Shaman - the Awakening (20 page)

“We have to go, Nina. Take the battery out of your cell phone.”

We jumped into the vehicle and went down the backside of the mountain through the Jemez National Forest. They couldn't view us leaving from so far away. They would also take the time to case the suite, which would put even more distance between us. They were under the assumption that they had the element of surprise on their side, but they were wrong. We drove for miles on Route 4 in the opposite direction of the FBI posse that was after us, until finally stopping at a gas station near White Rock.

“Those were all dark blue government issue vehicles heading up the mountain. Do you want to explain why the FBI is after us?” Nina inquired.

“It was Steve; that was how I knew they were coming. He knew I would feel his presence, or he hoped I would. That's why he came with them. He also had to give the appearance that he wasn't involved. I gave him no choice, he had to do this. The Monsignor called the governor, who in return notified the FBI director. Steve left me a text message last night, informing me about it. The A.D. put an APB out for my arrest. Dianna even left me a message to turn myself in. They're charging me with impersonating a Federal Officer, Fraud of Federal Documents, several counts of false arrest when I held the staffers, harassment and breaking and entering at the soup kitchen,” I informed her.

“All spearheaded by the A.D., no doubt,” Nina stated.

“You got it,” I replied.

“He threw the book at you. Did he leave anything out?” she inquired. “Well, they can probably add fleeing a federal officer, evading arrest, and kidnapping you now.” We both laughed.

“Steve's text also said that you should report to the ABQ HQ immediately,” I told her.

“OK; that part I didn't hear,” she stated.

“I just wanted you to be able to make the decision on your own. Either way, I will tell everyone you didn't know about this and I lied to you. I will also state that I informed you to turn off your phone as a ViCAP field procedure.”

“You think they'll buy that?” she inquired.

“We've done that in the past and the team can attest to it.”

“So what do we do now?” Nina inquired.

“The basics; find food and shelter,” I replied.

“That's going to be difficult since we can't use our credit or bank cards,” Nina stated.

“I've got enough cash on me to check into one of these roadside motels. It won't be the Ritz, but it'll do for now,” I replied.

We drove a little further until we came to the Hampton Inn on Route 4. I checked in using cash and a fake name. I only booked one room for the two of us.

Half an hour after checking in, I emerged from the bathroom.

“Hey, let me take a picture of you. You look good in your Indian clothing. Thanks for shaving,” Nina stated.

“I'm glad you approve,” I replied.

“I've just noticed that you weren't wearing your glasses any longer,” she said.

“Wow; as observant as you are, you're noticing it now? I haven't worn them since I left Cherokee. I don't need them any longer,” I replied.

“I've always been able to look past the superficial and see a person's inner beauty,” she responded. She always knew the right thing to say at the appropriate time. “So you've completely gotten rid of Clark Kent. Now I have my own little Superman equipped with night vision,” Nina added with a smile.

“I wouldn't go that far,” I replied.

Then she placed her hand on the side of my face. “Chris, just don't forget there's a place for Clark Kent in the world also.”

“I understand,” I replied. She was seeing the metamorphosis happening to me, more so than anyone. She was witnessing it firsthand. She had been there for me through it all.

I was now a rogue; a vigilante and a fugitive being hunted by the same people I used to chase and hunt people for. We couldn't use our credit or bank cards and were low on funds. There were two people that I could call. Dr. Green was one, but Steve knew her personally. They would expect me to contact her or my family in Atlanta, whom Steve knew I would never involve. The other person that was displaced from the FBI's radar was Dr. Banks. He wasn't a part of their peripheral. He was no longer my physician and a part of my past. We had limited contact now, so I gave him a call.

I used the pay phone in the hotel lobby to call Dr. Banks on his office phone. He didn't have a problem wiring me several grand until this was over. He told me how proud he was of me, and hung up the phone. He was the closest thing I had to a father growing up. Nina was seated at the table cleaning her gun when I arrived back from using the phone.

“So you never told me what you discovered during dreamscape,” she inquired.

“Monsignor Davis is running an Ecclesiastic jail. The priests are prisoners there. He beats them with whips and lashes them like in medieval times. Some are even tortured. He's a sadist who enjoys it. There are priests in there for alcohol abuse, drug abuse and a whole slew of heterosexual and homosexual abuses, including the abuse of minors. Also, there are priests missing from there, but I didn't complete the dream; it was too dark even for me; him being a priest and all. I'm almost certain he sent those men to kill us,” I said.

“Even if he did, there's no way of proving it in a court of law since this is all based on a dream,” she pointed out.

“You haven't seen what ViCAP does once they build a case around my dreams. I usually acquire more evidence though, but first we have to do some other things,” I replied.

“You mean staying alive and not going to prison?” she said with a smile.

“Yeah; that too, but first we need to collect the wired money from Dr. Banks, change vehicles and then strategize on our next moves,” I responded.

We received the funds Dr. Banks had sent to the market's Western Union. We purchased some food and personal items while there. We hid the rental vehicle and purchased an old hoopty for 1000 dollars. It was an old Ford Bronco, and it would hopefully get us where we needed to go. Afterwards we returned to the hotel.

“Chris, I don't mean to be presumptuous, but is it over between you and Dianna?”

“I think so,” I replied.

“I'm sorry; I know how much you felt for her,” Nina stated. I remained silent. This was definitely not a conversation I was looking forward to having. This was another one of those things Kayah briefed us on about: the Eagles' directness. I knew the answers Nina was looking for and she had been there for me through it all, so I engaged in her questioning.

“Nina, I still have deep feelings for Dianna, but apparently they were a little one-sided after all. I don't know where you and I are heading, but I care deeply for you as well. I always have, as you've noticed. I'm willing to see what develops if you are.”

“I was hoping for the same,” she replied, then came to me and we kissed.

“This feels right. I can definitely get used to this,” she said.

“I agree,” I replied and kissed her again.

“Hey mister, we need to get back to strategizing. We have people searching for us and a killer to find. Do you think your abilities can help you see what the Monsignor knows about those missing priests now?”

“You're right. Look at you, practicing restraint,” I said, jesting.

I pulled out the prayer rug and utilized the remaining peyote I had left. I would have loved to have Nina go with me, but we weren't certain of our surroundings and she needed to be on guard while I was under. I was going under deep this time, and would be out for some hours.

I woke up feeling depressed. It wasn't like the hangover depression I used to have when on the sleeping pills, but a feeling of emptiness from what I witnessed. Monsignor Davis was like an open book, easy to access. He didn't take the time to shroud his actions.

“I was mortified to see a priest acting in such a way, Nina. He's power-sick and thinks he's unstoppable. Not only did he commit grave atrocities in this Ecclesiastic prison, but he's had two priests killed that I know of. They were going to expose what was going on in the Jemez Order and he had them murdered. He had their bodies buried in the Santa Fe forest. This is how we'll get the evidence, Nina. I know where the bodies are buried. I even saw the faces of the men who committed these murders. Monsignor Davis spoke their names; Arelio Sanchez and Julio Gutierrez. These were the same men who were shooting at us. They are Monsignor Davis' henchmen.”

“Apparently Monsignor Davis rescued them and their families from Mexico and gave them shelter. They became indebted to the Monsignor, so he manipulated them into doing his dirty work. He used their illegal immigrant status as a tool and a weapon. He threatened the deportation of them and their families if they didn't work for him. Monsignor Frank D. Davis is a true monster and is going straight to hell!”

“So let's go verify these graves and see if we can get the proof we need to connect these bodies to Monsignor Davis,” Nina replied.

We arrived at the Santa Fe Forest under the shroud of darkness. It was eerie and ominous looking as we made our way to the location that had been given to me in the dreams of the sadistic priest. The sounds of the forest seemed more alive at night than during the day. It wasn't still in the least bit. Normally it grew quiet as one would pass through the forest, but this wasn't the case tonight. The creatures didn't fear us at all. This is when the predators come out to play and hunt. They were more interested in avoiding their natural enemies than us.

Nina was using a flashlight, but didn't really need it, because I, like most of the nocturnal creatures of the night, could see without it. As we made our way deeper into the forest the moonlit sky became covered by foliage. It was pitch black within its depths. The blackness seemed to absorb the illumination of the flashlight and its beams were limited like in a black hole in space. Then I felt it. I had never been in this place before, but I could feel the spirits of the dead priest hovering over the burial site. Goosebumps rose from on my skin.

“This is it, Nina. They're here. We need to finally put them to rest,” I said as I began to dig.

Nina became a little edgy as I dug deeper into the earth for the bodies. I continued relentlessly. I had to verify that they were here and to release their spirits. It wasn't a windy night, but it seems the deeper I dug, the more the wind picked up until it was blowing like the gusts from a storm. The trees were moving feverishly around and the leaves were blowing about us. Something didn't want us to find these priests. It was as if the ground were cursed!

“What is it?” Nina shouted over the tempest.

“Something doesn't want us to release them,” I yelled back to her.

Then the wolves came from out of nowhere, growling and snarling as if ready to attack! Nina pulled out her service revolver and quickly jumped from the hole I was digging. I joined her with the shovel in hand. The animals remained at bay watching us for several minutes, before they attacked.

Nina was a good shot, but my speed was tenfold by this point. I killed three of the wolves with the spade in less than a minute. There were six wolves lying dead on the ground before they retreated. Nina was breathing hard as I put my arms around her to calm her down.

“Perhaps we should return when it's daylight,” she said.

“I'm almost there, Nina, give me a few more minutes,” I replied and jumped back into the hole. I was even more emphatic about finding the priest after the incident with the wolves.

“There here,” I yelled to Nina as I hit the lid of a wooden casket. At least they had the decency to bury them in a casket!

I pried open the lid as a burst of wind from within the casket rushed out and knocked me over. The windstorm has ceased and the two apparitions appeared in front of us. They didn't say anything, but had a look of contempt. I could feel that they were thanking us, and then they disappeared. Nina was rendered speechless with amazement. I placed the lid back on the casket and covered it with dirt. Now I had the evidence I needed to convict Monsignor Davis of these murders.

“But how does this fit in with the serial killer?” Nina inquired.

“That, I don't know, but I think Monsignor Davis can assist us with those answers. We need to go back there tonight and get those answers. It will be very risky and dangerous, but they won't be expecting us to come back with so many people looking for us. I'll use the shadows and the night as an ally. It will offer me cover and assist me in gaining access. I will use my panther abilities to get me in and out safely. I just need you to wait near the vehicle for me and alert me if anything is going on outside. I know the layout of the facility and campus from dreamscaping with the Monsignor. He also provided me with the access codes for the door and alarms.”

“Your abilities are growing, Chris.”

“Thank you, Nina. I just hope it's enough.”

Later that night we drove to Jemez Springs. Before I exited the vehicle to go inside, Nina grabbed my hand. “Here, just in case you run into trouble,” she said and placed her backup weapon in my palm.

“Thanks, Nina, but no thanks. I won't need it.”

“Please; will you do it for me?” she asked.

“Nina, it goes against all my principles to carry that. Please don't ask me to.”

“Alright, but be careful. And if you're not out in an hour, I'm coming in there after you,” she stated firmly.

“No, I'll call you on the burner phones. I'll be alright,” I said, and then kissed her before exiting.

Now it was time for me to let my nocturnal instincts lead me. I blended into the night and became a part of the shadows. In every corner where there was darkness or a hint of shadow, I slunk without being seen. I was camouflaged in it like the jet black coat of a panther. I watched as several men passed by me. It was like I was invisible, engulfed in the sunless corridors. I stealthily made my way through the facility with a noctivagant purpose; hiding in the lightlessness. I finally made it to Monsignor Davis' room. The door was locked, but I easily bypassed it with a credit card. I entered without being heard or seen. He was asleep as I spoke to him; unseen in the dark corner of the room.