Ollie and those like her wanted people to think their power was eternal, but even gods died. Empires, too. Continents shifted. Nations came. Nations went. Castles became ruins. “I’m going to fight them,” said Vern.
Gogo’s exasperated breaths were loud through the line. “Fight them how? It’s not like they have an office you can walk up to and file a complaint. They’ll be operating out of a black site.”
“Then I’ll figure out where the black site is,” said Vern. That would be her next task. She’d sift through hauntings for hours if she had to. There had to be clues in there, flashes from victims kidnapped to their facilities. The raptured.
“Tell me the name of the motel,” Gogo said. “This isn’t a debate.”
Gogo’s domineering tone raised Vern’s hackles. It was an instinct, her body averse to authority in any form. “Don’t talk to me like that. And I said no. It isn’t safe.”
“None of us have been safe since you came into our lives,” Gogo spat.
Vern winced. She didn’t have a ready reply for that. “That’s a fucked-up thing to say.”
Gogo exhaled but didn’t relent. “Maybe it is, but it’s true, and you deciding that you’re going to cut us loose harms more than it helps. You’re doing this to protect yourself. Not us. Tell me the name of the motel.”
Vern would never abide being told what to do. “I’m gonna hang up now,” she said.
“Please don’t do thi—”
“Take care of my babies,” said Vern before disconnecting the call, eyes squeezed shut. She had to catch her breath.
“Man trouble?” asked the long-haired woman who’d asked for cash in the parking lot. Her toddler sat in a chair eating a candy bar from the vending machine. “That a costume or something? Or is it—is it permanent? I watched a documentary about all these crazy body mods you can get. You know, there’s a surgery that can make your ears pointy like an elf, and they can split your tongue and shit.”
As Vern relaxed, the outer flanks of her exoskeleton shifted back inside, hidden again under her torn shirt. “It’s a condition,” said Vern.
“Right on.”
Linda shuffled excitedly back to her spot behind the front desk. “I’m kind of a UFO nut. My daughter Michelle is, too, but she doesn’t like to admit it,” she said, gesturing to the woman with the waist-length hair. “Not assuming or nothing, but I do have expertise.”
“UFO?” asked Vern.
“Unidentified flying objects. Extraterrestrials, you know?” said Linda’s daughter Michelle. “Aliens and all that. You’d be surprised what information is out there if you’re willing to dig.”
Vern stuffed her hands into her pockets. This was not a sideshow she wanted to be a part of. “I’ve got to go.”
“There’s nowhere for miles, just FYI. Stay. I put juice and donuts out for breakfast, and coffee, too. Fresh,” said Linda. “Next town’s not for sixty miles, and Storm Rhoda is sweeping in. You know it’s bad news when they name them.”
“I walk fast,” said Vern, headed toward the door.
“Can I get your picture, at least?” asked Linda. Vern pushed her shoulder into one of the double doors.
“You’re embarrassing, Ma. Everything you say is so goddamn offensive,” said Michelle, filing her nails, the sound of it grating against Vern’s ears
“What did you call me?” asked Linda to her daughter.
“Doesn’t matter what I called you. You’re humiliating me and little Violet-Grace,” Michelle said. She slipped the nail file back into her bag.
“You called me Ma. And don’t forget it. Lord says you honor your mother.”
Michelle rolled her eyes and turned to Vern, who was already halfway out the door. “Please don’t mind Linda. She only half means all the stupid shit she says. You should stay here for the night. It aint like people are lining up to spend a night at Vital Springs Inn. She’s got vacancies fucking galore, even though she won’t let her own daughter sleep here.” She looked at her mother pointedly.
“Because if I do, you’re gonna leave tomorrow right back to that trash can you call a man.”
“He’s not a trash can. He’s my husband,” said Michelle.
The toddler, Violet-Grace, was doing somersaults on the grungy motel carpet, popping up after she finished each one to say, “Ta-da!” as her mother and grandmother argued.