Iris Loganna
Chapter Eight

While Iris and Dominick flew there way over to 22 50 Northwood Way, Reginald was throwing a little party thinking that he had nothing to worry about since the girls were still there. Nope. He was in fact about to realize that his worst fears were about become reality.

“Yah, so anyway, that happened and then the guy asks me if I’m interested in time share. I mean what did that have to do with what we were talking about?” DING DONG! “Excuse me.” Reginald walked away from the small group of people he was talking to, and went to answer the door. “Hello. Welcome.” He said, motioning them in; but he didn’t realize that Iris was the one he had encountered a few nights before. Reginald did recognize Dominick though, but only to a point that he didn’t mind. As Iris and Dominick made their way back, she spoke to him softly. “That was him.” “I know. So what exactly you plan on doing here?”

“Well…I’m going to go into the bathroom and make myself look the way I did earlier, and then break the door down coming out.”

“Okay, and then?”

“Then I’m going to do what I do.”

“Alright.”

“I would suggest you stand on the other side of the door so you’re not in the mix of panic.”

“’Kay.” So Iris found the bathroom, but stopped, looking back further into the hall. “What is it?” She turned to face him. “There’s a scent in the air that’s supposed to only be from outside.” She nodded toward the slightly open door at the end of the hall. “That room must be where he has the secret tunnel to where he holds all the girls he kidnapped.” “You want me to check it out?”

“No. You just stay here, and we’ll handle it after the drama’s done.” Iris sighed. “I’m going to have fun erasing all these memories.” Dominick thought for a moment, and then came up with an idea. “Well how ’bout I get them to leave or go in the other rooms that way you won’t have to.” She smiled, which told him that that’d be good, and then she entered the small room, and shut the door.

Dominick turned, and looked at the crowd. “There’re only about 25 people. It shouldn’t be too bad.” He thought, and then heard something behind the door, and knew that it was almost time. He breathed through his mouth, and then stepped forward. “Alright, can I have everyone’s attention please?” Everyone slowly started to slowly look at him, and once he saw he had everyone’s eyes, he spoke again. “What does he think he’s doing? Plan to steal my show?” Reginald whispered. “I know this may seem odd, but I need everyone to either go inside a different room, or go outside because there is a carbon monoxide leak coming from the back.” Some of the girls in the room covered their mouth and nose and started to walk outside, and they were soon followed by the rest of them. Dominick saw Reginald trying to sneak out, but he grabbed him by the shoulder. “Not you. You’re staying here.” Reginald then realized who he was, and swallowed.

The house emptied, and Dominick closed the door, but right as he did, Iris burst out of the bathroom, doing exactly what she said she’d do. Dominick dashed behind the couch, seeing she wasn’t herself, and patiently waited. “Ah!!” Reginald screamed as Iris launched herself towards him off the wall. She extended her hands, and pushed him down as they met his chest. Putting her scary voice on again and making her eyes glow, she spoke to him. “I told you I’d be back.” He trembled in fear. “Uh...um.” “Now tell me…where is this tunnel of yours?” she shouted. Dominick peeked over the top of the couch, but Iris quickly looked up; having seen it was him, she looked back at Reginald. “Where?” Reginald just about wet his pants, but looked back as well as he could towards the back room she had seen before. Iris looked back slowly, and then shot back, picking him up. “Eh-heh.” As she got him to stand on his own, Iris pushed him forward. “Get moving.” She said in her dark, gruff voice.

The two of them moved down the hall, and Dominick slowly got up and followed. They got to the door, and Reginald slowly pushed open the door, which made the outdoor smell stronger in their nostrils as they continued further. “So where is this tunnel?” Dominick asked, causing Iris to jerk back to look at him and sort of growl. He held up his hands in the “whoa, hold up” form, and she backed down, turning back to Reginald. Reginald hesitated to say because he was too scared to remember, but he remembered right away as Iris gave a low snarl. “There,” he said urgently, and pointing to the armoire. Iris slightly looked back at Dominick, and motioned her head for him to check it out. He did so, and opened the doors. Reginald had told the truth; there was an opening at the bottom of the armoire that had walls of dirt and timbers. “It’s here,” Dominick said looking back at her. “You’re lucky that you came to your senses in time.” Iris sort of whispered in Reginald’s ear before she pushed him to the ground. He caught himself with his hands, but remained still as she passed to get to the armoire.

As she began to journey into the abyss before her, Reginald started to get up, but Dominick noticed, and picked him up by the collar of his shirt. “And where do you think you’re going?” Iris turned back to see what was the matter, but got Dominick’s attention. He looked, and she shook her head; so Dominick decided to just knock the guy out, and tie him to the desk with a zip tie. Iris changed her voice back to normal, “What was that for?” He shrugged. “In case he woke up while we were still down there.” “Hmm,” and with that, they continued down into the tunnel. The pitch black seem to enfold them as they journeyed further, but the dim green glow of Iris’ eyes sort of lit the walls. Soon they saw a very faded light in the distance, and felt that they were close. “We’re close.” Iris said, and picked up her pace. They reached an opening, and a poor door made of tree skin was the only thing keeping them from entering. Iris reached for it, but then Dominick put his hand on her shoulder. Murmuring and whispers were heard, and then Dominick quietly said, “I think you should change your appearance.” Agreeing, Iris did so, and then opened the door. It creaked on the old, rusted hinges, and a quick patter of shuffling was heard. “Quick!” someone whisper yelled, and then as the door was opened all the way, everything, and everyone stopped. Iris and Dominick looked around, shocked at how many girls there were in that part of the room. Most of the girls had dirt from their head to their feet. Others still had their shoes and were a tad cleaner for (it was assumed that) they were a fresher catch. Some of them had bruises on their arms and back of their necks, when others had minor scraps on their shins, hands, and cheeks. Looking further back, Iris saw that the hall continued, but the age group that was in front of her was at least 15 strong and perhaps 15-19 year old’s. She stepped forward, but ended up stepping down a step, and Dominick caught her. The room was lit by torches and old fashion lanterns, and as the two of them moved forward another couple steps, the silence spread down the hall, and more girls, and children, popped around the corner. Then one of the older ones spoke up. “Are you here to save us?” Iris turned and faced the girl. She had long, black, semi-mangled hair, deep brown eyes that had marvelous gold flecks, and a quaint expression with a burning hope and longing in her eyes.

Iris stepped towards her, and she took a frightful step back, so Iris stopped. “Yes. We have come to save you.” She turned and looked at the rest of them. “All of you. We mean you no harm.” “Well what of Justice?” another older girl asked, sounding rather spunky. Iris turned, and some girls backed away, revealing the girl who said it. Dominick answered. “He’s tied to a desk upstairs; unconscious.”

“What is your name dear?” Iris asked her. “Jacqueline, but everyone calls me Pepper because I act like Pepper does in the movie Annie.”

“Well Jacqueline, you have nothing to worry about now.” Iris said smiling. Then she turned back to the first girl who spoke. “And yours?” She swallowed, and then said, “Beatrice. My name is Beatrice.”

“You’re in good hands now Beatrice. But now, I need to ask you a question.” Beatrice stared quietly.

“Just how many girls do you think are in here? I need to know so I can get all of you back to your families.” Tears began to weld in her eyes as she spoke softly, but scattered. “I don’t know. Forty-five, fifty, I’m not sure.” Jacqueline then cut in. “There’s about 60 of us in the obvious places, and 20 in the back. More come in every other day.”

“Well that’s stopping today. My partner here is going to help you girls get back to the surface, but before he can do that, we need you to grab all of the belongings you have, and then form a line, 2 by 2.” Right then, the girls scrambled for what was theirs, and rushed into the line. Iris looked at Dominick. “Can you handle this alright?” “Yah, you go ahead and find the others. I got it from here.”

The rescue began, and the girls were closely followed by the children under 12 as they left first. As more were instructed to go to the front, more rushed past Iris as she tried to get back to where the other girls were. Before they knew it, the majority of the group was out and reached the surface, but Iris had a hard time finding where the rest were hid. Then she remembered a technique she learned long ago, and decided to use it. Adjusting her eyes, she then could see thermal energy, but had to be sure by gently knocking on the walls. It wasn’t until she found the beginning of the chain that she began to take doors down and send the girls up.

However, not all of the girls she found were okay. Iris had found some of them deathly ill, and tied to cots. She knew by the expressions they had that they were drugged; eyes were darkened and sunk, their gazes were long and seemed to be lost along the ceiling. “Miss?” a voice sounded from behind her. “Beatrice, what are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at the surface already.” “I know, but I felt that I would be safer with you. You being a woman.” Then Beatrice saw the girl that Iris was kneeling beside. She came closer, thinking she recognized her, and then covered her mouth as she began to cry. Iris began to feel that she knew the young lady she knelt beside, and then cradled Beatrice as she fell to her knees. “Sh. It’s alright. It’s alright.” “She was my best friend. I must’ve not seen her come in.” she sobbed. Iris put her hand on her head, and gently rocked back and forth. “Shh, there, there. You’re going to be just fine.” She pulled her back, and wiped the tears from Beatrice’s’ face. “Were you hurt at all?” she asked, referring to the incident that happened with her friend. “Almost, but I ended up just getting bruised from him trying so hard to keep me still.” She said wirily, showing her the bruises on her biceps and neck. “Well let’s just get those who managed out of here and then take the other to their family for a proper funeral.” Beatrice sniffed, and rubbed her nose as she nodded. Then the two of them went to find the others, and sent them up. Thankfully, but unfortunately, there were only five girls who met the same fate as her best friend, so Iris picked them up two by two until she got to the last one, and carried them up.

The last of them were brought up, and a total of 55 girls were standing in the front yard. “That everyone?” asked Dominick. Iris set the last poor girl down, and covered her up with another sheet she “magically” pulled from her pocket. He sighed, and Iris nodded as she met his glance. “I called the cops, and they’re on the way.” Iris nodded, but then remembered that she had been seen, and was afraid someone would recognize her. “I guess that’s my cue then.” She said, starting to walk away, but Dominick ran in front of her in question. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, where you going?”

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“What wouldn’t I understand?” he asked alluding to all the things she told him about. She thought about it for a moment, and then saw that she wouldn’t win this, no matter how hard she would try. “Alright. I am basically a fugitive, so I’m trying not to be found.” Dominick straightened, and then thought of something. “Well, maybe if you stick around, all will be forgiven.” “Are you kidding?” she snapped. “Not for the things I’ve done. Not even rescuing two thousand people will lift the charges I have against me.” Dominick then began to question what has not been told, and then Iris realized what was just said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t need to snap at you.” Silence fell between the two, and then she squeezed beside him as she said, “I need to go,” but didn’t see that Beatrice was coming towards her. She pulled out her wings to full size (6 feet each wing), and flapped away, drawing every person’s attention that stood in the yard and in the streets. Beatrice starred in aw, but also in disappointment. Dominick turned, and saw her standing there. Thunder sounded as the dark clouds began rolling in, and Dominick walked over to her. “Hey.” She turned, startled, but then she eased up as she saw it was just him. “You okay?” he asked as he reached for her shoulder. “I was just gonna ask her a question, but I guess it’s too late now.” She said, gazing at the sky again, but seeing nothing. Iris was gone, and soon the police arrived at the premises.

“Are you the one who called?” a female officer asked Dominick. “Yes. The guy who held all these girls is inside the back room, tied to a desk.” “You do that?” He nodded, and she motioned for a small group to get inside as the rest escorted the girls to their homes. The neighbors decided to pitch in and car-pull as a service to them, and returned the girls to their families. The deceased ones were identified by those who waited their turn, and their families were notified. Meanwhile, Iris watched from behind a cloud that had thinned out enough to see through it, and hovered in sorrow before she headed back to her fortress.

After all the girls made it home and the other 5 to the hospital, Dominick relocated his flight jacket Iris lent him, and climbed to the top of the house so he could get enough altitude. Then his cell phone buzzed in his pocket. The caller ID said “Unknown Caller”, but he answered it anyway. “Hello?” “Dominick, it’s Charles. Mistress has instructed me to give you instruction on where to go, but under one condition.”

“What condition?”

“You make sure that absolutely no one follows you by road and that you can’t be spotted by those at home. Is that understood?”

“Understood.”

“Good, now listen carefully.” Charles gave him the instructions, and Dominick memorized them before he hung up and took to the sky.

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