Rebel - Part Two

Chapter Two:
Conversation

The warm sun seeped through the blinds of Richard’s hotel room, the light sweeping across his eyelashes. With a groan, he partially opened his eyes, letting them sweep across the room. His room wasn’t much; just four walls, a window, a door, and a bed. No closet. There was a small bathroom to his left. He slowly rose to his feet, stretching and yawning as he did so.

With a frown, he glanced at the clock hanging above the door. Just after ten in the morning. He could have slept a little longer. With a shrug, he headed toward the bathroom, where he quickly relieved himself and washed his hands before he left the room again. He glanced around his small room, then shrugged and exited it, walking down the hallway and climbing down the stairs. He left his key with the day clerk, and left the hotel altogether.

For a moment, he just stood there in the warm sun, letting the breeze filter around him. A stab of loneliness pierced his heart, but he quickly shook that off. He was alone, but that didn’t matter. It was better than being with his abusive father again.

Anything was better than that, really.

With a sigh, he straightened his shoulders and walked onward, checking out other restaurants and buildings, though small they were. He needed to look for a job, but he wasn’t sure if this was the place he wanted to stay.

Frowning, he thought about what had happened the night before. Had that all been a dream? Had it really even happened? A shiver ran up his spine as he thought about the look Shade had been giving him, and then about the secrets he knew they must be hiding. But then again, it wasn’t really any of his business to figure out what they were hiding. The golden sunlight sparkled off of windows, blinding him for a moment.

Blinking to clear his vision as he turned away, he found spots to be marking his sight.

Growling beneath his breath, he shook his head and continued onward. People walked by him, but hardly gave him any mind. He was just a kid, alone and unwanted, as far as they were concerned. He gave them a glare when they caught his eye, and sped up in his walk. Rounding a corner, he found the small café he had been in the night before.

He hesitated, wondering if he should go in. He wasn’t sure how much money he had left, but figured that if he didn’t have enough, he could always work it off. With that thought in mind, he entered and sat down at the same booth.

A waitress hurried to his table. She was a petite brunette with hazel eyes and a warm smile, though he knew the only thing on her mind was when she was to be getting off of her shift today. He calmly told her what he wanted: the fish from last night, and a small glass of water. She nodded, wrote it down, and turned on her heel. As she walked away, he glanced back out the window.

His thoughts wandered for a while, and when he found his bearings, his food was in front of him, and there was another person in the seat across from him. His heart jumped to his throat, and he choked down the shout of surprise that threatened to bellow out.

“…Who…What…?” he stammered, his voice unsteady.

The person, a man, smiled kindly at him, his gray eyes sparkling. “I mean you no harm,” he said calmly. “I only wish to talk with you, if you don’t mind.”

Richard narrowed his eyes. “About what?”

“We’ll get to that. How’s the food?” he gestured at the untouched fish.

Richard glanced at it and then back at the man. “Excellent,” he said dryly.

“Mmm,” he murmured, nodding. “Try the steak, kid.”

“What is with everyone calling me kid? I’m fifteen; I’m not a kid,” he grumbled, annoyed.

The man smiled a toothy grin. “Well, you’re younger than I am, therefore, you are a kid. And fifteen isn’t out of the kid category.”

Richard glared.

“Now, now, lad,” said the man, putting his hands up to show that he was harmless. “I mean you no harm. I just came here to talk.”

“So talk,” he growled.

“Very well. You are new to this town, correct?”

“What’s it to ya?” he asked, keeping his guard up.

“It’s just a simple question.”

“Yes.”

“Okay. And you are alone?”

“I’m afraid I can’t answer that,” said Richard, his voice becoming irate.

The man shrugged. “Very well, then. You can choose to answer the questions, I won’t force you. Tell me, did you go into the trees last night?”

“Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t.”

“Mmm. And did you see anyone?”

“Like?”

“A boy. Looks about seventeen, black hair, auburn eyes?”

Richard narrowed his eyes once more. What did they want with Aaron? “I can’t say.”

“So you have. Tell me, was he with anyone else?”

“I don’t feel comfortable talking about this with you,” he said truthfully. He rose to his feet, but the man quickly gripped his wrist and pulled him back. “Leggo.” He pulled, but couldn’t break free.

“Come now, lad, you haven’t touched your food. Eat, at least.”

Richard kept his gaze on the man, but finally took his seat once more. He was angry and let it show.

“I just wanted to talk, is all. I mean you no harm.”

“So you say, anyway,” Richard grumbled, averting his gaze.

The man smiled kindly. “You can trust me on my word.”

“So if I want to leave right now, I can?”

“Well, kid, I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“And why not, exactly?” he asked hotly.

“Because that wouldn’t be in your best interest.” As he said this, Richard felt something poke into his knee cap. Glancing down, he found a .22 caliber gun poking his leg. Gulping, he glared at the man. “Now, talk.”

“Mean me no harm, hmm? Well, this is a funny way of showing it.”

“I know.”

“…I don’t feel comfortable talking here.”

“Then where?”

“…I don’t know…” he mumbled.

“To your feet, then. I’ll pay for the fish for you, but then you’re coming with me, got it?” the man asked, rising to his feet and gripping Richard’s arm tightly, hauling him to his feet as well. Richard sighed, but didn’t resist, as he knew it would be futile.

The man dragged him to the counter and paid for him, and then shoved him out the door, the gun at his back. Richard stuffed his hands into his pockets, uncomfortable. The man shoved him along, around a corner, and into the shadows of a darkened, shadowy alley.

“Keep going,” the man instructed as Richard stopped, trying to avoid entering the alley. He was shoved forward again, and gave a growl beneath his breath.

“What are you doing?” he asked, his voice a whisper.

The man stopped shoving him and backed away a step. “I need you to talk.”

“I thought you said I didn’t need to.”

“Well, that was then, this is now. Talk.”

Richard growled and glared at the man as he turned to face him. “I don’t talk to people like you.”

“But you talk to people like Aaron, right?”

Richard froze.

“Yes, I know who he is, kid.”

“…How…?”

The man shook his head. “You’re not in the position to be questioning me, lad. Now, talk.”

“…About?”

“Aaron.”

“What about him? I don’t know much.”

“You saw him last night, correct?”

“…Yes…”

“And he wasn’t alone?”

“…No…”

“How many were with him?”

“Three…others…” he mumbled, looking away.

“Three? Hmm, I would have thought there would have been more. What were their names?”

Richard glared at him. “How should I know?”

“They told you; you knew Aaron by name. I know they told you. So, talk.” He gestured with the gun. “Unless you would like me to use this.”

Richard growled. “I don’t know.”

“You do.”

“…I don’t…”

“Don’t lie to me, boy,” said the man, his voice turning into acid. He aimed the gun at him. “Talk.”

Richard frowned. “…But…”

“But what?”

“Why do you wanna know?”

“Tell me.”

“…Aaron…Samson…” he closed his eyes. “Daniel…Shade…”

“Shade? He still around? Hmm. Okay. What? Did they tell you not to tell anyone, or something?”

“No…”

“So why the reluctance?”

Richard shrugged. He really didn’t know. “Just didn’t want to say, I guess…” he mumbled quietly.

“Hmm. Well, it’s a good thing you did. Tell me, did they say anything about talking with you tonight?”

“…Not really.”

“So they did.”

“No-”

“Don’t lie,” he said. “When? Who?”

“…Tonight…Aaron…”

“Very good. You don’t tell him anything about me, you understand? I’ll be around. Don’t say anything to him about me.”

“But-”

“No buts, kid.” And with that, the man turned on his heel and left the alley, leaving him alone.

Richard shivered in the cold, a cold that had nothing to do with the breeze filtering around him. The cold was within him. Frowning, he turned and left the alley, wanting to get out of there as fast as he could. He quickly migrated through the streets back to the hotel, wanting to get back into the safety and comfort of his own room.

He hurriedly picked his key up and went to his room, slamming the door shut behind him and locking the door. With a sigh, he turned and walked toward his bed, where he plopped down and let out a breath. Glancing at the clock, he found that it was still awhile before nightfall. His stomach twisted as he thought about what had just happened.

Questions raced through his mind: who was that man? What was going on? What did they want with Aaron? And why did he care? Sighing, he closed his eyes, trying to block out reality.