Part 9 (2/2)
I rubbed my eyes, peeling away my lids, but it wasn't my eyelids that I thought I was peeling off. It was the glue-like tears I had cried myself to sleep with. As I removed the crusted layers, I opened my eyes to see I was back in my apartment.
That's when I heard the phone ring.
”h.e.l.lo?”
”h.e.l.lo, Charlene?”
”Yes, may I help you?”
”You don't know me, but we need to talk. My name is Sarah Hudson.”
In shock, I nearly dropped the phone. My voice trembled a little with my response. ”Yes?”
”I'm a friend of Jesse's. I understand that you know him?”
”Yesawhy do you ask?”
”I hope you don't mind. I found your number in one of his phone books. I didn't know what else to do.”
”Why? What's wrong? Is Jesse okay?”
”He's gone missing.”
Chapter Eighteen.
I didn't know what to do. I was shocked Sarah had even called in the first place. The only person I could think of calling was Benjamin. Maybe he would know where Jesse had gone to. Was he still alive? Why had he gone off the deep end like that? Had I caused all this to happen?
My mind whipped around the room so hard I felt dizzy and began to faint. As I fell, arms reached out to grab me.
”Benjamin!”
”At your service, dear miss.”
”How in the world?” I looked at him with excitement and could see he was pleased too.
”Come on, DemonChick! You can figure me out by now. All you need to do is think about it, and I am there!”
He laid me on the couch and caressed my face. ”You really like this guy, don't you?”
”I do, Benjamin, I'm sorry.”
”You should find him then.”
”How?”
”Use your new senses. That's what they are there for.”
I gave him a puzzled glance. ”I don't know how to use my senses yet. I don't even know what kind of senses I have anymore, Benjamin. I am falling apart.”
”Want me to glue you back together again, Humpty Dumpty?”
”Ha! Quit it. I am being serious. What if he's in danger?”
”My senses tell me you will make it right again.”
He sat down beside me and touched my face. I could feel his energy seep into my skin; he was restoring my strength yet again. My eyes could see more clearly as my thoughts became open and fresh. I wasn't worried much at that point, but I had to figure out how I could help Jesse.
”You care too much for these humans, girlfriend. You're too attached to them. Hey, you know you can ditch all this nonsense and live with me in my cave. Wanna?”
”Please, Benjamin. Not now. I need to think.”
”Just trying to lift your spirits. It worked, didn't it?” he said, smiling at me.
He was right. I did feel better. It was like he was his own energy source. The only other person that could do that was my father, but Benjamin was different. His aura was much stronger than any human could ever have.
”So, s.e.xyayou should take a look at yourself now!”
”Please, Benjamin, how many times do I have to tell you?” I tried to deny his powers, but he was right. As I got up off the couch, I looked into the mirror on the wall across from where I was standing. I was surprised to see I was human again; completely human, like I had been before. I felt amazing, like I was glowing somehow. ”How do you do it?”
”Aww, shucks, it was nothing, my lady! Any time, any time.”
I turned around back to the mirror and noticed he was gone.
”Benjamin?”
Later that night, I could feel my body changing again, but this time the metamorphosis was faster and less painful. After the change, I opened the balcony doors and flew away in search of Jesse. My senses told me he was at a bar in Chicago. Why he was in Chicago was beyond me.
He was in the city at a local bar binge drinking. I could see a vision of him talking to someone as I flew above the buildings, circling around and looking for a landing spot on one of the rooftops.
As I scanned through the walls of the bar, I heard him talking to a man dressed all in black.
”Hey, f.u.c.ker, we need to talk!” Jesse said, standing next to the man as he shot pool.
”Who the h.e.l.l are you?” the man asked, staring him down.
I was surprised at Jesse's tone of voice. He was p.i.s.sed off as all h.e.l.l and wanted to lash out at the guy, but why? What had got to him to this point?
”Let's step outside, or are you too p.u.s.s.y to own up to it?”
The man threw his pool stick down and walked over to him. ”You have a serious problem, buddy, yeahalet's take it outside!”
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