Chapter Text
Maroon Lake-
Chapter One
The light hadn’t entered the room, in almost four days, and she hadn’t left either. 72 hours ago (give or take) things were different. Life was predictable and on course. Eureka is that moment when a sudden spark brings an incredible clarity— the missing piece is provided.
Sophie Moore quit.
In the middle of the presentation, which she prepared her entire career for, she quit. This was her moment; but, it came at a price that she simply couldn’t pay. Sophie knew she got this opportunity because she was the Black diversity hire in an all-white marketing firm. She was being tokenized. It wasn’t that she didn’t know. What was she going to do about it? This is how change happens; how doors open and glass ceilings or shackles shatter.
Yet, this was different, this was blood money. She had been one of Catapult’s highest-performing account executives for more than five years. She was hired during their campus recruitment drive at Gotham University. Sophie’s family had poured all their energy into her success. Her dad worked three jobs and her mom worked two. It costs a lot to ensure Sophie had everything she needed. Having only one child to think about making things more manageable financially, while crippling emotionally, for her family.
Standing in the middle of the presentation room pitching a fake Black rapper with street cred as the face of an offshoot of an all-white liquor company based in Europe, Sophie was on fire. She had her best friend, Luke Fox, create an AI rapper to simulate a series of videos and songs. She had created a story and she was selling it. You know when something was going well and Sophie was one slide away from confirming the deal.
“I’m sorry. I can’t do this.”
“Is everything okay? Do you need a minute? The presentation is really delivering a strong message. The first-quarter numbers might be an underestimation given the quality you’ve presented.” Jacob Kane said searching for eye contact with Sophie, but it never came.
“I don’t know why I didn’t see it sooner. Actually, I did but I wanted this. This was my chance to prove that I was good enough. This is nothing more than robbing the culture to funnel the system. This is cheap alcohol in expensive packaging that uses Black music, culture, and swagger to sell it.”
“Sophie that’s enough,” Kane whispers, “stop now before you say something you’ll regret.”
“You didn’t want this campaign when it was Trayvon or Philando or Sandra or Rodney. What makes George Floyd so different? Why are we suddenly important and how is this going to keep anyone who looks like me from becoming the next Breonna Taylor?”
Jacob Kane in an attempt to save face, “I am sure we can build in some donations or kickbacks to the Black community. Identify some local youth groups to invest in. This can all be remedied. We assure you.”
“Jacob, say less! You didn’t select me that day at the Gotham U job fair because I was the best; you picked me that day because I was the best and being Black was the bonus. Well, the pilfering of my Black mind for white wealth ends now. I quit.”
Sophie closed her laptop and unplugged it from the presentation dock.
“By the way, this file is encrypted. All my files are. Nothing, I have created in my time here can be replicated or stolen. The minute you try to manipulate anything; it will disintegrate, Black TECH hit differently.”
With that, Sophie was gone. She didn’t even clear out her office. She never settled in. She did most of her work at home and mostly showed up because it was a requirement of well, having a job.
The adrenaline led to one drunken night at The Hold-Up, a forgettable hookup, and a depressive panic that led to Sophie locking herself away from the world. The only reason a search party hadn’t shown up is that Luke, being the tech genius, knew where she was. He assured her family that she was home and hadn’t left. He had a heartbeat, a heat sensor tracker built into Sophie’s necklace; she never took it off. It was something she asked him to do. Sophie was known to disappear when things got complicated. She knew Luke would give her the space she needed while assuring everyone who wouldn’t that she was alive. It was a compromise that worked for everyone.
Sophie woke up, no longer delirious, just dumbfounded.
“Sophia Moore, what are you doing? Have you lost your mind? You’ve worked your entire life for this moment.”
She reflected on the weight of her own words.
“Yea, but Sophie, you’ve also been Black your entire life and a woman, and a lesbian. You came out to live your authentic life for yourself and no one else. You can’t give in to what society wants now. You’ve come too far and achieved too much in spite of what so many people, including your family, expect you to fail.
Oh shit. Mom. How will I tell Mom…and Jordan?” Jordan has been her best friend her entire life.
Sophie decides to give Luke a call.
Sophie: Hello
Luke: Hey Soph, how’s the hiding going?
Sophie: it’s beginning to feel a bit cramped in here but I am not ready to come out yet?
Luke: I’m a tech guy. This sounds like a construction issue
Sophie: LOL! Or a location problem
Luke: What are you thinking?
Sophie: Maroon Lake
Luke: Sophie..are… you…sure? Maroon Lake is secluded, pretty white the last time I checked and I am certain the TECH is spotty.
Sophie: Well it wasn’t always white for one thing. The Black settlers named that place Maroon Lake before the lynching and that’s why I called you. You can send me off with all the TECH I need to check back in with civilization when I want.
Luke: So, you’re using me for my talents… this friendship is starting to feel transactional
Sophie: Siblingship! That’s what brothers and sisters do. Use each other... Some of the time.
Luke: When do you want to go?
Sophie: Today. Tomorrow, if you can’t pull off a miracle
Luke: I got you, Soph…, and remember, you’ve reinvented before. You’ll do it again. Even if I have to create a whole new identity for you
Sophie: Ha. Love you too, Luke
**********************
Maroon Lake is community two hours outside of Gotham. It’s on the outskirts of' cabin country' but this isn’t where people cabin. This is a small community, where people lead a quaint life built around the amazing nature that surrounds them. Many of the residents work in nearby cottage country and others, they farm the land or host secluded cottages, lake fishing trips, horseback tours, and any kind of ecotourism. Because the community is filled with generational property earners, no one is really seeking a high income.
For Black folks, Maroon Lake is something else that was taken from us, by force, at night with the blood of our ancestors the price. This doesn’t mean our legacy isn’t present there. In fact, there is one Black family still in town and they have a plan to bring Black people back to the lake.
Danny hears the chime of his store door open and looks up to see his new regular.
“Hey, Miss Ryan. Coming to use the internet cafe again?”
“Yup. I posted the cabin just over a week ago. I want to see if we have any bookings. I’m kinda jealous. I made that place nicer than my own house. Probably need a 15-minute session.” Ryan reaches for her purse but Danny stops her.
“This one’s on me. I believe in you and Miss Cora.”
Ryan looks back.
“Thanks, Danny.”
Ryan heads to the internet cafe and logs into her email. There is a request for an arrival tonight.
“Why would anyone want to come to Maroon Lake at night? You have to know these roads.”
She notices that the reservation is an open and indefinite booking. This person has no date for leaving. Ryan sees this as both a good and a bad thing but she is also excited for her first booking. Given that it’s night, she will offer to meet the person in Maroon Lake’s downtown and drive them up to the cabin.
Ryan replies and shuts down her email.
“Well, Danny. Looks like our first guest is arriving tonight. I’m going to ensure the cabin’s ready and head out to the farm.”
“Sounds good, Miss Ryan. Congrats on the first guest. Your crop has been looking good for the harvest party. I think you’re going to win this year.”
“We’ll see. I swear those Martins have some magic elixir in their soil for garlic and pumpkin.”
“The Wilder-Martin Harvest rivalry has never skipped a generation.”
Danny and Ryan shared a laugh.
“It wouldn’t be Maroon Lake if it did, I suppose.”
Ryan turned to leave the store with many questions about who the guest was she would be meeting later. It was a woman, that much she knew. But women rarely travel alone and definitely not a Black woman to Maroon Lake. She was intrigued as much as she was nervous about their first guest in the newly established Wilder Cabin.
********
Sophie had managed to make it to her kitchen island to have some coffee and a bowl of fruit and yogurt. She heard her phone vibrate and saw that she had just received a new message from Luke.
Luke: Check it out. I found the only Black-owned cabin in Maroon Lake. Wilder Lodge Cabin.
Sophie clicked the link. The cabin was exactly what she was looking for. It was right on the edge of the lake, it was all log with very modern fixtures and amenities.
“This cabin couldn’t possibly be owned by someone who is from Maroon Lake. This has HGTV charm.” Sophie was impressed. She messaged Luke.
Sophie: When can I go?
Luke: Your stay begins tonight. The cabin keeper, Ryan Wilder, will meet you in town to guide you up to the lodge. They said if you don’t know the road it can be intimidating.
Sophie: I am meeting up with a stranger at night
Luke: Sophie, it’s Luke you’re talking to. Do you think I booked this cabin without a background check? I’m hurt.
Sophie: Fair point.
Luke: I am coming over around 2pm to provide you with all the TECH you’ll need to stay connected and turn that place into a fortress.
Luke: And please message your Mom… and give Jordan some attention before you. That’s one needy best friend you have.
Sophie: Sophie: Thanks, Luke. I’ll invite Jordan over for lunch so you can call her needy to her face.
Sophie then opened her message thread with Jordan to see if she was available.
Sophie: Hey
Jordan: She lives! I am coming over right now.
“Of course you are.”
Sophie decided to do some packing but first, she opened google to see what she might be able to find out about Ryan Wilder of Maroon Lake.