The Pale Lady

This story is not for the faint of heart. Around 1980, in a city called London, lived a young couple. Pure they were; breakable they were not. Engaged to be married were 19-year-old Noah Velmot and the lucky lady Raechel Eivensteen, both of the same age, who are passionate about their work. Noah dreams of being a writer and an artist, while Raechel dreams of working for a big company, with her head always in the books she reads. It is unlikely because their dreams would soon be shattered like glass breaking on impact. Most days, Noah is on his typewriter, trying to perfect his craft, while Raechel polishes her bookshelves inside her study.

On this particular evening, Raechel went shopping at the local market for groceries. It was different this time, though, because she always went in the afternoon and never in the evening. She whispered to herself, “I guess it can’t be helped,” as she told Noah that she would be out for a while. Although Raechel said it in a loud manner, no response came from Noah because of how deeply focused he was on writing. A few minutes later. A loud sound could be heard coming from outside the front door. First, there was only one knock, then complete silence again, shortly after another knock with a louder tone, then a repeated sequence of the same thing. Noah finally noticed the noise coming from the door soon after he got up with his papers in his hands. Trying to pull the door, for a moment, the doorknob was not turning. “Ohh, finally it opened. I should have that checked out soon, he mumbled to himself with a bit of frustration. As the door leaned in, an expression slowly came on his face, not of surprise but of disappointment. Saying it’s only Freddy, the person in front of the door was a young man dressed in a black silk suit, chewing gum.

“Good evening,” he said to Noah. How are you? Is Raechel home?

By the sound of this man’s voice, you could tell he was a man with a snake tongue. No, Freddy. Raechel is not home, and I would like it if you left before she comes back.

Woah! Woah! Noah, is this how you treat your best buddy?

I know I have made some bad choices, but that’s in the past. Give a guy a break. The world is horrible enough. Noah’s face widened with a fake smile, reminding him of what he did without saying a word. Feeling guilty, Freddy got straight to the point of his arrival, saying, “Noah, the boss needs extra muscle tonight.” I’m desperate; you’re the only one I know, and every guy has to bring in his best bud. If you catch my shift, the pay isn’t light, so you don’t have to worry, and it’s only for an hour. Raechel won’t know we can leave right now, so will you come? Freddy looked at Noah with a worried grin on his face, knowing the odds of Noah saying yes were slimmer than his hair on his head.

“Yes, I will do it,” said Noah with a relaxed face.

Meanwhile, the expression Freddy showed was shock and excitement at once. Behaving like a child, Freddy grabbed his hand, shaking it wildly, saying, “I know I could count on you.” With a nonchalant tone, Noah replied, saying, “Let me grab my coat and an umbrella; it might rain soon.” As he went inside and stood over a table, what was in front of him was a paper saying ‘school application’ with the name written in black ink. Raechel Eivensteen, with a concerned look on Noah’s face, knew why Raechel had forgotten to buy groceries. Letting out a heavy sigh as he went back to the door. Sure, you don’t want to change your mind?

Freddy said as Noah closed the door behind him, “No, let’s just go before the rain starts,” he replied to Freddy’s question.

On the other side of town was a lovely lady, Raechel, being picky about what she should make for dinner. “You’ve been here for over half an hour,” said the elderly store owner. Miss Luu, you of all people should know how I am with these things. Sometimes my taste and Noah’s taste in food don’t align well. I’ll just grab what I can then and hope it’s enough. Is that Noah of yours still fawning over those books of his? “He is, as we speak,” said lovely Raechel with a bit of laughter. After talking to Miss Luu a little bit more, Rachel started to head home to make up for lost time.

She took the back alley even though she knew it was dangerous, but talking to herself, she uttered some words. Freddy should be around here somewhere. As if by coincidence, Freddy was right up ahead, sweating like a bull in heat. He started crying while talking. I know I shouldn’t have carried him. I know they would do this if anyone refused to cooperate. The expression on Freddy’s face was regret and guilt. With barely any strength left in his knees, he fell to the ground, begging forgiveness from Raechel

. On the other hand, Raechel was confused and anxious; she had so many questions, wondering what had happened and who he was talking about. With a stuttering voice, Raechel asks, “Freddy, Noah is at home, right?”

The look in Freddy’s eyes answered the question immediately. About a few hours earlier, Freddy and Noah were finally getting out of the cab they had taken earlier.

Freddy then proceeded to speak, saying, “Before we go in, Noah, you should know a few rules. There are three: number one, do not speak unless spoken to; number two, make eye contact at all times with the person who is speaking; and the last and most important, do not say no to the boss, or else we’ll both lose some fingers.

“While mine are useless, yours are not,” said Freddy with cold sweat running down his neck. Noah could see the seriousness of the situation and gave a confident smile, replying to Freddy, saying, “We’ll be fine,” as they entered a building two stories tall.

Inside were two guards resembling construction workers. They began approaching them. Noah saw why Freddy was behaving so cautiously. “Hey, Fred,” said both of the guards. “Is the boss inside?” Freddy replied with a crackling voice.

Anxious and sweaty, Freddy was heading into another room where noises could be heard. Noah, observant as ever, saw how dangerous a situation they were in by inspecting the guards and saw that they were carrying metal bats. With a knock on the door in front of them, it opened in an instant. Loud laughter was heading across the room to where they were standing.

“Where were you, you mutt?” replied a man at the end of the room dressed in full leather with two ladies on both sides of his hands. Like a puppy with its tail tucked between its legs, Freddy was unable to speak because of shaking. Noah, who was level-headed, spoke even though he remembered the rules that were said to him earlier. “We were caught up in rush hour traffic,” said Noah nonchalantly. With a pissed-off look, the man said, “Is your name Freddy, boy?” No, but my friend is unable to speak at the moment.

He ate something bad. Noah replied with a calm expression. He clapped his hands. A tall, muscular man, being about 6 ft. in height, appeared from a room connected to the one they were in. n, You called for me, boss? Ask the giant of a man.

See to it that Fred gets to the bathroom; he’s had a rough meal today. With a nod, he moved swiftly, putting his hand on Freddy’s shoulder as they left the entrance of the room. “Take a seat,” said the man from earlier. “What was your name again?” he asked with a pale smile as one of the ladies poured a drink for Noah. He introduced himself with a different name, saying, “You can call me ’Miles.’” “Seeing as we are exchanging info on each other, I would like to know the name of the man who sits like the boss of this place.” With a smirk, the man got up and lifted his fingers as the ladies began to leave the room. I am Trudious; you can call me boss. I heard from Fred earlier that he would find a guy from the upper city, but you don’t have the look of that place at all.

He should’ve already informed you that I told four of my guys to carry in extra manpower. You see, I lost four of my men to a car crash, and in a dire search for replacements, I ordered my men to gather 4 decent men. “If you do well on this job I’m about to give you, I will see to it that your family will always have money,” said the man with a smug expression. Noah got up and responded with a plain expression, refusing his offer. Shocked, the man asked again as if he had never been refused before, but Noah interrupted him, saying, “I have changed my mind. I don’t need money from someone like you.

Trudious began to laugh uncontrollably, saying, “Were your parents from the circus?” “No,” they said with a blatant look in Noah’s eyes. He took the wine and drank it and began to leave. Taking it as disrespect, Trudious took up something from under the couch he was sitting on and proceeded to point it at Noah, saying, “Am I funny now?” Cool-headed Noah just stared at the man who had intent in his eyes without a sound.