Chapter 9: The Girl in the Corner
Alec let out a heavy sigh as Asha failed to answer her phone for the fifth time. Granted it was half two in the morning, but Alec figured that would be peak time for a freedom fighter such as her. Guess not, Alec thought tossing his phone onto the empty passenger seat.
Where would he go? The question was a constant presence as Alec drove around the wet streets of Seattle with no destination in mind. He felt foreign here, like he no longer belonged. Things had changed drastically in the past year, something Asha had failed to tell him earlier, a little warning would have been nice.
Jam Pony, a messenger service where Max and Alec used to work, had long since been shut down. After the incident at Terminal City, when anti-transgenic fever was at its highest, Jam Pony had been marked as a hangout for the 'freaks' and so it needed to be eradicated. Normal, the boss, and all the messengers that had worked there, were shipped off to a prison in LA that was known as 'The Hole'. It was similar to the concentration camps used by the Nazi's during the war and it was where all the captured transgenics and transgenic supporters were taken. Once you were taken there, you would never be heard from again. To the best of Alec's knowledge, the prison was still thriving today despite the fall of admissions through its doors. It was still a shining beacon of oppression at work.
The bar where Max, Alec and their friends used to hang out, suitably named Crash, had been tarnished with the same brush as Jam Pony. Consequently it was subject to the same treatment and had been boarded up and left to rot.
Despite the anti-transgenic measures that had been applied, Alec found it remarkably easy to get around the city. Over time, people had pushed transgenics to the back of their minds. Many now falsely believed them to be an extinct race. Of course there were still conspirators who would theorise on the internet and trashy publications; suggesting that the 'freaks still walked among us', but most people disregarded such talk as hearsay. The general populous were happy in their ignorance, thankful that the abominations had been rightfully killed off.
For some reason, people seemed to feel a lot safer around the city now. As Alec journeyed, he noticed many people, both young and old, casually clambering around the streets fresh from a good night out. They didn't seem to care that an evil mugger could be round the next corner or that they could stumble across a gang war or encounter a desperate crack addict in need of a fix; it just didn't seem to occur to them.
The scenery was far more colourful, bright neon lights advertising various forms of entertainment. The number of clubs, bars and restaurants had at least doubled since Alec was last here. All of this added a sense of normality to the décor of Seattle.
What surprised Alec the most was the police strangle hold on the city seemed to be far looser, if it was there at all. In places where there used to be checkpoints, points where a sector passes would be needed to get through, there now stood toll-booths. They were usually occupied by some disinterested security guard who would lazily wave you through after you had paid the appropriate fair. The number of officers on the streets had been downsized dramatically, and those that were roaming around were no longer the beasts of days past. Now they were more likely to give you a bag of sweets and a cuddle than beat you round the head with a knife-stick.
If Alec had the capacity to do it, he figured he would be crying right now. He was an unwelcome stranger in a place that he had learned to call home. Even though things had changed, Alec had no explanation for it. People were still poor, the place was still a mess – albeit a more colourful one – and yet somehow everyone acted like they did before the pulse. For some unknown reason, the removal of transgenics had inadvertently cured all the other ails of the world, as far as the people of Seattle were concerned anyway. It was almost as baffling as it was soul-destroying; Alec feeling his being dismantled a piece at a time. Every time he saw a beaming smile, Alec remembered his old life and he would die a little inside knowing that there was absolutely nothing he could do to bring it back.
"I cant' take this shit anymore!" Alec snarled, turning into the deserted car park of a twenty-four coffee house. Killing the engine, he looked up at the bright red letters that hung loosely on top of the wooden frame: it read Bannatyne's. Alec smiled at this for some inexplicable reason. Running a hand through his hair, Alec exited the car and walked toward the homely looking shop. From what he could make out through the steamed windows, there was no one else around. That suited Alec just fine.
Stepping through the red wooden door, Alec was greeted by the jingle of a small bell and the warm smell of hot coffee and freshly baked cookies. He took a moment, closing his eyes, and allowed the friendly atmosphere to soothe his stressed and beaten body.
Shaped like a long rectangle, the right side of the shop was rowed with plastic tables and chairs each carefully spaced and positioned along the white tiled floor. On the left side sat there was a red semi-circled counter with the usual accompaniment of padded stools surrounding its perimeter. On top of the counter there were various trays displaying different cakes and biscuits. A thin layer of steam came from the coffee making instruments that sat on the shelf inside the counter.
Alec noticed a young woman sitting alone in the far corner peacefully sipping on a cup of coffee and nibbling on a blueberry muffin. Other than her the place was empty. Still staring at the girl, Alec hopped onto a stool.
"Hey any chance of some service," he cried causing the woman to look up at him. He offered her a smile but she just dismissed him. "Bitch," Alec said softly to himself.
"What can I get you sir," came a foreign sounding voice.
Alec turned and was greeted by a tall man dressed in a stained white apron and a grubby white t-shirt. His hair was a dull orange and his face and arms painted with dozens of freckles. He wore a practiced smile and his eyes seemed sleepy and distant.
"I'll have a coffee, black." Alec hoped the man would understand.
"Certainly sir," he replied, shuffling over to a silver machine. Grabbing a cup and placing it under a tube, the red haired employee struggled with the device before it purred into action.
"So…you worked here long?" Alec felt an urgent need for small talk; anything to occupy his mind.
"Oh I own the place. The names Alasdair Bannatyne." He offered a hand which Alec shook. "Just call me Ali though, everyone does."
"Well, Ali, where you from?"
"I was born in England, raised in a place called Yorkshire."
"Is that why you talk funny?" Ali nodded in response.
"So why did you come to the good old US of A?" Alec felt mildly intrigued by this odd, talkative character.
"Well an old friend of mine came out here years back. One night he rang me and told me that I had to get my arse out here cos he'd found…" Ali ushered for Alec to lean closer before continuing, "a rather potent form of marijuana."
"Ok," Alec said now rather bewildered.
"Anyways, turned out the bastard was talking total shit. He was absolutely twatted the night he phoned me you see so he hadn't a fucking clue what he was on about. Now of course I was on the first plane out here, used the last of my savings, and so I became stranded out here with no future and more importantly; no super weed. Luckily I hooked up with my uncle who owned this coffee shop. When the poor sod kicked it two years back he left it to me."
"Jesus," Alec said with genuine astonishment. "How old are you?" he added curiously.
"Only twenty-five," Ali replied handing Alec a steaming cup of black coffee. Shaking his head, Alec sipped on the black liquid.
"So what happened to you?" Ali asked pointing at Alec's bruised face.
"I fell out a tree."
"Really, shit! What the fuck were you doing in a tree?"
"Rescuing a cat." Alec smiled as he realised how close to the truth this statement was.
Ali was nodding in disbelief when the blonde woman from the corner slid up onto the stool next to Alec.
"What time is it?" She asked in a soft voice that had a slight huskiness to it.
"Three," Alec answered checking his watch.
"I got some stock taking shit to take care of. Call me if you need anything." Ali stumbled away as he spoke, disappearing into the back store room.
The strange woman lent on the counter and plunged her face into her hands despairingly.
"Been stood up?" Alec asked taking another sip of coffee.
"In a way," she replied.
"My names Alec," he offered her his hand. She raised her head and stared at him for a moment. Although she wasn't glaringly attractive, her compact features were perfectly positioned and her black streaked hair added an innocent girl ness to her stern face. Making up her mind, she accepted his invitation and firmly shook his hand.
"I'm Jess," she smiled at him weakly.
"So who were you waiting for?" Alec attempted to kick start a conversation. Jess sighed:
"A friend, he's been visiting some relatives up north and was supposed to meet me here tonight but…"
"But the idiot hasn't bothered to turn up," Alec finished for her. Jess nodded, pursing her red lips and flicking back a strand of hair that had wriggled loosed from her tight ponytail.
Jess was intrigued by this young man; not only because she found him stupidly attractive, but also because she could tell he was a transgenic, most likely an X-5. Seeing how Gray hadn't bothered to show up; Jess decided she would entertain herself with this Alec.
"So do you often go around saving cats from trees?"
"I try not to make a habit of it." Alec laughed.
"Was there something special about this cat?"
"Yeah…I owed it one."
This time Jess laughed, tilting her head down before lifting it to peer into Alec's eyes.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"It's complicated and…well I'm talking shit."
"I kinda figured that," Jess played with her lip as she spoke, her mouth curled in a suggestive smile.
After a few more minutes of polite questions; each taking it in turn to find out minor details about the other, Jess decided to just get to the point.
"Do you want to go somewhere a little more…fun?"
Alec looked at Jess with raised eyebrows, a little startled at her direct approach. His mouth answered before he had time to weigh everything out.
"Sure," he said allowing her to lead him outside back into the cool air.
"What did you have in mind?" Alec asked casually observing his new companion.
"You'll see. Do you have a car?"
Alec nodded and directed her to the cramped red contraption, formerly owned by Dave but now residing in Alec's care.
"I'll drive," Jess said clambering into the driver's seat.
"Ok," Alec didn't feel like disagreeing, she sounded too enthusiastic.
Once inside the stuffy vehicle, Alec looked over at the excited Jess; he knew he was going to regret this in the morning but he needed a release of some kind. Although it was already getting gradually lighter, the night was still young and the sun wouldn't rise for a good few hours.
Starting the engine, a wicked smile spread across Jess's face.
"Hold tight," she cried, " you're in for a wild night."