10-2-18

Tuesday October 2nd, 2018

Tiana pushed through the crowded, dim room, carving through press of noise until she reached the narrow hall to the bathroom.  Screwed into the low ceiling were light bulbs, exposed, bare and painted red.

Lovers were pressed close and sinking into the wallpaper, becoming dim prints, released from the third dimension.  One young woman tared, wide-eyed at her from behind the drunken aggression of a kiss.  She seemed to be beckoning Tiana, motioning for help.  indicating that she did not want to be pressed, paper-thin into the wall, to be left there like cave paintings.  She paused as the wide-eyed girl continued to stare, her eyes seeming to tremble, to dart quickly from place to place but always back to Tiana.  As if pleading for help.

The man was wearing a black leather jacket and had made himself into a curved barrier, surrounding the girl, leaving her no direction to escape.  Tiana reluctantly reached or the arm of the jacket not knowing if she had the strength of will to pull him off.  But at that moment of contact, the man turned hes head toward her and she jumped back, gasping!  her legs did not wait for her to make up her mind and the very next moment she was in the ladies' room breathing hard and shaking off the image.  But it was no use.  She was sure she had seen it.  The man's arms disappearing into the wall as if dipped into a pool of water.  As if he were  pushing through to the other side!  Taking the girl with!  And his face, or rather, where his face should have been, a tattoo, or pen drawing on the scarred flesh of that thing which sat on his shoulders in the place of a face.  Thick lines.  Perhaps not tattoos, perhaps carved into the leathery, featureless skin.  A single word.

WOLF

She looked around the bathroom for help.  A door, a phone, any person to talk to but it was only a bathroom.  No door but the one she entered through.  Nobody but the frightened girl in the mirror and she stared in awe and horror at her own reflection!  The word on her face!  The word carved into the glass of the mirror and placing itself right onto her image.  It was written in reverse as if to finish the illusion that it stained her flesh, tainted her soul.

SHEEP

The hinges squealed open with a rush and Tiana screamed and nearly lost her balance as she tried to back into the corner, away from the door.  She felt the dark wallpaper press into her back, sticking to her blouse, beckoning her in and she jerked away, caught in a shrinking trap!

"Are you OK?" asked the tall woman who had entered.

At first Tiana could not answer, could not speak.  As if the mouth had been removed from her face.

"Jesus!  Are you alright?" the tall woman crossed the room, placing a hand on her shoulder and bending a bit to make eye contact.  "You look scared to death!"

And then Tiana found her mouth, right there on her face where she had left it.  "Yes, sorry, I'm OK.  I just got spooked.  Something about that man and girl in the hall.  I don't know.  did you see them?"

"No, hun.  they must've moved on.  Hall's empty.  You sure you're alright?  You look scared as hell!  Do you want me to walk you out?" the tall woman asked, leaning further, invading, pulling Tiana's eyes to hers like gravity.  At the same time pushing, repelling.

"I mean it.  I'm happy to walk you out.  Anywhere you want to go.  I'm not afraid of these rapists and drug addicts.  I'll gut 'em like pigs!"

And Tiana began to wonder what the nature of this woman was.  Protector?  Pursuer?  Both?  Again she looked into the mirror.  She did not want to believe the word that hung upon her brow.  She wanted whatever word this tall, strong woman possessed.  But it was not to be, not tonight.

She turned, straightening herself and spoke confidently to the woman.  "You know?  I'd love a cup of coffee!  do you want to go with?"

The tall, strong woman's face softened as she smiled.  "Love to, let's not waste any time.  This place sucks!"

Smiling back, she thrust out her hand.  "I'm Tiana, Tiana Miller."

Her hand was received, shaken and returned intact and the tall, strong woman replied, "Nice to meet you Tiana.  Raven Hunt."

The two exited the restroom and walked close together, hands clasped like mother and child.  When they passed the spot she'd seen the couple she slowed and examined the wallpaper.  A small figure in a red cloak carrying a basket.  Something lurking in the dark of the forest.  She felt a shiver as she realized that this wall was filled with similar images, hundreds!

She felt a warm squeeze in her hand and the two walked on, not looking back.  They strode confidently out into the crisp midnight air and continued for quite some time without speaking.  Sirens howled.  Howled to the rescue.  Howled in the chase.  Howled as a warning.

Howled on and on.

Like Wolves.