by Sean Davies
Sitting on the bar were two shot glasses with a tiny amount of light pink fluid inside. Genevieve was expecting a grander display of narcotics, but when she stared at the liquid she saw mystical blue swirls forming, moving and disappearing within the liquid, and couldn’t figure out what caused the seemingly magical effect.
“Light me up, darling,” Anna shouted as she reached for one of the light blue joints. The music had returned with a vengeance and the strobe lighting flickered on and off at the DJ’s whim.
Genevieve pulled out a small disposable lighter, lit her friend’s Dreamleaf joint, and then did the same for her own. Anna let the sweet-smelling, light blue smoke spill out of her mouth slowly while she smiled naughtily. Genie didn’t know why, but the way Anna did it always excited her. Genevieve bit the inside of her lip and blew her smoke out shakily, and then took another long drag.
The club suddenly became alive with vibrant dancing patterns of all colours, the music distorted, and both girls slumped peacefully towards the bar.
“Want to know what it is?” Anna asked loudly, as she gestured to the shot glasses.
“It looks… way weird!” Genevieve shouted and giggled.
“It’s called Artravenia,” Annabelle explained. “It’s meant to go well with Dreamleaf, and then it’s on to the Rushdust, and then the dancefloor ‘til the sun comes up, Genie-girl!”
Genevieve looked at the strange drink and tipped it down her throat. It was ice-cold and tingled all the way down to her stomach, and she scrunched up her face as the strange prickling sensation spread through her body, but then suddenly she felt light as a feather. The distortions from the Dreamleaf high were accentuated further, and wacky and weird things from the depths of Genevieve’s imagination were superimposed onto reality.
“No hesitation, I’m impressed!” Anna said with an awestruck nod, and then she knocked back her own shot of the powerful substance.
“Well, I did promisshh,” Genie slurred as she watched pink love hearts and beautiful blossoming red roses form around Anna’s wavy blonde hair, “and best friends keep their promises…”
Annabelle’s eyes widened as her own hallucinations took form, and then composed herself as best she could under the influence. She traced her hand up and down Genevieve’s thigh and pursed her lips excitedly. “I hope you’re that determined to please me when we’re more than friends…” she said smoothly as she parted her painted lips and leaned in for a proper kiss.
Chapter 1
The Investigation
It had been almost a year since their trip around the world. The nights of clubbing had only grown wilder and crazier, as had their levels of drug and drink intake, and what they did together behind closed doors whilst under the influence. By the time they had returned to Imperia they were unofficially an item, although neither one of them spoke of it while they were sober. It drove Genevieve crazy. She wanted to be with Anna so badly, but on the other hand she was afraid of ruining their friendship. However, by the time their eighteenth birthday was close she was ready to confront her imposing best friend. Genevieve had to get her feelings out in the open and off her chest, regardless of the embarrassment or consequences to their friendship.
The carefree lifestyle they had enjoyed abroad had rubbed off far too much on Anna, and she struggled to get back into the old routine. Annabelle had dropped out of her Media Studies college course to take up a new job that had her out till the early hours of the morning but raked in the Credits. When Genevieve asked, Anna simply replied that ‘it was better for her not to know’. Within a few months of her shady new employment, Annabelle had stashed enough money away to move out of her parents’ house (who had desperately wanted her back in college before the semester ended) and into a small apartment in the town of Woodsholme in eastern Imperia. To Genie’s great delight, Anna wanted her to come along too. She was quite prepared to handle the finances while Genevieve finished her Literature course, and even paid for her public transport fees.
Their long-time dream had been to go into the media services together; Anna would take the pics, and Genie would handle the articles. They’d even dreamed up a revolutionary idea of posting a dedicated news service across Rura’s sluggish computer network. Genevieve had actually begun learning IT and Coding on the side, and she hoped that Anna would eventually start up her photography again so they could carry on achieving their dream occupation together.
Genevieve knew that her friend’s clandestine job revolved around drugs, as the apartment was always well stocked with pouches of Dreamleaf, Tropican cannabis, and tobacco. It didn’t bother her as much as she knew it should have though, as they always had a nice stash to enjoy together while they shared the highlights of their day. It also helped that there was always enough money to pay the bills and keep the fridge full. It wasn’t long before Annabelle brought her own car, which was nothing special, but it allowed them to abandon public transport, and Genevieve was grateful to have a lift to and from college every day.
On the approach to their eighteenth birthdays, Genevieve was shocked and saddened to learn that Anna would be working the weekend they had planned on celebrating. Genie had been preparing to confront her best friend and part-time lover about their shared feelings, and their potential future together as an official item. Annabelle had rearranged for the following weekend and softened the blow by giving Genie her birthday present early. It was a small black car of her own. It was second-hand but in good condition, and Genevieve had hugged Anna half to death in thanks.
Genevieve had been tempted to hand over her present early, but decided against it. She had spent every moment she could spare, in-between studying and spending time with Anna, working at the college canteen. She’d cooked, cleaned, and served her fellow students and the teaching staff, and managed to scrape together just enough Credits to purchase a beautiful heart-shaped silver locket. She had trimmed down small pictures of them both and placed them behind the small glass panels in the interior. She hoped that the gesture would show just how grateful she was for everything Annabelle had done for her, but also make it very clear that she loved her immensely and unquestioningly. With that in mind, Genevieve decided to buy herself as much time as possible to prepare for the potentially awkward and monumental conversation that both friends had been avoiding since their very first drunken kiss.
It had been a drizzly evening on the weekend when Genie handed over her precious gift, just as Annabelle had been preparing to head off for work. Anna had decided to leave earlier than normal, throwing Genevieve’s intricate plans out of place once again, in the hopes that she would get back early enough for them to party, if only for an hour or two in the comfort of their own apartment. Genevieve could wait no longer; she had grabbed her gorgeous friend by the sleeve of her dark grey hoodie and blabbed her heart out.
Annabelle had looked at the locket and then longingly at her friend, tears welling up in her emerald green eyes. Her usually strong and playful demeanour had melted away, and she leaned in and gave Genevieve a soft passionate kiss.
“You don’t know how long I’ve waited for you to say that…” Anna had whispered in Genie’s ear. “But I’ve really, really got to go. I promise I’ll come back early and we can talk… and stuff,” she had added dirtily, regaining her composure.
Genevieve had been gobsmacked. She’d always thought of Annabelle as the strong one out of them, but at that moment she had realised that Anna had been more afraid of her true feelings than she had.
Annabelle had put on the locket, opened it, and sighed happily. “And to think, my parents are still pissed at me for quitting college… wait until they hear about this. We might not come back from this one alive, Genie-girl!” she’d joked.
Genie hadn’t thought that far ahead, and wondered what her own parents would say. She’d shaken off the thoughts and embraced Anna once again. Genie kissed her with a new-found confidence and locked eyes with her. “Hurry back to me, Annabelle.”
“I promise I wil
l… and best friends, and whatever we are, keep their promises.” Annabelle had smirked slyly and kissed her goodbye.
Genevieve had spent the night pacing back and forth with excitement, drinking spirits from the bottle to calm her nerves and hitting the Dreamleaf stash, as the hours ticked by and the anticipation grew so intense that it hurt her chest. She’d watched the door like an abandoned puppy until her eyes had given up the battle, and had awoke the next morning flat-out on the floor with a pounding headache and severe hangover. Annabelle had never come back to her.
Heartbroken and distraught, Genevieve had slumped onto her bed, burst into a fit of tears, and assumed that Annabelle hadn’t wanted her after all. She hated herself for opening her big mouth. But after the initial shock had worn off and Genie had played out their last words in her head a countless number of times, she realised that something was wrong. Although part of Genie’s mind nagged at her to accept that her attractive blonde friend simply didn’t want her as a lover and that she was just clutching at straws to keep the hope alive, Genevieve knew that something different had kept Anna from returning.
Annabelle was well-known for her honesty, preferring to avoid a subject altogether rather than bother telling a lie, and her sharp tongue had gotten her into so much trouble over the years, even with Genie. If the heartfelt speech had been poorly received, Genie would’ve known about it, and Anna would’ve probably tried to play match-maker with some of her ditzy college acquaintances to make up for it.
Another detail buzzing around Genevieve’s head was the fact that all of Annabelle’s belongings were still in the apartment, including her stash of money and a couple hundred Imperial Credits worth of Dreamleaf and cannabis. Her bank card and ID were gone, but that would only get her so far. Since Annabelle got paid in cash, she preferred to deal in cash, just to avoid a boring trip to the bank every few days.
The worst thought of all that Genevieve couldn’t escape from was the end of their conversation, the promise Anna had made using their old phrase. It was something they joked about, but always kept true to it, and had done ever since they came up with it in primary school. Annabelle had promised Genevieve that she’d be back, and something had stopped her from fulfilling their sacred promise pact.
After a few hours of painful obsessing, reliving their sober loving kisses and the heartfelt look in Anna’s eyes, Genevieve had decided to give it one more night just to see if she’d developed cold feet and needed time to think. It was the only reason she could think of that would intentionally keep her best friend from keeping her promise.
Genevieve had opened a fresh bag of Dreamleaf, pinched out some of the clumpy blue contents, and slowly rolled herself a joint, lighting it up as she walked over to Annabelle’s record player. Despite having the money for a hi-tech CD player, the girls still preferred using vinyl, and Genevieve put the teen sensation Marissa Aluniana’s debut album on the turntable. She sat on the sofa and prepared for the longest day of her life.
Her miserably long vigil had ended with no sign of her beloved friend. Two weeks had passed by, and Genevieve still hadn’t seen or heard from Annabelle. But Genie hadn’t sat idle during that time; she had begun investigating immediately, and would find her friend, no matter the cost.
Her first stop had been to drop by the local Woodsholme Military Peace Keeper station. Since the end of the Great War, the Police force and Military had been combined into one organisation, originally to stamp out the last vestiges of resistance and then simply to keep the peace. However, since Autocrat Edgar Aurelius’ reclusive behaviour that had followed his wife’s tragic death, the Military Peace Keepers (or MPKs, for short) had grown increasingly lax, as had the world’s Governors and Councillors. Unsurprisingly, they had offered Genevieve little assistance, scribbled down some notes, and hinted that they might be more helpful if she were to bribe them. Genie had declined, as her money was drying up fast, and she was draining the emergency savings her parents had given her just to get by. If she ate as little as possible and put the bare minimum amount of DVO petrol in her car, then she would have just enough left to cover one month’s rent.
Genie had asked around town, including at the shabby Open Vein nightclub and strip joint that her and Anna sometimes frequented, but had come up empty handed. Whilst wandering the town, Genevieve had kept an eye out for Annabelle’s car, but it too was nowhere to be seen.
Next she had tried the college, and Genevieve had grilled every friend, acquaintance, and teacher that might have seen or partied with Anna. They claimed that they hadn’t seen her for a good few months and promised that they’d let Genie know if they saw her about. The teaching staff also grilled Genevieve about her slipping attendance, but Genie informed them that she couldn’t come back until she was certain that Annabelle was safe. They’d said they would keep the course material aside for her to catch up on, but warned her that if she let it drag on too long then she would have to restart the semester in the following year. Genevieve thanked them, and they wished her luck in her search.
Genevieve reluctantly decided that it was time to call home. She had been slightly hopeful that Annabelle had randomly gone to stay at her parents for a day or two but knew that it was unlikely, considering all the other evidence. Genie also acknowledged that she should’ve called sooner, but she didn’t want to worry the parents unnecessarily, and it had been when she was hesitantly hovering by the home phone when it suddenly rung. Genie picked it up and hoped with all her heart that it was Annabelle. However, it had been her mother, Betty.
Before Genevieve could even say a word, she was scolded for not telling them about Annabelle’s job offer in Tropica City. Genie was adamant that Anna wasn’t in Tropica and demanded to know where they had got the information from. Betty, who was shocked and confused by her daughter’s unexpectedly brash tone, explained that they’d been sent a letter from Anna. The letter apparently wished both families well, and described how Annabelle had done so well at college after she had returned to her course that she had been hand-picked for a job photographing the entirety of Tropica, from the archipelagos in the south to the enormous DVO missile crater in the north at Calousha. Her mother was very confused and concerned as to why Genie didn’t know anything about it, and demanded to know if she’d been keeping up with her classes too. Genevieve said that she was coming over and slammed down the phone.
She had driven from Woodsholme in the northeast, through Rura’s bisecting mountain range, past the looming Capital and its massive concrete and steel walled perimeter, and after a short stay in a motel she had reached the west side of the continent. Genevieve arrived at the town of Legentium and parked in-between her parents’ house and the Jones’ residence.
Genie was greeted warmly by Betty and her father Don, and they had called over the Jones’ to see her too. Genevieve had insisted that they bring the letter over with them.
Annabelle’s parents, Martha and Julian, gave her a big hug and could barely contain their excitement over their daughter’s apparent success. The five of them sat down for tea and homemade scones while Genevieve scrutinised the letter.
The parents were still very shocked that Genie hadn’t known about Annabelle’s job abroad, so while she read, Genevieve had made up a story about staying over at the campus accommodation with a friend and pretended as though she hadn’t seen Anna much over the past few months. They all exchanged amused glances and made jokes about meeting her boyfriend. Genevieve feigned a smile, but inside she was broken. Nothing about the letter was right, and she feared for her friend’s life.
The first oddity was that it had been typed out manually, and the girls didn’t even own a computer and printer, let alone a clunky old typewriter. The second was that it made no mention of herself but seemed to contain fragments of information about the other aspects of Annabelle’s life. It seemed as though it had been created by someone with knowledge of Annabelle’s comings and goings, and then tailored into a more parent-friendly account of her life, while omit
ting every single detail about Genevieve. The third was a minor detail, but one that would be apparent to someone who spent a lot of time studying with Anna; the letter was very well written, and contained words that Annabelle never used.
Genevieve couldn’t bring herself to break the news to the positively beaming parents, and she wasn’t sure if her minute collection of evidence would convince them anyway. Instead, she gave them a quick breakdown of her college life, using news from a few weeks previous, and then left as casually as she could.
She gunned her car south to the port city of Tidussex, and forced her gut-wrenching heartbreak and emotional distress into pure determination. Genevieve knew that Annabelle would never give up on her if things were reversed.
When she reached the bustling city, she wasted no time and enquired at every travel agency she could find. Genie had used a photo of Annabelle that she kept in her purse at all times, and had showed it around to anyone who would listen. She had received the reception she’d expected. They all confirmed that no one under her name or matching her image had boarded a ferry to Tropica in the past few days. Genevieve had even asked around at the docks, but to no avail.
She had then travelled east along the coast to Galleon Anchorage, and spent the night in a rundown hotel in her meagre price range. The following morning, she had repeated her enquiries, already knowing that Annabelle hadn’t booked transport with either a travel agent or private passage on someone else’s vessel. Genevieve knew that she was wasting precious time, but didn’t have any other leads to follow, and she needed to be one-hundred percent sure that her friend hadn’t skipped abroad before taking her investigation to the next level.
After a quick pit stop back at the apartment, Genie had then travelled to Gaelliard, on Rura’s southeast tip, to cross the third and final port city off her mental list. In the rustic city, she had once again come up empty. With a long, calming breath, Genevieve readied herself and prepared to take her investigation into the drug-riddled criminal underworld.