sparrow

              “Bruja!” The coyote whispered in alarm as the bullets bounced off of me. I narrowed my eyes. Bruja; that word made my blood boil. “Dios en el Cielo!” he continued. I gave a small laugh.“God can’t help you now.” I said in my English tongue. The man who was supposed to cross me into the United States dropped to his knees and started to pray to his God. “Mizolo,” I whispered. He looked up at me and stopped his praying. Slowly the spell worked its magic. He collapsed onto the dry ground and began to shake. “You are not worthy of redemption.” I growled. I quickly crossed the barbed wire fence of the farm located near the border. I took off running. No longer would he be taking advantage of young girls and old people wanting a better future.  

               I  didn’t look back. My feet made a soft thud as they hit the ground. In my head I went over my plan. I was going to keep running until I saw a car. I was going to break into it and use it as my ride to freedom. I would use a simple mind control incantation if I were to be pulled over.

               It felt as if I had been running for ages. Then I saw it: A car that would make drive me to a new life. Luckily it was unlocked. Americans, I thought as I pulled out the wires. I connected the ones that gave life to the metal monster, and slowly drove away. Once I felt I was far enough I began to relax. I turned on the radio and fiddled with it for a while. We were not allowed to hear much of the world’s offerings, so it was all so new to me. It seemed to be wild and uncontrollable. I let out a little sigh. First thing I would do was look up good music. I wondered what type of music I liked. I didn’t even know that there was so many different types of music, but I decided that I like the music that Amalia listened to. She liked to listen to bands like Green Day and the t-shirts. I couldn’t remember the name of the last one, but I knew it had some article of clothing in it.

               Soon the horizon was filled with lights. I stopped at the first motel and rented a room. Our coven had prepared an escape plan. There was money to last few months, fake United States documents, and something called a cell phone. Maria said that it was used to talk to people, but I didn’t understand the concept. Where was the telephone cord? I also didn’t understand why they had to be so small. I almost lost it three times one the way. I sat on the bed and curled up. I didn’t want to let the pain come back.

               It had been almost a week since I lost my coven sisters to that lechuza. Unlike those who become witches like them, my coven and I obtained our power due to our blood line. That lechuza decided to sell her soul to the devil for her powers. Because we use our powers for good rather than for our own gain she and a few of her friends decided to wipe out our coven. I barely made it out alive. If it hadn’t been for Maria I would have died that day. Maria had saved my life twice already.

               When I was eight my mother—convinced that I was evil—lead a mob that was to kill me. Maria breathed life into me once again, and I started my life over again. She became my mother and my mentor. It was Maria that gave me my new surname Harlow. I once asked her why she gave me the name and she said because I was as beautiful as Jean Harlow.  

               I tried to stop the tears from spilling out of my eyes, but it was no use. Her words kept echoing in my mind. “Mija…my beautiful Sparrow…” She said as she got ready to join the fight. “Don’t ever forget who you are. You are special. You have sangre de dragon…I am proud of you my daughter. Remember that we protect…te amo…” I tried to protest, but she had sent me to our safe house. There I was given instruction on how to make it into the United States. I waited for my fellow sisters, but none came. I left my home and ventured into the United States. Maira had arranged everything.

*********** 

              I woke up in the late afternoon and cleaned myself up. I hadn’t noticed that I looked as if I had been sleeping in the dirt. I quickly gathered my things once I was done and checked out. I began driving on the road again until I had saw a car for sale on the side of the road. I pulled over and looked it over. I could afford it, and I did need to get rid of this stolen one. I took out my cell phone and dialed the number. To my surprise it was someone who spoke Spanish. We quickly agreed on a price, and they headed my way. I gathered my things from the stolen car and whispered a return spell. It would return back to its spot once no one was looking directly at it. I also mumbled a spell that acted as a mist. That meant if anyone captured the spell on video or take it would come out as gibberish or have an explanation.

               A few minutes passed before the lady who owed the car appeared. She handed me the paperwork once I paid her. She asked me how I managed to make it all the way here on foot. “My family never owned a car, so I am used to walking places. I recently got laid off from work….and lost my family so I decided to go on a little soul search,” I said. She said she would pray for me. I wanted to tell her that there was no need to pray to a mythical creature, but I decided to let her be. Since she knew that it was my first car she gave me the next steps into putting it under my name. I took down notes. At the end of our meeting we went our separate ways. I wondered if she believed my story. I am guessing she did because she let me buy the car from her.