The Darker Shade

The Darker Shade: Chapter 4

Chapter 4

"Get away from me!" She falls backward both her bag and book drop once more. I lean forward bending done to pick up her things. "Elizabeth, please... I'm not going to hurt you." "No!! Get the fuck away from me now."She now stands a crowd slowly forms. One man "She said get away, dude!" I look him up and down. "Mind your fucking business and walk away... DUDE!" Emphasizing on the word. He shakes his head and bravely steps forward. My rage builds, everything within me wanting to break his twiggy little fucking bones as he placed his hand on my chest. In the mist of our stare I catch a glimpse of Elizabeth as she walks forward in attempts to grab her things. I breath hard as the man stands between us, my chest rising, my eyes locked on hers. She moves back, making slow steps hugging both her bag and book against her chest. I blink and look at the man then back at her. "I need to talk to you and I will one way or another, Elizabeth." I step back reluctantly and turn to walk away. Enmity spills into my core, my thoughts race. I run my fingers into my hair, tugging the strands in my frustration. She's in fear of me and it's no fucking wonder. I pace up and down the sidewalk, sure to look like a madman, and think maybe she's right.

It's 2pm and I sit in the waiting area for the office of social worker at large, Alexis Moore. Skimming through a cosmopolitan magazine I press my lips together, smirking as I see an article quoted "Guys confess their relationship secrets" I roll my eyes, chuckling at the shit that women read. The receptionist gives me side eyes. I return the look with a crooked smile "Mr. Jack Hyde?" She holds out her hand for me to shake. She's older, mid 40's perhaps, her nose poignant, her glasses just below her eyes. She barely cracks a smile quickly taking her hand back after I shake it. "Come in, Jules hold my calls will you?" I follow and glance at Jules the receptionist. She smiles and wriggles her fingers at me as I walk in. I arch my brow and grin, embedding her name. "You can take a seat Mr. Hyde." Mrs. Moore gestures towards one of the chairs; I look and sit lifting my ankle over my knee, resting my back. She begins "I took the liberty of reviewing your file. You have quite a story. Care to tell me about it yourself?"I smirk, taking a breath as I stare at her. "Mrs. Moore seeing as you already have it laid out I don't think there's much more to say." She nods with a small grin and looks down to the file "I disagree, this..." She lifts her hand matter-of-factly pressing the file between her fingers "Tells a factual story of your life and though true. I want to hear from your mouth just who Jack Hyde is." I lean forward, curling my lip. "As intriguing as that story may seem to you it will take more than an hour to explain." She nods and sits back, as if in waiting. I roll my eyes "Look, I'm here for work; my past is exactly that to you, my past. I don't intend to discuss or re-hatch unnecessary irrelevant bullshit from what takes place at this current moment. Understood" She nods once more, with a slight frown of her bottom lip and leans forward folding her hands over her wooden desk. "Very well, Mr. Hyde." She sighs "I know you were in publishing." I lift my finger. "Commissioning Editor!" "Right..." She stares at me carefully as if she were trying to read me. "What about freelance work? I can make a few contacts and see if they need outside editors. It could be brief and you'd stay below anyone's radar. What do you think?" I furrow my brows, looking at her quizzically for a moment. "Actually that sounds perfect." She smiles and places my file to the side. I look from my file to her face. "Perfect then, I'll contact you by the end of the week with your first manuscript." I stand, Surprised at how easy this was. "Ok, thank you." "Not a problem, Mr. Hyde. I'll have Jules set up our next meet." I hear her words as I turn to the door. "Next meet?" I ask with an arched brow. She replies without looking up, writing as she speaks. "Well yes, Mr. Hyde, you've been assigned to see me for the next 6 months."She grins and looks up. The petulance within me fuels and I'm left speechless. One hand on the doorknob the other in my hair. Opening aggressively I exit her office without looking back.

I throw my keys on the wooden table, the metal skids across scratching the wood. I begin to pace, Elizabeth's face plays in my mind, the panic in her eyes. She probably thinks I'm after her. The way she turned on me, testifying against me. A part of me was still angry, had it not been for her I probably could've manipulated my way out of prison long before. Yet... here I am and there she is her life just as destroyed. She has nothing and now I've cost her the only job she had. I breathe and walk over to the window by my bed. Looking out to the street, watching everyone move along, my eyes peer to that same diner just on the corner. I think on impulse and pick up my keys, exiting my place I leave the building and cross over to the diner; I walk directly to the hostess "I need to speak to the manager." My voice tight. Her looks unnerved, she nods and asks me to wait. The manager quickly approaches the counter. He's a short, semi balding middle aged man. He smiles "Yes, sir. How may I help you?" I speak quick, avoiding conversation. "I need you to give Elizabeth Morgan her job back." He shakes his head in confusion. "I'm sorry sir, I did not fire her..." He waves his hands and looks like a lost puppy. "What do you mean?" He replies "She quit." I run my fingers in my hair, infuriated. "Quit?!" My hand over my mouth, She quit because of me. Fuck, Hyde? He speaks, "I'm sorry sir." I wave him off no longer needing his assist. My eyes dart to the waitress from that night; she arches her brow, nudging her head for me to follow her. I look around; she walks towards the back of the diner I keep at her trail. She leads me behind the kitchen, opening the back door, I hold it open letting it go as she leans on the brick, lighting a cigarette. "I can tell you where Elizabeth lives." I step forward my lips pressed. "Why would you do that? For all you know I'm out to kill her." She shrugs and flicks the bud. "Are you?" I tilt my head "What's the price?" she stares back, one hand holding the cigarette the other around her waist. She's skinny, Sickly almost. "$500" I laugh at her request. Looking at her, my grin fades and I open my wallet, pulling out two hundred dollar bills. "Where?!" I glare at her waiting for her answer holding the money between my index and middle fingers. She looks from the money to me and back, sighing "That's not 500" "Listen..." I move against her, she steps back, I lean in my nose fairly close to her neck, my breath on her ear "You won't want to see what happens if you delay any longer." I flick her hair with the same fingers holding the money, bringing it in front of her face. "I know why you need this; I know why you want this. So regardless of the amount in my hand you will tell me." She shutters, her eyes following green. "102 Dexter Ave N" I grin, "Good girl." I step away and open my wallet putting the money back. "HEY!! WHAT THE FUCK!" She screams "GO TO REHAB!" I shout as I walk down the alley with a haughty smirk. She continues to wale, her curses echo through the streets. I hail a cab and slide in, the driver looks back I tell him my destination and sit back to look out the window as I reflect on my next move.