Darkness

Chapter 8

Admiration’s Snare--

A Venus’s flytrap lying in wait,

For that which will be ill placed,

Upon its bristled leaf blades which will suddenly snap shut;

Sealed within its carnivorous belly is the unfortunate victim’s fate…

At some point Neil came to admire Hudson’s power and prestige.  Though it seemed like a lazy way of going about it, acquiring a similar status in the shadow of Hudson was the better alternative to brawling for it like Neil had to do during his days on the streets, which he still finds himself having to do on rare occasions and always against Eleanor’s wishes.  It was Hudson’s wealth that Neil was more interested in and for his family’s sake, he was willing to chase it to the ends of the earth-- 

“The here and now struggle of sunup to sundown survival for Eleanor would be a distance memory lost to a past better left buried without the courtesy of a tombstone.  The memories of hardship…snapshots that would never be seen by unborn Jayden’s hopeful eyes, nor known or felt by her tiny developing heart.”

At this moment of reasoning, Neil knew what he had to do.

The next day Neil paid Hudson a visit in his office. Hudson was sitting at his desk feverishly writing with a gold fountain pen, his eyes never leaving the scribbles he had already put down on the embossed paper designed with his own personal seal; the expensive ink elegantly and generously flowing across the page, which was no doubt enjoying every stroke of Hudson’s high-end pen.

For Neil it was now or never and there was no turning back either way.  To leave would have been cowardly and to stay was to sell his soul.  So long as it was his soul and no one else’s, he was willing to go through with it and willing to live through it; whatever it was, he had to do to fulfill his purpose.

Neil’s composure was solid as with a firm voice he stated his case, or as Hudson would see it, the reason why the likes of Neil was standing before him annoyingly interrupting his scribbling frenzy.

There was dead silence as Hudson instantly stopped in mid-scribble upon Neil ending his last sentence, his request to earn more money and gain whatever power Hudson‘s shady underworld would grant him.  The seconds of silence felt more like minutes.  Suddenly Hudson slammed his gold fountain pen down atop the pricey paper he had been scribbling on, the action momentarily shattered the sudden aura of silence that waded throughout the room. The cold piercing blue eyes of Hudson locked Upon Neal’s geniality chestnut stare and with stern conviction Hudson replied,

“Wealth of even a millionaire status ain’t easy to come by in this here city, especially coming from nothing…such as yourself.”  Hudson reared back in his plush leather chair, his gaze practically undressing Neil’s soul, in search of both frankness and insincerity within Neil’s demnor.

 “Be it scraps or nothin’ at all every man has to start somewhere, especially if he has a family to provide for.”

“Hmm…so, no matter what the cost then, it’s all for your family huh?” moving his hand towards his face to rest his chin on it, as he mentally analyzed Neil‘s responses.

“Yeah, so it is, and no matter the cost.”

“Tell me something Neil…why just settle for a few measly ass little millions, hell, why not greedily pursue billions?”

“No one can carry that kind of cash to their grave and spend it in whatever hell or heaven that awaits them, not even you.  So why pursue more than you need?  And besides, I figure if I make billions that would mean I would have to out do you at some point and that would make us rivals; the last thing I wanna do in the end is cross the man that helped me get those few measly ass little millions as you call them.”

Hudson couldn't help but laugh at this but it was laughter of respect.

“You know Neil, I like you…you’re not greedy like I am, a big plus in my book.  The fact that you will do anything for your family means you’re loyal; we‘re like that you know Neil, one big happy family of sister and brotherhood, though our family is unlike your typical American dream family if you get my drift…you sure Neil, that you want to be IN with me like that?”

“I‘m still here after all that explainin’ and your lollygaggin’ with an answer and all ain't I?”

“Impatient and sarcastic, hell a bit damn cocky there too don’t you think?” Hudson snapped, quickly removing his hand from under his chin as he maneuvered his chair away from his desk, positioning himself to lunge out of it without warning if need be.

“Comes with the territory of the streets, nothin’ personal Mr. Steele, sir.  My apologies…”

“Good then,” as Hudson regained his composure.   “Personal conflicts always turn into deadweight for me Neil, with an emphasis on the dead part; make sure you fuckin’ remember that next time!”

“Of course, sir…will keep that in mind every time I open my mouth.”

“Now then, back to what I was about to say provided that your answer would have been yes, which apparently it is…I’ll need you to do things that the dead of Hell wouldn‘t be caught doing in their own damn graves.  What you‘re about to get yourself into, aint for the squeamish, the softhearted, the yellow bellied type of man Neil…”

“Well aware of that, sir.  I would be a dumb-ass to think otherwise and besides, there’s no way in hell I could have survived this damn long on the streets all wrapped up in an egg shell of such sentiments of cowardliness…”

Once again silence fell upon the room, Hudson’s gaze again groping Neil’s soul.  Hudson found himself being taken with Neil’s way of thinking, be it the streets instilled it in him or it was some how ingrained in him while he was still in his mother‘s womb.

This could go either way for Hudson down the road and he know it.  Men like Neil are worthy successors but the conscious of men like Neil made them more inclined to become turncoats later, if the right person or set of circumstances realigned their moral compass in favor of the so-called  "right thing to do".  Hudson was a gambling man and after minutes of silent contemplation he decided the risk was worth the gamble and he continued his conversation with Neil, who was seemingly unfazed by Hudson’s momentary bouts of silence,

“There is no way out Neil except for a guaranteed bullet, a pine box maybe, and a shovel most definitely; hell even the river’s current will suffice to get the job done without complaint or compassion even, depending on my mood at said given time in the event such a thing became necessary…do you get what I’m fuckin’ sayin’ here Neil?” commanded Hudson.

“I’m the puppet and you’re the puppet master who can cut my strings any damn time I get out of line, yeah I get it.”

“DAMN RIGHT!“  Hudson raged, as he slammed his hands down on his desk.  “So just you fuckin’ remember that you said you know better than to fuckin’ cross me and that I’m indeed the puppet master of not just you but also this whole damn city!  I‘m the one runnin’ the real show behind the damn curtains!” he fiercely proclaimed as he rose out of his chair to further enhance the intimidation factor.

“Yes sir…no arguin’ with you there.”  said Neil, to appease Hudson.

Hudson then motioned for Neil to take a seat as he had been standing the entire time and the two men then began to discuss the next phase of Neil’s promotion, if you care to call it that.

Wherever this mysterious wind of misguided fortune was about to whirl Neil, he was more than willing to go, though he knows not the error of this way to his selfless ambition…his soul alone, insufficient for this burden he naively believes he has bestowed solely upon himself--

The sins and secrets of those closest to one are a delectable delight to one’s Devil,

But the appetite keeps the tongue of anticipation moist,

With promises of the delicacy of an innocence yet to inhale a breath of this sinful realm.

ECole789

01/27/2014