01-20-2015, 04:29 PM
Ricky had tucked Marta in earlier and tried to go to bed himself, but sleep didn't come. He had called his mother and spoken to her about raising a girl. His mother had only one child - a boy, but as she was a woman, he hoped she would have some insight. She gave him some advice and notified him that Marta was eleven. She would be changing soon.
That thought scared Ricky. He didn't know how to handle...that! His mother told him to calm down and get in touch with a female friend to help her out when the time came.
The memory of that call came back that night and Ricky called Mercedes.
"Ricky it's late."
"I know, but I need to talk to you about Marta."
Ricky explained his problem.
Mercedes laughed. "I'll be right there."
Ricky didn't know why she had decided to come, but it didn't take long for her to arrive. She had a box with her. She sat and spoke with Ricky about what would happen. Ricky was very uncomfortable, but Mercedes told him that as her adopted father, he needed to know this, so he listened.
The box contained the items she would need when the time came. She noted that eventually he would have to go down the "No Man's Land" aisle at the store. Funny that Ricky could face monsters without a second glance, but that aisle filled him with dread. They set a time for Mercedes to come back and explain things to Marta and formed up a plan so that Ricky would be prepared when it happened and then she left, giving Ricky a kiss on the cheek as she did.
Mercedes stopped for a moment and turned around. "I'm not dumb Ricky - a bartender wouldn't have taken her in. You're not just a bartender are you? One of these days, you'll tell me what you really do."
Ricky smiled. "Someday."
Ricky checked the clock - Midnight. He went to his room and followed his normal routine. He lit another candle and prayed for Marta and himself. It was routine now - he hoped God would answer this prayer. Marta had taken a step backwards since she had seen her Uncle again.
Ricky stood, finishing his prayer and noticed the door opened a crack. He had closed the door. He always closed the door. A sense of anxiety filled him and he went immediately to Marta's room. He searched the house - bar - and even the safehouse. Marta was no where to be found.
Ricky was filled with anger directed at Roberto. That son of a bitch had caused this. She had been getting better. He grabbed a pistol, a first aid kit, and a blanket. He hoped he didn't have to use the pistol and packed it underneath his coat. As he left the house, he grabbed a flashlight.
The back alley was dirt and thankfully so. He saw the small footsteps of a child in the dust and followed them. Several blocks a way, a piece of fabric on a pipe caught his eye. Ricky examined it. It was a piece of Marta's coat. He was on the right track.
He followed the footsteps until they led into the woods outside of the city. Ricky frowned and then grimaced as he heard the howl of a coyote. He would have to find her quickly - before the coyotes did.
Edited by Enrique, Jan 20 2015, 04:30 PM.
That thought scared Ricky. He didn't know how to handle...that! His mother told him to calm down and get in touch with a female friend to help her out when the time came.
The memory of that call came back that night and Ricky called Mercedes.
"Ricky it's late."
"I know, but I need to talk to you about Marta."
Ricky explained his problem.
Mercedes laughed. "I'll be right there."
Ricky didn't know why she had decided to come, but it didn't take long for her to arrive. She had a box with her. She sat and spoke with Ricky about what would happen. Ricky was very uncomfortable, but Mercedes told him that as her adopted father, he needed to know this, so he listened.
The box contained the items she would need when the time came. She noted that eventually he would have to go down the "No Man's Land" aisle at the store. Funny that Ricky could face monsters without a second glance, but that aisle filled him with dread. They set a time for Mercedes to come back and explain things to Marta and formed up a plan so that Ricky would be prepared when it happened and then she left, giving Ricky a kiss on the cheek as she did.
Mercedes stopped for a moment and turned around. "I'm not dumb Ricky - a bartender wouldn't have taken her in. You're not just a bartender are you? One of these days, you'll tell me what you really do."
Ricky smiled. "Someday."
Ricky checked the clock - Midnight. He went to his room and followed his normal routine. He lit another candle and prayed for Marta and himself. It was routine now - he hoped God would answer this prayer. Marta had taken a step backwards since she had seen her Uncle again.
Ricky stood, finishing his prayer and noticed the door opened a crack. He had closed the door. He always closed the door. A sense of anxiety filled him and he went immediately to Marta's room. He searched the house - bar - and even the safehouse. Marta was no where to be found.
Ricky was filled with anger directed at Roberto. That son of a bitch had caused this. She had been getting better. He grabbed a pistol, a first aid kit, and a blanket. He hoped he didn't have to use the pistol and packed it underneath his coat. As he left the house, he grabbed a flashlight.
The back alley was dirt and thankfully so. He saw the small footsteps of a child in the dust and followed them. Several blocks a way, a piece of fabric on a pipe caught his eye. Ricky examined it. It was a piece of Marta's coat. He was on the right track.
He followed the footsteps until they led into the woods outside of the city. Ricky frowned and then grimaced as he heard the howl of a coyote. He would have to find her quickly - before the coyotes did.
Edited by Enrique, Jan 20 2015, 04:30 PM.