Tantiedan: The Awakening

TANTEIDAN: Opposing Forces

Harlan’s eye twitched as Jatin put an arm around Shigi. Only moments ago, the two had been angry with each other! Harlan’s head spun and for seconds, precious few seconds, he was himself. Then he felt an icy cool rush and he was back to hating his grandchildren.

City Morgue

Sophie’s body lay in pieces on the cold metallic examination table. Mark, Wash, and David, the mortician, stood before her. David popped the latex of his gloves and adjusted his surgical mask (Mark and Wash checked their masks as well) and went to work. Evidence bags lay on a silver cart and David took sterile tools from a drawer.

“You see here,” he said, pointing to her gnawed finger, “this was made after she died. It looks as if someone was trying to steal a pinky-ring…Whatever the case, there was no saliva found on or around the wound…and you see the greenish circle around her pinky? Whatever they took…it wasn’t real!” he looked excitedly to Mark, who gave him the raise of an eyebrow in response.

Monday: Tanteidan Residence (1: 53 AM)

Shigi lay in bed awake. Her arm twitched and she longed to scratch it, she held her cast up to the light. Her white sheets were bathed in pink, the light reflecting off her hot pink cast. She shivered, although the room was quite warm and she was well covered. A sliver of light could be seen through the crack in the carpeted floor and the bottom of the door. Shigi watched the light multiple thoughts swirling in her head.

Harlan felt it was late enough to begin. He put on his maroon bathrobe and slippers, and then crept out of his bedroom. He silently walked past Shigi’s room, stopping when he heard a gasp. He smiled to himself, knowingly.

Monday Morning: Mephistopheles’ School of Learning

Jatin awoke in a bed that wasn’t his. His head hurt as he opened his eyes. He saw clearly out of one eye but out of the other, he saw nothing but a sea of green. He blinked and his vision was righted and undisturbed. He noticed he was dressed in clothes not very different from his school uniform. A backpack was seated at the foot of the bed. Taped to the bedpost were a chart and an envelope. He examined the chart.

RELIGIOUS STUDIES--Henderson--104

SCIENCE--Johansson--306

RELIGION IN SCIENCE--Brown--207

STUDY HALL--Rogers--216

It was an A-day schedule, but where was he? How did he get there? He tore open the envelope and found a letter from “Grandpa”.

“Jatin,

I am afraid that this was a last resort. You and your sister have been placed in a boarding school as a result of the terrible mishap last evening. I am so very sorry. Maybe, in time, you two will learn that I am your friend and family. Everything has been taken care of, do not worry or attempt to escape.

Love,

Grandpa”

Jatin was infuriated. What the heck did the old man think he was doing?! Mishap, what mishap?! The bell for first hour rang out, interrupting his thoughts. He thought of skipping to find Makafushigi, but figured she could be in his class and went.

FIRST HOUR: Religious Studies

OPEN YOUR BOOKS TO CHAPTER FOUR AND SEARCH FOR THE PRIZE. IT IS IN EVERYONE’S BOOK. THE FIRST PERSON TO FIND IT MAY KEEP IT. THE OTHERS SHALL TURN IT IN.

Jatin walked into the room as he read these words written on the chalkboard. He proceeded to search for a seat amidst the bustling students. He finally found one near a tall, blonde girl sitting in the second row of desks.

He began to speak, but she cut him off, “Is this seat-“

“No, go right ahead. My name’s Jenny,” she offered him her hand.

“Mine’s Jatin,” he said, shaking it firmly and sitting down. “Um...,” he motioned towards the chalkboard, “I don’t have a book…”

The girl giggled and said, “Check your pack.” Jatin searched through the backpack’s contents and pulled out a book titled: Divinity: A Study

He held it up and the girl nodded. “I freaked out too,” she told him, and when he gave her a look, she continued, “my first day…I woke up and didn’t know where I was…found a book bag and a note…and the bag had all these books I’d never heard of…passed out…” the girl finished and buried her head in her book, searching for the prize. Jatin scanned the room for Shigi and did not find her.

The classroom door burst open and a fat, short, balding man complete with bushy orange mustache walked in. “So, class, have you found it?” he licked his lips and wiped a sleeve across his furrowed brow. A small boy near the back of the room raised his arm high, hand flailing like a flag in a breeze. “Ah…yes, you there,” he pointed to the boy, “what is it?” The mumbled an incoherent response. “Speak up, boy! Don’t be shy!”

“Is it…Is it knowledge?”

The man gave a hearty laugh and all of his chins shook furiously. “No, you stupid boy, it’s-“

“I found it! Sir, I think I’ve found it! Is it a fifty-dollar bill?” a girl near the door shrieked, cutting him off and waving the bill proudly in the air.

“Well done! Now, if all of you, with the exception of Miss-“ he looked to the girl.

“Roberts, Victoria Roberts.”

“Yes, return the monetary units now, please.”

Kevin Valles pocketed the bill and hid low in his seat. The teacher caught his eye and then shook his head. He briskly walked over to Kevin’s seat and held out his open hand. Kevin slapped his hand and said, “Yo’, ‘sup dawg?”

“Give it here, Kevin.”

“Yo’, yo’…why you gotta’ be all up on my nuts, knowhatimsayin’? Chill, teach…”

SMASH

Kevin’s face was slammed forward into the desk. He lifted his head, holding his bleeding nose. “Anyone else want to try and steal money from me?” Hands reached into pockets and purses, extracted fifty-dollar bills, and placed them on the teacher’s desk.

“Kevin,” the teacher said, waiting expectantly. Holding his nose, still, Kevin reached deep into his pants pocket and handed the teacher his money, blood dappling the fifty. “Please, do not bleed on my money, Kevin. I don’t want to catch any,” he looked to Kevin in disgust,” diseases. Gather your belongings and head to the infirmary.”

The class was uproarious, then Joshua Henderson turned and the classroom was instantaneously silenced. Mr. Henderson walked to the chalkboard and began the day’s lesson: Greed: Sin or Saintly?

SECOND HOUR: Science

Jatin sighed, he hated science. Mr. Johansson was nice enough; his face was wrinkled from years of teaching and its brown, bushy eyebrows drew the students’ attention…and laughter. Jatin leaned back in his seat as Mr. Johansson talked about the stars, his eyes became heavy and he started to dream about the previous night…what had happened?

Monday: Tanteidan Residence (1: 55 AM)

Shigi cried out to her brother though their mental bond, desperately trying to wake him up. Jatin, get up, now!

In his room, Jatin fell off of his bed, his face hitting moist, smelly carpet; his eyes wide. What in God’s name do you want? He spoke this aloud while he thought it, remembering Shigi could not hear him from down the hall. Sleep was the only thing in his thoughts.

In her room Shigi shook her head. The old man’s up to something…he just left through the back door…Oh, by the way, Jatin: Eww! I cannot believe you have such perverted dreams! Does Salem know you like her?

Jatin changed the subject, Come on! What’re we waiting for? He reached for his jacket and pulled it on. He opened the door and screamed. “SHIT! Shigi, don’t do that! She was standing outside his room, waiting. She smiled.

“Come on, you knew I was here!”

The stairs creaked as the twins hurried to catch up with Harlan. The grass outside was thick with morning dew and the moon was hiding behind the thick rain clouds. Somewhere in the distance, lighting cracked. They followed the dark silhouette that was Harlan…and then they saw the church. Its stain glass windows glowed an evil red. Stopping, as Harlan went inside, they watched the thick wooden doors with its ornate brass knockers. I’d swear the doors weren’t like that earlier…Shigi’s hand drifted over the doorknob. Maybe…maybe this isn’t such a good idea…

Please, it’s not like you to chicken out on me! Jatin’s hand reached for the knob and he felt it too…something was wrong. He closed his hand around the doorknob. “SHIT” An invisible hand propelled Jatin backwards, slamming him into a tree. Shigi looked at the door and snatched her hand away. She ran to her brother.

“You okay?” she shook his shoulder and he gave her a vacant look. “JATIN!”

“Who ar-“ his eyes snapped shut and his hands flew to clutch his throbbing head. “I’m going to kill that bastard!” he opened his eyes and looked around. Where are you? Then he heard Shigi let out a shrill scream and everything went black.

Monday Morning: Mephistopheles’ School of Learning

Shigi awoke in a cold sweat. She shivered at the fact that somebody had dressed her. Out of one eye she saw yellow; the other’s vision was undisturbed…

HISTORY--Doe--210

CALCULUS--Stevens--158

PRAYER AID--Green--147

PHYSICAL EDUCATION--Roberts--Gym

It was her A-Day schedule.

Lunch Hour

Shigi’s first two periods had gone by surprisingly fast. She found that her new classes were well behind her old ones. Now, between second and third hour, she found herself in the lunchroom searching for a place to sit; for Jatin.

A boy from her second hour called to her. Shigi was in no place to turn down friends or a place to eat, so she went to the boy called Kevin.

Shigi’s lunch date had put her in a great mood. She sat across from one of Kevin’s friends, Steven, and felt immediately accepted. Shigi had always felt like a Tomboy, but, many guys had told her, she was the hottest Tomboy ever.

Sixty-two miles away, Mark Brandon and Wash sat in a small, dilapidated diner. They sat at a small, Formica topped table sipping soda and waiting for their order. Wash surveyed the room, stopping on a young Hispanic waitress. Mark looked to Wash and then to the waitress, whose hands fumbled in the front pocket of her black apron, its breast patch proudly announcing: Bina’s Diner.

Mark motioned for her to come to the table. She nervously obeyed. Paranoid of a possible proposition, she asked, “Anything I can get for you, sirs?” Her speech was thick with accent and her voice was teary. Mark stole a quick glance at Wash, and then replied, “Destiny,” the girl flinched at the sound of her name and then felt foolish. Her apron bore a nametag which bore the legend in all capital letters.

“Yes?”

“Could we have-“ she grew furious, memories of her last conversation with a white man swirling in her thoughts- “two more drinks, please?”

The girl sighed and walked away embarrassed. She turned back, on second thought, and asked, “Pepsi and Coffee, right?” Mark and Wash nodded.

Destiny turned her back on Mark Brandon and walked away.

The door to Bina’s Diner opened and a bell sounded. Wash looked up and smiled. Their contact had arrived. A woman rushed forward with a chair and the tall, dark, and homeless man waved her away. He sat and flashed Mark a toothless grin.

“Trip,” Mark said to the man, “good news…”

Trip looked at Mark, hiding his excitement. “Well, what is it then?!” He said this as if he had more important things at hand than a free lunch.

“You smell better.”

Trip waited for Mark to laugh. He didn’t.

In his third period class, Jatin rubbed his eyes furiously. His eyes watered and he felt as if a great pressure had been removed from them. He looked down at his class work and saw a dirty green contact.

FOURTH HOUR: Study Hall

Steven Francis Wallace liked the girl whose name he could not pronounce. He found her rather interesting. Her bronze eyes were her most fascinating feature, and he could not help but think about the strange girl all afternoon. Perhaps she’d go to the upcoming youth dance with him…

He nudged Kevin, “Kev, hey, wake up!”

Kevin looked up angrily; it had been a nice nap. “What?”

“Do you think Shy-guy would go to the dance with me?”

“How the Hell would I know? It’s not like I have gotten to know her in, like, what…a single class period?!”

A boy from behind them spoke up, “You’re not her type.” Jatin sat in the desk behind them, thumbing through one of his text books.

Steven stood, facing him. “How would you know? Are you, like, her boyfriend or something?”

“Or something; I’m her twin brother, that’s how I’d know.” Jatin bore into Steven, his bronze eye more vibrant and alive than ever.

Kevin just sat there, watching it all happen and drumming his fingers on the desk. “So, why don’t you two have the same classes? Normally they don’t separate the twins.”

Meanwhile (In GIRL’S PHYSICAL EDUCATION)

Coach Roberts paired them off, forming groups of three’s. Awkward silence filled the air as best friends were separated.

“You there, New Kid!” Coach Roberts pointed at Shigi with her long fingernail, motioning for her to join the newest group. “What was your name again?”

“Makafushigi Tanteidan…I go by Shigi, though.”

“Whatever, go over there and join the group with Miss Roberts and Miss Jones.”

Shigi did as she was told and joined Victoria and Jenny near the double-doors. It was a strange group.

Trip Patterson had helped Mark and Wash before, but the meeting was not one of old friends catching up. The last time, Trip had witnessed a break-in where over seventeen-million dollars in jewelry was stolen. He’d since become a highly profitable homeless man, aiding in two cases so far. This was case number three.

A man without a home has much free time, as was the case for Tobias Theodore Patterson. To pass the time between naps, Trip Patterson took to becoming “aware” of his surroundings. If anything was going down near his streets, he knew of it. Sometimes his methods were a little unorthodox, and they weren’t always within the limits of the law. Mark and Wash preferred not to bother with the How’s and Why’s, they were more concerned with the Who’s, When’s, and Where’s. Trip could provide them and more, and meetings between the three were not uncommon. Trip had only one request: that these meetings always take place in a diner, and Mark and Wash would always foot the bill.

As soon as the plate of food hit the table, Mark and Wash started in. Wash opened a folder and took out a photo; he then dropped it onto the table, much like the plate of food.

Trip gagged. What in Christ’s name did he think he was doing?! He began to slap the table with his palm. He hit the prongs of a fork and sent it careening through the air. It landed near a waitress.

Destiny picked up the fork and walked to the back room to get a new one.

When the waitress arrived at the tables, she set down the fork and walked away. Trip winked to Mark, turned, and smacked her hard on her bottom. Destiny was fuming and she wished she still had the fork. If she had had it her way the dirty man would have it shoved in his crotch. Instead, she just smacked him upside the head and said a string of curses in Spanish. Mark who spoke (horrible) Spanish understood part of what she was saying.

“You think because you without home, without money, you can do what you please? You are lower than the gum underneath the tables! I am not yours to hit…I belong to no white man, bastard!”

Destiny threw off her apron and stormed out of her aunt’s diner. The door slammed and the bell fell off.

Trip Patterson looked back to the table and rubbed his callused hands. He took off his fingerless gloves and set them aside. “Now,” he said, feigning interest, “where was I?” He looked at the chewed up ball of food that had landed in Wash’s Coffee and shook his head. He picked up the wet photographs and held them up against the dim lighting.

“This,” Wash said, “is Sophia Delagarza…she was found a couple of weeks ago, dead, in her mother’s apartment. Her uncle Eurith Tanteidan took the case…he’s dead now, too…”

Monday Night (The Week of Sophia Delagarza’s Death)

Sophie was not ready to face a world without her father. Her parents had decided to get a divorce, leaving her caught up in their battle. She lay in bed thinking of what her new life, her new home, would be like.

Sophie’s mother had gotten a call that afternoon from a man called Harlan, he claimed to be Sophie’s grandfather. He said he had met Emily Chang on business and that they’d had a small, harmless, affair. Emily Chang soon after mothered a child, Sophie’s mother. Had he know of is oldest child, Harlan swore he would have bee more “involved”. But, as it was, fate had given him a second chance. His only daughter lived in the same state and city! Sophie did not know what to make of the new man in her mother’s life, but she had a gut feeling she’d hate him.

Harlan lay in bed whilst thoughts of Emily Chang and what once was swirled in his mind. Night was the only time Harlan was really himself; it was when the thing that shared his mind left him. It was when the evil lurked in the shadows, poisoning others. Harlan was grateful, better them than I...he quickly fell into a disturbed slumber, his body restless; his mind active. Emily Chang was the last thing in his mind. His thoughts seeped into his dreams…a fog through the cracks…

Harlan lay on the soggy, sex-soaked, cot with his hands folded behind his head. An amulet hung loosely around his neck, the wonderful girl had given this to him. That morning, he’d awakened to Emily gently nibbling at his Adam’s apple. He received an even bigger pleasure when, immediately after, she took him in her mouth. How had he ever managed to come on this trip?! Whatever the case, the Man Upstairs smiled kindly on him. He delivered Harlan to this place, and then, just when Harlan was about to head home, he delivered him Emily Chang. She was brilliant and knew exactly what an altar boy needed: a good woman to educate him in the skillful art of intercourse. Of course, being a Catholic meant that he and Emily should be wed, but Harlan had recently begun to see things her way. Emily’s father was one of the Higher Learned (the country’s equivalent of a priest). Emily and her family were Mephistophelites, followers of the great Mephistopheles. Mephistopheles, she had said, was a man so great and powerful that God himself had envied him! Such a man must surely be worthy of worship and deity?

The jealous god became angry and, having created all, destroyed Mephistopheles. But, Mephistopheles was too great to truly die. His loyal legion of followers wait for the day when he will return to destroy the god who struck him down and be glorified.

When Emily was seven years old, her father had gotten the call. He had been studying under the Most High and felt that he could teach others (as he himself had been taught). Her entire family became followers soon after. For her thirteenth birthday, her father had given her The Guarded Stone, an amulet used to protect the wearer from the winged demons of God. The stone was said to carry powerful magic, and a spirit of good always dwelled within it.

Now, the twenty-one year woman had passed it on to Harlan after days of lying in bed together. Finally, she had left him to buy food.

As Harlan examined the red stone, he swore it was not solid, but hollow…filled with a thick, stringy, fluid. He rubbed his fingers against the carved serpents and closed his eyes.

Harlan Tanteidan awoke with a start, his alarm was buzzing.

Tuesday morning: Mephistopheles’ School of Learning

“FIGHT! THERE’S A FIGHT IN THE COURTYARD! CAT FIGHT!”

Students rushed to the source of the scream. The new girl was lying on the ground in the fetal position while a girl kicked her repeatedly.

Shigi growled, blocking the kicks with her cast. She hated fighting; above her stood Jenny Jones with a look of fury upon her face. Damn it, what the hell did I do?

“Stay away from my man, you little whore,” Jenny screamed, eyes flashing, “Kevin’s mine!”

“He’s a free person! Plus, what makes you think I’m making a move?! He’s just being friendly.” Shigi found herself approaching her wit’s end. She was bruised…she’d already been pissed (as well as worried), and getting beat up was not on her to do list. She retaliated, grabbing the offending foot and twisting it. Jenny suddenly found herself face-first into the hard-cut stone tile.

Nearby, outside the gym, Jatin and Victoria were deep in conversation. Jatin found himself growing to really like her. Where was Shigi when he needed to have a relationship talk? Amazingly, to him, a deep blush did not stain his cheeks. This was the first crush that he could talk to without giving away the fact that he liked her. He found this fact both odd and creepy.

“Well, I guess I’ll see you in P.A. I kinda’ need to get to class…” Victoria picked up her messenger bag and got ready to leave. “You know, don’t want to be late.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Jatin turned, unwillingly dragging himself towards the gym. He hated gym! Come to think of it, he hated every subject, though, he had a feeling he’d love Prayer Aid.

Victoria turned, walking down the hall towards Study Hall.

“Victoria, thank God! You’ve got to help Shigi! Jenny Jones is beating the crap out of her!” Steven ran up, closely followed by Kevin.

She sighed, “You two get to gym and I’ll take care of it.” They began to head off, but, on second thought, Victoria held Kevin back by his collar. “Kev, does this mean I can whip Jen’s ass?”

“Umm…sure, I guess.”

Victoria pushed through the crowd of people entering the courtyard.

“That was a cheap trick, but who’d expect more from a whore?” Jenny’s voice was unmistakable as it echoed from the hall ahead of Victoria. She continued to work her way through, finally shoving herself to the front.

Jenny’s mind was in utter chaos. Shigi hadn’t fought back for a good few minutes before she had caused Jenny to fall into the ground. Questions ran through her mind. Why didn’t Kevin like her?

Shigi sat in the uncomfortable chair awaiting her punishment. The Dean of Admissions walked in, hurriedly talking into a cellular phone. He hung up quickly and sat behind his desk.

“Makafushigi Tanteidan, I presume. Now, answer me this, why did you feel the need to get yourself into a confrontation with Miss Jennifer Jones?”

“I-I didn’t, she started it…”

“Hush, Shigi,” he said, holding a finger to his lips, “I don’t care, we have video cameras…we are not the incompetent educators you are familiar with. You might think that because your grandfather is former Dean of Admissions that you can go around doing whatever your little heart desires, but I have news for you. Nobody around here gives a damn about Harlan Tanteidan! Now, you may return to your class.”

It wasn’t that Jenny Jones was ugly, but Kevin didn’t find her pretty either. She was just…over there and Kevin was over here, away from the psycho that was Jenny.

Shigi gathered her things and ran out of the office. She slowed only after yards were put between her and the strange man. She stopped to catch her breath outside a classroom she was unfamiliar with. She was lost. She knocked on the classroom door and entered, interrupting the teacher’s lecture.

“—and that is where polarity comes in: Positive and Negative charges; Good and Evil…The opposing forces.”