"I heard that she talks to it."
"Pft no way! That's so sad!" The two girls giggle amongst themselves, unaware that someone else is listening.
"Right? Like just get a boyfriend loser."
"Like someone as scary as her could get one. She's insane you know?"
"No way! I just thought she talks to inanimate objects for fun." She rolls her eyes and talks in a sarcastic tone. They continue to gossip until the door creeps open. "Did you hear that?"
"Yeah, is someone else here?"
"I don't know, go look."
"What! No way you go!"
"Fine lets just go together."
"Okay..." The two of them hold hands and walk down the hall. "Ouch! Why'd you stop walking?" She rubs her head and looks at what caused her friend to stop. In front of them is a strange man. He's twice their height and covered in tattoos and a scar on his left cheek. The man is beautiful but something about the look on his face makes him seem unapproachable.
"You." He looks directly at the girl in front and she blushes at his assertive tone. "Tell me more about the woman with the sword."
"Who are you?" She asks him while squeezing on her friends hand..
"That's not important. I just need to know more about the woman you were just talking about."
"R- Right, she's a fighter here."
"She carries a sword on her hip but never uses it. She fights with her fists."
"She just left a few minutes ago."
"Do you know where she was headed?"
"N- No idea."
"But I heard she stays in one of the West Corner apartments!" The man nods and turns towards the door. "Wait!" He stops but doesn't look back. "Why on earth are you looking for her? She's so creepy."
"She's my wife." He disappears out the door and the girls stand there in shock. Both of the wondering if the man was serious or if he was lying.
"Do you think he was being honest?"
"You saw the dead look in his eyes...It's the same one she has."
***
"What was that ma'am?" The car speeds up and he looks at me for a brief moment in the overhead mirror.
"What the hell's going on? Who are you and why'd you bring me here?"
"Ma'am, I can assure you that this is just a shortcut I take to avoid traffic. If you've decided on where you'd like to go I'd be happy to take you."
"Oh, right...Just take my to the Corner apartments."
"Yes'm."
The whole ride I keep my hand on my blade and stayed on high alert. When he pulls into the complex, I pay him his money and head up to my place. As usual, the upstairs neighbors fight, the lights flicker and all kinds of rodents run around. I unlock my door and an odd scent wafts from my apartment. All the lights are out but I can feel someone else's presence coming from inside. I walk in and lock the door after me so neither of us can leave.
"You have till the count of three to come out." No response. "One," I move to where the faint breathing is coming from, my nape sweats as I get closer. Whoever this is has some kind of aura I can't begin to understand. "Two," By now I'm practically beside the person and I feel my hands tremble, I've only felt like this once before in my life and I've forgotten how horrible this feeling is.
"You didn't say three." I can feel someone's hands around my neck. I swing but you can't hit what you can't see. The strong person slams me against the wall and my back hits the light switch. Once I can see who it is, my body goes limp. I should have known that the one emitting this overpowering feeling was him.
"I've gotta say, you were not easy to find."
'No. No, no, no, no, NOOOO! How the hell could this have happened?! I made sure that I was so careful!'
"¿Qué? ¿Te he dejado sin palabras?"
(What? Have I left you speechless?)
"Wh- what are you doing here?" My question comes out more breathless and stuttered than I expected. I feel so embarrassed yet strangely excited?
"Ah c'mon now. Do I really need an excuse to see my own esposa?"
"We are not married anymore." I cough as his grip on my neck tightens.
"¿Has olvidado que eres mía? No importa lo que pase entre nosotros, siempre has sido mía y siempre lo serás."
(Have you forgotten that you are mine? No matter what happens between us, you have always been mine and always will be.)
'I wish this was all just a bad dream. I wish I could wake up and this would all go away.' There's a sudden sharp pain in my stomach and I cry out. 'The baby!' He releases me and I fall to the ground and hold my gut. "Just go away...I don't want you here." He joins me on the floor and puts his heavy arm around me but I slap him.
"I don't give a shit if you want me here or not. So get the fuck off your ass and let's go. We've got somewhere to be."