by Rae B. Lake
“As you wish, have a good day.”
I stepped away from the counter and tried to make my way up to my suite. I pressed the elevator and waited.
“Oh, that’s Carson Ingram!” A woman whispered behind me, and I heard another woman’s laughter.
“No way!’ The other woman whispered back.
“Hello, Mr. Ingram?” One of the women questioned hesitantly. I turned my head in her direction as an answer. “I thought it was you.”
“Yes, I heard.”
She laughed and took a small step in my direction, “So, are you staying here?”
I let out a deep sigh, “No, I just like riding up and down in the elevators.” I responded deadpanned and hoped she would turn and walk away, but she didn’t. Of course, she didn’t.
She actually laughed at the joke I’d made at her expense, “I heard rumors you were meaner than a viper. Is that true?”
I squinted at her but decided not to answer. The last thing I wanted to do right now was to entertain someone wanting to climb the social ladder. That was exactly what she was, a glorified gold-digger.
I could tell by her attire she was part of the upper class. I wasn’t famous in the way one would gain instant notoriety. I’ve never been in any movies or sang any songs, nor been a part of any major scandal, but my face was known by those who had money and those who wanted it. The fact she could identify me simply by my face proved to me she was only after one thing. Money.
The doors opened, and I stepped inside, she and her friend followed behind me.
“Oh come on, you can’t be that mean. I know for sure I can make you smile.” She continued, trying to initiate a response from me even though nothing about my demeanor gave the impression I was even the slightest bit interested.
“Jackie, just leave him. He doesn’t look like he wants to talk.” The other woman said as she tried to pull her friend back from me.
“I’d listen to your friend.” I turned my sight on the woman in front of me.
“What if I don’t want to? Are you going to punish me?” She smiled seductively, and part of me wanted to vanish into thin air. Why couldn’t she just get the hint?
Finally, the elevator opened on their floor. I reached past her and held the door open button. “This is your floor.”
She giggled and tried to move my hand from the button, “That’s ok. We can come and hang out with you.”
“There is nothing on the face of this earth that would persuade me to waste even one precious second on you. Get out of my face.” I said in a calm tone. I waited for the smile to drop off her face and for her to realize I was serious. “This is your floor,” I repeated, almost to remind her that she was still infringing on my space.
“You arrogant bastard, you are not better than me!” She stomped before she turned to walk away. Her friend whispering encouraging words as they made their way out of the elevator.
I had nothing else to say to her or her friend. The incredible sense of relief I felt as the doors closed, and I made my way into the private and quiet suite, was indescribable.
I walked over to the bar, grabbed a tumbler, and poured myself a glass of desperately needed whiskey. I downed the first glass in one quick gulp before I poured myself another and walked to the large sofa. I dropped onto the plush cushions and put my head in my hand. I was a grown man, twenty-eight years of age, and I was just now beginning to find out I really didn’t know how to live without my daddy and his money. There was no way I was going to go back home and apologize, but after tonight, I was about to be out on my ass.
My mother had told me about an old house passed down in our family in a town called Falls Village. I remember visiting it once for about half a day when I was younger, but we had never been back. Apparently, back then, my father felt the surrounding area was too underdeveloped for his taste. At the time, I didn’t think anything of it, but now I knew that underdeveloped was just another way of him saying the area was too poor for an Ingram.
Mom said my father had all but forgotten about the property, the taxes were paid on the land automatically, but there hadn’t even been anyone out there to take care of the shrubs. It was just one of his many forgotten properties no one would ever visit. The key was already waiting at the real estate office for anyone with the Ingram name. All I had to do was show up, show my ID, and they’d give me the key.
The concern I had was what happened after that? Seventy-five thousand dollars would last me a while if I simply stayed there, but I would need money, eventually. I had no work experience I could call on. I’d finished high school and two years of college, but I never got my degree. I didn’t need it; I was already rich.
There were so many unknowns, but I knew I had to take the first step. That first step was to get to Falls Village, Maine.
I made it to Falls Village, Maine, from Berkeley Lake, Georgia, in about four hours. Imagine everyone’s surprise when one of the wealthiest men in the United States requested an economy ticket on a commercial flight. I tried to hunker down in my seat and avoid everyone, but as usual, I was the main attraction, and I hated it. Things went from bad to worse when the cab driver from the airport didn’t want to wait around for me to get my key from the realtor office. Surely it couldn’t be that far, could it? I was sure I could walk it.
I pulled my hoodie over my head to keep a low profile, but it wasn’t needed. In the small town, there weren’t that many people to notice me. I’d told the realtor's office I’d be arriving late and would need someone to give me the key. However, when I arrived at seven pm, the office looked dark inside.
“Motherfuck!” I cursed loudly, and the few people around moved even further away from me.
“Sir? May I help you?” A woman spoke from beside me, a cup of coffee in her hand.
“Do you work here?” I pointed to the door in front of me. The words came out of my mouth harsher than I intended. I didn’t want to be stuck waiting for someone who knew I would be arriving. I don’t like having my time wasted.
“Um, my Uncle does.” She answered softly. For the first time in what seemed like forever, I saw something on a woman’s face that wasn’t lust. No, the look on this woman’s face was fear.
I looked down at what I was wearing, black sweats and a hooded sweatshirt. It was all designer, of course, but in the dark of night accompanied by the scruff on my face and my imposing build, I suppose I did look a bit menacing.
“Can you get your uncle, I’m supposed to pick up my key.”
“Oh, yes, Mr. Ingram? I was to wait for you. I just went to get some coffee.” She forced a smile on her face and came to the door. She quickly opened the door and made her way to the small desk in the cramped space. She pulled out a large interoffice envelope and a few documents.
I watched her move quickly and lay the forms out for me to sign. “May I have two forms of identification, please?”
I reached into my bag and produced my driver's license and my passport. She verified the name and date of birth with that on the forms, but was all; she didn’t make any copies of anything.
“Ok, Mr. Ingram, please sign here, and that will be all.”
“That’s it? You’re not going to make any copies of this?”
She looked up at me, her doe eyes blinking in confusion, “No, I mean, Uncle Beckett told me I wasn’t supposed to. He said a woman called earlier and demanded no proof be kept. Am I supposed to? Should I call him?”
I groaned. A woman, I can only assume it was my mom. Another safeguard to keep dad from finding out I am technically still on his property. “No, it’s fine. Just give me my things.” I signed the papers she had and watched her put them back into the file cabinet. She handed me the envelope, and I walked out. I didn’t thank her, nor check the contents of the envelope. Nothing. I just wanted to be off the streets as soon as possible.
What an epic mistake.
I walked for a long while before I realized I had no idea where I was going. I saw a large mansion and figur
ed that was the house, but it appears there was another home identical to the one I searched for on the other side of town.
After walking around in circles for about three hours, I found my way onto an unkempt dirt road, large patches of grass disguised the path that was supposed to be there. Trees with low-hanging branches slapped me in my face as I tried to make my way further in. I pushed another large branch out of my way and saw the plaque on the broken down steel gate that read, ‘Property of Ingram’. “Thank fuck!” I yelled in relief. If this hadn’t been the right place, I was positive I would have sat on the ground and gone to sleep. I approached the rusted gate and tried to insert one of the keys from the envelope into the keyhole, but it wasn’t needed. The gate swung right open.
I walked onto the property, and even before I made it forty feet, I could smell the smoke. Someone else was here, and from the sound of laughter, it was a lot of someones.
“Did you see him wipeout?”
“Bro! It was epic! That gash, though, was…”
They all stopped laughing as I made my way closer to them. “Go away.” I barked.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” They stood and began to walk over to me, a little forced limp in their gait, trying to seem dangerous. I wasn’t impressed in the least. “I think you are in the wrong town.” The one with the mouth kicked a can in my direction; I didn’t move.
“I’m not going to tell you again, get the hell off my property, now!”
He stopped, “Bullshit, you’re not an Ingram. All the Ingrams were killed in a bad drug deal.”
What the hell?
I didn’t answer him, but I had no idea where he had gotten that information from.
“No, they’re all in protective custody because one of them ratted out the mob.” Another said.
“Guess you’re all wrong. I’m here; maybe I broke out?” I tilted my head to the side, playing with them.
“Fuck that. I’m out of here.” One of them dropped what he had in his hands and took off while the rest of them were stuck staring at me in disbelief.
“Boo!” I jumped at them. They startled and ran away. I was a little disappointed none of them squealed like pigs, but the fact they all ran away was enough to put a smile on my face after this mess of a day.
Chapter Three
I walked up the crumbling steps. The vines had long ago pushed their way through the cracks in the stone, further damaging the entryway stairs. The door was locked, but the window right next to the doorknob was broken. There was a high chance someone was in the house.
I used the key to unlock the door and covered my mouth as a cloud of dust rushed right at my face. I coughed a few times and swiped at the air in front of my face so I could see.
“Hello.” My voice echoed loudly in the large house, but I didn’t receive a response, not that I expected one. What kind of robber would sneak in and then answer when someone calls out to them?
I take a few more steps and can see all the furniture is pretty much covered with cloth tarps, and the photos are still hanging on the walls. The chandelier, though covered in dust, still hangs proudly in the middle of the large entranceway. Everything seems like it’s in its place, but I walk through the house some more just to make sure.
It’s not until I make my way into the kitchen that I start to see things are missing. There’s no silverware, nor any appliances. I make my way into the main room to see the TV is gone, at least I am assuming it was the TV. Wires are hanging that now connect to nothing.
The things you’d typically expect to be stolen from a house that’s been long abandoned, are missing. In fact, I was surprised more wasn’t taken. I slowly make my way through each room in the house and find it quite shocking all the bedrooms are still locked. The decor is horrid and outdated, and the house smells musty and is practically falling down around me. There is one gem, though, one room I was beyond excited to find.
A library.
More books were lining the walls than I would ever have been able to read in a lifetime, but I was up to the challenge. Nothing in there appeared to be missing. I made my way up to what I assumed was the master bedroom and looked out the window, taking everything in. The entire property visible from this vantage point seemed to be overrun with either garbage or unruly vegetation. It was far from the pristine world I was used to living in, but I could make it work.
I wanted to call my mother and tell her I’d arrived safely. She’d never really been a worrier, but after the confrontation between my father and me the other day, I just wanted her to know that I was ok. The problem was I didn’t have a phone to call her with. My father had already cut that off. I would have to go into town and get one, eventually. Right now, I just wanted to relish the stillness. I wouldn’t say I could relish in the peace because there was nothing about my life right now, giving me a sense of peace, but for the first time in a long time, things were still. I didn’t have to hurry to a charity event, or walk through a business I had no passion for. I could just be.
Tomorrow I would start my new life here in Falls Village. It would be home for as long as I could stay hidden.
Chapter Four
Two Years Later
“Hurry up, let’s get out of here!”
I watched as the small boy remained stuck in his position before he dropped the bottle of soda he pulled out of the small cooler and ran away. He was scared of me. Everyone in town was.
When I got here two years ago, it didn’t dawn on me that my family might have made a name for themselves in this small up and coming community. Apparently, the name we’d made for ourselves included guns, murder, drugs, and the mafia, or my favorite dead bodies in the basement. The stories were all ridiculous and false.
There were a few of the locals who tried to convince me to tell them the real story, but they all came with their preconceived notions. And nothing I ever said changed their minds so slowly I just stopped talking and let them all think what they wanted about me.
The messed up part about it all was I went from being a socialite to being shunned by a community. And it was all because of what others thought about me.
I grabbed the rest of the beers I’d need to get through the rest of the month and walked over to the checkout line. It was amazing, but there was rarely a line when people thought you buried bodies in the backyard.
“Hello, is this all?” The small woman asked and began ringing up my items. She did her best not to look up at me.
I didn’t answer, I rarely did.
“Um, well, your total is thirty-two fifty. Cash or card?”
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the two twenties I had. I handed it to her and waited impatiently as she gave me my change. I didn’t wait around for one of the few town folk in the store to talk to me. I simply picked up my bag and headed back to my home.
I’d managed to stretch the seventy-five thousand dollars for the last two years, but my funds were running dangerously low. I thought by now I would have my shit together, but it's been the absolute opposite.
The longer I’m on my own, the more I’ve come to realize that without utilizing my name or my father's money, I am pretty damn useless.
That wasn’t entirely true. I managed to figure out I had a passion for construction. Something about restoring something that used to be shit back to its original glory gave me satisfaction.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t bringing in any money. I could go out and try to find a job, but no one in town would hardly talk to me, let alone hire me. And everywhere I went out of town I had no experience, so I never got the job.
I sat down in the large library and opened the book to the page about heart conditions. I’d already read through a large chunk of the non-fiction section of the library. Unfortunately, everything was already decades old and didn’t hold my attention for long. So I moved on to the self -help, stone working, and the medical journals.
“Oh, stop it. You’ve been shot before and survived.”
I cl
ose the book and place it on the small desk next to me and turn my head slightly to listen. Maybe I’ve been alone for so long now that I am starting to hear shit, but I could have sworn I just heard someone talking inside my home.
“… the angered beast bursts through the doors and scolds us for trespassing, then drags us off to the dungeon.”
You’ve got to be shitting me. There was someone ballsy enough to break into my home. I got up quickly and quietly and made my way to the stairs. Lucky for me, the stairs were all stone, so there was no creaking for them to hear. I could hear at least two people, but one of them sounded like a woman, and the other sounded like an annoyed man. I hoped she was trying to make this an adventurous date for the two of them because I couldn’t wait to kill their hopes.
“If anyone is dragging your ass to a dungeon, it’s going to be me, now let’s go. We’ll have Beckett look into the owner and make an offer.”
An offer? Are they talking about the house? I make my way down the rest of the steps and can see the two of them. The man is obviously trying to pull the woman out of my house, but the woman so enthralled by her surroundings, neither one of them noticed me until I started talking.
“Make an offer,” I say loudly, causing both of them to startle slightly. “For what? Me not having you arrested for trespassing? I don’t welcome strangers into my home, Mr…,” I stopped and looked at the two of them. I have been around here for a couple of years, and even though I don’t go to town all that much, I’ve never seen these two. “Who are you, and what are you doing here?”
“Sweet Jesus, have mercy,” The woman says while devouring me with her eyes. I was used to be the center of attention for many women, but it’s been a while, and even though I can see she’s with a man, I won’t lie. It makes me feel good to know I still got it. “That’s exactly what the beast asks. We’re going to the dungeon next.”
