The Sweet Exchange

The hustle and bustle of the city pushed against her face in a forceful, inescapable hug. Maxine Devereux shoved her hands into her pockets, grumbling as she walked to her apartment building. Her curly black hair was styled in a neat bun, tendrils of hair framing her brown face and swaying in the wind as she moved. She turned her body just in enough time to avoid running into a food cart that was rushing to its next destination to catch its late afternoon customers.

Maxine was finding herself in a hard place. Her job was an unfulfilling mess with organized chaos starting with management. Her roommate was about to move out with her fiance at the end of the year, and Maxine was still single with no way to pay for the roof over her head once her roommate left to live her picture-perfect life. It was no understatement that Maxine was aggravated, frustrated, and overwhelmed by the turn of events life had thrown at her. She wasn’t sure what she should do and each day felt like swallowing broken glass as the torture and mental pressure continued to brew into an ugly mass.

She climbed the steps to her building and hesitated before placing her hand on the knob. She stood there so long that she had to jerk out of the way from one of her unknown neighbors trying to exit. They shared an awkward exchange, making Maxine second-guess her idea of going home. She bit the inside of her cheek, peering out into the city and noticing the diversity of people around her. It was not lost on her that everyone had their own trials and tribulations to face no matter how well put together they may appear, but she got lost in the sea of people. Not right away, Maxine started to experience envy as she watched the people move through the streets with ease to their next lunch date, home-cooked meal, or lover.

She let her knees give as she sat on the stoop. She blew a couple of raspberries as she debated whether or not to pull out the blunt she’d rolled earlier and smoke it right in front of everyone. It was not legal to smoke marijuana in her state, and she would be arrested on the spot if she got caught, but Maxine wanted something in her mundane routine to change. She felt like a rebel for once.

Without wasting any more time, Maxine reached into her top jacket pocket and pulled out the nicely rolled cigar filled with what she liked to call God’s Gift. She swiftly lit the blunt and took a quick pull, exhaling in relief. She could feel her muscles ease into relaxation, her mind was getting quieter with every pull. At first, people looked at her curiously. Some were disgusted to see her smoking it so openly while some, who were probably partakers of God’s Gift, gave her silent signs of approval. Maxine was feeling more confident with her decision, nearly daring the authorities to show themselves.

She felt her back pocket vibrate with a notification from her phone. It was her roommate checking on her. She wanted to ignore it, but she figured she would try her hardest to celebrate this time with her roommate rather than be bitter. It wasn’t her fault things worked out in her favor. Plus, Maxine had grown fond of her roommate over the years. They had lived together for three years and both women agreed their separation was going to be a challenge.

Maxine sent a quick reply letting her roommate know she was safely sitting outside. Maxine wasn’t ready to go back inside. She was afraid that if she went inside, things would go back to the way they were before. She sighed, blowing out smoke as she did so. Suddenly, a face appeared within the smoke causing Maxine to cough in surprise. Quickly, she put the blunt out on her tongue. The taste of ash and tar was grueling but she was too startled to think about it.

As the smoke settled, she was able to clearly see a man standing several feet from her with an inviting smile. She waited for him to speak first.

“Hello,” he greeted.

With a raised brow, Maxine straightened. “Are you the police or something?”

The man smirked, a low chuckle coming from him. “No, I am not. I am just a regular guy.”

“I’m not buying it.”

She stood to her feet, preparing to finally go inside.

“Wait!” he called, reaching his hand out but not touching.

Maxine looked at his outstretched hand, next his eyes. “Then, what do you want?”

The man stumbled on his words at first. Maxine took this time to take in his appearance. He was very fit and handsome, maybe in his late thirties or early forties. He had the whole five o’clock shadow thing going for him and a full head of dark hair and caramel-brown skin. She also noticed no ring on his fingers.

“You know,” she started. “this isn’t a good look for you. You’re a random man who showed up to approach a woman who was minding her business, and when she asks what’s his purpose the man is suddenly lost for words.”

He laughed sheepishly. “Sorry, it’s just you’re really beautiful and I couldn’t really walk by without saying something.”

Maxine’s cheeks flushed in color. She liked the compliment. She really liked it, especially from him. But that didn’t allow her to drop her guard. “Still isn’t a great look, buddy.”

He tilted his head to the side, that charming smile still present. “Well, neither is smoking pot out in the open in a state where it’s illegal, yet you still did it.”

Maxine grimaced, sitting back on the stoop. “So…?”

The man sat beside Maxine, careful not to touch her.

“Can I get your name?” he asked.

“You first.”

“Athanasios.” His name was very…pretty. At Maxine’s astonishment, he said, “But most people call me Anthony.”

“Is that what your name means?” she asked, her tone depicting she wanted to know more.

He shook his head, dark hairs brushing the skin of his forehead. His smile grew, white teeth shining. “Immortal.”

It was the way he said the word immortal. It was like the wind around Maxine had come alive and surrounded her with his essence. The hairs on her skin came to attention and her breath quickened.

“Interesting,” she said quietly.

“So, you going to tell me your name?” Upon closer look, Maxine noticed his eyes were pools of pale gray.

“Maxine,” she answered, eyes trained on the man before her.

“I like that name,” he said, his aura very inviting and gentle.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out something that looked like a box for a ring. Maxine jumped back, her heart a frantic muscle in her chest. “What are you doing?”

Her eyes darted around checking for people who may have been watching. She was feeling paranoia creep through her system at the thought of this being a prank and that there were hidden cameras somewhere. It wouldn’t be the first time in history.

A soft hand touched hers, bringing her back to reality.

“It’s not that sort of thing,” Anthony assured her. “It’s Pandora’s Box.”

Maxine burst into laughter, wiping several tears from her eyes. As she settled, she saw the seriousness of his expression. He held the little box closer to her.

She was afraid to touch it. “You’re kidding, right?”

Anthony shook his head. “No, I’m not.”

Maxine lowered her voice, holding a hand over her mouth. “Isn’t that dangerous?”

Anthony matched her by placing his hand over his mouth, too. “No, not really. I want you to hold onto it for me.”

Maxine recoiled. “Me? No, I think I’m okay.”

“Why not?” he inquired innocently. “I’m asking you nicely, aren’t I? Plus, aren’t you curious about what’s actually inside Pandora’s Box?”

Of course, Maxine was curious. Who wouldn’t be even a little bit curious? But Maxine was not willing to risk everything for a stranger. How did she know if he was really telling the truth? What if it turned out to just be a box?

“Anthony, you’re saying that like it’s really her Box.” She liked the way his name sounded on her lips. She wasn’t even aware she said it until it left her mouth.

Apparently, he did too. “But it is her Box, Maxine.”

Maxine brushed off her flirty feelings and straightened with her hands on her sides, the outside world a complete blur to everything in their bubble. With her head high in the clouds and no plans of coming down, she felt herself breaking from his haze.

“Why should I be the one to hold onto it?”

“You deserve it,” he said easily. “You’re the one who will be shit out of luck at the end of this year if you don’t find a new roommate. You’re the one with the boring job and clueless managers. You’re the one who is single when really you long for more.”

“How do you know about those things?” she whispered, her blood cooling in her veins.

“Do you believe me?”

That wasn’t an answer.

Maxine repeated her question, this time her voice was stronger and more prepared. “I asked you a question, Anthony. How do you know those things?”

“It’s the Box.”

Her eyes grew wide with a thought. “Are you a sorcerer?”

Anthony chuckled, enclosing the box in his hand and out of sight. Then, he held up both his empty hands to show there was nothing in them. “Me? A sorcerer? Nah.”

Maxine watched him do tricks with his hands and the Box that would cause one to believe he was a sorcerer. She let him have his fun because to some odd degree it amused her too, but she’d be lying to herself if she thought that he wasn’t dangerous. He didn’t find her by mistake.

“What’s the catch?” she asked. She realized she was smiling at him.

Anthony did not withhold information from her any longer. “If you open it, inside you will find your greatest desire…or downfall.”

Maxine’s brow perked, the riddle causing more than curiosity to surface. Paranoia settled deeper into her system and she was becoming aware she may have smoked too much.

“I think I’m too high for this conversation,” she said simply. Her mind was not ready to process something so deep and mythical, yet possibly very real.

Anthony had the Box in his hand again and he held it out to Maxine. “Just hold onto it. You don’t have to open it today.”

She sighed deeply. “Are the police going to come looking for this?”

Anthony shook his head. “Mortals only hope to have something like this in their grasp. I have personally given it to you and you shall be the only one to know of its existence. If you attempt to show anyone else, they won’t see it. They will see a blur.”

Anthony took Maxine’s hand and gently placed the small Box in her palm. Naturally, her fingers curled around the object to feel its weight and foundation.

He stood to his feet, but Maxine was not able to find her footing so easily. She remained seated on the stoop, her bones suddenly like steel. “Let’s meet up here in a few days.”

“Are you sure all you want me to do is hold onto this?”

He nodded, white teeth more prominent against his brown skin. “Yes, unless you decide to open it before our meeting. Then, depending on what is on the other side of that Box we may not need to.”

The value of the Box was making it feel heavier in her hand. The sheer magnitude of holding something so treasured and rare made her want to give it back to Anthony. Pandora’s Box was in Maxine Devereux’s hand. Even as she let that thought sink in, she still did not give it back to Anthony. She found herself being enamored with the Box and what it could possibly have inside. Anthony warned it could be her downfall…but what if it turned out to be her greatest desire? Maxine knew what she wanted, but would opening this square given to her by a complete stranger be the solution?

The intricate, gold designs on the black Box glittered in the light almost as if they were alive. She turned the Box at different angles, letting the sunlight play with the gold pieces that were now moving around the Box in a pattern. Afraid of what was going on, Maxine shoved the Box in her pocket and stood to her feet to realize Anthony was no longer standing beside her. Her eyes scanned the crowd before her, carefully searching for anyone who may resemble him. Alarmed she was being watched, she quickly gave up and hurried inside her apartment.

***

Each day settled by through a fluctuation of various emotions ranging from sheer panic and fear to great elation and serenity. Maxine was sure she’d go insane before the arranged meeting, though somehow through her mighty will, she was able to make it without opening the Box. After trying to keep it out of sight, she settled with keeping the small item on her at all times. It drove her even madder not knowing where it could be.

Maxine sat on her balcony, leaning into the plush cushion of the lounge chair. Her roommate was inside on the phone with her realtor and fiance. Normally, Maxine would be cringing on the inside from their conversations of children and white picket fences. Today, her attention was locked on a very special item that she was afraid to open but wanted to more than anything. She chewed on her lip as she mulled it over, eyes trained on the little black Box that could fulfill or destroy her. It was such a gamble without the slightest clue.

Her chest hurt at the mere thought of what it could be because her heart was desiring one thing, yet it wasn’t based on what she wanted only what the Box wanted to present to her. Maxine tried to dive far into the dark, murky recesses of her mind to give herself any sort of clue into her greatest downfall. She was trying to steel herself for the worst. Eventually, she was too far into her mind and pulled out before she suffocated.

Her eyes snapped open just in time to see darkness above her and the twinkle of stars. She’d fallen asleep rather quickly. She crawled into her bed, hoping to find rest but her mind was too wired to let her just simply go back to sleep. The Box was a burning filament in her hand that would not allow her to willingly rest on her own.

Too restless, Maxine went back to the stoop to smoke a joint she’d rolled earlier in the evening. Before she could finish her first drag, she felt his presence. Maxine’s heart jolted at feeling him so near, the city now a calm and sleepy scene behind them.

“There you are smoking those again,” he mused, the soft timbre of his voice resonating in her chest.

Maxine smirked. “There you are bugging me again.”

A gentle chuckle was her response as she took another pull. Then, “Did you open it?”

Maxine shook her head, pulling the Box from her person and holding it out to Anthony. Maxine could tell Anthony was surprised because of the slight twitch of his eyes. The Box was still intact in its original form with no damage whatsoever.

“Not too many are able to resist the Box on their own.”

“It wasn’t easy,” she admitted. “I thought I was going to lose my cool more than a few times.”

Anthony did not waste any more time with small talk. “Maxine, what have you decided?”

With the tiny Box out of her hands, her thoughts were not as fuzzy and she could suddenly think. Her decision felt more precise, and more determined than before.

“It’s strange,” she started. “When I had the Box in my possession, my thoughts were very muddled. I kept going back and forth with my decision. Now, it’s so clear that I don’t even understand how I wasn’t able to come to a decision before.”

Anthony twisted the square between his fingers, the sharp edges glinting against the moonlight. “That’s the power of Pandora’s Box.”

Maxine did not allow herself to dwell on the magnitude of how powerful Pandora’s Box was because she’d been feeling it firsthand. “I want to open it.”

Anthony smirked, pleased with her decision to take a dive into the abyss. “Open it, Maxine.”

With much anticipation, Maxine slowly took Pandora’s Box from Anthony’s hand and mechanically allowed herself to open the lid. Her heart was like thunder in her chest as her blood rushed through her veins. Her fate was now sealed with whatever lie ahead in the tiny cube.

As her fingers slipped the lid open, she waited for the impossible to happen. Her hair didn’t blow back into the wind and her world didn’t turn on its axis nor was she sucked into someone else’s universe. She and Anthony stayed locked in their seats on the stoop, peering inside the Box to see a blood-red jewel twinkling under the moonlight. She was careful not to touch it as she twisted the artifact to see all of its angles. It was not a large jewel but big enough in size to cause attention if spotted.

“It’s the Heart of Anubis,” Anthony whispered in amazement. He reached out instinctively to touch it, though he quickly retracted his hand as if he’d been burned. “I can’t touch it because I did not open it.”

“What will happen to me? What does this mean?”

Maxine wanted to know if her destiny was sealed with something positive or something that would ruin her.

“The Fates have seen you in great favor,” he mused, his lips turning upward as he spoke. “This won’t leave you in despair. It will grant you the ability to use it as your guide throughout life and there are rumors that it even grants immortality.”

“Rumors…?” she asked, pinning her eyes to Anthony. “Or the truth?”

Anthony did not respond only straightened his posture to gaze into Maxine’s eyes. Breaking their contact, she tentatively touched the jewel, waiting for something miraculous to occur. She was not sure how the Heart of Anubis worked but she was certain that only she could possess the power to activate it. Even Anthony as an immortal could not touch it.

“What do I do now?” she asked. This time she pulled the jewel from its holding inside the Box and held it in her palm, her fingers curling around the artifact. It was light and the angles of the jewel were prominent against the natural creases of her hand.

“Let it guide you, Maxine. Not many are given such a gift.”

Maxine closed her eyes, capturing the weight and feel of the Heart of Anubis. Something that she once believed was mythical was now sitting in her hands. Then, she felt something in her shift. Her mind was clearer and her pathways were opening up with opportunities. Maxine was reveling in newfound hope.

A vision appeared in her mind like a movie, and she was able to see it projected out in front of her as if it were really playing on a screen. The vision was only for a moment, but it felt like years had gone by. She could see her whole life playing out before her with milestone moments coming to her at full speed. As the vision progressed, she watched herself turn from a young woman to an older woman whom she was not familiar. She had experienced pregnancy and motherhood in one breath just as she was experiencing her retirement years. Maxine watched her life play out in front of her with awe.

Just when Maxine was beginning to find herself getting lost in the moments that had not happened to her yet, it stopped. She was in disbelief, tapping herself on the head to activate what she saw. She had viewed image after image and she steadily grew older but there was no sign of her death. She could feel each one of those images as if she were experiencing them for the first time, yet as she grew she could not feel her death. Better yet, she did not fear it because it was not part of her anatomy.

“I saw my life,” she whispered, pressing the heels of her hands into her eyes. “The things that I had worried about eventually…. Why…?”

“That is the power of the Heart of Anubis. It showed you the life you would have had if the jewel did not come into your life in exchange for immortality.”

Droplets of rain woke her from her drowsy dream, awakening to Anthony’s dark eyes. Her blood felt rejuvenated, the suffocation of life was not a steel vice around her neck and usual tenseness she felt in her muscles was no longer there. Maxine stood to her feet, expecting to feel something familiar.

“That is the feeling of immortality changing your nervous system,” Anthony said, bringing her attention back to him.

Their eyes met in an understanding trance and they walked out into the rain, without a care in the world. Maxine took Anthony’s hand and began to walk in the light showers. He walked close beside her and they began their immortality.