Second Encounter

Two weeks had passed by a lot more quickly than she wanted to admit. The death toll last time she checked had ended up being near seventeen thousand and her sprained wrist and ankle were as good as new, though the nightmares had not stopped. Her job hunt had largely been unsuccessful as well, until now that is! Somehow, Arcadia had landed her a job with a firm which maintained very high-end houses and apartments. She had mentioned something about it being her two-days-a-week extra job which wanted full-time employees as well (poor girl worked too much).

She had been assigned to maintain a luxury apartment on the top floor of Persia, an exclusive, high end apartment complex. It paid more than her now non-existent fast-food opportunity and was located two miles away from city central and very close to a teleportation depot and the metro, with beautiful parks, expensive restaurants within gated communities and amazing sights everywhere you looked. Prime real estate at its finest.

The interview went off without any explosions and she was assigned to 'VIP Luxury Home Number Twenty-Six', long names seemed to be a very common theme. She arrived by taxi in front of the sleek building after going through security checks that rivalled the Pentagon. Forty floors up and she stood in front of her assignment. She was expected to be here five days a week cleaning, washing and even making shopping runs and food trips when asked by the tenants, she was a high-end maid.

She had like so many before her chosen a degree for the wrong reasons, not out of passion for the career, but because of how easy and fun the subjects were. Her parents were not pleased, but she had stubbornly stood her ground on her choice to major in Theater, and they had relented. She remembered what her father had said as he paid her tuition fees for the first year "Don't come crawling to us for help when college is over, make your way in life using this shit degree you've chosen." His voice had been filled with anger. She had gone home that first summer vacation expecting to have the time of her life like all of her friends, she was sorely disappointed. 'Summer Fest!" her father had repeated through clenched teeth. "Your sister is on summer assignment apprenticing at a law firm, and you want to go partying!" "I suggest you find a job if you want money to party, my money is for your education only!" She had been stunned to silence, her mother shaking her head in disappointment at the study door. "You are eighteen years old; you can work for what you want, I will provide only what you need!" His words had been a slap in the face, the words were past her lips before she had the presence of mind to stop them.

"When have you ever given a damn about what I need, let alone what I want?" He had spun around and slapped her, knocking her to the ground. Her vision swam as tears poured from her eyes. Her mother was by 'his' side asking him to calm down, while cursing her for her disrespect. It was the first time he had hit her and the last time either of her parents had seen or heard from her. She had pulled herself to her feet, wiped her tears away and in a flat voice let them know what she thought of them. "You never loved me, not like you love her. I have never been good enough to deserve any of your affection." Turning away she uttered the word that paved her future. "I don't need your money, I don't need your love and damn well don't need you!" "You both can rot in hell and take that bitch with you, the three of you deserve each other!" She left, taking nothing with her. Never looking back to see the pain in her parents' eyes as she walked out of their lives.

She had called Arcadia that day. She had worked her fingers to the bone that summer, saving for a community college and crashing on Arcadia's couch. They had been through the wringer together, and five years later they both had a college degree. Arcadia's in hospitality and Ayla's in Technology and Robotics, however, Ayla needed to complete an internship at a tech company to be certified, to do this she needed money. Internships did not pay, and she had an apartment and bills that would have to be paid for the six months she couldn't work. She needed a job that paid enough for her to save towards the internship, and this was it.

She stepped out of the elevator and walked nervously towards the double doors engraved with the number twenty-six, a number on each door. She had been given a key card at reception which she was told needed to be returned when she was leaving, no exceptions. The residents were not at home, and she needed to be finished by the time they returned. She slid the card across the reader and entered the apartment.

So much space, and she alone would have to clean it all! Ayla stood in shock as she gazed into the apartment. The inside was extravagant with white walls and large clear windows. A spacious living room with contrasting black sectional and glass center piece table atop a beautiful floral rug. A large HD television was mounted on the wall with a high-quality stereo behind which stood glass tiled wall. A crystal chandelier dangled over the four-seat dark mahogany dining room table. Off to the right a fully stocked bar, and to the left a kitchen with all chrome appliances. To her surprise they were stairs leading to a second floor. She was making her way to the stairs when something glimmering in the sunset caught her eye. "Is that a freaking pool!" To the left of the living room, a door led to a spacious deck and an infinity pool.

Ayla wiped her hands on the towel on her hip. This place was huge, the title of apartment was sorely lacking. The residents were either really tidy or did not spend much time here. The only places that really needed tidying were the two bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs, and the living room. The living room had needed the most work, wine bottles and food containers were everywhere. She had vacuumed every inch of the thick carpet musing at the circle patch of tiled floor off center of the living room, maybe a piece of furniture had been there and needed to be replaced. She had also dusted every hard surface, a mammoth task she was glad to be done with. She walked to the door leading to the pool, she would love to go for a swim, but that was a good way to lose her new job. She turned to leave when a man shimmered into existence in the living room.

"That was boring."

Ayla stepped forward involuntarily. That voice, she knew that voice.

Suddenly the room lit up as a news anchor smiled and began informing the public of the new sky rink in construction over the Bay.

The man had teleported into the living room, she was sure of it, but that wasn't possible. As if sensing her presence he turned towards her, a bottle of wine in his hand, his silver eyes dancing in the glare of the television. After a few seconds of stunned silence he said, "we meet again."