Wrestling the Kraken

Dante

Dante

Dante ran a hand through and tossed everything off the counter in his room. Bottles and vases went smashing against the far wall. It wasn't enough. The anger raging through his veins demanded more. More action. More chaos.

Chest heaving, he placed his hands on his hips, trying to think, but thoughts were not allowed.

Action- the anger demanded.

He picked up a chair and hurled it across the room, cracking the window.

That felt right- the anger said.

He continued; tossing lamps, lifting chairs, knocking over the sofa, the table. Anything that wasn't bolted down.

Then when nothing more remained, his anger released it's grip. He gasped for air, running his fingers through his hair, taking in the scene, feeling as though he was possessed by a demon bull; it grabbed him, enraged him, and tossed him off.

Falling to the ground, he leaned against the wall, placing his elbows on his knees, his eyes wide, breath slowly steadying in the aftermath. He leaned his head forward into his hands. "I'll never be free." He whispered to himself.

There was a knock on the door. Thinking it must be the staff or some roused neighbor, he ignored it. The knock came again, this time accompanied by a faint, sweet voice.

"Dante, it's me. Barbara."

Her voice was soothing to the whiplash he felt, but he didn't want to get up. Her timing could be better. The knock came again.

"I have the document you wanted."

Crap. Now I have to get up. Forcing himself up, he zig-zagged around the debris and made his way to the door.

Barbara went for another knock, when Dante appeared, agitated. Startled, she gave a breathless laugh and lowered her arm. "I brought the document you asked for." She said, handing him an envelope.

The light in the hallway was a stark contrast to the dark by the closed curtains. He brought his hand up, but it wasn't enough. The light was too painful on his eyes and he stepped aside to let Barbara in, so he could hurry and close the door.

As she stepped in, she could see behind him that the room was in disarray. I may have interrupted something, she thought. Then she tried to suppress a sly smile as she thought who the lucky lady was this time.

"Thank you for bringing this over." Dante said, opening the envelope. He glanced over the document, then placed it back inside.

"I've made sure no one knew of it, just as you asked." She turned to go.

"How did your date go? I never did ask." Dante said, softening up his face and relaxing his muscles. He leaned against the doorway, tilting his head toward her.

"Oh, it went fine." She gave a big smile to sell the lie. He had too much on his plate already and if she told him the truth about how the date with Johnny Stavo really went, then she knew Dante would want to do something about it. He was just that kind of a guy and right now, he didn't need to be getting in any tiff with a cop.

"That's good. Let me know if I need to straighten him out." Dante said, giving her a smile. He was beginning to feel his mood change. The rage from earlier not only assaulted the room, but himself as well. Barbara had often been a calming force and now she extended that warmth again, right when he needed it.

"I will." She said, and made her way over to the elevator. She waved at him as she stepped in, seeing him close the door, as he went back in. Down, the elevator took her, her smile fading away. She was out of a job, out of the family she had come to know, single, and alone in a new town.