My Soul to Take » Places

         Every time it was the same. He dreaded the end of his patrol but still made sure to do it every day. James broke into a sweat and plowed through the invisible wall that was the corner of 15th and Lakota as he walked towards Barlowe Tower. His stomach churned, palms greasy, goose bumps, sweating all over, and an acrid film of smoke finally coated his mouth and throat as James walked underneath.

Just like that night.

Urser was on the other side of the street creeping along, trying to stay hidden. He was leering over at James, apparently expecting disaster at any moment but deferring to use James as a lure so he could escape unnoticed. Both arrived at the next block unscathed but panting heavily. Traffic was moving slowly so rather than bother the people crossing at the crosswalk Urser merged into traffic between a motorcoach and a horse drawn cart. He then crossed the intersection and proceeded another half block before pulling over onto the sidewalk to fall into stride beside James. They walked side by side for the rest of the block until a beetle rolling something into an alley caught Urser’s attention and he followed the insect into the alley with his nose to the ground.

“Sheriff come quick, we got him!” yelled an exasperated Jimmy, his hands on his knees.

“Slow down a second Jimmy, got who?” James asked carefully.

The oldest Olsen brother looked up at the Sheriff and said, “Stenson, the soul merchant! We used the plan!”

“Jimmy, the plan was only to be used if and when I came and told you we were ready. And then only if me or a Deputy had eyes on you the entire time” James replied solemnly, eyes locked on Jimmy’s.

His smile quickly faded as Jimmy replied “Too late”, equally solemn now and pointing east.

James took off down the street at a dead sprint, Urser burst from the alley and was instantly in the street. Weaving between steamtrucks and a streetcar Urser positioned himself to turn the corner and nearly collided with a motorcoach turning at the same time from the opposite direction. The motorcoach had to skid and spin to the side of the street to avoid the racing bear. Even with the well timed maneuver the motorcoach barely avoided a bear sideswipe and still slammed into a parked steamtruck for its trouble.

James flew down the sidewalk accidently bumping into a few people along the way as Jimmy and his cattle dog kept pace surprisingly well. Nearing the corner ahead James *gasped* and grabbed Jimmy by the hand as Urser nearly took out an oncoming motorcoach. With Jimmy in hand James leapt into the air between two parked cars, sliding across the trunk and landing sidesaddle on Urser’s back just as Urser turned the corner. Off the main arterial there was little traffic and Urser passed a few more vehicles without incident on the way to the Talbot Bazaar. Jimmy screamed into James’ ear so he would hear while clinging to Urser’s fur, “Back Alley! Behind Metalwork Shop! Plaza With Statue!”

Though nothing in size and grandeur compared to the New Nations Plaza in Aurelia or Garden Mall in Blanchfield; Talbot Bazaar had produce, staple foodstuffs, spare parts and everything a person needed to survive at reasonable prices. However, nowhere in New Nations had such a rare assortment of strange oddments and doodads from all kinds of various cultures and traditions from all different time periods. Whatever strange or interesting item someone could be talked into buying for even the smallest amount of money eventually ended up there. Most were junk or only embodied historical or sentimental value, but some turned out to be special. In the past he had been sent by the Government to retrieve, “artifacts”, as the special ones were called, and return them personally to Aurelian Marshal Headquarters. James was familiar with the layout of where he needed to go, the metalwork shop in that quadrant was almost always a front for some local gang or thief.

Never thought I would say thanks for those Government scavenger hunts…

James motioned for Jimmy to cover his ears as they turned down an alley. James rose to a standing position on Urser’s back, drew both guns, and blew holes into both hinges, the lock and the surrounding concrete holding the metal door with three rapid shots. James grabbed Jimmy and jumped backwards off Urser. They rolled roughly before crashing to a stop against the alley wall as the bear lowered his shoulder and plowed right through the door. The metal door was instantly torn off the wall and thrown inside the back room of the metalwork shop, slamming into a concrete wall with a thunderous crash.

“You know what Fingers here does to boys who won’t give up their soul?” cooed the soul merchant quietly before slamming a knife down onto the table in between two of the boy’s outstretched fingers.

Fingers moved closer in beside the boy, saying nothing. He was holding Hank’s fingers out with one hand and clutching a large hunting knife in the other. Hank peed himself as he glanced over to see that the knife was caked in dried blood along the edge of the blade. Fingers edged in closer behind the boy with the knife when suddenly two boys burst in the front door with three cattle dogs on their heels; screaming and barking at the top of their lungs and waving their arms in the air like lunatics.

Fingers backed up a step in order to face the new threat when*WHAM*. Everyone inside was momentarily disorientated, ears ringing from the loud crash and vision reduced by the concrete dust that exploded into the air out of the crumbling wall and was slowly floating down. Footsteps entered the room quickly. James quickly checked on Fingers who was now between the metal door and the concrete wall, dead on impact. Then he carefully made his way to Stenson, “You are under arrest for soliciting the soul of a minor”, James cuffed the man while he was still down on his knees in the dust before knocking him out cold with a tap to the back of the head with the butt of his gun.

Meanwhile, a weasel darted for the open back door right between Urser’s legs. But Jimmy’s cattle dog stopped it in the back doorway and forced it back inside where the other three dogs closed in and corralled it from all directions. The dogs growled and snapped as they closed in until James could pick the weasel up by the scruff of the neck and throw it in a bag which he dropped on the floor next to the handcuffed soul merchant.

I should never have risked these boys like this, even the idea in their heads was too much. Of course they would try out what I was teaching them. They could have been killed. At least now though, maybe some other kid who is less prepared won’t have to…

“Boys, I told you he was dangerous. That you weren’t to do anything alone” James said in an exasperated tone while he glared at the boys and rubbed his temples.

“Well we thought…we thought that since there are four of us now and that we were big enough, that we could surround him and still send someone to get you for help. We didn’t know about the other guy…” Jimmy replied sulkily without looking up.

James got down on a knee and put one hand on Jimmy’s shoulder, “It’s alright, live and learn. Luckily, this time you all lived and that’s good” James answered while rustling Jimmy’s hair with the other hand. Soon the boys, Urser and the dogs were all just a giant pile rolling around the room, rejoicing in life by venting their nervous energy.

Sheriff’s Office

“No you have it all wrong. This isn’t Aurelia. The law does basically say you can pay the fine or serve the time; but the discretion is mine, not yours. So now that you have confessed by asking to pay the fine I think a month in my cell sounds about right” James said to Stenson, trying hard not to smile. “And Fingers’ knife will probably lead to something nasty to tie you to given that much time” he added.

You messed up this time Stenson. Finally got you. I know a lot of the souls from the raid went through you. Maybe if I squeeze you hard enough some juice will come out…

James allowed a small smile to form as he turned, just as Jeremy looked up from his paper.

“What’s the point of hauling someone in for such a minor infraction? He’ll just be out on the streets again, doing the same thing. This time with some fancy lawyer from Aurelia on retainer who won’t let you lock him away in the temporary holding cell in your office” Jeremy said with a smirk.

“That’s next time Deputy Warrens, this time, he’s mine for at least 72 hours” James replied with no trace of a smile remaining on his face.

         Marilyn shot to her paws at the sight of the gun "Let's move!" Jennifer yelled as she began twisting and turning around corners with her tiger right behind her. They weren't safe in the streets and even though they knew who the shots were meant for, they didn't plan on finding out how they felt.

Marilyn had led them into the city where there seemed to be more violence but there was also more people. They needed that type of cover especially after this morning. The tigress glanced toward Jennifer and could tell her energy was dwindling. The injury from the night before was getting to her. Marilyn slowed her pace and found a busy market place where they could sit on the sidewalk and rest.

Jennifer struggled to sit down and out most of her weight on Marilyn. The world around her was spinning like the top she played with as a child. Sitting upright was even more frustrating. She felt unbalanced and her tiger stood behind her for stability. Jen realized she would have to get some type of medical attention or chance the dizziness whenever she ran. She tried to weigh the consequences. Going into a hospital would mean overexposure but changing the wound could prove to be fatal. Marilyn growled. "Stupid child. You need help and we aren't going to get it here." Jennifer nodded and a sharp pain whizzed through her core. "Okay, but I need more rest."