Boulevard of Broken Dreams

I stood looking at these good, brave people who had been caught up in the strange odyssey that I was travelling. On each of their faces I could see the some part of the human experience that I now lacked.

John Red Bear looked tired, almost exhausted as he stood there, face streaked in sweat that was his own and blood that wasn’t. He seemed to have aged ten years in the three months that I have known him.

Cerrydwen’s dark glare spoke of a deep, unfathomable rage that could only be contained with the strongest of Wills. Her shoulders were hunched with the effort of not lashing out at the rest of us just for being here and witnessing the struggle within her.

Herne and Moira showed the concern for their friends and for their fallen companions back at the hotel, but also reflected back at each other the kind of deep, enduring and complimentary love that only two soul mates can express.

Jim had the hard, determined look of someone who was faced with an almost insurmountable challenge, a challenge that would be faced and overcome regardless of the consequences. He was obviously piecing together a plan of attack based on the information he and Cerrydwen had peeled away from Dr. Geek.

Ravyn had the stricken, mournful look of someone who had just realized that someone they loved and cared for had passed away. Tears filled her eyes as the moment of crisis had finally passed, allowing her to mourn the passing of her two students, Jennifer and Eric.

The Frau had stopped to rest for a moment on her cane, but came up between Cerrydwen and Ravyn. Leaving her cane behind, she placed one hand firmly upon the shoulder of Cerrydwen, lending strength there, while also taking one of Ravyn’s hands gently into her other hand, sharing in the loss that seemed to be swallowing the smaller woman.

In that moment I felt alien, alone, inhuman.

“Look,” I started, “You folks have done so much, risked so much, and now lost so much because of me. I can’t, I won’t ask anything else of you. I can’t thank you enough for the aid, for the inspiration, you have given me.”

Jim looked up in surpise, “What are you talking about? We are in this as deep as you are now...”

I held up my hand, “I know this mess isn’t over with by any stretch. But you all have lives to return to, friends to bury. I think you have enough information to work with now on this group of Drake’s to do some serious damage to him without further endangering your lives. You can use that information and the threat of public exposure about the things that he and his people have been doing to protect yourselves.”

Jim nodded.

“You folks need to regroup, to plan for the future and to protect yourselves and your families. If I stay with any of you, I will be placing you and those you love in too much danger. I can’t bear the thought of anyone else paying that kind price again.”

Herne asked, “What are you going to do then?”

“I probably should find out if I am still actually an agent for the FBI. I don’t know for sure yet though. I have some unfinished business with Drake. I need to find Papa Locks and that monster of his for sure. But I don’t know what I’ll do first.”

Cerrydwen looked up at Papa Locks’ name, “That one is mine.”

John pitched his hat into that ring, “If anyone here has a grudge against the Haitian, it is I. But I agree with Rusty on two points. First it is that we do have lives to return to, and affairs that must be set in order. Second, though, is that that monster they have created must be stopped. As long as the Haitian has that thing for a servant, no one here, or anyone that we love, is safe.”

Ravyn wiped away her tears and spoke up, “Don’t you dare try to take on that thing on your own. We can ill afford to lose you to them, and face the possibility of having them take you out and then use your body the same way. But I agree, we all need time to regroup and prepare for the next conflict. We all know that it will come, and when it does, we need to be ready.”

“I need to spend some time on my own, to figure some things out. I know how to contact each of you, and you know how to reach me, through the blog, by my cell phone. or in the Spirit World. If you are in danger, I will help in any way I can. But I can best help you out by making myself scarce. Jim, I’ll be getting in touch with you soon, maybe I can put some stress on Drake’s organization, bit by bit. I was never good at goodbye’s, so let me just say farewell for now.”

I picked up the keys to one of the SUV’s outside and walked out of the building. Using the remote locks button, I found my truck, got in and backed out. Lookiing up I could see the group watching me from the doorway just as the sun was starting to come up...a new day dawning as I pulled out onto the street that would become the Strip, the true Boulevard of Broken Dreams.