The sun is peeking over the houses in the east, casting an ominous purplish orange glow on everything. I hurry down the sidewalk and duck into an alleyway out of sight and punch in Betty’s number.
“Betty’s bitchin’ rides. How may I be of service?” she answers the phone in a very chipper voice. Not one that I would expect at just past five in the morning.
“Betty? This is Everlee. I’m the friend that you picked up with Lizzy at the bar.”
“Everlee dearest. Quite some trouble you’re in.”
“Yea. Listen… If you don’t want to be involved, then I totally understand…”
“Pshh. I’s say, if I’s ain’t in trouble, then I must be dead!” I can hear her slap her knee through the phone just before she lets out a deafening cackle on the other end. “I’m always lookin’ to stir some shit up, but I draw a line at hippogriffs. Them bitches are meaner than the dickens. I don’t trust any animal that has more than one... animal. You know what I mean? Like, which personality am I getting today? The horse? The eagle? Or Dullahans. If I can’t look a man, or woman- I don’t discriminate- in the eye then,” she blows out a breath, “ooh weee. No thank you. Oh! And kappa. I mean seriously… they just give me the heebie-jeebies!”
“Noted. This is neither of those. And really, I just need you to drive me.”
“Oh. Yea. I’s can do that. You should have just said so.”
I pinch my lips together, but don’t speak.
“You at that house with those men still?”
“What?” I croak out.
“Ah shit. Forget I said that. You weren’t supposed to know I knew. Lizzy told me not to tell you, but I’ve been watching the house.”
“Are you here now?” I peek around the brick corner of the building.
She laughs like I’ve just told the funniest joke. “Lordy no. I just left about five minutes ago. Give me two shakes of a troll’s bat and I’ll be there.”
She hangs up, and I can’t help but stare at my phone like I’m being pranked. Obviously, Lizzy trusts her and if she does, then I should and will.
To her word, she’s parked out front of their building a few minutes later. I poke my head out and wave her down to the alley I’m at.
“Well, good day,” she says, tipping her invisible hat. “Might I trouble ye for a ride?”
She has to be on some sort of witch’s weed or joojoo juice.
“Ye might.” What am I doing? It’s too early. I shake the nonsense out of my head. “Yes, I need to go to Allure.”
“Ay! Revisiting the scene of the crime?”
“I guess you could say that.”
“You wouldn’t be plannin’ on gettin’ into trouble there, would you? Lizzy said if there was trouble, then I needed to let her know.”
“No trouble.” It was a lie. I knew it and I’m fairly certain Betty knew it, but she didn’t let on.
We pull up out front of Allure ten minutes later. The sun is higher in the sky, but still casting ominous shadows on the ground. I try to ignore the creepy feelings they’re giving me and choose to think positive thoughts.
The large wooden doors stand before me again and dread fills me.
Shit!
Why did I think coming here alone was a good idea? It’s like that part in the movie where everyone is yelling at you for making a stupid mistake. That is me. I am that stupid mistake.
Before I can turn to leave, Samara pushes the doors open and stands there in a long, black dress. “I was expecting you much sooner.” She smiles, then nods her out. “Didn’t know you knew how to drive a motorcycle.”
I look behind me and see the motorcycle with Betty’s bobble head bouncing in the breeze. “Well, why not learn? You never know when you’ll need to drive one.”
“Yes. Whatever.” She bats her hand flippantly in the air. “Come in. I’ll take you to him.”
