Bill of Human Wrongs

Ron, Christine, and Eve huddled in their room, their television broadcasting the anguish in the streets. It was a little after ten when they heard the gun shot. A few minutes later, another shot could be heard. The shots began on a lower floor, but now were sounding closer.

Ron told the women to hide under the beds. He ran around the room and gathered their possessions, hiding everything in pantries, closets, whatever he could find. He froze when he heard the voice in the hall coming closer. Silently, he went into the adjoining room, and closed the door behind him.

“Oh Evie, I know you’re close. You can’t escape us, Traitor.” A sickening hoot could be heard from Stephen. “Evie, I have plans for you. Christine? Don’t worry your pretty head off, I have no grievances with you and Ron. But your little friend? She has to be punished, you know I’m right.”

The next shot broke the lock to their suite.

Stephen ran around the room, poking his head in the bathroom, the kitchenette, he scanned the main living area. He chuckled, and sat down on a chair. The hotel phone rang. Surprised, Stephen looked at it, bewildered. “What the heck.”

He went to the loud apparatus, picked it up, and looked at the receiver as if it were a newly discovered species. He raised it to his face and spoke into it. “Yea?”

“Thank God. Stephen, I’m in the lobby and I’ve been calling every room to find you. Jesus, Stephen. Finally I can speak to you alone. Glenda’s right about Eve. We need to turn her in and I need your help. After you left, she saw the way Christine and I looked at her, and it made her run. She knows what she did is wrong, and I think she knows she needs to be punished.  But I need your help. Are you in, Stephen? I thought I could do this on my own, but now I’ve lost her. Damn, I had her believing I was with her, but she knows now and she’s on the run.”

“Ron, of course. Is she still in the hotel? Forget about turning her in, I want her dead. She’s ruined everything and deserves to die for it. My Glenda is good at reading people and she knows this woman is bad. There’s a demon inside her, Ron. I mean a real demon. The devil has ahold of her. God, she had it all. A good husband, nice home. Only a demonic person would do what she’s done. She had me going for a while. She seemed so nice and sweet, but that isn’t what she is, is it, Ron?”

“That’s right, but we need to find her. You can do whatever you want to her, but I fear for our lives with her on the run. You’ve seen what she’s capable of, Stephen.”

“What’s your plan, Ron? Just tell me and I’ll do what I can to help. I can bring her back to mess with her or I can just shoot her. Name your game.”

“Listen, I’ve hidden Christine in one of the rooms on the fifth floor and want her to stay there until we find her. I can meet you in your room in a few minutes and we can make our plan there. Are you with me?”

“You bet I am. I’ll see you there. Glenda’s going to be relieved to hear that you’re with us. The Lord will protect us all from the demon in Eve.” He hung up the phone and left the room.

Ron waited until he saw the elevator doors shut, taking Stephen down to the room where his family waited. He crept over to where the women were, and entered their room. “Come out. You’re safe for now. But, Eve. You need to get out of here and hide. Maybe that Fire House. We'll all meet up tomorrow after dark.” He put his hands on Eve’s shoulders. “Can you keep out of sight until then?”

She nodded, “You guys meet me in front of the ladies room under the street at 11pm tomorrow. The subway stairs are across the street. At the bottom of the stairs is where I’ll meet you. Trust me, I’ll be fine until then.” She kissed Ron, then embraced Christine and kissed her. She ran out of the room, knowing that the coffee house would be her refuge. She peeked behind her several times, but no Stephen. Across the street, she dashed down the stairs, and into the bathroom. Suddenly, her confidence left her, her hand shaking when she tried the knob. But her fears melted when she smelled the coffee, the scones, and heard the friendly voices on the other side of her precious portal.