Sid : the Devil's secretary

19. Unbound

19. Unbound

The Esco-bar was one of Hell's premier nightclubs, with a long line of adventurous young adults raring to get inside. The two story neon building loomed over like many in the entertainment capital of the realm, not far from the Nergal casino a couple of blocks away. Sid was the next in line to enter, his outfit mostly the same, just his shirt changed from white to a dyed light blue. Inside the nightclub was everything you would expect: loud music, raving mobs of partygoers, enough booze to sink a ship several times over, and demons of all sorts longing around on fluffy long bleachers around the main dancefloor.

"Sid?" a voice called out.

"Carlos, buddy" Sid turned to his right and saw his friend lounging with a mojito in his hand. The charming gent sported a plain white vest that showed off several tattoos and holed blue jeans held up by a leather belt.

"good to see you man. how's work?" Carlos spoke loud over the music before the two moved toward the quieter bar area.

"same old same old" Sid sat down next to Carlos on a bar stool.

"that's what it's like at the top, man" Carlos sipped his drink as the two got down to talking.

"so, you were in a gang?" Sid said sometime later.

"I was. Needed to pay the bills, and a desk job wasn't really working out, so I did some smuggling on the sly for a cartel in Guadalupe. I got to say, it did pay well" Carlos turned to Sid.

"is that how you got down here?" Sid pointed down.

"let's say I did some things I am not very proud of. Five years ago, I was down in El Salvador meeting some guys from our suppliers. There was a disagreement. When the bullets started flying, I bit back. Shot a couple of them, but in the end, I was stone cold on the ground. Anyway, what are you here for?" Carlos regaled his plight.

"true story, I shot my bosses in Alabama back in '52. I took the coward's way out when the cops came. All I wanted was a smooth job and some respect, obviously that was too much for everybody" Sid told his side of the story.

"shit man. brutal. You know, I never wanted to stay in the gang forever, but they told me once you got in, you'd be in it for life. I didn't listen. I just saved up my cash for the day I could get out, head over the border, and have a fresh start. I swear I almost had enough, then they got me" Carlos continued.

"I guess we all want a lot of things, but sometimes, life doesn't go the way we plan" Sid reasoned.

"you're right, man. care to dance?" Carlos stood up and held out his hand to accept a dance.

"sure" Sid got up and walked with Carlos over to the dancefloor. Demons of all shapes and sizes were moving to the rhythm, which made the height difference between Carlos and Sid barely noticeable, only a couple of feet between them.