Bae Bae

Part III - The Merchant

Part III

The Merchant

I turned back to the door, which was still ajar.

"Hello?" I took a small step forward and called out. No answer. The Merchant must not have been listening on the speaker anymore.

I cautiously passed through the entryway into the darkness. I felt my heartbeat speed up and I curled my hands into fists. The door slammed shut behind me and it became so black that I couldn't see anything.

"Hello?"

There was a pop and the room flickered pink and green, then lights turned on and I was able to see my surroundings.

I was in the strangest room that I had ever witnessed in my whole entire life. My mouth dropped open, eyebrows raised, and I breathed out a small "whaaaaaat?"

The floor was black and white stripes, the wallpaper a pale yellow with strange circular brown designs. Along one wall was a large steel gate, like the kind shop owners would pull down over the front of the store when they closed up for the night. On the opposite side there appeared to be a table and two chairs but they were covered by white sheets. The lights in the room wasn't normal, they were blue and pink and yellow, giving the room the look of some strange dance club. On one wall there even was a neon sign of a woman, like the kind you would see outside a strip club.

But the strangest thing had to be the mannequins. Along the walls there were large window sills and sitting on each one was a female mannequin. None of them had clothes, and their bodies were covered in horizontal stripes. Each mannequin had two color stripes, the first was white, the second a differing color. For example, red and white, and black and white. Their faces were whatever color the individual stripe was, so the red and white mannequin had a red face. On their heads were color corresponding wigs, cut in a short and choppy bob. All the mannequins had on huge, white sunglasses. In one corner there was an old fashioned mirror and makeup stand, with a mannequin sitting on a chair in front of it, staring blankly at its own reflection. And, in the middle of the room, was another mannequin, this one missing the stripes. Instead, her body was a pinkish red color, and naked except for white underwear and see through tights. She was lying on the ground with her back arched, reaching her arms behind her head, her knees bent so her feet rested on the floor. It was a position that made me a bit uncomfortable. I felt like I walked in on some strange adult store or...just the home of a crazy person.

There was one thing in the room that did not fit the mood at all. Towering in one corner of the room was a massive marble statue of an angel. She was beautifully carved, with a flowing robe, her arms outstretched with welcome, her wings fully expanded behind her. She had a kind, loving expression on her face.

To see such a regal figure amongst the creepy mannequins was quite startling.

I was attempting to accept the fact that this room was actually real, and I was standing in it, when I heard a voice.

"You're dazzling."

I took a half step back, startled. Was it one of the mannequins? This room was so odd I would not be surprised if one of them talked.

"Who's there?"

"Me. Of course."

I searched the room with my eyes, not eager to leave the spot where I was standing. Then, I spotted him.

He was sitting in one of the window sills, his head cocked slightly, watching me. With all of the multicolored lights, he looked like he could be just another one of the mannequins...well except for the stripes of course.