Chapter 6

Sam felt like a bag of nerves. The past 24 hours of her life had been a strange blur of crying and distractions. It seemed obvious Ben was missing after a couple of days without contact. Once she was sure of it, fear washed over her like a cold wave. In her room, with Theo watching TV in the one beside it, she sobbed and searched through old messages on her phone, hoping for some clue to what happened. She found nothing.

When she became too dejected and discouraged to keep looking for answers, she found other things to keep her mind occupied. First pictures of Trish, then pictures of things she wanted to do with Trish, or more often, things she wanted Trish to do to her. That fantasy kept her from the darkest thoughts. Instead of wondering if Ben was gone, she wondered what it would be like to feel Trish clamp a collar around her neck and clip on a leash. Sam almost drooled at the idea. She wanted more than anything to be with Trish, to belong to Trish, to be loved by her. That fantasy was a comfort in a time of fear. Being kept at the foot of Trish’s bed, being taken care of like a pet, it would be so much easier than worrying about Ben and the world and the city and where the next rent payment was coming from. The brothel beneath her apartment was a constant reminder of what she knew would eventually be the only way she could make money, if the city kept closing in on her.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad… if she could have Trish as a client.

The fantasy faded when she started speaking to Marc and now at least, as he approached her, Theo, and Trish, they were doing something. What little they could do. People went missing from the Circuit all the time. Sometimes they never showed up again, sometimes they’d appear in a suit or other uniform, fresh from their new life with CaliaCorp, and ignore everyone they used to know. Sam hoped if Ben were really gone, that at least he might come back in some way, even if it wasn’t actually him. Either way she felt terrified.

“What’s up,” Marc said.

Trish nodded. Sam forced a smile.

“Hey man,” said Theo, “you ready to head over?”

“Yeah,” replied Marc, “let’s do it.”

There was no more conversation. The sky was grey, and the streets were old and worn and everything just looked faded. As though the colour had drained from reality. As the group walked from the falafel stand toward the converted warehouse, they passed by another group of locals, an older group. They were wearing clothes that could have been called fancy once, now as faded as the district. The groups exchanged solemn nods and half-smiles and passed each other by. Community, conversation, social life had all become things of the past. Once in a while TV commercials showed grand events in the CaliaCorp buildings, something else denied to those outside the system. Yes, people could meet and be friends, but there were no longer places to congregate. Everything was either home, or business. Nothing more. Sam wondered if it had always been like that, but it couldn’t be. She read the history books, knew the trajectory of society. The rapid acceleration of climate change. The wars. Then the end of all that. The rise of CaliaCorp. It must be fake; propaganda. But then, it did seem less stormy, less unpredictable every year.

They arrived at the warehouse, a grey building with a corrugated iron roof, leaking in various spots. Through a heavy metal door the group walked into a central corridor separating two rows of units, generously called apartments. Each one looked more like a place to store equipment, a shed. Bens was at the end of the left side.

“Can’t believe he lives here,” said Theo.

“Where else was he gonna live?” replied Trish.

Theo shrugged. He led the group along the corridor and with a sudden crash, a door to his right burst open and an elderly woman leaned out.

“What are you doing here? Are you with them?”

“With who?” asked Trish

“You know,” the woman said, “them, they come here sometimes.”

Theo shook his head. “Ok grandma, go back inside, we’re busy.”

The woman muttered a quiet curse and shut her door.

“What was she talking about?” Sam said.

Marc raised an eyebrow, “It’s gotta be–”

“Guys,” interrupted Theo, “come here quick.”

He was looking at the door to Ben’s place. It hung open, letting them see halfway inside.

“This looks bad,” said Trish.

Sam rubbed her hands together nervously. Marc bit his lower lip. Theo pushed open the door fully and walked inside.

“What the hell?” he called out.

The other three squeezed inside the tiny entrance and joined Theo in the single room that made up Ben’s place. It looked pristine.

“Nothing,” Theo said, “not one thing out of place.”

“I don’t know if that makes me feel better or worse,” said Sam.

“Worse,” Trish muttered.

“Let’s take a look around,” Marc said, “see if we can find anything.”

He began digging under Ben’s bed, freshly made with sheets tightly tucked. Sam rummaged in a chest of drawers, moving underwear and t-shirts aside. Trish leafed through a bookshelf. Theo found a folder of documents. He ran his fingers along them, peering in at each one in turn. Lots of rejection letters from jobs, a few copies of Ben’s resume. Nothing useful.

The bed, drawers, and books turned up little of note either. Everything was just as it was when they last visited. Neat and clean, no sign of anything strange. As if Ben had never been there.

“What now?” Trish asked.

“Did he have other friends?” asked Marc.

“I don’t think so,” Sam said.

Theo started to pace up and down between the couch and TV. He rubbed his forehead gently, thinking. Suddenly, he booted a small wooden coffee table, shattering it to splinters.

“What the fuck are we supposed to do? There’s nothing. Not a damn thing we can do.”

No-one spoke. Sam cowered behind Trish. She hated seeing anyone that angry, much as she understood why, it was terrifying. Trish broke the silence.

“Calm down Theo, that’s not going to help.”

“What is, Trish? What’s going to help?”

Another silence. Theo brushed past the others and walked outside. Trish followed. Marc looked at Ben’s computer with his head tilted to one side.

“You leaving, Sam?” he asked.

“Yeah, I think so.”

“I’m gonna stay and see if I can get into Ben’s system.”

“Oh. Good idea.”

“I’ll catch you later, ok?”

“Ok, thanks Marc.”

Marc sat down at Ben’s desk and Sam walked outside to where Theo and Trish were arguing.

“It’s not like we even know that much about him, is it?” Theo spat.

“That’s on you then, isn’t it? You’re supposed to be his friend.”

“Yeah, some friends we are. We have no idea where he is, how to find him, or why he might vanish like this. For all you know he could show up in a minute and wonder what we were doing here.”

“But he won’t, will he?” Sam mumbled.

Theo’s anger faded. He sighed. “No. I don’t think so.”

“We can’t do anything can we?” Sam said.

“It’s ok Sam, we’ll figure something out. Let’s just go get some rest.” Trish said.

“We’re giving up?” Sam asked.

“No, just taking a break.”

Theo grunted. “Trish is right. We’re not going to get anywhere like this.”

“Oh, now you agree with me?” Trish said.

“Let’s just go home. Where’s Marc?” asked Theo.

“Inside, he’s trying to get into Ben’s computer.”

“Still thinks he’s a hacker huh? Whatever, I need to eat and sleep, let’s go,” said Theo.