The smell of gasoline, Nakoma still trying to wake up, begins coughing very heavily. She tries to get up only to be pushed down with a boot. Her back was uncomfortable. She turned to see that the floor was scrunched up, she looked around and saw as she was surrounded inside a box-like structure. She was in the back of a pickup truck and looking down at her was those same figures, a pipe was connected to the floor and was holding a 50 caliber machine gun. Nakoma was sweating furiously, her mind was running with tons of questions. The others begin to come to consciousness, Hakan barely opens his eyes before closing them. Makya tried to get up but was forced down by the same figure. Nakoma notices her wrists were burning as if they were cut. She looks to see they were wrapped extremely tight together as well as the others. She looked up at the sky as her heart stopped, she couldn't tell if she was seeing right. The sky was cloudy as if it was about to rain but the sun still shines and lit the day. Smog covered the sky slightly choking her lungs. The truck immediately stopped making Nakoma hit the back of her head.
“Alright get the hell up.” The figures reached in and dragged them one by one. They put them in a single file line with their hands behind their head. Walking up a street all around her were other people looking at them, they stopped to watch Nakoma and the others.
They were all filthy, their faces covered in muck and oil, children were running in the streets playing tag, she saw one kid with both his hands amputated. She was horrified, the child only stared at her, not moving an inch.
Walking up the street where roadblocks— they were guarding this enormous tower. At the top in big letters spelled, U.S bank, they reached inside the building as everything was white and shiny. They were thrown inside an elevator with two other men in riot gear. The numbers on top of the door were counting up. Nakoma felt a queasy sensation in the pit of her stomach. The floor seemed to be moving— but nothing was happening.
They stopped at the forty fifth floor where they pushed Hakan and Makya out,
“Hey I'm going I’m going.”
One stayed behind and took Nakoma to another elevator and pushed the many buttons on the wall. It was eerie-quiet. The doors slide open revealing a hallway with unusual decorations, beneath her feet is a logo that said— 71 above.
“Move!”
As the figure pushed her out the elevator. She walked to the end of the corridor revealing beautiful sets of leather chairs and tables made from wood and the floor in unique wood tile.
“Wow—this is–”
“Beautiful, isn't it”
A man sitting on a granite counter, with a bottle of scotch in hand and a cigar in the other.
“Don't be afraid, I'm not going to do anything, guard cut her loose for god's sake.”
The figure took a steel blade from his boot and cut the rope almost knocking her off balance. “What's going on here, what have you done to my friends?” She pestered.
“Don't worry they're alright I assure you”
He had this energy that seemed so—charismatic. His hair was perfectly slicked back he had a wool jacket that had two sets of buttons between his chest with dark blue jeans and leather boots. He had a goatee that was perfectly trimmed that matched his face.
“Well what about James huh, he’s dead.”
“Oh right, that James of yours, you see—he's a wanted man.”
Nakoma feeling puzzled, “Wanted? Like he was bad?”
“Pfft of course, oh before I forget, welcome to Los Angeles.” He gets off the counter and backs up into the window. Looking out the window, there were so many buildings almost as high as the building they were in. It was a sea of concrete for miles.
“Names Jackson, and you?”
“Nakoma…”
“Sorry for the scare with my men but you know, guards have to be on the lookout.”
“Look out for what?”
“You see I own all of Los Angeles, I try to keep all my people as well fed and secure as possible” he takes a sip of scotch from his cup,
“Of course, some have it better than others due to their generation of being rich.”
Nakoma’s head was spinning. This was too much information going on at once.
“Listen here Jackson, where are my friends?”
“Oh they're getting cleaned up because of the...blood on you.” He was right—she had forgotten all about the blood that spurted on her and felt ashamed.
“Look I know you must be scared and judging by your outfit this is all new to you—how about we get you cleaned up and I'll show you to dinner at the beretta.”
Hearing those words—cleaned up—actually made her feel more at ease. She wanted to get the blood off as fast as she could.
“Okay but this place doesn't look like there's any rivers.” He chuckled
“We don't use rivers to clean ourselves here, let my guard show you where you get cleaned up. I'll meet you at dinner.”
They began to go to the twentieth floor where the whole place looked like a salon shop. Women were rushing to her.
“Girl! you look like a mess!”
“I know, let's fix you up.”
They began to take everything off to wash her. “No!” They tried to take off the bracelet, but she refused.
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“Oh alright darling if it means that much to you, you can wear it.”
All the scrubbing in her hair, the smell of shampoo—which actually smelled pleasant. The vigorous scrubbing of her body hurt Nakoma as if they were scrubbing her actual skin off. They cleaned her nails from all the dirt that was underneath. Trimmed her hair and comb all the knots out of the tangled mess. They scared her with a blow dryer as hot air began pouring out fast to her face. And finally, to finish her up, placed the finest make up they had on hand.
They all stood around her and looked in awe.
“Isn't she beautiful!”
“She's suave darling!”
The guards drove Nakoma to one of the docks, Santa Monica pier. It was a long bridge-like structure that had these lights and weird structures that were going off. She felt uneasy, seeing so many guards at the pier kept reminding her of that horrifying death. She believes they killed them with those weird looking weapons they carry—m4 rifles.
At the end of the pier was Jackson.
“Hey, Nakoma you made it, I was beginning to think you weren't coming.”
“I felt like I didn't have a choice.”
“But might I say you really look stunning” she was wearing a silk blue strapless dress with a pearl necklace. The dress covered her feet whenever she stood still.
“The ladies said I would look nice to this dinner.”
“And you do! Come, let's get on board.” At the end of the dock was a little walkway leading into a giant cruise ship. Nakoma’s eyes were wide open seeing the massive ship.
As they entered, everything was clean, the carpet looked mint condition, the lobby where all the guests were exchanging conversation looked almost like a fantasy. Marble pillars stood next to the windows of the ship. And in the next room, tables filled the room, covered in white tablecloth.
They sat at the closest table to them.
“Ah you must be that young girl Jackson's been talking about.” An older man with gray hair who looked grouchy and smelled of cigar spoked.
“Yes, I expected you to be a bit more...savage, rather a pet.” A woman in a pink coat smirked at her— just looked plain rude. “I may be different but that doesn't mean you have to be so rude about it.” They were stunned by what she said, “Just speaking my mind is all darling, no need to get defensive.” She didn't like them. She can tell they were the type of people who only look for themselves and not for others. “C'mon I brought her here so she can see what our life is like.” Said Jackson,
“Oh alright.” Said the stubborn man,
“Now Nakoma, tell us, where are you from?”
“Well I came up north, it was a sixteen day journey.” The old man asked her,
“Up north? There's nothing but dense forest?”
“Savaaage” said the woman under her breath.
“Damn it, Claudia, show a little respect to Nakoma.” Jackson was getting frustrated his face was slightly turning red. “Oh come on she's definitely a savage— just because you washed her like a pet doesn't mean she's civilized.”
“I said, that's enough!” He stood up and slammed the table hard. Claudia’s expression faded to fear. She was sweating profusely, her eyes locked in placed.
“you've been getting too comfortable don't forget I'm still in charge here—understand?”
“...yes Jacks-”
“UNDERSTAND?”
“Yes Jackson...”
He got back into his seat and fixed his bow tie.
“I'm really sorry about all this, some people just need to be reminded who's still in charge here.” He scolded looking at Claudia. Claudia kept her mouth shut almost the entire night. Later on into the night Nakoma was full from eating; they brought her food that she didn't think ever existed. Shrimp cocktails, lobster with breaded fish and side order of lamb chops with some type of sauce on it. “Jackson this was all so good, we never had food like this before.”
“Courtesy from the finest chefs.” A butler appeared at the table,
“Sir, they want to know what you want to play for the night ending.”
“Tell them to play my favorite one.”
The butler nodded. An intercom static.
Ladies and gentlemen enjoy the next few minutes of a classic— Clair de Luna
Nakoma turned around to see a figure in a white tux, his face was covered in a white porcelain plague doctor's mask. In the middle of the room was a stage and a piano in the center. She saw his hands and they were burned badly almost as if they were melted.
He sat down and paused. He started to play—it was the most beautiful sound Nakoma has ever heard. She didn't take her eyes off the musician. She never heard such beautiful sounds, she was so starstruck.
“I see you like classical music as well.”
“Classical music?”
Jackson chuckled, “It's so amazing how a simple instrument can make such fine tunes.”
She watched until the musician finished his act, everyone applauded including her.
“That was so beautiful Jackson.”
“And one of my favorites.”
“Jackson, can I ask, where are my two friends?” He put his utensils down
“They're alright Nakoma, don't worry they are fine. Since they are men they can be looked down upon here, I wanted to introduce you to them first to sort of...break the ice.” She was confused as ever, but she trusted him. She saw how defensive he got when Claudia was being rude—even then she saw how he wanted her to be free, not tied up.
“Will I be able to see them after this?”
“Of course, when we're done, we can go back to the tower.” Shortly after their dinner they finally reached the tower. At the seventy first floor she could hear voices and saw Hakan and Makya eating at the tables.
“Guys!”
“Namhmb!”
They still had food in their mouths as they rushed to hug her. “I was worried sick about you guys, and it looks like you got cleaned up too.” Both of them were wearing black cargo pants with a brown shirt.
Their hair seemed more fixed as well, with Hakan’s ginger hair way straighter and softer than before and Makya’s hair was completely trimmed, the small ponytail he wore was now gone.
“Wow your hair it's…”
“Different, no? I saw it on another and it looked nice, I like it.”
Hakan’s eyes were wide open, fixated on her. Seeing her in that blue dress made him blush. He speaks but chokes in the process,
“You look erm, different.”
“It looks weird huh.”
“No! Um—you look beautiful.”
She blushed. Jackson comes from behind and pats Hakan on the back.
“Well I see you three are liking this place so far.”
Hakan was the first to speak, “It's been amazing, the food is great, they gave us what they call a spa.”
“The ladies said it was a unisex thing, whatever that is.” Makya chuckled,
“I'm sorry I couldn't let you guys be on the boat, but you know, they look more favorably on the women first.”
She then speaks hesitantly,
“Is it okay if we can explore this place all day tomorrow?”
“Of course, just be careful. I know you saw us living the life, but the people of this city are really in poor conditions, so just be careful. Some are…aggressive per se.
She had a heart ache for a moment, aggressive, are there people willing to hurt just for the sake of it. After seeing that boy with his hands missing, she needed to know more, she needed to find more on what this life is really like.