"Aren't you going to pick that call, girl?" Anna and Alma lay sideways on the bed in Anna's room listening to music. Alma had turned down the music so it was playing softly. Ryan was the one calling and she wasn't in the mood to speak with him. This was the third time he was calling in ten minutes and it was getting really annoying. She even pushed her phone away from her after tapping on the 'do not disturb' icon but her screen still lit each time he called. "I don't want to speak with him. Not in the mood." Alma gave her an amused stare. "Wow. That's new. He has the money, have you forgotten?" Suddenly, Anna sat up, an annoyed expression evident on her face. Why was Alma this shallow? Why did she always talk about money all the time? It wasn't funny anymore. It was getting really annoying. "Can you stop, please?" " What?" Alma enquired. She was riling her friend up on purpose. "Why should I stop?" Anna decided to switch topics. "Don't worry. Aren't
The chilly wind coming from the Pacific had Anna wrapping her coat around her. The chauffeur had dropped her and had driven away while she entered the same restaurant she'd gone with Ryan days ago. But right now, she stood outside the restaurant waiting for a cab she'd just ordered to drive towards her. When she'd entered the restaurant, the table Ryan had reserved for her was empty. He hadn't arrived. Anna wasn't offended. Maybe he was busy and had to quickly do something before driving there. She'd busied herself by watching patrons eat and chatter over expensive food. Businessmen and women, Couples, people who sat alone and enjoyed their lunch and a few people at the bar having drinks. The waiter had served her cider while she waited and she'd sipped at it and requested for more. Anna was getting tipsy as she drank and silently, she hoped he'd arrive soon so he didn't meet her drunk and slurring her words. Forty-five minutes later and he hadn't arrived. Anna was s
The air smelled stale: of blood and sweat. Whimpers filled the empty large room and a fist connected with cartilage as a yelp escaped the throat of the victim. Elias's nose was definitely cracked and a tear coated with clotted blood could be spotted on his nasal bridge. Throughout the night, after trying to get information out of him with torturing methods, he was left to rest and regain strength for the next morning for a couple of hours. As early as four, Felix had left the meeting Lucian was conducting with his cabinet member and had climbed down the steps leading to the basement to begin the job he was good at doing. Torture. The previous evening, Elias had let them know that every information he gave them was false. It had been annoying but, The Garoeux inhabitants were never the type to give up. Truly, he had been sporting a chip at the nape of his neck. Felix cringed as they watched Augustus pull out tiny thread-like material. A permanent dent was already on Elias
"Walter will find you and kill you!" Elias screamed with all his might but it wasn't enough. Strength was leaving him in spurts. Felix was tearing his flesh right from the top of his finger to the end so that a portion of his hand was bleeding. The scent of blood seemed to stir something in Felix and suddenly, an amber glow started to spread around his irises like thick smoke engulfing a hot desert. Elias watched this happen with wide eyes and contempt. Felix was transforming. Slowly, slowly, thick long hair sprouted out, covering the side of his face. A sharp widow's peak formed at his forehead and the tip of his ears grew out, becoming elf-like. Suddenly, Felix was grabbing Elias's hands and yanking them so the rope that had been used to bind his hand to the arm of the metal chair came away. The nearly thinned rope sliced through his wrist, causing him to give a painful jerk. He had seen Werewolves transform but this was different. Felix was a mixture of beast and
Throughout the night, Anna tossed about in her bed. She was having a nightmare. Fire. Acrid smoke rising into the atmosphere. A sharp piercing cry filled with terror. Pounding feet. The clatter of burnt and blackened woods against burning wooden floors. The sound of sirens blaring from ambulances and firefighters. People escaping and choking due to intense inhalation of smoke. A dead body being wheeled out of the burning building. More cries. This was what haunted her dreams almost every night. And now, after awakening with a jump start, Anna climbed out of her bed and hurried towards her dress stand. A pair of black joggers and sports bra dangled from the hanger where Anna frequently hung her running clothes after she was done with laundry. Rubbing every atom of sleep from her eyes, Anna took out the outfit from her hanger and put it on before proceeding to the bathroom in the corridor and washing her face. Anna returned to her room and picked up her cellphone, plug
"Thanks, but I think I'm okay. I don't need to be taken to the clinic. I'll go home from here. Help me up?" Both of the ladies immediately pulled her up and Anna steadied herself on the ground with her feet planted on the floor of the road. Her joints felt weak and she was finding it hard to regain stamina. "Do you live close? We could drive you home. You don't seem agile enough to walk on your own." "Dirdie! We're going to be late for our shift. You don't want McGill yelling your head off, do you?" Dirdie gave Anna an apologetic look and rushed to the sleek car parked at the side of the road, her impatient friend following behind. As they drove past Anna who moved to stand at the side of trees road, Dirdie slowed down and stuck her head out of the window. "Name's Deride and my annoying friend is Kenna. What's your name?" Anna couldn't hold back the bout of laughter brewing on her insides. "Anna. Nice to meet you. Thank you so much for helping me. Bye
He snapped his head towards the window and his eyes narrowed when a silver SUV swerved into the lot with speed. Anna and Alma followed his gaze and with speed, Anna shot out of her seat towards Lucian who stood, transfixed on the spot. "Lucian, you should leave! They're definitely coming after you," Anna said, her voice coming out in a panic, she grabbed his arms. "I will not. I'm here causing no trouble. Why should they be after me?" He asked. Anna stilled and stared at him. Her hands slipped off his arms. Saddened by everything and how it reminded her of how the blacks were treated by the white who saw them as a minority, she stood beside him, mustering every strength from her core. "Anna," It was Alma, her friend. She looked frightened and quickly moved out of the booth to stand beside her friend. "We should leave, these people are dangerous. The Argents will kill anyone associated with him." But Anna stood, unmoving. She nodded at her friend. "You can l
"I might start working as a waitress at a diner, you know?" Anna said as she walked out of the department building with her best friend. "Ha! You might meet the man of your dreams while serving a cup of iced Frappuccino. You know, the rich billionaire gracing the diner and making every woman in sight swoon." Anna rolled her eyes. "You need to stop living in fantasies and try to get realistic, girl." "Sometimes, all we need is to get away from the world, damned reality." Alma shrugged and looked at the bright Californian sky, a smile lifting her full lip. Anna stared at her friend. She'd known Alma to be wild but this idealistic persona was new and kind of inviting. Alma was beautiful, no doubt and she'd pass for a hot model gracing the runways of one of the fashion houses in Los Angeles. Her long dark hair accentuated her light skin. She was a beautiful black woman with a wild spirit and Anna was grateful that they were friends. Anna was moved to tears when she'