“Bly… listen.” Matto begins.
“YOUR SON IS A KILLER!”
“Please let me explain.”
“There’s nothing to explain!! Jacy saw the slaughter outside his shop. Kota is evil!”
“MY SON ISN’T EVIL!!”
“Tell that to the chief!” Bly presses a button on a CB radio clipped to his belt. “Chief, you’re needed at the Pow-Wow. It’s the Ahoka kid.”
The radio gives off static before the commander replies, “Are the allegations true?” A bassy voice asks.
“Yes.”
There’s a long pause. Everyone scans Kota for the beast he is. Fright consumes the crowd. Children gawk at him as if a boogeyman brought to life.
“Clear the park.” The chief orders from the radio.
“Everyone disperse.” Bly instructs. “Escort everyone away.” His crew approach the guests, hand-gesturing to the street. The crowd follows the instructions, murmuring as they depart. The cops form a line behind the guests, guiding them to the street.
“Contain the Ahoka family, I’ll arrive shortly.”
“Will do, Chief.” Bly scans the area. “Where is Dyani?”
Odina searches the crowd like a hawk. “Dyani?!!” She examines the street twice before locating her daughter. Dy watches from the sidewalk with the rest of the party. Frightened. Her mother offers her hand. “Come, please.” Dy debates staying with the crowd or standing with her family. The struggle is evident in her shifty eyes.
Kota gives a begging glance, one only a little brother in need can give. Helpless for her. “Please. Dy.” His voice trembles.
Her lips quiver, she glimpse at the audience, mortified by their judgmental glares. Dismay and embarrassment taint her.
Matto holds his hand out. “Kamama (butterfly).” He speaks warmly. “Come.”
Dy exhales and lowers her head in shame. She treads over, taking her father’s hand. Ignoring Kota.
Why is she being so heartless?? I told her the truth. I don’t want to be this way. How could she abandon me when I need her??! I need my family. I won’t survive without them. Kota’s heart drops, he stares at his big sister, wounded.
It doesn’t take the chief long to arrive. Ridge, a tall, broad man, dismounts a Jeep. He’s dressed in a brown uniform. The mountains of Tahlequah design the sigil on both his badge and uniform. The street is still occupied by citizens. Ridge does a shooing motion with his hands, beckoning them away. “Clear the premises, goodnight!”
The townsfolk shuffle off, leaving the street to the sidewalk. Ridge watches them pace the pavement. Some turn the corner, while others enter their homes.
The chief doesn’t glance away until all are out of sight. He gives a hard gaze to the Ahoka family, his green eyes linger on Kota, astonished by his appearance. “How could you become this?! I’ve known you since the bassinet. How could you kill so gruesomely???”
“My son was attacked by a creature!” Matto steams. “He didn’t choose to kill!”
“A creature??” Ridge’s wonder gets the best of him.
“A blood demon.”
“Blood demon??!!” Bly exclaims.
“Impossible, there hasn’t been an encounter in centuries.” Chief Ridge is skeptical.
“I’m telling the truth! It was alone, it passed through Tahlequah. The three teens in the woods were its victims… so was Kota.”
“Or your son interfered with ᎤᏓᏙᎵᏍᏗ (witchcraft) and now suffers the consequences! He’s already killed innocence. He did the same with those teenagers!”
“My son was attacked! I’m no liar!”
“I conducted a locator spell. The animal fled far enough to escape the charm. The beast is most likely underground. We can hunt it together.” Odina offers a solution.
“So… you’ve utilized sorcery on sacred soil?!” She closes her mouth, ashamed. “That is forbidden!” Ridge boils. “For that, the Ahoka family pays the ultimate price.”
“NO... DON’T!!” Matto’s eyes bulge.
“There is no other choice.”
Kota is lost as to what the ultimate price is. Matto steps to the chief, the officers swarm to form a barrier between the two. “Chief… my boy has gone through enough. Please… jail would be kinder.”
“No… his soul is gone. His presence on Tahlequah will taint the land and summon death. My words are final!”
Matto drops to his knees, voice trembling with urgency. “ᏣᎳᎩ (Cherokee) would not cast out one of its own without first seeking harmony,” he pleads, his hands pressed together in reverence. “I, Matto Ahoka, call upon the Creator—ᎤᏃᏴᏫᏯ (The Great Spirit) — to bless us with ceremony for a soul gone astray.” He bows his head in solemn prayer, whispering. “ᎤᏃᏴᏫᏯ, ᏧᏍᏆᎦᎾᏍᏗ ᎤᏓᎷᎸᏔ, (Creator, restore balance to the wandering soul).”
Chief Ridge stands still, the weight of law pressing against the pull of tradition. He exhales, his shoulders softening, and slowly bows his head as well. “May the creator grant balance,” he murmurs. Then he eyes his staff. “Ready their dwelling for the ritual.”
They’re escorted down the road by the sheriffs and chief. Residents peek from the front windows of their houses. The way back is similar to a walk of shame. The harsh eyes from the curtains follow them all the way back to their home. Their lifelong neighbors frown upon them.
Kota sulks at people he’s known since preschool, their cruelty is beyond intense. They all hate me… just as my sister does. He looks to Dyani; she stares ahead, dodging his eye contact.
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