Lost IV
"One more mile to go, kid," Jim Johnson told Sharc, shaking his hand. "You're gonna make me some money. And take care of that little problem, won't you."
He nodded. Johnson nodded in return. The deed would be done.
"Can I help you!" Kayden Paulton asked.
"What? No. I'm fine."
"Can I come with you?"
"Uh, sure. Do you miss PIW?"
"Not as much as you do. Ah, my poor Hertzy. Your pain is your gold."
Rich nodded. "Gold is pain. Will I ever have peace?"
"In time, we all have peace."
"I used to be very evil. What happened to me?"
"Love."
"Oh. I see. I do love Amy. I always have. I always will."
"I have bad news for you. But I gotta go. Have a safe trip."
"OK. Thanks."
And there it stood. Sharc opened the door and looked around. The room hadn't changed a bit. The same old leather chairs on wheels. The old Mac computers piled up on the floor. The newer computers. The black table that you couldn't stop from rocking if you tried.
"Hey, lover."
"Georgia."
"Miss me?"
"No, not really."
"I bet you'd love to fuck me on that table, wouldn't you?"
"Well, yeah. What's your point?"
She slowly walked forward, unbuttoning her white silk blouse. And then punched him in the face.
"You live for this."
He hit her back.
She punched him again. "Why are you fighting it." And again. And again. "The pain isn't going to go away. Let it fuel you."
"There won't be anything left once it burns out."
"Trust me, it will never burn out. It's your time now. You left this world to fulfill a dream. So why are you back here? Why are you back here with me? I never felt anything for you. We never fucked. We never connected. You were just a toy I played with. Now, you're a smaller toy in a bigger world. Are you ready to play?"
"Oh yeah. Thanks a lot. You ready to go?"
"I am," she said, turning around.
Rich wound up and took down Georgia with a sick right-handed punch. Her eyes were closed and the right side of her face was blackened. Rich didn't care if she was already done. He picked her up and powerbombed her on the table. It didn't break. It wouldn't break.
Rich picked up one of the classic Macintosh computers and lifted it far over his head. Only the sound of computer meeting skull was heard. Rich picked up the computer, and her face was gone.
"That was impressive."
Sharc paused. "I really have no fucking respect for you or anything you've done, Keith."
"Do you honestly think you mean anything in this world?"
"I do."
"Whatever. You think you're going to prove something? That you can put people through tables? That you can hit people with chairs? Who can't do that?"
"You're such a big fan of Action, well, Action needs a black eye. Nobody controls me. Not even me."
"Good luck in the real world. You're gonna need it."
"Fuck off. Time to make an impression."
There was a door. That door was opened. And outside that door was Amy. The rush of minor pain in his body was there.
What a trip?
"Shit, did I pass out," Rich hacked out.
"Just a little. You OK?"
"I think so." Rich pushed himself up and discovered he was on the couch. He saw a bunch of paper towels on the mess he had made before..."How long was I out?"
"Not long. Here, let me get you a new one," Amy said, taking a wash cloth of his forehead to retrieve some colder water.
Quietly, Rich began talking to himself. "That was only a few minutes? What a dream." The image of the destroyed pretty face remained in his mind's eye. How very fitting, he thought. Ah, the things to come.
Amy returned and put the cloth on his head. "I was worried I'd have to call 911. Yet, you continue to amaze me with the abuse you can put yourself through."
"Yeah. Amazing. So, have I told you that I love you?"
She blinked, quite surprised by that. "I haven't heard you say that in, well, years. Since before we broke up way back."
"I know. There's a bunch of shit inside me that...I've always felt like I'd never fall in love. And here you are. Again. The only girl who has proved me wrong."
"I *would* kiss you, but, the whole vomit smell, not a huge turn-on." She laughed, getting just a smile out of Rich. "I love you too, Rich. More than I can even explain. You need anything else?"
"Nope. I got everything I need, now. Mr. Young is expecting a call."
NEXT CHAPTER: Chess >>
©2003 John Leary |
