Enslaved

Deadly Pursuit

Chapter 2

I walked the five miles to the city. My legs ached but I couldn't feel it over the turmoil inside of me. How could I possibly escape the demons? I had to get away somehow.

Choosing an eastwardly direction I started walking down the sidewalk, weaving around people. I was about to walk past a club with loud, heavy music pouring out the entrance when the voice muttered in the back of my mind, “Go inside. You know who to find.”  So I walked in.

The drumbeat in the background music was so resonant I could feel it in my chest more than hear it in my ears. I glanced around, looking for my usual contact. She was onstage, going down the catwalk to hoots of approval from the crowd, which consisted mostly of young men. I stepped back outside and waited a few minutes, glancing every now and then through a window to see if Nancy was done yet. Finally I saw her walk offstage and I went around back to the employees’ entrance, knowing I could find her there.

I knocked loudly on the metal frame and stepped back. A few seconds later the door swung open and Nancy's head looked out. She spotted me and gestured with a hand for me to come in. I did so, and Nancy led me backstage to her dressing room, which was housed in a janitorial closet. In there was a dresser and some chairs, plus a small rectangular folding table, on which was a pack of cards.

We went in and Nancy shut the door behind us. I grabbed a chair and dragged it over to the folding table, sitting down with a sigh of relief. Now that was finally off my feet, the numbness now gone, and I could feel the pain in my legs.  I felt like I couldn't walk another foot. 

Nancy sat down across from me and pulled two bottles of water from a drawer in the dresser. She threw one to me, and I caught it, barely. I finally twisted off the cap after a long struggle with my shaking hands. I took a long chug. It was ice cold, and beads of moister rolled down the outside of the bottle towards my face. I stopped drinking before they could reach me and placed the bottle on the table, taking several deep breaths.

Nancy winked at me. "I'll bet you're thirsty after havin' to walk the ten miles taw get here, lil' darlin'." Her voice had a Texas drawl, and it was annoying. I have no idea why, it just rubbed me wrong every time she talked. "What can I do taw help?" 

“Tell her you need information about one of the regulars.” I stiffened as the voice spoke in my mind. I hadn't noticed the presence creeping back into my head. I had to be more alert! I mentally shook my head. Focus.

“I need information about one of the regulars.” I looked Nancy in the eye, putting on a serious expression.  

Nancy looked skeptical. “I don’t know everythin’ bout the regs, but I’ll try to help yah. Who yah want?”  

“Short male teenager, redhead with freckles.”  The voice said coolly.

“He’s a short boy, teenager, redhead with freckles. Seen him lately?” I repeated the voice’s description. 

 “Oh, him!” Nancy sounded relieved. “He’s here tonight, sugar. Just sittin’ at the bar, drinkin’ ale and talkin’ to the ladies. I’ve gotten him to talk to me a few times. What yah wanna know about him? I’ve got personal and social life, also a past.” She giggled.

Nancy has always liked finding secrets, and she has persuasive ways of getting you to talk. She was the perfect spy, as no one suspects a tall, pretty blond.  

“Ask about his past.” It said to me, quietly, lurking in the shadows of my mind.

“Tell me about his past.” I leaned forward, resting my elbow on the table and cupping my chin in my hand. Nancy’s stories tended to be long, and I was tired.