Affinity

Chapter 1

              Sirens fill the streets of Brooklyn like it’s a sound on an eternal loop. No one ever stops to think of what might have happened. Murder? Rape? Drug deal? No one questions they are just too busy to question the norm they have always known. Amelia Watts grew up in Brooklyn she was a girl of the streets down to the core. Unassuming little Amy with no accomplishments and copper hair that fell in messy waves down her back, an easy target that no one would miss, she always thought.

              Late night walks were her thing− to get out maybe get some coffee see the scenes one cant find during  the day. Tonight was one of those nights she had to get out. Her aunt was on one of her favorite drunk tangents. “Amy you just lay about doing nothing!”, “You’re never going to college at this rate!”, and Amy’s favorite “God, your parents would be so disappointed in what a screw up you turned out to be.” When River exploded she went out in flames that grew with every swig of vodka that she liked to drink straight from the bottle. It didn’t bother Amy so much that she would be a “disappointment to her parents” considering she never met them nor ever cared, but the fact River thought she was a lay about good for nothing probably getting high somewhere.

              Assumptions are one of Amy’s pet peeves. She might not fit in anywhere at school, she hadn’t joined any clubs like her ex cheerleading aunt did but she did work hard maintaining grades, volunteering occasionally, and a holding little job on the side to help get to, if not college, anywhere away from her life with bitter lonely aunt River.

She couldn’t take it, Amy in second nature just placidly walked to her room and locked the door. Once in her room Amy trudged out of her sweats in an angry fury and threw on her favorite blue lace dress that fell mid-thigh and laced up a pair of short boots. The night was her time and she wasn’t about to miss it for hours of her aunt’s angry wallowing. Lifting the window up Amy climbed with ease outside into the crisp autumn night breathing in the air. Once composed she made her way down the fire escape with ease and started her stroll down the street.

Sirens blared and the familiar red and blue lights lit the streets as she walked the three blocks to Tan Coffee “Brookyln’s finest” it really wasn’t the finest, but it was a cute hole in the wall where angsty teens could read poetry and self proclaimed hipsters could sing new songs. It was strange, but cozy and a nice place to escape.

 “Offf. Hey watch it ass hole!” Amy let out as she ran into some guy and his buddy that cut her off walking into Tan’s. The man didn’t seem to care he just glared at Amy with dark eyes that were almost black until she went ahead and walked in ahead of them.

Sounds of some curly haired kid named Gaje was singing up on the makeshift stage tonight, he was singing something in another language that Amy thought was French and kind of sounded like The Beatles “Come together.” She went to her regular table and sat down in chair made of twisted metal and closed her eyes. The sound of metal scratching on concrete brought Amy back.

“Is anyone sitting here?”

“No go ahead..” Amy looked up to see a pair of brown eyes staring at her. It was the ass hole at the doors buddy.

“I’m here to apologize for my friend’s rudeness, he doesn’t get out much.” He let out a light hearted laugh and held out his hand. “I’m Anton.”

Who shook hands anymore? He must be from out of town even though is voice had the sharp accent most Bostonians held. But what the heck Amy didn’t get approached by guys that often she usually scared guys off so she might as well take advantage when the opportunity arose. Anton wasn’t half bad looking himself. He was tall with sharply cut brown hair that matched his eyes he reminded her of someone in the marines by the way he looked and held himself.

Amy smiled and accepted Anton’s hand. “Amy”

He seemed to like something about that as his perfect lips moved to a smile.

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Amy looked down at her watch it was almost two in the morning, she had spent the last few hours with Anton laughing and talking making fun of poets and singers. She genuinely enjoyed her time it was if this guy knew all about her and exactly what to say. He probably was a player with a different girl every week, he looked like he was in college, but who ever said a girl couldn’t enjoy herself for one night.         

Anton leaned into Amy’s ear “Hey do you want to step outside for a bit?”

She nodded her head and accepted his outstretched hand as he led her outside. What was she doing? This was Brooklyn and not the pretty side you didn’t just accept guys’ invites “outside”. “Hey maybe this isn’t the best idea you know it’s kind of cold and I don’t have a ….” “Shut up!” Anton shot.

“What the hell? Where are you taking me let go!” Anton’s grip had tightened.

They were now in the alley next to Tan’s. And who else was waiting there, but his creepy friend with the black eyes. “I thought I said shut up!” Anton raised his hand slapping Amy to the ground.

She needed to get up to get away. As she got up the black eyed friend came up throwing her into the wall. Oh God this was it she thought! They were going rape her then kill her and leave her body in Tan’s big green trash bin.

Where were those cops now? Where were those red and blue lights when she needed them? Breath that was cool and calm pricked on Amy’s neck. The larger man’s breath smelt like whisky and rot. She was trying to get out of his grasp but his weight was pinning her to the wall.

“Gar that’s enough” Gar stepped away and Amy dropped to the ground she was trying to catch her breath.

“You were a pretty one too.” Anton said regretfully walking up now swiftly to Amy. She was trying to get up, but couldn’t it was like there was a weight on her chest sticking her to the floor. Amy tried to scream, but the words fell short and dry on her tongue, she tried to move her legs and ended up writhing on the ground as if she’d been stabbed. Anton’s laughter carried through the alley. What was happening?

Her spine then started to tingle and she began to rise up, but not by her own will her brain fought and fought, but it was like someone was pulling an invisible string lifting her up. She was gagging in pain. Anton was now at her side. Out of the corner of her eye Amy saw the sharp point of a needle. She was desperately now trying to break free of whatever was holding her still. She wanted to get away she needed to… Skin broke and the coolness of a foreign liquid spread through her blood making its way to her brain. Amy with tears in her eyes and her mind screaming fell into an abyss of darkness.