The Misunderstanding (Chapter 3)

Chapter 3.
Clare Dawn leaned against the alley wall for a few more minutes and watched as his figure receded down the alley. The other girls…and boys dressed as girls beginning to pounce on him as he walked passed unaccompanied. She sighed as she saw his figure turn the corner back on to the high street. Back in his own world now and he was nothing to her. Not once he’d stepped into the realm beyond hers. As unreachable as the sun and shining just as brightly.
She pushed off the wall and began walking further up the alley to the door way she’d left her bag, making sure for a moment that nothing had been stolen. Then she pulled over her green blouse and a black pair of skinny jeans. The dress was so short that it could be easily be hidden under her blouse. Still deeper into the dark she walked, until she came to a back cross road where the street light shed a yellow grunge light on the dirty street.

Her apartment building loomed above her and bowing her head she made a beeline for it. Not wanting to draw attention to her –self. Once she’d got to the door and buzzed the bell. They converged. The hooded men surrounded her pressing their bodies close, trapping her against the door. Her voice lost under the tumultuous fear that gripped her heart.
“What are you doing Duckling?” the man closest to her said. She met his black eyes, they were soft. Almost caring but Clare was not fooled as many others had been, maybe once yes but not anymore. She was taken in by him at her time of need and not she was lost in his clutches. Trapped there for as long as she was useful to him, the tattoo on her left arm flared with pain. The small green snake his mark now permanently etched into her skin burned as if determined to remind her of her mistake.
“I… I’m going home Mr Deuce. To get freshened up, I have job, tonight.” She said, her voice quavering. He stepped in closer and shook his head.
“My little Duckling. You know why I’m here right? Hmm I’m here for the payment you owe me and you are two months overdue.” He reached into his coat pocket and produced a long sharp blade; the silver glinted in the low light. He swished the blade around carelessly, getting ever closer to her face. She began to tremble. And her voice shook as she tried to speak.
“I..I..I don’t have the money yet. But I will. Tonight. The job…it’s paying well tonight please.” Her voice grew softer with terror.
He smiled a broad boasting grin the gold in his teeth glimmered as they caught the light off his knife.
“Ahh poor little duckling. You don’t run away from the man who gave you everything. Now I want my money. Or...” he lifted the knife to her face, stroking it along her cheek across her nose to hover just under her eye. “I will be forced to rearrange your face, then how will you come up with the money? Maybe sell off that pretty little sister of yours?” The mention of her sister sent a white hot arch of fire through Clare’s body and she glared defiantly at Deuce.
“Wipe that look off you face you Fucken bitch!” Deuce roared and slapped her. The blow was hard, and caused her to hit the glass doors behind her she slid down to the floor and looked up at him tears beginning to stream down her face as it began to swell.
“I want my money. And I’ll be generous you have one week to get me $20,000 And if I don’t get it…well you know what will happen to you and that pretty little sister of yours.” He turned and his lackeys following walked into the dark alley to torment another one of his victims.

Clare shook as she got to her feet. And she squinted through her now swollen eye. She buzzed the apartment again and this time a voice answered.
“Hi... come one up” the door un latched and she pushed it open. She walked over to the mailbox to number 441 when she opened the rusty box three letters stood waiting for her. And one of them a manila envelope folded in two to fit in the box. She reached in and grabbed the letter and opened it.
She only read the first paragraph and her world shattered.

Dear resident.
We regret to inform you but the building is henceforth under condemnation. You are urged to vacate the premises by the 20th October 2011. If you and your possessions have not vacated the premises we will use force.

Clare dropped the letter; her body was racked with sobs as her world plummeted around her. After what seemed like an age she got up off the floor and climbed the 12 flights of stairs to her apartment. He cheek was still swollen and her eyes stung from all the crying she still she put on a brave face for her sister. When she opened the door to their one bedroom apartment she was greeted by the smell of hot beef tomato stew. The hall way aw clean and she heard the static sound of the television running in the living room. Her sister Sophie bounded around the corner and flung her arms around Clare. And for a moment all she saw was a mess of curly brown hair and a smiling face. He sisters hazel eyes shone like gold filled with happiness totally unaware of the dreadful situation they were in. That was the way Clare wanted it to stay. She still wanted her sister to enjoy a few more years of naive bliss. The 18 year old had been through so much in her life that she couldn’t bare to add more pain to the well that she knew always seethed under the surface of her content smile.
She pulled away and looked at her sister. Sophie had a heart shaped face with large striking innocent eyes that drew your attention. She had soft full lips and a button nose. Her face was perfectly balanced and had both childlike and mature beauty. She also had the body that would make many models sell their souls to possess. No too skinny and not plump just the right balance between curves and angles; she possessed classic beauty. But what really shone through was her infectious personality. When people saw he smile it was like a chain reaction and instantly they were enthralled by her.
Clare had vowed that she would never let that smile dampen. She would not hurt her sister she would protect her.
“Something smells great Soph.” Clare said, smiling back at her sister. But Sophie’s face dipped into one of concern.
“What happened to your face?” she asked a small crease forming between her brows.
“Oh this it’s nothing. I was not paying attention and walked headlong into a light pole. Stupid really, I even cried.” Sophie didn’t look convinced.
“Well go wash up then and I’ll re heat the food.”
Clare walked through the small apartment to the bathroom and ran a bath. She soaked in the hot water for a long time, just thinking of what to do to get her and her sister out of their terrible situation. She had no one to depend on but herself. Never in all her life had she felt; that her situation was as hopeless as it was in that moment.
She stepped out of the bath and walked to the sink. She whipped her hand over the mirror to clear away the condensation. She gasped as she looked at her reflection. Her eyes red and swollen from crying, and there the top of her cheek a growing purple bruise swelling and threatening to close her eye. And with a sinking feeling she knew that she could not go to the job tonight looking like this.
She walked out of the bathroom and dressed mechanically. She crossed the room and sat at her small vanity cabinet where she tried to hide the bruise with a thick layer of make-up.
A light knock on the door stopped her and turning her head she looked at Sophie standing in the doorway with a tray of steaming food and a glass of milk. She set it down on the dresser
She stood behind her and liked into the mirror at her face. The corners of her mouth twitched up in a small smile. Sophie wrapped her arms around her sister and lay her chin lightly on her shoulder, but her eyes lever left Clare’s face.

Clare reached her hand up and stroked Sophie’s arm.
“I am alright Soph. I am just tiered from work.” She squeezed her shoulders and let out a soft sigh. Then she pulled away to retrieve the tray of food. She set it down in front of Clare and the fumes of the meal tantalized her taste buds.
“Eat up. We don’t want you to waste away.” Sophie smiled; she stood behind Clare and slowly ran a brush through her hair as she began to eat the stew. It was good, really rich and the meat soft, just the way Clare liked it.
“So where are you going tonight?” Sophie asked nonchalantly running her fingers through her sisters dark curls.
Clare shock herself, feeling drowsy but answered anyway.
“Madison Hotel at 10:30, to entertain someone….keep him busy…. Paul Rosco” She slumped forward, overcome with tiredness. Sophie caught her by the shoulders and leaned her back; she dragged her off the chair and on to the bed. Clare opened her eyes for a moment and murmured something unintelligible before closing her eyes and going to sleep.
The pent up air that Sophie had been holding she released with a sigh. Maybe she’s used too many sleeping pills? Anyway her sister was out for the entire night at least.
Sophie checked the bedside clock. 9:55pm it flashed. She grimaced, but as quickly and quietly as she could she rummaged around the room picking up a large black duffle bag and stuffing as she collected what she needed for the night ahead.
“Oh the cleaning spray.” She said almost forgetting it on the counter. Then she sat down at the mirror and tried to control the tangled mess that was her hair, after vigorous attempts at brushing out the curls she just gave up and let it hang loose. She parted her fringe to the side and applied some eyeliner and mascara to her eyes. She even went as far as put on some of her sisters soft pink lip gloss, before she was ready to leave.
She locked the door behind her, and then was knocking on the door of number 254, her neighbour.
Connor came to the door and cracked it open, seeing that it was Sophie he opened it and a broad grin lifted his face.
“Sophie, my little angel how are you? Man for a moment there I thought you were building manager coming all up here to tell me to keep it down. Anyway what you need beautiful?”
Sophie smiled at the flattery.
“Hey Con, I’m doing fine thanks. Listen, I’m going out tonight and Clare has the flu, could you just keep an eye out for her?”
“Sure sweetheart anything you need.” He grinned.
Sophie shuffled her feet.
“And I need one more favour…”