Don't Play with Fyre

On Thursday, I played phone tag with Ravyn Fyre, the emergency contact that was given to me by John Red Bear at our last meeting. Everytime I called her number though, I would get her voicemail, and have to leave a message. Everytime she tried calling back, it seemed my phone was out of its reception area, so I would get these annoying beeps indicating that I had a message when I finally drove back into range. So much for 'nationwide coverage'.

Things synched up, finally, around 11:30PM on Thursday when she called me back. I was driving around the Columbus, Ohio area when the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hello Rusty?"

"Uh yeah, is this Ms. Fyre?"

"Well who else would it be, we've been trying this for a few hours now, haven 't we?"

"Yeah, I hate cell phones. Look, I was given your name and number by John Red Bear, a friend I met recently, he said I should call you and ask for help if I couldn't get ahold of him. I haven't been able to reach him by phone, e-mail, or...uh...by spirit, if you know what I mean."

"Yes, John told me a little bit about you, said you were the subject of some very strange government experiment, but that you were a good soul and could be trusted. Ever since I got your first message, I've also been trying to find find him. I've got a bad feeling that he may be the one who needs help. Where are you right now?"

"I'm driving around Columbus, Ohio right now, but I can come to wherever you want me to."

"OK, keep coming west. Follow the quickest route to the Chicago area. When you cross the Illinois state line, give me another call at the same number you've been calling. Oh, but first, I'll need your full name, date of birth, and does your phone take photos?"

"Uh yeah, I htink it can. Why do you need that stuff?"

"Look, I am not in the habit of meeting up with strange men who call me out of the blue. If you want my help, and if you want to help John out, I'll need this information and a photo so I can do my research."

"OK, I'll send the photo once I hang up...if I can figure this thing out anyway, my name is Rusty Bones, I was born on Halloween, 2003."

"Look smartass, I need your real name and date of birth, don't play with me, I have enough to do as it is. If you want my help, we'll do things my way."

I could almost sense her fierce will over the phone, so for the first time since I was brought back in this body, I told someone my real name and gave her by date of birth and all of the other information that she asked for in follow up questions. I knew she would be able to find my family this way, but I had to trust in John Red Bear and this no-nonsense woman he had me contact.

He had told me at our last meeting that he did belong to a secretive group of magickal practitioners who saw themselves as protectors and guardians of normal people against the misuse of magick. He had told me that she was a very powerful witch in the Chicago area, but that she was no one to trifle with.

So, I pulled over at the next exit, pulled into the parking lot of a 7-eleven and took a couple of the photographs she had requested, one straight on head shot, and another profile shot. Reviewing the pictures before sending them, I shuddered, wondering if she would still help me when she saw what I looked like. I sent the pictures to her, and walked ino the store to get a couple of two liters. Luckily, I had been able to snatch the equipment I needed to flush and gush from my apartment in the short time I had.

The cashier's eyes bugged out of her head when she saw me walk into the store. I ignored her, went to the fridge, and pulled out some Mountain Dew and a Cherry Coke. She nearly fainted when I reached into my jacket and pulled out my wallet. I dropped a five on the counter without talking to her and left, leaving behind the change I would have been due. I twasn't worthy the look of fear and loathing to wait for her to fumble for it.

Time to head towards Chicago and this woman who seemed to live up to her last name....

(more posts to follow later tonight)