07-23-2014, 07:05 PM
Dane found himself standing with the hotel clerks, watching the video splayed along the glass wall behind the desk. Two women, dark haired and beautiful, were also watching, but neither had yet to turn to greet him. They were too absorbed in the horror billowing up from the US Embassy in clouds of black smoke.
Dane stifled his satisfaction and began to turn away. Lunch was on his mind, and he was interested in seeking out another fruit drink he'd ordered yesterday.
Then the two girls muted the video and began to chatter among themselves, still primarily having ignored his presence. Dane did not mind as he walked away. They were preoccupied with him whether they knew it or not.
Until something caught his ear. He paused and turned back.
"What? Did you say the cartels bombed the embassy?"
His face was deadpan, his voice cool.
The first woman, with short black hair that curled around her ears in a pixie cut nodded with tears on her eyes. Her name badge read Jazmín. "Yes. That is what they are saying on the news."
The second woman wore her dark hair in a tight bun above a narrow black dress. Her name tag read Madeleine. "They say it was revenge, Senor Gregory. The cartels against Senor Oakland. To discredit him. To bring us war with the USA."
She shook her head and exchanged a look of fear with Jazmin.
Dane felt his fists clench. "They don't have proof,"
he replied. He knew that without a shadow of a doubt.
The two women's brows drew close, confused, but Dane turned away. They resumed speaking in Spanish as he entered the elevator.
When he reached his apartment-home, he entered the brightly lit space and placed his Wallet and belongings on the counter. He poured himself a glass of water and drank it while staring flatly at a vase of flowers. In a sudden torrent of rage, power flowed through his bodies and every petal came into sharp focus.
Drink finished, he set down the glass and crossed to the vase.
He picked it up and hurled it across the room. It shattered into dozens of pieces that sparkled in the morning light like raindrops.
He didn't feel any better.
Dane stifled his satisfaction and began to turn away. Lunch was on his mind, and he was interested in seeking out another fruit drink he'd ordered yesterday.
Then the two girls muted the video and began to chatter among themselves, still primarily having ignored his presence. Dane did not mind as he walked away. They were preoccupied with him whether they knew it or not.
Until something caught his ear. He paused and turned back.
"What? Did you say the cartels bombed the embassy?"
His face was deadpan, his voice cool.
The first woman, with short black hair that curled around her ears in a pixie cut nodded with tears on her eyes. Her name badge read Jazmín. "Yes. That is what they are saying on the news."
The second woman wore her dark hair in a tight bun above a narrow black dress. Her name tag read Madeleine. "They say it was revenge, Senor Gregory. The cartels against Senor Oakland. To discredit him. To bring us war with the USA."
She shook her head and exchanged a look of fear with Jazmin.
Dane felt his fists clench. "They don't have proof,"
he replied. He knew that without a shadow of a doubt.
The two women's brows drew close, confused, but Dane turned away. They resumed speaking in Spanish as he entered the elevator.
When he reached his apartment-home, he entered the brightly lit space and placed his Wallet and belongings on the counter. He poured himself a glass of water and drank it while staring flatly at a vase of flowers. In a sudden torrent of rage, power flowed through his bodies and every petal came into sharp focus.
Drink finished, he set down the glass and crossed to the vase.
He picked it up and hurled it across the room. It shattered into dozens of pieces that sparkled in the morning light like raindrops.
He didn't feel any better.