Outsider

Twenty-five

"I think she's well enough to meet my father," I heard Trish say to someone over the phone.  She thought I was sleeping, but really I was eavesdropping.  Lying on the couch with my eyes closed so she wouldn't suspect a thing."Why the hell would he make her do petty errands?  Trust me, Tobias, I have a way with my dad to get Elissa into the ranks I want."

A pause, indistinct chatter on the other side.

"She's fucking eleven and managed to survive days in that blizzard in Russia with no food, bleeding all over the place, and barely any winter clothes!  I think she can handle herself among us, Toby." Trish assured.  Throughout these past few weeks I heard Trish mention a Tobias, obviously someone in Crimson Night with her.  Maybe she trusted him, and he her, but they always seemed to be arguing.  Anyway, I decided that I had heard enough and sat up and asked, "Trish, what's going on?"

Trish looked startled, but quickly replied, "I thought you were sleeping!  Look Tobias, I gotta go.  Bye."  She hung up and came over to me, saying, "Elissa, tomorrow you have an outing."

"What do you mean?"

"You're going to be meeting my father, and become an official member of Crimson Night."

Where to begin with the whole "initiation" I went through?  How could I describe becoming a member of Crimson Night?  Thrilling.  That's the only word to describe it.  It was such an insane, exciting experience; I was showered with attention, and I basked in it.  Trish dressed me up in a red shirt with a black dress to go over it, along with matching black fishnet stockings and red boots.  She said I looked smart, I felt smart, but also felt ten years older.  Makeup did little to cover the jagged line across my left cheek, and my hair heavily contrasted with the darkness of the outfit.  Nevertheless, Trish told me I looked beautiful, and I couldn't keep a grin spreading from ear to ear.

We left in another sports car, but this time Trish drove.  I sat in the passenger's seat and stared at the city.  The trees were bright hues of red and orange, the buildings straight silver bullets, and there were so many people.  Some were dressed fancily, others casual, some on their phones, some on bicycles.  I had never seen so many ordinary people!  As tears of joy formed in my eyes, Trish warned, "Don't.  You'll ruin your mascara,"

We arrived at a house at the edge of the city.  It was a nonchalant looking house, fairly old with weathered bricks and wood, but it was extremely big.  Trish ushered me out of the car when a young boy opened the front door for us and gestured for us to go in.  I believed it was the same boy who I saw in Russia, but I wasn't sure.  We walked down a flight of stairs into a long basement cluttered with a weird assortment of furniture.  At a black couch facing three large televisions and a miniature bar, there was an older man.  He was bald, but had the same copper skin and bright eyes as Trish.  On his neck he wore a gold a gold chain with a deep, red ruby in its centre.  "Daddy!" Trish squeaked, which sounded so unusual for her, and she flung herself into his arms.

The man laughed and said, "How's my daughter?  Tobias tells me you have a new recruit- I hope they're useful at least."

Trish nodded and ordered, "Elissa, come here."

I stepped in front of the man as he looked me up and down, judging me.  Nervous, I tried to smile and be charming, but the man said sharply, "Don't do that child, you look stupid."  My hands reached to my scarred face and I frowned.  Trish's father grunted, "She's awfully small.  And young.  What use is she for us, Patricia?"  Patricia...?  Oh, Trish, I thought.  

Trish said, "She was able to survive that blizzard in Russia on her own, and escape from Hydra."

"Don't give me that bull!  Hydra's dead, they died in the forties, for Christ's sake!" laughed Trish's father.