Franky Is Lucky

It was dark outside as we ran to the garage to get Amy’s yellow mustang. Once inside the vehicle I turned to her before backing out and said “Amy we have to find a place to go. Some place they won’t find us. Some place safe. Do you have any ideas?”

She looked at me for a second thinking hard and then recognition dawned on her face. “I know exactly the place.” Her eyes wide with awe. “Let me drive.”

Without arguing I got out and switched her places. She bolted from the passengers seat and sat down. We were out onto the road in no time. Flying down the highway she drove dangerously fast. Taking several turns over and over till I felt nauseous.

“Amy where are we going?” I said gripping the oh shit handle with my foot braced against the dashboard.

“Get your foot off my dashboard! We are going to see an old friend. She’ll be able to help us.” I realized in that moment that Amy was extremely energized. In fact it seemed that she was completely recharged. Maybe Brent had been right maybe she was going to be okay.

We sped down the back roads for what turned out to be an hour. We had left town and driven into one of the adjacent suburbs. I was at the point where I was about to throw up when Amy took a sharp left turn into a new housing development and slowed considerably.

“Dammit.” she muttered under her breath.

“What?” I asked

“Well she hates it when I show up unannounced. She always knows when I am coming but she hates it when I don’t call first.” Amy said to me.

“She always knows when you are coming but hates it when you don’t let her know? What the hell? Where are we going?” I asked.

“We’re going to see Adelphia. She’s a psychic and a very good one I might add. She can predict things and I have gotten all my best advice from her.” She slowed while she spoke and looked around like she was lost. I burst out laughing. She scowled at me “What is so funny?” she said annoyed.

“Amy… I thought we were going to like someone who could actually help. Not a psychic!” I was gripped with laughter.

“You’ll regret laughing when you see what she can do.” She said solemnly.

We pulled up in front of a well lit house just then as Amy put the car into park I saw an African American woman run out of the house her long gray streaked ebony hair trailing behind her a soft pink silk night gown and robe flapping behind her. She rounded around the car and I caught her face in the head lights she looked angry. She walked up to Amy’s side of the car and Amy promptly opened the door and got out. Adelphia started yelling as soon as the door was partially opened.

“How Dare YOU! How dare you bring her here! I have children in the house! There are people in the neighborhood that are sick and could be killed! What are you thinking?!”

Amy tried to but in and interject but Adelphia was hell bent on saying her peace.

“You are always so reckless! You never think of anyone but yourself. I can not believe you!”

“AMEN!” I said as I got out of the car.

Adelphia looked at me startled. She hadn’t realized I was listening or maybe she had but didn’t think I would say anything.

“Oh did I startle you? Aren’t you supposed to be a psychic?” I stood with my arms crossed over my chest looking at her smugly.

“Child what do you know about the strands of time? They are constantly being woven. I can not tell the actions of someone that does not behave in accordance to their own nature. You have been emboldened by the words of a dead man. I could not predict your actions to save my life.” I looked at her quizzically. She must be talking about Brent but I could not be sure. People like this were always trying to scam you.

“Listen Adelphia I brought us here to ask you for help. You know all the things that Franky has done to help people like us. Please help her. Help me. Please.” Amy looked at Adelphia as if she was on the brink of tears. Adelphia stared with her chocolate eyes at me. I stared back and crossed my hands over my chest. I took a deep breath before I spoke.

“You know that I didn’t want any of this. I was reserved to living a life of complete solitude and I would have kept hidden. All I want is my life back. No matter how lonely it was. You know this. I can tell. So help me help everyone else and tell me what we need to do to get out of this.”

Adelphia looked at me sternly for a moment and then from behind back towards the house I heard a door slam open and then a young girl’s voice say “Grandma come back inside. Grandma.”

I turned to see an old slouching but elegant woman with long course gray hair flowing down her back hobbling on a croaked cane in a pink night gown with fluffy house shoes on come through the door. She was being followed by a gangly young girl with pigtails and blue paisley pajamas on. The woman looked at least eighty the girl looked no older than fourteen.

The old woman swatted at the girl with her cane and said “Child I am your elder you will not order me around. Adelphia what are you doing being so inhospitable bring these girls in the house.”

I turned to look at Adelphia. “Mother you should not be out here. You do not know who this is.” She motioned towards me.

The old woman stood up very straight and said “I know who this is that girl there” she motioned towards Amy “Is Amy the medium and this one is Felicite Onni also known as Franky Onni the luck sucker. Do you forget who I am? Bring them In the house!” She turned and started to walk back up the sidewalk towards the porch.

Adelphia went to speak “Mother you can’t--”

The old woman raised her hand and it silenced Adelphia immediately.

Adelphia stomped her foot and in a clipped voice said “Well… After you!”

We followed the old woman up the sidewalk into the house.

The house was warm and fragrant I looked around at the furniture which looked like remnants from the seventies. All the couches and chairs were covered with yellowing plastic. Instead of being vintage this place was definitely out of a sitcom grandma’s house. The house was an open floor plan with a dividing wall between the kitchen and the living room. Everything was in stark comparison to my own taste which bordered on eclectic contemporary.

We walked through the living room to the other side of the dividing wall into the kitchen. In the kitchen there was a large round table with four chairs sat around. Over it hung a hexagonal light fixture with paisley patterns all over it. The table had a well pressed cream table cloth on top. The old woman sat in the farthest chair with a creak. I could not tell if the creak came from her or the chair. She motioned to the other chairs and me and Amy sat down.

“Adelphia will you get these girls some tea or milk?” She nodded at each of us as if to ask what we wanted.

Amy said “We’ll both take some of your wonderful sun tea please.”

“Oh and bring these girls some sandwiches they must be starving they have had a long and courageous few days.” The old woman said just as she did my stomach rumbled I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until that moment.

“I am so sorry about any inconvenience this has caused you.” I said but the old woman raised her had and shook her head as if she would hear none of it.

“Our names are on that list of Aster’s you know?” I could feel my eyes widen in astonishment. It only took one sentence for me to know she knew everything.

“What is your name?” I asked her with the sound of awe still in my voice.

“I am Agnes Eternity you have met my daughter Adelphia Jones and the girl you saw earlier is her daughter, my granddaughter Abigail Jones. We are what you would call mages or seers. We come from a very long line of special people. We can see things that others can not.” She looked at me and nodded as if to ask if I understood.

“Like the future?” I asked sheepishly as if I knew this was the wrong terminology but had no better word.

“The future is not a thing to see only something to constantly try to catch and grasp. We can look to the nature of things and see how things should fall into place but it is to the will of the individual as to whether or not those things come to fruition. We did not see you coming here tonight because you had been influenced by someone outside our realm of knowledge. It is dangerous to consort with spirits you know?” She leaned in her chair with both hands clasped on top of her cane. Adelphia strolled in with a tray of sandwiches, glasses and a pitcher of tea and set it on the table. She scowled at her mother and turned on one heel and stomped out of the room.
“She is angry because she believes that you will hurt her daughter and me. I am old and know my time is near the girl is young and will recover. She should not worry about you she should worry about AGH and their intentions.” She nodded towards the sandwiches and tea and Amy and I both grabbed a glass and began to eat whole heartedly. Once all the sandwiches were gone and the pitcher empty we sat back in our chairs somewhat satisfied. However, the satisfaction did not last long the food became a huge rock in the bottom of my stomach and I felt a surge of panic come over me. Agnes looked at me with sadness in her eyes.

“Child your fear is clouding my sight you must calm yourself.” I looked at her wide eyed and astonished. She reached out and touched my hand. I instantly felt a sense of calm come over me. “Amy there is some chamomile and honey in the cupboard please grab a tablespoon full to give to Franky.” Amy got up and followed the directions in a few short moments I had the sticky mess right in front of my mouth. I opened wide and ate it. The remedy took effect almost immediately. I sat back in the chair ready to listen to Agnes tell me what I need to do.

“Franky they will hunt you until the end of time unless you can find a way to fight and win or convince them that you are no longer useful to them. Adrian Aster is your biggest enemy at this time he wants to use you for personal gain. He wants your power. You must destroy him or yourself. Even when he is gone you will still be hunted. Freedom is only in death for you.”

I sat and looked at her for a second. I could not feel anything but the enveloping calm from the chamomile and honey. I nodded and leaned forward onto the table.

“I assumed as much.” I replied quietly and evenly. “Do you know where Aster is?”

“It is in my and my families best benefit to tell you this but it is not in yours. He and Dr. Molokai are the only ones that know about the list of specials. Since you destroyed the basement of AGH I assume he either has lost the list completely or retains one copy for himself. Some secrets are unclear to me. They are currently waiting at Aster’s downtown pent house. However, I must warn you that you will never be able to penetrate it without immense force.”

I sat up straight finally able to snap out of the haze. “I don’t need force I have something better.” I stood and walked out of the house Amy trotting fast on my heels.

As we walked out the front door into the night we passed the young girl Abigail sitting on the porch swing she yelled after us. “The triangle, the tropical triangle. You must find the triangle with the palm trees.” I rounded the car to the drivers side and sat in the front seat Amy got inside handing me the keys as she sat. I started the car and threw it into gear. I peeled away into the night.