Denounce

by Alex Dafney

  She gives me an angry glare as she looks down at the manuscript in her hand, flipping the pages quickly. “You made me lose my place.” I stand from the couch, my entire body hurting as I do, my head pounding. “You have to go.” She looks up to me with one eyebrow raised. “You’re not in any condition to be alone.” I pinch my eyes shut, holding my hands to my head.

  “This is just a dream. I just need to wake up.” I slowly open one eye, finding her standing in front of me with one hand on her hip, an amused look on her face. My eyes betray me as I let them slide down her magnificent body. She’s not in the leather getup like I’ve always seen her in. She’s standing in a skintight tank top, her breasts standing proudly and a pair of barely there shorts.

  “Eyes up here, Ashley.” I slowly let my eyes rake back up her body, giving her a slight shrug as I look into her green eyes. “It’s my dream. I can do what I want.” She takes a step toward me, a seductive smile on her face. “And what would you like to do in this dream of yours?” She lifts her hand, running her finger down my bare chest, stopping just at my happy trail before she works her way back upwards slowly.

  I step into her, my arousal evident between us. She cocks one eyebrow up, a small smirk on her face as I place my hands on her hips, running my fingers under her shirt to touch her skin. “You really think you’re dreaming?” I scoff loudly, starting to work my hands up her sides toward her breasts. “Yep. But I intend to make this the best dream of my life, dream girl.”

  I start to lower my face toward hers. Within the blink of an eye I’m on the ground, an oomph leaving me as face skids on the carpet. “Ow!” I yell as her hand smacks my ass roughly. I roll slightly, looking up to her with a scowl. “This is not how I wanted this to go.” She lets out an annoyed sigh as she bends down, offering me her hand.

  I take it and pull myself to standing, glaring at her with a frown. “What’s the point in having a hot dream girl if I can’t have sex with her?” She chuckles lightly, shaking her head in amusement before looking up to me. “You’re not dreaming, dipshit.” I roll my eyes at her, placing my hands on my hips. “Of course, I am. And in my dream, I want to get lucky. So, lie down, or something.”

  Her amused look changes to one of annoyance as she steps up to me. She lifts her hand, gripping my upper arm she slowly runs her fingers to the back of my bicep. “Fuck! That hurt!” I jump back as I reach up to my arm, running my hand along the spot she just pinched. “You know the saying, pinch me, I must be dreaming?” I nod at her, my brows still drawn in anger. “Well, did you feel that?”

  I drop my hand from my arm, my mouth slowly dropping open as I realize her point. Holy shit. I’m not dreaming. None of the last few days has been a dream. People with red eyes, who bite, are out there in the normal world amongst us all. I lift my hand to my neck, feeling a bandage on the side of my neck. “I need to sit down.” Stepping over to the couch, I fall back heavily. Still trying to get a grip on reality.

  She sits on the opposite end of the couch, curling her legs under her as she picks up the discarded manuscript from beside her and flips it open. “Let me know when you’re ready to talk.” I stare straight ahead at the TV that is turned off, my mind racing over the last few days. A knock on the door saves me from my oncoming panic attack. I watch as the woman on the couch gets up and walks toward the door, pulling it open.

  “About damn time. I’m starving.” I watch as a large, dark-haired man walks into my apartment, two brown bags in hand. He glances over at me, a look of confusion on his face as he looks back to the blonde-haired woman. “He’s awake? How is that possible?” She shrugs one shoulder as she takes a bag from him, peering inside as she sits it on my dining table. “I’m not sure, but you missed a hell of a show!”

  He smirks at her as he places the other bag next to hers. “Oh yeah?” She laughs as she pulls containers from the bag, placing them along the table. “He thought he was dreaming.” She glances over her shoulder at me, a smile on her lips. “I think he’s still in shock though. He hasn’t spoken a word in half an hour.” She turns back to the table, pulling a chair out.

  She sits in the chair, pulling her legs under her, flipping the boxes open in front of her. “He thought I was a dream girl for him to have his way with.” She chuckles as she picks up a fork. The dark-haired guy grins over his shoulder at me. “And he’s still standing?” He turns back toward the table, shoving something in his mouth. She reaches over, placing her hand on his forearm. “He told me this was his dream and he wanted to get laid, so I should lie down, or something.” They both laugh wildly, her hand still on his arm.

  My eyes zone in on the exchange, something flipping inside me as she touches him. I stand quickly, walking toward them. “Y’all need to leave. Now.” My voice comes out angry, but it’s pure jealousy I feel. They both turn to me, forks mid ways to their mouths. “He speaks.” The large man says. I ignore him, my eyes focused on the woman.

  She gives me a small smile as she stands, placing her hand on my arm. I jerk my arm away, walking toward the door and opening it. “Leave.” The guy continues to eat, completely ignoring my request as she stares at me. “Not very friendly seeing as we just saved his life.” The guy mumbles between bites. The woman starts toward me, resting her hand on the open door.

  “We can’t leave you.” Her voice is calm and low, almost pacifying. I let out a deep sigh as I push the door closed. She places a gentle hand on my bicep. “Let’s all sit down and have something to eat.” I hang my head as I walk around the table, dropping into the chair unceremoniously. “I’m Eridanus. Eri, for short.” I glance up to her as she pushes a plastic container in front of me.

  She gestures her hand to the large man next to her. “This is Orion, Ori for short.” I glance at the open container, my stomach flipping as I take in the sushi rolls. Pushing it away I sit back in my chair, folding my arms over my bare chest as I look toward the living room. “Ashley. Nice to meet you both. Sorry I hit on your girlfriend.”

  I look back toward the table as they both laugh wildly. “Dude! She’s my sister!” Eri wipes under her eyes as tears form from laughing so hard. Once they settle down, they both go back to eating. “Although, I should probably kick your ass for talking to her like that.” I glance across the table at Ori, noticing the wide grin on his face as my cheeks heat.

  I let out a sigh, glancing over to Eri who quietly eats. “I do owe you an apology. I’ve never been that forward with a woman.” She waves a hand toward me, giving a shrug. “Don’t worry about it. Calling me dream girl was actually kind of cute.” She gives an exaggerated wink causing my cheeks to heat further.

  I stand from the table, pushing my chair forward as I walk into the kitchen. “You need to eat something. You took on a lot of poison last night.” Eri calls over her shoulder as I open the refrigerator, peering inside. I grab a bottle of water, leaning back against the counter and taking a few large gulps. My stomach protests, but I keep drinking until I’ve drained the plastic bottle.

  I toss it in the trash can next to the counter as I look over at them, leaning back and folding my arms over my chest. “I appreciate y’alls help last night, but who the hell are you?” Ori glances at me as he shoves a large piece of sushi in his mouth, chewing and swallowing as Eri stands from the table, cleaning up the empty boxes. “The question is, who the hell are you?”

  I drop my arms, pointing at myself with one hand. “Me? I’m nobody. A normal twenty-five-year-old man who goes to work, comes home late in the evenings, cooks a subpar meal for myself, then goes to bed with a book, only to do the same the next day.” I shake my head slightly, dropping my hands to my side, an angry scowl coming to my face. “And why the hell do the two of you have such unusual names?”

  Eri raises an eyebrow at me as she dumps the containers in the trash can. “This coming from a boy named Ashley.” Ori laughs from his spot at the table, slapping a hand against his knee. “Burn!” She walks over next to me, opening the cabinets over head. “Speaking of, d
id you bring me my winnings?” He lets out a sigh as he stands, rummaging through the bag on the table.

  He pulls out a bottle of dark liquor, tossing it underhanded toward the kitchen. “He should’ve been a girl.” I lurch forward with an outstretched hand, but Eri catches the bottle with one hand behind her without looking, sliding it to the counter. She pulls down two glasses, twisting the glass top from the bottle and pouring a small amount in each glass. Ori walks over as she thrusts a glass toward him, bringing her own to her lips.

  I watch as she closes her eyes, swallowing slowly as a content smile crests her lips. “It’s been too long, old friend.” I step over to the cabinet, grabbing a glass and reaching for the bottle. She places her hand on mine and I look up to her shaking her head slowly. “Eat something first.” I let out a heavy sigh as I look upwards. “I don’t want to eat, I want to have a drink, but all I have here is beer and I’d much rather have liquor with the day I’m having.”

  I look down to see a sympathetic smile on her face as she removes her hand from the bottle. “One glass, then you’re eating.” I roll my eyes as I tip the bottle up, pouring half a glass. “Yes, mom.” I know I’m acting like a petulant child, but damn, I want a drink. I tilt the glass up, taking a large gulp of the dark liquor. “You don’t drink it like that!”

  I pull the glass down, taking in her scowling face. She tilts her glass toward me. “This is a sipping cognac. Not a, let me waste the flavor by chugging it, cognac.” Ori scoffs as he leans back against the counter. “I wouldn’t have made the bet if I’d known this shit cost three thousand dollars.” He gives a one shoulder shrug as he raises the glass to his mouth, taking a small sip. “It is good though.”

  I glance between the two of them. What the hell kind of jobs do they have to be able to afford thousand-dollar bottles of liquor? “What bet?” I glance over to Eri who looks away from me, tipping her glass up as she pretends to be interested in something on the refrigerator.

  “I bet that you’d be a girl with a name like Ashley, Eri didn’t agree.” Ori gives an indifferent shrug as he tilts his glass up. I lift my glass, taking a sip of the expensive liquor as my eyes go to Eri. Pulling the glass down I raise an eyebrow at her, a playful smile on my lips. “Doesn’t seem like a fair bet since we’ve met before.”

  Her eyes snap to mine, her brows drawn together. “Wait. You knew him before the Division sent us here?” She pulls her gaze from mine, looking over to Ori who scowls at her. She gives him a little flip of her hand. “He may, or may not have been, involved in a few of my latest outings.”

  He places his glass on the counter, stalking toward her with a devious grin. “You owe me three thousand dollars.” She sticks her tongue out at him, flipping him off. “That’s payback for you knocking my bow on our last bet.” She places her glass behind her on the counter as he grips her wrist, sliding his arm around her in a head lock.

  She winks at me, before thrusting an elbow into his stomach, darting behind him and kicking the back of his knee. He drops to the ground, catching himself with one hand as he starts to swing his arm behind him. She grips his arm, pulling it back in an unnatural position. “Alright!” He holds his other hand up in surrender.

  I stare at them, stunned at the display going down in my kitchen. She smacks him in the back of the head as she steps around him, leaning her hip against the cabinet and picking up her drink and narrowing her eyes at me. “Snitches get stitches.” She reaches over, smacking her hand against my bare chest. I stumble back a few steps, catching myself on the counter just as her hand grips under my arm.

  “Shit. Sorry. You’ve still got poison running through you.” She leaves her hand under mine as I straighten to standing. “Don’t worry though. You seem to be pretty tough. I’m sure you’ll bounce back quickly.” I shake my head slightly before lifting the glass in my hand and swallowing the remainder of my drink. Sipping cognac be damned.

  Chapter Four

  I step into the bathroom, placing my back against the door and closing my eyes. My head is still throbbing, and my body is weak and achy like I’ve had the flu. I hear whispering coming from the living room. I turn the doorknob, gently opening the door so I can hear what they’re saying. “There’s no way he’s a normal! A bite like that would’ve turned him within seconds, Eri!” I peek one eye through the crack of the door, seeing her fling her hands up at her sides.

  “I know that, but I checked his wrist! He doesn’t have the mark.” She shakes her head as she places her hands on her hips. “Then why the hell did the Division send us here? There has to be more to this guy.” I take this as my opportunity to come out of the bathroom. I was going to take a shower, but that can wait. I need answers.

  “What mark? What’s the Division? Who the hell are you two? What the actual fuck are those people with red eyes, and just, what?!” My voice raises with every word. Ori shakes his head, dropping down on the couch. “If he is a normal, he just heard way more than he needed to.” Eri gives me a concerned look. “Go take a shower, Ashley. We’ll be here when you get finished and I’ll explain everything.”

  I glare at her for a few seconds before spinning and walking back down the hallway, slamming the bathroom door closed behind me. I walk to the shower, turning the water on, before stripping out of my gym shorts. Part of me hopes they’re gone when I return, the other part wants to know what the hell is going on in this world.

  I take a long shower, letting the warm water relax my tense, aching muscles. As the water begins to get cold, I turn it off, stepping out of the shower and grabbing a towel from the hook. Wrapping it around my waist I step into the hallway, walking across and shutting my bedroom door once I’m inside. I drop my towel to the floor, standing in front of my closet.

  The door swings open and I cup my hands in front of me, staring at Eri with wide eyes. Her expression matches my own. “Oh, uh, sorry, I, uh, just wanted to check on you.” I watch as her eyes slide along my body, her cheeks flushing as she stops on my hands that are covering my middle. She quickly darts her eyes back up to mine. “So, you’re okay? Good, good, good.”

  She starts to back out the doorway, her eyes trailing downward as she begins to close the door. “Wait. What’s that?” She points toward where my hands are cupped around me. I throw my hands up at my side, an exasperated sigh escaping me. “That’s my dick!” She covers her eyes with both hands. “Oh, God! You did not just show me your… thing!”

  I look down, realizing I did in fact, show her my thing. I quickly cover myself. She begins to giggle as Ori steps in the doorframe behind her. He scowls over at me. “Now you’re flashing my sister?” I hold one hand up toward him. He pinches his eyes closed, bringing his hands up to cover his face. “Woah! I do not need to see that!”

  Eri giggles wildly. Reaching back with one hand to smack Ori blindly as she keeps her eyes closed. “Did you see it?” He groans as she giggles more. I let out my own groan as I tilt my head toward the ceiling. “I didn’t mean to flash your sister. Once again, sorry. Now if y’all would get the hell out of my room, I’ll happily put some clothes on.”

  She stops giggling, peeking through her fingers at me with one eye. She drops her hands, starting toward me. “Hold off on the clothes. I want to look at something.” Ori spins around quickly, giving me a death glare as his sister walks toward my naked body.

  She kneels to the ground in front of me, my heart rate quickening at the proximity from her face to my, thing. She places her hand on my wrist, looking up to me with an awkward smile. “Can you just shift your arm a bit?” I look up at the ceiling as I move my arm slightly, being careful not to let anything slip out of my hands and trying like hell not to get aroused.

  “Ori, come look at this.” We both groan. I keep my eyes on the ceiling as he approaches me. “I seriously don’t want to be this close to another man’s dick.” He murmurs as he bends down. “What the hell?” He stands up, looking at me quizzically as I bring my eyes back down. Eri stands next to him, the same express
ion on her face.

  I look down, thinking something may have happened to me last night that I don’t remember. Nothing looks out of place. No bruises, or cuts. I look back up to them, my eyes going from one to the other. I give a slight shrug. “What?” Eri spins on her heels, walking out of the room, Ori following her. “Meet us in the living room.” He closes the bedroom door as he leaves.

  Quickly, I throw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, wanting to figure out what the hell is going on. I step out of my room, walking into the living room to find Ori in one of the dining chairs he brought into the living room and Eri on the couch, her legs crossed under her.

  They both look up at me as I step in the room. I hitch my thumb over my shoulder toward the hallway. “What the hell was that about?” I step around the coffee table, sitting on the opposite end of the couch from her. She lets out a long breath before looking over to me. “You’ve never noticed the mark next to your hip bone?” I give a little chuckle as I sit back on the couch. “It’s just a mole. Well, a few moles in odd placement.”

  She sits back on the couch, placing her hands on the side of her head as she drops her gaze to her lap. “You seriously have no fucking clue, do you?” I flip my hand in the air. “Would one of y’all please explain what the fuck is going on?” Ori sits back in his chair, throwing a look at Eri as she stands.

  She steps in front of the coffee table, placing her hands behind her back and beginning to pace. “I’m not supposed to tell you anything.” She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, chewing nervously. She paces for a few moments, stopping and looking at her brother. “We have to tell him.” He stands from his chair, his brows drawing together in concern. “No way. We were told to bring him in.”