Spider sighed dramatically and took a sip from her martini. Her grandmother had set her up on a blind date with the most colorless guy she had ever met, in her entire life. What a waste of a night she thought to herself as the man sitting across from her chewed on his steak and talked at the same time. He kept going on and on about how the investment company he worked for was doing so well and how he thought he would become a partner. It was just like her grandmother to set her up with this type of man. If you could call him that even. The way he chewed his food made him look like a cow. It made her want to vomit a little.
The worst part was, she had to pretend to be someone she wasn't, but that was the whole point of this. Her dates lips moved, but she could only hear her grandmother's boring words. "See what the life out of crime is like my dear, you'll love it. The men will take care of you, you'll have a big house, a big wedding and three perfect children for your perfect life. Selling drugs and robbing banks will never get you there my dear Charlotte. Don't make the same mistakes your mother made." What did that old hag know, she was wrinkly.
"Char, are you listen to me?"
Spider snapped her attention back to her suitor. Did he just call her Char? Seriously? Was this a joke. She thought about asking him that, but changed her mind and brought a smile to her perfectly painted lips.
Of course Fred.
"It's Bob."
Right, Bob, please continue.
This seemed to be good enough for him, it was probably the dress she wore tonight and her beauty that was always prominent. A pretty lady showing him attention, call me whatever you want! Spider's eyes floated away from the table when Fred started to talk with his mouth full again. She lost herself as she gazed out the window, her eyes glazing over with the city sparkles. At least Fred could find the greatest table in town.
As Spider faded off into another day dream she was glad it wasn't her grandmother trying to change her life. A sea of flowers developed in front of her vision, the city dissolving away. A place from her childhood maybe, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She heard a child's laugh, it made her smile. Quickly everything changed. Dark. Very dark clouds rolled in. The field of flowers blew away as the wind picked up and her vision was blinded with red. It was now raining and Spider stood in an empty street in the city. First the rain kissed her skin, the water slipping off her bare shoulders. She laughed, relieved the darkness was gone. Just as she thought everything was fine, Spider realized the rain water had turned into blood. Beads of blood fell from the sky, slid down her skin and collected in the cracks in the road.
"So, Char, what do you think about the economy?"
Fred's throaty voice called her back to their date and not soon enough. What, where did that come from? She'd rather take her Grandmother's hypocritical bullshit any day over such a disturbing day dream. This date had to end, she needed a stiff drink.
What do I think about the economy? Really Fred?
"It's Bob."
Fine, Bob, it's not called the great depression for nothing. Now, if you would please excuse me I cut my foot before and my shoe is filling up with blood.
Spider watched as first concern washed over Fred's face and then, wait, he got it. What she just said was completely ludicrous. Before he tried to stop her she picked up her purse and left the table. As a cab pulled up to the curb and she got in, she couldn't help but feel a shiver climb up her spine and a whisper in her ear of something evil. She couldn't believe she was taking public transportation, but desperate times sometimes called for desperate measures. One thing for sure, that drink, just turned into a double. Spider told the dirty cabby an address and the car pulled away from the curb. |