Legacy of Shadows: The Monster Within

Odion stroked the back of Marcella’s hand as she slept peacefully. His heart warmed at the sight of her smile when he, Serenity, and Yuricema arrived in the afternoon. Dr. Lamora stated she had spoken a few words after breakfast, which was a very good sign. He also said Marcella wasn’t quite out of the woods yet, but that her road to recovery was trending in the right direction. Odion’s anxiety was on ice just a little bit after hearing that. This should’ve never happened in the first place, but I promise you, I’ll make everything right again.

Serenity’s iPhone jingled. “It’s probably Mom reminding us to stop by the grocery store on our way home,” she said, pulling it out from her back pocket. Odion watched Serenity’s face draw long. “No, it can’t be.” She looked at her screen almost as if she was confused.

“What happened?” Yuricema asked. “Is it, Mom?”

Serenity’s thumbs flew across the screen. “No, it’s Joy. She just sent me a text.”

Odion sat up on his chair. “What’s going on?”

Her iPhone jingled again. “She wants to know if we’ve been watching the news.”

Odion’s heart started to dance. In a few days, your brother will be on every news station across the world. “They found him!” Odion wasn’t sure if he said that out loud or in his head, but based on the way Serenity and Yuricema looked at him, it must’ve been aloud.

“Found who?” Yuricema adjusted her glasses and peered at Odion. “What’s going on?” She looked back and forth between her sister and Odion, expecting an answer.

“It’s Apollo!” Serenity said the name like it was stuck in her throat. “Joy said he’s all over the news.”

“All over the news?” Yuricema’s brows crashed together. “Can one of you explain to me what’s going on here?”

A swell of excitement coursed through Odion’s veins, his hands sweating with anticipation. “Ask her if they mentioned where he’s at?”

The left side of his pocket danced and rumbled. Odion dug for his iPhone to see who was calling him. It was a private number. “Hello!” he said, bolting toward the hallway.

“I take it you know why I’m calling, Mr. Biobaku,” Detective Matthews said.

“I have a guess.”

“Have you been watching the news?”

“Nah,” Odion said. “I’m at the hospital right now, and the room my foster-mother’s in got no TV.”

“Then you might want to check your phone,” Matthews said. “Your brother has been spotted in Windham,” Matthews said, his voice deep as ever. “But there’s something else that’s even more disturbing.”

“What do you mean?” Odion rubbed his forehead. Serenity stumbled outside, eyes popping like she had witnessed a deceased relative rise from the dead.

“We found fingerprints on the gun—”

Odion’s ears twitched at the word gun. “Hold on,” he said, putting his iPhone on speaker. Serenity needed to hear this. “Repeat that,” he said, staring at her.

“We found fingerprints on the gun used during the shooting that could belong to Apollo.”

Odion squeezed the iPhone around his ear so tight it could’ve broken apart in his hand. Serenity slid to the ground and covered her mouth to prevent Matthews from hearing her sobs.

“The troubling part I mentioned earlier was that the gun was found at another crime scene. One far grizzlier than the school massacre if you can imagine.” Odion and Serenity both looked at each other. “I’m going to need you to come down to the station again.”

“Ain’t nobody got time for that!” Odion said. “If he’s in Windham, that’s where I’m headed.”

“Windham police will have everything under control—”

“Nah, they won’t! Those officers will be good as dead once Apollo gets his hands on ’em! You do not understand what we’re dealing with here. Windham police might be able to stall him if they send every task force unit available, but that’s a BIG IF! If you wanna prevent more grisly murders from happening, I need to get down there now.”

“Even if you were to leave now, the chances of you finding Apollo are next to impossible,” Matthews said. “It’s ten-to-four right now. Depending on traffic, by the time you get there it’ll be after eight. Let Windham police do their job. You’d only be interfering in their investigation if you took it upon yourself to go after him.”

Odion stared at Serenity for a moment, thinking of a response. How the hell did that bastard manage to make it all the way out there in the first place? “Look, detective, I know you mean well. But I ain’t gonna stand here and allow that monster to destroy any more lives.”

“Odion, you’re making a terrible—”

Odion hung up and stormed back into Marcella’s room. “We need to leave,” he said to Yuricema before placing a soft kiss upon Marcella’s cheek. “I’ll see you soon,” he whispered into her ear.

“None of you have explained to me just what’s going on,” Yuricema said.

Odion shook his head. “It’s a long story, but we need to leave now. Like, right now.”

“Who were you speaking to just now?” Yuricema asked as they reached her car.

“It was Detective Matthews,” Serenity mumbled, drying her wet eyes with tissues.

“What did he say?” Yuricema asked.

“That Apollo was spotted in Windham,” Odion said, buckling his seat belt.

“In Windham!” Yuricema said. “That’s nearly five hours from here!”

“Yeah,” Odion said, “and we need to get there in three.” He pulled out his iPhone and checked the time: 3:59 p.m. They needed to get there before sunset.

“What exactly is going on with Apollo?” Yuricema asked, looking between Serenity and Odion. “What did Detective Matthews tell you?”

“They found his fingerprints on the gun used at the dance.” Odion tried his best not to raise his voice. All these questions weren’t helping anyone at the moment.

“What?” Yuricema said, resting a hand over her head. “So why don’t you—”

“We don’t got time for this! We need to get to Windham, and now. I’ll pay for the gas or whatever, but you need to drive. Right now.”

“What are you planning to do?” Serenity asked.

Odion screwed up his face at the question. Wasn’t it obvious by now? “Kinda question is that?”

“You heard what the detective told you,” Serenity said.

“The detective—”

“Think about it, Odion.” Serenity’s red, glossy eyes instantly transitioned from sad to serious. “By the time we get there, it’ll be well after eight. Do you really believe Apollo’s going to wait nearly five hours for us to arrive? Seriously.”

“That’s right,” Yuricema said, nodding. “Besides, I’d no intention of driving all the way down there in the first place.”

Their lack of cooperation caused Odion’s heart to kick in his chest. “Fine. If y’all don’t wanna help me, I’ll find my ass there some way, somehow.” Yuricema locked the doors just as Odion reached for the handle to go outside. “Let me out,” he said.

“Odion—”

“I said let me out!” Odion’s mouth started to quiver. “Let me out of this god damn car right now!”

“Odion, listen to her,” Yuricema said. “Serenity’s right. It doesn’t make any sense for us to drive all the way down there. Apollo will be long gone by the time we arrive if the police don’t catch him first.”

“The police don’t have the power to stop him,” Odion said, darting his eyes between Yuricema and Serenity. “I do.”

“How do you know that?” Yuricema asked.

“I just know … all right.” Odion kept quiet for a moment, and Yuricema continued to stare at him with an unconvincing look. “It’s a gut feeling, you know?”

“No, I don’t know.” Yuricema shook her head. “I’ve been asking the two of you what’s going on for the longest while, and I still haven’t received an answer. What’s so wrong with allowing the police to do their job?”

Odion unbuckled his seat belt and manually popped up the lock to open the door. He didn’t have time to be playing twenty-one questions.

“Odion, stop!” Serenity unbuckled her seat belt and turned her body half round. “Whatever you’re planning to do is crazy.”

“Could one of you just explain—”

“Odion and Apollo are considered to be cosmotans,” Serenity said. “They’re cosmic beings possessed with supernatural abilities you and I couldn’t even begin to imagine. That’s why Odion’s so focused on going after Apollo. He feels he’s the only one strong enough to do so.” What the fuck is she doing! Odion slid back in his seat and smacked his forehead. “I’m sorry, Odion, I had to tell her. You were planning a suicide mission.”

“Ugh … okay …” Yuricema closed her eyes and rested a hand over her forehead. “Where do I begin?” she muttered to herself.

“This could be my only chance to stop him and you’d rather me sit back and do nothing?” Odion asked. “How am I supposed to feel if more lives are destroyed?”

“That’s not your responsibility,” Yuricema said matter-of-factly.

“But it is my responsibility,” Odion said. “He’s my brother, and I’m the only one who knows what he’s capable of.”

“So then why didn’t you explain all of this … cosmic … stuff to Detective Matthews when you saw him at the police station? They could’ve prepared themselves accordingly and used their resources to alert other law enforcement agencies across the country. Don’t you think that would’ve been the smartest thing to do?”

Odion looked at her as if she were stupid. “When has the police ever done anything good for people who look like us?” He stepped out of the car and slammed the door behind him.

“Odion, wait!” Serenity echoed behind him. “Please, stop this!” She stepped in front to block him from crossing the street.

“Get off me.” Odion shoved her to the side, looking both ways before crossing.

Serenity ran in front of him again. “Think of all the people you’d be leaving behind if you go through with this.” She took hold of his hands. “I know you want revenge for what he did to Toki and your foster-mother. I get it. But, please, stay here. I’m not interested in attending any more funerals right now.”

“I’m not afraid of dying,” Odion said, watching her eyes water.

“Cut it out!” She squeezed his hands. “You begged me, remember? You once told me that I was the only true friend you had left. You begged for my help.” Her mouth quivered. “This is me helping you. This moment. Right here, right now.” Tears slid down her cheeks. “Come home with me. Please.”

Odion shifted his eyes toward the sky, wondering what advice Mom would’ve given him had she been alive. Then again, she never expected her sons to be trying to kill each other.

“Stay here until your foster-mother fully heals,” Serenity said. “How do you think she’d feel if she found out something tragic happened to you? Don’t allow Apollo to take you away from the people who truly love you. That’s not who you are. You’re better than that. She’s going to need someone to take care of her once she’s discharged from the hospital.”

She’s right. If I leave now, it’s not a guarantee I’ll come back alive. And once Marcella’s released, who knows how long it’ll take her to resume a normal life. “Now you know how it feels when somebody offers you their help, and they reject you.” That’s what he wanted to say but felt wasn’t the right time to rekindle any ill feelings.

“Come,” Serenity gently pulled his hand toward Yuricema’s sedan, “let’s go home.” They both crossed the street, and Odion reluctantly opened the door and buckled his seat belt.

“Is everything good now?” Yuricema asked, looking at the both of them. Serenity nodded. Yuricema turned to Odion. “You okay?”

Odion took a long moment before nodding his head. “Sorry for being an insufferable asshole.”

Yuricema rested her hand across his knee and smiled. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, sweetie. We understand what you’re going through isn’t easy, and you have every right to be angry. But always remember God’s watching and that he has a plan. Apollo will be brought to justice one way or the other, so keep the faith, all right?” She rubbed his knee before starting her car.

“Hey, Yuricema,” Odion called. “Don’t tell—”

“You don’t have to worry,” she said, looking at him through the rearview mirror. “Whatever this cosmic thing is between you and Apollo is none of my business.”

Odion smiled, looking away toward the window as they pulled out of the hospital parking lot. If God was truly watching, and he did have a plan, now would be a good time to implement it so no more innocent lives were lost.