Remembering Raimondo (Complete)

Jinxing His Cab

 RECAP:

 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.

***********

CONTINUED:

I awake with that same shrilling scream. Regaining conscious and instinctively moving my hands to my neck, I breathe for my life.

“That was just a dream.” I took in my surroundings. Everything's the way I left it.

“Just a dream,” I repeat for about ten minutes until I hear a knock.

“Who's there?” I whisper. No answer.

I get out of my room and stand in front of my apartment door. The slot beneath the door seeped light through from the hall. This isn't the way I planned for my first day of independence to go.

Another soft knock.

“Tap Tap Tap,” then I hear the shuffling of feet. Now the rustle of keys.

Quickly I grab the handle and swing the door open. To my surprise I find Raimondo standing in the doorway getting ready to open my room.

“Yes?” I ask trying to sound as annoyed as possible.

“Is everything okay? We heard a scream.” He asks in a hushed tone.

“We?” I peer out into the hall to see Amira, The manager and some other people watching from their doorways.

Great! I just woke up the entire floor. I look up to see Raimondo with a serious expression waiting for my answer.

“Nope. No screaming here,” I give him my most convincing smile.

He raises an eyebrow. “We heard you scream.”

“Um... yeah,” I think for an excuse. “I broke a nail!” I raise my pinky in front of his face for him to see.

Amira laughs at my response.

“Go to sleep,” she laughs in disbelief and walks away with the manager.

“Okay.” Raimondo frowns.

He stands there staring at my pinky for a few seconds.

“Goodnight, and try not to break... anything else.” He turns back to his room and closes the door leaving me with a dumb expression on my face. Relieved that it ended without further interrogation, I closed the door and relaxed against it.

“I broke a nail? What a lame excuse!” I sure can make a fool out of myself. My thoughts slowly drifts back to the dream. Half of me finds it a meaningless dream and the other half considers it to be a message from … someone … I guess.

 **********

The lobby is much more active today. People walk in and out, delivering boxes and mail. Amira was leaning over the counter laughing with Raimondo and an older woman. Noticing my stare she waves for me to join them. Raimondo turns to see who she's waving at. With an expression of lack of interest he turns his back to me and continues talking to the older lady.

Jerk.

I signal to Amira that I have to go. Glancing at Raimondo and back at me, she nods and smiles.

Very peachy. I think if she smiles again I will start coming up with conspiracy theories of her ill intentions.

I cross the road and start my walk towards the city. I could have asked Raimondo to drive me with his near death mobile but I thought it would be best if I ignore him just as much as he is ignoring me. I need my dignity. One building down and I hear a loud crashing noise. I turn towards the noise ducking and placing my heads over my head in protection. I peek through my arms and see a tall ski-masked man driving yet another swing into Raimondo's cab. The man quickly hops back in his car and scurries ahead leaving behind tire tracks.