The days are blurring together. I am adjusting to the shithole that’s my new life. I groan and roll over, away from the cold empty spot on the bed where my hookup had snuck out while I slept.

A buzzing wakes me up when all I want to do is enjoy my sleep a little longer.

I look at the old crate by the bed I’m using for a nightstand. My new phone is going crazy. I didn’t want to spend money on a phone, but most jobs require at least a basic phone so they can get hold of you. Besides, mother snuck me some money to help me settle in.

Reaching out, I hit the answer button, then the speakerphone, and lay back.

“Meg speaking. Who is this?”

“Well, if it isn’t our little Meg. How is being out of prison treating you?” responds a deep sinister voice, sending dread through my body.

I tightly clench my fists in my long, wavy auburn hair, resisting the urge to yank out clumps.

I gaze at my reflection in a cracked mirror on the crumbling wall. The couple days’ worth of beard on my face reveals my exhaustion from lack of sleep. Still, I’m not a bad-looking man, thanks to regular workouts that have toned my body. It’s the reason I can still pick up guys easily, even after my time behind bars.

Suddenly, a throat clears on the phone, bringing me back to the cluster fuck I find myself in.

“How the fuck did you get this number, Hades?” I ask.

He chuckles and says, “I’m flattered you can recognize me by my voice. Did you forget that there’s nothing I can’t discover in this city and no one I can’t reach? There’s no hiding from me.”

Worried, I sit up and scan my room, scared I might spot him or his henchmen observing me, but it’s empty.

“One word, Zeus,” he adds.

I hold my breath over the silence on the other end of the phone following his statement.

Hades breaks the silence and says, “Looks like Meg isn’t a morning person. I’ll let it go this time since you just got out. Meet me tonight at our usual spot. You still owe me for taking care of your boyfriend’s mess…well, your ex-boyfriend.”

Of course, leave it to Hades to bring up the past and remind me of the debt I owe him.

“Anyway, I have a job for you, and don’t worry, it won’t get you locked up again. I’ll give you more details when you’re here tonight. Before that, though, get yourself some better clothes. I can’t have you entering my place looking like something my hounds dragged in,” he concludes, ending the call as abruptly as he had made it.

Life keeps wanting to fuck me over. The fact I still have to pay for what happened with my trash ex pisses me off, especially since he’s now living his best heterosexual life with some sweet girl from the better side of town.

Gah! Her family isn’t even wealthier than mine, but I guess once I took the fall for him and my father disowned me, he saw it as an opportunity to start fresh with a wife and a baby on the way.

I can’t even wish him harm because no child should suffer from their father’s terrible choices. I still want to punch him in the face if I ever see him again, though.

“Fuck! This sucks,” I yell into the empty room as I get up with great reluctance.

I head into the dingy little bathroom to wash off last night’s activities. The warm water flows over me, soothing my aching body. Still, it doesn’t chase away the dread that comes with the direction my life has taken.

I feel the urge to hate everyone and everything, but I know that I’m the one responsible for the decisions that led me here. Now, I owe a mob boss because I believed in the power of love and believed it was worth sacrificing myself for.

After getting out, I dry myself and quickly put on the first clothes I lay my hands on. I grab my keys, phone, and wallet, only to realize that my wallet seems thinner than it was last night.

“Fuck, really? God, I can’t even find a hookup without being fucked over in more than one way,” I mutter to myself as I head out.

I walk out the door and lock up. Given the circumstances, though, why even bother?

I nod to the older couple that I know more about than I wanted to. They liked to talk about how they willingly sold their old, nicer place and moved here so they could put their son through the police academy. They seem like wonderful parents, better than most. I truly hope their son was worth it and would one day get them out of this shithole.

The polluted air hits me when I walk outside. The blast of horns from the traffic going through the city is deafening.

I pause to look around and think about finding a place I can get clothes nice enough to suit Hades’ demand that is still affordable. Hmmm…midtown might be my best bet for that and is not too great of a walk to save some money on not taking any transport.

Unlike the night before, the streets are busy with people going about their daily lives. It’s still early, but when lunch breaks start happening, the streets will start getting busier.

As I approach midtown, I notice people’s outfits switch to either nicer casual or business suits. This change in attire is likely because of those who work in nearby offices.

I spot a store with a window display featuring clothes that seem suitable for what I’m looking for. The window has a sign announcing a sale. A buzzer goes off as I enter. The sales assistant looks me up and down, then frowns before addressing me. “How can I help you, sir?”

I walk up to the counter, adopting the old mask of confidence I once used to wear as a rich kid.

“Hi, I need a couple of nice, neat outfits for an important job, and a black suit too, if you have any on sale. I would like to keep the cost low; the boss hates us wasting money,” I say.

I add the last bit because I don’t need her looking down on me simply for not having a lot of money. Perhaps it’s karma for being an ex-rich kid who has fallen as low as I have.

She nods. “Right this way. We have some sales racks with nice casual options. I’ll go check out the suit section for you.”

I look through the rack, pulling out a couple of nice shirts, tops, slacks, and jeans. I put them in a pile, and as I am carrying them towards the changing rooms, the girl comes back with a nice black suit that looks over my budget.

She must have noticed the look on my face. “Don’t worry. It’s a last season suit that was returned. It’s nice and there are no issues with it. We haven’t been able to sell it yet, and there are other options if you don’t like it. This one seemed like it would suit you.”

I nod and go to the changing rooms to try them all on. They all fit. Thank god, my body hasn’t changed too much in prison.

After trying the other clothes, I put on the black suit over a black button-up; I know I have to show the girl. She was right. It feels like it’s been tailored for me, even though it’s off the rack.

For a moment, I see the old carefree me. I used to love going to high-end bars until I met the wrong guy and my life changed irrevocably. I step out of the changing room and hear a gasp.

“It’s true. The right canvas can make any outfit shine. It’s like this was made for you,” the girl gushes as she rushes over to check me out.

I feel my cheeks redden with a blush that probably matches my auburn hair. “Thanks, I’ll take this one along with the others.”

She nods and picks up the ones I left in the changing room, “Do you want to wear the suit out?”

She sees me glancing at my worn-out shoes, showing signs of wear and tear. She anxiously scans the area and leans in to whisper, “If you go six stores down, there’s a great shoe place with discounts. If you mention my name, Mandy, they’ll give you an even better discount. Many of us here have experienced tough times or come from lower town. Also, I apologize if I made you feel uncomfortable earlier when you arrived. We occasionally get individuals who work for…”

She takes a breath and goes on, “You know… the Underworld. They can be ruder than the wealthy customers at times.”

I feel guilty because I’m only here to avoid looking like trash while working for Hades, the King of the Underworld.

“It’s okay, I get it,” I say, to set her at ease.

She rings up my outfits, and it is cheaper than I had expected. I hand her the cash, and she hands me the bags. “An extra discount as a good luck charm for whatever you need these clothes for.”

I appreciate the extra discount. With sincerity in my voice, I say, “Thank you.”