“Hmm,” Genie mumbled as she walked alongside me. “How is management? Do they treat you okay?”
“I actually haven’t met them yet. They seem kind of aloof.” I was surprised at how easily she let it go.
“That’s the best,” Genie said. “It’s the jerks that get into all the worker’s business that seem to cause the most problems.”
I nodded, thinking of the long line of bosses we’ve had in our lives. “The girls I work with are nice. They all have extended sentences just like me.”
“I hate that you have so much time left. Vorie is done, and I’ll be done next week. You should be with us.” Genie stopped walking and looked at me sadly.
“It was my fault. It’s not that long anyway. What is one more year?”
She stomped her heeled boot in the ground in frustration as she resumed our walk. “Is it all girls you work with? No special boys you like? Or that maybe like you?” I cringed as she teased out her last sentence. His green eyes pierced the dark recesses of my mind, taunting me, and I shivered even though it wasn’t that cold.
“There is this one guy, Fergus. He seems pretty nice. He has a cute dimple and shows up anytime we need him.”
“We?” Genie glanced at me sideways.
“He is nice to all the girls.”
“Fawn, you suck at reading people. Does he pay special attention to you? Or is he just a flirt?”
“He doesn’t seem like a player if that’s what you’re asking.” My thoughts traveled back to the previous night. “He might be into me. I don’t know.”
“Ask him over sometime so that I can see for myself.” Genie clapped her hands together as she devised yet another plan to hook me up with someone. That’s been her mission for as long as I can remember. It’s never worked. There doesn’t seem to be anyone left in the world who wants the same things I do.
*
Kramer’s shelves were almost bare.
“Sorry ladies,” he smiled at us when we walked in. “Next shipment doesn’t come for a few more days. How low are you on food?”
“Pretty low,” I smiled back at him. “No worries, we will make do with whatever we can find.”
Genie groaned upon seeing the meager cans of beans left on the shelf. “I knew we should have made the trip last week. I really wanted some fruit this time.”
“You’re in luck,” I laughed as I found a single jar of cherries hidden on the bottom shelf.
“Good find!” Kramer called out. I always thought he hid random treats in his neatly organized store for customers to discover. We carried over our cans of beans and jar of cherries to the counter. Kramer’s joints cracked as he stood up shakily from his chair. He moved behind the office door, leaving us to stand there waiting. When he returned, he had a five-pound bag of rice.
“I had a pallet of these for the clinic, but they got some water damage. I can’t sell them, but you can have one for free.” He dropped the bag heavily onto the counter. We locked eyes and I smiled at him.
“Thanks,” I said as he began to tally the cost. Kramer knew I fed the Can’t Commits, sometimes he gave me a little extra for them. It was our secret.
Once our canned food was bagged and Kramer scanned my tracker, I lifted the rice bag onto my shoulder. Genie grabbed the sack of our pathetic grocery finds and we started walking back home.
The exchange at the store reminded me that I wanted to talk to Genie. “I have a question,” I asked as we moved through the abandoned streets. “I know you don’t want to go, but if Vorie and I ever left the city, would you come with us?”
“I hate this conversation.” Genie shifted the bag from one arm to another. “Where would we even go? You guys act like there is something else out there and I’m not sure there is. This is the world we know. Sure, it’s a messed up one, but better the evil you know than the one you don’t”.
“What if we could go to the wild? Somewhere with no portals.”
Genie glared at me. “I don’t hate the realm as much as you two do. There are some fun things about it.”
“I know,” I said, offering her an apologetic smile. “I just wouldn’t want to go without you.”
“Well, you aren’t going anywhere for at least another year,” Genie huffed as she carried the bag up the stairs and into our front door. “We will talk about it then.”
*
I left cups of cooked rice with the Can’t Commits. If we weren’t eating well, neither were they. I’m not a martyr. Then I rushed to the portal and was thrown into the in between.
Fergus was there waiting. His eyes lit up when he saw me. I felt myself blush.
“Do you do this for all the girls?” I teased.
“Of course,” Fergus said. My cheeks grew hotter from the embarrassment. Genie was an idiot.
“Why don’t they build a grounding structure like they have in the realm?” I asked, trying to change the subject. Fergus stared at me intently and I shifted uncomfortably. It felt like he was trying to read my mind.
“That would be unnecessary,” he finally said. “There is only one place to go here. It’s hard to get lost. Maybe if they ever decide to do more with this dimension, they’ll build it.” He held out his elbow for me to hang onto as we walked into The Nocere.
When we passed by Raleigh and the coat room mirror, I saw that I was in the same glamour as the previous night. “Guess they aren’t going to change it,” I sighed.
Fergus’ face was playful as he eyed me up and down. “But you look so sweet. Why should they change it?” I shoved him laughing as we walked into the bar.
The wooden stage sat hauntingly in the center of the empty room. The laughter subsided as I stared at it.
“You didn’t have to lie to me last night when you said it was a projection.”
Fergus turned his head to the floor. “I didn’t mean to lie. I just wanted to protect you from the truth.”
“I know.” My voice was hoarse. “I hate it here, hate the sick customers, and I hate what humanity has become. You’re a good person though. Thank you for taking care of us.”
Fergus smirked. “I don’t think I’ve ever been called a good anything before.”
I could feel my eyes roll. “Don’t be so humble, and don’t ever lie to me again.”
“Fawn!” Chloe and Claire shrieked my name from the hallway behind us causing me to jump.
“Did you two just get here?” Despite the situation, their enthusiasm made me smile.
“Yep. We portaled in two seconds ago,” Chloe said as the sisters swished their long cat tails into the room.
“I thought you said you walked all the girls here,” I whispered to Fergus before the twins wrapped their slender arms around me.
“Okay. No more lying starting right now.” Fergus grinned as the twins dragged me away to the employee lounge.
Chapter 11
∞
The beginning of night two at The Nocere was way less stressful than the first. Without the promise of the grand event, the bar was mostly empty. It was almost boring, but I’ll take boring any day over the madhouse.
I did find out that the twins were from New York. They promised to find the orphanage where Sammy was and check on her for me. I was excited to let Vorie know. Astrid was from Seattle and Lilith was from Australia. Most of the places I’d worked at were like this, employees from vastly different areas of the globe. I always wondered if the mafia did that on purpose, or if there were so few of us left that they had to send us from wherever they could find.
The easy shift gave my mind time to wander. I kept glancing at the floor, wondering about the grates beneath it. I wished there was a way to manifest to the bottom, but since I didn’t know what it looked like I’d need someone else to show me before I could check it out.
I was lost in thought as I walked over to serve the new customer that sat at one of my tables. “What can I get you sir?” I asked.
“Come back in a minute,” the man barked. I glanced over to the wall clock. T
hirty minutes until closing. Chloe and Claire sat on the bar stools sipping wine while they laughed with Karl. Astrid and Lilith cleaned empty bottles from the tables. There were only two lingering customers left in one booth, but it looked like they were getting ready to leave.
Of course, I get the jerk who comes in minutes before last call.
I walked back over to the bar to give the guy more time.
“I can do the slow nights,” Chloe was saying.
“They pay me either way,” Karl laughed. “I’ll take the slow nights too.” They glanced up as I came toward them.
“What does he need?” Karl asked.
“A minute,” I shrugged.
“Well he doesn’t have many of those left,” Claire giggled as she pointed to the clock.
“It looks like he is ready now anyway,” Karl nodded his head at the direction of the table. I turned to find the man glaring at me.
After I trudged my way back across the room, I smiled at him. “Are you ready now sir?”
“The cameras,” he said, looking around. “I want you to disable the cameras.” I squinted at the ceiling while trying to see what he was seeing. When I looked back to the man’s face, I saw a trail of spit running down his chin. His bulging eyes were glossed over and mostly black.
“I don’t think there are any cameras in here,” I stammered as I tried to rationalize my response.
“Look there.” He pointed angrily at the chandelier. “Tell them to turn off the camera or I’ll give them a show they won’t forget.” He smacked his lips noisily as he leered at my stomach.
“I’ll see what I can do.” I smiled sweetly and backed away slowly. When I was a few steps behind him, I took off running to the entrance of the bar. Bemouth sat on a stool within the hall reading a book.
“Um, I’m pretty sure that customer is insane,” I hurriedly whispered. “More insane than the other ones I mean. He says there are cameras and he’s threatening me if I don’t shut them off.”
Bemouth nodded as he stood. He was easily two feet taller than me and he filled the hallway with his muscular shape. I stepped to the side to let him pass. After a few deep breaths to calm my nerves, I walked back into the bar.
The customer and Bemouth were arguing at the table. When the bouncer placed his hand on the man’s shoulder, red hissing snakes appeared out of nowhere. They intertwined and slithered up Bemouth’s arm. Karl pushed the girls into the employee lounge.
Bemouth calmly turned to me. “Go tell Raleigh I need Fergus’ help,” he said in a thick accent as he shook the snakes off his arm.
Without a second request, I began running down the hall. Raleigh was napping on his desk. I gently shook him awake.
“Bemouth needs Fergus right now.”
The old man’s eyes cleared and suddenly Fergus was right behind me.
“Are you okay, Fawn?” he asked as I spun around in surprise.
“I’m fine. Bemouth needs you.”
“Stay here,” he commanded before rushing to the bar.
“How did you get him here so fast?” I turned to ask Raleigh.
The old man shrugged as his eyelids dropped heavily once more. “Some of us are better than others at what we do,” he mumbled.
Minutes later, the girls came strutting down the hallway ready to leave for the night.
“What’d they do with the customer?” I asked, looking over Astrid’s shoulder.
“Beats me,” Lilith shrugged. “He was gone when we came out of the lounge.”
Fergus came walking down the hall behind them. “Don’t worry about him anymore. I took care of it.”
“Cool. I guess.” I looked at him in confusion, but he gave me a soothing smile which eased my concerns.
He continued to walk with us to the portal. I waited by his side as the girls each took their turn leaving.
“Where are you from?” I figured I would ask.
“Somewhere warm,” he smiled at me. “They call it Florida. You should come visit sometime.”
*
“How was tonight?” Genie’s hair was full of curlers and she was laying on the couch.
“I thought you were supposed to be working.” I moved her pile of magazines onto the coffee table and fell onto the cushion beside her.
“They moved me to days for my final week.” I could tell she was bubbling over with excitement, but she was graciously easing me into whatever she wanted to talk about.
“That was nice of them.” I stretched out my legs and fluffed up the pillow under my head.
“Not really. My replacement is in, so I don’t have much to do there anymore.”
“Mmm-hmm.” My eyes were closing. “What are we doing to celebrate by the way?” Genie threw a pillow at my face. “Jeez, what was that for?”
“I’ll tell you if you don’t fall asleep,” she said as she shoved my leg.
“I’m up.” I bent my knees and sat up straight.
“Okay,” Genie gushed. “I was going to ask about doing it at your club but since that won’t work, Craton said he can get us in to Dives.”
I was definitely awake now. “Genie, how are we going to afford that? That place is super ritzy. Only people with jobs in the real world can afford to go there.”
“Here’s the best part,” she bounced up and down on the couch. “Craton said he’d pay for me, you, and Lane. Brayson said he’d cover him and Vorie. I’ve been saving up for those gorgeous butterfly wings. Oh Fawn, I’m so freaking excited.”
My jaw dropped to the floor and I had to pick it up before I drooled anywhere. “You’ve only been seeing him for like a month. Why would he pay for all of us?”
“His parents are rich,” Lane gave me a conspiratorial smile as he walked into the living room. “He loves the idea of rebelling by slumming with the orphans.”
Genie grabbed the pillow she’d tossed at me earlier and chucked it across the room, hitting Lane in the gut. “Give it a rest, will you? He actually likes me. Is that so hard to believe?”
“And do you actually like him?” Lane sat dramatically on the armchair.
“Kind of,” Genie sighed. “I mean I do like his money.” She immediately slapped her hands over her face when the words left her mouth.
“Oh Genie,” I laughed as she buried her head under a blanket. “You are such a romantic.”
“Enough about me,” Genie groaned. “How was your night? Did you talk to a certain man?” The top of her head appeared from under the fabric as she wiggled her eyebrows at me.
“I did,” I said before I laid back down on the couch. “I’m not sure if he likes me or not though.”
“Honey,” Lane said as he smiled at me. “You are so bad at reading people. I’m sure he adores you. What’s not to love about your weird, quirky little self?”
“Thanks,” I muttered. I could feel my eyes closing again. I fell asleep listening to Lane and Genie argue over which store to raid for the celebration at Dives.
Chapter 12
∞
The sun was already high in the sky when I awoke on the couch the next morning. Lane and Genie were at work, but they would be home soon. I put in my earbuds and tidied up the flat while listening to screaming musicians from a long-forgotten time. Then I got dressed and made my way over to Vorie’s house.
“You look better,” she said as I walked in the door. “Less angry, more yourself.”
“You look better too,” I laughed. “Less depressed, more Vorie.”
“Thanks,” she smiled. “Did you get whatever it was with Brayson worked out?”
“Not really,” I sighed. “It’s mostly just a crappy job, but when have we ever had a good job? I’ll be happy when it’s over. Until then, I don’t have a choice but to suck it up.”
Vorie nodded in a way that validated my feelings but was completely clueless as to what was really happening. “Hey, speaking of jobs, I got the one at the orphanage.”
“Are you positive you want to do this?” I searched her face for doubt
.
“I’d rather do this than work in the realm,” she laughed bitterly. “Who knows? I might actually be able to do some good.”
“Well if anyone can do that, it’s you. Do you remember when the director was on a rampage because someone ate his dessert cakes?”
“I do,” Vorie giggled. “I hid the littlest kids in the broom closet so he wouldn’t get them with the belt. Except, he was sure it was one of the little kids that took it because he couldn’t find any of them.” Her laughter faded away.
“You kept them safe.” I put my hand on top of hers. “He walked around hitting anyone who got in arm’s reach. You were in there for hours singing to them. When he finally found the wrapper under one of the older boy’s bed, you led them out like a momma duck. They thought it was one of the best days of their lives playing games in the closet with you.”
“We had some good times.” Vorie wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “Ugh, enough sad stuff. Let’s talk about something happier. Guess what Brayson and I did?”
“What?” I asked in amazement. It was crazy how fast she bounced back.
“I paid a little under the table for some bulk bags of rice from Kramer. Then we put in a big order for the shipment coming. We told Kramer we were having a party and needed the extra supplies. Look,” she said as she pulled a book from the shelf and thrust it into my hands. “Brayson found me this. It teaches you about medicine and how to use certain plants to cure ailments. I’m going to study this so I can take care of us in the wild.”
“You’re really serious about this?” Her excitement was contagious. “What can I do to help?”
“Read!” Vorie rushed to the bookshelf to remove a few more books. I set the medical text that she’d filled with notes on the table and took the stack she handed me. “These are books on gardening and farming. We need to study them so we can be prepared.”
“Farming,” I traced my finger over the book title. “Do you really think there are still animals out there?”
“There has to be. We still get milk from the store.”
The Nocere: A Haunting Dystopian Tale Book 1 Page 6