30

Grey’s phone buzzed her awake at nearly three in the morning. West groaned. Grey rubbed her eyes wake, why would anyone call her at this hour? Thinking it had something to do with her mom her sleep vanished within seconds. Upon reading the caller ID, she was filled with more questions. Sky was calling her.

She slipped out of bed and so she could answer the phone in the living room.

“Sky? What the heck, do you know what time it is?” she hissed.

“Damn it, I know. I need you to get over to Turner street. Like now.”

“What? What’s going on?”

He groaned loudly on the other head. “Porsha got stupid drunk at a night club, her friend took my car now I’m stranded.”

“I’ll wake West—”

“No, don’t. I called you because you seem to be the only one that gives a crap about Porsha.”

“Well, West’s the only one with the car. He drove me here.”

“You know where he keeps his car keys just take them and come. He won’t be mad you’re his girlfriend.”

He might not be mad about her taking the car, but he won’t be happy about her leaving at three in the morning.

“Fine. Send me your location.”

Grey slipped on her jeans and snatched the car keys from the counter in the kitchen and raced to find the car in the garage. No one stopped her even if she looked like a bat out of hell. Grey couldn’t piece together the scenario that brought Sky and Porsha together. Turner street was only ten minutes away from the condo building. Sure enough Sky had Porsha slung over his shoulder. With Lewis still in the hospital Sky didn’t have anyone else to call for backup.

“Get in.” Grey brought the black sport car to a halt.

Sky opened the back door and dumped Porsha on the seat. He climbed in the front, bringing with him the scent of cigarette smoke and hard core liquor coupled with scents that Grey didn’t want to know what belonged to. She put the car in cruise and the roar of the engine filled the quiet streets. She had to admit, she liked driving the sport car. She might have to make it a habit.

“Are you going to tell me what happened?” Grey asked.

“She got drunk and I couldn’t control her.” Sky mumbled.

“I can see she got drunk Sky. Couldn’t her friends handle her? Why did you get involved?”

“We got to the club together Grey.”

Grey’s grip on the wheel tightened. She didn’t want to take her eyes off the road to glance at Porsha. She didn’t know where she was going. All she could do was follow the road ahead.

“Together? You’re seeing Porsha? Really?”

“It isn’t like that. She’d been… pushing to have us go out and I gave it. I said fuck it I want to have a good time tonight.”

“So what? Were you really going to sleep with her? Porsha and Mia are really good friends. They’ll patch things up eventually.”

Sky puffed, “I wasn’t. I’ve been into Porsha or her sister.”

“Patty? What about her?” Grey took her eyes off the road for a second to narrow her eyes at Sky.

It had been weeks since Patty died. No one mentioned her. It was a subject so sensitive that no one would touch it.

“Nothing… she came on to me a few times. I just couldn’t.”

“Are you sure it was Patricia?”

“Factory.” Porsha mumbled.

Sky and Grey turned to the back seat.

“Factory.” She said a little louder.

“What’s she talking about?” Grey asked Sky.

“I have no idea.”

“Where you with Mia when this happened?” Grey couldn’t get it out of her system that Patricia would do something like that.

Sky chuckled, “Before and during the relationship.”

“Did you ever say anything—”

“Of course not. I wasn’t the only one she threw herself on. It wasn’t like she wanted us like that anyway. It was about proving a point with her. No one would ever let her prove her point on them.”

“I don’t think we should be talking about this anyway.” Grey whispered.

“It’s true Grey…”

“Let me out of here!” Porsha bolted up from the seat.

Grey slammed on the breaks, fearing Porsha would open a car door.

“It’s okay Porsha I’m taking you home.” Grey said.

“Let me out of here! I have to go. Go!” Porsha shook her head from side to side, hammering her fists on either window of the back seat.

“Where do you want to go?” Grey asked.

“To the factory?” Sky asked. Grey stared at him and he shrugged.

“Yes, I’ve got to be there. Right now. Let me out.” Porsha groaned, holding her head.

“We’ll take you. Which factory?” Sky asked.

“Sky.” Grey hissed.

“What? Don’t you want to know what she’s on about?”

“She’s drunk she probably doesn’t know what she’s saying.”

“I don’t know. What factory Porsha?” Sky raised his voice on the last part.

“Flour factory.” Porsha murmured. She’d fallen asleep leaning against the door.

“There’s only one flour factory in town and it’s abandoned. Let’s check it out.”

“She’s fallen asleep Sky. Let’s leave it. She was just sleep talking.”

Sky shook his head and stared at the road ahead. “Something’s there.”

“Or someone dangerous waiting for stupid kids to show up so they can die.”

“You’re so paranoid Grey. Nothing’s going to happen. We’ll just check it out. I doubt she’d mention it if nothing was there.”

Grey started the car up, “We are not going inside and we won’t let her out either.”

Sky smirked, “As you said, she’s asleep.”

***

Twenty minutes later they were parked outside the abandoned factory. It was on their way out of town. In an area full of trees and overgrown weeds. Why would Porsha want to come here? Grey couldn’t find the answer on her own. Staring at the dark and murky factory Grey couldn’t understand why a high class girl like Porsha would want here. Maybe she really was sleep talking.

“You think she was… uh… trying to buy some—”

“No, there are no signs of life here at all Grey. I think I should—”

“No! Are you insane?”

Grey had no signed up for running into creepy factories in the early hours of the morning as they harbored their drunk friend in the back seat. The building had boarded up windows and a barred door. How would he even get in?

“I just want to check it out, aren’t you curious?”

“No! I want to go home. This place is creepy. We should get Porsha to bed.”

“Where are we?” Porsha gasped awake.

Grey and Sky turned to a wide eyed Porsha. She stared head on through the windscreen and realized where they were. She turned to Grey. It seemed all the alcohol in her system drained when she realized where they were.

“We need to get the fuck out of here.” She said in a stern cold voice.

“Why? What’s here Porsha? What did you want out here?”

“Nothing. Let’s go! Now.” She demanded.

Grey brought the car to life. She wasn’t complaining this place made her skin crawl. She didn’t want to come back anytime soon. She backed out of the area. It was as if the eyes of the factory watched it’s victims get away.