by Jon Athan
Shawn asked, “Did you follow me home?”
The man caressed his wiry stubble and said, “No, not at all.”
“You did, didn't you? What the hell are you doing here? What do you want from me?”
The man inhaled deeply, then said, “You didn't take me seriously, did you? I told you I was coming. I'm the harbinger and I have something to deliver.” As he saw the blatant confusion in Shawn's eyes, the man asked, “Don't you recognize me?”
Shawn shook his head and responded, “No, no... Who are you? What do you want from me? Money? Is that it? You saw me flaunting some cash somewhere and you think you can... you can come here and harass my family? Is that what this is about?”
The man said, “No, it's not about money, but it is about you, my old friend. Perhaps I should reintroduce myself. It's been a very long time, after all. I'd say it's been too long. My name is Aiden Anderson. Does that name ring any bells?”
Shawn inhaled deeply and took one step in reverse. A cold sweat materialized on his brow, ticklishly trickling down his cheeks. The name struck him like an 18-wheeler. He was locked in place by his sudden fear like a deer caught in the headlights. Aiden simply smiled as he relished in Shawn's reaction. He memorized Shawn's astonished facial expression – a memory to savor at a later time.
Shawn said, “It's... It's been a long time, Aiden. It's been a very long time, actually. So... what do you want from me? How can I help you?”
Aiden tilted his head and asked, “How can you help me?” He puckered his lips and shrugged, then suggested, “Well, you can introduce me to your beloved wife. That sounds like a good start. I think we'd have plenty to discuss, too.”
“She's busy. We're busy. You know, if you have something to discuss with me, I'll give you my business card and you can call my office. There's no need to put on a show, we don't need any theatrics right now. We can settle this in private like men. Does that sound good to you? Of course it does.”
Aiden sternly responded, “No, it doesn't. We have something to discuss today, Shawn. Not tomorrow, not next week, not next month. So, instead of dancing around this little dilemma, why don't you just let me in? Trust me, I have something you want to see.”
Shawn's eyes glistered with fury – flames of an uncontrollable wrath sparked in the windows to his soul. Aiden couldn't help but chuckle at Shawn's blatant vexation. Shawn huffed and puffed as he clenched his fists. Veins bulged on his lean forearms and across his moist brow. He was ready to clobber his uninvited guest.
From over Shawn's shoulder, Maribel asked, “Shawn, is everything okay? Who's at the door, sweetie?”
Shawn's eyes widened as he heard his wife's mellifluous voice – tender like a mother soothing a newborn baby. He could feel his palpitating heart, he could feel the blood pulsing through his veins. His thoughts raced through a labyrinthine mind, searching for a suitable escape route to no avail – his mind was endless, the escape was always out of reach. Shawn was trapped.
***
Maribel slowly walked to Shawn's side, clasping her hands by her chest. She gazed at their uninvited guest, examining the mysterious man until a bulb sparked atop her head. She nodded and smiled as she recognized the kind visitor.
Maribel wagged her index finger towards the man and asked, “You're the man from the diner, aren't you?”
Aiden smiled and bowed, then said, “Indeed. My name is Aiden Anderson. I'm here for...”
Shawn interrupted, “He's here for nothing, really. He was actually just about to go. I'm just going to give him my business card and he'll be on his way.” He glanced at Maribel and softly said, “So, if you can just go up to my office and grab a...”
Aiden chuckled, then said, “Nonsense. We were reconnecting. We were getting reacquainted. You see, it took me forever to track Shawn down. He was one of my best friends in high school and I was shocked to see he was absent from our high school reunion today. I was... I was flabbergasted and saddened, to be honest. I spent the day waiting at our table, but he never arrived. It's been a tragic day for me, really.”
With glistening puppy eyes, Maribel glanced at Shawn and said, “Aw, why didn't you tell me it was your reunion today? We could have rescheduled our little dinner date. You could have at least told me you bumped into a friend at the diner. I sounded like a real snob.” She turned towards Aiden and said, “I'm sorry about that. Sometimes I'm just a little too eager to get home. My name is Maribel, by the way. It's very nice to meet you, Aiden.”
Aiden nodded and said, “It's nice to meet you, too. And, don't worry about it. I was very lucky to bump into Shawn at the diner. It was a miracle, really. He was courteous enough to give me his address and invite me over to his humble abode. So, I'm here and ready to reconnect.”
Maribel sighed, then said, “Still, I'm sorry about that. Please accept my sincerest apologies.”
Aiden smiled and nodded, accepting Maribel's heartfelt apology without uttering another word. He stopped and gazed at Maribel's protruding belly. The round and firm stomach caught his immediate attention. Shawn furrowed his brow as he stared into Aiden's deviant eyes. Shawn snapped his fingers, breaking Aiden's mystifying trance.
Shawn said, “Listen, Aiden, I'm sorry if you were misled. We can reconnect, but we're sort of busy tonight. I promised my wife a romantic dinner and, well, a romantic night. We don't have time for this. You understand me? Call my office and...”
As Shawn tried to shut the door, Aiden planted his palm on the wooden barrier and placed his foot in the doorway – a makeshift doorstop. He stood in unwavering solidarity, one foot outside and the other inside the home. Shawn lowered his head and scowled at Aiden, hopelessly trying to shield his irritation from his wife. Maribel watched in utter confusion.
Aiden said, “I can't call you if I don't have that card, Shawn. Come on, buddy, I thought you were a little brighter than that.”
Maribel chuckled, then said, “He's right, you know.”
Shawn huffed, then said, “Fine, I'll get you the card and you can be on your way.”
As Shawn turned towards the staircase, Aiden pleaded, “Come on, Shawn, come on. I'm only asking for an hour or two with you. It can be just the two of us, just like old times.” He glanced at Maribel and asked, “You're fine with that, aren't you? I won't be in town long, so this is really my only opportunity. Can I steal your husband for one night? Please?”
With a jolly smile, Maribel nodded and said, “Say no more. I'm a-okay with it. Come on in.”
Aiden strolled into the home, sniffling and grunting as he inspected the couple's humble abode. A sense of normality swept through his body, like a man arriving home after a long and strenuous journey. The snug home was welcoming.
Aiden glanced at the kitchen table and said, “Hey, we can have our little chat here. It's perfect. One seat for me and one seat for you.” He turned towards Shawn and asked, “How about it, old friend?”
Shawn reluctantly nodded and responded, “Sure, old friend. I suppose I can spare an hour. I'm a little tired, though, so I'll probably knock out early. I hope that's okay with you, Aiden. If I remember correctly, you didn't really have a lot of stamina growing up.”
Shawn smirked as he moseyed into the kitchen, making sure to gently shove Aiden with his shoulder. Shawn sought the upper-hand by any means necessary. Aiden simply chuckled as he glanced down at his scuffed dress shoes. Shawn's aggression was amusing.
Aiden whispered, “Just like old times...” He turned towards Maribel and asked, “You wouldn't happen to have any liquor, would you? I mean, what's a reunion without alcohol, right?”
Maribel said, “Sure, we've got some whiskey in the kitchen cupboard. Shawn knows where it is. Treat yourself, but try not to drink too much. It's bad for you.” As she strolled up the stairs, Maribel hollered, “I'm going to jump in the shower, sweetie!”
As he turned towards the kitchen, Aiden was surprised to see Shawn was setting the table with two glass cups and a bottle of whiskey. Two-thirds of the t
antalizing liquid remained in the bottle. Aiden furrowed his brow and smiled as he sauntered into the kitchen.
As he served the drinks, Shawn said, “Let's just get this over with while my wife's in the shower. You have something to say and I'm here to listen.” Shawn beckoned to Aiden and said, “Have a seat.”
Aiden pointed at the seat closest to the arch entrance and said, “You sit there. I want your back to face the front door.”
Aiden took his seat like a king taking a throne. He swayed his arm towards the chair directly across the table, motioning his demands – please sit down, you peasant. Shawn bit his bottom lip as he reluctantly took his seat. He took some comfort in hearing the running water from the bathroom upstairs.
Aiden took a sip of his whiskey, then said, “I lied. This will take much more than a measly hour. To be honest, it'll likely take a few hours, but I promise we'll be done before sunrise. Probably even before midnight. It depends on your cooperation.”
Shawn repeated, “Hours? Done? Cooperation?” He leaned forward and asked, “What the hell are you talking about? What do you want from me, Aiden?”
With a devious twinkle in his eye, Aiden responded, “I have something to say, something to show, something to accomplish. We have a lot to do. First, I think we should reminisce and become reacquainted. It's a significant piece of the puzzle. It's... It's going to get the ball rolling. Shall we begin?”
Chapter Three
Set in Motion
The water swirled and flushed in the pipes. The creaky floorboards croaked and moaned. The wind howled like a wolf to the moon. The kitchen was drenched in a forbidding ambiance – the tension was smothering like a tight turtleneck collar. Shawn and Aiden gazed at each other, waiting for the first word – waiting for the ball to roll.
Aiden sniffled, then asked, “Do you remember high school, Shawn? Do you remember your... your experience?”
Shawn swallowed the lump of anxiety in his throat, like swallowing a can of tuna. A cold sweat soaked his body. His perpetual perspiration spurted from every gland like a leaking faucet. He deeply contemplated his response as he analyzed Aiden's unusually calm demeanor.
Shawn said, “Yeah, of course. High school was shit, man. It's shit for everyone, really. No one wants to go to class, a bunch of snobby cliques, fights... all that bullshit. I never cared about it. Frankly, I still don't care about it.” He smiled as he swiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. Trying to change the subject, he asked, “Anyway, what have you been up to? Huh? Do you have a job? You got a girl...”
Aiden interrupted, “I remember high school, Shawn. I remember everything. It was shit for some people, but it was paradise for others. It was shit for me, paradise for you, right?” Shawn sat in silence. Aiden continued, “Do you know the effects of bullying on a young man? Of course not, so let me tell you. Depression, anxiety, loneliness, pain, anger, hatred... The list goes on and on, Shawn. Maybe you blocked it from your mind, but I couldn't. It's a scar that won't heal. My experience was more than shit. It was hell on Earth. Shit turned to torment the moment I stepped into those halls as a freshman and met you...”
Shawn gritted his teeth and slammed his fists on the table. The glass cups glided on the smooth surface. The whiskey swirled and rippled, creating a man-made vortex of alcohol. Aiden leaned back in his seat and smirked. His simple words were maddening and he loved it. Shawn's irritated reactions were unparalleled.
Shawn said, “I get it. Believe me, I understand. It was... We were kids, okay? We didn't know any better. This is... That's what kids do! It's part of life, Aiden! Some people get dealt shitty hands, so others play them. That's life.”
Aiden slapped his open palm on the dining table. His left hand was firmly planted on the tabletop. His lip curled as he scowled at Shawn. His indignation was blatant, his warpath was inevitable. Aiden gazed at the top of his hand. A circular scar towards the center contrasted against the rest of his skin. Shawn's eyes widened upon spotting the mark.
Aiden said, “This is... This is a stigma of my experience. Maybe everyone doesn't know it, but you do. My former classmates do. It is a permanent reminder of my past. Only a partial reminder, really, because it was much worse, wasn't it? Bullying isn't only physical, I know that from experience. We know that from experience. So, I'm going to ask you again and I want you to answer truthfully, okay? Don't bullshit me because I already know the answer. Do you remember high school?”
Shawn rapidly nodded and sternly said, “Yes. Yes, I remember high school, Aiden. Do you know why I remember it? Because it's a memory. It's in the past. It's part of history. Those years are behind me. I've changed and, frankly, I can see you changed, too. Not for the better, either...”
Aiden stared at Shawn with an unwavering deadpan expression. He did not blink or tremble. Abruptly, he burst into a devious guffaw. He bowed as he rested his palms on his knees and hopelessly tried to recompose himself. Shawn watched with a furrowed brow. His uninvited guest was on a roller coaster of emotions.
As Aiden lifted his head, Shawn said, “I answered your question. I remember high school. Our past should stay in the past. That's that, okay? Maybe you should get going.”
Aiden licked his lips and chuckled. He said, “I'm not going anywhere. Like I said, this was simply to get the ball rolling. I don't only want you to remember. What good would that do for any of us? What would that teach you, Shawn?”
“Teach me? You want to teach me something? So, this is... this is blackmail, isn't it? What? You're going to tell my wife about us? About our past? Tell her about a little... a little playground bullying? I'm sure she'd think less of me, but that was in the past. Get that through your thick skull. What's done is done.”
Aiden rubbed the nape of his neck and said, “I'm not going anywhere...”
Shawn sighed and pulled his wallet from his fitted pants. As he opened the billfold, he said, “Okay, fine. Let's settle this once and for all. I've learned my lesson. I'll pay you what you want and we can sweep this under the rug. We can handle this like respectable men, okay?”
“But, you're not a respectable man,” Aiden joked as he leaned forward. He grinned from ear-to-ear and said, “Honestly, I'm insulted by your assumption. This isn't about money. This was never about money. You may use money to solve your petty problems, but it can't solve this. You can't buy yourself out of everything, that's lesson one. You certainly can't buy yourself from the past. Now, let me ask you something else, pal: aren't you a little curious? Don't you want to know how I really found you? Has that thought even crossed your foolish mind?”
Shawn ran his fingers through his moist hair as he leaned back in his seat. He was shocked by the cunning look in Aiden's eyes. Aiden had metamorphosed into a sinister being – a monster in a human's body. Shawn could only conjure a croak of a word as his mind wandered between the dastardly possibilities.
***
Shawn sighed, then said, “Honestly, I don't think I want to know how you found me. I'm not interested. I... I want you to go. I want you to leave my home before I call the police.”
Aiden bobbed his head back like a walking pigeon. He smiled and responded, “No, no, no. You don't want to call the cops, Shawn. That's the last thing you want to do. You see, I want you to start listening. I don't want to backtrack too much. That's boring and I don't want to be boring. I want to be... grandiose. But, remember, I said I had something to say, something to show, and something to accomplish. And, as they say in the gambling world, probably, it's time to show my hand.”
Aiden dug into the left pocket of his disheveled pants. He wiggled his arm and squinted his right eye as he searched the crowded pocket. The sound of clanging coins and keys echoed through the room. Aiden stopped his fidgety movements and widened his eyes. Slowly, he pulled out a sleek touchscreen cellphone from his pocket, then planted the device on the tabletop. Shawn glanced at the phone, then back at Aiden. Stony-faced, Shawn shrugged and pouted – what about it?
Aiden tapp
ed the phone's screen and explained, “A few months ago, I received an invitation to our high school reunion. For years, I had tried to bury my dreadful experience, but it all poured out when I received that single invitation. You immediately came to mind. So, I began planning this little event. With the power of the internet, I found you so easily, Shawn. I mean, I was astonished to find all of your information online. Can you imagine if we had this resource in schools back in the 90s and...”
Shawn snapped his fingers and said, “Get to the point.”
Aiden chuckled and nodded, then said, “Well, the point is: I've been watching you. I've been watching you for a very long time. I mean, I'm talking months of nearly 24-hour surveillance. I know where you work, I know where you eat your lunch, I know where you exercise, I know... I know so much. I know everything. Do you understand the implication? I've seen a lot.”
Shawn glanced down at his groin and fiddled with his fingers. The dreadful thoughts lingered in his mind, a poisonous cloud of pessimism and guilt clouded his brain. Despite his urges, he could not whisk away the truth. Shawn swallowed the lump in his throat, a gulp louder than the running water. He gazed into Aiden's eyes, pleading for mercy without uttering a single word.
Shawn said, “I... I understand what you're saying. I–I think... I think there was a misunderstanding. I have money. I have a lot of money, Aiden.”
“I know you do. I've seen it.”
Shawn nodded and said, “Yeah, yeah, sure. I mean, I can pay more than a few hundred. I'm talking... I'm talking thousands. We can fix up your scar. Hell, I can even set you up in a small apartment. I am sorry about our past and I truly want to repay you. I want to repent for everything I've done. Let me pay you.”
Aiden laughed, then said, “I'm guessing you already know what I have on this phone. Or, you can't remember what I might have on this phone, so you're grovelling. You've been a very naughty boy, Shawn. I think you know that.” Aiden leaned forward and tinkered with the phone. As he played with the device, Aiden said, “I recorded you from your backyard. Three weeks ago, even with a pregnant wife...”