Darkening Days

Chapter 11: The Monster

I walked along silently with my arms folded as Lance and the others paraded through the empty street of my community. The sun has now set, and despite the light of the streetlamps, I'm having difficulty seeing where I am stepping.

Derrick, surprisingly, does not join them in their parade- instead, he stays by my side. He seems cautious, and he doesn't seem thrilled at all; a great change from when he first discovered his old "friends" are in town. Maybe he's not comfortable with them being here after all- and maybe he was putting on an act back at my home. I sure hope so.

Ten minutes drifted by in this manner, and there is still no hint as to where they are taking me. I decide to speak up-

"Hey, may I ask where we're going?"

Paul thought for a few seconds, then answered with a chuckle, "Girl, we're going to a 'swingin' place."

This response aroused a titter among the other guys, though I couldn't see what was funny about it.

I soon found out that where we're going is definitely not a "swingin' place". Rather, I stand in front of a shitty, run-down old bar.

I became nervous. There is no way in hell I'm going in that place.

Lance and the guys look over at me and Derrick, who has been trailing behind with me for this entire walk. Lance said, "Hey, whatta you guys waitin' for?", and then entered the building.

The others filed in after him. Derrick began to advance towards the entrance as well. I grabbed his arm. "Please, Derrick, I don't want to go in that place. I'm only seventeen, for heaven's sake. I'm not going in there."

Derrick only grinned at me and said, "Don't worry, honey. Stay close, and nothing will happen to you." Then he went inside the bar, giving me a 'comforting' glance before he was lost in the darkness inside.

I reluctantly followed. I hesitated for several moments as I stood by the entrance, and finally brought myself to open the door and go inside.

Upon entering the hovel, I'm immediately disgusted by what I see. Three filthy, bearded thugs stand around the pool table. Equally filthy men sit at a table towards the back, looking as if they're snorting something. Drunkards sit at the bar with beer.

"Derrick, please take me out of here. I have a bad feeling about this." I said frantically.

"Why so edgy? It's going to be okay." Derrick replied. He took my arm and led me to the bar with the guys.

Lance looked at me as with a grin as I came over, then called to the bartender. "Hey, can we have five whiskeys over here?"

"Do you have an ID?"

All six of them dug into their pockets and threw their ID's unto the table. Lance slapped a fake ID into Derrick's hands. Derrick presented it to the bartender- an act of dishonesty I did not expect from him. I looked at him with disgust.

"How about the girl? How old is she, anyways?"

"Man, she's 21. Must've forgot her ID", Cliff said.

I piped up. "No, I'm seventeen."

All the guys turned around to stare at me. Derrick gave me a look that said, 'What are you doing?'

"Seventeen? She can't be in here. Someone get her outta here." The bartender said.

A chorus of slight protest rose up from the guys.

"Come on, Krystal, why did you have to say that?"

"Naw, she can stay in here. She's old enough."