Harbinger of Doom

I stared out the window as I contemplated the remaining hours of my existence. I felt the car come to a halt. I looked out the rain-splattered window of her warm Cadillac. I looked up and saw the flickering blue neon sign. We were outside the Blue Flame Club. I tried to steady my nerves. Charli broke my pessimistic thoughts when she spoke again. She was looking in the rear view mirror. When I looked up, she smiled and repeated herself.

“ Here we are, Sweetie!”

“ Yes, thanks… I… how much do I owe you?” I replied.

“ Hey, you don’t look too well, Alex. Are you sure, you’re going to be all right here? This isn’t the Hyatt you know.” She added compassionately.

“ I have absolutely no idea what I’m in for here. I have no idea what I’m supposed to be doing.” I said dejectedly.

“ If you’ll accept some advice from a stranger, keep your eyes and ears open, and your mouth closed. Most of all, you must relax, at least on the outside. Don’t show them any fear. If you do, they’ll have you for lunch and I don’t mean literally. That is unless you run into the ‘Fleshers’. They’re an unholy gang, who violently torture and kill anyone who enters their turf without permission. Rumors have it that they eat the dead, but I don’t know if that’s true or just a ploy to keep people to scared of them to cross their turf. You’ll want to avoid their area either way, especially after dark.”

“ That sounds like good advice.” I replied.

“ You hang in there. I bet you’ll be just fine.” She paused and smiled at me. “ I hope everything workouts just as you want it to. Then you can get back to that lucky lady of yours. Take care in there and on these mean streets. The people you’ll meet around here aren’t known for their forgiving natures.”

“ Thanks a lot for your kindness and your advice. I’ll take heed of it.” I said.

I got out of the car and picked up my suitcase and that stupid wooden box. It was heavy for a small box. I placed it under my left arm and wondered what was in it. She put down her window and leaned out towards me a little. She held out her hand as if to shake hands, so I sat my suitcase down and shook hands with her. She squeezed my hand firmly, as if she was trying to reassure me. She handed me a business card with her name and vid-phone number on it.

“ Good luck Alex. Use this if you need anything. Anything at all, remember. It’s my home number. You can reach me through that number any time, day or night. If I’m not home, my computer will reroute your call to my mobile. Seriously, I mean it, Honey. Use it whenever you need to. I don’t ant to loose any friends, even new ones.”

“ Thanks, but aren’t’ you breaking your rule, Charli?” I said.

“ I’ll risk it on you, Babe. I think you’re worth it.”

“ Thanks again, Charli.”

She smiled as I put her card into my shirt pocket. She waved at me from the corner and I waved back.

As I stood out front of the Blue Flame in a downpour and watched her tail lights faded away into the gloomy dark and rainy night, my hope vanished. Then I picked up my suitcase and stood in the rain wondering what I should do next. Well I am here, for better or worse. What was I thinking? This was never going to get better.