The Hunter's Chronicles
Land of the Heartless
Monkey Boy AJ
With
B. Michael Wurzel
Finally, at 2:37am, Andrew is fast asleep on the Dakota family couch, but not for long. The kitchen’s cupboard doors fly open, and the table chairs are flipped on their backs. Andrew snaps awake, and walks to the doorway between the kitchen and living room.
“Hey, what do you say we keep it down in here, I’m trying to sleep,” Andrew questions still waking up. He takes a step into the kitchen, and is greeted with a decorative cow being flung at his head. He ducks in time to see it crash into one of the lamps in the living room.
Mr. Dakota is now at the top of the stairs, “Everything alright down there Mr. Irons?”
“Yup, just some bitch throwing shit.” Andrew turns his attention back to the kitchen, “Ok Helen, the Dakota’s are tired of you being a horse’s ass, I’m giving you one last warning: you have until morning to decide to leave or I will remove you myself.” Andrew turns his back and heads straight for the couch.
As the sun just begins to peak over the horizon, Andrew, Mr. and Mrs. Dakota, as well as their youngest of three, gather around the dining room table. They all hold hands, a lit candle with Jesus’ image on it sits center; and before Andrew sits, a salt and pepper shaker, and a glass of water. “This is your last chance Helen,” Andrew calls out. “The Dakota’s know this is your house as well, but they can’t live with someone who continually makes the trouble you do. If you wish to work things out, then come and tip the pepper and I’ll know your intent and help you work with them, otherwise I will be forced to remove you from the premises.” As soon as Andrew finishes his statement, the salt shaker is knocked across the table. Sighing heavily, Andrew retorts, “Dumb bitch.” He looks to the Dakota’s and bows his head and places his hands over the water, “Lord God, Almighty, Creator of all life, of body and soul, we ask you to bless,” Andrew makes the sign of the cross over the glass, “this water: as we use it in faith forgive our sins and save us from all illness and the power of evil. Lord in mercy give us living water, always springing up as a fountain of salvation: free us, body and soul, from every danger, and admit us to Your presence in purity of heart. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.” Andrew gets from seat and begins making his rounds through the house. With wetted fingers, he blesses each room of the house, working in a circling pattern outward from the kitchen, and coming back making it the last room he comes to. Walking in to the kitchen, Andrew cups the remaining water in his hands and says a blessing prayer one last time, “In God’s name I speak peace here. I invite you Holy Spirit to fill this place and protect it. Let no others desecrate it with their evil. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.” As he splashes the water about the kitchen, Helen screams; then silence. Andrew turns to the Dakota’s, standing in the entrance way, “She’s gone, this is your home again.”
Grateful at the peace that is now to be expected, Mr. Dakota shakes Andrew’s hand, “Thank you so very much, it’ll be nice to finally get a full night’s sleep, and not wonder if the noises I hear at night are Helen’s or someone trying to break in.”
Smiling, “That’s what I do sir.”
Sitting in front of the TV, Andrew wonders how many more days of absolute boredom will pass until he is called to his next job. It has been three weeks, of watching daytime talk shows, game shows, and cartoon; walking or driving about town looking for trouble, and doing house chores and taking care of Rosetta and Kylie’s every whim whilst their mother is away. Granted Andrew loves his girls, but restlessness has set in and it’s time for something to break. As the hours pass, Andrew falls asleep. He is awoken by Rachel, “Hey go get the door, I’m not expecting anyone so I want whoever it is to know there’s a man in the house.”
Groggily, “Yeah, I’ll get it.” Andrew gets from the couch and stretches as he makes his way to the door. He looks through the peep hole to see Father Max standing patiently at the door. Opening the door, excited at the possibilities “Father what brings you here,” motioning him inside, “please come on in have a seat.”
Nodding to the invite, “Thank you.” As Father Max enters the apartment, he sees Rachel standing with Rosetta and Kylie hugged to her legs. Walking over to Rachel and offering a hand shake, “Ah, you must be Rachel.”
Shaking his hand, “Pleasure to put a face with a name. This is Kylie and Rosetta.”
Father Max offers a hand shake to which Rosetta obliges, but Kylie remains bashful and shy and holds tight to her mother, simply saying hello to Father Max. Father Max turns to Andrew, “Well as I’m sure you’ve guessed I’ve come to offer you some work.”
Sighing, “About damn time something happened, I’ve been going out of my mind lately. What have you got for me?” Andrew motions for Father Max to have a seat on the couch with him.
“Our mission resort in the Bahamas has gone silent.”
Puzzled, Andrew inquires. “Mission resort; what do you mean?”
“It’s a mission that was set up as a place for the religious to travel to as a retreat. There’s an orphanage, resort, and mission all in one. But there hasn’t been any communications with the mission in three months. We sent out a search team of sorts, a couple of displaced priests to check on things, but nothing has been heard from them since they left over three weeks ago.”
“I see, but why come to me?”
“We believe that foul play is involved, and our paladins are busy elsewhere. You showed excellent skill in dealing with the Brazilian incident, thusly the Holy Father has asked that I come to you for help with this situation.”
“I’m not sure what I’ll be able to do over what’s been done already; but I have been looking for work. So the paycheck just to check things out will be worth enough.”
Smiling, Father Max continues his pitch, “Glad to help you. I’ll have to get things together for your trip. We’ll be giving you the company credit card so to speak. Any room, board and travel expenses can be charged, we’ll also give you two grand cash. Should things be as we fear, then further compensation will be allotted as needed.”
Andrew thinks to himself for a moment, looking to Rachel and the girls, “Well, hon, hope you won’t mind me jetting off to work.”
With an understanding smile Rachel replies, “No worries love, so long as you promise to stay safe.”
“You know I’ll do my best.”
With a safe easy flight into Freeport International Airport, under his belt, Andrew sets off for the other side of the island; awaiting him, the Pelican Bay Resort, with a reserved ocean view room. His goal now is to find a way to get to the Saint Jerome Mission for Children, somewhere on Saint Jerome Island.
Arriving at the resort, Andrew checks in, “Andrew Irons, I have a reservation.”
Attentive, the man at the desk replies, “Ah yes, your wife was just through and said to leave your key.”
With an overly disgusted look and sighing heavily, Andrew snaps out loud, “I’d say God damn you Damien, but He already has been.”
Concerned, the man at the desk comforts him, “Sorry sir.” The man turns from the desk to a small stack of key cards, “Here it is.” The man turns back to Andrew and hands him his key, “Room thirty four, second floor on the left. Is there anything else I can get for you sir?”
“Yeah I’ll need a bottle of 151, two liter of cola, and an all meat pizza delivered up A.S.A.P.”
“Very well sir, I’ll get that to you. Have a great stay.”
“Doubt it now. That wasn’t my wife, not even my girl friend. DAMMIT!”
Grabbing his luggage Andrew makes his way to up the grand staircase to the second floor and his room. Opening his door, he is greeted by Kimiko. Standing a mere five feet four inches, in a purple kimono, with a tight ponytail of thin jet black hair that falls just to her shoulders, green eyes, and beautifully fair complexion, she looks more a twenty-five year old college sweetheart, than she does a six hundred seventy-nine year old vampire warrior. Agitated, Andrew gives a snappy question of her presence there, “Who are you, and what do you want?”
Realizing she’s not welcome, “Sorry to be causing you trouble. I planned on arriveing later. I’m not necessarily happy to be here either. My name is Kimiko Wakahisa. Damien sent me to assist you. We met briefly in Brazil; if I had known I’d be seeing you again I may have stayed and chatted then.”
Copyright 2014 Monkey Boy AJ - All Rights Reserved