Phantasmagoria

By Robert Spina

There are legends that no one has heard about. There are myths that have yet to become myth. He has walked the earth for seven hundred years, and no one knows it. That is because if he comes for you, you will beg him to kill you. Lucifer is his master. Deceit is his power. Eternal life is his goal, and your youth is what he is after. Retired Special Forces expert Stormy Rain Clouds, known as Rain, has no way of knowing if he is in a dream or in the real world. Will Rain be the first to figure out how to defeat the servant of hell, or will his youth nourish the eternal life of the most evil being walking the earth?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796040555

Robert Spina

au doesnt want to put ATA on the book

Book preview

Chapter 1

What the Hell, Smoke?

Rain looks into Marlene’s eyes. He runs his fingers through her hair and kisses her.

I can’t believe we are going to do this.

I know, she replies with a smile.

Marlene wraps her arms around Rain’s back and squeezes him as he kisses her and moves his hips until they are joined. They kiss and move for the first time making love with each other. The bedroom is dark with a little light shining in from the kitchen. The ambiance is perfect; a single scented candle is burning on the dresser, and after an hour of Rain flirting, touching, kissing, and playfully trying to get Marlene out of her clothes, she gives in to his charm. She has been exhausting every excuse she can think of to not get naked with him, and now their bodies are one. The couple is happily feeling each other, and Rain runs his lips down Marlene’s neck as they make love. Marlene hears a creek in the floor and opens her eyes to see a man standing over the two of them with his arms raised over his head, and she screams. She sees the man swing at her and instinctively raises her arms to block the attack. The man swings a bat just as Rain is raising his head, and the bat hits Marlene’s arm and Rain’s head. Fortunately, Marlene’s arm broke the brunt of the attack, which would have knocked Rain out cold. This leaves a very painful welt on Marlene’s left forearm and on the back of Rain’s head. Rain rolls to the right, taking the covers and, with a very painful headache, tumbling to the floor. He slams into the wall and stands holding his head. He sees a man covered in black clothing and mask, striking Marlene with a bat.

What the fuck! yells Rain.

He dives headfirst at the assailant. Rain hits the man in the stomach with his shoulder, and the man falls back into the wall. Rain falls on the bed, on Marlene, who is now crying with painful welts growing on her forehead and forearms. The assailant never falls to the ground; he bounces back from the wall, raising the bat to swing at Rain, who gets up very fast on the bed and jumps, raising his right knee, striking the man on his left jaw. Rain comes around with his right fist, striking the man in his neck under his left jaw. The assailant drops the bat. Rain comes up with his left fist, snapping the man’s head up, and he falls to the ground.

Marlene, baby.

Rain lowers to Marlene, who is crying, and tries to comfort her.

What the hell is going on, Rain? Who is that? Why is he hitting us?

I don’t know, baby. I don’t know.

Rain can see Marlene has been hit very hard on the head, and it looks like a big egg is growing from her forehead and both her arms.

Rain, why did he do that? It hurts so bad.

She barely touches the still growing welt on her head. She is crying, and the two of them can hear tumbling and thrashing around in the living room.

I’m scared, Rain. What is going on?

Rain gets up and grabs some shorts from the dresser. He grabs a large sweatshirt for Marlene and hands it to her.

Here, put this on.

Just then, another man dressed in black is thrown into the bedroom and lands on the man Rain had knocked out. Still, Marlene and Rain can hear thrashing around in the living room. Marlene gets off the bed and squats down into the corner of the room. Rain walks toward the door when the man thrown into the bedroom gets up, grabbing the bat. Rain faces him at the end of the bed, and the man swings the bat. He swings from his left to his right, which is awkward for the assailant since he is right-handed. Rain catches the bat with both hands and kicks straight into the man’s sternum, sending him back tripping over the other man, who is now standing up. The man standing is groggy and dazed, which does not last too long because Rain swings very hard, striking the man dead center of his head with a loud crack. The man falls like a sack of potatoes out cold. The other man gets up quickly facing Rain. Rain gets ready to swing again when he is attacked by a third assailant running into the bedroom. Rain is hit from behind as the third assailant is actually thrown into the bedroom and lands on Rain, sending both of them to the floor next to the bed, landing on the assailant already knocked out.

Get off me! yells Rain.

The man on Rain raises to his knees. A fourth man runs into the bedroom. This man is not covered in black; he is dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. He stabs the assailant on Rain in the back with a knife three times. Rain hears the stabbing and the man groaning with each insertion of the knife into his lower back. The attacker stands throwing the knife at the second assailant that entered the bedroom. This is an accurate throw with the knife as it enters the man’s throat, slicing his windpipe and jugular vein. The man is heard gasping out of his neck as blood and oxygen gargle from the wound. Rain stands looking at the man, who slowly falls to his knees and leans against the wall, trying to hold on to life. Rain turns and grabs the man behind him, running him across the bedroom, slamming him into the wall.

Rain, Rain, Rain! yells the man.

Rain pulls back his right arm, tightening his fist.

Rain! It’s me, Smoke! Rain! Easy, Rain, easy.

Smoke gently raises his hands, opening his palms, facing Rain.

Easy, Rain, calm down. It’s me, Smoke. It’s me.

Smoke! What the hell, Smoke! I thought I was through with you. You just won’t be happy until you are the death of me, will you?

Rain, behind you!

Rain turns to see the last living assailant standing. Smoke bends to his left shin, pulls a knife from a sheath strapped to his leg, and throws it. The knife enters the man’s throat much like the knife in the other assailant’s throat, and he falls dying. Rain turns to Smoke.

What the hell, Smoke? What the fucking hell? There are dead men in my bedroom. What the fucking hell?

Rain hears Marlene crying on the floor in the corner of the room. He walks over and bends down, hugging her.

Rain, I don’t like this. I don’t like this, Rain. I just wanted to be with you, just you and me. I don’t know what this is, but I’m scared, and I don’t like it.

Marlene cries louder. Rain hugs her.

Come on, Marlene. Come on.

Rain helps her onto the bed. Marlene starts to feel the pain intensify in both her arms and her head, and she starts to cry louder.

Rain, why? Why, Rain?

She looks at her arms, and both have huge welts on them from being struck with the bat. The welt on her forehead is terrible, and she touches it gently with tears streaming from her eyes.

Why would someone do this to me, Rain? Why?

I don’t know, Marlene. I don’t know what is going on yet.

Rain turns to Smoke, who pulls the knives from the assailants. He wipes the blood from the knives on the assailants and puts the knives back in the sheaths on his shins. Smoke starts to drag the bodies out of the bedroom into the living room.

What the hell is going on, Smoke? Why did these guys attack us? Who are they?

Rain pulls the masks from the three men, looking them over. They are lying in the living room, and Rain has no idea who they are.

You don’t remember them? You don’t remember who they are?

No, Smoke. Who are they?

That there is Randy Smilderkent. That’s Kevin Tresblense, and that there is Melveroykel.

Are you serious, Smoke? The three guys from Willsdus that always had it in for us in high school? Why the hell would they come into my home now? Are you trying to tell me they are holding a grudge? Whatever that grudge would be for, what, twenty-five years now? You can’t be serious? That does not make any sense even for these idiots who are now dead. Smoke, there are three dead men in my house. Are you fucking kidding me?

Marlene walks into the living room like she is in a daze. She has rinsed off with cold water in the bathroom off the side of the bedroom. She has dressed herself and walks to the door.

Rain, I want to go home now. Rain, please take me home.

I would not go home if I were you. They know who you are. You may have been targeted like Rain has been targeted, says Smoke.

Targeted? Why would someone target me? Rain, why have I been targeted?

Marlene starts to cry.

Marlene, don’t cry. Don’t listen to this guy. Like always, he is being overdramatic.

Rain hugs Marlene and escorts her to the bedroom so he can dress himself. They can hear Smoke dragging the bodies out the front door of the house. Rain gets dressed, and by the time he and Marlene leave the bedroom, Smoke has dragged the bodies into a van and is waiting for them in the living room.

Do you still go to the planning zone? You remember where we used to meet, right? says Smoke.

I left that behind me with you, Smoke. I have not been there in over five years. I don’t even know if it is still there.

Well, it is still there. You remember where it is, right?

Yeah, I remember.

Meet me there in an hour and bring Marlene with you. I have to get rid of the bodies, and then I will be right there. One hour, Rain, be there.

Smoke leaves the house and closes the door behind him. Rain walks to the door and watches the van pull away. He closes the door, and Marlene is there to hug him. She is shaking and in a lot of pain.

Rain, what was he talking about? Do you know what is going on? Who was he anyway?

That is someone I thought was left in my past. I don’t know what is going on, but surely, he has a lot to do with it. Rain walks to the couch, holding Marlene, and sits by her.

His name is Smoke, and your name is Rain. Are you two brothers or something? You look like you could be brothers, she says.

No. Smoke is not his real name. It’s just what I call him. We met in first grade. We were best friends all our lives. We were very competitive, and those three guys that attacked us were from Willsdus, the town right next to Farmsvern, where Smoke and I are from. They were always out to get us because we beat them at all the sporting events like basketball games and track events. What really made them mad was that Smoke and I dated two girls from Willsdus. This made them really jealous of us, and they used to fight us all the time.

That was high school. Why are they coming after you now? Why are they after me? Do they want to kill us?

I don’t know. None of this is making any sense.

This guy, Smoke, why have you never told me about him?

I have not seen Smoke in a long time. Let me think for a second. It has been five years now since I have seen Smoke.

I thought you were best friends all your life.

We were, but Smoke is a daredevil. He is crazy. He was always like that. I am ambitious and adventurous, but Smoke is crazy. I had to pull his ass out of the fire one too many times, and I finally said enough is enough. I broke ties with him because he was going to get me killed. He still is. I mean, look at this. Here we are all beaten up. There were three dead guys right here in this living room, and neither of us know what is going on. That is why I broke ties with Smoke. He will never grow up, and things are getting more serious. I don’t want to go to the planning zone, which is just a restaurant/coffee shop where we used to meet. I know better than to go there, but it’s the only way we will find out what is going on.

I don’t want to go, Rain. I want to go home. I don’t know what this is all about, but it has nothing to do with me, and I want no part of it. Me being targeted is a bunch of crap. Look at me, Rain. My head looks like a bird’s egg is growing from it. Look at my arms. I am scared, and I want to go home.

OK, Marlene, I will take you home.

Rain gets his car keys, and Marlene gathers her things. They leave the house and lock up behind them. Rain drives Marlene home. It is a very quiet drive to her house. When in her driveway, she starts to get out of the car. Rain gets out and walks over to the passenger door, opening it for her. He hugs her as she gets out.

Marlene, I am so sorry about tonight. I still have no idea what is going on, but I will get to the bottom of it.

Rain, I was really liking you a lot. I do like you a lot, but I think I need some time away from you for a while. Please give me some space, and when I am ready, I will call you.

I hope you don’t need much time. All right, you take care. You don’t want me to call you? I mean, I will find out what is going on from Smoke, and if it is something serious that involves you, I will let you know.

OK, Rain, but I need some time to be alone right now.

Rain walks her to her front door, and she goes in without a hug or a kiss good night. He goes back to his car and stands by the driver side door, looking at Marlene’s house. He can see the light go on in her bedroom, and he gets in his car and starts it up. Rubbing his forehead, he gets very mad with Smoke at how things have gone this evening. He is starting a serious relationship with Marlene. They have been dating for a month now, and this was their first intimate evening. Rain has not been serious in a physical way with any woman for over ten years. Now at forty-three years old, his physical ambitions just are not the way they were when he was younger. He is very much in love with Marlene, and now he feels this evening may be his last with her. This makes him very angry at Smoke. Rain has saved Smoke’s ass and covered for Smoke so many times throughout their lives. He remembers when he exploded on Smoke and told him he never wanted to see him again. Here he is again in a very awkward situation, and he has no idea what is going on. Just like old times with Smoke. Rain hears the dancing footsteps of rain start to fall on the hood and roof of his car. He starts up his car and heads toward Sandy’s restaurant/coffee shop on Route 34, where he and Smoke always used to meet after they got out of the service. The rain starts to fall harder and harder. By the time he gets to Sandy’s, it is pouring rain. He sits in his car for almost fifteen minutes, and still it is raining hard and not letting up. Rain runs into the coffee shop and gets drenched. He sits in a booth where he and Smoke always used to sit.

Stormy, Stormy Clouds, is that you? I haven’t seen you in, what, five years?

Hi, Renee. I can’t believe you still work here.

I know. I guess I’m a lifer. Can I get you some coffee like always?

Yeah, that would be great.

So where is Kenneth, or do you still call him Smoke? Everyone still calls you Rain, right?

Yeah, I call him Smoke still. Of course, I still go by Rain. You can get two cups. He is supposed to be joining me.

All right, I’ll be right back with two coffees. You know I still love your name the best of all the names I have ever heard. Stormy Rain Clouds. I love that name. I always have.

Yeah, my parents are probably the most eccentric ever.

One second, honey, I’ll be right back with the coffee.

Renee brings Rain some coffee and a cup for Smoke. She talks with rain for thirty minutes in between serving customers. It is not like Smoke to leave Rain waiting. Smoke is very punctual and has been his whole life. Rain is quite sure he is not coming after waiting for nearly an hour. He leaves money on the table and waves good-bye to Renee, who is busy serving customers. It is still raining outside, but now it’s just a light but steady rain. He drives home still pissed at Smoke for the intimate evening with Marlene that was violently ruined by Smoke.

Chapter 2

Ajaunta

Rain gets back home, and the rain is still falling. He loves the rain probably because that is his name. His first name is actually Stormy, but everyone has always called him Rain, and he likes it, so he always tells everyone Rain is his name. He notices how much damage has been done inside his house. He picks up the knocked-over lights and vacuums the broken glass. He picks up the bedroom and sits in the kitchen, looking out the sliding glass door, eating a ham sandwich, thinking out loud. What have you got us into this time, Smoke? He finishes his sandwich and glass of milk, listening to the lightly falling rain through the screen door that leads from his kitchen to the porch. His phone rings, and he finds it under the couch in the living room. It must have been knocked there during the skirmish earlier. He forgot about his phone all evening until now. He picks the phone and sees an unfamiliar number on it. The way this night has gone so far, he figures he may as well see who it is.

Hello.

Hi, is Rain there?

Rain’s heart flutters. Butterflies form in his stomach as the voice is familiar to him. He freezes for a moment. He has not heard this voice in twenty-five years, but he recognizes it.

Hello, hello, the voice says.

Hi, this is Rain.

Rain, this is Ajaunta.

Rain gulps.

Ajaunta, Ajaunta from school Ajaunta?

Yes, Rain, it’s me. I know this is probably way out of line for me to ask of you, but I need to see you, if I can? Can we meet? Can we talk somewhere?

Ajaunta, aren’t you married? Don’t you have kids and, you know, the whole family thing going on?

Well, that’s what I need to talk to you about. My husband has gone with the kids, and I don’t know whom to talk to. I remember you said you always loved me, so I am taking a chance that you will meet with me. I need someone to talk to, and I don’t know whom I can trust. There is a lot of really crazy things going on in my life. Suddenly, my life is upside down. I need someone to talk with. I am scared, Rain, and you are the only one I can think of to help me. I don’t know who else I can talk to.

That sounds familiar. A lot of crazy things are happening in my life suddenly as well. OK, I mean, I don’t know where you live these days.

You know where Summersfield is, right?

Sure, that’s not far from where we grew up. I live in Lilston now. Summersville is about an hour drive for me from here.

You know where Route 265 meets with 84?

I know exactly where that is. That’s actually in Crens.

Yes, yes, there is an all-night diner on the corner. Can you come meet me there?

What, you mean right now? It’s eleven o’clock.

Yes, I really need someone to talk to, Rain.

You know, Ajaunta, when I said crazy things were happening to me, I meant like tonight, crazy things are happening. My house was broken into, and it’s still a mess. Now you are calling me wanting to meet with me. This is beyond crazy. All right, give me an hour and a half. I’ll be there by 12:30 a.m. Is that OK?

I will be waiting for you, Rain.

All right, Ajaunta, I will be there.

Thank you, Rain. Thank you.

OK, I will see you in a little while. Bye.

Bye, Rain.

Rain hangs up the phone and leans against the wall right next to the sliding glass door in his kitchen. He inhales the warm air, which smells of lilacs and rain. He rubs his forehead, dumbfounded to the way this evening has been going. From starting to make love with Marlene to being beaten and having three men killed in his home by Smoke, whom he has not seen in five years; taking Marlene home and waiting for Smoke, who never showed up to meet with him at the coffee shop, which is very uncharacteristic of Smoke; to having the girl of his dreams call him, asking him to come meet with her. Rain’s body and brain have been twisted and turned all night long, and still the roller coaster rolls on. He stares out the screen door seeing only darkness, but he can hear the steady light rain falling in the trees behind his house. He walks through his house, looking all the rooms over, making sure all the windows and doors are shut and locked, which is not something he worries about, but tonight has just been a crazy night, and everything about his life seems to be out of whack. He puts on a new shirt and locks the door behind him.

He drives for nearly an hour, and it is has been raining the whole way to Crens. Rain parks in front of the diner, which is nearly full on this Saturday night with an early twenties crowd of late-night partiers. Rain walks into the crowded and loud diner, instantly being taken back to the days when he was young and full of energy just like so many of the kids in here now. He looks around and sees Ajaunta sitting in a booth all by herself just looking at him. It’s like Rain is a twelve-year-old boy again. His heart pumps fast, and he is already thinking about what he is going to say. His nerves cause his throat to dry up and, after one step toward her, he feels like he is going to be sick. What the hell? Are you serious, Rain? Get it together. He takes a deep breath and walks over to the booth and sits across from Ajaunta, who has a cup of coffee in front of her.

Hi, Rain. I was afraid you would not come, she says, reaching her hands to his.

Your call definitely caught me off guard. You wanting to meet with me is very surprising.

Hi, sir, would you like a menu? says the waitress walking up to their booth.

No, thank you, coffee will be fine.

Coming right up.

So, Ajaunta, what has you so scared that you called me and asked to me to come meet with you?

Rain, I don’t know what is going on. I mean, I do, but I am afraid to say exactly what it is because you will think I am crazy. You will think I am losing my mind, and maybe I am. I don’t know if I can even say it without you laughing at me or walking out on me thinking I am crazy.

Well, first of all, where are your husband and your kids? Why are you talking to me and not them?

That’s part of it, Rain. Sully, my husband, whom you have never met, has taken our boys and girls to Texas to be with his family. Sully was scared for their safety, so he took the kids to his parents’ home and left me here.

You have identical twin boys, right? They must be all grown up by now.

Yes, and then I had identical twin girls. Our boys are twenty years old, and our girls are seventeen years old.

Wow, what are the chances of that?

The chances are about one in seventy thousand. I know because I get asked that all the time.

Well, that is amazing. Why did Sully leave with your kids? That makes no sense to me. You must have been married over twenty years. Don’t you have a house together?

Yes, we do have a house, and we have been married for twenty-two years now.

So what is going on?

OK, Rain, I am going to tell you. Ajaunta grabs both Rain’s hands with hers. OK, Rain, here goes. Don’t laugh at me. Don’t walk out on me. Hear me out, OK?

All right, Ajaunta, don’t worry, just tell me.

About six years ago, Sully and I were having difficulties with our marriage. He cheated on me, and I thought we were going to break up. I got involved with a man who sweet talked me and charmed my pants off literally.

Sounds like me tonight—almost, Rain says out loud.

What?

Nothing, nothing. Go on.

Anyway, this man and I started dating, and as I started to get closer to him, I realized he was not a good man. I mean, he is actually a part of a demonic cult. I had no idea the bad things this man had done. When I found out he was a part of this cult, I broke ties with him immediately. I convinced Sully to start seeing a counselor with me, and we started talking and working our problems out. Things started to get good with Sully and me. We actually worked out our problems and got back together. Counseling worked for us. Well, this man whom I had dated over the years has come back into the picture, and he started threatening my family. He said if I do not come back to him, he will have my husband and kids killed. Rain, I don’t know what to do. Sully is truly scared. This cult has threatened my kids and my husband, and they left me. Ajaunta starts to cry.

Ajaunta, I can’t even believe this. I mean, OK, this cult is threatening you. I can believe that, but what do you think I can do about it? Isn’t this a problem for the authorities?

I went to the authorities, but there is nothing they can do. I don’t know where this cult is. I don’t even know the real name of the man I was dating. I told the authorities, but they have no people or locations to investigate. I don’t know how to find these people. They can find me anytime, though. They know where I live and where I work. They know where my husband works, where my boys go to college, and where my girls go to high school. This cult has turned my life upside down. Rain, I am afraid to go home. I need help, and I don’t want to involve my parents because I know they will be threatened as well. I know it is so unfair for me to ask you for help, but there is nowhere else for me to turn. I always remember you and Kenneth were bad ass. No one messed with you two. I know you always had a crush on me, and I always wished you would have made a move on me, but you never did. I don’t know what to do. I am afraid they are watching me right now. Can I please stay with you at least for a little while? Ajaunta is wiping her eyes with a napkin, trying not to cry out loud.

Oh my god, Ajaunta! Of course, you can stay with me. I’ll tell you right now, if anyone comes to my house with the intent of hurting you, I will fucking kill them. There were already three corpses in my house tonight, and that is no lie. This night is getting stranger and stranger. I almost made love earlier for the first time in over ten years, and we were attacked by three men who were killed by Smoke. I have not seen Smoke in five years. This scared Marlene to death, and she has left me for the time being. Smoke left me high and dry. I waited for him at a coffee shop so he could explain why he killed those men whom I may have killed if he had not showed up at my house. Smoke did who knows what with the bodies, and I go home to get a call from you, and now here I am. So knowing that, do you still want to come to my house?

Yes, Rain, yes. I know you would never hurt me.

No, I would not. I have loved you every day of my life since the first day of seventh grade. My only regret in life is not making you my girl. I guess I am old now, and I’m not afraid anymore.

Rain, afraid? Afraid of what?

I was never afraid of anything ever in my life except for one thing.

What was that?

The only thing that ever scared me, the one thing that absolutely terrified me was Ajaunta Macari.

Why would you be afraid of me?

Because I got to watch this little girl in my class. She was nothing but long arms and long legs from here to the moon. She had scraggly blond hair and teeth as crooked as mine. I got to watch her grow into the most stunningly beautiful young woman I ever saw in my life. Now sitting here seeing you twenty-five years later, looking into your eyes and seeing your face, there is no question you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life.

Rain. Ajaunta blushes.

The most terrifying thing in my life was to hold, to try and take care of the most precious, the most beautiful girl I had ever seen in my life, and that was always Ajaunta Macari.

Rain, I can’t believe you are saying this to me. Why didn’t you say that when we were kids?

I couldn’t get close to you. My heart was in my throat. My legs felt like they were going to give way every time I walked toward you. Simply put, I was chicken shit. It’s my fault we never got together.

Rain, I love my husband and my kids. I want my life back. Right now, I just don’t know what to do, where to go, or whom to turn to. I’m not looking to start a relationship.

I understand. I am just proud of myself to finally tell you how I have felt all my life. I am glad that I am not going to go to my grave with that bottled up inside me.

Ajaunta is blown away by Rain’s words, and the waitress comes by offering to fill their coffee cups, which they accept. The diner is very loud, so they can talk freely without anyone listening or hearing what they are saying. Ajaunta feels safe with such a large crowd, and it seems more and more people are streaming in all the time.

Rain, I can’t believe you just said that. That breaks my heart in a way. I would not do anything to change my life with my husband and my kids, but when we were young, I always had a crush on you. Makes me wonder, what if? I guess I was afraid to.

An awkward silence falls over them as they sip their coffee and watch the young adults laughing, smiling, and eating in the diner. It reminds them when they were in their early twenties.

So what is your plan? You want to come to my house and, what, just stay there? I mean, what are you going to do? If you can’t call the police and you don’t want to tell your parents, what are you going to do? Why didn’t you go with your husband and kids to Texas?

People from this cult went to my husband’s work and threatened him and our kids. They told him if he did not leave, he and our kids would be killed, and if I were to disappear with them, we would all be killed. Sully got so scared. He left me. He even lost his job. I don’t know what is going to happen. I don’t know if we can survive this, but for right now, I just don’t know what to do. I need you to help me, Rain. I don’t want to go home. I don’t want to go near there because I am afraid they are waiting for me, and who knows what they will do?

Rain rubs his forehead and sips his coffee.

Well, all right, come on, let’s go. You can come with me to my house, but I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what you are going to do, but we will figure something out. You do have a car, right? You drove here, right?

Yeah. I have a nice SUV. I can follow you.

Do you think you are being followed? Does this cult have you under some sort of surveillance, or are they following your car?

I don’t think so.

So you coming to my house should be safe. I mean, they won’t know where you are, right?

Rain, I don’t know. I don’t think so. They may be watching my house waiting for me to go back there. That’s why I don’t want to go there.

So do you have clothes and things in your car?

No, just what you see.

Well, in that case, I will probably see you naked, so, fuck it, let them come after me.

Rain, please, I’m old and getting fat. I’m not what I used to be.

Well, that happens to all of us. Come on, at least you can hold my hand.

Rain stands up and drops money on the table. Ajaunta stands up and holds his hand with a smile, walking out of the diner into the lightly falling rain. Ajaunta scans the parking lot looking for anything or anyone suspicious. She notices nothing and follows Rain in her SUV back to his house.

Chapter 3

Dreams and Ajaunta

Eight-year-old Rain walks down the pavement toward the swing sets. He is all alone, but kids are walking, running, and yelling all around. Samantha runs up to Rain and kisses him on the cheek. She runs away smiling and yelling.

If you catch me, you can kiss me.

Rain smiles and ignores her. His attention is on Kenneth, who is standing by the cement wall next to the tennis courts. Reid, Gavin, and Tim have Ken surrounded, and it seems like they are taunting him. Rain walks up behind Tim.

What do you want, Rain? We are busy here, says Gavin.

I came to see Ken. I have some things I want to ask him, says Rain.

Yeah, well, Ken is busy. You can see him after school, says Reid.

Yeah, I can see him right now, says Rain.

Listen, Rain, get out of here right now, says Gavin.

Or what? Huh, Gavin? What are you going to do? You don’t feel quite so tough when it’s three on two instead of three on one, do you, Gavin? says Rain.

You ain’t so tough, Rain, you little faggot. Get out of here before I kick your ass just because I feel like it, says Reid.

Take your best shot, Reid, says Rain.

Reid takes a step toward Rain and punches him dead in the face, knocking him to the ground. Ken takes a step forward, punching Reid in the jaw, knocking him down. Gavin starts to punch Ken, and Tim watches, yelling, Fight, fight, fight! Rain gets up, feeling the blood dripping from his torn lip. He hears Tim yelling and dives at him, tackling him to the ground. Rain straddles him and punches him repeatedly in the face. Tim covers his face with his arms, blocking most of Rain’s punches. Rain gets up and kicks his right knee into the gut of Gavin, who bends over falling to the ground, curling up in a fetal position. Reid gets up and punches Rain on the back of the head, and Rain turns to get punched in the face again, being knocked down. Ken punches Reid in the face, and he falls to the ground and starts to cry. Tim gets up and runs toward the school, yelling, I’m telling, I’m telling! Reid and Gavin are both curled up on the ground crying, and Ken reaches his hand to Rain, helping him up. Rain’s lip is swelling up very badly, and blood has dripped all down the front of his shirt. He spits blood and torn cheek from his mouth.

Damn, Rain. You got fucked up, says Ken.

Yeah, well, I’m not the one crying on the ground. I told you to stay away from these guys—they’re thugs, says Rain.

Yeah, I know they are liars too, says Ken.

Goddamn it, Ken, we are only in first grade and already I know you are going to be the death of me. I don’t know how I know that, but I do. You are going to get me killed someday, you know that, says Rain.

Well, if I am going to get you killed, then I need a cool name like you have. Rain—that is such a cool name. Now I need a cool name. What can I be called? I know—Smoke. From now on, call me Smoke, says Ken.

I will call you Smoke because wherever there is fire, there is smoke, and I am always dragging your ass out of the fire, says Rain.

Oh, gee, here comes Mr. Thomas. I’m sure we are getting in trouble for sure, says Ken.

Yeah, I’m sure you are right, says Rain.

Rain wakes from his dream and sits on the edge of his bed. If it were not for the excruciating pounding on the back of his head, he would think this whole night is a dream. He looks at his phone next to his bed to see it is only 3:15 a.m. He goes to the bathroom and rinses the back of his head with cold water. He walks into the living room. Ajaunta said she would sleep on the couch tonight, and Rain gave her a few blankets and pillows. He walks over to the couch and sits next to her. She rolls from her side to her back, looking at Rain, who runs his fingers through her hair.

I can’t believe you are here. The girl of my dreams is here in my lonely house with me.

I can’t believe you never got married. I find it hard to believe some beautiful girl out there didn’t scoop you up.

You ever hear that saying, ‘Things happen for a reason’?

Of course, everyone has heard that.

Well, I still remember seeing you the first day of seventh grade, the first day we were in high school. That was the first time I really knew how beautiful you were. Your body started catching up with your arms and legs. You were transforming. You were undergoing female metamorphosis.

Ajaunta laughs and slaps Rain on the side.

Shut up, you jerk. You are so funny.

No, I’m serious. You were my princess. I just never had the nerve to tell you, but I know you knew. You saw the way I looked at you, and you never let me near you. The very few times I did get close to you, I choked up badly, but you knew I was so in love with you. Girls know these things. Guys too.

I knew, Rain. Well, you’re close to me now, and you are not choking. You are spilling your guts.

I’m not afraid anymore. I’m too old to be afraid.

Rain reaches his arms under Ajaunta’s back and stands with her in