"GROTESQUE" - BOOK ONE

GROTESQUE - chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

Nyx stirred awake in a small bed, the sheets scratchy against her skin, in a dingy hotel room that felt like it had long since given up hope. The air was thick with the stench of stale whiskey and smoke, and the only light filtering in came from a feeble lamp perched on the nightstand. Empty whiskey bottles lay scattered across the room, and an overflowing ashtray brimmed with cigarette butts, remnants of a long, weary night.

"Wakey, wakey," a voice cut through the haze, pulling Nyx from the depths of her confusion.

She blinked, squinting against the dimness, and her gaze settled on Melinoe, who leaned casually against the window, a cigarette dangling from her lips. The wisps of smoke curled around her like a shroud, and Nyx couldn't help but notice the stump where her arm once was, an unsettling reminder of the past. She struggled to sit up, wincing as pain shot through her body. Her bloodshot eyes scanned the unfamiliar room, piecing together her disorientation and the identity of the woman before her.

"Who the hell are you?" she croaked, suspicion lacing her voice.

Melinoe's smirk was tinged with a hint of pity. "You don't remember me? I guess you don't. The Doctor really did a number on you!"

Nyx swung her legs off the bed, her movements sluggish and labored as she took in the peeling wallpaper and the overall griminess of the place. Melinoe remained relaxed, leaning against the frame of the window, but she could feel the tension simmering in the air.

"What do you want from me?"

"Relax. I'm not your enemy," Melinoe replied, a hint of amusement in her tone. "I'm your sister in a cruel, funny way. You're lucky I found you when I did."

"Why did you save me?"

Melinoe pushed off the wall and stepped closer, her expression turning serious.

"I've been watching you for a while now. Ever since we escaped. I needed to see for myself first."

Nyx narrowed her eyes, still cautious but undeniably curious.

"See what?"

"If I can trust you," she replied, her gaze unwavering.

"What do you know about me?"

"Enough to know you're not finished yet. And neither am I."

"What do you want me to do?"

"I need you to end this once and for all." Melinoe said, her tone grave. "So... are you in or out?"

They stepped into the shadowy streets outside the hotel, the dim light casting long, flickering shadows around them. Nyx, still bandaged from her earlier injuries, moved with a determined stride, her sharp eyes scanning the dark corners and alleys as if anticipating danger at every turn. Beside her, Melinoe walked with a quiet confidence, both women armed and ready for whatever lay ahead.

"There's a place not far from here," she said, her voice steady despite the ominous atmosphere. "We'll find what we need."

As they approached a narrow alleyway, the air grew thick with the smell of dampness and decay. The walls were covered in layers of graffiti and grime, a testament to the city's neglect. At the end of the alley stood a steel door, their target. Melinoe nodded towards it, and Nyx stepped forward, her hand poised to knock.

"What's inside?" Nyx asked.

"With any luck... answers. And a whole lot of trouble."

She rapped sharply on the steel door, the sound echoing eerily in the stillness. For a moment, there was silence, and then the door creaked open just a crack, revealing a pair of suspicious eyes peering out from the darkness.