ran to his waiting friends, as I walked away I could hear the laughter and the murmuring of there young child voices. It was a normal day, in a normal little town, where nothing really happened.

Juicy and ripe, it melted against my tongue, the juice flooded my senses and made me smile. The breeze kept me from getting too warm in this May Day -one of the hottest seen in years, I'd heard people mention. I closed my eyes and savored the taste that lingered in my mouth of that orange I'd broad with me. I sat back my head resting on the back of the wooden bench. Noises of cars and people walking around the town square, the smell of food cooking and the feel of the sun on my skin was getting too much for me. I opened my eyes and saw a young strange man, he features familiar to me as if I'd dreamed about him.

His eyes a mass of uncertainty and wonder, he carried himself proudly, his stance very straight and tall, his steps sure and sturdy, but light and quick. I watched him as he walked around for a few moments, looking into shop windows, passing several shops and people curious as to what and who he was. His clothing very unsual for our small and concervative town, every man in a suite and tie and at times a hat to ward of the sun. The women with there long dresses covering almost every part of flesh as not to be taken as a tart. The dress I wore showed way too much flesh for there startled sensitivities but I didn't mind the stares, I was used to it, or at lease this woman that my spirit had inhabited was.

She was used to being looked at and at times gawked at. The arraignment that took place in her home was also something that caused murmurings and gossip that was whispered as she walked by, I could hear and see it in her mind. I felt sorry for her and wanted to help her, it felt as if whenever I got close to this emotion my mind would block everything and remember the mission. His, his soul, his being had to be returned where it belonged, I had to bring him back. The balance had to be restored and I'd go back to my lonely empty existence. It was a price to pay for him to be where he belonged, to be back where he was needed.

But why him?

Why have him back there where he could only look and not experience, it would be a waist of a perfectly good and powerful soul, if you asked me.

Of course, what should I know? I was here because he'd taken an interest in my pitiful life back then. He'd seen something special where I was sure there was none.

A life no less important then all those out there with real value, a life that would only bring pain and suffering, as images of the men that I'd killed with this curse I'd been given flashed through my mind my knees gave out a little. I stood and walked towards the dress shop to start my shift. And when I got there Ivan was waiting for me –impatient as always, he pulled me towards the door, explaining rapidly about the dresses that Vivian wanted me to finish, about what the afternoon itinerary would be like. As always cooking and cleaning, taking care of Phillip and making sure that Vivian's wine goblet would never be empty.

That night I dreamed about him, tied to a bed, bleeding and bruised, I could see Ivan punching and kicking him. My touch to Ivan's bare skin had stopped it, I felt the chill of the night and had the get up and close the windows, outside it seamed the weather was changing, the winds felt like they were bringing something new to our small town.

As I tried to fall asleep again the noises from downstairs kept me awake. Vivian was in one of her loud moods having Ivan kneel for her, I could hear the whipping and the short moans and groans, it was going to be a difficult day tomorrow as it always was when they got to playing, he would be dispread and needy and she would be distant and cruel.

I just hoped that tomorrow I could take Phillip to his friend's house for his sleep over and later leave.

Yes I was running away, or Maria was. She had a plan, money saved up, contacts and even a car. Her ingenuity was incredible; she'd been talking to a woman via letters. They were all hidden in a small hole under her bead, covered by the carpet, I read them to keep occupied and also from having to listen to those two. They both made my skin crawl, the way he'd touch me and his sleazy and putrid breath on my skin when he's talked to me way too close.

Vivian was another type of disgusting, the way she would ignore me and at times order Ivan to punish me or Phillip, it was horrible but we had no choice, we where two lost souls bidding there time until there was an opportunity. I felt sleep come over me, a name stood out from the letters. Victoria. She was our answer and our way out.

I woke up very hungry and tired, but needed to stat the routine.

This time Phillip didn't want to go to his friends house, so we ended up staying on the yard, I sat at the porch swing while he rode his bike on the grass –I was sure to get a beating or maybe a day with out food or drink from Vivian, because of it, I mean from the outside everything seamed picturesque, like nothing was wrong. A young woman -the nanny maybe, taking care of a young child, happily playing, it was as if nothing was wrong or could be.

My skin prickled as Phillip approached me, again I felt the dread and pain of the images transmitted from his touch, this time he showed me the young girl crying under a mobile home, dirty and cold the wind whipping her tender flesh, as she only wore a t-shirt and panties. Her tears dried up against her cheeks cruelly raw from the cold. I could even feel the fright and dread filling her blood.

I broke out of it when I saw movement over the short stone wall that surrounded the property. His smile was inviting, almost happy and carefree. I smiled back wanting that smile to lift me up and carry me to somewhere safe and where I could only look at him and feel special.

Phillip tugged on my hand breaking our gaze, his never left me because it warmed me up and scared me a little at the same time. For a second there I wanted him away. Gone from this place, this horrible trap that had been set for him.

I walked to the door and let Phillip walk in ahead of me, the door closed behind me and seconds later I heard the car that carried my tormentors.

I felt numb, as I saw how Vivian stroke his arm, the way she looked at him, his inner light was too much for her to resist. The way she wanted him was obvious. He smiled politely and was trapped in her horrible web.

Ivan came in caring Vivian's bags and proceded to lecture me and scold me about keeping "the boy" as he called him, inside. They felt scared if he was out for too long, his power could come back and hell would be set loose.

My body reacted to the closeness of our new house guest, it quivered as he came closer, the look on his face was of anger, his pure blue light shone stronger, I instinctively moved away, trying to fight the pull that he had on me, I had to admit, I was scared.

A sinner scared of the light.