Remembering Raimondo (Complete)

Room 346

“Ma'am,” a voice interrupts my thoughts. I didn't notice I was still kneeling on the floor. Abruptly I stand and turn around to see the woman I paid the rent to with her hands on her hips.

“My ID,” I shout like a complete idiot and waving the card in the air like a child. “and your supposed to be out of town.”

“Excuse me?” She asks looking confused.

“The man with the accent.”

“Oh you mean Eddi?” She questions only to get a shrug from me. “The manager?”

“Gray hair?”

“Yeah it's him,” she chuckles. “I asked him to tell my boyfriend I'm out of town... seems like he misunderstood,” She smiles walking behind the counter and placing my key on the papers the cabby signed. “Room 346. And try not to get into any trouble.”

I take my key and read the paper. The last signature on the sheet read Raimondo in fine cursive and his room number is 347. I blink to make sure I read it right. 347! I'm 346. I gulp and make my way towards the elevator. My neighbor is going to be a crazy cabby driver with beautiful handwriting.

Crap! My bag.

I turn around and head towards the place I left it. It wasn't there.

“It's already in your room,” the lady informs me.

“Thank you... ermm... what's your name again?” I ask with relief in my voice.

“Amira,” she answers smiling. I nod and head for the third floor. Why did she want to lie to her boyfriend about her being out of town? Was he another crazy guy. I wouldn't be surprised! This place seemed to be full of weirdos.

The third floor looks much more nicer than the lobby. The numbers on the door made it feel like it was one of those normal apartment builldings, 346 written in beautiful script. My room is farther than the others by a few feet which I find a bit weird. Probably because it was the last room on that floor I reassure myself. Across from my room is his room.

“Raimondo,” I whisper unlocking the door and entering my room. Great! The room smells like shit. If this is what the future smells like …

“Agghhhhhh!” I wrinkle my nose.

I hurry towards the closest window and open it. Inhaling fresh air never felt so good! My God it smells bad in here. At this rate I'm probably going to end up sleeping in the hall.

I head for my room and notice my suitcase open in the middle of the bed. I guess Amira was a bit curious. I zip the suitcase, push it on the floor, and drop myself on the bed as the bag lands with a thud. Crap, I forgot to brush my teeth. Now I'm going to have to get up, look through my bag for my brush and pajamas, and then I'm going to want to use the toilet and then shower... Forget it!

*********

I wasn't really sure when I fell asleep because I woke up staring into darkness. Was it still night? Oh wait, there isn't a window in the room. Go figure! I slowly stand from my bed and went into the hall. Hmm. It's dark here too. Okay now I'm getting the creeps. I walk towards the door and peer out into the hall. The lights were off and it was completely dark. Turning around to look at the window in my apartment I try to close the door only to feel someone kicking it open and grab me around the waist. The person pushes me hard against the wall and places a sharp object on my neck.

“Shhhh.” A man whispers. “If you scream, I will kill you.”

What do I do?

I scream.