The dimly lit room held an ominous tone as Derek stepped through the chaotic stack of computers in and around the walkway. What the hell is up with the aesthetics in this place? Some of the computers date back to my childhood. I guess they offer some kind of help to the people here. Some of these types look like they are about to take me out. Derek's eyes traced the sockets on the wall, a few of them sparking, looking on the verge of catching fire.
"This place is a bit out of my comfort zone," Derek spoke under his breath. The room smells like drugs or something potent that shouldn't be allowed in civil society. What should I have expected so far off the beaten path. A few men in mohawks laughter had an edge to it, like a bad sitcom with a laugh track that never ended.
"What was that?" a smooth voice interrupted Derek's train of thought.
"Oh, uh, nothing," Derek stammered, shifting his gaze toward the man leading him.
Derek's guide the man in the crimson blazer, glanced back with a smirk. "Don't worry all of it will come together in time or maybe you will stay confused." Pointing down a hallway that was narrow with a deep red carpet the dark skinned male placed one foot forward, expecting Derek to follow.
I'm nervous. Derek gulped, placing his hand of the wall. "A bit dramatic don't you think. The color red that would remind me of blood."
The man chuckled. "Your mind needs cleanings. Red is the uniting of the human race. The same blood runs through us."
"I think the protesters would argue their robots will flow that same blood soon." Trying to suppress his nerves Derek shrugged his shoulders leaning back. "Those robots are all oil and bolts right?"
"Your quite witty…or is that nerves I sense." Slowing down the man put out his hand halting Derek in his tracks. His large fist pounded on the door with three rhythmic vet peculiar knocks.
The door slowly opened showing a man with a Hawaiian shirt and Christmas pajamas. His crooked nose remind Derek of a boxer that lost more fights than won.
The older man hunched over glared at Derek leaning in sticking his nose out the door. "Who is this twat?" The man's bloodshot eyes honed in on Derek.
The dark skinned man smiled "he's fresh."
Sniffing loudly the man with the crooked nose leaned forward a bit to forward and sniffed Derek. "A new guy…to our keep. I'm going to need to make sure your clean."
Derek jumped back. "Do you really need to do that?"
"You have nowhere else to go, so yes this is necessary. The older man hands were swift quicker than Derek anticipated. "Oh look here!" Taking out Derek's phone the man tilted his head and drew closer to the electric communication device. "Your digital life is about to come more real to us. Thank you for your cooperation."
"Sure," Derek replied rolling his eyes. "Go ahead and make sure I am not threat to your precious operation here."
The dark skinned man leaned against the wall. "Don't mind Rufus he's just taking care of what is needed. Come on, the man waved beckoning Derek to come forward. "He's weird and mostly harmless."
Rufus shuffled back and forth staring at Derek's phone. "Fresh meat, so good for the master."
Derek cautiously walked past Rufus starting the older yet odd man with wide eyes.
The crimson blazer dangled in the wind as he bowed toward a woman shrouded in mystery. "Madam Chantelle, another lost one has found their way to us."
The curtain rustled as a woman appeared from the shadows. Her afro was a outline to her round face. The purple lipstick sparked under the low light. There was snake tattoo from her hand all the way up to her shoulder. A black dress adorned her body hit each curve with pinpoint precision.
"What do we have here," Chantelle purred, her voice lingered in the air. "So your fresh from the streets." Her eyes studied Derek taking a moment to notice his neck in particular.
Her stare is making me feel a bit filled with terror. This woman is not to messed with. I need to be careful. Taking a breath Derek paused. "Uhh my name is Derek, he muttered trying to sound confident. That was bad.
She sauntered toward him, her shoulder brushing his with deliberate force. "You're scared," she said, her finger tracing the back of his neck. Her nails were sharp enough to send a shiver down his spine and maybe a little further south.
"Nervous? Nope," Derek chuckled.
Chantelle cackled, circling him as if stalked her prey. "What keeping me from slitting your throat?"
Derek gulped. "Don't your remember that guy over there found me? He said there as something you wanted from me."
"Really?" Chantelle inquired, tilting her head. "What if this is fate? What do you believe in young man?"
One wrong move and this woman will take me out of this world. I don't want to die. Fate? Let me think back. This morning was the interview. Marissa had nothing but fear of me. Life was simple this morning. Now it's all gone to hell. This queen or so called leader is grilling me. I just want to sleep! "I believe..." he started, his voice shaking, "that you're all insane."
Chantelle threw her head back and laughed, a rich, rolling sound that echoed through the room. "Oh, I like him," she said, glancing at the man in crimson. "He's got a mouth on him. What else lies behind those eyes?"
I can move my feet. It's like she's staring into my soul. A storm is raging within me. Should I run out of here to attack her. I have the strength, but I don't know what her right hand man is capable of. Violence…do I have to resort to survive. Blinking his eyes twice he focused an realized her presence was surrounded by a velvet lined seat that was glowing. She's a bit for the flare and drama of it all. Maybe I am so tired I didn't even notice that she wasn't standing any more.
Derek steadied his breath as the words danced at the edge of his mouth. "This place feels like oppression. There is also a hint of freedom that people have here as well. I'm tired and cant really focus on what you have going on here. My whole life has felt like a serious of bad decisions. No purpose and no plan. That gets old after a while."
Chantelle's eyes fluttered, narrowing on him with curious intent. Her head tilted as her right was canted more toward Derek.
Clenching his fist Derek continued his focus breaking slightly. "I'm important. I should be able to carve out my place in this city, to grow into the best version of myself. And yet, here I am. Stuck. Everyone seems to want something from me, and I can't seem to give them what they need. I keep letting people down even though they continue to pour into me. I'm a failure."
Derek voice drifted to a soft whisper as his thoughts drifted to Ken. "Ken's my friend he's been a rother to me. Even when I let him down, he has my back. He got me a job interview today. I didn't make the cut. I couldn't even face him after everything that's happened."
The room was silent, except for the faint hum of Chantelle's drone. She studied Derek with a sharp, piercing gaze, her expression unreadable. Her eyes flicked briefly to the dark-skinned man who had brought Derek here, and then back to him.
Chantell leaned forward her tone deliberate and cool, "it seems to me that you feel less than. She paused a beat letting her words hang in the air. "Everyone has a story. Every single person here that you passed lived with some person of what you just spoke. Each of them are broken and to some extend even me. "She blushed leaning back into the luxurious centerpiece. "Some left behind lives of luxury, others have only ever known hardship. But we found something they couldn't find out there." She gestured toward the city lights barely visible through a small window. "Belonging."
Derek swallowed hard, glancing up at her.
Chantell straighten her shoulders, her afro shifting to the right. "So is belonging what you seek, if that is the case I can give you that chance. We can help you find the balance you seek. Please know it won't be a walk in the park sugar. This journey is going to be hell but worth it. The power brewing within you is breaking out. From tonight's news you are already a person of interest. The police are hot on your trail. The police chief is trying to get promoted and there is a hot shot detective trying to make his name known. If it weren't for us you would be in their cage by now."
Her words feel like a blade cutting through my exhaustion. The haze I felt feels as if it is dissipating. Derek's gaze lifted toward the darkness of the ceiling above him. Her words speak true to me but am I ready. You want me to fight back. The city? Society in general or the police?"
A faint smile graced Chantelle lips but didn't illuminate her eyes. "Against anyone who would dare to tell you what you can and can't be."
Derek shook his head. "I don't know if I can do that. Ken… he's my anchor. "Family..I don't have much of that left in this world. There are only so many chances your given in life. I don't want to throw away the one he tossed to me."
"Even so you're here Chantelle said, her voice with a bit of edge to it. That job you were seeking did not come to pass or you would be in this oasis for a second chance. My oasis." Her words danced with amusement around the damp room. "This is a place where those who are tired of societies lies can come and rest their heads. A place where rules do not matter!"
Chantelle stood her figure gracefully moving across the floor. She sauntered toward Derek her gaze never leaving his eyes. "So my new umm shall I say believer. What will it be? Running for the rest of your life will be exhausting. Why not rest here and take control of your life once and for all?
Chantelle's fingers danced on Derek's shoulder, pulling him close for a side hug. Her touch was menacing and comforting all at once. "Do you want freedom or to end up in a jail cell tonight?"
My heart feels like it about to leap out my chest. "What happens to me if I say yes?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Chantelle's smile turned colder. "Oh, I can tell you exactly what will happen if you say no." She glanced at the dark-skinned man who had led Derek here. He shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting away from Derek's.
Derek sighed, the weight of the day crushing him. His body was heavy, his mind numb. Finally, he looked up at Chantelle. "I'm in," he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "The only way to go is forward!"
Chantelle's smile took a softer tone, it was almost warm. "That's a good boy." She jumped back, motioning to Derek's guide. "Don't worry he's got your back. Now that your part of the family I will be seeing your real soon." In a moment's notice Chantelle turned and vanished behind the lush velvet curtain that concealed her throne.
Derek felt his guide grab his shoulder with a firm grip guide him to a door in the northeast corner of the room. It's like a maze in here. Or maybe this was something I didn't see when I came into this room. No matter what happens, there is no turning back now.