Marie (Teumessian Trilogy Book 1) (18 page)

“The train leaves in the morning.” She said handing the tickets to Tyler and sitting down beside him.

“Do you want to try to find a place to stay the night?” Tyler asked

“No” she said quietly, just staring off at the train tracks ahead of them.

“Ok” Tyler replied, sitting back against the wall. He still didn’t know what to say or do anymore. Marie looked so empty, so lost, as if nothing was left of her spark. Tyler knew this was taking its toll. Marie gently leaned over and rested her head on Tyler’s shoulder. He felt himself relax as he reached his arm around her. Her eyes were closed. He gently leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. She didn’t move but he could feel her body relaxing. She quickly fell asleep. Tyler stayed awake to keep an eye out. She had protected him he had to do the same for her.

The morning came quicker than Tyler realized. He heard the boarding call for their train. Despite the noise, Marie was still asleep. He gently nudged her, “Hey, it’s time to go.” He said sweetly in her ear. Marie nodded her head as she sat up. They boarded the train as they had before, Tyler checking again to make sure it was a full car. Marie just walked straight in and laid down on the bench. It was becoming routine. Tyler sat down next to her and brushed her hair off her face. She was just staring again off into space. Tyler grabbed a blanket from the overhead compartment and then took her backpack off her back and duffle bag off her shoulder and placed them on the floor next to his satchel. He didn’t say a word as he placed the blanket over her. He started to get up to move to the chair but she grabbed his arm.

“Please, don’t go,” she said, looking up at him. Her eyes were glimmering as they were tearing up again.

Tyler nodded his head as he lifted the blanket and laid down next to her cradling her in his arms. He stroked her hair until she fell asleep again. This time Tyler couldn’t keep himself awake. He fell asleep clutching her tight. They slept for what felt like forever. When Tyler awoke it was night. He was unsure of the time and with the traveling he didn’t really care anymore. Marie was still asleep in his arms. He tried not to move for fear of waking her, but she stirred anyway. “Morning,” he said with a smile, “or at least I think it may be morningish” Tyler said with a laugh.

Marie sat up and looked around. She realized she was still in the trench coat as she felt it with her hands. “Where’s my bag?”

He reached over and grabbed it off the floor. “Do you even remember boarding the train?”

Marie shook her head, no. “How long have we been on the train?”

Tyler realized she had so detached herself she was unaware of even where she was or how she got there. “We are approaching twenty four hours on the train back to California.” Tyler replied rubbing her arm.

“Ok” she replied, climbing over him and standing up. She tossed her bag on the chair and took the trench coat off. She just stood there and looked at herself. Tyler just watched. Suddenly, she started to laugh.

Tyler couldn’t help it. He was smiling too, “What’s so funny?”

“In a sick way, I kinda like this outfit.” She said with a laugh turning around and putting her hands on her hips. Her eyes were bright again. She was back.

Tyler let out a laugh. “It does have a bright flash to it.”

“Don’t think I can get away with wearing this off the train though.” Marie said, smiling.

“I don’t think you would blend in well” Tyler reached out his hand and grabbed hers. He pulled her back to the bench. Marie knelt down on it. “But in here you can keep it on as long as you want.” Marie smiled. Tyler pulled her close and kissed her, wrapping her in his arms again. “I think we can spend the rest of this trip just doing this,” he said with a smile. Marie smiled back, nuzzling her face in his chest.

Chapter 29

The train arrived back in California three days later.

“So, where did we park the bike again?” Tyler said with a chuckle, holding Marie’s hand.

“I have no clue. We can just get another.” Marie replied, smiling back.

“Oh, on to grand theft moto, huh?” Tyler said laughing

“Hey, I’ve done worse.” Marie replied pulling Tyler close to her and kissing him.

“Pick one,” she said pointing to the parking lot in front of them.

“So any car or just bikes?”

“Pick a bike.” She replied, walking towards the lot.

“How about that Harley?” Tyler pointed to a red Harley Davidson Night Rod Special parked at the back of the lot.

Marie was still smiling, “Good choice.” She said as she approached it. “Keep watch,” she said as she started to mess with the ignition. Tyler looked around the parking lot for anyone. It looked clear. He then heard the roar of the engine. “Got it,” she said straddling the bike. “This time I’m driving.” Marie tapped her hand on the back of the bike for Tyler to get on. He climbed quickly on the back, as Marie revved the engine. They took off and headed back to the bunker. This time Tyler was keeping track of the time, he wanted to know where it really was. He was able to figure they were about fifteen miles outside of Los Angeles, based on the amount of time and approximate speed they were going. His directions were off so he wasn’t sure if they were north or east or both.

They arrived back at the property and it was as they left it. Marie pulled the bike to the same spot she kept the previous bike and covered it up as she headed towards the bunker. Tyler started to follow, but stopped. He looked over at the dilapidated house and then back towards Marie.

“Hey, question, why don’t you live in the house?” he asked

“Look at it. Would you live in there?” She replied “Plus the smell is awful.”

Tyler looked confused, “Why does it smell?”

Marie took a deep breath, “Go look for yourself,” she said as she opened the doors to enter the bunker.

Tyler’s curiosity was getting the better of him. What was in there? He started walking towards the house and as he got closer he could smell it. It was a putrid smell, like something was rotting. Tyler slowly opened the faded yellow front door. The door opened and the smell hit him hard, it was so foul. He started to cough, he covered his nose as he entered the house. It didn’t take him long to find the source of the smell. It was a rotting human corpse. The man, or at least what Tyler figured was a man, was tied up to a chair in the middle of the living room, dried blood surrounded the body. Tyler moved closer to examine the body closer. As he approached, what he saw made him jump back in horror as he tried to stop himself from vomiting. Tyler was sure it was a man now as the remains of his penis had been severed and were in his mouth. Tyler heaved, trying not to vomit, the smell and the sight were so appalling to him. He stumbled away from the body and found himself in a bedroom. Tyler grasped at the wall to steady himself but all his hands landed on were pictures on the walls. He moved to the window and pulled open the shredded black curtains to get more light in. As the light hit the walls, Tyler felt himself get weak. The pictures were of dead women, mutilated. The walls were covered with them. Tyler averted his eyes to avoid seeing them but they were everywhere. The room was spinning. Tyler stumbled out of the room and ran out of the front door but he didn’t get far. He collapsed to his knees only feet from the house. He couldn’t hold it in anymore, he vomited on the ground. He could barely hold himself up. He just knelt there staring at the ground trying to catch his breath, playing in his head what Marie had said about the owner of the property, ‘He got what he deserved.’ Tyler sat back on his heels as he caught his breath. He slowly got to his feet. He looked back over his shoulder at the house, then looked away again and walked to the bunker.

Tyler took the stairs down into the bunker and saw Marie sitting on her bed sharpening one of her knives. Tyler was shaking, Marie noticed immediately.

“You actually went in there, didn’t you?” Marie said, looking up from her knife.

“What the hell was all that about?” Tyler asked “That was disgusting. Why did you leave it like that?” Tyler was still trying to fully catch his breath.

“The sick fuck got what he deserved,” Marie replied, going back to her knives.

Tyler was still breathing heavily, “You killed him and fed him his dick. You realize how sick that is?”

“Really, are you shocked? And just to clarify I didn’t kill him and then feed him his dick. I tied him up the same way he tied up those girls and I cut it off and fed it to him, A-L-I-V-E. I let him bleed out choking on it.” Marie stood up putting the knife down. “Did you see the pictures? Did you see what he was, what he was doing? I don’t regret it one bit. I don’t regret any of the bodies I have created.” Marie walked up to Tyler. “Think about it. You’re better world, the world you seem to want to protect so much, is made up of monsters like him. He deserved to see the devil.” Marie looked Tyler directly in the eyes. “Can you tell me you would have just allowed him to continue what he was doing or would you have done something about it?”

Tyler realized she was right. Like her method or not, she had stopped this man. “I see he deserved to die. I agree with you. I am not questioning that. What bothers me is how and the fact that you are so comfortable with doing what I have seen you do to another living person.” Tyler grabbed her arms

“Death is death. It really doesn’t matter in what form it comes. You enjoyed burning Bruce’s body. Don’t stand there and say you didn’t. You can try to say you are different, that the way we think is different, but it’s not. I just have the balls to do what is necessary.”

“Wait a fucking minute. You were all ok with all those innocent people dying at Willis Tower, but you killed a man to protect a bunch of potential women?”

“The wicked deserve to die. It is that simple. Everyone else should fend for themselves. You enjoyed stopping the wicked, so just shut up.”

Tyler was speechless. She was right, he did enjoy burning Bruce’s body, he even wanted to pull the trigger to end Bruce’s life in the first place. He didn’t know what he would have done if he had discovered the man in the house, doing what he was doing to those women. He could now see himself having done the same, well, not the same method, but defiantly ending the man’s life in a painful and terrible way.

Marie could tell by Tyler’s lost expression that it was time to find a new topic. “Ok, we hit up Dr. Jones next.” Marie walked over to the kitchen table and spreading the files out. “I’m sure you have questions for him, am I correct?” Marie said, looking back at Tyler as he still stood in that same spot, just frozen in place.

Tyler nodded, “Yes the formula. If it worked once, it could work again.” He walked over to the table. Tyler was back on track. This was what he was after from the beginning, the formula. He knew that if he got his hands on the formula it would all be worth it.

Marie laughed, “I love how you all say ‘it worked’ because I am such a shining example of perfection.” She pulled Dr. Jones’s file from the pile. “He is still with the company.” Marie said, pointing to the file.

“Yes, that is why access will be difficult.” Tyler replied

“I grew up there. Don’t you think I would have some ideas and tricks to getting around undetected?” Marie said with a smile. “He’s in charge now. Looks like he hasn’t been too successful since they killed Stanley.”

Tyler knew it was better at this point to keep her on track and not let her mind wander to the loved ones she had lost. “So, plan?” he said

“Jones used to work really long odd hours. Does your intelligence say the same is still true?”

“Yes never gone before three am and not back till late in the afternoon,” Tyler answered.

“Where does he go?” Marie asked, looking at Tyler.

“He has a small place in town. We could hit him there. It may be easier.”

“No, we get him at the facility. You are after the formula and that is where it would be.” Marie replied, stepping away from the table.

“Are you really ok with me getting my hands on the formula?” Tyler sat down at the table.

“It doesn’t affect me if you have it. Just remember when you get it, what it is capable of.” She said, pulling her shirt off, her scar riddled body directly in front of Tyler. “Death is not always a bad thing.” Marie laid down on the bed.

Tyler sat there for a moment racking in his head what she had just said. Health potential was incredible but what was the cost of immortality. Was her instability a product of her trauma or was it the chemicals that made her who she was? A chill ran down Tyler’s spine, but he knew he had to at least try. He stood up, “I know what it could mean but I won’t give up on trying to help people. Even though I know not all deserve it.”

Marie looked over to him, “No matter what you see, you always see the good out there, even among all the bad. Must be nice to still see good in people.”

“I don’t believe you don’t. You put yourself through hell to protect me. You showed me how to disarm that bomb. You saved all those future girls that monster would have killed. You do care. It is still there.” Tyler replied, walking towards the bed.

“How do you know it ever was?” Marie was staring at the ceiling.

Tyler sat down on the bed, “Because you loved people, you are not the monster you want people to think you are. There is more to you than that.” Tyler took her hand.

Marie looked away from the ceiling and at Tyler, “They never wanted that for me or for any of us. They wanted monsters and that is what I am giving them. It doesn’t matter outside of that. You’re a sweet boy. This is a world you will never truly understand and I’m glad you don’t” Marie said, reaching up and touching his cheek. “I’m going to take a nap. We will leave for the facility after midnight.” Marie rolled away from Tyler in the bed.

Tyler reached out to touch her arm but he stopped himself. He felt a tear come to his eye. She had good in her heart. He knew it, he just wished she could see it herself. He stood up. He wanted a shower and he needed to decompress. Tyler took a long hot shower, trying to wash away the smell. Tyler emerged from the shower to find Marie fast asleep. She looked so peaceful just lying there. She melted his heart when she was like that. He put a pair of shorts on and climbed into the bed with her. He just wanted to be near her. He curled up next to her and drank in the smell of her dark hair. Tyler resisted the urge to try to hold her. He just looked up at the ceiling and drifted off to sleep.

Tyler woke to a sudden shake. It was Marie,

“It’s 1:30am, time to get ready.” She said calmly. She was already ready to go. She had her black leather pants, boots, and a new red leather top on.

“That’s a new top, why the change?” Tyler asked, taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes.

“The other top was shredded, don’t you remember?”

“Oh, you’re right.” Tyler replied, sitting up.

Marie had readied her backpack, but wasn’t wearing it. She only had her knives harnessed to her back and a small caliber hand gun strapped to her thigh. “I would recommend a gun at the least with a few clips of ammunition.” Marie said, throwing a black shirt at Tyler.

“Ok,” Tyler said, going to his satchel. He got dressed, then he found Marie had placed a gun and hip holster next to his bag. He strapped it on and turned to Marie, “I’m ready. Can I drive this time?”

“What is it with men and having to drive? Fine, but you follow my directions.” She replied, walking towards the stairs.