Chapter 10: Besties

“He’s coming. He’s coming. He’s coming. He’s coming. He’s coming. He’s coming. He’s coming. He’s coming. He’s coming.”

-Chicken, local madman, date unknown.

Yin looked out the window, weariness tugging at her.

It was a rare rainy day in Tumba. Angry clouds darkened the afternoon sky, and a stubborn drizzle turned the dusty streets to cakey mud.

Over the passage of days, her optimism had faded away, no matter how desperately she’d clung to it, replaced by the iron weight of guilt. Whenever she slept, so much as closed her eyes, she saw his face.

Wil.

Recalling the sensation of his face crunching under her fists, she sucked in a sharp breath. Bile rose in her throat.

It was a slow day at the bar. The place was completely empty apart from their first and only regular, Aegur the cat. Amaline was rewarding him for his loyalty by rubbing his belly and babbling to him in baby speak. He enjoyed the former and endured the latter.

Yin, however, could not endure any longer. She had to do something to take her mind off.

“Dad?” she called.

“Hmm?” Stephan answered, coming out of the back with a clinking crate of beer bottles.

“Since we’ve got no customers today, can I leave for a bit?”

Stephan set the crate down on the counter. “Sure, sweet pea. No reason for you to stand around all night. Just be safe, okay?”

“You know me. I’m a safety-first kinda girl.”

Stephan shook his head, smiling.

Turning to leave, she found Amaline closing up next to her.

“Boss, I wanted to speak with Yin privately for a minute!” she called back. “Is that okay? I’d be back in just a minute!”

“Go ahead,” Stephan said. “Doesn’t look like I’ll be needing any help for a while.”

Despite Yin’s insistent frown, Amaline gave no explanation, merely following her outside. There, she pulled Yin to the side.

“The fuck is that matter with you?” Yin asked. “You’re freaking me out.”

Amaline gave a motherly smile, stroking the loose braid she wore over one shoulder. “Listen, Yin. We’re not super close yet, but I know you’ve been feeling a little down lately.”

Yin flinched. Her lips peeled back in a snarl. “That’s got nothing to do with you. I’m not looking for a super-duper bestie or whatever, so I’m going to say this as nicely as I can. Leave me the fuck alone.”

“I know. Hear me out, though. Everyone needs a little help sometimes. Someone to talk to. I get that’s not really your style, so…” Reaching into the front pocket of her frilly apron dress, she pulled out a small box wrapped in pink paper. “…I got you a little something.”

Yin hesitantly took the box and shook it against her ear, producing a metallic rattle. She shot a suspicious glance at the pink-haired woman.

“You don’t have to open it right now or anything. I super appreciate what you and your dad did for me, so I just wanted to give something back. Honestly, I don’t have that much right now, so it’s more of a hand-me-down.” She sucked in a deep breath. “What I’m trying to say is, I won’t be offended if you throw it away.”

Yin stuck the box in her pocket. “Right. Well, thanks.” She did feel a nice flutter in her stomach at that. The fact that a near-stranger had gone out of her way to get her a present.

Suddenly, her knees felt weak. She was forced to blink away tears. She wished that someone would hold her close and not let her go.

What am I, eight years old? she chastised herself. Don’t cry. Don’t show weakness. That’s the quickest way to get taken advantage of.

“I’ve got to run,” Yin said, pushing past the woman and merging into the crowd of pedestrians. Ducking under a walking scuttler, she made it to the other side of the narrow street. When she glanced back, Amaline was still standing at the door, looking after her while stroking her braid.

What is that lady’s deal? Seriously.

Once she had made it out of eyeshot, Yin scurried into an alleyway. The little box was burning a hole in her pocket, demanding to be opened. Taking it out, she gave it a few more shakes. Light and metallic. It didn’t seem to be anything immediately nefarious. As such, she tore off the wrapping paper and clawed open the box.

Inside was a single silver hair clip, adorned with a tarnished gold star at the end. She took it out and let the box drop, turning it over in her hands. No enchantments visible on any of the surfaces. A quick tap on the metal proved it to be just that.

It was only a hair clip.

A really, really cute hair clip.

Begrudgingly, Yin clipped it into her hair to keep it out of her face.

“Damn you, Amaline,” she muttered.

And started weeping.

*****

Amaline was feeling good about herself.

When the talking cat had let her know how Yin was feeling, she had felt duty-bound to do something. Despite her tough words, Amaline could tell that the girl had appreciated her gift.

Walking home after her shift, Tumba cast in a pitch-black shroud broken only by sporadic magelight, she felt no fear. She had been a whore long enough to take care of herself if trouble came her way, and the thought of a shower and a good night’s sleep kept her thoroughly distracted.

Reaching her run-down apartment building in the Pleasure District, she fished out her keys and went inside. The elevator was busted, so she took the long trek up the stairs to the fourth floor. By the time she reached her door, 404, she was struggling to keep her breathing even.

Man, I’ve gotten a bit out of shape, Amaline thought. I guess I should probably start hitting the gym again. It’ll help keep me on track.

Her door had all sorts of derogatives spray-painted and carved onto it. ‘Whore’, ‘Dirty bitch’, and ‘Modified slut’ were some of the less colorful ones. Though they stung, she had made no attempt to remove them. Seeing her squirm would only embolden the assholes in the building who had it out for her.

“Cherry!” a voice exclaimed behind her. “Just the person I wanted to see!”

Turning, Amaline walked right into a tight hug. Though she was blinded by a faceful of dark hair, that strength could only belong to one person.

“Aykka,” Amaline grunted. “Didn’t expect… to see you here.”

The other woman let her go and put her at arm’s length. “I wanted to see how you’re getting along. You quit pretty suddenly. Pontus isn’t happy.”

“I know. I’m sorry if I caused you trouble. I needed a change, though.”

Aykka waved aside her concern. “No worries, darling. As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters.”

Aykka towered a good two decimeters over Amaline. Half-human and half-durok, she was big-boned and well-muscled, flat face framed by black hair. Thick curves spilled out of her tight outfit.

“Do you wanna come in?” Amaline asked, turning back to her door and sticking the key in it.

“Sorry, hon, I haven’t got the time,” Aykka said, “I’m technically on the job right now. Pontus’ll kill me if I come back short—you know how it is. I just wanted to check up on you.”

“I got you. I’m doing well, actually. I’ve got a new job, and my boss is so sweet. He’s got this daughter who—”

“That’s great, hon,” Aykka said. “There was actually another thing I wanted to ask you about.” Stepping closer, she lowered her booming voice. “I’ll need a bit of extra cash to make rent this month, and I just happen to have some extra LB on me. Interested?” The half-durok pulled a glass vial out of her jacket, containing five or six strips of bark, and shook it around.

Amaline flinched like she had been hit with a sledgehammer. Her mouth was suddenly bone dry. She couldn’t look away from the vial, her eyes following it around as Aykka shook it enticingly.

“I… I’m actually…” Amaline struggled to make words. She wanted to reach for the vial, to take it. Her head began thumping with pain, behind her eyes, in her teeth, radiating to the rest of her body. “I’m off the stuff.”

Aykka raised a thick eyebrow. “Really now? You haven’t got a dealer is what you mean, now that Pontus has cut you off.”

“No, I just…” Amaline backed away, rubbing her temples with thumb and middle finger. “I just don’t want it.”

The pain was getting worse. Burning, stabbing, thumping. Unending.

Get yourself together, she thought. It isn’t real. You’re fine. You don’t need the bark.

Aykka came after her, unrelenting. “There’s no need to torture yourself, darling. Listen, I know what you’re worried about. You’ll get it this once, but then you’re going to be cut off again. Well, I don’t need all the doses he gives me, so I can bring you the same amount once a week. How’s that, huh? I’ll give you a good price, too. Friends and family discount.” She held up the vial and shook it once more, dried strips like gnarled fingers tumbling around inside.

Amaline put a hand on the wall to steady herself. Every second, a new wave of pain hit, worse than the last. She clenched her teeth so hard she worried they might crack.

I need the pain to go away.

I need it.

Just once.

“Yes,” she whispered, nearly crying. “I-I’ll take it.” She fished around in her purse, came up with a clump of bills and a few coins, and thrust them into Aykka’s eagerly waiting hand. That had been food money, to tide her over until Stephan paid her at the end of the month.

The half-durok poked the money around in her palm. “A bit light, hon.”

“Fuck,” Amaline hissed. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” Taking off one shoe and removing the inner sole, she took out another couple of folded bills and gave it over. “There. That has to be enough.”

After some deliberation, Aykka nodded and handed her the vial. “Pleasure doing business with you.” Her voice had taken on a cruel edge, now that she had what she wanted. Money already stowed, she turned to walk away. “I wonder how long it’ll be before you’re begging for Pontus to take you back,” she called over her shoulder. “The funny thing is, in a week he’ll have forgotten all about your broken ass.”

Amaline wasn’t fazed by her words. Exuberant joy filled her to the brim. Pressing the cold glass vial to her face, she could already feel the weight lifting off her shoulders.

Her hands trembled as she unlocked the door and slipped inside her apartment. She kicked her shoes off, not bothering to turn on the lights, and hurried through into the living room. Sinking into the low couch, she unstoppered the vial and took in the earthy scent that wafted from the laughing-bark.

It had only been about a week, but it felt like an eternity since she’d had a proper high. The bark made you free. Free of pain, free of responsibility, free of consequence. Upturning the vial, she shook a strip into her hand. Then a second. Then a third.

I shouldn’t do this, Amaline thought. A small, powerless part of herself. What about my job? I promised him…

She raised the bark to her mouth.

That seems an exceptionally poor idea, purred another voice in her mind. Stronger. Somehow more solid than her own.

Amaline looked up and found a black cat sitting in her open window, licking its left front paw. Once completed with its task, it fixed her with one violet eye aglow in the dark.

Aegur.

Maybe you ought to put those back, he continued.

Amaline glanced at the bark in her hand. Sudden rage boiled up in her. “And what would you know about it?” she asked. “I need this. I’ll only take it once, then I’m done.”

Mmm. Likely.

“Why are you even here? It’s not like I invited you around to judge me on my life choices.”

Your employer might wish to know about these activities of yours.

“Shut up, alright? I don’t need your commentary. Just… Just leave, please.”

As you wish.

Aegur promptly stood. He flicked his tail angrily in Amaline’s direction before slipping out onto the fire escape. The window slid shut behind him on its own.

Amaline exhaled.

Finally.

No more distractions.

Staring at the three strips of laughing-bark in her hand and the three remaining in the vial, she found herself disappointed at the quantity. She was keenly aware of just how quickly she would run out.

Damn it, why’d I have to give away that hair clip? If I had sold it, I could have bought so much more. Maybe enough to last the month. That spoiled brat probably just threw it away.

Amaline blinked, taken aback by her own thoughts. Disgusted.

“Lord, how could I even think something like that?” she whispered.

Clenching the bark in her fist, she stood. Sledgehammer banging away at her head, she stumbled to the bathroom and fumbled on the light with her hip. Eyes screwed shut, she threw the strips into the toilet and shook out the rest with them. Her hand lingered over the flushing switch, hesitant.

Part of her still wanted to fish the bark out of the toilet water.

She flushed.

Amaline took a step back. Her forehead was slick with cold sweat. Her stomach churned, twisted. Revolted by how disappointed she felt.

You made the right choice, you know.

Aegur sat in her sink. Purring, he regarded her evenly.

“Why are you really here?” Amaline asked.

To help you, of course. I am an envoy of Ordynion, most compassionate of all gods.

“I don’t believe in your gods, though. I worship the Sun Lord.”

It makes no difference. Also…

“Yes?”

You will permit me to sleep here.

Amaline laughed. She wiped tears and picked up the fluffy cat, squeezing him tight. “I get it now. You’re homeless, poor guy.”

I am not homeless. I am simply… in a temporary transitory state.

“Well, no worries, Eggie. I’ll take care of you.”

I have three demands, Aegur said. I will have my own bed, I will have my own food, and you will refrain from using silly nicknames.

“Aw, that’s no fun,” Amaline said. She carried him through to the kitchen, holding him up by his armpits. “What about cute little clothes? I could get us matching jammies. Not right now, obviously, because I spent all my money on drugs, but once I get paid.”

I have four demands.

“Psh.” She set the cat down on the kitchen counter and opened her pantry to find him a snack. “What about… a bow? That’s not very demeaning at all, I think.”

Yes, fine. I will tolerate a bow.

“Yay! We’re roomies!” Amaline cracked open a can of tuna to celebrate.

To her surprise, speaking to the cat had reduced the pain to a dull thumping, faint enough that she could easily ignore it.

Aegur dug into the fish with gusto, casting her a knowing look.