Bright sunlight shined through slightly parted dark red curtains. It let a tiny beam of white light to peek inside the room. The light's warmth tickled Russel's face and he stirred from his deep slumber. His eyes cracked open. They were pinkish from sleeping too hard. He grunted as he stretched out his limbs. Thoughts attempted to recollect themselves from last night under his sleepy haze. Russel closed his eyes again; they stung a little. He buried his face in the pillow he had his head resting upon. He didn't have any recollection of returning to Kong and crawling into bed. His chest expanded as he inhaled through the pillow's cloth. It smelt of vanilla and traces of rain.
Russel's eyes snapped open in sudden realization; this wasn't his bed. He sat upright quickly and the bed swayed underneath him. The bed around him was large, circular, and filled to the brim with blankets and pillows, like a bird's nest. It was tethered to the ceiling by a couple of heavy duty metal chains, hanging about a foot off the floor. Its gentle rocking would lull anyone whom laid in it to sleep.
Tossing the blankets aside, Russel scooted himself out the bed. His eyes skimmed across the new environment he found himself in. The room's walls were decorated in familiar posters of rapper, old school bands, and even the limited edition Gorillaz poster when they were live in Manchester. Was Alanah there too? Several worn, black punching bags sat in a triangular formation nearby with a pair of 30 lbs. dumbbells beside them. Alanah didn't look like the type to work out. Vinyl sleeves and papers littered the floor, along with Alanah, who was curled up and fast asleep in the center of the mess. He remembered now. They went upstairs to listen to music and both fell asleep.
He grabbed one out of the many blankets that covered the bed. It was a regularly used quilt but what really stood out from it was the pattern sown on to it. The quilt was mostly black with a large yellow moon and at its center was a white wolf who appeared to be dancing under the moon's light. Russel assumed that the quilt was her favorite and he slowly draped the blanket over her body. She stirred a little.
As much as he didn't want to leave without saying goodbye, he didn't want to wake her up either. Russel turned his back to the sleeping woman and went for the door.
"Mister Russel…?" He heard Alanah's quiet, sleepy voice call out to him. He turned to face her. Alanah was sitting up. The quilt laid over her shoulders and she rubbed her eye while she smoothed out a section of her hair. "Are you leaving now?" she asked. He heard the hint of disappointment in her voice.
"Yeah," Russel replied, "Gotta take a shower and make sure everything's okay. Stuff like that, y'know."
"I-If it's not too much to ask…" she said, "Could we…hang out again?" She broke eye contact to look at the carpet, "I-I mean, I know you're a busy guy and all. You don't have to say yes to make me happy. I just want to show you some of my music."
"I wouldn't mind hanging out with you," Russel said.
Though small, Alanah beamed, "Really?"
"I mean, that's what friends do."
"Friends," Alanah repeated the word, as if it was foreign to her. "We are friends now, yeah," she said to herself.
She stood up, causing the blanket to fall to the floor, and walked over to him. Without warning, Alanah wrapped her arms around his middle, or as best as she could, in a hug. Russel was too surprised by the action and didn't return the hug immediately. Alanah quickly pulled herself away from him and looked down, tucking a bit of her hair behind her ear. "Friends…give each other hugs goodbye, right?" she asked then let out a nervous laugh. "I never really had a friend, to be honest…Not sure how this sort of thing works."
It made Russel chuckle a little. He found her gesture cute and endearing. "Yeah, some friends do that," he said. "Just remember that you should only do things that you're comfortable with."
"Yes sir," Alanah said with a nod.
He then brought her into a normal, friendly embrace. The sound Alanah made when they hugged wasn't one of fright or surprise. It sounded like a sigh, as someone would do when they were comfortable or at ease. Not wanting to embarrass the girl, he didn't bring it up at that moment.
Alanah pulled away and her face was flushed red with blush. She ran her hands through her hair several times and smiled softly. "Thank you for being my friend," she said.
"You're welcome," he replied.
Russel gave Alanah a wave goodbye then left the room, closing the door behind him. He descended the metal staircase and when he entered the living room, someone was waiting for him.
"Good morning, Russel Hobbs." It was Laura, who greeted him with a delicate raise of her teacup. "You rested well, I assume? Care for some tea?"
"I slept fine," Russel said, "But I have to say no to the tea."
"Shame," Laura said then took a sip from her cup. "You seemed like a ginger tea type of man, too."
A moment of silence filled the air between the two as Russel slipped his shoes on. The energy in the room; it didn't feel quite…right. Or normal, in that fact. That strange energy seemed to come from Laura herself, but he wasn't going to say it out loud.
Immediately, Laura set her cup on her saucer and rose to her feet. The action was so quick that it made Russel recoil a little. "Wait," she said as she approached him, "Let me give you a tarot card reading. It won't take too much time out of your busy life."
"No thanks," Russel declined and pushed the elevator call button. The elevator's doors opened. "I got somewhere I've got to be." That statement was a complete lie. He didn't really have shit to do today. He stepped inside and was about to hit the button for the ground floor when Laura stopped him.
"Tsk," Laura shook her head and scolded, "Lying, Russel Hobbs? I thought things like that were beneath you. No worries though." Laura entered the elevator as well and pressed the floor up button with objection. "As I said, it won't take too much of your time."
She stood by his side with her hands clasped in front of her as the door closed. Standing next to her was oddly nerve racking, but Russel kept his composure. She was a tall and slender even in her flat heeled shoes. Compared to 2D, she could match the young man in height. Her sharp blue gaze fixated on him for a second, then she returned to looking ahead of her. She appeared hardened now; Russel even felt cold standing next to her.
The red digital numbers above the control panel changed to the number three. It held it for several seconds, but the doors did not open. The number switched to four, then five, then six. Russel stared at the number. No way there was a fifth or sixth floor in this building. The number kept scrolling up, increasing without being touched. From single digits to double, then triple digits. The elevator seemed to expand and constrict, like it was a living, breathing creature. Laura was unfazed by the effect around her. But just as it started, it all came to an end. The elevator halted suddenly, causing Russel to stumble but the woman beside him was stiff as a board. The floor number blinked with three zero; an invalid floor number. Then the doors slowly opened.
Russel saw nothing but darkness in front of him. The heavy scent of sage and incenses hit him like a brick wall; it was almost suffocating. Laura stepped out of the elevator and the shadows repelled from her feet, revealing the floor beneath. The spirits buzzed about confused in his head. She held out her arms down to her side and crossed one leg over the other. A ring of blue flames ignited all around her, but she did not flinch. They circled her like a tornado then scattered into dragon shaped candle holders, lighting the wicks of the white candles. The whole area was bathed in a soothing blue light, revealing the eeriness of the room.
The spacious room had no windows. There was an archway towards the back of the room like the one on the building's first floor and the walls were painted black. Many bookcases filled the large room. An ampule number of books, sealed mason jars containing unknown substances, small animal skulls, and dried herbs lined the shelves.
Preventing the doors from closing with his hand, Russel remained in the safety of the elevator. From the small building having an elevator and the woman's little fire show; he couldn't believe what he was see and what he was about to say.
"You're some kind of witch, aren't you?" asked Russel, "Or a demon…" It was the only thing that made sense as to why he felt weird around her. He wasn't sure what to expect next.
"I am neither a witch nor a demon," Laura answered as she walked further away from him. She lit a candle with the flick of her finger on a low setting table in the middle of the room. Then she settled herself on a red pillow, "I am much more than those concepts," and she motioned in front of her. "Now come, take a seat."
Russel was wary, but an unseen force shoved him forward. The elevator's doors shut like an old garden gate to an abandoned home. Each step he took was heavy, the shadows around him tried to grasp at his clothes, and the quiet whispers mumbled in his ears that weren't the spirits within him. Russel lowered his body on the pillow adjacent to the woman. He was on high alert now. He didn't know what this…woman was going to do next. She couldn't be human. He felt it deep inside his soul now that he was alone with her.
When Laura opened her mouth, Russel blurted out, "So what the hell are you then?"
The woman raised a quizzical brow. "Hmm?" she said.
"Are you going to steal my soul or something? Are you going to do something to Alanah?" asked Russel, leaning forward a bit. If she did something to that girl…
"Puhuhu," Laura laughed a child's giggle and held her chin with the back of her hand. "Oh Russel Hobbs," she said. "You've only known Ghost for a single night and yet, you already worry for her safety. You are certainly an interesting man, I have to say."
His face went warm and he sat back on his pillow.
"But," Laura rested her narrow chin on her interlocking fingers. "As I said before, I am much more than those concepts. I am no demon, but I am far from human. I am something mere simple mind just cannot comprehend. My true name is whispered by few," She blinked and smiled sweetly, "I am the horrors and terrors that linger in the back of every person's mind! Though 'Laura' doesn't drive people insane and much easier to say. Don't worry, I promise not to hurt Ghost."
He didn't quite trust her words, but she hadn't done a single thing to hurt him in any way. Yet. So, he would believe her, for now. "Why be in a girl band if you're not human? Why are you even here?" Russel asked.
"I like to sing," she stated matter-of-factly. "Though anyone who hears my real voice will die in an instant. Plus, Victoria owe me her soul but she's too stubborn to let it go. But enough about me. You're here for a tarot card reading." The woman appeared to glance over her shoulder and asked the empty space behind, "Agatha, be a dear and get me my cards, please."
He wasn't sure who she was talking to until he saw the black tendrils began to creep up over her left shoulder. It was difficult for Russel not to jump away. A black, amorphous, somewhat transparent creature peeked out from behind the woman. It opened its two red eyes and then narrowed them at the sight of Russel. The creature that Laura referred to a Agatha spoke in a series of low pitched garbling that made Russel's skin crawl.
"Russel Hobbs, this is Agatha," the woman said, "My assistant, shade, and my more aggressive other half." She then scolded the creature, "Now, don't be rude to our guest and get me my cards."
Agatha's body vibrated as she grumbled and left Laura's side. She was much smaller than he expected her to be. Her blobby body was about the size of a small cat and probably could fit in the palms of his hands. As if he really wanted to hold that…thing. Her movements were jittery as she floated to the bookcase nearest to them. She removed an oak case from a shelf at face height and returned to Laura, still glaring at Russel.
Laura took the case and set it upon the table. She said, "Thank you, Agatha. You are dismissed," and the creature dissipated into black smoke. The case's golden hinges creaked as Laura lifted its wooden lid and she set its contents before her. There were a deck of cards, a brass pipe, and a small, purple drawstring satchel.
"You have to excuse Agatha's behavior," Laura commented, "She tends to get territorial of me. She did worse things to Ghost and Victoria when she met them. Ah, good times. Puhuhu…" She laughed to herself then slid the deck of cards in his direction. "Here, shuffle the deck. I need you to transfer your energy into it."
Russel took the stack of cards in his hand. They were heavy and cold as he shuffled them, bring the bottom to the top. "I heard that Alanah's family runs a cult," he mentioned, "What do you know about that? Since you seem all-knowing…"
"She told you that little secret already?" The corners of her mouth twitched. "You're letting your heart control your action, dear Ghost. Interesting, indeed."
"What are you talking about?" He was growing tired of her being so vague. He wished she would say things that mean things or give him a straight answer like a normal person. But, then again, she wasn't a normal person.
"If you haven't noticed, Ghost fancies you. She trusts you more than anyone she has run into in her young life," she said while she filled the brass pipe with a greenish-brown powder from the satchel. "The girl hides so many things from the world." Laura lit the powder and took a long puff then exhaled, "Perhaps you can finally bring her to trust people. Cards," Laura demanded with an outstretched hand.
Russel gave the deck of cards back to its owner. He knew Alanah was hiding things from him. It was obvious from her shy nature. Hell, telling him about her cultist family and her father had to be a big leap for her. It had him thinking about what else she was keeping to herself. He didn't want to pressure her into telling him what he wanted to know.
Laura drew a single card from on top of the stack and rest is on the table. The picture on the card was that of a man and woman hand in hand under the light of angel. "Puhuhu," Laura giggled. "The Lovers' Card. This is perfect. Physical attraction, being intimate, forming a union and kinship and making love; a card full of hope and so pure." She stared deep into his deep into his eyes. "A girl like Ghost needs a guy like you in her life."
Before Russel could ask another question, Laura disappeared in a plume of black smoke. The candle on the table was extinguished with a single gust of wind. Everything on the table was gone except for the Lovers' Card resting in front of him. All he could hear in his ears was Laura's giggling.