Dead man walking… dead man walking…

The words echoed in my head on my way back to the shelter. That was how my return felt like. Walking the green mile to my doom.

It had never been a good feeling before, but it wasn't the same this time. My feet were made of lead, my chest airtight, and I couldn't seem to shake off the feeling that things could get worse. A cloud of gloom crept up to loop itself around my head, suffocating me. The darkness gnawed at me in full force.

A faint groan escaped my chest as I floundered through the roads of the Big Apple.

Manhattan tonight was a bleary muddle of blinding lights. Foggy shapes of cars, people, and buildings passed by in a haze, like an old film roll. Shapes and colors couldn't register in my brain. Everything was a shadow. A ghost of what it had been.

Akram and Asha are gone!

My teeth chattered and I tried to rub some warmth into my arms. The night was chilly and my clothes couldn't protect my exhausted body from the shivers that attacked me. Maybe it wasn't even the weather. Maybe it was the symptoms of absolute defeat. The small dose of warmth that'd helped me get by was now gone.

My sweet friend who'd been my personal Supergirl was in pain, and I couldn't do anything to help her. And now she had to leave. Then Akram had gone missing when I needed him the most. Was this my punishment day?

I'm a loser! I lost everything. My money. My job. My only friends. And there's a diabolical plan brewing for me by a demonic roommate.

I squeezed my pulsing forehead. Hammers were digging into my skull, overloaded with too much thinking.

What is this demon plotting for me? Will I go back to find the police waiting at the door? Oh No! Is it possible? More drugs under my bed? Or in my locker? Or hidden somewhere else that I'm not aware of? Is this the end?

“You're done for, Melody. Admit it,” I mumbled to myself, shaking from head to toe.

My legs finally made it to the only place I had left. Hope House Shelter. My home and prison with the most ironic name.

I halted on the sidewalk just a few yards away, watching the ashen grey building. A monstrous shadow waiting to devour me. Luckily, no police car awaited.

The shivers didn't stop as I stood there, hugging myself and staring at the hulking beast. I knew it was unsafe to stand there. But at this moment, the dangers lurking in the streets seemed a lot more merciful. I realized I was afraid to walk in when my heartbeat reverberated in my ears and my breath caught for no reason.

I loathed this place, but I had to get in. There was no other choice. No other place to go. I couldn't just rove through the night, trying to avoid my inevitable fate. Curfew was still at ten. I was bound to return like a prodigal.

I took a sharp breath as another reality check slapped me in the face; An old lady in drags, huddled in the shade of the nearest building, covered with a piece of cardboard. I gulped. I couldn't decide if she was asleep or dead. The sight made me tighten my arms around myself.

How could anyone live like that? It's not even living. It's just… not dying. And even that is not guaranteed.

A quiver ran through my spine while I rummaged through my jeans pockets. There had to be something I could offer. A crumpled ten dollar bill came out in my hand. I regretted not taking the food Asha had offered me before we closed the shop.

I took it as a warning. I should be grateful I have a roof over my head.

Holding my breath, I shambled towards the homeless lady, dropped the money in her stained hand and hurried inside the shelter.

After I  signed in, I crawled up the stairs to the third floor, step after heavy step, barely holding myself up. I switched on my phone on the way up, hoping Akram had dropped me a line.

Nothing.

The phone screen stared at me, frustratingly empty. I grunted and squashed the stupid phone in my hand.

I sank down, sitting on the staircase, and stared at the phone screen. There was something wrong. Akram had texted me every night since the day he'd given me the cellphone.

Chewing my lips, I stared at the screen again.

Should I call him? Would he mind? He wouldn't, would he? There has to be a way to know he's OK.

“Just this once,” I mouthed to myself. I dialed his saved number, placed the phone on my ear and squeezed my lips together.

.

.

.

.

Sorry, I'm not available right now. Please, leave a message and I promise to call you back. Thank you...

My heart skipped a beat to hear his voicemail message. I missed his voice.

But, did this mean he'd turned off his phone? Why? I wasn't sure I was able to leave any message right now. I could barely breathe. But his voicemail didn't tell me he was Okay. It just made things worse. Why would he cut off the only way to reach him?

Holding my head in my hands, I curled up on the steps, rocking back and forth. Bloodcurdling thoughts started flowing through my scrambled brain cells.

Akram left town... A car accident… serious illness... He's been attacked…  hospitalized … struck by lightning… Abducted by aliens…

Please, stop!! I slapped the sides of my head to banish the horrifying ideas. I couldn't help the trainwreck inside my head.

What if he just wants nothing to do with me any more?

My breath faltered and tears began to huddle between my eyelids.

That makes more sense. Maybe he's just avoiding me. I acted weird and annoying last night when I left so soon. But he didn't seem upset, did he? He was as sweet as ever when we parted ways.

But… is it possible he figured out something and … Oh no! What if he knew I was lying to him? What if he knew where I lived? Did he follow me to the shelter? Or someone else told him?

Vivian! Oh crab! it's Vivian! She contacted him! But how? Did she go over my phone? Is that why she came to work today? Gloating? The filthy Medusa came to break the news and torment me. God! Now she must be mad that Asha kicked her out. She's going to make us all pay. Thank God Asha and Akram aren't around.

And I thought losing contact with Akram was the last straw today!

Trembling and hardly seeing my way, I pushed myself up and dragged my body to my dorm, feeling the heaviness of today taking a toll on me. My legs hardly carried my weight and the lead melted into some kind of soft dough. Only dough couldn't feel so much muscle pain.

Approaching my room, the first thing I noticed was the laughs that blared from behind the door. I froze in my spot. My tired muscles tensed and my heart thrashed my chest. This couldn't be just Lynda laughing alone like a lunatic, could it? I knew the other voice dreadfully well.

It's her! She's here!

My head throbbed once again. The shock started to morph into simmering anger. My jaws clenched. My knuckles hurt as I balled my hands into tight fists. I'd been fooled and bullied and played with big time. I couldn't take it any more.

The door was ajar. I thrusted it with both hands, the force jostled my shoulders. The scene in front of me was worth a thousand words; Lynda and Vivian sat face to face, legs crossed on Lynda's bed in the middle of the room. They were shaking with laughter along with the rusty bed springs that squeaked like cartoon squirrels.

They looked like two besties gossiping about boys, and enjoying their time. Or worse. Gossiping about me, and enjoying my humiliation.

Two pairs of eyes turned to glower at me. The truth suddenly seemed to fall into place.

“You're with her? She brought you here to watch me, didn't she?“ I asked Lynda, my screeching voice hurt my throat. If my eyes were weapons, they'd be dead by now.

“What? No. I'm not… I ...” Lynda slid off the edge of the bed to raise her tall figure in the space between her bed and Vivian's. She pushed her glasses up over the bridge of her nose, her mouth slightly open, as if she was waiting for the right words to come out.

“Shut up, Lynda. I almost believed you!” I pointed an accusing finger in Lynda's innocuous face. How could I be so stupid?

“Chillax, hun. We're just chatting. “ Vivian waved nonchalantly from over the bed and lounged back on the headboard, her mere existence mocking me.

“You shut up too. You stole my money, you grungy thief!”

“What money, honey?” Vivian barked a short laugh. “Don't you love the rhyme?”

“You took my savings. They were missing this morning.” I dug my fingernails further into my hands, eyes glowering at both of them.

“Hmm!” Vivian tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “Are you sure? Cause I wasn't even here this morning.”

Arms crossed, Lynda stood still, two feet away from Vivian. Her bright dark eyes seemed to follow the exchange with true concentration from behind the lenses.

“Melody, how do you know it was her?” Lynda asked, eyebrows furrowed.

Lynda was either playing along, or she was hearing this for the first time.

“Well, guess what? She left a note,” I spat and motioned my chin sharply at Vivian.

“I don't know what you're talking about.” Vivian pillowed her head with her arms. “Shame you didn't know it's against the rules to keep money in the shelter. Anyone could sneak in and find it. You should've been smarter.” She emphasized the last sentence.

I gnashed my teeth.

I knew she was right. But it wasn't entirely my fault nobody taught me about finances. Blood started to boil up under my skin. I wasn't normally an angry person, but this witch was getting on my nerves. The whole day was getting on my nerves and there wasn't much sense left in me.

“So now it's my fault you robbed me?” I asked through clenched teeth.

“I don't need your money. I make ten times more than you do.” Vivian waved her hand condescendingly, her black boyshorts and cami as scanty as always. Even Lynda had on a white tank and Bermudas, which made me wonder if I was the only person feeling cold in this city.

Vivian lifted her knees up and crossed her nearly bare legs, one ankle over one knee, wiggling her bare foot mockingly. She was rubbing it in my face.

“Why didn't you tell the security?” Lynda butted in. “You seemed really upset this morning.”

“Exactly!” Vivian concurred, pointing her finger casually at Lynda like a proud teacher. “She knows it's her fault.”

Lynda took a slow step toward me, holding her palms up. “I'm not against you, Melody. Can I see this note you found?”

“No!” I retorted, staggering a step back.

“Of course,” Vivian scoffed. “You just don't want to admit what you've done with the money, do you?”

“What the heck is this? Another intricate lie?” I asked warily, my eyes darting between the two of them. The conspiracy seemed worse than I'd expected.

My stomach clenched. Vivan was up to something. It was hard to tell, but it definitely wasn't pleasant. Lynda didn't seem in the know, but how could I trust her? She could be a brilliant actress just as her devious chum.

Vivian snorted. She shook her head and gracefully sprung off the bed, sashayed slowly and draped an arm over Lynda's shoulder.

“See what I mean? Denial, denial,”  Vivian told Lynda and tutted in contempt. She probably had been feeding her lies about me for a while.

Lynda pursed her lips and turned to stare vaguely at Vivian. She took a step farther, letting Vivian's arm slide off of her. She held her hand, palm up. “Guys, this sounds like a big misunderstanding. How about we just sit down and discuss it like adults?”

I gave Lynda a glare. “I don't know what she's been telling you, but she’s going to bring you down like Tina.”

“Whoa! Melody. You don't understand. It's just…” Lynda began, her hands flying to brush he bangs back, but Vivian cut her off.

“Tina? You have the guts to bring up Tina? Don't make me start. Who knows what you gave her before she died.” Vivian placed her hand over her heart and shook her head. A new Oscar-worthy performance.

My eyes widened and I gasped. I took a stride toward the sly actress. My nails hurt the skin of my palms from the tightness of my fists . “Are you crazy? W-what do you mean?”

"Don't play games with me, hon. You know what I mean. You're the last person who saw Tina alive." Vivian flipped her hair back in an intentionally irritating gesture, pretending to wipe a non-existent tear.

I felt the blood zoom to my head and the headache frying my eyeballs. I raked the sides of my head, shoving my tangled hair back with stiff fingers. “Are you seriously implying that I... hurt Tina? “

“One can only guess…”

My body began to shake, but not in fear. It was an unexplained rush of adrenaline pumping through my me. The pain was gone, but everything was turning crimson red.

“Go to hell!” I growled in a furious undertone

“You really believe in this bull?” Vivian smirked.

“I want to believe there's a place for a sick harpy like you.” I waved my fist, punching the air between us. Too bad she wasn't close enough. My breath quickened. There wasn't enough clean air in this room.

Lynda fidgeted and adjusted her big glasses again. “Hey. Look, Melody. Maybe we can end this peacefully between you guys. No harm done. I'll come with you to report the missing money.”

“Why do you even care?” I gave Lynda a dirty look.

Vivian continued her theatrical performance. Her voice broke as she spoke, her breath hitching dramatically. “The harm’s been done, Lynda. Ending it peacefully means ending up like Tina. She taught her using stuff that ended her life. That's obviously how she lost her money and now she's looking for someone to blame.” Vivian covered her face and sobbed. Hearing her heartbreaking voice, I almost believed her myself.

Red dots began to fly in the air, the room seemed to dim and my body moved on its own accord. I found myself barging forward without thinking, shoving Vivian back to the wall with all my might. “You're trying to drive me crazy? Is that what you want? Huh? Huh?”

Vivian raised her hands to protect her face. “You are crazy. You need serious help. Lynda, do something!”

“Please, Melody. Let's just be rational,” said Lynda, coming from my left side to create a barrier by holding her arm between us, but I couldn't control myself anymore. I'd suppressed these feelings for too long and I felt something snap inside of me. My sense of reason was slipping away.

“Stay out of it, Lynda.” I shrieked, pushing her arms away. “This witch took everything I had. She'll do the same to you. Why are you listening to her?”

“Just listen. It's not worth it. You'll get yourself into trouble,” Lynda insisted, but all I heard was her attempt to protect Vivian. She wouldn't fool me twice.

“Stop pretending!”  I screamed and shoved my way past Lynda - whose glasses slipped and dropped down on the floor - to face the serpent.

The smirk stuck on the face of the Cobra was maddening, while Lynda was down on her knees, searching for her missing spectacles. Vivian's smug grin was pushing me to the edge of insanity, even though I was aware of my unnecessary attitude with Lynda.

Panting, I stomped closer, curling my fists on my sides like a cowboy waiting to draw his pistols. I wasn't even sure what I'd do. I wanted to just blink and see her vanish from existence.

Vivian was annoyingly calm, like a fake clear sky before the storm. She eyed me, leaning her back on the chapped wall between the two beds, as if she was asking for trouble. The gloating look on her face was saying 'show me what you got’. It disappeared the second Lynda got up with her four eyes intact.

As if it was her cue, and Lynda was her audience, Vivian went on softly, putting her palms together like a saint. “I feel sorry for you, hon. You lost your money, and your boyfriend stood you up. I get it. You're upset .” Vivian faked a sympathetic look and touched my arm lightly.

I slapped her hand off me. “Don't touch me!”

She mentioned Akram! How dare she! This sick, ugly, slimy worm!

“It's OK, sweetie. Don't be so grumpy. I can help you. All you have to do is ask.” She gave me a wicked lopsided smile, and lifted her hand to touch my cheek with her index finger.

I shuddered. A jolt of energy rushed in my blood. I swatted her hand and growled. “I said. Don't. Touch me!”

And that was the last straw.

All I remembered afterwards was the hysterical shouting, tears and shoving. All by myself, unfortunately. Vivian just stood there taking everything without even blinking. Lynda tried to stop me again. I shoved her until she tripped and fell on her bed.

Next thing I remembered, all three of us were at the director's office...

****

A\N.

Hello dear ones

I know you're probably upset I was too late for updates. I just hope you didn't give up on Melody. I can't lose you guys! Please stay with us!

This chapter was supposed to be longer but I felt it would take too long and I was going to be really busy this month, so I decided to publish this part and then publish a shorter continuation when I can. I hope you enjoy it though. Please (Vote) and (Comment) if you like it...

Love you all so much
Most_bay