“My name is Fawn,” I said to the empty room. “I’m sure you don’t care, but I’m worried about you. I have a crap ton of problems on my plate right now, but I am going to find a way to get you out of here. I promise.”
“Who are you talking to?”
I turned to see Lilith giving me a weird look as she leaned against the wall behind me. “No one,” I sighed. “I’m just going crazy.”
“That’s what it looked like,” Lilith smiled as she breezed past me. “We are all a little crazy though. Come on, I can’t wait to hear about your night at Dives.” I watched her red heels march across the floor leaving little holographs of fire in their wake that quickly vanished. I wished they were real.
*
“How was it?” Lilith and Astrid perched on the edge of the papasan chairs as I sat between Claire and Chloe on the couch.
“It was okay. I mean we did get kicked out for causing a ruckus at the bar, but the place was pretty even if the people weren’t.”
Lilith burst into laughter and the stars in Astrid’s eyes twinkled brighter.
“Did they have the spring glamour out? I went in winter when they had icicles and snowflakes everywhere,” Chloe dreamily reminisced.
“They had cherry blossoms and fairy lights out.” I glanced up at the clock. Six hours until closing. That wouldn’t be much time at all in the real world, but I really hoped they’d find her before I got back. “I’m actually not in the mood to talk about it right now if that’s okay. My best friend is missing, and I just spent all day looking for her.”
Lilith frowned. “That’s awful, I’m so sorry. Is the mafia tracing her tracker?”
I could feel the hot tears burning my eyes. I hadn’t cried yet and I didn’t want to start now. “No.” I blinked my eyes dry. “She’s out of service.”
“That sucks.” Claire put her arm over my shoulder. “I hope you find her soon.”
“Me too,” I said as Karl opened the door. “And I hope this shift goes by fast.”
*
Alister was sitting at a table in my section and I raced over to him.
“You look anxious to see me little deer. I’ve been anxious to see you too.” He smiled playfully. I almost punched him.
“Why are you here?”
“I found some information that might explain your abilities. Turns out…”
“Save it,” I interrupted. “My friend is missing. I can’t deal with anything else right now.” Across the room, Fergus stood staring at me intently.
Alister glanced at him. “Is that the boy trouble?”
“Did you not hear me? My best friend is missing.” I tapped the pen repeatedly on the notebook.
“Take a breath.” Alister looked from my shaking hands to my face. “Which friend? I’ll see if I can go hack the tracking system for you.”
“Can you really do that?” Relief washed over me. “Her name is Vorie. She is engaged to the architect I was telling you about.”
“Yes.” Alister stood up and Fergus came marching over.
“Problem here?” Fergus crossed his arms over his chest as he stared Alister down.
“Only that you are in my way.” Alister pushed past him and left the bar.
“Do I need to do something about that guy?” I could see the anger seething under Fergus’ skin and my sarcastic reply stopped short. Sometimes I can be smart.
“No thank you Fergus. I already handled it. He isn’t a problem.” I hurried over to my other tables and began filling drink orders.
The club was packed in anticipation for the show. Sadness stayed heavy in the pit of my stomach because I knew there’d be more spirits tonight. I would find a way to get them out. I just needed to find Vorie first. The minutes dragged on and the faces were blurs as I carried tray after tray. Finally, Karl announced last call for drinks in order to give us enough time to fill orders and get to the lounge before the show started.
The men with lion face glamour in the booth at the back of my section were being rowdy and it took forever to get their drinks right. I was bringing the tray to them as the speaker made the introduction to the show. I kept my eyes on the floor as I rushed back across the bar. I’d help them, I really would, I just couldn’t bare to see it at that moment.
My hip bumped into the counter as I maneuvered behind it. Karl nodded for me to hurry. My hand gripped the doorknob.
“Where am I?” The voice was soft, melodic, almost birdlike and laced with fear. I froze, unable to retreat to the safety of the lounge. When I finally mustered the courage, I looked over my shoulder and saw her. She was standing on the stage looking innocently at the crowd. Her lilac dress blew gently around her waist and swept the floor.
“Vorie,” I whispered. My voice and heart shattered like broken glass. The tears came pouring down my contorted face.
“Vorie!” I screamed as I jumped over the bar counter and ran to the stage. “I’m here Vorie. I’m here. Don’t look at them. Just look at me.”
“Where are we Fawn?” She was so confused. Her neck was slit, leaving a trail of black like a necklace down her chest. Everything was blurry. I couldn’t see through the blinding tears.
“Shh, shh. Just look at me,” I urged her. “It’s going to be alright. I’ll fix this.” I tried to grab her hand and my fingers passed straight through her. She needed to cross over so that she’d be whole again.
“Who did this?” I snarled at the jeering crowd. “Which one of you assholes did this?” I searched the blur of laughing faces. Anger was starting to replace the pain. “Who?” I screamed and the walls began to shake.
I didn’t see Bemouth until he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me off the stage. I pummeled my fists against his back. “Knock it off,” I screamed into his ear over the cheers of the crowd. “Let me stay with her! Please don’t take me away from my friend.”
“Fawn,” Vorie called out to me. “What’s happening?” She stood there so ghost-like, so regal. Her happy eyes were so sad. I broke into uncontrollable sobs.
“Don’t look at them,” I said between broken sounds. “I’ll fix it.” Fergus clamped his hand over my eyes as Bemouth reached the counter.
“It doesn’t matter if I can’t see.” I tried to bite his hand. Glass shattered from somewhere over the bar and Bemouth tossed me into the employee lounge.
“I’m sorry Fawn,” Fergus whispered as he locked the door behind him.
“Let me go!” I punched and kicked at the door. “Please let me out. Get her off there. She’s too good, please don’t keep her up there.” I was screaming incoherently. The girls rushed over to try and calm me down.
“What’s going on?” Astrid’s voice broke through the pounding in my ears.
“She was acting crazy earlier,” Lilith said as she tried to smooth back my hair. “Maybe she just snapped.”
“Was it something to do with the projection?”
My knees felt weak and I fell hard against the door. I couldn’t slow down my breathing enough to talk.
“What do we do?” Astrid asked me, taking my hands in hers. The sensation grounded me as I thought of trying to hold Vorie’s hand. Fresh tears and snot rolled down my face, but I could breathe. Even though my breaths were short and raspy.
“It isn’t a projection. It’s real. They set this whole club up to catch murdered spirits before they cross over to the realm. It was supposed to be a grand show so the sick bastards can relish in their evil one last time. Except, the spirits are stuck here. Trapped in this place and unable to leave. My best friend is up on that stage right now.” Astrid gasped and the twins’ faces were ashen.
Lilith rushed to break down the door. “Let us out right now!” She began beating on the wood above my head.
Claire grabbed the doorknob and pulled. “Unlock this door!” she yelled, shaking the handle as hard as she could. All the girls began to scream as they kicked and slapped at the wall.
Their instant anger and eagerness to help cut deeper into my core. I sat o
n the floor useless while Vorie was gawked at on the stage. Her killer was out there too, sitting at one of the tables. I knew it and there was nothing I could do about it.
Time moves slowly when you have so much pain inside you that you want to explode. As the minutes ticked by, I grew more distant and numb to the unrelenting anger of the girls I worked with.
She looked gorgeous in her dress. The tears started again. How am I supposed to tell Brayson? To hell with him anyway. He helped design this place. Somehow this was his fault too. It’s everyone’s fault. It’s my fault.
One by one, the girls lost their energy and sat down on the floor next to me. They said nothing, and we shared a reserved silence until we heard the click of the door unlocking above us. I scrambled away to give it room to open and jumped to my feet.
Fergus stood defeated, with his body leaning against the frame. The girls shot him daggers with their glares.
“This is wrong,” Lilith shouted at him. “They can’t make us work here. I’ve seen the worst of the worst in my jobs, but this,” she poked a pointed finger into his chest, “this is wrong.”
“Unfortunately, they can make us work here and they will. This place is too important to them,” Fergus said softly.
“But not you,” I smirked as I stared at his face. “You can choose to leave anytime. It’s your choice to work for them.”
His face fell as I spit out the words. “I won’t leave you here alone.” Fergus turned to the girls. “It’s better that you forget about this. It will make it easier to deal with.”
Astrid crossed her arms. “Forget this place is haunted by spirits who were murdered and tortured by the customers we are serving? How stupid do you think we are?”
“I’m working on that,” Fergus said.
“Not fast enough.” I shoved him out of my way and ran into the bar. Everyone had gone home for the night. The stage was empty. I ran to it crying.
“Vorie,” I called out to the open room. “Come back out. I’m so sorry. I should have told you what this place was.” My hollow voice echoed from the ceilings and returned to me unanswered.
“Listen,” Fergus spoke right behind me. The girls walked to my side. “They changed it to only one spirit per show. I’m going to keep pushing them to set further limits, but there is not much else I can do.”
“Why can’t you get them out of here so that they can cross over?” Claire maintained her glare toward him.
“I’m trying to solve that, but they won’t come talk to me,” Fergus sighed.
“Did you try a Ouija board or something?” Chloe’s face mirrored her sister’s expression.
“The problem with that is we might draw even more spirits here and they’d also be trapped. I promise I am going to help them. It will just take some time. You girls should go home now though. I need to speak with Fawn.”
“We aren’t going anywhere unless Fawn wants us to,” Lilith stood her ground.
“It’s fine,” I whispered as I sat on the stage and wrapped my arms around my knees. “I’m leaving in a minute too. I’ll see you all tomorrow night.” The four of them enveloped me in a tight hug before they walked out of the club.
“Are you okay?” Fergus asked, sitting down beside me.
“No, I’m not. I’m so tired of this place and the realm. I’m tired of all of it. There is nothing good about it and now it has the best person in my life.” I looked up at the ceiling. The glamour of the club was beginning to fade. I focused hard to make it stay. Vorie was there so I needed to be too.
Fergus continued talking. I guess he didn’t see the stupid party trick. “I understand that you are angry, and I won’t take that from you, but what you did tonight was reckless. Her killer could have been in the crowd. He would have known where she was from, and now he knows the two of you are close.”
I wasn’t angry a moment ago because of the crushing sadness, but I was getting angry now. “How dare you say that to me? I would face a million psychopaths if it meant protecting my friend from pain. Vorie,” I jumped to my feet and called again. “I need you to come talk to me so I can figure out how to get you away from this place.” There was no answer.
“Alright,” I cried. “I’ll be back soon. I have to go find Genie and Brayson.” Still silence. I took a shaky breath. “I’m going to be here tomorrow early with a plan to get them out.”
“I can handle that.” Fergus clenched his jaw, but I didn’t care if I’d hurt his pride.
“I don’t need your help.”
“At least let me walk you home. It’s not safe for you out there now.”
“I said I don’t need your damn help.” My voice rose to match the frustration that was brewing on his face. I spun around and raced down the red carpeted halls of The Nocere.
Chapter 20
∞
Alister was standing on the sidewalk when I exited the portal. I was too broken to care. The lines on his face were deep like he was carrying a heavy burden.
“I found her,” he said.
I closed my eyes. “I know.”
“How do you know?”
“She was at the club.”
“Oh Fawn.” He reached over to caress my cheek but pulled his hand away before touching my skin. “I’ll wait.”
“Thank you.” The tears kept falling. I didn’t realize I could cry this many. “Where is her body?”
“It’s in a dumpster on 17th Street,” Alister whispered. “I can go pull her out, so you don’t have to see it.”
“It’s okay.” I swallowed hard. “I’ll get her.”
“Fawn, you’re back!” Genie crossed the street with the bat still swinging at her side. Craton, Brayson, and Lane came jogging after her. “We still haven’t found Vorie, but we are going to check…” Her voice trailed off as she got close enough to see my face. “What happened honey? Who is this?” She looked Alister up and down distrustfully.
“A friend,” I whispered.
*
Brayson broke down sobbing and fell to the curb as I explained what I knew. I left out the part about The Nocere for Genie’s sake, but he was smart enough to know what happened. Genie chewed her lip angrily as the mascara ran down her face. Craton tried to comfort her, but she shrugged him off.
“We need to go get her,” she said as she pulled Brayson up by his arm.
“I’ll get her,” Brayson sobbed harder. “I’ll bring her back to the apartment.”
“We will all go get her,” I said as I laid my hand on his back. “We’re family.”
We walked slowly down the dirty city sidewalks until we reached 17th Street. The dumpster to the right of the wide alley was closed. I forced myself to open it.
The delicate material of Vorie’s dress covered her body which was bent at an unnatural angle, headfirst into the piles of fossilized waste. I expected Brayson to break down into a blubbering mess, but he didn’t. He reached in and pulled her out like she weighed no more than a doll. Then he laid her on the asphalt and brushed the hair out of her face.
“Hey beautiful,” he whispered. “I’ve got you now. I’m going to take you home.” Watching him find the willpower to be strong for his fiancé one last time was more than I could take. I turned into the blubbering mess and clung to Genie. We walked down the empty street behind him as he cradled Vorie’s body in his arms.
*
“Who would do this to her?” Genie asked between angry sobs.
“I don’t know,” I said.
We picked up the books and stacked them neatly on the shelves. Brayson laid her body on the bed and gently cleaned the blood from her neck. He spoke softly to her all night. The rest of us sat on the floor of the bedroom and told her all our favorite stories.
When morning came, we wrapped her in blankets and carried her into the back of the truck. Alister made his silent apologies as he had to leave. Craton drove the truck and Lane directed him to the mountain peak at the nearby state park. We buried her under a canopy of gnarled pine trees, far away f
rom the graffiti covered rocks.
“I wish we could have left this place,” Brayson said in his good-byes. “I wanted to take you away and give you the life you deserved. You should have been able to live long enough to see your dreams come true.” Once we covered her body with dirt, we drove home to the city. The day was growing late, and I had to go back to The Nocere.
Craton, Lane, and Genie sat up front while Brayson and I rode in back. The night, the day, the drive, it all felt so surreal. Like I was watching this happen to someone else. I had moments of reprieve when I looked at the horizon, but then the weight of it all came crashing back. Brayson sat quietly as we pulled onto my street.
“Stay with Genie and Lane tonight,” I said as I gave him a hug. “Vorie wouldn’t want you to be alone.” Brayson nodded numbly.
“Is she stuck there, Fawn?” his voice cracked as I scooted toward the tailgate.
“I don’t know, but if she is, I’m going to get her out.” I jumped from the back and tried to outrun the pain in my chest as I raced to the portal.
*
“I tried to give you the space you wanted.” Fergus looked nervously at me as he leaned against the door to The Nocere. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“Thanks,” I said weakly and then coughed to clear my throat. I needed to be strong right now. “What have you tried doing to get them out?”
“I just keep trying to talk. I haven’t heard the man, so I think he already crossed over. For some reason the women won’t leave though.”
My heart felt lighter as I clung to the hope that the man had left. “Wait, you said women.” New pain washed over me. “Vorie is still here? How do you know?”
I didn’t need his response. As we walked down the hall, I heard the haunting melody of Vorie’s voice echoing through the building.
“Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb. Mary had a little lamb whose fleece was white as snow.”
The sound tugged out the childhood memories of Vorie hiding the little children in the closet during the director’s rampage.
The Nocere: A Haunting Dystopian Tale Book 1 Page 11
