Birdcage

Sunlight filtered through the translucent blue cloth that covered the windows and lit up the room causing the woman who slumbered within it to stir from her sleep. Her ocean blue eyes flicked open for only a brief moment before they scrunched fiercely against the intruding light as she turned over and attempted to return to her dreams when the blaring of the alarm went off. She extended her arm out and hit the off button with practiced precision but before she could go back to sleep memories invaded her mind, a man getting into his car and leaving with a look of sorrow on his face. Tears started to run down her face as she got up.

“Get over it Alice. He left but I’ll be fine.” She said as she wiped the tears away. She grabbed her pillow and held it tightly against her chest when she heard a knocking at the door. She let out a ground then made her way out of the room, she walked past the door to Ben’s private room and down the stairs to the front door of the tiny house stopping only to look at the mirror that hung above the set of drawers where she usually placed her keys to make sure there was no evidence of her recent tears.

The lock opened with an audible clunk and Alice opened the door to find a familiar face in front of her.

“God, you look awful.” Said the woman at the door as she made her way into the house. She was slender with brunette hair and perfect skin.

“And hello to you to Katie.” Groaned Alice as she brushed her hair back with her hands. Katie was Alice’s best friend, they’d met at university and managed to keep in contact throughout the years.

“So how you feeling today hun?” she asked once she placed her purse on the table in the hallway and turned to face her.

“I’m fine.” Responded Alice in a resolute tune.

“Yeah right.” Said Katie with a disapproving look. “So what was it then? Another woman? Or was being married and a cop too much for him?”

“I wish I knew… Ben had been acting strange while investigating some case and once it had been solved he just packed everything and left. I wish… I wish he’d talked to me about it or something.” Tears threatened to burst out as she spoke but her sheer force of will stopped them.

“Well, fuck him then.” Said Katie anger seeping into her words. Alice managed a weak smile at Katie’s words since she still found it amusing that though she looked like a princess she acted downright vulgar at times. The two of them had made their way to the living room and taken a seat on the leather sofa while they’d had their conversation. “If he’s got issues he couldn’t handle and he’s not man enough to talk to you about them then you’re better off without him!”

“Damn right I’m better off!” Growled Alice as she instinctively crossed her arms and started to use her anger to bury the sorrow.

The two of them continued their conversation till the sun had set and had turned from a full blown hatred of all men to heading out for the night and attempting to meet someone new. Alice hadn’t been in the mood to go out and socialize but the prospect of vast quantities of alcohol had been more than enough to persuade her.

“Six shots of tequila!” Yelled Katie as she competed with the music that ravished the dimly lit club.

“Make it twelve!” Add Alice in a somewhat hostile tone. The two of them attempted to chat but the music was far too loud for idle chatter so they simply waited for their drinks to be poured, Katie gave the room a once over and gestured for Alice to look at something. When Alice turned her head in the direction Katie gestured at and she saw what she believed to be the most attractive man she’d ever seen. Alice stared at him for a moment and couldn’t help but take in his features he was tall with perfectly tanned skin, longish dirty blonde hair that had been slicked back and trimmed stubble that suited his slender face all went well with his black shirt with its sleeves rolled up, faded jeans and black leather shoes. She continued to stare at him transfixed and even smiled shyly when he noticed her and gave her a curt nod.

“Fuck men!” Screamed Katie as she raised a glass to toast. Startled Alice turned back around to see that the shots had been poured and lined up for them, with a quick shake of her head she grabbed the furthest glass.

“Fuck men!” Responded Alice. The two of them downed their drinks but before they could even recover from the shock of the harsh liquid they heard someone laugh.

“You really shouldn’t yell that.” Chuckled the man who appeared next to her. She stared at him and wondered how he’d managed to get across the club so fast but shrugged it off with a “And why shouldn’t we say it, fuck men they’re all just assholes.” as she downed another shot. He leaned towards her so that his lips were mere inches away from her ear.

“No we’re not all assholes.” He said in a manner that was quiet yet still loud enough to be heard over the music. “Some of us are monsters.” He shifted the hand that he’d kept in his pocket and before she could react plunged a blade into her chest.

What did he…. Do thought Alice as she staggered back.

“Alice what’s wroon… Oh my god! Help get help!” Screamed Katie. The already dark room quickly started to fade from sight till nothing could be seen but darkness. Am I dead? She thought in her confused state. Then light, a bright light that hurt her eyes, she managed to raise her arm up to shield herself as a groan escaped her lips she turned over to escape from it then flicked her eyes open for a moment before scrunching them up again. Why is it so bright? Ran through her had when she heard the screeching of the alarm, her arm flicked out and managed to silence the noise when memories Ben invaded her mind, tears streamed down her face as she sat up in her bed.