A Pet for the Dragons

54.

ARIKA

I managed to make it to the town before the storm hit. I located my small apartment, which was actually the office of an abandoned storehouse. Everything there was more broken and desperately falling apart than I remembered it to be last time.

However, my room was secure even after all this time, and I was grateful for that. This abandoned storehouse was a good place for me to hide because it was rumoured to be haunted. I didn't know if it was true, but the rumour served me well, so I didn't mind. It kept the attention away from here.

I found the key to my room and unlocked it. Everything was crammed in there, mostly my old shipping equipment, which I didn't want to carry on board due to a space issue. Fortunately, I had a futon here, so I made some space, laid it out, and lay on it, surrounded by darkness.

The only thing I could hear was the roars of the storm outside and even a thunderclap somewhere in the distance. My cramps were back to torture me, so I lay in the darkness, cramping and crying.

"I don't know why I'm crying," I whispered. I liked to talk to myself when I was alone. I developed this habit when I was out in the sea all alone. It made me feel less lonely, and hearing my voice made me feel like I was real, not just part of a ship lost in the endless sea.

"You wanted this, Ari, didn't you? You wanted to escape the dragons and return to your old life. You've got what you wanted, so why cry now? You're free now. You don't have to worry about the dragons finding out that you don't remember where those servers are.

"Yeah, I get it. They might be out there looking for me, but still, it's better than that place they kept me in. Isn't it? Then stop crying. Damn it!" I told myself, but if anything, the tears kept streaming.

I heard my voice echoing throughout the whole storeroom. I thought I heard another voice in the cellar calling my name, but I ignored it. It might or might not be the ghost haunting the place. I didn't want to find out. It didn't matter because I would be here for a few days to figure out what to do next.

"What to do?" I asked myself out loud.

"What could you possibly do now, Arika?"

"Hmmm... let me think," I changed my voice to answer myself. It was like I was having a conversation with one of my personalities. "For starters, you can lay low for a few days and gather some news. You need to rest because you're still on your period, and the more you fret, the worse it gets,"

"But I haven't got time. I need to do something because those dragons are out there hunting me! Don't you remember how Zorge said we love a good hunt? They're hunting for you, and they're really, really mad at you right now?"

"That's not unprecedented, Ari. You lied and cheated them, and you did Radrox really, really bad. I wouldn't be surprised if he eats you alive,"

"Can we stop this shit for a second? Why the fuck are you crying for cheating on some dragons? You're a pirate, remember? You do these things for a living, so stop crying like a baby and grow some balls! They won't be able to find you anyway. You're wanted in seven countries and have a hefty bounty over your head, but see? You're still out roaming freely because you're a badass bitch! Don't forget that!"

"You're forgetting, Ari, that we're talking about fucking dragons. Fucking dragons! You saw what they looked like when they changed forms. Imagine one of those eating you! You need to take this shit more seriously!"

"They wouldn't be able to do shit to me. If they catch me, I'm going to play them again. God gave me a good pussy. I'm gonna use it!"

"The pussy trick works only once, Ari. So be fucking careful—"

"— you're a bad bitch. Stop underestimating yourself—"

"—nah, you're underestimating those dragons. Once they catch you, you're dead!"

I let out a frustrated cry and stopped. I usually talked to myself to think my problems through, but this didn't work—not even a bit. I heard someone laughing down in the cellar. It was probably the ghost laughing at me because I was on the verge of losing my mind. This made me laugh and cry like a mad woman.

"Just sleep on it. You'll have an answer tomorrow morning," I told myself and tried to sleep, but it never came. "You'll get over it in a week," I told myself.

A week passed, and I didn't get over it. No. Instead, it got worse for me, especially my craving for them. With each day that passed, I missed them more and more, but it hurt more because I realised that I had ruined it, and there was no going back.

I'd spent the week in that town, hiding in the abandoned storehouse. I'd only step out in the evening to get myself some food and some booze so I could numb my emotions and pain, but nothing helped.

Nothing helped to fill the void inside me. However, I knew what would fill the void in my chest but it was too late for that. I couldn't have that anymore. I'd ruined it. So I drank as much as possible, numbing myself even more, but by the end of the week, I ran out of money and had nothing much.

When all the alcohol had worn off, and I didn't have any more money, I felt worse. However, I knew I needed to leave because I'd already spent too much time here. Someone might have noticed and reported me because it was a small town where everyone knew everyone, and sticking out like a sore thumb was painfully easy.

When I woke up the next day, I decided to leave. Fortunately, my periods had ended, and I didn't have to worry about cramps anymore, but it was the law of the universe that one problem always replaced another.

The moment I rolled out in the stolen truck, I noticed a police car parked close to the abandoned storehouse. I took the sharpest U-turn the old stolen truck would allow me and stepped open the gas pedal without looking back.

~

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