Off To Wonderland

Barney Comes In a Little Glass Pipe

Sparrow waited till Amber had left the bathroom, then he hit The Sand Man’s speed dial. There were three rings and he picked up.

“Hello,”

“We got a problem,” Sparrow said.

Amber made her way back to the bar, and ordered another drink. Her head was spinning, and the drug was no longer giving her a pleasurable tingle, but now painful pins and needles driving into her body. Mike looked at her a bit worried as she put the cool drink to her cheek.

“You ok there?” Mike asked.

“Yeah… no… no I’m not.” Mike looked at her for a moment then said,

“Be right back,” he left through the employee’s only door. A few minutes later he reappeared holding a pipe in his hand. “Here,” he said placing the glass pipe in front of her. Inside it was a green and purple ball.

“What is it?”

“Its marijuana laced with a bit of Barney,” Amber gave him a funny look.

“Barney? You mean this pot is laced with the flesh of a pedophilia loving purple dinosaur?” Mike laughed.

“No. it’s a new over the counter drug they made, Bardoxy, ‘bout a month ago. It’s still pretty new, but it’s a pain reliever, hell of a lot more effective than Oxy or Vicodin. You’ve seen the movie ‘REPO: The Genetic Opera’ right?” Amber nodded. “Well just think of it as a recreation of Zydrate.” Amber giggled. “What?” Mike asked.

“Barney comes in a little glass pipe, ‘a little glass pipe?’ a little glass pipe.” Mike smiled.

“Then the little glass pipe goes to your lips like whisky,” Amber pulled the pipe to her lips and Mike handed her a lighter.

“Then the lighter comes and is placed at the end you see,” she said her lips hovering over the opening of the pipe, lighting the end of the pipe where the Barney sat sweetly in its place.

“And when the lighter goes off it sparks, and then you breathe deeply, ‘deeply’,” he finished as Amber inhaled deeply, and held it in her lungs. It tasted slightly sweet, like raspberries. Amber couldn’t hold it in any longer and let it all out. She took another hit, and then one more, as the drug started to take effect. Her brain hazed, and people started to glow softly, blurring around the edges. A happy and warm feeling pulsed through her body with every heartbeat. “How are you feeling?” Mike smiled, and he glowed like an angel.

“Warm…” she breathed.

“Good it’s working. Now there is an open chair over there,” he pointed to a tall and comfy looking black chair. “Here,” he moved out from behind the counter, “I’ll help you.”

“No, it’s fine. I got it,” Amber smiled sliding off her chair. As soon as her feet touched the ground she fell. Mike caught her arm and pulled her up.

“I think I better help you,” he laughed, hoisting her into his arms and carrying her bridal style. Amber felt light as a feather, as Mike walked over to the chair to set her down. The room was so soft in color even though the lights flashed out of control. Even the music seemed to have dulled; she heard only a dull pounding and muffled lyrics. She sat totally relaxed as the warm pulse continued with her heart beat. If felt as if she were going into hibernation, everything seemed to slow down, and move in slow motion. She blinked trying to focus but couldn’t. Everything was so hazy, but so nice. She saw someone walk over to her. Saw their lips move. Their dark eyes, and gold flakes. She couldn’t register who it was, or what they were saying, so she just stared at them. Her eyelids felt heavy, and she couldn’t keep them open. The last thing she saw before she passed out was two men arguing in front of her, and then darkness.

Her eyes were closed but she felt like she was moving through the air. Someone must have been carrying her because she felt arms under her shoulders and knees. They were breathing a bit heavy, and had to readjust their hold on her several times. Then she was placed on something soft. A bed?She tried to put the pieces together but her mind just could hold them still for long and they floated away. Something soft and warm was pulled up to her chin, and a cool hand stroked over her face. Someone was whispering something to her in a calm sweet voice. She listened hard and tried to make out the words, they kept fading and getting quitter.

“..Always…with you….save….monster….hurt you,” then the hand left her forehead, and the sound of a door slowly shutting. Amber couldn’t focus any longer and she let the heavy sleepiness wash over her.

Sparrow slowly shut the door to Ambers room, leaving her to sleep off the Barney laced pot. He walked out and saw Jimmy sitting on the couch silently watching TV.

“I knew you’d come back one day,” He said, his eyes still focused on the TV.

“Yeah I had to. I couldn’t just leave her with some scumbag like you!”

“You better watch your mouth Jake before I smack you!”

“Try it. I have friends in high places now. You can’t touch me. I’m very important to so very important people. So if you want to put a target on your head, be my guest.” Sparrow said.

“You just couldn’t leave her could you?” Sparrow looked at the door to Amber’s room.

“Your right… I couldn’t leave her…. she’s my little sister…” 

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