The Bus

“Plop, plop!” each raindrop made, as it dropped into sidewalk cracks and empty cups littering the ground. It had been raining all day, falling down in buckets and filling the streets with water. The air was warm and swollen, for a fall day. It was closing time for the workforce and the streets had become hectic. The city went from an enjoyable hum to a monotony of noise engaged with life. Cab horns were blaring, street vendors selling overpriced hot dogs, important people huddled under umbrellas looking for valets, and the sounds of tired feet rushing home to dinner filled the collective surroundings.

Her office was clearing out, waving goodbye to one another, they gathered their things and parted for the weekend. SItting in her cubicle engrossed in her computer, she hoped they would ignore her with their platitude goodbyes.

She didn’t have anyone to run home to and often stayed as late as she wanted but tonight, she had plans. Actual plans, not with a living human but with a place, a museum to be exact. Glancing at her watch she was shocked at the time,” Shit!”, she yelled out to the empty office,” the bus is coming!” Charlotte rushed down the stairs with her bag dangling by one strap and her feet barely in her shoes. She darted across the street lined with cars, throwing her hands up in hopes they would see her. One car slammed on its breaks and yelled out profanities she didn't care to hear. She mouthed “I’m sorry” as she gripped her toes in her shoes to avoid losing them running across the road. She simply didn't have time for this. She was already late. Followed by blares of horns she threw herself to the sidewalk, stopping to take a deep breath and dropping her bag to her knees. “Okay, I’m alive and okay. That was dumb Charlotte, you could have been killed or worse”, she whispered to herself. “What's worse than death?” she chuckled, answering herself.

Picking up her things she started toward the bus, but as she stepped forward she walked right into a puddle, her shoe landing on something slippery and smooth. Lifting up her foot, a small black book sealed in a plastic bag floated in the puddle beneath her. Almost tripping over it, she realized it actually saved her shoe from drowning. Picking it up by the sealed top, she shook it several times to clear the rain. Charlotte looked around to see if anyone had dropped it, but the only person in her sight was a street vendor closing up shop. She held the sealed bag up to the yellowing street light,it was then that she could see the cover clearly. The book was black leather, but not just any leather, this looked like it had been embossed in snakeskin. The edges were lined with gold and the font was elegant. Wiping her glasses to streaks she read aloud, “Finders Keepers”. Holding it up to the street light just a bit more, she read it again and again.

“What the hell?” she asked herself, with no obvious answer from the universe, she shoved the wet bag into her tote and took off running down the street, the bus was nearly there.

It was never on time but tonight it would be, it was raining and Jerry the driver made it a point to be a bit early on rainy days. He spotted her running and stopped the bus. She smacked on the doors as he opened them and gave him a smile. “I see you, he chirped, late as always''. “I do my best Jerry'' she quipped. Looking up and down the aisles, each seat was filled with either late-nighters or the occasional prostitute. She slid into the seat about four rows in and laid her bag onto the seat beside her. Leaning back , Charlotte took a deep breath. She was soaked to the bone, she rubbed her legs to get rid of the wetness, reaching into her bag for a tissue she felt it again. Taking a moment to scan her surroundings, she lowered the bag and took out the bag. It was wet and she was sure the inside of hers was as well now. Wiping her hands on her dress she opened the seal. unning her fingers across the gold type, she reread the font,” Finders Keepers.”

It was at this moment she wondered who it belonged to and why they would leave it in the middle of the city? Did they leave it or did they just drop it? Why did they seal it? and what’s inside of it. “Maybe I should turn it in,” she thought to herself. “ You always do the right thing Charlotte, let's do the wrong thing for once.” Shrinking down into her seat a bit more, her woolen coat felt like she had jumped into the ocean. Taking yet another deep breath she gathered the courage to take the book completely out of the bag and onto her lap. Swooping her curls into a bun, she wiped the wet from her forehead, rubbed her hands together for warmth, and opened it up to the first page.. and it read,

How lucky are you to find such a gem?

How did we know you would be late again?

You are the receiver of $20,000 dollars

Don’t ask who, don't ask why

I implore you to question if you want this indeed

Turn the page till the end and see if you succeed

Charlotte’s eyes had been running back and forth across each page, she wasn’t sure what she was reading was really what she was reading. She glanced around the bus, checking for signs of the present reality. Was this real? Did this book just say I have $20,000 dollars? She blinked her eyes several times and looked down at the book.

Hurriedly flipping to the end, her fingers disobeying her and slipping from the corners as she turned the pages. On the inside back cover was a small white envelope sealed with red wax. She began to read the final page;

Inside of the envelope, you will receive these funds

Finish each task and check off each one

You may not spend the money till each one is done

If you take on this challenge the money is yours

Read til the end with vigor and applause

Charlotte..

She stopped, she stopped right there at her name. Charlotte?! What do they mean Charlotte?! What in the actual hell was happening right now?! Her mind began to scream at her. Why was her name in this book?! What is going on?! Her mind started racing in all different directions.

She was afraid, afraid to read the rest, afraid to look around. How did they know her name? Were they following her? Wait a minute, she paused her thinking,who were they?

Her heartbeat was rapid as she looked out the window only to see her reflection painted with rain. She felt spacey and winded, unable to catch her breath. Squeezing her eyes shut, she clasped her fingers tightly to her chest. No, no, no she thought, not now please, she pleaded with herself. This was commonplace for her, a form of PTSD or a panic attack, she could never tell which one. The doctors would tell her it's all in her head but it wasn't, she felt real pain. She felt real goddamned pain.

Feeling herself accelerate she stood up abruptly and rang the bell. It wasn't her stop but she wanted to get off, she needed to get off. Grabbing her things wildly from the seat, she gripped the metal bar above her head and dragged herself up.

“Hey lady, a man called out, are you alright? What’s wrong witcha?” She didn't look back, his voice was right behind her but it sounded like an echo bouncing off the walls. She felt a wave of voices rush at her, only hearing bits and pieces of them, she then felt several hands grab at her, hands of all sizes. Her vision became blurry and she wasn’t sure she would make it.

“Give the lady some space”, one called out. “Oh my god is she having a heart attack?!” A woman's voice shrieked. “Always something in this city”, a husky voice commented.

She ignored them all making her way to the front, Jerry stopped the bus. As she approached he called out, “Hey are you okay?” Jerry was a big man but had a gentle vibe about him.He took her arm and she didn't retreat from his touch. “Hey everybody sit down and cool it!”, he yelled to the back of the bus. Charlotte lifted her head from the grip of her chest, finally able to speak, she whispered to him, “I’m okay, I just need some fresh air.”

“But this isn't your stop, you are at least a mile away.”

“I know, she stated firmly, I just need to walk”. Jerry brought the bus to a halt so quickly, the standing passengers crashed into each other. Charlotte made her way down the stairs, each step was as heavy as the next, it was as if her feet were trapped in quicksand. As the doors clanked close behind her she took a deep breath and a step out of her own way.

She felt herself staggering at the thought of having to walk home,she remained dizzy but was able to steady herself enough to know where she was headed. The streetlights that illuminated her walk seemed brighter than usual. As she headed in the direction of home she began to think about the book again and those words… What did they mean? What list did she need to check off? What was happening and was there really 4 million dollars at stake?

Arriving at her door, Charlotte reached down into her bag to retrieve her key, she felt her finger caress the leather and side pages of the contents. After opening the door and hanging up her coat she threw off her shoes and sidled over to the couch. Laying her head back in the moonlight she was relieved to be home. She never felt more comfortable than when she was at home. Closing her eyes she began to feel sleepy and then she heard it.

A shuffle from the right side of the room.Charlotte felt a chill go up from her toes, glide up her entire body and shoot through the top of her head. Without hesitation, she bolted up from the comfortable position and opened her eyes wide.

He was sitting adrift in the armchair, not quite touching it but the pressure from his body left an imprint. He was tall and had no color to him,with skin that looked pulled from ear to ear. Dressed in all black, his clothes looked slick and greasy, his colorless hair was donned a top hat and tattered edges.

Charlotte’s breathing had picked up,she shot up out of her seat and tried to move her legs. They felt like steel, and she found herself sinking. This terrified her, she stood staring at this man, this thing, with a slack jaw, she felt her tongue getting dry from the air he breathed. Charlotte tried to move her lips but no words hit the seeped out. She tried to lift one arm, then the other, everything was stiff. Looking down she began to wriggle her legs but they wouldn't move either.

Finally, she yelled,

"Wha t’s going on?! Let me go, you hear me?! Let me godammit!”, she screamed to the man. He looked back calmly at her and extended his hand. Breathing a heavy sigh and leaned in close to her ear, “Where is the book?'' he asked.

Her eyes widened a little more and she looked toward her bag.

‘’Ahh, so you did find it”, he walked over to her bag and reached into it. Retrieving the book with one hand he gripped a handful of her hair with the other and pulled her close to him. Charlotte screamed in pain.

Leaning down once again he whispered to her, “You didn’t follow the rules.”