At The End Of Their Tunnel Vision

Chapter VIII

Mr. Willow hummed after hearing her side of perspective. And Elliot stayed silent from the duration of her narration.

Mr. Willow leaned his back while he continued staring at her with unrelenting, stern eyes. “What a troublesome bunch. So I assumed you made up your mind towards your resignation?” he asked.

“Yes”

Mr. Willow sighed. “If that is your decision, young lady. But before we proceed with the paperwork. Will you answer some of my questions?”

Narelle felt the shift to the rhythm of her beating organ. “What is it, sir?”

“What is your real relation with the Corrupted?”

She switched her look towards Elliot. And she could read from his expression the growing annoyance in his face. She looked back at her boss.

“He had a name, sir. I just mentioned it before. Elliot is my roommate and a dear friend.”

Her boss ignored her complain. “A friend? But did he consider you only as his friend? What if he was the one asked you like what Roan did? Would you still pulled the stunt you did, young lady?”

“For an old man you have the audacity upon inviting me here and talked s**t in my presence.” Elliot sneered at her boss. His eyes went darker.

She hated this kind of questions. Questions that ingrained a seed of doubt. A form of manipulation she got used to hearing before.

“I don’t care! So far, my own experience of living in this city, Elliot, is the only decent man I’ve known. We lived in a same apartment for f**k’s sake. But he never forced himself on me. He is different. He won’t do what Roan did.” Narelle stood and looked down at the stumped old man. “Finished the damn papers so we can get out of here. I don’t want to work with toxic people anymore,” she hissed, showing her displeased expression.

Mr. Willow glared at her but began doing his tasked. Narelle snatched the envelope when her now former boss handed her the papers with her last paycheck. As they walked out of the establishment, she paused in front of the door that led to the backroom. She wanted to say goodbye but decided against it at the end and continued exiting her former workplace. The bouncer’s look went sad when he noticed the brown envelope in her clutches. Narelle waved at him goodbye and the bouncer wished her luck for her job hunt.

Well, it was official. Narelle was unemployed. What a bummer. She had to do a job hunt that would fit her credentials. Which her opportunity was vastly low considering she didn’t even graduated from high school. She doubts there were still people like her boss that overlook her educational background.

That what she didn’t understand. Why was her former boss wanted her to doubt Elliot’s companionship? Her roommate never showed any interest in that side of spectrum. Heck, she had no idea what his type was.

Elliot held her left hands as they walked on the path towards her apartment. Well, he accepted her affections, which were totally platonic.

“What do you think about security guard work?”

Narelle turned her head towards the dark angel, tilting her head a little. Didn’t matter. As long as it was a menial work that didn’t require for a diploma, she would do it.

She shrugged. “I guess. I can try. Not like I do have a lot of choices to be picky.”

“I asked because I am giving you a choice.”

A choice. Unwanted image and voices abruptly streamed in her thoughts. Memories from the dark creeping towards her. But she steady herself. She forcefully redirected her mind from the surrounding scenery. The incoming mortal holiday sure influenced the modern generations of monsters in an attempt at reconciliation. Since the human holiday symbolizes hope from the birth of their savior. Soon monsters adopt the holiday partaking with the humans. A smile stretched her lips upon remembering her first Christmas with her family.

Elliot was always been considerate. Maybe she should give him a gift this December.

Narelle squeezed his hands. “Thank you, Elliot.”

If she managed to have a new job, the only thing she could wish was for him to stay friends with her and never change. That was enough gift for her.

“I’m hungry.”

Elliot huffed. “Besides sleeping, you are always hungry.”

She leaned at him, putting her whole weight on the dark angel beside her. He didn’t stagger by the added weight. “It was just unlucky I had to run out from the grocery to escape Roan.” A pout formed her lips knowing Elliot’s cooked food was out of her menu for a whole week.

Elliot stopped crouching a little. “Get on, piggy. I do not need you anchoring at my side, it irritates me.”

Narelle giggled. “Just admit you wanted me warped around you since you’re trembling from cold.” she said while she got on behind him.

Elliot hooked his arms under her knees, and he resumed walking. She exhaled, releasing the fog of irritation from the stares of people sent through their way. It was either they were disgust from the platonic pda she displayed or fear from the man carrying her. She didn't care. It was night after all, so he looked like a Nightcrawler under the layers of fabric he wore, or the glowing orbs within the darkness of his hood. Whatever it was, she didn’t care. As long as she’s with him, nothing else mattered.

“The world was truly cruel to us, wasn’t it?”

“Existence, in general, is the one that was cruel. The world is only the playground.” he said with a solemn tone in his voice.

She nuzzled the side of her face at the back of his hood. “That went too edgy so fast, fruit loops.”

“What do you expect from a guy like me? My entire existence is f*****g depressing.” Elliot grumbled.

Yeah, she knew that. He was hella depressed. Who wouldn’t in this world plagued with fake people. Even though she tried socializing with different people, she ended up getting disappointed or betrayed. And it appeared Elliot tried it before but ended up getting rejected if he clung to her now.

“And I’m hungry. Let’s order a Chinese food tonight.” She said.

Elliot only hummed in agreement. He might be looking evil and dangerous in everybody’s eyes, but for her he was just lonely and depressed, toughened by the circumstances he was placed into.

When they reached their apartment, Narelle ordered their food while her roommate listlessly staring out of the window while he smoked. No doubt bothered by what he heard from her former boss.

Narelle couldn’t stop her eyes from studying his face. Marveled by how the nightlights reflected elegantly on his dark complexion. A sudden burst of idea interrupted her musing, and she snickered.

“Hey, fruit, loops. Have you ever thought about modeling into one of the museum?”

He blew the smoke he dragged towards the opened window before he spoke in a gruff way. “What is this about?” he asked as he eyed her suspiciously.

She acted innocent as possible, restraining herself from sniggering. “Have you even went into a museum, perhaps?”

He scowled, flicking the excess ash of his cigarette into the ashtray. “Once. And I have no intention of going back into any of those damn places. When most of the depicted arts were related to those asshat.” Elliot grumbled.

Oh, she forgot. Now that she thought about it, most of the marbled statues were indeed portrays of gods.

“Sorry about that. It wasn’t intentional. I didn’t know you already went into one. Must be horrible. But the reason why I asked was you resembled like a marble statue. Your appearance almost looked like a sculpted and refined marble.”

It was obvious she said something that made him reminiscing with his distant look in his eyes. Before he blinked out from whatever pulled his attention. Drawing out a long puffed of smoke. “A marble statue, huh? How about this Sunday we go into the museum I went before?” After putting out the cigarette butt and closed the window, Elliot walked towards the couch and sat beside her.

Narelle stared at her roommate, confused by his out of the place invitation. “I thought you don’t want to go back to those places. Why are you asking me to come with you all of the sudden?”

“The museum is owned by someone I knew.”

His answer only confused her. But the dark angel ignored her uncertainty by grabbing the remote and turning the tv on. Knowing her roommate’s mannerisms, he would likely ignore her further interrogation.

Narelle sighed in resignation, knowing her initial plan failed. She was trying to compliment him. That was her real aim. Since she wanted to confirm something. She doubted calling him handsome would only blew his fuse. So she thought about being creative. Instead, she got caught in an unexpected mess.

“Are you asking me on a date?”

Elliot snorted at her abrupt inquiry. “A date? Can you tighten that loose screw inside your head, Narelle? No, I am not asking you on a date. Do not be too eager for me. You are only accompanying me for a visit.”

Narelle slapped his arms. “N-no! How could you say that?!” She continued hitting him, but he teased her further by pinching her cheeks.

They continued teasing each other until a knock on the door indicated the arrival of their delivered food.

Both of them settled into a comforting silence. Narelle knew there were still challenges on the path of growth. Tomorrow would be another day for her. Another resume to print or sent in emails. Since for sure she wouldn’t survive a month without a job to give her a paycheck and sustain the supply of her meds. Narelle was truly f****d.

Thursday 7:38 am.

Narelle stood in front of the intimidating building. She took another glance at the screen of her phone, confirming from the internet map that indeed she was staring at the right building. Her hands clutched the large enveloped were all of her identification documents were contained.

Her stomach grumbled again but ignored the complaining, acidic pit in her abdomen. She didn’t eat any breakfast, knowing her nerves were riddled with nervousness. Doubting her guts could even handle anything from what may occur today. She was about to enter the building when a security guard stopped her, asking what was she doing. When she explained she was there to apply and mentioned Elliot’s name, the guard’s face slackened into a surprised before looking casual.

The guard commanded something into his radio and ordered for her to stay there. She waited right at the entrance, entertaining herself from the modern elegance of the place. The whole place was still quiet since she went to the place early from the normal working hours, just like what Elliot told her. But within the silence, the clacking sound from the distance grew closer until she looked at the corridor through her left. Soon she realized where the sounds were coming from.

Another security guard appeared, but this one looked suave and confidence. They had a thick sideburn, a curly brown lock of weaved length of semibald cut. And when she looked down, she saw a pair of hooves. That explained the clacking sound she was hearing. She followed what appeared to be a satyr, when they beckoned her and went passed into a multiple hall of the sophisticated building. Until the satyr stopped in a door that have a restricted sign.

“The big boss sent you, huh?” The satyr asked. Their voice was in between of teenage boy pitch yet set in suave tone.

They entered a room in which she assumed to be the security office from the amount of screen attached to the wall that showed different angles of corridors, rooms, stairwells and doors. The whole f*****g building were monitored under a cctv.

“Uhm, yes?” Were they pertaining to Elliot?

The satyr continued walking and entered another room which look like an ordinary office.

The satyr pointed at the chair in front of the office desk. “Sit there for a while. I’ll check if we still had a stock of uniform in your size.” They said as they began opening the file cabinet at the corner.

She took her seat while her eyes fixated on the towering satyr. “Uniform? I thought I’m here for the interview.”

“You are girly. We just do it differently.”

That concerned her. How different did they process their interview?

“Ok.”

The satyr proceeded to the next cabinet after checking the first one from top to bottom. She uttered a silent curse when she forgot even asking Elliot about the job, or the company she was applying for.

“Aha! I knew I got a stock of small sizes. As if these uniforms are destined for you, girly.” They said a little high-pitched voice towards her. The satyr dumped the three plastic bags on her lap. They took a seat in the opposite chair, crossing his legs sideways. “What’s your name, girly.” They smiled at her as if they were befriending her.

“Narelle Wiltshire.”

The satyr tested saying her name. As if it was his first time hearing a name like hers. “Narelle, what is your love language?”

Narelle blinked from the reflex of gaping her eyes too much. “Uhm, sorry. I don’t understand, sir.”

The satyr gasped and dramatically shaking her head. “Nah. Nah. Ah, girly, you're not gonna call me sir. If you wanted to work here. You had to regard me as your ma’am. Understood?”

“Y-yes m-ma’am.” She stuttered.

“Good. Co’z I ain’t a man. Although I looked like those damn barbarians, I ain’t like them. I am a queen. So tell me, girly what you don’t understand about my question?”

So, this satyr was going to girlboss her? She seemed to be the type.

“I don’t understand what love language means, ma’am. I don’t know anything about it. Never heard of it before.”

The satyr gasped again, staring at her as if she missed something so important in her life. “Oh, you poor little thang.” And the satyr named Alvin; Ailey in private gave her the lecture of the lifetime.

She didn’t know what the relation of her question with her work but she listened to her (the pronounce she preferred) carefully.

“So, what is your love language, girly?” Ailey asked her excitedly.

“Giving physical affections and quality time.” She answered while scratching her cheeks.

“Ohh, interesting.” Ailey said. Her right hands position in front of her glossy lips, while her other hands crossed above her abdomen. The satyr continued appraising her under the serious scrutinizing lenses of the satyr’s hazel eyes. “So here’s the initial question, girly.” Ailey placed both of her hands on top of her lap, staring at her straight. “Are you trustworthy?”

Huh? Was that it? But why did it feel there was more to the question?

“Yes.”

“Then can you tell me why should I entrust the job to you? Why should you be a part of our team? And what do you usually follow your heart or your brain?”

Three questions. She didn’t expect the question could turn out like this. The first question was related to the three, that was certain. Wait, was this really the interview? Couldn’t be? There were no right or wrong answers to this question. What mattered was if she could satisfy Ailey with her answers.

“I’m desperate, actually. Since I just lose my job this Tuesday. I resigned because some of my coworker being bitchy with me. Because of being like this. A succubus. I know. I understand. This was how the world views my species. So people–mostly women was suspicious of me snatching their men. Gosh, I just hate being treated like that. So, yeah, I understand if I don’t get the job. Not playing the pity party, even. But if I get the job, I’ll be dedicated. I know I don’t have a lot of opportunities, so why should I waste the job given to me.” She swallowed and bit her lips, restraining her trembling lips. While her hands wrang her fingers. Touching her scars, a reminder. “I barely got interacted with people. And most of them were bad ones. So being a part of a team could really help me grow. I want to learn and met new people. I–I mostly used my heart over my brain. I really tend to do things without thinking much about the consequences. But most of the time, it helped me so far. I became more sensitive and perceptive with what people feel than what they were saying with their mouths. And that’s pretty much it. My answer ma’am.”

“Not bad, girly.” Ailey smiled at her and stood up. She went again towards one of the file cabinet, pulling out a thick folder and dropping the whole thing on top of her desk. Creating a loud slamming noise, making her flinch from the rising tension. “You see, girly, I believe in order to attain loyalty among your subject, you had to know their purpose, their expectations and driving force. And based on your answers, you got a potential, girly. As long as you are willing to learn, of course.” She explained while picking a four sheets of paper from the folder. “Did you bring your own pen, girly?” She nodded and pulled her pen inside the envelope she brought. Ailey smiled at her. “Here, fill this out and take your time from reading thoroughly.”

Narelle looked at the paper, and she gaped in disbelief. A contract? “I’m hired ma’am?”

Ailey giggled at her. “What did I tell you. You got potential, girly. Besides, I could use another girl in my pretty little squad.”

She could feel the wetness surrounding her eyes. “Oh, gosh. Thank you so much, ma’am.”

Ailey lifted her index finger and boop her nose. “Ah. Ah. Ah. No shedding of tears in here. You are a big girl. And big girls never cried in public. You don’t wanna show the world how vulnerable you are.” Narelle nodded again. “Now wipe that tears away, girly.”

She did it with a smile this time.