by Wilde, Rhea
He was one of the last patrons to leave that night. We didn’t exchange anything except for a few initial glances at one another. I regretted the opportunity that Zoe had taken from me but figured I probably would have made a fool of myself. The night was over and Frank had a smile on his face. Despite all of the money in my wallet and giddiness of all of my coworkers, I still couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed that I didn’t get to speak to the man who had captivated me so quickly.
Chapter 2
I stepped out of the bar after closing and was greeted by the brisk and cold night breeze. I wrapped my hands around myself and rubbed my arms to try and keep warm. I lived just a few blocks up the street from the bar, so I always walked to work. It didn’t help that my car needed repairs I couldn’t afford.
“Are you ready to go?” May asked me.
I nodded my head to her and we made our way home. May lived in the apartment complex just across the street from me and on nights we worked together, we would accompany one another home.
I appreciated her company. This was no place for a girl to be walking home by herself.
I looked up into the sky and noticed the moon hiding behind the gray clouds. It wasn’t enough to illuminate the streets to show everything it was hiding. The street lights barely worked, flickering on and off. A few neon signs from the all-night liquor store was buzzing. A couple of homeless men burned newspapers in a barrel down one alley to keep themselves warm. At least you knew what was going on down this alley.
So many of the buildings in the city were dilapidated. Abandoned warehouses used by homeless people to shelter themselves from the climate. Junkies used it as their private little getaway to abuse their drug of choice. Some thugs stood outside of some of the other buildings, protecting more unsavory things going on within. The police did what they could but they were the slums for a reason. It didn’t seem like it was going to be a problem that was going to be solved anytime soon.
I was even more paranoid lately. I wasn’t accustomed to the streets as they were now. Knowing that there were potential murderers killing innocent victims roaming these same streets was a thought that I didn’t want to think about but it kept forcing itself into my head.
I hastily made my way down the sidewalk faster than usual. I kept my arms wrapped around myself as I tried to stay warm.
“You should have brought a jacket,” May said to me.
“Yeah, I keep forgetting. Maybe I’ll remember tomorrow.”
“You won’t.”
May chuckled at me and I half-smiled at her comment, still focused on trying to get home as quickly as possible.
“Hey, slow down, will you?”
May tried to pick up her pace to catch up to me and I slowed down in my tracks so that I could have her close to me.
“What’s wrong, Ariel? Why are you in such a hurry?”
“I just want to get home,” I said. “I’m tired and sleepy and my feet hurt and I need to wash the smell of the alcohol out of my hair.”
“Would you relax? You have plenty of time to do all of that. You’re worried, aren’t you?”
“What?”
“You’re worried,” she repeated. “The news has made you paranoid and now you’re thinking that you’re going to be the next victim.”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just… I don’t feel comfortable that’s all. It’s not safe out here, is it?”
“No… But I doubt anybody’s going to do anything in the two blocks we have to walk. There are still people. Too many witnesses.”
“People watching us potentially get raped or mugged doesn’t exactly put my nerves at ease, May.”
I ignored my friend’s attempts at trying to reassure me even though I appreciated having her along. The sooner I got home, the sooner I could lock my doors and not have to worry about anything else for at least another day.
My nerves weren’t enough to get me to stop thinking about him though. The gorgeous blonde-haired man that I had never seen at the bar before. I was captivated. I couldn’t explain it. I couldn’t get him out of my mind and as we walked home, May must have seen it on my face.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked me. “Are you really still worried something might happen?”
“No, it’s something else. I’m thinking about work tonight… There was someone there.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know. There was this guy Zoe was attending to. Did you see him? He was tall and had long-blonde hair that was tied back. He was in a leather jacket and he was sitting by himself.”
“No,” she said as she shook her head in confusion. “I didn’t see anybody like that.”
“Are you sure? I thought he stood out pretty clearly.”
It was strange that May didn't notice him. We rarely had any new customers at the bar and when someone we didn’t recognize walked in, it was easy to point them out. Frank always encouraged us to do whatever it took to make them regulars. I laughed, thinking about how I had this nearly irrational desire to see him again.
“So, he was pretty cute, was he?”
I turned to my friend and could see the grin on her face. I started to blush, trying to shake it off. How could I explain to her this strange feeling I was having though?
“It’s not like that,” I said.
“So he’s ugly then.”
“No, he’s not ugly. Definitely not. But it’s more than that. There’s something else about him.”
“Ariel, when’s the last time you had sex?”
“What?”
I jerked my head back at May’s sudden personal question. I scrunched my face as I looked at her but the look in her eyes let me know that her question wasn’t rhetorical.
“How long has it been, Ariel?”
“May…”
“It’s okay. You can tell me. It’s not like I’m going to tell anybody. What’s wrong? Do you think I’m going to think you’re a slut or something? Or are you ashamed that you’re a virgin? It doesn’t matter to me.”
“I know… It’s just… I don’t know.”
I shrugged my shoulders, not really wanting to answer May’s question. The truth was that it had been a long time but not something I’d ever really thought about. I was too focused on trying to make ends meet and the move out into the city. I didn’t have time to think about less important things like trying to find a boyfriend or even hook up with someone. It was the furthest thing from my mind.
Even though I ignored her question, my eyes focused down on the boots on my feet as they took each step, I could feel May not wanting to let it go.
“You just need to get fucked, Ariel.”
“May!”
“No, I’m serious, Ariel. You’re a flesh and blood woman. You have needs. It’s okay. We all have them. That’s what I do with Chris. There are times when I’m not feeling too good about myself. So I just have him bend me over the couch as soon as I step in through the door. Other times he pushes me against the wall and pins me up against it with just his cock. You ever been fucked against the wall, Ariel? It’s great. Especially when you least expect it.”
I didn’t say anything to my friend’s repeated inquiry about my sex life. I tried looking out into the street to avoid having to focus on my friend’s monologue about her sexual habits with her boyfriend but there was nothing to take my attention away.
“Yeah, that’s it Ariel. You just need a good fuck.”
“Yeah, well, that’s not really an option at the moment. I’m not really thinking about it right now.”
“Yes, you are. You just don’t realize it.”
May giggled at me as we continued to make our way down the street. My apartment building was just across the street with May’s right next door. The night had started slow but as I neared my apartment, I realized just how exhausted I was.
Up ahead of us, there was another alley off to the side. It was dark like the rest of them, so you couldn’t see what was going on in it. Unfortunately for us, hiding in there
was the last thing I wanted to see.
Three men stepped out of the alley. Simply put, they were the kind of shady men you would find in a place like this. One of the men had a clean-shaven head. He was wearing a white tank-top that displayed the tattoos adorning his body. Drawings of flames, skulls and colorful language decorated his flesh canvas. Another one of the men was dressed in a dingy t-shirt and a pair of loose-fitting jeans that hung almost to his knees. His hair was unkempt and looked like it hadn’t been washed in weeks. The last man wasn’t much to brag about either but certainly seemed like the worst of all three evils. The goatee on his face and the way his hair was gelled and slick-backed made me wonder why someone who spent his time in dark alleys would even waste his time caring about his appearance.
“Let’s go across the street,” I whispered to May. “I don’t want to go next to them.”
“Relax, Ariel. They’re not going to do anything. They’re harmless.”
I didn’t care what May said. I could never be too cautious with strangers in this part of town. But my better judgment didn’t get the best of me and I approached the men, hoping that they would just ignore us.
“Hey, ladies. What’s going on tonight?”
The bald thug started to approach us. The way he sauntered made it clear what his intentions were. I tried walking faster and when I past him, I was greeted by his other two friends. I tried walking around them but they simply blocked my path.
“What’s the rush?” one of them said to me. “You in a hurry to get home? The night is still young. Why don’t you have some fun with us?”
“No thanks,” I said as I stopped waiting and grabbed my friend.
I nearly pulled May’s arm out of her socket as I forced my way between the two men. Even though we had walked past them, I could still feel them walking just behind us, the sound of their footsteps echoing loudly.
“Come on,” I whispered to my friend. “Hurry up.”
“Yeah, yeah. They’re harmless. Like I said.”
But the three men didn’t agree with May’s assessment of them. They quickly ran past us and stood in front of the both of us once again.
“No, really, ladies,” the bald man said. “I think we got off on the wrong foot. My name’s Zed. What’s your name, sweetie?”
Zed looked at me grinned at me and I could see the broken teeth hiding behind his lips. I turned away from him in disgust and tried to get past him but they were more adamant about not letting us through.
“What’s the matter, baby?” he said to me. “You think you’re too good for Zed here? Believe me, I’ve got more than enough for you to handle. See.”
He reached into his jeans and held his cock out in his hand, flashing it to me. I didn’t think I could get any more repulsed at this point but I was. I couldn’t take it anymore. I put my hand on his chest and shoved him out of the way with all of my strength. He barely moved but just enough for me to get through. It was the wrong thing for me to do though.
“What the fuck was that?” he said as he grabbed my arm.
“Let me go!” I shouted, struggling to pull myself free.
“No, you can’t shove me like that and get away with it. I want you to say you’re sorry right now. Or you can suck my dick, baby. Your choice.”
His two cronies laughed at me. I looked around for help but the streets were suddenly empty.
“Okay, asshole, that’s enough. Let her go.”
I turned around and suddenly felt relieved. May had a switchblade at his throat and it quickly made him drop my arm. He put his hands up and slowly started to back away.
“Okay, lady,” he said calmly. “Okay, you can go. But next time I see your friend, she’s going to have to pay for that.”
“Fuck off!”
May swiftly kicked him in the groin and the bald man crumpled in a heap on the pavement.
“Come on, let’s go,” May said to me.
I had never been more relieved to see someone get hurt. May and I quickly resumed our walk back home. I could hear the man agonizing in pain as his two friends tried to comfort him.
“Fucking Asian bitches! They’re fucking crazy!”
“You want me to get a doctor, man.”
“Shut up!”
I looked over at May and could see half of a smile on her face.
“See, I told you they were harmless,” she winked at me.
I smiled back at my friend, grateful that she had been with me tonight. When I stepped into my apartment, I couldn’t click the door locked fast enough. One deadbolt didn’t seem like it was enough but it would have to do for now.
I shuddered to think about what would have happened if May hadn’t been with me. I laid down to sleep that night, trying to forget about everything that happened. Everything would be fine. I just had to avoid walking past that alley from now on.
Chapter 3
“Police have found the remains of an unidentified woman in an abandoned building at the corner of K and 5th street, falling in line with the string of recent ritualistic murders taking place in the city. Earlier this morning, police responded to complaints about several dogs barking around the building. One officer investigated and discovered the woman dead on the scene. He described the visual as ‘completely ghastly’ and one of the worst things he’s seen in his police career.
“It’s now the eighth killing in a string of murders that have plagued the city. The discovery of this murder comes just a day after police found two bodies slain in an abandoned warehouse just two blocks away. The commissioner has vowed that this on-going investigation is his top priority and personnel is working around the clock to ensure that the killers are apprehended.”
I leaned up against the bar as I listened to the news report. I felt a shudder rush through my spine just thinking about what could have happened. The fact that it was a woman made it even more unnerving for some reason. I tried not to let the negative thoughts get the best of me but I couldn’t shake the bad feeling I had. After the incident with the thugs May saved me from last night, I was beginning to want nothing more than for the police to finally do their job and catch the people responsible.
“Are you okay?”
May took a seat next to me and patted me on the shoulder.
“Yeah,” I sighed a deep breath and nodded my head. “I’m fine. I’m… I’m fine.”
“You really shouldn’t watch the news that much. You know they sensationalize these things to get more people to view it. There’s really nothing for you to worry about.”
“What about last night?”
“That was just a freak accident,” she explained. “Those guys were just being dicks. Besides, it’s not like anything happened. That guy was an asshole who got what he deserved.”
“Not enough if you ask me.”
I didn’t care what May said to me. I didn’t feel safe. Especially not when I was still relatively new to the city. With everything going on in the news and being barely able to walk a few city blocks without being harassed, I was having trouble focusing.
“What the hell are you two ladies doing?” Frank said to us. “Would you please get to work?”
It was exactly what I needed to hear. I was thankful that the bar was crowded tonight and it gave me an opportunity to free my mind from the stress I was placing upon it. It was a Friday night and everybody was heading out to The Arrested Bar to get drunk. The liquor was flowing and the tips were getting larger and larger. All of the waitresses tonight were frantically making their way to the customers, to the bar and then back again. Frank was getting more than his money’s worth from all of us.
As I escorted a tray of beers to a table of drunk businessmen, I looked over to the entrance of the bar and watched the door open. It was him again. The same tall blonde man that I had seen just a day earlier.
I found myself staring at him as he walked into the bar, looking around as if he was trying to find someone. Our eyes met from across the bar and the deep blue tint I had never forgotte
n was there once again, piercing into my like sharp sapphires. He broke his stare with me and started to walk past me. When he brushed past me, I swallowed nervously. Over the smell of the alcohol in the air and the musky rotting wood underneath us, I swore that I could smell him. It was like he bathed in a strong and pungent cologne that penetrated my nostrils.
“Hey, lady, are you going to give us our drinks or what?”
I looked down at the table full of businessmen and suddenly realized what I was doing. I was standing there, still holding their tray of drinks and oblivious to everything that was going on around me. As I placed each of their beers down on the table, I watched as the mysterious man took a seat at the same table he did last night.
He was by himself again. It was strange for a someone to come into this place by themselves on a Friday night. Most people were here to have a good time with a group of friends. Maybe he was just waiting for someone.
“If you want this, you’re going to have to give me a little more attention, baby.”
I turned back to the businessman sitting in front of me as he waved a small wad of bills at me. I smiled at him then puckered my lips, pretending to blow him a kiss. It caused him to nearly fall back in his seat to the amusement of the rest of the table. He handed me the money and I sighed as I made my way back to the bar, no longer able to focus on attending to all of the tables.
I glanced over at him and already Zoe had taken a seat next to him. I felt a twinge of jealousy in my stomach even though I tried to deny it. Even from across the room I could see Zoe’s bubbly personality exuding from her. The way she twirled her short blonde hair and held her mouth open when she talked. Winks every now and told him more than words could ever say. I wondered if Zoe was actually interested in him and not just trying to be a waitress.
Suddenly, the two of them looked in my direction. I turned back to the bar and the bartender was staring at me with a confused look on his face.
“Do you need something, Ariel? What’s your order?”
“Um… No… No, I don’t need anything. No order...”
“Vodka. Make it a double, baby.”