The Oracle

See you soon, Hopi

6:00 AM

Packing my bags sounded like an easy job until I started doing it. What wardrobe is suitable for the coldest place on earth? Hopi is laying in bed looking at me, I can't handle those puppy eyes he pulls on me every time I'm leaving somewhere. "I'll be back soon, baby. Promise." Let's see, what do we say when it's cold outside, layer up. I'll start from there and work my way through. I should finish this fast so I have time to leave Hopi with Miss Owens. Yesterday when I got home I went straight to her apartment to make sure she can look after Hopi while I'm gone. She was delighted by the idea but not as much about me leaving for Siberia. Her husband, she said, had to travel to Siberia after The Cold War ended. He was a scientist working in some sort of academic town there. So she was well aware of what I'm getting myself into, more than I was that's clear.

Alright, I think I'm done packing my clothes. Now for the "survival kit", I should pack a power supply for my phone and the camera Paul gave me, my medical kit from my last trip to Africa. That was challenging too but at least it's warm there. On the bright side I won't need the Malaria pills. What else? Passport, check. I'll have to get some Russian rubles and that prepaid sim card Criss was talking about but that's for another day since the trip takes around 20 hours. I hope this Alexei guy will be there on time. Come on, Hopi. Time to go, I guess.

Miss Owens didn't take long to answer the door. Hopi, ran right inside when she opened the door and climbed into her big couch. I guess he's more used to her place than mine anyway, poor little guy.

"Morning, miss Owens"

She's a small, blonde woman, in her 60's, her green eyes gifted with the most gentile look I've ever seen reminded me of my grandmother.

"Oh, Good morning Jane." Her silvery voice somehow manages to calm down my anxiety regarding the trip.

"Do you have time to come in for a cup of coffee, love?" she asks

I take a quick glance at the watch on my wrist. 7:00. The plane leaves at 8. Well, that's an obvious no, although I would've love to hear more stories about her husbands' experience in Siberia.

"I'm sorry, Ms' Owens. I can't, my flight leaves at 8."

"Are you ready for this dreadful journey, love?" she asks

Am I ready? Not at all.

"Well, it's my job to be ready for these kinds of trips."

"It could turn to be an interesting experience don't you think?" she adds

"Let's hope so" I answer, lost in my thoughts

"Thank you for taking care of Hopi while I'm gone, you're a lifesaver."

She looks at me with the compassion and care of a mother, I missed being looked at like this.

"Have a little faith, dear. Everything will turn out better than you expect. I'm sure of it." she assures me

A calm feeling got hold of me. I guess, being so focused on the bad side of it I didn't consider that it might go well. I should go.

"Goodbye Hopi, be a good boy alright?"

I wish I could take him with me, he suffers a lot when I'm gone. This one time, I left for two months, he was so upset. He ignored me for weeks. Yeah, a dog can hold a grudge. Who would have thought?

"Goodbye Ms' Owens! Thank you! See you two soon."

"Have a good trip, Jane! Call when you can, dear." she says smiling

"Will do."

I take my phone out of my pocket and start dialing for a cab while walking towards the elevator. A short sound lets me know someone answered.

"Morning! A cab on Delaware st. 691"

"Sure thing, it will be with you in ten minutes. Have a good day, ma'am!

The elevator is creaking as it stops at my floor. One day I'll get stuck in this thing I just know it. The word "oracle" is still scratched on the door. It makes no sense, really. I rush out as it stops and see the cab in front of the apartment building. A man steps out as I come out and opens the trunk.

"Morning, ma'am!" he says while picking up my bag and carefully put it in the cars' trunk.

"Morning!"

He looks tired. The black circles around his eyes remind me of Criss.

"To the airport, please" I say once we both get in the car.

There's a picture of a woman and a baby on his dashboard. His family, maybe.

"Which one, ma'am?" he asks looking in the rearview mirror. I didn't notice before his blue ocean eyes. Creating the perfect contrast with his flawless dark skin.

"Metropolitan" I answer while checking the time.

"I have to be there by 7:30, I hope we make it."

He nods

"Don't worry, ma'am. There's almost no traffic in this city anymore," he assures me and hits the gas.

Yeah, a dead city. It was either this or nothing else. I didn't have a lot of choices when I left my home town. Financially speaking. It's not that I hate it here, it's a beautiful city. Especially in the summer. But it started with corruption and the death of the economy...

Bang! Bang! A defining sound interrupts me. Gunshots? What the... I look out the window but see nothing. I turn my head to the driver looking for an explanation, he didn't even flinch.

"Another gang fight probably. As long as we don't stop it won't be a problem." he reassures me

As we pass the next corner, I can see a few young boys running, one of them has a gun in his hand. I swear they didn't look older than 15. Behind them, a couple of cops try to catch them. This war between the police and the gangs started years ago and it just keeps getting worse. It's heartbreaking, some of the members are just kids... For us, news reporters it can be dangerous even to be seen on the streets with a camera. There still are some safe neighborhoods like the one I live in but that's about it. Whos' to blame here? Certainly not the people, because with no jobs, no opportunities, sunk deep in poverty, of course, criminal activities are what they have left. It's common sense, poverty leads to criminality.

"We're here, ma'am." the driver announces seeing that he's stopped and I didn't even move.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I'm lost in my head today. Here you go, keep the change." I say handing him a 20 dollar bill

I get off the car and wait for him to give me my bag.

"Where are you going ma'am? he asks me out of nowhere

"To Moscow" I answer feeling slightly uncomfortable

"Why do you ask?" I continue

He hands me the bag and before getting back in the cab he stares at me and says " I don't want to alarm you but this journey will reveal your greatest fears."

I don't think there are more to be revealed, I doubt it actually.

"What do you mean?" I indulge him, although I honestly just want to leave now.

"I'm a seer, this is what I SEE for you." he said and drove away

A seer? As in he can see the future? Well, well... The Oracle, a seer. Welcome to the freak show, Jane.  I'm not scared to face my fears. That's the best way to grow isn't it?

The airport is quiet, a few people roamed around. Waving at cabs. Talking on phones. The terminal is almost empty. I approach the automated check-in machine and scan my ticket, my passport, and my face.  A few years ago they replaced check in agents with a new, inovative machine. "These machines do the job faster and more efficiently, we want to give our clients a stress-free check-in." they said and that was enough for us to say goodbye to human connection. People lost jobs they were doing for half their lives. The company that implemented this sent their assigned public relations employee to give a press conference. She said, and I quote "Progress requires sacrifice." Debatable, I think. Since we're talking about human sacrifice here."

The plane takeoff felt different this time. I felt calm and anxious at the same time. About 20 something hours being stuck in this plane will chase away one of these feelings, no doubt. The city looks pretty poetic from above, this distance doesn't let you acknowledge all the suffering beneath.