Love Between Law and Life

Chapter 10: Stop The Van!

            They were still on the back streets of Oahu, where trees and grass towered over them and the road was sparsely populated. Bobbie had to admit that this was one of the biggest things she had to get accustomed to on the island, the sheer lack of noise and constant movement. It was so still compared to the hustle and bustle of the city whether it was day or night.

            Bobbie turned her head to address the rather silent psychic beside her. “So, since I’m paying, the least you could do is decide what we’re going to eat.”

            “Shouldn’t it be your decision entirely, your money – you choose?” Florence notes idly as she picked at a broken nail. Wouldn’t be surprised if the damage had come from how hard she’d been gripping the seat belt in their little speed chase.

            “Nah, where’s the fun in that?”

            “Fine. Since it’s been insisted upon-“ The oddest thing happened, Florence’s head jerks upward like someone’d called her name. The psychic’s easily going smile had melted into a horrified look as she screamed. “Stop the van!”

            Bobbie doesn’t question it, slamming the breaks before she even turns to see what’d sparked such a reaction. She sent up a small prayer of relief that there was no other driver on the road as her tires smoke on the ground. The detective was certain she’d left her heart somewhere in the trailer of her van as she tries to pull herself out of the shock.

            Her sudden adrenaline rush isn’t helped by the fact that there is nothing in front of the van that could have warranted such a reaction. She doesn’t stop to analyse that she’d followed unquestioned ordered from her pseudo-partner, turning to her with a scowl and a few choice words. “What the hell was that about… Florence?”

            The psychic looks cross between wanting to throw up and hide under the van itself for protection. Her wide eyes are trained on a point just in front of the van, entire expression screaming terrified. Bobbie might have only known Florence for a short time, but she could immediately tell you that this was an appearance she never wanted to see on her again.

            “You don’t see him?” Her voice is low, her body strung tight like she was ready to sprint from danger. Bobbie forcefully tears her eyes away from her partner and sweeps the area couple times, letting a distressed look settle onto her face as she notices nothing out of the ordinary.

            “See what Florence?” Bobbie is practically talking to air as Florence had shouldered the door open, she winced as she heard the sound of retching before following her quickly behind her. Worry gnawed at her, was there more to the exhaustion? Was she sick? Poisoned? No, couldn’t be the last one, Bobbie had been with her the entire day, heck, she’s been the one to buy all the stuff Florence had eaten thus far.

            Florence had made it to the line of trees, leaning her shoulder heavily on one of the barks as she lost her stomach. Bobbie couldn’t help the wince at the painful sound as she pulled Florence’s hair up despite how short it was to show that she was there and willing to help. The psychic leans back after a few seconds but doesn’t raise her head. Her next words sends a chill up her spine. “There’s something standing in front of your van.”

            “What… what do you want to do about it?”

            “I don’t, I don’t know. He’s overwhelming, his emotions are all of the place. I can’t-“

            “Hey hey hey, breathe. Take a moment. What do you mean about his emotions?” Bobbie pulls her up and presses her against her chest like a hug, she wasn’t comfortable with physical contact, but she would make the exception for Florence any day. The psychic just accepts it, most likely not fully aware of their position as she turns her head to look at whatever stood before the detective’s van. Florence wasn’t squeamish in the short time she’d known her, she’d watched poke at pictures without batting an eye, whatever she saw to cause this kind of reaction left her trying not to ask questions least she gave herself nightmares.

            “Empathy. He’s projecting all over the place, like ba-bad energy.” Florence shook her head and buried it deeper into the hug, hands shaking as she latched her fingers onto Bobbie’s belt. Her voice was a little shaky and strained, more like she was holding a heavy weight than being close to tears. “Angry- they’re angry. Terrified and scared. They want to talk.”

            “You don’t-“

            “I have to, he came looking for me specifically, I can’t ignore him, or he won’t go away.” Florence seems to be physically preparing herself for war as she pulled away from the hug and rubbed a harsh hand over her face. Before Bobbie could get much more of a word in, the insane psychic was marching towards the van like a man on a mission.

            Florence felt shaky and stifled, like she was wearing one of those Halloween costume masks. It was the middle of the day, with the sun directly over them but she only felt cold. Water soaking her head to toe, mud clinging to her legs and staining her hands. Things prodded at her and now that she had an idea of the feeling projected, she assumed it were branches and leaves.

            She wasn’t proud of the scene she’d created, but she couldn’t help it. The main thing that’d help her embarrassment - or rather lack of it - was Bobbie’s willingness to offer aid and comfort. The woman hadn’t even questioned her about the entire situation beyond trying to understand. She’d even offered an out, and Florence could feel her heart fall for her just a little bit more at the lack of disgusted or ‘she’s insane’ looks cross the detective’s face.

            The being standing before her was definitely human and she was going to spear the details because she didn’t think her stomach could handle a description beyond the understood. The man could’ve been middle aged or young, it was hard to tell. His face was… let’s just say well on its way to looking like a skeleton, along with the rest of his body. His clothes were ripped and branches, mud and all sorts of forestry clung to him. When he turned to face her, Florence had to push down on the little unhappy turn her stomach made at the lack of eyes like most of the ghosts she talked to had.

            It didn’t matter how long you were doing the job, or how long you had abilities, there were just some things you never really got used to. Florence steeled herself and squared her shoulders, unconsciously taking note of Bobbie following behind her unquestioningly and with a determined look on her face. The detective stands at the ready, like a bodyguard. It was knowing that someone has her back that gave her the confidence to sift through the raging emotions swirling around her like a storm and finally acknowledge the being before her. The question was, where to start?”

            “She said you can help me?” The being starts, voice low and gravelly. He sounded more like dirt and rocks making noise to formulate the human language than an actual human.

            “Who said I could help you?”

            “The kind one, Noelani.”

            “Noelani send you to find me?” She repeated it for Bobbie, glancing at her when the understanding sparks in the detective’s eyes. “Why?”

            “She said you were trying to help. I had information, you needed them.”

            “Information, what information?”

            “I am Kaholo Bercott. I was the first victim killed.” Florence could psychically feel her heart stutter in her chest as the emotions turned sour, suffocating her. She presses her hand over her chest and leans one hand on the van to keep her upright, shaking her head as Bobbie takes a step forward. She takes a glance at the detective, noting the tight eyes and tense form, seemed the emotions from Kaholo were strong enough to effect outside forms -the living- as well.

            That wasn’t good, that meant the soul was angry. An angry soul is a very dangerous one. An angry soul didn’t have any rule or morals stopping them from getting what they needed done. An angry soul didn’t care for the living and sure as hell didn’t care what happened to them if they had the unfortunate chance of being in the way.

            “Kaholo. What do you want?” Florence hisses, straightening her back and staring the apparition where his eyes would have been. Respect for the dead, yes, but Florence wasn’t about to bow her back to someone who thought he could scare her into getting what he wanted. It was more of a pride thing than respect, Florence had fought for that respect all her life, she wasn’t about to let some angry soul think he had any control over her.

            Kaholo pushes harder, taking a step towards her. A screech seemed to follow him with the movement. Not a screech, not exactly… more of a scream. The terrified scream of someone being chased. Pictures, glimpses flashed behind her eyes at every blink, bleeding in like spilled drink.

            A forest.

            Dark night.

            Rain beating on the leaves.

            Florence growls and slams her fist on the van, making Bobbie jerk back in surprise. She idly notes that she had to apologise to her for hitting her vehicle when all of this was over, the saving grace was that she wasn’t strong enough to cause a dent. “Stand down.”

            “I will not. Find them, you will find them.” Kaholo screeched, neck turning at odd angle, and mouth open in a snarl. “Find them!”

            “Stand down or I will walk away.” Florence stands tall, clenching her fists and gritting her teeth. She let the strength of her aura, her presence create a barrier around her and the detective, her own emitted emotions became a shield. “I will not bow to your wishes!”

            “You will. You will listen to me!”

            “You will not. My abilities are thousands of years old. You cannot hope to control me.” Florence could feel her voice vibrate in her chest, the sun above them felt cold, too cold. “You will stand down.”

            And just like that it was over. Kaholo disappeared, the sun was hot, and Florence was kneeling on the hot pitch, holding her head between her hands. Bobbie was almost hesitant, her aura worried and nervous even with the determined look on her face. “Hey hey hey. Let me see.” The detective raises her head and checks her eyes, taking note of the stone dug into her arms, but the job wasn’t done yet. She’d seen what she’d needed to see.

            Bobbie could feel her emotions all over the damn place. Seeing Florence like this was honestly kind of terrifying… hot, but terrifying – ‘Not the time’ she berates herself. A thousand years old? What could she possibly referring to? Blood line? Did abilities like hers pass through blood lines or something like that? It didn’t matter right now because Florence was kneeling on the hot pitch and didn’t look like she was okay.

            Her eyes… were blank. The brown shards tracked her movements easily, but they carried no recognition or understanding. Florence didn’t even seem to register that Bobbie was talking to her, asking her if she was okay. Bobbie was going start shaking her by the grip on the shoulders hard if she didn’t talk in the next few seconds.

            The psychic finally takes in a deep breath and lets life flood back into her eyes. Blood runs down her nose and drips from her chin. Oh, this was a vision, this was what her visions looked like. Bobbie immediately knew she never wanted to see it again, she couldn’t take that lifeless look on someone so lively.

            Florence hardly gives her a second to catch her bearings as she gets to her feet shakily and takes off into the forested area without much beyond a pained ‘follow me.’ Bobbie curses loudly, getting to her feet and following behind, grabbing her phone and closing the door to the van clumsily before taking off.

            The psychic was crashing through the bush and vines without much care, without a path… no, she was following a path, just one Bobbie couldn’t see. The detective glances around as much as she could as she tries to keep pace, taking in the broken pieces of bark that never quite healed and dead branches still littering the forest floor. It was hardly anything to go on since she was literally looking for forestry out of place in a forest, but Florence took her steps sure and true, not bothering to raise her head and look for danger.

            Bobbie did that for her, keeping an eye out for her when she couldn’t do so herself. Thankfully, this side of the forest seemed uninhabited by animals beyond birds, so it made their track much easier. “Careful!”

            She watches as Florence slides down a small ridge and stumbles for two seconds, waiting for Bobbie to catch up. It was relieving to see that Flo was actually aware of her surroundings and actively reacting to external environment. Shame would be that Bobbie couldn’t report to Akamu that she’d walked into her fist without questions, because the level of stress this woman seemed to love putting her through would leave her with matching grey locks.

            Florence points to a point close to a boulder, hand streaked with dirt and scratches. Bobbie takes note of her muddied and green stained appearance with a grim scowl, noticing that she was quite well on her way to matching her. Florence rolled her eyes before trekking on. Whoops, she said that out loud, not that she’d regretted it, was wasn’t lying about looking like mud monsters. She kind of regretted leaving dusty streets and exhaust fumes that seemed to leave tar coating your lungs, at least in a city, mud was the last thing on her mind.

            “It’s here. They’re here.” The psychic practically collapses against the boulder as though her strings had been cut. Hands dug into the dirt beneath her without much more of a clue.

            “What, who?” Bobbie finally caught her breath, damn, Florence could be fast when she wanted. She didn’t think the tiny goblin had that kind of energy in her. She stands up properly and takes in her surroundings, there wasn’t much to work with, but little notes jumped out at her. The scratch marks on the boulder, the distance away from the road they were, the dirt that seemed soft despite the lack of rain currently and… oh, how the dirt where Florence was sitting seemed moved compared to the settled mud around it. “Just… stay here, I need to call for help.”

            Florence wiped hopelessly at the blood staining the bottom of her lip, hardly bothering to taking in her surroundings. It didn’t matter, she was tired, and she could hear Bobbie taking into her phone barely a yell away. The vision was psychically, physically, and emotionally draining. One of the hardest she’d ever dealt with. Either she was getting old or Kaholo had issues that she wasn’t even going to bother addressing.

            Speaking of Kaholo, the spirit stood by her foot. Standing where he was buried just below, been buried for quite some time. This appearance was different, he looked human, he looked alive. His skin was a healthy shade of brown and his clothes were new and clean. He knelt at the grave and rested his hand on her ankle, if Florence were more awake, she’d raise her eyebrow at how solid the touch felt.

            “Mahalo.” Kaholo smiled at her kindly before looking off into the distance that she couldn’t see. “Thank you, for everything.”

            Bobbie watched as Florence picked at the dirt under her nail without much thought, not noticing as the van pulled up to the bookstore. The psychic has waited until the bodies of Kaholo and his wife had been unearthed, silent and tired. She leaned against Bobbie the entire time without argument, promising a detailed report to Akamu softly and wrapping the offered blanket around her shoulders.           

            “That doesn’t always happen you know.” Florence mutters as she settles her hands in her lap, visibly twitching not to pick at the dirt dried on her hands. “It’s just one off things. I’m sorry you had to see that.”

            What… oh, oh. No, she couldn’t have that, she wasn’t having that. “And that’s fine.”

            “What?” It was Florence’s turn to be caught off guard, her sad, brown eyes trained on Bobbie.

            “What happened out there was none of your fault in anyway. Heck, you just found two bodies and possibly more since they’re still searching the area. You just helped a family have a body to bury. What you did out there was amazing.”

            “Weren’t… weren’t you scared?”

            “Yes, I was. I was scared for you.” Bobbie rests a weighted hand on her shoulder, hoping to ground her. “I didn’t know if you were okay. That’s why I was scared.”

            “Oh…”

            “Come on, let’s get you inside and cleaned up.” Bobbie pushes open her door with flourish, hoping to spark some life into those exhausted eyes. A small ‘hey’ makes her stop. “What?”

            “You’ve met Kaleo already, so he’d be comfortable with you…” Florence takes a couple seconds to organise her thoughts. “Would you like to stay over for dinner?”

            “Yes, yes I would like to. Thank you.” May not have been the circumstances that led to this dinner and movie, but she’d take what she could get.

            She wanted to follow up on the case with Captain Akamu, see if they’d gotten any useful information, but for the first time in two years, she could choose to put her life before the mission. Being over with them for the night would mean she could keep an eye on Florence and make sure she was okay, tonight she could get to talk more to Kaleo, tonight she could have something for herself with no strings attached.