Aris Returns (40 page)

“Don’t worry, Sarah. We’ll get him. I know Manu is the bastard who orchestrated the
shooting.”

“But he didn’t die. I thought he was dead, but he didn’t die.” She rested her elbows
on the cafeteria table and leaned her forehead into the palms of her hands. “He was
dead, I know he was dead.” She refused to accept the only conclusion that was obvious
to her. Aris. Somehow Aris had entered the dying body, taken possession of it. It
could not be and yet, what else?

“Honey,” Colleen wrapped her arm around her friend’s shoulder. “You’re in shock. It’s
okay. Everything is okay.” She brushed Sarah’s hair from her face, lifting her chin
to check her pupils. Her eyes were glassy from lack of sleep, dilated even though
the lights in the cafeteria were bright. “You’re in shock, we’re all in shock. They
obviously made a mistake about the severity of his wounds.”

Even as she spoke, Colleen knew he should be dead this morning. Her eyes met the eyes
of her husband. Neither had an explanation for the miraculous healing of the dying
man, yet both were grateful for his life. Both were grateful he would recover.

Sarah spoke quietly. “Please, let’s go back to his room. I want to be there when he
wakes up.” They rose, pushing their chairs under the long table and the three friends
left the room together.

#

“We’ve got him for attempted murder and this time, it’s going to stick. Carlos just
left the office and he’s going to testify.” Bob smiled as he gave his friend the news.

“I’m glad that animal is off the street, but I can’t help worrying about Carlos.”
Sarah switched the phone receiver to her left hand, picked up her pen with her right
and began to doodle infinity signs
on the yellow pad that rested on her desk.

“Strange, but he doesn’t seem the least bit afraid. Almost dying has made him so different
but I suppose it would do that to anyone. He even walks differently and his mannerisms
have altered. Have you noticed?”

Sarah paused before she answered. Had she noticed? Of course she did but she chose
to ignore it. She had seen him only once since his release from the hospital and only
in Colleen’s office. He was avoiding her and she was almost glad. She was frightened
that being in his presence would verify her theory. “I really haven’t seen him much,
Bob, but a near death experience and a miracle healing would change anyone, wouldn’t
it.”

He chuckled. “I guess you’re right. He’s a good guy and it seems he has a second chance
to act on it.” She heard him sigh into the receiver. “I’ll never understand it though.”

“I don’t think anyone will. The doctor’s didn’t believe their own eyes but he’s walking
around, alive and well, thank God.”

“Are you doing okay now?” His voice softened as he questioned her. He and Colleen
had been worried about her. She, too, appeared different after their hospital experience.
She seemed withdrawn from the world. She hadn’t accepted any of their dinner invitations
of the last few weeks.

“Yes, I’m fine.” She didn’t want a conversation about her emotional state; she wasn’t
even sure what it was at the moment. “Just fine. Things are settling back into their
normal routine. But thanks for asking.”

“Hey, how about dinner with us on Friday?”

“I’ll get back to you on that if that’s okay.”

“Sure.” He silently questioned her being ‘fine’ but accepted her answer. “Sure, just
let us know.”

“Bob, I’ve got a client coming in a few minutes. Thanks for keeping me updated.”

They said their goodbyes. She sat quietly. Thoughts of Aris filled her mind. Refusing
to accept them, she stood, crossed to the door and opened it.

“Maggie, let’s go to lunch.”

#

The sound of men snoring echoed through the concrete cell block. Carlos entered unseen
and unheard, his newly acquired otherworldly powers silencing the minds and closing
the eyes of any who might have stopped him. He made his way down the long corridor
until he reached his destination. Gazing at the sleeping man behind the bars, he smiled.

“Manu.” His voice was clear yet soft spoken so as not to wake those sleeping around
him. “Manu.”

Sleepy eyed, the man inside the cell swung his legs over the side of the cot and sat
up. In the dim light of night, he didn’t recognize the figure outside the bars. Suddenly
his eyes grew wide as he made out the features of his visitor. He leaped to his feet
as if to move toward the bars, then held back. “Carlos?”

“Yes, Manu, it’s Carlos.”

The prisoner’s eyes darted furtively from side to side. “What are you doing here,
man? I thought you were, I mean, how’d you get in here?”

“I found a way in and I’m going to get you out of here for good.”

A smile spread over the convict’s face. “Yeah?” He moved slowly toward the wall made
of bars that separated the two men. “Brothers to the end.” He stopped inches away
from the bars peering through at his would be savior.

“Brothers to the end.” Carlos grinned. Just as their eyes locked, his arm darted between
the bars, his fingers locking around Manu’s throat. Manu struggled for only a moment,
then hung limply from the hand of his killer. “And this, my brother, is the end.”

He laughed softly as he tossed the dead man on the floor. Turning, he walked away.

#

“I honestly don’t know how it happened.” The three friends sat around the dinner table
as Bob refreshed Sarah’s glass of wine. “It’s uncanny. They found him dead in his
cell with his neck broken. There’s no explanation for it. No one heard or saw anything.
At least that’s what they’re all saying.

“The same night, Manu’s two seconds in command were found dead, side by side, next
to a dumpster in back of a bar. Same thing, both with broken necks. It must have scared
the gang because they’re all scattered. We can’t find any of them.”

Sarah shivered, “I can’t say I’m sorry. At least now Carlos and his family are safe.”

“Yeah, well, at first we thought someone in prison got to Manu and maybe that’s how
it went down. But, the two outside? It couldn’t have been the same person. Weird,
in all three cases, there was no sign of struggle. It’s as if someone just walked
up to them, said hello and snapped their necks. It’s the damnedest thing.”

Colleen began to clear the table. “Carlos came into the office yesterday. He didn’t
seem too surprised, but he’s been acting removed from everything ever since he got
out of the hospital. He didn’t even mention you, Sarah, and that’s pretty strange.”

Sarah avoided her friend’s eyes as she stood to help with the clean-up. “I’ve only
heard from him once, but he’s been through more than any human should go through.
I’m sure he just needs time to adjust to his new life.

#

Her last thought as she fell asleep was of Carlos. His avoidance of her only made
her more sure of her theory. The single time he had seen her since his release from
the hospital had been unfulfilling. He wouldn’t meet her eyes. He hadn’t been friendly
to either
Colleen or to her, just answering the questions that needed to be answered to maintain
his parole. Would they ever be able to speak openly with one another again? She wasn’t
sure it was possible. With her mind full of turmoil, she fell into a troubled sleep.

Just before dawn, a shadow covered the window to her bedroom. The screen was lifted
silently and placed on the floor beneath the casing as the figure climbed soundlessly
into her room. He moved to stand next to her bed. As he watched her, she stirred softly,
then settled beneath the covers into a deep and timeless sleep. He had been by her
bed every night for months. He had watched her sleep, invaded her dreams, longed for
her so deeply he could barely control his desire. He licked his soft, full lips and
moaned. At long last, he had found his beloved, but would she want to be his?

THE END