Forest of Rope

Chapter 25

When the last of it was gone, Riley slumped against a wall dizzily and wiped his sallow face with a sleeve. His mouth was dry and clogged with a horrible aftertaste. He craved water.

Concealed within the white light outside the alleyway, he spotted a small kiosk. It beckoned to him like a mirage, boasting a large refrigerator packed with chilled refreshments. He hobbled towards it feebly, fondling at his pockets for currency. As he was paying the shopkeeper, a selection of international calling cards caught his eye.

‘I’ll take this too.’

He pointed to the crinkled red and blue packet on the shopkeeper’s right. The toothless man appeared to understand. 

‘USA?’ he asked him jovially, reaching for the card.

‘Yes,’ he answered monosyllabically. ‘USA.’

           

                                                            *

‘What the hell happened to you?’ Alexis demanded once he’d found his way back to the sushi bar.

‘Needed some fresh air, I’m fine,’ he insisted, sinking unsteadily into a chair at her side.

‘It is a little stuffy you’re right…’

Riley sniffed the languid air cautiously. To his surprise it no longer bothered him.

‘What’s that?’

He’d just noticed the box of green and purple gunge on the table.

‘I’m not sure.’

Alexis prodded it with a disposable chopstick.

‘I’m not eating that,’ Riley stated firmly, to which he received a disapppointed scowl.

‘What? You won’t even try it?’

‘I’d rather not. Anyway, I’m not hungry.’

‘Ugh…’ she moaned in reply. ‘Come on, it’s not like I can eat it by myself. I was waiting for you to come try it with me!’

‘Sorry.’

Riley turned his back and cleared his throat discreetly, letting out an acidic pocket of gas.

‘So what did you do? Where did you go?’

Riley frowned privately to himself, avoiding eye contact.

The marketplace which was still teeming with activity, its stalls were hissing and steaming and thriving with business.

‘Nothing. Nowhere. I’m not eating it,’ he reaffirmed with another glance at the sushi.

‘Okay,’ Alexis counteracted softly. ‘Tell me what happened and you won’t have to.’

With a dark grimace, Riley rotated to face the box, unyoked a handful and scooped it into his reluctant mouth.

‘Mmm.’ He made an ironic noise of pleasure before idiotically spitting the green and purple emulsion back into his hand in disgust.

‘Nice try.’ Alexis grabbed a napkin while the locals around them stared in bemusement. ‘But you can’t fool me,’ she said as she dabbed at his face, catching the streak of dried blood which had marked his cheek.

         

                                                              *

The day was spent and so was Riley. He slouched lethargically amongst the other washed out tourists in the lounge and sighed. Alexis wasn’t there. She was probably back at the room, getting ready for their night out. Riley chewed his fingernails and groaned listlessly. All he wanted to do was sleep and forget.