Rita stared at the mountain that sat in her desk. Nothing that unusual for her but still. She let out a small sigh. Guessed three and a half weeks of light work was all she was going to get before things went back to…well, semi-normal. Rita got to work. At least her headaches were almost gone. It did not hurt as much or come as frequently as before, it made this situation all the more bearable.
After two hours of paperwork, the stack still seemed as impervious as before. Rita groaned. She glanced at her wristwatch. An hour to lunch time. A total hour. And she already felt so tired she could drop. Coffee was not an option according to the doctor, not for another three weeks at least. To top it all off she felt a headache coming on and needed the bathroom.
Thankfully, the paperwork did not have a deadline but Rita preferred if she got it all done today. That way she would not need to take any work home with her. And she did not want to get on Miss Irina’s bad side. The woman could cause a trainwreck singlehandedly if she wanted to. Rita thought, maybe even literally. So far, she had had everyone on their toes recently. Something about a rat and a mole in her fields. Which only meant there were traitors still left.
The intensity of her search for the said rodents was scorching. Everyone was in their best behaviour right now. Today, it had gotten so bad that the CEO and Board members were no doubt informed. The whole company was on alert and any wrong move from anyone put them on the spot. You could cut the anxiety in here with a blunt knife.
Rita rose from her chair, exited the cubicle and made her to the bathrooms. The way there was silent except for the sound of fingers tapping away at keyboards, pens on paper and the once in a while paper crinkling. The only additions were the sounds of the Air-conditioning, a drawer or two opening and her footsteps.
There was more than just anxiety in the air. There was also the feeling of being watched. Rita did not like it one bit. The bathrooms were just up ahead and it took all of her not to just bolt into it and lock it behind her. Once inside the ladies room, she was almost tempted to. She repressed the urge instead stepping forward, turning sideways and looking into the mirror.
Rita looked as normal as she did this morning before she left. She had her hair in long black braids that reached her lower back. She wore a black and white striped blouse with sleeves and a black skirt that reached below the knee and black heels. The sleeves were a bad idea with it being the height of summer and all.
She was getting what happened out of her system. She was getting back into figure hugging clothes and learning to be feel good with herself again. Even though every moment played in her head over and over, and she still felt his hands and his fangs.
God, his fangs. Rita’s breathing became erratic with every memory. She was still looking at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, watching the sweat gather at her brow and her chest rise and fall in rapid succession with each mental image. The video, the pictures, Theo’s hands, the cold feel of his touch. His fangs, those wet miniature spikes. His cold breath so close to her ear and neck. It was as if he was right in the bathroom with her. She could make out his cold marble face in the mirror. A pale beauty that she only saw for the horrors it had inflicted.
Like a phantom come to haunt her, he smiled at her misery and moved closer. Rita froze. She did not–could not move an inch as he closed the distance between them. Cruel humour shining in his smile, hunger and the want to tear and rip her apart bright in his eyes.
Rita felt Theo’s hands around the back of her neck. Still as icy as ever. Tightening. That moment she unfroze. Theo’s hand came away harshly and when she turned to face him he was not there. Theo was gone. Vanished like he had never been there.
Rita grabbed hold of the sink behind and leaned on it while trying to calm her mind.
Theo was currently in a highly specialized and secure prison. Probably sitting alone in his orange prison overalls in a transparent cubicle with his hands up to his elbows in solid titanium cuffs. He was never behind her just now. She took long calming breaths. ‘Relax. Relax. He is not here. No one is but you. Relax.’
It took Rita what felt like forever to slightly calm down. When she did, her bladder was screaming. That reminded her of why she had come to the bathroom to begin with. And unfortunately, with every shaky step, all the work that was still on her desk and the thought that she might have to take it back to the house with her.
Rita entered the stall, did her business and washed her hands. The sound of running water and the smell of antiseptic soap helped her calm down a little. She took a look at her wristwatch and almost choked on her own spit. Seriously! She had been here for fifty five minutes! Rita quickly composed herself, trying her hardest to wipe the shock and anxiety from her face and left the bathroom only to find everyone out of their cubicles each trying their best to get a glimpse of what was happening.
Then she heard it. Crunch. Sounds of fists hitting flesh. Thud. The sound of a body hitting the carpeted floor. A sharp scream. Crack. Something broke. Rita pressed through the crowd, confusion and morbid curiosity her drive. She stopped a few feet from the people with a few row seat. There was glass all over the floor, a strong draft passed through the crowd and security was trying to keep everyone back but you could see enough to draw your own conclusion to what was going on.
“Everyone please clear out!” Someone shouted from behind. Rita and all those in front turned to see paramedics rushing forward with stretchers and obeyed. The security team included. Rita’s eyes followed them before security went back to blocking the scene like a wall.
It looked like there was supposed to be something happening here. One that was interrupted by the current event. She managed to spy Anthony and he looked spooked. There were three people on the floor laying unconscious, the supposed culprit beaten into submission and in handcuffs.
The paramedics must have finished up because once again the crowd was told to move out of the way before the wall of security broke again. Rita’s eyes widened, glued to the scene. The broken glass was from the glass pane, the only thing separating the office and the outside. Outside which was a fall straight down several feet to the ground.
Head of security was talking to Miss Irina and someone else. A man. His hair was shaved low and his eyes from her vantage point were a deep brown. His skin was the same but a lighter shade. Something between smoky topaz and burnt umber. He looked like he was in his early thirties. The deep blue suit he was wearing complimented his build and screamed expensive and of power. Although the suit’s exclamation was not needed because the man’s aura did it all. He did not just look wealthy and powerful. He felt wealthy and powerful. And dangerous. He looked familiar.
Rita narrowed her eyes in confusion and in concentration trying to place where she had seen his face and on who. It was not recently that was for sure else she would have remembered. The answer was right within her reach but it kept zipping away.
Then both he and Miss Irina turned towards the crowd. Rita’s eyes widened. ‘No. Damn it. No. What is He doing here?’ Rita looked at his face again. Maybe she was mistaken. Nope, there was no way she was mistaken about who he was. No way she could. ‘Relax’ Her brain told her. ‘He’s probably just here for some business with the company. That’s it. Then he’ll walk out of here and you’ll never have to cross paths with him again.’