“Sure…” Roxie heard the click tone as he hung up and sighed. It seemed like her brother was constantly busy with his new life. Once, they had been the best of friends, but now, it felt like he was turning into a stranger. She didn’t even recognize him anymore. Taking a deep breath, she got up. Looking for work would just have to wait until later as groceries got priority.
***
By the time, Dustin came home, Roxie had gone a week without a second job. The loss of income was really making an impact. Already, she had to turn off the cable and some other luxuries she had saved for herself. All that was left was electricity, heating, and internet – mostly for Dustin’s sake.
“Why is it so cold in here?” Dustin asked as he dropped his stuff off in his bedroom. He rubbed his arms and headed for the thermostat. She wanted to tell him not to touch it, but couldn’t bring herself to do it. This was her baby brother and for as long as she could remember, she had always spoiled him.
“I just prefer it a little chillier…”
“It’s freezing.” Dustin laughed. “But I see you haven’t changed a bit sis.” He hugged his sister and brought her close. “But you do look a little tired. Is everything alright?”
Roxie nodded. She didn’t need her brother worrying about her. He was busy enough with school. “Yes. Everything’s fine. How are your studies going?” She lingered there, watching him unpack. Before he had gone off to college, she did everything she could to gather up some money and buy him new clothes. She was glad that he was maintaining them so well because she wasn’t sure if she would be able to do the same thing twice.
“It’s been good. A little difficult, but nothing I can’t handle.”
“You aren’t working yourself too hard, are you?” Roxie asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
“I don’t think so. I mean, I am taking five classes, instead of the usual four, but I think I’m handling it rather well.”
“It’s just that I know how you can get…”
“It’s okay Roxie. If I was struggling, I would let you know. Right now, everything is going great. College is so much better than high school. All the freedom makes everything a lot more manageable.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. Maybe you should go one day.”
“Yeah… maybe…” If it was up to her, she would have gone to beauty school right after high school but after the death of her parents, she had to drop out of high school in order to provide for her brother.
“So, how’s everything around here?”
“Good, good.”
“Do you still work at that breakfast place?”
“Yes.” Roxie tried not to look nervous as he questioned her. She didn’t know how she would respond if he asked about the bar.
“In that case… do you mind if we make some waffles together? I’m starving. The train only gave me a cup of coffee and I didn’t have any cash on me to buy the muffins they had.”
“Of course.” Roxie tried to remember if she had all the ingredients needed to make waffles. She didn’t really want Dustin to go anywhere near the pantry. “Actually… why don’t we make some omelets? I think I ran out of sugar.”
“Aww, okay.” Dustin looked disappointed, but he didn’t press it any further. Feeling relieved, Roxie led the way to the kitchen, popping the fridge open. It was restocked with Leo’s money, but she had only gotten the bare necessities, thinking it would be wise to save some funds in case she ever found herself in another pinch.
“Someone hasn’t been grocery shopping in a while…” Dustin laughed, coming up behind her and grabbing the shredded cheese.
Roxie laughed nervously. “Yeah… sorry… I just didn’t have time.”
“It’s fine, I know you’re busy. I can’t really complain much, can I? You already pay for school.” He smiled at her, squeezing her shoulder.
Together, the siblings started to prepare breakfast. Roxie started to relax. Moments like this reminded her of her childhood where the family used to come together and make Sunday breakfast.
“You ever miss them?” Dustin asked, his voice low.
“Sometimes.” Roxie held a bowl to her body, whisking the eggs until they were nice and fluffy.
“I think about them a lot…” He said, prepping the frying pan with a bit of butter. “You ever wonder what it would be like if they were still alive today?”
“Yeah…” Roxie thought back to the time when she had gone through her parent’s stuff, shortly after her brother had gone to college.
Her parents had been simple people. Her father worked at a factory in town and her mother sold beauty products. Life had been simple and easy under their love and care. The house they lived in was small, but it was enough for them. No one was ever hungry or cold.
But there was one room in particular that the kids weren’t allowed into. They called it their study. Right before Roxie sold the house, she entered that room to box up all the stuff and put in storage. As she went through it, she found a shoebox in the corner with her name written on top. Inside, there were a few pictures of her as a child. At the bottom was a letter from her mother.
Roxie,
I write this in case something happens and I’m unable to guide you through the changes that will undoubtedly occur one day. We come from a long line of feline shifters. More specifically – Jaguars. The first transformation usually takes place sometime around the twenty-first birthday. I’m sorry I never told you about this before, but I wanted you to have a peaceful human life for as long as possible.
The letter continued, explaining the history of their family. Roxie had been completely shocked. Her first transformation happened no more than four weeks later. If she hadn’t found that letter, she had no idea how she might have handled the strange event. It wasn’t like it was every day that someone turned into a giant cat…
“Roxie… how long are you going to whisk those eggs?” Dustin snapped his fingers in front of his sister’s face. “Earth to Roxie.”
She snapped out of her daze, her eyes going wide. “Sorry.” She slid the eggs into the pan. It sizzled and Dustin smiled, a spatula in his hand, ready to flip it.
“What’s up with you anyway? You seem kind of distant…”
“It’s nothing.”
“C’mon, I’m not a little kid anymore. I can tell when you’re lying to me.”
“I’m not lying.”
“How long are you going to keep pretending? I can see the bags under your eyes. Something has been gnawing at you.”
Roxie looked at her brother for a moment. She couldn’t understand how he had grown up so quickly. One day he was a little boy who depended on her and the next, he was almost a full-grown adult, towering over her. “When did you get so big?”
“I’ve been this tall since junior year in high school.” He answered, sounding confused.
Roxie smiled. “Of course. It’s just, I always picture you as my little brother so sometimes, it’s a shock when I have to look up at you.”
Dustin laughed. “Well, get used to it, sis.” Dustin flipped the omelet and added the cheese. “Do you want one?”
“No… I’m not very hungry.”
“You have to eat.”
Roxie bit the inside of her lip. If she had an omelet now, it meant that half the eggs would be gone. Which meant she would need to buy some more and therefore spend even more money – money she didn’t have. “I can’t…” Roxie felt herself breaking down. She couldn’t keep this up.
“Roxie… what’s wrong?” Dustin placed the omelet on a plate before turning to his sister. He could see tears forming in the corners of her eyes. “Did I say something?”
“No… it’s just… I lost my second job. Times were tough when I had both of them… but now, everything is falling apart. Your tuition just went through the roof and I don’t know if I’ll be able to pay for it like I have in the past… I haven’t been able to buy proper groceries in weeks... The more I work, the less it seems I accomplish.”
>
Dustin didn’t know what to say. His sister was always so strong and unwavering. It was shocking to see her break down like this. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “It’s okay… I’ll get a job. Apply for more scholarships. We’ll get through this, together.”
“No.” Roxie shook her head. The last thing she wanted to do was burden her brother. “I don’t want you to… stress yourself out because of me.”
“And I don’t want you to work yourself to death because of me.”
Chapter Nine
Roxie pulled her jacket tight around her as she stood at the train platform, seeing her brother off. He waved at her from the window, a bright smile on his face. Just before the train started to roll away, he gave her a thumbs up as if to say everything would be okay. Roxie smiled back, trying to appear strong for him, but when the train finally disappeared into the distance, she couldn’t shrug off the horrible sense of dread that had settled inside of her heart. What would happen if she didn’t find a job or if Dustin didn’t find scholarships to help pay for his new tuition costs?
It felt like she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders as she slowly made her way out of the train station. Outside, it was a beautiful day. It didn’t feel like the middle of winter at all. People were walking their dogs and playing with their children in the park. Roxie sighed. It seemed like everyone’s life was perfect – except hers.
When she got in her car, she picked up a neat little list she had made for herself. Her brother had helped her compile it. It was all the businesses around town that were currently hiring, from fast food restaurants to small boutiques looking for part-time employees. None of them seemed like they would pay much, but it wasn’t like Roxie had the luxury to be picky. She just needed a job – any job.
As she sat there, looking at the list, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on edge. Roxie recognized that sensation. It was her body warning her of danger. She looked around, but all she could see was a happy family walking back to their car. A shiver ran through her body as the sensation of being watched intensified. “You’re just imagining things…” Roxie tried to convince herself that it was all in her head, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Quickly, she started the car, wanting to get away from whatever seemed to be gnawing at her. Maybe she was just worried about her brother and that was manifesting itself in a physical presence.
Pushing the thought away from her mind, she drove to the first place on the list. It was a nursing home looking for a dietary aid. Roxie didn’t have any experience in nutrition or taking care of the elderly. She had been living off instant noodles, toast, and eggs for almost five years now. Still, Dustin had assured her that she didn’t need any experience, it even said so in the ad. It was worth a shot in any case.
***
For the rest of the day, Roxie drove around, picking up applications or dropping off her resume. She was often embarrassed about it. There wasn’t much on it that could help her get a job. Even after Dustin tweaked it a bit, it still looked sparse. Nothing compared to his own resume. At the very least, he had finished high school and was getting his college degree. Roxie sighed. She couldn’t be jealous of her little brother, life had just dealt her a bad hand. She would just have to accept it and move on.
After a long day, Roxie finally got home, bringing in her pile of applications. She would have a long night ahead of her, filling them all out. Plopping them on the dining room table, she entered the kitchen, turning on a pot of coffee. It felt like she was surviving on caffeine alone lately. She knew she probably shouldn’t have so much, but without it, she would turn into a zombie and then she really wouldn’t be able to pay all the bills.
As she waited for the coffee to brew, she pulled out two slices of bread and popped them in the toaster. She liked her toast extra crispy. Her stomach growled, yearning for some meat. Her jaguar nearly begged for it, but meat was expensive and she simply couldn’t bring herself to buy some, no matter how much she wanted a steak. She started to think about her date with Warren and Leo. That had been one of the best meals she had tasted in a long time – too long.
Thoughts of the two men instantly flooded her mind. She missed them in a way. Their constant bickering and the way they were always butting heads was actually a little endearing. It was pretty flattering how they constantly fought over her, but at the same time, Roxie knew she wouldn’t be able to put up with it for very long. At least it was fun while it lasted…
The toast popped out with a loud clunk, making Roxie jump. She pulled the slices onto a plate and started to slather a bit of jam on them. She ended up putting a bit too much on her toast, but maybe she deserved to indulge – at least a little bit. As she started to eat, however, she felt guilty. This was Leo’s money she was spending, money she had vowed to give back to him.
She put the toast down and grabbed a mug, pouring herself some much-needed coffee. Deciding to indulge a little further, she added cream and sugar to the mix. “Mmm…” A sigh of satisfaction escaped her lips the second she took a sip. She closed her eyes, savoring the taste. “Damn… that’s a good cup of coffee…” She whispered to herself, letting her hands warm against the side of the mug.
Roxie lingered in the kitchen a moment longer before she remembered all the applications waiting for her in the dining room. Sighing, she grabbed her toast and headed out, settling herself in the uncomfortable chair. It was only after she had sat down that she realized she didn’t have a pen. Walking into Dustin’s room, she rummaged through his desk, looking for one. There was a small coffee tin filled with them, but not a single one seemed to work. It took her almost ten tries to find one. The ones that failed her quickly found themselves on the bottom of the trash can.
“Let’s try this again…” She settled herself once more, spinning the pen between her fingers. Looking down at the first application, she let out a large sigh. This was going to be such a drag. Biting her bottom lip, she started going through the pages. Why did an application for a burger flipper need to be five pages long? It seemed kind of excessive… but Roxie had to do what she had to do.
It didn’t help that she had to make sure her handwriting was neat and legible. Her face was so close to the paper that her nose nearly touched it. Roxie was so focused on her task that she didn’t hear the door to the apartment building opening, even with her superior sense of hearing. Her mystery visitor started to climb the stairs, almost silently. Whoever it was, they knew exactly which floorboards were squeaky and which ones were not.
The door to Roxie’s home opened, but still, she didn’t notice anything. She was filling out her personal information, making sure she got all the numbers right. Both her toast and coffee were getting cold at this point. The sense of accomplishment that came with filling out these applications, however, encouraged her to keep going until she flew through her third application. Only ten more to go…
But, before she could pick up her fourth application, the tell-tale smell of sulfur filled the room. When she looked up, there was already someone standing there, a wet cloth in his hand. Roxie made a break for the door, shoving past the man. He grabbed her, pinning her to his body. When Roxie looked up she managed to get a good look at his face, recognizing him as one of the strange, soda-drinking men from the bar.
Lashing out, her claws dug into his shirt, ripping it to shreds. The man struggled to keep the wild cat restrained.
“Bitch!” He screamed as her large nails latched onto his wrist, piercing the skin. His cufflink fell to the floor with a soft tinkle before he lost his temper and slammed her into the wall. It cracked under the impact, causing Roxie to lose her breath, making it easier for him to press the cloth against her face.
Roxie’s eyes grew big as she started to freak out, struggling against the intruder. Whoever this unknown man was, he was strong, keeping her pinned to his muscular body as his fingers dug into the side of her face, making sure she breathed in the chloroform fumes
.
Her inner jaguar raged within, wanting to come out and pounce on her attacker, but she was already starting to get lightheaded. Her legs turned to jelly and she struggled to keep her eyes open. The stranger’s hand around her mouth muffled her screams.
Her assailant said nothing, waiting for her to go under, holding her thrashing body. Roxie struggled with every fiber of energy she still had left in her body, but it just wasn’t enough. After a few minutes, she was out cold, her body turning into dead weight in the man’s arms. Dropping her to the ground, he searched the rest of the apartment, making sure there was no one there.
Once satisfied, he came back into the dining room and picked her up, hoisting her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. While Roxie was a heavy girl, he didn’t seem to have much of a problem carrying her down the stairs and into the van that waited for him on the street.
Two more men appeared, opening the doors. The intruder threw her inside, tightening a pair of handcuffs around her wrists and locking them to an eyebolt on the floor of the van. Now, even if Roxie woke up, she wouldn’t be able to escape. He grinned, closing the doors, leaving her in the darkness.
Back in her apartment, a smaller man straightened out the coffee table and got rid of all the applications, throwing them in the trash. He wanted to make sure nothing gave them away, so they could make the girl disappear without a trace or consequence.
He took one more look around before leaving. The door didn’t close properly, but the man didn’t bother to go back and check. He was already satisfied that they would get away with their crime. Outside, the van was running, waiting for his return. The moment he got inside, it sped down the road, disappearing into the night with Roxie’s unconscious body jerking around in the back.
***
Warren entered a local florist, looking through the various selections. “Is there anything I can help you with, sir?” The woman working the shop smiled at him, her eyes running along his chiseled body.
Claimed by Two Navy Shifters Page 7
