Paradox

01

Why move halfway across the world and never reach out to anyone again? Why not leave a note or a clue? These were the questions she asked herself as she examined the apartment of her deceased friend.

Someone was a murderer. It was up to her to find out who.

A horror and mystery writer shouldn't be afraid of much. If you could write about the dark alleys and haunted mansions you should at least be able to walk through one. The entrance to The Paradox was a chipped creamed colored door with a strong green frame and large bay window. Inside stacks of books lined the walls and scattered the floor in disproportional piles. The lighting was dim and sunlight only reached the table by the window. Layers of dust covered everything from the shelves to the countertop. In the back corner stood a metal spiral staircase next to an unusually large steel door. The place was also eerily silent. Even though the store hadn't opened yet, I expected to hear the bustle of the other residents. Goosebumps lined my spine, giving me chills. Was I really making the right decision?

"Feel that cold breeze, Elle? That's perfect writing temperature." Liam states as we ascended up the rusted stairs. He quickly switches to a soft smile, sensing the small bit of fear in my eyes. "You're gonna love it here, I promise".

"Yeah, I'm gonna love it here" I voice reassuring Liam and myself. I watch as he pulls my key out of his pocket. 3B I note. The apartment was on the third and top floor of the building. Liam and I's apartment as well as one other stood on this floor and two other rooms sat below us. The key was old and tarnished, matching the setting exactly. When the door opened I expected a rush of that musty attic smell. Instead, I was met with the piercing smell of disinfectants. "Smells like a doctor's office" I half-joke looking over at Liam.

"Maintenance," he laughs. "I don't want you to move in and contract malaria or something". I giggle back nervously trying to push any ideas of disease away. It may have been a joke but I still couldn't grasp why the apartment would be cleaned with bleach.

"What happened to the last guy?"

"Well you know this place, cheap rates, no contract. Some people come here for an escape, others are on the road, need a place to stay, and in the case of this last guy they come here to die".

"That's why they bleached the place, needed to get the blood off the walls?" I play along.

"Elle I'm serious" Liam states looking me dead in the eyes. "He was old and living on borrowed time". I could picture an old man's cold hands sadly handing over the last item that held him in this life. "At least it smells good, right?" he smiles down at me. I roll my eyes and rub my face with my hands.

I need to do this, I remind myself. It's about time I grow the confidence to become independent. I love my mother, but she has a weird way of reciprocating it. She never showed much affection. While most parents would give anything to live with their kids who 'grew up too fast', my mother wanted me out years ago. In her eyes, the best way to become a 'successful' woman was to move in with a respected man. At this point, it was the best of two evils, the haunted death apartment or my mother's verbal torment.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Liam interjected the silence. I glanced around at the rustic floors and brick walls. The apartment had a certain ambiance that spoke to the writer in me. I imagined myself reading novels in the bay window and covering the walls in my writer's web. A round scuffed-up oak dining set inhabited the kitchen. The green paint on the cabinets had begun to chip and the doors were falling off of the hinges.

"When you forget about the dead guy, this place has a lot of potential" I muttered not wanting to give Liam the satisfaction of being right about the whole situation.

"I knew you would love it! Ready to bring your stuff up?" he grips my shoulder. I smile back at him and pivot out the door.

"Woah gorgeous. Watch yourself" an Irish voice gleams. I look up at the man leaning against the door frame. He stands looking at me with his light blue eyes, a small grin upon his soft pink lips.

"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry" I stutter. His short hair is dyed blond and his dark roots are overgrown from his scalp.

"You must be the pretty girl I cleaned this place out for," he laughs. I blush back at him, drawing my eyes over to Liam. Liam did not look amused by the compliments, his face was blank but his eyes were full of criticism.

"Estelle Butler, Call me Elle" I reach out a hand.

"Or just call her Estelle" Liam interjects. I didn't understand where the snarky comment had come from. It was almost as if he was jealous.

"Niall" the blond shakes my hand.

"You must own this place?" I comment.

"Yup. Isn't she gorgeous" he grins, knocking the wooden frame.

"Keep knocking on the frame like that Ni and the wood's gonna come down. A little birdie told me there's been a case of termites rolling around the building" Liam mutters maliciously. My eyes widen, face turning pale at the mention of termites.

"Piss off" Niall snaps. Liam smirks to himself before turning down the iron staircase. I smile a warm goodbye to Niall before darting in Liam's direction.

Down the stairs, I noticed the 'Open' sign had been turned out the street. A tall, lean, curly-headed man was standing behind the counter, his nose stuffed into a book. My brown eyes meet his green. I notice myself blushing immediately. Before anything else can happen Liam grabs my arm violently pulling me out the door to his car.

"Absolutely not," he says, interrupting my thoughts before they could even begin.

"What is with you today? You do know you're not my dad and we're definitely not dating so there is no reason for you to be in control of my every move"

"What makes you think I care if you want to get off with some bookworm". Was he serious right now? Liam would know better than anyone that I would not just jump into bed with the first guy that looks in my direction. I quickly grabbed a box from the trunk and turned towards the door avoiding meeting his eyes.

"Wait, Elle!" I hear him call after me. "I shouldn't have said that". I stop and turn back to face him. "I'm sorry. I just want to protect you. But this is your time to be independent and I need to respect that".

"I appreciate it Liam. Don't do it again because I don't know how long I will survive staying mad at you". He smiles back at me and steps closer, holding his arms out. I walk into his arms as he wraps them around me tight and protectively.

"I'll do anything to make this a better world for you Elle"