Black Sunshine
Chapter 3 - In the Fading Warmth of Dusk, an Act Takes Place Better Suited to a Stormy Night
Solana’s father looked at her with an expression she couldn’t figure out. So she turned almost mechanically, and started to bring the gun clip to the bedroom in the back.
“Do you own a gun, Solana?” her father asked, with what sounded like genuine curiosity.
“What?” she turned back startled by the question, “No, this is actually… Nera’s.
“Oh,” he brightened, “does she collect guns?”
“Um…,” Solana paused.
“I do actually,” Nera said from behind Solana, gently taking the clip from her hand, “I actually inherited my father’s collection when he passed.”
“I would be interested in seeing it if you don’t mind,” Solana’s father said, leaving her confused as to what exactly was happening. Her father was usually very anti-gun, so this sudden interest came completely out of nowhere, “While we were overseas, I had a colleague who showed me his collection of antique hunting rifles, and I’ll admit I found the whole thing very interesting.”
“I don’t mind at all, though I don’t have many antiques. My father liked to go to the gun range to shoot, so my collection is more modern,” Nera said, gesturing for Solana's father to follow her to the bedroom, “Sorry, I’ll help you with dinner in a minute.”
Nera gave Solana a peck on the cheek, as her father left his place on the couch.
“Oh, no, don’t worry about it,” Solana’s mother said, jumping up from the couch, “you two take your time, I’ll help Solana with dinner. It will give us a chance to catch up.”
“Help yourself to any of the wines in the cooler,” Nera said as she turned down the hall, before continuing her conversation with Solana’s father, “Are you familiar with Goldman and Hock’s?”
“Is that a manufacturer?” she could barely hear her father ask.
Solana felt completely out of place. Were her parents splitting them up in order to interrogate Nera without her there to do damage control? Was this all going to blow up in her face?
“What are we making?” her mother asked from the kitchen while rustling through the paper bags.
“I was going to make albondigas, patatas bravas, I know how much dad loves those, and of course migas. I figured you might appreciate a taste of home after being away so long,” Solana said, as she walked into the kitchen, “would you like some wine?”
“Oh, that sounds lovely.”
“Let’s see what she has,” Solana paused as she opened the door to Nera’s pantry. There was a large wine cooler that took up most of the small closet. Above it were three shelves full of a variety of canned vegetables, and instant soups. There was also one glass jar of peaches that always seem to materialize in any place considered a pantry.
“Well, it seems she doesn’t just collect guns,” her mom laughed, admiring the large collection of old wines, “which one did she have in mind.”
“I don’t think she had any particular one in mind, mom,” Solana sighed, “she doesn’t think like that. She’s too straightforward. She really did mean we could pick any of these.”
“Oh. You know there are some rare vintages here.”
“What do you think would go best with dinner?”
Her mother grabbed a bottle seemingly at random and read the label.
“Sper Fanchoui Jouberry, whoa, from 386? That’s good stuff. What did you say Nera did again?”
“She’s between jobs at the moment,” Solana said nervously.
“She must have been doing something pretty fancy to be able to afford something like this,” her mother looked at her one eyebrow raised.
“I guess so,” Solana said trying to keep her smile from looking forced, “From what I understand she mostly goes in and helps struggling organizations run more smoothly. Troubleshooting, cutting out unnecessary processes, that sort of thing.”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“I see,” her mother said. Solana couldn’t tell if her mother believed her or not, but thankfully she dropped it, “well, if she really wouldn’t mind, I think this would go well with what we’re preparing.”
The rest of the evening went smoothly. They had delightful conversation over the incredible food and wine. After everything was eaten, a cab was called for her parents, and Solana finally heaved a sigh of relief.
“I don’t have much experience with this sort of thing,” Nera said, looking out the window, “but I think that went well.”
“That was terrifying,” Solana said, laying on the sofa with one arm over her forehead.
“I’m sorry,” Nera said seriously, kneeling next to her, “especially about the clip, I had no idea it was there.”
“It all worked out in the end,” she said as she stood up and started picking up the plates around the table.
“Hey, don’t worry about the dishes,” Nera grabbed the plates from her hand, “I’ll take care of it. Why don’t I walk you home?”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course,” Nera gave her a conspiratorial look, “I even found a shortcut.”
“No,” she pretended to look horrified, “your shortcuts are always so weird.”
“This one is straightforward, I promise. No going through work zones, or open factory doors,” Nera said with faux solemnity.
“Or rooftops?”
“Nope, no rooftops. Only the pathways that the good folks at the city planner’s office intended for foot traffic.”
“Fine.”
Solana walked arm in arm with Nera down the street. Nera wore her customary grin, and dutifully pointed out all the neighborhood cats so Solana could gush at how cute they were. It really had been a great evening.
“So far, this is just the normal walk, Nera,” Solana said suspiciously.
“For now,” Nera laughed, “but they just finished the work on this alley ahead, and it goes right to your building's front door.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t try to have me stay over tonight,” Solana teased.
“I would have, but someone filled my bed with weaponry,” Nera teased back, “it’s just not safe.”
They turned the corner into the alley.
“It’s kind of dark,” Solana noticed aloud.
“Yeah, it wasn’t like this when I spotted it during the day, sorry.”
“It’s fine,” she was about to say but someone grabbed her from behind.
Nera was walking beside Solana when suddenly she wasn’t next to her anymore. She was immediately on her guard.
“Solana?” Nera asked, turning to see ten women behind them, armed with large clubs. They were dressed like nuns, but they also wore strange masks that looked like a demon’s face wearing a disgusted expression. The largest of them was holding Solana as she struggled to get free.
“You know those masks are kind of racist,” Nera said, calculating her odds and not liking the answer her brain was giving her, “let her go now and I’ll kick the crap out of you.”
“It’s ‘or’ you big dummy,” Solana grunted.
None of them said anything, as they moved forward. Nera tensed eyeing each woman in turn. They had her outnumbered, but Nera never let that sort of thing stop her from doing what needed to be done.
She charged at the nearest nun, dodging as the nun swung her club for her stomach. Nera grabbed the hand behind the club, and wrenched it around. The weapon fell to the ground with a clatter as Nera brought her knee up through the nun’s elbow, snapping the joint like a twig.
Normally, someone makes a noise when you break their bones. This weirdo nun didn’t even breathe harder. Nera had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that she knew wasn’t the migas settling. The nun she was grabbing pulled a knife out of thin air, and stabbed it into Nera’s shoulder.
It would have been her heart if she hadn’t seen it coming. She stumbled back as Solana screamed.
“Nera!”
She knew better than to pull the knife out. Solana had taught her that. Better to let the pressure hold the veins mostly closed. She backed away from the slowly approaching nuns. She tripped over a loose pipe and fell painfully on her butt.
The nuns, all except the one holding Solana, rushed her at the clatter. Nera grabbed the pipe and managed to block only a few of the clubs. Her muscles screamed at the abuse, and her arm went numb from the knife in her shoulder. This was not good.
Her ribs were breaking under the violent assault. Her brain blocked out all pain at this point, there was simply too much to process. She knew her leg wasn’t hanging properly from her knee, and she could barely take a breath.
As suddenly as the assault began, it ended. The nuns stood straight all at the same time, as though by some silent signal. Nera, through eyes rapidly swelling shut, saw the green light of a portal. The nuns went into it single file, one of them seeming to hold it open. The largest nun watched them leave, holding the violently screaming and fighting Solana.
“S-sol… ana,” Nera managed pathetically. She forced her useless arms to pull her forward, like she was going to be able to do anything in this state. The one holding Solana captive, turned after the last nun was through. Her head turned to the side, like a puppy considering something it didn’t quite understand.
She raised one booted foot and that was the last thing Nera saw.