The Nocere: A Haunting Dystopian Tale Book 1

by Heather Carson

  “Anything else I can do to help?” He had a small dimple on his right cheek when he smiled. It was sweet.

  I shook my head no. “I’m not doing too bad. Astrid had it worse. Table twelve scared her.”

  “Let me know if you need anything.” He put a hand reassuringly on my shoulder and let it linger there for a moment before he walked away. I saw him cross the main floor and whisper something in Bemouth’s ear. As I handed out my drinks, I watched Bemouth march over to table twelve. The two men stood up gracefully and he led them out of the room. Astrid raised her chin smiling as she served the next table.

  This place isn’t all that bad, I thought to myself. At least the coworkers are cool.

  The night wore on as we continued to hand out the drinks. When I checked the clock, I saw there was only a little over an hour left until closing. I had been avoiding the booth, but I no longer had that choice when the man with slick hair waved me over.

  I rushed up the stairs, smiling when I saw that Green Eyes’ seat was empty. Tonight wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Not having to deal with him anymore was the icing on the cake.

  “Did you need something else ma’am?” The smile was still plastered across my face. She raised an eyebrow and looked at me curiously.

  “One more round,” she finally said. “Then close out my tab.”

  “Coming right up.” I practically skipped down the stairs.

  “Vodka seltzer, vodka straight, and two whiskeys,” I told Karl. He began to pour the drinks. The cello stopped playing and the lights stopped pulsing. Astrid and Lilith were right behind me with their empty trays.

  “What’s going on?” Lilith whispered. “Closing isn’t for another hour.”

  “Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to The Nocere.” A loud voice echoed through the room. “Hopefully you have enjoyed your evening. As promised, the grand event will begin momentarily. Please direct your attention to the center stage.”

  “What’s this event supposed to be?” I glanced nervously at the clock, hoping it wouldn’t take too long. I didn’t want to stay longer than my shift.

  “Beats me,” Chloe said as she and Claire joined us behind the bar.

  The lights dimmed and the stage lit up in an eerie bluish glow. I squinted, trying to make out if anything was on the platform. The stage seemed empty. Lilith put her customers’ drinks on the tray. She handed me the last whiskey I needed.

  The screaming that filled the building almost caused me to drop the glass. Liquid splashed out and I placed it on the counter. I looked quickly back to the stage.

  An outline of a woman, who was there, but not fully -almost see through- stood in the center of the platform. Her dress was ripped down the side. Dark blood ran from her forehead. She wildly scanned the crowd as she continued to belt out that bone chilling sound. I could feel the color drain from my face.

  Astrid clasped her hands over her ears. Lilith dug her fingers into my arm. Claire and Chloe stood frozen beside us. Next to the woman, another ghost-like figure of a man suddenly appeared. His face was distorted in anger and his coat was unbuttoned. He glared at the screaming woman as she fell to her knees. When he turned away from us, we saw a gaping hole in the back of his head.

  Bile rose in my throat. The customers began to cheer and clap. My hands were shaking, and I felt lightheaded.

  “What is this?” I finally managed to ask Karl. He was staring wide-eyed at the stage. My voice snapped him out of his trance, and I saw the fear written on his face as he turned to look at me.

  “I don’t know,” he whispered.

  The woman on the stage reached out to the closest table, begging for help. The customer spit on her as the other patrons laughed. She jerked back in distress.

  Suddenly, Fergus was there blocking the view of the heart wrenching scene. He pushed all five of us back into the employee lounge.

  “Wait here until I come get you,” he said to me as he closed the door in my face. The contrast of the warm lights and soft décor in comparison to the cold, painful situation in the bar made me feel dizzy. I slid down against the wall onto the floor. Panic burned in my chest.

  Claire and Chloe held each other on the couch. Astrid stood beside me. Her whole body was visibly shaking. Lilith fell into one of the chairs with both of her hands clasped over her mouth. When she moved them away, I braced for the sound of her scream.

  Instead, she looked to us and then the door. “What the fuck is happening out there?” Her voice cracked with fear.

  “I think they are spirits,” Chloe said from under her sister’s arm.

  “Spirits don’t look like that.” Lilith gained control of the terror in her voice, replacing it with anger. “The realm is full of spirits. They look just like me and you. Except, they don’t have trackers and they don’t have bodies anymore. And they don’t come to bars like this. They don’t have to. They can create whatever the hell they want.”

  “They do sometimes,” I whispered, remembering the spirit who walked into Wasters at Vorie’s party. “Usually if someone they know is there. But you’re right, they don’t look like that.”

  “Maybe they weren’t really spirits then,” Claire reassured her sister. “It’s probably glamour or some kind of projection.”

  “I’m sure that’s exactly what it was.” Astrid stopped shaking as she sat on the floor next to me. “But holy cow, that threw me off.”

  “Me too,” Lilith cracked a half smile. “These people are seriously sick.”

  “How much longer do we have to work here?” I joked.

  “That was opening night,” Astrid groaned.

  *

  We laughed about our worst customers of the night as we laid on the couch waiting for Fergus to open the door. His hat was off, and his suspenders hung from the sides of his pants when he finally stepped into the lounge.

  “Are you all okay?” he asked softly.

  “A little warning would have been nice,” Lilith said as she picked up her discarded shoes. “What the hell was that all about?”

  “I’m sorry you had to see that.” Fergus’ eyes were tired. “I didn’t know exactly what they had planned. Management should have warned us, but you’ll never have to see it again. They said you girls can come in here before it starts.”

  “Are they doing that awful projection show every night?” Astrid pulled her knees to her chest.

  “What projection?” Fergus looked at me intently and I met his stare with my own confusion. “Oh yeah, projection. I think it’s more of a glamour thing…” His voice trailed off as he looked to the clock. “They are only doing it once a week. Why don’t we get you ladies home? Everything is closed up out there.”

  The six of us walked out of the building. Raleigh smiled as we left.

  “He creeps me out too,” Lilith whispered in my ear.

  “I get the feeling we creep him out more,” I chuckled as I waved good-bye. Fergus came with us as we manifested to the portal.

  “Are you going to walk us home every night?” Claire asked as she touched his arm.

  “For right now, yes.” He looked around at the black nothing. “This is still so new. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.” He was staring at me as he spoke, so he didn’t see the twins blowing him a kiss as they stepped into the void. The portal would connect with their trackers to send them where they needed to go. I forgot to ask where that was. Astrid, then Lilith, went next.

  “Wait,” Fergus said as I raised my arm to the panel. “If there is ever anything you need Fawn, please let me know.”

  “Thank you,” I smiled up at him. “For everything tonight. You were there anytime I needed you.” He responded with a boyish grin. The portal sucked me back through the void and deposited me at my portal’s entrance.

  I put my ear buds in and leaned down to make sure my shoes were tied tight. It had only been a little while world time since I’d been gone, but night was already heavy in the city. Jumping past the Can’t Commits, I yelled out a promise
of food in the morning. Then I raced down the darkened streets to the safety of my own home.

  Chapter 9

  ∞

  Genie was laying on the couch moving her lips, but I couldn’t hear what she was saying over the guitar riff blasting through my ears. I turned off the buds and she said it again.

  “How was it?” she asked.

  The memories of the night crashed over me in waves of fear, anger, and laughter. “Exhausting.” I kicked off my shoes and tossed them over to the shelf. “I need sleep.”

  “Want to do something tomorrow? Lane has to work all day.” She set down the magazine she was holding.

  “Sure. I have to run by Vorie’s in the morning, but I’ll be back in the afternoon.”

  Genie smiled. “Go get some sleep. You look like crap. There is some warm water left for you. I’ll wait until later to hear all about this club.”

  In the bathroom we had a metal container hooked up to a solar panel. We filled it with water that was delivered to Kramer’s from who knows where. The mafia gave us water rations, the food was up to us to earn.

  I hand pumped the container and let the steady stream of lukewarm water rush over me. When I closed my eyes, I could hear the woman’s screams. I scrubbed my skin as hard as I could with soap and then pumped the handle again to rinse. Once I dried my hair, I put on my old sweatpants and t-shirt before crawling into bed.

  Tears welled in my eyes. I shut them tightly and buried my face into my mountain of pillows. I hated the realm, but I was pretty sure I hated The Nocere more. I tried to think of the girls and Fergus. He was a pretty sweet guy, and he made me feel safe. A girl doesn’t get that feeling much in the life I live. The image of the green-eyed man kept creeping back into my thoughts causing me to shiver. The way he looked at me like I was food made me feel sick.

  That night I dreamed I was a rabbit running down the city streets with a pack of dogs chasing me. I woke up drenched in sweat right before the hound with green eyes closed his teeth around my neck.

  *

  “Eat this.” I had Styrofoam cups with boxed mashed potatoes and creamed corn mixed up for the Can’t Commits. There were only two here this morning. The man was looking healthier already. He’d probably be gone by the night.

  “Thank you,” he said, taking the food in his hand and leaning back against the brick wall. “I’m not sure why you are doing this. We must look pretty pathetic right now.”

  “Well, that’s half the reason.” I propped the woman up next to him and spoon-fed the mush into her weak lips. She had the sense to swallow. “I couldn’t walk by such a pathetic scene and not do something about it.” The man winced and looked over to the portal.

  I ground my teeth. “I also don’t want us to lose.”

  “Who to lose?” His curiosity got the best of him and he looked away from the door.

  “Humanity of course. There’s hardly anyone left here. You all keep going to the realm. I’m trying to keep our world alive.”

  “The realm is our world too,” he scoffed. “A better world. One where we can literally do anything we desire. What’s so bad about that?”

  “My side of the picture doesn’t look as rosy as yours.” I finished feeding the woman. “And there is a part of you that feels the same. Otherwise, you’d commit to being a full time spirit. Then you’d be done with your tracker and the real world altogether.”

  The man glanced down to his arm. “I almost did this time. I could feel my soul separating and I just couldn’t go through with it. My mother is there.” He nodded back towards the portal. “She died too young and I miss her.”

  “What does your mother think about you ending your own life too young?”

  “Look at this world,” the man smirked as he watched the trash roll down the street. “There is nothing here anymore. What kind of life is this to live? I want to be happy. There is nothing wrong with being happy.”

  I reached into my bag and pulled out two bottles of water. “Do me a favor and get her to drink all of this before you go.” I stood up and walked away. There was no use arguing when they got like that. He wasn’t going to stay.

  *

  Vorie opened the door to her apartment in a floral sundress that pooled around her bare feet. “Hey Fawn,” she smiled.

  “Is Brayson home?”

  Her smile dropped in reaction to the look on my face. “Yeah, he is…” I pushed past her and walked into the living room. Brayson was relaxing on the couch. He jumped to his feet when he saw me.

  “How in the hell could you send me into that hornets’ nest without warning me?” I stared at him coldly as I crossed my arms.

  “I’m sorry Fawn. Can you just sit down a minute? I tried all day and I didn’t make it back in time.” He folded up the blanket on the couch, motioning for me to take a seat.

  “Should I, um, leave?” Vorie asked from behind me.

  “No. Stay. Why don’t you listen to what your boyfriend has been designing?” I refused to move from my spot.

  “Maybe you should go.” Brayson looked over my shoulder. “I’ll fill you in later.”

  “Are you ashamed or something?” My blood was hot. “Why can’t she hear it now?”

  “I’m going to go make some tea.” The sound of Vorie’s footsteps grew distant as she hurried toward the kitchen.

  “Just sit-down Fawn,” Brayson sighed. “I didn’t know. I mean I knew what it was after I started the job, but I didn’t know they’d pick you to work there. I spent all day yesterday begging for them to remove you from the staff. I almost lost my job because of it.” The sadness in his eyes loosened my resolve.

  I crossed the living room and fell heavily onto the couch. “Fine. Explain this sick club to me now. I have to know what I am involved with.”

  Brayson sat on the edge of the coffee table and put his head into his hands. “From what I can gather, the in between has been under government testing. Nothing ever came from it and it’s been a no man’s land for a while. Then some rich guys decided they wanted to make this club. Since the mafia controls the trackers, they needed them to be involved with it. The mafia also owns most of the architects, so that’s how my crew got involved. I wasn’t in on the planning stages or anything. I came on about a week ago and finished up the walls.”

  That made sense. I knew Brayson’s specialty was enclosed rooms. He was able to manifest perfect geometric squares and teach the math to the contractors so they could hold it in place.

  “Why do they want a club? Don’t serial killers and sadists like to work solo?” I dropped my voice to a whisper so that Vorie wouldn’t hear.

  “Why is there any communal spot in the realm? People get tired of being alone. You can only talk to your own manifested friends for so long until you’ve heard all the jokes.” Brayson smiled and I shook my head. I wasn’t in the mood to laugh.

  “Why the in between? They can’t hurt anyone there, right?” My eyes pleaded for reassurance.

  “No. They can’t physically hurt anyone.” Brayson clenched his jaw. “I would have taken the job loss if that was a factor.” I nodded. Brayson wasn’t the type of person to let his friends get hurt. “But you feel sensations there because it is a place between. We are still tethered to the world by our bodies and we can feel the pull.”

  “That makes me feel a little better.” I put the white and pink throw pillow onto my lap. “But it still doesn’t answer why they built it there.”

  Brayson dropped his head. “That’s where the grates work.”

  “What grates?” I racked my brain trying to visualize The Nocere and couldn’t remember seeing any grates.

  “Under the floor there are some grates. I’m still trying to find the blueprints on those, but the trap was meant to draw in spirits who died under violent circumstances as they cross from this world to the realm.”

  I felt like I was going to vomit. “The projection was real?”

  “What projection?” Brayson looked quizzically at me.

 
“There was a woman and a man on stage last night.” Tears formed in my eyes and I blinked them away. “They didn’t look like spirits. We thought they were a projection.”

  “They haven’t finished crossing over yet.” Brayson shook his head. His eyes were beginning to water too. “They have to get to the realm to be made whole.”

  “So, these sick bastards kill someone in this world, and then run to the club to torment their spirit?” My stomach was rolling. “What happens after the show?”

  “That I don’t know.” He looked incredibly tired. “I’m assuming they let them go.”

  Vorie poked her head around the corner. “Safe for me to come back in? I made tea.”

  “Yeah,” I said weakly. “I can’t stay long though. I have to do something with Genie in a bit.”

  “Do I want to ask what is happening?” Vorie set the tea tray down and ran her hand over my shoulder. “You still look upset.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” I looked to Brayson’s face and saw that he agreed. “The less people that have to know about this, the better.”

  Chapter 10

  ∞

  After tea, I met with Genie back at our flat. Her hair was tied into zigzagging cornrows. She wore a jean jacket with leopard print leggings.

  “Did anyone ever tell you that your style is a little loud?” I waited for her to finish zipping up her boots.

  “Yeah, you say it like once a week.” Genie rolled her eyes. “In comparison to your style, everything is loud. So, I’m not offended.”

  We walked across the street and headed to Kramer’s market. Genie shook her head in disgust as we passed the entrance to the portal. The man was gone. Two new bodies lay in his place next to the woman on the sidewalk.

  “How’s the club?” She asked once we passed them by.

  “It’s a job.” I shrugged as I pulled my hands into my sweater sleeves.

  “Well is it a fun place? Should I come check it out?” Genie is really good at probing.

  “Please don’t do that,” I begged. “The people there aren’t our type. I wouldn’t even be welcome there unless I was working. It’s members only anyway.”