It started with a hot chocolate and ended with a cold shower.
“NYC Bagel Combo, please.”
“Would you like a drink with that?”
“Hot chocolate.”
“Our hot chocolate machine isn’t working this morning.”
Typical, the man thought, “Orange juice I guess.”
The lady behind the counter couldn’t have been older than twenty-two. She was short and had long black hair that looked like it could do with a good wash. If I find one of those in my bagel, today might be the day I gut a *****, Verne thought; that would just make his day after one long, sleepless flight, a screaming baby, a two hour wait in customs, and strip search he wouldn’t forget in a hurry.
“We don’t have any ice,” the girl smiled apologetically as she slid the tray across the counter.
I think I’ll survive without the Ebola cubes, Verne forced a smile, “No problem.”
He sat down in the back, flicked a piece of lettuce off the chair and squeezed a plastic lid onto his orange juice before he unwrapped the bagel. A stale bun, dry egg, zero bacon, and too much hollandaise sauce was devoured in record time; his iron gut never failing to disappoint. A music video of Rita Ora shaking her tits about was interrupted by one of those not so strange events the news was covering. Damn right you should be sorry for interrupting my viewing, he slumped back in the chair and slicked his wheat coloured hair back under the hood of his sweater.
“When she was brutally attacked with…”
“Oh let me guess, last year’s shitty birthday present she couldn’t find place for on the wall,” the man muttered and sucked the last of the orange juice from his cup through a straw obnoxiously.
“Before being strangled with her stockings,” the reporter revealed.
“Ho, ho, ho, Santa you filthy dog.”
The Paladin rose, set the empty cup down on the food tray and left on foot, headed home. It was a long walk to Vita Bella, not the kind of road hitchhikers flocked too; then again, Verne wasn’t exactly the type of person others stopped for, tall, burly, and far too imposing.
It was nice to find that his key was still hidden in the same place and the security cameras looked to be working. A pair of brightly coloured running shoes thrown down just inside the door told him he had the right house and that Dom was probably still living here. By the time the elevator had stopped on the top floor his shoes were off and a dirty trail of clothing followed him to the bathroom where Hello Kitty sat curled up on the toilet seat. She opened one eye to squint at and scrutinise him with before going back to sleep.
“No ******* hot water!” Verne yelled at the top of his lungs; frustration peaking.
Dripping wet and dressed in a towel he stumbled to the bedroom and scratched through his drawers for a packet of cigarettes only to come up empty handed. He was angry enough to punch a hole in the wall but put himself to bed instead; sleep was the best cure for rage, that or a good shag.
“You must be the one. Only you would rest here. I will not watch her be broken again. You have been warned. Use care in your steps toward her."
Verne opened his eyes and looked at the glowing green numbers of the alarm clock, stark in the blackened room, “It’s three in the morning,” he grumbled and rubbed his head, complaining to whoever had the television on too loud.
"You have no idea how much that woman loves you. I watched her die every night her eyes opened. I will protect her. I am not going anywhere."
Verne sat up quickly on the bed and rubbed the drool from the right side of his mouth, “Dom?” It was a man’s voice he heard in the darkness, one he couldn't recognise.
"She laid here crying until I came. She was going crazy. She talked to you and swore you were there. I came because someone had to save her."
The hairs on his arms and the back of his neck stood on end as the horripilation of his skin alerted him the strange and very real presence in the room. Verne turned on the light and saw nothing but the empty walls staring back at him. I ******* lose my **** every time I come back here, he shivered and got up to walk out into the kitchen, passing through a cold breath of air as he went down the steps. When he looked back, he stared for a long time before lifting his gaze to check for a vent in the ceiling; nothing.
Rufus met him at the bottom of the stairs and the tall male scooped his favourite little ninja up before throwing himself down on the leather armchair in the lounge to watch cartoons until he was able to drift off.
Smoke and Mirrors
-
Verne
- Registered User
- Posts: 153
- Joined: 10 Nov 2012, 05:51
Smoke and Mirrors
for her and her alone
-
Dominique
- Registered User
- Posts: 1047
- Joined: 27 Mar 2013, 22:19
- CrowNet Handle: Batgirl
- Location: Vita Bella
- Contact:
Re: Smoke and Mirrors
One security camera. That was really all it took. One camera and one more vivid dream. For all the skill the shadow had at crafting and managing security systems it was inevitable that she could fail, miss one or just plain forget. Forgetting happened to everyone when it wasn’t important. Maybe the last camera wasn’t worth remembering but what it would erroneously reveal would never be forgotten. No matter what his last words in the notebook he left behind claimed that would take place after he was gone. He would never be forgotten. Ever.
Another alert illuminated across the black iPhone where it was resting on the sales counter in the upstairs of Twisted Sister. The vibration sent a low hum over the black lacquer surface. After a few seconds it finally reached her ear and cheek. Both had been planted there for the last several hours where she had surrendered to exhaustion. HOPE moved sluggishly across her cool cheek
brushing at the black strands that blanketed her face. The vibration was becoming a quick annoyance as her fingers fumbled to grab the device and tap the screen to end the irritation. The glow faded and all was dark once again.
LESS pulled from beneath her head and gently asserted her palm enough on the counter that she was spared the effort in the task of rising up. Her neck was stiff and she met the condition with a brief cool rub down of her hand. HOPE patted the edge of the hard surface and it instantly won an award in her mind for the most uncomfortable spot she had fallen asleep on in quite awhile. A gentle roll of her hips had the black leather stool beneath her nudging back so she had the space to hop down. She was awake again. It registered as her bare feet landed on the industrial grade factory flooring.
A brief glance down at the inked roses blooming out of the permanent ink set at the top of each foot had her questioning her state of dress. Where were her shoes? She scratched at the cloud of black hair that needed brushing on the back of her head. They would turn up eventually. Vader likely took them for a long walk and buried them in the grounds of Vita Bella.She shrugged and rolled her shoulders to loosen up the muscles that were taking longer to wake than she cared for.
A yawn caught Dominique off guard as she moved towards the ice cream freezer by the lockers. She paused with her hands resting on the frozen treat cooler. Would she ever wake up? She slid open the plexiglass and reached down for one of the wrapped bars. While her hand dropped down she didn’t even bother to look. She would take whatever her hand touched first. The chill that was cradled against her palm reminded her she was not as cold as ice and that was a relief. It was certainly a random assessment but still her thought none the less. Reluctantly she closed the sliding door on the top and accepted the fact she would be back to work once she consumed the sweet fuel her body didn’t need.
The blinking light on the counter caught her attention as a hand was about to hit the switch and light up the shop. Leaving the task unfinished she instead padded her way back to the light while biting down on the Rocky Road Klondike bar. LESS worked at the silver wrapper to give her more biting room while HOPE swiped the screen to see what woke her and saved her from further cramps. The alert from the camera she neglected to remove. It appeared someone was not giving up their twisted game or she really did a number on crafting that particular security device. She had given up the Thai food so what else could it be? Whatever it was It was easy to remedy. She took another bite of the bar and walked down to the main floor of the shop. Ignoring the lack of shoes or perhaps what she must look like in her still sleep deprived state she made her way to the one place she could find if she was blind, deaf, powerless, bloodless and near total ruins. It was what a home was meant to be. The one spot you never failed to find your way back to.
The ground beneath her feet was soft. The scent of water and the sounds of it lapping at the dock was tempting. She would have peeled of the shorts and halter top she had on and dive in but there was that issue that she needed to deal with first. Sleepy or not there was a camera that needed to be repaired. The last bite of rocky road disappeared from the silver foil wrapper in her hand. The sound of it balling up in her hand was followed by the subtle hiss of it being stuffed into her front pocket.
Small pebbles stuck to the bottoms of her bare feet as she stepped in the house. She brushed them off lightly on the rug and took a slow walk through the back of Vita Bella where the industrial grated flooring continued to the stair well. She was untraceable and lost in the covers of the shadows that constantly enveloped her. Perhaps it had become a blanket of security or another wall that she found she had the power to build around her. Either way it brought her comfort in moving about.
Upward the roses climbed without a sound. One after the other leading Dominique to the top floor. She curled her fingers around the handle and pushed the door open. Another length of dark corridor was left to navigate through in the dark. She felt a warmth increase with each new step while the familiar knots began forming in her chest and stomach. The scents of this home were so vivid she could almost be sold on the idea that their sources were still present. She felt the ache each time she took another step closer to the place where the living room would be.
The door was left open and she moved through the space. Dominique left no sound as she headed to the spot where the camera would be. HOPE reached up and pulled it down and tossed it in the garbage. She stayed still and that was a mistake. It was then that she could hear the sounds of keys dropping on the kitchen island. The aroma of steak cooking reminded her the place was not just a home. It fed the heart and soul of those that inhabited it. Her feet slid over the light wood floor beneath them and she pulled out a stool and sat on it. Her eyes took in the space with affection that would never wane.
The table that was the spot of gatherings. The trampoline that looked impractical where it was but made total sense to those that used it routinely. The fish tank where she found the cigarettes taped in the back when she went to fix the water filter. The massive screen television that hosted epic movie marathons and provided her sound to fall asleep to when the place finally went empty of all except her. She rubbed her face and took a deep breath in and held it. She was stronger every time she came back home. Her hands dropped down and gripped the far edge of the counter while her body lifted up and hopped off the stool.
Vita Bella. It was full of magic, beauty, love, peace and dreams. Dominique felt that still even as her feet stepped over that spot at the foot of the bed. She smiled softly. Now it was more about the days he laid there sketching new designs instead of the blood that had been washed away. It had been nearly a year. In that time she learned to let go of the pain, the fear and anger. It was the guilt of failing him that would eternally haunt her and she accepted that too. She earned it and it kept her connected.
The trail of clothes laying around was another reason to smile. A mind was powerful when it reflected and this moment was no different. Last year she would have attempted to reach down and take hold of them only to find her hand moving through the thin air left empty. Now she knew better. They were perfect where they were. The pattern was so typical, so him. She left all as it was and moved down the stairs towards the lounge. The sounds of the television being on didn’t seem unusual to her as she entered. She had these vivid dreams a thousand times. She sighed softly looking to the leather armchair. Eventually she would snap out of it and find she was still at the island counter upstairs. For the moment she would appreciate it for what it was.
In the shadows outside the glow of the colorfully animated screen her body sank to the floor against the wall and she pulled her legs into her chest and hugged them tight. Her tired eyes didn’t blink in case he disappeared again. It was then as she watched him sleep the tears finally came. After all that time they found their way back pooling in her dark eyes. Verne wasn’t wrong very often but he was about one thing. He was not forgotten. Even if he had left by his choice there was still a part of him that would always remain and for that she was grateful. It just took losing her mind to accept it.
Another alert illuminated across the black iPhone where it was resting on the sales counter in the upstairs of Twisted Sister. The vibration sent a low hum over the black lacquer surface. After a few seconds it finally reached her ear and cheek. Both had been planted there for the last several hours where she had surrendered to exhaustion. HOPE moved sluggishly across her cool cheek
brushing at the black strands that blanketed her face. The vibration was becoming a quick annoyance as her fingers fumbled to grab the device and tap the screen to end the irritation. The glow faded and all was dark once again.
LESS pulled from beneath her head and gently asserted her palm enough on the counter that she was spared the effort in the task of rising up. Her neck was stiff and she met the condition with a brief cool rub down of her hand. HOPE patted the edge of the hard surface and it instantly won an award in her mind for the most uncomfortable spot she had fallen asleep on in quite awhile. A gentle roll of her hips had the black leather stool beneath her nudging back so she had the space to hop down. She was awake again. It registered as her bare feet landed on the industrial grade factory flooring.
A brief glance down at the inked roses blooming out of the permanent ink set at the top of each foot had her questioning her state of dress. Where were her shoes? She scratched at the cloud of black hair that needed brushing on the back of her head. They would turn up eventually. Vader likely took them for a long walk and buried them in the grounds of Vita Bella.She shrugged and rolled her shoulders to loosen up the muscles that were taking longer to wake than she cared for.
A yawn caught Dominique off guard as she moved towards the ice cream freezer by the lockers. She paused with her hands resting on the frozen treat cooler. Would she ever wake up? She slid open the plexiglass and reached down for one of the wrapped bars. While her hand dropped down she didn’t even bother to look. She would take whatever her hand touched first. The chill that was cradled against her palm reminded her she was not as cold as ice and that was a relief. It was certainly a random assessment but still her thought none the less. Reluctantly she closed the sliding door on the top and accepted the fact she would be back to work once she consumed the sweet fuel her body didn’t need.
The blinking light on the counter caught her attention as a hand was about to hit the switch and light up the shop. Leaving the task unfinished she instead padded her way back to the light while biting down on the Rocky Road Klondike bar. LESS worked at the silver wrapper to give her more biting room while HOPE swiped the screen to see what woke her and saved her from further cramps. The alert from the camera she neglected to remove. It appeared someone was not giving up their twisted game or she really did a number on crafting that particular security device. She had given up the Thai food so what else could it be? Whatever it was It was easy to remedy. She took another bite of the bar and walked down to the main floor of the shop. Ignoring the lack of shoes or perhaps what she must look like in her still sleep deprived state she made her way to the one place she could find if she was blind, deaf, powerless, bloodless and near total ruins. It was what a home was meant to be. The one spot you never failed to find your way back to.
The ground beneath her feet was soft. The scent of water and the sounds of it lapping at the dock was tempting. She would have peeled of the shorts and halter top she had on and dive in but there was that issue that she needed to deal with first. Sleepy or not there was a camera that needed to be repaired. The last bite of rocky road disappeared from the silver foil wrapper in her hand. The sound of it balling up in her hand was followed by the subtle hiss of it being stuffed into her front pocket.
Small pebbles stuck to the bottoms of her bare feet as she stepped in the house. She brushed them off lightly on the rug and took a slow walk through the back of Vita Bella where the industrial grated flooring continued to the stair well. She was untraceable and lost in the covers of the shadows that constantly enveloped her. Perhaps it had become a blanket of security or another wall that she found she had the power to build around her. Either way it brought her comfort in moving about.
Upward the roses climbed without a sound. One after the other leading Dominique to the top floor. She curled her fingers around the handle and pushed the door open. Another length of dark corridor was left to navigate through in the dark. She felt a warmth increase with each new step while the familiar knots began forming in her chest and stomach. The scents of this home were so vivid she could almost be sold on the idea that their sources were still present. She felt the ache each time she took another step closer to the place where the living room would be.
The door was left open and she moved through the space. Dominique left no sound as she headed to the spot where the camera would be. HOPE reached up and pulled it down and tossed it in the garbage. She stayed still and that was a mistake. It was then that she could hear the sounds of keys dropping on the kitchen island. The aroma of steak cooking reminded her the place was not just a home. It fed the heart and soul of those that inhabited it. Her feet slid over the light wood floor beneath them and she pulled out a stool and sat on it. Her eyes took in the space with affection that would never wane.
The table that was the spot of gatherings. The trampoline that looked impractical where it was but made total sense to those that used it routinely. The fish tank where she found the cigarettes taped in the back when she went to fix the water filter. The massive screen television that hosted epic movie marathons and provided her sound to fall asleep to when the place finally went empty of all except her. She rubbed her face and took a deep breath in and held it. She was stronger every time she came back home. Her hands dropped down and gripped the far edge of the counter while her body lifted up and hopped off the stool.
Vita Bella. It was full of magic, beauty, love, peace and dreams. Dominique felt that still even as her feet stepped over that spot at the foot of the bed. She smiled softly. Now it was more about the days he laid there sketching new designs instead of the blood that had been washed away. It had been nearly a year. In that time she learned to let go of the pain, the fear and anger. It was the guilt of failing him that would eternally haunt her and she accepted that too. She earned it and it kept her connected.
The trail of clothes laying around was another reason to smile. A mind was powerful when it reflected and this moment was no different. Last year she would have attempted to reach down and take hold of them only to find her hand moving through the thin air left empty. Now she knew better. They were perfect where they were. The pattern was so typical, so him. She left all as it was and moved down the stairs towards the lounge. The sounds of the television being on didn’t seem unusual to her as she entered. She had these vivid dreams a thousand times. She sighed softly looking to the leather armchair. Eventually she would snap out of it and find she was still at the island counter upstairs. For the moment she would appreciate it for what it was.
In the shadows outside the glow of the colorfully animated screen her body sank to the floor against the wall and she pulled her legs into her chest and hugged them tight. Her tired eyes didn’t blink in case he disappeared again. It was then as she watched him sleep the tears finally came. After all that time they found their way back pooling in her dark eyes. Verne wasn’t wrong very often but he was about one thing. He was not forgotten. Even if he had left by his choice there was still a part of him that would always remain and for that she was grateful. It just took losing her mind to accept it.
