Chapter 1: No Good Deed

Matthew Reid - Saturday, June 13th, 2015

"You bitch! Get back here! You don't walk away from me, cunt!"

The summer afternoon suddenly felt much darker. I was walking home from the meetup, sun still out, wondering if I could scrounge up enough loose change in my apartment to fill a growler at the brewery. A couple of the older members were getting together in a few hours for a dozen or so drinks. My night was looking good and uncharacteristically social. Nine bucks, I damn well better be able to swing that. My thoughts of poverty and intemperance disappeared as hate-filled words thundered over my shoulder.

There was a girl ahead of me: short blond hair and pretty cute. She gave one shuddering look over her shoulder; I tried to smile but she was looking right through me. I followed her eyes. The man had to have nearly twenty years on me, maybe another decade on the girl. His hair was wild and he needed a shave, not that I was any standard for grooming myself. I stopped scratching my overgrown beard. He kept on shouting.

"Cunt! I never told you to leave!"

At least he wasn't running after her. She was picking up her pace. Trying to keep enough cool that she just didn't sprint in a panic through the crosswalk and in front of a truck. I would have passed her if she wasn't freaking out. I always found myself keeping a faster pace than other pedestrians. She flashed another look back over her shoulder. I tried smiling again. I guess I'm an ass; I never thought to call 911.

"It isn't like you've got anywhere to go, slut!"

The shit he was spitting was just vile. I never heard that kind of vitriol with that kind of conviction in my life. How the fuck do you get that angry? The sign said don't walk and I could see the girl looking up and down the street, terrified and hoping for a break in the rush hour traffic. I just nearly caught up when the amber light arrested the wall of cars. She rushed across as soon as there was a clear break in traffic. A heartbeat before the light changed. I looked back, the shouting man hadn't closed much distance. I was about half a block from home.

She kept up her pace, weaving around a pair of black men.

"Stop, cunt! Stop!"

"Lovely neighborhood, isn't it?" I said to the guys as they winced at the shouts.

"Love the down home sense of community." The taller one matched my sarcasm.

Then they stepped around me on my left and I was walking after the girl the again. She had her shoulders hunched and her arms crossed in front of her. She refused to look back anymore. She was visibly shaking. I hurried up in three long strides to get next to her. My apartment building was just ahead on the right with two more matching towers ahead.

"Do you want to duck in the building? Maybe call a friend or something to walk you the rest of the way home?" I think my offer surprised her. She staggered a couple of steps before she looked up at me. I tried my smile again. Third time's a charm.

"I just live in tower 3." She pointed across the parking lot.

"Come in with me, anyways." I normally have a stutter when talking to women or prospective employers but I managed to sound confident. "Call a friend, you shouldn't be home alone right now. It won't take long before he finds someone to hold the door open for him."

"Yeah," She flinched at the latest insult. "But I don't know you and--"

"My name's Matthew, so now you know me," I shook my head, "There's some seats in the lobby. I can sit with you if you want or you can just wait for whoever you call."

"Fine," She agreed. I turned up to see the shouting man jogging around the fence. I held open the front door for her. I swiped her in and let the inner door fall closed behind her. It was only a second or two before the man showed up at the foyer.

"What's the slut doing in there!" He snarled.

"It's not your business. And I'm sure as shit not letting you in where I live. I think it's time you head home."

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" He had this baseline of anger. I was not prepared for a confrontation; I'd have much rather let him rampage past me than face off with him but I didn't move.

"Turn around, sir," I managed to keep a bite in my tongue as I affected politeness.

"Listen, you don't know the bitch!"

"I don't know you either," I said calmly. My palms had started to sweat, "But I can see that you're in no state that I would let near anyone else. Go home."

"You fucking idiot." Full stop. He snarled, but he did turn and he did leave. The steel and glass door didn't slam only because of the arm that prevented it. I took a deep breath. I took three more. I swiped myself into the building. I looked over my shoulder and took another deep breath as the door shut.

"Thanks, Matthew."

I looked over to see the girl by the elevators, out of the line of sight from the entryway. She looked to be in her early or mid twenties. Her hair was cut close to her skull, boyish but still feminine. She had gray blue eyes, they didn't meet my own for more than a heartbeat. She was dressed a little warm for the start of summer. Baggy jeans and an unzipped zip up sweater over a black t-shirt. Her white sneakers looked beat to hell. She was fiddling with a gold bracelet on her right wrist. I could see a matching one on her left.

"No worries," I looked at her. "Do you have someone you can call?"

"I don't have my phone," Her voice was quiet and low. I reached in my pocket and pulled out my ancient Motorola flip phone. It was a good phone, provided I didn't mind taking forever to type on a number pad. I could probably afford an upgrade but I had no interest in dealing with my phone company. She looked at me like I was impossible. For a second anyways, before she quickly looked away from my eyes.

"I'll wait here with you, or you can come up to my apartment, or I can leave you alone," I offered the third one because she seemed really skittish. I really didn't want to. She was shaken up and I was worried. She could be in danger and I could be help. She was cute and I was selfish. I hated myself for a moment.

"Can we go up to your apartment?" She asked. "I'd like to be behind another locked door."

"Sure, follow me," It was one of the rare times when one of the elevators was waiting on main. I pressed the seventeenth floor and we rode up in silence. I gave her another smile. She looked away again. We arrived on the top floor, these apartments were no different than any of the others in the building. "Welcome to the penthouse."

My roommates were out. The place was a mess. I held the door open and felt a bit creepy myself when I locked and chained the door. I think this might have been the first time the chain was used in the years since I lived here. "Washroom's down the hall on your left. There might be something to snack on in the fridge."

She took my phone into the washroom. I hurried out to the living room and quickly started tossing the empty beer bottles and delivery containers into garbage bags. I made sure to clear off our couch. I even flipped one of the cushions. I made a halfway decent dent in the mess. She wandered out.

"Thanks," she passed me back my phone. I smiled again. She didn't immediately look away this time, but she soon looked down towards her feet.

"You've got a friend coming?"

"A sister," She answered snappishly. I was surprised but gave her my patience.

"If you want to kill some time. We've got Lego Batman on the X-Box or Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U." I wasn't much of a gamer and those were the only multiplayer games in the apartment I liked to play.

She said, "Thank you, no. I'll just wait."

She hadn't offered her name. I really wanted to ask. She was still quite insulated and I wasn't sure if I should push that. I settled down on one corner of the couch. She took the other. It was a beautiful day out. I mentioned this. She agreed. It was quiet again. A half dozen conversation starters were born and died in my brain never to see the light of day. She just waited. The apartment phone rang.

I gave her a look and then picked up the receiver. "Hello."

"Is this the Matthew that picked up Sara?" The voice echoed as it was coming from the callbox in the foyer. I looked over my shoulder.

"Sara?" I asked. The girl nodded. "Yeah, she's here. Apartment 1707."

"I'll be right up to get her." The voice promised as I pushed the keypad to buzz her in.

"Your sister's on her way." I told the newly named Sara.

"I'll get out of your hair," Sara stood up and crossed out of the living room towards the door. I walked after her. She was putting her sneakers back on, tying the laces. I was still wearing mine.

"Look, Sara, you're not in my hair. I saw the opportunity to do something nice and I'm glad I helped you out. If you need anything else, I'll be home all night."

I guess I had decided to ditch the drinking party. I was sure I'd be missed. I'd certainly miss the guys, but there'd be another one in a month or so.

"You don't have to be so nice." She wouldn't look up even after her shoes were tied.

"Yes, I do," I brought back the smile, "You've never met my mom."

I think I saw the first reciprocation of my good feelings as a smile almost bloomed on her lips. She stood up, giving me a lookover from my feet to my nose, stopping before she actually met my eyes. It was frustrating. I really wanted to grab her chin and push her face up. She had no need to be scared of me. I didn't even consider it. Sara seemed way too fragile. I didn't think touching her would be taken very well. The knock on my door was quick and hard. Sara stepped back from the door. I smiled at her and looked through the peephole, another piece of door technology that had gone unused since I had moved in. On the other side was a tall dark haired woman who looked nothing like Sara. She also appeared a little older than myself. My sisters looked like me but with considerably less facial hair. I looked to Sara.

"Is your sister a tall brunette?"

"Yeah, that's Carmen," She nodded. She snuck around me and pulled the chain back. She slipped around the door and hurried into the hallway.

"You're not going to intro--" The door shut on Carmen's question. I immediately deflated. I had no idea that that whole event could have left me so drained. I used the peephole once again but the girls had already hurried off to the elevator. I turned and looked at the kitchen.

"Wait to go, Matthew," I growled at myself, "You face the ogre and save the damsel in distress and then bring her back to a goddamned sty."

The kitchen was a mess. All of the dishes we owned were in or piled up next to the sink. There was garbage all over the counters and the table was stacked with wrappers and papers. The floor hadn't been mopped in eleven months. No wonder she dashed out of here.

I was worried about how everything would play out. I had no way to check in on her either. I knew she was in tower three but there were a hundred and fifty apartment units per tower. I only had the name Sara which, at this point, I assumed was spelled with an H. She only had the name Matthew. She could have had my phone number. My eyes lit up.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket. There was one possibility. Hoping against hope, I scrolled through my contacts. No, she hadn't added herself. She might not have seen the kitchen before she had made her call. At least the bathroom was presentable. Assuming Craps hadn't left his boxers in there after his shower this morning. Well, if nothing I had a story. I scrolled back up to Geoff.

"Can't make the party. Too busy saving women. I'm a hero."

"Fuck u pussy drink!" Came the near immediate reply. I smirked and chortled. I walked away from the kitchen's mess and meandered back to the couch.

Sara Saint - Saturday, June 13th 2015

I had thrown the deadbolt and had hitched the chain behind Carmen. Today had been hell. Lewis had matched what I was looking for. I had done my homework. There wasn't supposed to be any mistakes. Lewis was the right guy; Carmen had agreed with me. And I was wrong! Again! At least I got away early this time. No more tattoos, no more piercings and no more physical scars.

I was terrified to think what would have happened if Lewis had caught me. Maybe I was too picky? It wasn't like things had been good with Him. He had been callous and heavy handed, but somehow it had felt right. It had felt good. I needed the unthinkable. I needed Him. I needed another man just like Him. Carmen understood. She was also searching for some way to ease the dead weight in her heart. I crossed through my studio apartment, it was bare but for the essentials. A bed on the left wall. A chair under the window. A closet full of fetish gear and my street clothes and a kitchen empty of any utensils but a sauce pot, a water glass, a soup spoon and a cereal bowl. I hadn't even picked up a curtain for my shower.

"Not Lewis then?" Carmen sat on the foot of my bed and began pulling off her boots. I started pacing up and down the flat.

"No! He couldn't make me feel anything! Why! Why was it Him who made me feel this way?" I didn't need to hold back the tears. I learned long ago that I wouldn't cry, never for Him.

"Hold on," Carmen begged, leading forward with elbows on her knees, "Tell me about Lewis."

"It started out fine," I flopped down into my chair, "He couldn't make me cum, but he was almost sweet."

"Why didn't you leave then?"

"You know I had to be certain!" I squealed. I felt my cheeks flashing in anger and embarrassment at the noise, "I pretended it was a game at first. I told him I was helpless if he touched my bracelets together. He liked it, fuck did he like it. It was good sex, but still felt like nothing. He didn't break them apart when he was done with me. My wrists were caught behind my back. I had to sleep like that. My shoulders were killing me when he finally woke up. After another round that morning, he put it together that it wasn't just a game."

"How long?" Carmen sounded sympathetic, but I knew better.

"Four days. He tried to leave me restrained when he went to work or whatever. I woke up this morning and I guess he went out to meet someone for breakfast; I think he was trying to prostitute me. I didn't move right away, because I worried he was in the shower or just outside. I cleaned up, probably should have just ran off right away but--"

"A filthy slut can't, literally, be filthy," recited Carmen.

"Yeah. I had barely pulled any of my clothes on when I saw his car pulling in from out the bedroom window. He only lives on the third floor, but he always takes the elevator. I never grabbed my other stuff and bypassed him with the stairwell. He must have saw me out the window when I cut across the parking lot. Oh God! What if I had let him get in here! Oh God!"

"Shhh, it's OK now," Carmen slipped across the room and hugged me while I hugged my knees to my chest. Her smell hit me, she was using new shampoo; I definitely preferred this to her old apricot flavor. Getting wet reminded me of how hard Lewis had used me. I pushed Carmen away for the moment. She was grinning that grin that always got under my skin. She walked back to my bed and sat down. She shimmied up from the foot, reclining back on her hands and dangling her mismatched ankle socks over the edge. I hissed more than sighed. I put my feet back down on the floor. I wasn't ready to join her yet. She falsely pouted. She sat up straighter.

"So what about this new guy? Matthew?" Carmen began unbuttoning her blouse as she spoke. My cunt still ached from the last few days and the slut was just dying to jab her pretty fingers in me. I couldn't help it, neither could she. I still resented her for this. I shrugged out of my hoodie. I was so glad I hadn't taken the enchanted one. One of His Things I had taken from His home in the aftermath. The violin and the music box were sitting on the floor next to my armchair. Fuck, Lewis had my scarf. I looked up towards Carmen and instantly realized I wasn't going to tell her that.

"He just offered me a place to duck into until you could make it," I sighed pulling up my tank top, "No one important."

"Maybe that's what you need?" She suggested like she didn't need it too.

"I need to find someone like Him. He was never unimportant."

"Not to us," Carmen formed words I struggled to process. Another one of His gifts no doubt. I fiddled with my bracelets as I picked apart her words.

"Oh God!" I moaned around a headache. I dipped my face in my hands. I could only ever think like this around my sisters. Only the girls He had chosen young had it as bad. Carmen actually could keep herself employed. Even if she was technically working for His foundation. I'd run out of his generosity in two years at best. I needed to find, the taste in my mouth made me grimace, His replacement.

"Sara," Carmen whispered. She rolled her shoulders, letting her top halo around her hips. Her nipples were fighting the confines of her half cup bra, "It's not like it will hurt worse looking into a nice unimportant guy."

Four days, hard used and unfulfilled, left a a hunger in me. His lust scurried through my mind like a parasite. Love your sisters when you need Me. He was such a bastard. I licked my lips.

Carmen grinned as she sunk back into the bed. I was coming across the room now. I unfastened my bra. I stepped on it before I climbed onto the bed.