Novels2Search
Runeville
Chapter 1: Good night for a drink

Chapter 1: Good night for a drink

Cold.

An unnerving pain that seeps into the skin, eating muscle and bone. That dead air shoulda stayed down in the riverbank, wearing hard leather in this frozen wasteland makes me so pissed.

And the best part? Water.

I've been to the deserts, it rains once every few years. Just my luck that this place is all about rain. Maybe I should be thankful that it's not snow or hail.

With so much trash littered in the streets and these vermin, whom I have no pride in saying are of the same race as me, diseased and wasted, each a fraction of their once human conditions, ugh, maybe they are fit for living in this shithole after all.

They stink, and it's gonna get worse.

Tomorrow at dawn their corpses will clutter the alleys, hope the rain washes them to the lower burgs. I don' wanna get home pinching my nose like a boy who never seen a dead body.

I make my way through the dirty water, soon it will reach to my boots, gotta get to the Sleeping Beauty before then, really need some good ale to stomach this night. Nah, that ale ain't worth horse piss, but whatever, can't expect much from cheap stuff.

I don't usually drink, don't trust the taverns here, gotta put some greens on my milk to make sure I'm still alive after chugging.

- Ah! I'm sorry!

- Get the fuck off me, bitch!

I kick the whore in the guts and send her rolling. Damn woman got my coat dirty. This woman... Tsk, afraid of a little bolt of lightning. Guess she said something before falling, but I don't give a damn, rain is too thick, can't hear much from below. Chicks from this side of town ain't got much to say anyway.

I can see a red light. One of the only things good in this place are those red lanterns, they don't go off even when splashed with water, though sometimes I wish they could burn things, would make my life easier.

The sign of the Sleeping Beauty is still cracked, that gets on my nerves whenever I drop by. Paid that bitch some money to fix it, guess she's spending it on that stupid daughter, heh. Sometimes I think the girl on the sign might be her from ten or so years before. She insists that it looks more like her daughter, but I don't dig teenagers.

Mature ladies are the best, they know how to swing and there's no bullshit involved. Don't have patience for little girls with giant dreams.

Whores are good too, but I have to clean them before doing anything, don't wanna catch something nasty. Too much trouble. Worth it? Sometimes.

There's some noise coming from inside. Door is locked shut, but it's old rifted wood, laughter and chatter just fly from the crevices. I don't dislike hearing people drink happily, it makes for good air.

I reach the door and knock on it a few times, don't wanna break the damn thing.

The small shuttle on the top slides to the side, welcoming a pair of hazel eyes and some freckles.

- Hello, daughter, nice weather for a walk, eh?

- Shh! Get in from the back door, people are scared of you... I am scared too...

Way to kill my mood... Never touched a hair of those suckers and they're afraid? Pft, I spit on the ground.

- Fine, bunch o' pussies.

It's pouring even harder now, I'll catch a cold if it goes on like this.

I circle the tavern to the other side. It's not really the tavern anymore, just the kitchen of that lady's house, but having something to drink I'm not complaining.

The noises two rooms from here I can barely hear, that's not what I like when I'm drinking. It's way too calm, way too silent, and it's getting on my nerves. All I hear is the prickling of rain which reminds me of how much I hate wearing wet clothes.

I take off my coat and leave it in the hanger.

- You're soaked! I'll get you a towel and something warm to drink.

I smile. That voice of hers... I don't know, just feels good to hear. I guess that's what happens when you become a mother and a widow, because I've never met that combination before. Strange, since it's so common in this world.

- Nah, just fetch me some ale. There's nothing here that could satisfy my palate, 'cept for you of course.

- Hmph. If I didn't know you, Runeville, I would have slapped you.

- Hehehehehe... You're a strong woman, I like that. But really, stay with me for a bit, I've already taught your daughter to take care of my drinks when we're alone.

- I can't, today is crowded.

- They're all drunk, just let Melissa shove some more down their throats.

I know what you're thinking, but please, just please don't say it...

- One person isn't enough, and you know how the guys are. They won't leave her alone.

Haah... Damn it!

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I move my hand and throw a dagger at the door.

- Bitch, you scared of me, too? Well I'm giving you a reason to be scared now. Sit. On. That. Chair. Now.

She listens to me and obediently sits. Fuck, that's not like you, goddamnit, can't you act normal around me? We've known each other for five years.

- I'm gonna give you some money to repair the front door, it's getting on my nerves how racked up it is. Hell, I could'a probably break that thing with two pushes.

- ...

- Oh and don't go spendin' it like last time. That girl ain't worth the investment.

- ...

Silence, silence, silence... I feel the urge to stab a knife in the table and maybe, just maybe, for the sake of the moment, that cold rain outside would collaborate with some thunder.

Instead, I bang on it with my palms.

- Speak to me dammit!

The table is creaking. Why is everything so damn fragile here? Are you that short on cash? You could've asked my help, dammit.

- ... And what do you want to talk about?

- Anything! I just wanna hear some noise...

Only now I noticed how desperate I sound. Tsk, so pitiful, and Sheyla must think so too, she's giving me that look of someone who can't blame another for his actions.

Blame me. Hate me. Curse me. What are you afraid of?

- That's not what you want. Alex... We're both been going at it for a long time, don't you think it's enough?

- Ahh?

- What happened today... You almost killed him. That's the second time this month that you almost crossed the line, the authorities will go for you, I have no doubts.

- What's your point?

Sheyla stands up, I told her to sit down before, but now she doesn't care. I'm angry, I don't know if she's afraid still or thought I looked weak and took advantage.

- What I'm telling you, is that you are tired... You are so aggressive, so irritable, so petty. I thought it was just you being a dick as always, but it's not about this anymore, is it? You want people to hate you, you blame yourself for something you have done and you're asking to be caught... Stop! Just stop it! Have some rest! Give yourself some rest... Give us a rest...

I hear the doorknob turning but it's not Sheyla, it's her daughter bringing my drink. For a moment I can hear the guys in the other room cheering, at least someone is having a good night.

- Is everything okay?

She asks her mom anxiously.

- I don't know. Is it, Runeville?

I try to retort with a low-end joke, or a sarcastic comment instead.

That me that is bitter and salty, I can't be that person right now. I don't feel like It.

- Yeah. Put it on the table Mel, I'm going home early tonight.

- Okay...

She puts the drink awkwardly in front of me and parts with Sheyla.

I don't give a shit anymore, I pick the iron mug and put a few herbs on it, don't even know if I wanted them today, maybe I'm better off dead after all.

I stare at the dark liquid in the mug, wanting to think of something but not thinking on it at the same time. I just hope it's enough alcohol to get me off.

It's okay, it's always like this. Tomorrow I'll wake up feeling like trash, go down the slope, work, pick some fights, maybe drink.

Today will pass.

I down it in one gulp and sit my head on the cold wood. It's not much better than outside, but at least I'm not getting wet.

The back door opens with a loud bang.

I turn my head to see who was the crazy fuck who did it, and I just can't put my mind to it.

Impossible... There's no way it can be true. I flash my fingers in front of my eyes to see if I'm still sane, how many I have on my left? I think I didn't lose any, so if I'm seeing five it's alright.

I turn my head again. Maybe I lost some after all.

- Runeville?

Oh, that voice. I could never forget it.

- Get out of my head, Ethan, I'm in the middle of drinking.

- I see  nothing in that mug.

- First we drink, then we keep looking at a point somewhere nearby, but we ain't looking at anything, and afterward, you wake up with memory loss. I'm in the middle of the process, so pardon me but fuck off.

- Your voice is softer... Oh what am I saying, you're in your twenties, that can't be.

I hear his slippery steps making their way towards me.

- Close the door, you dimwit, it's cold as fuck! And don't sit with me, pick another table.

- If it makes you feel better...

- Tsk, makes me feel better...

The sound of rain diminishes.

- I was looking for you...

- Well I wasn't.

- ... It opened again.

- ... What?

- Just what I said, it opened. Again.

- No... No no no no no... It can't be... I've... I've finished the last floor... That's impossible...

Ethan is quiet, maybe he gave this issue as much thought as I am giving right now, but you're the one who told me this, man, you must know about something. Open your goddamn mouth and speak! Why am I not saying anything either?!

- I also thought it was impossible... But it's true. There's a new gate.

- What, it's just a new gate then!

- No, you have to listen to me. I passed by it on my way here, the entrance looks exactly the same.

- It's just the entrance!

- Alex, it's true, you have to trust me.

- Even if it's the one, so what? What do you expect me to do? To go back there again? Are you out of your mind?

I hope this is a nightmare.

This is a nightmare.

It has to be.

Disappear Ethan, say something strange, make me doubt it's you. Tell me this is not happening.

- ... I don't know what happened down there, Al, and seeing you like this, I'm glad I don't... But there is no one else I can go to. A month from now, many people will go there to explore, you think any of them is prepared? My book can help them, but I just wrote what I've heard from you... Only you know what it really is like...

- ...Is someone you know going down?

- I don't know what you're talking abo-

- You're avoiding the question, Ethan...

- ... My son and daughter. They dreamt of being adventurers since they were little, haha, and they graduated from the academy just recently. But they've been assigned to that gate...

Heh, so that's what's going on.

I close my eyes, I close them and think of how bad that ale tasted like, and I find it funny.

The worst drink of my life.

- Leave me alone...

- Al...

- Get out...

I hear his steps again, he opens the door but the rain doesn't disturb me as much anymore. It has been some time since I've felt so clear headed, and I blame it on Ethan.

There are drops of water hitting the floor, he must be soaked too, and his constitution isn't very good. What was the distance from here to his home? I can't remember, maybe he moved to another place... You were desperate, weren't you, Ethan? You still are...

- I may have my reasons, Al, but all I ask of you is... To consider it.

- Get. Out.

- ... Alright. Bye, Al.

The door shuts.

Silence.

You have a way with your words, Ethan. That's why we told you to record our journey. It was a way to get you to quit. You had a wife and kids, thinking about it you were the oldest by a large margin, I and the others were all young shitty bastards looking for riches and fame. And now your wife is dead and your kids go around risking their lives, just like we did back then.

Hehe, life sucks, eh?

The door opens.

- You should go now, Alex.

- Listening on other people's talk? Not like you.

- I'm not going to sit here and watch as you destroy yourself.

I stay silent for a while, thinking on what she said.

I stare at the bottom of the mug, it's empty. Just like me.

- Sheyla, darling, care to get that dry towel for me?

She sighs.

- So you're staying.

I lift my head and give myself a good, hard slap.

- No, I'm going. When I return, I want that door and sign both fixed.

- Haha, okay, Alex, okay, I'll do it.

She fidgets, afraid, and I'm thankful that it's not of me, though I don't know the reason why.

- When... Are you coming back?

I pick my coat, I guess it doesn't matter how soaked it is, and throw some golden coins at the table.

- I'd like to know that too.

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