Soul Mates

by Jennifer Thompson

Vincent walked into Father’s chamber carrying his cloak.Placing his arm around Father’s head he gave him a quick kiss onthe forehead.

"Going above tonight?" Father asked with a hint of disapproval inhis voice.

"Yes. There is something drawing me up there tonight." Vincentsaid cautiously. He didn’t wish to reveal too much just yet.

"Well." Father said with a heavy sigh. "Just make sure whatever itis doesn’t let you stay up there too long."

Vincent had been going Above more and more often recently. He wassure Father was confused by this sudden interest in going Above, buthe didn’t want to reveal too much. Not until he was certainhimself.

"I’ll be careful Father." He said putting on his cloak.Walking to the threshold of the chamber he turned to look back.Father had already started reading his book again.

*****

Catherine had stormed out of the party. "Just another excuse tofor Tom to wine and dine the planning commission." She thought toherself as she walked out of the building. She was so tired of thislifestyle and feeling more and more like a fraud as the days went by.She just didn’t know how to get herself out of it.

Walking quickly down the street she raised her arm up. "Taxi!" Sheyelled running into the street.

"Allow me." A man said coming up behind her. "I’m an expertat this."

Walking into the street he yelled for a cab as well with noluck.

Turning around Catherine saw headlights pulling up next to her. Avan with the doors opens. The man grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Going home alone tonight Carol?" He asked forcefully as he pushedher inside the van.

Falling down she tried to steady herself but another man alreadyhad a hold of her.

"Shh. That’s a good girl Carol." A third man said lookingdirectly at her.

"My name is not Carol!" Catherine said beginning to protest.

"Shut up!" The man said pulling out a knife. "You’re going toremember this every time you look in the mirror."

Looking at the knife she shuddered in horror. She felt the blademove quickly across her face. Closing her eyes she heard the menlaughing. Suddenly the van door opened. Keeping her eyes closed shefelt them lift her up and throw her out of the van.

As soon as she hit the ground she felt a severe pain run throughher midsection. Closing her eyes she felt the wet grass as shetumbled down an embankment.

*****

Vincent walked out of the drainage ditch next to Central Park. Helooked around quickly checking for homeless wandering through thepark or late night joggers. Walking on the grass he continued to lookaround cautiously. His biggest fear was being caught Above.

Hearing the crunch of leaves behind him he turned around quickly.It was only Mouse, on of the teenagers from Below. Sighing withrelief he ran over to him.

"What are you doing Above?" Vincent asked sternly. "You should beasleep. It is very late."

"Father say you Above. Want to know why?" Mouse asked innocently.Vincent had to smile. He had found Mouse as a young child; abandoned,alone and starving. He brought him back and nursed him to healthagain. He felt very protective of him ever since.

"I’m just enjoying the scenery." Vincent said quickly. Hefelt terrible about lying to Mouse, but he couldn’t tell him thetruth either.

"I go back to sleep." Mouse said after a few minutes. "Hope youfind what looking for."

As Mouse walked back to the drainage tunnel Vincent looked backwith amusement. It amazed him how intuitive Mouse was. Continuing hiswalk further into the park he wondered if he would find what he waslooking for.

*****

Catherine lay on the ground in a heap. She could feel pain in herribcage. A pain so great she couldn’t will herself to get up.Closing her eyes she sensed herself drifting further and further awayfrom consciousness. She was submitting to it; losing her struggle toremain lucid. Feeling coldness entering her body from all surfaceseverything suddenly went dark.

*****

Walking along a path Vincent suddenly felt coldness overcome him.Shivering he looked around. It wasn’t even cold outside.Succumbing to this feeling he realized it was coming from someoneelse. Whomever it was they were very near. "What was happening tothem?" He thought as he walked further down the path. Lookingdown an embankment he saw a body lying there.

Running down he realized this was whom he had been feeling. It wasa woman. Her face was slashed in many places and she looked like shehad been badly beaten. Lifting her he was amazed at her lightness.Quickly he ran into the drainage ditch carrying her.

Once inside he balanced her body with one arm while opening agrate on the wall that had a lever. Pulling the lever down a doorrolled away to reveal a tunnel.

Walking inside he closed the door with another lever and quicklyran through a series of tunnels and chambers and staircases until heentered Father’s chamber once again.

"My God Vincent, who is this?" Father asked as he looked up fromhis book.

"A woman. I found her in the park. She’s been badly beatenand she’s very cold." Vincent said looking into her face. Shewas beautiful, even with the blood stains and knife marks. How couldsomeone do this to such an angelic face?

"Put her in your chamber. I’ll bring down bandages, freshclothes, and something to cleanse and stitch the wounds." Father saidgetting up from his chair.

Walking into his chamber, Vincent carefully placed her across hisbed. She had been wearing a black dress, like she had been at a fancydinner. Her eyes were closed and her face looked peaceful, like shewasn’t near death. Leaning over her body he lay his head againsther and looked across her body to check for breathing. Seeing herchest rise and fall he sighed. She was still alive.

"When did you find her?" Father asked as he walked into thechamber with his arms full of medical supplies.

"About 45 minutes ago." Vincent said quietly.

"Lucky for her you were there." Father said putting the supplieson the bed.

"Uh-huh." Vincent said quietly. He didn’t want to explain toFather that he felt her. Not now. He was still sorting this out forhimself.

Father looked at the body lying before him. Pulling out a tunnelnightgown he lifted her to a sitting position.

"Hold her while I remove her clothes." Father said waiting forVincent’s arms to hold her. Gently he removed her jacket, dress,and stockings. Underneath she had on a matching black panty set.Bruises were visible around her midsection.

"She must have been badly beaten." Father commented. Gentlyfeeling around her stomach he nodded his head. "She has a broken ribon each side."

Carefully he pulled the nightgown on trying not to touch her face.It was covered with dried blood from the wounds. Laying her back downhe reached for his doctor’s bad.

"I need your water basin." He commented pulling out gauze andperoxide.

Vincent picked up the basin and placed it on the table beside hisbed, pushing aside his books that were stacked there.

Father poured the peroxide into the wounds he let them ooze for afew moments. Taking a cloth he carefully washed her face. The waterin the basin became red.

"You can rinse that out now." Father commented putting theperoxide back into his bag.

Vincent picked up the ceramic basin and walked to a natural springin the center of the above tunnels. Pouring out the water he crankedthe spigot to fill it up again.

Walking back into his chamber he saw that Father had bandaged upher face entirely leaving a small opening at the mouth. He wassitting in a chair next to the bed looking at her carefully.

"Will she survive?" Vincent asked looking at her. She wascompletely still.

"I think she is out of danger now." Father said sighing. "Hand meher coat so I can check for ID. I imagine her family is looking forher by now."

Picking her coat off the bed, Vincent handed it to Father. Goingthrough her pockets he found a card that had been opened.

"Her name is Catherine." He said examining the card and handing itto Vincent.

"Catherine." Vincent replied smiling.