1

Wisdom?

Wisdom, help me.

Elijah awoke hazy, flames surrounding the building. As he tried to get up his head restricted much movement, headache taking priority over the situation he was in. ‘Campbell.’ He thought. Turning behind him to see what became of the cop, he was almost struck by falling rubble due to the burning building above.

“Campbell!” He coughed amidst the thickening smoke, realizing that the smell before was gas, and he nearly died opening a door.

I am getting too close to this. Wisdom, do you see Campbell? I need to know if he is safe. Diaz will kill me. Everyone will kill me, no matter what I do it is a dangerous decision. If that isn’t a curse, then I don’t truly know the word's definition.

‘Focus’ he said to snap himself out of his thoughts.

“Campbell, cmon man, are you okay?” He limped across the room, tripping over debris, lifting what he could to find the kind detective.

Hearing sirens in the distance made him want to move even faster. He was getting too close to this case, and if, Campbell was, dead. There would be no doubt that the police would get fed up with the whole thing and blame the killings on him. A young African American centered amid five different killings/kidnappings was like handing himself over as a statistic.

“Campbell. Man, Campbell, where are you?” He yelled weakly for a third time before seeing a large body on the floor knocked out. As he paced faster holding his sleeve up to his face to block out further smoke, a figure jumped out behind him and grabbed him swiftly.

Elijah began kicking as if he were wading large currents, drifting farther and farther apart from the helpless body upon the ground.

“No, No you don’t understand! Help him! He could die, and it’s not his fault. You have to help him! Help H-” Wait.

Eli froze. That’s not him. A woman? How is that even possible? There was no one else but them there, so who is carrying me and who is lying on the floor, life slipping away? Where was Campbell? Who is that woman on the ground?

“I am going to die. Aren’t I?”

“Sorry my friend, not quite. We have some unfinished business to discuss.”

The masked man, with a voice disguise on, spoke with such chilling vibrato Eli, couldn’t respond, accepting his fate, whatever that may be.

2

Diaz was asleep, sound for the first time in years. Drifting into his dream as a familiar image popped into his head. Always the same.

“Hi. I am Officer Diaz, I believe this is yours?” He handed the purse to the flushed woman, trying to catch her breath.

“Take your time. Can I get you something? Some water?”

“No. No,” she panted. “Thank you, I thought my stuff was gone forever. How can I repay you for this? Do you want to get a coffee, maybe a donut?”

He chuckled. “Donuts, funny. I will take you up on that coffee though. It's a bit chilly out. Are you sure you are okay?”

“Yes,” she declared, reaching into her bag for her inhaler. “ I know it was foolish to run after that guy in my condition but I just got my medication refilled this morning. The timing couldn’t be worse.”

“Oh yeah that is a hassle, glad I was in the area.” He looked around before continuing. “ I don’t mean to state the obvious but we are in the middle of the street. Let’s get you that coffee, huh?”

“Right Right! Sorry. My name is Gia. Gia Campbell.” She stretched her hand out to shake his.

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Grabbing her hand, “The name’s Diaz, Matthew Diaz.”

His dream always began that way, sweet. Warm, before turning into his biggest fear. His worst truth.

She’s gone. No, I can’t think that way. I just had to work today. Why didn’t I have my phone? What is wrong with me?

Walking into the station, rushing with his things so he can grab a taxi to the Hospital.

“Hey, it will be okay,” spoke Campbell hopping in the taxi on the opposite side.

“You think. I hope she’s okay. Rain too.” Diaz put his head in his hands. “I am a terrible person.”

“No, she should be fine. I spoke to her. Gia said the baby and she were going to be fine and she was waiting for you,” Campbell added.

“Really,” he sighed, “how long ago was this?

“A few hours ago. Doctors took her phone. She should be fine.”

Right, he thought to himself. She should be okay. Or I don’t know what I would do.

Ring. Ring.

“Hello?” He awoke, checking the clock not fully sure he was hearing things correctly.

“Detective, we need your help.” The person on the other line stated, forcing him to jump up.

As he grabbed his things he couldn’t help but panic slightly. Campbell was all he had left, and Eli. Well, Eli felt like his second chance. A second chance at normalcy, at being a Dad. And knowing they both could be gone was a thought he tried not to entertain or think long on.

“I’m on my way, give me the location.” He spoke, before shutting his door. Picture frame falling to the ground, cracking further more.

3

If I find out you are in on this I will never forgive you.

I know you hear me, Wis. I need help.

As Eli tugged at his restraints he recognized that he was in the same room that Hope described when she got kidnapped. Now it was him.

In the back of his mind, he felt slightly relieved that only he was in danger, not pulling anyone else into this sick game. But where was Campbell?

‘I hope he is okay’ He thought.

He imagined his parent's faces as their only child was in danger, realizing that in a few years, they would be too old for drama like this. Hoping he would get to see them soon, safely.

“Hello? Anyone here.” He shouted into the pristine atmosphere, shocked the operations of a killer were quite clean.

“Q. I know this isn’t your plan. I mean you just sent me a letter about being on your side. We can discuss things further.” He bluffed not sure if what he was saying was going to dig him into a deeper hole. Hopefully not six feet under.

“For someone who just woke up you talk a lot.” The masked man responded, rubbing his face. “Keep quiet the fun will begin in just a moment.”

“Look man I didn’t see your face, and I don’t know who you are but you can just let me go, and we can go about our business. Deal?” E pleaded.

Another masked figure walked in quickly, throwing down a hammer. “What did I say? I wanted Diaz! Not him.”

“Well If we have him, then we have Diaz. They are a package deal. What’s the problem anyway? If he does anything dumb we can kill him. Your first male victim. Sound fun?”

“No, I hate the recklessness. Are you really in this?” the leader questioned. “Because you are replaceable. If your hatred is not directed clearly, then, we can cut losses now, and I will do this on my own.”

“No! I will not go astray anymore. Sorry Q.”

So the boss is Q. Did you know he had a sidekick?

“I don’t understand if your Q, who is this wannabe?” Eli shifted in his seat not sure he wanted to truly know the answer.

Q shrugged, before walking out. “Tell him if you want it doesn’t change my plans.”

“The first masked man closed the door behind Mr. Q. and pulled his mask up.

“It can’t be! I thought you were,” Eli gasped.

“Dead. No. No. This game is just beginning poor Eli. We are missing a person, Diaz I mean,” muttered the man.

Looking at the assistant's face it was a man, a man none other than Campbell.

Are you seeing this Wisdom?