The Unnamed

Her blessing was her curse. Many wanted her for what she could do, but they had no idea just how powerful she would become once she transformed.

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She was the unnamed one, dumped like trash by the Main Street bus stop in the middle of the night. The reason she was still alive and breathing would soon become evident. The assassin, Single Shot, was supposed to put a bullet through her head after dumping her at the bus stop. When he reached down to pull back the trash bag to expose her head, his hand touched her fleetingly. In that instance, she transformed into his big brother, Mac. Mac had a developmental issue, and Single Shot had always been his protector. Single Shot stared at her confused, and then she spoke a single word to him. One second, Single Shot was getting ready to pull the trigger, and the next minute, he was at home making a sandwich with no recollection of how he got there.

***

The crew shift changes at Pearly Pear Tree’s Waste Disposal put Chris squarely in her path. He arrived at the Pearl at 5 a.m. in a terrible mood. He was still supposed to be embracing the voluptuousness that was Rita. Chris went to the moon and back by the time Rita finished with him last night. He was primed and ready for a rematch, only to receive a call from Pearl to head in an hour earlier than usual. Ma Pearl had gotten a call from the mayor’s office requesting an urgent trash pickup from Main Street ahead of the La Muerta festival scheduled for that day.

Chris grumbled to himself as he parked the truck by the bus stop - “Just because she doesn’t have a life doesn’t mean I have to get roped into working early – this is Randy’s shift, not mine. But maybe if I finish quickly, I can knock off early and get back to Rita”.

He started feeling warm and tingly, thinking about Rita and all they did last night. He picked up the pace and started dumping the bags in the truck. As he grabbed the garbage bag, he grunted at its weight – “Jeez, what the hell is in here?” he grumbled. As he pulled and tugged at it, he heard a groan. He dropped the bag, and as it hit the ground, there was a moan. He ripped open the bag and saw her. Although bloodied and bruised, she must have been the most beautiful woman he had ever seen – and he had seen his fair share. She was all shades of blue and black, and her naked form had many stab wounds. He swore and grabbed his phone to dial 911.

“S’il vous plait, pas d’hopital ni de police…ils me tueront s'ils me trouvent” she managed to say through lips that were swollen shut.

“Say what now?” Chris muttered.

“No hospital or police, they will kill me if they find me,” she repeated.

“Screw that. I am not getting involved in whatever this is – I’m calling the cops.” Chris said.

She reached out to grab his hand. Upon the first contact, an image of his little sister, Daisy, flashed before his eyes. He looked down at the woman, and he could swear it was Daisy lying there bruised and bloodied.

He inhaled and exhaled a trembling breath. “Daisy, is it really you?” he whispered.

“Cwissy, help me.” Only Daisy called him Cwissy because she was too young to pronounce Chris. But how could this be? Daisy had been dead for almost 23 years.

He stared down at the woman, transformed into 3-year-old Daisy, and immediately picked her up, carrying her to the truck. He covered her up with his jacket and drove like a bat out of hell to the Pearly Pear.

***

Ma Pearl was eating a chocolate-filled doughnut covered in sprinkles. Her doctor had told her to cut down on sugar because of her weight. You only live once, Ma thought, as she bit into the warm doughnut and licked the oozing chocolate off her fingers.

As she took the last bite, she saw the truck speed into the yard and screech to a stop.

“Ma Pearl, get out here!!” Chris yelled.

“Who do you think you are talking to like that, you young punk?” Ma Pearl shouted back. She tended to sway when she walked, rocking from side to side like a ship caught in a storm.

“Just hurry up and help me with her.” he pleaded.

“What in the world? What did you do to her, Chris?” Ma shouted.

“I didn’t do anything! I found her like this in a trash bag where YOU sent me!” Chris shouted back.

“So why did you bring her here? Take her to the hospital and call the police.” Ma retorted.

“It’s Daisy. I have to help her. Please help me.” Chris pleaded

“Who is Daisy, one of your girlfriends? I warned you this would happen if you keep carrying on with all those women!” Ma said angrily.

“Daisy is my baby sister!” Chris snapped

“She doesn’t look like a baby to me,” Ma said

Ma Pearl moved to get a closer look at the woman. When she was close enough to touch, the woman grabbed her hand. Immediately Ma Pearl saw Jewel, her daughter who had vanished years before.

“Oh Lord, Jewel, my baby, where have you been?” She sobbed.

“I’m home, help me, momma!” Ma heard the words in her head even though the woman didn’t speak.

“Quick, bring her inside and let’s tend to these wounds,” Ma said.

Chris carried the woman into the back office, where Ma often spent the night. Ma grabbed the first aid kit and switched the light on to get a better look.

Part 1

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