Chereads / Emily The Best Cook / Chapter 2 - Get Lost

Chapter 2 - Get Lost

'The gigantic rooms are two thousand, seven hundred, and thirty-eight Botswana Pulas, the equivalent of two hundred US dollars, and the standard rooms are one thousand, three hundred and sixty-nine Botswana Pulas, the equivalent of a hundred dollars per night?' Her smile chanted Emily the best cook.

'I will take the standard one.' Emily, the best cook, handed her Master's card to the beautiful receptionist, who swiped it and the payment was successful.

She grabbed the keys to the room, 'This way, please?' The beautiful receptionist straight away led the way. Emily, the best cook, followed right behind her.

She opened the room, 'Have a good night Madam?' as she handed the keys to Emily, the best cook. 

'Thank you, Jessica!' Emily replied after reading from her name tag. 

'You are welcome, Madam.' She giggled.

The next day, morning, Emily, the best cook, was about to resume her job hunt, when she remembered that in the Kalahari Desert there was a ranch. 

I am convinced this is going to be very difficult, but I need money. I needed to earn extra money as soon as possible, before I consume all my savings.

I can easily get hired there, because it is far away from any civilized cities and any human settlement. She thought, with that in mind, she decided to give it a try. 

Five hours later, she found herself in the middle of the desert. It was super hot. The temperature was ranging between thirty and forty degrees Celsius. All Emily, the best cook could see, was an entire vastness of brownish, white sand, touching the blue sky and white clouds. She stretched her tongue out, smearing both the upper and bottom red lips with her sticky saliva. The lips were cloudy white, cracks clearly visible on the dark edges, sweat dripping slowly on her forehead, as she raised her right hand to wipe it off, breathing heavily, her heart thumping extremely fast, she had walked ten thousand miles in search of a job in the Kalahari Desert.

Well, it is proving hard to find the ranch, but I will keep moving. They say no sweat no sweet. Emily thought.

'You are right Emily, you know what they say, the cave you fear to enter might have the treasure you seek!' Whispered a female voice in her head.

Tanya! You finally decided to talk to me now? Exclaimed Emily. Tanya is a twin consciousness of Emily. They share one body, the two can switch consciousness whenever they choose, they have different identities, characteristics and skills.

'You seem lonely Emily, I thought of keeping you company.'

How considerate of you?

'You make it sound like it's a bad thing?'

Come on Tanya! Can't we just enjoy this ride together?

'What's the new adventure about?' asked Tanya.

Job hunt?

'You must be following a hunch as your guide, always doing something insane.' Commented Tanya.

Yep, you know me well, though a certain old man in a bar gave me an idea about a ranch in the middle of a desert. Thought of taking the expedition.

'Sometimes you should consult me before doing certain crazy things.' Complained Tanya.

As if you care, you just hide in eternal space. 

'Hey! Sis,' smiled Tanya, then continued, 'It's an amazing place to live in. You should try it sometime. You could broaden your horizon.' Suggested Tanya.

Hell no! Not a chance. Emily refuted the idea.

At this time, tiredness compressed Emily the best cook's body, fatigue in her mind, her loins were seriously hurting, but what was more disturbing right now was the thirsting and hunger that was eating her up from the inside.

She has just one bottle of seven fifty mills of water and snacks. She must trade carefully because she doesn't know when she will find the ranch.

Should I keep on moving or turn back, whichever option I choose has the same outcome; I cannot see any trees or dry land nearby except sand and the blue sky with white clouds moving here and there shifting their shapes, huh.

'Come on Emily, gather your courage, though you are quite tired, you can't give up now?' Encouraged Tanya.

Emily, the best cook, pushed her weak body as she resumed walking, with low hopes of reaching her goal.

After nine hours of dragging her overwhelmingly weak, tired body and lagging legs in the hot sand, Emily, the best cook, could see bright lights on the horizon. She gave a heavy, deep sigh, knowing at the back of her mind that she had finally found it.

It was past eighteen-thirty hours in the evening, the lights continuously shimmered in the distance. As she drew closer to the ranch, she noticed something spectacular, unique, peculiar. This struck her hard, a sense of fear and danger lingered within her, as a cold chill covered her entire body, her mind thrilled at the surrounding scene, ahead in front of her.

Tanya, this place is spotless, neat, well swept. If I dare step on it, I will definitely leave an imprint on the landscape. The smoothness and cleanliness makes me think twice before stepping my foot onto it.

'Just do it, you loser!' Shouted Tanya.

Don't call me that! Riposted Emily, the best cook.

'Damn! You are so weak, and have lost your confidence.' 

Enough Tanya! I will do it.

She had to reach the gate no matter what. She pushed her tired body and heavy legs toward the gate. Upon arriving, she thought of knocking when her eyes fell on the gate bell on the left pillar of the wall.

Of course, no need for me to knock! Emily thought.

She pressed the button, and waited patiently for five minutes, but no response came through. She pressed again, still nothing, tried the third time, now feeling more exhausted, dehydrated, hungry and really powerless.

'This is a private place, visitors or strangers are not welcome here. Go away?' A rough, vibrant male voice spoke on a small speaker on the gate bell.

Right away, silence filled the atmosphere, which in itself was a good enough indication to tell her to back off and go back wherever she came from.

Well, I am not going to take no for an answer. I can't possibly let this opportunity slip away from my fingertips. I have walked a long distance on foot, and there is no place I can go to and spend a cheerful night. I am not going to give up that easily!

'That's the spirit girl!' Commented Tanya.

She pressed the button one more time, completely ignored. She grew restless, anxiety built up very quickly, as hard as it seemed, it wasn't yet time to quit. Therefore, she kept pressing the bell with no intention of stopping.

Upon observation, the ranch had a high wall ten meters tall and a slippery texture. On its top, a laser wire hanging, coiled around inside it, five electric fence wires, and lots of cameras positioned at many different angles on the entire fence.

'Are you dumb miss? This is private property, so visitors are not welcome. What kind of language do you understand? We have been patient enough with you. Do you value your life or not? Maybe you are just stupid?' Threatened the same male voice, now mixed with anger and agitation in it.

Emily, the best cook, pretended not to have heard the threat. 'All I am looking for is a job. I have come a long way. I can't turn back now, besides it's already late, and very far from any human settlement?' Countered Emily the best cook.

'We are sorry miss, we told you that we are not hiring. Get lost?' Yelled the man on the speaker.