003 Knock Girl Chapter 1 : Welcome To Wayward New York [Illustrative Version]
Waiting
Nandi sat on the edge of her bed, eyes wide, staring at her reflection. It looked so distant, a thousand miles away.It was ridiculous but, the air was different in the United States of America. It felt like it had its own texture. She only had to wonder if she was insane. Different air wasn't a thing.... so she had to be insane.
But then again... The shower turned off and after a moment, Alana walked out, wrapped in a towel.
Nandi smiled. The girl was quite a sight. Beautiful in her own way. Just not in a way Nandi was used to. First. She clearly didn't eat her porridge, there was no butt there. She was round, just not in the best places. Much was in the stomach and sides, arms too. It almost made her look buff.
“You sure you want to come?” Nandi asked.
“You mean your jog BEFORE your hike? That?”
“Now, you see? I hear that tone. But I need to run. All we did was eat fancy and sleep. And to make it worse, you’d think it was you who had the jetlag."
Alana burst out laughing, shock etched into her face, incredulous. Nandi had to put on her best face. What she said next could ruin everything. It wasn't tap dancing on quicksand so much as riding a wave. So the best I'm being as adorable as possible, so please don't take this the wrong way.” face was needed.
“You know, you can stay, if you want.” Nandi could only hope she sounded sweet.
“And leave you in New York... The city... Alone... I don't think you understand how dead my mother will make me. Like, the only thing I am confused about is whether I will be carved or minced.”
She loved the idea, just to see if there was actual meat behind that skin.
“Okay, can we do something this isn't just America, it's New York. 'New York New York'. Can't we rent shit?”
Alana sighed.
Alana sighed.
“Why couldn't you be a smoker? It would solve so much.”
They laughed.
Alana searched her phone.
Alana searched her phone.
“Jesus, when you’re right, you’re right. I swear you can rent a glass of water if you look hard enough.”
Cycling was NOT Alana's thing. She’d no idea.
At first, waking had been difficult. It was before dawn, and they were up. It was its own nightmare.
Then came finding an open store. There were many. The city truly didn't sleep.
Cycling was something else. At first her breathing had been easy, then, it got heavy, panting.
All the while, right next to her, Nandi was sprinting.
Running, my ass she thought, her mind almost screaming.
Hard Cycling
Cycling was NOT Alana's thing. She’d no idea.At first, waking had been difficult. It was before dawn, and they were up. It was its own nightmare.
Then came finding an open store. There were many. The city truly didn't sleep.
Cycling was something else. At first her breathing had been easy, then, it got heavy, panting.
All the while, right next to her, Nandi was sprinting.
Running, my ass she thought, her mind almost screaming.
“Stop!” Nandi yelled.
Alana did her best to show composure, it wasn't happening, coughing and wheezing betraying her.
Nandi grinned, clapping.
Alana did her best to show composure, it wasn't happening, coughing and wheezing betraying her.
Nandi grinned, clapping.
“That was good. Luckily home's only a block away. But I wanna impress your mom. That cool?”
“Trust me, you already have. If she found out about this.”
“I’m not sure she should.”
“Why?”
“I just dragged her only girl after one day into the big city. Especially when the plan was to go hiking anyway. We'll just say we went around the block. We paid cash for the rentals anyway. No paper trail.”
“You sound like a spy. But, fine. Then what's the gift?”
“Breakfast.”
“No! My mom always eats at the buffet. She thinks it's wasteful to literally buy anything else. It's like she believes literally everything that could ever be eaten will be on those food trays.”
“Then I need something she can't eat.”
“Such as?” Alana asked.
“I’m asking you!” Nandi said laughing. “Here’s ten dollars. Help me cheat the system.”
Alana looked at her with blank eyes. Too much energy was focused on breathing to allow further thought. No argument could come.
Nandi won.
Alana nodded.
Alana looked at her with blank eyes. Too much energy was focused on breathing to allow further thought. No argument could come.
Nandi won.
Alana nodded.
“Great. I'll drop off the bike, see you in a few. Stay on your phone.”
Alana nodded, letting out a 'heeee', it would have to do. She oozed off the seat only to watch Nandi jump on. She took off in a second, her front wheel spinning in the air like a motorboat in a monsoon.
Ten dollars made sense. Not too high, not too low, there was a brilliance to the number. Alana was impressed. Now she had to think of something. There were so many stores they overlapped.
The only flaw in the plan was, Alana. What on earth was she supposed to say to Nandi? I have no idea what my mother would like?
She ran a list through her mind. The first thought to come up was 'Something for Dallin' She bit the inside of her cheek, punishment for being a jerk.
She turned, suddenly face to face with an old woman smoking at the door of what looked to be some kind of thrift store. Alana smiled.
Things were looking good when she walked out with a tiny box, wrapped in what she could only assume had been a hobo's jeans. Gross, but 'fancy'.
To her surprise, there was no Nandi waiting. Warning bells rang.
If anything happened...
To show that her mind wasn't on her side, it produced the largest array of things that could've gone wrong and, judging by how fast her heart was sinking, she was listening to every thought.
A loud bang made her shiver, but she barely turned. Upon looking around she realized she was one of the only people taking it well. It was followed by a rat-ta-tat that shut her body down. She heard glass burst and running.
The gunfire continued.
She was running too... back to the hotel.
It dawned on her how gross what she was doing was, but still ran. I'm sorry, I'm sorry she screamed, over and over again.
Alana nodded, letting out a 'heeee', it would have to do. She oozed off the seat only to watch Nandi jump on. She took off in a second, her front wheel spinning in the air like a motorboat in a monsoon.
Ten dollars made sense. Not too high, not too low, there was a brilliance to the number. Alana was impressed. Now she had to think of something. There were so many stores they overlapped.
The only flaw in the plan was, Alana. What on earth was she supposed to say to Nandi? I have no idea what my mother would like?
She ran a list through her mind. The first thought to come up was 'Something for Dallin' She bit the inside of her cheek, punishment for being a jerk.
She turned, suddenly face to face with an old woman smoking at the door of what looked to be some kind of thrift store. Alana smiled.
Panic
To her surprise, there was no Nandi waiting. Warning bells rang.
If anything happened...
To show that her mind wasn't on her side, it produced the largest array of things that could've gone wrong and, judging by how fast her heart was sinking, she was listening to every thought.
A loud bang made her shiver, but she barely turned. Upon looking around she realized she was one of the only people taking it well. It was followed by a rat-ta-tat that shut her body down. She heard glass burst and running.
The gunfire continued.
She was running too... back to the hotel.
It dawned on her how gross what she was doing was, but still ran. I'm sorry, I'm sorry she screamed, over and over again.
“You’re passing the hotel!”
Her eyes widened and she turned her head, her body still on rails.
Nandi ran with her, at least she was until she started gripping as much of Alana's love handles as possible.
She was turned, like a tug boat towing a freighter, swinging her into golden door frames. Whether they dove, or she was flung, she didn't know.
Behind them, the doors closed with both girls on their butts, gasping for air. Nandi looked genuinely worn.
It was about time!
Alana needed air, space to breath! But... that wasn't going to happen. Nandi pressed her forehead to hers. Their gasps syncing.
Her eyes widened and she turned her head, her body still on rails.
Nandi ran with her, at least she was until she started gripping as much of Alana's love handles as possible.
She was turned, like a tug boat towing a freighter, swinging her into golden door frames. Whether they dove, or she was flung, she didn't know.
Behind them, the doors closed with both girls on their butts, gasping for air. Nandi looked genuinely worn.
It was about time!
Alana needed air, space to breath! But... that wasn't going to happen. Nandi pressed her forehead to hers. Their gasps syncing.
“You okay?” Nandi asked.
"I should be asking you. There's glass in your hair!"
"No, there isn't."
“I’m looking right at it!”
Nandi's pupils darted as if looking for an answer.
Nandi's pupils darted as if looking for an answer.
"I guess someone broke a window."
"Um... yeah..."
"How funny is that?"
"What?"
"South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world and to think I'd come to America only to get shot!"
Nandi's following laugh was contagious.
A lot of people were staring at Nandi.
In the front seat. Her mother would shoot glances, bouncing from the road, to her opened gift, shaped studs, to Nandi. Her dad watched the road, as he should. Alana was by the door, half facing Nandi, half against the door, right leg on the chair. In the seat behind, Dallin's eyes would lift every now and then.
Nandi, wasn’t there. Her forehead was pressed against the glass; eyes wide, gaping as she watched the world pass.
Nandi's following laugh was contagious.
Picnic
A lot of people were staring at Nandi.In the front seat. Her mother would shoot glances, bouncing from the road, to her opened gift, shaped studs, to Nandi. Her dad watched the road, as he should. Alana was by the door, half facing Nandi, half against the door, right leg on the chair. In the seat behind, Dallin's eyes would lift every now and then.
Nandi, wasn’t there. Her forehead was pressed against the glass; eyes wide, gaping as she watched the world pass.
“This is great. I didn't think parts of New York had so many trees.”
It was enough to make Alana's dad laugh.
It was enough to make Alana's dad laugh.
“What did you think it would look like?”
“Blade runner? Like every square was Times Square.”
Alana’s mother snorted despite herself.
Alana’s mother snorted despite herself.
“I shouldn’t be laughing. I should be mad but, I can’t help it.”
She was staring at the gift. It made Alana smile, if only just a little. Nandi's wide eyes caught her, she gave Alana a lot of big gestures, lots of nudging.
Alana, awkward and hesitant, reached out and hugged her mother's chair. To her surprise her mother burst into tears, squeezing her fingers too tight.
Alana turned to find Nandi's predator eyes locked directly onto hers. Not her face, just her eyes. She wouldn't be surprised if Nandi literally couldn't see her nose or forehead. They shared a nod.
At least it wasn't her lips.
She was staring at the gift. It made Alana smile, if only just a little. Nandi's wide eyes caught her, she gave Alana a lot of big gestures, lots of nudging.
Alana, awkward and hesitant, reached out and hugged her mother's chair. To her surprise her mother burst into tears, squeezing her fingers too tight.
Alana turned to find Nandi's predator eyes locked directly onto hers. Not her face, just her eyes. She wouldn't be surprised if Nandi literally couldn't see her nose or forehead. They shared a nod.
At least it wasn't her lips.
“Hey, that’s Ben’s work.”
Alana's eyebrow raised when, almost immediately, the moment shattered and Nandi swivelled.
For Alana and Dallin, their purpose was to take their bikes for a walk.
The skinny people were riding.
Though what Nandi was doing was NOT riding. It was a mix of off-road BMX and X-Games. When grass and rock turned to brick and cement, it was time for the X-games with Nandi literally speeding up an incline, turning and jumping, 'parting ways' with gravity before slamming down hard enough to bounce. When cement met sand and rock. It reminded Alana of an action movie, where everything rubber touched would just burst.
In some warzone, a Black Hawk was blushing.
Dallin stopped, blocking enough of the path to stop Alana. He smirked, turning to her.
Alana's eyebrow raised when, almost immediately, the moment shattered and Nandi swivelled.
Ride
For Alana and Dallin, their purpose was to take their bikes for a walk.The skinny people were riding.
Though what Nandi was doing was NOT riding. It was a mix of off-road BMX and X-Games. When grass and rock turned to brick and cement, it was time for the X-games with Nandi literally speeding up an incline, turning and jumping, 'parting ways' with gravity before slamming down hard enough to bounce. When cement met sand and rock. It reminded Alana of an action movie, where everything rubber touched would just burst.
In some warzone, a Black Hawk was blushing.
Dallin stopped, blocking enough of the path to stop Alana. He smirked, turning to her.
“Someone needs to explain to me how that girl knows you exist. Let alone is your friend.”
Their dad was fussing over the picnic, hands moving from chips, to ham, to butter, a flask, paper plates, to salami. Alana's digits joined the fray with a six-pack pulled from a cooler box.
Nan-di-Pha
Their dad was fussing over the picnic, hands moving from chips, to ham, to butter, a flask, paper plates, to salami. Alana's digits joined the fray with a six-pack pulled from a cooler box.“The Sun's starting to set.” Her mother groaned.
She was on her back, staring at the setting sun. Her face changed when the sound of a Nintendo Switch caught her attention.
She was on her back, staring at the setting sun. Her face changed when the sound of a Nintendo Switch caught her attention.
“Really Lin? Does that battery ever die?” Alana asked.
“Not if I can help it.” He never looked up from next to her.
“I bet it eventually will if we keep coming back here.” Their mother said.
“The two hotels? The rentals? We can't afford that.” Dallin said without missing a beat.
“Ben! Your son is calling us poor, saying 'we' like he has a job!”
“Lin, stop acting like you have a job. Or we'll hike every day.”
Alana grinned. The day had just gotten a little better, the grass a little greener.
Alana grinned. The day had just gotten a little better, the grass a little greener.
“Hey, where's Nandi?” Her mother asked.
“Are we even saying her name right?”
“What are you talking about Dallin?” Alana asked.
“Well, Alana. Whenever she says her own name, she throws in bass like she's doing an impression of Thor. We all sound like Ned Flanders.”
“Son, I love you, but 'ya dumb'.”
Alana cringed, trying to think about what movie or TV show she'd butchered for that reference.
Alana walked with a ham and salami sandwich in each hand, mayonnaise dripping from hers.
Dallin, either trying to be funny or perpetuating a hate crime, said it'd be best not to put mayo on one. She caught sight of Nandi's bicycle. But no Nandi.
Shit!
She wanted to yell, but not panic... something said ‘say nothing’. Instead, she simply slow walked in an arc off the path going uphill until she found Nandi holding the largest binoculars she'd ever seen.
Alana cringed, trying to think about what movie or TV show she'd butchered for that reference.
Sandwiches
Alana walked with a ham and salami sandwich in each hand, mayonnaise dripping from hers.Dallin, either trying to be funny or perpetuating a hate crime, said it'd be best not to put mayo on one. She caught sight of Nandi's bicycle. But no Nandi.
Shit!
She wanted to yell, but not panic... something said ‘say nothing’. Instead, she simply slow walked in an arc off the path going uphill until she found Nandi holding the largest binoculars she'd ever seen.
“Hey, what you doing?”
“Bird watching.”
“Are the birds in space?”
Nandi laughed.
Nandi laughed.
“You got me. I'm people-watching. I guess I'm just being silly. I wanna be a part of everything.”
“Come on be a part of supper. Mother will kill me for losing you. She couldn't handle me walking you into another mass shooting.”
Nandi laughed. “Come on, it wasn't a mass shooting.”
“It will be if I can't get you back there.”
Nandi clutched her sides laughing. To Alana's surprise, Nandi pressed her forehead to Alana's chest. Locking her up. Alana got a bad feeling, not because of the touch but... yup there it was.
Nandi reached up awkwardly like a crab snapping its claws. It was what Alana was most afraid of.
Nandi was reaching for the mayonnaise half! She couldn't manoeuvre without giving herself away.
Defeated, she handed over the juicy one.
Nandi clutched her sides laughing. To Alana's surprise, Nandi pressed her forehead to Alana's chest. Locking her up. Alana got a bad feeling, not because of the touch but... yup there it was.
Nandi reached up awkwardly like a crab snapping its claws. It was what Alana was most afraid of.
Nandi was reaching for the mayonnaise half! She couldn't manoeuvre without giving herself away.
“I think the jetlag's finally hitting me. I'm gonna to sleep forever."
“Yeah...” she watched it vanished, taking her hopes and dreams with it.
Alana looked back at the other one. The blasted thing could have been used to start fires.
Midnight found a security officer staring at nothing, his vision blurred to the point of being cross-eyed. The grey-blue of multiple monitors, blinding him with the tedium.
Alana looked back at the other one. The blasted thing could have been used to start fires.
Knock, knock
Midnight found a security officer staring at nothing, his vision blurred to the point of being cross-eyed. The grey-blue of multiple monitors, blinding him with the tedium. “Hey,” called a woman guard.
“What?”
“Your cell phone working?”
He checked.
He checked.
“No, turn off your wifi.”
“You think I didn't do that?”
“Okay wait. Look at the cameras.”
They checked, staring as they turned black before returning to footage of the building and a long empty road leading outside.
They checked, staring as they turned black before returning to footage of the building and a long empty road leading outside.
“I guess, it’s not working?” She asked.
“You don't see it? Check the landline.”
“Fine,”
“Do you hear that?”
“What?”
They turned to the cameras seeing nothing; yet both could both hear plastic wheels on tar getting louder and louder.
Their heads raised, a figure was rollerblading in the middle of the road right to their hut. It was holding something long in its hands, swinging it around like a marching band baton.
They turned to the cameras seeing nothing; yet both could both hear plastic wheels on tar getting louder and louder.
Their heads raised, a figure was rollerblading in the middle of the road right to their hut. It was holding something long in its hands, swinging it around like a marching band baton.
“You’re seeing this right?”
“Not on the cameras. I feel the hairs on the back of my neck rising bro. This feels like some Annabelle shit.”
“I’m not your ‘bro’.” She sighed before slamming the phone down. “The line’s not working.”
He took a breath, “We’re over thinking this. It’s just some kid. I’ll go.”
“Take a gun.”
“No thank you.”
Stepping outside and sighing audibly, he pulled out a nightstick. His intuition was right, the figure wasn't big.
To his surprise, it looked naked until the light hit it. It was a girl, or young woman. Something about her screamed ‘perky’.
She wasn’t naked instead she was wearing yoga pants and a tank top, both green and over a full green body condom covering all the way down to her roller blades.
Stepping outside and sighing audibly, he pulled out a nightstick. His intuition was right, the figure wasn't big.
To his surprise, it looked naked until the light hit it. It was a girl, or young woman. Something about her screamed ‘perky’.
She wasn’t naked instead she was wearing yoga pants and a tank top, both green and over a full green body condom covering all the way down to her roller blades.
“What the fuck?” The woman yelled from the hut.
“Shut up.” He called.
The tall girl stopped in front of him.
The tall girl stopped in front of him.
“Can I help you?”
“Yes.” The voice wasn't feminine but mechanic. “I’m looking for a late-night delivery. Order number six, eight, one, one, four, eight.”
He gaped, heart suddenly thumping against his chest.
“Who the hell are you?”
She tilted her head and looked behind him to the woman in the booth. Beyond it was no delivery truck.
She tilted her head and looked behind him to the woman in the booth. Beyond it was no delivery truck.
“Knocker Girl.”
She raised her baseball bat and, the guard raised his nightstick.
She raised her baseball bat and, the guard raised his nightstick.
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