Dark Paradise

chapter two

chapter two

BOGOTA WAS PRETTY NICE FOR THE MOST PART. Connie and Celia spent the following day exploring the place and grocery shopping to get the fridge full back at their apartment. Celia was currently sleeping on their couch, but she reassured her sister and her brother-in-law it was temporary. She wanted to stay in the same apartment building or close by since Steve warned her she how dangerous the streets could get especially at night. The apartment building was luckily U.S government owned and issued by the local U.S embassy. Steve had offered to try and see if they would let her rent a place out while on his first day.

"This place looks nice," Connie stated as she held the listings of apartments from the newspaper in her hand, circling the specific listing. "Did the bank tell you how much longer it would take to wire the money to your account here?"

"It should be done by tomorrow," Celia replied as she drove the black third-generation Ford Bronco the embassy provided to Steve upon their arrival. "So tomorrow we can start looking at places in person. Did Steve tell you what time he wanted us to pick him up today?"

"Uh, yeah. He should be out soon. Steve was only meeting his partner and going over a few things for today. We can head there now, just turn down this street." Connie replied as she directed her sister to take a right on the upcoming street.

Celia did and soon enough the large black metal fence came into view and behind that stood the United States Embassy. The doors parted open when they arrived and the security guard past the fence asked for a form of identification. The two women pulled out their passports and informed the guard they were there to pick up a family member. The guard nodded and let the two pass. Celia found a parking space right away and parked the car.

"Should we wait here in the car?" Celia asked as she shut off the car and took the keys out of the ignition, keeping the windows lowered down a little. "Are we even allowed inside?"

"We're not going to wait here. Yes, we are allowed inside," Connie answered as she clicked off her seatbelt and began to get out of the car. "Let's go take a look at this embassy so c'mon!"

Celia didn't have the chance to protest as she too climbed out of the car. She swung her purse onto her shoulder and dumped the car keys inside it after making sure the car was locked. The two entered the air conditioned government building. Celia sighed in relief from finally escaping the heat outside. The Colombian heat was not kind at all considering they were from Florida.

Connie made her way to the information desk. The lady sitting behind the desk informed her she'd call her husband to the lobby while the two waited there. Celia shrugged at her sister from where she stood near a row of chairs lined up along a wall. She took a seat as Connie just wandered around the lobby. Celia shivered from siting by the AC vent and knew the fact she was wearing matching yellow denim vest top and shorts wasn't helping her at all. She watched her sister walk around before grabbing a magazine from a table beside her and flipping it open.