Chapter 4

   Erin arranged her bag things and prepared to leave the premises. It was 6:01pm and she was free to leave.

The sound of the intercom made Erin pause. She picked it.

"Suriya's assistant, how may I help you?"

"Dexter. See me in my office before you leave." Mrs Suriya said on the phone and cut the call. Erin sighed exhaustedly before going to her boss's office.

She gently knocked on the door and waited a second before walking in. Mrs Suriya was seated the same way she was previously. The office was so large. It was twice of Erin's apartment combined together.

 

"You called for me, Ma'am?"

"Just call me Suriya. I'm not your aunty." She deadpaned. "Do you have anything going on with Julian?"

"Julian Ferrari? The CEO? What?! No! Why would you think that ma— Suriya??" Erin was shocked that the woman would even ask such a question.

"Well.. You seemed to have his attention during the conference meeting. I'm just going give you a fair warning. Julian is not the type of man to flirt with. Yes, I know he's attractive, but he's not in your league. Anything heard about you would be used against you. I hope you understand me." Suriya warned.

Erin frowned slightly. She didn't fail to notice to concern laced in her tone, like she was truly looking out for her. Maybe she just didn't want Erin as her rival, not that it was even possible.

"Um.. Yes, Suriya. I assure you, I don't have any connection or likeness whatsoever to Mr Ferrari." Erin reassured.

The woman nodded mildly and waved her hand to dismiss Erin.

  ON THE WAY HOME, as Erin glanced at the tourists who were thronging through the busy roads of Manhattan, her mind involuntarily revisited how she'd acted like a dummy when she'd set her eyes on him.

He'd been so compelling. So... Off the radar. Erin sighed as her dour mood intensified. She loved Jake a lot, but sometimes, the thought of not having a single friend to talk to, was a little more than she could bare.

Ever since her young age, Erin had learned how to be alone. Her parents had not had much, but they'd tried to send her to a good school, unfortunately, her personality hadn't matched with the students there. She'd always been like the odd one, looking like she wasn't supposed to be there.

That mind set had in since then and everywhere she went to, she'd always found herself comparing herself to the other ladies who she knew she was no match for. Now, it was better because she accepted her insecurities. She didn't fight with her inferiority complex anymore.

  The bus came to a stop, jolting Erin out of her thoughts. She received her change and began the small walk to her home.

"Hey, Jake. What's..." Erin's voice trailed off as she registered the scene going on in her small living room.

  "Jake! What the hell?!" Jake and the girl who was straddling him jumped up and pulled apart, staring at Erin in shock.

"I go to work for a few hours and this what you are doing?! Bringing young hookers into the house!" Erin exploded. She hadn't even realized when her bag had fallen off her arm.

"Hey! I might look like one, but I'm not a hooker. So don't you dare open that tiny mouth of yours to call me a hooker, girl." the girl said, glaring at Erin.

"Jake, who is this girl?" Erin tried to keep her voice calm, But inside she was loosing it.

"Well.. She.."

"My name is Feesh, and I live in the block next to you,"

"Your name is fish?"

"No! Feesh. With a double 'e'. I live next door, and I came to check the people who moved in here yesterday. I met your sweet brother," Feesh smiled seductively at Jake, Erin watched her brother squirm. Good for him. "Jake told me about you, his lovely big sister, then we decided to.. Mess around a bit."

"Jake is just 14!" Erin exclaimed.

"Yeah, he's a fine young man, I like him." Feesh smiled at Erin.

"How old are you, Feesh?" Erin asked.

"I'm 21 next month. What about you?" She replied cheerfully.

Erin sighed and grabbed her bag from the floor before walking straight to her room. She just needed a shower to clear her head.

After few minutes, Erin opened the door and went back to the living room. She stopped short and stared at them. Jake and Feesh were seated opposite each other. Feesh saw Erin.

"Hey, Erin. I was just telling Jake that I wanted to take on a tour around the area.. If you're um.. Up for it?" Feesh smiled nervously.

"Uh.. Yeah sure. But Jake, you're staying at home." Erin turned her strict gaze on Jake.

Jake groaned. "Oh come on! Is that some kind of punishment?"

"Not a punishment, I won't let you walk around the streets when you're supposed to be doing your homework. How was school by the way?" Erin asked, moving to sit beside her brother.

"School was fine. I wasn't given an assignment anyway. So I'm just gonna turn on the DVD. I hope I'm allowed to do that at least?" Jake smirked mockingly. Meanwhile, Feesh was watching the exchange between brother and sister amusingly.

"Yeah, you can. Lock the door when we're gone and don't open unless you hear my voice, okay?"

"Are we in danger, sister?" Jake asked, alarm written all over his face.

"Of course not. I just.. I just want you to be careful okay? Please do what I tell you to do." Erin replied thoughtfully.

"Ok." Jake replied.

Erin smiled and gave her brother a forehead kiss, making Jake groan. Erin laughed and followed Feesh out the door.

"You care for your brother a lot. I wish I had a sibling who cared for me like that." Feesh smiled.

"Jake is still just a child. He can't be free too much and I have to keep my eye on him all the time." Erin defended as she thought about how badly Jake had taken the loss of their parents. He hadn't believed that they were truly gone.

"He's a young man, Erin. And from what he said about you too, he cares for you. Even more than you might think."

Erin smiled softly. "Jake is very protective of me. He may be frustrated by me at times, but he wouldn't want any harm to come to me."

"That's lovely to have. Now... Have you seen the Manhattan park in the dark? Wait till we get there!"

 

    ERIN EXHALED WITH A SOFT SMILE. The breeze here in the park was amazing. There were few people gathered in the park but Erin and Feesh were all on their own.

"Lovely isn't it?" Feesh was referring to the atmosphere. "Hmm... I could stay here all night if I was allowed to, unfortunately it's not safe to stay out late at night"

Erin turned to look at Feesh with a questioning look. "Why? Why can't you be outside at night?"

"Well.." Feesh looked unsure.

"Please tell me, Feesh." Erin persuaded. She needed to know what was going on around here.

"Well.. It is said that.. There are dangerous people who move at night."

"What kind of dangerous people? I don't understand." Erin shook her head in confusion.

"Well.. I don't know much of it too, but what I know is.. There are bad people in this city, Erin. And they kill people who stay out till midnight. Once the dead bodies are seen the next day, there's always a giant dent in the chest, neck and forehead. Like they were stabbed repeatedly with sharp wood."

Erin was speechless. She remembered the piercing scream she'd heard the previous night. Maybe that was why she'd been so scared.

"What are you thinking?" Feesh asked.

"Nothing. Just... I heard some weird sounds last time and then, when I checked my window to see what was going on, I saw I guy fall from a three-storey building." Erin explained. Her voice shook from the shock and fear she'd felt last night.

"Erin, when you're inside, stay inside. I don't know what it is, but I wouldn't try to figure it out either. In New York, you have to mind your business to stay out of trouble." Feesh whispered. "Understood?"

  Erin nodded her head in agreement.

They went on to talk about other things. Feesh worked as a waitress in an hotel and she stayed with her parents who were hardly around. That night, Erin decided that she liked Feesh and she already thought of her as a friend.

"So.. Good night, pretty girl. Be careful." Feesh said with a smile.

"Good night, Feesh. Thank you for the walk... It was needed." Erin smiled back with a small nod.

  Erin waved and turned to the direction of her apartment.

                              

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