Moving Forward

Chapter Fifteen

"I have my ways..."

I hung up and almost threw the phone in the nearby drain. Not this now... A headache surfaced, but not long after, I managed to stop a taxi and hop in.

I stared at my phone as it vibrated in my hands. It was Ricardo calling again to oppress my soul. Scowling at the screen, I pressed the button on the side, and switched it off, reminding myself to get a new SIM in the morning.

"Right here, driver." I handed the old man five dollars and climbed out of the car.

Outside my apartment looked bleak and I swore I turned the outside light on before I left home. I unlocked the front door and flipped the switch only to get nothing. Huh? I flipped it again. And again. Christ. "What the heck?" I flicked it again, hoping by some miracle it would beam to light this time but it didn't.

I felt my way through the darkness and tried another switch. Nothing. I grunted. Things couldn't get any worse. First mom and dad, then Ricardo, now this? I cursed under my breath and plopped onto the dining chair, wondering if Ms Flint paid the light bill.

The neighbors across the street had lights so I knew something happened with my apartment or the entire complex. I pulled out my phone and pressed the power button six times. I almost slammed the stupid thing on the table before I realized it was probably dead. So much for a phone call...

But the longer I sat in the chair doing nothing the faster heat wrapped around my neck. By the next hour, I'd be sweating like a pot cover. I eyed the opened front door, thinking if it was late to bother Ms Flint. But then again, she should have known the dilemma. 

An hour later, I found myself sitting on the edge of my bed fanning. Sweat beaded my forehead and I had to strip down to my underwear and a vest. My window was opened, but there wasn't enough air blowing outside to cool the entire room. Sweat dripped down my back leaving my skin moist enough to stick anything to it. I needed an urgent bath, even if it was ice cold water.

Power outages in the apartment complex were rare. And when it happened, it occurred two to three times a year on average. When guests used things and sucked up an immense source of electricity, it threw the grid out of sync. Most of the time, my apartment neighbor, Keston, used the extra power to charge his inventions. He always worked on some sort of gadget.

Then the heat got unbearable. A minute more, I would strip down and stand in front of the window. "That's it." I slipped on a skirt and headed outside. I stumped down the side of my apartment and peered up the steps in annoyance. "Ms Flint," I yelled. I knew she was hard of hearing so I climbed the first four steps and shouted again. 

She emerged at to top of the stairs. "I'm sorry, Rion is fixing it at the moment. He's having issues but it will be up soon. Hang in there, honey."

Rion? I scoffed. How many things did this guy do? Did he even know what he was doing? No wonder it took long. I feigned a smile, "Alright, Ms Flint. Thanks." I stepped down.

"What?" she shouted.

I threw my voice at her, "I said alright."

"Ah not hearing too well these days. Come up and talk to me."

I groaned. I didn't want to do that. I waved goodbye but she signaled for me to come up. Sighing, I climbed the steps and took a seat in her mini gallery. "I was just saying alright, Ms Flint. I was gonna go back inside and wait."

"In that heat? Oh goodness no, dear." She disappeared inside.

"I was doing fine," I said out loud. I saw her rummaging around in her kitchen.

"Do you want some cucumber water?" She shone her light in the fridge.

"Um... ok, thanks." It didn't make sense saying no because she still would have brought it.

I lapped my feet. Gosh, I needed to repaint my toenails. They looked horrid in my flip-flops. The pink polish barely hung to my nails.

I glanced up when heavy footsteps ascended the stairs. Rion appeared at the top with a bunch of wires in his hands. I was pretty sure he had no idea what to do with them.

"Good night, Ms Moore," he said.

I rolled my eyes. What was he talking to me for? "Night," I said in a snarky tone. Oh great, Ms Flint was returning with the water. I reached for the glass but Rion took it from her hand. What the... He practically swiped it like some savage or something.

"Thanks! I needed that," he said, taking a gulp.

I leered at him.

Ms Flint held her cheek. "Oh, heavens."

"Hellooo... You just took my water."

He looked at me without a care in the world and then at Ms. Flint. "Sorry about that, madam." He then continued to drink it.

Sucking my teeth, I stood. "I think I will return to my apartment now."

Ms Flint stopped me by the steps. "You don't have to go. I'll get another glass."

"I'm good. Bye."

I opened my apartment's living room windows and settled on the couch, hoping the electricity would return soon. A little longer I would be a roast pig.

I woke up startled by a beep. Apparently, I fell asleep on the couch long enough to be woken by my computer. I had to drag myself off the couch to get the light switch. I also had to plug in my dead phone. I couldn't believe it was almost midnight already. And why did something like that take so long? I shook my head. Of course, it would; look who did it. I sure hoped it wouldn't get worse like my pipes. Ms Flint should have called a real electrician.

I headed straight into the shower and took a short bath. I did my nightly routine and then settled on my bed, happy to see my phone on fifty-five percent. I switched it on, only to have my mood plummeted at the sight of four missed calls from a private number. I bit my cheek. What the hell did that man want?

Frustrated, I dialed Anya's number. I re-dialed when I got her voicemail. Come on, come on, Anya, pick up!

I threw the phone on my table when it went to voicemail again. Ricardo had better not be a freak of nature. God, thinking of him made goosebumps surface.

***

The weekend past in a blur. Every night, since Friday, I woke up with nightmares. It got unbearable. Saturday night I didn't go back to sleep and kept myself occupied by watching tv and drinking hot tea. I made up for the lost sleep during the day on the couch and sometimes in the dining area.

I sat on the bed staring at the photo frame of Malik and me. It always brought me solace. I tried calling Anya back throughout the weekend but she didn't answer. I wasn't sure if she was ignoring me or was just busy. It wasn't something she would do. Not wanting to think about it too much, I decided to watch tv. I fell asleep on the couch and woke up when it was minutes to twelve. I convinced myself I would be fine and went to bed.

My body bolted upright and I clutched my throat, gasping for air. My forehead glistened and sweat soaked my nightgown. The dream was different from the other nights. This time Ricardo had me in a chokehold, trying to kill me.

I hopped off the bed and dashed to the kitchen for water, gulping every drop. I didn't want to go back to sleep. I didn't want to do anything that would make me fall asleep. Instead, I sat by the window and peered into space. Maybe the beach would help. It always helped. In the morning I would skip work and head to the beach. 

I just had to stay awake for it.

...

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