CLASH

Hard to Find

“Someone still coming…?” Asked Bryan, still cynical as the preacher ushered him towards the back entrance of a small rundown wooden church, pinned down with big buildings and apartments besides it…

“They did, actually…” Said the preacher, grunts a little as he shouldered the backdoor, which creaked open and both men entered a small kitchen…

“Please….” Said the preacher, pointing towards the chair at the small dining table, while he fills the kettle with tap water and boils it before opens a mini fridge, taking out two frozen food, and place one of them in a microwave…

Bryan sat and looked around at the old kitchen…. Patches everywhere, moulds at the corners of the ceiling, the floor creaks as he put his weight on the chair….

The kettle whistles, and the preacher pour two mugs of black coffee…

“Sorry….” He said placing the coffee and microwaved meal in front of Bryan….

****

“Why did you say with the power from the Morning Star…?” Asked Bryan, opening the conversation after quite a silent between the two as they eat their meal….

“Why not….?” Asked the preacher….

“Isn’t that being the name for the devil….?” Asked Bryan again, while the preacher walked towards the cabinet, and pulled out a worn bible from it…

“Please show me the passage….” The preacher said, putting the bible in front of Bryan, before sitting back at his chair and sipping his coffee….

Bryan sat still…. His face saw a little disgust, seeing the bible laid before him….

“Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat – the burden of proof lies with the one who speaks, not the one who denies” Said the preacher, obviously challenging the man before him who grunts but finally pulled the bible… Opened the yellowish page and slide it to the preacher

“Iasiah 14:12…. You know your bible….” He said, approving the passage pointed by his guest….

“You should use Luke 10.18, too for your case…. So, then he should be cast out too… He actually claimed to be the morning star….” The preacher said, pointing at the Revelation 22:16 to his guest which answered with another grunt from Bryan….

“What’s with Ivy….?” Asked Bryan, changing the subject, didn’t want continue with the biblical interchange….

“What’s with her….? Did her appearance disturb you…? Which part…? Her choice of colour? Her clothing? Her earing…?” The preacher asked, smiled as he saw the blinks at the eyes of his guest at the last notion….

“So, you are saying that Peter was an antichrist….?”

An awkward silent fell at the kitchen….

“Look, Bryan…. I will not force you…. You believe wat you believe…. I just help a human in need…” The preacher said….

“Sorry….” Bryan said…. “I just….”

“Your father hurt you that much, eh…?” Asked the preacher that makes Bryan frowns….

“Look, I bring you here not to lecture you on anything…. But I need to warn you…” The preacher said, that makes his guest raises her eyebrows….

“You might no longer believe in higher power, but I have to tell you this, because I have the premonition…. Soon, you will face the authority…. I believe it have something with your father….” The preacher said….

He knew….? Thought Bryan, looking surprised…. He never told anyone about his travel to meet his father….

“I don’t know what’s your problem with your father was…. I just warn you to be ready…. Don’t run…. Face them like a man….”

****

Bryan walked in the middle of the night, against the cold freezing evening breeze….

His minds troubled to hear the premonition told by the preacher….

What did he report to the police….? Didn’t it enough with the beating…? Did he twist the event…? He frowned, remembering the beating he endured….

His mind so focused, he didn’t even realize that he walked for quite the distance before he reached his trailer, where his neighbour still sitting at his porch, drunk as usual….

“Hey Brian…. There are two agents comes looking for you…” He said before gulping another bother of his 12oz beer, and then snores…

Face them like a man…

The warning from the preacher echoes in his head as he lay on his bed… Unable to sleep for even a moment, until the rays of the morning light come through the shade of his cramped room and he gives up, taking a quick shower, and with a deep sigh he leaves his trailer, readied himself for what the day will bring….

****

“Where do you want to start…?” Ask the local agent as he met Andrew at his motel room…

“Let’s us started with the diner…” Said Andrew that makes his colleague smiles approvingly….

“Excellent choice, man…. I’m famished…. And they serve the best breakfast in town….” He said happily, walking towards his parked car…

I Want to question the waitress…. Said Andrew in his heart, sighing because his intention was misinterpreted by his local colleague….

And yet, he did enjoy his breakfast at the diner….

But Maya was nowhere to be seen….

“Excuse me, miss, did Maya in for today…?” He shows his badge as he asks the waitress tending them….

“She calls in sick….” She said unimpressed with the badge and left the table to wait on another table….

“We can ask the manager for her address….” His colleague said, finishing his plate of breakfast, yet his eyes still looking at his colleague plate, a quarter full….

What a waste…. He thought, looking at the leftover, but still he gets up and went to the manager….

“Damn…. It’s just a couple blocks away from where you stay….” Said the local agent as they get the address from the manager….

But just as they about to drive, the red mustang revving, passing them….

“Go….! The waitress can wait…!” shouts Andrew as the local agent blow his siren and chase the red mustang….

They almost lost the red mustang when they spot it passing the opposite road that they managed to make a quick turn and managed to caught the red mustang, which finally pulled over….

Both agents approach the red mustang carefully, with their suit unbuttoned, and one side of their suit flaps behind the holster of their weapon….

“What can I do for you, agents…?” Asked the goth girl, smiling seductively at both agents, with her gloves covered hand on the steering wheel….

“Could you please turn your engine and step out the vehicle, please…?” Asked the local agent while Andrew keep his distance, and alert while the goth girl coming out the car….

“Identification please….” Asked the agent which the goth girl, teasing the agents with her move, as she bends inside the car, opening the glove compartment and then hands her license and registration to the agent….

“I never see you around here before….” Said the agent, studying the identification of the girl…

“Never caught your attention, maybe, sir…. Because I’ve been around for quite some time…” Said the girl coyly….

“Don’t play smart with me, Miss…” Said the agent, but his eyes never leave that of hers, feeling aroused with the smile her black coloured lips….

“Did you know this man…?” Said Andrew, showing the photo of Bryan on his phone….

“Actually, I do, officers…. I met him yesterday at the carwash, and I drove him to meet Pastor Luc….” She said….

“About the carwash…” said the agent, remembering the footage…. “Did you know what happened to the other employee….?”

The goth girl smiled and say…

“We make out a little at the back of the carwash, then I take my car….”

“Did you know where he went after that….?” Asked the agent

“Like I told you…. I went back and take my car, drove that man to see Pastor Luc…. I didn’t see where the other guy went… Maybe he goes on and satisfied himself…” She said smirking….

The agent gave a fiery sight on the girl, as if he wanted to give her some lesson that could teach her manner….

“Where can we find Pastor Luc…” Asked Andrew, which the girl told him….

“Don’t leave town….” Said the agent, hands back the id and registration to the girl, who already behind the wheel, and turn on the engine….

“I won’t, officer…. I’ll be waiting for you…” She said, as she drove away from those two agents…

“So… Pastor Luc….?” Asked the local agent…

“Yeah…. Where else…?” Said Andrew, feeling that this going to be a long chase to find one man…