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The Gift

Edward's Storyline, Chapter 5.2

copyright comidacomida 2018

My hands turned to fists; I'd never liked unfair fights, but I still didn't know what I was about to get into. "Gang beatings are shit."

Tom preached caution. "Be careful, Nehed... we cannot protect you from other Humans in the ways we can protect you from Spirits."

Medved was a little more pragmatic. "You can still help without getting involved, Edward... cowards run when confronted and only cowards fight uneven battles."

Green countered that idea bluntly. "Pack hunters are smart to chase prey in groups."

Treboada rolled his head one way, then the other; his neck cracked with each movement. "Ahm with yeh, whateveh yeh decide, boy-o."

The spirits had mixed advice, but I already knew what I needed to do: I pulled out my cell and called the cops. The truth of the matter was that I didn't know what to expect and only a stupid moron would run headlong into a dark alley and blindly assume that everything would turn out okay. I'm not a super hero-- never claimed to be, so I did what I could the best I could while playing it safe.

The phone rang three times before an automated phone answering machine picked up. "This is the 911 emergency dispatch system. Para recibir este mensaje en español, oprima numero quatro. For a medical emergency, please press one. For a fire emergency, please press two. To report a crime in progress, please press three. To repeat this--"

I interrupted the message by pressing three, wondering if I'd have to go through another selection, all the while trying to drown out the sound of whoever the victim was crying out in pain, pleading his attackers to stop. They didn't, but, fortunately, I went directly to a live person. "Cherry City Emergency Response. What is the nature of your emergency?"

Keeping it as simple as I could, I relayed as much information as possible. "Someone's getting beat up in an alley. I'm on Pacific Blvd near the Pacorp Metal Plant."

The lady on the line kept me talking with so many questions it became easier to ignore the sounds coming from the alley but my heart continued beating quickly as I silently counted off the seconds and the questions. No, I didn't know who was being attacked. No, I didn't know how many people were attacking him-- three maybe? No, I couldn't see if they were armed, but the guy being beaten up was still screaming. I didn't know if they knew I was there and yes, I could hear the sirens.

She kept me on the line while directing me to keep an eye out for a police cruiser that would be heading toward me from the south. She then asked me questions about myself: What was I wearing? What was my name? What was my date of birth? Was my residence in Cherry City? Could I see the police car yet?

Just as she asked that last question I saw the red-and-blue lights shining from down the steret and confirmed that yes, I saw them coming. The moment they saw me the cruiser sped up, closing the distance quickly before coming to a stop. Still on the phone, I pointed at the alley with my free hand. "They're in there."

There were two officers in total, and both had flash lights, but the spotlight attached to the car was plenty of illumination. One placed a hand on his firearm while the other used his free hand to press the button on the mic hanging from his shoulder; I couldn't tell what he said, but I caught a hint of his voice coming from the other line on the phone. The dispatcher explained that the police who arrived would be able to handle it from there and concluded the call.

Remaining where I was, I offered up what little info I could. "I was walking past and I heard something going on."

Having been so caught up in the phone call I hadn't realized that Treboada and The Ancient One had disappeared, noticing it only when I saw the Wolf coming back toward me from the alley. He spoke up once he was standing beside the police. "They stopped what they were doin' an' turned tail when they saw th' lights, lad... jest th' one they were beatin' on left in there, an' 'e dunnae look that great."

Rather than address the Spirit with the cops around, I just offered a faint nod and spoke to the police men. "It sounded like they took off when you guys pulled up."

The two nodded to one another and the one who'd been speaking into the mic said to me. "Wait here."

The first one made his way to the alley with the second a step behind. Both had their hands on their guns and approached with caution. Only when they were gone did I ask my question of the Wolf. "Where's the Ancient One?"

Treboada's answer was simple and to the point. "Takin a dauner all gallus-- followin' th' manky numpties... tho, t' be 'onest ah was gunnae go too, but yeh needed t'ken too."

It took me a second to mentally translate what he was saying. "The Ancient One is following the guys who beat that other guy up?"

The Wolf nodded. "Aye... an' th' Spirits with 'em."

I had to reel in my surprise to keep from shouting out with disbelief. "There were Spirits there too?

Medved, who had remained silent for the entire exchange spoke up. "I do not like this, Edward... it can mean nothing good. This is not something in which you should become involved."

Tom was quick to agree... to a point. "The authorities were notified and the victim will be cared for... but if there are Spirits involved, someone will need to do something, and the Humans are not capable of it."

Treboada flicked an ear. "Yeh think th' Neds're bein' Skin Rid?"

The Rhino offered a decisive nod. "It is possible... or perhaps the Spirits are just making the best of the situation, but either way the criminals cannot be allowed to continue doing this, police or not."

To be honest, I liked the way Tom was thinking. "If you guys can find out where they're at I can always call in a tip and have the police pay em a visit."

Green's voice spoke up from behind me, and it almost made me shout out in surprise. "There are three, with only two spirits. They have a wooden stick and a small knife. If you want to stop them we do not need police."

Medved rumbled his disapproval. "They have weapons and Edward has nothing... there are three of them and one of him. He should not be involved in this."

The statement led me to believe that the Bear had already decided to do something about the Spirits, which left me feeling like I was being sidelined. "I'm not helpless, you know. I can still--"

Treboada had no trouble interrupting me to agree with Medved. "Yeh got 'eart, boy-o, but what yeh ain't got is an answeh fer a baseball bat an' a switchblade... not t'mention three against one."

Green snorted, a small whisp of smoke emerging from his nostrils. "Fear does not fit you, Wolf... Edward has none. Learn from him."

Red's voice spoke up from behind me after I'd turned to look at the Wolf. "Besides, he has the makings of a fine Weaver. If he wishes to know more about the affairs of Spirits then we have no right to refuse him. Such curiosity must be nurtured."

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--