Exposed brick lines the pealing walls of the dingy apartment. Three men and a girl spread a pair of floor layouts atop a ratty table. “I am telling you, it’s the perfect time to strike. There is already an anti-police demonstration going on. It will be a turkey shoot.”
“I don’t like it.” a younger man says. “I don’t want some Mr. Johnson knocking on my door some years from now with a score to settle for his corporate masters.”
“You can just move on like snakes on ice. Get out of the country, disappear, have a better life. I bet we won’t even need to dust anyone.” The other three show in the large lenses of his green mechanical eyes. “You in?” They nod to each other and shake hands. “Good.”
~
“I need a great story now.” Apricot moans resting her head over the backrest of the chilly black wood bench. “I will get in trouble if I don’t turn in a paper tomorrow.” With a hop she sits upright lifting a partially eaten soggy double cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, and a fried egg. “The Bureau of education sent me a letter certified that if my grades did not improve, they will move me to the labor field and I don’t want to work in a factory the rest of my life.”
Bonni sits next to Apricot cross-legged swinging her heel off her foot. The scent of espresso from her cafe uniform battles against the surrounding salty smells of fried food. She draws a nugget from a small cardboard pouch and dips the tip into a pair of teriyaki and mayonnaise cartons.
“Why not do one on today’s incident?” says a sharp faced black-haired man who sits across from Apricot. In his hands is a half-eaten burger. “I got a couple photos of the crime scene, they would be great for your piece.”
A younger girls sits next to him plucking at a bowl of salad. “She needs a good article Sato.” Apricot had met Sato Takoma through school. He is a few years her senior but the two are in several classes together all the same. His little sister, Machi, a first-year engineering student, had also become her friend. During her years at primary school, Apricot knew of Machi. She always had her pinned as a spoiled brat but after meeting Machi, her opinion stayed much the same.
Apricot glances towards Bonni who’s grin spread so deep across her face it looks as though it might just slip off. “So, remember that secret I wanted to tell you, like those police were at that robbery this morning, as I was saying they looked worried about something.”
Apricot watches as Machi rolls her ice-green eyes shielded behind heavy black-framed glasses. “I think there is a clear answer for that one,” Before Machi had finished her thought she takes a bite of her salad bowl. As she chews her bite Apricot and Bonni both wait for her answer. She swings her head back allowing her black twin tails to sway, swallows and proceeds “Most likely the fact she murdered several people.”
Bonni picks up another nugget and gestures towards Machi in a stabbing motion. “Don’t you think it’s odd that, so many people died. Eerie Truths Monthly reports there has been monster sightings all over the place. One person could not cause that much death. Perhaps she was not human at all. I bet,”
“Monsters!” Machi bursts out cutting Bonni off. “Ha, she was a crazy person jumped up on some pills.” Machi barks back chortling at the thought.
“I find it odd too Bonni but I don’t think I can write an article on it.” Apricot cuts in.
“But why are they appearing all over the place now? I remember not too long ago when everyone said witches were just fairy tales.”
“We live in an overly superstitious society. People still pay respect to Obojo the money god whenever they expect a raise.” Machi snaps.
“Something is going on! Don’t you agree with me, Sato?” Bonni leans over the table stroking Sato’s lap. A heavy red blush paints his face as he stares into Bonni’s doe eyes.
“He is a photographer, not a reporter.” Machi butts in giving a quick kick on Bonni’s leg forcing her backward into her seat. “Witches are not real either. They are just ill people playing hocus-pokus.”
“I guess this sounds like tabloid stuff but who knows what is creeping in the shadows right. I mean for all we know monsters are under the city.” Sato strokes the back of his head with a stupid grin. Apricot giggles at Machi’s stabbing glare before she issues a slight jab into Sato’s ribs. “Ack!” he yelps “But Machi is right, I am a photojournalist. If I see something and snap it you bet it would be front page news though.” He adds rubbing the jolt of Machi’s playful blow.
“Tabloid, no this is innovative news.” Bonni barks before turning her gazes on Apricot. “This is the breaking journalism that makes people famous. Imagine Apricot, they would always know you as the woman who brought the monster invasion of Blue Ash to light.”
“Well,” Apricot says placing a finger to her lower lip. She looks up towards her brow pondering a way to avoid offending Bonni. “I need more information and two sources. Thanks for the tip though Bonni. I will keep my ears open and you bet if I get more information I might write an article on it.”
“Ugh Apricot,” Machi growls. “Don’t encourage her to be so absurd.”
“Apricot come on!” Bonni whines, “My idea is perfect.” The harmony of blaring sirens sends Bonni’s eyes and mouth to widen. Several police squad cars rush by causing the wrappers to tremble on the outside table. Sato immediately grabs his phone from his pocket.
A smirk grows on Apricot’s face, a sense of minor guilt coming over her for the sensation of joy. “Hey Sato, what’s your police scanner say? Something I might want to write about?”
She leaps from her chair clutching onto Sato’s shoulder to examine the screen. Sato maneuvers his finger through a black and blue looking app. Several alerts are on the board, many minor ones, a few on a protest, and an emergency report. He sails his digit on the alert. Apricot squints but can’t read the meager text. “Yeah,” he says pausing for a moment. “There’s a bank robbery a few blocks from here.”
“A bank robbery would be perfect!” Apricot bursts throwing a fist pump. “Sato!” she shouts.
“You thinking what I am thinking?” He smirks standing up from the table. “Hey Machi here is fifty marks,” Sato says pulling out a few shiny emerald cards. “I’m sorry but you will have to get yourself a ride home.”
Machi blows a whiff of air. “Yeah yeah, you always ditch me like this, I am used to it.” Looking back to Bonni who grins at her with predatory eyes. “Wait! Don’t leave me with Bonni! She is nuts!”
Bonni lets out a small laugh. “I am the one baby sitting.”
Apricot waves to the two girls while running to Sato’s bike. “Hey sorry to take off like this. I will call you later to tell you how it went!” Bonni returns the wave as Machi sits cross-armed and slumps into her seat.
The clamor of the sirens battle against the thunder of the trail rider. Apricot clasps onto Sato’s back as he handles the crimson and white sports bike with expert technique. Cars rush by as he careens through the two onward lanes. The gaps between the white lines of the street turns into a flicker as Sato pulls on the throttle attempting to catch up to the police’s wake. “Sato,” Apricot yelps. “Don’t you think this might be a little fast.” The swishing of automobiles had progressed from having measured pause to something more like a rapid response.
“These things can go down quick,” Sato says “Don’t want to miss a thing.” Apricot feels her heart race as she stares at a near wall of cars up ahead. She lets out a shriek as Sato cranks the break screeching the motorcycle into a skid. The harsh stink of scorched rubber fills the air as Sato comes to a complete stop behind a truck. “Ah shit looks like we have traffic, damn.”
She pats Sato on the back hopping off the bike. “Sorry Sato.” His head tilts to the side as she saunters away. “Thanks for the ride. I will catch you later.” Dancing a trot down the road Apricot giggles holding up his camera in the air.
“Yeah, get a good shot for me will ya?”
Apricot spins to face Sato as she walks backwards replying “You bet!”
She sprints along the traffic slathered street. The transportation weaves along a game of inches and steps through the clogged metropolitan corridor. A screech roars, Apricot‘s heel seers in anguish. In mid-fall she holds Sato’s camera up in the air while she drops onto her side scraping against the asphalt. When she recovers her orientation, she discovers a blue bumper inches above her head.
“Oh, my! I am so sorry, I, I,” Apricot hears while pushing herself up off the ground. She looks up to see a man stammering from the car’s open passenger door. “I didn’t see you, are you ok miss?!” Her heart drops as her finger plucks the cover of the camera’s lense. Without even regarding the man she lifts the camera and to her relief it is unharmed. A huge sigh escapes her while she brushes off the street dust. As she runs her hand down her thigh, a sticky wetness covers her palm. She glances at her fingers to see a delicate smear of red cover them and notes a surface coat of blood blossoming against her pale elbow and knees. Aside from these minor scrapes she senses nothing else amiss.
“Miss?” The man questions again.
“Yeah, it’s fine,” Apricot calls out taking off toward the faint sound of sirens giving little concern for her own safety or the man, she is on a mission after all.
~
When she nears the source of the piercing sirens, a riot bears against the police’s barriers. “I hate it when they do this kind of BS. Let the police do their job.”
Apricot had not been entirely familiar with the reason for the mass protests breaking out in Blue Ash. From what she understood Okabe had made actions to separate itself from the Uchellan mainland. In doing so, they centralized the police under the direct control of the Okabe family. The reaction from the people of Okabe has been less than appreciative as they viewed it as privatizing the police.
Reaching into her pocket Apricot searches for her state journalist badge. Not finding it she goes to search her purse only to discover it’s missing. With a throbbing heart she glances over her person realizing she had left her bag at the restaurant. She imagines Machi or Bonni noticed the purse laying in her seat. “Great,” Apricot says aloud looking at the swarms of protestors.
As she approaches, she is drowned in a flood of people carrying placards and signs. All the heat, smells, and sweat reminds her of a packed concert. Battling the tide she forces herself to the police line. Her meager hand among many waves to grab the attention of a guard. “I am media can someone let me through!” she shouts.
An officer glances at her before hollering over the deluge “Sure kid, where is your pass?” As she makes it closer she latches onto the barricade attempting to hold herself from being pulled back into the angry mob.
“I accidently left it behind I was in such a hurry to follow the sirens.”
“I’m press too, officer!” hollers a man in a business suit.
“Sure kid, go get it and I will let you through. Without it, you are not coming on this side of the barricade.”
“I am press.” shouts another woman.
“Officer please!” Apricot begs.
With a stern hand the official gestures. “Listen, you punk, you’re not tricking me. Now scram before I have you arrested for misrepresenting yourself to an officer.”
In a panic Apricot blurts out a question, “What is the official statement from the force about the robbery?”
“The state has chosen not to disclose whether this is a robbery. We will give further information as we understand the situation.” the officer states.
Drawing a scratch pad from her pocket Apricot continues “Is there anyone inside the building?”
The police officer’s face turns red. “Back off and disperse now!”
“Forgive me, officer.” Apricot gives a swift bow before pushing back through the throng of crazed protestors. With a heavy heart, Apricot found it best to retreat. It is not a healthy idea to negotiate with the police while surrounded by agitators. The angry roar of the crowd drowns out as she heads off the main street.
After her escape, Apricot feels a release from her original adrenalin rush, defeat overtaking her as she glances back at the swarm. A slight anger seethes deep in her core. If only there were not these crazy protestors, they may have allowed her entry.
“Well, at least I can get something for Sato.“ she remarks to herself. Apricot lifts the camera. Through the frame of the viewfinder, she watches as people contend against the police. The black armored officers move through the pack with batons bashing in heads.
“Looks like I got out of there just in time.“ Apricot squeezes the button, twin shutters spiral with a click and open just as fast capturing the moment onto the negative tape. She grins to herself knowing the shot will please Sato. Though, she could have a wider shot if she walked back a few steps using the building’s alleyway to frame the picture. As she steps back she trips. Falling backward Apricot throws both her palms to the sides and catches her footing. The camera drops to tug on her neck dangling in mid-air.
At her feet is a metal grate her clumsy footwork had obstructed. Apricot kneels lifting the grate off the ground when a delightful idea crosses her mind. The network of tunnels used for runoff beneath the metropolis connected every road together. With a grunt she tosses the grate aside. A smile graces her face as she descends the rungs into the subterranean tunnels.
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