Memory’s Tricky

Here is another batch of Nikki Hawk scenes. If you missed the first set, they’re here.

Memory’s Tricky

Nikki went in the library, puffing her smoke, walked over to the information desk. She flashed her pretty smile, said, “Hi.”

The librarian smiled at her from over his glasses, looked back down at his book.

“You’re the librarian.”

He smiled again, turned the page.

“Jude.”

That stopped him.

Nikki smiled. “So nice to have your attention now.”

“How do you know who I am?”

Nikki shrugged. “I know things.”

Jude cracked a smile. “When’s my birthday?”

“It’s not a parlor trick.”

“I’m disappointed.”

Nikki took a drag. “Good. Best to start on realistic footing.”

Jude frowned. “Do you need something?”

“Yes. I need a book.”

“Which book?”

“A good one. On alchemy.”

Jude cocked his head. “Did I lend you one already?”

Nikki sucked on her smoke, shook her head no.

“Hmm. I usually have a memory for these things.”

Nikki smiled. “Memory’s tricky.”

Jude smirked, stood up, walked from behind the desk down one of the many rows of books, gesturing at Nikki to follow.

She did in easy gait, smoking, ashing indifferently.

Jude cleared his throat.

“Yeah?”

“Nothing,” Jude said. “I’ve just had something in my throat all day.”

Nikki nodded, smoked.

“Here you are. The Cybelion. Early 19th Century. Highly respected, I’m told.”

Jude handed the book to Nikki, who flipped it open, puffed smoke. “Who wrote it? Just says: ‘The Three.’”

“It’s something of a mystery.”

“I find mysteries dull and predictable,” Nikki said. She waited a moment, then looked up at Jude, saw him grinning. “You?”

“I like a good twist. Now and then.”

Nikki smiled. “Same.”

The Found Woods

[Title by Mason Van Santana]

Nikki put the door to the truck bed down, pulled the corpse to the ground, dragged it by the heels to the water’s edge.

She said, “Dammit, Praxis. Why’d you let me do this?” She didn’t wait on an answer.

The thin, scrawny trees wiggled at her approach, gently stroked the left body as it passed over their roots, wishing it well, welcoming it to the wood, to the well of souls.

“Yeah, yeah,” Nikki said. “I didn’t do this one. Just cleaning up messes. Somehow it’s my lot in lives.”

The trees swayed slowly, giving their regrets, but Nikki knew not for which.

She found a spot suitable, then ran her hands over the dirt in the ways she knew, watching it roll and fold and tumble against gravity until there was a deep enough well for this lost soul, this dead ape, this poor sod.

Nikki dragged the body into the hole, then moved her hands again, and the soil sucked it down, munching and mulching the wise ape into resting mud and gravel.

Nikki sighed, lit a smoke. “Well, that’s done. Christ on a fucking cracker, exertion sucks.”

She smoked, heard a noise, by the river.

A naked ape staggered from the sea, dripping and covered in garbage from the water.

Nikki said through smoke, “Hey there. Need a hand?” She put her other hand in her jacket, on the pistol.

They stopped, looked at Nikki, blinked. “Are we one now?”

“I don’t know.” Nikki took a drag. “I don’t think so.”

“No?”

She shook her head, exhaled. “Doesn’t feel like it. Does it?”

They looked down. “No. I ... I don’t know.” They looked at Nikki. “Do you know me?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Fucking limited knowledge, Nikki thought. Why the fuck’d I want this?

They took a few steps closer to Nikki, then dropped to their knees. “I ... I want to be one.”

Nikki took a long pull, then let a long exhale. “Don’t we all.”

vox serpentis

The old wood creaked and yawned, breaking ancient slumber and allowing Nikki passage. She had with her that wise ape who crawled from the river, they who she’d in their slim moments together taken to calling Tetra.

The wood peeled wider, and Olivia was inside, resting on a large mossy rock.

“Hey there,” Nikki said. “Nice to see you.”

Olivia smiled. “I am surprised to see you again. I like the new look.”

“Yours isn’t bad either.”

“Who is this?”

“I was hoping you could tell us.” Nikki lit a smoke, gestured at Tetra. “We have no idea.”

Olivia smiled and slid off the rock, walked over. “Are you playing with me now, Nik? Do say yes.”

Nikki smoked. “No, I, uh ... well, I’ve changed. Let’s put it like that.”

Olivia ran her hand up and down. “More than just this?”

Nikki nodded, wincing at the smoke.

Olivia looked at Tetra, then put her hands close to their head.

Tetra did not flinch, eyes downcast. “I just want to be one.”

Olivia pulled her hand back, looked at Nikki. “I think this one is Celomere.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“We thought there weren’t any of them left. The ones from before the divide.”

Nikki shrugged.

“Before the cities grew apart,” Olivia said.

“Oh. That. I don’t care about any of that. I hate this fucking place. I just want to leave.”

“Why are you still here, then?”

“I told you. I’ve changed.”

“You’re stuck?”

Nikki nodded, pulled on the smoke.

“So, you’re looking for Blayne, then.”

Nikki nodded again, exhaled.

“I doubt he wants to see you, Nik.”

“He never does. Smug asshole.”

Tetra looked up. “I’m ... Celomere?”

“Yes, dear,” Olivia said and pat their hand. “Try not to worry about it.”

“So where is he?” Nikki asked.

“He’s in the phthalo chapel. Do you know the one?”

“No. Here?”

“It’s on the gate. There.” She pointed away from them, through the grove and up the hill. “Where light touches the sky.”

Nikki smirked. “Yeah, of course that’s where he is.“ She flicked her smoke, turned to Tetra. “Well, it’s been nice knowing you, Tetra.”

Olivia ran to the cigarette, crushed it with her foot.

“I’m Celomere,” Tetra said to Nikki.

“Uh huh. Sure you are. Have fun with that.” She clapped their still soaked arm, then shook the film from her hand, turned to Olivia. “Thanks, Olive. Nice to see you again. Have fun with this one.”

“When you see Blayne,” she said, “tell him I said he should come down sometime.”

Nikki rolled her eyes. “Yeah. Will do.” She mumbled to herself as she hiked the hill. “His ego really needs a boost.”