3 - THE SANDS OF TIME

Simulated moonlight trickled into the Miyazawa girls’

bedroom. The room was almost a glow as the faint light
bounced off the rice paper paneling. Yet, for a placed
deigned for sleeping. The room was void of life. For this
was not a normal bedroom, this was the dwelling place
of Yuki and Yuna Miyazawa, the last known surviving
girls of a horrible massacre. Located in the underground
tunnels of Oka Corp Labs, anything that seemed ordinary
in this room was actually out of the ordinary. From the
15th century twin doll collections to the vacant white silk
sheets that lay prepared for bed. For these beds were day
beds, used for napping and the occasional trampoline.
The girl’s night beds lay hidden behind a single decorative
wall. Behind this wall lay two white vessels, each ten feet
in length, cylindrical and pristine white with a single black
tinted window located at one end of each. A droning hum
came from the 12’ x 12’ room as a system pumped a fresh
oxygen into each cylinder. These were advanced deprivation
chambers, used to block out light, sound even electrical
pulses. These devices blocked out the world. For those
who were contained in these chambers were no ordinary
mortals. The two young girls contained inside defied many
laws of modern science.

The inner lining had the soft look of an elaborate coffin.

White silk sheets were tightly fitted inside. A metallic
diamond pattern was imprinted in the steel cover of the lid,
broken by the black window peering into nothing. Yuna

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stared blankly through the window into nothing. It would
be another eight hours until Doctor Oka came to wake them
in the morning. Her eyes drooped wearily, yet she could not
sleep. These chambers were not here for her benefit. Honestly
Yuna could sleep anywhere and be happy. These were for her
sister, the telepath. All the unfiltered subconscious thoughts
were silenced once the door closed. Yuna was free to think
without fear of adding to her sister’s constant pain. She could
think… and she could cry. Finally sleep overtook her.

Yuna was violently awoken by the rush of her capsule

opening. This was not how she was usually greeted in the
morning, but a distant light illuminated Oka’s round glasses
none the less.

<Yuna, get up, quickly.> Oka barked, pulling at the girl’s

wrist. The whoosh of the second chamber opening drew their
attention to the other side of the room. A scream echoed
through the room as the thoughts of the world bombarded
Yuki, her peace broken. In a fluid moment Oka was across the
room muffling Yuki with a large hand.

<We have to leave, NOW.> Oka hissed.

The cold white hallways were only lit by thin tracks of light,
barely lighting the way. The doctor dragged the girls down a
maze of hallways. These halls were strange to Yuna, for she
and Yuki rarely left the safety of their designated rooms. Out
of the entire ten years they had lived in the lab, this was their
first outing. Oka stopped abruptly, almost causing Yuna to

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 smash into the short corridor wall. Taking a thin plastic
cars, Oka slid it across two metal strips, causing a indigo
light to flash across the plastic. Two of the five sheet panels
folded in on themselves revealing a small elevator. Oka
typed a code into a small display, bringing the elevator to
life. The tiny car rushed passed numerous floors Yuna and
Yuki had never been to until they reached one final floor.
The elevator open onto a cement parking garage. A sleek
black unrecognizable car idled before them. The door was
thrust open and the girls were shoved inside. Yuna fell over
Yuki trying to claw her way to the door.

<Doctor Oka-san, DOCTOR OKA-SAN. > Yuna pounded

on the door, but the car sped off, its windows heavily tinted.
The girls were tossed in the back seat the car took violent
turns. There was a crack and the smell of blood as Yuki
caught her head on a hard plastic edge.

<YUNA!!!> Yuki screamed, grabbing her sister. There

was the sound of crunching and twisting metal and the
cab filled up with the smell of smoke and gasoline. There
was the sound for frantic voices screaming outside the
car. People could be heard pulling at the door. The crash
damaged lock gave way as cold night air flooded in. The
girls were pulled from the car. The man holding Yuna
tried to press her face into his shoulder but Yuna caught
a glimpse of the crash. The front of the car was wrapped
around a concrete pillar, glass and blood lay scattered in
the driver’s seat. There were men stepping away, their hands
and shirts covered in blood, unsuccessful attempts to save

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the driver. Yuna buried her face into the man’s shoulder.
Another scream cut the night. Everyone was crowding around
Yuki as the girl cried out in pain. Yuna struggled the man’s
grasp but the more she fought, the tighter he held. Yuna
screamed, her muscles tightened, the man’s clutch released
and she ran to her sister.

=Run Yuna!!!= Something pounded again and again in Yuna’s

head. She found herself running, being pulled by Yuki. People
tried to grab them but were thrown away by a great wind. The
girls ran through the streets of Tokyo into the night in only
their white and blood stained nightgowns.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
It as early dawn by the time Rhazzar and the girls reached
New Delhi the next day. The Indian sun cast the sky in
scarlet and molten gold, a sight to behold if only people were
conscious enough to appreciate it.

What Yuna and Yuki could salvage after the fire and
investigation reeked of smoke. Yuki was clothed in a pastel
yellow three-quarter sleeve length shirt with a small screen
printed white snowflake resting on the chest with dark
chocolate brown pants and matching spike heeled boots.
Silver bangle bracelets jangled on her left wrist. Her long
black hair was divided into two low set ponytails that twisted
at the end into one. Yuna wore a pair of tan capris and a
matching short sleeve jacket with a black and white striped
tube top. A couple red hearts were screen printed onto the
thick horizontal stripe on the bottom of the shirt. Her black
mary-janes squeaked against the cool black and white stone

69
 floor of the Indira Gandhi Airport. It had been a short trip
from Tokyo to Delhi, but to those with enhanced abilities,
the jetlag was horrid. It left Yuki and Yuna drowsy and
lacking in concentration. Yuki slumped against Rhazzar’s
blue button down shirt as they walked through the airport.
“Shut up...” Yuki moaned.

“I didn’t say anything.” Rhazzar raised an eyebrow.

“Stop thinking, you’re giving me a headache.” Yuki buried
her face into his arm.

“I’m… sorry?” Rhazzar had no idea of the protocol for

dealing with telepaths with migraines and shapeshifters
with colds. Even more so, Rhazzar had no experience with
teenagers in the first place. Growing up Rhazzar never
really socialized with other people his own age.

Ha-ha... Ha-ha-ha-choooo! Yuna’s laughter at Yuki’s

perdiciment triggered an innate sneeze. “Bless you...”
Rhazzar turned to the trailing girl and all the colour
drained from his face.

“Awww great Yuna, look what you’re done. You’ve sneezed

yourself blonde.” Yuki moaned. Rhazzar in, with moments
to think, began shielding Yuna from view with his arms.

“Can you fix this?” Rhazzar hissed as people began

whispering and looking in their general direction.

“Nope, too many people. Just relax. Right now you’re

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drawing more attention then Yuna. Put your arms down.” Yuki
replied, rolling her colourless, pupil less eyes.

“This is not something you can just sweep under the rug. Her
hair turned blonde... from black... in the middle of a crowd...
Black to Blonde... Very noticeable... and you’re not worried? I
don’t know how long you’re ... you know... but normal people
don’t do this...” Rhazzar was now hyperventilating and
shaking sweat dripping from his brow and veins pulsing in
this neck.

“Rhazzar, have you ever been to New York?” Yuna asked.

“Yes... but I do not see what this has to do with the situation”

“In big cities like New York and Tokyo, if you see enough
strange things, sooner or later you become use to it. The
abnormal becomes normal.” Yuna smiled.

“Besides anyone in a 1/8th of a mile radius will only see an

Indian business man and his two daughters. HAPPY? Good.
Because right now I’m doing half my psychic readings at more
than full power. I’m tired, I’m stressed and I really hate jetlag.
So lets get wherever we need to be so I can drop this illusion and
nurse this migraine I’ve given myself.” Yuki growled.

“You had this under control the whole time!?!? You said there
were too many people...”

“You asked if I could fix this, but there was nothing to fix. I may

71
 be feeling like crap, but that doesn’t mean I can’t do my job.
What I was doing was seeing how well you handle stress and
honestly, you failed. But it was fun watching you squirm.
“Yuki gave smirk.

“You are one twisted little girl...” Rhazzar twitched as his

colour returned to his face.

“I get that a lot. But, did you ever think for a moment that
after spending 16 years with a shapeshifter, you figure out
what happens when they get a cold.” Yuki snapped.

“Blonde hair is nothing. Try getting a check up from the

doctor and sneezing yourself into Takeshi Kitano. That
freaked out and confused the doctor.” Yuna replied as
a-matter-of-factly as the hot dry air met them at the exit
door.

Rhazzar stopped for a second... “WHO?” But the girls were

already out of earshot.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Double sliding doors lead out into the bright Indian sun.
The street bustled in their unannounced arrival. A white
car waited outside. The city groaned in the heat. “I.I.G.A.
sent a car around for me. I’ll ask them to drop you both off
at my apartment. I have to stop at the Institute to organize a
few things. After that we will plan out what we are going to
do. ”Rhazzar replied.

“Can we pick up some fried chicken?” Yuna half asked, half

72
whined.

“Do I look like your father?” Rhazzar muttered

absentmindedly.

“Well if your father took care of us, technically we’re your

sisters, besides, you’re the one who brought us here. So you are
the responsible one.” Yuna scolded childishly.

“I’m glad to see we have established the fact I’m in charge…”

“I said you were responsible for us. I never said you were in
charge…” Yuna replied coyly.

“ahhahhhahhhhhhh- what the? WHAT THE HELL?” Rhazzar

clutched his right arm.

“That’s for thinking about leaving us in the middle of the city to

“ find our own way home”.” Yuki snapped, quoting Rhazzar’s
split second thought.

“It was a joke… and a private thought, thank you very much.
When we get home we are going to have a long talk on personal
space and private thoughts.” Rhazzar scolded.

“Because you are so proficient at keeping your telepathy in

order.” Yuki snapped.

“No it’s about learning when to act and when to let be.”
Rhazzar looked over his shoulder, making sure the driver

73
 behind the partition was not listening in. Yuki rolled her
eyes at Rhazzar’s comment, a sight very interesting to see as
the blank white of her eye spun slightly in the socket.

Animals wandered in and out of the street. Carts and cars

whizzed by at break-neck speed. There were so many people
that they hung on the outside of the bus. As the city sped
by the sights changed from a modern airport to homemade
carts carrying anything imaginable. Amazing architecture
seemed to grow right out of the ground in an almost
natural way.

The car finally halted in front of a pristine white multistory

building with stone balconies jutting out in organized
chaos. Rhazzar got out and pulled the three bags from
the trunk. The girls took their belongings from him and
followed obediently. The front room was like a closet with
two stairways, one going up and the other down. Up four
flights of stairs Rhazzar ducked into a cut out door on a
narrow landing. The hallway was dark with the only light
coming from a cut out glassless window at the end of the
hall. The hall was overpowering with spice, perfume, meat
and vegetables. Rhazzar took a small silver key out of his
jeans pocket and unlocked the second last door. Behind
a deep stained wooden door appeared a small two-room
apartment. Cheap wooden desks held scientific instruments
and file after of genetic code reports and results. Some
paintings of flowers and great Indians sadly almost
seemed out of place next to all the reports. A small 10-inch
television sat in the corner of the room. A small closet had

74
a door of wooden slats. Yuki dropped her suitcase. Her sword
and gun packed safely in a hidden lead-laced compartment.
Unfortunately, this also made them inaccessible and very,
very, very heavy. Yuki placed a hand on Rhazzar’s chest. She
had bad feelings, feelings she trusted. The room was tiny but
Yuna managed to wedge herself into a corner beside the closet
door, her arms already rippling and gaining muscle mass. She
could have taken on a professional wrestler. With that Yuki
telekinetically flung the door open to reveal... nothing but a
couple of boxes and a small metal file cabinet.

<Welcome back Mylindar, I hope your trip went well. I heard

you come in so I brought your mail...> A voice called out
behind them in Punjabi. Turning quickly, the group was met
by a little pot-bellied Indian man. The man gulped as he saw
Rhazzar with the two girls.

“I did not realize you had company. Anyhow, I’m sorry to

interrupt, but since you’re home I have some most excellent
news I must show you at the lab. Come, come...” The man
placed a stout hand on Rhazzar’s back, switching to English.
“Ah... Kumar, these are Yuki and Yuna. They are... friends of
the family.” Rhazzar smiled uneasily. “Rhazzar’s a friend of
our father...” Yuna replied, a devious smiled crossed her face.

“Well, ah ... yes. Here is your mail, now if you’ll excuse us

ladies. I must show Rhazzar something at the lab...” Kumar
replied, ushering Rhazzar to the door.

“Make yourselves at home...” Rhazzar over his shoulder before

75
 being whisked away.

<Wow, your shorter friend is really muscular...> Kumar

murmured to himself as Rhazzar and he walked out the
door.

<You okay Yuki. That jetlag threw you off...> Yuna replied,
picking up the fallen keys and her suitcase, deciding to
revert to Japanese.

<There was a sensation there. I knew it. I know what I felt.>

Yuki pouted.

<I know call it “sister” intuition.> Yuna replied, placing a

hand on her friend’s shoulder.

Crossing to the three cutout windows that peered outside,

Yuna and Yuki watched Rhazzar and Kumar enter the
white car and drive off into the crowded streets.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
3:14 am
Rhazzar leaned his head against the wooden door, wishing
his touch could change the wood to ice. The sun had set
by the time he was finished reorientation at the lab, but
the arid head had penetrated the entire city. Reaching
for his keys, the front door swung open before Rhazzar
could finish fishing them out of his shirt pocket. Rhazzar
cautiously touched the door, knowing the source of the
door’s new independence, yet unfounded fear still flew
through his veins. Taking a step through the door gave his

76
fear purpose. He now was hosting teenage girls. Five pairs
of shoes, none of them his were scattered beside the door.
The small television buzzed in the corner as a television host
interviewed a young Bollywood actor, asking him questions
on his new film. Clothes were scatted everywhere from
hanging to dry in the window to bunched up forgotten on
the floor.

Yuki was sprawled out on the couch, dressed in a pair of black

bootie shorts and a white t-shirt of some random anime show,
long since discontinued. Sweat glistened on her skin as she
sighed under the heat.

Another door flew open and Yuna stepped out of the tiny
bathroom, her hair wrapped in one of Rhazzar’s brown towels
and clothed in a pale yellow nightgown.

“Finally…” Yuki sprang from the couch, bolted across the

room and locked the bathroom door.

“Oh… hey Rhazzar, good day at work?” Yuna smiled, grabbing

a fry from a packet on the counter.

“ I guess…” Rhazzar smiled, never having to discuss his day

with anyone before.

“Oh Supper’s over there.” Yuna replied using another fry as a

pointer towards an open bag on the counter. Pushing a half
eaten chicken burger aside, Rhazzar peered into the bag.
Inside sat a wax-paper wrapped burger and a pack of French

77
 fries that had scatted across the bottom of the bag.

“Uh… thank you…” Rhazzar smiled at the gesture.

“It’s veggie.” Yuna replied seeing his concern.

“Oh…ah…yes. No it’s not the burger.” Rhazzar gestured

with wide open hands.

“It’s Yuki and I then, isn’t it? Look thanks for everything;
you don’t have to get mixed up with us...” Saddened gloom
crossed Yuna’s face.

“No no, well… kind of. I am not a father figure. I don’t even
care for myself. I work all hours of the night. I… I have better
relationships with Petri dishes than people. I’ve spent the
last 16 years regretting what I did to you –to everyone that
in that program. But I have no money, and if you are looking
for revenge then just do me a favour and finish it now. I’m
sure Yuki could think of a way to …” Rhazzar sighed, sliding
off a white lab coat.

“Woh woh woh… look I’m sorry but I’m going to have to
crash this pity party. First off I suggest you get some help,
maybe change your diet and get some exercise. Next, yah
Yuki’s and my life has not been a bed of roses, whose is?
We’ve been dealing with the past 16 years. Ya we’ve taken a
pretty hard punch…” Yuna brushed her hand past her face.

“… but we’re strong.” Yuna smiled weakly slamming her

78
fist onto the counter. The skin shifted and rippled, before
settling again.

“Does that always happen?” Rhazzar picked up her hand and

carefully turned it over, examining every angle.

“I guess I don’t notice it anymore. I thought that was normal.”

Yuna replied as Rhazzar finally released her hand.

“Unfortunately, your definition of normal tends to get thrown

into science fiction and fantasy bins at bookstores. Hop up.”
Rhazzar replied, patting the counter.

“I thought you were a geneticist, not a doctor.” Yuna smirked,

hopping up.

“It’s not a crime to have a basic general medical knowledge.”

Rhazzar chucked, pulling a small black flashlight from his
breast pocket and began flashing it into her eyes and ears.

“It seems fine…” Rhazzar mumbled, randomly tapping on

various spots on Yuna’s exposed arms.

The bathroom door flew open and a sopping wet towel flung
itself at Rhazzar’s head.

“Your towels stink. Something must have died in your linen

closet.” Yuki replied her white shirt clinging to her as she
paced to an open window and letting the warm night air dry
her. Rhazzar sniffed the towel a couple of times. It is know fact

79
 blind peoples’ senses are heightened but all Rhazzar could
smell was the miniature shampoos swiped from his hotel
room.

“I’ll check it out tomorrow. Its late.”

“Or early.” Yuna smiled wearily.

“Either way we should get to bed. It’s going to be … (sigh)…

a busy day tomorrow. Are you girls taking the… bed?”
Rhazzar turned to find Yuki passed out on the couch and
Yuna curled up on the counter.

“Yuna, Yuna…” Rhazzar gently tapped the girl’s arm, but

all Yuna did was moan and rolled over on the spot.

“I swear she’s part cat…” Rhazzar muttered, grabbing a

stray cushion from the floor and carefully slid it under
Yuna’s head.

Stepping into his tiny bedroom, Rhazzar shut the door

quietly behind him. Peeling off his pallid blue button down
shirt Rhazzar caught a glimpse of himself. Time had not
been a friend to him. His form had softened, deep circles
were etched under his eyes. Throwing his shirt and pants
onto a spare chair, Rhazzar slid under the thin cotton sheet,
more out of routine than need.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Pounding on the door awoke Rhazzar the next morning.

80
Stumbling around, Rhazzar tripped on one of Yuna’s
discarded t-shirts, causing him to nearly face plant into the
couch Yuki was sleeping on. Finally able to kick the shirt
off his foot, Rhazzar threw open the door to find his stout
lab partner, Kumar, with a look of surprise at Rhazzar’s
disheveled appearance.

“Sh…should I give you a moment?” Kumar blushed slightly.

“Wait here.” Rhazzar slammed the door, tripped on Yuna’s

shirt once again before finally making it to his room and
throwing on the previous night’s clothes. Running out,
Rhazzar kicked the shirt into a corner and slipped out the
door.

Once assured the two men were gone, Yuki and Yuna stirred
from their spots.

<Ugh, that smell. It’s like ingrained into my skull. Can’t you
smell it?> Yuki moaned in her native tongue .

<Actually, I think it’s starting to get to me.> Yuna replied.

Racing to the bathroom, the girls began ripping the linens out
of the cupboard. There were no burrowing holes that a mouse
or rat could have possible got stuck in.

<Stand back I’m going to move it. Maybe something is stuck

behind the boards.> Yuna was already in mid-shift, growing
muscle and losing her delicate young features to the stronger
ones of her favourite strength form, a 6’5” 225 lbs ebony man

81
 she affectionately referred to as “Booker”. Yuna/Booker
wedged her/his fingers in the small crack separating the
wall and the built-in bamboo shelf. Dust and plaster rained
down on them. The cupboards were stubborn, fighting the
entire way. The layout of the bathroom did not help either,
only allowing the cabinet to be moved half a foot away from
the wall, the aroma that greeted them sent them fleeing.

<Eww… eww… eww…> Yuna/Booker cried holding both

hands over her/his nose, an interesting sight of a full grown,
well built man in a yellow barely long enough nightgown
dancing around. Finally Yuna lost concentration and
ended up reverting to her natural form.

<Whatever that was… it was way too big to be a rat and

the smell is not coming from inside the wall. It seems to
be getting stronger rather than leveling off. > Yuki replied
pinching and releasing her nose, hoping to force the
lingering smell out.

<You thinking what I’m thinking B-1?> Yuna’s devious smile

grew wide.

Yuki rolled her eyes, but cracked a tiny smile.

<I think I am B-2…>
--------------------------------------------------------------------

The neighbouring apartment’s lock opened itself as the

girls quietly entered. The apartment reeked heavily of spice

82
and other chemicals. Flies buzzed around the room, the three
windows open. Yuki almost gagged on the smell.

<Oh my gosh. Its like a morgue, a spice shop and a garbage

man trying to get ready for a hot date.> Yuki held her nose and
pinched her eyes closed.

<And you know even this place is giving me the creeps. It’s too
sterile. The room would seem much more homey with a couple
of silk pillows, plants, and a couch.> Yuna replied. The room
was sparsely furnished, a T.V. table, a small stool and a few
wooden crates.

A distinct hum escaped the closet. Glancing at each other,

Yuna placed a hand on the tiny doorknob.

<San... Ne...Ichi... > With that the door flew open. A ghastly
sight awaited them. A plague of flies escaped. A bloated mass
of a form awaited them. A gut that had been large in life, now
barely fit in the small closet. The deep tan skin was tinted
postmortem grey.

“This means...” The girls bolted. The revolting smell followed

them down the stairs. They had to find Rhazzar.

The stairs whipped by as the girls hit the street. Yuki’s psychic
net grabbed the first motorcycle that passed by. Yuki glared
deeply into the owner’s eyes.
“Where is the Genetic Institute?” Yuki growled.

83
 The man stammered uncontrollably in Punjabi, threw Yuki
off and sped out of there as fast as his bike would take him.

<Dang it. How the heck are we going to find Rhazzar at this
rate?> Yuna freaked. Yuki looked dead at her sister, her
lips curling into a wicked smile. Moments later the girls
were flying down the back streets, from ledges to balconies,
sprinting across roof tops and leaping over open gaps in
an extreme version of leap frog. Yuna clung onto Yuki
for dear life as Yuki carried the other girl piggyback style
across the city.

<I think I’m gonna be siiiiiiccccckkkkkkkk……> Yuna cried

as Yuki landed hard on another rooftop.

<If you’re going to puke, keep your mouth shut until we get
there or a swear you will regret it…> Yuki growled, stopping
for a second to catch her bearings and her breath.

<And when we’re done, I’m riding and you’re running

home.> Yuki rubbed the sweat off her forehead with her
shoulder, shifted Yuna’s weight and sprinted again over the
flat roofs in the growing heat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Rhazzar stared deadpan at seventh powerpoint presentation

of the day. Head in his hands he had to force himself to
watch but his mind was off in another galaxy. It finally hit
him that at home he had two marvels of modern science

84
and he was sitting here discussing the successful recordings
of theoretical practices he missed in the passed week. He
could be at home testing the extent of Yuna and Yuki’s
abilities. He had what every scientist dreamed of. Concrete,
repeatable examples of paranormal potential specimens. Wait,
specimens? Yuna and Yuki were not specimens. They were
human. They had supernatural abilities but they came from
a human mother and father. These were not just cover stories
for “Stranger than Fiction: the real truth magazines and other
“the truth is out there” magazines.

<I should go home. It was a bad idea to leave the girls home
alone. Being in a foreign city for the first time. > Rhazzar
alluded to himself, jumping up from the boardroom table.

<Seeing how Mr. Mylindar is so eager to return to work, I

suppose our meeting is concluded.> A large-set scientist eyed
Rhazzar coldly.

<It’s okay Mylindar, come we have much to catch up on. I pray

your trip went well. A scientist of your caliber deserves a rest.
But first I must show you something.> Kumar began dragging
Rhazzar out of the room.

The two gentlemen walked down the sterile hallways. He

never noticed it before but ever since he found the girls, he
found this place reminded him of the project.

<What is wrong my friend?> Kumar inquired.

85
 <It just seems things are trying to catch up with me...>
Rhazzar muttered absentmindedly

<How so?> Kumar raised an eyebrow.

<Oh ... Uh never mind.> Rhazzar replied.

<Come, there is some interesting mitosis and meiosis of the

hybrid cells I want to show you. We have made amazing
process since you’ve been gone.> Kumar smiled, ushering
the man into one of the labs. Six workstations islands were
located in the darkened room. Several desk lamps provided
the room with dim illumination. Three of the walls were
lined with white painted metal shelves lined with beakers,
flasks, droppers, Petri dishes even a centrifuge. Each island
hosted either a electron microscope or an inset burner
and tower clamp. Kumar flicked on the overhead lighting
and ushered Rhazzar to a far microscope. Unlocking the
underhand cabinet, Kumar selected an oblong black plastic
container and removed a single slide from it and placing it
onto the clips of the machine.

<Astounding...> Rhazzar smiled, peering into a microscope.

<These are the fertilized egg cells of two mules. Usually

sterile, we my have found a way for these type of animals to
replicate. > Kumar smiled.

<This is amazing...> Rhazzar smiled, straightening his coat.

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<Yes and to just think, this is the tip of the proverbial
iceberg. We have already implanted the DNA of fish into
tomatoes, jellyfish into domestic animals so that leads me
to wondering… have you considered my proposal from
yesterday.> Kumar smiled.

Rhazzar stopped dead in his tracks yesterday’s conversation

had brought on a monsoon of emotions and memories, none
of which he wished to share.

<After deep consideration, I’m sorry I have to refuse your offer.

I cannot help you. > Rhazzar tried to remain calm.

<You realize what you are giving up? You are denying billions of
people a better existence. A couple genes realigned and a person
could gain more nutrition from less intake. Implementing
starfish DNA with DNA from spinal chord injury patients and
amputees could change people’s lives.> Kumar pleaded his case.

<Yes, plausible theories, one cannot tell if a bolt from a F18 will
make and Oldsmobile drive faster.> Rhazzar could feel his
emotions festering into a migraine by his left temple.

<One can tell if the bolt is mounting jet engines to the trunk
of your car.> Kumar laughed, gently picking up a beaker and
moving it through the air like a glass jet, accompanying it
with a whooshing sound effect.

<Or else one has just turned their car into a projectile missile.
Now I wish you would respect my wishes and leave the subject

87
 where it rests.> Rhazzar shook his head and turned to leave.

“So that’s it. You’re just going to leave it. Just like you left
us....” Kumar snapped, switching from Punjabi to English
with a voice that was cold and acidic.

<Pardon?> Rhazzar turned.

Kumar’s face rippled. Then it shifted, as an invisible potter

had turned his face to clay. A duplicate of his face bulged
out of the side of his face, as if stretched from putty, with no
holes, only the shape.

<Rhazzar help me...PLEASE!> The face mouthed in its

native tongue, trying to speak but no sound escaped its
flesh enclosed lips before molding back into the rest of
the face.

“Our past is catching up with you, Rhazzar.” Kumar grinned

his head turned down to cast deep shadows over his eyes.

“You’re from the project.” Rhazzar replied, trying to

portray a calm manner, while trying to edge his way to the
only other emergency exit on the far wall.

“Well that saves me having to monologue, giving you a

chance to come up with an escape plan. But it seems you
already have. I wouldn’t go for that emergency exit if I were
you. It leads out to the side hall, where a fire alarm will
sound, sending everyone in a frenzy for the nearest exit. And

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you know what I can do. Oh wait you don’t. You left me with
an inapt babysitter while you ran back here, to a shielded job
for 16 years and tried to suppress everything as if it were a bad
memory. I, however didn’t get that luxury. I moved from place
to place, or more correctly, person to person. Finally I found
a nice morsel in Madrid. Family man, wife and 12-year-old
daughter. I almost felt bad when I pulled him out of his body,
but I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t stop myself. Thanks for that
birthday present. Anyway, it turned out he had his hand in a
little covert project. He wasn’t very high up in the food chain,
but he had names, and names are great when you can Google
them. I just kept working my way up. Oh my, where are my
matters. I should give my “mother” credit. She did teach me
something before I pulled her soul out of her. Allow me to
introduce myself. I am Shell, and I steal souls. Now I will show
you how. By making you suffer the same way I made every
other person around me suffer.” Kumar yelled, veins popping
out of his neck. He had Rhazzar trapped against the back
counter, arms pinned behind him.

Rhazzar tried to calm his racing pulse. “I never did stop you
from monologuing, did I?” With that Rhazzar’s left hand
whipped out from behind him, a glass decanter’s top flew off
sending a clear liquid scattering across Shell’s stolen face.
The mutant staggered back, screaming. His face shifted and
melted sealing up every orifice. The chemical burn seemed to
be absorbed in the molten flesh. Rhazzar held his stomach,
becoming sickened as the sight. Shell’s transformation left
him with smooth alabaster skin and no distinguishable
features for he had no eyes, nose, mouth or hair at all. One

89
 could not tell if “he” was a “he” at all. Shell was the epitome
of basic. In Rhazzar’s attempt to flee, Shell clamped onto
Rhazzar’s forearm. A sickening snap and erupting pain lead
to the conclusion the bones were inevitably broken.

= Now look what you made me do, you made me go and lose
face. Oh well. I had to get rid of him anyways. He was such a
whiner anyways. I see you’re not scared by a little telepathic
conversation, so you must have experienced this before.=
Shell though aloud, echoing in Rhazzar’s head, sounding as
if he would be smiling when he said this.

“I have not had many telepathic conversations, but I am

starting to get use to mental abilities.” Rhazzar gritted
though his teeth, gingerly holding his fractured arm.

=Ah yes, Yuki. The little snoop. So much potential, not

enough control. She almost blew my entire cover back at your
apartment. Do you know how long it took me to hunt you
down, let alone getting my hands on someone you actually
trusted? But… I figure this will be worth it in the end.= Shell
smiled, tracing a finger down and around Rhazzar’s left
cheek, down his neck and laid a hand on his chest. The trail
felt like a hot knife tearing away at his skin.

=I’m sorry, I forgot to mention. Having adaptive skin, I can

absorb any substance I come in contact with and turn it into
a natural secretion. Thanks for the acid bath.= Shell’s voice
laughed in Rhazzar’s head as the psycho brushed a lock of
Rhazzar’s hair out of his face. Clamping both hands down

90
on either side of Rhazzar’s body, the metal counter hissed
and burned away from Shell’s touch. =Do you know how it
feels to have another presence in your head, one always crying
for you to let it die, to get it out of your body. That, to survive,
you must pull some one’s essence from their body and wear
their face like a mask. I thought I was insane, until I finally
released my first soul.= Shell laughed, kneeing Rhazzar hard
in the stomach.

“How... did you... survive... all the children... from the project
had faces...” Rhazzar replied weakly, trying to regain his
breath. =I never said I had to touch them to steal their
souls. I only had to be close enough to sense their presence.
Unfortunately, I can only hold onto one other soul at a time,
so hold still. Even before I knew was alive, I knew how to
take. I took my brother’s face, now I will take yours. Be
careful whom you trust, especially with such sensitive items
in your house...= Shell replied telepathically. Rhazzar felt as
if his heart would explode, his soul trying to be ripped from
his body.

=This is what happens when you play God, you are left with
your mistakes. Don’t worry though, you won’t need this body
anymore. Your soul can’t be physically damaged. Believe me,
I’ve pulled enough to know.=

“You’re sick.” Rhazzar gritted through his teeth, pain tearing

up his body limb from limb.

91
 =It’s not my fault, that’s just the way I was created.= Shell
hissed, millimeters away from Rhazzar’s face.

A telepathic scream echoed through Rhazzar’s head. Shell

was thrown across the room, leaving a blood trail for the
metal shelf he had been clinging onto shredded his fingers.

The coded door sparked and cracked, as it was pried open.

A hulking man barged through the door. His skin deep
ebony, dread lock tied back by a red and black bandana.
Dressed in commando pants, combat boots and a white
wife beater shirt, the man stood almost seven foot and had
to weigh at least 225 lbs in pure muscle.

“Man I love this form.” The man laughed, his voice deep and
gravelly like Michael Clark Duncan.

“Yuna...” Rhazzar muttered weakly with a smile. Yuki

stepped in quietly behind her sister. A fire extinguisher flew
from the wall. The pin popped out and the contents swept
over Rhazzar’s face.

“She neutralized your bases with acid.” Yuna/Booker

cheered.

“It’s the other way around, you baka.” Yuki shouted.

“I know, but my way sounds more epic.” Yuna/Booker

teased.

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“We need to get out now, he… she… it’ll steal your life force.”
Rhazzar gasped as the cloud extinguishing cloud cleared.

“Yuna, hurry up with your fun and get out.” Yuki yelled. Yuki
wore a black hoodie with a smiling winking skull on the front.
She must have been sweltering in the dark blue jeans and
black boots.

“It this your battle outfit?” Rhazzar laughed a bit thinking of

the costumes of Superman and Batman.

“We go for a more incognito approach to fights. Superman is

too showy when he fights.” Yuki smiled a bit. That was the
first time Rhazzar had seen Yuki smile when she wasn’t being
sadistic, but her smile faded with a scream of “Yuna look out”.

CR-RASH!! Shell broke a shelf with its back as Yuna used her
body to throw the other mutant into the wall. Yuna could only
contain as much strength as her chosen form would naturally
contain. This all balanced out, more strength meant less
speed, but that’s why it was good to keep a variety of forms.
Expensive equipment crashed around them.Yuna’s hands
were blistered from hanging onto the acidic skinned man.
A bellowing scream erupted from her as the faceless fighter
raised its hand in an attempt to steal her soul.

“Duck!!” Yuki yelled, sending a desk flying at Shell.

Alarms were now sounding off as people came running. Shell
crawled from under the shattered desk. There were mental
shouts of pain as Shell dived for the open door. Yuki tried to

93
 stop him but Shell was already sprinting down the hallway.
Yuki’s eyes went wide and every muscle tightened, as there
was a sickening sounds of flesh against metal on the other
side of the wall. But Shell was not defenseless as Yuki let out
an ear-piercing scream, in pain from Shell’s mental barrage.
Yuki’s body fell limp, short breaths burst from her, a red
tinged sweat crept from her hairline and a trail of blood
dripped from her nose. Rhazzar tried to break her fall but
cried out as Yuki tried to grab her broken arm for support.

“Yuna… Shell’s exhausted, Go get… whatever it is from the

hall .” Yuki croaked, still trying to recover. People could be
heard running into the outside hallway now. A couple of
screams filled the air.

“Too late, they know, we’re screwed. We need to retreat,

NOW” Yuna moaned, her blistered body struggling to
cross the debris filled room.

“We got to sneak out the back way. Can you stay Booker
till then.” Yuki winced, clawing her way up
Yuna/Booker’s arm.

“I doubt it but I can get most of the way probably…”

Yuna/Booker strained, hanging onto Rhazzar and Yuki.

“Don’t think, just do, worry about thinking later.” Rhazzar,

grimaced through his teeth limping along, clinging to Yuna
with his good arm. A large crowd began swarming the front
exit. Yuna awkwardly half carried-half dragged the other

94
two to the far exit. The shrieking alarms were finally disabled,
allowing the three to creep out the back door.

“Go left.” Rhazzar grunted.

“Nope. YOU… are going to get captured.” Yuna slung Rhazzar

off of her shoulder and slumped his against the wall.

“Sorry Rhazzar, you need an alibi.” Yuna whispered, grabbing

Rhazzar’s broken arm and squeezing. Rhazzar roared from
the pain.

“Yuna you…” But all he was met with was the sound of
someone running down the hallway, with each footstep
getting heavier and heavier. There was a commotion from
around the corner. Twelve lab technicians stormed around the
corner.

<There, there he goes! AFTER HIM!!> Ten men sprinted down

the hallway.

< Oh my gosh, there’s another one Mylindar. Your … arm. >

One of the techs fell down beside Rhazzar. She focused on his
arm, not able to look him in the eyes.

<Help me up… please.> Rhazzar groaned, trying to get to

his feet.

<No. You should stay here until the paramedics arrive. > The
tech tried to keep Rhazzar seated but he forced her away. This

95
 scuffle knocked Rhazzar to the left, sending pain shooting
up his arm.

<10,000 plus individuals, 70% being genetic researchers and

we have to call in the paramedics for a medical emergency.>
Rhazzar growled through the pain. Forcing all the weight
to his right arm, Rhazzar hoisted himself up. Burrowing his
shoulder into the wall, Rhazzar limped his way around the
corner. What met him was a grisly sight.

The cold metal wall was smeared with bloody splatters

where Shell’s head had been telekinetically pummeled.
The body of a young, beautiful Indian girl in a black pencil
skirt, white silk blouse and white lab coat lay dead on the
cold tile floor her eyes open in fear. Her face locked in a
look of complete surprise, with an acidic hand burned into
the delicate flesh. Shell had ripped the air from her lungs
and the life from her body. Rhazzar faltered, the room
began spinning. Some one called for an aide, but the room
went dark before one came.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
It was a day after the fight with Shell that the police raided
Kumar’s apartment and found his corpse. It seemed there
was an anonymous phone call from a young woman in very
poor, very phonetically pronounced Punjabi complaining
of the disappearance of her neighbour and the awful smell
from his apartment. When the police officer began asking
questions in English, the girl hung up.
The chemical burn was severe but Rhazzar was lucky. It
just missed his left eye, curled down his face and neck and

96
ended at his chest. It was a month by the time Rhazzar was
allowed to leave the hospital, but the healing had just begun.
Rhazzar carefully brushed the edge around his scars. The
scarred skin was a much lighter shade and it shined slightly
in the light of the head office. Just before Rhazzar had left the
hospital he received a written summons from his superiors.
Now Rhazzar stood in the high open corridors of the high
offices. Decorative carvings were scattered about, accenting
the vibrant mosaic floor. The sound of great mahogany
opening snapped Rhazzar out of his daze.

<Mr. Mylindar. It is a pleasure to see you up and about. >

A strong bearded man stepped out followed by three other
gentlemen and a single lady. All were dressed in western-style
business suits in various tints of grey.

<Ah, thank you. I was just admiring the architecture of your

office.> Rhazzar replied.

<Yes. It may seem odd for an institute like ours to hold its
meetings in such a historic building, but we feel it keeps us close
to our ancestors. We feel one must always try to remember your
past. For if all were to forget our past, great marvels such as this
place would fall to waste, in place of another coffee shop or box
store. Sometimes people need to remind themselves why they
do what they do. Even when it’s hard. The board and I were
discussing that returning that maybe it may be too soon for you
to return, but, going through your records it seems you have
some skills that may be beneficial to our associate institutes.>

97
 Rhazzar’s throat clenched. <Are you… terminating my
position?>

<What? No no no. If you wish to decline this offer and

remain her then that’s entirely your decision. What we
are offering is a temporary transfer to another institute to
exchange techniques and build relations.>

<How temporary?>

<As long as you feel you need. Think of this as a working

vacation.> The sound of this made Rhazzar chuckle.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
The Institute’s white car pulled in front of the apartment
block. It seemed like ages since Rhazzar had been home.
When the girls had visited him in the hospital, they had
promised to take care of his apartment while he was there.
Unfortunately it was the “care” he was scared of. Making
his way up the stairs, the smells that for the past 12 years
he had taken for granted now seemed consoling.

The sound of a young family caught his attention.

Kumar’s apartment door was open. A young man
bounced his daughter on his knee, singing softly to her.
Rhazzar wondered if Oka had done that with Yuki and
Yuna. Jiggling the door handle, Rhazzar found it
unlocked. Millions of emotions welled up inside of
him. Rhazzar slowly peeked inside. The room was dark, the
curtains closed. “Hello...”

98
“SURPRISE!!!” Yuna yelled, throwing her arms up in the
air. Yuki twirled a finger in sarcastic enthusiasm, sitting in a
padded chair facing the door.

“Welcome home!!” Yuna cheered wrapping her arms around

Rhazzar’s waist. The apartment was littered with take out
container, chicken tandoori sat on the counter. Rhazzar had a
stunned look on his face.

“Try not to look so surprised Rhazzar, she always gets like this
when people come-not that we’ve had many people come home
to us…. “ Yuki replied, muttering the end under her breath.

“Aww come on Yuki, give Rhazzar a proper welcome.”

Yuna smiled.

“Your cheeriness sickens me.” Yuki got up, gave Rhazzar a

smirk and patted him on the good shoulder.

“So are you going to tell her or should I? ...It’s all you could
think about on the way up.” Yuki replied, raising her hands in
defense as Rhazzar gave her a dirty look.

“Thank you for that great prelude Yuki. We... will be moving.
It was a joint decision between the Institute and I. They
were concerned that the attack may have had had deeper
psychological affects, so they offered a transfer to one of their
associate labs... in Canada....” Rhazzar replied.
“Canada!?! Like with moose, and beavers and Mounties!?!”
Yuna squealed.

99
 “Why are they sticking us in the middle of frozen nowhere?”
Yuki rolled her eyes.

“They feel my skills would benefit in the early stages of the

development of the new Canadian Genetics Facility, that and
I already have experience in the Canadian culture.” Rhazzar
replied slightly sadly.

“Well all I know is you promised me a boost and I don’t care

if I have to baby-sit you in an igloo to do it. You owe me and
Yuna and if we have to be your bodyguards against Shell
then so be it.” Yuki snapped, as documents put themselves
in a lockable briefcase.

“Well the igloo will have to wait. I don’t for a couple of

months, in that time they wish to extend my recovery time.
And I’d really like to get this thing off because it itches like a
witch “ Rhazzar replied taking a deep breath and rolling his
head back while trying to get his nails under the plaster lip
of his cast.

“I’ll get my sword, we’ll have that thing off in a minute.”

Yuki almost smiled at this idea, making a beeline for
the bedroom.

“Yuki… Yuki NO” Rhazzar threw open the bedroom door

and got a face full of camera flash. Lips scrunched in a
permanent no, eyes bugging out coming into the room in a
wild fury.

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“Beautiful Rhazzar. Adding that to the scrap book.” Yuki
laughed.

“Are you sure you’re blind? Because sometimes I think you’re

just faking it.” Rhazzar scoffed, crossing his arms and leaning
back.

“Are you sure you’re a man, because I think your faking that.”
Yuki returned, taking the exact same stance. Rhazzar waved
her hand in front of Yuki’s face a couple of times.

“I am never going to get use to any of this…” Rhazzar shook

his head and ran his good hand through his hair a couple of
times.

“Thus strangely are our souls constructed, and by such slight

ligaments are we bound to prosperity or ruin.” Yuki quoted off
falling back on the bed.

“Mary Shelly, nice, but what does that have to do with

anything?” Rhazzar cocked an eyebrow.

“The soul is fragile. Going down a path seeking to find the

answer to everything may take you down a path you didn’t
want to go. Sometimes you have to let things be. Also always
looking back and make you walk down the wrong path without
even knowing it.” Yuki pulled herself up from the bed. “In
other words, stop worrying about what you’ve done and start
concentrating on what you’re doing. You can’t change the past

101
 so move on. Besides your constant worrying is giving me a
headache.”

Rhazzar cringed, one world told him to remember and

honour his past, another told him to move on before his
past destroyed him. As the desert waits for the scarce
healing rain to wash away the sting of the drought, Rhazzar
wished for a miracle, one that would remove all these pains
and emotions that ravaged his soul.

102
4 - Ghosts on the Moors
A stiff breeze blew through the sanctuary as Father
Gillpatrick promenaded the empty aisle of the cathedral. The
faces of the Lord and the saints beamed down from glass eyes
as the Father swing open a large oak door, leading into the
small confessional. The elementary school had just finished
their weekly confessional visit, the father just seeing them
off. The sisters that ran the school on behalf of the church did
there best but there were a couple of the young ones that made
Father Gillpatrick chuckle as they listed off their exploits of
the prior week.

“I honestly swear. I don’t know how they do it. They must be

blessed well. To have that much energy to do so much... and
that much courage to face Sister Augustine when they’re done.
That woman could scare the mane off a horse... no offense Lord.
” The father held up his hands in submission, chuckling with
a heavy Irish brogue. Another wind rushed through the aisle,
getting into the crack between the heavy confessional door
and its frame, creating a chorus of groans, swaying back and
forth a couple of times. “At least the young ’uns aren’t playing
Jesus and Lazarus with the confessional... I think.” The Father
sighed, giving the door a hard shove with his palm. A tiny
cry was muffled by the door. An eyebrow raised as a look of
contemplation crossed his face. Forcing open the door, Father
Gillpatrick peered into a void black portal. His eyes could
barely adjust to the darkness. The varnished hard black oak
stool was just visible from the filtered light. Casting a shrug,
Father Gillpatrick closed the door once more, wedging the

103
 door closed. Scanning the empty pews, Father Gillpatrick
rocked on his heels a second before sliding into the other
confessional and sliding a copy of “The Hobbit” from his
enclosed pants pocket. Flicking on a small lamp in his
confessional and opening the book to a red page marker
a third of the way in Father Gillpatrick listened for any
footsteps before settling on the small padded seat of his
confessional chair.

“B-b-bless me Father for I have sinned...” A tiny voice nearly

made the Father fall out of his skin.

“My... my... my dear child. You... startled me! I didn’t hear

you come in. You gave me heart a scare.” Having only been
associated with this church a couple of months, many of
the parishioners names still escaped him, but the Father
feared asking for the child’s name for their voice already
seemed uneasy for being there and anonymity was their
only security blanket.

“Is this your first confession?” Father Gillpatrick tried using

his cheerful “I’m glad you’re here” grandfatherly voice.

“... ... N-no-o this is my (the child quietly counted off on

their fingers) third confession. I should be having my tenth,
but I missed a few weeks.”

“That a long time to go without confession, were you ill?”

“Ill?”

104
“Were you sick?” The father reiterated.

“Me mam said I was but I didn’t feel it.”

The Father chuckled, “Many times our mams and dads know
better than we do.”

“But then she tells me to go collect firewood or clean the house

or go play outside. And If I really was as sick as mam said I
was, I shouldn’t be allowed to do that... right?”

“...This is true... And your mam should know better than to

cause you to sin. But you were honouring your mommy by
staying home so how about you do one our Father, two Hail
Mary’s and try to convince you mother to come see my later.
Okay?” Father Gillpatrick’s response was redeeming laugh of
a happy child. This was cut short by the sound of leather dress
shoes pounding against the marble floor of the sanctuary. The
heavy door of
“BlessmefatherforIhavesinnedithasbeenoneweeksincemylast
confession...” A man’s voice ratted off, sounding like the new
comer was watching the clock.

Father Gillpatrick flew from his perch and threw open the
confessional doors one after another. “What do you think
you are doing in there? I was having confession with a dear
innocent Lamb of God. How dare you cast them aside and give
me you your rehearsed hypocrisy.” Colour flooded the Father’s
angered face.

105
 “What do you mean young child, you old coot? There’s
no one in here. Raging at me like that, you old hypocrite.
Lecture me about holding my virtues and confessions. You
have no right to wear that collar. You can’t even keep your
own vices sanctified.” The man yelled, his face becoming as
red as his pure silk necktie that hung in a perfect Windsor
knot, his grey Armani suit uncreased.

“There was a child in the.” Father Gillpatrick clenched his

teeth, trying to hold his tongue. The other man waved his
arm in the open space beside the stool, skimming the far
wall with his fingertips.

“I think the voices in your head were confessing to you. But if

there was a child, what was their name...” The younger man
scoffed.

“I didn’t bother to ask. They already seemed distraught.”

The Father had finally simmered down.

“Then was it a lad or a lass?” The parishioner crossed his

arms over his chest, eyeing the Priest through narrow eyes.

“The child sounded very young, it was hard to determine.”

The Priest could see the man trying to snare him. Hard
soled shoes raced towards them. A Young Nun could barely
keep her habit from flying off her head. “Father, Father,
Have you wee Keegan?” The Nun was breathless, coughing
to her request out.

106
“I have been in confession all day. I heard many wee ones, but I
have not seen any of them.” The Priest sighed.

“Sister Thelia did a head count, but she must have counted one
of the other children twice because Keegan wasn’t there.”

“Maybe that was the wee voice in your head, Father. One of the
children trying to make you senile.” The other man smirked.

“If you will not lend your talent in aiding the sister, then don’t
lend your other less useful talents.” Gillpatrick hissed. The
other man sat back down on the stool, straightening out
his pant legs. His hand stopped at the cuff. An odd woolen
material was caught to the underside of the wood. The man
gave a couple pulls but found the fabric to be deeply snagged.
Jumping up he brought the stool into the light. A faded navy
blue knit sweater was caught in the wood. The white cross-
embroidered seal confirmed it to be an Our Blessed Mother of
the Moor uniform. Half a hand-stitched name tag was legible.

“It’s wee Keegan’s.” The Sister cried taking the small stool.
“Probably got warm and pulled it off during confession.” The
sister murmured trying to unhook the wool from the wood.
“This wool came from a stubborn ewe...”

“Allow me sister.” The parishioner smiled as he ripped the seat

from her nimble hands. Grabbing a hand full of fabric the
man began pulling the sweater.

107
 “Be careful. You’ll rip it.” The Sister yelled trying to stop
him.

“So get the kid a new one.” The man hissed giving one last
heave. The fraying fabric finally cried out in a loud tear. A
woman’s scream echoed through the hallow halls.

“Calm down sister, it was just a sweater...” The man

scoffed throwing the ruined pullover at her, balling it
up in her hands. Her eyes flew open, something wasn’t
right. Stretching the ball between her hands. There was
less sweater in her clutch than there was supposed to be.
Instead of the unmendable tears she was expecting, half the
sweater hung limp in her hands.

“The rest probably got caught under the seat.” The

parishioner’s hands flew under the edge of the seat’s fabric,
tearing off the wine red velveteen cover. Blue wool began
peeking out the more he ripped.

“See, it just got stuck.” The Parishioner replied ripping

off as much of the red fabric as he could. The man began
pulled the other half of the sweater free, only it wouldn’t
come. Wrapping the freed sleeve around his hand the man
heaved again. The tearing sound caused his hand to fly
back, hitting the confessional door frame. The word that
came out of that man’s mouth was one that you should
not have heard in a place of God. Dropping stool the man
clutched his broken hand. The Sister picked up the seat
of the broken stool and began picking at the fragments of

108
sweater that clung to the wood. Finding one stubborn piece
she hung onto the fabric, releasing the stool, hoping gravity
would break it free. Shaking it a few times the fabric still
wouldn’t budge. Pulling the wood close for examination her
hands began trembling. The blue fragments did not cling in
amongst the fabric and wood. Folds of fabric broke through
the centre of the uninterrupted wood fused together in an
unnatural union.

Deep in the woods that fringed the small stone town a young
child dashed through the intricate maze of branches. Their
hand me down navy dress pant and white cotton standard
shirt were caked with viscous black mud. The undergrowth
snagged every chance it got, once even ripping the short
sleeve of the shirt. A root reached up from the path and
ensnared the Keegan’s ankle, causing them to plunge face
first onto a hard, dry patch of pathway. A few scattered rocks
raked across the youngster’s face, leaving red streaks that
pooled slightly in the torn skin. A few drops seeped blood
into the shirt’s collar. The dress pant’s knee was tattered to
ribbons with a little more blood seeping from underneath.
Air hissed through the child’s teeth as they rose and began to
limp to the thinning edge of the forest. A tiny thatched hut
sat in golden glory as the last of the sun’s rays hit it. A frail
wisp of smoke trickled from a stone chimney. Gardening
tools were set in a neat row along the west wall while a large
pink ball rested beside a leek plant. The was strung out in the
sun, a few floral sundresses and another school uniform, this
hand me down being two sizes too big for new owner.

109
 “Mam, Mam, I’m home.” Keegan called, the gravel path
leading to the door crunched with every step. Mam must
have been busy, because on the occasions Keegan did go to
school, every time she would be waiting at the door with
open arms smelling of supper. She must have been scared
every time Keegan left for it was only the two of them of
the five that had been. That didn’t matter, Pa had always
favoured Keegan’s brothers but Mam said Keegan was
special, given to her by God for safekeeping, whatever that
meant. Stepping into the darkened hut, Keegan was blinded
at first but soon the form of Mam was visible as the child’s
eyes adjusted. Low beams of the upper loft masked her face
but her body swayed to the sound of Andy Stewart’s Roisin
Dubh on the tape player. The song ended, replaced by Black
Velvet Band but Keegan’s Mam never picked up her pace.
She just continued to sway softly, never turning to face her
child. The leek and potato broth sitting in the cast iron pot
on the stove had begun to smoke and burn and the smell
filled the house.

“Mam, I’m home. The broth’s burning. Mam-MAM ”

Keegan called over the music but Mam still didn’t turn. It
was then Keegan noticed something very wrong. Moira,
Keegan’s Mam’s feet were not touching the hard dirt floor.
Her always neatly brushed hair was looked like a rat’s nest.
Keegan placed a hand on her arm and gave a gentle push.
Mam turned slightly but then retuned to her position.
“Mam why are you ignoring me?” Keegan stepped to the
front of Mam screamed. Here face was pale and grey. A thin
brown cord was wrapped around her neck and hanging

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from the highest beam. She must have been dead for a couple
hours. Her eyes were glazed and looking out into space.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The land they arrived in was a stark contrast from India. A
thick whitish mist covered the lush green hills. The cool damp
air chilled to the bone. Rhazzar pulled his the collar of his shirt
closer as he stepped off the plane onto the tarmac. The salty air
stung through the gauze.

“Are you sure you're up to his. The doctor was still concerned
about you traveling... Get off the plane and cause an
international incident...” Yuna murmured as she took the stairs
two at a time, slipping on a wet spot and nearly face planting on
the tarmac.

“He'll be fine... I’m more scared about you traveling.” Yuki

replied eyes closed as she wiped the condensation off her
fashionable oversized sunglasses with the hem of her shirt. Yuki
refused to wear the typical sunglasses for the blind. Not out of
disrespect for those who could not see at all but because of the
fact that she was a stranger here. No one knew her so she did
not want to have to play on the kindness (or in most cases, pity)
of strangers. Deep ominous clouds began darkening quickly;
the wind began howling at their backs. Then, in the blink of the
eye the heavens opened up and the rain poured out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The rain began to pound on the airport shuttle service car as
the travelers were ushered to the nearby hotels. Unfortunately
these were not the roadside motels or overnight super-savers.
These were the type of hotels that debutant daughters had

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 slumber parties in. The kind where you didn’t get just a
mint on your pillow, but a whole box of candy. Beautiful
marble and glass, through the rain and darkness of the
windows, glittered.

The sleek black bus began slowing. Rhazzar looked out the
window nervously. “Wh...wh... why are we stopping? No-no-
no, these are not hotels. These are historic site or something.
There’s no way we are spending the night here.” Rhazzar
just sat there, shaking his head. People began dispersing
into this cul-de-sac of towering hotels, black spires against
the blackening sky. A gold nameplate was lashed with
rainwater, making the name of the hotel impossible to read.

“Well you can sleep on the bus if you want.” Yuki quipped,
climbing over Rhazzar to the now emptying aisle and
grabbed her bag from the overhead compartment,
fingertips caressed over embroidered kanji in confirmation.
A faint scent of apple blossom-coconut perfume escape
from the pores of the canvas bag. “I personally would like to
sleep somewhere where there isn’t a risk of being rained on or
of pirates...” Yuki replied with a smirk.

“What pirates?” Rhazzar scrunched his nose at the thought

of late century buccaneers.

Yuki’s grin widened as another scene filled his head.

“Aww, Yuki-no. I swear the more I get to know you, the less I
want to know...” Rhazzar rubbed his eyes, slightly hoping he
could gouge the mental image from his memory.

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“It’s either us or them, take your pick.” Yuki gave a quick wave
and headed down the aisle after Yuna.

Rhazzar stared at them in disbelief as the girls exited the bus.

“There is no way we can afford this.” Rhazzar whispered, colour
fading from his face. “Ohhh...You got to be kidding me. WAIT
UP!” Rhazzar gritted his teeth, grabbing his carry-on bag, and
cursed in his native tongue under his breath. The inside was a
stark contrast to the outside world. Bright white marble adorned
everything. Bronze fixtures glinted in the light. The foyer was
reminiscent of 1930's Hollywood. Bellhops dressed in red
uniforms and pillbox hats attended people dressed in suits and
designer fashions. Rhazzar stood awestruck at the cathedral-like
ceilings. Rhazzar felt as though he was going to faint this time.

“Yuna, Yuki...” Rhazzar had barely turned around to see them

standing at a mahogany desk, their backs to him. Rhazzar
heard Yuki laugh as the sandy haired male smiled at her gently
caressing the top of his bare hand. Yuna had one hand resting
on top of his black PC the other hidden in front of her body. She
leaned in close and whispered something in his ear. With that
he handed an electronic key card to the girls.

“What did you tell him?!!?” Rhazzar glared as the girls returned.

“Nothing you need to worry about. I just distracted him while

Yuna played around with the computer. Then he “remembered”
to give us the keycard. Come on...” Yuki smiled playfully, pulling
at one of Rhazzar's hands with of hers as the bellboy collected
their soaked luggage.

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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The elevator rang as it hit the penthouse. A long white
corridor greeted them with a rich green and ivory carpet.
Double doors of mahogany and gold waited at the end.
Sliding the key into the electronic lock on the right wall
causing the doors to swing automatically open. A great hall
awaited them. Black marble floors swept under deep scarlet
curtains. A mahogany mantled fireplace sat at the end of
a long room. At the other end sat a king sized bed, draped
in a scarlet comforter and black satin sheets. A closed bay
window looked out into the street. “The water close' is o' to
the left, breakfast is served from 7:00 to 11:00, and sign ou'
is between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Now I wish you a good
nigh' and hope the little people don' get you. I'm jokin', I'm
jokin... now if you will kindly express your gratitude...” The
wizened neatly trimmed breaded man smiled cheekily as
he held out his hand. He was old enough to be Rhazzar’s
grandfather and the sheer ashen of his skin would rival
the undead. But the deep scarlet bellhop uniform gave the
illusion of a more joyous colour to his cheeks and the man’s
smile caused his eyes to squint up.

“Well Rhazzar, show our gratitude.” Yuna smiled sweetly

giving his a surprising hard elbow to the ribs. Rhazzar
dug deep into his wallet and pulled out a reasonable bill. A
micro-emotion of distaste flashed across Peter’s face before
breaking into a large grin.

“Thank you kindly sir. The name’s Peter by the way, if you
and your lasses here need anything else. Unfortunately, due

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to the storm, the lovers suite was all that was available, but
I am sure it will meet all your needs.” Yuna coughed loudly
behind Peter.

“...And for your generosity I will give you this piece of advice.
Place salt around your room. This will dispel ghosties and evil
spirits. If you're looking for some, I happen to sell special salt
proven to dispel...” Peter reached into his coat pocket and
pulled out a three oz baggie filled with large grain sea salt.
“Thank you for that... appreciated advice, but I'm sure we'll be
fine.” Rhazzar replied ushering the bellhop closer to the exit.

“Utter nonsense.” Rhazzar muttered as he finally closed the

door on Peter.

“But don't you believe in ghosties...” Yuna shivered, jumping

into Yuki's arms, who promptly dropped her onto the floor--
hard. Yuki dusted her pants off and threw her small bag on
the bed.

“There is definite possibility of beings outside this realm. It’s

just a lot of the time people create business on people’s fear
of the unknown. They abuse other people with making them
more scared then they have to be.” Rhazzar clenched and
unclenched her fists and jaw the same way he had the entire
ride up in the elevator.

Yuki stretched out on bed, her ankles crossed out in front of

her, her hands crossed over her hand in a steepled fashion.
Yuna was tucked in beside Yuki; her knees tucked one under

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 another. Twisting a lock of hair in her fingers the ebony
hair became more blonde each time it wrapped around her
finger. Yuki rolled her head back and let out a sigh. “Would
you like to give us the lecture now or would you like to keep
stewing there because otherwise I’m going to be hearing this
speech all night going through your head.”

The colour drained from his face then replenished just

as quickly with a bright red tinge. Rhazzar had snapped.
Throwing his hands over his head, he was pacing back and
forth exasperation hissed through his teeth. “That’s just it!!
What I cannot believe is your disregard for human free will,
privacy, and law and order. You abuse your abilities to get
what you want, no matter what the cost to others. You can’t
go around manipulating people. It’s ... unethical.”

“While we’re at it how about you light up a cigarette and

give us the “Smoking is bad for you” lecture too.” Yuki sat
up, pulling her leg to the edge of the bed.
“This is not a joking matter Yuki. “ Rhazzar hissed
through his teeth, pushing back unwanted memories.
“Who said I was joking. But how is what we do different
from what you did.” Yuki glared, eyes narrow and nostrils
flaring. Rhazzar just glared back at her, his right eye giving
a micro-twitch.

“Alright Milgram. So what, you were just following orders?

Are we supposed to pretend that we're just normal homeless
children for the rest of our lives? Am I supposed to just
try and push every voice out of my head and pretend that

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nothings wrong? I don't know how normal your childhood was
Rhazzar but you can't just tell someone to be normal. It doesn't
work that way. I don’t have an on and off switch here. Having
thousands of voices all talking about several different topics at
once.” Yuki jumped up, staring Rhazzar right in the eye.

“We’re not monsters. We’re just lost.” Yuna bowed her head
and stifled a pretend sniffle.“Yes, I mean NO I mean... no, you
are not monsters, never think you are but THIS! (Rhazzar
waved his arms around the room) You need to keep a low
profile and staying at five star hotels is not helping” Rhazzar
scolded.“This is how we survive RHAZZAR!! We use what
we have, and I'm sorry if it seems manipulative, but that's the
hand we've been dealt. I'm going back to Tokyo. AND I DON'T
CARE HOW I GET THERE!!!” Yuki yelled back, grabbing
Yuna's arm. “Come on, we're leaving...”

“Hang on for five secs. He is just trying to help. And you know
he knows more than us when it comes to “Being Human”...
He doesn’t know any other way to live either. ” Yuna almost
whispered. “I’m sorry, I forgot you were the telepathic one.
Do you even know what happened the first year of your life?
Rhazzar just scurried back to a safe little hole in the wall of
a job leaving dozen of infants that could do who knows what
in barely capable hands, hiding his head behind a microscope
for sixteen years. He just wants to hide us with the rest of the
skeletons in his closet.” Yuki hissed giving Rhazzar an evil
glare. “There was a reason Rhazzar found us by chance. He
never wanted to come find us. He could have...”

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 “That's it! Fine. Go back to that burned out shell of a
home. Pick people's pockets and heads. Push your abilities
to the point where you cause your own head to explode.
Is that what you want, to be the “ freak of the week” in the
tabloids....” With that Rhazzar was sent flying across the
room, crashing into the far wall. Yuki threw open the doors
and stormed out.

“Yuki, YUKI. Where do you think you're going? You come

back here. I’m not finished.” Rhazzar yelled stumbling to his
feet. Yuki turned, flipped a double bird and stormed out.

Yuna got off the bed and squatted down beside where
Rhazzar had fallen, letting out a sigh “Just let her breathe.
It's the best thing to do when she's riled up. She hates when
people try to control her. If you knew how many shrinks she's
sent packing... Just give her three hours; if she's not back we'll
go look for her. Besides, as long as I’m not going anywhere
she won’t go anywhere far.” Yuna smiled slightly as she
gently tapped the top of his head with her pointer and
index finger of her left hand. “Also just for the future. Yuki
absolutely HATES the word freak.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Four hours passed and Yuki had yet to return. Rhazzar
paced the room, hands wiping his face. “That's it, I'm going
to look for her.” Rhazzar finalized, grabbing his raincoat
from on top of his luggage.

“Let’s start with the club scene. Some place less

“mainstream”. You might want to change before we go. The

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places Yuki likes are less “stiff collar”. You’ll stick out like a sore
thumb.” Yuna replied, grabbing her own jacket. “I’ll take my
chances.” Rhazzar opened the secret compartment of Yuki's
case, pulling out her 9mm magnum. Yuki must have been in a
serious rush if she forgot to grab this. “It's not that I don't trust
your abilities, it's that I don't have any of my own.” Rhazzar
replied with an anxious laugh as he place the gun in his pant’s
pocket. “I heard of a guy that shot his thing off carrying a gun
that way.” Yuna reached into Rhazzar’s front pocket and
moved the gun to his coat’s inner breast pocket.
“Also Yuki hates it when people go back on themselves…” Yuna
replied pulling a shiny black plastic jacket from her bag that
would have been home on a sci-fi set.
“What do you mean by that?” Rhazzar snapped, hand on the
doorknob to leave.

“Ranting about keeping a low profile and not using our powers
and now running off in an foreign city into a scene you know
nothing about without so much as care and depending on
my powers and a gun to save you.” Yuna snapped pulling a
shredded looking back garment from her bag that turned out
to be (for Rhazzar’s liking) a too reveling top. Rhazzar looked
away as Yuna changed.

“I never asked you to use your powers. I said I trust your

powers…” Rhazzar reiterated.
“Do you trust my judgment?” Yuna stared at him, arms
crossed over her chest, head at a slight tilt. Rhazzar pinched
the bridge of his nose and pulled his eyes shut. “Yes I trust
your judgment.”

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 “Then if you won’t change then stick close to me.” Yuna
ordered, dressed in night scene regalia, the colour of her irises
bleeding into a deep burgundy like a pair of designer contact.
What type of music scene were Yuki and Yuna into? Death
metal Euro-goth?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The street splashed as Yuna and Rhazzar hit the pavement.
It was getting close to two-thirty in the morning. People
crowded around in the streets, trying to get in and out
of clubs and bars. Fast dance music blared out of various
doors. Yuna held Rhazzar's hand close for if not Rhazzar
would have surely lost her in the crowd. Her hair was
verging on eggplant-plum and her skin was paper white
she had also added about five years to herself. She had been
right; Rhazzar’s dress pants and shirt made him a moving
target. Yuna pulled Rhazzar to the front of the line, much
to the disgust of many patrons. The bouncer was a towering
mountain of a man, but after giving Yuna the once over and
giving Rhazzar a dirty look he stepped aside. This was the
third club that they had searched that night and still no one
had seen anyone resembling Yuki.

“She might be masking herself, so who knows what people are

seeing when they look at her.” Yuna replied twenty minutes
later as they exited the club. Rhazzar slapped the side of his
head a couple of times, hoping to stop the ringing in his ears.
“Why did you not think of something like that sooner? She
could have been in the other clubs we visited and not even
known it?” Rhazzar replied a few decibels louder than needed.

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“Sorry. I forgot. In your world people don’t use super powers.
Besides she probably heard your thoughts coming. Even in the
club. Its kind of cliché but fiction got it right. The closer you
are to someone, the better you can hear them. ” Rhazzar was
taken back by Yuna’s statement. He never thought Yuki had a
relationship with him other than the prior bargain in Tokyo.

Yuna stopped, scrunching her face, she tried calming her

mind and making her thoughts clearer. “Nothing...” Yuna
pouted, her forehead creased as she held back an ocean of
worries. Rhazzar looped his arm over her shoulders and
pulled her in. “We’ll find her. You said she wouldn’t leave
without you. Besides… I’m actually more scared for anyone
who does try anything with her. ” Rhazzar chucked nervously
at his own joke but immediately stopped when Yuna did not
return the laughter. A roar of thunder shook the street. The
heavens once again opened up and poured out, soaking them
to the core.

“You lost pet?” A cold voice called out in between the

afterglow of the clubs. A couple of shapes stirred, revealing
five partygoers. All donned similar apparel as Yuna, ashen
faces black spiked collars, chains and all sorts of other
intimidating accessories. Two female members, scarlet and
black and one tall blonde man watched from the edge of the
concealing shadows. Their faces and most of their features lost
in the black. The final two members, a burly clean shaven with
flesh the colour of black thorn bark and a smaller black haired
man rivaling the dead. The pallid man had spoken. He wore
contacts that blacked out the whites of his eyes, leaving deep

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 endless pools. The darker man had custom contacts crafted
into a reptilian cut, pupils making narrow diamonds on a
golden background.

“Don’t even talk to them, Yuna.” Rhazzar quietly hissed in

her ear as he slowly turned her towards the open path.

The black man didn’t say a word, but took one step towards
them. That was all he needed. Putting one hand on
Rhazzar’s shoulder and another on Yuna’s back they were
thrown apart. Yuna was guided around the new man and
into the arms of his friend. A sound of disgust rolled in the
back of her throat.
“Yuna… no.” Rhazzar hissed, almost as if he could see the
muscles getting ready to change under her skin.

Rhazzar’s captor placed one hand on Rhazzar’s chest

to hold him off. “The girlie’s made her choice.” The man
snapped in an accent closer to an English with hint of
Caribbean.
“I don’t call forceful abduction a choice.” Rhazzar replied.
“Lookie lookie. We got a right old articulate here. You some
sort of college professor or doctor? Here’s a question for you.
Should I call you a proctologist before or after?”
Rhazzar hung his head. He knew he didn’t want to know
but found himself asking anyways. “Before or after what?”
“I shove your head up your arse...” The man grabbed
Rhazzar’s shirt and dangled him two inches off the ground.
“Intimidation, good technique. ” Rhazzar’s lungs grabbed
for air as the full weight of his body was being supported by

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his shirt collar. The other man let go of Rhazzar’s collar but
as he did he forced his hand out sending Rhazzar toppling.
Grabbing Rhazzar’s waist the other man spun Rhazzar
around, trapping Rhazzar’s arms over his head helplessly in a
full nelson lock.

“We do not need to get violent. (Rhazzar struggled vainly

against the larger man’s hold.) If we could reconcile this
like gentleman, things don’t have to escalate. ” Sweat crept
down Rhazzar’s brow. He was a diplomat, his weapons were
reasoning, facts and evidence. At least Yuna was revering his
wishes by staying in her current form. The other man had
his arms draped over her, causing Yuna to shudder violently
with a look of utter abhorrence. The man just rocked with her
and resettled, a devious grin across his face. Behind it were
numerous sexual escapades, each more sordid. Bringing one
of his hands close to Yuna’s face he traced her cheekbone.
“Come on. Let’s go have some fun. I always wanted to try an
exotic girl.” The man whispered into Yuna’s ear something
that made her eyes fly wide open in repulsion. “Rhazzar...”
Yuna growled, the gleam in eye telling Rhazzar “If you don’t do
something in the next five seconds... I will.” That look was cut
short as she was pulled towards the shadows, away from the
scene towards a darkened alleyway.
“That’s it Rhazzar!” Yuna roared, whipping back and sending
her captor staggering. Swearing a blue streak the man seized
Yuna’s arm but already his hand could not fit around her
bicep. “Holy F... ahh ahh what happened to your arm!? Wh-
Wh-What the hell are you?” The man fell back into his other
friends. The girls flew out of his way, causing him to land on

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 the cold hard cobble. The sound of spiked boots clattering
down the street was drowned out by the girls’ shrill cries. The
blonde man gave one look over his shoulder before racing off
after the girls. Their fallen “friend” lay sprawled out on the
stone, lifting his head a little so see the remaining combatants
struggle before passing out.

Yuna’s scuffle had given Rhazzar his opening. Pooling all

his strength, Rhazzar swung his arms down hard in front
of himself, breaking the other man’s grasp. Turning hard
Rhazzar landed consecutive punches on the man’s kidneys
and lower back. The man’s body convulsed for a second
before his elbow whipped straight back catching Rhazzar in
the forehead. The Indian defender stumbled back, clutching
his head. His attacker turned, his teeth glistening in the
dim light. Taking a step back he lunged Rhazzar, missing
him by millimeters. Like an enraged bull he turned towards
Rhazzar again and lunged, missing again. Rhazzar cautiously
encompassed the man, as a matador would the wild beast.
The man charged again but Rhazzar did not retreat instead
he caught the bull’s exposed back. Rhazzar dealt the final
blow by digging a shot hard into the assailant’s lower back
and giving a sharp wrench. The man seized, every muscle
contracted and locked in an unresponsive state. The great
mountain of a man was locked, his breath erratic and
frightened. Rhazzar panted, wiping some blood from the
corner of his mouth, a reminder of a forgotten mid-battle
shot. His breathing slowed, a smile almost crossed his face.
High-pitched noises escaped the frozen man that probably
would have been screams if the man could open him mouth.

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Pressing two fingers to the man’s forehead Rhazzar gave a light
push but in his state that was all the man needed to send him
toppling over, causing the earth to tremble as he hit the stone
street. Yuna pulled the man out of the street and propped him
beside his friend’s unconscious body, her transformed state
made her almost invisible in the shadows.

“Oh my gosh Rhazzar! That was amazing! What was that, some
ancient yoga meditation attack or some super surgeon precision
technique? ” Yuna squealed in awe, which was actually quite
funny coming from Wesley Snipe’s stunt double.

“Actually... to be honest... I saw it in a movie okay?”

Rhazzar’s face burned. His body was pulsing. Adrenaline
surged through every muscle. Exasperated breaths escaped
him; his lips curled into a smile as his breath calmed.
Whoever thought his life would be saved by Hollywood.
Coming off the rush Rhazzar pressed two fingers against the
men’s throats and waited. The unconscious man’s heart was
a steady rhythm, strong and soothing. The paralyzed man’s
pulse was frantic; the whites of his eyes were the only things
that could move, darting back and forth between Rhazzar and
Yuna’s shadow cloaked face. “You should be fine until the police
arrive. And if you ever think about abducting a defenseless young
later just remember. There are more than a thousand ways for
an unarmed person to kill a man. And when you’ve been in the
health field as long as I have, you learn how to make it look
natural.” Rhazzar hissed in the man’s ear before straightening
himself up smoothing his shirt and turning to leave.

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 The shrill of sirens could be heard approaching; causing
masses of club-dwellers to flee into the darkness from once
they came. Yuna slipped her hand into Rhazzar’s and pulled
him down the street. She was reverting to her original
features, creating the oddest sensation for Rhazzar, like
holding a surgical glove that held chicken bones and millions
of maggots all striving to escape.

The rain whipped at their faces, each breath was burned

with cold fire as it entered them. The thunderous pounding
of remote main streets and wicked rain shrouded their
footsteps. The street behind them was lit up in a red inferno.
Police were leading dozens of people away in handcuffs.
Paramedics hoisted stretchers into awaiting ambulances.
Apparently there was a confrontation in one of the clubs that
climaxed with someone pulling a knife out and stabbing
a bartender. Hopefully the police would find Yuna and
Rhazzar’s “ friends” passed out in front of the club.

Pulling into the front stoop of a deserted café Yuna pulled

her soaking hair out of her eyes. It plastered her the sides of
her head glossed with rainwater. The evanescent red glow and
sirens finally vanished leaving only the sound of the rain and
the occasional car off in the distance. Rhazzar let out a sigh,
wiping the rainwater out of his eyes.

“Yuki would know enough to get out before the cops got there.
She’s fine… right?” Rhazzar alleged, his breath coming out
in bursts of vaporous white clouds. Yuna watched the vapors
with delight, pursing her lips and blowing out a stream of
smoky mist of her own.

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“Stop that.” Rhazzar snapped, regaining her attention.
“Where would Yuki go?” He was answered by a fury of coughs
followed by the crashing of rubbish bins across the stone
street. The rain shone in a sparkling wash of the character,
highlighted by faint streetlights. Collapsed on the cobblestone
she clutched her chest as the cold settled in. Her skin was a
lunar pallid. Her clothes slung off her frame, torn and soaked.
Her hair, which just that morning was in elegant twists, now
hung wild in her face.
“R… R… ” Her moans broke into another fit of coughing.
Flying to her side Rhazzar gently lifted her face to his.
Yuki did not fight his embrace, instead she held closer, trying
to soak up as much of what remained of his heat as possible.
Wrapping his coat around her, he rubbed his hands over her
trying to spark some heat into them. Her hands were ice on
his already frozen skin. “Yuki… you idiot.” Rhazzar croaked.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All the screams and images were pushed back by one sound, a
deep rhythmic pounding sound, constant and commanding.
Yuki blinked a couple of times, regaining her sense. She
found herself wrapped in the bed, clothed in her pajamas.
Yuna’s arm was nonchalantly draped over Yuki’s side, her face
pressed into Yuki’s back. This position was not jarring to Yuki
for she knew her sister always ended up trying to conquer the
bed, but what startled the girl was the third presence in the
bed. The ultraconservative Rhazzar, who, since crossing their
path had made his nights sleeping in chairs and on the floor
separate from the girls lay on top of the thick quilt of the bed,
still dressed in his blue dress shirt and grey slacks, his hands
clasped together on his chest. Yuki’s cheek had picked up the

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 patterns of his wrinkled shirt. The cold air instantly stung
as she lifted her head off of Rhazzar’s chest. Rhazzar let out
a short snore then returned to his quiet slumber. Though
her eyes looked blind to the rest of the world, they were
truly gifted with sight. Despite the fact that Yuki could not
see natural colour she did see the world explode in front
of her into trillions upon trillions of tiny bursts of what
peoples memories called blue, violet and white. Every
object looked as if it were formed out of constant streams of
fireworks. While normal people saw billions upon billions
of molecules that constructed objects, Yuki was born with
the ability to see a step passed that, to see electrons escape
the molecules. These bursts of negatively charged particles
flickered in a mist throughout the room, her clothes drying
over the embers of long dead fire. Forgotten rain clung to
the windows, the smell of the fresh coming morning crept
in through cracks in the window’s frames. It must be about
an hour till dawn.

Her head pounded, payment for the escapade in the rain.

Her head had become congested, turning the thoughts of
those around her a distorted moan of differing pitches.
These were broken by the barely audible physical sounds
of people on the floor below them, stirring in their sleep,
dressing, certain other private activities it was way to early
(or too late) to be doing at this hour. One person below
her was quite lively, dashing about the room as the lovers
in the bed slept blissfully. The intruder’s thoughts were a
whir of acute murmurs, thanks to Yuki’s current health.
They were in search of something, but it seems even they

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were unsure of what. The murmurs were tainted with tones of
anger, resentment, fatigue, self-loathing and finally joy. There
were the scents of perfume, chocolate, Cologne, champagne
and for some reason- burlap. It was very faint but there were
glass wine bottles clinking against perfume bottles against the
faces of watches and gemstones. One of the room’s occupants
stopped mid-snore. The thief’s body tensed, the murmurs
in her mind racing now. The bag of loot was gently placed
on what sounded like a chest of drawers, the way under the
wooden surface the bag lay on echoed slightly. The sound of
the bag being pushed slightly with barely any force indicated
the dresser was taller than the burglar by a fair amount. The
next sound was the burlap bag being gently lay on the hard
black marble of Yuki’s room. In less than a mere moment the
thief had climbed one story and broken into a locked room.

Yuki kept her breath calm, closed her eyes and lay listless as
her guest quietly padded around the room, riffling though
their luggage. Pulling a plastic bag from the sac the thief
felt in and around Rhazzar’s bag, finding his wallet in the
raincoat draped over top. Grabbing the entire wad the thief
let out a sigh and stuffed it into an already bulging Ziploc.
Divesting Rhazzar of some gold rings, family heirlooms and
snacks he had stashed they moved onto Yuna’s bag repeating
the process. This time they threw one of Yuna’s hoodies and a
pair of jean shorts beside the sac. Finally they reached Yuki’s
bag. Quietly pulling the zipper open, the thief stifled himself
or herself as Yuki’s .99 rose from the fold and cocked itself.

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 “Just what do you think you’re doing here? ” Yuki whispered,
sitting up in the bed. A gasp escaped the intruder's lips.
Peering out into the darkness what Yuki saw made her
insides run cold. A form with no defining features stood
over their luggage. Completely glowing white, the only
colour to her was bright violet eyes. Her gun rested at the
creature’s chest, causing it to raise their hands above their
head, palms spread wide. Rocking onto their heel the being
slowly rose, the gun keeping close.

“You ... you can see me?” Its voice cracked, from soft
melodious gasp to a forced gruff retort.

“Yup.” Yuki smirked. “Now... you have to the count of five to

return our stuff.”

“You really don’t know who you’re messing with ya bird.”

“Five...” Yuki started slyly, her fingers twitching as if ready

to pull another gun from an invisible holster.

“You’re joking, right?” The trespasser tried reading Yuki’s

bluff looking her dead in the eye.

“Four...”
“Bollocks...”
“Three...”
“Lady Muck” The ghost snarled, shifting onto their back
foot, hands pulled close to the face. Though standing at a
good guess just over five and a half feet, it was lethally fast

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giving the air a couple of punches.
“Two...” Yuki whispered, head tilted to let her hair fall to the
side of one eye. She was not going to be intimidated by a ghost
or any other imaginary bump in the night... even if it was
staring her dead in the eye.

“Do you think I give a shite if you shoot me? I told you, you
don’t know who you’re messing with.” It stepped back, kicking
its loot bag. The collection of bottles and valuables clinked
together, revealing how solid Yuki’s visitor was.

“One!! Alright You Mother-Mucker lets dance.” Yuki roared,

fast on the trigger but her target was faster. With swiftness
rivaling a feral feline the ghost grasped the gun but Yuki’s
psychic pull drew the gun flying to her side. The trigger flew
back with a pitiful click. The anticipated shot that would have
woken anyone in the proximity was anticlimactic; the firing
chamber had been emptied literally by a wave of a hand. The
figure stumbled back in fright, sending a table lamp flying.
Yuki psychically grabbed the lamp just as the ghost grabbed
the loot bag and swan-dived through the foot thick black
marble floor.

The chaos awoke Rhazzar in a panic, his head off the bedding,
his eye blindly trying to adjust to consciousness.
“What-what-what? Is it the managers? They found out about us
didn’t they? I told you manipulating people would come back to
haunt us...”

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 “RHAZZAR!! Shut up for a second. It’s not the managers; it’s
an intruder or something, at the foot of the bed. She's screwed
up my gun.” Yuki reported, throwing off the blankets and
clawed her way to the end of the bed. Stumbling off the bed
Yuki furiously kicked one stubborn blanket that had wound
its way around her ankle.

“There's no one there.” Rhazzar replied, jumping off the side

of the bed.

“Wow, and here I was yelling at my imaginary friend

who just stole your wallet. It’s invisible or was invisible. It
nose-dived through the floor. Or is that not possible?” Yuki
snapped sarcastically, arms crossed over her white tanktop.

Rhazzar reached to turn on the light but an odd tinkling

sound stopped him from turning it on. Pulling off the
shade, Rhazzar discovered six new bullets in the glass bulb.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There was once a story in an American comic book where
a man created a device that made him intangible. His
demise came when it malfunctioned and he could not
solid again causing him to fall through the Earth and
burn in the core. What is not taken into account is that it
is actually a force that causes the spaces between bonds to
become larger allowing other molecules to pass through.
This force becomes weaker the further away from the body
an object is. This makes walking through walls and floors
more an act of swimming in than walking or falling. Yes
in swimming one can still be pulled under the water and

132
drown but it is not a fast fall to the bottom of the ocean and
this is more likely to happen if one swallows too much water
along the way. With phasing if you keep swimming down you
can keep pushing the molecules out and not weigh yourself
down. The only problem is when you hit large pockets of air
where the molecules are spaced further apart. There were
twenty-five floors in this hotel, twenty-five pockets of air to
hit. Rooms whipped up around the thief, getting faster and
faster with each room they passed through, only slowing
down slightly as they slid through the floor of each room.

The final floor opened up into the high-ceiling foyer. The

lights were dim as one desk clerk looked over reports by lamp-
light. A strong wind blew down from the upper chamber,
ruffling the papers on the desk. “Bloody ghosts…” He muttered
before returning to his reports.

The basement of the hotel would have had their moment

of glory in a Frankenstein or Dracula movie, carved grey
stone with exposed pipes seeping water through the rock.
The bag hit a bin with a thu-wamp, softened by a large pile
of unwashed sheets. An exposed pipe, long since unused
groaned as thin delicate hands became firmer and stronger.
Grinding under the weight of an unseen person, they finally
let go of the pipe and landed softly on the balls of their feet
on the concrete floor below. Picking up the bag they headed
towards a dim light at the end of the tunnel. Two men sat in
a tiny office, a hand of poker cards to each of them. On the
small table they sat at piles of various currencies were set into
piles, right now the pot sat at 60 Canadian dollars, 5 000 yen
and 50 euros against a gold watch and diamond pendant.

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 “Welcome back Keegan. How did it go?” The younger of the
two asked. “Great Liam. I hit all the rooms on your stupid
list.” Keegan dropped the bag onto the table, sending bets
scattering. Keegan grabbed the quilt off the chair and
wrapped up in it.

“Is this all of it?” The older man snapped his eyes gleaming.
“I did three runs tonight, what more do you want?” Keegan
spat, turning to leave.

“Oy, on the scale before you go.” Liam, his copper freckled
tanned arms wrapped around Keegan and marched to
a small analog bathroom scale. Ripping the blanket off
Keegan tried to vanish but gripped harder.
“No fair skerting off now.” Keegan, arms crossed, watched
the arm of the scale rest on 8.9 stones. Keegan looked up at
him ad gave a glare.

“Fine, fine, you’re clean. Now get, you have a busy day
tomorrow.” Liam muttered “… You bloody changeling.”
under his breath.

Keegan’s nose scrunched in disgust. No matter how many

years of working for these louts, they never saw more
than a tool, no better than a hammer or lock pick. When
finished for the night Keegan was put back in their tool
shed. Keegan could leave any time, walls couldn’t hold back
a ghost, but what could was power. It had taken years to
perfect walking through walls and invisibility still had the
drawback of not being able to disguise things outside of

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one’s self. This lead to endless nights of streaking though the
prison that was the hotel, doing the gentlemen’s bidding.

“Before I forget, I overheard some of the guests and it seems you

have foxes in the top suite.” Keegan snapped, turning a cold
shoulder to the men.

“We’ll look into an exterminator.” Peter nodded his head

curtly. Each Hotel in this area had different codes for common
occurrences. Each staff member had a mental list of these
phrases. Owls, bats, raccoons or in this case, foxes, meant
unwanted tenants in the rooms.

Keegan stormed out of the room, slamming every door on

the way out. Those that were too heavy to slam were kicked,
resulting in a hopping fit of tangled curses. Retreating to the
farthest recesses of a side hallway, Keegan stood before a small
mahogany door, almost black from dirt. Unseen from the
outside, a steel rod, three inches in diameter and two feet long
fused the door to its frame, permanently locking it. Keegan
stepped through this barrier as if the door were a spacious
Grecian archway that stretched to the stars instead of a dank
converted storage room in the catacombs of a five-star hotel.
The hole in the wall was just that, a hole. Barely six feet long
by six wide, Keegan’s single mattress was covered in a couple
of the hotel comforters and a couple pillows. The bed frame
and mattress were push right into the stone wall, not butt
against but a good six inches into the stone. Some crude
looking shelves, each a foot to the power of three, were dug
out of the stone. The six cubes each held an eclectic section of

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 wardrobe, all collected from unsuspecting guests over the
years. Pulling on a pair of aqua pajama pants and a black
top, Keegan flopped down on the bed, reached under the
shirt and from the flesh and skin pulled out a large freezer
bag of money. Wiping some of the collected blood off the
sealed plastic. Touching the wall, Keegan found a nick and
counted three hand widths from that before plunging a
hand into the rock face. When done rooting around there
were five large Ziploc bags scatted on the bed. Two of them
had a corner slightly melted. Those were from Keegan’s first
experiments at smuggling, accidentally placing the loot
too far inside resulting in a little stomach acid burn. It had
taken months to slip this passed Liam and Peter. This last
raid was the most risky ever taken, but it had brought up
the stash by a whole fifth in one night. “The time has come,
the walrus said, to talk of many things, of shoes and ships
and sealing wax. Of cabbages and kings.” Keegan muttered,
pulling jeans off one of the closer shelves and placing folded
bills into the seams.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sun rose over the blanket of mist, but the trio had been
up too long to notice. Tired and cold from the escapade
in the rain and the early morning visitor had left Rhazzar
barely conscious but unable to sleep. Yuki however, in a
couple of hours was rested and almost rid of her head cold.
Their luggage was already outside and waiting behind some
of the thick overgrowth in front of the hotel where the
shuttle had dropped them off, thanks to an early morning
stroll the girls took down one of the back flights of stairs.
Rhazzar swore that somewhere along their bloodlines

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there must have been a clan of Ninjusu masters the way the
girls flew from blind spot to blind spot down the dimly lit
back stairs with three cumbersome suitcases between them.
Now it was time for the façade of their escape plan, appear
to be heading out on an early morning walk. The girls had
this down to an art form so the only instructions they had
for Rhazzar was don’t make eye contact, don’t stop and to
think happy thoughts so his facial expressions wouldn’t give
them away. Entering the elevator Yuki gave Rhazzar a gentle
backhand on the arm as his thoughts began to wander into
fear and angst.

“At least they left our passports, tickets and my credit cards.”
Rhazzar paused for a second. It seemed odd to only take the
money. One would think that if there were the opportunity
for a clean getaway off the continent one would take it. Yes
credit cards could be reported stolen, but as of right now they
were still usable. A thief could have maxed them out before
he got a chance to report them then discarded them once they
had the money. Maybe their visitor had just missed them or
thought that the airports and bank machines might be too
obviously monitored for a getaway. The bronze doors of the
elevator opened onto the foyer filled with the coral light of
early morning. A couple of managers, clothed in burgundy
vests stood vigilantly at the wickets. The foyer buzzed with life
as people brought luggage in and out. The overstuffed black
leather chairs at the side of the room were full of designer
people in designer clothes.

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 Yuna tugged at Rhazzar’s hand slightly, playfully at first,
then with more force as if silently telling him to just keep
walking. Yuki stopped for a second behind a large potted
plant, apparently to tie the laces of her white and gold
striped runners she, with Yuna’s help, had decided to wear
this morning. Placing the key card casually beside her, she
began looping the loose laces. The card jerked, as if pulled
by a very thin thread behind the potted plant, along the
edge of the marble walls beside the front desk and into a
small drawer the girls had seen the man yesterday retrieve
the card from. All this was done while the greeters had
been distracted with another guest. Yuki straightened up
and dusted off her knees, taking long slow strides towards
Rhazzar and Yuna who were already at the door. Moving
too quickly would draw more suspicion so Yuki took her
time, scanning each mind for hostility as she neared the
doors. Yuki stopped abruptly as a new psyche entered her
realm. This one must have come from one of the deeper
rooms in the office for it had just suddenly appeared. There
was a strong feeling of resentment, but at the same time,
joy. Yuki’s only experience with these emotions together
so strongly was whenever someone with really sadistic
intentions was nearby. Yuki looked up to Yuna who turned
towards the desk. From behind a small mahogany door
came a burly middle-aged man with thick red hair cut into
a clean brush. A thick short beard of the same colour clung
to his face and his piercing blue eyes were made stronger by
his ghostly skin. He wore a burgundy shirt and crisp black
dress pants. His leather shoes, immaculately polished at one
time had a faint coating of dust, as if he had been traipsing

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through the older corridors. Yuki gave Rhazzar and Yuna a
small telekinetic push towards the door, but the manager was
already rounding the front desk, a smile upon his face. To
Rhazzar, Yuki’s face was void of any readable emotion, but to
Yuna it was clear. They were busted.

“Excuse me sir, may I have a word with you. There seems to

be a wee problem with your credit card. It seems the account
number given was not connected to an account. If you'll kindly
step into my office...” A large knot welded up in Rhazzar's
stomach. He knew this was a bad idea. He knew they would
have gotten caught. Run, a faint voice whispered. Run... run.
Run! Yuna yelled, pulling Rhazzar.

In a daze, Rhazzar followed. The manager tried to keep up the

fake smile as he tried to keep up, holding down a tiny button
in his shirt calling for security. Everyone in the room just
walked on as if nothing was happening. A large man wearing
a pale blue security uniform did not move from his post, but
there was a terrible pounding as more men came from other
wings of the main floor. The manager charged, but tripped
over his own feet, by then they were out the door. Yuki paused
at the door, her gaze caught on the manager. Something, or
someone had tripped him, but they were long gone.

Rhazzar was pulling the luggage from behind the hedging

as Yuki ran towards them. The bags flew free, ramming into
Rhazzar’s chest. Yuki’s fluttered into her hand, flying out
behind her as she ran down the crowding street. The crowds
streamed around them like the river around smooth rocks,

139
 as if they weren’t even there. The manager stormed down
the front steps, followed by several men but the crowd had
swallowed them up.

Finally after running a few blocks they stopped on a

crowded street, encompassed by various cafes and one
side leading into a train station. “Okay, Yuki, I have to
admit, that trick is useful, but I really wish we didn’t have
to use it... so often.” Rhazzar breathed hard. The mad dash
through the city left him winded.

“Ok, DAD, I'll try and cut back. You better call the airline.
I have a strong feeling we’re going to miss our flight. Oh ya
by the way…” Yuki gave Rhazzar a hard slap on the arm. “
That’s for taking my gun without asking.”

“I put it back when I was done. Right in your bag, didn’t

touch anything else. Besides you were halfway cross town
before I got it.” Rhazzar rubbed his arm; Yuki was a lot
stronger than she looked.

“… And thanks for saving me last night.” Yuki muttered,

picking up her dropped suitcase.“You’re welcome.” Rhazzar
cracked a smile pulling his own bag up by a shoulder strap.

“It was really funny when you made him trip.” Yuna laughed
trying to turn the conversation in a different direction
so she could participate more. “That I didn't do that. But
I know who did… and I know where they’re going.” Yuki
smiled, pulling Rhazzar towards the train station.

140
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yuki rested palms down on the small speckled laminate table
that separated the booth like seats on the train. Deep blue
carpeting spanned the train car. The girls had “scrounged” up
some ticket money. “The ghost’s name is Keegan and unless
Ireland and Great Britain had their own genetic projects, I
think it’s one of us. There’s a cottage, four hours from here.
Four hours for us anyways. One of this one’s abilities is they can
move fast…”

“Probably due to their molecular control ability. Space their

molecules, decreasing drag. Of course this would only increase
speed to an extent…”

“Okay Professor, now shut up. It’s my turn to talk. Anyways.

Keegan is our ghost. They overheard us talking last night and
tipped off the manager, but only to create a distraction. That’s
all I could get. They moved before I could go deeper. And before
you ask the answer to your next question is that I don’t know
what we’re dealing with so I keep referring to Keegan as they.
But there’s only one person.” Yuki slumped back in her booth,
arms crossed over her chest.

“You mean, you can’t tell if we’re dealing with a boy or a girl?
What kind of telepath can’t tell if someone is a boy or girl?”

“I’m sorry Rhazzar. I forgot you were the expert. Picking

someone’s head is a crapshoot, depending on what they’re
concentrating on at the time. Their concentration comes as
images; usually its what they are looking at, all other thoughts

141
 are audio, that’s if they are concentrating on that thought at
the moment. After that it’s all emotion. Since Keegan was
not thinking of anything overtly masculine or feminine, I
don’t know. All they were thinking of was running to this
cottage.” Yuki replied. Rhazzar slumped back into his
booth. Of the few science fiction books he had read over
the years he had not gotten a grasp of the layering involved
in parapsychology. Things like telepathy and mind control
were always portrayed as something a character just did, no
real explanation to how they did it or why. Also who knew
the power of the mind could be so restricting. Rhazzar
shook his head, if knowledge was not there then there is
not crying over it. The rest of the ride passed with a hushed
tactics session going over the limited information. As the
plan slowly evolved the land around them did as well urban
sprawl giving way to the glorious lush of Ireland. Half at
Yuki’s request Rhazzar and Yuna stared out the fogging
windows hoping the changing scenery would unravel a
memory from Keegan Yuki had missed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A great flowing sea of green dotted by the remains of a long
dead castle, the stone masonry hanging like broken teeth
in a gaping mouth. The cottage, according to Yuki’s stolen
mental map was well off the beaten path, on the edge of
a small town. The nearest town to that was a good hour’s
walk away. That was where the train had left them, an
hour’s walk to the town and another one after that to the
edge of nowhere.

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“Please”
“No”
“Pretty please”
“Not yet Yuna”
“But its so heavy, can't I change into someone stronger?” Yuna
whined, tromping over the grassy glen.
“Why is it your strength grows propitiate to your size but your
mouth always seems to stay larger than needed.” Rhazzar called
in front of him as he held anchor point of the traveling party.
Yuna stopped, deciphering what he had just said.

“Hey…” Yuna pouted as she realized Rhazzar’s insult. Yuki

nearly choked on a cocktail laughter and cold humid air.

“We should almost be there anyways. We passed the town

so… maybe another forty-five minutes…” Yuki stopped and
shuddered. It felt as though the hills were gazing upon them in
silent interest, but the waxing wind merged all thoughts with
the world, creating no divide between the outside and within.

“No... ” Rhazzar moaned as the sound of thunder broke the

sky over the hills. “It's going to rain again, quick, over there,
head for cover. We’ll wait it out. ” Rhazzar pointed to the lone
spire of a castle's ancient ruins. The inside was dark and damp,
but at least it was sheltered from the brunt of the rain. The
wind hissed over a hole in the top. A large overhang, probably
a long forgotten piece of walkway left the dirt underneath
parched. Collecting some of the debris before it got soaked,
Rhazzar pulled a disposable lighter from a bag’s side pocket
and began trying feverously to set his collection alight. The

143
 grass smoldered slightly but was soon put out as the rain
changed direction.

Yuki pulled a devilish sweater from her bag, screen

printed with dozens of chibi imps that laughed gleefully.
“This place is kind of creepy...” Yuna whispered, pulling up
close to Yuki as they sat on their soft-sided luggage.

“I like it. It’s quiet.” Yuki smiled. There was no one around
for miles. The only thoughts were Rhazzar’s Yuna’s
and hers, but as soon as she said this, her face changed,
scanning the land around her. The wind howled around
them with it’s own thoughts. Yuki stopped and listened,
but if there were any thoughts they were quickly swept
away in the storm. Suddenly a large gust of wind shook
the room. An eerie moan called out inside the stones.

“Get out... get out...” A hallow Irish lilted voice called out,
nearly lost in the wind.

“Yuki, stop it. It’s not funny.” Rhazzar called out over
his shoulder, the possibility of a fire scattering to the
four winds. “It’s not me. I think our ghost decided to
take the scenic route.” Yuki clung onto Yuna for fear of
being sucked out of the ruins like a wind tunnel. Rubble
whipped around them, spiraling up the column whipping
everyone in the face as it flew.

Yuna squeezed her eyes tight. The world around her

shrunk, the fifty-foot ceiling came nearer and nearer.

144
Rhazzar clung to Yuna's enlarging leg as she forced herself
up. “Yuna, stop, you'll bring this place down on us.” Rhazzar
yelled over the wind, but still she grew like Alice in the White
Rabbit’s house. Her clothes could not take the strain and
shredded around her, only a pair of nylon pants and her bra
survived. Barely. Yuna crossed an arm over herself, as finally
her white bra could no longer contain her. Stone began to
tumble on top of them. Yuna crouched down; taking a deep
breath she blew hard. Dust flew up into a great cloud, a thud
could be heard as a form appeared in the dust, coughing and
wheezing. She was naked, shivering and pale as a ghost, but
her bright violet eyes burned with fire.

“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, would you give me back me

clothes.” The girl snapped, as her body began vanishing from
view.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Darkness fell and the wind still howled outside the ruins,
but at least that’s where it stayed. The air had become calmer
within the rocks. Hiding under the overhang, Rhazzar had
finally managed to scrape together a small fire.

“Sabina, is it?” Yuki replied coolly, as she let her hands drift
over the small fire, making her palms bright red.

The girl, fully visible and fully clothed stopped. It had been
eons since she had been called by her given name, more
surprising seeing as how she had not introduced herself yet.

145
 “Yuki, what have I told you about allowing people to
introduce themselves before going into their minds.” Rhazzar
groaned, the fire flooding his face in a reddish glow. “Sorry
about that Keegan …er… Sabina. Yuki has a bad habit of
forgetting formalities. My name is Rhazzar, and the one
raiding her sister’s luggage is Yuna and the telepath is Yuki.
We were… er.”

“Stalking me. Its odd, I’ve never been the one who’s been
stalked before. Usually that’s my job. Alright Xavier, give me
your tagline. What are you selling? As I can see, you don’t
deal with mainstream talents.” Sabina rattled off warming
herself by the fire.

“My name isn’t Xavier…” Rhazzar murmured, missing the

cultural reference. “Anyways, yes, I do deal with “out of the
ordinary abilities.” You tipped us off when you broke into our
room.”

“And let me guess, you want your money back? Well I’ve got
to admit, you are the few people to actually catch me, and
so I’ll give it back. How much did you have?” Sabina replied
riffling through a turquoise bag.

A stern look crossed Rhazzar’s face; he looked as if he was

about to say something but stopped as Yuki gave her head a
shake in his direction. This was not the time to climb on his
soapbox and preach his morals. It was better they stay on
Sabina’s good side, if they wanted to get anywhere. Taking a
deep breath, Rhazzar began.

146
“So Sabina…”
“Call me Sabby.”
“Sabby…” Rhazzar replied calmly. This was going in a good
direction. “... You have lived here all your life?” Rhazzar tried
to keep the conversation light.

“As long as I can remember. My mam…” Sabby blinked rapidly.

“She said I was actually born in Canada, but She adopted
me, but every time I asked about my birth parents she would
change the subject. When I was little she would say my parents
were fairy folk and that’s how I got my abilities, but even that
seemed hard to believe, even under the circumstances…” Sabby
trailed off, creating a pattern of long streams of consciousness
followed by choking silence. Sabby poked the fire with a small
twig, watching the tip light. Clothed in a black halter-top, tan
plaid miniskirt, jean jacket and brown leather boots her bright
red hair was stuck out in a slight flared bob, with a mixture
of Celtic and Asian features in her face. Her skin was ghostly
pale, even in the fire’s warming light.

“May I ask, when did your abilities, develop?” Rhazzar

inquired, noting he should really be documenting this as well
as asking Yuki and Yuna.

Sabby pulled away. “I'm sorry, its just, I'm a genetic researcher
and I've been working with Yuki and Yuna to try and increase
their abilities.” A moan sounding a lot like “yeah right”
escaped the sleeping Yuna. “Anyway, I feel if I know how
long you've had your abilities, I can chart your progress and
help you become stronger, or at least find a way where you do

147
 not have to take it all off to become completely invisible.”
Rhazzar replied.

Sabby poked at the fire. “You tell all the girls that? I
guess I've had them since I can remember. The first time I
remember doing anything was putting a metal spoon through
my hand. Moira, my Mam, said she fainted, but then she
always wondered how I was always escaping from my crib. I
guess she figured it out after that.”

“Moira Keegan?” Rhazzar asked almost choking on air.

“Yeah, you know her?” Sabby got excited.

“She and my father were friends. He entrusted her with one

of his very special children.” Rhazzar tried to act calm. Now
his voice was cracking as painful memories built up.

“Well Mr. Rhazzar is it. I may be special, but I'm no princess.

I don't need a Prince Charming coming in on a white horse to
save me. But if you’re telling the truth, and my Mam trusted
you and your dad… ” Sabby propped herself up with her
elbows, legs stretched out in front of her on the cold damp
earth. “Where do we go?”

“You’re not going anywhere.” A cold familiar voice shouted

from a break in the wall. The shadows masked the figure as
he crossed the broken room. A small click warned he was
armed. “You should know better Peter, you can’t shoot me.”
Sabby hissed, jackknifing.

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“No, but I can shoot him.” The man replied, pointing the gun
at Rhazzar's head. Clothed in a tweed jacket and tan slacks,
Peter seemed to have seen the colder wind coming. Though
one hand clutched a worn carved cane he did not appear to be
leaning on it too much, probably more of a weapon than an
aid.

“You can’t assume you can. You don' know how many there
are like me out there.” Sabby forced a laugh, trying to bluff for
Rhazzar.

“What are you doing?” Rhazzar hissed.

“Stalling for time.” Sabby hissed back.

The man held the gun to Rhazzar's head, as he inched

forward. “Yuki, a little help… Yuki, Yuki?” It was only know
that Rhazzar realized that Yuki and Yuna were nowhere to be
seen. What an atrocious time to go for a bathroom break. The
rain that collected on Rhazzar’s brow had turned to sweat.
Even though the holder of the gun was the kindly looking
bellhop it made the situation no less dangerous. “I knew I
should have tipped you more.” Rhazzar groaned slightly.

“Shoulda woulda coulda. But that one there suffers from a

double dose of the original sin. Now come here Keegan.” Peter
snapped, slapping his thigh as if Sabby were a collie.

“If she’s broken. Then you shouldn’t mind if we take her off your
hands.” Rhazzar tried to get up to defend Sabby but Peter was

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 faster than he appeared to be. Swiftly the old man flew from
the shadows and snared Sabby's wrist. “Try any tricks and
I will show your chum something that will blow his mind.”
White crystals escaped his shirtsleeve, leaving a tiny pool
before Sabby.

“Its not your style to work alone Peter. Where's Liam?” Sabby
was getting tense, pulling away from the elderly gentleman.

“Right here my pet. So we meet again, my good sir. You gave

us quite a nasty slip before but I'm afraid this one won't
be helping you escape this time.” Liam pointed his own
gun at Sabby, creeping from behind a jagged pile of fallen
wall, the remains of an ornate Celtic knot pattern still
distinguishable. His red twin pointed beard matched his
rain drenched quaff under his tan Shepard-style hat. He
had discarded his manager’s uniform for a cream cable knit
sweater and well-worn jeans.

“So you use Sabby to steal from your guests? Using rumors
of ghosts to cheat people blind, then sell overpriced table salt
to the now superstitious cliental, robbing them right in front
of their faces as well. You and your father must be proud
of yourselves.” Rhazzar reported, trying to edge himself
between the two men, tripping over lose rocks in the
process. The coppery twang of blood oozed in rough digs in
his hands.

“It may not be an honest living, but then, what livings is

ever truly honest? And my good sir, you will be keeping this

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to yourself in your grave. Come Keegan, this is what happens
when you bite the hand that feeds you.” Liam roared against
the monstrous wind, his face hard lined like a gargoyle.

A long bone chilling moan echoed through the ruins. The two
men froze. The grizzled old bellhop pulled his scarf lower,
his breath puffed in a small white cloud. “I warned you, you
banshee, any tricks.” The old man snarled, aimed and fired,
but the bullet fell to the earth with a thud. The man tried to
fire again, but his gun jammed. Liam yelled as he tried to fire
his own gun, but his arm felt as thought it was made of lead.
The gun fell to the ground with a thud. The eerie wail called
again. A flowing figure drifted in and out of the rubble. “Now
you've done it old man, speak of the devil and he will appear.
You've called forth a banshee.” Liam cried out in terror. Her
skin was snow white, her matted auburn hair whipped around
in its own wind. Dark markings around her eyes made her
pupil-less eyes almost glow. Her lips were the colour of fresh
blood and the white wrapped sheet of a gown she wore was
shredded and stained in crimson. She floated between the
rocks; her gown barely touched the ground. “Leave...” The
voiced hissed, floating closer to the fire. Peter tried firing
again, but his gun refused to fire. In desperation he threw
it at the figure, it landed short, barely tousling her dress.
Reaching out her hand she placed it under Rhazzar's chin.
Rhazzar cowered in fear. “...Leave... LEAVE!!!!!” The phantom
screamed the wind whipping up debris and causing the fire to
bellow in a spiral of fire.

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 “This, this is your doing you bloody witch… I knew I
should’ve killed you years ago. You’re nothing but a blight on
this earth, a mistake that I will now correct!” Peter laughed,
his eyes ablaze with hellfire. Grabbing Sabby he shook her
violently, her head snapping back, her eyes following. Peter
let go, throwing her towards the piercing rocks. Bloody
hands wrapped around her as Rhazzar lunged, slowing
her descend. The banshee pointed a cold finger at the men,
with it the large piece of granite twitched and moaned from
their graves before being swept up into the air. The two men
screamed, eyes wide and skin drained of all colour. “I curse
thee... If thou ever casts eyes over my hills... ” The banshee
screamed. The rocks plummeted like meteors, battering
the men as they rained down. The men tried to move; their
limbs were bloody and weak, like trudging through bog
water. Finally their bonds of fear broke and the men fled
into the storm. Sabby tumbled from Rhazzar’s clasp to the
ground, grasping at the earth she retrieved a handful of
salt, flinging it into the spirit's face. “Back you she-beast,
back to your firey home.”

“(Putth)... There was dirt in that.” Yuna voice spat as the

banshee landed. Sabby's eyes were wide, sweat dripped
from her brow. “It was you...” Sabby shook. “(Putth) Ya,
eww, that's gross.” Yuna wiped her mouth with her sleeve.
Sabby recognized the hotel’s cotton sheet that was draped
around Yuna. The blood was sticky and spelled suspiciously
of raspberry jam. “But all the floating...” Sabby began
regaining colour in her face.

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“That was me. So Rhazzar, can I keep them?” Stepping out
from the curve of the tower, Yuki was rain drenched, her hair
strewn wildly in her face. Picking up the abandoned revolvers,
she checked the components to make sure they were still
working.

“Eww, Rhazzar, you could have told her it was me. She didn’t
have to throw salt at me. (Putth) I think there was a bug in
that.” Yuna wiped her mouth on the sheet. Her features slid
back into their natural form. Yuki shook her head and slid to
the ground and began raiding her luggage for hidden delights
“Come one where are they… aw yes! BACON.” Smelling the
hickory flavouring without having to open the packaging
Yuki smiled as she tore into the crinkly potato chip bag. Yuna
plunged her hand into the bag to which Yuki gave a dirty look
but just shrugged it off.

“Well, I was hoping to get out of hotel industry.” Sabby laughed.

She couldn’t help it. It was as though a great burden had been
pulled off her shoulders. She was a free agent again. And
who bloody well cared if Liam and Peter said anything. Who
would believe their wild ramblings anyway. “I wanna see the
country more. But seeing as how you're interested in Moira's
work, I'll take you to her cabin tomorrow. Until then... does
anyone know any good ghos' stories?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dawn was already breaking when the rain finally stopped.
Everyone was gritty and tired and longing for a hot soak.
“Does this cabin have running water? Please tell me it does.”
Yuna moaned as they trudged through the marshier lands, the

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 water raising over their ankles with every step as the mud
caked their clothes. Sabby pulled a low hanging branch,
gaining needed leverage out of the mud.“… The cottage is
kind of … traditional…” She grunted.

“That would be a no.” Yuki laughed, pulling the already

soaked pant legs up higher.

“Aww poo.” Yuna tried to kick a rock in frustration but

her foot slid on top of the mud throwing her back. The
resounding splash sprayed everyone with murky water.
Yuna’s head reemerged, her ink black hair what today she
wore just below her ears strained twigs and leaves from the
tea coloured water. Stifling a sob she pulled herself up only
to slip on the wet grass again. Strong arms wrapped around
her before she plunged back into the water. Rhazzar clung
to the trunk of a younger tree as Yuna fell back into his
chest, winding him.

“Yay. Rhazzar is supah!” Yuna replied throwing her arms

up in a cheer gleefully, almost causing Rhazzar to fall into
the bog himself.

“Don’t say too much Yuna. You might give him an ego.” Yuki
cracked, pushing a low branch out of her way and watching
it fly back, spraying Rhazzar and Yuna with collected
mist. The trees hung together, thousands of hands with
thousands upon thousands of fingers reaching for the sky,
almost completely blocking it from view. Their emerald
sleeves siphoned the rain onto the travelers’ heads.

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“Come on you lot. Jeesh. If I wanted to take this long, I would
have walked backways around. I still would’ve beaten you there.”
Sabby yelled over her shoulder, already crossing the crest of
the hill. She chuckled a little, yeah they were putting her hours
behind, but at least they were entertaining. The forest was
becoming denser the further up the hill, a sign they were almost
there. A crack in the trees revealed a once white washed wall,
now tanned with years of dirt and neglect. A small four-paned
window was so caked with grime that the inside of the house
was completely shielded from the outside world’s view.

“I swear, Yuna if you break out in I think we’re alone now I will
kill you.” Yuki growled, thwarting unneeded joke Yuna was
concocting in her head.

“… … … … The beating of our hearts is the only sound.” A

rusted spade missed Yuna’s head by millimeters as it crashed
into the wall spraying dust in thin white clouds.

“I warned you…” Yuki mockingly threatened. “Next time warn

me.” Rhazzar staggered back into the wall, debris scattering was
he shifted. Rhazzar’s heart slowed from a deafening roar.

“Now where’s the fun in that?” Yuki smiled coyly, heading to

the front of the house. Sabby’s clothes were a tousled pile by
the front door. There was a thud as a thin sheet of metal fell out
of the door to the ground. With that the door creaked open.
Sabby’s footprints in the dust were the only things visible.

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 “Catch.” Yuki snapped as Sabby’s clothes whipped her in
the face. This was such an odd sensation for Sabby, having
someone able to see passed her defenses.

Fully clothes and fully visible, Sabby ran her hand though
her drying hair a bit. “This is so weird.”

“Welcome to my world.” Rhazzar rolled his eyes, running

his finger down the spines of various books and pulling out
the occasional book and flipping through pages. “Sabby.
Would you mind if I had these books? ” Rhazzar held a few
of the hard covered books up for her to see.

Although the murky light masked everything in shadow

Sabby’s eyes glistened as her mother’s possessions were
divide up.

“Sabby. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”

“It’s not like I read them. ” Sabby looked away, grabbing a
broom she began violently sweeping up the thick dust on
the floor. Rhazzar felt so horrible he did not even feel the
dishtowel whip him in the back of the head. “I know Yuki.”
The rest of the evening was relatively quiet, except for the
odd time where Sabby would throw a picture or object into
the stone fireplace. Rhazzar watched as the face of a torn
picture blackened in the fire. The man in the picture’s pallid
complexion singed to nothing. The look on Sabby’s face
made it clear she didn’t want to talk about. She still clutched
the other half in her hand. A woman and a young Sabby
had barely missed the tear. But even that did not last too

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long as she threw the other half of the picture into the flame.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I really wish you would reconsider my offer Sabby. Fresh start,
food, shelter, a chance to stretch your legs…” Rhazzar smiled,
his pathetic attempt at being a travel agent. It was late in the
day by the time they reached the airport the next day. Any
of Moira’s records were on their way to Canada and those of
which Sabby was not too fond of were waiting for the nearest
pawn shop. The cottage had been stripped down to its skeleton
the final burial to a once beautiful place.

“As Charming as a country where their national sport includes

bashing the living daylights out of each other on an indoor
pond and the difference between summer and winter is a foot
of snow, I sadly have to decline, but maybe I might visit…
someday. ‘Sides, I’ve got not crap to bring with me. And the
ticket would cost you an arm and a leg. ” Sabby smiled coyly,
her thumbs in the violet hoodie Yuna had leant her, the lass’
wallet bulging out the front pocket. Yuki’s jeans hung low on
her waist, exposing two inches of fair midriff.

“I don’t like the idea of minors being off on their own and I
especially don’t like the idea of you being off on your own… but
I can’t do anything to stop you… even if I could. So do me one
favour and call me at this number when you get settled or if you
need anything, anything at all… within legal accessibility.”

“And if it’s within illegal accessibility… call Yuki and I first.”

Yuna quipped, swaying back and forth on her heel.

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 Rhazzar pinched the bridge of his nose hard. “ Just call. For
whatever reason.”

“Will do.” Sabby gave a mock salute tat turned into a wave,
as the group got ready to pass through security. Their
farewell had become like their meeting, short with not too
much emotional baggage. Though Rhazzar had only known
Sabby for about a day –excluding their past together-he
thought how odd such a cheerful girl would see them off
so coldly. Rhazzar turned around in hopes of one last
goodbye but Sabby was already gone, lost in the crowd of
coming and going natives and tourists. “Sabby...”

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