What happened? Tina woke up and didn’t know where she was. It was a hotel room? No, it was a very swanky home that looked like a boutique hotel. Okay, piece it together, who was she with last night, what was the last thing she could remember? She could picture getting dressed, getting her keys and putting them in the studded purse. There was the museum party, and then… A taxi to where? She heard a flush. Whoever it was was about to make an appearance. It had been awhile since she had had to do this. Fuck it, she’d just be honest, who could this guy be, anyway? Tina braced herself as the bathroom door opened and revealed Garret Fortham, movie star. That’s when she realized the light was different, she looked outside quickly and saw palm trees. Holy shit, she wasn’t in New York. Fortham stood looking at her. “You want to go back to the place today?” Tina turned back and smiled. “This is going to sound crazy, but - I’m coming out of a blackout. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” His expression didn’t change as he came over to her in the giant bed. “Interesting. What’s the last thing you remember?” Tina took a deep breath and let it out, “A museum gala in New York. That’s what I dressed up to do.” Garret looked concerned and curious, “That was five days ago. Do you know how you got here?” Tina looked at this handsome actor, looking very much more realistic in person. “I remember a beige airplane?” He smiled, “Yes, I flew you here on my jet. But you don’t remember anything else? Where we’ve been the last few days?” Tina squeezed her eyes, now that she could picture the plane, other strange images filled her mind, confusing images that seemed like a dream. Wandering through a darkened house. Searching for someone she didn’t know well. But then a strange ritual, people making out, wildly sexual, covered in blood, and a woman holding up a baby. But was the baby the source of the blood? Tina put her hand over her mouth as it all came together, looking up at Garret, who now looked terrifying, hard, searching her eyes for what might be Tina’s next move. She shook her head in disbelief, and the look in his eyes told her she wouldn’t see the light of day again.
October 24, 2022