She thrust the hot wire in Randall’s nose and he screamed horrifyingly, as smoke and blood poured out of his nostril. She watched him patiently as he kicked and frothed from his mouth. She twisted the wire from left to right, pushed it back in, then twisted it again.

When she felt that the wire was cooling down, she pulled it out, extracting flesh and hair from his nose. His groans and screams filled the pitch-black night, drilling fear into the hearts of every creature or beast nearby. She placed the wire back into the fire, now almost pure coal and ashes.  The skies lit up as a falling star streaked across the southern horizon. For a moment the campers stared at the stars and the moon, forgetting Randall, his screams, and the reason why we were here. Did they make a wish? Maybe they did.

What would assassins and kidnappers wish for? Do they have the same desires as us? Do they wish for happy homes with families and children playing and screaming on the patio? Were there some parts of them that still desired peace and love? What did their minds feed on? Crime stories?

I am sure that I knew what Randall was wishing for. Freedom. Would he be able to walk freely tonight? What dark sin was he hiding anyway? Did he wish we never gave that beautiful, sexy neighbor a ride? Case was probably wishing that he had a knife in his boot. He usually carries one around. For some reason, tonight he did not pack it. Would he have cut himself loose and then fought his way free? Was he wishing to be home with his lifelong partner and wife? What was he wishing for now?

An owl coed nearby and then took to the air. The moonlight flickered off its round face and its beak seemed to point directly at me. Was there a cue? Or just wishful thinking? Tonight, I am wishing that I would sober up as always and discover that it was just the good old weed playing with my head. That somehow, my next-door neighbor was a hot model. That she was not a human butcher or member of some lost barbaric clan. How I wish that would be true.
She walked up to him, looked him over, and managed a smile.

‘Tell me, Randall, what is your sin? The one only you and I know. Come on tell me. Save yourself the pain.’
She uttered a deep horrified laughter. It drove the shivers up my spine and I wished I could leap free and run out of here. She got his attention. He sobered up, raising his blood-covered face to address her.

‘We were just kids, we never planned to do it…’ The wind came rushing over us, for me a refreshing gust, for Randall a pain-racking tormentor.
‘Do you think the old woman enjoyed it, Randall? Are you enjoying this now? But yes, go ahead, tell us what you did.’
Randall was sobbing above his groans; I imagined the tears running down his eyes the same way he did when we were kids playing tug-o-war in grandma’s backyard.
‘We didn’t even know what we were doing or why we did it. oh, please don’t let me remember it, so sorrowful…’
‘Do you remember what you used, Randall? A broom, an old, dusty broomstick. Poor old lady and you guys had fun, didn’t you?’ It’s funny how you think you know someone and then it hits you like a hand grenade. Randall!
‘How far up her nose did you poke that broom, come on tell us?’

She came back with the wire, now red hot again. Randal was screaming even before she plugged the wire into his nostril. I felt the warm tears rolling down my eyes. It was all my fault.

Grandma always goes to that old-time country revival. She would jump and dance to calypso rhythm all night, or until late night. I would take her over but she never allowed me to bring her back home. Tonight is one of those blessed evenings when I get together with my friends and visit the stars.

Mom always says ‘When the cat is out, the rats take over.’ And that’s what I am about to do now. I only have two friends, a fat, ugly fellow, towering some seven feet, with black hair, blue eyes with the thickest eyebrows that I have ever seen.

This is Randall. He’s as mean as he is big but has a way of winning hearts. Never is single. He sells pizza for his Dad, so I always have my share of free bites.

Case, this is one weird fellow. He eats so much yet never gets any fatter. His room is full of animals – about ten cats. He only wears black clothes and black shoes. Everything black. Yet he is blonde, grey eyes, taller than me, very skinny, and had dated the same girl since we were teens.

On my way back from the convention center, I picked up both lads. We ran over to Crazy Joe and got enough green for the long night. To hype the fun, we drove over to the reggae boy and borrowed his chillum pipe. After making us swear on Selassie to return it in one piece, he sent us packing into the night.

There are many routes to get to my house but only one of them didn’t go by the cemetery. There was a dusty, unpaved road that passed behind the football stadium. Since it was early and we wanted nothing of the cops, we decided to drive there. We drove slowly listening to Coolio’s Gangster’s Paradise. We played it over and over again, as was our crazy custom. There was little light on this road and not even the moon showed up. I thought I heard a siren and carefully pulled away into a well-known shortcut. We decided to wait.

Case saw her first. He leaned forward and giggled in my ears.

‘Hot number at one o’clock.’
‘Oh, boy, and she is dressed for the party, should I throw her in the back, boss?” Randall joined in the laughter. I followed his finger and felt that funny, familiar feeling in my stomach once again. I have never felt this way about anyone else. Am I a pervert? Was this natural, and if so, is it healthy?

She was my next-door neighbor. What was she doing here? She walked up to the car, her hands tucked tightly in her jeans. Her hair was flying freely with the wind, making her more desirable than ever.  She leaned over my window and asked us for a lift to the other side of the cemetery. Her plaid shirt had the first two buttons opened and we could not help but make a stark conclusion that she was already a woman

I quickly consented, without asking the others for opinions. They only laughed more loudly. Meanwhile, she just smiled, ran her fingers on my arm, and then went to the back where Randall was already opening the door like an escort. She mounted in the back with Randall and we drove out. Our luck held out and we got to the left side of the cemetery without incident. There was a bright light at one of the corners, more like a campfire.

‘Look, guys, I am a bit afraid to cross alone. But if you guys accompany me, I will give each of you a surprise gift.’
We let out a chorused hoot and after closing the doors and windows, set out across the tombs.
‘Say, babes what’s your name?’ She smiled at me, threw her arms on her hips, and then turned to face me.
‘You’ve been my neighbor for more than seventeen years and you don’t even know my name! I, on the other hand, know everything about you, Martin.
“How do you explain watching me ever so often, but never saying a word to me, even when I bumped into you purposefully? you are a coward’
I looked at her and wondered how she knew I watched her at times.
“Look, I must admit, that yes, I have looked at you sometimes from my bedroom, but I am a gentleman and have no plans to date underage girls. but I am not a coward.’
She pointed her fingers at me. “Prove it, if you are not a coward let’s walk over to the campfire and greet them.’
“And you won’t ever call me a coward again?’
“I won’t call you a coward, promise, tweedy fingers.” She reached over and united her little finger with mine. I was intrigued by the softness of her hand and held onto her finger for a moment longer than normal. She did not seem to mind, only raised an eyebrow.
“By the way, today is my birthday. I am officially eighteen, so, you can let go of my finger, or choose to place a ring on it.” Randal and Case whooped, I could feel my cheeks heating up, I knew I was blushing.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the three chocolate candies that I bought earlier. I took her hands, attracted to their softness, and placed the candies in them then closed her fingers gently.  She looked me in the eyes came closer to me, her body just inches from mine, and placed a kiss on my right cheek. I felt a burning impulse in my heart, to take her in my arms and forget that she was the daughter of an Elder, and was untouchable until he gave us the green light.

I remembered once when she was sixteen, she had tinted her hair red and white, and I couldn’t help staring at her as she passed us by. I was sitting with Randal on the corner of the cemetery, just a stone’s throw from here. She had walked deliberately up to me and placed her hand on my head, she had mockingly told me, ‘You are the anointed one, wait for me.’

I thought she meant that she would be back soon. She never came and we got tired of waiting and went home. Here she is tonight, once more calling marriage and giving away kisses. I knew that I was in love with her.

They were dressed in old Indian costumes, feathers, mocassins, coleuses, and floral frills. We went to the campfire which had simmered down to a small blue flare, ash, and coal. The people were dancing and chanting to drums and flutes. There were about seven drummers and three flutes. The men were only wearing seamless white pants with red frills at the side and dark brown moccasins. Their hair tied in long ponytails with different sizes of feathers placed together around their heads.

The women wore white tunics with blue collars and had only one feather in their hair. They mostly sat and watched, except for the dancers who were jumping and chanting in a slow daze. At the left side of the fire was a line of twelve maidens, dressed in white tunics with no collars. They wore crowns on their heads that were made of a collection of flowers. They had no feathers in their hair. According to the myth these young maidens were virgins and were now reaching adult age.

They were accompanied by their future husband who wore white pants without frills and white long-sleeved shirts. Tonight, around this huge bonfire they would become couples, and be given their place in the Talamandra Clan.
The clan would give each couple land, financial aid, and animals, mostly cows and horses. The community would then get together and help them get started on their marriage lives.

Grandma said that this was the power of the clan. No one leaves because of the financial and social comfort that it gives. Only the young queen was allowed to marry an outsider. She would have to prove him a virgin and later he would offer a sacrifice. He would then be groomed into the clan.

The leader raised his hand and the musician stopped abruptly, almost in one single moment. He was a tall man wearing a Hulk mask, with a large bar in his hand. The bar was metallic and had a serpent’s head carved on the top.

‘Delia, I see you have brought visitors, who are they?’

That’s her name, Delia. Yes, it was beautiful and fitting. She was even more beautiful now as her face glittered against the bonfire.

‘They are mine father, all three of them.” The masked man was Dr. Bradley? Didn’t know that he was into this cemetery dancing stuff. That is why they called him Elder Bradley. He was the chief of the clan.
“I was stranded on the way here and they were kind enough to escort me over, I ask you to receive them as my allowed visitors to the marriage festivals.”

The elder walked over to us, he touched each of us on the shoulder with his bar. He then made a gesture to the public and three women came forward and placed feathers on our heads. I must admit that Case looked handsome with his headband.
“Welcome my friends to the marriage ceremony of the Talamandra Clan. What you see here, must remain a secret. Do you promise, my friends?”

We all nodded our heads, and he raised his bar around us and walked back to the bonfire. Delia disappeared with an escort behind the women seated at the right side of the fire. I am not sure why I felt jealous, since we really weren’t a number. I only had a crush that was not possible. The band started playing again, but this time a more romantic melody. The older women rose up and started escorting the couples before the elder. When they were all assembled, Dr. Bradley beckoned to his wife Dora, who brought a red pillow with twelve boxes.

Each male was given one of the little blue boxes. When the elder raised his hands, the music stopped again. He pronounced them married and the males opened the little boxes, took out golden rings, and placed them on the fingers of the maidens. They kissed for what seemed like forever, but then the music started again and they were now escorted back to their places.

Delia appeared with the escort, but she was no longer wearing her jeans and plaid t-shirt. She wore a long white robe, touching the ground. The seam was laced with red silk and was carried by two little girls dressed similarly. She wore a crystal crown on her head and carried a small scepter in her right hand. Behind her came another lady wearing a red robe. Her crown was made of gold and was bigger than Delia’s.

She stood beside Dr. Bradley and his wife who now bowed as did all the people. They cheered and started singing a song in another language that I did not know. After a moment she raised her hand for silence.

“My fellow citizens of Talamandra, tonight we have sent twelve beautiful couples on their journey to adulthood. They will be our future and we will support them as they grow. We are proud of them that they kept the way of the clan, and are awarded tonight with the full plenitude of Talamandra.

‘They will teach their children the Wonder Way, and one day they too will make us proud. Here are a people who love our lands. We till our soils; we groom our animals. We have produced all that we use, and we will continue to do so. Our people are unique and strong. We will never give in to this lost world, filled with sorrows and pain.
‘Tonight, we celebrate the most prosperous year in our history. We have secured our future for the next decade and beyond. Our children will never have to worry about wars, sickness, or hunger. But, this is not a business meeting. We will get to that soon enough.

“Tonight, we will crown a young queen who will one day take my throne, and lead Talamandra into the next century. We are here tonight to celebrate her rising, and help her groom the prince of her choice.’

There seems to be high esteem and reverence for this queen. There were no sounds from the audience. The camp was silent except for the nightlife which didn’t seem to care. No one moved.

“Delia, please come forward” There was that special grace about her That I admired. I would watch her walk by from my window almost every day, and I never got tired. Was there anyone as perfect as she was?

The queen raised her scepter and placed it on Delia’s shoulder. Delia bowed and retraced her steps without removing her eyes from the monarch’s. When she had made twelve steps, she turned and walked back to her place among the maidens.

“Before we can continue, we will ask our leader to secure the sacrifice. Leader Bradley, can you please do the honors?”

Dr. Bradley came forward and placed a small box in my hand. It was gift-wrapped and it had a small golden bowtie on top. He beckoned to two young escorts who came and led me away. Case and Randal started to run as the fullness of the night events dawned on them. I was the sacrifice. I ditched the guards and made a run for it, trying to join my friends, maybe reached the car, called the cops, and put an end to this madness.

Leader Bradley raised his hands and brought his bar down hard. A group of men jumped us and tackled us to the ground. They overpowered us, kicking and punching from all directions. We passed out, and when we opened our eyes, we were tied to three stakes. They threw ice-cold water on us to make sure that we woke up. My head and chest ached and my stomach rolled with nausea. Blood rushed out from the corner of my mouth. I couldn’t see my two friends, only their groans of pain informed me that were close by.

A lady came over to me and with a wet cloth, began to clean my wounds. She kept saying it over and over. “You shouldn’t have to run; you would have served our purpose well. Now look at you.”

She released the rope from my throat and slackened those around my chest. I could now see both of my friends. Case was the worst beaten. His eyes were swollen, and blood gushed from a wound over his right eye. His nose was bloody and seemed broken and his teeth were missing at the upper front.  Randal had his face all swollen but not bleeding. His lips were slightly bruised and it would seem that his left hand was broken. He was groaning loudly and pleading for mercy.

The lady opened my shirt, and touched me, palping for broken bones. She washed it with something that smelled more of rotten cabbage than medicine. Even so, it hurt badly.

Dr. Bradley walked over to Randall. “Randall, it is, right? Can you go ahead and confess your dark sin?”
Randall tried to move his body as if to set himself free.
“I have no sins sir, could you please cut us down, we meant your daughter no harm” He was quite convincing, he had that talent.
‘You are not going anywhere, Randall. My daughter turns eighteen at midnight, and she must perform a forgiveness act, that is you, a sacrifice that is your skinny friend, and she must get married to become a pure saint. So, one last chance, confess your sin to me and receive her forgiveness.’
Randall moaned and struggled once more but only continued his pleas for freedom. He remained defiant.
“We only accompanied your daughter here. She asked us. Sir, I am telling you the truth..ask her. Please, Delia, tell him.”
‘Randall, I believe you. But forget my daughter. Can you remember any horrible, dark thing that you did? Anyone you hurt, anything, my son. Confess to me and Delia will forgive you. Believe me, it is in your best interest.”
‘I am innocent sir, never did anything to hurt anyone. I have no dark sins. I am a good citizen. Please, sir, let me go. I promise not to say anything.”
The leader shook his head and walked over to the rest of the group, where the muggers were also sitting. ‘He is all yours, Delia’.

So here we are. Delia pushed the wire deep into Randall’s nostril again, and when he screamed, she yanked it out and plunged it down his throat. I am not sure when exactly he died, or what finally pushed him over the edge. My heart felt so heavy, I believed it would fall out of my chest any moment now.

Delia went over to Case. The wind blowing against the embers created a glow around her face, and it would appear that fire springled from her hands. She looked at him and asked:

‘Do you have a family or someone who we can pay for your organs?’

He was already crying. ‘No, please, don’t take my kidneys. I can’t live without them.’

I have seen Case fight himself free from a trio that wanted to take his skateboard. He had muscled and fought much more like Jackie Chan and everyone who was watching was impressed. The gang never bothered the street again.

Yet here he was crying. I felt the dagger in her hands plunging into my own heart. The sorrow became burdensome, and I wished that this old lady would just let me die. I could not bear seeing this anymore. First Randall, now Case.

‘We do not need your kidneys, Case. Just your heart and appendix.’ Dalia pulled out a huge dagger and plunged it deep into his chest. The shriek reached out into the night and flooded the silence with terror. The nightlife took to the air or rushed away into the forest.

She brought the weapon down hard, separating his ribs down to his hip. Case’s lungs and stomach fell over his belt, as he surrendered his soul. The tears rolled down my eyes as they cut me down and led me away.

Two young maidens stripped away my clothes and washed me thoroughly with water and soap. I did not notice how cold the water was, nor paid any attention to the soap that burned my eyes. They scrubbed my blood stained body with a soft brush before dragging me naked as Adam, out of the shower. After dressing me in white Indian clothing, they perfumed and groomed my hair. The pain throbbed softly in my head, but my body was aching less after the shower.

The older lady who had cleaned my wounds was waiting and observing. She came forward and placed a pair of moccasins on my feet. She stepped back, looked me over, removed something from my shirt sleeve, and said.

“Prince Martin, welcome to our clan. We have already sent the invitation to your grandma, who is fascinated by the news of your marriage. Now, cheer up, it is almost midnight, come, let’s go get you married.”

How long have they been planning this? At what point was the messenger dispatched to inform my grandmother? Did they watch me as much as I did? Was that what she meant that day at the cemetery? Was I destined to wait for her?

Delia and her parents were already at the altar. They were in the midst of the twelve couples that got married earlier. Delia had changed robes and was wearing a snow-white full dress with crimson frills and a purple tail. The same two little girls carried the tail. There were no trails of blood or any evidence of her crimes. The queen came forward and beckoned to us to come forward. There was no remorse in her voice, instead, she kept her head up high and performed the ceremony.

My hands trembled and my body shivered from cold and shock. My face must have looked pale for one of the dancers brought me a cup. I drank and discovered that it was some kind of wine. It flushed my head and I felt better.  I had waited eighteen long years for this moment. I dreamt of it, imagined it, and even bragged about it to my friends.

Here I was at the altar with the angel of my dreams, hoping that life would open its mouth and swallow me. Or, somehow, hope that another angel, even of death, would rescue me.  Finally, her hands clasped into mine. It was not what I was expecting. Nothing that life had taught me, or that the movies created, prepared me for this. Who am I?

I felt her soft, trembling hand moving into mine, the fingers interlacing into my hard, rough, scarred hands. A soft burning sensation rumbled up my arm and flooded my heart and head. It took control of my body which quickly but gently moved another arm around her back, just at the point where her spine rested on her waistline.  I felt her shuddering body pressing against mine. There were no winds, no campfires, no elders, just us. Her succulent, cherry lips found mine and we elapsed into a timeless moment. I closed my eyes and for a brief moment wanted it to last forever. Hoping that nothing would tear us apart.

A soft applause interrupted our moment, and I opened my eyes. The queen and my new in-laws were cheering, and the maidens were throwing petals all over us. A chariot drawn by a Shetland pony pulled over and we boarded.
Who am I? Was it the effect of the green herb that I hadn’t smoked yet? Was it an ancient form of witchcraft? How could I explain my behavior? Was I a true friend? My grandma once told me that love is the biggest mystery. No one could truly explain it.

After tonight’s events, I am not sure I can either. We started kissing once more as the chariot stole away into the night.

My grandma visited me days after the murders and my abduction. She thanked me greatly for the two cows and the new refrigerator. She also told me that two of my friends died in a gang shootout over in the ghetto. The bodies were burnt and had several scars and one of them was ripped open.

The Bradley Foundation paid for the burial and provided economic assistance to the poor families. She and the church revival endowed a special prize on Dr. Bradley.

I wish I could have told her the truth, but I doubt she would believe me anyway. She was looking forward to my visits once my training was completed.  I have been married for more than five years now; we have a beautiful little girl, and one day, she will become eighteen.