⚐Orphic⚐
mysterious and entrancing

-

I sometimes look back at my life and wonder how it could've been altered. Ponder how many times we were on a tight rope that was seconds from being cut off. And just... letting our imperfect world fall from under our own feet.

In the end Louis took constant risks to keep me safe and with a home. Safe from what? Having to walk home alone, where there's the chance of being raped, mugged, or killed.

But about those risks? One that I consider the most perilous was drug dealing. Though I'm not going to lie, it was always good money.

His hands were clean, if the law was concerned, and Louis had so many customers. I was never told much about it to, if he let me in on what others considered to be too much... I could find myself killed.

I knew it was to keep me safe. He truly stayed out of it, considering himself. Never smoked, sniffed, and anything more than a beer was basically nonexistent. He knew I was a responsibility, and I've always admired him for putting me first, even when he had his whole life ahead of him.

But it was risky. Dangerous. He had to come through for his customers, always. Or I was a target. My school wasn't heavily protected, even if they acted like it was. Neither was the apartment.

Today was a perfect example of this as I looked into the eyes of one of the men Louis worked with. Andre.

As he walked into our apartment, he glanced at me with a slight smirk, and had the audacity to look at my brother in the face and say,

"So, she up for sale yet?" Louis laughed along with him and the guys he carried along, before a cold look came to his face that resembled one of murderer,

"Touch her, you're dead, Andre." He threatened without humor even grazing his features. I could already imagine his piercing grey eyes turning hard, and held my breath as I looked at my nearly empty plate,

"Relax brother, just here to give you what you need... Why weren't you at your spot this afternoon?" I heard Andre ask, glancing up and watching him cross his arms.

I slowly started eating again, putting my focus on the conversation, my eyes flickering  to the two bulky men at the door. Their bodies were marked with obscure tattoos and wearing all black clothes. One wore dark shades while the other just adjusted the watch on his wrist. I looked at it for a second, realizing it's a Rolex as my eyes widened.

I try to ignore it, though clearly taken aback by the fact that they could even own something like that. I look back down as I listen to Louis reply, nodding slowly and clenching his jaw,

"I let you know I wasn't gonna be there beforehand, Lauren had something we needed to go to." He didn't even glance at me, his expression remaining cold as he held out his hand, "I'm guessing you have part of my pay then?"

Andre nodded uncertainly, as if he never even heard Louis tell him this, and I saw his fingers were shaking right before he stuffed them into his pocket.

I look away and roll my eyes—of course, the guys on some type of drug. Why did Louis even work with this guy?

He pulls out wads of cash, hundreds actually, and starts counting them. He hands a good half of the amount to my brother. Louis recounts it, before nodding stiffly. Andre starts to hold out his hand to say bye, before his phone goes off with some annoying rap song coming from it.

He pulls it out, and I can't help but glance at the caller ID. It has no photo, but my eyes zero in on the name, and my breath catches in my throat. I hardly make out the blurry words, but I'm sure of who's name it is.

"... My friends call me Eden..."

The man sighs, slightly waving to Louis before answering the phone, starting to walk out the door as he speaks,

"I thought I told you only to call me this afternoon for an emergency, what the hell did you get yourself into now—" And he was out of hearing range before I could listen in on the rest of his sentence, the two buff guys that had come with him nodding and walking behind him. Louis closed the door just as soon as they were all out of hearing range.

He brought his focus on me, as if trying to understand what I was thinking before slowly reaching out and grasping my wrist. More specifically the one that was clutching the knife as tightly as ever, my knuckles going white as my hand trembled slightly,

"Lauren... You're not breathing," Louis slowly pulled the knife out of my hands with ease, "Relax, they weren't gonna hurt either of us."

I look down at my feet as I massage my hand softly, taking in a deep breath. I nod slowly, unclenching my jaw as I close my eyes. After a couple seconds, I return my focus back up to him with a nod, "Sorry, you just... didn't tell me they were gonna show up."

"I didn't know." He sighed, looking down at the money in his hands, and finally taking a step back once I started breathing normally. "It was a surprise for me too. Look, I'll load the dishes tonight. Go shower and sleep."

I smile thankfully, though it must be easy to see through for someone who's know me for years. I give Louis a side hug, his arms slowly wrapping around me, tightening for a second with a worried smile before letting me go. I hold back the urge to jog to my room, not wanting to set off any alarms for him. But as soon as possible, my fingers found themselves wrapped around my doorknob and I closed the door behind me with wide eyes.

It couldn't have been Eden... or well, Jonathan on the other end of that phone... Why would he even be involved with someone like Andre? There's probably tons... Of people named Eden. It's obviously not an uncommon name... Right?

I sigh to myself, walking towards my dresser and choosing clothes absentmindedly as I try to distract myself from the obvious. Surprisingly, my eyes catch a glimpse of light coming from my window. Walking over, I press my fingers against the cool window, looking through skeptically and trying to see beyond the darkest shadows of the alley. Yet other than stained brick walls, I find nothing.

I scoff lightly, trailing my fingers through my hair rhythmically, using the band around my wrist to tie my hair back. I tuck loose strands that were too short to be held back behind my ear, and close my eyes, shaking my head at myself before reopening them,

"Relax Lauren. It's nothing." I whisper to myself, my gaze lingering. Just then the light flashes again, and I see a face, annoyingly familiar as I press myself again the glass in shock. I open the window in seconds, my fingers brushing over the ripped screen, before silently watching what was below me.

The usual flicking of light remained this time, and the more I looked the more I convinced myself of what I was seeing. Four people were speaking beside my building; Andre and his body guards, talking to...

Eden.

I took a sharp inhale, trying not to make a sound as I listened to their voices cut through the usually silent alley. I watched their shifting hands, moving from pockets to crossed arms, to behind them and simply cracking their knuckles. The air around them was tense, practically begging for something terrible to happen, and soon I began to realize why,

"... You need to tell me, I have to find..." He trailed off, running his hand through his messy hair as my eyes studied the way he was standing. He was shaking, shuddering even. As the chill of the evening air finally caught onto me, I found myself wondering if he was cold as well or on some type of drug.

I clicked my tongue, shaking my head. He couldn't be... Right? I mean, I know Eden—or well, I used to. Maybe this guy wasn't the boy I once knew, just the ghost of the vibrant, mysterious one I fell for... so long ago...

"I'm not giving you anyone's address, until you tell me what you're talking about!" Andre shouted, causing my thoughts to dissipate, going back to listening to the conversation. I shook my head, trying to make sense of it. Eden looked down at his feet, and I was left studying the back of his head, seeing tattoos poke out from his shirt, traveling up his neck and stopping right under where his in thin, seemingly-shaved, hair began.

"Fine." He looked back at him, unsure before he finally spoke, "I need to find a girl." He went quiet, not saying anything else as he waited for their reactions. Silence seemed to rang out between the two, and for once the street seemed empty as his words sunk into the surface.

"A girl..." I muttered to myself, my eyebrows for rowing together as I nibbled on my bottom lip softly. I waited for Andre's response, expecting laughs and jokes, even teasing directed towards Eden being smitten. Yet instead the appalling confession, received a reaction that both was expected, but unexpected,

"You serious?"

"Dead serious."

Andre shook his head, stuffing his hands in his pockets and laughing softly, a half-smile returning to his face that still held some shock in it,

"You don't know what you're getting yourself into," He crossed his arms, studying Eden with curious eyes. "It's dangerous, and stupid."

"You're not going to help me?" He asked, looking back at him. Andre raised his hands, shaking his head,

"No I am not. You're alone on this one brother, don't track me down for stuff like this ever again."

Eden sighed, closing his eyes and remaining still, seeming to clench his jaw. After a couple moments, he nodded stiffly, holding his hand out,

"I'll figure it out on my own." He stated, gripping Andre's hand firmly before they pulled away from the hand shake, "If you won't help me, I'll figure it out on my own. See you around, A."

Andre only nodded, stepping back with his bodyguards lingering for a couple seconds, one of them patting Eden on the shoulder and whispering something incomprehensible in his ear. Eden only laughed at the remark, shaking his head and pulling out a cigarette for himself.

They finally left and his laugh died down to a simple smile, though my eyes still studied his face. How his nostrils flared when he smile, and small dimples appeared on one cheek. As he brought the now lit cigarette to his lips, I managed to snap out of it as I shook my head.

This was insane. Eden trying to find some girl? Probably one that he hooked up with. Yet... Andre refused to help him? Not even asking for a price? This was... unsettling at most. And it made me wonder, what was so important about this girl that made him want to find her so bad..? Enough that made him continue to look for her himself?

I shook my head, shuddering softly and giving him one last, lingering look, and closing the window. I practically slammed it down, realizing I must've caught his attention as his eyes flickered towards the window, and I backed up immediately.

I looked at the closed window timidly, eyes wide in shock. I shook my head, laughing to myself breathlessly,

"Wonderful job Lauren... almost caught again." I sighed, standing up and moving to my bed. Absolutely riddled with questions, I fell back into it and stared up at the ceiling.

So many questions, and there was no way I was gonna get them answered if I remained the way I was now. My mind went back to when I saw him at school, the amused expression on his face as he spoke,

"And here she is, finally out of hiding."

Maybe, just maybe, I didn't want to hide anymore.