by Sara Daniell
She laughs. “Do you think you are going to be able to just walk in there and walk out with a job?”
I roll my eyes. “Maybe. Maybe not. I won’t know if I don’t try. I can at least get an application. And damn, aren’t friends supposed to be supportive? If so, you are doing a really bad job.”
She laughs and sits down on a bench to wait for me. I head to the movie store. A girl with curly brown hair looks in my direction when she hears the door chime.
“Can I help you? Or do you know what you are looking for?” She sets a basket of movies down.
“I saw the help wanted sign, and I’m looking for a job. Can I have an application, please?”
She crosses her arms over her chest and looks skeptically at me. Since being on Earth, I have obtained a few tattoos, and my holey jeans are probably not the best thing to wear when applying for a job. I look down and curse at myself for not thinking this through a bit more.
“What is your name?” She asks.
“Ana,” I say, stating the name on my fake i.d. “My friend and I just moved here. We applied for college, so I will need hours that work around classes.”
“It doesn’t pay well.”
“That’s okay,” I reply. “I really need a job. Any amount of money is better than none, right? I’m not one to beg for anything, but I’d beg if it’d help my chances.”
She stares at me skeptically for a few seconds before a grin spreads across her mouth. “Would you like to start now?” She hands me an apron and a name tag.
I hesitate before taking it. That was too easy. I smile. “Wait, are you serious?”
“Yeah. I don’t know you, but I like you. It’s not everyday someone begs for a job at a movie store. I’ll give you a chance, Ana.”
“Hell yes! I mean…thanks.”
“Awesome. By the way, my name is Kate, and I’m the manager and only other employee here besides you. Oh, here is a marker to write your name on the name tag. Another thing you should know is the owner lives out-of-state and, for some reason, trusts me to run it. I have some paperwork you need to fill out, taxes and stuff.” She walks behind the counter and starts grabbing some papers.
As I’m pulling the apron over my head, I remember Sage is waiting for me outside. I look at Kate. “I need to let my friend know I got the job. She is waiting for me outside.”
I quickly run out and tell Sage.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Sage eyes up the apron and name tag. “I thought we decided to stop being thieves.”
“I got the job.”
“Did you put a gun to their head?”
I laugh. “Almost,” I tease.
“So, when do you start?”
“Now. Strange, right? But hey, I’ll take it. Will you be okay by yourself for a few hours?”
“Pfft, duh.” She walks backward as she gives me a thumbs up. “Make that money. Text me when you’re ready for me to meet you here.”
I nod then head into my first job making honest money.
Orion, think! It’s as if I can hear my mother’s voice inside my head. It’s times like these I hear her the loudest. I know I shouldn’t be at this club tonight. Not when things are getting suspicious. A few people we know have been acting strange, and I’m beginning to wonder if the Hunters are getting smarter. They could be anybody, and it’s hard to trust anyone.
I can also hear my mother scolding me about missing classes. I know I should be going, but it’s hard when you have a pack of Hunters trying to kill you. We have been here for three months and going to classes still isn’t my top priority. I would have never applied to go to college and just worked, but I felt like I owed going to my mother.
“So, my place tonight, or?” Sage asks as she scans the crowded club with fearful eyes. She stated earlier that she had a bad feeling about tonight.
I take another drink of my alcoholic, purple something and say, “I think I’m just going to stay alone tonight.”
“You can’t! You know things have been weird lately!”
I give her my best I-don’t-give-a-damn look.
Standing up from my seat, acting as if I’m about to go to the dance floor, I say, “You worry too much. I will be fine. Now, go have some fun! It could be the last night of our lives!”
Sage groans as she stands to her feet. “Every night could be the last night of our lives. Sometimes, I wonder why I’m even friends with you.”
“Because you are smart as hell. Who would not want to be friends with me?” I set my drink down when I feel the alcohol rush to my head. I’m the one driving tonight, so I don’t need any more to drink.
“Do you really want me to answer that?” She asks with raised eyebrows and taking a hit off her cigarette.
I take her cigarette from her and laugh as I inhale the nicotine. I exhale the smoke slowly. “I’m done with this conversation. Meet me at the car at midnight.”
She rolls her eyes and walks to the dance floor. I act as if I’m going to go and dance, but as soon as I’m out of her sight, I run out the nearest exit.
I’m thankful for the peace and quiet of the dark alley. As I walk, I kick a can and hum a song by my favorite band. When I see cars passing, I realize I’m almost at the end of the alley. I turn around and kick the can as hard as I can and listen to it scrape down the concrete as it comes to a stop. I turn back around to make my way to the busy street.
“Ana? What are you doing out tonight?”
Turning to the male voice, I smile and say, “Hey, Liam. I’m on my way to find the car. I was at the club, but it was lame.”
“Yeah, I was there too but left.” Liam looks scared, and I want to ask why he keeps looking over his shoulder but decide against it. It’s most likely drugs causing him to jitter nervously.
I point in the direction of my car and say, “So… I’m going to go find my car. See you in class Monday.” I start to pick up my pace when Liam places his hand firmly on my shoulder.
“Please don’t leave me here. Can I have a ride?”
I look curiously at his hand on my shoulder and move away from him, causing his hand to fall to his side. “I’m in the roadster. I have to give Sage a ride. Sorry, no room.”
Liam grabs both of my shoulders, backing me into the alley. In a hushed tone and scanning his surroundings, he says, “You don’t need to be alone. There was a guy asking for you in the club. What is going on? He seemed dangerous.”
I quickly move away from him. “What? Did he say anything else?”
He successfully pisses me off by not replying and running in the opposite direction. I run my hands through my hair in frustration and turn to walk back to the parking lot to where my car is parked. You can’t ever tell if Liam is telling the truth or not. He is always weird like that. He is proof of what messing with drugs can do to you.
I make it to the crosswalk and cover my thumb with the sleeve of my shirt. I don’t want to make contact with the grimy-from-frequent-use button. The signal blinks telling me it’s safe to go, and I step forward.
When I make it to my car, I see Sage standing nervously at the car, and I hit the unlock button. She immediately jumps in. I get in the driver’s side, and before I close the door, she is hitting the lock button repeatedly. “It’s locked!” I yell.
She wraps her arms around herself and looks at me with fear in her eyes. “I was so worried you would be dead.”
“What are you talking about?” I back out of the parking space and flip my blinker to the right, waiting for my turn to turn onto the busy street.
“Sphere Hunters.” I take a sharp intake of breath as she says what I was hoping she wouldn’t.
“Dammit.” I hit my steering wheel and curse under my breath. I realize it’s my turn to turn onto the road. I turn and start driving straight, keeping up with traffic.
“They were asking around the club for us. They were playing it off as if we were their dates. It was two guys. As soon as Micah came and told me, I had him show me who they were, and I kne
w. It’s like those damn Hunters have radars or something.” She looks out her window and then says, “You really shouldn’t stay alone tonight. Not with the Hunters being here.” She turns down the radio that I turned up to ignore her. Maybe I should be fearful of the Hunters, but I’m not. I’m more annoyed at the fact that we may have to move again. I like it here.
“I was listening to that!” I say as I try to turn the radio back up.
Pushing my hand away, Sage turns the music back down and says, “Civil Twilight isn’t as important as talking about our plans for safety tonight!”
Letting her win the radio battle, I say, “Fine. You can stay with me. We will be fine. You seriously worry too much.”
“Only because there is reason to worry.” I ignore her cryptic response and turn the radio up again.
When I open the door, I place my keys on the table and fix myself something to drink. I act as if there is no one searching for us and sit on my couch.
“Do you think the Hunters will find us?” Sage rummages through my cabinets for something to eat.
“I don’t care if they do.” I take another drink of my water. I look at the time and remember I have to work today. “We should go to bed. It’s already morning.”
I get up and make my way to the closet to get Sage some blankets. “I don’t mind sleeping on the couch if you want my bed,” I say loud enough so she can hear me from the hallway.
“I don’t mind sleeping on the couch,” she yells back. “It’s way better than staying alone at my place.” Sage and I have separate apartments so that we both have our own place to go when we need to be alone.
“We might as well get rid of one of our apartments. You’re always here anyway.” I walk back into the living room, handing her the blankets and pillow. “So do I need to check for monsters, or are you over the boogie man?”
Rolling her eyes and laughing, she says, “Over it. And when it becomes a financial issue we will. Having separate places makes me feel more like a grown up.”
I raise a brow. “Says the girl who is sleeping on my couch because she’s scared of a little ol’ Hunter.”
She sticks her tongue out at me. “Whatever, bitch. You get scared too.”
“Honestly, I don’t. I become cautious and go into kill mode. Fuck being scared. It does nothing but make me lose focus.”
“Say that all you want but you get scared.”
“Goodnight, Sage.”
“Night.”
I walk back to my bedroom and strip down to my panties. I throw on an oversized shirt and plop down on my bed. I wish I wasn’t so wide awake. For some reason, the longer I stay awake the harder it is to fall asleep.
As I’m about to fall asleep, I think I hear footsteps walking quietly down the hall. If it were Sage, she would walk normally. I feel for my pistol underneath my pillow, and once I find it, I quietly get off my bed. I tiptoe to the doorway and lean my back against the wall. I turn my head to see who the footsteps belong to, but the dark hallway doesn’t help me see any better. Whoever it is couldn’t go very far. All that is down the hall is my room, bathroom, and linen closet.
I walk into the hallway and silently beg the floor not to echo my footsteps. I check the bathroom and don’t see anyone. I get braver and open the shower curtain. Still no one. Dammit, I know I heard footsteps! I walk into the living room and place the gun at my side. I see Sage sleeping on the couch and quickly switch the safety back on. I walk back to my bedroom and climb into bed then place my gun under my pillow.
“DID YOU HEAR anything last night?” I ask Sage as I start the coffee machine.
She sits up from the couch and stretches. “Nope. Do you think you heard something?”
I shrug my shoulders and sit on the counter. “Yeah. Footsteps. But you were sound asleep. I was probably just hearing things again.”
“Probably. I’m going to take a shower and then try to make it to my study group. Big test Monday, and I need to get my grades up. I have missed too many classes. Try to stay out of trouble the rest of the weekend.”
“You don’t have to worry about me. I will be working all weekend.” I look at the clock and sigh. I shouldn’t have stayed out so late and slept as long as I did. It’s already after two o’clock, and I have to be to work by three. I grab a cup of coffee and sink into my couch to be lazy for just a little longer. After Sage leaves, I take a shower to get ready for work.
I pull into work and dread that I’m working on a Saturday night. Movie rentals are crazy on the weekend. I walk in and hear the door chime announcing my entrance. Kate shoves a handful of returns at me before I can set my messenger bag down.
“Well, hello to you too, bitch!” I say and laugh as I put the pile of movies on the counter, so I can put my things away and clock in.
She laughs. “It’s going to be a hell of a night! There is some bad weather moving in, so I figure everyone will be renting tonight. You better get those returns put up before a flood of people roll in!” I roll my eyes at her and put my name tag on.
I start putting the returns back on the shelves - my favorite thing to do. I like staying hidden behind the shelves and letting Kate deal with the customers. I always get odd looks because of my appearance.
I put a movie back on the shelf and see my reflection in the shiny plastic. My blonde hair with black and purple highlights isn’t the best look to have when dealing with the public. Nor are my tattoos. My icy blue eyes also cause people to stare uncomfortably at me. Actually, they are probably just staring at my overall appearance. I look like a rebel, or that is what other Dwellers would have said back in Dandux. I jump and drop a few DVDs when someone says something from behind me.
“Excuse me.”
I don’t turn to see the male that just spoke but watch his hand go in front of my face, grabbing the DVD that briefly held my reflection.
After the DVD has left my view, I turn around but look down at my feet. “Sorry.” I start to walk away, but he stops me.
I look up at a tall guy wearing a black hooded jacket and jeans. He looks like he is in pain about something and is standing as still as a rock. I stare at him for a brief moment, but I quickly walk away when I realize I’m bothering him.
I start putting DVDs back on the shelf and discreetly watch him as he pays for his movie. Kate is trying to flirt, but he doesn’t acknowledge it. He pays and leaves. I laugh at myself when I realize I was actually intimidated by him.
I walk back to the counter after he leaves and think how there was something familiar about him, but I can’t put my finger on it. I shrug it off as no big deal and start talking to Kate.
“I’m done putting everything back. Anything else you need me to do?” I readjust my nametag on my apron.
Kate sets herself up on the counter and laughs. “Are you trying to avoid dealing with people?”
“You know it’s not my favorite thing to do,” I say as I check the box for returns. Kate falls silent, and as I stand up from checking the return box, I notice the same guy from earlier holding a gun to her head. I quickly pull my gun from my boot and point it at him.
“Let. Her. Go.”
He lets her go and points his gun at me. I go to pull the trigger, and he starts laughing. Holding out his left hand, he reveals the bullets that were once in my gun. I quickly drop the gun to my side and yell at Kate to leave. As she runs out the door, I grab the knife from my pocket and kick the gun from his hand. I swiftly duck out of the way as he tries to grab me by my hair. I hear a group of guys yell from outside, and he looks away from me then runs out the door.
I quickly lock the door and start cleaning up the DVDs and candy that got thrown about during the fight. I keep looking behind my shoulder, checking for another invasion. I grab my messenger bag and call Kate on her cell.
“Dammit! What the hell was that all about?” She yells.
Avoiding the truth, I say, “Not sure. I contacted the police. They are looking for him.” Lie. Total lie. I should have known he was a
hunter. How could I be so stupid?
She breathes heavily into the phone. “I thought you would be dead! I didn’t even think to call the police! I’m so sorry I didn’t do more to help. I’m such an idiot! Glad you’re okay! And where did you get a gun? Is that even legal?”
“I’m not sure, but it’s probably what saved both of our asses tonight. Just forget about it.”
“Do you think we should call the owner and let him know what happened in his store?”
I hesitate before I answer. “No need to alarm him. No one got hurt. But if it’ll make you feel better, I can call him so you don’t have to stress over it. It was a scary night for you.”
“You sure you don’t mind dealing with him? He might get pissed.”
“Nah, I don’t mind.”
“Thanks. See you tomorrow?”
“Yeah. Get some rest and have a few drinks.”
She laughs. “You too.”
After we hang up, I immediately call Sage to check on her. If trouble found me here, trouble was sure to find her as well.
Sage lives in a gated apartment complex. She wanted me to live in one too, but I refuse to pay extra for a security guard who doesn’t do his job and opens the gate to anyone. Security my ass. They aren’t even allowed to carry guns; they carry a stick. Ooo, soo scary. Ha.
I pull up and wait for the gate to open, and when it does, I cautiously drive through. I park my car and pick up pace when I get closer to Sage’s. I fumble with my keys, trying to find the key to her door.
I quickly unlock her door and look behind me before going in. My palms are sweaty as hell from nerves. “Sage? It’s me!” I yell as I walk through her apartment. Her not answering my call has me worried. “Sage?” I say louder, and my heart starts racing at a speed so fast I may go into cardiac arrest. I start slinging doors open and scream for her, but she is nowhere. She should be here, dammit!
I quickly turn on my heels to leave her apartment but run into something, someone… I close my eyes and take a sharp intake of breath. I look at the heavy, black boots and ripped jeans and say with a shaky voice, “Where is she?”
