Sunset Rising

“That looks like it hurts.”

“Mind your own business,” she snapped.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.” I wondered why she was so touchy about it.

Supervisor Madi came up behind us, cutting off any more conversation. Crystal turned her back to me, making it clear she was here to work, not socialize.

“Scan in,” Madi said as she unlocked the doors.

Crystal got to the sca

Di greeted me with a smile. “Well, you’re in bright and early again today. Morning, Crystal,” she called over her shoulder. Crystal mumbled something in response. “Looks like you have things in hand,” Di said when she saw my sorting job.

“I could always use an expert opinion, though,” I said, hoping she would check over my work.

“Let’s see.” She rummaged through the clothes, a look of satisfaction on her face. “Not bad. I’d put this in with this pile, though. And that should be hand washed.” She pulled a dark grey shirt out and placed it in another pile, and then put a dress off on its own. “Good job.” She left to select a cart for herself.

I gathered up one pile of clothes and took it to a machine. Lots of people were arriving to work, and the laundry room was getting busy already. I knew once the machines and irons were going full tilt, the room would become unbearably hot again. I added the detergent to the machine and pressed the button. I repeated my steps with the next two piles until my entire cart of clothes was in the washing machines. The only item of clothing left to do was the dress. Crystal did the hand washing, and I was glad for an excuse to talk to her again.

I went over to her. “Di told me this should be hand washed.”

“Just put it there.” She motioned to the empty counter next to the sink.

“I was hoping you could show me how to wash it myself.” That would allow me more time to talk with her.

“That’s my job. You don’t need to know how to do it.”

“I know, but if Supervisor Madi ever asked me to do it, then I sure would appreciate knowing how to do it properly.”

She gave me a sidelong glance. She knew as well as I did that if I was ever assigned a job to do and did it poorly, Madi would beat me.

“Just this once. So pay attention,” she said. “Feel the temperature of the water.” I stuck my hand in the sink. The water was freezing cold. “Colors will run in warm, so it has to be cold. Then you use this kind of detergent.” She pulled out a small bottle and poured a very little bit into the cold water. “Make a few suds like this. Then put the dress in the water and start squeezing it gently.”

“Can I try?” She stood aside and let me wash the dress. Within seconds my hands ached from the freezing water. “How do you do this all day long?”

She shrugged. “You get used to it. So I’ve never seen you in our common room before.”

“I’m new on the fourth level. I just got married, and my husband and I were assigned an apartment there.” It wasn’t a complete lie.

“Was that your husband with you this morning?” She eyed me to see my reaction.

“Yes. Handsome, isn’t he?” I was almost certain she knew something.

“I didn’t notice.” I could tell by her expression she was closing me out again.

“Di tells me you like to sing.”

“Like to sing? Di should mind her own business.” Crystal shot a sneering look over at Di. “The dress is done. Wring it out and hang it.”

I wondered what I had said to make her angry.

Madi was bearing down on us. “What are you doing over here, Jones?” I heard her say “Jones,” and she was looking at me. Then I remembered I was Jones. Autumn Jones.

“I asked Crystal to show me how to hand wash. I thought if I knew how then I could help out if she ever got too busy.”

Madi kept coming at me, raised her hand, and struck me across the head. Stars appeared in my vision and for a moment I thought I was going to black out, but then the stars faded and I could see Madi’s angry face again.

“You think you can run this place better than me?”

I shook my head. Di had warned me about Madi, but I had no idea she was this quick to anger.

“I knew I didn’t like you any more than I liked her,” Madi said, jerking her thumb toward Crystal. “Get back to your station and do your own work unless I tell you otherwise! Do you hear me?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Every fibre of my being wanted to lash back at her, but I knew it was a fight I couldn’t win. I dropped the dress back in the water and returned to my station.

“Crystal, you know better!” Madi yelled. I heard her strike Crystal, and I cringed. “Do your own damn work!”

I watched Madi go back to her desk and plop down into her chair. I felt awful about getting Crystal into trouble. Judging by the bruise on her arm, it looked like she had enough trouble lately.

“I told you before, you mind yourself around Madi,” Di whispered to me from her station. “I’ve seen that woman thrash a worker to death.”

I knew now that Di wasn’t exaggerating. I should have listened to her before. I put my head down, determined to stick to my own work. From then on, I wouldn’t even risk asking Di for help. If I messed up, then at least I would only implicate myself. My head pounded from the force of her blow.

I managed to finish two full carts of laundry before our lunch was brought in. Madi gave us only fifteen minutes to eat today, probably because of my stupid move with Crystal, but I was grateful to have even that short time to drink some water. Di graciously shared her ration with me again, too. The room was unbearably hot.

The lunch break was over almost before it began. I returned to work and managed to do two more carts of laundry before the bong bongs rang out. I still had clothes to fold. I glanced in Crystal’s direction to see if she was done, but she had a few things to finish up, too. Since I owed her an apology, I slowed my pace to match hers, so we would be done at the same time. I sca

“I’m so sorry about today, Crystal,” I said as we left the laundry room. She ignored me and continued down the stairs. “It won’t happen again. I promise.”

She stopped and looked at me. “What happened today isn’t your fault. Madi will find any excuse to beat a worker. She likes it.”

She continued down the stairs, and I followed behind her.

“I’m still sorry I provoked her.” We reached the fourth floor, and she turned in the same direction as my apartment. “You live this way too?”

She nodded. “Hey, isn’t that your husband?” she asked, pointing in the direction of my apartment.

My heart leaped into my throat when I saw Jack sitting on the ground holding his head in his hands, flanked by Raine and Mica. I broke into a run.

“What happened?” I picked up Jack’s head and looked into his eyes. It looked like he was trying to focus on me. “Ja—Ben, can you hear me?” I hoped I corrected my mistake before Crystal heard me. She stopped to regard us for a moment, a hint of concern on her face, but continued on her way down the hall.

Mica laughed. “Your boy here thought it would be fun to take on a few guards.”

“Yeah, Ben decided to clock one of the guards in the head, and that’s when all hell broke loose. Three guards came at him all at once, and he flattened all three in less than a minute. Then two more came at him, and he just about had them put down when another guard came up behind him. That guard butted him in the back of the head with his rifle.”

I probed the back of his head for any bumps. I found a big one. “What were you thinking?”

“I never saw anyone fight like that,” Raine said, smiling at Jack. “Maybe I’ll let him teach me some moves if he still wants to. That is, if he doesn’t die of a brain haemorrhage tonight.”