A Demon's Lapse

The early summer afternoon was warm but breezy. Nora Ramírez sat against a pillar belonging to the majestic colonnade of the ampitheatre in the park, reading a book that she picked from the library. Another romance. After a long shift at the diner serving customers, she was now unwinding. The gentle rustling of the tree leaves and the singing birds were all background music for her to be immersed in her own world. People of all sorts were enjoying the sunny day. Parents played with their children and kids laughed as they got lost in their games.

She noticed the couples in love. A man kissed his girlfriend or wife. It was an alien concept for Nora. She never had luck in the love department. Being born a boy, she was transgender so that rendered her undateable unfortunately. The men who did express interest in her were only after her body as they saw it as something forbidden. She had a crush on a guy at work, one of her fellow waiters, but never had the courage to say anything. She just watched him from afar, stealing glances when she could. He later began to date another waitress and felt a pang of sadness because it was the predictable outcome in her life. She always longed for love, but it was never reciprocated.

Nora was out to her close circle, which was just her older sister by six years, Rosario or Rosie for short. She tucked in a piece of her long raven hair that had fallen in front of her by looking down at her book. The evening sunlight highlighted her caramel skin with olive undertones. Having an androgynous appearance, as she a child she would frequently be "mistaken" for a girl. Her five foot six stature and slender frame helped her "pass" as a woman.

With the first year of university completed, Nora became determined to pursue a future in writing. Now at twenty-one, her love of the written word was her guide. If she didn't become a professional writer, then she would follow a path in journalism.

An airship flew by. The massive conveyance, the size of a cruise ship, had a gigantic lit-up sign advertising Kimura Group, Inc. They were a powerful, international corporation based in Japan. Nora didn't pay much attention to business happenings but knew that they were influential players in the global economy. They were involved in matters of scientific research such as bioengineering, robotics, and other technologies.

The evening sky painted the hills of the city with an orange and pink hue. Seeing that it was getting late, Nora decided to start heading home. Rosie and her shared a small studio in a western neighborhood of San Francisco. Both originally from the Central Valley, their parents both tragically died in an accident and went to live with their tia in the southern Bay Area.

Only a few buildings away from her place, Nora's phone began to buzz and saw Rosario was calling. Growing up, even though they were under the care of their aunt, Rosario had practically raised Nora. When Rosario turned eighteen she took up several jobs to make ends meet and was able to take her little sister with her to the big.

For as long as Nora could remember, she told her older sister how she felt inside. On the outside and to the world, she was a boy, but on the inside she wasn't. Rosario didn't understand and at first ignored it. One day, when Nora was twelve, she came crying home from school. "What's going on," Rosario asked. "Rosie, I don't want to live anymore," Nora said with tears in her eyes.

Rosario hugged her tightly, "Why?"

"I don't wanna be a boy anymore!"

"Not this again, you're a niño!"

"No! No, I'm not!"

Nora then put her hand on her chest and said, "I don't know if I made Diosito mad but I was born wrong. In my heart, I'm a girl."

At that moment Rosario understood. She, too, began to cry and held her tightly. She would make sure to accept her little sister as who she truly was from then on. The sight of a sad child, her baby sister, broke her heart. "What do you want me to call you then," Rosario said, wiping the tears off of her little sister's face. "Nora, my name is Nora," she told her. "I'm sorry for not believing you before, Nora. You know I will always love you, no matter what," she reassured her. Nora's eyes lit up and she felt her soul being restored. She hugged her big sister back, thanking her.

Their resemblance was noticeable, except Rosie was a little taller. She, too, had an olive complexion. They both had their mother's dark brown eyes. When Nora became old enough to take care of herself Rosie put herself on the market. Unlike Nora, she put her heart on her sleeve. Rosie dated many men but they never stayed. However, that didn't deter her and vowed to find herself a good man.

"Nora, don't go home" asked Rosie in a serious tone.

Nora chuckled, "Why not? Did you plan a surprise party for me?"

"I'm not joking, don't go home. Where are you right now?"

Nora's smile vanished as soon as she realized that her sister was being for real. She was almost at their apartment building when she saw a group of men, five of them, dressed in black standing around the doorsteps. "I'm almost home but some guys are here," she whispered. "Get away from there and call me when you're in a safe place," said Rosie and hung up. The men had seen her and Nora kept walking. "Hey," a deep voice called out to her. Pretending not to hear, the man called out again, "You there." Nora slowly turned around and gave the man a confused look, "Yes?"

"We're looking for Rosario Ramírez, do you know her," the man said. He and the other men looked like they could've been bouncers at a club. They were of East Asian descent. Assuming the man who was speaking to her was the leader, Nora noticed how he looked about five foot nine or ten and in his late forties. His hair was graying and had a slightly wrinkled face. Were they mobsters? Why would Rosie be involved with such people? "Ha ha, I'm sorry, I've never heard that name before, I better get going or else I'll miss my bus," Nora smiled widely.

Suddenly, a window above opened and Nora's annoying neighbor, Gorland, stuck his head out and said, "Hey Nora, some guys were looking for your sister, Rosie!" Gorland was a short little pale man with a peanut-shaped head. His eyes bulged out and looked as if they were going to pop out of their sockets at any moment. He would always stop Nora or Rosie in the hallway and make small talk that would go on for hours. Neither of them had the heart to tell him to leave them alone though. He looked down and pointed at the men, "Oh, it was those guys!" You stupid idiot!

The leader narrowed his sights on her, "You're gonna need to come with us, miss." Nora pretended to look clueless and pointed at herself. It took less than a second for her to bolt out of dodge. "Hey, come back here," ordered the man as he and his men began to pursue her. Gorland shouted behind her, "Hey, where ya goin'?"

All that went through Nora's head was how to get to safety, quickly. She hadn't run this fast in forever. She headed eastward, up the hill. Badump! Badump! What did you get yourself into, sis? When she got to an intersection she saw a trolley coming her way and quickly hopped on. She ducked behind a window and peeked to see that the men were on the sidewalk, searching. The trolley conductor approached her, "Sorry miss, this car is out of service, you'll have to catch the next one!" She frantically shook her head at him, pleading to stay aboard, to no avail and pushed her out.

Trying to get up off the pavement quickly, the men spotted her and surrounded her. She raised her hands, "I'm sure this is all a misunderstanding." A black windowless van pulled up and was thrown in.