Chapter 07 | The Devil of Siren City

Skylar

I don’t like to spend a lot of money.

Like many of my peers, I grew up on the edge of lower and middle class. My parents did their best to give us anything we needed, but ultimately, that never included 600-thread count sheets.

I almost don’t buy them. But if not now... when?

When am I going to have this kind of money to spend ever again?

Stepping out of the store, I adjust the bags hanging on my arms as one of them threatens to cut off the circulation in my wrist. I’ll have to cut the rest of my shopping day short, or else I won’t have the strength to carry all of this back to the apartment by myself.

I shuffle to the side, getting out of the way of foot traffic on the boardwalk and enjoying the shade beneath an awning attached to a little flower shop on the corner. Looks like I’ve reached the end of Market Street. Beyond here, the boardwalk ends, merging with a long pier that juts out into the sea. Sailboats and dinghies and other sea-fairing vessels float nearby. Closer to the horizon, I spot a large white yacht and I chuckle, knowing that I’ll never get closer to it than I am right now.

Siren City really is beautiful.

I peek over my shoulder, eying the skyline beyond the thin alleyways. I haven’t gone beyond the south side yet. The north end is nothing but buildings that touch the sky as far as the eye can see. One tower stands higher than the rest of them. It glitters like diamonds. I can’t imagine what the view from there must be like.

But the 13th floor view of the harbor from Aurora Avenue ain’t too shabby, either.

“Excuse me, miss.”

I turn to find a woman standing behind me. She’s carrying a large rectangular bin full of a half-dozen individual flowers nestled in plastic pots, her eyes peeking over the tall plants toward the empty shelf beside me in front of the shop’s windows.

“Oh!” I grab my bags and pull everything along with me. “I’m sorry. I am totally in your way.”

“That’s all right!” she says, expertly balancing her bin on one hip as she uses her other hand to stock the shelf. “Take a break. Enjoy the breeze.”

“Thank you.” I smile politely, staying back and watching her work. The flowers have white petals, delicate and pristine, with deep pink centers. They stand at the ends of long stems, tall and graceful. They’re obviously well-loved and taken care. “What kind of flowers are those?” I ask.

“Orchids,” she answers with a smile.

“They’re beautiful.”

“Quite. You should take one.”

“Oh, no.” I wave my hands. “No, I’ve never been good with plants.”

She laughs as she sets the empty tray on the ground. “Plants are easy. Simple,” she says, pushing a few straw-like strands of dark blonde hair back behind her ears. “And therapeutic. Taking care of another life nurtures one’s own in ways we don’t expect.”

I nod. “I’m a nurse.”

“Ah! Then you know.” She tends to an orchid, carefully brushing a bit of dirt off one stark white petal. “But we wear many faces, don’t we?”

I maintain my smile, but I don’t answer, not fully understanding what she means.

“There are many paths to knowing one’s true self,” she continues. “But I’ve always found that being selfless is one of the better ones. To give one’s body, one’s mind, so that another may thrive.” She picks up a flowerpot and turns toward me. “Here.”

I shake my head at the poor, defenseless orchid. “Oh, no. I—”

“I insist,” she says, pushing it closer to me.

I reluctantly take it into my palm. Well, I guess I’m taking home a plant today. “How much?” I ask her.

Her smile remains. “No charge,” she says. “Please, take it. Nurture it. And reveal your true self.”

I look from her to the orchid, feeling a nervous churn in my gut, but maybe she’s right. I keep people alive for a living. How difficult could one flower be?

I open my mouth to thank her, but she’s gone, having already rushed back into the flower shop. Gathering my bags again, I take careful hold of the pot and turn to head back down the boardwalk the way I came.

I freeze. Ahead of me are two policemen strolling in my direction. They’re chatting with each other, one eying a group of young women in bikinis down by the beach. The other slowly turns. His eyes head right for me, and I tense.

They aren’t here for me.

They aren’t here for me.

You sure about that?

One quick twist and I bolt into the nearest alleyway with my things. My heart pounds in my chest, fear pushing me forward without glancing back.

They found you already, eh?

I shake the thought away, but the voice still echoes in my head.

I squeeze through, balancing the orchid on my arm as my shopping bags scratch against the wall. From here, I can find my way back home. Just head east and I’ll make my way back to Aurora Avenue. Just a little further and I—

Three men enter the alleyway at the far side. Dressed in black from head-to-toe with leather jackets and thick, black boots, their laughter echoes throughout the tight corridor.

Instinct pulls in two directions; my gut telling me to get as far away from them as possible while my head urges me to continue forward away from the lawmen behind me.

As they draw closer, one looks up. He juts an elbow, knocking his friend in the ribs to get his attention. Three pairs of eyes lock on me and I shudder, the afternoon sun suddenly dimming as clouds drift overhead.

I hug the wall, keeping my eyes down to avoid confrontation.

Please, just pass.

Their boots grind to a halt in front of me. No such luck today, it seems.

“Hey!” one of them shouts. “You’re in the way!”

“I’m sorry,” I mutter. I push harder against the wall, making myself as small as possible. Still, they stay put. “Excuse me.”

A round of laughter. “No. I don’t think we will.”

Well. You know what to do.

I shake my head. Looking up, I spot the emblem pinned to their jackets. A sharp saber encircled with a tattered red sash. “Please,” I say. “I’m just trying to get home.”

“Home? Well, why didn’t you say so?” More laughter, but darker than before. Truly sinister. “We’ll walk you home. If you ask us nicely...”

Kill them.

The voice echoes between my ears, sending fierce, painful vibrations down my back.

Do it now.