The Saleswoman

Image source: Pixabay

1 - Her

Mr. Garby opened the door to see a slightly built woman standing in the doorway. There was something creepy about the woman. She was wearing dark shades, hand gloves, had an overly smooth face and was in a…. a saleswoman’s uniform?

“No, thank you.” Mr. Garby breathed as he withdrew his body and pushed the door. The door would not close. He noticed the boot standing as a wedge between the door and the door post. He opened the door again, with a visible scowl on his face.

“I am not interested in whatever you have to offer.” He protested.

“Just hear me out.” The voice sounded forced, as if an Italian was trying to force a British ascent. There was a strain of desperation, so fragile it was gone with the wind just as it was produced but Mr. Garby heard it and so he waited.

“Pops, where are my fluffy green slippers?” The sweet voice filtered through the opened door and registered in the mind of the saleswoman. The voice sounded familiar. It invoked a kind of familiarity that immediately filled her with dread. She turned to leave.

“Wait! Where are you going?”

“Never mind.” The voice this time was rough, as if a dog tried to snarl and speak at the same time.

The saleswoman hurried to her company car, dragging her burden behind her. She opened the booth and buried the vacuum cleaner in it. The sweet voice came in just as she was about to shut the booth. There was no mistaking that sound, it was the sound of pain, cruelty and death. She buried her head in the booth, her hands trying to fit in the already arranged vacuum cleaners. She listened as the man told the woman about her, the strange saleswoman.

“Hi! Why are you leaving?” The sweet voice rang, with the same carefree air as she knew it. Her hands felt a jack in the car. Feelings, that would invoke tears in the eyes of a mother whose baby was taken from her and killed, began to well up within her. Like a tigress set on revenge, she threw the jack at the direction of the voice. She did not look up to find her target, she did not need to.

She shut the booth at once and hurried into the car. This was supposed to be her last day at work anyway. It was time to move on. The cries of Mr. Garby was lost in the screeching of tires as the saleswoman pulled out of the driveway and hit the road.

2 - Him

The figure lying on the stack of hay heard the snarling and opened his eyes. She was back from what she called now work. Work! She was exchanging funny machines for paper. Paper they needed to secure their escape from this planet. The snarling were words to him. It was not safe for them anymore. They had to leave. She killed a lady. He snarled back.

She had been killing ladies in almost every city they went. It was always the voice that triggered it. Anyone that sounded like the lady in the lab. The lady that had laughed as they writhed in pain in the tubs. The lady that had torn open their baby in their presence. The lady they wanted to kill when they finally broke out but escaped. There are still bullets buried in his body, bullets buried in him by her bodyguards. He sighed.

He watched as the saleswoman dumped a heap of clothes beside him. He hated those humans’ clothes. They were uncomfortable for him. He snarled his thoughts. She snarled back at him. They had to blend in, she said as she pulled an mask on his face.

Three hours later, they were at the hideout. He listened as the men protested the change in plans. They had planned to attack the facility a week after and not that very day. Besides, she didn’t have the complete payment. What would they do with a stolen company car? It probably had a tracker in it.

He listened as she begged them. When it didn’t work, she threatened them. He snarled as one of them inched his hand towards his side arm. Then she told them about the warehouse. She had the combination codes. They could hit it after the job and steal the vacuum cleaners. But they had to carry out the job now. The men murmur in agreement.

They hurry to the vans outside, each man fondling his favourite weapon. He limped as she supported him on one side. His ragged breathing caused a cow to look up. He turned to the cow in envy. He envied its freedom. A part of him reminded him that the cow was also a prisoner, being fed and fattened until its day of execution. Humans… He sighed.

3 - They

The sound of rapid gun fire always disoriented them. They huddled at the back of the team, as they made their way through the private facility. They watched as uniform men fell in their approach. This men are good, he told her. They are the best, she told him.

The explosion shook the building and their sense of security. Humans like violence and noise, they told themselves. It was only a matter of time. They were going home - a place of peace and quiet. He longed for the pure air of their planet and he told her so. She smiled and told him she longed for the same thing too.

The leader of the team called out to them. They hurried through, over debris and humans, and entered the large room. They found what they were looking for at the end of the room. They were happy when they discovered it was untouched. The humans could not assess it with their primitive technology.

They were already in the space ship when she heard the sweet voice again. He held her hand, begging her to let it go. She begged him to her get vengeance for their child. Her vengeance would cost them their lives, he warned. She’ll rather die than let that woman go free, she replied with fire in her eyes.

For the first time, the men saw who they had struck a deal with. They watched as she tore the sales uniform aside and peeled off the mask. This was a beautiful monster. Monster because of her appearance. She had pits for nostrils, red glows for eyes, gills at the side of her mouth. She was beautiful because her skin was glowing silver with purple veins running beneath it.

She charged through the room, stopping only when she saw the lady. This time, it was her. She could see it in her eyes. She snarled and made to reach for her. The first bullet penetrated her right shoulder, causing her to loose balance. The second one found its target in her fore head. She was going to die and she knew it. The third third one sought her heart but her left hand was faster.

She slumped on the ground with the lady’s heart in her hand.