“So glad you’re safe, little one,” he said in a gravelly voice. “Water,” he croaked. They rang for a nurse, who appeared instantly. Everyone gave him room as he worked. Checking vitals, adjusting a drip, helping Clay slowly drink fluids. In a few minutes, he turned, smiled, and walked out of the room.
Everyone huddled around his bed, smiling and welcoming him back. Clay’s eyes welled with tears as the reality set in. Somehow, they’d made it through and saved Elena. Overcome with gratitude, he thanked each of his friends in turn. When he finally came around to Martha, he raised his eyelids.
Martha understood. “Yes, Clay, Evan is here.”
Clay paused a beat. He didn’t know it yet, but since the incident, no one, not even Jackie, had spoken openly about the circumstances revolving around his connections with Evan. “Tell him I said thank you.”
“He can hear you,” Martha said.
“He stayed with me. I remember lying on the floor in the hallway, then that’s it. Somehow, Evan stayed with me to make sure I made it back from the coma.”
Jackie gasped. Martha gave a knowing nod. “Clay, he wants you to know he thinks you are a good guy.”
“I’d shake his hand if I could,” Clay replied.
Martha turned her attention to Jackie. They shrugged at each other, men, and smiled warmly knowing the other’s thoughts. Then Jackie put her arm around Elena and gave Martha an expectant look.
“Is Evan still here?” Jackie asked softly.
“Yes,” Martha replied.
“He can hear me?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll always love you, Evan. You saved my little girl. Words can’t express...” Jackie began to weep softly.
Elena put her arms around Jackie, comforting her. Then she looked into her mother’s eyes, a mischievous grin on her face. “Can we ask Evan who’s right?”
Martha looked over to Evan, who had a puzzled look on his face, then back to Jackie, who also looked confused.
Jackie cupped Elena’s cheek. “What do you mean, honey?”
“Is it Package Corps or Package Fairies?” Elena whispered.
Martha looked over to see a broad smile come over Evan’s face as he turned to step into an expanding light. It seemed to extend back into a swirling tunnel, deepening with each moment. The walls of the tunnel appeared to Martha to be cloudy, but as the formation came into resolve, she could see the tunnels were formed not of cloud but of the energies of the deceased, spiriting Evan to the light. Assuring him he could move on now. The people he cared about were safe. He was finally at peace. They didn’t speak, but she understood their intent.
Elena asked again, more urgently now, “It’s Fairies, isn’t it?”
Evan turned to face Elena and Jackie, uttering his response.
“Yes. Fairies,” Martha said for Evan. “Definitely fairies.”
With that, Evan stepped into The Beyond.
𓂓
A couple more weeks passed. As had become their habit each morning after Jackie dropped Elena off at school, she and Clay sat watching the morning news. Jackie had decided to take some extended vacation time in order to recover and help Clay. She stopped each day at her favorite spot for fresh steamy coffees and healthy snacks. Aside from the fact he may have lost a few marbles this time, Clay’s injuries, though extensive, were healing just fine. He’d regained full mobility and was set to be released from the hospital in a couple days. Michael, Sean, and Martha dropped by regularly, but mornings were just for them.
Even though Clay never met John the driver or the woman who had been slain at Little Guantanamo, Jackie had told him all about them and the events surrounding their deaths. Clay was not only shocked to learn about how the guy acted while he lay unconscious on the street but also of John’s brutal death. Agents had found his shallow grave near the compound along with the mutilated remains of dozens of other victims. But when he heard of Carmen’s sacrifice to try and save little Elena, he was deeply saddened. On their way out, he briefly met the surviving two women of the Paititi Three. They were scheduled to return to their home country along with Carmen’s body. She would receive a proper burial according to their customs. Many people would have her picture in their home for día de Los Muertos. A great honor.
Clay, Jackie, and the others hadn’t exactly understood the popularity of the Paititi Three in Latin America, but their disappearance was a scandal across Latino America. A tragic crime that had never been solved. Which is why the news headline caught their eye. Clay turned up the volume on the TV, which hadn’t shown any signs of blowing out since Evan left them. The ticker at the bottom read, ‘Paititi Three found after six years, two alive, one slain in dramatic rescue involving a kidnapped child.’
The reporter repeated the headline, then continued with the story, “...long suspected to have been the work of a notorious drug lord that had fled Latin America, Armando Beltrain Cardentias, who called himself The Alphabet King. These suspicions were confirmed when DEA agents stormed his hideout. Carmen, the lead vocalist for the group, was tragically killed trying to protect a little girl from being taken into the underground flesh trade. The so-called Alphabet King, who was killed in his notorious tunnel system, fancied himself a modern-day Robin Hood, much like drug lords of the past. But despite his apparent delusions, when the kidnapping was linked to him, he was widely condemned by the people. An unusual stance given the universal fear of drug lords. Locals are quoted as calling him ‘non’runa’—a derogatory term for someone who stepped too far outside of acceptable societal norms, even for a criminal. The Paititi Three were precious to everyone. The surviving members, Frederica, and Rosaria, returned to their hometown and laid to rest their sister-in-spirit, Carmen. While they recover from their ordeal, the surviving women have vowed to take up their instruments again and dedicate their career to Carmen’s memory.”
Clay and Jackie looked at each other with blank stares. Although their involvement and that of Sean and Martha had been wisely omitted in the DEA’s statement to the press, they had played a hand in rescuing these women. Now it turned out they were cultural icons to millions of Latin Americans. They’d had no idea. When the shock wore off, Clay reached for Jackie’s hand. “I know I say this every day, but I’m really thankful to have you and Elena in my life.”
She took his hand in both of hers. “I hope it stays that way.” Then she leaned over to give him a hug.
𓂓
Leaning in the doorway, Michael watched as they embraced. “Hands off my girl, buddy.”
Jackie stood up, a look of surprise on her face. “Hey, baby, she said.”
Michael strode in and she walked around the bed to meet him. They paused for a moment, then shared a lingering kiss, their lips not wanting to part as they stepped back.
Clay leaned back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. “Let me know when you’re done.”
Michael chuckled. Jackie patted him playfully on the chest. “We might need a few more minutes.”
“Oh boy,” Clay replied with a small laugh. Then he turned to the door and saw a now familiar face looking back at him.
“Hey, Charlotte,” Clay said, remembering their agreement to keep her nickname private. She had shared with him that she didn’t like being called Charlie in front of strangers.
She breezed into the room. “Hey, tough guy,” she teased. As she walked by Michael and Jackie, she shook her finger and clucked her tongue. “You two.” Then rolled her eyes in mock exasperation. She stopped at Clay’s bedside, fussed with his sheet and pillow for a moment, then leaned in and gave Clay a brief hug, holding his gaze for a lingering moment before standing back up. Over the past couple weeks, Charlotte had been a regular fixture among the makeshift family. But today, she had someone new in tow. The young fella stood in the doorway, peering in with large shy eyes. “Jensen,” Charlotte said. “Come on in, honey.” He pushed back his long straight hair, adjusted his backpack, and stepped in.
Jackie kneeled down and put out a hand. “Hi, Jensen. I’m Jackie.”
