Here I am! The town of Valeria, a sand rock town in the middle of nowhere. After hearing of job vacancies for bartenders in this remote town I decided to give it a chance. I look around the town as I step through the gates. People smiling and laughing everywhere, enjoying their day. What a peaceful town, it's sunny but the temperature is great. I'm pushed out of the way as young kids push past me,
"I'm faster than you. I'm going to be the pack leader one day," one of the boys said.
I smile, kids and their imaginations. I continue walking down the main street of the town, shop owners are shouting out left from right,
"Fresh meat, come and get it!"
"Finest jewellery in the desert!"
I see a police station just across the road, perfect place to start. I walk over and inside. Pretty dull place, quiet with the sounds of the markets behind me. I notice a policeman sitting down, doing nothing and I place myself in the chair around his desk. He looks up at me with stern, brown eyes.
"You're new here, aye?" he asks. I'm shocked he could tell, well after all I am carrying a rucksack around, it makes sense.
"Yes, sir. Looking for a fresh life. I was told police stations would have notices of any vacant jobs around here?" I imply. He looks into one of his draws and pulls out a bunch of flyers,
"Try those," he says as he passes me the pile of paper, "Oh, and Boy... watch yourself out there. Especially tonight, there's a reason this place is remote."
At first I thought he was joking but he seems to be warning me about something. I stood there with a concerned look on my face and watched as he sat down and continued drinking his hot brew,
"Thanks...," I say and I get up and leave for the front door.
Back out on the streets, I am immersed in a swarm of people trying to get in before the markets close. I try to break out of the horde but was swept up and carried away. I was being tossed around, back and forth, I was losing my flyers all over the place, too scared to pick them up for the fear of getting my hand trampled on. I try pushing my way out but this crowd is like a moving wall, I'm stuck inside. Then we reach the markets and the crowd spans out but I'm still getting pushed until I am shoved into someone. We topple over onto the ground. My body aches all over and my head feels dizzy. The person below me starts getting up too and our eyes catch each other. A woman. She's beautiful with her dark black hair and light blue irises. They are like the clear water you find at beautiful holiday spots. Her skin is white and smooth, most beautiful creature I've ever seen. I open my mouth to say something but no words come out.
"H-Hi," she says to me, her eyes are relaxed and gentle even after we fell over together.
"...Hi," I speak. She smiles at me and my heart skips a beat, "Ah! Sorry, I'll help you up now."
"Oh, what a gentleman," she giggles cheerfully, "Thank you."
I take her hand and pull her up. Her curves stand out just a bit through her blue dress.
"A-Are you alright? Not hurt are you?" I question.
"No, no. I'm fine," she replies and brushes the dirt and sand of her backside. She points to the flyer in my hand,
"What's that? Looking for a job?" she asks.
"Ah yeah... There were more flyers but they got lost. I guess this 'Sweet Midnight' place was the lucky flyer," I reply. She gives off another giggle.
"If you want, I can walk you there? It's just down the road," she says. Sweet Midnight, sounds like a great place. I nod and we walk together down the street.
I don't want it to be a long, awkward stroll with no conversation so I break the silence with her,
"So," I clear my throat, "My name's Leo," I extend my hand towards her, "Nice to meet you, and you are?"
She looks at my hand for a second and then extends hers and shakes my hand,
"Veronica," she says smiling at me then takes her hand back, "What brings you to the small town of Valeria?"
"A new life," I say whilst looking up at the blue, cloudless sky, "I heard about this place and thought I'd give it a chance. It's hot but nothing I'm not used to," I say letting off a chuckle. She laughs a bit with me and then we both go quiet for a bit. Then she looks at me,
"You know I work at the Sweet Midnight," she says smiling at me cheerfully. My eyes widen a bit and I can't help but smile.
"Really?" I say in amazement, "That's great! That way if I get a job there I'll already know someone."
She chuckles a bit then looks down the road,
"I don't think Gramps will mind. We usually tend to hire anyone who is willing to lend a hand," she says.
We reach the front of Sweet Midnight and she welcomes me inside. Inside it smells of pine and whiskey, my senses set on fire, there is something about the smell of pine that just excites me and relaxes me at the same time. The rays of dusk settle into the calm, quiet main room and an old, lonely bartender looks up at me, inquisitively.
"Veronica, who's this?" the old man asks.
"This is Leo," she gestures at me, "He's new in town and is looking for a job, Gramps," she replies cheerfully. He gives me a stern look, examining my body.
"You want to bartend boy?" He asks. I am surprised he knows.
"Yes, sir," I reply shortly. The old man looks over at Veronica and she looks back at him. It's like they are having a telekinetic conversation. I wonder what they are thinking about. Then he looks back at me,
"You start tomorrow," he says returning back to his cleaning, "Veronica will show you to your room, settle you down and get some good sleep. Tomorrow will be a big day."
Veronica grabs my hand and starts walking me across the main room to a set of stairs.
"What's this? A new toy?" A new voice says. The sound of creaking wood above us fills the room and my eyes catch the image of a figure with long, brown hair jumping over the rails and land on the floor gracefully. She turns around fast and her hair spirals with her body. Her brown eyes are wide, and seem playful. She's wearing a red and white checkered button up shirt with the top part of her large cleavage exposed and short denim pants that expose her long, dark-skinned legs. Veronica grabs my arm tight and starts heaving me towards the staircase, not bothering to look back.
"Leave it Luna," Veronica says to the brown-haired girl.
"What?!? I just want to play," she whines. Her face drops a little in disappointment.
"Why would he want to play with a filthy mutt?" another voice says. Veronica halts but still has a tight grip on my arm. Luna's face picks up, her curious face looks over my shoulder and I follow her gaze to a small, white-haired girl. Her face seems white and petite, like a royal person and she wears a full kimono but you can still see the full roundness of her large breasts through the material. Her eyes seem cat-like, like calm but dangerous. She stands there with her arms crossed in front of the staircase.
"Choke on a hairball you feline scum!" Luna barks, "Go back to brushing your hair!"
Veronica tenses up and speaks out in a large tone,
"Both of you, just go away!"
"Luna! Katy! Go back to your rooms," the old man behind the bar says.