The Hunter

The Crimson Rose

He walked into The Crimson Rose, a dark, dusky little nightclub off the beaten path. From around the corner, he could hear the somnolent buzz of the neon sign out front, providing a backdrop for the clinking of glasses and drone-like chatter of hundred best friends and ex lovers.
It wasn't until he made his way a few feet into the establishment that, the intermingled smells of smoke and sweat and too many people assaulted his nostrils.
"Disgusting" he thought out loud and pushed his body through the pulsating throng.
Finally finding his way to an empty bar stool in the corner, he motioned to the bartender.
"Gin and Tonic" he mouthed, and she nodded and melted away into the cries of a hundred other thirty patrons.
By now, his cyan eyes were adjusting to the imminent darkness, he let his eyes wander freely as he assessed his surroundings. Bright spots of neon beer signs on the wall stood out, illuminating the faces and cleavage, piercings,tattoos and mohawks of the crowd, while others disappeared into the contrasting blackness.
A moment later, before his thought was even finished, his gin and tonic slid in front of him, and the bartender was gone before he could even look up to mouth the words "Thanks". "Wouldn't have mattered anyway" he mused, as it is clearly understood that one speaks of gratitude with cash, not words.
"Everyone's your best friend when you're flying high", he thought bitterly
He took his first sip of the simple mixture, cold and icy, slightly sweet and tangy against his lips. He paused and savoured the drink and then stood and waved the bartender over and pushed the money into her hand and left, his seat quickly taken up by another man sporting a leather biker jacket and a pink and blue mohawk.
He continued making his way thought the sea of oblivious dancing figures, all consumed in their own existences.
It would be different this time, he will find her and finally after all these years kill her.