Barcode: Cavern of Youth (30 page)

With a mouth full of the final glazed doughnut she says, “I’d prefer to stay with Kay.”

Carmen flops into her seat on the bus. It stays on the curb. I decide not to leave until they take off. I don’t want to motivate her escape attempt. It’s not like she’d get far. Richard has her trapped at the window seat. She’s definitely not moving him out of the way.

Two minutes tick by with Carmen whining to Richard about leaving Jamie alone with me. When the bus finally takes off, he claps loudly and playfully screams, “Yeah!”

The vehicle passes a group of business professionals and their slave. They progressively march towards Jamie and me. There are two men wearing platinum god rings on their index fingers. One demigoddess walks a step behind them while trying to keep up with their “witty” conversation.

I thought the gods were different out here, but I was obviously wrong. Though each of the gods and the demigoddess are dressed nicely in black suits and ties, their slave isn’t so privileged. She’s wearing a simple black jumpsuit and a gold mask that only covers her mouth.

A tall, arrogant man with brown hair and disgustingly large eyes commands the slave, “Get us two dozen variations for the office.”

The slave points to herself. I guess that’s her way of asking for one. The demigoddess snickers under her breath and finds a seat two tables away from us. The man rolls his eyes and sits next to the snobbish woman.

The slave takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. Under the mask she spitefully mumbles, “Selfish dick.” Then, she spins around and walks away.

When she crosses our table I ask, “Hey. Is that the Mask of Stability?” The slave nods and avoids eye contact, not that my eyes are open. “You can talk directly to me. I can hear you.”

She lowers her head. “No one can hear me with it on.”

“Then take it off.” Her eyes widen as she briefly glances at Jamie and me. “You’ll still be a slave to that dick, but at least you’ll be able to talk.”

“I’ll be weak,” she renounces.

The big eyed dick raises his hand as though I were his server. “Hey kid. Need something? My slave is a bit busy, but maybe I can assist you.”

The mildly attractive woman under the mask bounces up and down nervously. Her feet move while staying in one place. “I need to go sir. If you don’t need anything, I’ll be on my way.”

Ignoring both Dick and the slave’s business, I drag out my words when asking, “Is he your brother?”

She shakes her head. “He was my boyfriend before I wore this. Hmph. I guess an Ape can’t really have a god for a boyfriend.”

“You gave up your life for power? Now what? You take orders for doughnuts. With that mask, you’d probably be a really strong gladiator. Dying in a match would still be better than this.”

Dick’s group stands up and walks over to us. The slave raises her hands nervously as the idiots tower over me.

“I can kill him for you and you’d be free. How’s that?”

“Excuse me,” Dick interrupts.

The slave shakes her head and rushes into the shop. Shrugging, I grab the pink box that Richard and Jamie practically slaughtered on their own.

“Who the hell are you threatening to kill?” Dick asks angrily. I ignore him once more and try walking away, but he grabs my arm. Though he’s not a gladiator, all gods have some level of power. I wouldn’t be shocked if he were presently stronger than me. “Hey kid. I’m talking to you. Don’t you know I’m a—”

Both Dick and I take a step back from each other as his blood leaks from his hand to the ground. Why is he bleeding?

The other two grab Dick and advise him to put pressure on the very deep wound. Jamie stands next to me. Coldly, she articulates, “Watch where you put your hands.” Then, she turns to face me. I’m not sure what she did or how she did it, but I’m all for blood.

I throw away the box and begin our journey through Compton. Jamie follows at her own pace. She’s not lagging behind me, just walking slowly. I allow her to catch up and adjust my speed to hers.

“Are you happy?”

“Very,” she replies as though she couldn’t be more bored.

“Do you like Compton?”

“It is beautiful.” Several seconds tick by and she mumbles, “Different.”

“There’s something. Why is it different?”

Jamie stops in the middle of the sidewalk, “Because it is.”

“Give me something to work with Jamie. Where are you from, who are your parents, and why do you hate talking?”

“Compton. They are nice people, but deceased. And I love talking and this conversation.”

“Let’s run a test. Could you smile for me?” Her face doesn’t move. “Great. Could you look angry.” Again, it stays the same. “Now, show me bored.” I scrutinize her final expression. “You followed all of my instructions, right?”

“Obviously.”

“Thought so.” Another short moment of silence passes between us, but I don’t want to lose the momentum of this damn slow conversation. “How are you from Compton with a British accent?

“I spent centuries in Tartarus with the others, though my entire body was trapped there. Don’t you remember? Most of Tartarus’ victims are from England. I just picked up their accent I guess. Funny. They never picked up mine.” She releases a sound that must be a laugh for her.

Two cars crash right next to us. Jamie stops to look inside of both. Once she notices that they’re alright, she continues walking with me.

“Jamie, I don’t remember anything about my dreams in Tartarus. Actually, I thought they
were
dreams.”

“I wondered why you ignored me. You always flirted with me in there, but once I made it out, you never said a word. It was depressing.” She takes three fast steps to tap me on the shoulder. “Is Carmen really your type?”

“You don’t think so?”

“I thought I was, but maybe not. You need someone...”

“What?”

“With bigger balls.”

“You think I’m gay?”

“No. Metaphorically.”

“Say that next time. She’s sweet though.”

“Sweet doesn’t work well with you.”

“True. So how’d you get out of Tartarus?”

“You and sis—” Jamie directs her head at the ground and briefly clenches her eyes. It takes time for the tension to leave her face, but she eventually returns to her normal, boring demeanor. “You and Shiva killed him.”

Wrapping my arm around Jamie, I ask, “Why can’t I hear anything under your clothes, specifically your back?”

“Because I hide it from you, like you hide your mind from me.”

“What’s back there?”

“Access to your weapon of course.”

“Shiva’s on my arm.”

Jamie touches my wristband, which is hanging over her right shoulder. Sparks fly against her face. I try removing my hand so she’s not shocked, but she holds my arm steadily.

“Why are you trying to move away already? You never show me this affection anymore and you’re suddenly ready to depart.”

“I don’t understand. You just made Shiva react. That’s impossible.”

“I was asking for permission to speak freely with you. Sister says that you already know about her spirit, you were just a bit unsure of the host.”

“You’re Shiva’s data? They’re supposed to be liminal beings. Oh. You shape shifted.”

“No. Spirits or data—whatever you prefer—can take many forms. I am human, an old human, but I am one.”

“How old?”

“The start of World War T.”

With those words, we arrive in front of The Darke Lord. Like the rest of the buildings, it’s under five stories high. There are only three levels and it’s relatively small, but there are plenty of customers packed on the inside.

“You were tortured for that long? I’m sorry.” I lower my head. “I didn’t know.”

“No worries. It was my decision.”

“Why?”

“To help you, of course.”

“Excuse me for sounding like an idiot—which is rare—but seeing how you were frozen in time, you couldn’t have known about me.”

“We had pretty advanced technology that your society underestimates today. We are the innovators of the barcode steroid.”

“We?”

“Adrenaline’s team. You wouldn’t know much about him. History books leave him out of the debate. He’s an
insignificant
human.” Her words have fire to them now and her speech sounds less formal. I notice more life behind her, but not much. If it weren’t for her current passion, I wouldn’t have realized how she’s drastically opened up in the past few minutes. “He’s the one that started the war; Eve’s ancestor.”

“So now
you’re
telling me I’m a part of some prophesy? You guys tiptoe around this lightly, but I’m waiting on one of you to admit it. I don’t play that
I have a destiny
crap.”

“If you have such a fate, it is one we created. We made our own destiny by deciding that we’d do something about the way the world works. I am the only one that will see how you carry this through. But when you’re ready, I will be here, by your side.”

Flirting a bit too much, I croon, “That’s obviously your way of saying I have a new girlfriend.”

“Actually, I think I like Seth, but you are still cute, and I still really care for you.”

Removing my hand from her shoulder, I turn around and walk backwards to the red brick building. “I had to get turned down eventually.”

“And Kode?”

“What’s up?”

“I am unsure of what type of girl you will choose.” Her sentence trails off as she welds her eyes to her shoes. “And I am only allowed to fight with your permission, but if you accept Carmen, I will kill her.”

“Maybe I’ll train her to see the fight carried through.”

“Think about this: of all the people in the world, I am
your
weapon. She is as good as dead.” This time, I fully notice the smirk before the emotionless weapon returns.

“You’re not coming in?”

“I am happy simply to be here.”

I try pulling the door open to the building, but it’s locked. I shake the handles a few times. Nothing. I decide to take another approach by speaking to a guy on the other side of the black glass. “Excuse me kind sir, open the damn door.”

Looking around wildly, he stands from his seat. “Who’s saying that? Where’s your voice coming from?”

“Right in front of you.”

“Sound cannot travel from this side to the next and you’re a mere human. There’s no way you could...” his words begin breaking up as his bottom lip quivers. “Dear Writer. Could it be?”

The tall and feminine man in a pink suit runs around frantically until he gets his tablet.

When he presses a button, the glass sucks me in and I fall on the floor. “Next time, send a warning. Something like,
watch your step
, is actually simple enough.”

“My apologies. Please,” he says while helping me up. “Place your finger on this and you’ll have access to speak with the other gods. Who are you here to see particularly?”

“Hades.”

“Oh. He talks about you non-stop.”

I place my finger on the tablet. Nothing happens. I’m worried that he’ll think I’m a phony, but the slender guy loudly shouts, “Oh this stupid thing.”

He sticks his thumb on it and firmly says, “Anicetus.” He repeats the process three more times. Finally, the tablet signs his name into the guest book. “Worthless technology created by Zeus. Honestly, he’s just trying to compete with his host, but everyone finds it hilarious. He wasn’t made to innovate technology. Geez. Who does he think he is?”

Anicetus grabs my hand and slaps it on the tablet. “It works faster this way. Not really, but when I show my brother he’ll be so jealous.”

With all the fake god’s names being thrown around, I decide to jest, “And where is Alexiares? Guarding the back door?”

“Ugh. Yes. And his gate leads to the Olympus chambers. I get to do guest work for Hades.” He sarcastically drones, “Hooray for me. And it’s all because,” he rips my hand from the tablet, “I hit on Phobus when I was drunk.”
Okodemah
appears in the guest book, but he doesn’t notice. “He goes around screaming like a little girl. Just because being a bit grabby-grabby with guys isn’t
in
anymore, they get all high and mighty on me.”

“Look! I’m sorry about your deathly boring drama, but I think that’s my name.” I point to the tablet after a few seconds of silence.

“By the gods,” he mouths. “It really is you!”

Hades bursts out of the door overhead. Then, he rushes down the black and red steps yelling, “Thank you Anicetus.” He wraps his huge hand around my shoulder while dragging me up the stairs. “Goodness Okodemah. If you mentioned that you were dropping by, I would have thrown Alexiares at the door. How long did he hold you?”

“Too long.”

Hades’ laugh rumbles the walls while he pulls me into a bar. When I step inside of the room, cigars drop from mouths, music stops, and the few people that are dancing sexually with each other do also. The most noticeable shocked face is a guy with all white hair and a very neatly shaped beard. He advances towards me, and steps off the dance floor next to a table full of powerful looking businessmen. Gramps was grinding with someone that I imagine wasn’t his wife. She’s much younger and that wedding band on his finger is not quite as new.

Before I can take another step, everyone in the bar rushes towards me.

Hades points out various names and faces and I record each one into my data. These don’t look like the type of people that would be happy if I forgot. Names include Shango, Chantico, Loa, Uluru, Morrigan, Sun Wukong, Eros, Indra, Akuma, and the list goes on.

My host pushes me to the back of a large and dark nook. The only lights in the room come from candles on tables and a few glowing cigars. Raven’s playing with a glass of barcode ink, causing it to radiate by waving his hand over it.

Hades throws me into his VIP section, which is basically a booth with leather seats. He’s protecting me from the big and powerful by a half-closed curtain.

He turns around and waves at a small man, nearly the same size as me. Hades takes a seat as the man walks into the curtained area. He graciously extends his hand.

“Okodemah, I’d like you to meet Ra. He’s wanted to see you—well face-to-face—for so long. And you don’t have to worry, he’s not like us. I’m not much of a gentleman to you, but this man watches you constantly.”