Akumi: Redemption

Spirits and Secrets part 3 Final

James sat in the driver's seat, utterly dumbfounded by the strange machine he now found himself in. Never in his 22 years of existence had he experienced anything like this. The soft leather seats were unlike anything he'd ever felt, and the cool breeze from the air vents swept across his face in stark contrast to the dry winds he was used to. Every button, every switch, every screen with strange glowing symbols left him speechless.

He ran his hands over the dashboard, marveling at how smooth it was. "Ain't no way this is real," he muttered to himself, still half-expecting the truck to vanish and drop him back into the dusty roads of New Austin.

"Is everything alright, sir?" Lydia's voice broke through his thoughts, her tone calm and professional as always.

James just shook his head, still in disbelief. "Lydia, this thing's got more gadgets than a whole army unit. I ain't ever seen nothin' like this before."

"This is modern technology, Mr. Carmichael," Lydia responded, her tone patient. "You'll grow accustomed to it soon enough."

James leaned back into the plush seat, his mind still racing. "Sure as hell beats ridin' horseback," he muttered with a half-smile.

After a smooth drive through the city, James and Lydia finally arrived at Demonkiss's shop. Lydia parked the SUV in front of the store and opened the door for him.

"We have arrived at the destination, Mr. Carmichael," she said, disengaging from the vehicle's internal programming.

"Much obliged, Lydia," James replied as he stepped out of the high-tech vehicle, still getting used to its many comforts.

James entered the shop, and like last time, Demonkiss wasn't at the front counter. And, just like before, her sultry voice called out to him from the back.

"I'm back here, gunslinger," she purred, her usual flirty nature on full display. "Did you get what we agreed on?"

"Yeah, I got your talkin' hooch right here. Got no idea why it kept sayin' 'drink me,' though," James muttered as he approached.

"Really? Interesting... Well, come on back here, and we'll discuss your payment," Demonkiss replied, her tone laced with something darker beneath the flirtation.

Despite a sense of unease settling in his gut, James pushed it aside. The promise of payment was more pressing. He stepped into the back office, which was pitch dark, not even the faint glow of Demonkiss's eyes visible. His instincts told him to stop, but he pressed on, and the moment he crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut behind him, locking with a heavy thud.

"What in the hell is goin' on here?" James growled, his voice sharp.

"Calm down, James," Demonkiss's voice drifted through the dark. "I'm not gonna bite... today."

Suddenly, a spotlight flickered on, illuminating Demonkiss sitting at a circular table. She was leaning forward, elbows resting on the table, fingers intertwined. Her glowing eyes met his, the usual come-hither look in place, but there was a tension behind them. Something was off.

Though her seductive tone remained, James could sense something weighing heavily on her mind.

"Come, James, take a seat," Demonkiss said as she pushed the chair forward with a subtle movement of her leg.

James sat down, but the uneasy feeling that had been creeping in since he'd entered only grew stronger. Something felt off, and his instinct told him to finish the business quickly.

"Um... I got that liquor you wanted. I'll just take my pay and be on my way, if you don't mind," he said, pulling the glowing bottle from his satchel and presenting it to her.