Ginger Fox

"Why don’t we take a walk today instead of staying cooped up in the library?" I tap my fingers on the back of the chair near the bookshelf, watching Jon sit across from me, his face deeply engrossed in his reading.
His eyes glance away from the book for a second, meeting mine. He shakes his head and returns his attention to *Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea*. Jon probably knows this book by heart. The adventure of Captain Nemo in his submarine *Nautilus*, powered by electricity, where Verne portrays a man and his creation, breaking free by distancing himself from society, venturing into the ocean with his submarine that was often mistaken for a sea monster. He experienced unforgettable adventures, like hunting in a submarine forest with pressure guns, eating animals never tasted on the Earth's surface, seeing pearls the size of bowling balls cultivated by Captain Nemo himself in the ocean depths, knowing of a secret passage that allowed for much faster underwater travel, fighting giant squids, among other adventures. When I look at Jon, I see Captain Nemo, so reclusive in his world, preferring the silence of the ocean to the crowds of people around him. And that's why, out of all the books, this is Jon's favorite story.
"Jon, come on. You enjoyed going to the beach the other day. Today, it could just be you and me. What do you think? Let's explore the island!" I get up, pacing anxiously inside the library, feeling trapped in here when there’s a beautiful sunny day outside.
I take the phone out of my pants pocket, checking for the fifth time that there are no new messages from Tom. Once again, he had promised a video call and had left me hanging. I was so excited to finally introduce Jon to him.
"We can find a place with lots of fried food, greasy stuff, and milkshakes after our swim." I give up on Tom, deciding to call him later tonight.
A small smile forms at the corner of Jon's lips, as he hunches a little more, holding the book between his thin knees.
"Not that I’m underestimating Jules Verne with this masterpiece of a book. But why can't we be Captain Nemo today and look for our own adventures?"
Jon furrows his brow, thoughtful, looking at me with a new sparkle in his eyes. His blue hair falls over his forehead, contrasting with his pale skin, and he blinks his long black eyelashes.
"‘... Did I not live ten months of that superhuman existence?’" I raise my voice, pointing my finger at the window, puffing out my chest as I dramatically recite the last line that Jules Verne used to close the book. "‘Who could ever sound the depths of the abyss?’" I say bravely, placing my hand on my chest, like the French novelist.
Jon looks at me in surprise, watching me recite *Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea*. His pale cheeks turn pink, showing his dimples when he breaks into a wide smile. I point at him, signaling for him to finish the book's conclusion.
"‘Two men, among all men, now have the right to answer. Captain Nemo and I.’"
I raise my hand up to his level, leaving it hanging in the air, waiting for a high-five. His blue eyes stare at my hand, not moving.
"Come on, give me a high-five. You can’t leave someone hanging like that," I laugh at him, shaking my hand.
"What’s that?" For a moment, I feel a pang in my chest when he asks this, letting me know that something so simple and silly has never been done with him before.
"A high-five is what friends do when something cool happens." I lift his hand, giving it a high-five, and point at him. "High-five."
"You’re my friend?" He looks confused, more lost than before, as if doubting that he deserves friendship.
I kneel down to his level, bringing our eyes in line.
"I am your friend, Jon." I take the book from his fingers, lifting my hand to him. "First rule of friendship: never leave a friend hanging on a high-five."
The soft and joyful expression he gives me warms my heart, as if we’ve finally taken the biggest step of all. He high-fives me, laughing excitedly. I smile, happy that we’ve shared this moment.
"Well done, Jon!" I pull him up from the couch and ruffle his hair with my hands.
"I like strawberry milkshake." I can’t help but scream and jump with excitement at his decision.
"Let’s go get changed and see what’s in the garage, baby."


***


"Jon, go ahead to the garage. I’m going to let Mrs. Lorane know we’re heading out." He nods, walking toward the stairs, holding his backpack in his fingers.
I spend almost thirty minutes searching the mansion, looking for the missing woman, until I find Lira in the laundry room. She tells me that I might find Lorane in the orchid greenhouse, which is in the east wing of the mansion. As I approach the door, I hear muffled sounds inside. The large window, with its frosted glass panes, only allows me to see some shadows moving inside. The most audible sound, a moan, can be heard perfectly as I stop in front of the door.
"Mrs. Lorane." I knock softly, bringing my hands behind my back and hooking my fingers into the back pocket of my denim shorts, waiting for the door to open.
Something breaks inside the greenhouse, probably a pot, judging by the crash. It only takes a few seconds for the door to open. The elegant woman, who doesn't look polished at all right now, is breathing quickly. She adjusts the watch on her wrist and looks at me.
"What do you want?" My eyes are focused behind her, seeing the shadow of a second person inside the room moving into the corner. "Miss Fox?"
The woman steps outside, blocking my view, and closes the door.
"Well, I..." I return my gaze to her face and notice the corner of her mouth is slightly smudged with lipstick. "I wanted to ask if I can take Jon out."
Her eyes fall on me, traveling from my yellow lace cropped top to my frayed denim shorts, stopping at the gold sandals on my feet. This strange habit of hers, scrutinizing every outfit I wear with a disapproving look, is starting to get on my nerves. At no point was it mentioned that I had to wear a uniform or walk around the mansion in a burka.
"I don’t think it’s necessary for him to go out," she replies quickly, turning around and leaving me standing there, looking like a fool, staring at the closed door.
"Damn it!" I mutter under my breath, spinning on my heels and practically running after her. "Mrs. Lorane..."
She doesn’t stop, just continues her straight march, her high heels clicking on the floor with each step.
"Ma’am, it’s a beautiful day outside. Jon accepted the invitation."
It’s like talking to a wall. I don’t understand why she doesn’t want him to leave this place. It would be good for him to breathe some fresh air, to get out of this mansion.
"Jon should be studying more today instead of wanting to go on a walk, Miss Fox."
We’re now passing through another hallway, filled with paintings I’ve never seen before. The expressionist artworks shock with their natural depictions of sex. Some are large photographs, focusing mainly on the human body’s outline, particularly the genitals. I definitely haven’t been to the east wing of the mansion before; my brain would never forget these images.
"It’s Friday. Jon’s on vacation. Maybe a break from studying would do him some good, too. In the two weeks I’ve been here, Jon has gone out only once, late in the afternoon."
I almost fall backward when she abruptly turns, stopping in her tracks.
"I don’t think it’s appropriate, Miss Fox." God, how I hate that word: appropriate!
"What isn’t appropriate?" I’m so focused, imagining my fingers tightening around this witch’s neck, that I only notice we’re standing in front of an open door when the impersonal voice cuts through us like ice.
I know I’m a huge coward for not being able to turn my face and look at him, but the shame of knowing he saw me masturbating during the night, on my bedroom balcony, still makes me want to dig a huge hole beneath my feet to hide in.