Black Porridge

Clatter of dishes against metal jarred Rue into consciousness and she moaned openly, shifting in the squeaking mattress. The sheets were entangled about her limbs and she struggled against them, shoving the pillow from poking her eyes. “Hmmph!” she mumbled, finally winning the battle with her stubborn cloth.

Eyes adjusting slowly to the ray of warm sunshine seeping through the thin muslin curtains, Rue glanced around the empty room and everything from yesterday rushed in once more. This time however, she didn’t cry. She couldn’t. Her tear ducts were completely dry from all the sobbing last night. It was around five in the morning that she finally cried herself to a deep sleep, no dreams to comfort or haunt her. She wasn’t sure if that was a gift or a punishment for not being there for Uname.

As she quietly rose to her feet, Gray’s words from last night echoed in her hollow mind. She could not blame herself for Uname’s death but as a friend, Rue felt responsible. She should’ve told Uname to go home with her instead of seeing that sordid movie. There was a serial killer in the town, one person still missing and she’d allowed her friend to frolic about instead of letting her know the details.

Before she could find time to gather her bearings, the door burst open and two laughing children crashed in, almost throwing Rue to the ground. Stumbling to regain her balance, Rue caught sight of a dark-haired girl and her snow-haired companion. They both stood ramrod-straight now, seemingly penitent for almost knocking down their visitor.

She frowned, noting their luminous green-eyed gazes, contrasting against their bronze skin. Blinking, she glanced from one to the other. The room remained quiet as the three gaped at each other. Then Rue opened her mouth to speak when the white-haired girl finally spoke. “Eyes red with sorrow,” she said evenly, voice remarkably husky and deep for what her age inferred.

Rue merely blinked back at her, speechless.

“You not cry anymore. You are safe,” she continued, her green eyes steady on hers.

Safe from what? Rue swallowed hard and studied the children’s hollow cheeks and unwavering gazes. Who were they? She glanced around, suddenly taking note of the brick walls covered with caked mildew. She stiffened. Where was she?

“Do not worry,” the girl answered as if hearing her thoughts. “It is sanitarilized.”

“Sanitary,” the boy suddenly spoke–his voice soft, almost ethereal like his features. His green eyes studied Rue with silent scrutiny and Rue shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. For children, they seemed more confident than even her at this moment and Rue wanted to hide, to cover herself and sleep, never to get up again.

Suddenly, soft yet cold fingers wrapped around Rue’s wrist and tugged gently. Rue snapped to attention and glanced down at the girl who now smiled at her. She raised her brows in silent question.

“I am Petra and this is Yunis,” she said, her long lashed eyes blinking up at her.

Rue opened her mouth to respond but Yunis answered instead. “You are Rueben.”

She whipped her head to him, frowning now. He gave her a patient smile, resembling a parent explaining something to a slow child. “Your license,” he jerked his head to the bedstand where her purse was.

“We had to find your information to identify you,” Petra said quickly, already sensing what Rue was about to ask.

Rue blinked, stupefied. Without saying a word, this two adolescents knew exactly what she was thinking. Either her face was very expressive or these children proved more dangerous than they let on. It was then she remembered someone–a guy with dark eyes and a gentle smile. He’d brought her here. She remembered weeping against him, mourning for her friend.

“Gray is in the kitchen,” Petra intruded her thoughts with an innocent smile. “We are having black porridge.” She grinned openly, excited at the thought of the meal.

Rue sniffed, trying to get a sense of what the mystery meal could be. Black porridge–sounded questionable.

“It’s delicious,” Petra raved, already pulling at Rue’s hand to join them by the door. “Come. The Mistress is waiting to see you.” With that, she kicked open the barred door and led the way out, still holding to Rue’s hand.

Rue marveled at the strong grip of the girl’s fingers on her wrist. Somehow, this child–well, both of them were very strange in their actions, characters. Even their names were different. How did they know Gray and who was the Mistress?

A wave of children’s voices could be heard as they walked down the darkened hallway, Yunis’ white hair providing Rue with a sense of direction as he walked a few feet in front of them. Petra had stopped talking and all Rue could hear were the scattered voices–not deciphering any of the words. It was as if they were talking in a different language.

As soon as they spotted a light at the end of the hallway and Petra and Yunis quickened their pace, Rue suddenly found herself surrounded by a swarming crowd of children, packed together in one room. Children of different races, hair of rainbow colors spotting the room, beaming smiles and gesticulating limbs. All she could hear was their chattering and nothing else. Once they discovered a foreigner in their midst, the chattering faded out and their eyes shifted to hers. All the colors of the rainbow were reflected in their gazes and Rue held her breath. Violet eyes, golden eyes–even white! Where was this place and who were these people?

She almost tripped on one of their feet but Petra held on to Rue’s hand as she spoke to her fellow comrades in their language. Rue could feel the heat of their gazes burning through her skin and her heart jumped incessantly. Their high foreheads, bow-shaped mouth and chiseled features were identical all around the room. The only thing that differentiated each one was the color of their skin and their eyes and hair.

“What is this, the twilight zone?” Rue whispered and the children shifted their gazes back to her, forgetting that Petra was appealing with them. “Who are you people?”

“They are the Hutyle,” a deep and familiar voice said from above and Rue and the children lifted their gazes to the balcony over Rue’s head. Someone that resembled Gray stood there–only that his cropped hair was now completely smoky-white, contrasting greatly with his dark skin. A plump, dark-skinned woman stood beside him, her violet eyes studying Rue silently as she crossed her arms about her ample chest. Both were wearing off-white cotton garments like the children.

“The what?” Rue squeaked when Petra tightened her grasp over her wrist but kept her eyes on the man above her. Even his voice sounded familiar. His eyes were a smoky gray like his hair and they too studied her, steady and reassuring but all the while intimidating.

“The Hutyle. The children of the Mistress–” he lifted a slender finger to the silent woman standing beside him. For some reason, when the Petra and this man said the word ‘Mistress,’ Rue pictured a refined, slender woman with sharp but ethereal features like Yunis, with straight posture and a gentle smile. Instead, the woman beside him had a curved back, ample hips and breasts, a hawk nose set over sagging skin and beady violet eyes covered with spectacles.

Just as Rue shifted her gaze to her, she almost fell to her feet when the woman’s winged left brow raised inquisitively as if she’d heard her thoughts. Her violet eyes narrowed in suspicion and mentally, Rue took two steps back in trepidation.

“Rue,” the man interrupted her in a gentle voice and when Rue turned back to him, there stood Gray with his dark hair and kind eyes in his place. “Welcome to the Hutyle Refuge.” Flabbergasted, Rue watched him change again to the smoky-haired man and suddenly knew where his name came from. Gray. Before she knew it, her knees crumbled beneath her and the last thing she saw was Gray’s widened eyes and then blackness.

Hushed whispers interrupted her sleep, jarring her awake and Rue groaned, rubbing her sore eyes. Everything felt stuffy around her and she sniffed laboriously at the heavy air. Her head pounded constantly and she closed her eyes again. “She is awake,” a steady, husky female voice said over her and Rue moaned softly, shifting in the soft pillow against her head.

A cool cloth pressed over her forehead and Rue stiffened at the welcoming cold before relaxing again, feeling the chill stretch alongside the planes of her head and easing the throbbing pain.

“Rue…” Gray’s voice echoed against her eardrums and Rue whimpered. A hand pushed into hers and she found herself holding on tight. “You have a fever,” he continued. “But you must eat something.”

Rue shook her head. Her throat felt dry, constricted and hot. She had no desire to eat or drink. She just wanted to sleep. In her mind, she could picture the rainbow-eyed children with their wild, silky hair of different hues. She saw Gray flashing like a monogram in front of her–he was not human, the children and their mistress weren’t human either.

“Whatever must’ve killed her could not have been human,” the woman’s voice from the supermarket echoed in Rue’s head and she whimpered loudly, now tossing. A sharp set of fangs suddenly flashed before her eyes and she clamped her teeth over her tongue, her body succumbing to the revulsions that attacked her suddenly.

A foreign voice began to speak over her, pressing the cool cloth harder over her head. Gray’s voice joined and soon a whole chant was forming about her like a cocoon, the words repeating even though Rue could not decipher them. She found her body slowing down its trembling against their chants and soon, she sagged against Gray’s arms about her, panting for air.

More than ten minutes later, once she was completely at rest and lay spent against Gray, a wooden spoon poked her closed mouth and the husky female voice commanded softly. “Eat…” It was then Rue could smell the pungent aroma wafting from the spoon. Her stomach turned violently and she wrenched her face away.

Gray’s laughter rumbled against her back and the spoon moved back to her mouth. “Rue… You have to eat.” With much hesitation, Rue finally gave in to the hunger pangs and opened her mouth, bracing herself for the most disgusting taste she could only imagine. Instead, a sweet ambrosia filled her mouth, coated her tongue and Rue chewed slowly, relishing in its goodness. “It’s black porridge,” Gray explained softly and Rue sighed, swallowing it and opening her mouth for another bite, hearing Gray’s laughter once more.

end of chapter six.

Copyright. DeeKay 2008

Refuge

Bleak emptiness, the hushed voices around her merely echoed in her hollowed heart. She wrapped her arms around her body even though a warm coat hung over her bowed shoulders. Vision blurry from the incessant tears, Rue swallowed against her dry throat. She was alone. Again.

Even though Gray sat just a few feet away, merely watching her while filling out a police report form, Rue did not acknowledge him. She could not. Uname was dead. Her only friend, dead. One of the police officers who came to the scene reported that she’d fallen more than six feet to her death. But how could that be? The seat she had been found underneath was the very seat she’d been sitting in before Rue left the theater.

There were impressions of fingerprints along her jugular as if someone had strangled her before dropping her a few feet down. The impact of the fall snapped her neck in half, the cause of her death. At that point, Rue broke down once again. Uname was dead and she was alone.

Why hadn’t she endured the movie and stayed inside? Protected her friend in some way? Rue sniffed back her tears and rubbed her cold fingers. At this movement, Gray chose this time to step forward and squat in front of her. Rue shifted her gaze to the floor beside him. She could not look at him. She wanted to die in place of Uname. Her smiling, kind-hearted Uname.

“Do you want to leave?” Gray whispered in a stilted tone as if he was unsure of what to say.

She shook her head. Where else could she go? Not back to that house, to that fence of dark trees where murder lay, where Uname would never come. No…

Just as he opened his mouth to respond, clicking of heels stepped behind him and Gray lifted his head. A grim, weary face of a police officer stared back at him. Gray unfolded to a standing position and stepped aside so the man could address the grieving woman.

“Miss…” the man started to speak when Gray cleared his throat. Catching the younger man’s warning gaze, the police officer nodded and continued. “We have yet to receive word from the coroner so it is probably best if you go home and get some rest.”

I have nowhere to go! Rue cried out from within but no words escaped her lips. Her body was stiff, heart hollow.

From her blank stare, the police officer shifted his gaze to Gray. “If you need me to call a cab or something–”

“It’s alright. I’ll take her home,” Gray amended, shoving his hands in his pockets.

The man sniffed. “I will call the number you gave me when I receive anything.” With that, he gave Gray a nod and a sympathetic half-smile toward Rue before walking away, heels echoing down the hall.

Rue bowed her head again desolately. This didn’t go unnoticed by Gray and he shifted his gaze back to her. “Do you have any other place you can stay for tonight?” he asked softly, breaking Rue’s heart again.

When she didn’t respond, Gray leaned down and wrapped an arm about her shoulders. “Come… I know a place.” With that, he lifted her in his arms and this time, Rue did not protest. Her spirit was much too weak.

OoO

Erratic, incessant breathing. Patting feet against hard, cold pavement. Swirling wind slamming against frozen, damp cheeks. A sob escaped parted, chapped lips. Stumbling to the floor, the young girl cried harder, her tears falling silently and evaporating once it hit the ground.

Engine rumbled behind her, white foggy light beamed down her back, scorching through her skin as she struggled to rise. Muscles, bones ached and cried out in pain. She winced at her aching body, her weak heart slamming hard against her bruised ribs. Each breath inhaled sent scores of excruciating pain through her body. She wanted to die. To escape from the light that loomed closer. Straining for the darkness, she opted to crawling, the grainy cement grazing her knees.

Suddenly the engine stopped and the light stayed behind as she scurried away. A car door opened and slammed close, followed by heels clicking against the floor.

Just then, she felt the hem of her shirt tug backwards and she whimpered, already feeling the hot breath of the person above her. “Please…” she forced out through her constricted throat. “Please.”

A low chuckle rumbled around her, shaking her inner core with crippling fear. Tears streamed down her face and she squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to see those glistening teeth and gleaming eyes. A cold air swept up her bare legs once the man’s gloved hands pulled at the bottom of her pants. “No!!!”

Gasping for air, she snapped her eyes open to a soft darkness around her and a springy mattress beneath her. Hush silence surrounded her like a warm blanket and she welcomed it although her frazzled heart raced violently. She clutched the sheets beneath her, eyes darting from left to right, searching for those glowing eyes in the darkness. Nothing.

The muslin curtains swayed from the evening breeze, pushing through the open window. She swallowed hard, the sound echoing in the silent room. A huddled form to her left told her she was not alone. She squinted her eyes and immediately noticed the dark-skinned man who carried her away. Gray.

She rubbed her eyes and blinked twice. Where was she? The room was compact, white and gray stripes running down the walls. No furnishings other than the bed she occupied and the dark chair Gray slept in. Was this a hospital room?

Just then, the form beside her shifted and she quickly lay back on the bed and shut her eyes, heart picking up speed again. Even though her back was turned to him, she could feel his eyes on her and held her breath.

“Rue… You awake?” his soft voice broke the silence of the room and she swallowed again, muffling the noise against the pillow in front of her face.

He waited as if he knew she was awake. Rue finally sighed. “Yeah…”

“Good. We need to talk.”

She stifled a groan and kept her eyes straight. She heard him rise from the chair, heard his footsteps cross the floor until she found two long legs and narrow hips standing in front of her. Rue closed her eyes.

Gray crouched beside the bed and folded his hands over the mattress. “Rue, please. We must talk.”

There was a soft but urgent tone in his steady voice that made Rue open her eyes again and study his carefully. She didn’t see any pity or sympathy in them, but there was no hardness or evil intention. Something within her whispered that she could trust him. Still guarded, she nodded slowly.

Gray’s shoulders relaxed. “Do you remember what happened last night?” he began, gaze steady on hers.

She nodded, the hollowness she’d felt earlier now returning. Uname was dead.

“You were not in the room when it happened.” It was not a question, a statement that all but confused her. Of course she was not in the room. She should’ve been though.

He must’ve heard her thoughts because he then spoke again. “It was not your fault that it happened. Rue, understand me.”

At this point, she could only hear echoes of his voice as she tried to picture Uname’s face in the darkness of her mind. Grief gripped a hold of her entire body, her vision blurred and her breath grew shallow. Gray stopped speaking and watched speechless as Rue hiccupped back the sobs that threatened. Her face contorted painfully, struggling to hold back the excruciating pain.

Closing her eyes, Rue did not notice Gray rub his face helplessly and she wrapped her arms around herself, mourning once again for her friend. Why hadn’t she stayed in the cinema, swallowed the fear of the movie and protected her from whatever killed her.

“You couldn’t have protected her, Rue. Nothing human could’ve,” Gray’s voice penetrated her thoughts and she snapped her eyes open, meeting his steady gaze. His mouth bowed in a strained manner as though it pained him to admit it.

“W-what do you mean?” she immediately recalled the woman’s words from the grocery store concerning the girl who’d died a few days ago. Whatever it was that killed the girl could not be human…

Gray nodded, his gaze shifting now to the open window behind Rue’s head. He swiftly rose, faster than she’d thought possible and reached over her to close the shutters. The cool wind zipped away, leaving a stuffy residue behind. He then returned to his position in front of her. “Rue… The bruises, the cuts. They were the same. Both died before falling to their dea—”

“Stop!” her voice echoed along the room‘s walls, shaking both her and Gray. She blinked rapidly, gasping for air. “No. I don’t want to hear it. Please stop.”

“Okay,” Gray muttered as Rue shifted away from him, covering her head with the bed sheet.

Just then the door opened and a stout, dark woman clad in a traditional white flannel gown and a headscarf wrapped around her head bustled in, holding an old-fashioned lantern.

She scowled at Gray kneeling beside the crouched figure on the bed. “What be all the noise?” she snapped evenly in a whisper. “We all asleep.” Her gaze shifted to the shaking figure in bed and scowled. “You tell her, you not?”

“I did,” Gray muttered and unfolded his lanky frame from the floor, towering over the woman.

She began mumbling in a foreign language, her speech broken as not to wake the entire house. Then she sighed heavily. “We explain in morning. Go sleep. She need alone time.”

He did not argue, didn’t speak. Rue kept her eyes closed, waiting. She wanted to see who he spoke to but could not turn her head. Wouldn’t dare. Next thing she heard was a soft sigh and then two sets of footsteps shuffled away from her bed. The door closed a few minutes later and after taking a deep breath, she quickly turned her head. Her heart skipped a beat. He’d gone. The room was empty and for the first time since yesterday, Rue was free to sob openly.

Gray leaned his head against the door, listening as Rue’s unrestrained cries seeped through the walls and into his heart. He gripped his fists, wanting to return in there and wrap his arms around her. Just then, a cool yet rough hand pressed against one of his bunched fists and Gray glanced down at the woman’s cool amethyst-colored eyes. “Tomorrow,” she merely said and shuffled down the darkened hallway, her flickering light leaving a trail for him to follow .

He had no cause to argue. This was her home, she was his guardian. He would wait. Taking one more glance at the closed door behind him, Gray released a sigh and followed the trail of light to his own quarters.

end of chapter five.

Copyright. DeeKay 2008

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Missing

Today was Sunday and Rue was finally meeting up with her best friend, Uname, who lived more than fifty miles away. She always looked forward to these days. It made her think of home and at least she wasn’t alone. With a smile on her face, Rue brushed her hair into a loose ponytail and tugged down her sweater. Two more minutes and she’d hear those squeaking sounds only known to Uname’s trusty but old truck.

With that on her mind, Rue quickly smoothened down her bedcovers and kicked her sneakers underneath the bed with her bare feet. She’d have to clean her room later tonight since Uname was sleeping over for a few days and knowing her OCD friend would probably have something to say about her personal hygiene, she’d need to do so quickly. Just not now considering there was only one minute before she had to walk downstairs to meet her halfway. Another thing about Uname, she was very stingy about time and schedules.

At a quarter to two on the dot, Rue could hear the stilted sounds of a car’s engine crying anguishly from trudging those miles with a hard driver like Uname. Snatching her leather satchel with her wallet and cell phone, Rue headed down the stairs just as her phone vibrated against her hips. Spotting the rusty midnight-blue truck sitting in the parking lot, Rue picked up her phone. “Yeah, I’m coming…” she drawled, jogging down the stairs, a smile adoring her features.

Uname was a petite, dark-skinned girl with cropped black curls that framed her round face, plastic yellow hoop earrings dangling from her ears. She popped her gum and smirked over at Rue who slid into the seat beside her. “I’m impressed. Just two seconds late today.”

Rolling her eyes, Rue pulled the seatbelt over her waist and buckled herself. “Do I get a cookie?”

Uname snorted, already putting the truck in reverse. “With a trillion fat calories? I don’t think so.”

“Yeah, dumb question.” Rue leaned back against the seat and grinned regardless of her rumbling stomach. She hadn’t gotten a chance to grab breakfast.

Uname noticed and raised a brow at her. “I have some grainies at the back. And OJ.”

“Orange juice,” Rue corrected with a saucy grin even as she reached behind for the bag of nasty–err, healthy granola bars that Uname practically lived on, hence her slim frame. Picking out the peanut butter flavored bar, Rue settled back in her seat and glanced over at her friend. “So how was the trip?”

Uname wrinkled her nose. “With Yussef acting up the entire way, I had to make a few pit stops… I swear, I can’t wait to trade it in for a new car.” The car groaned in protest or was it joy at the prospect of being liberated from its owner’s tyranny?

Rue merely smiled as Uname hissed in response. She opened the bar quickly and took a bite, refraining from grimacing at the well–grainy taste. “So where are we going?” she said between bites. Usually when Uname was in the driver’s seat, which was always, it meant Rue had little say where they went and what they did. She never complained though, as long as Uname was here.

The two girls met back in their hometown in Sierra Leone and both attended the same boarding school. Uname was just four years older and graduating the same year Rue entered. Both assigned to the same dormitory, Uname took a liking to the shy but intelligent girl and became a surrogate mother to her while she was still in the school. For that reason, no one dared harass Rue considering Uname was quite brusque and forceful when it came to bullies or anyone who wanted to take advantage of her little friend. All through school, Rue adored her friend and tagged after her like a dog after its owner. Uname never complained, always smiling at her and being the kind person she always was. Then she left and things changed.

Rue shuddered inwardly, not wanting to think about her days post-Uname. All she knew was that once she left the school and found Uname on the plane to the United States, things got a little better. She glanced over at Uname again and smiled fondly. It felt better seeing her today. The problems from the week dissipated once she thought over the fun day Uname had planned for them and it uplifted her spirits instantly.

“Are you even listening to me, little goat?” Uname’s voice interrupted her thoughts and Rue shifted her gaze, catching her friend’s raised brow. “Where is your mind today?”

Obviously not here. “What did you say?”

“I said did you hear about the boy who went missing here?” Uname glanced over her shoulder and quickly swung to the right just before a wave of cars swooshed by. She clucked her tongue in irritation but silently waited for Rue’s response.

“Missing? Who?” Rue’s eyes widened, her hands clutching the seat when Uname made a swift turn again.

“Some fellow in your town was reported missing from his room. Funny thing was that he’s a hospital patient down at ICU–a quadriplegic.” She tapped the steering wheel. “Apparently his family hasn’t been around to see him and suddenly he disappears once his father comes to visit.”

Brows furrowed instantly. “No word on him yet?”

“Don’t you read the news, girl?” Uname threw her a strange look and glanced back quickly just as a car stepped in front. She muttered a curse word in her native tongue and trafficated once again.

“No time,” Rue said distractedly, still waiting for more news. “What else did it say?”

Uname shrugged her slight shoulders. “Not much. They just say it might be linked with the girl’s death a day before… Seriously, who would’ve thought this town would prove to be the next real CSI?“ From the corner of her eyes, Uname caught the faraway look in Rue’s eyes and her parted lips. “You okay?”

Rue nodded slowly, quickly escaping the trance. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Swallowing hard, she shifted in her seat, not noticing the perturbed look on Uname’s face. What on earth is going on?

Rue blinked at the flashing lights, her mouth hanging open. What kind of sick humor was this? A horror flick. Was Uname insane or just plain sadistic? People rushed past them, all bustling and chatting about the newest addition to Stephen King’s many terror-filled films.

“What are you waiting for?” Uname snapped, closing her fingers around Rue’s arm and tugged her towards the growing line. “We’re gonna miss the film at this rate.”

I wish we would. Rue wrinkled her nose, her body already itching to leave. They’d finished traipsing about the city mall downtown, Rue merely following Uname as she added ten more clothing items to her already gigantic closet back at home. Then after that, they spent another hour standing in line while Uname picked up some needed items from the local post office, as though she didn’t have one in her own town. Even though her feet were crying for relief and her sleep-deprived body wanted to retreat back to the comfort of her home, Rue bit back her complaints until now.

“Do we really have to watch this?” Rue muttered, just barely loud enough for Uname to hear.

“Yes of course we do. Stupid question.” Uname pulled out a twenty dollar bill and waved it up. “I’ll pay for your ticket, if you’re worried about the price.”

Rue stifled a moan and chose to keep quiet. If Uname offered to pay for anything, which was hardly ever, it was best to count her losses and admit defeat. “Hmm,” she nodded mutely as Uname handed her the ticket with a smile. Restraining a sigh, she followed after Uname who was already skipping to the entrance of the building, earrings dangling.

Was it just her affected by the murder or the disappearance? Why was everyone looking so excited about gore and victimization on a screen more than 20 feet wide? The sound effects were enough to make Rue wretch right on the woman sitting below her.

Uname crunched noisily on her unsalted popcorn, eyes riveted on the screen like the other viewers sitting around them. Rue squirmed uncomfortably, gaze cemented to the floor and wishing for something phenomenal to happen–either the lights to go out or she could fake passing out and be ushered to a safer place.

Silence among the crowd was soon drowned out by the loud dripping of a faucet from the movie, the sound echoing against her beating heart. Rue clenched her jaw as loud, incessant panting joined the noise and she heard Uname take in a breath, waiting for the victim to be found. Just then a shrilling cry pierced the silence, sounding so much like the one she heard a few nights ago along the fence of trees just outside her apartment and Rue shot to her feet, startling Uname.

Her friend scowled up at her. “Sit down, you’re blocking people behind us,” she whispered fiercely, throwing popcorn in her mouth. Realizing she was missing the next scenes, she tore her eyes away.

Rue swallowed hard, her heart picking up speed. “I-I have to use the bathroom.” She didn’t wait for Uname’s protest and shuffled down the lit stairs and to the exit, jumping when the scream continued on. Panting for air, she pushed past a few bystanders who cursed at her as she blindly tried to find the nearest restroom.

Splashing water onto her clammy face, Rue struggled to regain her breath, hands pressed against her eyes. She could still hear the cry in her head, echoing incessantly and haunting her all over again. Cursing both herself and Uname for coming here tonight, Rue finally opened her eyes and realized where she was. The urinals hanging a few feet away told her she was in the men’s restroom.

Rubbing his eyes behind his glasses, Gray cursed his debilitating eyesight and pushed open the door to the bathroom. What he saw was the biggest surprise of his life and it almost knocked him to the floor. Literarily. “Whoa… Slow down,” he muttered, lifting both hands to steady himself and Rue. What was she doing in the men’s restroom.

“I-I’m sorr—” she paused and gaped up at Gray. Groaning inwardly, she wriggled in his arms. How many times would she bump into this man? Lowering her head, she looked everywhere else but his face lest he see the embarrassment and fear in her eyes.

Gray stared at the top of her head, brows furrowed. “What is the matter? Are you lost?”

She sighed heavily. “I’m okay. Just missed my way but I’m okay now.” She pushed past him and as he turned around to call for her before she ran off again, a shrilling cry echoed along the walls.

Rue jerked to a stop, her blood chilling instantly at the scream. There it was again and it was coming from outside. She spun around to face Gray and noticed his steady gaze on her. “D-did you hear that?” she swallowed hard against the forming lump lodged in her throat.

He nodded wordlessly and without a word, reached for her hand. “Come on,” he said, leading her farther away from the entrance way.

At first, she let him drag her down the lobby but when she heard a few more screams from behind her, she wrenched her hand back and began to run towards the noise. This time she had to find out what it was. Who was it this time?

Ignoring Gray’s calls for her, Rue stumbled forward and was almost knocked down by a stampede of people running out of a theater. She skittered to a stop and whipped her head around to where they were flooding out from, heart racing. The looks of terror and on their faces were enough to let her know this was where the noises came from. She dodged a few more hits as the people kept running out, tripping over their feet as they ran.

“It’s in there! It’s in there!” one of the men cried out, hands flailing wildly once he pushed through a few people struggling to rise from being trampled. Just then, Rue noticed Gray had joined her and was now clutching her arm protectively. She merely glanced his way, ignoring the scolding look on his face and peered inside the dark chamber the people had emptied. Something was in there. The screams still echoed resonantly in her body.

“Rue…” Gray started to say when she stepped forward. His grip tightened about her arm and she tugged against him. “It’s dangerous.”

“I have to see,” she said obstinately and inched forward, despite her aching heart begging along with Gray to stay back. Close your eyes and run, it cried agonizingly.

The movie was still playing–the same one she’d run out from, leaving Uname behind. A sense of foreboding suffocated her lungs, tightened the passageway and constricted the air from coming out. Uname! Her body stiffened and she wriggled her arm away, now sprinting up the stairs. Her heart echoed loudly as she searched each pew, praying her friend was safely outside and not still in here. “Please… Please,” she begged no one in particular, panting for air.

As she counted the hundredth aisle and stumbled up the stairs to where she and Uname found their seats earlier, a telltale sign of a fallen box with popcorn spilling out confirmed Rue’s fears and her knees quaked. “No!” a cry from deep within escaped her throat as she fell to the floor.

Just a few feet away lay a broken body, her yellow top completely drenched with blood, her arms splayed around her. “Uname!!!” she wailed, her cries echoing along the walls as Gray scrambled forward and wrapped his arms around her.

end of chapter four.

Copyright. DeeKay 2008

<< back to Index

The News

Grocery shopping. She dreaded it with a passion. It somehow reminded her of how inadequate her salary was and what she could not afford in this world. Pushing an empty cart down the fruits station, Rue merely studied the luscious polished fruit and let out a longing sigh. What cruelty.

It always happened this way. They put the most appealing products by the entrance as if to test her bravery. Would she quell with fear and exit quickly from her lack of self-confidence and her dwindling money supply, or brave face and push through ignoring the hungry pangs that tortured her with each step?

Luckily today, her hunger overcame her need to escape from her lack of self-worth. The pantry only consisted of two things, water and toilet tissue. Not at all essential for a growing woman. Besides, her paycheck finally arrived after she’d stalked the post office for three weeks, ever since her boss said it’d be delayed while she was busy dealing with ‘family matters’ aka divorce plans. Rue chose not to ask.

Now staring at a delicious branch of purple grapes, Rue tried to ignore her fingers twitching or the glands in her tongue watering up. Gah… I cannot afford this. She mentally counted the spare change after paying her bills. Life was so unfair.

Holding back a whimper, she shuffled on. Peanut butter, bread and cereal. That was her staple food with the luxury of rice, if she was feeling lucky. After placing the 89-cent bag of sliced wheat bread in the cart along with her one-gallon of 2 milk and the cheapest crate of eggs she dug out from the very back, Rue twisted her lips in thought. Rice would have to wait for another day. This was all she could afford to spend.

Heading for the checkout station, Rue overheard the ends of two women chatting by the pasta aisle. “Such a darn shame. That poor girl,” one said solemnly, while trying to pry her antsy four-year old child from hanging on to the jar of marinara sauce.

“What on earth could it have been that killed her?” the other said.

Those words penetrated the chambers of her beating heart and she immediately remembered the blood-curling scream from the night before. Someone died last night? Her breath grew shallow and Rue came to a halt, now gaping at the two ladies, top of her ears stretched to hear more.

“It was no human I can say that,” the first woman continued, a wry smile on her face when her son diverted his attention to the strap on the cart. “The bite marks were enough…”

“Where?” Rue felt her mouth move and before she knew it, the two women halted all speech to stare at her.

“Pardon?” the mother raised a brow at the strange girl breathing hard just a few feet from them. She unconsciously pulled her cart closer, increasing the distance between her unassuming toddler and the girl.

“I think she means the news, Claire,” the other woman mused, brow furrowed. “Sweetheart, are you alright? You look a bit sick.”

Rue felt her head shake and she stepped back, her knees wobbly. “Um… W-what happened?”

Both women now gaped at her. “You mean you haven’t watched the news.”

Not bothering to tell them that she did not own a television set, Rue waited with a dumb look on her clammy face. The other woman shook her head as if disapproving. “A girl about your age was attacked in the park last night or rather around two, according to the newsman.” She tapped her cart’s handle absentmindedly. “It’s a shame. No one knew her well. They say she was a transplant here.”

That was all Rue could hear. Her feet started moving on its own accord, the women’s voices now a fading memory against her ears. Her vision in front blurry as tears fell rampart down her face and she stumbled to the counter.

“Miss, are you okay?” a feeble voice in front interrupted her raging thoughts. Rue kept her head bent. She couldn’t speak.

Clutching the handle tighter, she just stood there frozen, not knowing what to do or say. “Do you need water or something, miss?” the voice persisted, hovering over her.

Rue shook her head. Why were they fussing over her? Someone had died, all alone. No family. She was a transplant as well. Her family was back at home overseas. She was alone here. Was she next? Why hadn’t she done something last night? She’d heard the scream, it had to be that girl. Goosebumps chased down her arms and with trembling fingers, Rue held onto her purchases.

A hand suddenly pressed against her shoulder and Rue jolted. “It’s okay…” a familiar voice chased the questions from echoing against her ears. “I know her.”

Rue finally lifted her blurry gaze to the figure beside her, ignoring the stares around her, the customers watching her with perturbed frowns etched on their brows. This time, her heart did not quake at the sight of him. Instead it seemed to welcome him like a balm to a festering wound. She swallowed hard, searching his eyes and even without explaining herself, she knew he knew.

Her eyes closed and she leaned her forehead against his arm. He stiffened at her reaction but recovered quickly, placing his other hand about her shoulders. “Come sit down for a while…” he coaxed her softly, even pushing her gently to the row of seats leaning against the wall.

“My…” she swallowed her protests when he took hold of her groceries and handed it to the cashier who stood behind him. “I… I’m sorry,” she blurted out, the tears flowing unrestrained now.

“There’s nothing to be sorry for,” Gray muttered, kneeling in front of her, hands folded over his legs. He peered up at her through his glasses and offered her a sympathetic smile. “You did nothing.”

Exactly! I did nothing. Isn’t that a crime after all? Rue hiccupped her thoughts. “You heard about the news?”

“Yeah,” he muttered softly, his gaze shifting to stare at the entrance where a few more customers ushered in. “It’s tragic…”

Rue blinked, the sobs caught in her throat as she studied the pensive expression on his face. Tragic? How about scary? She swallowed hard and looked away. “Why did she leave the house so late? Why was she alone?”

“Rue…” his voice interrupted her monologue. “We don’t know what could’ve happened. Did you know her?” his eyes searched her face as though her words would not suffice.

Rue’s cheeks warmed and she turned away. “No, I did not.” She closed her eyes. But I heard her. Is that not enough? “It just scares me. She was alone.”

“How do you know that?” Gray asked softly, not wanting to upset her but did indirectly as the wave of guilt surged through her body. “Rue…” he muttered when she did not respond. He then sighed heavily and slowly rose to his full height. “Come. I’ll take you home.” He held out his hand to her.

She wanted to protest but seeing as though she didn’t even know how to pay for transportation after purchasing her groceries and fearing to walk home with such unsteady feet, Rue merely nodded. “Let me pay for my stuff.” She slipped her hand in his and he tugged her to her feet, leading her to the line where the cashier with her basket was waiting.

“Thank you,” Rue muttered once she received her receipt and her bags. The cashier gave her a silent smile and nodded to Gray standing behind her.

The man reached for her bags before she could protest and pretended not to comment on her small purchase. Instead, he kept his eyes on her slight figure and bowed shoulders. She seemed genuinely shaken by the news of the murdered girl, for reasons he could not be sure of yet. Why did she turn away when he asked if she knew her? What was this girl hiding?

Before he could open his mouth to ask, she turned around with a bemused expression on her face. Had she asked him something. “Pardon?” he asked sheepishly. The cool wind welcomed them once they exited the supermarket.

“I said we keep bumping into each other,” Rue explained patiently, glancing from left to right before crossing the road to where the bus station stood. People were already congregating and she moaned inwardly. They’d probably have to wait until the next bus at this rate.

“That we do,” Gray was turning a left instead of walking with her. Rue stalled, shifting to face his back.

“Where are you going?” she called out to him, apprehensively glancing over to where the bus was pulling up and the passengers ushered forward. Idiot, we’re going to get left here.

“Car’s this way,” he called back without looking at her.

Hezekiah Gray stifled a chuckle when he heard Rue’s grumbling and shuffling feet as she tried to keep up with his fast pace. “I like riding the bus during weekdays,” he answered her raised brows.

“Even in pouring rain?” she snapped impatiently, taking this surprise more seriously than he’d expected.

Gray threw her an inquisitive look. “I have an umbrella.” He chuckled in teasing when she scowled up at him. Spotting his black Jeep, he reached into his left pocket and pulled out a set of keys.

Rue rolled her eyes but kept her comments to herself. A beggar had no say when it came to favor. Slipping into the passenger’s seat while he placed her bags in the boot of the car, she folded her hands over her lap and waited patiently. The soft smell of leather told her this car was quite new and she caught the familiar scent of Gray that oddly made her relax her shoulders against the seat.

Soon, he entered and flashed her a warm smile. That was when she noticed his glasses. Thick black frames that pronounced his square jaw and straight nose, while bringing out the dark chocolate of his eyes. “Hmm?”

“I didn’t know you wore glasses,” she perused, buckling her seatbelt once he revved the engine.

Gray grinned once again, tossing his eyes over his shoulder as he reversed onto the street. “I hardly wear it.”

“Hmm,” was all she said before turning to face the window, watching as the cars zipped past them. Left with her thoughts to entertain her, Rue began thinking about the woman and her tragic fall. What had she been doing all alone there, with no one to save her? Why did she not run? Who killed her? Why?

“Rue,” Gray’s voice penetrated her thoughts and she jolted, glancing up at his perturbed expression dumbly. “You alright? I asked if you needed something else before going home.”

Rue shook her head and turned away again. “No, I don’t need anything.” Except the truth.

Not wanting to add more trouble than he saw mirrored in her eyes, Gray turned back to the road and the car remained silent until he reached her apartments.

Barely uttering a word of thanks, Rue quickly grabbed her things from the back before Gray had a chance to put the car in park and jolted out. “You’re welcome…” Gray muttered, watching her jog down the path, her bags flying behind her. Taking one quick glance around him, Gray’s eyes narrowed in suspicion as if he heard something among the brushes lining the path. Only the sounds of the cool breeze rustling the trees. He released a breath and reversed his car, heading back to the supermarket.

Night came faster than she’d expected and Rue lifted her eyes from the novel she was reading. Glancing behind her just in time to see the moon peek from the opaque clouds, she frowned slightly. Hadn’t it been a full moon the night before?

Not an avid stargazer, she had no inkling about the planets or the earth’s phenomena but from her calendar memory, two days with the full moon’s appearance was definitely a rare occurrence. She closed her book with a resounding thud and placed it beside her on the mattress. Uncurling her feet from under her, Rue shifted to face the window fully, peering over at the fence of dark trees, looming behind the row of apartment lots. That was where she heard the scream from before.

Her heart picked up speed at the mere thought and goosebumps followed, the hairs on her arms raising. She swallowed hard, a loud sound considering the room was as silent as a morgue. She shuddered a little when a cricket croaked again. What time was it? One glance at her clock confirmed it was still early. Just 8:38 in the evening.

Whatever it was that killed the girl could not be human, the voice of the woman from the supermarket came back to haunt her and Rue’s heart skipped a beat. She cursed herself for not purchasing a newspaper or going downstairs earlier to read the news in the computer room. There was no way she’d go out there now. But she needed to know! It seemed as though it was a life and death decision she had to make. To go downstairs and find out more information about the murder or stay locked in her room until morning, remaining ignorant and left alone with her dangerous imagination.

For once in her life, Rue missed her roommate. The bubbly girl had gone overseas for a three-week foreign-exchange program and this was just the first week without her. How would she cope with an empty room and a murderer lurking the streets unknown?

A dog barked rampantly in the background, jarring Rue back to reality. Biting back a curse word, Rue scrambled back into bed, snapping the covers over her head. Heart slamming against her ribs, she remained still and waited, breath suspended for the next sound. It never came. Morning did.

The click of a pen followed by a sharp object slicing through a soft material like cloth pierced the silence of the room. Two bowed men jolted in their position and one whimpered in fear. The clicking continued as they kept their heads bent, perspiration dotting their temples, fingers trembling.

The padding of feet across the floor joined the noise and the men stiffened, waiting. A pair of polished ebony shoes now stood in front of them, the feet separated in a strong, unrelenting stance. The clicking stopped and a bloodied cloth dropped to the floor. One of the men dared open an eye and almost cried out when he saw the wet, fresh blood glistening on the white handkerchief. He could still read the inscription at the corner of the cloth. A.U. He squeezed his eyes shut, biting his upper lip to keep from crying aloud, heart wrenching.

The feet shifted slightly as the man bent to a squat, his gleaming eyes glaring at the two bowed men while maintaining a smirk on his thin lips. “You know what this is, do you not?” his voice was low, husky and dangerous–a dark power coated his words as if they held a threat that was waiting to be released.

The other man whimpered, still squeezing his eyes closed. The man who noticed the torn and bloodied handkerchief merely nodded, sniffling back the stubborn tears that now trailed down his cheeks.

“Hmm. Then you know what must happen.” It wasn’t a question. A warning, more like it, as the gleam of the slender knife came into view.

Jaw clenched, the first man watched the weapon move languidly towards him. Even though his heart quaked in fear, his soul was hardened with grief. What more hurt could this creature inflict on him? He then lifted his eyes as if to say ‘Do your worst.’

What he saw made him regret those thoughts instantly as the man in front of him leaned forward, eyes dancing with deadly amusement, lips curled in a sadistic smile.

Swifter than he could’ve ever imagined, the gleaming object swiped in front of his face. He waited for the pain. It did not come. All he heard was a strangled cry from his comrade and snapping his eyes open, the man almost wretched as he gaped down at his companion lying there with the knife sticking out from his jugular, his pale eyes widened in fear, face suddenly blue with no sign of movement. A deep moan escaped his throat and he closed his eyes, shoulders sagging in defeat.

A venomous chuckle rumbled above his head and the polished shoes shifted away from him, measured footsteps taken until a door closed shut, leaving him to mourn for his son–the only child left.

end of chapter three.

Copyright. DeeKay 2008

<< back to Index

Followed

A yawn escaping her lips, Rue blinked rapidly to keep her eyes open. Another day had passed and surprisingly, the rain had subsided. She could smell the sweet scent of the air after a thunderstorm and ironically, welcomed it after complaining the whole day about its inconvenience.

The streets were surprisingly quiet and empty, only a few cars splashing by. Her loafers were indeed soaked and made a squeaky noise with every step. No matter. She could stick it in the dryer for an hour and it’d be dry again. Too bad it wouldn’t fit the same but at least it was better than nothing.

The street lights above flickered every time the wind swooshed by and Rue glanced up at the sky, marveling at how close the full, luminous moon hung just a few feet from her. She could almost see every crevice and dark spot and her fingers itched to trace its shape.

Just then, she heard crude laughter just ahead and snapped her head forward, watching as two lanky hooded figures strode forward. Her heart skipped a bit and her steps faltered slightly. She cursed herself for being paranoid when they continued on without so much of a glance her way. Shaking her head, Rue quickened her steps. The faster she walked, the more at ease she’d be that home was close.

Unfortunately, that foreboding feeling that nipped at the back of her mind kept her eyes darting from left to right. What was this? She hadn’t felt this way in a long time. Ten years to be exact.

Suddenly without warning, a hand reached for her shoulder. A yelp escaped her throat as the long fingers clamped over her shoulder. “Shh…”

Rue whipped her head around, expecting glowing, amber eyes and a perfect row of white teeth with long canines on either side. Instead was a troubled expression and narrowed chocolate eyes framed with plastic frames. It was Gray.

Her heart slowed in response but she scowled nonetheless, wrenching her shoulder from his grasp. “Darnit!” she gasped for air. “How dare you scare me like that?” Tears gathered at the corner of her eyelids and she shuffled away from him.

“Wait,” his deep voice split the thick air and his footsteps quickened, following her as she staggered forward. It didn’t take long for him to catch up with her. Curse his long legs.

Rue kept her head straight, tears streaming her face, heart struggling to return normal. She clutched her bag tighter.

“I’m sorry for scaring you. I just noticed you walking alone so I–”

“Followed me!” she accused, snapping a glare his way. “How dare you?” she repeated, chest heaving visibly.

He raised his shoulders and even had the audacity to crack a sheepish smile. Rue wanted to slap him, to knock those ridiculous glasses from his face. “You looked scared back there, when those guys were walking past.”

Rue narrowed her eyes at him. “Doesn’t explain why you were following me. What the heck do you want?”

Gray’s smile faded and for what seemed like an eternity, he merely stared down at her, his eyes searching hers, expression incognito.

Impatient and still very traumatized by the attack, Rue let out a growl and started walking again. “You’re the creepiest person I have ever met!” This time Gray didn’t follow her as she reached the bus station, just in time for the bus that was pulling out.

Rue ambled up the steps and muttered her thanks after paying for her passage. Then strolling down the aisle as the bus pulled away from the sidewalk, Rue plopped onto one of the chairs and folded her arms. Her eyes shifted to the window and through the dark tinted shades, she noticed Gray standing in the same spot, just staring at her.

Her heart skipped a beat when their eyes met and she glanced away, her jaw clenched. “What an infuriating man.” At the back of her mind, she released a sigh of relief that it had been Gray instead of the monster she’d feared.

2:00 AM. No sleep. Rue sighed heavily and turned away from her glowing clock propped on her bedside table, tossing and turning on her springy mattress. It seemed as though the temperature had increased from just two minutes ago after she’d turned on the ceiling fan. Now all she got was a room that felt as hot as hell’s floor and a squeaking fan. She could also hear her roommate through the paper-thin walls, snoring without a care in the world.

Groaning, Rue snapped the thin blanket from her body and rose to her feet. “Fine…” she trudged to the window and slipped her hands under the curtains, pushing up the ledge. A welcoming sound of cool air pushing through the netting and into her room made her smile and she knelt, leaning her damp forehead against the wind.

Crickets croaked their welcome to the newest creature of the night and Rue smiled wryly. The one night she wished for peaceful sleep and these noisy buggers seemed to get louder and louder.

Just then, a high-pitched scream could be heard from far-away, almost as though she hadn’t heard it but her heart told her a different story. Something was terribly wrong. Someone was in danger. Suddenly, the scream stopped as quickly as it had first sounded, and even the crickets suspended their noise for a moment.

Breath grew shallow, heart’s beat elevated and Rue waited for another wail. Just silence. Soon enough, as predictable as nature could be, the crickets began again. For Rue, she knew there would be no rest tonight.

Buzz… Buzz… Buzzity-buzzity-buzz-buzz… Rue groaned at the incessant noise and shifted in her kneeling position by the window. The buzz continued, now migrating to her left ear and tickled her earlobe.

She jolted awake instantly, just in time to see a wasp dodge away quickly and a trail of drool hanging on its wings. Rue wiped her damp mouth and stared down at the window ledge. She’d slept here. “Ugh…” she rubbed her eyes.

One quick glance at her glowing clock affirmed she was late yet again. Fortunately, it was a Saturday. No work. Rue smiled. She could either sleep in or catch up on her leisure reading. Still musing on how she ended up sleeping on the floor, Rue rose to her feet and shuffled to the bathroom. The sounds of the shower spray broke the silence a few minutes later.

end of chapter two.

Copyright. DeeKay 2008

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Bleak Wednesdays

Thunder reverberated against the entire bus and Rue shuddered visibly. Lifting a wary glance up at her windshield, she clenched her jaw as the raindrops pattered against the glass uneventfully. Three days now and the rain hadn’t stopped. Every single day in this cursed town. Why hadn’t she listened to the weather forecast instead of her resistant optimism? Even after the last thunderstorm last night, she still had the audacity to forget her umbrella. Although it was worn and practically broken from much use, it was better than getting soaked in the cold rain.

A squeak jolted her from her wandering thoughts as the bus jerked to a stop in front of a canopy at the side of the road. There were a few people standing there, cloaked in dark jackets, huddled under the umbrellas. Smart ones, Rue muttered begrudgingly and tore her eyes away when the driver opened the door for them to enter. A cool breeze swept along the bus floor and brushed against Rue’s bare legs. Another stupid idea. She was wearing a knee-length skirt and flats, her favorite maroon corduroy ones. Why hadn’t she checked outside before leaving the apartment? Rue mentally slapped a palm to her face and muffled a groan.

Someone cleared their throat above her and Rue peeked through one eye, jerking upright when she noticed a tall young man with a dark-gray hoodie over his head and covering most of his face, droplets of rain leaving dark spots on his clothes.

The young man braced his dark, slender hands on the railing above his head as the bus shuffled on, splashing puddles along the sidewalk. Rue glanced down at the seat beside her and slowly moved her heavy backpack and book. Wordlessly, the man lowered his long frame beside her and Rue shifted in her seat so their shoulders would not touch. Not that she was unsociable. She just loved her personal space and with this giant of a man sitting beside her, his long legs practically squished in the limited area in front, she wasn’t too comfortable.

Rue looked away, a smile twitching her upper lips and she focused her gaze to the dark, ominous sky beyond the window. Another bleak Wednesday, dark puddles of cold rain. Hmm, I feel a song coming on.

“Who knew another day would be like this?” a deep, heavily accented voice from behind her jarred her back to reality and Rue glanced from the corner of her eyes.

Her heart jumped at the man’s chocolate brown eyes stared back at her, mirth filled in those dark depths. Rue merely blinked at him silently. He’d lowered his hoodie and she took note of his strong face that seemed very familiar for an odd reason. High forehead, straight brows, parted full lips that now curled in a slight smile. “Uh…” was all she managed to say.

He then shrugged, snapping Rue out of her brief trance. “Well, you know they say this place is the raining city.” His shoulders lifted and lowered in one quick motion and Rue only responded with another silent blink. Giving her a smile, the man finally turned away again, focusing his gaze in front of him.

Rue glanced away and her brow furrowed, not at all used to strangers sparking a conversation with her. His accent was obviously familiar, most of her family back in her homeland spoke in such a way but somehow, his seemed softer and not at all brusque or hard as her relatives did.

She didn’t have much time to think about it when the bus squeaked again, jerking to a hard stop and Rue stopped herself just in time to keep from banging her head against the chair in front of her. The passengers rustled to their feet and made their way to the exit. Rue stood and the man beside her stepped back so she could pass in front. Rue merely kept her head down, a ‘thank you’ lodged in her throat.

She winced as the patter of rain outside got louder, slamming hard against the cement. She watched bleakly as the passengers whipped out their trusty umbrellas, casting an array of colorful patterns below the sky.

Bracing herself for the full on assault, Rue was surprised when only her bare legs were sprayed with the cold water. She snapped her head up and her eyes widened visibly as a dark-green umbrella now covered her head. A dark, slender hand held it over her head and Rue followed the arm to the familiar face from the bus. Him! She swallowed hard at the amused grin on his face and glanced away.

“You did not bring your umbrella?” he asked, amusement hinted in his deep voice. “No matter. I will escort you to your destination.”

Rue frowned and looked back up. “You cannot. I–” His hand rested on her shoulder and gently pulled her away from the ensuing traffic of people shuffling past them, heading for their destination. Her anger outweighed her gratitude. Who is this man?

He chuckled, only adding kerosene to the flame in Rue. “We go to the same school. It is not a problem for me. I promise.”

The rain slapped against the nylon of his umbrella and it was then Rue realized that the dark spots had grown larger. He was getting wet while trying to be chivalrous.

Rue shook her head and stepped back from the welcoming shelter of his umbrella. “Don’t worry about it. It is my fault for not being prepared. Thank you anyway.” She spun on her heel and dashed across the street before he could protest, evading the oncoming cars. She didn’t notice the widened smile of the stranger, watching her from the bus-stop with his umbrella still held out.

A drenched cat was an understatement for what Rue resembled, dragging her wet shoes into the building. Her braided hair hung like wet rags over her forehead, her clothes dripping and leaving little puddles along the trail she followed. The cool draft from above only sent shivers along her already-frigid body and Rue struggled to keep her lips from chattering. She should’ve accepted that man’s umbrella.

Realizing her stray thoughts, Rue stiffened her spine and continued on. No time for self-pity. There was no time for regrets. She had too many of those and it only weighed her down, affecting her performance.

Just as she pushed open the glass door leading to the laboratory, a clink sound from behind her startled Rue. “You’re late. And wet. Again,” a voice followed and Rue didn’t bother turning around.

“Yeah, I know,” she merely responded, shuffling to the closet. Opening it slowly, she managed a smile at the sight of her dark-green scrubs, shoes and a nylon bag hanging on a hook at the back.

“Forgot the umbrella again?” the voice was a little closer and Rue merely shrugged. “Idiot.”

Rue rolled her eyes, reaching for the bag and her scrubs. “Give me a few minutes.”

“Take your time.”

Rue turned around, catching the smug look on her friend’s painted face. Even on a rainy week like this and the girl still had time to put on layers of foundation, eccentric eye-makeup and dark lipstick. Amazing.

Her colleague raised a pierced brow at her. “Whatcha looking at?”

“Nothing… Apparently,” Rue muttered and shuffled out of the door, ignoring the next comment. Letting out a sigh, she entered the little restroom that reeked of formaldehyde and Lysol spray. After three months of working here, she was finally getting used to it all. Being late, dodging half-hearted insults from her colleague, and not to mention having her favorite shoes drenched and possibly ruined. “Smart move, Rue…” she said sardonically, quickly changing into her scrubs and ignoring the damp undergarments cooling her skin.

Work proved to be a feat, from answering her boss’ barking demands as well as struggling to keep her teeth from chattering loudly. Lunchtime didn’t come soon enough and her hollow stomach let her know it in ten-minute intervals after noon. Somehow, she managed and time gave her grace.

Dragging her feet across the linoleum floor, Rue wandered to the cafeteria, groaning at the hustle and bustle as employees and bosses alike stood in line, talking as though there was no sign of authority or positions mentioned. Friends and acquaintances laughed in a frazzled mess as clinking of dishes and trays against metal echoed along the walls.

Nursing an ensuing headache, Rue merely nodded while her colleague chatted on about her date last night. She, on the other hand, was more concerned with what kind of cheese they had this time. Last lunch break, the cafeteria crew gave their meek apologies for the crusty American cheese. Rue merely nodded and bypassed the entire meal. If the cheese wasn’t fresh, the meal was not meant to be eaten.

One look at the long line told Rue that her stomach would be crying loudly for the next thirty minutes. Tamping down a sigh, Rue picked up a tray and shuffled to the end of the line, peering over a woman’s shoulder to see what was on the menu.

“Smoked turkey and seasoned rice,” a familiar deep voice drifted over her head. Rue’s heart skipped a beat like it did at the bus station and she swallowed hard. The man chuckled. “We meet again.”

Rue nodded mutely, cursing herself for her stupidity. Twice in one day? What was this, the Twilight Zone?

“What a coincidence that we meet again,” he drawled slowly as the line shuffled on.

This time Rue glanced behind her, eyes widening at his mirth-filled eyes dancing against the fluorescent light. Was he reading her mind?

“I am Hezekiah Gray,” he nodded with a smile as if she’d asked him that aloud. “Call me Gray.”

Rue glanced down for a moment, taking note of his black Adidas shoes before looking up again. “Rueben,” she answered softly. “Call me Rue.”

“Rue,” he repeated and by the way he whispered her name, his eyes steady on hers made Rue shiver again, this time the cold draft not the culprit. What was it about him that made her unsteady? “Nice to meet you.” His eyes scanned her frame before returning to her face. “I see you made it here safe then.”

Rue’s cheeks warmed and she looked away, grateful the line was now moving. It was a little hard to hear his voice over the noise but she wasn’t about to ask him to continue speaking.

“May I help you?” the cafeteria lady said, her hairnet sagging as much as the huge, dark mole on her double chin.

Rue cast her gaze on the menu above even though she knew what the special was. “Can I have a loaded baked potato with everything but bacon bits? Broccoli on the side.”

The woman nodded and hobbled to the end of the line, dishing out a plate of the pasty-looking potato. Rue glanced behind her again, her cheeks warming when she caught Gray’s gaze. She snapped her head back to face the glass separating her from the warm food. Was he just staring at her?

“Here you go,” the woman interrupted her musings, handing her the plate of food.

“Thank you,” Rue mumbled and stepped forward just as Gray huskily ordered his meal. Deciding to retreat back to her laboratory to eat instead of facing this strange man, Rue shuffled away before Gray noticed.

Unfortunately he did and instead of following her, he merely smiled and looked away, finding a seat alone by the window.

Her heart was racing like that of a jockey horse, after a few laps around the track, as she pushed a chair to the corner away from the door. Pressing her back against the wall, she waited to hear footsteps or a knock or his voice. Nothing. Just the constant droning of the air conditioner above her. Releasing a sigh of relief, Rue glanced down at her food and rolled her eyes. The woman had forgotten to remove the bacon bits. “I guess,” she muttered, proceeding to pick out all the offending pork flesh from her meal.

On the other side of town, the clicking of metal against metal could be heard as the cloaked, dark-haired man stared out the window from the fiftieth floor of his glass paned penthouse. In the background, the soft but resonant voice of the late Pavarotti echoed along the walls of his living room. It was still raining and that was slowly pissing him off. Plans were delayed. How he hated rainy days.

Just then, a door slammed interrupting his melancholic thoughts and the man threw a scowl over his shoulder. “Can you not knock first–what is it?” he straightened up, pushing the knife in his back pocket.

“The girl, she is here…” a stout, balding man spoke breathless as though he’d just run a marathon and lost miserably. He struggled to breathe before continuing his news report, angering the man in front of him. “Sh-she is alone.”

A slow smile spread across the former’s face, all remnants of the scowl fading except for the permanent furrow of his brow. “Good…” he murmured, placing both hands on his hips. “Get them ready. We move out tonight.”

The breathless man hobbled out the door to fulfill the order and the other man turned around to face the window. In his swift movement, he suddenly winced and slowly pulled the knife from his pocket. It was now covered with a glistening dark liquid that resembled blood. Lifting it to his mouth, his tongue flicked over the metal and he smiled with evident pleasure. I will see you again soon, my dear jewel.

end of chapter one.

Copyright. DeeKay 2008

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