Responding to the stranger's scrutinizing gaze, the Sheriff awkwardly laughed, "Usually, my son handles the cleanup and changes the sheets, but he's at school." Though feeling embarrassed wasn't the Sheriff's style, his awkward laugh ceased, and he grew angry and snapped back at the sight of being judged. "Ah, what the heck? I don't owe you any explanations. Just do what you came here for. Who are you to pass judgment when you came to add to the damn room?" he snapped, slamming the door behind him.
As he removed his trench jacket and hood, a young man emerged, appearing to be around the same age as Kai. His chocolate-toned skin was complemented by a cascade of hair styled in two-strand twists adorned with golden clamps and shells. Around his neck hung a trio of necklaces, each boasting a distinct stone wrapped in copper. The ensemble included amethyst, selenite, and black tourmaline, each resonating with its unique energy. His wrists bore the weight of gold bracelets, adding to his attire.
Draped in a tight, white, sleeveless shirt that sculpted his lean physique, he paired it with black Harlem trousers and sleek all-black shoes. The crystals seized Kai's attention with their captivating allure, evoking memories of her own crystal bracelets back at home. Temptation tugged at her, prompting her to rise off the bed. Wrapping a sheet tight around her body like Roman times, Kai approached with her hand reaching out, but the young man intercepted her with his own, gently warding off the connection before it could be made.
"With all due respect, you should never touch someone else's crystals," he stated, his words firm yet empathetic. "They should only remain in your space, untainted by another's energy." He spoke as if he lived by the sacred energies encapsulated within the crystals.
"I'm sorry. They remind me of my crystal bracelets back home. I usually wear them every day, but I forgot to put them back on before heading to school that day," Kai said, snatching her hand away.
"By the way this room looks, you wouldn't think they take care of you. But your skin is so soft and clean; I mean, you look healthy and radiant, " the mysterious man said, scanning around the room and then back at her radiant, healthy skin.
"Actually, they don't. My skin is naturally like this, but thank you. I don't know how long it's been since I ate, and I get water every now and then."
"Naturally? I have encountered a fair amount of human traffic before and can tell you now. No one's Natural skin shows anymore, but it looks like you have 5-star meals, spa treatments, and a good hairstylist. Who are you?"
Kai lowered her head and walked back towards the bed. "If you wanted to see that, you should have come yesterday. It felt like I was on my deathbed. As far as my hair, I keep it braided and in a bun, and it has been that way for weeks. I don't exactly have a comb or brush lying around here. And grumpy out there, don't take shopping requests."
The young man couldn't look away; his gaze locked on Kai with fascination and disbelief. The state of her living conditions and her claims about how she had been treated didn't add up. This room was worse than the aftermath of a wild swinger's party on a really good night, yet here she stood—this impossibly beautiful girl with skin that seemed almost otherworldly—in the middle of the room, swearing she hadn't done anything.
Taking a step back, he tried to grasp the entirety of her presence. His eyes trailed to her hair, and he wondered if it had been dyed, though Kai had no idea what he was talking about. She hadn't touched or even seen her hair since before the first time she transformed into that cloud-like state. Yet now, it was a mesmerizing fusion of lavender and baby blue, strands intricately woven like vibrant petals shaken and stirred into a bowl, making a seamless blend. The hues danced and mingled, distinct yet harmoniously entwined, creating a dreamy, almost surreal effect. Though, as far as Kai knew, her hair was still black.
The young man had seen girls with half-and-half or ombré hair before, but this was entirely more masterful and time-consuming. Her hair, eyes, skin—everything about her seemed to merge into a stunning yet unusual, serene, and powerful presence. Just looking at her, he knew she was unreal.
"Weird question, but does your mother or father also look like this? I just don't find this human-like. Where are you from, and what is your name?" the young man asked curiously.
Kai's eyes squinted in annoyance as she began to feel like she was being interrogated, and knew she had to answer or face the Sheriff later. "What's with the questions? I mean, I'll answer, but now that I think about it, you are chatty and wasting time. Which can work for me," She thought, her eyes widening like an idea. "My name is Kai; no, my parents do not have skin like me; my parents have a pale ivory skin tone if that's what you're asking. Now, let's stop beating around the bush. You want me to tell you how I can do what I can do, tell you how I'm special, I can do this and that, and I'm not from this planet. Well then, this conversation won't be long after all because I can't. I don't know anything. All this started with a kiss; I had never kissed anyone before, so how would I know I had powers? You don't exactly tongue kiss your parents."
"Wow," The young man thought as Kai continued to ramble.
"This whole time, I thought my family was my real family. It turns out I was adopted at two years old. What kind of parent abandons their two-year-old daughter? Were my terrible twos that bad? Apparently not if another couple just scooped me right up. I can't even remember my biological people, do I even want to remember them? I mean, of course, I do, but do I? I'm 18, and this was supposed to be my last year in school. I was raised in Alaska, where my parents found me. So, if that answers your question, I guess I'm an Alaskan. Is that where I was born? Maybe not, but that is where my new life began. My dad was in the Marines and stationed in Alaska at the time to check on recruits' training. My mom was a Wildlife ranger. When my grandpa was dying four years ago, we moved to his house just outside of Tacoma, California, to take care of him. He died the following year, leaving everything to his son, my dad."
Suddenly, Kai stopped talking and paused for a minute, "Wait... I've read about this," she thought, realizing her mouth was running away from her. "I'm mentally overloaded. That's why I'm being a Chatty Cathy even after calling him out. Just... play it cool." She straightened her posture, took a deep breath, and gained control. Or so she thought because her following words came out extremely aggressive, "Why are you all in my business? What do you want?"
"Woah, what?" The young man stepped back defensively. "Yeah, I asked some questions, but you were the one who pre-read my intentions and took it upon yourself to fill me in. If it makes you feel better, I can tell you a little about me."
Kai stared and remained silent.
"My name is Torin. Nice to meet you, Kai. I did have some more questions, some of which you answered by yourself. I came to"
Before Torin could continue, a faint muffled knock, followed by the rattling from the doorknob, interrupted the conversation. Torin quickly put back on his hooded coat, and Kai jolted to the bed. Getting into the restrained position, as the knock came again, louder this time, more forceful.
"Yes?" Torin asked, cracking the door only to show the hood that covered his face.
A hand pressed against the door, attempting to push its way inside for a clearer view. With a narrowed gaze, the Sheriff asked, his voice laced with suspicion, "Is everything okay in here? She isn't refusing. Is she?"
"No, I just thought we'd talk a bit. Get to know her a little before... you know," Torin replied, revealing that he had nothing to hide.
The responses only made the Sheriff more suspicious of the situation because he hadn't had a client walk into that room to talk yet. He burst through the door and grabbed Torin by the back of his coat. "Talk? What are you, the government? Your record was a bit too clean for you to be somewhere like this! Going to jail for public disruption and spreading crazy beliefs don't count."
Politely, Torin removed the Sheriff's hand. "No! If I were the police, the moment I saw the state of this filthy room! We wouldn't be talking here. Now, I have paid for my time and will use it how I wish. As far as going over my time, I'll pay double for the next three people you have appointed. I'm sure people with dirtier records will understand money talks."
"Yeah? You make sure that transaction goes through because I have another room and bed if it doesn't. And the sick bastards coming here are gender blind, if you know what I mean," the Sheriff laughed as he closed the door.
Kai all tensed up, relaxed, and eased back onto the bed, a subtle grace in her movements as she began to shed her sheet—an act ingrained in her routine when attending to a customer. With a soft voice that carried an air of both familiarity and inquiry, she spoke, "You heard him. So, how do you want me, and you never told me what you needed to be healed?" The question hung in the air, an invitation for Torin to unveil the intentions that brought him into the Sanctuary of Kai's extraordinary abilities.
"Wow, um yeah, P...Please cover yourself." Torin said, covering his eyes and turning away. "Look, I don't know what you are, but you wield incredible power. I stumbled upon a message circulating in the black market—an invitation for anyone to get a taste of a girl with extraordinary healing abilities. I was skeptical about the healing part, yet curious and anxious. I first thought this was a clever ruse to lure someone into a dangerous situation with a shiny advertisement. But apparently, some of your clients, including one cured of HIV, expressed how true the rumors were and how the Sheriff explained the sexual tactics in which to be healed. I want to say I'm genuinely sorry, just based on the little I heard.
Here's some good news: luckily, I managed to beat the more sinister groups to your doorstep. The Sheriff is a beginner who got extremely lucky, but there are others in this sick profession who would have done far worse."
Kai instantly clothed herself in the sheet. "Didn't you just say you knew a little? You don't know anything about my situation. How can you tell me what's worse? You just said I cured someone with HIV. Okay, he's cured, but does it look like I'm receiving medical treatment?"
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to offend you. I assumed you could heal yourself."
I just told you I was on my deathbed not too long ago; stop assuming. Just because I'm fine now doesn't mean I'm not sick or dying still. I don't know how this healing thing works, do you? What if it's not healing? What if it's some sort of exchange? I take what they have and give them a part of my health. And besides that, do you know how many people come here daily? Do you know what they have and what they do? Can you imagine how scary it is seeing some gangster who has been shot up, bleeding to death, asking you to come sit on his face as he is coughing up blood? And when you don't do it, you're hit in the face with a gun and told, 'you could sit on him or lie next to him in the same condition.' Then, after feeling the man's bloody tongue, he hopped up fully energized and told you to turn around and bend over like he wasn't dying on the floor. No? You want a true rumor, there's one just for you. Don't tell me what could have been worse!"
Torin lowered his head, "I'm sorry, no excuse, I should have said that better. You see, my mission is to travel and save as many people as I can. As a side and bonus mission of my own beliefs, I think some humans are descendants of gods; it sounds silly, I know, but I'm a very spiritual person, and that's what I believe. And we all need to stick together to face those who manipulate us, those who seek to control. We need to have each other's backs! My ultimate goal is to unlock the God-like abilities within myself and others like me."
"Are you stupid? What are you talking about? My situation is real, and you're talking about beliefs. Don't get me wrong; I'm open-minded and have nothing against your beliefs. But to me, it sounds like you're only helping people you think have powers. So, if I didn't, you wouldn't be standing here. Do you see how that sounds? There is someone just like me whom you probably passed on the way here.
"No, I do save people. It just so happens that you appeared in the recent gossip, which drew me here."
"I already told you. I can't control it if that's what you're betting on. But if you save people, as you said. My hands are free, and I'm on board. The plan couldn't be easier, so let's get out of here." The words spilled out of Kai's lips, sticking close to the only words that interested her.
"Yes, I do save people, and I will save you, but I don't have all the answers now, so I'm unsure how to get you out."
"What do you mean, I'm unsure? We tell him to come in and rush him together. What's to be unsure about? I'm kind of strong. I will help."
"Kai, you said he had a gun. Otherwise, there is no way he could keep someone as strong as you inside."
"Usually, his son is here, and two people versus one gun are better odds. It's okay. One of us will have to take a bullet or two; that's fine."
Torin, shocked and frustrated, raised both hands in the air. " What is your definition of fine? Because that's no way in hell fine."
Kai, on a roll, walks closer to Torin, feeling the power of persuasion. "If you get shot, I can heal," she says, grabbing his arm firmly. I can easily heal you with a kiss; it's the least I can do compared to what has happened. If I get shot, fine, a fair price to pay for free. That or stay here and be damaged physically, mentally, and emotionally."
Torin stared at Kai for a while, thinking she may have been locked up for too long and needed mental help. He then grabbed her arms firmly, "Look, I will figure it out and come back. I just needed to meet you and see the situation myself," Torin said, turning to gather his stuff as he approached the door.
"COME BACK?!"
"Quiet down," Torin quickly turned around.
"The walls are soundproof! " She shouted at the top of her lungs. Why don't we leave now if you're here to rescue me?"
The Sheriff cracked the door, not peeking in; only his voice pierced through with a fierce urgency: "Hey, your time is almost up. I don't know if you started, but I hope it was worth it if you're all talk. But if you're too small and don't get healed, don't expect a refund!" Quickly, he closed the door back.
"Look, so much is going on that you don't even know, but this is a big discovery. Your existence proves my theory correct and could help me, but I need to gather more information. Secondly, I'm running out of time here trying to fill you in on everything. My theory is that I believe the Gods of this version of Earth are the Gods of Egyptian mythology. I don't have any proof; it's just one of my theories. And I think some of us are descendants of those Gods." His words tinged with urgency and the weight of uncharted revelations.
Kai became confused and frustrated as she thought Torin was toying with her." Alternate Earth?! I need saving, and you're talking to me about alternate Earth and Mythology theories? Are you serious right now?!" Kai used both hands to grab her hair. "This is what I get for entertaining him; lie back down and rock yourself to sleep," she thought.
"Look, I have to make a plan. I will be back in about three days to get you."
"Three days! Did you not hear what I just told you? I will have to endure this for three more days. I've got to stop talking to you!" Kai said, wiping her face. "You're just as bad for my health."
"You are stronger than you give yourself credit for."
"Strong! Forget about the Sheriff. Some guys come in here not for healing but because they get off on breaking strong spirits. A guy came in once and told the Sheriff to unchain me. He got off by girls who could go toe to toe with him in a fight. Oh, and I had so much anger stored; for a split second, I was happy. However, the Sheriff told him no; he told the guy he could ruff me up during sex, but this wasn't a backyard fight club.
"Wait, you were going to fight him," Torin asked with concern.
"Was I going to fight him? Yeah, I have been locked in here for weeks, maybe months. Hell, it feels like forever, and someone comes in and says we can take all our anger and frustration out on each other. You telling me you won't! Now, I don't know what kind of week he had, but oh, I know what kind of week I had, and I also knew the next week to come. I would have tried my best to make him wish he had never approached this cabin." Kai said, walking up toward Torin.
"Okay, back up and calm down. I see what you mean. All I was saying was that you're too pretty and smart to be doing that. Now I'm coming back to help. I just need a plan that's not reckless."
"Calm down? Don't tell me to calm down! I'm locked in a cage, barely fed but quick to sell." Kai shouted. "What do you want me to do, continue acting frail and just roll over? My life wasn't good before I came here; I'm pissed, hurt, and literally begging for help. This is the first time I have had my arms free." She said, raising her hands to show the bruises. "Usually, I'm chained and can't do anything. I'm ready to get out of here, and the moment I have help," Kai walks up to shove Torin. "The male in front of me is acting like the private between my legs! You talk about these gods," she said, approaching him again.
"How does that help me, and why do they allow all this to happen under their watch? I have never done wrong to anyone, yet here I am, kidnapped for sex trafficking," she screams in his face before shoving him again. "You got my hopes up high, thinking you were about to save me. Here you are dressed like some badass, but you are just some teenager who thinks he's grown because he's eighteen. Pretty and smart! That went out the window long ago, so I ask you again. What do you want me to do for three days? Continue acting frail, and roll over? Kai's words were fueled by frustration and disappointment at her savior being an illusion.
Torin was displeased about Kai's tone after admitting he was sorry about being unable to help. This caused him to snap back. "Stop pushing me," he said, standing tall, but Kai was still looking at him eye to eye. "Look, don't put all of your frustration on me. If you want to be disappointed in someone, be dissatisfied with yourself. I can tell you are at least five-eleven if not six feet. You're looking at me eye to eye, which can be intimidating to most men. Especially men like that crook, on the other side of the door, who is shorter. I'm sure he told you that if you attempted to escape or put up a fight, he would kill you. Still, you choose to lie helplessly on your back, playing the victim role."
Kai's face turned into a mug, and her fist began to ball. Still, Torin continued, "You're smart, you have abilities, living proof of the supernatural, and instead of figuring out how to use them to your advantage. You come up with slogans like, 'How do you want me?'"
Before Torin could register what had happened, Kai's fist hit him square in the nose. The impact sent a blinding burst of pain through his head, and the world tilted as he stumbled backward, crashing into the padded wall with a muffled thud. His eyes watering as blood trickled from his nostrils.
Torin used his shirt to wipe his nose and quickly slipped on his Jacket to cover his face. "I will return in three days, take it, or continue staying here." A mix of frustration fueled Torin's response.
Torin storms out the door and tells the Sheriff that he will return soon. "I was right. He was too small to be healed. It marks the first time I had a customer leave without being hypnotized by that girl," the Sheriff comments. Without wasting time, he begins shutting everything down before heading to work. To the Sheriff, the day is still young, and his face hints at his satisfaction with free money.