She’s a Runner

by B Amari

  The movement made his chest swell and for the first time I noticed how defined he was under the unassuming cotton tee.

  “I’ve been here too long already. Gotta keep moving, ya know?”

  “Nope, can’t say as I do. Grew up in this shop when I was little, and came back to take over when my grandparents couldn’t work anymore. Been here my most of my life,” he replied.

  I wondered what having roots like that would’ve been like, and then pushed the thought away. No reason to focus on what can’t be changed.

  “Well travel keeps my soul happy,” I deflect. I picked up my hot mug and took a small sip, enjoying it thoroughly as the warmth filled my body. I could almost feel the caffeine absorbing into me. Supercharging me like a fucking hybrid car. It was divine. A moan slipped out of my mouth, and at Silas’s chuckle I looked down to the floor and blushed.

  Maybe staying today wasn’t a good idea. I was off my game.

  Looking back up I asked Silas if he could get me a to-go cup. I had a lot of work ahead of me if I wanted to get out of here in the next day or so. I paid at the counter and took my caffeinated treasure. At the door I turned back. “Hey Silas, I’ll see you again next time.”

  “I hope so, enjoy your drink,” he replied and smiled innocently.

  The little bell over the door jingled as I left and a smile crossed my face. Maybe I did have one friend in the world.

  With optimistic day dreams running through my mind, I was surprised when someone grabbed my arm, almost spilling my coffee.

  “It’s you!” A familiar voice said.

  I looked at his chest, travelling up over the expensive suit lapels, over his corded neck, to his chiselled chin and plump lips, his sharp nose, but I didn’t go any further. “I’m sorry you must have the wrong person. I don’t know you.”

  I snatched my arm away. I had lied, I recognized this man from the street last night, he had saved me. Well, I’d saved myself, but he had given me that chance. He shouldn’t recognize me. I had on a pink wig, and so much sparkle makeup my face looked like I had painted a butterfly over it.

  “No, it’s you, from last night outside the club. I know it is,” he replied.

  “Sorry, you’ve mistaken me, for sure. I was home last night. Sorry about that,” I lied, again. Turning away I tried to take my leave but he grabbed me again spinning me back towards him.

  “It’s you, I know it is. Why won’t you look at me?” He sounded almost hurt, but he didn’t know me, how could my refusal to look at him hurt him?

  I snatched my arm back again and turned to leave. I’d had enough. He didn’t stop me this time but he did follow me. Not in a creepy way, although his insistence was a tad creepy. More like in a protective way. He walked beside me, hands in his pockets, looking forward.

  “So, can I at least know your name?” he asked.

  When I didn’t answer he seemed to grow frustrated. “If this is the thanks I get for stopping an assault attempt, or worse rape, maybe next time I’ll just ignore it when I see it,” he said angrily.

  I turned on him then, and against all my self-training, looked him dead in the eye. “Listen, you’re lucky I don’t call the cops! This is stalking, what you’re doing right now. If I needed your help I would have taken it when offered!”

  How dare he use my refusal to speak to him as a bargaining chip against his good will. The next poor girl didn’t deserve that. He couldn’t threaten me with that guilt, and walk away without hearing my mind.

  His face started to light up and I realized what I’d done.

  “So it is you,” he chuckled. “I just wanted to make sure you were alright. Now that I know you’re in tip-top fighting shape I’ll leave you be. No need to call in the cavalry.” He grabbed my free hand, and kissed my knuckles before dropping them, and leaving like he’d never cared in the first place.

  I probably stood there for only a few minutes but it felt like forever. Human contact, no consequences! Then again he probably wasn’t attracted to me. His devilish grin and bright eyes were about fishing out the truth, not about me finally looking him in the eyes. Only I knew the importance of that.

  Get a grip on yourself, focus woman! I told myself. I started back towards the hotel. It was time to bring out the map.

  My room was just how I’d left it: a mess. Cleaning this up was going to suck. Through the years I’d accumulated more and more stuff, having to exchange for bigger vehicles to lug it around with.

  It was my shield, I rationalized. Every wig, fishnet, outfit, and makeup product was how I kept myself unknown. The weapons I’d collected took up the most space, and of course the tools of my trade. There were lock picks, and books on poisons, bombs, and “spy” training. I had ID machines, passports, my darts and playing cards, my black book, my first aid kit, and anything I’d picked up along the way for short cons.

  Digging through the Rubbermaid container that contained all my documents, I found my travel map for this year. I started a new one every January, marking the places I’d been, and choosing where I would go next.

  Pulling it from the pile and unfolding it, I taped it to the wall. I walked back to the desk that was universal in hotel rooms, and grabbed my coffee. Slinging back a generous gulp, I put it back down, and opened the drawer to withdraw my darts.

  I laid the darts on the table, keeping only one. Facing the map I covered my eyes and drew back. I released the dart and watched it fly its way to the map.

  I approached the paper of blue and green, filled with black and yellow lines and full of holes, to see where my next destination was.

  Withdrawing the dart I scoffed. What were the chances? Same fucking city I was in. I’d have to do it again. I walked away ten paces, turned towards the map, covered my eyes and tried again.

  The dart landed right beside the first hole, in the same city. What. The. Actual. Shit?

  I looked up to the ceiling and mumbled. “Okay there destiny, or fate or whoever thought this was funny, enough. Let’s get serious.”

  Once more. Anywhere but here, I chanted to myself. Covering my eyes, I took aim, and what do you know? The fucking thing landed just a millimeter south of the first and second. Unbelievable.

  “I give up!” I shouted at no one. Defeated, I threw myself on the bed. I would have to start with packing and come back to this later. I threw in my ear buds, and fell back on the bed, Maybe I just needed a small break before starting, to work up to the mundane job it would be?

  Chapter 3

  “I suck,” I murmured to myself.

  I hadn’t gotten my packing done, and I’d been too stubborn to even look at that stupid map. I’d also been consumed with swimming in the hotel pool while I thought about what had happened in the last twenty-four hours.

  Procrastination was my specialty, at times.

  It was an hour after supper, and all I’d accomplished was plaguing myself with curiosity and questions. It had been a long time since I’d been tipping on the edge of obsession like this.

  I gave up finding out what was wrong with me long ago. Threw the instinct right in the trash, along with my habit of asking questions about it. But now?

  Now all I could do was ask questions. That man in the street who attacked me had really hated me, without reason. He had been tracking me, or hunting me at least. He waited until I was alone to attempt to kill me.

  But why? What did he know about me that I didn’t? And why did it cause him to hate me enough to murder in cold blood?

  Fuck, I could have died last night. I’d never been able to make it happen at my own hand but something solidified in my mind when I thought about that man killing me.

  I knew he could, that he would, given even half a chance.

  The realization froze me in place. I don’t know how long I stood there, or how my body managed to get dressed in my outlandish rave club clothes, or why my auto pilot was taking me passed the coffee shop - stopping to lovingly stare at its store front, although the lights were out and the closed
sign was visible from the door - and back to the scene of the crime. But it did.

  Looking round the street where I had been attacked only a day ago, I got a bad feeling, but there was nothing else. No evidence that it had ever happened. I stood there, as if just being here would show me something, if I waited long enough. Knowing that logic made absolutely no sense, and telling my nerves they were overreacting, were two totally separate things.

  Feeling like whatever my auto pilot was trying to accomplish was a failure, I turned back to the street. The bar called to me, and I decided without thought to go inside. One last hurrah before I beat feet outta here.

  I could feel the pulse inside before I went in, it sewed its way through me. The closer I got to the dance floor, the deeper it threaded. I loved places like these. I loved disappearing into the crowd. Letting your spirit roam free, expressing its inner self. All of it, I loved all of it.

  I would be sad to say goodbye to this place again, but if someone was after me, it would be so stupid to stay.

  It was stupid to be here now, knowing this is where the psycho found me, but I was.

  I scanned the crowd while I adjusted my long blue wig. Paired with a slinky silver dress I looked like an ice queen. Way to go auto-pilot.

  I made my way to the bar and ordered my shots, as per. I would need a few before I was ready to release everything I was holding in at the moment.

  The bar wasn’t as busy as usual and the barkeep delivered my shots personally instead of sliding them my way. “Glad to see you back. Bossman said someone was assaulted outside, and from the description I knew it was you. Couldn’t help the cops though. I don’t know your name, or what your real hair colour is.” He winked at me platonically, and walked away.

  I was only slightly aware I had been looking at his face. I was getting lax, but more and more I was starting to trust the guys I’d been meeting lately. The rescue man didn’t look at me with lust, Silas was safe, the doorman at the hotel got a real grin from me each morning too. Granted he was like 110 years old, but still old dudes could be creepers too. And now, the barkeep.

  Maybe my isolation had been more strict than needed.

  I hopped up on one of the stools, and just enjoyed watching the rhythm of the people dancing. Seeing their joy and freedom was bringing me around and I could feel my body start to crave being out there with them. I swayed along like I was a snake at a charmers market, and let my heart find pace with the bass that was pounding behind the melody of the song.

  When the song was over, something more up beat came on and I finally felt the urge to dance. I stood, turned, and froze. Suit-man Savior-boi was coming this way, and his eyes were glazed over in a way I’d come to dread. He was closing in. Oh god. I looked all around for escape but no matter what exit I wanted I’d have to go passed him.

  Looking to the floor I waited for him to approach and wondered if I should have crawled away so he couldn’t have seen my escape direction, and then made a shot for the door, but it was too late now. When he got close enough, I could smell the alcohol on him, covering up something earthy, some manly smell that was intoxicating. “Hello again,” he rumbled.

  I longed to look at him, the contact of it.

  I knew I shouldn’t, though. If I was reading him right this would be exactly the worst situation I could be in.

  Something akin to a growl fell from his lips, and because of my habit of looking to the floor I didn’t see his hand coming from the side to grab my chin, forcing it up to his face.

  I couldn’t help it. I looked at him. The lust was pouring off him. I was starting to tingle. This was bad, really, really, bad. I slammed my eyes shut and backed away. Peaking one eye open - morbidly drawn to see what disaster I had wrought - I was surprised to see his head tilted and his eyebrow cocked.

  His head righted itself and he laughed. “You are an odd one, aren’t you?”

  Wait. He was okay?

  Just then a tap on my shoulder had me turning my back on Suit-man.

  My face lit up at the familiar face, and I actually wrapped my arms around him for a hug. My only friend. “Silas! I didn’t know you came here.”

  Pulling away Silas looked at me with a smile. “Usually I don’t.” he said as he looked at our surroundings, taking everything in. His smile faded quickly when he looked over my shoulder. “And who are you?” he spat.

  I looked over my shoulder to see Suit-man still standing where I’d left him. “Oh,” I said. “This is, umm..” it was then that I realized I didn’t know his name.

  Reaching around me and inserting himself between Silas and I, Suit-man held out his hand. “I’m Andreas, Andreas Drakos. I own this club.”

  Say what Purple Batman?

  I checked to make sure my jaw was still in place and turned back into their exchange.

  Silas reached for Andreas’ hand. His face morphed into something I’d never seen him wear: jealousy. He looked over at me and examined my outfit - a barely there dress, white fishnets, stilettos, and a blue wig from a sex shop - and lust filled his eyes.

  I wasn’t sure what shocked me more, Silas showing these emotions, or the fact that when he reached my face I didn’t avoid it. And what do you know, Silas didn’t freeze.

  Before I could look away - I didn’t want to test it further, especially on my only friend - Silas pushed passed Andreas, and took my hand. “I just wanted to apologize. I realized something I said or did made you uncomfortable earlier, and that’s not how I want you to leave remembering me.”

  I melted a little.

  I didn’t know why my curse wasn’t affecting these two men but they had both looked at me with lust and they were fine.

  Maybe I was broken? Maybe I’d had a psychotic break when autopilot kicked in? Maybe I was finally free? Either way, there was a man standing in front of me, earnestly trying to apologize for something that wasn’t his fault.

  “That’s okay Silas. It wasn’t you.”

  From behind Silas a deep voice broke the moment. “After what she went through last night, I’d certainly hope you weren’t doing anything to make her uncomfortable,” Andreas said protectively.

  Silas spun his head to look at the large man behind him in shock. When he looked back at me I couldn’t look at him, falling back to habit, my eyes hit the floor.

  “What does he mean by that?” Silas demanded.

  I looked up again, but avoided his face. I was sure my face was a mix of emotions. I had found and angered my only friend in the world all in the same day. He wanted me to talk about being attacked, and that would inevitably turn to why I didn’t go to the police, and if he hadn’t put it together already with my nomadic ways, he was about to. I was really on the run.

  “This is a sensitive topic for public,” Andreas pointed out. “Let’s take this into my office, follow me.” Andreas’ hand shot out towards the black curtains beside the bar.

  I took the signal and started walking that way. I started to bristle at myself obeying command so easily, but it was too late now, my feet were on the move. I was mildly aware of the two male figures on either side of me. Looming, vibrating to a different beat than that of the rambunctious crowd.

  When we first got into the office, I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. Why did I even care? I was leaving, there was no reason to even have this conversation. Except, I didn’t want to lose Silas’s friendship so soon… and Andreas didn’t look as if he were going to let it go.

  When Silas walked through the door, he instantly took a seat in front of the desk, he looked sullen and pissed off, and I knew why I needed to sit down.

  I took the seat next to him and waited until Andreas sat behind his desk.

  When Silas looked at me with pity, the dam broke. I couldn’t stand that look. “Okay so it’s like this. I was here last night, and on my way home someone assaulted me. Andreas surprised them, and I was able to outwit them and their soft parts, and get away. I’m okay, it’s over, and you don’t need to make a big deal out of
it. I was barely even injured.”

  Chapter 4

  Silas shook his head, but didn’t say anything as he looked between Andreas and I.

  “Seriously, Silas, I’m okay. Got away with barely a scratch. These kinds of things happen in big cities all the time. I was one of the lucky ones. Really, it was nothing.” I rationalized.

  Silas’ head snapped up in my direction and his face hardened. “Of course it’s not nothing! It’s situations like this that allow those monsters to get away with the things they do. You need to call the cops!”

  I felt the panic flooding through me. This was it. What did I say? How did I make him see that I couldn’t? I opened my mouth to start speaking, words, any fucking words, but nothing came out.

  Andreas saved me again. I was starting to resent that habit.

  “Actually, they’ve already been contacted. Useless. I gave them what footage I had but the attack happened outside its range. They took statements from my staff but I doubt they will be anymore help than that.”

  It was my turn to do the head snap. I stood from my chair and planted my hands firmly on his desk. I tried to control my anger. “Was I seen on this footage, at all?”

  Andreas swallowed and I couldn’t help but follow the movement of his Adam’s apple. “You would have to ask Alvarez, my head of security. But if I had to hazard a guess, no.”

  I released a deep breath and started to calm back down.

  “Well, they may have you walking away from the club on your way home, but the footage for the front door mysteriously disappeared.” Andreas added with a devilish grin.

  My pulse started to race again. I didn’t need my face on police record. Even if the investigation into my best friends sudden illness had gone cold, and the missing girl report had been closed, and she presumed dead, I didn’t need this to lead the police back to those cases. I needed to get that footage. “Where did it go?” I demanded.

  Andreas chuckled low and pulled out his desk drawer. “Now we’re going to get two things straight little minx. One: what I do and how I handle the going-ons in my clubs are my business, and no matter how cute you are, I’m still going to do what I’m doing. And secondly: if you want the information I have, you will play by my rules. Got it?”