A shrill sound reverberates through the apartment as the Ringmaster starts to sharpen their knives.
Anastasia's eyes rove the room. A poster for her favourite rock band, Hardwired Heart, over their bed, it's metal frame painful-looking enough to belong in a prison. There's a happy 14th birthday card on top of the kitchen cupboard. From what she's seen of their handwriting on their i-screen, they wrote it themself Apex, that's younger than she thought. How could a kid get to this?
"Soooo, my genius strategy! It's kind of embarrassing, to be honest, but I think it's smart. Basically, did you know the newspaper's have a really weak security system? Yeah, it's weird. I mean, like the big front page articles and stuff obviously are less easy to mess with, but it's easy enough to just upload your own article, write up some shit about your profile, and put it on the news sites. Plus the algorithm's are kind of easy to mess with too. So all those articles you get recommended about the Ringmaster's heinous deeds? They didn't even happen, they just have a shit system." They let loose a good contender for an evil villain laugh. "It's just me!"
They've puffed out their chest, proud. They look at her questioningly. It reminds her of how she used to look at her mum when she'd play a new song on her bass.
"Why d'you want to be a villain so bad, Red?"
Their eyes turn sharp on her, skeptical. "How do you know my name?"
"It was on your folder."
"Really? You could read that?" They cringe. "Whatever, it doesn't matter."
"Why, though?"
They groan, exasperated. "I have to be a villain cause' I don't have any other choice, okay? And if I've gotta be a villain, you better bet I'm gonna be the best villain anyone's ever seen. But everyone keeps messing it up for me." The blade is still clutched in their shaking hands.
Anastasia's face softens. She pulls her hands awkwardly out of the tape. Red frowns at that.
"Get back in the cuffs! What're you doing!?"
"Apex, Red, put the blade down. You're not going to kill me. C'mon, this is stupid."
She stands, glad to be out of that terribly rough chair.
"I could kill you! I totally could."
"Sure, kid. Look, I get you don't think you have any other choice. I probably would have done the same if I was in your situation."
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
"But?" They ask.
"But, I can offer you another choice. Instead of going of the rails, come stay at my place for a bit."
"What?"
They're looking at her like she's stupid. She feels stupid offering it. Who the hell offers someone who just threatened their life a guest room? Still, she's not convinced they ever really meant to kill her.
"We've got a guest room. I think you could be a good kid if you didn't think you had to be an Apexdamn murderer. We might have to get you therapy for that. Actually, my girl could probably help with that. She works in Neuro-care. Just don't threaten anyone's lives anymore."
"No way."
She pinches the bridge of her nose.
"C'mon, it's gotta be better than this apartment. Just agree, you aren't going to get offers like this from all your attempted assasination victims."
"Nope." They hop down from the metal stool. They think for a minute, looking out the window. "Wait- do you really mean it?"
"Yes, kid."
"No! Stop lying to me!"
It hurts her a little, the expression on their face. "I'm not lying, somehow. I mean it."
They go quiet again. A moment passes. "You'll actually help me? After all this?" Their voice is raw and trembling. "You'll get me out of here?"
"I will. I can give you my number, and then I can come help you get your stuff in a few days. You've got a lot to apologise for, though."
"I'm sorry, 1- that's really not enough is it? I just- no, no excuses, Red, pull yourself together. I'll make it up to you, I promise, Anastasia. Apex, I'm sorry."
"Alright. We'll work on it. Do you want me to write down my number now?
"No, wait, let's go now. I have, like, nothing. Please, I kind of really want to get out of here. Your girlfriend won't mind, right? Wow, now I feel really bad for trying to kill you. Hah." Their wavering confidence is hidden, once again, behind their vibrant personality. Their words still sound shaky, though, unless her hearing aids are malfunctioning.
They mumble to themself as they rush around their apartment, gathering a packet of sweets and kicking laundry out of the way. They shove their i-screen in a satchel bag along with snacks, a charging cable, and a circuit card for the Hyperloop shuttle. They throw Anastasia her backpack, still full of work documents and her i-screen tucked safely inside. Anastasia holds the door open, and Red stops, hesitant to take off their Ringmaster coat.
"Leave it."
"Alright, chill."
They take it off, hanging it on a nail that's been haphazardly bashed into the wall, revealing a Hardwired Heart t-shirt underneath.
"You know, that's actually my favourite band." Anastasia tells them as they wait for the elevator to reach their level.
***
The sun has risen by the time they make it to Anastasia and Quinn's apartment. Quinn must have finished her shift, because she runs to the door when she hears the click of Anastasia's keycard.
"Ana!" She calls, embracing her, and planting a sugary sweet kiss on Anastasia's cheek. "Where were you?" Quinn raises her eyes at Red, in their Hello Kitty pants and Hardwired Heart shirt. "I see you brought home a stray."
Anastasia laughs weakly. "Hey, Quinn. Red here has a bit of explaining to do."
What do you think? Is Red more of a cute cinnamon roll or an adorable puppy?
