Yugen sat there, the sandwich untouched on the plate before her. The room was dimly lit, with no windows to let in the daylight of the early evening. She traced the edges of the table with her fingers, lost in memories that clawed at her like hungry ghosts. The tea, once steaming, now sat cold and forgotten. Its warmth had dissipated, much like the soft life she gained over the years. She wondered about her mother—how far would she go to find her? The bond between them had been frayed, a fragile thread that snapped long ago. Trust was a luxury that Yugen feared she could no longer afford, especially when long forgotten secrets whispered in the wind and danger lurked around every corner.
Her abilities were a mystery, a puzzle with missing pieces. She could transport herself to different worlds, and somehow kill people with her mind, but at what cost? And how did she even do it? The price of power and what to do with it weighed heavy on her shoulders. Could she protect herself with this gift, or would it be her downfall?
Then she thought of Carlen, the mysterious "crone."
Yugen laughed to herself, and wondered why she never bothered to get closer to Michelle and her family. She had invited Yugen out for dinner and drinks, but there was always an excuse not to. She was busy, or she had work to catch up on. She had pushed so many people away out of fear of having to leave them. So why did she attach herself to Kevin and the others?
Questions swirled like leaves caught in a storm. Who was she really? Why had her family pursued her relentlessly? The faces of Sarah and JT flashed before her—the best friends she ever had that sheltered her and loved her. She had left them and kept limited contact, leaving with nothing but the van they gave her and a whole new identity. She knew this would be the best way to keep them and their baby safe.
But safety was elusive. The past had a way of catching up, like a shadow that stretched across time. Yugen had slipped through the cracks, evading detection for nearly a decade. Now, with Dennis standing in the doorway, concern etched on his face, she knew her hiding days were numbered.
"Patricia and I are going to get you some clothes," Dennis said, breaking the silence. His voice was rough but gentle, a lifeline thrown to a drowning soul. "Are you okay to stay here?"
Yugen nodded, her resolve firm. She would face whatever came next, unravel the secrets woven into her very being. The future beckoned, uncertain and treacherous, but she would meet it head-on. Her life may never be the same, but perhaps that was the price of survival. She had fallen off the radar once, disappeared like smoke. This time, she would stand her ground, fight for answers, and reclaim her identity. The storm was brewing, and Yugen was ready to face it, even if it meant tearing apart the fabric of reality itself.
Yugen had fallen asleep while Dennis and Patricia were away, and the nightmarish visions that plagued her left her sweating and twitching in her slumber. She remembered the man when she was 9, it was as if it were happening all over again, only it was vivid and there were parts she didn't remember. She saw the blood seeping out of his eyes, nose and ears. She saw him clawing at his chest and ears to make the buzzing and whirring stop.
Then the picture shifted; a vision of her in the van and the same thing happened to her captors. Then shifted to an image of various force feedings, then Yugen's oversized 13-14 year old body sitting on her already burdened knees. Her mother wore a black cloak, and held a ceremonial sword. Then she heard the buzzing and whirring.
Protect this vessel! Protect this vessel! Was being chanted over and over, getting louder with each sentence until it was a shriek, and then Yugen woke up to the loud whistling of the tea kettle. She felt a familiar ache in her stomach, when she removed the covers she noticed a small pool of blood. At the corner of the bed sat a bag of clothes, with feminine products sticking out of the top. The clothes were basic; a few pairs of black leggings, jeans, and black v-neck t-shirts. The panties and doc martens were also black; she assumed it had to have been Dennis who picked out her clothes.
Yugen got dressed, stripped the bed, and sprayed some stain remover on the sheets. She tossed them into the hamper and headed toward the kitchen.
"Hey," she said, walking in to find Dennis opening a bag of takeout.
"Hey, I got burgers from that place up the street." He replied.
Yugen walked over to the table and opened up the brown paper bag, inhaling the greasy fatty aroma.
"I also got milk shakes. One's chocolate and the other's vanilla." He said.
"I'll take the chocolate." Yugen interjected, reaching out her hand to take the shake. "Thanks for the clothes by the way."
A smile threatened to cross Dennis' face, but his mouth merely twitched. But the softness in his usually hardened eyes conveyed that he was more than happy to do it. "You're welcome."
Dennis opened up his bag at the kitchen counter, and brought it over to the table, "I know it's not what you usually like to wear and it's a lot of black, but I figured it would be better that you remain inconspicuous."
A sad smile crept over Yugens face, "yeah, you're probably right." Yugen also knew that the gauges and the lip ring would also have to go, but she would be damned if she had to cut off her long luscious hair!
"But uh—Patricia did want you to have something nice. She insisted I wait till your birthday." Dennis said, taking a big bite of his burger.
"The pads and tampons are also appreciated." Yugen stated, popping a french fry in her mouth.
Dennis wiped his hands, and finished chewing before responding, "you can thank Patricia for that."
Dennis cocked a brow at Yugen, noticing she wanted to say something else. "Is something wrong?"
"I did get blood on your sheets."
Surprisingly, Dennis chuckled at this. "I'll let Patricia deal with that."
Yugen was relieved that she had left a few things at Kevin's home. Most of it was bare essentials such as shampoo and conditioner, and the bottles were still full. It's not as if Kevin would need it. Thankfully, she also left a few canvases and paints at his place as well.
After dinner, Dennis and Yugen snuggled on the couch watching tv. Everything was calm until the energy in the room began to shift. Lights began to flicker, and the objects around the room began to shake. Dennis glanced around, wondering if it was an earthquake, which wasn't common in Philly. He looked at Yugen with confusion as she stood from the couch and began muttering incoherently. Little did he know, Yugen had gone elsewhere, into a realm unknown.
As the room went dark, Yugen was transported to an ancient city with a colossal temple in the distance. She could feel the heat of the desert sun on her skin, the humidity in the air, she could even feel the hot grains of sand beneath her bare feet. She had no idea what or where this place was, yet somehow it felt familiar. She looked behind her as she heard someone calling her name, it was so faint that she could barely hear it.
"Yugen, what's happening to you?" Dennis muttered under his breath, his eyes darting around the flickering room as shadows danced on the walls.
Her back was turned and she was unresponsive, she cooperated immediately as he turned her to face him. He took an instinctive step back upon noticing her beautiful brown eyes had dilated to blackened pools; his concern turned into urgency. He reached out and grabbed her shoulders, his grip firm and demanding attention. He began to shake her violently, his voice rising in a panicked shout.
"Yugen, snap out of it!" His tone was sharp, almost desperate. Dennis hated chaos and uncertainty, and Yugen's current state was the epitome of both.
In Yugen's mind, the ancient city faded slightly as Dennis's voice pierced through the veil of her vision. The familiarity of the city mixed with the harsh reality of Dennis's shaking and shouting. She could still feel the heat of the desert sun, the grains of sand beneath her feet, but Dennis's voice grew louder, more insistent, breaking through the mirage.
"Come back, Yugen! Wake up, WAKE UP!" Dennis's voice was almost a roar now, filled with a mix of fear and frustration.
Yugen's surroundings started to waver, the ancient city blurring with the on and off darkness of the room she was physically in. The distant calling of her name and Dennis's urgent yelling created a commotion that pulled her back towards consciousness.
Finally, Yugen's eyes fluttered, the ancient city dissipating like mist. She blinked, the room coming back into focus. Dennis's face was close to hers, his expression a mix of relief and lingering frustration as he let out an exasperated sigh.
"Dennis..." Yugen whispered, her voice hoarse and disoriented.
"Damn it, Yugen, you scared the hell out of me," Dennis said, his grip on her shoulders loosening slightly but not entirely. "What happened? Where did you go?"
Yugen took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts, the vivid imagery of the ancient city still lingering in her mind. "I... I was somewhere else. An ancient city... It felt so real."
Dennis's eyes narrowed, suspicion and concern battling within him. He let go of her arms, rubbing his hands over his head. "We need to figure out what's happening to you."
As Yugen tried to steady herself, Dennis remained close, his protective instincts on high alert.
"I know, I think I know who to go to." she stated gently.
Dennis cocked a brow, and crossed his arms over his chest. He thought for a moment, how could she trust anybody right now? "Are you sure?" He asked, hiding his uncertainty.
"Yeah, I've been to her before." Yugen replied with unwavering assurance.
The next day didn't go as planned. While Barry was at work, he was assaulted by a couple of teenage girls. To top it off, the cops were looking for Yugen. After everything that's happened—the slaughter in her apartment, and the dead men in the alley; she had suspected it, but she didn't realize it would be all over the news. They had already connected the men in the alley with the men in her apartment, and they suspected that she had been kidnapped. Through Yugen's connections, they had found out that Kevin was her boyfriend and that he worked at the zoo.
Barry emerged from an enclosure he'd been cleaning for a monkey that just gave birth. As he stepped on the grounds, he walked past 215 cafe when he heard a man's voice behind him.
"Mr. Crumb?" he stopped in his tracks, recognizing Kevin's last name.
"Yes, how can I help you?" Barry replied with a friendly smile, acknowledging the two cops standing a few feet away.
"Mr. Crumb, we need to ask you a few questions about your girlfriend, Yugen. She's been linked to some serious incidents." the older male cop asked.
Barry could feel Dennis in the background, keeping a watchful eye close to the light. This irritated him only slightly, he knew Dennis was a protector—a very dangerous one at that. Barry knew how to lie, and he had no issue dealing with cops. He didn't feel he needed his intervention.
"Yugen? Is she alright?" Barry's smile faded, "what incidents are you talking about?"
The older cop continued, "a disturbing scene was found in her apartment and a group of dead men were found in an alley. We suspect she might have been kidnapped."
"Kidnapped? I haven't seen her since last night. What makes you think she's involved in these things?" Barry lied with finesse, of course he knew where she was.
The younger cop, who could easily be mistaken as the older man's son, spoke, "through our investigation, we found out she's your girlfriend, and you were seen with her the night she went missing. We believe you might know where she is or have some information that could help us find her."
"I... I don't know where she is. She didn't mention anything unusual. We had a normal evening, and then she left. I assumed she went home." Barry gulped, worried he didn't sound convincing.
The two cops glanced suspiciously at each other before the older one spoke again. "We understand this is difficult, but anything you can tell us might help. When was the last time you saw her?"
"Last night, around 10 PM. She seemed fine, but now that you mention it, she was a bit distant. Maybe she knew something was wrong." Once again, it was a good lie, but the look in the older cops' eyes suggested he didn't believe it.
"Did she mention anyone threatening her? Or any unusual activity?"
"No, nothing like that. Yugen's pretty private and friendly to everyone, I can't imagine she'd have any enemies."
"We need to know if she contacted you since then, or if you heard from her at all. It's crucial we find her." The younger cop chimed in.
"I'll let you know right away if I hear from her. I just hope she's safe."
"Thank you, Mr. Crumb. We appreciate your cooperation. If you remember anything else, please contact us immediately." The older cop said.
They already know. Dennis' voice sounded clearly.
Barry watched them walk away, a knot forming in his stomach. He was scared, but he wanted to be strong for Yugen and the others, especially Kevin. If something happened to Yugen, it would not only break him, but it would break Kevin even more. And one thing he and the others knew is they were shattered enough. The rest of the workday felt long, yet somehow it was still a blur. For the last couple of days, Barry had been losing time. Even as he clocked out, he felt like he was floating, as if he were outside of his body. As he descended the steps of the maintenance barracks, he felt a familiar shudder throughout his body, thankfully, he didn't switch. This only happened when he was stressed and overwhelmed.
As he approached his home, the bold scent of Indian flavors filled his nostrils. Despite everything, he was glad Yugen was staying with them. Seeing her beautiful smile when he got off work, and smelling her delicious cooking made him feel grounded. However, he was worried about her. He knew she was afraid to leave the house and go outside, and yet he knew that she was in danger and possibly in trouble with the cops.
"Honey, I'm home," he hollered, "and something smells good!"
Yugen turned around, giving him a side smile as he walked into the kitchen.
"It's almost done, just waiting on the rice." She said, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him into a kiss.
As Barry pressed his lips to Yugen, he began to feel dizzy, almost as if the world was shifting. He winced, remembering the two teenage girls that made him touch their breasts before running off laughing. He remembered the way Kevin's mom would come on to him, and the guilt he felt allowing Dennis to take over to tend to her needs. He pulled away, his dissociation threatening to rip him away.
"Is everything alright?" Yugen asked.
"Yeah, love. I uh—I just had a stressful day, that's all." Barry responded with a smile on his face, not wanting her to worry.
"You wanna talk about it?"
God, I love her! Barry thought, grateful that someone other than Dr. Fletcher cared, and grateful that he had a girlfriend that set aside her own problems to consider him. He brushed her hair behind both ears, and lovingly took her face into his hands, then placed a gentle kiss against her lips.
"It's no big deal, really." He took a deep breath before continuing, "but uh, there is something—not work related that I would like to talk to you about."
"What is it?"
"The cops came by."
Yugen walked over to the portable stove on the counter to stir the rice, "Yeah, I figured that would happen sooner or later."
"Did you and Dennis not report everything?" Barry asked, his voice conveying concern.
Yugen didn't turn around, "I didn't think about it."
"Babe, that—" Barry paused, reeling with disbelief. He walked over to Yugen, lightly touching her shoulder so that she could face him. "Sweetheart, you need to go to the police."
Yugen looked at the ground, fearing that if she looked him in the eye, she would fall apart. "My family probably paid off the police." She turned to stir the rice once more before turning off the stove, "But my moms running out of money. I figured I could hide out down here until that happens—"
"What?! Yugen, you can't do that!" Barry interrupted.
She turned around, looking him in the eye for the first time since the conversation started, "I don't trust the cops, Barry."
He looked at her for a moment, the seriousness of the situation and the coldness of her eyes sent a chill up his spine. "We aren't safe, are we?"
"No." Yugen decided to be blunt, "they know who you are now, and they will use you to get to me, and they will kill you if you get in the way. So no, we are not safe."
Aside from the horde constantly talking about the beast and the ones who haven't suffered, Barry had never felt so frightened. But he wouldn't turn his back on Yugen; he would fight for her the way he fought for Kevin, and the way Dr. Fletcher fought for all of them. He took her hand into his, placing a tender kiss over her knuckles.
"I'm sorry, we'll get through this together, okay?" Barry wanted to reassure her, it wasn't about just Kevin anymore.
Yugen nodded, a single tear slid down her cheek that Barry brushed away with his thumb.
"Let's eat, I'm starved." He whispered, and Yugen gave him a small smile.