Mechteld and Marquita work in silence as they gather papers, fold clothing and pack the large rucksack. After a few minutes Marquita asks, “Why are we going to Las Vegas?”497Please respect copyright.PENANA5hHw0DCbi0
“Someone I know needs help.” Mechteld flatly answers as she sorts trash out of the pile.497Please respect copyright.PENANAvujazGW95F
“Who are you helping?”497Please respect copyright.PENANArqpkqBj3wh
“Her name is Margreet and she’s one of my protégés. She’s discovered that one of her protégés has….” Mechteld pauses while she tries to find the correct word, “…..compromised herself.”497Please respect copyright.PENANAUHWiV81Kn6
“Compromised?”497Please respect copyright.PENANAREoaGd4TMu
Mechteld pauses again, unsure how to proceed. “Margreet believes that this person is trying to expose her immortality. It happens from time to time. When it does, they have to be captured and put on trial.”497Please respect copyright.PENANAyOKoKIRGS6
“Trial? Like for criminals?”497Please respect copyright.PENANABRPPUypVcM
Trying to sound casual Mechteld answers, “As I said Marquita, there are millions like us and we have a government and laws, just like the mortal world. For them, the worst crime someone like us can commit is exposing what we are.”497Please respect copyright.PENANAihg1cuxTmy
Marquita raises her eyebrows and begins to open her mouth, but before her question can be asked Mechteld quickly interrupts with, “How are your legs feeling?”497Please respect copyright.PENANA83JgkxMau8
“Weak.”497Please respect copyright.PENANAnoC15NWK2e
Mechteld gestures around the room. “Walking will help. Do a few paces, I don’t want to take the chair. ”497Please respect copyright.PENANAdmTzMipiH2
Slowly Marquita balances her weight and begins to take small strides with outstretch arms.497Please respect copyright.PENANA1NF0qO59m0
“Does it happen often? Immortals exposing themselves?”497Please respect copyright.PENANAn6mj0MVJ2n
“Sometimes, but aftermaths are usually carefully controlled. But this incident happened on television. Luckily mortals don’t realize what they’ve witnessed.” Mechteld takes the paper from the top of the stack and gestures to the Las Vegas article.497Please respect copyright.PENANANPbEcpYsAp
Marquita brings the paper closer, “Then it’s not too big of a problem?”497Please respect copyright.PENANALG7tC0UMep
“No, it’s definitely a big problem and I have to help prevent it from becoming an even bigger problem.”497Please respect copyright.PENANAqFXfMHqf9V
“Why you?”Marquita asks as she returns the paper to the pile.497Please respect copyright.PENANAxR1mnMM2tM
“You may not believe it now, but the mentor-protégé relationship is very significant. If she needs help, I feel compelled to help her the best I can.”497Please respect copyright.PENANAVnqFpcyTlT
“Have you done this to a lot of people?”497Please respect copyright.PENANAGUGa93apb0
“You’re certainly not the first.” Mechteld’s answers while taking another cigarette out of its pack.497Please respect copyright.PENANA0QnhteYS25
“How are we getting to Las Vegas? Are we flying?”497Please respect copyright.PENANA4Kw3OEx6Pb
“No, we have to avoid transportation that involves over scrutiny of our identities. After all, you’ve been dead for a few days now.” Mechteld picks up her now bulging bag and turns it to access its pockets. “I don’t have a social security number, passport, or driver’s license other than the one’s I’ve stolen.”497Please respect copyright.PENANAjm3LOuGnj2
“You steal people’s identities?” Marquita asks, taken aback.497Please respect copyright.PENANA96Dr1lo0xe
Mechteld shrugs her shoulders. “It didn’t used to be like that, but now it’s necessary.” 497Please respect copyright.PENANAuewaxvn3gR
Mechteld pulls a small vinyl wallet out of side pocket of her rucksack bag and pulls out a license. “Come here, let’s see if this one works out.”497Please respect copyright.PENANAHJ2XKKWhZD
Mechteld holds the ID up to Marquita’s face. Its former owner was a 19-year-old Edison, New Jersey woman named Jasmine Thomas. Her face was fuller than Marquita’s and eyes much darker. But their skin was the same smooth unblemished toffee.497Please respect copyright.PENANAckNRFNWZ1i
“It’s the best I could do on short notice. I hope you’ll pass for nineteen.”497Please respect copyright.PENANAnTQb4lVIVp
Marquita takes the license and examines the picture. “She doesn’t really look like me.”497Please respect copyright.PENANA7vDumx9Ofx
“Yeah I know. I’ll get you a better one when we return. In the meantime, you need to wear these.”497Please respect copyright.PENANAiTIokR5nqV
Mechteld hands Marquita the hijab and sunglasses from the hospital. Marquita holds them out and raises a scrutinizing eyebrow.497Please respect copyright.PENANAq73KFmRXBJ
Mechteld points to Marquita’s scar. “Little girls with head wounds attract attention.”497Please respect copyright.PENANAiNd6BPR5FP
Marquita pulls the scarf over her head and tries to wrap it, but each attempt results in limp fabric hanging loosely around her head. Mechteld takes the scarf away from Marquita and folds it before quickly draping it over her head, pinching the fabric beneath her chin and securing it behind her neck.497Please respect copyright.PENANA1UaElhZ8jI
“Doesn’t this “government” of yours have IDs?” Marquita asks as she feels her new accessory.497Please respect copyright.PENANAiT9s2fCWhW
“Yeah, but stolen IDs provide a layer of anonymity. Sometimes I don’t like people knowing who I am and where I’m going.” Mechteld points to Marquita’s new license. “It’s vital you memorize the information on that ID. You’ll get caught by not knowing who you’re supposed to be.”497Please respect copyright.PENANAoA2lBW8Z3o
Mechteld quickly takes the ID from Marquita fingers and asks, “What’s your name?”497Please respect copyright.PENANAD2gw26a62F
Marquita searches her memory and confidently answers, “Jasmine Thomas.”497Please respect copyright.PENANA4SHw3AnvqS
“How old are you?”497Please respect copyright.PENANAL5LufgZKU8
Marquita pauses as she tries to remember.497Please respect copyright.PENANAT8yX6sh567
“Study.” Mechteld says as she pushes the license back while reaching for the bottle of antiseptic and bloody rag.497Please respect copyright.PENANAIhhjdWmpzt
“Lesson one Marquita, memorize everything. IDs, maps, faces, languages, accents, phone numbers, geography, it’s all important. Believe me, not knowing what the capital of New Jersey is when holding a New Jersey driver’s license is suspicious.”497Please respect copyright.PENANA7SArNy9iVQ
“It’s Trenton, right?” Marquita says, as she looks closer at the license.497Please respect copyright.PENANA04ZctgvbHY
Mechteld kneels over the bloody spot left from Marquita’s head and opens he bottle of antiseptic. “Lesson two: Never draw attention to yourself. Keep your head down and don’t talk to anyone.”497Please respect copyright.PENANA7mxFXXCHlR
She stares at the blood for a moment before emptying the bottle on the spot and quickly dabbing with the rag. Without looking at Marquita she cautions, “Lesson three: Don’t piss me off.”497Please respect copyright.PENANACT4TWxBEDQ
Mechteld cleans the spot until it blends with the other faded brown spots on the floor. As Marquita watches Mechteld place all the bloody rags and tissues into a bag and set it aside.497Please respect copyright.PENANAE0NixIWIYs
“So how are we getting to Las Vegas? Are we driving? Do you have a car?” Marquita asks.497Please respect copyright.PENANABTyvtnotUg
“No, we’re taking the bus. We’ll go to the Port Authority as soon as we finish packing.”497Please respect copyright.PENANAL977P3DrC1
Marquita feels a flutter begin in her stomach. Nervously she asks, “A bus to Las Vegas? That’ll take days.”497Please respect copyright.PENANALWMzTFu4js
“It’ll take two and a half days.”497Please respect copyright.PENANAnja8c5RSU6
Silence falls between the two women as Marquita’s brow stiffens and she begins to feel a tightness in her chest. In a low voice she confesses, “I don’t like being in crowded places. The voices give me terrible headaches.” 497Please respect copyright.PENANAYUhX5cC9tV
Mechteld dumps her mountain of cigarette butts into the trashcan, causing a small billow of ash to erupt. Unconcerned with Marquita’s complaint Mechteld says, “It has to be the bus. It’ll be a good place to practice.”497Please respect copyright.PENANAVnU73tNUNw
Before the cigarette ash settles, Mechteld turns and kneels beside the bed. She reaches underneath and feels around before pulling out an old and battered sword the size of her forearm.497Please respect copyright.PENANAUBDInvWSSh
Marquita eyes the sword with a raised eyebrow. “Family heirloom?”497Please respect copyright.PENANAFrzIWlPMxB
“Holy relic.” Mechteld answers as she examines the sword from handle to tip.497Please respect copyright.PENANAhkqDq5NegM
She then quickly wraps it in a worn t-shirt, adds it to the rucksack and closes it. Mechteld again reaches under the bed and begins to pull, this time removing a large black suitcase. She pushes it towards Marquita and says, “Here, you can carry this.”497Please respect copyright.PENANAtBTTLzxW3g
Marquita stands the large suitcase upright and tests its weight. She lifts it easily off the ground several times before saying, “It’s empty.”497Please respect copyright.PENANAy198mxTzk3
Mechteld hoists her heavy bag on her back and then lifts her hood over her hair.497Please respect copyright.PENANA2yUs0Opce3
“Let’s hope it stays that way.”
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