The Mysterious Life Of Lorelei Jones

XXIV

Lorelei was the first out of the ticket booth. As soon as she ran out, a spirit was already rushing towards her. She ducked just in time to avoid it taking a swipe at her head. Thomas took advantage of its momentum and swang it back towards Lori. “I can do this,” Lorelei thought. Joel watched her intensely. The spirit was inches from her as she brought her fist down on the spirit’s head. She thought she shattered it. Instead, the spirit turned back to the blueish-white color normal spirits have.

“Thank you,” It said, disappearing. Lori stood there in awe. She examined her hand.

“How did I do that?” Lorelei asked.

“Amazing! You purified it. I knew you could do it.” Joel said. He turned back to Mortdecai. “See? She isn’t a huge disappointment. This is not looking good for you.”

Mortdecai took another swipe at Joel’s torso. Unamused, Joel brought his knee to Mortdecai’s jaw, letting him fall to the floor. Joel stomped hard on Mortdecai’s chest. “I know this doesn’t hurt you as much as it would if you were really here. But ****, does it feel good. I have a question. You’re going to answer it. If I don’t like your answer, I will kill you here and now. I know this is your spirit. If I shatter you the real, you will die. But I’m sure you know that. Where are you hiding? You can’t be too far. Your control is limited. Come on; we’re waiting.”

“Only if you answer my question. Who are you? You’re not Joel.” Mortdecai asked. Joel put more weight on Mortdecai’s chest. Mortdecai screamed.

“No. No. This isn’t how this is going to go. Answer me or else. I have no problem killing you. I promised Joel I would help him stop you. I doubt he’s opposed to killing you. After what you did to his brother. So, I’ll ask you one more time, where are you hiding?”

“Like I’m going to tell you. Go on, kill me. I don’t care. I’ve always known this would happen. I knew I couldn’t keep this up forever. You win. Good for you. Kill me. Do it. Tell Lorelei I will be seeing her soon,” Mortdecai’s claw shot out and pierced Joel’s heart. “Take that, you *******.”

Joel calmly took Mortdecai’s wrist and snapped it back. In the distance, he could hear someone cursing and yelling behind a nearby door. “Oh, there you are. Hey, guys, I found him! He’s in that private waiting area.”

“No!” Mortdecai screamed. He took his other claws and stabbed Joel all over his body. Still not phased, Joel repeatedly stomped on Mortdecai’s chest. “If this is your way of trying to kill us, then you need to try harder than that. I thought you were an experienced killer.” Joel leaned down and lowered his voice to a whisper. “I had high hopes for you. In the end, you were a waste of time. Oh well, now I know what not to do.”

Mortdecai’s eyes widened as he realized who he was talking to. “Mar-” Joel didn’t let him finish as he stomped on final time on Mortdecai’s face and shattered him. 

Meanwhile, Lori and Thomas were purifying the remaining spirits. Lorelei purified the last one and noticed Mortdecai was gone. “Where did he go? Joel?” She asked as Joel’s body dropped to the floor. “Joel!” She ran to him. “Joel, can you hear me?”

Joel’s eyes flickered open. “We have to stop meeting like this, Lori.” He smiled. Joel tried to set up, but his body wouldn’t listen. “Why am I so tired?”

“I have a lot of questions. But first, you said Mortdecai’s behind that door, right?” Lori pointed to the private lounge for business and first-class. 

“I did?” Joel looked at her, confused. “When did I say that?”

“Hold that thought. Thomas, I need you.” Lori said. Thomas appearing by her side. 

“Yes?” Thomas asked.

“Watch my back. Mortdecai’s in there.” Lori walked over to the door. It had a window, but it was covered. She could faintly make out a person sitting down. “Let’s go.”

Lorelei opened the door. She was surprised it wasn’t locked. The private lounge wasn’t even that impressive. It was a fairly large room with better chairs and a couple of TVs scattered around. Lorelei smelled a strong smell of metal. Turning her head, she saw two dead bodies: a man and a woman. The two looked like they were holding each other when they died. Looking away, she saw another person. He looked straight at her—a bloody smile on his face.

“And here you are. Somehow your little group stopped me. Congratulations. You won.” Mortdecai coughed violently. “Wow, I’m dying. You must be thrilled.”

Lorelei looked at him with pity in her eyes. “After all you did, all the people you killed, all the pain you caused, and lives you ruined, I can’t say I am thrilled, but I’m not glad this is over. I honestly thought you would kill us.”

Mortdecai coughed out a laugh. “I would have never killed you. The others I would have in a heartbeat. Did you know he was that strong? His power was greater than both of ours combined.”

“I had no idea of Joel’s strength. I’m glad he had it when he did. I hope where ever you go; you find peace. Some semblance of it, at least.”

“You can shove that pity up your ass. I don’t need it, nor do I want it. Where I’m going, good wishes and hope mean nothing. I have no soul, thanks to your friend. It was shattered. I don’t get peace. I don’t even get hell. I get nothing. Absolutely nothing. I’d still take that than stay here with that thing in Joel. Your friend is screwed, and he doesn’t even know it. I wish I could’ve helped you reach your potential. In a way, I guess I did.” 

“Goodbye, Mortdecai. Good luck wherever you turn up.” Lori turned a walked towards the door.

“I got one question, did you kill my brother before you killed me?” Thomas asked.

“Who are you again?” Mortdecai laughed.

“Nevermind. I knew you would be an ******* up until the end. Go rot in whatever pit you end up in.” Thomas flipped him off a=then followed Lorelei out of the room. Outside she saw Connor sitting with Joel talking.

“Hey! It looks like you guys finished up. Just in time too. The spirits couldn’t keep the passengers back anymore. Those people were ******. I don’t want to think about what would have happened if Mortdecai got his claws on them. Where is the ******* anyway?” Connor thought.

Lorelei pointed to the private lounge. “Dead.”

“Oh, well, good riddance. Just wish I could’ve paid him back for taking my tongue.” 

“Joel made sure he paid. Big time. What happened with that anyway? You were acting strangely,” Thomas asked. 

“I don’t know.” Joel could see people walking towards them. “We should go. I don’t want to answer questions in prison.”

Everyone agreed, and they all bolted towards the station doors. Piling into Connor’s car, they made a quick getaway just as a symphony of screams filled the train station.