Lacuna

Chapter 3

It's amazing how only a few hours of sleep can completely enlighten you of all of the pain your body is experiencing. I can barely sit up in bed, and I am tempted to call Charlie to come and drag me out himself. My limbs are aching in all too familiar ways, making me wonder how much longer I can do this for. Fighting big men is not easy, its almost like its up to chance whether I win or lose. I always win, but its only because I am smart and can use the other opponents strength against themselves. At some point, this is going to become too much and my body is going to break. 

I take a quick shower and head into the kitchen. My latest artwork is on the eisle. I have to take it over to the gallery today. It's almost funny how I am pretty well known as an artist, but only to the good and innocent people of the day. At night, I am unrecognizable, and no one would believe that a 19 year old girl fights grown men at least three times my size once or twice a week each night in a club where only the city's most scummy people hang out. It's ridiculous. I can hardly believe it myself.

 I'm wrapping my hands with an ice-pack (they're still a little swollen from last night) when my phone pings. It's Charlie saying that he is at my building and on his way up. I sigh. After last night, I am a little bit too irritated to deal with him, but he's really the only person in my life who doesn't invade my privacy with stupid questions. He isn't too much older than I am, and he understands the need for a partner that doesn't ask about your personal life. I delicately dismount from my chair just as he knocks on my door. I open up, making sure my expression shows just how absolutely "thrilled" I am to have a visitor at 7 in the morning. He grins widely, holding up a bag and tray of steaming drinks. I am one to refuse company, but have never been one to refuse food. I let him inside.

"I knew you'd be up, so I figured I would stop by and check on you." he explains, glancing at my hands.

"How'd you sleep?" he asks. I shrug.

"So, so." 

That's a stinking lie. I had a nightmare that the man I fought last night beat me up and that Brogen guy watched, laughing and smiling as my opponent ripped open my stomach and began to eat my intestines. Then, Brogen turned into a snake and slithered into my stomach. It woke me up at 2 a.m and I couldn't really fall back asleep. It took a real strong dose of melatonin to knock me out. I feel sick just thinking about it. We sit at the table and he hands me a bagel and my favorite coffee. As I take a long drink from the cup, savoring the warmth that spreads through my body, I almost forgive him. He checks out my latest paintings while I eat. He doesn't really have an eye for art, but he gives... interesting pointers.

"So... you think you would be up for a fight tonight?" he asks. I swallow the rest of my bagel and look at him evenly. "Okay, I will take that as a no..."

"Yeah genius. I need a few days. That fight was rough enough as it is, I'm not doing back to back." I retort. He laughs.

"Nov, you're too serious, I was only joking." he smiles. I sigh. I don't like jokes, especially about fighting. I finish my coffee and sit in silence. I am okay with the quiet, but it makes Charlie uncomfortable. And when it gets silent, he starts feeling guilty and starts talking.

"About last night... I'm sorry. I know you hate the back room, but I needed to take advantage of the opportunity. I thought I would be in and out, and I tried to be, but Brogen isn't the kind of guy you piss off. He wanted to talk, so we talked." he tells me. I raise an eyebrow. I didn't need to know all of that, but the apology is appreciated.

"It's fine Charlie, but you do know you can call people right?" I ask. He smiles and shakes his head.

"You don't call someone who doesn't want to be traced by the cops, November." he says. I look at him blankly. He was talking to one of the gang leaders. I don't even pretend to be disappointed. Charlie has always kept... strange... company, its to be expected. I just don't understand why he is telling me... unless I have something to do with it.

"What does he want?" I question. Charlie almost chokes on his drink, coughing harshly. He meets my eye.

"He wants me to be an asset to his gang..." he begins. I hold my hand up for him to stop. 

"Does it have anything to do with me?" I ask slowly. He sighs, gathering his thoughts.

"Not directly, no, but if something happens to me..." he states. I look at him in confusion, an uneasy sensation growing in my stomach. Charlie has been my only friend, we aren't close, but we watch out for each other. If something were to happen to him... I don't know what I would do.  What is he talking about? something makes me feel as though he has done something wrong. 

"Hey, don't worry about me, Nov. I'll be okay." He tries to reassure me. It doesn't work. I force a smile anyways.

"Okay." 

Charlie checks his watch and whistles.

"Well, I gotta go. you keep resting. Maybe even text Margaret." he states. I roll my eyes.

"Whatever."