Nemesis: A Love Story

TESSA

It's been 3 days since she's returned to this place. This place of her birth. Her eyes look downwards at the dozen or so boxes that consist of her life. Unpacking those will be the easy part. Pulling the dust covered sheets off the numerous pieces of furniture was a different story.
Each piece had a memory attached to it.
A memory of another life.
Events that had happened to another person. Persons actually if truth be told.
The last time she had been in this place was 7 years ago. She'd been 13. A child.
Too young to have seen what her eyes had seen.
Too old to ever forget it completely.
Her old therapist had highly advised against this decision to return to this house.
To this city.
Tessa had ignored his wise words, as she did most advice.
He had tried, poor Dr. Mason, tried hard to win over her trust.
It was a useless pursuit. Admirable but pointless.
Even there, in that city far away from this place, the ghosts of the past had just followed. They followed her. They haunted her. Every day since.
There was no way to escape them. Not for long anyway.
So being here, back in this place made little difference
Just the smell of death lingers
Tight like a noose around her neck.
She can feel it slowly constricting.
She decides to go out for a walk.

She's hasn't walked far when she hears the thumping of music. The steady beat of techno. As she draws closer she can smell the familiar smell of pot hanging densely in the air. A rare smile crosses her face.
She hears the voices and then sees the people loitering  around the front of a pool hall.
The Descent, the red sign flashes, like a beacon to all the lost souls and heathens of this city.
Nothing has changed she admits.
The bouncer, a large black man with a kind smile, sees her approach.
"You're new" he comments.
She simply nods. A small smile is all she can muster for him.
He doesn't take offence. She lifts her head and in his eyes she sees a brief flare of recognition pass over him. She panics slightly but he says nothing.  He takes a deep breath.
"I'm not sure this is the place for you, Angel"
They lock eyes and she knows he's hopeful she'll turn around and venture back to the safety of the other side of town.
She's always been a disappointment though.
He sees the decision in her eyes and moves aside to let her in, out of the corner of her eye she sees him shake his head in sadness.
The darkness and dank of the pool hall engulfs her more and more each step she takes. People making out on the stairs barely move aside and eventually she stops trying to not step on them with her docs. They move then. The music grows louder. The actual walls are thumping in response to the speaker system. She heads to the bar. Ignoring but aware of the many pairs of eyes that follow her movements.
She orders a beer, then another.
She needs to forget.
To numb.
She turns facing the dance floor that is packed with people, many dancing. A few making out. In the distance she sees a lounge area, dark and dreary. She'll find what she's liking for there.
It's like a beacon to her.
She makes her way across the large room managing to avoid the odd hand that reaches out for her.
Appearing out of the dark comes a male. She goes ridged in response.
He lifts his hands in surrender and greeting.
"I come in peace" he smiles with the whitest teeth she's ever seen. He looks closely at her.
"Don't I know you?"
"No."
He looks like he wants to say more but doesn't.
"Looks like you need some assistance. Anything I can help you find, darling?"
He reaches into his pocket pulling out a bag. Swinging it happily in front of her eyes.
She smiles.
She exhales in relief.