A Good Idea
Despite the typical Abbas paranoia, watching windows and door and everywhere at once, he was still a bit taken aback when the mulleted man comes crashing through the window into the apartment, exploding into action with a WWE dropkick.
Dallas burst through the window in such a manner that Macho Man Randy Savage would be proud. While Dallas was successful & totally unharmed, he does get tangled in the heavy curtains for a moment--a dangerous situation in these cases. To make matters worse, Dallas hears a young child scream somewhere towards the back of the apartment.
Dallas whips free of the curtain to see a pleasant apartment, if a bit … under lived in somehow. Definitely doesn't seem to be a drug den. Dallas doesn't see anyone there, although he still feels the cocktail of virulent paranoia pounding down on him.
A three-year-old comes out of a bedroom and stands there, looking wide-eyed into the livingroom at the intruder. She looks angelically adorable with golden hair in pigtails, My Little Pony pajamas, and a brown bear stuffie. The scream was more surprise than fear; she actually seems completely fearless.
“Hey there little girl, sorry to startle ya. Who is watching you right now?” Dallas smiles at her.
"Uncle Abbas." She answers plainly, as though it is obvious. "Mommy and Daddy have ta work."
Dallas smiles “Where do they work?” Dallas moves towards her. “Mind if I pick you up? I am FBI. Wanna see my badge?”
"Okay." The very trusting child doesn't need to see the badge (she doesn't know what a badge is). "I dunno."
Dallas picks her up and then smiles, “Come out now, I figure you know why, Abbas.”
Abbas will say, "Violet!" and appear from practically nowhere behind the couch, a place you thought you searched before.
Violet just grins. "There he is!" As though her uncle plays hide and seek.
Dallas will smile. “Let’s take a walk. Leave any weapons, Abbas.”
"But he likes his bow!" the child protests, "like I like Scratch!"
"If you need to talk, preferably here," Abbas looks extremely uncomfortable with the attention on him, as well as the idea of leaving behind his bow.
Dallas moves towards the door with the child. “Well, sonny, that was not a request. Violet, tell your uncle to quit being such a worrywart.”
"A worry...?"
“A silly willy.”
The child grins. "Come on, Uncle Abbas!" Then looking up at Dallas. "Are you Mommy's new friend?"
“I am actually going to meet her. Abbas will follow us in his car.” Dallas will unlock the door and open it with one hand.
"Yay!" Violet seems genuinely thrilled by the idea, and then pauses. "Daddy too?"
“Uh uh, I am sure they will show up.”
"Okay." She rests into his grip, like she's used to being carried. And she holds onto Scratch to make sure no one is left behind.
"Is that... a threat? There's a child."
“Now, Abbas, no need to dilly dally.” Dallas will smile at him, then the smile will drop. “Obviously there’s a child involved now. Let that help you choose fast.”
"Damnit, what do you need?" Abbas’ paranoia is definitely worsening by the moment.
“You're gonna drive in front of me to the police department where I will ask some questions and we will wait for her parents to show up.”
In fact, you're pretty sure that with how alert Abbas is, even a spider isn't leaving his vision: "I don't drive… wait, what do you mean by ‘her parents will show up’?"
Dallas will smile and pull handcuffs out of his back pocket. “Put these on, and you can ride with us.” Dallas will toss them at Abbas’s feet. “And drop the bow. We don’t want any accidents.”
Dallas will realize the more he is pushing, the more Abbas’ paranoia is getting to him. To a point where it's teetering.
“Or you can explain the outcome of this to her parents.” Dallas pulls Violet a little closer.
Violet looks back at Abbas. And then starts to squirm. Something's not right--these two are not acting like friends.
“Abbas, it’s up to you how this goes.” Dallas will slowly move towards Abbas. “I promise nobody is in trouble. I just have some questions.”
"Uncle?" She asks questioningly as she squirms more. Usually that's the signal for the grownups to put her down, but it's not working... Scratch the bear drops. Not fearful yet. Just confused.
“Uncle?” Dallas says quietly as he continues to move closer to get within arms reach.
Abbas backs away and stays just enough out of arm's reach at all times. "If it's just questions. I can answer them, here I believe"
Dallas continues walking past Abbas and will grab the bear stuffie off the ground and offer it to Violet.
Violet accepts Scratch, pacified for now.
"Where are the parents? They need to be here in 4 days, else they..." Abbas looks over at Alice "sleep… Please put her down. I’m sure we can talk here... if you are FBI."
“I am FBI.” Dallas smiles and will reach into his pocket and will pull out his phone. “I can make one call and your life is over, or you come with me.”
"Be nice," Violet says to her captor nicely. She still doesn't get what's going on, but being nice makes everything ... nicer.
Dallas will look at Abbas.
Abbas grits his teeth before walking over. "Only if I can keep my bow."
“Sure but leave any arrows.” Dallas will smile.
With obvious reluctance, Abbas will put away the quiver and follow Dallas. "Violet needs to be safe. That's what matters most … Also, if you don't mind, reparations for the window. Landlord won't be too happy about that.”
“I am sure that can be figured out.” Dallas will walk out the door with Violet to his car and open the back seat that has that partition most cop cars have.
Violet does not seem comfortable getting into the car with her new friend without Abbas.
"Abbas?"
"It’ll be fine, Violet," Abbas will flash a smile for her.
“Come on, hop in Abbas.”
Abbas will look at him and get in precariously.
Dallas will close the door behind him.
Dallas will smile at Abbas. He will slide into the front seat with Violet. “What’s your name?”
"Abbas. So what is this about?"
“Well, a cop killer was let go, and I believe one of your friends was associated. One ‘Bruce Johnson.’” Dallas watches Abbas in the mirror.
"Who?" Abbas looks actually confused. And, no, he isn't lying.
“The man who’s apartment you were staying in. I assume it’s not his real name, actually.” Dallas smiles at Violet. “What’s your Daddy's real name, do you know?”
"Daddy!" Obviously.
"The people I know usually don't associate with criminals generally."
Dallas looks at Abbas then Violet and will pull out his phone and will pull up his picture of Bruce Johnson and show it to Violet. “Have you seen this photo and know who it is?”
"That's Daddy! ... Where's Mommy?" Usually the two are together, it seems.
Dallas looks at Abbas. “That’s confirmation that her father is the one I am looking for, so here is how it goes. I am going to slip you my phone. You will call her father and tell him to turn himself in now, and then I let both of you out, and we go on with our lives.” Dallas smiles “Once I get confirmation he is in custody.”
"Wait, what?" Dallas will show Abbas the photo of “Bruce Johnson.” Abbas recognizes the man as Jason Decker.
As Abbas looks at the photo, Abbas's phone rings. However, Dallas doesn't hear anything at all. If Abbas looks at his phone, it shows "Alice" with a profile picture of a paw print.
Oddly, at the exact same time, Dallas will also get a phone call. It is his FBI intern. Dallas answers. watching Abbas while he talks. “What’s going on there?”
"Sir, the suspect is awake! Should I question him?"
"Hello!" The sweet three-year-old says loudly with excitement to the voice on the phone. Then she squirms around and looks up at Dallas expectantly, still clutching Scratch. "Breakfast?"
"Uh...sir?"
“Yes, go and question him to see if he can not identify that photo as one of the assailants.” Dallas watches Abbas click his phone on. “Any other news in the town?”
"Will do, sir!" The rookie hangs up.
---
Meanwhile:
Abbas Abbas will frown before picking up the call on speaker since he knows that Dallas can't hear Alice’s calls. "Abbas, you need to get away from the apartment with Violet immediately. My identity might be compromised."
"A little late,” Abbas replies. “A guy named Dallas that is working with the FBI, he says, already got me and Violet. I wanted to avoid a gunfight ‘cause Violet was nearby"
Her tone drops. "Where exactly are you, and where is Violet?"
"Both in the same car as him. Violet went right up to him, so I tried my best to settle it peacefully. We're gonna be on the way to a police station in a second, as I was told … He did break the window by the way ... so ... the lease might go up."
"What have you told him?" Now she sounds pissed, very unusual for Alice.
"Basically nothing. Only that my name is Abbas, and that the people I know don't usually associate with criminals. Although we're being threatened right now so... "
"Tell him Violet's Mommy is going to supernaturally call him." The call hangs up.
---
“Thanks… damn kids need to learn how to properly end a phone call.” Dallas growls slightly before looking at Abbas. “My next call is to CPS for Violet if I don’t get some answers.”
Violet pokes Dallas. Maybe he didn't hear her. Her tummy rumbles as she asks more specifically, "Eggs and maggots?"
Dallas seems taken aback then looks closer at Violet. Noticing she is off, he then smiles. “We will find you something soon, hold on okay?” Dallas then looks at Abbas more menacingly. “Or my next call can be to Casa Verde.”
"Okay." The child trusts Dallas and returns to fiddling with her bear plushie.
"She's talking about rice. Someone thought it would be funny to call them maggots." Abbas isn't lying. "We had egg fried rice recently. Anyways, sir, Violet’s mom will be calling you supernaturally here."
“You know what Casa Verde is, right?” Dallas looks surprised, maybe even a bit concerned.
"Nope."
And then Dallas's phone rings. It registers as a restricted caller but somehow the profile is saved as "Mommy" and the profile picture is of a raging mother bear.
Dallas will look at the phone, smile, and answer it. “Heller?”
"Dallas Smith! Funny thing, Bu Fang told me about you just a few hours ago. Says you're 'very straight lined' and 'can tell the truth from lies'." The voice of a young woman with a West Coast accent. Her tone is like a thin sheet of icey casualness with clear undertones of pissed. "I hope that discernment of yours works over long distances, for your sake." The casualness vanishes. "Because you have no fucking idea of what you're on the verge of getting yourself into."
“I have a pretty good idea, missy. Your husband committed a pretty egregious crime impersonating a federal officer, a crime I take personally offensive--as well as they assisted in the escape of a cop killer. Then you have some schmuck wielding a bow guarding your home. Obviously something is up, and I have a good idea what that is.”
Dallas hears her take a slow, deep breath. And then another one. When she finally speaks, she sounds more composed (but still angry). "You can call me 'Mommy,' not Missy. My name doesn't matter at this point--the only thing that matters is our relationship, which is going to be entirely your choice. Take a few minutes to hear me out--your decision will greatly impact us both."
“I normally have to pay someone to call them Mommy. But sure, what are ya offering? Cause if you're a friend of Bu’s, that is a bit telling ain’t it? Especially if he told you about me.”
"I called Bu Fang asking him for help. You were more of a mention than a recommendation. But first let's establish something: this call is supernaturally obscured, and it cannot be recorded on either end. Your phone is simply a focus--there is no record of this call aside from our memories. And neither Abbas nor Violet know what we're saying, even if the 'call' is put on speaker. I'm sure if Violet could hear me she'd want to talk to me. Do you want to test that out?"
“I ain’t worried about that. I ain’t recording right now anyway.” Dallas pauses. “I need some sort of resolution to this, your husband, and this cop killer needs to turn themselves in. Just as I told Abbas, as soon as your husband is in custody, I would let him and Violet go.” Dallas looks at Violet. “Although I was going to buy Violet breakfast and, depending on the outcome of this conversation, drive her straight to Casa Verde. If her mother is supernatural, I have a feeling her daughter is as well.”
"I expected as much. Just give me a few minutes. It sounds like you have Abbas on a tight leash, so you should be able to spare a few minutes for this conversation."
“I ain’t the bad guy here. They broke the law and left evidence. I would bring in anyone with that criteria, even those like Bu or Bu’s friends.”
"We will find out if you're a 'bad guy' soon enough. Also, lie detector, I'm not planning something elaborate as we speak. Just listen.” A pause. “I am one of you--someone who goes on insane, dangerous jobs for equally insane, powerful rewards. I will do anything to keep Violet safe. She has special needs that make the average foster care placement or adoptive home unable to protect her."
“That is admirable. However, as I am sure Bu told you, being one of US won't stop me from following the law. Plus, what the hell are you doing having a kid? This isn’t the life to bring a kid into. Frankly, should this resolve in a way you and Violet get out unscathed, you should divorce your husband, take your child far away from America, and retire.” Dallas pauses. “But that depends on this conversation. You're obviously an accomplice of your husband, meaning you're just as guilty, so how should we play this? What is your hope?”
"I didn't choose to have a kid!" Her anger shows. "I found her and a demon feeding off of her--keeping her alive on raw rats and grass and cockroaches just so it could sustain itself on her soul! We stole Violet from the demon, but it's still supernaturally tied to her--giving her mental health issues--and we suspect it's trying to hunt her down to take her back! Give me a fucking chance!" The call goes quiet for a bit and Dallas can hear her taking deep breaths.
“Then wouldn’t Casa Verde be her best chance? There are experts there in this sort of thing.” Dallas looks at Violet. “I feel for the kid, I do, and if I can I will help her. But that also means you stole a child who probably has real parents out there who are looking for her or some sort of family.”
As Dallas looks at the child and says that to her (not Alice over magic time), her red eyes shimmer slightly. A misty black figure shimmers into existence in the vacant passenger seat next to Dallas. The True Parent has arrived.
The misty figure grins, mirroring Dallas's former good natured smile, and reaches for him.
Violet sees the demon and smiles. Her hands go out like she wants to be picked up. "Friend!"
If it was possible, Abbas goes from high alert to the absolutely highest alert. But the back doors of the cop car are locked. "Violet, do you see that button? Can you press that?" Abbas points at the unlock door switch/button. The little girl is still seated on Dallas’s lap, on the driver’s side.
The creature deftly darts forward, encompassing Dallas from the side. Surprised, he attempts to strike back, but there is nothing to hit--just a black mist … right before the creature’s talons expertly scoop out his eyeballs in a single smooth motion. And then offer them gently to Violet, who takes them like candy, filling her two little cheeks with a big grin.
Violet, still chewing happily, clicks the button. She likes Abbas. Abbas makes her happy, just like Scratch and Mommy and Daddy and her Friend.
The moment the car door unlocks, Abbas gets out while keeping an eye on the demon, which moves over to squat in Dallas's lap, doting on Violet. Abbas looks around for anything that could double as an arrow but finds nothing.
Dallas has Violet on his lap. He knows she’s possessed. “Violet, tell your friend to knock it off.” He will reach for his gun…
Violet seems confused. "Off?"
As Dallas goes for his gun and begins to speak, the demon almost gently, lazily lays its talon against his arm pulling the gun, then widens its smile, closing its teeth on his throat. There is a gush of blood, and Dallas’s face goes purple as it bites down. His body goes into convulsions.
Violet is now covered in fresh blood. She looks a bit confused and asks her Friend to move her away and help her clean her face, as it's sorta getting into her eyes, by simply saying, "Yucky." In the meantime she wipes her face with her hands, smearing the blood further.
Abbas finds nothing. He texts Alice “call me” before moving away from the bloody car and towards the apartment.
Alice immediately calls. "What happened!?"
"DEMON IS BACK, HOW TO GET RID OF, I DON’T THINK CROSSES, BLESSING AND HOLY WATER WORKS AGAINST SOMETHING THAT STRONG."
"What?!" A pause. And then a very very monotone response. "Don't harm it. Ask it to live with us, with Violet."
"Gotchaaaaa"
"And we will not hurt it--YOU will not hurt it!" A command.
Abbas will turn back and slowly approach the car on Violet’s side again, holding a distance of about 30 feet. Then he invites the demon. "Would you like to live with Violet and us? I won't hurt you. I also just want to protect Violet."
The manifestation unlocks its gleaming white teeth from Dallas as the man's struggles begin to subside, and fixes its blazing, monstrous gaze on Abbas.
"Give it the phone if you can." Alice instructs, still very monotone.
Abbas will slowly approach, about 10 feet away, and offer his phone on the ground. "Uh, someone you may know wants to talk to you… This thing works like that.” A pause. "Can I, uh, clean up Violet? She seems uncomfortable there."
It coils, becoming almost a cloud of darkness with a Cheshire grin in the center. You are free to come closer… closer…
Abbas prepares to bolt while slowly approaching with his shirt, ready to help the child clean up.
"Abbas!" Violet notices him approaching through the window and reaches for him. She is a nightmarish sight--blonde hair, face, and chest covered in fresh blood--and she is increasingly uncomfortable. Her new friend looks... sad. Like a rat ready for eating. "Mommy!" Now she looks around confused. Mommy is almost always nearby to make things better.
Abbas will open the door slowly. "Mommy is on the phone. Uncle Abbas will help you clean up and bring her back soon.”
"I want Mommy and Daddy!" Her face scrunches up like she's about to cry. It's not really the gore that bothers her; moreso the confusion needs to be pushed back with consistency--and they've been gone forever, so it seemed.
"We will meet them. We always do." As he talks, he helps clean her up of the blood as best he can before picking her up. The coils of darkness leave the car with her and melt into her shadow. A pair of red eyes burning in the cast shadow indicate the demon's continued presence.
Now in Abbas's arms, finally, Violet starts to cry. "MOMMY!" Tucking her still rather bloody face into Abbas's chest.
Abbas will cradle her, familiar with carrying her not just from previous times but also his time as a father himself before. He picks up his phone and puts it near Violet. "Mel, Violet wants to hear your voice right now." While continuing to wipe off the blood
Lights come on in apartments. Grumbling can be heard. A dog barks in the crisp morning air.
The conversation between child and Mommy seems to make things worse, like showing a child a slice of cake and then taking it away. Now Violet is full-on crying, all in, snotty, and in pure distress.
Abbas will try his best to soothe her and will pat her, cradling trying to get her to sleep perhaps.
As he does this, he also bites his pendant (putting on his obscure self passive) and slinks away.
After a few minutes, Abbas is able to fully sooth the child. She is breathing normally again and very sleepy in his arms. Scratch the bear plushie is the only obvious bit of evidence at the scene of the crime, soaked in a pool of Dallas's blood on the floor of the driver's side.