The only word left is goodbye

Bela met Gloria when she was seventeen years-old, and was still going by her legal name.

She was following clues. It had taken her three years to realize what it was she had really done when she killed her parents, and those were three years wasted in her mind. She only had seven left now, and finding a way out of this mess was going to take time. Unfortunately for Bela, the clock was ticking.

She didn’t waste time.

She followed every lead, every clue, used every resource she had, and eventually the clues lead her right to Gloria’s doorstep. She arrived at the bar during the day, when none of the regular patrons were around. Gloria was behind the bar, working, and when she glanced up, the most Bela got was a derisive shake of her head.

“You’re a little too young to be in here.”

Bela straightened, trying to make herself seem bigger that she was. It was all false bravado, and she couldn’t say she was very good at it, but for a moment it seemed to work. “Good thing I’m not here for a drink, then.”

That seemed to get Gloria’s attention more or less. She straightened a bit herself, already getting on the defensive, which wasn’t what Abby wanted. She wanted Gloria’s help. “What’s your name, girl?”

( *** )