“Take five.” She says.
You’re doing a little window shopping, staring at the jewelled necklace in front of you. That one, the one that’s a little too expensive. You turn to face her, you hadn’t noticed her approach but there she is. The black hat and long black raincoat look like something out of a noir drama. She smiles at you.
“Sorry.” She has an accent, but you can’t place it. “I noticed you looking a tad intently.”
She nods her head toward the end of the street. You turn, subtly, and see two police officers talking to someone. When you turn back to her she flicks her head in the opposite direction, and the two of you set off.
“Mrs House.” She holds a leather gloved hand out to you, and you notice the tattoo on her pale wrist. Somewhere down the line you mumble your name to her, or at least you think you did. She nods. “Charmed.”
Do I know you? You’re not sure if you asked the question, but you hear a soft chuckle as you turn around the street. Here, it’s a lot less crowded. You feel a light breeze on your face, and she reaches up to stop her short, dark hair flowing into hers.
“No.” She says simply. “We haven’t met. Not yet at least, I’ve had my eye on you.”
A smell washes over your senses. Street food; you can hear the calls of the vendor as he tries to gather customers. On another day you might’ve felt sorry for him, he’s got one of the worst spots in town. The people here are too stuffy to buy street food, they’re the five star restaurante crowd. You ask her why.
“Because you and I belong to the same family.” Her mouth twitches, unable to settle on neutral or smirking. She reaches into her pocket and takes out a card, from what you can tell there’s nothing on it. “And I have a job you might be interested in.”
When she tilts her head to the side and looks at you from under her hat you feel your blood run cold. There’s a glint in her eye that you know all too well, it’s a feeling you’ve felt all too often. Your lips are dry, your heart beating fast.
“How do you like diamonds?” She says, simply. “Or money?”
You nod, and lick your lips. You feel her press the card into your hand, and something else with it. Her smile broadens, and she steps back. You grip onto her card tightly, whether you know you’re doing it or not.
“Keep in touch.” She turns away, her coat swaying after her. “Don’t be a stranger now.”
And with a wave over her shoulder she disappears as quickly as she’d appeared. A bus passes and she’s gone. Noiselessly and without a trace. You stare in the direction she went, hoping you don’t look as idiotic as you feel. With a hard swallow you look down at the card.
‘The house takes all.’ Is all it says, but you know what it means.
Hosted and narrated by:
Tickett Bror (Tickett_Bror)
Started 12/16/21.
Scenes played: 5
License: Community License
18+
