Chapter 3 3

Arie

It's embarrassing how many times I've pressed replay on the same song since I first started playing it, a mere ten minutes ago.

Overplaying songs has to be one of my worst habits but I just can't seem to stop doing it. This is exactly why I end up getting bored of songs after a while - I do it all to myself.

I reluctantly decided to skip I Hate U by SZA and select Crying Lightning by Artic Monkeys instead. My taste in music is honestly all over the place. I'll listen to any style, any singer, from any year.

Crossing my leg over the other, I shift on my bed as I lay on my back, continuing to flick through some of the pictures I took at a wedding last weekend. With my camera in hand, I smile to myself, knowing that this couple is going to have these pictures of their special day to keep forever.

Since attending the event at Gallery by Damon last year, I've been so blessed with numerous opportunities to further my career.

I met some incredibly talented people and made some new connections in the photography industry. I learned more and discovered more about myself as a person and as a photographer.

Everything in my life seems to be just perfect right now. It's as though all the things I dreamed about as a child are finally coming true.

A warm smile finds its way onto my face as I turn the camera off, sitting up and getting off my bed. I reach down to my shoes and slip them on, briefly pausing the music playing in my earphones.

Hooking the strap of my camera over my head, I hang it around my neck and walk over to my small vanity table, picking up a small hair tie and putting my hair into a messy bun.

I think I have finally managed to master doing the perfect messy bun. Believe it or not, it's taken a lot of practice and dozens of re-watched TikTok tutorials, but I've finally got there.

It's not as easy as it looks, I'll tell you that much. One time you try to do it and it's too scruffy, so you take it out and try again only for it to be too neat, so then you back at square one again. You have to have the right amount of strands hanging and enough hair in the actual bun, otherwise it just looks floppy and you may as well just put it in a ponytail or something.

Satisfied with my hair, I pick up my purse and phone before heading out of my apartment. It took me a considerable amount of time trying to find the perfect place in a city like New York. For a start, I could barely afford anything that even remotely caught my attention.

It was challenging, I can't deny that, but after a lot of saving and cutting down on things, I finally managed to collect enough money to get myself a place. The rent isn't too pricey, and with the money I earn from freelancing, I'm able to have this apartment all to myself.

To say I managed to do all of this on my own and without any financial help makes me feel pretty damn proud, and I'm not going to knock myself down and complain about its size because although it may be on the smaller side, it's still perfect for me.

It has everything I could need; a kitchen, living area, bathroom and bedroom. As long as I'm safe, have a bed to sleep in, and have food in my refrigerator, I consider myself extremely fortunate.

As I make my way out of my bedroom and towards the kitchen, I notice Martinez sitting on the back of the couch, washing his paws. I approach him, stroking his head as he purrs into my hand.

He is a Siberian cat, with white fur, grey ears, paws, and a tail with bright blue eyes. To be honest, I don't even know where the name Martinez came from or how I even started to call him it. I guess it just came naturally and stuck.

"Hey, boy." I greet him softly as he looks up at me. "Oh no, don't go giving me those eyes," I tell him playfully and he continues to purr as I give him one last stroke.

Martinez is a really good little cat and just lounges around the apartment all day. I've been so lucky with him. He's never tried to scratch any of my furniture, only using his scratching post and jungle gym.

Life can often get a little lonely sometimes, so he's a good companion to have around and keeps me company.

"I won't be long," I tell him before motioning my head towards his food bowl. "Go have some breakfast and I'll be back before you know it," I add, bending down and kissing his head.

Turning on my feet, I grab my keys from the counter and head down the small hallway before exiting the apartment. I glance down at my phone and resume playing my music. The previous song comes to an end and R.I.P 2 My Youth by The Neighbourhood begins to play next.

Jesse is such an amazing artist and I just love him and The Neighbourhood in general really. They don't have one bad song, and that's a fact.

Once I've left my apartment building, I take the short walk to Cuppa Jo, my local coffee shop. I must be one of their most loyal customers because I don't go a day without stopping by here for my daily dose of caffeine.

This is my usual morning routine. Get up, shower, and get dressed before heading out to get coffee. As sad as it may sound, I don't have many friends. The only one I do have lives with her boyfriend and doesn't have a lot of time for me now. We used to see each other all the time but now I'm lucky if I even receive a text from her during the week.

Don't get me wrong, I completely understand that we're growing adults and we're no longer teenagers anymore, but I just think it's important to keep in contact with your friends even when you're in a relationship. Especially considering she's my only friend too, and vice versa.

Still, never mind I guess. As I said, I have Martinez to keep me company.. even if he is a cat.

After stopping by Cuppa Jo, I take my coffee and head out to the park. The sun is out today and the sky is a soft blue, with scattered clouds. It's unusual weather for January but I'll accept it.

As long as I'm not stuck out in the rain, I don't mind it being a little sunny like this. Even if it is still cold.

I find a nice spot by one of the many trees here and sit down, making myself comfortable. My music abruptly stops playing in my ears, followed by the sound of my ringtone as I glance down at the screen, noticing my mom is calling me.

Answering her call, I greet her happily. "Hey, mom."

"Hi honey, how are you?"

"All good thanks, you? How is work?" I reply.

She lets out a faint laugh which makes me smile. "Oh you know, same old, same old."

My mom is a principal at the local elementary school and surprisingly loves her job. How she can cope with taking on as much as she does on a day-to-day basis and be around all those children genuinely amazes me.

"What are you up to today?" She asks.

I hold the camera up to my eye and take another shot. "Just in the park taking some pictures," I reply as I take a photo of a butterfly as it flies past a tree.

We continue speaking about different things such as her book club which she's so obsessed with. It's nice to see her actually doing something and finding a hobby. It makes her happy and that's good enough for me.

"So what's the book at the moment?" I ask as I adjust my lens.

"Far from the Tree by Robin Benway." She replies enthusiastically.

She proceeds to tell me how it's about a girl named Grace who was adopted as an only child and discovers she is in fact a middle child. She puts her own baby up for adoption, and goes to look for her biological family.

She goes on to say that it is an emotional journey about people trying to find themselves after being in the social care system, and a lighthearted read.

"Well I'm glad you're enjoying it." I say truthfully as I continue looking for things to photograph.

I snap one last photo before leaning back on my elbows and flicking through all the ones I've just taken. Some birds, some of the sky and others of buildings which I thought looked quite aesthetically pleasing.

Just as I go to turn the camera off, something catches my eye in the last picture I took. Zooming in on the camera, I spot a group of men in the background. There's roughly six of them, two dressed in all black clothing with dark hair.

I'm no detective, but they seem to be participating in some sort of exchange.

Wait a minute. Is that a gun?

Shit.

What the hell are they doing?

Furrowing my brows, I glance back up from the camera and in the direction of the men, noticing some of them getting into a car, but one of them looking directly at me.

Oh fuck.

Oh my god.

"Uh mom, I've gotta go." I mumble. "I'll speak to you soon." I add before disconnecting the call as I continue to stare at the man.

He says something to one of the other men and he too, looks in my direction. Quickly making the decision to get the hell out of here, I hastily collect all my things, standing up from the grass and making a run for it.

I don't even bother looking back as I make my way through the busy streets, trying my best to blend in with the constant rushing crowds.

I have no idea what I just witnessed, or what I caught on my camera, but one thing I know for sure is that it wasn't anything legal.

Soon enough I reach my apartment building and rush inside, pulling my earphones from my ears and repeatedly pushing the button on the elevator in the hopes it would make the doors open faster.

Once they do, I step inside and head up to my floor, quickly making my way down the hall and to my apartment where I make sure to double lock the door when I close it behind me.

I pace back and forth, chewing on my fingernails as I try to process what just happened. What could it have been? Just a few men having a casual conversation? One just happening to pass something to another?

Or was it something more? Something bad?

Suddenly a loud knocking on my door startles me, causing my heart to literally jump into my throat as I freeze, staring straight ahead at the door.

The knocking continues and my hands begin to grow clammy. Shit shit shit. This isn't good.

Cautiously making my way over to the door, I look through the peephole and see the two men from the park standing on the other side.

My heart thuds in my chest as I grow increasingly anxious. Who the hell even are those people and what do they want with me?

"We know you're in there." A deep, unfamiliar voice calls out in an accent and sadistic tone.

I take a few steps away from the door, my eyes wide with fear. "Who are you?" I ask with a shaky voice.

"The big bad wolf." He replies sarcastically.

My eyes widen and I glance around the room in a panic, not knowing what to do.

I decide to run towards the table where my phone is placed and dial 911. Just as I'm tapping in the first number, the man speaks again.

"Now, now.. I probably wouldn't try to call the big scary boys in blue. That definitely wouldn't help your situation." He calls from the other side of the door.

My head instantly snaps up in the direction of the door, my breathing growing more and more erratic with each passing second. Reluctantly I put the phone down and gulp heavily.

"You have five seconds to open this door or it will be kicked down." He threatens.

He begins to count from one but barely even reaches three before a huge crushing scares me so much, that I scream in fright. The two men storm through my apartment, somehow knocking the door right off the hinges, along with the security chain.

The two of them walk over to me, cornering me by the wall and exchange a look with each other.

"Now now, what do we have here?"