“Back to the real world.” Christian said and hit the light switch in the kitchen sending the rest of the house into darkness.
“The question isn’t if we should get involved, but why the hell haven’t we?” The black dial on the radio spun and static took over the car.
“The wall was not only a good idea, but a great idea! It’s keeping us and them saf-“ Another flick of the finger sent the egotistical voices of the media into the dark world of static. Christian didn’t care much for the news these days. Every story was about death or someone thinking they knew what was best for everyone else. Protesting, shootings, twitter wars, it was all just noise to him and all he really wanted was silence. But in this world, that was only a luxury for the dead. The dial came to a stop and the Mexican flair of Snow Da Product filled Christian’s ears. Music and art were becoming a well known hiding place for him. Long nights of rap, reggaeton and painting were taking over Christian’s life, but it kept him from facing the real monsters in his world. All the questions that seemed to haunt him when he closed his eyes.
Was it my fault?
Why didn’t I stop him?
Why couldn’t I save him?
Christian needed something to drown out the constant heckles of his internal monsters, but while music and art were amazing forms of escape, they didn’t pay the bills. The car came to a slow stop between the white lines of the parking space. Christian rested his head back for a moment and closed his eyes as he let the battle cries of Snow wash over him. A deep sigh left Christian’s lips and he opened his eyes to see a pale hairy set of butt-cheeks pressed against the driver side window,
“What the fuck!” Christian shouted and pushed open the car door sending the jiggling butt-cheeks flying into a nearby car. Laughter filled the air as the man pulled up his large pants and spun around,
“You’ve been away so long, I thought you might have missed this beautiful ass.” Hector said smiling. The two cousins stared at each other, Christian with a stone cold glare and Hector with a jolly smile, the moment faded as Christian laughed and turned off the car,
“No one on this planet could miss that fat ass.” Christian said.
“That’s offensive. We of the belly diverse community prefer round ass or a tasteful peach shaped emoji. I know you missed all the HR meetings but you really should be careful how you address your co-workers.” Hector said.
“Shut up. How much work you get done on the room?” Christian asked.
“Man, it’s almost done, just needs your magical tou-“
“You haven’t even started, have you?” Christian asked.
“I haven’t done shit since you’ve been gone. I’m surprised I still have a job.” Hector said. The two laughed as they made their way to the employee entrance of the hotel. The Eastman Hotel was a bright new star to the city of Austin. Built during the Mayor’s ‘Make Austin Great Again’ campaign, it and a flock of new businesses opened up in the culturally appropriate, but far from politically correct, neighborhood of Little Tijuana. It was an attempt to ease the heated tension growing in the Spanish community as Texas took up the major responsibility of building the now infamous ‘Southern Grand’ a wall that divided the United States from Mexico and the rest of South America. The addition of the Eastman and other businesses was a way for the city to say ‘Yeah we’re kicking out your friends and loved ones. Oh and cutting you off from your family back home but look at all the new jobs we made.’ While it was a slap in the face of those fighting the good fight, it was still a job and one that paid pretty damn good, for just a few hours of setting up tables and chairs for rich people.
“How you and Tia doing?” Hector asked softly as he waited for Christian to punch in for work. The computerized beep rang in Christian’s ear as he stared at Hector through the little employee mirror that sat on the wall. The faded black sticker said ‘smile, you don’t know who’s watching’
“My father, who happens to be her husband is dead, so I’m guessing we’re not doing to hot these days.” Christian said. Hector’s eyes fell to the floor and Christian sighed, “Sorry, I’m just sick of everyone asking me that.” Christian turned around and put his hands on the top of his head as he arched his back, “I mean Dee’s in the hospital and Pop’s in the ground. Me and Ma are just trying to stay above water you know?” he said. Hector nodded and stepped forward to the computer,
“I understand that. I just don’t know what to say or do.” Hector said.
“Yeah, you and me both.” he said. Christian eyes floated over to the announcement board and a faint smile crept onto his face. It was an odd feeling, one he hadn’t felt for weeks now, but the sight of her even in the form of an employee mugshot, got his heart beating uncontrollably. “Trinity won employee of the month again?” he asked. Hector’s head turned toward the board and he sighed,
“Yeah, I was campaigning with the house keepers to get in the running this month, but then Vince wrote me up for hanging out in the housekeeping department during work hours.” Hector said and rolled his eyes, “Bastardo.” He said and then started walking down the hall towards the office. Christian followed behind and as their uniformed grey shirts and black pants came closer to the end of the hall they could see Vince standing by his door looking at his watch.
“And so it begins.” Christian said softly.
“You two are late!” Vince said.
“No we’re not, you said be here at ten.” Christian replied.
“I did, but then I told Hector to let you know, we need to be here at seven if we’re gonna get this done in time.” Vince said. All eyes fell onto Hector and the round light brown man smiled,
“Hey, Christian. We need to be in at seven because-“ Hector, was cut off by Vince’s over dramatic sigh. Hector did his best not to laugh at his boss, but the man was almost half of Hector’s size in height. Which reminded Hector of the orange men that ran around in that chocolate factory movie. The thought of their green hair tossing back and forth as they sang made Hector smile until he felt an elbow in his ribs. His head turned toward Christian who was giving him the best act right, motherfucker look that he could muster.
“You two need to be more professional. You’re always showing up late, always calling out.” Vince said, he shook his head and then looked over at Christian, “This is your first day back. I don’t want to have to write you up.” he said. Christian nodded and looked over at the door leading into the ballroom,
“Sorry, just give me the floor plan and I’ll make sure it gets done before tonight.” Christian said.
“It’s not like you have any other choice than to get it done before tonight. The fucking party is tonight.” Vince said. Hector looked over at Christian whose eyes were in the process of drilling a fiery hole into Vince’s head. Hector’s arm went over his cousin’s shoulder and he smiled,
“Olvidare de este chico blanco,” Hector said.
“What was that?” Vince asked.
“I said we got a lot of work ahead of us.” Hector said with a smile. Christian nodded and walked off towards the ball room. His steel toed black boots hit the ugly grey and black carpet, that had yellow swirl designs running throughout it. The mishmash combination gave you the feeling of being drunk, fighting to walk down an ugly tilted hallway. Hector walked into the empty ballroom with the floor plans in hand. “You good?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m straight. I just need a minute. I’ll be back, I’m gonna go take a leak.” Christian said and walked through the massive ballroom toward the hotel lobby. The wooden doors pushed open and the chill of the hotel air conditioning hit the back of Christian’s neck. Images of Vince’s face being slammed into the office door repeatedly flashed through Christian’s head. The thought took up so much of Christian’s focus that he didn’t see the teenage boy in front of him, until he almost knocked him over. “Whoa, sorry man.” Christian said with a smile. The boy stared at Christian and stepped back blocking the doorway to the bathroom. “You playing bathroom bouncer?” Chris
tian asked.
“My dad’s in there. He needs privacy” The boy said and Christian nodded.
“That doesn’t sound suspect at all.” Christian said with a mocking grin to the boy. “Is daddy day drunk or something?” he asked.
“No.” the boy said and glared.
“Jeremy who are you talking to?” A male voice echoed through the bathroom. Christian’s eyes went from the boy to the white tile walls of the bathroom.
“Sorry sir, but you can’t close the bathroom off for your own personal use.” Christian said. A gray haired man in a cotton white button up shirt stepped from around the corner. His icy blue eyes glared at Christian for a moment,
“Yeah well my wife isn’t feeling too good and she rushed into the wrong restroom, I didn’t want-“ The man’s words came to a cold stop as Christian pointed at a dark red spot on his white shirt.
“Is that blood?” Christian asked. The man’s eyes went down toward his shoulder and then they shot back to Christian,
“Yeah, I cut myself on your fucking bathroom stall.” The man said. Christian looked at Jeremy and then back at the man.
“I’ll call security, so you can file a report with the hotel.” Christian said.
“No, that’s fine. Everything is fine, I’m just waiting on-“ The man smiled as his pale blonde haired wife slowly stumbled her way out of the bathroom. She fell into her husband’s arms.
“Holy shit, are you okay,” Christian said.
“I’m fine, I’m fine.” The woman said with a faint smile, “Don’t ever eat airport sushi.” Her husband smiled and slowly eased her onto her feet.
“Come on sweetie, let’s get you to the room.” the man said.
“Do you need any help?” Christian asked and the man waved him off. Then shoved his hand into his pocket and pulled out a folded bundle of cash and held it out toward Christian,
“We’re fine thank you. She just needs to rest.” The man said. Christian stared at the folded twenties and tens and then looked back at the man.
“I’m fine sir, really. I-“
“No, take it.” The man insisted as he pushed the cash into Christian’s hand. When Christian’s eyes came up from the green paper it was just in time to see Jeremy looking back at him before disappearing around the corner toward the elevators. Christian looked down at the cash once again and shoved it into his pocket.
“White people are weird,” he said softly to himself. When he turned the corner into the bathroom his hands shot up to defend his nose. While his skin acted as a gas mask and tightened around his nose to block the rancid smell of shit and vomit, there was nothing to save his eyes from the stinging sensation or the sight of the dark red that was slowly spilling out from under the stall door. Christian walked over toward the first stall and slowly pushed it open to see what he could only imagine would be a janitor's worst nightmare. The white toilet and walls were covered in dark red blood and bits of what Christian could only describe as chunks of meat.
“Security!” Christian frantically shouted through the halls as he ran from the bathroom.
Chapter 2
“Yes. No, no. I totally understand sir. Clearly it was a misunderstanding on our part.” Vince said. Vince didn’t start off in the hotel industry, he was originally in the lawn care business. This random fact lead to many different cases of lunch time laugher as Hector would tell a fictional story about how Vince traded his green thumb for a shit brown nose. Christian sat in a little uncomfortable black chair in front of Vince’s massive mahogany desk. “No sir, trust me. That worker will be dealt with for his-“
“Dealt with?” Christian mouthed softly.
“Oh, well good. No that’s fine, as a show of how sincerely sorry we are, why don’t you and your family come to tonight’s hotel holiday party? Music, dancing, free drinks and food. All on the hotel.” Vince said, he smiled and nodded. “Good we’ll see you tonight Mr. Cosgrove.” The phone slowly came down onto the hook and Vince folded his hands and rested them on the desk as he stared at Christian.
“Misunderstanding my ass-“ Christian shouted but was cut short from his mentally reinforced rant, that he had been working on ever since security told him Mr. Cosgrove denied even speaking with him. Vince held up his finger and shook his head.
“Listen, I understand that you’re dealing with a lot. I mean it was hard for me, when my mother passed away.” Vince said.
“My father ran into a light pole a month ago. You’re mother died when you were three.” Christian said softly. Vince glared at him, but Christian’s eyes stayed forced on the coffee mug filled with silver Eastman pens that rested just a little off from the center of Vince’s desk. “As shitty as it is, it’s not really the same.” Christian said.
“It’s remarks like that, which makes me wonder…” Vince leaned back in his large brown seat. He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and crossed his right leg over his knee, “Let’s talk like men Christian. It’s clear to me you don’t want to be here.”
“Is it?” Christian asked.
“Yes, you’ve been late.” Vince said.
“Once.” Christian replied.
“Some people said you went on a vacation, while you were on bereavement leave.” Vince said.
“I went to Mexico, to bury my father. Because we’re…you know, Mexican.” Christian replied and then shook his head, “None of that has anything to do with this! That fucking bathroom is a Goddamn horror show!” Christian shouted. Vince took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
“I didn’t think this was going to turn into an argument. You know the hotel has clear guidelines on how you’re allowed to interact with a superior, don’t you?” Vince said and with that statement Christian lost all will to talk to his ‘superior.’ The computer turned on and the employee write up started. Within minutes Christian was in the ballroom with a fresh copy of his Eastman Disciplinary Statement.
“Let me see that shit,” Hector said and snatched the paper from his cousin’s hands. “Hilo de perra!” Hector said and laughed before crumbling it up. “That’s worse then the one I got when he found me sleeping in a guest’s bed last year.” He said with a smile.
“How are you still working here?” Christian asked and Hector shrugged,
“I’m cute. People love themselves a Mexican teddy bear.” Hector replied. Christian walked over toward the stack of chairs and let out a large sigh,
“That mother fucker, wasn’t even concerned with the bathroom.” Christian said.
“That’s cause he thinks you did it.” Hector replied without even turning to look at his cousin.
“Say what puta?” Christian replied. Hector set the last round table up in the corner of the ballroom and laughed,
“I heard him talking to Mark, the security guard. Vince told him that you might have done it yourself, so you can fake a mental break to get unemployment.” Hector shook his head and walked over toward the pile of chairs and smiled at Christian, “I told Mark, you’re not that smart.”
“Thanks,” Christian said sarcastically. The blue and gold chair came down off of the stack of ten and Christian tossed it across the the room. His head dropped forward and pressed against the cool mental stack of chairs. Hector looked back and forth for a moment before nodding,
“Yeah,” Hector picked up a chair and sent it flying across the room, “Fuck that bitch ass chair!” He shouted. Christian picked his head up and laughed.
“What the fuck?” Christian said.
“Nah man, fuck those chairs. Always thinking they’re better than us. Got us working like dogs, fuck em’ Hector said with a laugh. Christian stared at Hector, who slowly turned to look over at him, “Am I right?” Hector asked and Christian nodded. “But all jokes, aside. Let’s finish this shit, I’m hungry.”
The chicken leg stood still in the air for a moment, then it was rammed into the wide opening that was Hector’s mouth. There was a twist, a squish sound and then a moan as Hector pulled the clean chicken leg from his lips a
nd dropped the bone onto the plate. Christian stared at his cousin and did his best to repress the feelings of awe and disgust that were building up inside of him. Hector took a big swallow and then pointed at Christian’s plate.
“You not gonna eat?” Hector asked. Christian looked down at his plate and then pushed it towards Hector,
“Nah, I’m good.” He said with an awkward smile.
“Not that many people can pull off the ‘I just ate a ten piece by myself’ look. I’m jealous.” A sultry laugh took over the moment. Christian smiled and slowly turned to see the dark haired, golden brown beauty pulling out the chair beside him. She smiled and the warm orange-red glow of her skin sent a tingle throughout Christian’s body. There wasn’t a moment in Christian’s life that couldn’t be brightened by the raven haired Trinity. Yet, this angelic moment was quickly murdered by Hector’s deep wet belch.
“It’s a gift.” Hector said with a smile.
“You’re so nasty.” Christian replied. He smiled and started folding his napkin slowly, “So how you been?” he said as nonchalantly as he could muster.
“Me?” Trinity said puzzled. She tilted her head to the side and stared at Christian, until his eyes finally left the table and fell upon her, “How you been? I heard about the accident. I’m so sorry Chris.” she said. Christian nodded and looked back down at his napkin,
“I’m alright. Just trying to get back to normal.” He said.
“Fuck normal. Who the fuck wants to be normal?” Hector asked. Trinity laughed and leaned back in her seat.
“Y’all going to the party tonight?” she asked. Christian and Hector looked at one another for a moment before they both shook their heads. “And why the hell not?” Trinity asked.
“I had a little hiccup today-“ Christian said and Hector broke out laughing.
Patient Zero Page 3
