While silently sobbing, Angel heard the gate being unlocked. The woman walked into the room and stood over her, watching in annoyance. She squatted down, took Angel’s wrists, and placed them around her smooth neck. Angel leaned close to the strange woman and inhaled the scent of vanilla and peppermint. The woman then lifted Angel off the floor and dropped her back on the bed without breaking a sweat. Angel’s body began to shake with fear; she pulled the white bedsheets over her head and began to speak without making much sense.
“What do you want? Please let me go, I didn’t do anything. I have children. Please, I’m a mother.” Angel uncovered the sheets from her head and continued weeping. “I never meant to hurt Theo. He was a thief and a liar. Please let me go, and I will never tell anyone about this.”
The woman stared pitifully at Angel then walked slowly outside the room, returning with a tray. She sat next to Angel on the bed and placed the tray on her lap. The tray contained napkins, a ham sandwich, milk, an apple, and medicines with no labels. There was also a syringe with a blue substance in it. “I don’t know who Theo is,” said the woman in perfectly good English.
Angel remained silent and used the white sheets to dry her tears. She had so many questions but didn’t know where to begin. As she opened her mouth to speak again, she was cut off.
“Do not try to get up again until the weakness in your legs has worn off. You were hit with several high doses of sedatives in your thigh. It will make walking impossible right now,” she said while wiping the blood off of Angel’s lips and teeth. Angel grabbed her hand and peered in anger. The woman stared directly back into Angel’s eyes, observing her. Angel concentrated on ripping her apart and seeing her pretty face explode, but the throbbing in her head prevented her from focusing.
“Also, do not try any of your mind tricks. Father, or as you will call him, Master, has injected you with a blocking serum. The serum is hindering the portion of your brain that processes your supernatural power. Any intense concentration will cause extreme pain, which explains the headache. Keep it up and your brain will hemorrhage, and you will die. So, I advise you to relax and get some rest. The headache will go away in a matter of minutes.”
“Master? Supernatural powers? What are you talking about? Who are you?” questioned Angel all at once.
The woman firmly replied, “My name is Keiko Meiji. You are on a remote island in the Caribbean Sea. You are here because Master Anu has been searching for you for a very long time.”
Angel looked at Keiko, puzzled. “Master Anu? Who is that? A remote island? What do you mean, like I’m far from home?” asked Angel, searching for answers.
Keiko didn’t reply.
“I don’t believe you. Who are you people, really? This is definitely a cruel joke.”
Keiko still did not reply.
Angel failed to believe Keiko and directed her attention to her next question. “Meiji? I’ve heard that name before.” She turned her head, looked at the ceiling, then back at Keiko.
“As in the Emperor of Japan?” asked Angel curiously.
“Yes, Emperor Meiji was my biological father. I was born out of a rape circumstance. The Emperor wasn’t quite a savior to women. He treated them like garbage. Apparently, things didn’t end well for the Emperor but ended great for me,” Keiko said with a devilish smile.
“But Emperor Meiji ruled in the 1800s. How have you managed to live for decades?” asked Angel, unconvinced.
Keiko engaged in the conversation. “I was special to my mother, but I never got to know my real father. I heard he was a great ruler and a great man, but what kind of great man rapes a helpless peasant and tries to kill his own daughter on the day of her birth? Keiko gazed at Angel, reminiscing about her past.
“A man who tries to kill his daughter at birth sounds like a real asshole,” Angel responded. Keiko smiled then shrugged her thin shoulders. “Master Anu saved me when I was ten years old. He took me away from a place where I wasn’t accepted. I am forever grateful to him. I will serve him and honor him until one of us has met our death. He is my father.”
“Saved you? From what? I don’t fully understand.”
Keiko looked puzzled at Angel, wondering why she was not understanding what she was talking about. Angel had asked one question and had gotten riddles in return. The conversation was frustrating her.
Keiko continued to speak. “You’re not the only supernatural, Angel, if you’ve even considered that. When you meet Master Anu, he will answer all of your questions.” Keiko plunged the syringe into Angel’s arm, dispensing half of the blue fluid.
“Ouccccch, that hurt. What is that stuff?” asked Angel in a panic.
“Vitamins,” Keiko answered sarcastically.
“Not to worry―the substance will help you to sleep and aid in regaining the strength in your legs. The Master has created it especially for you.”
“What? Is he a doctor?” asked Angel.
“Ohhh, no”, chuckled Keiko as she capped the syringe and placed it inside her boot.
Angel held her arm and tried to ease the pain. “If he isn’t a doctor, then why are you injecting me with homemade remedies? Is it safe?” she asked, afraid of experiencing any side effects.
“You are quite the worry bug, Angel. Relax. The Master knows what he is doing. He always knows what he is doing,” Keiko responded confidently.
“Well, your Master sounds like a swell guy,” replied Angel with sarcasm. “Why couldn’t your Master just call me or send me a letter? Make it less dramatic? Instead he kidnapped me,” Angel said, annoyed.
“Now what fun would that be,” said Keiko, smiling. “Besides, Angel, this is the best way. You are more dangerous than you think. You possess powers that you can’t control while in your human form. If your powers emerge uninvited, we are all dead. The Master will help you,” said Keiko.
Angel looked at Keiko, and she began to fade from sight. She couldn’t stay focused, and her last sentence was distant. She didn’t understand what Keiko was saying. The blue substance was working quicker than she’d expected and her eyelids were getting heavy. Keiko stood up from the bed and placed the tray on top of the sink. Before she walked out, Angel called back. “Keiko.”
Keiko whisked around.
“Can I at least get a better lunch. I don’t eat pork,” Angel said, groggily.
“No,” Keiko replied, slamming the cell shut as Angel fell into a deep slumber.
7
The Real
Angel woke up several hours later feeling much better. Earlier, she felt as if a train had hit her, now she felt a weird burst of energy. She started to wiggle her toes and move her legs up and down on the bed. She tested her legs further as she attempted to stand. Surprisingly, Angel stood up straight and held her balance. She began to tiptoe and prance around like a ballerina. Amazing what vitamins can do for you, she thought. Angel eyed the tray Keiko left on the sink. She grabbed the sandwich and smelled it. The smell of ham and bread filled her nostrils. She opened the sandwich and threw the ham outside the cell. I told you, I don’t eat pork, Angel said silently. The ham hit the outside wall and slid down to the floor.
Angel began eating the bread and drinking the milk. Milk had never tasted so good. She was not a huge milk drinker; but since she was extremely thirsty, it did the job. A few minutes after she devoured the milk, she heard the same clacking of shoes coming down the hallway. Angel placed the milk on the tray and walked over to the metal bars. Keiko appeared before her wearing the same outfit but holding a silk piece of fabric in her hand. She glanced at the ham that landed on the floor and then drew her attention to Angel.
“Is that how you dispose of something in your own home? By throwing it on the floor?” said Keiko, annoyed.
“I told you I don’t eat pork.”
Keiko bent down and picked up the ham using the tips of her freshly painted red fingernails. She handed it to Angel between the bars in disgust. “Dispose of this in the trash under your sink, please.” Angel turn
ed from her and looked under the sink to notice a small black garbage pail that she hadn’t noticed before. She took the ham and threw it in the garbage. As Angel turned to walk back to Keiko, she had already unlocked the cell and was standing before her. “Now wear this,” she said, holding up a beautiful, black silk robe. “The Master is expecting your presence in his throne room.”
Angel clenched her teeth, snatched the robe from Keiko, and put it on. Keiko then handed Angel her black-rimmed glasses. She slipped them on in relief. It felt great to finally see things clearly. Angel stared at Keiko for a few seconds and couldn’t believe how smooth and clear her face looked. Her ruby-red lipstick fit her skin tone well. The feeling of the silk robe reminded Angel of the bedsheets she purchased during one of her overseas travels. They were pure silk and felt smooth and sexy. Angel started to feel more self-possessed but not enough to walk herself out of the room. Keiko proceeded to walk out and nodded her head for Angel to follow. Angel didn’t move. She stared at Keiko with much disdain.
“Angel, we are either going to do this the easy way or the hard way,” stated Keiko impatiently.
“What’s the hard way?” asked Angel.
Keiko stared at Angel furiously. Her eyes went beat red as the color of her perfect lipstick on her perfectly-shaped lips. Keiko’s expression remained still and locked on Angel, and she felt her body being involuntarily dragged out of the room. Angel was walking without having to move. The worst part was the pain in her scalp. It felt as if someone, or some force, locked onto her hair and was pulling her forward. She screamed in fear and tried her hardest to fight back but couldn’t move. By the time she made it inches out of the room, she heard a man’s voice yelling Keiko’s name from the corridor. “KEIKOOOO!”
The unnatural hauling stopped, and Angel fell to the floor.
“What is it?” asked Keiko, annoyed more than before.
“I think the Master would prefer it if the girl was unharmed,” said the English accent.
Angel, feeling confused as to what just happened, took a moment to stare at the man with the accent and instantly recognized him.
“It’s YOU!” she shouted furiously, forgetting that Keiko was standing between them.
She shoved past Keiko, stumbling toward him.
“You MOTHER FUCKER,” Angel shouted in anger, determined to harm the man that had captured her.
“YOU’RE THE ONE WHO BROUGHT ME HERE.”
The Englishman smiled at Angel as she attempted to jump on him. She tried to grab for his throat, but the force stopped her in mid-leap. The Englishman extended his arms, ready to grab Angel, but realized she never came down.
“Well, this is entertaining,” he stated.
“She’s being hostile,” said Keiko.
Angel tried to talk, but her mouth was frozen shut.
“Well, I would be, too, if I was locked up in a room for two days,” replied the Englishman. “I’ll restrain her with zip ties until we take her to Master.”
Angel could not resist; she was like a statue bound in midair.
“Okay, let her down,” he said to Keiko once she was tied.
In seconds, Angel hit the floor and landed hard on her tailbone.
“Fucckkkkkkkk,” she cussed in pain. Keiko yanked her up by the arm, ignoring the pain Angel felt.
“Enough with the games. Let’s go,” commented Keiko, anxiously, as she continued to yank Angel down the corridor.
Angel was in agonizing pain as she walked through the passageway and up a narrow flight of stairs. Her tailbone felt broken, and she knew it was bruised. Every step she took up the stairs produced waves of sharp pains up her spine. She had taken a pretty hard fall.
The stairs were carpeted red and her bare feet felt as if they were touching freshly cut grass. When she reached the top of the stairs, they walked into a huge beautifully decorated living room. It was nicely bright and the black leather couches complemented the red rug and cream-color walls perfectly. There were stone and porcelain sculptures of Greek Goddesses in every corner of the room. A huge screen TV was mounted on the wall with shelves containing African face masks on either side.
Servants were busily cleaning windows, dusting shelves, and vacuuming. The female staff all wore the same black outfits consisting of a long-fitted skirt that hit a bit past the knees, a black snug turtleneck with sheer long sleeves that was tucked neatly into the skirt, and black Mary Jane shoes. Their hair was pulled back into a tight bun with not a hair out of place. The men all wore the same long black slacks, black shoes, and a neatly-tucked black short-sleeved button-down shirt with black buttons. Each one of them wore a gold pendant above their left breast― the letter “A” in red script. Angel looked over at Keiko and the Englishman and realized they weren’t wearing this symbol.
The workers worked quietly and diligently; some wore earpieces as if they were taking orders from someone. Angel observed her setting briefly. She was astonished by her surroundings. The entire time she was held hostage, she figured she was in the basement of a disgusting abandoned apartment building on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. She never suspected to be hidden at the bottom of a mansion. The house seemed to be sitting on a beach because she could hear waves crashing and feel a warm sea breeze coming from an open window. The feeling of the warm air made Angel realize that Keiko was right. She was far, far, away from New York City; it was the dead of winter back home. Angel hastily started to panic.
“SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME, PLEASE I’VE BEEN KIDNAPPED, HELP ME…WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE? LISTEN TO ME, PLEASE!” shouted Angel. “PLEASE CALL 911.” There were so many servants in sight and not one person acknowledged Angel. Not one person lifted their head or made eye contact; it was as if she was invisible. However, as she continued screaming, one servant eventually stopped. The woman did not say a word, she merely stepped in front of Keiko, handed her a gag, and walked away. The Englishman grabbed the gag and quickly muzzled Angel, which in turn kept her quiet for the rest of the walk.
Awww, crap. I’m doomed, thought Angel, as she realized she was defeated.
The house smelled of fresh tropical flowers and the salty fragrance of a balmy ocean breeze. Angel couldn’t determine the exact scent, but it smelled delicious and clean all at once. The sun outside the window was shining brightly and it blurred Angel’s vision. Her eyes needed to adjust from being underground for so long. She remained in between Keiko and the Englishman as they walked through the living room and down another long hallway. Another servant came out of a cleverly-disguised door; she was holding freshly folded linens. Angel was instantly drawn to her. The woman was tall, slim, and her natural red hair was in a stylish bun, similar to the other female servants. Her black uniform was a bit different, though; instead of Mary Janes, she wore black pumps and she didn’t have the gold pendant. Her uniform clung to her curves as if it were made specifically for her shape. The woman’s sea-green eyes were hypnotizing. It was as if Angel was staring into a clear lagoon. The woman glanced their direction but only made eye contact with the Englishman. She continued walking past the group as if she didn’t notice them. However, Angel caught the woman giving a charming half-smile and a nod to the Englishman. What was that about? thought Angel.
As Angel walked, she scanned every picture hanging on the wall, trying to see if she recognized any of the art. Sadly, she did not. She then began having several thoughts float through her head. Why all black? Why do the women wear skirts and Keiko gets to wear spandex? What’s with the pendant and why isn’t everyone wearing one? Does it mean anything? Does it mean that certain people work in different areas of the house? Will the Master be wearing all black? Shit, does any of this even matter? These people are going to kill me for sure. Get it together, Angel. We are going to have to fight our way out.
At the end of the hall was a wooden door with a black steel knob. The Englishman pulled the door open and led Keiko and Angel inside. The throne room was exactly what it was. It was a huge room with a bronze throne on a rais
ed platform. The floors were honey nut hardwood and the walls were, again, cream-colored. It was a windowless room, but rods were fastened to the wall on which red draperies were hung, giving the illusion that there were windows. The room was oval-shaped with three doors: two doors facing the throne and one door on the rear. There was a carved end table placed beside the throne that held an ornamental wine porron and four goblets. Angel stared at the decanter thinking how she hasn’t seen one of those in a long time. The group walked to the center of the room and waited.
The rear wooden door opened and the red-haired woman that Angel noticed earlier entered. She carried a tray holding a bottle of red wine. She silently walked to the table and carefully placed the wine next to the porron, making sure she didn’t make a sound. She turned and raised an eyebrow to Keiko, looked at Angel, then back at Keiko. Keiko quickly got the message. She removed Angel’s gag and rushed to give it to the red-haired woman who then exited the room. Angel’s mouth was relieved to be free. She wet her lips and swallowed as many times as she could to quench her throat. Keiko and the Englishman knelt. Angel looked at them, puzzled, not sure what to do until Keiko rapidly stood up, grabbed her by the arm, and pulled her down to kneel, as well.
“Well, I wouldn’t need help kneeling if one of you would have said something,” said Angel whispering.
“Shhhhhh, the Master is coming and when he enters do not lift your head and do not speak. Is that enough direction for you?” Keiko whispered back angrily.
Angel looked down at the floor thinking, the floors are so clean; it’s unreal. A minute later Angel heard voices coming from outside the door. The door swung open and she heard multiple footsteps and voices enter the room. Angel did as she was told and kept her head down; however, it didn’t stop her from listening to the conversation.
“Andrew, you have got to be kidding me. So where are the guards now?”
Trapped Inside Humanity Page 8