Salvage

Five - Part 2

The night sky was mostly clear, with occasional grey clouds drifting across the stars. Aurora didn't turn on music as she drove down Hannegan road, her own car providing the only light in any direction for miles. She loved her friends, and their monthly meetings kept her sane, but she was still a solitary creature at heart. Her face ached from smiling, and her ears rang from the laughter and chatter. 

It was with considerably more peace in her mind that she pulled her car into its usual spot on the dark quiet street. She knew tonight was the night her landlord usually had off work, so she was careful not to slam her car door shut, and kept her footsteps gentle as she tiptoed through the grass, around the side yard to her door. Holding her breath, she carefully opened her front door and closed it behind her, then turned to put her backpack down on the counter.

Something pricked at the edge of her consciousness, making the hairs on her neck stand up. She froze, her muscles locking up and eyes widening instinctively. It should be dark in here, but the small lamp by her shabby couch was flicked on. She was positive she'd turned it off and unplugged it to save money on electricity.

Swallowing hard, heart pounding and mind racing, she felt around for her backpack's side pocket, fumbling with the zipper and pulling out her small bottle of mace. Clutching it, she cautiously edged towards the bathroom, where she spotted light glowing from under the partially closed door. Her other hand reached to her phone, thumb hovering over the numbers.

"Who is in here? I'm calling the cops, and I have mace!" Her voice came out more shrill than she wanted, cracking in her panic.

"Shit, no, don't... fuck."

Aurora swallowed hard, mouth suddenly dry as the bathroom door was jerked open, and she saw looming in the doorway, the lanky form of her landlord.

"Michael?" Her muscles relaxed marginally, though she kept her finger on the trigger of her mace. "What...?"

"Hey. I was just inspecting for dogs." Michael held up his hands. "I heard noises, some kind of squeaking, sounded like another fucking mutt. So yeah, I came to knock and catch you in the act this time. But you didn't answer."

"So you just came in?" Aurora's hands were shaking and she clutched her phone tighter. "That's... That's really not okay, Michael. I know it's not legal."

"Hey." Michael's face softened a little, and he came forward. "Just listen for a sec, okay? This isn't a big deal. Just a misunderstanding. If we get the courts involved in this, it'll be ugly, with all kinds of legal fees. Neither one of us wants that."

Aurora hesitated. Her heart was still pounding, but his words were starting to penetrate the adrenaline rush haze in her mind. "Well... I... that's true..."

As if sensing her softening, Michael backed up towards the door, teeth bared in some semblance of a smile. "How about this... I'm gonna leave. I promise never to enter again without permission. That's all that needs to happen here. Misunderstanding."

Aurora licked her dry lips and cleared her throat. Some kind of clarity made its way through her mind and she spoke up. "But I'm getting extra locks installed."

"Fair enough. You can give me the keys whenever you move out." Michael's voice sounded less patient now, more strained. "So we're good, right?"

"Yeah. Sure. Good. Just go." Aurora watched, still a little stunned, as the door closed behind him.

What. On. Earth. Pushing shaking fingers through her short hair, she sucked in a deep breath and began turning on more lights, flicking on the glaring overhead one in the bathroom she hardly ever used, and peered around with a critical eye. It wasn't that she couldn't believe Michael would break in just because of a dog, but ultimately, she didn't trust him. Something about that weird little glint he'd get in his eyes...

However, after a thorough examination, she couldn't find anything out of place or amiss. He hadn't stolen what little valuables she'd had, or messed with her food, or left anything unsavory in her sheets. Then she remembered his interest in her panties the other day, and she shuddered in disgust. She had to know. Hurriedly she began sorting through the small drawer of her dresser where she kept underwear and socks, making a quick tally of the various colors and styles she owned. All there... Except two dirty pairs in her hamper. She stooped and began sifting through the small pile of dirty clothes. There were the grey cotton ones from yesterday... but no polkadot ones with pink lace.

"Crap." Aurora felt a small knot of worry gather up in her chest, then drop like a stone to the pit of her stomach and set up residence there.

Was she living underneath some kind of a psycho pervert? Maybe it was just harmless... Some kind of twisted little game. Something to give him more control over her. He never hit on her, or tried to do anything sexual to her, or anything that led her to believe he was interested in that way.

And what would she do about it? Move out? Every penny of her savings went to paying rent and tuition, with whatever was left over buying gas and food. She didn't exactly have some nest egg saved up to pay a first and last month's rent. And she had no credit. It would be foolish to try and do something rash.

At the very least, she could start looking. Maybe by some miracle, she could find the perfect financial situation in a less skeezy place. But until then, she wouldn't just put up with it lying down. She hadn't been kidding about the lock. She wanted to change all the locks on the door and install extra ones on the windows, but that would take time. And money. It was the middle of the night, but her mind was buzzing, and her body crawled with anxiety. She wouldn't be sleeping any time soon.

So, she went back out to her car. Her nostrils flared, thinking even now as she left, he could be going back down into her personal space and doing whatever the hell he wanted. How dare he? She worked freaking hard to pay for that space, and he just violated it on a whim?

Screw that. Pushing the car into first, she began driving, blindly at first, then with more focus. Only major grocery stores on the one larger, bustling street in town would still be open at this hour. One of them would probably carry locks. She pulled onto the highway and began making her way towards the nearest one - a Fred Meyer. As usual, the parking lot was full, and the store looked busy, even at this hour. 

Weaving through small clusters of other college students, mixed with the wilder folk who lived out in the county, she made her way along the main aisle until she located the area she wanted.

There were mainly padlocks with combinations, and a few bolts, as well as doorknobs you could install yourself. Aurora's chest clenched and heaved with a surge of emotion she didn't know she'd been feeling. It rose up in her throat, threatening to choke her.

She sank down to her knees and pressed her fingers over her mouth, struggling to maintain control. Just pick a lock, Aurora.

But she didn't know how. She didn't know which one would work. When she looked at them, she felt helpless. Hopeless. Would any of them make her feel safe?

Would she ever feel safe in her home again?

Was she being some drama queen with this reaction? She should be calm and rational. It was just her house. But why did she feel so violated?

"Miss? Can I help you?" The words startled her, and she looked up into the young, slack face of a store employee, lips gaping open, looking dumbly confounded.

"Crap." The word burbled out of her, and with it, the rush of emotion, so swift it almost felt like she'd vomit, but she heaved with tears instead.

They began streaking down her face, coating her skin and dripping down her neck, and she hunched her shoulders in embarrassment, acutely aware of her surroundings. Having a breakdown under the bright, fluorescent lights of her friendly neighborhood grocery store, in front of the staring eyes of some kid just trying to do his job.

If this was part of taking control over her own life, why did she feel so freaking helpless?