The Second Coming
San Saul, a large city on the west coast of middle America. The bustling of the day, continues into the night with its many bars, restaurants, and clubs. Within the concrete maze is a rather small and homey bar named Zi's Place. The bar was mostly wooden, being brightened by neon signs and warm lights. The front bar had eights stools, the perimeter had booths that can fit four to six people, and tables in the area had four seats each. There was a lead bartender and two waitresses to accommodate all of the regulars and rare new faces. One particular group of regulars sits in the same table almost every night; the left-most middle booth.
On the inside of the table, facing the bar, was Janna, a struggling artist in pursuit of a career in tattooing. She wore a gray beanie over her shoulder-length black hair. A red t-shirt of a band she liked was mostly covered by a white and black letterman style jacket on her torso. She wore a black skirt, black leggings, and black boots below her waist. The drink in front of her was Vieux Carre in a short glass. The sweet and spicy smokiness of the rye, citrus, bitters, and black cherry garnishing the rim would put her mind at ease like no other drink. This, along with the slow-burning cigarette she frequented in the ash tray.
In front of her was a woman from Janna's high school days. A woman she never thought she'd even speak to, considering she avoided her at all costs before. Chantal, an ambitious and passionate woman pursuing a Master's degree to become a physician's assistant and more. It surprised Janna when she was informed of this. Chantal does not give off the presence of a medical professional. Her hair was shorter than Janna's, brown, and just about covering her ears. She wore a blush pink blouse that tied at the waist. She made sure it showed off her cleavage. She had a few bracelets and finger rings, along with earrings. She wore black jeans that hugged her feminine legs tightly and white slip-on shoes. The drink she was sipping on was a cosmopolitan. The contrast of the sweet citrus and bitter cranberry and vodka tickled her fancy.
To Chantal's left was a woman named Dawn, a friend she made at school. Dawn was aspiring to be an architect. By her performance in her studies, she'd most likely have no issues. Her hair was dark and braided. She pulled the front and back into a long pony tail and let the sides travel down her torso. She wore a olive green blazer over a black tank top. The top tucked into her loose-fit blue jeans that were supported with a brown belt. She wore antique white kitten heels to finish her outfit off. She was on her phone, holding it up on the table next to her drink of choice, a Sazerac. The rye, syrup, and bitters gave a slow pace to her drinking.
In front of Dawn was Evangeline, a friend that Janna had made from work. Evangeline spent most of her time caring for her child as a single mother. Evangeline was a bit shorter than her friends. She usually let her long blonde hair flow freely as it is now but sometimes put it in a ponytail. She wore a cream-colored woven long-sleeved sweater that came up to a baggy turtleneck. She had some blue jeans that hugged her well and comfy tennis shoes she wore at work. The drink in front of her was a Long Island Iced Tea. She loved sweet tea and lemon so she found the mixture of alcohols with it enticing.
"Janna," she spoke to her friend next to her, "if you really need a roommate, I can move in with you if you want." Janna put down her drink after taking a sip, thinking about the offer.
"Thanks but I don't wanna take you away from your place." She said to her. "You have a good one.. Plus, I don't really.. like kids.."
"Oh! I-It's just from Tuesdays through Fridays." Evangeline explained, wanting her friend to reconsider. "Chris gets Abraham for the other days."
"That's still too much." Janna persists. "It's okay, really.."
"I'll look for some open rooms in my complex." Dawn told her with her usual stoicism.
"N-No, you really don't have to."
"I'm gonna though."
"Maybe look for a roommate online?" Chantal recommended, giving a wink. "Say, 'Sexy Virgin Artist looking for a roommate to have some fun with'. I bet lots of guys would go for it! You can get a roommate to help pay the bills and lose your v-card. Win-win!"
"Seriously, any chance you get, you bring it up, huh?" Janna gives her a spiteful look.
"No shit, I'm going to!" Chantal laughed. "How could you be 24 and have never gotten dick?!"
"I've had plenty of managers that were dicks. Does that count?" Janna asked, taking a drag of her cigarette.
"Not unless you've asked 'kindly' for a raise.." Chantal said before sipping her drink.
"Sex doesn't fix your problems." Dawn told her friends. "But I do agree that a boyfriend would make paying for rent easier.."
"I don't need a boyfriend." Janna said to them, having some of her drink. "Just not interested right now."
"As long as we've worked together, you've never been." Evangeline recounted. "Do you.. even have a type?"
"She has a type.." Chantal answered, "and his name is Marco Diaz."
"Oh, goddammit.." Janna rubbed her brow, being too used to Chantal's words.
"Who's that?" Evangeline asked.
"A boy back from our high school days." Chantal told her, resting her cheek on her palm. "Janna had such a huge crush on that dork. She was so bad at talking to him though. She just made fun of him."
"Can we not talk him about again?" Janna asked with acidity.
"What was he like?" Evangeline asked, drinking some of her Long Island.
"Super dorky." Chantal answered. "Really smart, kinda cute, really nice, he was alright. One day though, he just got really serious and joined police academy right out of high school.. Any idea why, Janna?" She asked with a jokey tone. Janna knew but hesitated to answer.
"..His parents died.." She informed grimly. Evangeline gasped at this. Dawn looked at the seriousness in Janna's eyes before taking a slow drink.
"Oh.." Chantal looks away, feeling bad about her casualness. "Shit.." She takes a sip of her drink, wanting to keep her body busy.
"Did he tell you how they died?" Dawn asked.
"Yeah." Janna replied. "It was the last time I spoke with him; a few weeks after graduation. He said he just got back home from being out with Jackie and he found his parents tied up and dead." The description sounded familiar to Chantal.
"Wait, wasn't there a few murders like that in Echo Creek?" She asked with an enlightened expression.
"The Lovers' Killer." Janna recounted. "He got off to tormenting the wife in front of the husband." Janna looked into her drink, remembering the look on Marco's face when he told her. "Raphael and Angie Diaz were the first of his victims."
"Oh, my god.." Evangeline wrapped her hands together to her chest and looked down in shock. "That poor kid.. Did the killer get caught?" She asked, hoping for equity.
"After four murder cases, yeah." Janna answered. "But after it was solved by the investigating detective, Marco joined police academy." The recounting woman put her drink up to her lips. "He must've been inspired by the justice or somethin'."
"..I wonder how that dork is doing now." Chantal said, having another drink.
"Yeah," Evangeline agreed, "I hope he's okay."
"I bet he's doing great." Janna told them with a heartfelt smile. "Marco is.. a really dependable guy. Life's probably treating him well." Chantal and Evangeline see the admiration in Janna's eyes and smirk at each other as Dawn has some more of her drink.
As the night went on, the patrons of Zi's Place grew fewer in number. Janna and her friends would usually stay longer than most. One of the televisions hanging in the bar was getting the attention of the women.
"Another addition to the murder spree of the 'Peccant Bane' was discovered last night. The victim was forty-seven-year-old male, Joshua Hooper, who was convicted for several crimes. Sexual assault and Second-Degree murder being a few of them. Just like the last killings, the Peccant Bane left their calling card; the victim's arms were left crossed over their chest and a religious verse was written in their own blood near them."
"Holy shit!" Chantal exclaims, taking her eyes off the newscast. "It's like out of a fuckin' movie or something."
"It's concerning.." Dawn says softly, having a drink.
"Come on, why?" Chantal asks. "Just one less scumbag in the world. I say let him do his thing. But the 'Peccant Bane'?" She says mockingly. "That's so lame! I bet he's just some trench-coated weirdo."
"What does.. Peccant mean?.. Hehe.." Evangeline asks, slightly embarrassed.
"Someone guilty." Dawn answered.
"Oh!.. Ha.. Makes sense.." The mother blushed. "What do you think, Janna? Do you think he's in the wrong?" The group looks over at the beanie-wearing woman to see her with a distant look on her face, the cigarette between her fingers burning slowly. "Janna?" Hearing her name once more gets her out of her trance.
"Hm? What?.." She asks, the muscles on her face much looser than they were when she first arrived at the bar. Chantal snickers.
"Already?" She laughed at her friend. "You're lucky Sheena likes you so much or getting drunk here every night would get you bankrupt."
"I'm naw even buzzed yet.." Janna contradicted with a slight slur. Chantal chuckles and Evangeline pats Janna on the back.
"Alright, Queens, I have to go." Chantal said to the group after finishing her drink. "I have a big test tomorrow."
"Aw, no, come on." Janna complained.
"I do too." Dawn added, getting up from her seat.
"Uh.. me too." Evangeline added with a sympathetic smile. "Chris is dropping off Abraham around 5:30 tomorrow morning 'cause he has to work." Janna watched her friends leave their seats, much to her displeasure.
"You guys can't stay for a bit longer?" She asked them. "Tomorrow's the only day I have off of work this week.."
"I'm sorry, Janna." Evangeline tells her.
"Just come with us." Chantal suggests, putting her purse over her shoulder. Janna looks down, discontent.
"I don't wanna leave.. yet.." She says, almost shamefully. Chantal sighs and shrugs.
"Then it is what it is." She tells her friend. "Don't stay too long, you drunk."
"Sit at the bar with Sheena." Dawn advised. "It'll be harder for you to get cornered by some guy."
"Call me if you need help getting home!" Evangeline said with a big smile. Janna watched her best friends leave as she sat at the table, alone with her drink.
Within the nighttime streets of San Saul, a lone girl walked at a fast pace. She was wearing a light grey hoodie with a black blazer over it. She wore tight turquoise pants and elephant grey ankle boots with laces. Lastly, she wore a rosemary necklace.
Her hood was over her head as she quickly passed by buildings and cars, not giving many things any passing glances. A particular sign outside of a small building between the metropolitan structures got her attention. "Zi's Place.." She read quietly to herself before smiling and entering.
As the girl walked in, she saw few patrons, many portraits on the walls, neon signs, and a bar with a wide selection of beautiful bottles.
"Ooh.." The girl let out in wonder.
"Hey, honey!" A voice from behind the bar gets the girls attention. It was a woman, making a drink for a girl with a beanie sitting in front of her. "Have a seat wherever you want. We'll be right with you."
"Okay.." The hooded girl responded before walking deeper into the area. She took a seat at the bar right next to the girl with the beanie, Janna.
"What'll it be, sweetie?" The bartender asked. Looking closer, she has long silver hair and a red business suit with a black collared shirt.
"Um.. Something mixed and sweet.. And a glass of water, please!" The hooded girl requested before removing her hood. Janna looked at her to see long golden hair, blue eyes, fair skin, and what appeared to be heart tattoos on the girl's cheeks. The girl noticed Janna staring, causing the artist to look down. "Hello!" She said enthusiastically, startling Janna.
"Uh.. Hey.." Janna responded hesitantly.
"Here you go, Janna." The bartender said, putting the girl's drink of choice in front of her.
"Th-Thanks, Sheena." Janna told her before sipping immediately, trying to escape the attention.
"That's a nice name!" The girl next to her complimented. "My name is Star." Janna cleared her throat before lighting a cigarette.
"..Your's too.." She returned. "So.. uh.. are you from here?"
"Nope! Not at all." Star laughed. "I've been traveling.. Looking for someone.. and I think I finally pinned down their location."
"Really?" Janna asked, interested. "Like a family member? A boyfriend?"
"It's complicated. Haha.." Star told her.
"Here, sweetie." Sheena placed a drink in front of Star. "Piña Colada and a water."
"Ooh!" Star looked at the drink in excitement. "Looks good!"
"Do you want to open a tab or just the one drink?" The bartender asked casually.
"A tab on however much this will cover!" Star reaches into her coat and hands Sheena a hundred-dollar bill. Both the bartender and Janna are surprised at the girl's gusto.
"Wait, wait, one second!" Sheena puts her hands up in defense.
"Oh. Is it not enough?" Star asked before reaching into her coat once more. "How about now?" She pulls out another hundred-dollar bill.
"Sweetie, that was a seven-dollar drink!" Sheena explained to her. Star made a surprised face.
"Oh! Haha!" The girl put the money back in her coat. "That's a really good price, I think! Just keep the first bill."
"You can afford around thirteen drinks with a hundred-dollar tab, hon." Sheena told her, inspecting the bill for legitimacy. "You sure?"
"Wow! That's a lot!" Star awed. "Then put her drinks on there too!" She said gesturing to Janna, getting the girl's surprise.
•
Second Round
•
"So.." Janna spoke out to Star next to her. "Where are you from exactly?" She asked before indulging in her drink. Star hesitated to speak.
"Uh.. Far.. Like the other side." She told her, thinking before each word.
"Other side?" Janna pondered. "So.. like.. Europe?" She guessed with a laugh. "What part?"
"It's like.. really cloudy.. ha.. and um, religious."
"Ireland.." Janna answered confidently, having a smoke. "I've never met an Irish chick before." Star laughed, scratching the back of her head.
"What about you?" She asked. "Are you from here?"
"Nah.." Janna looked into her drink, remembering her past at her hometown. "A little town like, twelve hours south. I moved a few years after high school up here to try and make it as a tattoo artist."
"That's so cool!" Star compliments. "How's that going?"
"I've been an apprentice for about a year." Janna informed. "Just a few more to go.." She adds with a sigh. Star looks at her with a sympathetic smile.
"You'll get it, Janna."
•
Fourth Round
•
"You sssaid you were looking for someone, huh?.." Janna slurred. "Is it a guy?" She laughed, making Star snicker as well.
"Okay!.." Star said between exhales. "Yes! He is.. It.. I am looking for a guy. And I'm gonna beat the crap out of him when I see him."
"Ha! So it's a boyfriend!" Janna deducted, laughing at the girl.
"N—.. No!" Star covered her toothy grin. "I've just been around him for like, a thousand years so I knooow him well. He's always been so passionate and overzealous compared to the others."
"Man.. I want a fucking boyfriend." Janna groaned and rested her cheek on her palm.
"Specifically a 'fucking' boyfriend." Star clarified with a confident finger point.
"I mean.. Ha.." Janna snickered. "That'd be nice.."
•
Sixth Round
•
"..And when you die.." Star said to Janna, "..your soul tr—.. travels through.. 'a sin counter'." Janna chuckled at this. "It's true!" Star laughed. "A-And if—.. if your sins add up to a certain amount of.. 'sin points'.." Janna laughed even more at this. "It's truuue!.. You go to.. uh.. go toooo.."
"Hell?.." Janna asked with a chortle.
"No, no.. Um.. the Basin of Dormancy.." Star slowly corrected. "Where your soul rests for a whooole millennia.. instead of.. being.. reincarnated immediately." Janna laughed through her teeth.
"That's some black metal shit, dude!"
"IT'S. REEAAL!" Star pounded on the table. "The Basin of Dormancy is real!"
•
Seventh Round
•
"Gah.." Star slumped over on the bar after finishing her drink. "Humanshh.. come up.. with the best drinks.." Star struggled to speak clearly. She was at her limit.
"Heh.." Janna shifts her focus over to Sheena, about ready to close up. "How many drinks are left in the tab?" Her voice was stilted and slurred.
"You two ran out on the last round." Sheena informed. "These last two were on me."
"Oh, dammit, thanks.. you.. Sheena.. Hey.." Janna popped up. "You know, you look really pretty today. How's the.. transition going?"
"Oh, uh, alright. Ha.." Sheena answered awkwardly before laughing. "You two should go home. I'll call a ride for you.
"No! It's.. 'kay.." Janna stood up, trying to balance.
"You sure?" Sheena asked, slightly worried.
"Yeah.. I got Star with me.." Janna puts a hand on Star's shoulder as she lies there slumped. "Star.." She called out but didn't get a response. "Star!.." She shook this time.
"Mm.." Star murmured. "Hm?.."
"You don't have.. a.. place to stay, right?" Janna wobbly asked. "Wanna come with me?" Star took a deep breath and exhaled out her nose.
"Mm-hm.." She let out with a weak nod. Janna walks up behind her and scoops her hands under Star's shoulders.
"Come on.." She requests, sloppily pulling the blonde out of her seat. "Thanks for the drinks, Sheena.." Janna says to the bartender before walking away.
"Be careful, you two!" Sheena tells them as they leave the bar. "..What the hell was that girl talking about?" She says to herself, recalling the conversations Star would start.
The morning sun shone through the dark blue curtains of a modest apartment. The light illuminated the living room that connected to a small kitchen. Simple off-white walls with a handful of portraits and posters perimeters the area. A small grey couch faces a 42-inch tv that sat on a humble stand. The wall behind the couch had two doors, one to the restroom and the other to the only bedroom in the apartment. Within the bedroom was a queen-sized bed that held two slumbering women. The window in the room let in the sunlight that shone on the face of Janna, waking her up. She winced, feeling the ache in her head that the alcohol left her with. She sat up holding her temple in pain.
"Oh, god.." She let out with a groan. Looking to her right, she saw Star under the covers, sleeping soundly. She almost forgot that she brought her home. She noticed Star's shoulders were naked. Janna furrowed her brow in confusion before lifting the sheet and seeing a completely nude woman. Janna put the sheet down and looked ahead in awe. "What the fuck happened last night?.." She asked herself. She was still wearing her clothes from last night, so she didn't really rule the possibility of any sort of sexual activity. Janna left the bed as quietly as she could and exited the room.
In the living room, Janna removed her jacket and pulled out her cigarettes, lighting one up and indulging. She entered the kitchen and proceeded to make coffee in her drip machine with the tobacco stick in her mouth. Opening the refrigerator, she grabbed a bottle of water and sat down on the couch with a sigh.
"Seriously, what the hell.." Janna said with a chuckle, remembering last night. She turned the television on and had some water, waiting patiently for her morning coffee. As she got comfortable, a knock at the door surprised her. She groaned, not wanting to deal with company. Resting the cigarette on the side of the ash tray on the coffee table, she stood up and looked herself over in the mirror near the door. She wasn't too pleased with what she saw but she had to make it work. Looking through the peep hole of the door, she saw a man standing in the hall, looking at a small notepad in his hand. Janna assumed he was some sort of salesman and rolled her eyes. She opened the door about a foot wide, ready to shoo him off. "Sorry, but I'm not interested."
"It'll just be a moment, Miss." The man said, looking into her eyes. Something about his gaze looked familiar. "I'm detective Diaz." He showed his badge, which Janna didn't even pay attention to. "I'm investigating the recent Peccant Bane murders and I'd like to ask some questions." His words went straight past Janna, for she was in a bit of a shock.
"..Marco.. Diaz?" She questioned with a hopeful glimmer. The man looked at her with a surprised face before responding.
"Yeah.. Wait.. Janna?.." He asked back.
"Yes!" The woman chuckled, being happy to see an old face. "You look.." she said, looking him over. His hair was very similar to his high school days. He had tired and aged eyes however, further accented by the five o' clock shadow coming in. He wore a blue dress shirt rolled rolled up to his forearms at the sleeves with a red tie equipped at the collar. His dark grey jeans were supported by a brown belt at the waist and below them, dark brown dress shoes covered his feet. "..different.."
"Ha.. You think so?" Marco asked, chuckling. "I know I've looked better. I look thirty-five not twenty-five."
"No!" Janna objected quickly. "You look great.." She added with a shy laugh. Marco furrowed his brow and smiled. They both acknowledged the sugar-coating.
"Well, you're looking no worse for wear too.." Marco said with a fading smile. "..You've been drinking a lot, haven't you?"
"Just a few drinks a night.." Janna answered with a shrug. "Nothing out of the ordinary for an over-worked twenty-something."
"And smoking too?" Marco added with look of slight worry.
"Just when I got some spare time." She brushed past it. "Jeez, Mr. Detective, do I look that ugly?"
"I can smell the cigarette you just had and the hangover." Marco told her with a confident grin. Janna darted her eyes at the ash tray and smelled her own breath.
"Ugh.." She let out before they both laugh. Their voices die down before Janna looks at him with intimate eyes. "So, you wanna come in? I have the coffee machine running." Marco gave her despondent eyes before looking at his notepad.
"I, uh.." He looked back at Janna and couldn't help but smile again. "Sure.." With an elated look, Janna let him enter the apartment and closed the door behind him. Marco took in his surroundings and felt a comforting blend of the scents of coffee and tobacco. There were very little dishes in the sink, one placemat set on the dining table, one coat in the open closet, and a cluttered desk in the corner of the living room. No doubt the home of a single student.
"Sit down. I'll get you some coffee." Janna tells him as she makes her way to the kitchen. Marco sits on the couch and looks at the notes he's written down. He thinks about what he knows, what he doesn't know, and any leads. Janna sets down coffee creamer and a small jar of white sugar in the table. The entire time she poured the drinks, she had a content smile on her face. "Here." She says to Marco, giving him a mug of coffee with a spoon.
"Thanks." He says with a smile before adding creamer to his cup. Janna sat on the other end of the couch and watched him with an adoring grin.
"Hey, uh.." She said with some shyness. "You still dating Jackie?" Marco chuckled, feeling some nostalgia.
"No. Ha.. We stopped seeing each other not long after I joined police academy." He informed before taking a sip of coffee. "You haven't stayed in contact? You two were really close before."
"No, not really." She said with some regret, looking forward. "She just kinda.. went off and did her own thing. Kinda like you."
"Mm.." Marco still remembered the last conversation he had with Jackie. It was heartbreaking to see her so upset but he knew it was the right choice.
"Hey, you know who I ended up hanging out with though?" Janna asked with a smile. "Chantal. Remember her?"
"Really?" Marco chuckled. "That's unexpected. You two seemed like opposites."
"We are." Janna confirmed. "But we ended up hitting it off and now she's my best friend. I don't know if it has to do with our past or.. just that we never had a chance to give things a try.." She said this while looking away. Marco stayed quiet for a moment, dissecting her words. He looks down at his notepad and sighs.
"Listen, Janna,.." He sets the coffee on the table in front of them. "This is.. really nice but I'm technically on the job.." Janna gives him a surprised look.
"..R—.. Right.. Ha.." She put her legs up on the couch and kept her coffee close to her lips. "What the hell am I doing getting Mr. Detective all distracted?" She chuckled but there was a noticeable disappointment in her voice. She drank some of her coffee before taking a short breath. "You, uh, came by to ask me some questions, right? Go ahead.." Marco watched her drink more of her coffee, her eyes were on the television. Nonetheless, Marco opened to a new page on his notepad and readied to write.
"..Are you aware that the last victim was a tenant here?" He asked, his voice changing to his more professional one.
"No shit?" Janna responded, surprised. "Must've been on a different floor. Had no idea I lived so close to a criminal."
"We've narrowed down the time of the killing to be around 9 PM on Saturday." Marco informed. "Were you home by then?"
"No, I'm usually at the bar with some friends at that time.." Janna told him. "What room was it?" Marco thought about withholding the information but decided not to.
"1-12." He said as Janna grabbed her cigarette.
"Damn, first floor?" She asked, surprised. "Can't believe no one noticed. First floor is packed.. or maybe.. nobody wanted to notice."
"What do you mean?"
"A lot of people like what the Peccant guy is doing.." Janna answered. "And if people knew the dude from 1-12 was a scumbag, they might've pieced it together as the killer's work." Marco looked down, understanding the locals' probable mindset.
"That's an informative theory." Marco said with some grit. "The Peccant Killer is just a vigilante trying to pass his own judgment like some god. Who the hell are we to take a life based on a single person's conclusion?" He scoffed, obviously having some contempt. Janna noticed and felt a little awkward. "He's probably young, considering his way of thinking.." Marco continued with a hand on his chin, speaking quietly. "But he's getting away with so many killings, meaning he's resourceful. A coddled rich kid maybe? There's still a possibility that he's not alone.. With a lack of forensic evidence on his profile, he's either very intelligent or is getting some outside help.."
"Marco?" Janna calls out. Marco looks at her, stopping himself.
"..Sorry." He said, picking up his mug for a quick drink. A deep sigh escapes his lungs before stands up. "Thank you for the information, Janna.. I should get going." He began to walk away toward the door and Janna stands up in surprise.
"H-Hold on!" She says. The two look at each other for a short silence. Janna thought of something to keep him around. She looked for anything to say. As she was about to speak, the door to her room clicks and opens. Star stepped out, yawning, and running her fingers through her hair. She wore no clothes, much to Janna's displeasure. The blonde girl looked at the two with a comfortable smile.
"Good morning!" She said, full of energy. "Last night was fun, huh, Janna?" The artist just looked at her with a dumbfounded expression. Star turns her head to Marco and checks him out. "Hey, there, hunky.." She greets with a sultry voice before walking to the bathroom. "I thought Janna said she didn't have a boyfriend.." Star walks into the washroom and closes the door for privacy. A short silence passes through the room before Marco speaks out.
"I, uh,.." Marco clears his throat. "I thought you were hitting on me.. Haha.. But I didn't know you had a girlfriend." Janna's face flushed a warm red along with an expression of embarrassment.
"I was! I mean.. Agh.." Janna sighed. "She's not my girlfriend. I just met her last night.." They look at each other and Marco gives her a comedic smile. "Not like that.." Janna shakes her head and puts a hand on her temple. "She's foreign and I'm just letting her stay here for a bit." They laugh, finding the situation ridiculous.
"..I'll, uh, be going now." Marco said after some quietness.
"Wait.." Janna stopped. "Maybe.. after your investigation, we can spend some more time catching up." Marco looked at her with sympathetic eyes.
"I don't live in town.." He told her softly. "I have two weeks to make some kind of miracle breakthrough until I get sent home.." Janna smiled sadly.
"Oh.. Ha.." Her voice made Marco's heart skip a beat.
"But.. Here's my card. In case you.. learn anything that can help me." He said, handing her a white laminated piece of paper. Janna noticed it had his phone number. It gave her a warm feeling. "See you around.."
"Bye.." Their goodbyes end and Marco walks out, Janna locking the door behind him. She sighs and picks up the cigarette she left lit on the ash tray. A flush comes from the bathroom, followed by the sound of a sink running. Star steps out and smiled at Janna.
"You have that guy and want another boyfriend?" She laughs. Janna shakes her head and takes a drag.
"No, I don't.." She tells the blonde. "..Put some clothes on, dude."
Within the city, a few blocks away from Janna's apartment, was a diner that she and Star had breakfast in. They discussed where Star would be staying, concluding that she'd sleep at Janna's home as long as she can help with rent. After finishing their food, they step out of the diner. Janna lights a cigarette and Star burps satisfyingly.
"Totally gonna miss the food when I go back." She said with a big grin.
"Ireland doesn't have good food?" Janna asked.
"Uh.. Yeah. Just gets a little same-y." Star replied with a laugh. She looks out into the metropolis and sighs. "Guess I'd better start looking for him.." Janna chuckles and puts her hands in her jacket.
"I'll be back home around 4." Janna lets her know. "We can go hang out with some of my friends tonight after. Don't get into any trouble, alright?"
"I'm an angel." Star defends with a dismissive wave. Janna exhales with a smile and a shake of her head.
"See you at home."
"Bye."
The two women walk in separate directions. Losing sight of each other in the bustle of the city. Star stops on the corner of a street and takes in her surroundings. Looking at the vastness and diversity of just the area alone, the sense of the overwhelming odds she was against hit her. Finding one man in a highly populated and dense city was next to impossible. Especially without a photo. Star crossed her arms and bit her lip.
"Higgs?" Star said aloud, looking into the sky. "You there? Pick up, pick up, pick uuup." The people waiting around Star and passing by looked at her in confusion.
"I'm here, I'm here!" A strong female voice in her head responded. "What happened? Have you found Tom?"
"Not yet." Star said, still aloud. "Found the town though. Just that there's a lot of big buildings.. and a loooot of people."
"Uh-oh. That's not good."
"Yeah.. Can you help triangulate him for me?"
"One second.." The voice paused and Star waited for an answer. "Hm.. From what I see, he seems to be within a two-mile radius of you. Can't pinpoint where though.."
"Two miles?!" Star said excitedly. "That's so close! I have to find him now."
"Remember, Star," Higgs spoke out, "don't take too long. If he gets himself marked with the banishing symbol, we'll lose his aura completely."
"Yeah, I know.." Star responded, crossing her arms. "Surprised he hasn't yet since it's already been two weeks."
"Perhaps the best procedure to be marked is expensive." Higgs wondered. "He didn't take many funds when he left. He must be making money the Earthly way.."
"Haha! He has to work even down here." Star said with a pompous laugh. "Alright! Thanks for the help, Higgy!" After finishing her "call", Star crossed the street as speeding cars drove past. Several swerved out of her way, cursing her as her mind was away in her own world. One didn't see her in time and was about to hit her. In a quick motion, Star leaps above the five-foot machine and it zooms under her. The driver stops and looks around, not really sure what just happened.
Star walks down a sidewalk, taking in her surroundings and examining the people around her. Ahead, she saw a group of people, young and old, watching a man in robes upon on a small stage. His voice grew louder and louder as Star got closer.
"In this age of greed and gluttony, the generations of new are doomed to burn in an eternal fire! It is crucial now, more than ever, to worship and atone in the church of Saint Daniel." His voice boomed with a rasp that enticed his captured audience. Star stopped with the crowd and watched as well. "God is understanding and all-knowing.. but not merciful! When you die, he will send you to the torturous hell and you will be nothing but a wretch coveting for the never-arriving embrace of release!"
"Pfft-Hahaha!!" Star pointed and laughed at the serious man with a bellowing cackle. The man grimaced at her in disgust. The crowd, stared, shocked. "That isn't true! God is just an insentient tree that creates stuff all day! It doesn't even have the capacity to care if a couple evolved organisms he made whenever back act up a bit! Hahaha!!"
"Y-You!!" The preacher pointed at her with furious eyes. "Ar-Are nothing but a pagan! Your lies and ignorance is part of the problem that pulls down humanity from the heavenly kingdom!"
"Sorry to pop your bubble, pal, but this is your heavenly kingdom." Star retorted with hands on her hips and a condescending voice like she was lecturing a stubborn child. "Make the most of it so you can do it again!"
"Idiotic child.." The preacher gritted his teeth with a contained rage.
"Star!" The voice in Star's head shouted out, getting her attention. "You can't tell people that!"
"Oh, come on, Higgs." Star spoke back to the voice, confusing the onlookers even further. "They aren't gonna believe me. They don't even know what to believe."
"Still.. you should wipe them; just to be safe."
"Fine.." Star sighed and walked up to the stage. She steps up next to the preacher, much to his dismay.
"What are y—"
"Shh!" Star shushed him and looked at the crowd. They couldn't help but be morbidly captivated with the strange girl. "Hey, everyone! I'm gonna show my tits! Look!" As she saw the eyes of many fixated on her, Star grasped at the bottom of her hoodie. She paused with a grin before she put her palms out and a blinding light engulfed the area.
In a nearby tattoo shop, two men waited in a seating area near a large window that faced the street. One man was looking out in awe while the other was looking through a folder of tattoo stencils.
"Hey, d'you see that?" The man looking out asked the other.
"See what?" The other asked, still looking through the folder.
"There was like, a big light over there!.."
"What the hell are you talking about?" The distracted man looked away from the folder with a chuckle. The other one stayed quiet before speaking again.
"..What?" He asked with a blank stare.
"What do you mean a light?"
"..I—.. A light?.." His face was contorted with confusion.
"You said you saw a light."
"I did?.." A silence between the men passed.
"What?!" The two men laugh at the situation before going back to their patience. Further into the shop, Janna was sitting at a small desk, drawing stencil ideas. When she wasn't watching her mentor, Jacob, working on a client's piece, she was either cleaning, prepping, or filling up folders with stencils. Janna had already gotten a bit of a reputation with the guests for her designs. She hears someone approach her and looks away from her concepts to see her teacher.
"Hey, I got surprise for ya.." Jacob was a tall man with a shaved head, glasses, and a dirty blonde beard. He was in his late 30s but had a smile of a spry adolescent.
"What's up?" Janna asks. She was a little nervous. Whenever Jacob approached her with an excited tone, it always meant a new challenge for her as an apprentice. Her teacher paused and tapped his foot.
"I'm gonna have you do piece on a client today." His words widened Janna's eyes. This would be her first time giving anyone a tattoo.
"You sure? You think I can do it?" She stood up, her adrenaline demanding it.
"It's nothing you can't handle. It's just a symbol." His information made Janna more confident. "Looks kinda religious, haha. So don't fuck it up or he'll damn you." Janna exhaled at his joke even though it intimidated her a bit.
"Can I see it?" Her question made Jacob show her a small paper with a symbol she's never seen. It looked like the Kanji symbol for heaven but upside down with the longer line on top, an arrow point on the bottom, and four circles evenly spaced in the middle cross section. "Wonder if it's from a game or something.."
"Maybe." Jacob answered. "He's waiting for you on station 2. You got this!" Janna took a deep breath and nodded before walking to her client. He was leaning against the table with his hands in his black hoodie. His hair was red and spiky, his pale face had black marks near his eyes. Loose blue jeans and black boots finished off his outfit. He was looking at Janna with a patient smile and soft eyes.
"Hi." The girl greeted with a smile and a hand out. "I'm Janna. I'll be giving you your tattoo." The man looked at her with his unusually friendly demeanor before reaching out for her hand.
"Excellent.." He said, grabbing his hand and kissing the back of it. Janna looked on in confusion. "My name is Phan. I'm looking forward to your hospitality." Upon letting go of Janna's hand, the woman released a nervous chuckle.
"Comfortable, huh?.." Janna said, clearing her throat. "S-So where do you want it?" She asked, looking at the paper Jacob gave her.
"Right here." Phan pointed at the center of his chest. The way he looked at Janna made him look almost flirtatious.
"Alright.. Go ahead and take off your sweater and lay down while I prep." Janna turns away toward the machine and sets up what she needs. "Way to go on giving me a fuckin' weirdo, Jacob.." She whispers to herself. Upon readying for the procedure, Janna rolls the machine closer to the table and sits down on a stool. Her heart skips a beat once she notices Phan's physique. It was the first time she's ever been this close to a man with such a muscular and chiseled body. He was even completely hairless, so there was no need bring out the razor before the tattoo. Janna supposed every cloud had a silver lining. "So just right here? On the sternum?.." She hovered her hand over the middle of Phan's chest.
"Yes. As close to my soul as possible." His words make Janna give a fake laugh. She turns to her machine and pulls out a cabinet for some black surgical gloves. "You know," Phan speaks out again, "I can tell by the look of your eyes and your aura that you are a person who puts their all in their craft." Janna looks at him with nervous eyes and a raised brow. "It only comes second to the loyalty and love you have for your friends. Just don't forget to love yourself as well. Your health is important." Janna had to swallow anxiously.
"S—..So do you.. do you want just.. bold line work or did you want it shaded?" Janna avoided eye contact and just set up her pen. Phan looked at her with a sympathetic smile before facing up with his head back.
"Just the line work is fine.." He closed his eyes and waited. Janna resumed her work as the two stayed completely quiet for the rest of the piece. Around twenty minutes later, Janna sat up and turned the machine off.
"I'm done.." Her words opened the eyes of Phan and sat up on the table. The large mirror in front of him gave him a good view of Janna's work. It was exactly the way he wanted it.
"Great work." Phan complimented, shifting his torso for different views. "This should keep me safe."
"Let me get some plastic wrap.." As Janna turned to her cabinet, Phan stopped her.
"No need." He said, much to her confusion.
"You really should. It'll get infected." Phan shook his head at Janna's information.
"I insist."
"Come on, dude, just let me.."
"I know you mean well", Phan told her with a smile, "but I promise I'll be okay." Janna scrunched her nose, not liking his persistence but let him be. After the payment at the front desk, Janna was surprised by Phan's generous tip of a hundred dollars. "Keep up the fantastic work and may the heavens keep you safe." Phan turns around and exits the shop.
"See ya.." Janna sighs and walks over to Jacob, whom was sitting at his desk. "Well that guy was a fuckin' weirdo." She told him with an exasperated voice. "You do that on purpose?"
"Kinda." Jacob said with a grin. "Definitely didn't make it any harder to sic him on you." Janna growled at him but smiled nonetheless.
"Couldn't tell if he was a saint or possible serial killer." She said with a chuckle, holding up her tip money. Jacob sat up straight at the shock of the amount.
"H-Hey you gonna share that?!"
"Sorry, boss, let's call this workers' comp." Janna's snap-back made Jacob wave his hand and scoff. "That guy acted like nobody I've dealt with. Wonder if he was foreign.."
"Maybe.." Jacob chuckled. "Maybe Irish or something."
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Ayyyy, there it is.
Thanks for reading!
This story won't be as long as the other one. It's very fun to right though. (O ‿ O)
I'll update whenever I can!
Byyyyyyye!