Read Netherstream - Episode 1: Jane Doe for Free Online Page A

Marlboros with his employee discount, and was desperate to get in my pants.
    “As long as it doesn’t involve removing your clothes,” I replied.
    “Oh, you’re gonna love this.” He could hardly contain himself. There was no telling how many illegal substances were in him, and although management knew that he sucked at his job, he was personable, and customers kept coming back in droves just to see the walking erection. “All right, now stand over there, like you’re just walking in.”
    “What?” I angled my head.
    “Come on, girl. You go, girl.” He pointed and grinded his hips.
    “Like this?” I retraced my steps, and then walked back in the store as if I’d never been there.
    “Why, hello miss.” A surprised look crossed Twiggy’s bugged-out face. “Did you know that we now carry Cinnabon-scented perfume?”
    “Huh?”
    “No, seriously. Let me get you a sample.” He stepped behind a display as if he were walking down stairs.
    Instantly I thought back to Austin Powers, to which he bore a strong resemblance. “Very funny, but I’ve seen that trick before.” I tucked my cigarettes in my purse and waited. “You can come out now.” I tapped my foot.
    The gift shop was oddly quiet.
    “Benjamin?” I said, knowing how much he hated to be called by his first name. I stepped around the display, but he was gone. “No way,” I gasped, wondering if I was the one who was tripping. Although the gift shop was fully lit and I had the benefit of knowing where he was last, I couldn’t find the little booger.
    “Benjamin, are you still there?” I said aloud as two customers walked into the shop. They smirked as if I were going mad, and walked over to the magazine rack. I crossed my arms and waited. This was getting embarrassing. Another came. Then another. Shit, I only had a few minutes left of my break. Where the hell was he?
    I covered his ass while he was gone, scribbling down guest room numbers so that he could charge them when he got back. Ten minutes later, he finally showed up.
    “Well, hello miss. I flew all the way from Estonia just to purchase a bottle of that wonderful Cinnabon-scented perfume of yours. Ooh, I can smell it now.” He farted on a customer. The customer glared at him and left the shop, shaking his head all the way.
    I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him aside. “Get your shit together, dickhead. I’m late.”
    Twiggy gasped and put his hand over his mouth. “I didn’t realize that you were expecting. It isn’t mine!”
    “No, crackhead. I’ve got to get back to work. You’re a real asshole, you know that?” I turned and stormed away.
    “Forgive me.” He fell to his knees and threaded his hands together, ignoring the customers passing by. “Let me make it up to you over dinner,” he pleaded.
    But all he got back from me was a singular display of my tallest finger.
    On my next shift, Benjamin was remorseful, even a bit depressed. “Please, let me show you my trick,” he begged.
    I took my change and considered the invitation.
    “I’ll even show you a few other tricks just for being a good sport.” He winked.
    “This trick, and only this trick.” I pointed.
    With knowledge of the escape route, I thought he would have survived. But no, the doped up dingleberry was chewing on a psychedelic mushroom when death came knocking on his stall door. No doubt he was confused when the zombie bit into him, thinking it was a side effect of the drug. But once it became clear that the corpse chewing on his entrails wasn’t going away, he inhaled the rest of his stash, thankful the drugs could mitigate his departure.
    Although his body did not rise again, I couldn’t take any chances. I burned him along with the others that died in the initial wave. “I miss you, Twiggy.” I kissed his forehead before setting him afire, the only kiss from me that would ever grace his face. Perhaps I’d been too hard on him. Certainly the world was less interesting without him.
    I closed