It was over. Andrei had called an ambulance before leaving the room, and then we went to the hotel's bar. We sat cozily in a corner that gave us a nice view of the whole room. Just in case. Soon, the waiter brought us each a tall glass of beer.
Andrei broke the silence once the waiter left. “How are you, Sandy?”
I sighed. “I'm fine.”
He just stared at me in silence. Waiting for more.
“I... never thought I'd end up doing this. But, now that it's over...”
“You knew you didn't have to go the extra mile, yet you did. And now you want more, don't you?” His whole expression was warm, his very words even, but I felt as if he'd thrown me into a freezing ocean.
All I could do was stare at him. Knowing too well that the answer wasn't the resounding no I wished it to be. Realizing it was more of an oh, shit. “I...”
He's always been good at reading minds. “Yet you don't want to admit it, so you hide behind the 'I'm following orders' bullshit.”
Silence.
“You want more but you want to not have a choice. Don't you?”
Yes. “I...”
He sighed. “Well, this time you said you wanted to do it. You made your choice. So you can't blame this on me.” He finished his beer and got on his feet. “Room 309, come once you're done with that.”
“Have I ever had a choice?” I muttered. If he heard me, he ignored me.
I kept staring at him as he left. The devil himself. I looked at my beer. Still full. My head was still somewhat dizzy, but I took a long gulp. This was better. … Shit. He was right, I realized. Painfully right. And it hurt, deep inside. I...
Crash. The tall glass shattered in my hand, shards flying everywhere. I flinched slightly. The waiter came rushing, and nearly fainted when he saw my hand, full of blood. “Oh, god, are you alright? Should I call emergencies?”
“I'm fine, don't worry. This is nothing, really.” I said, completely calm.
Truth is, it hurt. Nothing too bad – I had been through much, much worse. I clenched my hand as soon as the waiter went away. It stung quite badly. I flinched again. And smiled. Physical pain was much easier to withstand that the broken mess that was my mind. It has always helped me forget. Even if only for a moment. But a second of peace, of knowing that I'm in full control of myself, is like an oasis in the middle of an endless desert. That night it was enough to go to the bar, ask the waiter how much – only to find that Andrei had already paid – and haul myself to the room.
I saw him laying on the bed when I arrived. He sprang up when he saw me enter... when he saw my hand. “Oh, shit! Sandy, what the hell have you done this time?”
“It's nothing.” I dismissed it.
He grabbed it, not giving me a chance to protest. “This is from a glass. You've...” He looked at me in the eyes. “What the hell is wrong with you?” He sighed. “Sandy. Swear to me you won't do this again. You want me to help, I'll help you. I promise. But don't do this.”
“You weren't even there.” I said calmly.
“No, I was here waiting for you. I did not expect you'd shatter a damned glass in your hand, you blockhead.” He sighed again. “Go put it under the faucet, clean it up a bit. It's bleeding quite a lot, but we can't bandage it with all those shards.”
I did as he said – not that he let me any other option. He followed me to the sink and stared at me the whole time. The cold water numbed my hand a bit, but the full pressure of the faucet, tearing the shards from my hand, made it hurt badly. I flinched again.
“Does it hurt?”
“Quite so.”
He sighed. “Give me.” He grabbed my hand and took my knife. “Let me dig those shards out, at least.” He started shaving my hand, tearing more and more shards out. It hurt like hell, but I just clenched my jaw and let him work. He ignored my expression – he knew too well that I could stand a lot more. “Damn, there are quire a few stuck... I'll have to dig them out.” He looked at me, again ignoring my pained expression. “This is going to hurt, Sandy.”
And he dug them out. One by one, the tip of the knife digging deep into my flesh, taking the shards out, which seemingly refused to leave without a last effort to cut me. The sink, and everything around it, was a bloody mess when he finished. He took a hand to my neck. “... A tad fast but stable.” He muttered to himself. “Okay Sandy, you've lost quite a bit of blood. And it doesn't want to stop. Shit. Come here, I think I have clean bandages in the suitcase.” I just let him work his magic. His steady hands gently bandaged mine. It still hurt a lot, but... seeing him care...
Once he was done, he looked at me again. “Swear to me you won't do this ever again. And I swear I'll help you.”
I stared at him. Okay, shattering a glass hadn't been my brightest idea. But... “Will you?”
“If it means I don't have to take you to the ER, then yes.”
“Prove it.”
He sighed loudly. “Shit, Sandy. Seriously. What the hell is wrong with you.” But he wasn't going to let me shatter a glass again, and that meant he had to keep his word. For now, at least. “Okay. … Lie down. Last thing we need is you fainting.” He drew a knife.
I lay on the bed, taking a deep breath as he sat closer to me, trying to get ready.
He looked at me, his eyes cold as ice, his voice calm and soft. “Okay, this is going to hurt. Ready?”
“Do it.”
He held my head with one hand, while the other steadily guided the knife, retracing the scar I already had on my cheek – the mark. The pain of the slow cut was overwhelming, he wanted to make sure I didn't ask again. I simply breathed slowly, feeling every last bit of it. And I couldn't help but to smile.
Showing posts with label #Girl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Girl. Show all posts
2018-04-02
The Girl (9) - Too good to be true
She pulled me back from my mind trip. “Hey, you okay, man?”
I rubbed my eyes, my heart racing from the trip. My mind kept picturing his glistening eyes, his breathtaking embrace. “Sorry, I... guess I'm not used to that stuff anymore. What the hell did it have, anyway?”
“No clue, but it's awesome, don't you think? Gets you high like nothing else.”
Again I took note to ask Andrei about it. “Well, I guess it does.” More like, having a nasty job to do gave me a high and a bad trip, all for the low price of... Shit.
“Hey, it's okay, I won't judge you for it. Yet.” She teased me.
“You better don't.” I said in a dead serious tone before bursting into laughter.
We went back and forth with meaningless flirty chitchat for a long while. Then she got closer and teasingly unbuttoned my shirt. She was totally amazed when she saw my chest tattoo. “Whoa. Is this...?”
“Yep.”
“Wow. I had never met someone from the mob. I'd have never thought they'd be so handsome and so nice.”
Yeah, except I wasn't. And... I didn't want to know what her family was up to, for her to be a target. But I kinda guessed she'd been closer to them than she thought. “Well... Seems like I am.” I winked at her.
She came closer and kissed me, like only a sixteen-year-old can. Not that I'm into teens, but they do have something, some kind of innocence, that nobody else could possibly have. I let go of my sick world and dived into her lips, warm as a winter sun.
I was clear that she was used to it all. She took off her clothes as if it was the only thing to do, and then helped me with mine. Then... well, the obvious thing happened, duh. What did you expect. I've always been good at playing nice, and she was one wild girl.
Half an hour later we were both out of breath. The smile on her lips was like a light in the middle of a sea of darkness. “You're so nice, hon. So sweet. A couple surprises more and I may as well fall in love.”
But a stray light can't last long in the night ocean. Fire never wins against the smothering water. I smirked. “Will you?”
“I don't know. Should I?” She teased me.
I smirked again. If it's going to happen anyway, I may as well enjoy it. “Darling. Have you never heard what they say? … About something being too good to be true?”
She laughed. “Oh, but you're a nice guy. I can see that.”
“Well... they say girls prefer bad boys, so I don't know how to take that.” I teased her as I put my clothes back on.
“Don't be silly! You know what I mean, you teaser.” She kept joking. Blissfully unaware of what was about to happen.
“Well...” I crawled to her, my shirt still open. No reason to close it, at all. Let her lust some more, she's earned that. “Seems to me like you've been a really lucky girl so far. Never finding a bad apple.”
“Not all guys are like you, you know. Some are real assholes.”
I grabbed her wrists playfully. “See, you keep thinking I'm a nice guy.” I got closer to her, close enough to whisper into her ear, while my grip on her wrists tightened. “But I have to tell you, I'm not.”
Long before she could even react, I tugged at her arms, hard enough to send her flying across the room.
She let out a scream of pain as she crashed, then started yelling. “What the hell do you think you're doing?” She tried to get up. A well-placed kick to her ribs took her breath away and made her reconsider her decision. She started gasping for air, her hands over her chest as if it would somehow help. Darling, that's for when you're bleeding.
I knelt beside her and grabbed her chin, made her look at me.
She couldn't hold the tears anymore. Part from pain, part from fear, but I'm guessing the worst were from feeling betrayed. “Why...”
“Sorry, gal. I'll be honest. You're just a target. This is just a job. I told you I'm not a nice guy.”
“You... don't have to...”
“I wish that was true.” Well, technically it was. But... Did I really have a choice? Or just the illusion of one? … Had I ever had a choice? I honestly didn't care.
I drew the knife and took it to her chin. She started crying harder, mumbling nonsense. Her sobs muted the creaking door as it opened, the subtle clack of it closing. But still, I felt a chill down my spine as her mumble faded out to nothing. The presence was obvious – even more so in her eyes. They lighted up like a bonfire. A glimmer of hope for the little light lost in the midnight sea.
I've always said that hope's a bitch. Though I guess it may have something to do with... what we do. You see, for me, it was painfully obvious that someone entering the room wasn't a reason to lighten up. Andrei's presence –it couldn't be anybody else– always meant hell on earth.
I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. No way around this. So I may as well make him proud. I opened them to see her staring at Andrei, incapable of understanding why he was just standing there. Poor thing.
I let the knife slowly caress her skin as it traced her jawline, from her chin to her cheek. She started sobbing again, only to stop as the blade dug deep into her flesh, slowly drawing a bloody X on it. Her screams brought a smile to my lips. There's a reason we never use gags unless absolutely necessary. “Hon, did that hurt?”
She was now whimpering pathetically, not realizing this wasn't over.
I was getting up when a crowbar landed at my side, clattering loudly. I took it – I knew well it hadn't fallen from the sky. Andrei didn't need to use words to tell me what he wanted.
I went for her legs first. Long bones, quite easy to heal, and I knew well that Andrei would ask for something worse later, so I wasn't gonna go for something actually bad on my own. Again I smiled at the muted snap. I knew well how much it hurt. Next hit was to her forearm – again a long bone, nothing too bad. I was in a madman's trance, fully aware of what I was doing – it made me feel euphoric. Knowing that he was there, watching. Hearing her screams. Shit, I guess I sound like a psycho.
Andrei's soft voice didn't shatter the feeling this time. “Lower back, Sandy. Break her spine.”
There it was. Something that couldn't really be fixed back. Oh, well. For the first time, I didn't even mind it. I pulled from her broken arm – I needed her in the correct position, or the risk of internal damage was too high. A bad hit to the liver could easily kill her. She screamed yet again, making me grin even wider. Once she was lying face down on the floor, too scared to try to move, I let the crowbar land, with all my strength, right on her spine, just below her waist. The sickening crack, and her painful wail, finally broke my trance.
I turned around to meet Andrei's gaze. He was beaming, his eyes glistening with joy and madness, hand in hand. I let the crowbar noisily fall on the floor as I almost jumped to hug him, to dig my head into his chest and try to forget what had just happened. He hugged me back, a soft caress that made me realize that I'd do it all again as soon as he asked.
I rubbed my eyes, my heart racing from the trip. My mind kept picturing his glistening eyes, his breathtaking embrace. “Sorry, I... guess I'm not used to that stuff anymore. What the hell did it have, anyway?”
“No clue, but it's awesome, don't you think? Gets you high like nothing else.”
Again I took note to ask Andrei about it. “Well, I guess it does.” More like, having a nasty job to do gave me a high and a bad trip, all for the low price of... Shit.
“Hey, it's okay, I won't judge you for it. Yet.” She teased me.
“You better don't.” I said in a dead serious tone before bursting into laughter.
We went back and forth with meaningless flirty chitchat for a long while. Then she got closer and teasingly unbuttoned my shirt. She was totally amazed when she saw my chest tattoo. “Whoa. Is this...?”
“Yep.”
“Wow. I had never met someone from the mob. I'd have never thought they'd be so handsome and so nice.”
Yeah, except I wasn't. And... I didn't want to know what her family was up to, for her to be a target. But I kinda guessed she'd been closer to them than she thought. “Well... Seems like I am.” I winked at her.
She came closer and kissed me, like only a sixteen-year-old can. Not that I'm into teens, but they do have something, some kind of innocence, that nobody else could possibly have. I let go of my sick world and dived into her lips, warm as a winter sun.
I was clear that she was used to it all. She took off her clothes as if it was the only thing to do, and then helped me with mine. Then... well, the obvious thing happened, duh. What did you expect. I've always been good at playing nice, and she was one wild girl.
Half an hour later we were both out of breath. The smile on her lips was like a light in the middle of a sea of darkness. “You're so nice, hon. So sweet. A couple surprises more and I may as well fall in love.”
But a stray light can't last long in the night ocean. Fire never wins against the smothering water. I smirked. “Will you?”
“I don't know. Should I?” She teased me.
I smirked again. If it's going to happen anyway, I may as well enjoy it. “Darling. Have you never heard what they say? … About something being too good to be true?”
She laughed. “Oh, but you're a nice guy. I can see that.”
“Well... they say girls prefer bad boys, so I don't know how to take that.” I teased her as I put my clothes back on.
“Don't be silly! You know what I mean, you teaser.” She kept joking. Blissfully unaware of what was about to happen.
“Well...” I crawled to her, my shirt still open. No reason to close it, at all. Let her lust some more, she's earned that. “Seems to me like you've been a really lucky girl so far. Never finding a bad apple.”
“Not all guys are like you, you know. Some are real assholes.”
I grabbed her wrists playfully. “See, you keep thinking I'm a nice guy.” I got closer to her, close enough to whisper into her ear, while my grip on her wrists tightened. “But I have to tell you, I'm not.”
Long before she could even react, I tugged at her arms, hard enough to send her flying across the room.
She let out a scream of pain as she crashed, then started yelling. “What the hell do you think you're doing?” She tried to get up. A well-placed kick to her ribs took her breath away and made her reconsider her decision. She started gasping for air, her hands over her chest as if it would somehow help. Darling, that's for when you're bleeding.
I knelt beside her and grabbed her chin, made her look at me.
She couldn't hold the tears anymore. Part from pain, part from fear, but I'm guessing the worst were from feeling betrayed. “Why...”
“Sorry, gal. I'll be honest. You're just a target. This is just a job. I told you I'm not a nice guy.”
“You... don't have to...”
“I wish that was true.” Well, technically it was. But... Did I really have a choice? Or just the illusion of one? … Had I ever had a choice? I honestly didn't care.
I drew the knife and took it to her chin. She started crying harder, mumbling nonsense. Her sobs muted the creaking door as it opened, the subtle clack of it closing. But still, I felt a chill down my spine as her mumble faded out to nothing. The presence was obvious – even more so in her eyes. They lighted up like a bonfire. A glimmer of hope for the little light lost in the midnight sea.
I've always said that hope's a bitch. Though I guess it may have something to do with... what we do. You see, for me, it was painfully obvious that someone entering the room wasn't a reason to lighten up. Andrei's presence –it couldn't be anybody else– always meant hell on earth.
I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. No way around this. So I may as well make him proud. I opened them to see her staring at Andrei, incapable of understanding why he was just standing there. Poor thing.
I let the knife slowly caress her skin as it traced her jawline, from her chin to her cheek. She started sobbing again, only to stop as the blade dug deep into her flesh, slowly drawing a bloody X on it. Her screams brought a smile to my lips. There's a reason we never use gags unless absolutely necessary. “Hon, did that hurt?”
She was now whimpering pathetically, not realizing this wasn't over.
I was getting up when a crowbar landed at my side, clattering loudly. I took it – I knew well it hadn't fallen from the sky. Andrei didn't need to use words to tell me what he wanted.
I went for her legs first. Long bones, quite easy to heal, and I knew well that Andrei would ask for something worse later, so I wasn't gonna go for something actually bad on my own. Again I smiled at the muted snap. I knew well how much it hurt. Next hit was to her forearm – again a long bone, nothing too bad. I was in a madman's trance, fully aware of what I was doing – it made me feel euphoric. Knowing that he was there, watching. Hearing her screams. Shit, I guess I sound like a psycho.
Andrei's soft voice didn't shatter the feeling this time. “Lower back, Sandy. Break her spine.”
There it was. Something that couldn't really be fixed back. Oh, well. For the first time, I didn't even mind it. I pulled from her broken arm – I needed her in the correct position, or the risk of internal damage was too high. A bad hit to the liver could easily kill her. She screamed yet again, making me grin even wider. Once she was lying face down on the floor, too scared to try to move, I let the crowbar land, with all my strength, right on her spine, just below her waist. The sickening crack, and her painful wail, finally broke my trance.
I turned around to meet Andrei's gaze. He was beaming, his eyes glistening with joy and madness, hand in hand. I let the crowbar noisily fall on the floor as I almost jumped to hug him, to dig my head into his chest and try to forget what had just happened. He hugged me back, a soft caress that made me realize that I'd do it all again as soon as he asked.
The Girl (8) - Friday Morning
I knocked on the door to Andrei's office before getting in. “Wanted something?”
“Yeah, I … I got something special for you. Give me a second.” He said as he typed something on the keyboard, eyes fixed on the screen. “And there it is.” He finally looked at me. “Okay, yes. Yes, I have something for you, if I can find the file, that is.” He dug into the ever-growing pile of papers and folders in the corner of his desk. “Why on earth does everybody leave their files in there? … Finding any one of them is a headache. … Here it is. Come with me.” He got up and led me to the safe room beside his office.
We sat comfortably on the red couch, as he glared at me. His expression hidden behind the boss mask. “Sandy... this is... definitely not your everyday file. You don't have to accept this job. … Though then I guess I'll have to take care of it myself, since no one else will want to do it. But oh, well...”
“Come on, you can tell me.”
“I'm serious, Sandy.”
“Okay. Look, Andrei, you know I'll do anything you ask. So, fire away.”
He looked at me. There was a hint of darkness in his eyes, but there was mostly worry. This was a new thing. “Okay. I'll be... straight to the point. I need to send a message. The usual thing. A good beating, nothing really bad, just a few broken bones, that sort of thing. Oh, and the mark too. Where – up to you.”
I held his stare. That sounded like an every-other-day job. Then he handed me the file and I opened it. And my poor, broken and mended back heart, fell to my feet, again shattering like a porcelain figurine. The target was just a girl, a teen.
I swallowed hard. “What...” My voice broke and trailed off.
His eyes were cold as ice. “Message's not for her, obviously. Look, I'll be blunt. I'd rather not have this happen, but sometimes, people are stupid enough to cross me. And then I have to keep my word.”
In other words, someone close to her had made a mistake, and this was their price to pay for it. “So... what have they done.”
“Does it really matter?”
Shit. I never signed up for this... did I? “Why me. … I mean, why not take care of this yourself.”
He grinned, the Void fully back into his eyes. “You know the answer, Sandy. … You don't have to, but... I'd like you to help me with this. Yes?”
If my heart had been trying to mend itself enough to keep beating, this took all hope from it. Andrei had stomped all over it, and I had somehow joined him. Now all that was left was dust. I couldn't help but to look down. I could say no. But, could I? … We both knew the answer. “I'll take care of it, Andrei.”
He was beaming. “I knew I could count on you, Sandy.”
I sighed. “Okay. So. What's the plan, anyway?”
“Take her, get her to a safe place, beat her up. That's pretty much it.”
I quickly skimmed over the file. Her house didn't seem like a good idea. And there wasn't a single pic of her alone – she was always surrounded by friends. The 'get her' part wasn't going to be so easy. My eyes fell on the last picture of the file. A disco. Hm. If she was partying out somewhat often... “Okay, so, do I have a say on the how?”
“The goal is to send a message, Sandy. I couldn't care less about how you go about it, as long as it gets done.”
“Yeah, I … I got something special for you. Give me a second.” He said as he typed something on the keyboard, eyes fixed on the screen. “And there it is.” He finally looked at me. “Okay, yes. Yes, I have something for you, if I can find the file, that is.” He dug into the ever-growing pile of papers and folders in the corner of his desk. “Why on earth does everybody leave their files in there? … Finding any one of them is a headache. … Here it is. Come with me.” He got up and led me to the safe room beside his office.
We sat comfortably on the red couch, as he glared at me. His expression hidden behind the boss mask. “Sandy... this is... definitely not your everyday file. You don't have to accept this job. … Though then I guess I'll have to take care of it myself, since no one else will want to do it. But oh, well...”
“Come on, you can tell me.”
“I'm serious, Sandy.”
“Okay. Look, Andrei, you know I'll do anything you ask. So, fire away.”
He looked at me. There was a hint of darkness in his eyes, but there was mostly worry. This was a new thing. “Okay. I'll be... straight to the point. I need to send a message. The usual thing. A good beating, nothing really bad, just a few broken bones, that sort of thing. Oh, and the mark too. Where – up to you.”
I held his stare. That sounded like an every-other-day job. Then he handed me the file and I opened it. And my poor, broken and mended back heart, fell to my feet, again shattering like a porcelain figurine. The target was just a girl, a teen.
I swallowed hard. “What...” My voice broke and trailed off.
His eyes were cold as ice. “Message's not for her, obviously. Look, I'll be blunt. I'd rather not have this happen, but sometimes, people are stupid enough to cross me. And then I have to keep my word.”
In other words, someone close to her had made a mistake, and this was their price to pay for it. “So... what have they done.”
“Does it really matter?”
Shit. I never signed up for this... did I? “Why me. … I mean, why not take care of this yourself.”
He grinned, the Void fully back into his eyes. “You know the answer, Sandy. … You don't have to, but... I'd like you to help me with this. Yes?”
If my heart had been trying to mend itself enough to keep beating, this took all hope from it. Andrei had stomped all over it, and I had somehow joined him. Now all that was left was dust. I couldn't help but to look down. I could say no. But, could I? … We both knew the answer. “I'll take care of it, Andrei.”
He was beaming. “I knew I could count on you, Sandy.”
I sighed. “Okay. So. What's the plan, anyway?”
“Take her, get her to a safe place, beat her up. That's pretty much it.”
I quickly skimmed over the file. Her house didn't seem like a good idea. And there wasn't a single pic of her alone – she was always surrounded by friends. The 'get her' part wasn't going to be so easy. My eyes fell on the last picture of the file. A disco. Hm. If she was partying out somewhat often... “Okay, so, do I have a say on the how?”
“The goal is to send a message, Sandy. I couldn't care less about how you go about it, as long as it gets done.”
The Girl (7) - Finally
After what seemed like forever, I went back with the girls. They were still laughing at everything and smoking the weed. I smiled at her. “Sorry, it seems like today's not my lucky day.”
And then something happened. About time. “Silly, of course it is, you've met me!”
I smiled harder. Yet, deep inside, hidden behind the cheerful mask, something broke. Again I fully realized what was going to happen. I managed to keep my smile and almost unconsciously wink at her, but my mind was elsewhere. A sunset sea, gleaming in the disco lights. Hiding the fact that, once the night fell, only the very Void would be left.
She dragged me back from my mind trip. “You not listening?”
“Sorry, I was thinking that you have such beautiful eyes, and I guess I got distracted by them.” Whew. That was one good lie.
“You silly, thanks! But I was telling you, we're leaving. Will you come with us?”
“Why, yes, of course. I can't possibly say no to that.” Like, literally, I thought, a stupid smirk directed at my own joke creeping into my lips, that she mistook for delight.
We went out into the definitely cold night. She said goodbye to her friends and then glared at me as if asking me to invite her over. “So... is this it?”
“Well... I guess... wait, you're cold, aren't you?” I didn't stop for an answer, I took off my jacket and gently put it over her shoulders. I wasn't exactly used to the cool weather, but behaving like a gentleman seemed to require me to get a cold. Oh, well. At least she was glistening at my gesture. “So... are you the kind of girl who gets in a car with someone you've just known? … 'Cause it's honestly too cold to walk anywhere.”
“Why, but I've known you for the whole night! I know you're a nice guy. You even managed to shake the cops off our asses!”
Again I smiled on the surface, but my heart cried. No, girl. I'm not a nice guy. Not today, anyway. Definitely not when you're just a target. But I said nothing. Just took her hand and walked her down the sidewalk. Andrei had told me before leaving that the SUV was in that direction. I quickly located it, towering over the rest of cars.
We soon got in, the girl captivated by the slightly pretentious car. I dismissed it – too used to Key's high-end sports cars. I drove us towards the city center. The streetlights shined fast past us. There was no point in stopping at the red lights at those hours of the night.
“So. This may come as an awkward question but I'm honestly curious. Won't your parents get worried if you don't go home? … I don't want to be charged with abduction.” I added jokingly.
“They don't give a shit about what I do, hon.”
Deep inside, I wished she was utterly mistaken.
It took me a while to find a decent hotel to stay at. I didn't want her to think I was a millionaire or something, but I also didn't want a crappy 10' by 15' room. A cheap suite in a downtown hotel was a fair compromise. Though she still thought it was incredibly luxurious. Poor thing.
It was long past midnight when we finally arrived at the suite. She dived into the king-sized bed, like a kid who's never been in a decent hotel before. “Wow, this is incredible! You're so nice!” She stopped to tease me. “But why a hotel? Why not take me to your place?”
“Honestly, 'cause it's a mess, 'cause I would have never imagined I'd come back with someone. Also, my bed is too small for two.” I lied. That bed was even bigger than this one. But I did not want to taint the place with tragic memories of an awful job. I sat by her side, slightly distracted. I was awfully conscious of what was about to happen. I leaned back, my mind far away from that room.
And then something happened. About time. “Silly, of course it is, you've met me!”
I smiled harder. Yet, deep inside, hidden behind the cheerful mask, something broke. Again I fully realized what was going to happen. I managed to keep my smile and almost unconsciously wink at her, but my mind was elsewhere. A sunset sea, gleaming in the disco lights. Hiding the fact that, once the night fell, only the very Void would be left.
She dragged me back from my mind trip. “You not listening?”
“Sorry, I was thinking that you have such beautiful eyes, and I guess I got distracted by them.” Whew. That was one good lie.
“You silly, thanks! But I was telling you, we're leaving. Will you come with us?”
“Why, yes, of course. I can't possibly say no to that.” Like, literally, I thought, a stupid smirk directed at my own joke creeping into my lips, that she mistook for delight.
We went out into the definitely cold night. She said goodbye to her friends and then glared at me as if asking me to invite her over. “So... is this it?”
“Well... I guess... wait, you're cold, aren't you?” I didn't stop for an answer, I took off my jacket and gently put it over her shoulders. I wasn't exactly used to the cool weather, but behaving like a gentleman seemed to require me to get a cold. Oh, well. At least she was glistening at my gesture. “So... are you the kind of girl who gets in a car with someone you've just known? … 'Cause it's honestly too cold to walk anywhere.”
“Why, but I've known you for the whole night! I know you're a nice guy. You even managed to shake the cops off our asses!”
Again I smiled on the surface, but my heart cried. No, girl. I'm not a nice guy. Not today, anyway. Definitely not when you're just a target. But I said nothing. Just took her hand and walked her down the sidewalk. Andrei had told me before leaving that the SUV was in that direction. I quickly located it, towering over the rest of cars.
We soon got in, the girl captivated by the slightly pretentious car. I dismissed it – too used to Key's high-end sports cars. I drove us towards the city center. The streetlights shined fast past us. There was no point in stopping at the red lights at those hours of the night.
“So. This may come as an awkward question but I'm honestly curious. Won't your parents get worried if you don't go home? … I don't want to be charged with abduction.” I added jokingly.
“They don't give a shit about what I do, hon.”
Deep inside, I wished she was utterly mistaken.
It took me a while to find a decent hotel to stay at. I didn't want her to think I was a millionaire or something, but I also didn't want a crappy 10' by 15' room. A cheap suite in a downtown hotel was a fair compromise. Though she still thought it was incredibly luxurious. Poor thing.
It was long past midnight when we finally arrived at the suite. She dived into the king-sized bed, like a kid who's never been in a decent hotel before. “Wow, this is incredible! You're so nice!” She stopped to tease me. “But why a hotel? Why not take me to your place?”
“Honestly, 'cause it's a mess, 'cause I would have never imagined I'd come back with someone. Also, my bed is too small for two.” I lied. That bed was even bigger than this one. But I did not want to taint the place with tragic memories of an awful job. I sat by her side, slightly distracted. I was awfully conscious of what was about to happen. I leaned back, my mind far away from that room.
The Girl (6) - Conscience
I almost felt relieved when Kolya came and greeted me as if I was an old friend who he hadn't seen in ages. I mean – him being here wasn't exactly good news, the reason for his visit being too obvious. But at the moment it seemed better than having to laugh at the girl's mean jokes about literally everyone.
“Yeah, yeah, long time no see, man! Let me invite you to a beer!” I greeted him too.
As the bartender served us both beers, he pulled me aside from the girls so they couldn't hear us. His voice was barely audible below the obnoxiously loud music, but crystal clear to my ears. “Sandy. What the hell are you doing.” At least he was trying to not draw any attention.
I played dumb. “Man, you've seen me smoking countless times!”
“Sandy, you know what I mean. That girl is sixteen at most.”
I looked at him in the eyes. “Your point being?”
“Jesus, Sandy. Are you serious? You don't even care?”
“I wouldn't be here if I did, would I?”
He got closer to me. “Where's that kid who would rather be in an office than do actual work, Sandy. Where's that guy who would rather become a plant than... hurt anyone.”
“Dead.”
“And who killed him.” His idea of a correct answer was painfully obvious. And kinda wrong.
“I did.”
Kolya took a long gulp from his beer, trying to hide his... aversion to what I had become. Then he looked at me, his eyes full of bitterness. “You'll do anything he asks, won't you?”
I smirked at him. “Yes.”
“Why. And don't you tell me it's because you're doing her a favor.”
“Oh, but I am. Am I not? … You know him. You know what happens if I don't do this. He'll take care of it himself.”
“So what. To hell with the devil. Save yourself.”
“It doesn't work like that.”
He sighed hard and took another sip of beer. “I don't know why the hell I keep trying. I should have figured you don't have a heart anymore. Especially after what you did...” His voice trailed off, but it was obvious what he meant. To Key.
Damned bastard. I took a long gulp of beer too. You think it doesn't hurt? You think I'll ever get over it? … Yes, it was the price to pay, but that doesn't mean it hurts any less. Still. It was not the moment to let him know. He knew already, and I still had a job to do, and looks like someone to mess with. I put on the work mask and smirked at him again. “Well, she had to go. It was the price to pay for what I have now.”
His face was priceless. He definitely wasn't expecting that answer. “I hope it was worth it.”
“Oh, it was.” … I wasn't even lying.
He looked down, too horrified to hold my stare. “He'll end up hurting you, Sandy. And you know it.”
“So be it. And stop acting like you care, Kolya.”
“I've always cared about you, Sandy.”
“Well... we wouldn't be having this whole conversation about my... career choices if it wasn't for what you two did. So, there. Stop it. I have a job to take care of, and you're not helping.” I turned around and left him alone with his beer.
I was fighting the crowd to get back to the girls when my comms chip beeped. “I couldn't be more proud of you, Sandy.” Andrei. My words came to my mind again, and suddenly I had a flashback. Key's eyes. A hint of apprehension and a handful of determination. The same game I had played one too many times when trying to free her from myself, even if the price was my life. And then the loud bang that announced the end. Key dropping dead to the ground.
My whole world was spinning wildly, helped by the flashing lights and the deafening noise they called music. I couldn't get the image out of my head. Her eyes. The wildfire. Smothered into ashes.
And then I felt it. A hug from behind, taking my breath away. His soft whisper brought me back. “I'm here, Sandy. I'm here for you.”
I twisted around enough to reply without the whole crowd hearing me. “I had another flashback.”
“I shouldn't have said anything. But... I had to. Anyway. Better?”
I nodded, not wanting to let go. This was what I had paid the price for – what made it all worth it.
He seemed to read my mind, and hugged me tighter, turned me around like a puppet so he could look into my eyes. Despite the flashing lights, his were gleaming as a sunset sea. “Sandy, I know you know, but just in case. About what Kolya said. You don't have to do this. I've told you.”
I smiled at him. “And I've told you I want to.”
He smiled back. “That's my boy.”
“Yeah, yeah, long time no see, man! Let me invite you to a beer!” I greeted him too.
As the bartender served us both beers, he pulled me aside from the girls so they couldn't hear us. His voice was barely audible below the obnoxiously loud music, but crystal clear to my ears. “Sandy. What the hell are you doing.” At least he was trying to not draw any attention.
I played dumb. “Man, you've seen me smoking countless times!”
“Sandy, you know what I mean. That girl is sixteen at most.”
I looked at him in the eyes. “Your point being?”
“Jesus, Sandy. Are you serious? You don't even care?”
“I wouldn't be here if I did, would I?”
He got closer to me. “Where's that kid who would rather be in an office than do actual work, Sandy. Where's that guy who would rather become a plant than... hurt anyone.”
“Dead.”
“And who killed him.” His idea of a correct answer was painfully obvious. And kinda wrong.
“I did.”
Kolya took a long gulp from his beer, trying to hide his... aversion to what I had become. Then he looked at me, his eyes full of bitterness. “You'll do anything he asks, won't you?”
I smirked at him. “Yes.”
“Why. And don't you tell me it's because you're doing her a favor.”
“Oh, but I am. Am I not? … You know him. You know what happens if I don't do this. He'll take care of it himself.”
“So what. To hell with the devil. Save yourself.”
“It doesn't work like that.”
He sighed hard and took another sip of beer. “I don't know why the hell I keep trying. I should have figured you don't have a heart anymore. Especially after what you did...” His voice trailed off, but it was obvious what he meant. To Key.
Damned bastard. I took a long gulp of beer too. You think it doesn't hurt? You think I'll ever get over it? … Yes, it was the price to pay, but that doesn't mean it hurts any less. Still. It was not the moment to let him know. He knew already, and I still had a job to do, and looks like someone to mess with. I put on the work mask and smirked at him again. “Well, she had to go. It was the price to pay for what I have now.”
His face was priceless. He definitely wasn't expecting that answer. “I hope it was worth it.”
“Oh, it was.” … I wasn't even lying.
He looked down, too horrified to hold my stare. “He'll end up hurting you, Sandy. And you know it.”
“So be it. And stop acting like you care, Kolya.”
“I've always cared about you, Sandy.”
“Well... we wouldn't be having this whole conversation about my... career choices if it wasn't for what you two did. So, there. Stop it. I have a job to take care of, and you're not helping.” I turned around and left him alone with his beer.
I was fighting the crowd to get back to the girls when my comms chip beeped. “I couldn't be more proud of you, Sandy.” Andrei. My words came to my mind again, and suddenly I had a flashback. Key's eyes. A hint of apprehension and a handful of determination. The same game I had played one too many times when trying to free her from myself, even if the price was my life. And then the loud bang that announced the end. Key dropping dead to the ground.
My whole world was spinning wildly, helped by the flashing lights and the deafening noise they called music. I couldn't get the image out of my head. Her eyes. The wildfire. Smothered into ashes.
And then I felt it. A hug from behind, taking my breath away. His soft whisper brought me back. “I'm here, Sandy. I'm here for you.”
I twisted around enough to reply without the whole crowd hearing me. “I had another flashback.”
“I shouldn't have said anything. But... I had to. Anyway. Better?”
I nodded, not wanting to let go. This was what I had paid the price for – what made it all worth it.
He seemed to read my mind, and hugged me tighter, turned me around like a puppet so he could look into my eyes. Despite the flashing lights, his were gleaming as a sunset sea. “Sandy, I know you know, but just in case. About what Kolya said. You don't have to do this. I've told you.”
I smiled at him. “And I've told you I want to.”
He smiled back. “That's my boy.”
The Girl (5) - Behind the door
“Guys, I think he... wants to talk to me. ...Can you leave us?”
The thugs promptly left, following the rat's instructions.
The rat looked down. Knowing well he had made a mistake. Yet not realizing the full extent of it. “Look, I'm sorry. I swear I thought he was a cop. You know, the suit. And then his story didn't add up...”
“Doesn't it?”
“Mr. Zima, he said he worked for...” His voice trailed off. His eyes widening as they locked onto mine.
“Yeah, what was it you said? … A fucking psycho? Well, name's Andrei, if you don't mind.” I grinned.
He stared at me. Frozen in terror. He tried to say something, but words didn't come to his mouth.
I kept talking. “And yes, he's a friend of mine. So, I'm guessing you can see what a foolish mistake you've made.”
“Oh, fuck, I'm sorry, man... please... I didn't do anything...”
“So, you didn't see the scar on his cheek, or what?”
“Y-yes, but, look, it's not the first time I've seen a cop with it, so I thought...”
“And why do you think is that?”
“They're trying hard to...”
I cut him off. “No. They work for me.”
He stared at me horrified. Guess he'd had some trouble with my people. His fault, since my guys know better than to bother someone who minds his own business.
“Now, so next time you see any of my guys, you think twice before messing with them.” I drew a knife. “Open your shirt.”
“Oh, Mr. Zima, please...”
“Told you, name's Andrei. And, your choice. Either you open your shirt, or I'll carve your face.”
“Okay, okay...” He proceeded to slowly unbutton his shirt.
“I don't have all day.” I said, shoving him against the wall. Then I tore his shirt open.
I held his mouth shut to mute his screams as I carved his chest – a crude X, as always. “Now, that's so you don't make any more mistakes. So you don't forget how it looks and what it means.”
He was already in tears. “Oh, fuck, I swear it's not gonna happen again, man...”
“No, I'm sure of that. Because this–” I stabbed him in the thigh, right into the bone. “–this is the actual price for your mistake.” Then I twisted it.
His screams echoed in the tiled room, and I realized I had made a mistake. The door wasn't fully closed, and the people outside had probably heard something. I decided to get out and disappear among the crowd before any idiot came poking their nose around.
The thugs promptly left, following the rat's instructions.
The rat looked down. Knowing well he had made a mistake. Yet not realizing the full extent of it. “Look, I'm sorry. I swear I thought he was a cop. You know, the suit. And then his story didn't add up...”
“Doesn't it?”
“Mr. Zima, he said he worked for...” His voice trailed off. His eyes widening as they locked onto mine.
“Yeah, what was it you said? … A fucking psycho? Well, name's Andrei, if you don't mind.” I grinned.
He stared at me. Frozen in terror. He tried to say something, but words didn't come to his mouth.
I kept talking. “And yes, he's a friend of mine. So, I'm guessing you can see what a foolish mistake you've made.”
“Oh, fuck, I'm sorry, man... please... I didn't do anything...”
“So, you didn't see the scar on his cheek, or what?”
“Y-yes, but, look, it's not the first time I've seen a cop with it, so I thought...”
“And why do you think is that?”
“They're trying hard to...”
I cut him off. “No. They work for me.”
He stared at me horrified. Guess he'd had some trouble with my people. His fault, since my guys know better than to bother someone who minds his own business.
“Now, so next time you see any of my guys, you think twice before messing with them.” I drew a knife. “Open your shirt.”
“Oh, Mr. Zima, please...”
“Told you, name's Andrei. And, your choice. Either you open your shirt, or I'll carve your face.”
“Okay, okay...” He proceeded to slowly unbutton his shirt.
“I don't have all day.” I said, shoving him against the wall. Then I tore his shirt open.
I held his mouth shut to mute his screams as I carved his chest – a crude X, as always. “Now, that's so you don't make any more mistakes. So you don't forget how it looks and what it means.”
He was already in tears. “Oh, fuck, I swear it's not gonna happen again, man...”
“No, I'm sure of that. Because this–” I stabbed him in the thigh, right into the bone. “–this is the actual price for your mistake.” Then I twisted it.
His screams echoed in the tiled room, and I realized I had made a mistake. The door wasn't fully closed, and the people outside had probably heard something. I decided to get out and disappear among the crowd before any idiot came poking their nose around.
The Girl (4) - Mistakes
“May you come with me, please?” The thug's tone betrayed his polite words. I also saw a metallic glint hovering right above his pocket. Great.
“Girls, if you excuse me again... I don't think he'll let me say no to his polite invitation.”
He harshly guided me to the restroom. There, five other thugs, each bigger than the last, were leaning on the walls. The dealer was presiding the stinking room, his arms crossed, the bulge under his jacket way too obvious. I took a deep breath. Careful now. Making a mess wasn't part of the plan. And neither was taking unnecessary risks.
“So, Mr. Not-A-Cop.” The dealer greeted me. “Can you explain what just happened? … Two cops enter the club, you talk to them, they stare at me for a full minute, and then they simply leave? And you tell me you're not one of them? Are you fucking kidding me, boy?”
I sighed. “Look, I'm not a cop. I'm after the girls, okay?”
“You talked to them.”
“Yeah. They were going straight for us. Those girls are underage, and we were smoking your crap. I thought I'd rather shoo the cops out instead of the girls, you know.”
“So, how the fuck does a guy like you shoo a cop out? Without being one of them?”
I raised my hands slowly. “Okay. Let me show you, yes?” I wiggled the damned tie loose and proceeded to undo the first few buttons of my shirt. If they didn't recognize the mark on my cheek, at least the chest tattoo would mean something to them.
At first, they stared at me as if I was crazy, but once the fourth button was undone, and I pulled the collar open, leaving the tattoo in sight, their jaws dropped open. I simply smiled. “Let's just say, I have some contacts and those cops didn't really want to get in trouble.”
The thugs started murmuring. “Oh, shit, whoa.”
The dealer took a step towards me. He still hadn't bought it. “So, you know the guy?”
“Andrei?” He flinched as I said the name. “Yeah, I work for him. Call him if you want.”
His smirk made me realize I had made a mistake. “That isn't what I'm seeing. So, Mr. Not-A-Cop here doesn't even know what his fancy tattoo means.” He glanced at his thugs, signing them to get ready. “... Winter. It tells me you're Mr. Zima's number two. Not the errand boy of a fucking psycho.”
Well, shit. See, my problem was, I wasn't that used to all the mob technicalities, let alone to Andrei using a different name. But I couldn't really share that with the dealer, never mind expect him to believe it.
A subtle cough behind me made my heart skip a beat. “There's no need to call anyone, Sandy. I'll tell him. Personally.”
If I was... shocked about him being there, the dealer's face was priceless. He started ranting, babbling nonsense. “Oh, fuck, Mr. Zima, I didn't mean– Fuck, I'm sorry, man, I...”
“Shut up.” Andrei cut him off. Then he friendly patted my shoulder, getting almost awkwardly close. It felt more like a proper hug from the back. “Are you alright, Sandy? … Have they bothered you? At all?”
The dealer's face was whiter by the moment.
I couldn't hold back an icy smile for him as I replied to Andrei. “Nah. I mean, they thought I was a cop, since, you know, nobody in this place actually wears a suit. But it's okay, they haven't really bothered me.”
“Okay, then. Back to work. I'll stay here, I want to have a few words with the rat.”
I turned around to leave and saw it. Andrei was wearing all black. Shit. That was never good news – for anyone involved.
And so I left the restroom and went back with the girls, not wanting to know what would happen inside. I tried hard to show interest in the girl's rants about their idols and their shopping and their nonsense, but my mind and my eyes were constantly glancing at the restroom door. He came out not five minutes later, only to quickly disappeared among the crowd. How on earth did he manage that, I seriously don't know.
The dealer also came out shortly after, with a visible limp, the expression in his face betraying his attempt to hide the pain. He went straight to his corner and sat awkwardly. Meanwhile, the girls kept smoking and making stupid jokes about the people around us. I hugged my beer with my hand, laughing out of habit on the outside while fighting the inside urge to punch them in the face.
“Girls, if you excuse me again... I don't think he'll let me say no to his polite invitation.”
He harshly guided me to the restroom. There, five other thugs, each bigger than the last, were leaning on the walls. The dealer was presiding the stinking room, his arms crossed, the bulge under his jacket way too obvious. I took a deep breath. Careful now. Making a mess wasn't part of the plan. And neither was taking unnecessary risks.
“So, Mr. Not-A-Cop.” The dealer greeted me. “Can you explain what just happened? … Two cops enter the club, you talk to them, they stare at me for a full minute, and then they simply leave? And you tell me you're not one of them? Are you fucking kidding me, boy?”
I sighed. “Look, I'm not a cop. I'm after the girls, okay?”
“You talked to them.”
“Yeah. They were going straight for us. Those girls are underage, and we were smoking your crap. I thought I'd rather shoo the cops out instead of the girls, you know.”
“So, how the fuck does a guy like you shoo a cop out? Without being one of them?”
I raised my hands slowly. “Okay. Let me show you, yes?” I wiggled the damned tie loose and proceeded to undo the first few buttons of my shirt. If they didn't recognize the mark on my cheek, at least the chest tattoo would mean something to them.
At first, they stared at me as if I was crazy, but once the fourth button was undone, and I pulled the collar open, leaving the tattoo in sight, their jaws dropped open. I simply smiled. “Let's just say, I have some contacts and those cops didn't really want to get in trouble.”
The thugs started murmuring. “Oh, shit, whoa.”
The dealer took a step towards me. He still hadn't bought it. “So, you know the guy?”
“Andrei?” He flinched as I said the name. “Yeah, I work for him. Call him if you want.”
His smirk made me realize I had made a mistake. “That isn't what I'm seeing. So, Mr. Not-A-Cop here doesn't even know what his fancy tattoo means.” He glanced at his thugs, signing them to get ready. “... Winter. It tells me you're Mr. Zima's number two. Not the errand boy of a fucking psycho.”
Well, shit. See, my problem was, I wasn't that used to all the mob technicalities, let alone to Andrei using a different name. But I couldn't really share that with the dealer, never mind expect him to believe it.
A subtle cough behind me made my heart skip a beat. “There's no need to call anyone, Sandy. I'll tell him. Personally.”
If I was... shocked about him being there, the dealer's face was priceless. He started ranting, babbling nonsense. “Oh, fuck, Mr. Zima, I didn't mean– Fuck, I'm sorry, man, I...”
“Shut up.” Andrei cut him off. Then he friendly patted my shoulder, getting almost awkwardly close. It felt more like a proper hug from the back. “Are you alright, Sandy? … Have they bothered you? At all?”
The dealer's face was whiter by the moment.
I couldn't hold back an icy smile for him as I replied to Andrei. “Nah. I mean, they thought I was a cop, since, you know, nobody in this place actually wears a suit. But it's okay, they haven't really bothered me.”
“Okay, then. Back to work. I'll stay here, I want to have a few words with the rat.”
I turned around to leave and saw it. Andrei was wearing all black. Shit. That was never good news – for anyone involved.
And so I left the restroom and went back with the girls, not wanting to know what would happen inside. I tried hard to show interest in the girl's rants about their idols and their shopping and their nonsense, but my mind and my eyes were constantly glancing at the restroom door. He came out not five minutes later, only to quickly disappeared among the crowd. How on earth did he manage that, I seriously don't know.
The dealer also came out shortly after, with a visible limp, the expression in his face betraying his attempt to hide the pain. He went straight to his corner and sat awkwardly. Meanwhile, the girls kept smoking and making stupid jokes about the people around us. I hugged my beer with my hand, laughing out of habit on the outside while fighting the inside urge to punch them in the face.
The Girl (3) - Cops
Then, out of the blue, a couple cops barged into the club. Speak about bad luck. The smoking pipe didn't want to go out, and so they made a beeline for us. I grabbed the pipe from one of her friends' hands and shoved it into my pocket. But the cops kept getting closer.
“Hey, girls. Try not to draw too much attention, okay? … I'll see what I can do.” I winked an eye at her as I went towards the cops.
“You. ID, please.” One of them said to me, while the other tried to walk past me.
I grabbed his wrist. “Hey, listen, okay?”
The first one threateningly took a hand to his weapon. “Hands off my partner, man.”
I awkwardly raised my hands, not wanting to draw too much attention. I saw at least two of the dealer's thugs casually looking at us. Oh, well. Shit. “Hey, guys. Lemme... show you something, okay? … No need to get nervous, it's just my ID.”
I subtly showed it, being careful no one but the cops saw it. Their faces changed immediately. “Oh, shit, we...”
I shushed them. If I was trying not to draw attention... Shit. “You two will take a look around, and will be careful not to see anything. If you get my meaning. Act casual, alright? … Last thing I need is more trouble.”
“Oh-okay.”
But they were as good at being discreetly oblivious as a kid glaring at an ice cream truck. Shit. I was back with the girls as the two cops stopped just a dozen feet before the dealer, who stared at them as if daring them to come. Again I saw his thugs getting ready. Then the cops turned around. And left. Like that. I tried to ignore it all and focus on her, 'till I again noticed a pat on my shoulder. God, doesn't anyone in here get what's going on, seriously? I turned around to see the same thug from before.
“Hey, girls. Try not to draw too much attention, okay? … I'll see what I can do.” I winked an eye at her as I went towards the cops.
“You. ID, please.” One of them said to me, while the other tried to walk past me.
I grabbed his wrist. “Hey, listen, okay?”
The first one threateningly took a hand to his weapon. “Hands off my partner, man.”
I awkwardly raised my hands, not wanting to draw too much attention. I saw at least two of the dealer's thugs casually looking at us. Oh, well. Shit. “Hey, guys. Lemme... show you something, okay? … No need to get nervous, it's just my ID.”
I subtly showed it, being careful no one but the cops saw it. Their faces changed immediately. “Oh, shit, we...”
I shushed them. If I was trying not to draw attention... Shit. “You two will take a look around, and will be careful not to see anything. If you get my meaning. Act casual, alright? … Last thing I need is more trouble.”
“Oh-okay.”
But they were as good at being discreetly oblivious as a kid glaring at an ice cream truck. Shit. I was back with the girls as the two cops stopped just a dozen feet before the dealer, who stared at them as if daring them to come. Again I saw his thugs getting ready. Then the cops turned around. And left. Like that. I tried to ignore it all and focus on her, 'till I again noticed a pat on my shoulder. God, doesn't anyone in here get what's going on, seriously? I turned around to see the same thug from before.
The Girl (2) - The Club
The club was a curious place. Neon and flashing lights blinded me once I got past the guy at the door, who looked at me as if I was an alien. Guess he wasn't that used to seeing guys in a suit and a tie. I cursed to myself. Seriously, I kinda get the whole suit thing, but a tie? … To, ahem, talk to a teen? … Sigh. See why I say I had no choice?
Anyway, after a few minutes of getting used to the flashy, blinding lights, I finally saw them. They were sitting at the bar, a glass in their hands, looking around for prey to hit on. Holy shit, they were teens, yet I felt bad for the poor guys they may have met.
I took a good look around before heading up to them. How they got past the door guy, I have no clue, it was so obvious they were underage. I quickly took note of at least four thugs, and a guy who may as well have been carrying a sign stating that he sold drugs. Okay, keep a low profile, I thought, last thing I need today is to get in trouble.
After fighting the crowd, I finally managed to get to the girls. I put on my best gentleman mask. “Hello, ladies. Any of you want a drink?”
“You silly, this is soda.” She replied. “We don't really drink anymore.”
“Well, I can get you a soda if you want.” I winked an eye at her. My, she was stunning.
“Actually... there's something you can get us. If you're brave enough, that is.”
“I'm all ears.”
“See that guy in the corner behind us? Long hair, leather jacket?”
Yes. The dealer. Shit. “You've described about a fourth of the guys in here, you know.” I joked.
“You silly, you know which one I'm talking about. Well... he does have something we could use. If you don't mind talking to that kind of people.”
Sweetheart, I've seen far worse. But whatever. “Okay. Be right back.” I smiled at them.
Again I fought the crowd, this time to get to the guy. I didn't need to look around to notice that his thugs were now much closer. I also saw a glint coming from one of their pockets. Shit. Stupid suit. They'd thought I was a cop. … Which I guess wasn't that far from the truth, me officially working for the Agency, and that. But … this was not exactly a cop's job. I finally got to the man.
“Hey.” I greeted him.
“What the hell do you want.” He glared at me, again as if he'd seen an alien. Or a cop. Or an alien cop. Heh.
“You know the girls over there?” I pointed at them with my head.
Silence. He was being rude on purpose. Trying to get me to make a mistake. Except, I was definitely not a cop.
“Well... I'm trying to flirt with them, and they said you have something they want.” I took two 1,000₽ bills from my pocket – roughly $40, and handed them to him. I had no real clue as to what he actually sold or what they wanted, so better offer too much than too little. I honestly didn't care if I paid too much.
A hand patted my shoulder. “You're in the wrong place, my friend.” The thug said the last word with as much sarcasm as he could muster.
Shit. Seriously, why the hell did I have to wear a suit to a teen club? “No, I swear! They're lovely!”
“And roughly half your age.”
… Ouch. I'm quite younger than that, man. “Any problem with that? I like them young, m'kay?”
The dealer handed me a tiny bag of what looked like weed as he tore the bills from my hand. “Here. Now, fuck off.”
I looked at him. If you think I'm falling for this, you're wrong. “That's quite expensive for weed, isn't it?” I opened it and smelled it. Okay, no, that was not weed. Not the sort that people smoke, anyway. “Hey, man. I'm not an idiot. This is not what the girls want, and you know it.”
He stared at me as if I was out of my mind. Then he burst into laughter. “Sorry, man. One can never be too sure, especially looking like you do.”
“Yeah, I guess. The girls also don't look too keen on my suit. And here I thought I could impress some ladies with it, silly me.” I joked back.
“Here.” He handed me two much bigger bags. “Feel free to smell it if you want.”
I opened one and smelled it. Shit, it was strong. I also noticed some chemical I couldn't pinpoint. Oh, well. It's not like half the people in the place weren't smoking weed, so I took a wild guess and assumed it wouldn't kill anybody. “Well, this is something else, man. A pleasure to do business with you.”
“You're welcome.”
I left his table and headed back to the girls. I didn't have to look around to see that one of his thugs was just two guys from us. Sigh. Guess they'd rather keep a close eye on me. Fine. It's not like I had anything to hide – from them, anyway.
“Hey, girls. Sorry it took so long, I think your friend took me for a cop and tried to sell me cooking herbs.”
She smiled at me. “Yeah, he often does that. So, you're not a cop?”
“Nah, I'm just a guy who likes cuties like you. Here.” I handed her the two bags.
She took a pipe out of her handbag and poured some. My heart died a bit on the inside. They were so young for this... And I could take a good guess as to where that weed probably came from.
After they all had had some, she handed the pipe to me. “You want some?”
I looked at her eyes. So beautifully glistening like a campfire, daring me to try it. “Yeah, why not?” I took a hit. The chemical I'd smelled filled my mouth, and I tried hard not to cough like an idiot. “Holy shit, this is strong.” I made a mental note to ask Andrei what the hell was in those bags. Even if this didn't come from his network, he'd surely knew what was the last fancy thing in the clubs.
“You're not used to this, are you?” She laughed at my face.
“Well, it's been a long time since I last smoked weed. But I'd swear it didn't taste like this.”
“Yeah, that's why we keep coming here. There are cheaper dealers, but his stuff is something else.”
Well, it was a good thing knowing that we wouldn't die from it, thanks.
I asked the bartender for another beer – I've never been into smokey stuff. We kept the small talk for a good while. They were the most boring girls I've met, I swear. It's like they didn't know how to attract a guy. Or maybe they were trying to shove me off. But her glances didn't show that. Like, at all.
Anyway, after a few minutes of getting used to the flashy, blinding lights, I finally saw them. They were sitting at the bar, a glass in their hands, looking around for prey to hit on. Holy shit, they were teens, yet I felt bad for the poor guys they may have met.
I took a good look around before heading up to them. How they got past the door guy, I have no clue, it was so obvious they were underage. I quickly took note of at least four thugs, and a guy who may as well have been carrying a sign stating that he sold drugs. Okay, keep a low profile, I thought, last thing I need today is to get in trouble.
After fighting the crowd, I finally managed to get to the girls. I put on my best gentleman mask. “Hello, ladies. Any of you want a drink?”
“You silly, this is soda.” She replied. “We don't really drink anymore.”
“Well, I can get you a soda if you want.” I winked an eye at her. My, she was stunning.
“Actually... there's something you can get us. If you're brave enough, that is.”
“I'm all ears.”
“See that guy in the corner behind us? Long hair, leather jacket?”
Yes. The dealer. Shit. “You've described about a fourth of the guys in here, you know.” I joked.
“You silly, you know which one I'm talking about. Well... he does have something we could use. If you don't mind talking to that kind of people.”
Sweetheart, I've seen far worse. But whatever. “Okay. Be right back.” I smiled at them.
Again I fought the crowd, this time to get to the guy. I didn't need to look around to notice that his thugs were now much closer. I also saw a glint coming from one of their pockets. Shit. Stupid suit. They'd thought I was a cop. … Which I guess wasn't that far from the truth, me officially working for the Agency, and that. But … this was not exactly a cop's job. I finally got to the man.
“Hey.” I greeted him.
“What the hell do you want.” He glared at me, again as if he'd seen an alien. Or a cop. Or an alien cop. Heh.
“You know the girls over there?” I pointed at them with my head.
Silence. He was being rude on purpose. Trying to get me to make a mistake. Except, I was definitely not a cop.
“Well... I'm trying to flirt with them, and they said you have something they want.” I took two 1,000₽ bills from my pocket – roughly $40, and handed them to him. I had no real clue as to what he actually sold or what they wanted, so better offer too much than too little. I honestly didn't care if I paid too much.
A hand patted my shoulder. “You're in the wrong place, my friend.” The thug said the last word with as much sarcasm as he could muster.
Shit. Seriously, why the hell did I have to wear a suit to a teen club? “No, I swear! They're lovely!”
“And roughly half your age.”
… Ouch. I'm quite younger than that, man. “Any problem with that? I like them young, m'kay?”
The dealer handed me a tiny bag of what looked like weed as he tore the bills from my hand. “Here. Now, fuck off.”
I looked at him. If you think I'm falling for this, you're wrong. “That's quite expensive for weed, isn't it?” I opened it and smelled it. Okay, no, that was not weed. Not the sort that people smoke, anyway. “Hey, man. I'm not an idiot. This is not what the girls want, and you know it.”
He stared at me as if I was out of my mind. Then he burst into laughter. “Sorry, man. One can never be too sure, especially looking like you do.”
“Yeah, I guess. The girls also don't look too keen on my suit. And here I thought I could impress some ladies with it, silly me.” I joked back.
“Here.” He handed me two much bigger bags. “Feel free to smell it if you want.”
I opened one and smelled it. Shit, it was strong. I also noticed some chemical I couldn't pinpoint. Oh, well. It's not like half the people in the place weren't smoking weed, so I took a wild guess and assumed it wouldn't kill anybody. “Well, this is something else, man. A pleasure to do business with you.”
“You're welcome.”
I left his table and headed back to the girls. I didn't have to look around to see that one of his thugs was just two guys from us. Sigh. Guess they'd rather keep a close eye on me. Fine. It's not like I had anything to hide – from them, anyway.
“Hey, girls. Sorry it took so long, I think your friend took me for a cop and tried to sell me cooking herbs.”
She smiled at me. “Yeah, he often does that. So, you're not a cop?”
“Nah, I'm just a guy who likes cuties like you. Here.” I handed her the two bags.
She took a pipe out of her handbag and poured some. My heart died a bit on the inside. They were so young for this... And I could take a good guess as to where that weed probably came from.
After they all had had some, she handed the pipe to me. “You want some?”
I looked at her eyes. So beautifully glistening like a campfire, daring me to try it. “Yeah, why not?” I took a hit. The chemical I'd smelled filled my mouth, and I tried hard not to cough like an idiot. “Holy shit, this is strong.” I made a mental note to ask Andrei what the hell was in those bags. Even if this didn't come from his network, he'd surely knew what was the last fancy thing in the clubs.
“You're not used to this, are you?” She laughed at my face.
“Well, it's been a long time since I last smoked weed. But I'd swear it didn't taste like this.”
“Yeah, that's why we keep coming here. There are cheaper dealers, but his stuff is something else.”
Well, it was a good thing knowing that we wouldn't die from it, thanks.
I asked the bartender for another beer – I've never been into smokey stuff. We kept the small talk for a good while. They were the most boring girls I've met, I swear. It's like they didn't know how to attract a guy. Or maybe they were trying to shove me off. But her glances didn't show that. Like, at all.
The Girl (1) - Friday Afternoon
There she was. Among three other girls, all of them looking uncannily similar. Blond long hair, a skirt a bit too short considering the still cool weather, and a cute smile. Fashion, they call it. They passed me, giggling and laughing. I casually ran into her, awkwardly saying sorry. She never noticed my sly hand placing the comms chip in her pocket. I then went straight to the car, their voices echoing through my own chip. “Yes, there's a party at the club tonight, you have to come!”
“You know I...”
“Oh, come on! ...”
The four girls kept the idle chat for what seemed like forever. I sighed. Thank god the chip also had a tracker, else I'd need to follow her for too damn long. As if this file wasn't bad enough already.
I went to the car, ready to go back home. If they'd be at a party that night, then there was no point in looking for a better chance. Their voices still echoed from my comms chip. I gripped the wheel hard. Shit. I had never thought I'd be doing this. I closed my eyes only to see Andrei's in my mind. Yeah. Did I have a choice, no matter what he said? … No. No I didn't.
I had made a mistake. It became obvious that she'd changed her clothes as soon as she got home when the tracker signal didn't move at all in far too long. She was still in her room when I arrived at her place – her distant voice echoing through my comms chip told me so. I resigned myself to spend the evening staring at her door. Shit. This was worse than I had thought. … Doing the job was bad enough, but having to wait for god knows how long, thinking of what will happen? Shit indeed.
She ended getting out by 8pm, which I guess wasn't that bad. I had expected at least two more hours of madness. Once she was well past my car, I got out and discreetly followed her.
Following her and her friends to the club without them noticing was surprisingly easy, even though they took the bus. I guess teens never actually notice someone is following them unless you're really bad at it.
“You know I...”
“Oh, come on! ...”
The four girls kept the idle chat for what seemed like forever. I sighed. Thank god the chip also had a tracker, else I'd need to follow her for too damn long. As if this file wasn't bad enough already.
I went to the car, ready to go back home. If they'd be at a party that night, then there was no point in looking for a better chance. Their voices still echoed from my comms chip. I gripped the wheel hard. Shit. I had never thought I'd be doing this. I closed my eyes only to see Andrei's in my mind. Yeah. Did I have a choice, no matter what he said? … No. No I didn't.
- - -
I had made a mistake. It became obvious that she'd changed her clothes as soon as she got home when the tracker signal didn't move at all in far too long. She was still in her room when I arrived at her place – her distant voice echoing through my comms chip told me so. I resigned myself to spend the evening staring at her door. Shit. This was worse than I had thought. … Doing the job was bad enough, but having to wait for god knows how long, thinking of what will happen? Shit indeed.
She ended getting out by 8pm, which I guess wasn't that bad. I had expected at least two more hours of madness. Once she was well past my car, I got out and discreetly followed her.
Following her and her friends to the club without them noticing was surprisingly easy, even though they took the bus. I guess teens never actually notice someone is following them unless you're really bad at it.
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