In Season **** One Hundred Eleven

How could Daddy have possibly been under the assumption he could cast out demons? I was now fully convinced he'd known what he had fucked up, they abided as we had inside of the home. Mama had probably welcomed them but something halted her sense of reasoning for their existence, she had inevitably sought comfort in the word of God, but they soon returned. He'd even called a few by name but was feeble in his beliefs, they only toyed with his vigorous endeavors and mocked his own subsistence. They dwelled among the animate, also there were some who had many.

Jermaine Hathaway I searched, his death had been described as remorseless, perhaps it was.

Daddy had baptized on the Fourth of July, I'd come back but not the same. The concurrence of the baptism and the drowning was suddenly becoming a phenomenon, who had he baptized? Mama had not approved of him touching the woman, Kerri and I had wandered off and come out by the lake. The distant voices could be heard.

The Book of Psalms had mentioned the Spirits of the Water, so had Isaiah.

Martin had asked how could one just simply have the desire to kill, I believe at that moment I began to focus more on my spiritual being, no one could just kill without justifiable reasoning but there were many who could.

I would arrive at the orchard in approximately an hour and a half I determined after threatening to flatten the bystanders, I hadn't known my intentions except to see if the ground had been broken. The cold December air wouldn't be a factor even though I hadn't worn a jacket, Christmas was in 12 days.

Ayden's body, why was it so important? Trenton had even known she was pregnant before I did, was Kerri targeted? She did have a gift.

Lawrence's attempt to assure me I could trust him had fallen through because I still didn't, no further than I could spit. Nevertheless he'd shed light in dark areas, I would return to the home in Metairie, get the briefcase and leave for Florida. Christy had always been hell bent on going for good. What was the connection between her and Nathaniel? I hadn't heard from Ryella and I leaned toward my own judgement again, Pam had too much to lose if she allowed any harm to come to the girls. I wondered about her thoughts on Trenton being dead and knew she had a set of twins also, I'd assumed they were with Nate but he hadn't mentioned them. Really who had they killed? The cold winter prevented the trees from producing, except for one. It remained productive all year and Trenton insisted on Ryella eating it's fruit. I hadn't known what I'd expected to find but as I neared the gate when I arrived the tree could be seen straight ahead, it seemed to glow in the dark. I slowed the Ram at the closed gate and contemplated getting out while opening the truck door. The other trees stood still, lifelessly, but the one straight ahead glowed radiantly, its branches were filled with green leaves and fruit whereas the others were bare. I walked to the gate praying I didn't have to climb, barely touching it the iron creaked open. Why would Lawrence not have locked it I wondered? I remembered my first time at the Orchard and saw the sign above the entrance had fallen aslant.

I can recall being more curious than frightened as I walked on my aching feet toward the trees, I was certain it glowed.

It almost lit the path before me, I set out on the regularly walked trail between the rows of neatly planted trees, I had to see for myself and had to know if the ground was broken, before I examined the I area swore I would find Victor. I was sure he wasn't still at the home but knew where he worked. I'd consumed the apple and could now see the tree, the climate around it was warmer than the rest of the atmosphere, it reminded me of Kerri's baptismal and how the water had warmed. However, there was another tree that sat east of the one I stood before, I'd never noticed it before---it had leaves but no fruit. I estimated the walk and saw how it sat away from the others. I contemplated driving down its eastward path but decided I could make it on foot, I saw leaves---for sure.

I saw the disturbed dirt but also saw some sort of transformation within the tree. As I stood looking at the fresh dirt in disgust a snake crawled from behind, Trenton had only told me about them being on the land. I tried to swallow my fear but he yet sensed it, I was terrified! The dirt had been disturbed! I would make sure they would suffer even if I had to punish them myself! I backed away yet watching the snake, it's beady eyes seemed to glow in the dark as the tree, the water was returning to my ears, this time it was with pressure, I felt my eardrums would explode! My baby kicked in bedlam, and I felt the adrenaline rush would soon make me pass out. I was almost frozen with fear but knew I had to leave! I could see the green leaves appearing on the tree before my eyes one by one! What the fuck had they done and what was the tree that glowed!? I suddenly remembered the Bible mentioning two in the Garden.

I was becoming so lightheaded and my feet were moving as fast as they could, I opened the call log and found Nathaniel's phone number while panting but I was too deep in the Orchard to even call! What the fuck was I witnessing. I was afraid to turn my back to the serpent, he was erected as if being charmed by my movements, he swayed. Fear totally consumed me, I lost consciousness while the truck was yet running at the gate. Or did I?

Something I could not explain occurred, similar to a dream it had been a state of unconsciousness but I was aware, I could not control the lustful urge that had consumed me, instantaneously to running away from the tree it had come over me. I didn't remember making it back to the truck, I was perplexed and could not fathom what I'd seen, the snake's tongue was forked and it flicked at the air. The creature eventually opened his mouth and exposed his fangs as if preparing to strike, but instead as I backed away it climbed the tree and hid from my sight. What the fuck had I witnessed, please explain? I locked the doors before checking for a signal. Surprisingly, Sharon had called. I decided to deal with her later and scrolled the call log while backing away down the narrow road with intentions to return in the daylight.

The sensation that had taken control of me was surreal, I was suddenly sexually aroused. Troy was locked up but I needed someone to calm the lust driven spell. My own touch to my neck sent chills through me, I'd believed no one could satisfy my desires, I was able to see what I hadn't that night. I hadn't even noticed my hand inside of my panties before attempting to reach to turn on the signal light. I wanted to pull over.

The phone rang again snapping me out of the trance, my first thought was to pay it no mind but I soon noticed it wasn't my own phone it was Pooh's, he had left it behind. I thought about answering then quickly declined.

I could not fight the urge to be fucked, there was something drawing me toward New Orleans and in an attempt to lean toward my better judgement I called the jail to inquire about Makil Griffin's bond. He didn't have one.

I knew I needed Martin, I had no choice except to beg him, I hadn't spoken with him since Thanksgiving, Severance, as he preferred to call it. He'd defended my arrest and why had Trenton waited until he had a gathering before he attacked?

I didn't know who to trust but trusting Martin wasn't an option, I just needed a favor and wanted my man free. He didn't kill Trenton, I did!

I regretted Troy had even come to my rescue and I would lose all sanity if I could not see him soon. I called back to Orleans Parish my fingers glistened in the corner of my eye. I inquired about visitation. I'd gotten Pooh caught up and waited for the aftermath of the shooting, but I currently had unfinished business to attend to with Martin. I'd been looking at the situation with an earthly eye, I'd also learned u can't defend yourself against evil if u are unaware it exists.

I passed the Prairieville sign as the gas light had come on, also there was an exit sign indicating there were restaurants a half mile ahead. Prevailer took formation, so did repreival, but whose. I would carry out any mission in progress including kill Sharon Givens. We'd never been inconsonant, I had indefinitely preferred Daddy. His method of protection was inexplicable, why had he really taught me to kill? The victims were always women, whom he had baptized prior to their deaths. Rashinda's death was as vivid as it had been on my 6th birthday, her daughter had been my friend.

I slowed as I neared the exit, I'd planned to head back toward the Metairie home after filling up at the RaceTrac, but had been side tracked by a bum who sat on the curb, her attire was old ragged and dirty. I took a five dollar bill from Pooh's console after removing the debit card from the pump. She watched me without redirecting her gaze but when I offered it to her she refused to take it. In some manner it had pissed her off which had pissd me the fuck off. She called the child I carried an incarnate from purgatory, and a pink eyed cacodemon. I had her by the collar of the worn ass coat she wore before I realized it, her grin creeped me the fuck out! I heard a man say "Leave her alone! What'd she do to ya!!!? I'm callin the police!"

FUCK U! HE DIDN'T KNOW! That bitch had talked about my child, had she referred to him being albino?

I asked the dirty fingernailed woman to repeat herself, I heard what she had said! The water was becoming louder but I wasn't tripping. I looked at her, her teeth were gleaming white and she said as I read her lips "Keep your dirty money." A car sat behind me waiting for the pump, the truck had filled up. I had had enough of muthafuckas and she didn't seem helpless to me! Someone had yelled out "She's assaulting a helpless woman!"

Another:"The police are comin'!"

I ran back to the truck and got inside, without remembering to remove the pump, that bitch had some nerve! Why did she look familiar, I'd seen her before? She'd rubbed me the wrong way, or had she given me confirmation? "WE'VE GOT YOUR LICENSE PLATE!" I climbed the ramp entrance to the highway shaken, not because of the altercation but from what she said. I couldn't recall the prior encounter we'd had. I'd briefly closed my eyes and opened them to make sure I wasn't having a realistic dream, the snake---the woman on the curb.

My childhood had begun to haunt me, I remembered the day they said I wouldn't be going home from the hospital. Mama had brainwashed them, without any tests or procedures they'd inconclusively taken her word but how had she known the drugs would suppress the memories? I had experienced a post traumatic onset of nightmares the doctors had affiliated with being epileptic, also the fantasy world I had created was the forefront for the lies about killing, one had been suspicious and had known I couldn't have made it up detail for detail.

The thought of the State Police waiting to arrest me for assault on the being on the curb made me more nervous. I picked up the phone to see I had missed another call from Nathaniel, also Martin had called---both had been almost simultaneous to each other. I pushed send on Nathaniel's number, as if expecting me to call right back he answered. He talked like he was angered about his calls being unanswered and inquired of my whereabouts.

Controlling Muthafucka. I asked about the tree—- he said it was in season.

I could almost feel someone's hands on me seductively as I drove toward home, I needed to be satisfied it had been too long---all I could think of was Troy however the touch was not as aggressive as his was, but gentle, it reminded me of the night Pooh came to the home on Saint Charles. I was almost hallucinating and when I realized it I was on the side of the highway! I'd swerved and dropped the phone, while Nathaniel instructed me to catch the next flight out. I was willing but felt I could never leave Louisiana, the soil kept me planted. Fuck the phone I was already afraid, I continued toward Metairie to get the briefcase while it laid on the floor. Troy weighed my emotions heavily, I had to return to New Orleans afterward, it was must. He hadn't called, I hated him! I felt it was intentional, my body ached and my child needed his father, he had not even fully satisfied me! I felt the tears pool in the lens of the large sunglasses I'd worn and had concluded a glare against the wet lenses from oncoming traffic in the opposite lanes had resulted in me thinking I had seen a bitch in my lane. The call had not ended, Nathaniel had been on the phone for 19 minutes. Why not just end it all, the thought had occurred.

The words reaper and arrive had floated from the sign when I had earlier passed by leaving the Orchard also, I hadn't dwelled on those particular words taking formation, I was yet trying to come to terms with what I had just witnessed underneath the tree. I'd never gone when Trenton would go out of season, I wasn't allowed to and he mentioned the snakes being in search of the rotten apples that had fallen from the trees. That had to be the explanation.

How could I report a child being buried underneath an apple tree? Sure, Trenton was gone but who would believe me when the mother hadn't even reported him missing? I knew when I returned to New Orleans there was someone I could see, someone who could explain to me my past as well as my future.

I decided I couldn't drive any longer, I was tired and had begun to dose and needed my phone. I picked it up to see Nathaniel had ended the call but had texted, warning me to stay away from the orchard and get rid the shoes I had worn on the grounds.

I arrived home and even didn't remember the hour but I woke up naked huddled beside the bloodstain, something had awakened me as it disturbed my hair. Before the day had gone by I'd shaved my head.