by Kari Chaplin
“Hey, Brad, three Jack & Cokes, White Zinfandel, scotch on the rocks, brandy straight up, and a beer.” “What kind of beer?” he asked, in the midst of an ass shake as he mixed the liquids in the cocktail shaker. He had to keep his fans entertained.
“He said, and I quote, ‘Whatever is fine.’”
He winked, and then added, “Okay, you got it, Ves.”
“Actually, make that beer Midnight Sun’s Flying Reindeer Rauchbock.”
Brad's expression turned dark. After a moment, he replied, “A flying reindeer what? Ves, I have no idea what you just said,” I audibly exhaled as he continued, “We are in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere, Oklahoma, may I add. We don’t have anything with a name that long-winded.” I had that coming.
I had known Brad Carter since high school. He was easy on the eyes, I guess. With naturally glowing bronze skin, bright green eyes and dirty-blonde hair, he received a lot of gazes, gawks and giggles. He had been blessed with muscles to melt any woman’s… well, let’s just say heart. He was like a big brother to me; therefore, I’d prefer not to think about what he melted in a woman. All the girls in the town, and out of town for that matter, went crazy over him. I just didn’t see him in that kind of way.
“Never mind, I have no idea where that came from. I’m sure a Shiner Bock will be fine.” I felt my cheeks blush to intense crimson.
“What’s wrong?” Brad put down the vodka bottle and gave me his full attention.
I mentally debated whether I should tell him or not. He tended to be a little dramatic when it came to me and my safety. His expression grew more intense as each second passed. “Ves, you better go on and spit it out. I have all night to drag it out of you.” Brad’s left eyebrow lifted in suspense.
“Ugh, fine, I think that guy at table six is crazy. He’s really freakin’ me out. Keep an eye on him, please?” I didn’t mean for it all to spill out. I started to load my serving tray. “I’m probably just being a bitch. I’m sure it’s fine.”
“Which guy?” he asked, looking in that general area.
I looked that way too. He wasn’t there. He wasn’t anywhere. I scoured the entire bar and saw no sign of him. I didn’t feel him either. I felt cold. My body had been shivering slightly since I left his table. However, I did notice that Rob and his friends had sat at a table in my section. My attention was directed to them immediately.
“Okay, never mind. Here, put this back. I need to add two cokes, a sprite, and a club soda, please.” I handed him the beer as he pushed the latter part of my order my direction. “If he comes back, I’ll let you know. Thanks.”
“You do that. Did he do anything I should know about?”
“Well, that’s a loaded question. What’s “out of the ordinary” for this place?” My reply was sarcastic.
“Vess, you know what I mean.”
“Nothing out of the ordinary. He just gave me the creeps.” I yelled so he could hear me over the roar of the music and the squeals of his adoring fans sitting in front of him.
Brad provided a serious expression, which consisted of a crease in his brow and frown on his face. I walked off with my full tray minus one beer.
Through my peripheral vision, I saw Amber come up beside me. “Who was that?” she asked with her usual asshole attitude.
“I don’t know,” I replied.
“Well, I don’t like him. He gives me the creeps.”
“In that case, it's a good thing he didn’t sit in your section.”
She sighed. “Devilish good looks, too bad. That is just my type.” Her voice was slow and desperate as she stared off in the distance, daydreaming no doubt. She shrugged her shoulders as she walked off.
“Wow, he was good looking. I love his hair. It’s like that curly, tangled ‘just rolled out of bed’ look. His hair all but says ‘badass’ through and through. Mmm… hmm, what I wouldn’t do to his bad ass,” Myra expressed in a seductive purr. “Did you get his name?”
“No, I didn’t.” I rolled my eyes at her. Her reaction didn’t surprise me. I knew her better than she knew herself.
“Oh, that's a shame. What I wouldn’t do to that ass,” she repeated. She sighed as she pouted out her bottom lip.
“Hey, guys. How are you tonight?” I said as I approached Rob’s table.
“Hey, Ves, we are doing just great. Did you see the decorations?” Rob replied in an exhausted, but excited tone.
I laughed. “Yeah, I saw them. Is there any way to miss them? They scared the shit out of me. I thought I was going to hit whatever is hanging over Main Street. The decorations are super low. Can you tone it down next year? At least hang the blood-sucking alien creature things a little higher. I was worried I would’ve hit it with my car.”
Matt’s booming roar of laughter filled the air. “No way, Ves. We’re already laying out plans for next year and it’s going to be way over-the-top. You’re going to love it. I guarantee it.” He had way too much fun with his job.
Giggling, I cynically declared, “Um, yeah, y’all are a mess. I’m already planning my out-of-town vacation for this time next year. I really don’t think my insurance can handle your spectacle.”
They all laughed in agreement.
“Did you make a call about the burned-out light in the parking lot?” I asked Rob.
“Yep, it’s working. You know that you're my top priority.”
“Thanks a million,” I replied.
“You betcha.” He took a sip from the glass that I placed in front of him. “I’ll be over tomorrow to fix the faucet. Is that okay?”
“Yeah, I work. So, if I’m not home, just let yourself in. I’ll take care of your bill tonight.”
“Nonsense, I will not take your money.” He winked. “Go back to work,” he half teased.
“Thanks, Rob,” I yelled back, rushing off to service more tables.
During the nightly meeting, everyone complained to Joe about the mysterious almost-customer, except Myra. I wasn’t sure she could be scared off by anyone, or anything. I had never seen such a reaction to anything that went on in there. The guy was there for maybe five minutes, but I guess he made a pretty strong impression on the entire staff.
Amber complained, “He wasn’t right. He's almost evil in some way. I don’t know why I am saying this, but that’s how I feel. It’s weird, I know.”
“Yeah, I agree. He was crazy. His eyes were, like, black. As soon as he walked in the bar, I could feel a cloud of evil,” Stephanie commented.
“Seriously?” I stared at them all before adding, “What are you guys, like, the crusaders of God or something? Who are you to judge? Besides, any of you walking into a church would cause it to spontaneously combust. Get a life.” I had no idea why I felt the need to defend him. Albeit, he was frightening on every level, but the conversation was just ridiculous, at best.
“Look, ladies,” Joe, the owner, chimed in. “Let’s calm down. What did he do? It isn’t like any of you to concern yourselves about a customer so much to say such things. What happened tonight?”
Everyone agreed, “Nothing.” Yet, more complaints continued to spill out.
“He didn’t do anything but spook you a little. I can’t do anything about it unless he said something inappropriate or did something. Scary doesn't hold up these days. Besides, Halloween is in a few weeks. I’m sure that is the fuel for your imagination. Everyone gets a little crazy this time of year. Speaking of Halloween, check out next week’s schedule. Everyone has a shift to help decorate. It marks the beginning of our insanely busy season. As always, you will be well compensated for your extra time here. Ok, have a good night and get home safe.”
I was the first to make it to the newly posted schedule on the employee cork board. “I have to be here at 9am on Tuesday, which is my only day off this week.” I frowned. The bar was closed on Sundays, but we rotated shifts to help with the deliveries and restock for the week. That was my week to help.
Myra pushed past me to take a look. “Me too, 9a.m. T
uesday. This will be fun. We will get breakfast first, okay?”
“Yeah, whatever.” I was less than enthusiastic. “Let’s go.”
Brad asked the security guards to walk us out to my car. Everything looked clear so we got in and began the drive home. Jason, a security guard, offered to follow us home, but I declined. Vulnerability is definitely a weakness with no defense.
Two
“You’re quiet tonight,” Myra commented.
The grunt that escaped was barely audible.
“A penny for your thoughts?” she asked in a low voice, rolling down the window. Myra loved the crisp night air.
“It was a weird night.”
“How was it a weird night?”
“You were there, Myra,” I reminded her.
“Yes, I was there,” she retorted gently.
“What do you want me to say?”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Ves, you know I can feel your moods. You’re sad. Why?” Myra kept her voice soft. “Yes, a weird guy came in and it caused a fuss. I get that, but why has it put you in such a mood?”
“I’m just tired, I guess.”
“Just tired, huh?” She paused, glaring toward me. “Really? You’re going to give me that?” I continued staring at the road ahead, pretending not to notice her visual spikes pointed my direction. “Well, I won’t push.”
I parked in her driveway and she hopped out.
“Myra.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m okay. The night was a strange one, and I’m exhausted,” I paused as she looked me in the eyes, waiting. “I just don’t have anything to say.”
“Okay, I get it. See you.” She pushed against the car door allowing it to slam shut. She never realized her own strength.
“Myra?” I said through the still open window.
She leaned back in and asked, “Yea?”
“How do you really feel about Psycho Guy?” Myra turned her head toward the night sky as she pondered. “Honestly…” Her eyes met mine. “I don’t know. He’s really cute, like off the charts, but I got mixed vibes from him. Why? What did you think?”
“Something about him deeply bothered me,” I replied.
I didn’t want to admit that I found him uncontrollably alluring. There was definitely something different about him, something that called to me. It was more than physical. It was like I had a deep connection from a distant past. I realized how dumb that sounded, but I couldn’t help but feel that way. I wasn’t going to tell Myra. She had no filter.
We said our goodbyes; I waited for Myra to get through her door safely before I backed out of the driveway.
On the drive out of town, I couldn’t help but think about Psycho guy. It was strange that I was thinking about him at all. I never thought about any of the customers after my shift ended. Well, actually, I didn’t really think about them when I was at work. I tried to think of something else, but my thoughts continued to drift back to our encounter at the bar... and those black eyes. “Who the hell has black eyes?”
When I arrived home, there was a car in my driveway. I instantly froze. I didn't recognize the car and there was a light on in the living room. Cautiously, I crept to the living room window. My heart raced; there was a man, sitting in my recliner. My heart started to pound.
“Who is he?” I murmured to myself as I bit my bottom lip to keep from hyperventilating. I quietly and slowly pulled my phone out to call the police when I saw an all-too-familiar person enter the room. I couldn’t believe my eyes. “Ugh… What does she want?” I snarled. As much as I didn’t want to see her, I hurried in. Better to get it over with.
“Well, well… It’s you,” I said, not bothering to hide my irritation.
“Hello, little sister,” she greeted me with her usual deceivingly angelic tone. “How have you been?”
The last time I saw my loser sister was five years ago, when our mother died. The authorities marked it as a suicide, but I knew better. She didn’t even stick around for the funeral. She was the type that ran when things got uncomfortable.
“What are you doin’ in town?” The standoffish, cold streak in my voice was undeniable.
“I thought I’d come home. Is that a problem?” She sneered.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, it is. Why haven't you called or written over the last five years? Or at least let me know you were coming? Who’s he? And for that matter, how did you get in?”
“Keys,” she said, holding them in my face. “That’s my friend, Jake Ashton. He’ll be staying too.”
I should have thought to change the locks. “Maybe you should stay in a hotel,” I suggested.
“I will not. This is my house too. Mom left it to both of us.” Shannon scowled.
“Well then, I’ll go stay at a hotel. I’m not staying here with you or your friend. I don’t know him, and I don’t trust you.” My voice stabbed at her much more intensely than I had meant it to, but I refused to take it back. Standing my ground, I burned my stare into her. She had so many things to explain.
“Fine then, go,” she said.
“No one has to go. We can all sit and get acquainted.” Jake suggested tentatively. “Why don’t we all go to bed and then talk over breakfast? I’m exhausted. I’m sure you two are as well.”
I rolled my eyes, throwing my hands up in defeat. I was too tired to fight. Thank God, my bedroom door has a lock, I thought, storming off to my room. After slamming my door shut, I crawled into bed and began to cry.
Seeing my sister again had brought back memories I hadn’t allowed to surface in so long. As I drifted into sleep memories about my parents flooded my mind.
My dad was a practical man. Patient, loving, and creative. He was a great artist and enjoyed writing. I learned so many life lessons from him. He served in the army, and was a boxer in his younger days. He tried to teach us to box but we hadn’t taken it seriously . We liked to rough house with him.. I would move quickly and erratically, confusing him, kind of my signature move. We’d have taco eating contests. I always won, though he probably let me. We would drive from our house to the lake with our bikes in tow and would ride the five miles around the lake, together.
When I was a child, I had long hair which would get horribly tangled. Dad spent hours combing it. I was his princess. It wasn’t that he played favorites, but Shannon was too busy, too self-involved to spend much time with us.
Dad rebuilt car engines, giving each of us a car when we were old enough to drive; we’d often go on father/daughter date nights. My car was a Toyota, dark blue and ancient. It needed a respray but sadly Dad wasn’t able to repaint it before he died. It devastated me when, having run her own car into the ground, Shannon took mine, without my permission, and totaled it. I would have kept that car forever.
Three
“Come… Come to me,” I heard a whisper echo around me. It was pitch black. I put out my hands in front of me to feel around, but I felt nothing.
“Who are you?” My heart raced from the crippling blindness.
“You know who I am… Remember me. Just remember.” The voice whispered, “Pa bliye m.”
Pa bliye m? I knew this. I just couldn’t remember how I knew. I stood in the darkness trying to figure out why this was so familiar. Somehow, I knew it translated to “remember me.” Why?
My thought was cut short when a glowing man appeared in the distance. Dark purple flowers surrounded him. Even though the wind was absent, the flowers were waving back and forth in the direction of the two standing in the distance, as if leading a trail straight to him, but I didn’t want to go anywhere near him.
He turned toward me. I couldn’t see his face, which wasn’t abnormal. The man moved something shiny behind his back. I couldn’t get a glimpse of the object, but my gut told me whatever it was, it wasn’t good. His right fist was balled up so tight the skin of his knuckles was ghost white and stretched. I heard ‘run’ over and over again in my head, but I coul
dn’t move. I was being drawn to him. I stood frozen in place fighting the urge to rush to him, yet at the same time trying to convince my legs to run away. As I stood frozen in terror, his face slowly began to materialize. His eyes were solid black. The guy from the bar. My heart stopped. I couldn’t breathe or move. I tried to scream, but it was caught in my throat. I fought to keep the terror at bay for what seemed like a never-ending eternity while my heart pounded erratically. I struggled to wake up and escape this nightmare, but my resting body wouldn’t respond.
Psycho walked toward me in slow motion like in a movie. His left arm came out from behind his back. The object in his hand was a dagger.
My eyes widened with fear, “Wake up! Wake up!” I began to scream to myself. I knew I should be running, but I was frozen. Frantically kicking, I willed my leg into motion. Nothing happened. I was stationary. I moved my legs faster and faster. My heart raced. “Please, please, please,” I begged.
His black eyes intensified, drawing me deeper into his soul. “I love when you beg.”
His words shock me to the core, allowing my body to respond to my demands. I screamed but it was a mere raspy whisper. I could feel my sheets and my pillow rubbing against my skin. I was aware of the vanilla scent from the mostly empty plug-in at the foot of my bed. I was conscious enough to notice familiar things and realize that I was dreaming, but I wasn’t completely waking up. My body obeyed, but my mind couldn’t escape. I was stuck in limbo. I fought with myself as he neared me. Again I tried to scream, but my efforts were barely loud enough to even be heard through my own ears.
“Come,” he said, breaking my concentration.
I fought harder. At last, I gained control of my arms, pushing upward. Next my legs struggled to break from the grips of sleep. I started to thrash around on my bed, struggling to break free of this nightmare.
He floated closer to me as I struggled to escape. “Don’t be afraid,” he purred. His voice was velvety. A part of me wanted to succumb to his request. Survivor instinct pushed me to focus.