Yes, it takes me that long to write a full novel. I'll never be able to pump one out faster than a rabbit breeding.
Anyhoo, enjoy! And don;t forget to check out the other great stories being offered this week!
Meet Adelaide:
The overwhelming stench of rotting alcohol and comatose
bodies filled the room as I stirred to life in the early morning sun rays.
Groaning, I flung an arm over my eyes and rolled to my side.
“Psst,” whispered a voice nearby.
I didn’t want to drag my eyes open just yet, only to be
faced with the pathetic reality my life had become.
Booze and drugs, and liquor
and repeat. But the stranger wouldn’t be ignored.
“Hey,” he whispered, louder this time. “You. I saw you move.
Look here.”
“What?” I mumbled without opening my eyes. He didn’t answer.
“I said, what the hell do you want?”
“Smells like pine needles in here, don’t it?”
His proclamation forced my screwed shut eyes to open just a
sliver. “Smells like what?”
“Pine needles, mama. Pine needles.” He stopped and sniffed
the air, his hands twitching and body rocking ever so slightly. “Or maybe cat
piss. I can’t ever tell the difference.”
I shook my head and rolled over on the dirty mattress,
attempting to squeeze the image of a thousand bed bugs crawling over me out of
my head. The idiot next to me scooted closer. “Do you mind?” I glanced over my
shoulder. “I’m trying to get some sleep.”
“You should listen to me, baby. I got some things going on.
Some big things.” He smiled manically and began to rock again.
With an extensive sigh, I rolled to my back and propped up
on my elbows. “The hell are you talking about, you crack fiend?”
“Ain’t no crack fiend. No crack. No drugs, no booze. I’m
using this as my cover. Just another bum here, cops.” A trickle of laughter
flowed from his chest.
My eyebrows shot up. “Right. Cover for what?”
“For the big bang.” His fingers flexed and he leaned closer
so that all I could smell was his rancid breath. “I got plans. Plans for this
city and the country.”
“You’re awfully ambitious.” I tried to scoot back but he
advanced again.
“I have friends. They’re everywhere. In seven days, we
launch the bang and the whole world gonna feel this shake.”
The way his eyes changed from fun bum to intense truth made
me shiver. Every instinct in my body told me to run, far and fast, maybe to
Canada. “You’re freaking me out.” I stood in a smooth movement, or as smooth as
my hungover body would allow, and dusted myself off. “I’m out.”
“Stay away from downtown, mama. I don’t want to see you
hurt.”
I just gave a sharp nod and left. The shanty staircase felt
like it might collapse under my malnourished weight, but I made my way to the
street outside and pulled a cigarette from my pocket. The lighter shook in my
hand as I tried to get the first inhale.
As I walked away from downtown, I thought about the bum in
the building. How long had I known him? Six, seven months? And never once had I
seen him drink or take a hit of anything.
What if he was telling the truth?
Maybe I thought my next move was a good idea because I had a
little alcohol still running through me. Didn’t take much to keep me drunk the
next morning when my liver was already on its last breath. The police station
loomed in front of me, intimidating and busy. People flowed in and out in a
steady stream past me as I walked in. The woman at the front desk looked me
over once.
“How may I direct you?” Her nasally voice filled with
pretention, and I wanted to slap her. I wasn’t always an alcoholic. I used to
be pretty, like her.
“I need to report a, ah…threat to the city, I guess.”
“Have a seat down the hall in the waiting area and an
officer will be with you shortly.”
“Thanks.”
The waiting room was crowded with women and men and
children. They were all waiting on mom/dad/husband/wife to get out of the
slammer so they could go home and repeat the cycle endlessly. When an officer
stepped up to the door and beckoned me, I hopped up without hesitation.
Anything to get away from that doe eyed toddler looking at
me around her mommy’s bruised face.
“Hello, ah…”
“Adelaide,” I supplied.
“Adelaide. I’m Officer Johnston. Pease, have a seat in here
and we’ll discuss your issue.”
“Well, it’s not a personal issue,” I said as I sat down on
the hard chair. Johnston sat across the steel table after the door was shut and
looked at me.
“So what sort of issue is it?”
“All right, look. I was down at this friend’s house and this
guy was talking to me like we’re friends or something. I’ve seen him around
here and there, you know…” Oh, god. I’m rambling. “Anyway, he tells me he’s got
something big planned for this city and he has friends in the rest of the
country waiting. And they’re going to show this place the big boom or something
like that.”
“Do you find him credible?”
“Here’s the thing.” I leaned forward, wringing my hands. “I’ve
never seen him drink or take a drug. And he warned me not to go downtown.” I
paused. “Seven days, he said.”
“I see. Well, thanks for your time and the notice. We’ll be
on alert.” He held the door open for me.
I blinked, a little shocked at the blow off I was receiving.
But I stood and walked by, pausing when I was just out of the door. “You don’t
believe me, do you?”
“To be honest, Adelaide, why should I put any stock into something
someone like you says?”
I lit another cigarette outside and took a long drag.
Someone like me, he said. I snorted. He’ll be praying he’d
listened when the whole fucking city blows up.
~End~
The magnificent flashing squad:
1 comment:
Wow, great start. It's got me really interested in knowing what happens next!
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