Chapter 21
Noah
A husband with bad breath covers his wife with kisses, murmuring
“My dear, my Hera, my Aphrodite!”
She, turning away, murmurs,
“My Zeus, my dead cod, er, my dread god!”
–Philogelos (The Laughter Lover)
I have to end this with Butterfly.
The chick knew every move I would make, before I made it. She’d anticipated me burning down her brothels. By the time my soldiers appeared with the gasoline, all of the places had been emptied out. I couldn’t find her anywhere. No one spotted her. Not one woman or man, no matter who I threatened, had anything helpful to say. Why did I never realize how much of an enemy she could be? And why did everyone think that I cared for her? Just because I gave her business and slept with her more than the others, they thought she was more than what she was?
It was time to teach her and everyone else a lesson. This bitch has to go. She hurt my lady. That’s a strict death sentence. And fucking Crusher got shot twice. That has never happened. Shit is out of hand.
I had to resort to drastic measures. It was time to take a trip into Ebony Forest. I hoped I would make it out alive.
Relax. Don’t think about the men and women with sharp teeth and hungry bites. Just go in and ask for help and then, get you and 305 out of there.
“Keep on going forward,” I ordered.
305 drove our limo leaving Din City and headed south.
Proctor Road led into Ebony Forest, the best place to bury dead bodies. For some reason, the woods always reeked of burning cinnamon and honey. Imagine someone making a batch of cookies, but letting them cook in the oven for five hours.
The full moon hung over skeletal trees. Although spring, in this forest, leaves never grew on branches. The trees forever remained towering stripped bodies, swaying back and forth amid a chilly wind. The deeper you moved into the forest, the more the trees leaned down to the ground. The more they began to shape into circular patterns and then something more—dead horses, stiff and beautiful. Bark and wood shaped into creatures that swayed in the wind.
People claimed magic flowed through these woods. I didn’t have a good explanation. Life was a mystery anyway. Who knew what would come each day? Who knew what happened after death? Was there really a God or many gods? Was there power all around or inside of us?
Focus. Go into the woods, get help, and get the fuck out.
When I was young, Rasheed’s and my main job was to dig graves. Sometimes, that was all we did. We’d sit by five or so newly dug holes, rap some of our favorite songs, and talk about what girl had the biggest tits in our class. After a while, some soldiers would arrive with corpses and dump them in front of us. It was one of those first level jobs in the gang, sort of like a janitor in a major company. I touched my first dead body at too young of an age, held the cold thing in my hands, dragged it across the soil, and rolled it into my first hole. We got a hundred dollars for each body and did that for about a year, before being promoted to runners.
Once I became boss, I cut that boys burying bodies shit. If someone killed a man, he could get rid of it himself. I didn’t have many regrets, but in my pursuit for money and street fame, I learned about death too soon.
I might’ve done things differently, if I could.
Should I even be here? If Mary Jane wasn’t Butterfly’s target, I wouldn’t even be doing this. Is my lady becoming my weakness? Am I thinking properly?
The limo’s divider remained down allowing me to talk to 305, if I had to. He’d been filling in for Crusher, until he fully healed. Right now, I had to keep my most loyal close to me, and the undecided far away.
We passed several trees that looked like guards. Their barked bodies bent over the path, as if they were wondering who was in the car. The wind whipped through naked branches and made them appear alive. One had two holes at the top. I remembered this one and leaned closer to the window to stare while we sped by. That particular tree had always haunted me the most when I was a kid. The moon always glowed through the holes, no matter where I stood as I studied it. The more Rasheed and I looked, the more we swore a face pushed out from the bark with a rugged beard and pointy nose.
Kids had the craziest imaginations.
305’s voice carried through the limo. “Boss, where are we going? And what the fuck is up with these trees?”
“We’re going deep into the woods.” I should’ve been focused on the danger ahead, but instead, with a hard dick, I texted Mary Jane again.
Me: Are you sleeping or ignoring me?
Nothing.
Me: Are you thinking that if you ignore me, I’ll rush back in a horny rage and fuck you?
My dick hardened more in anticipation of her words. It was funny how hooked she had me. Just a text from her could drive me crazy. She hadn’t responded back since this afternoon. It wasn’t a big deal. Most of the time, she fell asleep watching a comedy show or was too busy playing chess with Fuji, who never managed to beat her.
I can’t wait until you heal, baby. I’m going to tear that pussy up.
All week, I’d been thinking about how I’d make love to her. Her naked body slipped into my mind at the most inopportune times. Those full, lush breasts bounced in front of my eyes, even as I ordered my men to kill.
Fuck, Mary Jane. Your more addictive than the weed you were named after. Now, I know how Spiderman feels. How many times did the hero want to tear off that red suit, say fuck protecting the city, and go pound his spidey cock into Mary Jane’s wet pussy?
The best part of fucking her was the moans. Women didn’t like to hear the truth, but in the end pussy tended to be pussy—a wet hole that any dick could push in and out of. What mattered was the actual woman possessing the pussy. She made the experience more or less. Mary Jane heightened every sense when I touched her—that perfumed scent circled me as I pumped. Her warm, soft skin smoothed against me in just the right way, and her lovely moans always had me scared that I’d come all over her, before even entering.
What are you doing, Noah? This might be your last ride into Ebony Forest and you’re typing into your phone like a teenager.
I checked my phone again and typed something else.
Me: I want to taste you tonight. Do you think you’re healed enough for me to lick that clit?
I grinned, knowing she would say hells yes. How many times had she begged me, until pre-cum spilled into my pants and I raced into the bathroom to take a cold shower?
Why aren’t you texting me back, baby?
I checked my phone again like a loser. This was a new feeling. Still no response. Worry filled my chest. I was just about to call Fuji when 305 disturbed my thoughts.
“I didn’t know anybody lived out here,” 305 said.
“I wouldn’t say the gypsies are exactly living.”
“What does that mean?”
I shrugged. “Just keep an open mind with these people, and don’t take out your gun, no matter how freaked out you get.”
“The road is ending.”
“Keep on going.”
His voice sounded shaky. “We might get a flat or crash the limo into a tree.”
I did my best to keep the fear out of my own voice. “Stop sounding like a punk ass motherfucker and drive the car.”
“You’re the one who’s talking about people aren’t living,” 305 muttered.
“Man, aren’t you used to creepy nature shit? You’re from Miami. They have alligators and swamps out there.”
“Why does everyone say that? You all act like alligators be dancing in the streets.”
“How about you focus on not crashing into a tree.” I slid the phone into my pocket. If I harassed Fuji, Mary Jane would make me pay. She’d already made it clear that I should have more respect for him.
“You’re too hard on Fuji,” she’d said one night as I massaged her back, just wanting to put my hands on her body. She was naked and warm and I wanted to fuck her so badly I could’ve shot someone to get my erection down for a few seconds.
Her healing process was killing me. But I had to wait. There would be no other women anymore. She’d guaranteed that the moment she got on her knees and pled with me to spill all over those sexy lips.
“You want me to be nicer to Fuji?” I’d asked.
“Yes, please.”
I groaned. “I think Fuji would shit his pants if I started being nice to him.”
“I don’t think so.”
“You know what? Maybe I should get you a puppy or something.”
“I’m not a big fan of dogs. They expect me to do things with them, totally not as cool as cats. And what does a puppy have to do with you being nice to Fuji?”
“Because you’ve taken him from me. That’s why. You’ve made him your puppy.”
“You forced the connection by kidnapping me.”
I was glad she had her back to me so she couldn’t see me pout. I barely did it, and the last thing I needed was a goddamned witness. “I’m going to reassign Fuji if I come back up here and he’s playing cards with you on the bed.”
She glanced over her shoulder. “Is that some sort of violation? Why can’t he play cards with me?”
“Don’t have any other men on a bed with you. It makes me uneasy.”
“Alrighty. I’ll make sure he never comes in the bedroom. We can play in the living room. You just demanded that I stay in your bed so. . .”
“And now you decide to listen?”
She turned for a few seconds and batted her eyes at me. “I always listen to you, my gangsta poo.”
I frowned. “Since you’re listening. How about you stop making him laugh so much too. The shit makes me annoyed.”
“Did you mean jealous?” she asked.
“Never. I don’t think a man like me can be jealous.”
“Of course not. And since you’re demanding things, can you really be nice to him?”
“Oh, sure. Maybe, I’ll give him an employee appreciation card or a nice bouquet of flowers with the word thanks written on the vase.”
She rolled over and exposed her breasts to me. “Are you making fun of me?”
“No, my queen. I just need suggestions. I’ve never been nice to my guys.”
“Maybe you can start by not threatening to kill him every other hour.”
“He’s always around you. It irritates me. Every time I see him smiling in your face, I want to beat him with the butt of the gun. Not leave a mark or give him brain damage, but just make him scream in pain a little. Not a lot of blood of course, but a nice purple blooming bruise on his fat forehead.” I raised my eyebrows. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Shocked, she stared at me. “Are you joking?”
I played it off. “Of course. Ha. Ha.”
“Noah?”
“It was a bad joke.”
“Noah, seriously, be nice to Fuji.” She turned back around and rested her head on my pillow. “That’s my homey for life.”
I groaned in irritation. “Fucking homey for life.”
The limo bounced a little as we continued.
“Boss, did you hear that?” 305 rolled the window down and leaned his head to the side as he drove. “I think I heard something.”
Really, 305?
I wasn’t too excited about him exposing us to whatever lingered in the trees. “Put the window back up, before a monster comes in here and eats you.”
“Monsters?”
The window slid up fast and I cracked up with nervous laughter. Things had certainly changed. If Crusher had been driving, the whole forest would’ve been filled with the sounds of Disney music.
Crusher.
I didn’t get why every time I thought about him, an ache hit my chest. Shit was weird. Dead people gave me nightmares, not heart pain. Crusher was only injured and anytime I heard his name, anxiety rushed through me.
Has Mary Jane altered something inside of me, made me feel more or something?
305 jumped at silence. “Boss, this place is fucking scary.”
I knew he was smart.
Again, I played it off to keep us on the path. “It’s due to all the ghosts flying around here.”
“Ghosts?”
The woods always crept me out when we buried bodies. As soon as the sun went down, fog thickened and rose four feet everywhere you looked. The burnt cinnamon fragrance soaked the bark, leaves, and grass. There was no escape from the smell. Birds didn’t squawk or even fly near the place. Animals made no noise in the woods. I didn’t think I’d ever seen a squirrel or fox around either. It was like nothing lived in Ebony Forest, but death.
Well, death and the gypsies.
Let’s hope I’m doing the right thing this time and finally finding a solution to Butterfly and this stupid ass war.
The trees continued to take on interesting shapes. The closer we got to the gypsies’ camp, the more the trees formed into curvy women who seemed to reach out with their branches trying touch you. Again, it was all in the mind and moon lighting. I’d never been here during the day. Perhaps, Ebony Forest appeared like a regular wooded area in the sun.
After several minutes, a wooden sign appeared with a skull drawn in blood and an arrow pointing right.
“So, we’re going left?” 305 asked.
“No way. Follow the sign with the blood drawn on it.”
“Fucking white people,” 305 muttered.
“Really?”
“I’m just saying, boss. You would never catch a brother ever saying some shit like that. ‘Hey, man. Follow the sign that has blood drawn all over it.’”
I left 305 alone, before he pissed his pants. If he was freaking out now, he’d be racing out of here once we met the gypsies.
And here we go. No turning back now.
More signs came. The rest were made from human bones. Skulls had been nailed to the top as a last effort warning for any trespassers. The gypsies didn’t mind people wandering onto their property. They loved it. Nothing like dinner coming straight to them. However, they believed in karma, too. They didn’t feel right eating you if you’d accidentally stumbled to their camp.
Red glowed in front of us as the camp came into sight. Twenty cabins gathered in a circle and were surrounded by fire torches that I’d never seen go out, not even when it rained. Lights illuminated from the cabins’ windows, but again, not a sound. There was this sense that no one really even lived out here, as if the lights and cabins were only for show.
But one didn’t make the mistake of thinking nothing was out here. The evidence was clear by looking at the clothesline–instead of drying clothes, five bodies dangled. Blood didn’t drip from the cut open limbs. No heads sat on the bodies and someone had cut a large incision down the chests, cleaned out the insides, and left each one hollow.
“Yo.” 305 stopped the car there. “Noah, what the fuck?”
His calling me Noah was a huge sign that he was scared as hell.
“Relax, man.” Did my voice come out shaky too? I adjusted my tie and breathed. “Have I ever put you in danger?”
“Yes, all the damn time.”
“Well, this isn’t as dangerous as most times.”
“Are those props up there to scare people or really dead bodies?”
“You know what a corpse looks like. What do you think?”
“I think that the answer is a big ass yes. Now, why are they up there?”
“Are you sure you want the answer?” I asked.
“Hell to the yes!”
“They’re drying them.”
305 glared at me from the rear view mirror.
I shrugged. “They like to eat a bit differently than we do.”
“Oh, fuck!” He rubbed his face with both hands. “Cannibals?”
“They prefer the term gypsies.”
“I think I’m going to take both of my guns with me, and shoot anybody that comes near me with a fork.”
“Guns?” I laughed and climbed out. “You would be better off running away as fast as you can and praying that you don’t taste good.”
If they want us dead, we’ll have to do more than use guns.
I waited for him to get out. It took five damned minutes, and when he came out, he was armed from head to toe. Rambo had nothing on him. He had a double holster on his waist, like he was preparing to fight in the Wild Wild West. A knife hilt stuck out of both pockets. A rifle was slung around him. He even had a large mace canister clipped to the top of his shirt. I had no idea he had all of that stuff in the front of the limo.
I smirked. “Do you have an atomic bomb, too?”
305 frowned as if I’d betrayed him. “I’m putting in my resignation as your driver when we get back.”
“I won’t accept it.”
I can get us both out of here. Everything will be fine and I’ll have Mary Jane in my arms by this evening.
We walked toward the cabins. Our voices were the only noises out here. Our footsteps didn’t even make a sound, even as we stepped on leaves and sticks. The closer we got, the more 305 shook his head. “How the hell did you find this place?”
“Rasheed and I buried some bodies when we were kids near this land. Our dumb asses smoked a fat blunt. So young, we were high as fuck. Thought we were imagining the signs.”
“And then you met cannibals?”
“Yeah, but they didn’t eat us because we were kids. Rasheed gave them our sack. They smoked with us and sent our dumb asses on our way. Next time we buried a body, they asked if they could get it. Later, we just brought a couple more corpses with us and another bag of weed.”
305 scrunched his face in horror. “Why?”
“I figured they were good friends to have. Besides, they never ate us.”
“So they have limits?”
“Yeah. They don’t eat kids, innocent people who are just lost, friends, and. . .”
305 stopped. “What?”
I chuckled. “They don’t eat black people.”
“Boss, with all due respect, this shit isn’t funny.”
“Seriously, they don’t eat black people.” I waved him forward.
“Well, why not?” He hurried up and caught my pace. Still, no noise echoed as we traveled to the first cabin and climbed up the steps. “I mean. I don’t mind or anything. It’s not like I’m going to call the NAACP, but I want as much information as possible.”
“You’ll see.” I knocked, although I never heard it as my fist hit the wood.
The door opened and a black woman with red braids looked back at us. Her eyes weren’t black, but more of an odd blue. People said my eyes were cold, but those individuals had never met Vinese. She wore a long, brown dress that fell to the floor, but hugged her slim body. Her usual cape remained slung over her shoulders. It was royal blue with silver symbols embroidered around the edges. A red leather belt hung around her waist with gold hooks where tiny bottles and pouches hung.
She looked twenty, but it wouldn’t be wise to assume anything about her. Her eyes spoke wisdom and wickedness. Her voice resembled a hyena’s growl, instead of a feminine tone and tonight, it came out rougher than usual.
“What you want, Noah?” She kept the door half-closed. “I could smell you coming from miles away, smelling like love, fear, and flowers.”
“I want my fortune told.”
“Lots of fear coming from you tonight. You ain’t never been this scared before. What got you scared? And this one scared, too.” Vinese sniffed at 305. He reached for his gun and she flashed her razor sharp teeth at him. “Why you don’t ever bring me someone nice to eat? Always skin with color, too pretty to cut.”
“I keep forgetting to put that on my to-do list.” I stirred uncomfortably. “Can you read my future for me?”
“Plenty people in Din City that read cards.”
“Not your cards.”
Vinese’s eyes shimmered in the fire’s light. “What else you want?”
I looked down at the ground. “Maybe, I also want to talk to Night Shade.”
“Who you trying to kill, boy?”
“Someone that’s probably pretty tasty to eat. She’s got color in her skin, but her soul is so dark, it would fill your belly for days.”
Vinese’s grin widened and exposed a few extra teeth that I didn’t think any human I knew had. “Come on in, Noah and Mr. Albert Haynes. I’ll get Night Shade after I do your reading.”
I eyed 305 while I entered the cabin.
“How the hell does she know my real name?” he asked.
“Like I said, keep an open mind and don’t pull out your gun.”
I checked my phone one last time to see if Mary Jane had called.
Nothing.
You better be sleeping, baby. And I better get my ass out of here alive.