1Aimless

The Hyperion

It's a bad time in her life but not as bad as the future that awaits a new member of AI. Surprises galore for those who enter; "The Hyperion."

The night had just started and I felt as if I hadn't slept in a week, not that I've ever gone a week without sleep.

My name is Phade Vartan and I find myself in a conundrum of sorts; I should look that word up just so I know I'm using it right.

It's late, I'm tired and as I look to the passenger seat I can see that he's already asleep.

Lights flash and I turn my attention back to the street. There's all kinds of crazy drivers in LA and you can count me in there.

I'm so tired and I don't have a lot of cash. I'd hate to use the credit card; how would I pay the monthly bill without a job?

"This sucks."

Yeah, no job and now no place to live, I'm a regular homeless gypsy bouncing around from place to place. Its not like I can go far, he does have to go to school and that's where my gas goes. That and this, right now, the driving around at night looking for a cheap motel or deciding what friend to drop in on unexpectedly so we can crash on their couch.

"Yeah, this really sucks."

I stop for a red light and drift off as usual into some daydream where life is perfect and I have no worries. I could spend hours there but then the light changes and the fool in back can't lay off the horn or stop flashing his lights so it's time to get back to reality.

"Geez, what's your hurry?"

I'm grouchy-no, I am completely pissed off. But I can't yell or cry or kick and whine because he'll wake up and ask me what's wrong. I look over at him again, sleeping peacefully, his little mouth slightly opened.

I hate seeing him this way, sitting in the car trying to sleep and me just driving around like some aimless, useless… I wonder if there's even a word to describe me right now.

I re-assure myself as best I can just by smoothing his hair down, feeling the softness of his cheek; I can see him smiling at me and it just makes me want to cry even more.

"Looser."

Yeah, that's the word alright- wait. What's that?

I'm not sure what it is but I like the design already. I can't tell what color paint it is but its probably white.

"Everything is always white."

The closer we get the bigger the building becomes and I can see its not just the one building, as I first thought but a series of them all connected to the main entrance. I'm assuming it would be the entrance because now that I'm here I can see the walkway. There's a tall fence all along the street and I like it too. Its made of stone and covered with vines, the kind that attach themselves on a wall and just grow, tangling themselves until you can't see where it began or the color of the wall itself.

It's a beautiful building, old and I wonder what kind of story it would tell.

I slow down considerably as I'm driving by but I can't find a parking lot. There aren't even any gates blocking driveways because there aren't any. But it's late and I still haven't found a place for the night but I just can't help myself so I make another pass and this time I definitely stop at the double gates. Cars blow their horns as I pull over but I don't care. Their lights flash over the dulled plaque but I can't read it through the tinted windows.

I'm leaning over the passenger seat squinting through the open window trying to read it when he stirs.

"Hyperion Hotel."

Hmm, I was looking for a place to sleep for the night. I sit back and stare out the window thinking. Every one is always saying things happen for a reason. I look over at the building again thinking but why not? So what if I can't afford it? So what if I can't pay the credit card company back?

"How can my life get any worse?"