“I don’t see–––”
“AHHHH!”
The sudden scream came from the woman with the curly hair standing up from her chair with blood all over her chest. The baby was suddenly crying with the arms wiggling from the blanket as she panicked.
“MY BABY! SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP!” She cried. “PLEASE! I THINK SOMETHING IS WRONG!”
I turned back around as the woman stood up from her chair.
“Call your manager, now!” I directed. The woman couldn’t take her eyes off of the mother who suddenly dropped to the floor and began to act out. I would have to tell Vanessa Dubois when this is over that she might have been a little too dramatic. Nobody with common sense would believe she’s having any typeof attack. I turned back to the glass window with a whip of my orange bob facing forward.
“Your manager, now.”
“Right!” She panicked. “Security! Help her!”
I waited, blinking rapidly behind my frames until I watched the door swing open from behind the glass. A dark-skinned man with a thick mustache, heavy eyes, and a fresh black suit burst into the office and looked around, confused.
“Somebody calm that damn woman down! Take her outside!” He demanded while the woman quickly introduced my issue to the boss.
“She claims she has an interview with Dr. Holmes,” she muttered under her breath. “I told her we were told he’s not talking to anyone, and I don’t think he’s even allowed–––”
“Ms. Clarke, yes?” The man asked. “My name is Kenneth Park, we’ve been expecting you.”
I looked at the woman who kept her head lowered but her eyes gave it away. She was indeed shocked.
“Let her in!” Mr. Park yelled out. “And somebody shut that damn baby up! Take her out of here!”
Vanessa was still screaming when they escorted her out to get help while I stood in front of the guarded door. The two guards looked hesitantly at my stature.
“This is a dangerous man, ma’am. You being a fae is not–––”
“I will be fine,” I stated. “Please allow me to do my job.”
“Open the damn door and come on!” Mr. Park yelled, annoyed. “Get her checked in and make it quick! Somebody find out what the hell is wrong with that woman in the lobby!”
As soon as I was let inside, the decor changed from a dull waiting room to cement walls and long hallways of nothingness. The two guards walked slowly in front of me and one behind, sandwiching me in between like two towers. I kept my shoulders square and my face flat, understanding they are just doing their jobs but when they turned the hall, Mr. Park stood there adjusting the cuffs on his sleeve when he looked up.
“I’ll take it from here. Thank you,” he said with a firm nod. The two guards looked at one another before returning back without another word, but I know their suspicion was raised. I walked quietly beside Mr. Park, not saying a word as we continued down through another door that required his card key.
“I told you this shit would be easy,” he whispered.
“Please do not talk,” I muttered. “There are cameras–––”
“Mannn fuck them cameras,” he let out as he tapped his card key again to open another set of doors. After walking down several steps, going lower and lower into the building, I could see Mr. Park adjusting the gun on his belt, something that was a rare sight in the Underground. “What are you doing after this, Ms. Clarke?” He asked with a sly grin. The thick mustache was almost distracting, but it wasn’t hard to see Trevor Coleman in those lazy heavy eyes. “You got a hot date tonight?”
“I will be working. Same as you, I’m sure.”
“You got any kids?”
“One.”
“You want any more?”
“Is that appropriate to ask, Mr. Park?” I asked.
“I’m just saying, I’ll shoot it up every time.”
I didn’t say anything as we came closer to the final door. The air changed, even the energy became tense because now there was no turning back and if we all got caught, this was it for us.
