• (somewhere far away)

    DIANA STIFFIENED as she felt a presence lurking behind her. Watching and waiting. She continued buttering her toast- then paused and jerked her knife backward the opposite direction. “Dead” she muttered to herself. The body fell forward onto her back like falling timber. “I knew it wouldn’t take to long for that son of a b***h to find me.” She took a bite then laughed slightly, at the fact she was talking to herself. “Uggh, disgusting.” Without ease she pushed him off.
    “Hmmm…” She took a minute to analyze her intruder. “Edwin Carter…a trustworthy opponent of Fair Well’s circus, but obliviously not the brightest kid on the block.” Telling by his triangular face, pale skin and casual wear he was just a kid. Seventeen at the most. She couldn’t help but feel sorry for the poor boy. But there wasn’t any time for affection he was bleeding all over her wood floors. She bent down to find a tactic to stop his bleeding when her phone rang.
    YOU OKAY? Of coarse it was her guardian watch Andy. She hesitated to answer as she made her way towards the trash can, “Aren’t I always? It was another one of Fair Well’s creeps. I don’t think he’s giving up until he gets what he wants.”
    “And what is that?” he asked in a mocking tone.
    “Dammit, don’t toy with me Andy. You and I both know what I’m talking about.” She kneeled down and began to wrap the body in a garbage bag. “Have you talked to her?”
    Silence.
    “No, not yet I’ve been a little busy trying to keep Fair Well off your trail. But I’m sure I can arrange for a quick flight. Be ready to leave in about thirty minutes.”
    “Seems good, ill be waiting.” Unfortunately for her Jenna would be too.


    “READY?” Andy said as his eyes met her face. “s**t, Andy you scared the hell out of me. How did you get in here?”
    “A little shaken are we? I must admit it was a little easy; I just slipped in through the back door.” He made his way towards the fridge. “You know you should really keep that thing locked.”
    “I leave it open for a purpose Andy, so I know when people like him come through it.” She pointed to the bag nearest the kitchen window.
    “Hmmm…Who do I have the pleasure of being acquainted with this fine evening?” He took a sip of bandy as he began to unravel the knot.
    “Edwin Carter, Axis Fair Well’s step son.”
    “Any data?”
    “His mother left him as a child because he became what she called a monster. Rapping, killing, smothering. When he was fifteen he made a three second call and became part of Fair Well’s army. Fair Well then captured his mother and had Edwin rape her till she bled and kill her slowly with some kind of torturing method. Recently he created a partner business with Fair Well called BaAbido, formally known as BA. It’s a small hidden coalition of some sort, smuggling innocent children and forcing to work as sex slaves to raise money for him to locate and purchase valuable drugs which he then sells to the public. Damn bastards. He treats those kids like fundraisers.”
    “Impressive, usually I’m the persons’ information source. And yet, you found all this out in less than thirty minutes.”
    “Fifteen.” She made a face fit for defiance.
    “Well, I guess that means we have to move quickly to get what Fair Well is looking for. Do you have anything to convince her to come back with us?”
    “If I did it would be a miracle but, I guess ill just use her mom. Our mom.”

    (somewhere normal)

    RUN AWAY! The thought ran through Jenna’s mind like a bad dream playing over and over. She couldn’t do this. She wouldn’t do this. No! She had to. She thought now was the time to face her fear.
    “Ready Jenna?” her uncle called out.
    “Ready” she whispered unsure of herself.
    The choir began their traditional wedding song.
    Everyone rose as she took her first step.
    Look straight.
    Slight smile.
    Don’t shake!
    She held her wandering eyes as much as she could and tried to look happy but inside she was dying. It was bad enough she was wearing a poofy white dress that would be so noticeable if she threw up on it. But she knew there was no turning back now. She just had to suck it up. As she reached her destination she gave a bow and faced her groom as her uncle slid to his seat looking at her in a bearing smile.
    “You look beautiful” Said her soon to be husband Andrew, who was surely trying to ease her anxiety.
    She moistened her lips to speak, but found her words to be stuck. Her eyes focused in on his oval face. She couldn’t help but recently notice his adorable button nose, soft pale cheeks and big dark eyes that complemented his fare tan. She was even more impressed at his slick black hair and original black tux with a clean white button up shirt. Just when she began to daydream about their life together an interruption became.
    “I know I said I wasn’t going to do anything special but I thought maybe it would mean more if I made my own vows.” He stared down at a small crumpled script of paper he pulled from his pocket as he began to read.

    “From this day on, I choose you, my beloved, to be mine.
    To live with you and laugh with you, to stand by your side, and sleep in your arms;
    To be joy to your heart, and food for your soul;
    To bring out the best in you always, and, for you, to be the most that I can.
    I promise to laugh with you in good times, to struggle with you in bad;
    To solace you when you are downhearted;
    To wipe your tears with my hands;
    To comfort you with my body;
    To mirror you with my soul;
    To share with you all my riches and honors;
    To play with you as much as I can until we grow old;
    And, still loving each other sweetly and gladly until our lives shall come to an end.”
    ‘Until our lives shall come to an end’. The last phrase definitely rubbed her the wrong way. It made her even more, unsure of herself. Immediately she looked to the ground as if the way she was supposed to feel would pop up off the floor. She then zeroed in on Andrew’s face and knew she had either made a really bad mistake or didn’t recognize a good one. Confusion soared threw her and suffocated her until she couldn’t breath. As the preacher began to wrap up she closed her eyes tightly and then stepped out of reality.

    ANDREW? She reached up in panic and began gently stroking his face hoping he would feel her touch. God she was scared, everything was slowly taking effect on her. Time had stopped. She was looking in a frantic studying the environment around her. What was happening? She pulled the veil over her head to make sure she wasn’t seeing things. But it was all true. Her uncle was upright in front row lifeless, with a hopeful smile on his face and nestled next to him were a couple of tired frozen brides’ maids with convincing smiles.
    Had she gone completely insane? She tried to think of a way to fix this or maybe a logical explanation. But she couldn’t figure it out. So she tried closing her eyes again hoping it’d be the solution.
    Nothing.
    She tried again, this time thinking of the wedding being done and over with. And when she opened her eyes Andrew was finishing up his ‘I do.’
    Glad to have him back she swung her arms around his neck and gave him a graduate welcome back kiss before the preacher could direct her to. He swept her off the ground in a slight twirl. Once back on her feet they faded off down the runway into a limo while being shattered with church bell rings, confetti and audience congratulations. She tried to explain to him what happened but her voice was overwhelmed by all the commotion. Once they reached the car she was crying too hard, after being afraid of loosing him. So she secretly swore to herself that she wouldn’t tell, and curled up beneath him as he rocked her gently.


    “EGHH, MY FLIGHT WAS TERRIBLE!” I swear out of all the places she could have lived Jenna decides that Oregon is best for her. Once I find this b***h and trade her for my life I’m…”
    Diana’s voice was overthrown by Andy’s, “Remember you’re still her sister and were not handing her over to a mass murder were just using her as bait. After it’s over she can lead a separate life and act as if never happened, Compendia?” He began gesturing a nearby cab. “You know it wouldn’t hurt to show a little compassion. When she was born she was told her parents died in a tragic accident and that her only relative was an unknown character she calls uncle.”
    “You call that sad at least I was born knowing the hell our parents really did go through and to top it off I was trained by a know it all until he died and I was passed on to you.” She threw her bags into the trunk. “So until she understands my life and the real world she gets no compassion.”
    “Just saying.” Andy added as he began to squeeze in the backseat.
    “She got the easy life” Diana muttered to herself as the cab began to take off. “I had to learn about the evils of the world, while she was coped up here living the simple life. Damn her, damn it all.”
    Eight blocks down the road Diana began to speak again. “How long until we arrive? And where the hell are we going anyway?”
    “Baker City.” He drew breath. “Apparently it’s a small community filled with tradition and history. It’s considered to be the most social centered city along Oregon’s trail. Jenna lives somewhere in the east of Crescent Village.”
    “Crescent Village?” Her face lit up. “What the devil would she live there for? That just makes her more open to be found by Fair Well.”
    He looked at her as though in shock of her reaction then calmed his eyes.
    “Not exactly, like I said it’s a close knit community. Walking down the street alone is the safest place in the world. With very little history of crime and violence, there’s no need for her to hide.” He stretched into a comfy position. “Besides she doesn’t know or remember anything about you or Fair Well. She’s clueless to the danger that’s coming her way.”
    “This gives her even more reason to stay cautious.” She lowered her voice hoping the cab driver wasn’t listening in. “Plus, once she finds out that I’m a Medium she’s going to freak at the fact that she’s a Sorcerer and a Parable.”
    “But were not sure she’s a parable.” His voice too, met the distinct low tone of hers. “She may just be a Sorcerer Protégée or possible Oracle. It’s too early to tell, plus we haven’t been here to witness any signs or phases. All we can do is wait.”
    “I don’t know if I can do that.” Her voice hissed as she spoke with anger and bitterness.
    “Why so stubborn, Diana?”
    “I mean we know nothing about her.” She set no effort to sound convincing.
    “And she knows nothing about you? However you do know she lives in Baker City, Oregon of Crescent Village. Has no kids, and is being wed as we speak.”
    “But…”
    “You also know she hates cooking, keeps a tightly keep home, is a baker at a local hospital, has a fake uncle named Jacov and hates cats and dogs do to allergies.” His voice suddenly began striking with anger and power. “You also know every single school she’s been to since she was young. So don’t give me all this bullshit about you not knowing anything about her.” His voice then became casual. “Dammit Diana, you know more about her than her mother ever will. So establish a connection and just admit that you’re scared.”
    “Me? Scared? Never!” She began looking out her window. “Like you said I’m a Medium. I fear nothing”
    Surely, Andy could sense she was only trying to convince herself in her last statement. But he paid no mind and rested his head on the glass window hoping to catch some shut eye before they arrived.