Xanthe's sudden ultrasonic screeching had Maia jumping at least five feet from the ground, brandishing a spiked club she'd pulled out from God knows where.
"What?!" Maia exclaimed, her head sharply turning from side to side. "What is it?! What is it?!"
But Xanthe stood frozen, beyond horrified, as her widened eyes took in the sight before her.
Maia's house was the embodiment of all that was filthy. In fact, "filthy" wasn't strong enough to cover its condition.
The front door opened directly into her living room, making it easy for Xanthe to catch the abomination at first glance. There were empty snack wrappers and canned drinks scattered around the room. A couple of half-eaten foods on the coffee table were gathering mold and attracting insects. Dirty clothes were overflowing a coach and spilling onto the floor. Not to mention the dusty furniture and cobwebs dangling from pillar to post.
There was no difference between her house and the homeless people's alley. Actually, scratch that— the alley looked a bit tidier than this.
How did she live amongst this filth?
"Is this truly your dwelling place and not a pigsty?" Xanthe found herself asking.
Maia exhaled in relief before returning the spiked club to the back of the door. "God! You took at least ten years from my life with that scream," she spoke in between breathless laughter. "I thought you saw a snake or something?"
"I beg your pardon?" Xanthe whispered, moving a few steps backward. "Do you mean there's a possibility of finding snakes in your home?"
Maia laughed again. "No. I'm just kidding. Come on in," she beckoned her while kicking a couple of empty cans out of the way. "Forgive the mess. I've been too busy to clean lately."
Xanthe peered at her like she was clinically ill. This wasn't just a mess. Not when it looked like a week's worth of dirt—if not a month's—was sitting at almost every visible corner of the house.
She tried to mask her uneasiness with a strained smile, but suddenly, something raced over her feet, causing her to leap onto a nearby hanging egg chair.
"Is that a snake?!" She shrieked, her eyes squeezing shut.
"No," Maia chuckled. "That's just my pet mouse, Tommy."
Slowly, Xanthe opened an eye and then the other, watching as Maia chased the mouse around the room a couple of times before finally trapping it in a corner. Despite its wriggling and screeching, she picked the rodent by its tail, opened a window with her free hand, and then tossed it out.
Xanthe's lashes fluttered in horror. "Did you not say that creature was your pet?"
"Well, not literally," Maia replied with a shrug. "It just comes for my leftovers and leaves after I arrive."
Xanthe's mouth hung loose as it dawned on her.
That was certainly NOT a pet! That was a PEST!
What has she gotten herself into? Had she just deliberately walked into the home of a mentally challenged individual?
Xanthe climbed down from the chair all the while fixing Maia a suspicious glance. She was just going to endure for the night. By tomorrow, she would be at least a hundred miles away from here.
She continued to watch Maia as she peeled off her trench coat, revealing a black snake-print corset top and bondage biker shorts. Everything was in leather, hugging her body like a glove.
Right above her left breast, Xanthe noticed what looked like the beginning of a tattoo peeking from the scallop edge of her top.
But that wasn't all. She also noticed something else. . . the pigment of Maia's eyes. They were a pair of midnight blue gems, charming yet mischievous at the same time.
"You must be hungry," Maia said, drawing closer to her. "I don't really cook for anyone but. . ." She lifted her shoulders. "I can make an exception. You're my honored guest, after all. Why don't you go freshen up while I fix you something to eat?"
NOW, THAT SOUNDED LIKE MUSIC TO HER EARS.
"The restroom is the second door to your right," Maia continued. "I'll get you something new to change into."
Xanthe nodded. "That's very thoughtful. Thank you very much."
After showering and changing into the oversized T-shirt and denim shorts Maia lent her, Xanthe made her way back to the living room.
Maia had done some cleaning in her absence. It wasn't exactly sparkling, though. Yes, the litter and leftovers were nowhere to be found, but the heap of dirty laundry was still sitting proudly on her couch.
Sighing, Xanthe everted her gaze and focused on something more. . . eye-pleasing.
Earlier, she'd been so distracted by the mess that she didn't even notice how unique the interior decor was.
The dark, stone-colored walls were decorated with eerie artworks capable of shivering down the spine. The black velvet sofas, taking over the center of the room, had crimson throw pillows with embroidered glassy, dead-eyed creatures. Miniature idols were found at easily sighted places in the room. . . the wall shelves, TV console, windowsills—name it.
But what took the cake amongst all was the chandelier.
It was a jumble of jagged crystals merged to form the face of a hideous monster. Its tooth-filled mouth was wide open as if it was screaming in rage while its eyes shone with a surreal red light that cast a chilling glow against the wall.
The chandelier would've been described as total perfection, if not for the stocking dangling from one of the monster's teeth.
How exactly did she manage to get that thing up there?
Xanthe loosened another heavy sigh, shaking her head. That woman had some serious problems.
By the time she walked into the open kitchen, Maia was already putting the finishing touch to the meal she'd prepared. "Sit down!" She said, gesturing to a kitchen chair. "Food is ready."
As soon as Xanthe settled in, Maia placed a plate of what was supposed to be "creamy pasta" before her.
Xanthe's nose scrunched as she poked at the food with a fork. She wasn't conversant with this sort of dish. Yes, she'd had pasta in Sodom, but why in the depths of hell was this one floating in a pool of cream?
"Are you certain this is fit for consumption?"
"Of course," Maia said with confidence, sliding into the chair across from her. "I found the recipe online and I followed it step by step. Come on, try it."
Simultaneously, they rolled a generous amount on their fork and shoved it into their mouth, but as soon as it met their tongue, it came right out in an explosion.
"Bleeeh!" Maia made a face, grabbing a glass of water to rinse her mouth. "What the hell was that?!"
Frozen, Xanthe stared back at her, unable to process the torture she'd just put her taste buds through.
The pool of cream wasn't the only problem, the amount of salt in the food was enough to make ten fresh meals.
"Did you bother to taste this food while making it?" Xanthe asked, genuinely curious.
"Was I supposed to?"
"Oh my! Have you ever cooked in your life?"
"I said I don't just cook for anyone," Maia replied sharply. "Me included."
You should've made that clear from the very beginning. It would've saved me this suffering.
Maia waved a dismissive hand, rising to her feet. "Okay, Plan B. There's a twenty-four-hour pizza shop a few blocks away. I'll go get us some."
Before Xanthe could ask what a Pizza was, Maia was already out the front door.
Not long after, she returned with two boxes of pizza and canned sodas, setting them on the kitchen table where Xanthe was still waiting patiently.
Skeptical, Xanthe eyed the strange-looking food before shifting her gaze to Maia who was already stuffing her face.
"Go ahead," Maia urged her between bits. "I guarantee that it tastes way better than the pasta."
Xanthe sighed inwardly. "Can I have a plate and cutlery?"
Maia released a nasal laugh. "To eat pizza? You've gotta be kidding me. Girl, you gotta use your hands, pick this shit up and devour it like a ravenous beast," she said dramatically, demonstrating with every word.
Hesitantly, Xanthe reached for a slice, saying a silent prayer of preservation before taking a nibble out of it. Her tongue rolled the piece of food in her mouth, allowing it to dissolve. Soon, the flavor hit her palate, HARD, causing her eyes to fly wide open.
"Hmm!" She inhaled sharply. "This is quite delightful."
"Told ya."
Moments later, Maia's eyes were popping out of their sockets as she watched Xanthe wolf down slice after slice of the pizza like a savage beast. Never did she imagine Xanthe would take her instruction on how to eat pizza seriously.
She nearly had a stroke when Xanthe reached for the fourth box of pizza which she'd made her get a few minutes ago.
Was she really that hungry?
On hearing Xanthe's choking coughs, Maia hurriedly passed her a glass of water. "Slow down, Barbie," she laughed. "Were you never fed in Sodom?"
Xanthe downed the water greedily, letting it wash down the chunks of food particles stuffed in her mouth. After draining the glass, she dropped it on the table with a slight thud and returned her attention to the food.
"I've barely had anything in days," she sniffled, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "Your people are exceedingly inhospitable, I must say. Not a single person was willing to spare me a. . ."
Suddenly, she trailed off, pausing for a moment before her eyes rose to meet Maia. "Wait a minute," her voice came through low and uneasy. "I don't recall ever mentioning where I came from."
Slowly, she straightened in her seat, her eyes never leaving Maia. "How do you know I'm from Sodom?"