Shangri-la
Chapter 6
Tapping her fingers against the counter, Iris watched the second hand tick, tick, tick around the circle of the clock. Three minutes left until four.
“Iris honey, are you doing your homework?” her father asked from the other room.
“No,” she raised her voice to answer. “I think I’m going to take a break for a snack.” Sliding off the stool, Iris strolled to the refrigerator and opened it, looking at the clock before scanning the available food. Two minutes.
“Don’t eat too much or you’ll spoil your dinner. Eat an apple. That will help you concentrate on getting your school work done.” Iris’s father walked into the kitchen and pulled a clear ornate glass out from the cupboard. “Could you get the lemonade for me?”
“Sure.” Pulling out the pitcher, Iris handed it off to her father then grabbed an apple. One minute. Sitting down again, she picked up her pencil.
“What are you studying now?” her father inquired, looking down at the papers and books spread across the counter top.
“Just review. School is getting out soon, you know.” Iris put the top of her pencil in her mouth, staring down at the page and resisting the urge to look at the clock.
“Don’t do that. It’s a bad habit.” Her father shook his head at her.
“Sorry.” Slapping the pencil down, Iris grabbed the apple and took a bite.
“Are you hanging out with that Justin kid tonight?”
“No, we got in a fight.” When Iris had told him that she was planning on running away, Justin had been less than understanding and supportive, and they had ended up yelling.
“He didn’t say any rude things to you, did he?” Her father was getting overly protective again.
“No.” Shaking her head, Iris explained, “It wasn’t a bad fight. We just don’t want to see each other right now.”
The doorbell rang. Iris’s heart skipped a beat.
“Who is that?” Her father put his glass down, frowning. “I’m not expecting anyone.”
“I’ll get it,” Iris said quickly. “Maybe Justin came to apologize.” Jumping off the stool, Iris hurried to the door, looking at the clock on the way. Two minutes past the hour. Flinging the door open, she smiled in relief to see Lotus by the door step.
“Sorry I’m late.” Lotus rolled her eyes. “This neighborhood is a maze so it took me longer than I expected to map it out. Are you ready?”
“Iris, who is that?”
Iris jumped at the sound of her father’s voice right behind her, and she sheepishly answered, “Dad, this is Lotus.”
He scowled at the woman outside. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-one,” Lotus said calmly, as if it was merely a random number.
“You do know that Iris is only seventeen?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, I do.” Again, Lotus’s tone implied that it was unimportant.
“Then what do you want with someone four years younger than you?” This time he folded his arms, spreading his feet apart.
A hint of amusement appeared in Lotus’s eyes and she answered, “I want her to help me unlock Shangri-la.”
Iris was shocked that Lotus had said the truth right out like that. Biting her lip, she looked at her father.
“That sounds like some sort of drug slang to me,” he said skeptically.
“I can assure you that it is not.” Now Lotus’s eyes were positively sparkling with glee.
“Why should I believe you?” His expression was becoming even more distrustful.
Chuckling, Lotus asked, “May I come inside?”
Iris’s father stepped back and Lotus entered the house. As Iris was leading Lotus to the lounge, she heard her father shut and lock the front door. Her heart was beginning to pound inside her chest.
“I promise you that Shangri-la is an actual place, and I can prove to you that your daughter is special,” Lotus said, sitting down primly on the couch.
“No matter what you do, I’m not letting my daughter leave this house with an old stranger.” Iris’s father loomed over Lotus, set unyielding in his position.
Coldly, firmly, Lotus said, “One way or another, you will let her leave with me.”
This wasn’t any good. There was no way that Iris’s father was going to let her leave. It would have been better if Lotus had lied. “Maybe you should just go,” she whispered timidly, looking away from Lotus’s disappointed gaze.
“Listen to my daughter.” Her father pulled his hand through his short hair: another dangerous sign. “If you leave right now, I won’t press charges.”
“Iris!” Lotus said sharply, standing up. “Run to the bathroom right now!”
There was something about Lotus’s commanding tone that made Iris immediately obey, feeling unable to question why Lotus had ordered her to go there. All she knew was that she had to do as Lotus said.
: : Previous Chapter : : Contents : : Next Chapter : :