Free Monthly #34 Stephen & Delphi (4)
Part of the Community Fiction Series of Short Stories!
Introduction
One of the on and off series I’ve been thinking about and writing down ideas for is what I’ll describe (for now) as “utopian”. Utopian in the sense that the society has “figured out how to remain civil” while still having strife and adversity to keep humanity progressing towards perfection. Take that as you will.
This is a direct continuation of an earlier short story and by clicking here, you can view previous short stories.
Community Fiction | Stephen & Delphi (Community 5)
4: The Rise of Darius
Backup arrived a few minutes later, covering all three entry points. Someone gave Stephen a vest for identification and ordered him to stay in the alley to keep watch. Then, with utmost precision, the enforcers barged in. Stephen heard screaming and gunshots as he waited by the side door. Several seconds of silence. Then more shouting. A woman screamed inside the shop and gunshots rang once more.
When ten seconds passed without further audible hostilities, Stephen decided to enter. He was barely in the door when three enforcers turned into the hall. They hesitated momentarily before they recognized him by his vest. The one leading the trio looked annoyed. “You weren’t to leave your post.”
“Is she all right? The woman?”
“Do you know her?”
“Kind of.”
“McAff, cover the door.” The man on Stephen’s left brushed past his superior and Stephen to post up on the side door. “You, follow me. I was coming to get you, anyway.”
“So she’s alright?”
The man replied gruffly. “She’s alive. There was a standoff.”
Stephen followed the two enforcers down the corridor and then left and down another to a set of swinging double doors. He saw several tables where meat processing tooling was strewn about on one side. The opposite end possessed a singular, albeit long, packaging table. At the far end of the meat processing room were hooks with several animal carcasses for tomorrow’s butchers to process.
To his horror, the killers hung Hystas’s dead bodyguards next to the animals. Sandi lay next to Hystas’s body, which remained on the ground. Their blood flooded the floor.
Throughout the room, A-Colo’s men were dead on the ground. The only one that still moved was the one nearest to A-Colo’s body several paces away from the rest. The two enforcers that Stephen had enlisted were busy taking photos as a preliminary way of preserving the crime scene before the forensic team arrived. Stephen carefully followed the footsteps of the enforcer who’d gone to get him as they moved over to Sandi.
“She’s alive.” The first enforcer Stephen interacted with said, seeing Stephen’s worried expression as he glanced up. “But she needs a hospital. I think she’s got some internal damage.”
“Where’s the medics?!” Stephen demanded.
The enforcer crossed to Stephen and placed his hand on Stephen’s shoulder. “They’re delayed but on their way. She’ll be okay.”
Holding back a scream of frustration, Stephen nodded and gestured, “Can I speak with her?”
“Yes, but best to not move her until we know the extent of damage.”
Sandi was barely conscious as Stephen checked her pulse. It was faint. The warmth of his hand must’ve rejuvenated her as she opened her eyes. “Is it over?”
“Almost.” Stephen assured her as he attempted to hold back both emotion and tears.
Sandi gave the slightest nod and looked around. “I take it he stabbed me.”
“That’s what it looks like.”
“It hurts.”
“Medics are on their way and will get you checked out.”
“My family. I—” The rest of her words were too faint to hear.
Stephen grabbed her hand and squeezed. “Stay with us Sandi. I need you to stay with us.”
Someone rapped his shoulder. “Stand back!”
“No!” He turned to see two medics with bags. “Oh! Of course.”
The constant beeping metronome by the bed lulled Stephen into a daydream state, where he pondered why he cared so much for Sandi. She was just another sensual woman. He’d had no reason to care what happened to her. If his whim to go out for breakfast hadn’t struck him, Sandi might’ve faded into a distant memory. Not just for Stephen, but for her family. She would’ve died the night before and A-Colo’s coup might have succeeded.
Then there was Stephen’s reaction to seeing Sandi on the ground, bleeding. He’d told her he needed her to stay with him. Why would he say that? Because that’s what he was supposed to say? No, there was a selfish, caring emotion driving his words. He didn’t want her to die. But why? He hadn’t a clue.
“Stephen! What’s going on?” Issy broke his daydream.
“Issy!” They hugged. “I’ve been busy, as I said on the phone.”
“I was so worried about you! Why didn’t you call sooner?”
“I wanted to make sure Sandi was taken care of first.”
Issy appraised the woman in the bed and nodded. “Yeah, she looks like she’s been hit by a freight train.”
“Hey! She’s lucky to be alive!” Mariam’s exclamation caught Issy by surprise. Stephen’s first call was not to his wife, but the casino to track down the one person he’d known would take care of Sandi.
“Who are you?”
“Sandi’s friend.”
“I see.” Issy studied her for a few seconds before gazing at Stephen. “I’m glad you saved a life, but why were you involved at all?”
“Met her at the casino after I’d let Sandi into Delphi, when I was grabbing something to eat after my shift.”
“That’s it?”
“Actually, yes, I’m the bartender in the mornings.” Mariam explained. “Sandi told me what happened and when I saw Stephen here that first day, I knew it was chance. Every day after, though, that was dedication to helping a stranger. He’s a good man, Stephen. You should be proud.”
Before Issy could respond, Sandi stirred. “Yes. Stephen’s a good one.”
“Sandi!” Mariam rushed to her bedside and cradled her hand.
“You made a difference, Stephen.” Issy and Stephen made eye contact. She kissed him with a tender passion. He was dependable and willing to risk his life for others, and she knew he’d do much more for her if given the chance.
Four men walked in, one that Stephen recognized and broke away from Issy. He gestured for her to get behind him. Mariam held Sandi’s hand tighter and leaned forward protectively. Darius and his guards took up half the room as they took the scene in. “No need to get your feathers ruffled. Andy, give them the flowers.”
One bodyguard carried two light purple flowers and stepped across the room to hand one to Stephen. He delicately placed the remaining flower in Sandi’s free hand. Sandi was awake and watching, but didn’t resist. Stephen attributed this to her painkillers rather than indifference to the members of the crime syndicate present.
“This is the Dianthus flower. It’s a symbol of good things, prosperity, maturation, and much more.” Darius explained. “It’s fitting for those who saw my father die to be present for this. He died for what he believed in, and we must honor him for it.”
“Who’re you?” Issy asked, confused.
“Never you mind, dear woman. Just listen and I’ll be gone in short order.”
“I do mind!” Issy began, but Stephen held her back, shaking his head. They made eye contact, and she turned to Mariam, who also shook her head with a pained expression of wanting to explain but knowing she couldn’t. Issy subsided.
Darius ignored all this as he got on his knees. He struck a pose to the sky of adulation and spoke:
“Here I hear
Here I know
Here I am
With every ebb and flow
The summer shade
The summer sun
Everything that must be done”
He stood up and shook Stephen’s hand and held Sandi’s for a brief moment. When she made eye contact with him, Darius said, “You’re free of your bonds to us. Consider your debts to us repaid.”
“Why?” Sandi’s reply was difficult to hear. She appeared close to losing consciousness again.
“I see you and your friend Stephen already alleviated the burden of my father’s premature death. That’s why.” Darius turned to Stephen. “Mariam will tell Sandi, but I must be clear to you and—is this your wife? Yes? I must be clear to you both. We’ll acknowledge none of these events from this day forth, and no one will speak of this except to those in this room and only if necessary. We have no business together, so there will be no necessity. I wish you the best.”
Darius departed, with two guards before him and one following. Mariam glanced at Sandi and then at Issy and Stephen. “That is a rare moment of Purple Persian gratitude and grace. Don’t abuse it. Cherish it.”
Issy’s voice cracked with hysteria. “The crime syndicate?!”
“Yes. Keep your voice down.” Mariam gestured. “I don’t know what A-Colo’s demise means for neighboring agoras, but you can bet that Darius will capitalize on this.”
Stephen and Issy discussed with Mariam what the future might hold for Delphi as Sandi slept. His childhood desire to become an enforcer rekindled. The future looked different, and Stephen didn’t want to let the status quo flow through Delphi any longer. The need to act in the subsequent hours gave way to a decision that would change his life forever.
That’s all from Stephen for now, but next month we’ll check out Community 4!
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