Fear Cuts Like A Blade, Tiffany Bauer [digital book reader .TXT] 📗

all new red brick. The familiar cinnamon smell evaded my senses, sending me into the past few days. Or was it weeks sinceI'd been in the hospital? I shook my head to clear away the memories and waddled up to the concrete pad, through the door, into the lobby. Dylan say behind his desk, reading a new book. He looked up and smiled slightly just as I reached the stairs. I did a little wave back and hurried up the stairs, embarrassed. The numbers marking each room went unnoticed. I knew right where to go. Even though I had only lived here a couple weeks, at most, it felt like home. Which was really saying a lot, considering I never stopped moving around during my childhood. Ha. Childhood. As if it could be classified as that miuch.

Opening the heavy door, all feeling of familiarity vanished. I didn't recognize the wall running alongside the door, or the shelf sitting below the cut out space in it. The door at the end of the hallway was a deep brown, like the walls. I walked in and tapped the door with my foot, closing it with only a light thud echoing after. I dropped my bad to the side and leaned back, closing my eyes. This was it. The whole layout had been changed. It was finished and ready. But was I? JJ had spent months designing it obsessing over each detail. Kate had discussed the components and took her time getting the best of the best. Would it be abstract? Contemporary? Modern? Old fashioned? Oh wow, the options were endless and anybody who knew JJ knew she loved mixing the most opposing ideas to make strange masterpiece. A quiet laugh escaped my parted lips.

It was JJ and Kate. They knew me better than I knew myself. Of coarse the apartment was going to be outstanding. I walked down the short hall to the mystery door. I turned the brass colored handle and pulled it open all the way. A wooden bar ran along the top, a few hangers dangling in the air. I should have seen that coming. JJ was constantly telling me to pick up my jackets and bags. Goodness, she acted more like my mother than my friend. I closed the door softly and turned on my heel. A large bookshelf covered the wall. In front of it sat a circular table complete with four french bistros. A glass vase of azaleas positioned in the center. The walls were brown with admiral and crimson dots. The floors had remained untouched gleaming in all their oak glory.

I walked past the living room without looking over and pushed open the western style swinging doors and stepped in. The room was nicely furnished with black granite counter tops attached to cedar wood blocks with cabinets cut into them. a stainless steel french door refrigerator sat in the far left corner. a stainless steel stove top oven in the far right corner, against a counter instead of the wall. A short counter, with a bank of drawers under the granite slab, separated the two. The, once again, stainless steel microwave was mounted on the wall above the stove.In front of the refrigerator ran a longer, rectangular counter stopping three feet from a floor-to-ceiling cupboard holding canned goods, bottled spices, a variety of dried fruits, vegetables, and meats, stainless steel canisters containing dry foods from sugar to cashews, tubs of extracts, oils, butter, and shortening. The walls were crimson red, intricate designs were done in brown and robins egg blue. A large painting of a blood red Chevelle ran along the wall, following the longer counter. Parallel to that was yet another L-shaped wrap around counter ending just inches from the doorway. In the center of it all was a rectangular bar type island complete with black leather and stainless steel bar stools. My jaw just about hit the floor. I turned on my heel and shimmied back through the doors.

 Just about turned into full blown. My couch was in its original place, but each and every item surrounding had been flipped altogether. A black and white swirly rug held an oval double decker coffee table. Black wood encasing spotless glass lava lamp. Underneath, an enclosed shelf provided the newest magazines. Beyond it sprawled agrand showcase of a flat screen tv, PS4 gaming console, CD player with aux option, and two enormous speakers. A window had been cut into the wall on the far side, looking out over the parking lot. Admiral blue curtains hung gracefull from above. A desk, with 3 drawers on each side, two of which were filing cabinets, was pushed up against the wall below. I n a daze I padded to the bathroom. A brass colored door handle had been put in. Trim board lined the walls and mirror, making it pop. The sink was finished off with a marble countertop. Gleaming white tile surrounded the shower. Splashes of light blue splotched the walls clshing and contrasting with the shamrock green backdrop. A smile plastered itself on my face. I was far beyond satisfied; I was overflowing with joy and pride. Pride that they had done so amazing. I went the rest oif the way to my room on the verge of dumbstruck.

After I flipped the light on LED strips greeted me from within their grooves. They were dimmer than the previous one. I almost squeeled. Since bright lights hurt my eyes, I tended to avoid them at all cost. I ran and, careful not to hurt my self, flopped on my bed, reveling in the plush cloud. I blinked a few times, each one getting harder to open my eyes...

Good Cop Bad Cop

A loud,swift knock at the door awoke me from my deep slumber. A quick glance at the clock on my nightstand told me I had been out for a little over an hour. Wow. Talk about night owl. I shook my head to terminate the drowsiness. I stomped my way to the front door, cursing when I stubbed my toe on the hallway. Without peeking through the hole I threw the door open and leaned on it, already opening my mouth to warn JJ or Kate to remove themselves from my sight before I did something they wouldn't be fond of.

 "Mrs. Blade?"

My eyes flew open at the unknown voice. The first thing to register were the shiny black guns. Second, were the badges they were holding up. A woman who looked to be in her late thirties was smiling smugly down at me. The man towering over her wore a ruthless pokerface and flawlessly tailored black suit. A little more than embarrassed I closed my mouth with a snap and folded my arms across my chest.

 The woman smiled politely, but the coldness still shielded her eyes from emotion. "May we come in? We have a few questions to ask, it won't take long." It sounded routine, as if she had said it far too many times in her mirror.

I took a dubious step back with my eyes still trained on them and offered my best nonchalant hand wave I could manage. The man nodded curtly while tucking his badge back in its place and took lead, stalking through the doorway with a small duck of his head. The woman followed, looking around casually. I turned on my heel and padded into the dining area with an elegance only attained from years of ballet.

----Conversation---

History of Ice

Told history of Black Ice by MB

 Hands poised on the window sill, I watched the agents converse sparsely as they took their places in the gleaming SUV. Once the doors were closed I squinted to see them. Relief washed over me in waves until the spookiness of their visit faded to the back burner. I continued watching until they disappeared onto the street, mixing with traffic after a few short seconds. I spotted them again when they turned the corner onto Plum Street, towards town. JJ would be off work early today to prepare for her hot date. Knock! Knock! I jumped faintly and turned my back on the window to see who it was this time.

My shoes smacked off the hardwood floor with a light thump and seemed to echo quietly when I walked down the hallway. Ascending to my tippy toes to check the peephole, Ms. Benlry came into view, swamped by a large white bowl covered in tin foil. I grinned, popped the lock, and let the door swing open as I motioned her inside.

"How are you, dear? I haven't seen you in ages! Goodness, when Jessica told me you were in an accident, I almost had a heart attack!" She put the large bowl on the dining table and turned to examine me.

My smile descended into a grimace. "I feel better than I look, I promise"

"Better. You look like you were dru through the mud and left for dead," She pursed her lips as if to say more.

I offered to take her shawl, but she dismissed the idea and turned to take off the tin foil.

I strided to the kitchen fo bowls and spoons, taking only a moment to shut the radio off.

 

Girls Night Out

Girls night out with Kate and JJ

"Alright, come on!" JJ grabbed my hand and led me down the hall to my room despite my rough protests. Disgust coloured her face while she rummaged through my closet. Fashionista blood refused to run through my veins.