A Jebus Black Mini-Series
-He Came Tumbling Over-
-2-
The night air had that smooth freezing whisp that would make any living thing shake, but Pasquel didn’t noticed it. His attention was directed at the open plain before him. He continued running without stopping after crawling out of the barbed wire fence. His clothes were muddy & dirty & his torn ear had dropped it’s last drop of blood. He could hear the sounds of the men yelling behind him in the distance.
There was a sudden twist to Pasquel’s ankle & he tumbled down the crazy hill. His head, knees, ankle & elbows were hitting the small rocks which were hidden in the grassy hill until his back slammed a tree trunk. The pain in his ankle was much worse than the pain he felt in his back. He rose from the ground, put pressure on his ankle & turned to see a magical view of the city full of lights with orange clouds hovering above.
Freedom.
Pasquel awakes in a posh penthouse room, not his own room, though he did wish it was. The whole room is whiter than a cloud, the only color in this room are the golden bed railings & the black shag carpeting.
“Pasquel.” called a raspy old female voice. “Pasquel, it is time.”
Pasquel gets up from the bed & holds the hand of the gracefully aging woman with the raspy voice, short simple haircut, freckled shoulders & strapless orange dress. The door opens to a packed living room full of spiked hair weirdoes, the kind you would see burning books in street corners & hanging out near monuments. They begin tapping Pasquel’s shoulder as he is led to the small podium by the elderly woman. He can hear the complements directed at him as he walks by.
“Your art speaks to me.”
“Go Pasquel.”
“Will you go out with my sister, she’s hairless.”
“Love your work.”
“With love from Dusseldorf.”
“hangug eseo salang eulo”
The feedback was positive, yet strange; there were sayings no fan would dare say in public, but they were positive nonetheless. The elderly woman grabbed the microphone headset & attached it to her head.
“Everyone, everyone keep calm. Today we are not only here to admire the fine china I got at the orient, we’re here to see some new art & auction it. Aren’t we Pasquel?”
“Yeah.” Pasquel’s answered.
The audience giggled at his short answer.
“Art is a labor of love most of the time, sometimes no one gets anything for making eyes dazzle. So if you’re good at something, why not make money off it, why not. Pasquel” The elderly woman waves her head at Pasquel. “So here’s the moment of truth, here’s what you’ve all been waiting for.”
Pasquel pulled the sheet to show the audience a glazed vase made entirely out of clay, human flesh & carved bone & decorated with teeth. The disgusting, yet beautiful vase sat inside a glass case, the kind museums use to guard their prized findings.
“The bid will start at $1500. Any takers?”
The clock turned two and the sky still maintained it’s orange & blotchy state. Pasquel unlocked the door to his apartment room.
‘Hey honey I’m home.’
He proceeds to warm up the kettle on a dinky hotplate & pressed the play button on the black brick-like answering machine.
** Wednesday: 2:34pm-- Hey Pasquel, it’s Spinelli. Listen, I know you’re going to auction off that ‘Thing’ you made out of Caldomine. I’m going to need a little more than 50%. You see I got these car payments that just came up. You know how these financial bastards play their game. So don’t freak out when there are some missing zeroes on that checking joint account of yours. Alright? Have a good one. Call if you really need me.**
‘Like always. There’s always something coming up for Spinelli and my bank account has a few zeroes missing.’
**Wednesday: 7:50pm-- I’m just testing out this scanner, don’t call back!!**
‘Damnit Skyler Fox, up to his hacking again.’
**Thursday: 8:00pm-- Pasquel, it’s me, Agatha Enix.
‘Agatha? Is that really her? This must be some sick game, a prank call, it can’t be.’
Listen, I’m in south of Princeton Street. I don’t know where you live exactly, I want us to meet, somewhere clandestine, there are some things you need to know, stuff we can’t talk about here on the line. It involves the colony. Meet me at the Café down in Barkington Ave tomorrow afternoon, I hope that‘s not far for you. Call if you can’t make. We can reschedule. Bye now. **
‘This can be a set up. It’s been years since the colony escape, are they still out for my blood? I can’t let my guard down, not while I’m living. For all I know Agatha is still working for Salomon.’
****
The café shop was crowded with college students that were always there to cram or to socialize. An army of fluorescent wearing youths reminded Pasquel of orange prision garments. Quite an exhibit to see what the youth of today wear to keep up with appearences.
“Excuse me, sir.” Called a woman in a light cream sundress with floating flowers printed on it. Could that be Agatha? “Can I borrow this chair?”
“Sure, just leave one for me.”
‘That could have been her, she was the right age, height & look. Plus, she did have the charm & the southern accent like Agatha. She still might be fat’
Pasquel waited, and waited some more until he grew bored and pulled out a trade paperback from his trench coat & read a couple of pages.
“Pasquel? Oh my god Pasquel is that you?” Said a female voice.
Pasquel turned his head away from the book & saw a tall woman standing before him. Her hair was short & pitch black, wearing a black expensive dress.
“My god, look at you.” Said Pasquel, amazed.
“I should be saying the same thing, look at you. My goodness, how did you…?”
“I have my connections, the right people took care of me. The right people can connect you to fixing right problems, my cystic acne was one of them.”
“Believe me, I know what the power of connections can have. My god, you look so, so….so alive. I guess I don’t have to ask how life has been treating you.” Agatha began to feel Pasquel’s face, until he moved her hands away.
“It’s great that you’re out of the colony, but let’s get right into this business you want to discuss. Where you followed?”
Agatha’s face made a sudden turn from happy & cheery to serious.
“No, don’t worry. Listen here, Salomon Brooks has put up a bounty, ever since that little incident of yours began to gain more traction.”
“Now?! It’s been ten years since this happened, what took them long?” Pasquel continued sipping his cup of soda.
“The security tape had been hidden for a couple of years, it was discovered, copied & viewed by almost everyone in the colony. This caused an uprising, protests, strikes, and riots.”
“You’re saying that Salomon’s colony is no more?”
“Yes, and Solomon’s out for your blood Pasquel, he wants it bad.”
“That can’t be right, he has no jurisdiction in the city.” replied Pasquel appalled.
“He’s doesn‘t care, he’ll swim through lava & brimstone just to get you. I even have the proof.” Agatha proceeds to pull out files of paperwork from her expensive purse. “These were printed from stolen UAB storage clips that downloaded everything from the Colony mainframes. All ranging from receipts to Colony proclimations & classified reports.”
“Impressive. But there’s still the matter of trust, Agatha.”
Agatha paused for a few seconds, she knew where the conversation was headed. “Listen Pasquel, I know I did wrong. It was beyond wrong & the guilt I had these past years took it’s toll on me. I would apologize, but an apology won’t fix the damage I’ve done to you. So I’m putting my life on the line to help you, I think that should repay any debt.”
Pasquel consumed all that he was told, he still was unsure whether all of this was a trap or not.
“You don’t have to trust me, but please, be on the lookout for Salomon’s men. They’re out there & they won‘t be so friendly.”
‘She did take the time to print out the paperwork & she is giving me a choice. Still, I can’t trust her, she may still be a pawn in the Colony’s game.’
“I’ll keep my eyes wide.” replied Pasquel with very little doubt in him.
“But these guys are armed to the teeth, you can’t take them all out. Look I‘ve got a guy who works with bodyguards & he can set you up with a heavy…”
“Trust me Agatha.” Pasquel gave her a smile. “I’ve learned a few things here that serve me well.”
Agatha decides to pay the bill, Pasquel cannot help but see how much she tipped the waitress.
“Keep the change hun.” replied Agatha as she handed her two fifty dollar bills.
“I see your job pays well.” said Pasquel as both he & Agatha exited the café.
“If you consider being a wife a job, then yeah, I’m employed.”
“Married?”
“Pasquel, let’s meet again. Next time you pick the place & we’ll catch up on good times.”
“And next time, next time I’ll pay the bill.”
“You can bet on that. Just tell me the time & date through a fire frame message.”
“I will.” and just like that, Pasquel walked home in the opposite direction Agatha walked.
‘She’s a grown woman, a married woman. There go my chances.’
Before Pasquel could utter another word, he heard a screeching yell coming from the direction behind him.
Someone was in trouble, Pasquel decided to run towards the danger & readied the blade at hand.
‘That sounded like Agatha!’
Pasquel then ran into a narrow alleyway behind brick apartments to find Agatha standing behind the dead body of a bum, holding a gun.
“So, you are a carver too?”
******************************************************************************************
-He Came Tumbling Over-
-2-
The night air had that smooth freezing whisp that would make any living thing shake, but Pasquel didn’t noticed it. His attention was directed at the open plain before him. He continued running without stopping after crawling out of the barbed wire fence. His clothes were muddy & dirty & his torn ear had dropped it’s last drop of blood. He could hear the sounds of the men yelling behind him in the distance.
There was a sudden twist to Pasquel’s ankle & he tumbled down the crazy hill. His head, knees, ankle & elbows were hitting the small rocks which were hidden in the grassy hill until his back slammed a tree trunk. The pain in his ankle was much worse than the pain he felt in his back. He rose from the ground, put pressure on his ankle & turned to see a magical view of the city full of lights with orange clouds hovering above.
Freedom.
Pasquel awakes in a posh penthouse room, not his own room, though he did wish it was. The whole room is whiter than a cloud, the only color in this room are the golden bed railings & the black shag carpeting.
“Pasquel.” called a raspy old female voice. “Pasquel, it is time.”
Pasquel gets up from the bed & holds the hand of the gracefully aging woman with the raspy voice, short simple haircut, freckled shoulders & strapless orange dress. The door opens to a packed living room full of spiked hair weirdoes, the kind you would see burning books in street corners & hanging out near monuments. They begin tapping Pasquel’s shoulder as he is led to the small podium by the elderly woman. He can hear the complements directed at him as he walks by.
“Your art speaks to me.”
“Go Pasquel.”
“Will you go out with my sister, she’s hairless.”
“Love your work.”
“With love from Dusseldorf.”
“hangug eseo salang eulo”
The feedback was positive, yet strange; there were sayings no fan would dare say in public, but they were positive nonetheless. The elderly woman grabbed the microphone headset & attached it to her head.
“Everyone, everyone keep calm. Today we are not only here to admire the fine china I got at the orient, we’re here to see some new art & auction it. Aren’t we Pasquel?”
“Yeah.” Pasquel’s answered.
The audience giggled at his short answer.
“Art is a labor of love most of the time, sometimes no one gets anything for making eyes dazzle. So if you’re good at something, why not make money off it, why not. Pasquel” The elderly woman waves her head at Pasquel. “So here’s the moment of truth, here’s what you’ve all been waiting for.”
Pasquel pulled the sheet to show the audience a glazed vase made entirely out of clay, human flesh & carved bone & decorated with teeth. The disgusting, yet beautiful vase sat inside a glass case, the kind museums use to guard their prized findings.
“The bid will start at $1500. Any takers?”
The clock turned two and the sky still maintained it’s orange & blotchy state. Pasquel unlocked the door to his apartment room.
‘Hey honey I’m home.’
He proceeds to warm up the kettle on a dinky hotplate & pressed the play button on the black brick-like answering machine.
** Wednesday: 2:34pm-- Hey Pasquel, it’s Spinelli. Listen, I know you’re going to auction off that ‘Thing’ you made out of Caldomine. I’m going to need a little more than 50%. You see I got these car payments that just came up. You know how these financial bastards play their game. So don’t freak out when there are some missing zeroes on that checking joint account of yours. Alright? Have a good one. Call if you really need me.**
‘Like always. There’s always something coming up for Spinelli and my bank account has a few zeroes missing.’
**Wednesday: 7:50pm-- I’m just testing out this scanner, don’t call back!!**
‘Damnit Skyler Fox, up to his hacking again.’
**Thursday: 8:00pm-- Pasquel, it’s me, Agatha Enix.
‘Agatha? Is that really her? This must be some sick game, a prank call, it can’t be.’
Listen, I’m in south of Princeton Street. I don’t know where you live exactly, I want us to meet, somewhere clandestine, there are some things you need to know, stuff we can’t talk about here on the line. It involves the colony. Meet me at the Café down in Barkington Ave tomorrow afternoon, I hope that‘s not far for you. Call if you can’t make. We can reschedule. Bye now. **
‘This can be a set up. It’s been years since the colony escape, are they still out for my blood? I can’t let my guard down, not while I’m living. For all I know Agatha is still working for Salomon.’
****
The café shop was crowded with college students that were always there to cram or to socialize. An army of fluorescent wearing youths reminded Pasquel of orange prision garments. Quite an exhibit to see what the youth of today wear to keep up with appearences.
“Excuse me, sir.” Called a woman in a light cream sundress with floating flowers printed on it. Could that be Agatha? “Can I borrow this chair?”
“Sure, just leave one for me.”
‘That could have been her, she was the right age, height & look. Plus, she did have the charm & the southern accent like Agatha. She still might be fat’
Pasquel waited, and waited some more until he grew bored and pulled out a trade paperback from his trench coat & read a couple of pages.
“Pasquel? Oh my god Pasquel is that you?” Said a female voice.
Pasquel turned his head away from the book & saw a tall woman standing before him. Her hair was short & pitch black, wearing a black expensive dress.
“My god, look at you.” Said Pasquel, amazed.
“I should be saying the same thing, look at you. My goodness, how did you…?”
“I have my connections, the right people took care of me. The right people can connect you to fixing right problems, my cystic acne was one of them.”
“Believe me, I know what the power of connections can have. My god, you look so, so….so alive. I guess I don’t have to ask how life has been treating you.” Agatha began to feel Pasquel’s face, until he moved her hands away.
“It’s great that you’re out of the colony, but let’s get right into this business you want to discuss. Where you followed?”
Agatha’s face made a sudden turn from happy & cheery to serious.
“No, don’t worry. Listen here, Salomon Brooks has put up a bounty, ever since that little incident of yours began to gain more traction.”
“Now?! It’s been ten years since this happened, what took them long?” Pasquel continued sipping his cup of soda.
“The security tape had been hidden for a couple of years, it was discovered, copied & viewed by almost everyone in the colony. This caused an uprising, protests, strikes, and riots.”
“You’re saying that Salomon’s colony is no more?”
“Yes, and Solomon’s out for your blood Pasquel, he wants it bad.”
“That can’t be right, he has no jurisdiction in the city.” replied Pasquel appalled.
“He’s doesn‘t care, he’ll swim through lava & brimstone just to get you. I even have the proof.” Agatha proceeds to pull out files of paperwork from her expensive purse. “These were printed from stolen UAB storage clips that downloaded everything from the Colony mainframes. All ranging from receipts to Colony proclimations & classified reports.”
“Impressive. But there’s still the matter of trust, Agatha.”
Agatha paused for a few seconds, she knew where the conversation was headed. “Listen Pasquel, I know I did wrong. It was beyond wrong & the guilt I had these past years took it’s toll on me. I would apologize, but an apology won’t fix the damage I’ve done to you. So I’m putting my life on the line to help you, I think that should repay any debt.”
Pasquel consumed all that he was told, he still was unsure whether all of this was a trap or not.
“You don’t have to trust me, but please, be on the lookout for Salomon’s men. They’re out there & they won‘t be so friendly.”
‘She did take the time to print out the paperwork & she is giving me a choice. Still, I can’t trust her, she may still be a pawn in the Colony’s game.’
“I’ll keep my eyes wide.” replied Pasquel with very little doubt in him.
“But these guys are armed to the teeth, you can’t take them all out. Look I‘ve got a guy who works with bodyguards & he can set you up with a heavy…”
“Trust me Agatha.” Pasquel gave her a smile. “I’ve learned a few things here that serve me well.”
Agatha decides to pay the bill, Pasquel cannot help but see how much she tipped the waitress.
“Keep the change hun.” replied Agatha as she handed her two fifty dollar bills.
“I see your job pays well.” said Pasquel as both he & Agatha exited the café.
“If you consider being a wife a job, then yeah, I’m employed.”
“Married?”
“Pasquel, let’s meet again. Next time you pick the place & we’ll catch up on good times.”
“And next time, next time I’ll pay the bill.”
“You can bet on that. Just tell me the time & date through a fire frame message.”
“I will.” and just like that, Pasquel walked home in the opposite direction Agatha walked.
‘She’s a grown woman, a married woman. There go my chances.’
Before Pasquel could utter another word, he heard a screeching yell coming from the direction behind him.
Someone was in trouble, Pasquel decided to run towards the danger & readied the blade at hand.
‘That sounded like Agatha!’
Pasquel then ran into a narrow alleyway behind brick apartments to find Agatha standing behind the dead body of a bum, holding a gun.
“So, you are a carver too?”
******************************************************************************************
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