Page 5 of Stone Blind

Passion Fruit nibbled on another carrot stick, “She’s going to be a problem.”

It wasn’t the normal path to becoming a technician, or how a technician was made, but this is simply the start of the Cranberry’s journey. Four months were in front of her with training with Bad Apple, Passion Fruit, Sour Grapes, Lemon, and her handler, Azrael. Thus far, she didn’t like any of those fuckers, but she wasn’t here to like anyone. She was here to learn to kill and not leave a trace.

“Yes, the fuck I am,” Helen said, winking at Lemon. “Hey, are you going to eat that roll?”

MR. SLOW WAITED PATIENTLYfor the return of his wife and Helen. The heart that normally beat steadily raced at a pace in his chest, giving him a headache from the sudden influx of oxygenated blood to his brain. A come-to Jesús meeting was unprecedented with Technicians. Normally, he only spoke with Archangels, and even that was a rare occurrence.

The crunch of the wheels in the gravel meant they had returned. The vehicle stopped at the front door. Helen placed the vehicle in park to help her cousin out of the backseat. Slow walked from the porch meeting his wife, hoisting her in his arms. He liked the feeling of having her close to his chest, his heart rate slowing, the calmness returning to him.

“Goodnight Helen,” he said, giving a nod of his head.

“Rest well Micheal,” she said, humming. She climbed into the vehicle driving it around the house to the garage for parking. Tomorrow, she would begin her preparation to leave for Wisconsin to train with Bad Apple. In the back of her mind, she wanted to send Mustang a note to let him know what was happening, but she would do that later. Currently, her mind was filled with all of the things that needed to happen in less than 24 hours. Her mind went to her cousin. Again, she smiled and hummed to herself as she put away the vehicle.

Inside the home of Michael Isaac Neary, he’d traded the red wine his wife liked to drink for a fluted glass of chilled huckleberry tea, with no caffeine. It didn’t provide the same kick, but it lessened the possibility of Luke arriving into the world, climbing off the walls or needing a bit of a petite Syrah on his pacifier to get through the night. He took a seat beside his wife. Michael would allow her to take the lead.

Cherry sighed, then spoke. “The Cherry on Top has been deactivated. She is no more. Only Abigail Neary remains.”

She looked him in the eyes as she spoke the words attempting to gauge his response. Abigail waited for a flicker, a reaction, or a bit of relief to show in his expression, and none came. His face held no expression.

“Okay,” he said. “And Helen?”

“Cranberry,” she told him.

“Cranberry?”

“Yep, she is no longer your responsibility as I’m sure you’ve been told. She begins her training in a few days with Bad Apple. She will spend a month with each Fruit in the bowl to hone her skills,” she told him, “But you knew that already, didn’t you?”

He took her hand in his. Strong fingers toyed with the single band on her hand. The week had been nuts and the bling he’d purchased hadn’t been placed on her finger. From his pocket, heremoved the box. The half-carat ring he showed her, then placed on her finger. He kissed her knuckles, then leaned in to kiss her.

“I know a lot of things Abigail,” he confessed. “Some I can speak on, others I can’t. However, what I can speak on is this...is us. I love you. I love this life we are building, but moreover, I want you to be happy in your choice.”

“Happy in my choice?”

“In your choice of me as your man, your husband, having another child,” he said. “I want you to be happy in your choice of walking away. Are you happy with your choice Abigail?”

The hormones were doing a number on her. Her eyes teared and she couldn’t hold it anymore. She began to cry. The tears overtook her, and her body began to shudder as he pulled her onto his lap. He cradled the shaking form against his body and held Cherry as she cried. No words were spoken as they sat in the moment. Finally, his wife spoke.

“When she went missing, I had to find her. I had to find her because I didn’t know how to live without her,” Cherry said. “Helen has always given me purpose. Focus. A reason to keep going. My entire life has been spent taking care of her and she doesn’t need me anymore, Micheal. She is going to leave me so I can be free and be happy, and I am. I just didn’t know how much I needed it. I am free to be happy.”

“Abigail, are you happy with our life, with me?”

“Michael, a woman couldn’t ask for anything better, I am very happy with you, this life, and my new parents by marriage,” she said. “Your parents are amazing and they love us. It feels good to be loved in the right way.”

“I love you the right way,” he told her.

“Yes, and it feels good. We are good,” she said, leaning into him.

He rose from the couch, his wife in his arms, headed for bed. The week had taken its toll on them all, and he needed a break.They hadn’t taken a honeymoon or had time for anything, and this weekend would be perfect to get away for a few days. He’d call his mother to watch Bunny for the weekend as he and Cherry took some time away to connect and plan for their future.

It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

Everyone started somewhere.

Cherry’s story as a technician had come to a close. For Helen McDaniel, The Cranberry, her journey was simply beginning. She was a decorative fruit, but a fruit that added balance to any serving, hot or cold. It simply depended on what you placed the cranberry in which determines the taste of the dish.

GOOD READING FELLOWBook Traveler, and welcome to the start of Helen’s Journey. There will be four immersive episodes as The Cranberry begins her trek to becoming a technician. In each episode I have provided you with information on the clandestine organization, as well as Helen finding her way to not only a healthy relationship, but a self-love journey with herself. I hope you’re ready. Our theme for Stone Blind is tracking. Let us begin.

Chapter 1 - Follow

---