"Damn!" Why is it that in the January Sales you can always find the clothes you want, but never in the right size? Realising that no matter how many times I flicked through the jackets on the rail in Next, the one to go with the trousers I'd found simply wouldn't appear, I resolved to stray from my local store and venture into town. It was a trip I didn't make often -- the hassle of the traffic, the scores of people who didn't seem to be able to see the people straight in front of them barging past and the pollution didn't appeal to me much. I preferred the quieter suburbs of the city.
Of course, I needed a new suit for my promotion, starting next week when I returned to work from the Christmas break. I'd been working at the firm for 3 years now and this was my big break. Time to relinquish my smug satisfaction of getting away with jeans and trainers for all this time, and to start dressing smartly. To be fair, I was kind of looking forward to taking more care in my appearance. I'd just had my hair coloured back to the striking brunette it had been when I was younger (now in my mid 20s, it had gone more of a mousey colour) and I'd become fond of getting my nails done professionally. At present they were a festive maroon with silver snowflakes on the thumbs. Having lost some weight this year, I was more inclined to show off the more curvy parts of my body than hide them under baggy casuals. To that end, I really needed this suit jacket!
I parked up in the multi-storey and got out of the car somewhat cautiously. Not being a timid lady, these places always gave me the creeps. I think because I always associated them with car crime -- you always see car theft awareness ads set in multi-stories on the telly. I wondered over to the ticket machine, leaving the car unlocked for the full 30 seconds it took as a small personal triumph over my own paranoia, bleeped the car shut and set off toward the high street.
Not taking too many trips into town, I was still surprised at how I didn't notice the new doorway in the walkway. Needless to say that when an iron tight grip on my arm dragged me inside, my wits were cast senseless. Not knowing what was happening, I was in a blind panic. Inside was a room that was pitch black -- not even a hint of light as if some sort of material were sucking it away -- and "things" that felt like a mixture of flesh and metal were pawing at my entire body, stripping away my clothes, shoes, bag and even my jewellery. Funny in a way how, in spite of the darkness, I was still desperately aware of my nakedness and wanted so badly to cover my humility.