Ed Note: The story veered off in a direction I didn't really plan. It gets dark in this chapter. There is language, and violence. Just a warning. If you haven't' been reading here's a quick catch up. It's 1994, small college town, two 20 year old's went looking in the underground for Magic and found it. ASHTON has spent her life suffering from gender dysphoria without the language to express it. Her new friend Marie has a talent for knowing things that people are trying hide, and a talent for folk magic. Garrett has fell in with the wrong crowd a satanist named Rick. Rick has a grudge against a local pastor, Jacob Hall and seemingly caused his church bus to crash, killing two. Ashton and Marie were the first on the scene and saved lives.

Here we go!

Chapter 7 - The Sandwich Artist

The EMT was insistent, and Marie was in no state to argue. She was pale, shivering, and weak. She was forced to sit down on the bumper of the ambulance while the young man took her temperature and blood pressure.

“Mam, are you a diabetic?” he asked.

“No… I just need. I need…” Marie struggled to finish a sentence.

The EMT studied her eyes and then handed her a juice box with a straw. “Can you drink that?”

Marie began sipping. The EMT handed Ashton some glucose tablets. “Are you her boyfriend?”

“Me? No, just friends,” Ashton responded.

“Do you know what happened? Did she get injured, I don’t see anything?”

Ashton shook her head. “No, I think she’s in some kind of shock, she saved a bunch of people’s lives.”

“Okay, give her those, let us know if she doesn’t get better.”

The EMT quickly got with another to transfer an old woman with a broken arm. Ashton helped Marie away from the back of the ambulance and the EMTs loaded her into the ambulance.

Marie quickly sucked down the juice and seemed a bit less disoriented. Ashton gave her some of the glucose tablets and whispered, “What happened, did you resurrect that baby?”

Marie rolled her eyes and shook her head. “No of course not,” she said and downed some of the pills. “I just helped her breath, she was dying.”

“And it took this much out of you?”

She nodded. “There’s always a cost.” They glanced around the area. Another firetruck was on the scene. Police had blocked the highway from both directions. The only vehicles leaving were ambulances. She pointed to some shade. “I think we’re going to be stuck here for a while.”

Ashton nodded and they went over. “If anyone asked, all I did was CPR, got it.”

“Yeah, got it.”

Fifteen minutes later two bodies were laid on the highway under tarps. The old woman in the wheelchair, and an old man. The mother had been pulled out on a back board. She was severely injured but expected to live.

The other good samaritans were clustered around the ambulances or sitting in their cars. Officers were walking around interviewing people. A guy in a button down shirt was walking around with a tape recorder.. A news van had just pulled up and was sitting a tripod up on the shoulder. “Biggest thing to happen in Mud Creek since the accident at…” Ashton didn’t finish her thought.

They were approached by a uniformed police officer with a notepad.

“I’m officer Barton and you must be the heroic couple, been hearing a lot about you.”

“We’re just friends,” Ashton said.

The officer was young and fit with curly hair. Ashton had seen him around town a few times, he wasn’t like most of Mud Creek PD, guys with buzz cuts and permanent scowls. After getting names and contact info the officer took a second look at Ashton. “Was your Dad Greg Banks?”

Ashton nodded.

“My Dad, worked with yours in the mines. Said he was a good man.”

Ashton looked down, “Thanks.”

After a moment Barton looked them both over, “The story I’ve heard is that you saved a lot of lives today,” he said and focused on Marie,” And you brought a baby back to life.”

Marie shook her head, ‘No, just cleared an obstruction, no miracles.”

“CPR,” Ashton added.

Barton smiled, “Well regardless thank you both for stopping, and sorry you’ve been stuck here for so long. You’re free to go and if we need anything else, we’ll call. Barton waved over to an officer blocking the highway, pointed at Marie and gave a thumbs up.

The guy with the button up shirt came by as they started walking towards their car, “Hey, people keep telling me you two are the real heroes here. Mam, they say you were the first to go in the bus.

“I don’t know,” Marie said. She was starting to look weak again and leaning heavily on Ashton.

“Sorry, she’s in shock, needs to get home.” Ashton said and kept walking.

“Can I just get your names for the article, I don’t want to bother you later?”

“Yeah sure, she’s Marie… What’s your last name?”

“Mayuex, m,a,y,u,e,x,” Marie said, while her head bobbed.

“I’m… Ash, Ash Banks.”

“Now, they’re saying you both…” Ash cut off the reporter when Marie nearly lost her footing. They made their way to her car and he helped her into the passenger seat. She was asleep when they got back to her house.

Ash nearly had to carry her in. Marie pointed towards the phone. “Call Jess, her number’s there.”

Fifteen minutes later Jess arrived and Ash filled her in on the story. “We’ve got to make soup,” Jess said. She quickly grabbed a pot, and filled it with broth from the refrigerator. She directed Ash on cutting carrots then ran out to the garden. She quickly returned with several clippings of herbs and tossed them in the broth.

“Ashton, Marie has taught me a few things, and you’re seeing one of them now. Nothing comes for free, even with magic.” Jess pointed towards Marie laying on the couch. “She gave alot of her energy to the baby. We can help her recover much faster though by giving her some of our energy. So we’re going to stir. Women stir to the left, 100 times, then we switch. You stir the right, 100 times. We trade off until the soup is done. While you’re stirring, focus on stirring.”

“Okay, wait. Why right for me?”

“Because you’re a man. Marie always said women turn to the left and men turn to the right. It’s part of the tradition”

Jess took the wood spoon but before she could dip it in the broth Ash grabbed her hand. “Wait.”

She looked over on the couch. Marie was not resting peacefully, her face was pale again, beads of sweat were on her face.

Ash took a deep breath and looked down into Jess’s eyes. “We’re in this together right?”

Jess seemed to stiffen up. “Sure?”

“I can trust you?”

Jess blew out a breath in frustration. “Ashton, we’re basically in a coven together, I think we can trust each other.”

“Call me Ash.” She took a deep breath. “You know how Marie knows things about people?”

Jess nodded.

“She told me something I’ve known about myself for a long time.”

Jess shook the spoon in front of her. “Can this wait, Ash?”

Ash blink and then it spilled out. “No, it really can’t. She told me I’m a… I’m a girl.” Ash pointed at her chest, “Like on the inside. It’s true, I mean… I know that I don’t look like it, but I’ve always felt like I was. Or was supposed to be. So what do I do? Stir right or left?”

Any semblance of annoyance left Jess’s eyes. She looked at him with kind eyes. “I think it’s up to you.”

Jess turned and began to stir, silently counting rotations. She handed Ash the spoon and they traded places. Ash began to wonder, in this world what would be more important? How she looked, or how she felt. When the question was phrased that way, the answer was easy.

She stirred left.

***

Ash parked her car in the driveway and walked up to the house. The soup seemed to work. Marie got better and then drifted off into sleep. Marie’s words kept playing back in her head. “This isn’t a game, whatever Rick woke up has killed people. We have to be careful.” Ashton reached under her shirt and felt the knotted cord necklace she gave him.

As soon as she walked into the house her Mom grabbed him and hugged him. “Ashton! Where have you been? Your Grandma called, she heard your name on the scanner. There was a big crash.”

“I’m fine Mom,” Ash said.

“Reporters called. WSIL, someone from “The Record.” She took a step back from her and studied Ash for a moment. She pinched her chin and said, “Something is different.”

“Different?” Ashton dropped heavily on the couch.

“I don’t know, your face, it’s just different?”

Ash shrugged. “It was really bad, me and Marie were the first ones there.”

Ash explained the story, Marie went in the bus first, used first aid, saved a baby that couldn’t breath with CPR.

“She sounds incredible.”

Ash nodded, “Yeah, she is.”

Ash’s Mom sat down in her chair and smiled, “So… Are you two going out?”

Ashton gave a half smile and looked at the ceiling. “No Mom, we’re just friends.”

“Well that’s a relief, one can never have too many friends,” she said with a laugh. Her eye caught the cords around her neck. “Hey, what’s that around your neck?”

Ash pulled the intricate knotted cords out and studied them. “Marie made this for me.”

Ash’s Mom nodded in approval, “Those are intricate knots.”

Ash nodded and walked to the kitchen to get a glass of water. She stopped to study the Blue Willow china set displayed on the hutch. It made her sad. “Mom, do you know where this china set came from?”

“Of course, your Great Grandfather, Ed bought that for your Great Grandmother. It was passed down to us. I’ve told you that story before,” she replied.

Ashton nodded, “Mom, sometimes things look like one thing and can be something else.”

“Whatdya mean?” she said from across the room.

Ashton walked back in and stood near the door. “That tea set was stolen from a Japanese person’s house in California while they were being kept in an internment camp. It had been passed down in their family for years. Ed bought it cheap from the guy who stole it.”

Her Mom frowned. “Ashton, you can’t possibly know that.”

“I know Mom, but it was. Listen if I tell you something will you promise not to flip out.”

“What are you talking about Ashton, what’s going on?”

“You know how when I was a kid, I told you that objects told me stories, and you thought I had such a creative imagination? I’m not making it up. I know things about stuff. Marie’s like me Mom, but with people. She knows things about people. Things people are trying to hide.”

Her Mom shook her head. “Ash? What on God’s green Earth are you talking about?”

Ash took a deep breath? “Marie saw something in me, a secret I’ve been hiding for a long time.”

Her Mom stood up from her chair. “Ashton, are you in trouble?”

“No, not really. Sort of I guess.”

She took a step. “Are you on drugs or something? Is someone hurting you?”

“No Mom, nothing like that.”

Ash gripped the cords. “For a long time I’ve felt wrong. Like something is wrong with me.”

Her Mom came closer and placed her hands on her shoulders, “Oh honey, there’s nothing wrong with you, you’re perfect just how you are.”

Ashton took a step back and her Mom’s hands slid off her shoulders. “Then why do I wish I was a girl?

Ash was surprised, the words just came out, she hadn’t really meant to say them.

Ash’s Mom’s eyes were wide, “You wish you were a girl?”

“Forget it Mom, I’m just… It’s been.” Ash started to walk away towards her room.

“Wait, hold on. Objects tell you stories, your new friend knows secrets people are trying to hide, and you wish you were a girl? This is what you’re telling me?”

“No Mom, forget it, I was just messing with you. I’m really hungry, I need to get something to eat.”

Ash’s Mom took a few steps forward. “Ashton, I don’t know what’s going on with you, but do you need to talk to someone?”

Ash quickly side stepped her Mom and grabbed her keys off the table. “I’ve got to get something to eat.”

“Wait, Ashton. I’ll make something.” She was already out the door.

***

Ash drove across town and drove through a few restaurant parking lots without stopping. She eventually drove to the Northside shopping center and saw Garrett’s Jeep in the subway parking lot. She didn’t see Rick’s old run down car. Ashton parked beside it and went in.

Garrett looked up from his footlong meatball sub. “Hey Ashton, what's up?”

The restaurant was empty except for her friend and a young man working behind the sneezeguard. Soft country music emanated from the ceiling speakers. She quickly walked across the floor and slid in across from him.

Ash leaned forward and spoke in hushed tones, “Hey, what the fuck did you guys do to that bus?”

Garrett looked straight ahead and then smiled. “Oh, man, that bus accident. Crazy I heard you were a real hero.” It was his voice but something felt off.

“Garrett, people died. There were bodies laid out on the highway man. I almost watched a baby die. Did you see Rick tamper with the bus? Did your ritual involve the brakes or something?”

Garrett didn’t speak, Ash realized that he wasn’t really looking at her, but through her. She suddenly felt very scared. “Garrett?”

“Chill dawg. Everything is cool. If you got questions you can ask Rick yourself.”

“Ask him myself?”

The restroom door opened and Rick walked out. He was carrying his forest green Subway sandwich artist shirt and black pants. Neatly folded. He dropped them into the tie dye bag that matched the rest of his hippie outfit.

“Hey, babe! What’s shaking?” Rick said. Ash felt her stomach drop. The music glitched and then cut out. The room seemed to suddenly feel both longer and yet more confining. The overhead fluorescents flickered a few times. Garrett’s smile seemed to get impossibly larger then he took a bite from his sandwich.

“Babe?” Ash asked.

Rick spun on his heels to the young man behind the counter. “Hey man, why don’t you take a break. Go have a smoke or something. I’ll watch the store for a bit.” His words were so friendly, so calm.

The pimply sixteen year old looked up from the cold cuts he was prepping. “Umm, I don’t smoke.”

Rick took a pack of Camels from his pocket and handed him one and a lighter. The boy reached out and took it. “Now’s a great time to start amigo. Just give us ten minutes.”

The young man sped around the counter and out the front door.

“I was just leaving.” Ash stood up but Rick walked up and pushed her back down into the booth.

“Why don’t you stay a little bit longer.” Rick said.

Ash looked towards Garrett for help but he only nodded and continued his soulless grin.

Rick casually walked to the door and used his keys to lock it. He switched off the neon open sign. “So Ash, you want to know more about Hall’s church bus, right?”

Ash felt a lump in her throat, “Rick, I don’t know what is going on but people died. This isn’t a game.” He turned and smiled the creepy dead smile and pulled down the tinted window shades one by one. Ash willed her legs to stand but they wouldn’t move. She remembered this time as a kid she heard loud banging noises at night. They woke her up, but she was too scared to get out of bed and pulled the cover over her head. She wished she could do that now.

“Ash, babe. We know what you are. You and your other bitch friends. You can’t hide it from us.”

Ash’s breath caught. “What are you talking about?”

Rick looked past her to Garrett. “Stand her up.”

Suddenly Garret was out of his booth. He roughly grabbed Ash under the shoulders and hauled her up from the table. He held her in a tight bearhug.

“Hey! What the fuck!” Ash yelled and kicked.

Rick came over and slid a finger over Ash’s face. “You want to be a girl, we’ll treat you like one.”

She froze. The touch was like ice, but her skin felt smooth. Her skin was softer than it was this morning, she was sure of it.

The moment of curiosity was broken when Rick grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her head back. She could see into her friend's face, the empty smile still on Garrett’s face.

“Bend her over.”

Ash was roughly spun around, her hands were pinned behind her back. Garrett forced her to hinge at the waist and her cheek was suddenly smushed against the table. She could smell the tangy mariana of her friend’s meatball sub inches from her face. Her thoughts went to the sub, her best friend's normal subway order. A disgusting bombination of fake meatballs, every possible vegetable, and mayonnaise. Why was he so gross? Why was he helping this demoically possessed asshole rape her?

She saw a sideways Rick unzip his pants and pull out his penis.

She felt Garrett fingers around the back her neck, they were fingering the knotted cords. “Hey, umm Rick. What are you doing?” Garrett asked.

Ash felt his hold lighten just a moment. She kicked backward at his shin as hard as she could.

“Oww, fuck!” he yelled and slung her across the floor. She hit the ground and felt the wind knocked out of chest. Then he looked down at her in confusion. “Ashton?”

He spun and saw Rick standing there looking pissed with his dick in his hand. Garrett immediately grabbed his sandwich and slung it in his face. It exploded, meatballs and mayonnaise went everywhere.

Before Rick would wipe his face Garret was on him, he charged into him low and slammed his shoulder into his stomach. Rick was being driven backwards. Garrett slipped on some marinara and then both fell to the ground.

Rick groaned and struggled to breath.

Garrett was up quickly and slid back across the floor. Ash was just getting her breath back.

“Come on man!” Garrett grabbed her and hauled her up.

Ash yanked back. “Don’t touch me!”

“Okay, I’m sorry. It wasn’t me, I promise. We got to get out of here now!” Garrett said.

Rick was getting to his feet. His face was a contorted mask of rage. “I’m going to kill both of you!” He reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a switchblade. He smiled as the knife clicked and the steel blade slid out.

Ash looked over and saw the only chairs in the restaurant at the handicapped table. She grabbed one and charged, legs first like she was taming a lion. Rick struck out with the knife but couldn’t reach. The chair legs surrounded him and he fell backward and clunked his head hard against the floor. Ash lifted the chair, spun it around and swung the heavy back down hard smacking him on the forehead. She raised the chair for another blow and Garrett stopped her.

“You’re going to kill him.”

Ash felt hot tears running down her face. She sat the chair on the floor and dropped heavily down onto it. Blood was seeping out of a cut along Rick’s forehead. The lights flickered back on and George Jones was suddenly singing about a tear in his beer.

The pimply kid hammered his fist at the door. His eyes were wide. Garrett knelt down and fished the keys out of Rick’s pants and quickly unlocked the door. Ash just sat there.

“What happened?” The kid asked between breaths.

Garrett handed the boy the keys, yanked Ashton off the chair and pulled her out the door. “He pulled a knife on us, call 911,” Garrett yelled as they ran across the parking lot.

Garrett jumped in his Jeep but Ashton stood at the door. Garrett reached across and opened it. “Come on, get in!”

“No!”

“I’m sorry, I remember doing it, but I don’t know why I was doing it. I’m so sorry.”

Ash looked back at the building. She saw Rick open the door. Blood, mixing with lettuce and mayonnaise on his face. He was walking towards them.

“Follow me,” Ash said and then jumped in her car. They peeled out together. Ash could see Rick’s insane smile in the rear view mirror.