hospice || e.j.

cinq | the kinder egg of surprise

Marli lowers her pipe by an inch.

"Miss Morris-Vu, you're a person of interest to a dangerous and highly lethal cult of the supernatural. As of now you're currently being transported out of state to their safehouse, where their mercenary will keep you captive until they send someone to pick you up—"

"Who do you work for?" Marli interrupts. "A name. Give me a name."

"Sorry, we can't tell you. Now, about the—"

"Then I'm not coming with you. End of discussion."

"What?" Wendy's brows shoot up to her hairline. "What do you mean you're not coming with us? You'd rather go with the undead eyeless murder machine?"

"Hey, don't judge!" Teddy calls out.

"Teddy, please stop talking. Marli, listen to me—"

Marli glowers, nostrils flaring. "No, you listen to me, Wendy. I've just been chased down by a zombie, a cyborg, and now you and your little friend. Between you and me? You aren't that intimidating, buddy, and I sure as hell am not looking forward to get kidnapped twice in one day. So unless you tell me the name of your employer, then both of you can take a hike – I'll go with the one who at least makes sure I live until he gets what he wants."

Marli finishes her speech, uncomfortably aware of the fact that her entire face is burning up. No longer scared – all she can feel now was anger, red-hot, and frustration. God, Marli hates it when people keep her in the dark. Lies and secrets, it's all she's ever been told, isn't it?

Wendy throws her arms into the air, exasperated. "You—" She paces about, agitated footsteps kicking up dust clouds. It was a full minute before she crouches down again, this time on her knees, leaning her full weight onto the body of the truck.

"Fine. A parlay." She holds up two long-fingered palms. "I can't tell you who I'm working for, but there's something else I can interest you in."

She leans in closer, her lanky body blocking part of the streetlight, casting a long, ominous shadow.

"I know who killed your mother."

☾

"Wendy!"

The redhead snaps around. Teddy gawks, near a bushel of wild brambles, where he'd hid the unconscious driver after stripping him of his uniform and matching trucker hat. "Eyeless is coming back!"

"Fuck," Wendy mutters under her breath. "Okay. Grab my hand and I'll pull you out of here."

Marli stares, wide-eyed, hand empty – the metal pipe has fallen out of her stunned palms.

"What do you mean my mom was killed—"

"Now! We don't have much time!"

Marli reaches out dazedly, and with a firm yank Wendy pulls her out from under the truck. Teddy runs up to them, sneaking along the length. 

"He's the parking lot. We need to move, like, five minutes ago."

"Okay, fuck! Plan B!" Wendy says, exasperated. She hoists Marli up in surprisingly strong arms and books it to the compartment doors, which stand dangerously ajar and within sight of Eyeless Jack.

"Don't walk around the doors. Slip under them. The metal should be thick enough to block Jackieboy's heat vision." Teddy whispers, and Marli sees a smile growing on Wendy's lips.

"Got it, chief."

Teddy pulls the trucker hat over his partner's head. "Now go!" He gives them both a thumbs up and bolts to the driver's seat.

Wendy breathes in bodily, and in an awkward maneuver, manages to limbo her way under the insulated steel door, with a dazed Marli still in her arms. In a second, Marli is staring at the inside of the mattress-filled compartment again, back to where she started.

"Okay, get in."

Marli blinks. "Get in? I thought you were going to take me with you!"

"Miss Morris, that offer expired five minutes ago. Your zombie security is closing in on us, and as much as I'd love to beat the shit out of him all epic battle-like, keeping a low profile is our top priority. No, listen– we're not giving you to them, Marli. We're going to hijack this truck and take you to our safe house. He will let his guard down, and we'll come back to rescue you. Got it? Marli, did you get what I just said? Good – now, hold on to this."

Wendy plops Marli back onto the closest mattress. Open your hand, she says quietly, and not knowing any better Marli complies. The redhead drops something circular into her palms. She had to look twice before she was certain what it is.

"A Kinder egg," Marli says, voice monotone.

"With more surprise than regular ones," Wendy says offhandedly, then her tone immediately changes. "Listen to me carefully. Do not open it until you get to the safehouse. When you do, keep it open and hidden away. Bide as much time as you can for us. When the jig's up, close it immediately. We will come and get you out of harm's way. You have my word, Marli Morris-Vu. That is your mother's full last name, isn't it?"

Marli nods, but something in her heart squeezes and it manifests in the smallest quiver of her lips. Wendy's eyes soften, if just for a moment.

"I'm really sorry this happened to you. See you on the flip side."

The redhead closes the compartment door, and steel-cold darkness swallows Marli yet again.