Chapter One: Act 4
1140 Words
[Victorian District, 2018 (Moments Later)]
Trenton casually strolled down a short stack of stairs while looking at a whipped cream sky. He sighed, glancing at the spiraling case below him. Twenty agonizing floors that he frowned upon day in and day out.
Anara, here I come. He descended.
He finished his last few steps and spied her perusing the pseudo garden, her dress plastered to her skin like glue. He approached her with caution, contemplating his next move. His hand extended to her shoulders, but she whipped around before his fingers could graze her skin.
“Nice to meet you again, Mr. Welkers.” Anara giggled, gracing him with a smile.
“Ms. Manlen—” Trenton gulped, enraptured by her ethereal gaze. The way the golden specks in her brown eyes swirled about; as if to share secrets and desire. “You look stunning.”
“Why are you so formal with me?” She teased, her bouncing coils swaying in the wind. The setting sun haloed embers of light behind her statuesque figure.
Recalling a dream, it occurred to Trenton that he had seen her before. Before the years of personal meetings at her home. Before the ball… In his dreams during his college days. Her figure in the light was always there. Perhaps—No… it must be déjà vu. While in thought, he froze, his eyes set on her.
Noticing his unwavering stare, she tugged at the hem of her dress, drawing attention to her breasts. “You like it? My father had it made for me.”
Blinking away his delusional dreams, he smirked and replied, “It suits you. I like it.”
She smiled and pranced about the checkered tiles. “You flatter me, so. Walk with me.” She stopped before him and held out her hand.
Trenton wrapped her hand around his arm and entered a small maze to their right.
“I don’t believe I had the chance to properly acquaint myself with you,” he admitted. “Of course, we have spoken before, but it was just—”
“Different.” She softly responded. “I agree. I don’t recall us ever interacting before.”
He halted in place, arching his brows. Did she… forget?
Anara tilted her head to the side, smirking. “I love to travel.”
Trenton nodded along and laughed. She can’t fool me. She knows, but she’s cute when she looks at me with those sparkling eyes. “Really?”
“Mhmm. I have done so for most of my life and will continue until I die.”
“Favorite district?”
“You first.”
“Ahhh,” He scratched his head and sauntered ahead of Anara, her hand slipping away from his arm. “Well, I used to venture quite a bit, but not so much these days. Not even sure you’ll like where I’ve been.”
Anara skipped over to Trenton’s side. “Enlighten me, then.”
“Alright, you asked for it.” Trenton wrapped his arm tighter around hers and kicked his legs forward like the male actors from the black and white musicals. “Picture this: jazz music, flappers, featured performances at the Black Bottom. Nightly clubbing with the best swingers in town. The dancers, that is…”
“You like visiting the R.T. District?” Her grin stretched from ear to ear. “It’s one of my favorite places to visit when I’m not working.”
“You’re welcome to join me sometime. I’m still surprised they kept the culture of that time. Sort of like a vacation from work.”
Anara frowned. “They should have at least accommodated everyone, regardless of race and status.” She uncurled her arm and stormed away, clinging to her shoulders and covering her chest.
Trenton swung his fists, wishing to take back everything he said. He followed her. “I don’t follow. Didn’t you say it was one of your favorites to visit?”
She plopped her curvy ass on the edge of a fountain and pouted. “Yes, but I meant the music, the fashion, and their chaotic dances. They are the best parts of a broken district.”
She fawned over the sultry, naked succubi in the center of the operational fountain—carved with five demonesses forming a pyramid, each holding a vase pouring water over crushed skeletons beneath their delicate feet.
Anara pried a coin from the water and examined it. “They’re like this wish I plucked from the lavish well. It will never be what it should have been, to begin with.”
Trenton sat beside her, observing the coin flipping between her slender fingers. “How did you come up with that conclusion?” he asked.
“My work involves traveling to many districts. I observe cultures, economy, and law… It pays very well, and it’s honest work.”
“Sounds promising. Maybe I should quit being a broker.”
“Will you?”
He shook his head. “I like what I do.” He straightened his back. “Do you?”
“I… don’t know.” She tossed the coin back into the water. She leaned into his shoulder and nuzzled into the pocket of his neck. “I want to have my own life, though. Freedom. No one to tell me what to do or think. To be debt-free is my only wish.” She sighed and twiddled her thumps. “What is yours?”
“My wish? Well, I long to share my dreams and freedoms with someone. Someday.”
“You must feel lucky to have such endeavors.”
“Time will tell.” He planted a kiss on her forehead. “But what I want may be unobtainable. So, I will settle for what I can have now.”
Anara blushed and sat up. Her forehead tinted the faintest pink as her ears silently sizzled. “I’m truly flattered. I don’t know what to say. I—”
Trenton pressed his hands against her cheeks and passionately kissed her, his body inching closer to hers. Anara caved and gripped his wrists. Their tongues collided in a delicious sword fight, exchanging saliva and heat.
“Say you love me,” he implored, “and I’m yours.”
“Don’t confess unless you truly mean it,” she responded, pulling away and walking off.
He rushed in front of Anara and blocked her path. “Haven’t you heard that love is blind?”
She crossed her arms. “Haven’t you heard about swallowing your pride?” As she turned around, Trenton clung to her arm.
“Please? Give me a chance.”
She rolled her eyes at his puppy-dog eyes and pouty lips, but even she found it adorable and laughed, her smile bright and promising.
- Writer
