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The Gift

Edward's Storyline, Chapter 5.3

copyright comidacomida 2018

My attention went back to the police officers, one of whom was coming back toward me. "Mr Clark... dispatch said they have all of your info. If there's anything else we'll have someone follow up with you in the next few days.

I nodded. "Okay. Thanks."

That was it. The officer went back to the alley and I heard something about an ambulance; I was being cut loose, to do whatever I decided needed doing, and I was more in agreement with Tom. "Let's all go and figure out what to do when we get there-- maybe I can help directly, or maybe I'll just call the police. Hard to say until we see it."

With Medved and Treboada taking the lead, I followed after them both with Tom falling in line beside me. The Ancient One followed in the rear, not because of any hesitance, but because their various personalities were arguing. It was, in a way, funny, but I was still too busy mulling over what could happen when I arrived to laugh at how crazy they sounded. Green wasn't holding back on his opinions. "If Edward wants to be involved it is unfair to restrict him. He must be allowed to learn his limits."

Rather than letting any of the other spirits speak up, Red was more than content to respond first. "Understanding one's limits is a very good thing, but to learn them in a situation that does not involve a penalty as harsh as death would be preferred."

Green wasn't easily denied. "Bah! I will be there, and I would not let anything happen to him... but I think he wouldn't need the help. He is strong. He is a fighter. Why protect a lion from a gazelle?"

Ch'upikaq joined the argument on Red's side. "A herd of gazelle can still harm a lion, Green... Humans have no natural weaponry and yet, together, they have risen to a position of prominence in--"

His objection was cut short by a snort from Green. "Bah! If all you do is baby him then he will never have a chance to grow!"

The three-way argument became a four-way one when Tom slowed, addressing The Ancient One directly. "He is able to grow without having his life put at risk, Lizard. We are tending to this issue because it involves Spirits, not because I believe Edward has any need to prove himself."

I have never liked having people speak for me, and I certainly didn't approve of others fighting my battles for me but I also realized that I only understood half of whatever was going on with the four Spirits wanting to put an end to whatever meddling the two Spirits following around the three thugs were up to. In the end, I just did my best to interrupt the argument and change it into something more worthwhile. "So... what can you tell me about the guys and the Spirits we're going after?"

Tom wasn't willing to let it rest. "WE are going after them, Ne'hed... YOU are coming along so you will be able to notify the police."

Medved spoke for the first time since we parted ways with the officers. "We are also stronger with him than without, Tom."

Treboada offered an almost scornful 'ha'. "Aye... an' 'e's also a great weakness if we be riskin' gettin' 'im 'urt in this..."

Green snorted. "You are all ignorant. Edward is in no danger. He is mine. I will not let them hurt him."

The Bear slowed, drawing closer to the group of Spirits formed around me. "Edward is his own Human. He does not belong to us any more than we belong to him. And, while it is true that none of us would want anything bad to befall him, we are limited in our ability to keep him from harm when other Humans are involved... so do NOT overestimate our capacity to protect him when exposing him to risk."

Although I appreciated what Medved was saying, he got something wrong and I corrected him. "I'm putting myself at risk. None of you asked me to do this. I'm doing this because those assholes can't be allowed to keep doing this shit."

Treboada slowed as we rounded a corner. "Almost there..."

The street was empty; that part of town was a victim of the 2009 market downturn and the loss of a good percentage of the industrial jobs in the area. I hadn't lived in Cherry City during that time-- I wasn't even in high school yet, but some of the guys at the junk yard had talked about it often enough. There were three large buildings along the street, each one shuttered with windows and doors blocked by wood or chained closed-- all except for the one at the end of the street; a side door just within view of a street light showed signs that the chain holding it closed had been cut.

Medved walked up to join the Wolf as the group came to a stop. "How shall we handle this? There are--"

Green was more than content to roar out his challenge openly. "SPIRITS OF THE BROKEN BUILDING, YOU FACE THE ANCIENT ONE! SHOW YOURSELVES! IF YOU ARE SKIN RIDING, EXIT YOUR HOST AND FACE ME! CHALLENGE ME AND BE DESTROYED! SUBMIT, AND YOU MAY ESCAPE YOUR END FOR ANOTHER DAY!"

Tom's enormous lungs worked like the bellows of a junk smelter, inhaling and exhaling with complete frustration. Although his voice was full of disgust, there was still a hint of casual indifference to his tone. "You know... I believe I may hate you, Lizard."

Treboada took a step back toward me, raising his paw as if drawing a weapon out of nowhere and, to my surprise, I saw that he was suddenly holding a large, savage-looking axe. He brought his other paw around in front of himself and a wooden shield took up a position on his arm, fingers gripping a leather strap that held it in place. Medved, on the other hand, had what looked like a riding crop fitted with metal nails at the end in his right paw and in his left, some kind of pistol that looked like something out of a revolutionary war movie.

Tom stepped in front of me and I was surprised to see that he was covered in what looked like treated leather with diamond shaped bronze scales sewn into it all over. He had a long spear with a bronze tip and held it at the ready in a way that looked more defensive than anything else. He spoke up so that the rest of the spirits could hear him clearly. "If we are only dealing with the Spirits that will make it easier... but do not let them pose a danger to Edward."

The creak of the metal side-door opening caught everyone's attention before anyone could provide a response to the suggestion. A steel-tipped black boot kicked the cut chain away from the opening and I watched as a mangy-looking street Cur walked out. The Mutt looked like he had some nasty infections all along the side of his face and his ear was mostly chewed off and he was carrying a baseball bat. What was even more disconcerting was that there was a certain solidness to him.

The wooden shaft of Tom's spear creaked as his grip on it tightened. "That one has possessed a Human."

Behind the Dog emerged a girl-- probably a year or two younger than myself if I had to guess. Unlike the Possessed guy she looked normal, and, though I could see that she was speaking to him I was too far away to hear exactly what it was she was saying. Treboada shot a glance back over his shoulder toward the Ancient One. "That be a lass.. yeh said three men."

Green snorted. "It makes no difference. She was there, and is now here."

The Dog spoke back at the girl and, for some reason, I was able to hear him much more clearly. "Relax... we got this under control... he ain't a cop."

I glanced around warily; they'd seen three Humans and two Spirits, but I only saw two. A moment later I heard a rustle from an alley behind me and a voice dripping with threat caused a shiver to run up my spine. "You made a big mistake coming here,,. especially if you don't plan on using your resources to their fullest."

I turned around, somehow putting two and two together; if the other Spirits had possessed Humans, he obviously meant that the Spirits there with me were at a disadvantage for not doing the same with me. Smirking, I was ready to tell the Spirit off and tell him that not all Spirits had to play puppets with Humans, but the words got stuck when I saw myself barely a dozen feet from a humanoid Spider holding a knife. I'm not arachnophobia, but something about seeing THAT guy... well... it made me second-guess my phobias.

He seemed almost as surprised by my reaction as I was at seeing him, his eight, red-glowing eyes widening as he gasped "A Seer?!?"

I--