Nancy

Nancy

"Didn't think you guys did this sort of thing,"

Would-have-been robber.

“Mom, I’m so sorry.  But I’m also not sorry because it’s what I needed to do.”  Nancy said, defending her sudden flight to Europe. The second part kept her mom on the phone a little longer but Nancy knew it was out of Anger.  Then there was a click and her mother disappeared from the screen.  She hung up the Skype video call and walked back to the small noisy car.  Ador was there smiling, “At least you tried.”

                “If you looked up the definition of useless…” Nancy said bitterly.

                “I don’t think you’re giving her enough credit,” Ador said.

                “But she’s my mom.”

“She wasn’t the one who sent half of the camp to rob.” Ador argued. Nancy threw her hands up in concession. Ador may have intended that for a joke but instead for Nancy it reminded her of last night.  Although it had been filled with rage, cold Spanish streets, and a constant feeling of incompleteness ever since Ador had knocked on her door in the hotel she had never felt more alive.

"Nancy, it's me, Ador.  Open the door!" Nancy hesitantly opened the door to her old friend and the two strangers.  The tall man and tiny girl flanked either side of Ador.  "You're not safe you have to go,” Ador said.

"Ador, it's so good to see you!" Nancy said ignoring Ador’s concern.

"People are coming to steal everything and maybe worse." All Nancy could do was shake her head, "but where is Marco and Sumeet.  I am going to find them."

"Why are you even here?" Ador said angrily.

"Look if you don't want to help-"

Ador cut Nancy off, "I am here to help you. That driver who picked you up from the airport is with us and he told people you are some rich corporate daughter."

"What the hell? Are you-I'm not though.  Ador you don't understand."

"There is no time to explain, they're on their way. Martin check the hallway," Ador said the the large man.

" What? If they’re with you why don't you tell them to stop?" Nancy pleaded.

Ador sighed, "they are with us but then again they are not.”

Nancy slowly nodded, "I haven't even unpacked."  The warm and welcoming comforts that the yellow walls in the hallway brought the day before were no longer there. Stepping out into that hallway now with Ador and two strangers the yellow walls seemed strange and ugly. The gross glow from the low fluorescent lights against the solid yellow made Nancy lightheaded as they made their way to the elevator.  The stainless steel doors opened to two young man dressed in khakis and polos carrying some sort of climbing equipment.

"Already got her stuff, nothing much." Ador said in a thin voice with constant inflection.

“Damn… damn.” The one on the right said, "Who’s this?” looking at Nancy.

"New girl from Madrid ‘U’, thought we should show her the ropes.” Ador said.

"Oh" the right one said cautiously, "didn't think you guys did this sort of thing."

"We do and we don't," Ador smirked smoothly and walked in the elevator as everyone followed. The elevator smelled like flowers as soon as Nancy's $80 perfume her mom had given her as a welcome home present filled the air. The large elevator passed six and five without a word. One of the men turned to stare at her by floor 4. Three, two.

"I don't know what kind of messed up-" the one on the left began when Martin cut him off.

"Water breaks two ways when it hits a rock, guys." He held the door as the three women exited. Martin was larger than each but when he said, “you can say something to someone but I'll hear," Nancy knew they wouldn't do anything to harm Martin or the girls.

Still, the one who had spoken earlier said, “I just don't get it. I can keep my mouth shut, there's no problem here, just explain what's up."

"You just don't need to know what you don't need to know," Martin said and left the elevator.

As the door closed with the would-have-been robbers still in the elevator Nancy heard one mutter, "asshole.”