by Jane, C. R.
I knocked on the door. Music played from inside along with the sound of people laughing. Was she having a party? A party that she didn’t invite me to? Hurt filled my stomach, but I continued to knock on the door. Answer, Answer, Answer, I chanted in my head as the minutes passed and no one answered. I had no intention of returning home tonight so this had to work. What I craved more than anything was to feel safe for a little while, to laugh with my friend, and have her tell me things would be okay.
Finally, I just tried the door, and to my surprise it was unlocked. Cherry had always been lax about her security even though every human understood to lock their door since the Vepar invasion. You never knew who might be waiting outside and wanting to get in…
I walked into the entryway of her apartment where she had framed photos of the night sky; one pebbled with stars, another of the Milky Way. So many gorgeous images that didn’t really fit with Cherry’s style. Cherry had no clue about the constellations, nor was she even interested in anything universe related. She had once told me the pieces were conversation starters for when she brought a guy home to make herself look intelligent. While I loved reading about the wonders of the world and beyond, it was just another thing that made me wonder how Cherry and I had ended up staying such close friends over the years.
I knew the answer of course to why we’d become friends… after They came to Earth and my parents vanished, I questioned what I had left to fight for after losing everything. The city of New York fell into chaos, everyone stealing and ransacking homes in their panic over the invasion. I found myself trapped in a grocery store one day, while outside, an angry mob of frightened people attacked anyone in their path. They were burning down the stores. And there, in the candy aisle I found Cherry, hiding amid the licorice, crying. I took her hand and together we found a way out through the rear of the store. Guess we’d stuck together ever since out of the pure terror we’d shared. She once told me she’d be my sister and stay by my side always. And I’d been clinging onto that hope ever since, making excuses for all of her shortcomings because I didn’t want to be alone. But lately it’d been harder to ignore everything, and I’d found myself questioning her behavior.
Just thinking about those chaotic times sent a chill racing down my spine.
It’s the end of the world, everyone had screamed. Panic spread like wildfire across the world, lasting months.
Soon after, the Vepar had broadcasted their rules for our behavior and how everyone who broke them would be punished. No stealing. No killing. Return to our normal lives or else, they insisted. No one knew what the consequences entailed, but when more and more of us went missing, it didn’t take long for people to catch on that those who disappeared never came back. Order returned fast to our lives; order born of fear. And then the other rules came into force about females registering regularly, for us to exercise daily, and so on. No explanations, just orders of what to do next like we were being prepared for something big.
I shook my head at the direction my thoughts had taken and took a step forward in Cherry’s apartment through the hazy air. There was a thick cloud of smoke that assaulted my senses and it grew thicker as I moved deeper into the apartment, making me cough. There were people everywhere in her living room dancing and drinking. So many people spilled out onto her balcony, overlooking the city. The dance music thumped so loud that it seemed to pound the inside of my skull.
Cherry was sitting on a guy’s lap on the couch in her living room, a contraband cigarette in her hand. I noticed that the man she was rubbing herself all over was not the one she’d said she spent the week with or one that I recognized from the club. It was another man she must have picked up. He was tall and lanky with short hair and was pretty ordinary looking. Very unlike the usual dates she picked - all muscles and gorgeous. I just stared at her for a second not believing that while I was having the worst few weeks of my life, she apparently had been partying it up with a crowd of strangers that I had never seen before.
“Cherry,” I finally yelled, straining to be heard over the music and the loudness of the party guests.
She looked up at me after I had called out her name a few times. It had to be my imagination but when she first looked up at me it almost looked as if she was annoyed to see me. The expression faded so fast that I couldn’t be sure what I had just seen.
“Ella,” she said, in the fakest voice I had ever heard from her.
“Can I talk to you?” I asked, letting the desperation I was feeling leak into my voice. She stood slowly, whispering something into her guy’s ear, a man that upon closer inspection looked extremely greasy and disgusting. I couldn’t imagine where she’d picked him up at.
I started walking towards Cherry’s bedroom, looking back every few seconds to make sure she was still following me. There were people everywhere and they all seemed to be closely acquainted with my best friend. One guy we passed even managed to stop Cherry and stick his tongue down her throat before she could follow me again.
I gave a little screech when I walked into her bedroom and there was the guy Cherry had picked up at the Vepar club, balls deep in another girl on Cherry’s bed of all places. I expected Cherry to look annoyed, but she just laughed when she saw them. “I need you to move the party somewhere else, baby,” she cooed at the couple who seemed to be even more enthusiastically going at it with an audience watching them.
Looking up at Cherry, the creep grinned and pulled out of the girl, not having any problem with the fact that he was butt naked in front of Cherry and me. He took the girl’s hand and pulled her out of the room, both still naked, shooting a cheeky grin at Cherry as he passed us.
I eyed the bed and shivered in distaste. It was looking less and less likely that I was going to be able to stay here. And since when was Cherry into swinging?
“What do you need me for?” she snapped at me. “I obviously have stuff going on right now,” she continued, not sounding shamed at all over the fact that she was having a giant party that she had failed to tell her best friend about. Not that I’d attend such a sleazy affair, but it was the principle of not being invited.
I let that argument drop just as I did about everything else in our friendship that made me upset.
“I need help,” I told her.
Cherry’s face remained unchanged at my pronouncement, so I continued. “There are three Vepar that have been following me ever since that night at the club. They’re literally everywhere, Cherry. I can’t get rid of them and I’m scared about what they’re going to do to me. Can I stay here for a little while just until I can come up with a plan?” My breath raced as I waited for her to answer.
Cherry burst out laughing, the kind of laughter that would make anyone cry a little at the fact that someone was laughing so hard at them.
“Three Vepar are following you?” she gasped. “Where do you even come up with this stuff?”
Fire climbed over my neck and cheeks. “I’m telling you the truth!” I snapped
“Oh, honey,” she said with a disdainful glance. “If you’re jealous that I haven’t been talking to you this week, this isn’t the way to get my attention back with some made up story. I’m allowed to have other friends.” Her voice rose in anger, and she gripped her hips.
I looked at her shocked, my mouth hung open. “You can’t honestly believe I’d make this up?” I whispered.
With a raised chin, she began to walk away from me. “I have guests to get back to. You know the way out, don’t you?” she asked in a condescending voice as she disappeared from view out the bedroom door.
I sank onto her bed in disbelief before quickly jumping up when I remembered what I’d just witnessed happening on the bed. I slowly made my way back through the party to the front door, taking one last look at my best friend who was now making out with one guy while the one from the club finished his business with his lady friend on the couch next to them - in full view of everyone. Who the hell were these people Cherry was mixing with?
&
nbsp; While part of me toyed with the idea of dragging her out here and getting her to open her eyes to what she was doing, I also felt betrayed. An ache curled around my heart, squeezing it tight, reminding me that this wasn’t the first time Cherry had let me down.
More than anything though, I felt hopelessness as I stepped out of the building into the night. The rain came pouring down in sheets, drenching me to my bones in seconds and fitting my mood perfectly.
What was I supposed to do next?
I couldn’t go home and keep putting up with the Vepar following me. But I also didn’t want to sleep on the streets. Looking around, I remembered that there was a small motel a few blocks away that we had stumbled across one night when I was trying to herd a drunk Cherry home. Thinking of the money the Vepar had dumped on the table in the cafe, I decided that wouldn’t be a bad option.
A night or two of being alone, hidden, without having to be afraid sounded amazing. Maybe I’d splurge and get myself a big tub of chocolate ice cream and drown myself in it. I hugged my backpack to my chest, trying to keep it as dry as possible, and ran down the sidewalk in the direction of the hotel. The rain fell in chaotic directions, and the violent wind slammed into me making the walk seem ever longer than it really was.
This was turning into quite the night. Not only had my friend turned her back on me, and three Vepar were following me, but now I was stuck in a crazy thunderstorm. I just hoped I wasn’t hit by lightning.
The rain fell hard and diagonal as if it meant to wash me away. It pelted into the sidewalk, knocking into buildings, roofs, and cars. Water splashed up to my knees, drenching my sneakers, making each step make a squishy sound. But I kept going past the store fronts and fancy hotels, watching as my surroundings became seedier and seedier. People darted past me, hiding under umbrellas and staring at me with pity, but I kept going, because in that moment, I felt pity for myself too. For my friend letting me down, for the fact that I had to run away at all. I wanted to scream at Cherry, maybe even throttle her. She had been a bitch tonight, and I was right back where I always was...taking care of myself.
After popping into a convenience store to grab a frozen meal and some snacks, I turned right at the next street corner where the storefronts grew sparse and walked towards the neon light of a sign flashing that vacancies were open at the Palace Motel.
This place was anything but regal. A three-story, concrete building was surrounded by a parking area filled with weeds growing out of the cracks in the path. Metal stairs were visible, leading up to the various floors. I somehow doubted the safety inspector had visited this place in years.
A young couple were drunkenly swaying as they ran up the path toward the stairs through the rain. I did the same, targeting the reception door. I burst inside and shut myself in while water dripped down my face and clothes creating a small puddle on the floor beneath me. Even my underwear was soaked.
I turned around to the large reception room. The counter on the right had an older woman picking at her nails, and on the left sat a dusty couch where two men in silky shirts and jeans lounged, legs wide, their eyes all over the newcomer. Me.
Ignoring them, I swung toward the receptionist and made hasty steps toward her.
She glanced up, still cleaning her nails. “How many nights?”
“Umm.” I tottered on my feet, unsure how long I planned to stay when I had limited funds and just needed some time to think things through. Check out would be 10am and I wasn’t working tomorrow, so I could at least hide here all day. “Two nights please,” I finally said.
“$172 for two nights. Towels are in your room.” She swiveled on her stool and picked a random key from the wall of hooks behind her before tapping something into the computer on the side.
I dug into my bag, juggling the bag of food, and pulled out two bills. I slid them across the counter holding my breath that she wouldn’t ask for a credit card.
The fact that I was paying in cash didn’t even faze her. Evidently this was the type of establishment where that was commonplace. She didn’t even ask me to show her my license. Once she examined the cash, apparently checking to make sure it wasn’t counterfeit, she handed me my change and the key on a ring with a tag for my room number.
“Number 222. Just give the door a jiggle as it gets stuck when it rains. Have a pleasant stay.” Her smile was anything but genuine… it belonged on someone bored and exhausted. And who could blame her when this was where she had to spend her time. I could only imagine the type of things she had to deal with here.
“Thanks.” I smiled and collected my belongings before turning toward the glass door. Outside, the deluge continued, and I tucked the key and money into my pocket, before reaching for the door. A shadow fell over me from behind.
Thinking I’d forgotten something, I turned, expecting the lady from the counter. Instead it was one of the men from the couch, wearing a purple silky shirt, open half-way to showcase his hairy chest. He smiled with yellowing teeth, even though he looked to be in his late twenties. He really should take better care of himself, but I somehow doubted he’d appreciate me suggesting he brush at least twice a day.
“You got an appointment tonight?” he asked, slouching against the faded wall with his hands in the pockets of his jeans, while he stared at me with a sly grin. His gaze trailed up and down my soaking wet body.
An Appointment? I had no idea what he was talking about.
“I need to get to my room,” I said, turning back around as two young girls, maybe eighteen or nineteen, rushed inside with an umbrella they shared. A massive man followed them, clearly some kind of guard for the women.
I stepped back as they splashed water everywhere, including on me.
“Bitches,” the guy snapped. “You’re getting me fucking wet.”
They sneered but never said a word as they rushed over to the other man by the couch, taking a seat on either side of him. They all chatted in whispers, and only then did I realize they most likely were hookers and these guys were pimps.
“So?” The purple shirt guy asked. “You up for a fun night? I’ll get you a warm meal.” He glanced down at my bag with its microwaveable chicken meal, chips, and tub of ice cream. “And some fresh clothes. We can all do with a fresh start. I’ll have your back.” He sniffled and rubbed the back of his hand under his nose.
Fresh start. Yes, that was exactly what I needed. I had to stop fooling myself that I’d ever get ahead in my current life, especially with three Vepar on my heels. I knew exactly what I had to do over the next two days. Come up with a plan to leave this city, maybe the state. Relocate to a small town where things were cheaper, where I could keep to myself. Maybe I’d explore getting a job at a school or something better than a cafe. I’d start an online course to get ahead and be able to demand better pay. And a small town would probably have fewer Vepar...or hopefully no Vepar.
I didn’t know where a place like that existed, but I had two days to work out a complete rehaul of my life.
“Yo, you’re being fucking rude, just ignoring me.” His voice climbed, but I didn’t have time for him.
“Thanks for your insight,” was all I said, gaining myself a confused glare. I ignored his attempt at further conversation, and I darted outside where the ferocious wind and rain once again hammered into me.
Within minutes, I stepped into room 222 and slammed the door shut behind me, quickly locking the two flimsy locks available on it. A new sense of excitement and nerves coaxed my pulse into a race. I was doing this finally… making a change I’d been pondering for months. Sure, I just earned a new job, but what good was that if the Vepar were planning on kidnapping me, or whatever they had planned? I’d start new. I’d done it before, and I could do it again.
I switched on the light to see a small room with a double-sized bed against the one wall, brown patchy carpet, and a round table with chairs at the back. Nearby stood a small counter with a coffee machine, packets of coffee, filters, and several cups. Looking around I found
a microwave on the bathroom counter. Perfect.
It was a crappy room, but somehow it didn’t feel as terrible as it could. Here I didn’t have to look over my shoulder wondering when the Vepar were going to show up next.
I dumped my bag on the table and prepped my frozen meal, starting the coffee maker up too so that I could help myself warm up. I then stripped off my wet clothes and pulled on the folded robe I found in the bathroom.
Yep, tonight was the start of a new beginning. I giddily picked up the ice cream and plastic spoon that I had gotten from the store and ripped off the lid. For once, I was going to try doing things differently, starting with eating dessert first. I dug into the ice cream and pushed aside the worried thoughts that somehow the Vepar would track me down no matter where I went. If I thought like that, I might as well give up right now.
6
Waking up felt like I was treading through a fog, I couldn’t quite get to my destination. I shifted in and out of consciousness for what felt like days. Strange voices flitted around me, liquid was slipped down my throat, I could feel someone touching my hair...but still I slept on.
When I finally emerged from my deep sleep, it felt like I’d been sleeping for years. There was sunlight streaming in from a large window to my right that took up almost the whole side of the room...a very unfamiliar room I might add. This wasn’t my place or the seedy motel.
Panicking, I tried to rack my brain for where I was. Had I gone out with Cherry and gotten drugged? Sleepwalked? Was I still dreaming? A million different scenarios ran through my head until I fell on one that filled me with the most dread of all.
They’d taken me.
The Vepar.
The strange three men who’d been following me around for weeks.
Sitting up in bed, I was relieved to see that for the moment, I was at least by myself in a giant bedroom easily twice the size of my loft. I sat in the largest bed I’d ever seen, easily able to fit four sleeping adults. Moving my legs, I noted that the silky sheets were also the nicest I’d ever felt as they slid against my skin. Wherever I was, the person who owned this place owned expensive things. And if I was kidnapped, this had to be the strangest prison I’d ever seen.