Darknet Game

by Grant Hunter

  It was as if I wasn't really here. Sounds were muted, like in a vacuum. Human figures laying on the bed, as vague shadows. I knew there was a man. Someone I knew. But the memory was too volatile to keep hold of. Now I just stared at my dress. It was torn, frayed, and even with the red fabric I saw the stains on it. Blood. How could that be and whose was it? My thoughts were gridlocked. Somewhere far away I heard someone scream. Slowly I turned around. I looked, but couldn’t form a clear picture. It was like a surreal nightmare, which I couldn't waking up from. Still, this didn't seem like a dream.

  Vaguely I recognized an arm that stuck out of the bed, from under a sheet with red spots on it everywhere. It smelled iron-like. Muscular arms surrounded my body and pulled me back on the bed. He was the one, the man that I knew, but I couldn't get his face in focus, my focus always went blurry.

  ‘You don't remember anything, you forgot! You forgot everything...’ He spoke soothingly, rhythmically, almost emotionless. He said ‘everything’ and I repeated him emotionless. My mouth formed the words, but no sound came out. Two hands clamped my neck and squeezed my throat shut. Or did that just seem like that? No, it was a dream, this was not real. The spinning stopped. It went quiet in my head.

  The next time I opened my eyes, I looked straight into a mirror that hung above me. I was shocked when I barely recognized myself. A half-stripped woman with tangled hair. Her makeup was in disarray, a blue mark stood out on her neck and her eyes were dull.

  The dizziness was gone. Yet it was as if my view was still clouded. Nothing remained of that weird blurry chess pattern in this room. I vaguely remembered blood stains on a sheet, but the sheet on which I was laying had a tiger print. Confused I sat up and put my hand against my head to try to stop the throbbing. The door swung open and someone came in waving wildly at me.

  ‘Naomi, get away, you mus no be ere!’ I didn't understand why Mercedes yelled at me.

  Still I only understood half. Mercedes stared at me and her mouth flapped open and closed. I didn't understand. Only that when Jack’s private driver knocked on the door, I stood up and willingly followed him to the car. When I sat down in front of the car, I knew there was something completely wrong.

  ‘I... I...’ Nothing sensible came out of my mouth.

  ‘Nothing to worry about,’ The driver said, and he handed me an envelope. ‘I will take you home. Only open the envelope when you are there.’

  Silently, I held the envelope and just sat there, while we drove across London centre, towards the Van Burgh Park, at high speed.

  Twenty minutes later, I crept up, as quietly as I could, into the dark house. When I finally laid on my bed, I tore the thick envelope open. The ‘phone I received from Joy was the first thing to fall out. Then a typed note.

  I read it quickly:

  Naomi,

  I was on a business trip today in New York. I have instructed Jules Harris, my driver, to keep an eye on the yacht. You can trust him. If you ever feel threatened, you should contact him.

  We couldn't trace the number, but Jules’ number is in it now. You can always call him if there is anything. Day or night.

  Your first working day is over and it has finished differently than expected, from what I understood from Jules. He says that the problem has been resolved. To make up for it, you'll find a small gesture enclosed. Have fun with it and we'll be happy to see you tomorrow evening at 9 o'clock.

  Jack

  PS. Everything that happens on the ship remains on the ship! Destroy this letter.

  I checked in the envelope and pulled out a thick, smaller envelope that I took out curiously. There was money in it. I sighed and felt my bruised neck. I had no more energy left to change my clothes, so I climbed under the blanket in my torn dress, and fell asleep.

  Something woke me. I jumped up and looked at the alarm clock on the bedside table. It was only half past nine.

  ‘Just a moment please. I’ll be there in a minute!’ I yelled at the door.

  A sensation of an electric shock went through my body when I lifted the blanket and saw my dress covered in blood.

  ‘Fuck!’ I whispered, and I pulled my robe around me. When I opened my door Joy just stood there with a red face. The look in her eyes told me that something was wrong.

  ‘Naomi... there is, they are...’ She took a deep breath. ‘Police. There are policemen downstairs. Waiting for you.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘I don’t know, Naomi. Shall I send them upstairs?’

  ‘No! I’m coming down.’

  She put the tip of a finger on my neck. ‘What did you do? Your skin looks purple and blue.’

  ‘It’s nothing.’

  ‘Who did this to you?’

  I shrugged my shoulders. ‘Just tell them I’ll be there in a minute,’ and as I slammed the door in Joy’s face, I almost felt bad for her. Or was it something else? An unknown feeling struck me, as if something dark and sinister happened to me, but I couldn’t remember.

  ‘Focus, Naomi. Get dressed,’ I whispered to myself.

  I removed the name tag sticker off my new summer blouse, slipped in my new G-Star denims, tied my hair in a ponytail and ran down the stairs.

  In the corridor two men were busy talking with Joy and Robin, but when Joy noticed me she just nodded at the two men and walked to the kitchen with Robin following her.

  ‘Ms. Quinns…’ said the short one. ‘I’m detective Carl Miller and this is my colleague Gustaf Corbyn.’

  The other man looked very smooth. He gave me goose bumps without needing to do anything. I couldn’t get a word out of my mouth, so I only stared at the floor.

  ‘Ms. Quinns, do you work for Jack Bowman?’

  I shook my head. ‘No.’

  Detective Miller pulled a photo out of his pocket and showed it to me.

  ‘B-but that’s Jack Willow,’ I whispered.

  ‘Do you know him?’

  ‘Y-yes, of course.’

  ‘Where were you yesterday?’ asked the older smooth one.

  ‘At work.’

  ‘Where was that?’

  I said nothing.

  ‘Answer the question, please.’

  ‘Yes, err... on the Net X, his pleasure yacht.’

  Detective Corbyn nodded. ‘What kind of work?’

  ‘Why? Does that matter?’

  ‘Certainly, please answer,’ said detective Miller.

  ‘I err, I... I entertain people.’

  ‘What do you mean by that? Are you an actress?’

  ‘No. Yes. Well, kind of. I’m just working there. If err... if...’

  ‘Don’t waste our time! What’s your job on the ship?’ The older detective asked impatiently.

  ‘I’m a prostitute,’ I said, in a whisper.

  ‘Ah. Did you see or hear anything unusual?’

  The corners of my mouth trembled because of the way they looked at me. Had I done something wrong? I thought. But I couldn’t answer that question, because I didn’t remember anything.

  ‘Are you OK? You look pale.’

  ‘I’m fine. What is going on?’

  Detective Miller stepped forward and

  ‘Ms. Quinns, it is possible you are a witness in a murder case,’ Miller said in a low voice.

  I looked at him in disbelief.

  The smooth one frowned. ‘ Sharon Fuller’s dead.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Maybe you should sit down,’ Miller said, while he grabbed my arm to keep me from falling. I felt dizzy and he helped me to the couch in the living room. The two men took up places opposite me. They sat quietly, as if they had all the time in the world. My forehead started to sweat and tears ran down my face.

  Miller leaned forward, giving me a modest comforting smile. ‘How did you get that bruise on your neck?’

  ‘I don’t know, ‘I said, and wiped the tears from my face with my sleeve. ‘W-What happened to Sharon?’

  The sleek one looked at his watch and murmured that they should go, but detective Miller i
gnored the stressed man next to him.

  ‘Look, at this moment, all I can say is that she was murdered. A witness claims that you were the last person who saw the victim alive.’

  ‘No,’ I said. ‘That’s impossible.’

  Miller looked puzzled. ‘Can you tell us what you remembered?’

  ‘I don’t know exactly. It’s all kind of blurry…’

  ‘Did you use drugs?’

  ‘Maybe. You know, they put them in drinks.’

  Miller stood up, pulled a card out of his chest pocket and handed it to me. ‘If you remember anything, however insignificant it may seem, please contact me.’

  The older detective followed us to the hallway, without saying anything. When I opened the front door he turned to me. ‘We’ll expect you at the police station, next Monday morning, for an officially statement.’

  ‘Fine,’ I said, and we shook hands, and sighing I closed the door behind them.

  27

  Immediately someone grabbed me from behind. In terror, I let out a high scream.

  ‘Sssh! It’s me,’ whispered a man’s voice.

  ‘Damn, Robin,’ I hissed, and poked him in his side.

  ‘Be quiet. I came to warn you, because Joy heard everything. She has been eavesdropping in the kitchen.’

  ‘Fuck!’

  ‘Shush. Come...’ He beckoned me and we ran up the stairs, straight to my room. As soon as I closed the door, Robin grabbed me from behind and pushed me hard to the wall.

  ‘Robin, stop it!’

  ‘Stop? Oh, so now I have to pay you?’

  ‘You fucking idiot!’

  He let me loose, I turned and before I knew it, I slapped his face. His eyes looked fiery, but he remained calm.

  ‘Fuck you, Naomi. I just wanted to help you. Joy want’s to kick you out. I am the only one who has prevented this so far. But maybe I should listen to her...’

  I swallowed the lump in my throat. ‘Have you been listening as well?’

  ‘Yes. I heard everything.’ Robin softly stroked my arm and goose bumps rose all over my body. ‘But I’ll talk to Joy, if you want. I’m shore we can sort it out.’

  ‘No. I’m not going to be some sort of sex slave to you two perverts.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ He pulled the zipper of his jeans down.

  ‘Get the fuck out of my room!’ I yelled.

  His face turned red, Robin mumbled something, pulled up his zipper and disappeared.

  I dropped on my bed and stared at the ceiling.

  ‘Bastard,’ I whispered, and I tried to focus on something else. Something that would make sense. My thoughts wandered, to Sharon. Questions shot through my head like arrows. Why didn’t I remember anything? No matter how deep I dug, it remained foggy.

  ‘Focus, Naomi!’ I said to myself.

  I knew that I had walked down the stairs to the lowest deck of the Net X, that I had drunk champagne with Sharon. Even that she offered me drugs. But then it became a big haze. I turned over on my stomach and saw my cell phone light up.

  ‘Yeah?’ I said curtly when I answered.

  Someone who breathed heavily was on the other line. Not saying a word.

  ‘Hello?’ I held my breath, and I tried to stay quiet, but my inner voice screamed: Hang up. Hang up now!

  ‘You are the next,’ said a harsh voice, and immediately the connection was broken.

  ‘What the fuck?’ I whispered. In unbelieve, I stared at my cell phone. Who knew about the murder? I thought. Except the detectives and some housemates? The Killer! Oh God.

  With shaking knees I jumped from my bed, and ran to the door, which I locked. I pulled out the card, I got from the cops, and dialled the number. But the moment detective Miller answered, I hung up.

  What should I say? I thought. That I had some pervert stalker calling me? That I suspected my upstairs neighbour? That he probably wasn’t the one. How could he have known about Sharon? and was Justin really able to commit a murder? No, must have been someone else. Probably someone I knew.

  I sat down on the edge of my bed and stared outward, through the only window in this room. I felt limp and lifeless, as if I hadn’t slept for days.

  A soft rustling made me jump off the bed.

  ‘Leave me the fuck alone, Robin!’ I screamed at the door.

  ‘It’s me. Joy. Can I come in and talk to you?’

  ‘Damn,’ I whispered, and I put my hands over my mouth.

  ‘I know you are in there…’

  I walked to the door and turned the key. Joy immediately entered the room and gave me a hateful look. Her eyebrows seemed darker than normal as she frowned. A vein in her temple throbbed.

  ‘Hello Joy... come in.’

  Maybe it was still not too late. I had to say something, make her change her mind. Show her that I was also a victim.

  ‘Robin is harassing me.’

  ‘Listen, Naomi. I have to put up with your shit every day.’ She gestured exaggeratedly around my room. ‘Even that you try to steal my boyfriend...’

  ‘But…’

  When I tried to protest she ignored me. ‘Let me finish! What you just did behind my back with Robin really does it.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Don’t play innocent. Robin just told me that you offered him a blowjob in exchange for a good word with me.’

  My mouth fell open. ‘W-what? Did he say that? No, that’s not true. He came to me and...”

  ‘You call him a liar?’

  I clenched my jaw, knowing that whatever I said, Joy would not believe me.

  ‘Get the fuck out of my house, Naomi!’

  In disbelieve I shook my head. ‘Do you know the trouble with you, Joy? You are so blind, so incredibly blind! Believe me, if I leave, Robin will charm someone else. But I’m not interested in Robin. I won’t join in your pathetic games anymore. And besides, it’s all your fault. If you hadn’t taken Robin in the house...’ I closed my mouth when her face became even more agitated.

  ‘No, my mistake was that I took you in the house, and didn’t throw you straight out when you didn’t pay the rent. All of that for Jen, but now she no longer has anything good to say about you.’

  ‘What?’ I gasped, and before I could say more, Joy snapped that I had exactly one week to get out, than she turned and left my room.

  I screamed after her that I wouldn’t stay a minute longer, something I immediately regretted, because I realised it was Sunday.

  Where in God’s name could I go so quickly? I thought.

  Although I didn’t really have a plan, I started packing boxes anyway. Oddly enough, packing had a calming effect on me, and it gave me a brilliant idea --- until I tried to put it into action. I called Jack for help, but instead of Jack, I got some “receptionist” on the line, who said they would pass on my message. After she listened to me, she informed me Jack Willow was on a business trip, and that he wasn't available for the coming days.

  ‘Busy?’ I whispered. Busy with what? Maybe at the police station? I didn’t ask any further, because I realized that the ship wasn’t the best place to stay at the moment.

  ‘Yes. Jack’s appointments are cancelled,’ she said. ‘The ship is a crime scene, Miss Quinns, and I am sorry to inform you that all shows have been cancelled. So you don’t have to come to work.’

  ‘Oh. But - ’

  ‘We have your number, so don’t call us. Bye Miss Quinns!’

  I was disappointed, when I put the phone down. Thank God I still had Jack’s money. As long as I had that, I could still save myself. If necessary, I would check in at a hotel temporarily. With every item that went into the boxes, it made more and more sense to leave this snake pit. I still have to pack my toilet stuff. I thought. And oh yeah, get my bathrobe out of the bathroom. Did I forget something else? A soft voice calling me ended my preparation and packing.

  ‘Yes, the door is open!’ I shouted rudely.

  Jen almost fell over a box that was right in front of the door. She let out an almost
unintelligible Bloody hell.

  ‘Careful.’

  ‘What are you doing?’ she asked with a tremor in her voice.

  I looked out of the window.

  ‘Naomi? What’s going on? I heard from Joy that there where detectives at the door? I am worried…’

  ‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘Something bad happened and I can’t remember.’

  ‘What are you talking about?’

  As she spoke in a whisper, tears flowed down my cheeks. I covered my eyes with my hands.

  ‘I err... I heard some things from Joy,’ Jenny Rose said softly.

  ‘I haven’t got a bloody clue what she told you,’ I said while drying my tears. ‘But Robin is the cause.’

  She nodded. ‘If you want, I’ll call Daddy, he has connections. Maybe he can fix something for you,’ she continued after a brief silence.

  ‘That’s very sweet of you, but no. I might as well go home.’ And at that exact moment, I knew who to call. ‘I think I know what I’m going to do…’

  ‘Are you going to ask Jack for help?’ asked Jen, and she seemed relieved when I shook my head.

  ‘Jack can’t be reached after what happened yesterday.’

  ‘Is that why these men were here?’

  ‘Yes. There was a murder on the Net X while I was there. A woman was killed and now they say I am a witness.’

  ‘What? How - ’

  ‘I don’t know,’ I interrupted her. ‘I don’t understand anything about it. What I remember are short images, flashes. My super expensive dress is torn and covered with blood, and I have no idea why. And then the images of hands that squeeze my neck. The first clear memory is of Jules, Jack Willow’s driver. He gave me an envelope, with money and dropped me off here.’

  She gazed at me with her eyes wide open and her mouth became such a thin slash, that it almost disappeared. ‘I’m calling Dad.’

  ‘Don’t. Please.’

  She hugged me so hard that I thought she would break all my bones. Then she let me go. ‘And what now, Naomi? What are you going to do?’

  28