PARADISE: WRATH OF CHILDREN [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

A MEN’S WORLD

His big boots dug on the snow as misty breaths left his lips, walking down the quiet mini-Town. His eyes suddenly caught sight of men entering a pub with flickering lights on the bold world above the wooden building written: DEVIL’S PUB

He walked toward it as music welcomed him inside the crowded pub. Uncomfortable gazes caught his attention. He moved toward the bar avoiding them, taking a seat on the bar stool. 

A tanned muscular man appeared from the other side, flapping a fan on himself. “Hello handsome can I get you something to drink?” he asked.

“The cheapest one please,”

A laughter left the man lips. “Really? The cheapest one?” pulling a beer from the liquor shelf.

“Yes,” a little embarrassed.

The three men seated at the bar, glanced at him before carrying on in drinking their liquors.

“There, seven coins for the Graveyard man beer,”

William took the cold beer from the man’s hand, hitting its lid against the edge of the counter causing it to pop open. “I’m Danny and you?”

“I…Mathew, I’m Mathew Ice,” he lied.

“Whoa, fancy,” moving his face closer to William.  “You not from around here, are you?”

“I…”

“It’s been long since we got visitor in this little Azmira mini town,” the man said, flapping his fan, his eyes on William who noticed he had makeup on. “So where are you from? Wait you from Cavon?” moving away from his face.

 “Y…Yes, I’m from Cavon,”

His eyes suddenly caught sight of the thousand posters of children written missing on the behind the tanned man. “Lucky you, I love …”

“What’s that?” pointing at the posters on the wall.

Danny glanced at the posters. “Missing children, well here in Trankin children have gone missing along with women,”

“Are you telling me only men are left?”

“Uhm,” nodding, “Men only sweetie or wait… you didn’t know this? I thought in Cavon that’s where it began,”

“Of course, I knew I just wanted to make our conversation a little longer,”

Danny laughed. “Flirted but not falling Mr. Ice,”

A guilty laughter escaped William’s lips while taking a sip on his beer. “Where could I get cheap moose around here?”

“Moose?” Danny asked with a frown.

“Yes, moose, the animals people use to pull sleigh with,”

“Ohh, those creatures,” handing some beer to another man with messy blonde hair. “Mr. Steward has those.”

“Where does he live,”

“Just opposite but I have to warn you he doesn’t give them that easily,”

“Baby Danny! I need a refill!” one man with dark unkept hair yelled from a crowd of men in a table in the middle.

“No need to be demanding, I’m coming,” taking the tray with beers, from a young man’s hand who had a bruised left eye.

When he realized that William was staring, he shifted away, guilt in his eyes. He looked young, probably two decades. William’s grip on the beer tightened, reviving the memory of when he found Barbara.

Physical harmed and sexually assaulted. With women out of the picture it was clear that men were now targeting younger men for pleasure.