The Heart Of You ♚ Jim Moriarty

Seven

With a tug of her sappy lips and a bounce in her black heels, Alaina made her way into the hotel from the previous night.

"Seven hundred." She mumbled walking through the empty halls. Her stomach lurched with every step like her intestines were stuffed with tissue paper. "Seven hundred."

Jittery beetles scurried across her skin, burrowing themselves into her pores. Her ears were clogged with the insects. They whispered the terrible things she was feeling about herself and no matter how hard she shook her head a few always remained.

Caleb was having dinner with clients and Alaina was able to sneak out without questions. It didn't make it easy though. She fought with herself all day about coming back, but in the end she needed to get her car keys.

"He gave you a ride home." She said rolling her shoulders. "And now you need your car. Nothing more, nothing less." It was more a warning than a reminder. She would get her keys from Jim, thank him, and go home to wait for Caleb.

Alaina turned a corner and stopped. A man stood outside one of the rooms, his hands folded neatly behind his back and his stare fixed on the wall in front of him. If he noticed Alaina he didn't show it. There were hints of tattoos painted on his chest which stretched to his neck, but she couldn't tell what of. He was stationed in front of the door blocking the gold numbered plate, but Alaina had a pretty good guess whose room it was. She walked over with steps as light as a lambs, her hair fell on her back in subtle springs.

"Miss. Ritz," the man said turning his square head to watch as she made her way over. The skin on his cheeks were dry and tight, Alaina winced when he smiled, afraid he might crack. "I've been expecting you."

The hairs on the back of her neck straightened and the beetles begged her to turn around. He didn't show his teeth when he smirked, she worried he was hiding fangs.

"I'm here to see Jim."

"Of course." He pulled a small card from his back pocket and opened the door for Alaina. "Mr. Moriarty will be back shortly, but he said you're welcome to wait inside. Please don't hesitate if you need anything, I'll be right out here."

"Right," his smile didn't sit right with Alaina. His mouth was turned up but the rest of his face was static. He reminded her of a doll with a string you pull to make them talk, only this man was programmed to smile. "and who is it I'll be asking for?"

"My name is Reed, ma'am."

Reed held the door, his hand was covered in white and pink scars. His large fingers crowded each other as they gripped the handle. It took Alaina a moment to find the courage to walk past him but when she did his artificial smile grew seeing her scurry with freight.

The smell of bleach ravaged her nose as soon as she stepped inside. The acidic aroma burned her nostrils and her eyes watered. She spotted a patio door on the other side of the room and hurried to open it. She rubbed her eyes and coughed in the fresh air.

The room was bigger than any hotel she had stayed in, and probably bigger than any flat she had ever rented. The kitchen was the same size as the one in her home now, and to the left was a fireplace with dark wood edges. The living area was right next to the balcony and Alaina walked over to the coffee table to look at a vintage record player which sat on top. She perched on her knees grabbing a stack of records underneath. Jim's collection included Nina Simone, Louis Armstrong, Etta James, and Queen.

She didn't know what she expected him to listen to, but it wasn't this.

Muffled voices were heard from outside. With tingling fingers Alaina carefully put the records back where she found them. She rose from her spot. Jim was out there. His voice was a beacon, luring her to meet him by the door. Her heels made quiet clicks on the kitchen floor and she looked down to smooth her ruby skirt. Something caught her attention, freezing her tongue solid. There was a small splatter of red paint on the side of the island. She bent down and let her fingers graze over the spot but it was dry. She tossed her head back, noticing the walls were all a dark grey.