Page 52 of Claymore
“Ella? You okay?”
“Yeah. Maybe I’m just being paranoid, but I feel like someone’s watching us.”
“I wouldn’t put it past the Kings or the Lions to be keeping tabs. Come on, let’s get you out of here. I’ll take a few different turns and keep an eye out for any crazed bikers,” he whispered, stuffing our snacks into the compartment of his ride.
I smiled softly, climbing onto the back with him, and we were off. The entire ride probably only lasted fifteen minutes, but it restored a feeling of ease I thought I’d lost. There was no one following us now from what I could tell and that was all I could ask for.I hate being so afraid all the time. What is it going to take for me to walk around strong and ready like everyone else seems to be?
I looked up at the old theater sign with its rusting ornate gold molding and its chipping red paint. The ticket booth was full of cobwebs and water-stained ticket stubs like no one had it cleaned in years. The letter board sign still readFunny Face,and I wondered if that really was the last movie that played here.
“Now, who would’ve known that Mascid had gems like this?”
“Mascid’s got a lot of gems if you know where to look,” he said, smirking.
“Is that right?”
“I hope you likeFunny Facebecause it’s the only movie that’s been left behind and there’s only one room with a system that works.”
“It’s actually one of my favorites.”
“Well, then, let’s get inside.”
I beamed, walking into the old theater, taking in its Hollywood charm. The red carpeting and old snack booth made me wonder what it was like when it was bustling, a new place for everyone to see. I imagined the popcorn machine smelled of warm butter, the cotton candy swirling, ready for children who eagerly waited to eat it all.
“How in the world did you find out about this place?” I asked curiously.
“I was on a job for Tank when my bike broke down a few blocks from here. I was being chased by a few burly Kings and this is where I decided to hide. After a while, this place became a little safe haven for me. It’s where I can really get away from all the chaos.”
“I thought you bikers lived for the thrill,” I said.
“We do, but sometimes all we need to do is slow down.”
Claymore led me down the dark hallway to theater room seven. It still smelled of buttered popcorn when we entered, climbing the stairs to the perfect seat in the house.
“You wait here. I’ll go get the movie started.”
Claymore handed me the bag of snacks, and I opened up the pack of chocolate sandwich cookies, popping one into my mouth. My mind was at ease, my body calm for the first time in ages. The cloudiness around my mind had finally begun to dissipate, giving me a sense of clarity that made this evening all that more special.
I glanced down at my phone screen, noticing that I had no service, but I didn’t care much. The blue light lit up the dark room as I took a look at the time. It was exactly one o’clock in the morning and usually being up so late made me feel antsy or uncomfortable, but not now. Now, I savored every little bit of peace I could get.
I looked up just as the large screen before me illuminated, the advertisements rolled, and footsteps trampled down the stairs from the top of the room as Claymore returned to the seat next to me. He smiled, fidgeting around in his seat until he got comfortable.
“Would you like a cookie?”
“Yes, thank you.”
He reached into the plastic bag, grabbing the packet of chips, and opened it up. He proceeded to crush the chocolate cookie into a million pieces, shaking them around among his salty potato chips.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone do that before.”
“Just try it,” he said, holding the bag out to me.
“No, no. I’m good. I’mdefinitelygood.”
“Come on, darlin’. It may not be hot, fresh diner food but let me tell you, it hits the spot.”
“All right, fine. Just one.”
I reached in, grabbing a single potato chip with a dusting of the chocolate coating and cream on it, tossing it into my mouth. I winced as it went down and Claymore laughed.
