SHEOL

20

We arrived in San Francisco at around 8:30. It was much bigger and dirtier than I had remembered.

"It's been years since I've been here." The Healer reminisced. Bright lights shined from large buildings as we cruised down Highway 580. He cracked the window just a bit and breathed in the city air. "Smells like nostalgia."

"It smells like pollution of you ask me." The Window Killer replied as he held his nose.

The Healer glared at him and rolled up the window.

"Is Kingston already going to be at the station?" I asked The Healer.

"He should be. We can grab some dinner before you guys head off."

"You're not going with us?" I questioned.

"Train tickets are expensive, and money doesn't grow on trees. But don't worry; when the time is right, I'll meet you in Sheol."

A great sadness overwhelmed me. I turned to The Window Killer. "What about you? Are you going with us?"

The Window Killer grunted. "I suppose. I'd rather be stuck on a train with you than in a hot automobile with The Healer." He tugged on his shirt collar.

"I love you too." The Healer responded sarcastically.

"But, what will you do when the candles run out?" I asked The Window Killer.

"I'll send some ingredients." The Healer said. "Weekly."

I looked at him. "Won't that be hard?"

He shook his head. "Not exactly. I have an abundance of excess leech fat. And wicks aren't that hard to come by. Once I run out of supplies, I can just go hunting."

"Hunting?" I inquired.

"For leeches. There are a lot of demons in this world. If you use the right bait, catching them can be a breeze." He replied.

The Healer turned from Powell Street to Peladeau and then onto 59th. "See the station?" He asked.

I nodded my head.

We parked in the parking lot and got out.

"Killer, just leave your candle in here. I'm sure it won't go out. Where are your others?"

The Window Killer pulled a briefcase out from under his feet and opened it. Inside sat four neatly aligned grey candles.

The Healer nodded his head. "Good, keep those with you."

I grabbed my worn backpack and exited the vehicle, but The Healer quickly took it from me.

"Allow me to carry that for you." He said as he sat the shortened candle on the floor of the car, making sure that it was hidden, but near nothing flammable. "Let's go."

We entered the station and looked around. It wasn't very big; there were two rows of chairs in the center of the building. Most of the chairs were empty because of the time of night, but a few were filled. In one sat a middle aged man, wearing a dark coat with a large hat that covered his eyes. He had a small suitcase propped up on the chair next to him.

"He's too old to be Kingston." I thought.

"Healer, where is he?" The Window Killer questioned.

The Healer looked around. "I'm not sure."

Just as those words left his mouth, his eyes grew wide. He took a step toward the place where tickets were being sold. Standing in front of the window was a man with his back turned. He seemed to be having a conversation with the teller.