It didn't take long for my purple duffel bag and medium sized suitcase to circle around baggage claim. As they both became within arms reach, I grabbed each of them them swiftly off the conveyor belt. Once I'd acquired both, I headed towards the pickup area. A few times as I was walking, multiple men about my age who had built statures offered to help me with my luggage, but I knew it was probably just a sly excuse to hit on me. I did, however, accept the help of an airport employee and I tipped him ten dollars for his service.
I waited on the curb until a car stopped in front of me. Before he rolled all the way up, I knew it was my dad. He had 'welcome Natalie' written in large letters in washable paint on the passenger seat window. It wasn't exactly hard to miss.
I knew Carlotta and Jannick would be with me even though they promised they'd stay out of my head for the week I was with him out of consideration. Despite the kind gesture, I knew they would never abandon me though. They worked too hard to get me in the first place. There wasn't a chance they'd risk losing me. I didn't really mind if they wanted to stay. I might need them to survive this trip; who knows how it could go?
On the drive from the airport to the hotel he was staying at, my dad and I made small talk. He asked about my final grades before the summer and if mom had started to miss him yet. I lied about both, telling him I only gotten one B in the midst of A's and that my mom missed him terribly. Truth was. I mostly got C's and that my mom was quite content when he was gone. They had a tricky marriage, those two. There wasn't a doubt in my mind that they loved each other, but it was hard to depict the intensity of their love, and if it even extends anywhere beyond the friend zone at this point. I know that they try very hard to make things work but it's never been the same after Melissa died. Dad made the mistake of leaving.
When we pulled into the hotel, he had the car valeted and paid the man quite a lot of cash to do it, too. I guess the acting gig really was working out. My dad apologized for the living situation as we walked down to his hotel. He said the room was really only fit for one, but he assured me tomorrow he could get me my own room next door once the occupants who were in it at the moment ended their stay. I appreciated his generosity and was in agreement as soon as he opened up the door. It only took a one eighty spin around to get the whole tour. The bedroom wasn't even secluded; it was connected right on to the kitchen and to the living room next to that. To the left of the main space was a door I assumed to be the restroom. It was, and a very tiny one at that, but it was enough for a single person. My dad said that he had booked a really small role in a movie as an extra shopping in a supermarket. He told me that the extras don't get much luxury, which explained the room size and condition. Every movie set is different, he said; some treat extras like all other members of the cast, and the others, like this one, see extras just as a way to enhance the scenes.
"Cut!" The director said and dad's scene wrapped.
I was fortunate enough to be able to tag along as long as I promised to keep quiet and I swore to secrecy on everything involving the movie. Nevertheless the director was still a stick in the mud. He made it completely obvious that he did not enjoy my presence and sent me glares every few minutes or so. It took everything in me not to laugh when he did because although he fought so hard to appear professional, there he was immaturely shooting dirty looks at me. Regardless of how bad I wanted to challenge him, I didn't. I knew anything I did would backfire on my dad. So, I did my best to make myself disappear and nibbled over the food table quietly. My dad walked toward me grinning hugely.
"How'd I do?" my dad asked, meeting me at the table
"Great!" I replied enthusiastically, picking up a muffin.
"Here, have a muffin." I offered, extending it out to him.
He smiled and took it. I looked past him and saw the phony director, making his round of hugs. He'd get to my dad soon, I assumed. He chatted up the big stars, shaking their hands and laughing exaggeratedly with them. I watched as he moved around the room, noting each and every cast member, but spending less time with the extras. When he circled around to my dad, he stretched his arms out.
"Richard, Ricky, the Rickster!" he joked, hitting him in the shoulder.
I was so confused. Did he and my dad actually have some sort of bond? Before I even got a chance to register exactly what was happening, my dad was already introducing us.
"Jack, this is my daughter, Natalie. Natalie, this is Jack, my buddy since high school."
Jack took my hand and shook it vigorously. He acted as though he hadn't been glaring at me all day. I played along for the moment being, but there was something very fishy going on. He invited us to dinner that night at a very fancy, five star restaurant. It was clear he was a regular and he informed us later he sat in the same booth every time he ate there. I engaged in their small talk, adding to the conversation when necessary, but it was becoming harder and harder to ignore the ongoing ambiguous situation actively unfolding in front of me. Just hours ago, Jack had been mentally shooing me away from the movie set; now, he showed interest in hearing about everything happening in my life. I responded to his wonderings in brief statements and smiled every so often, and when he was through, I had some questions of my own. I boldly inquired him about his family life, his career, and even the length of his education. But, I wasn't even interested in that. As he talked, I prepared for the big bomb I was about to drop on him, that I was onto him.
I nodded my head, faking that I was completely absorbed in what he had to say. As the questions grew deeper and more personal, I heard my dad whisper in my ear. He'd eventually caught on to my not so innocent string of questions for his sketchy friend.
"This is dinner, NOT an interrogation room. What are you up to?"
I grinned slightly and plunged in for the kill. My dad was not gonna like it, but I would apologize later. After all, I was only looking out for his well being. I took a deep breath, cleared my throat and looked him dead in the eye.
"If this is your movie and you and my dad are such good friends, then why is he only an extra? Why is his scene only two minutes? Don't you think he's worth more than that? Also, on the subject of extras, why do you treat others like crap? My dad is not any better than them. Sorry, dad."
Jack blinked. I totally surprised him. My dad was already doing damage control. He apologized up and down and glared at me. He apologized again and glared at me again. He announced that he needed to get some air and left Jack and I alone. I took the opportunity.
"Okay, what is your deal? You hated me a few hours ago. Now, you are so interested in my life like you want to be my best friend."
He stared for a minute, then his mouth turned up slightly, revealing a sinister expression. His face contorted into something I didn't recognize. Jack's main feature were still present in his face, but the minor features grew almost cartoonish. My smug attitude vanished, all the blood draining from my face.
"Oh Natalie, isn't it obvious? I'm not Jack." He sneered darkly, molding Jack's mouth into a droopy, uninviting smile. Seconds after, all of Jack's teeth transformed into small, shark-like ones. Who, or what, had inhabited him? Subconsciously, an audible gasp escaped my mouth, reflecting my growing terror.
YOU ARE READING
Anchor (Book 1)
Fantasy*COMPLETED* Natalie Coleman's life is forever changed after she is attacked by masked strangers and she discovers a world that is supposed to be hidden from ordinary eyes.
