The Adventures Of Sick Bastard

Part 5 of 5

Sick spent the night on a rusty bench in a park, covered up with an old coat he found in a nearby dumpster. Halfway to Ron's pawn, Sick felt tired... he didn't expect Ron to be at the place anyways since it was the middle of the night, so he decided to sleep... Sick didn't even consider getting a hotel room... he was in such state of self-disgust, that he rather chose to freeze his balls off outside than to secure his tired body with the comfort it needed... Sick hated himself, if he had been capable, he would do it with a passion.

Sick woke at dawn. The sky was clear and radiant in various shades of the sunrise. Early birds sang, somewhere in the distance car engines purred softly. Sick sat up. His muscles were stiff and cold. He was surprised how he could still feel all of his fingers... him being alive was a miracle in the first place! Sick figured that he should start moving before hypothermia kicks in... so he went to a nearby coffee shop to warm up.

. . .

(Cross that road and turn left... you will see the bright banner in the distance, that will be Ron's pawn...)

There it was, same as last time. Sick saw the cheap, crappy banners of Ron's pawn shining in the distance. Sick wasn't sure what is his plan... not like he is going to beg Ron to return his heart, not like he is going to return it to him...
"Let's see where this goes..." Sick comforted himself, staring at the sidewalk preoccupied with too many thoughts. As approaching Sick heard some sort of clinking sound in the distance, he focused his hearing towards it, "Oh. There's that god awful elevator music again." Sick tried to imagine why would anyone play this all day long? Ron was so strange...

The building looked the same, a let down old shack. Sick wondered what had he expected... look at this place!
He walked inside and same as last time the room was empty... sick hesitated, trying to stay as silent as possible in the ambiance of the annoying music.
Sick took a glance at the rack where he had seen the body part containers the previous time he visited. Everything was still there... Sick tried to make out whether his heart is also placed there... in that case, he could just steal it... problem solved.

No. It was too late.
The curtain which separated the storage room from the shop drew open and from there the figure of Ron danced out cheerfully, not noticing Sick at first. Ron was pulling a heavy cart. On top of it was placed a large cube-shaped object, it was covered fully with a muddy red cloth.

"Sick? Sick Bastard!" Ron yelled at the top of his lungs as he turned around and saw Sick pitiably standing by the entrance. He seemed really happy to see Sicks face again, "Don't just stand there, come on in! How the hell are you!?"

"Hey... Ron. Happy to see you too." Sick whined a bit too bitterly.
Ron took a more accurate look at Sick, "Oh no..." he grinned, "I am all too familiar with that look on your face... Come in, whats on your heart, son?"

Sick got the joke... now he understood Ron's humor. Sick walked up to the counter.
"Nothing... There is nothing. I'm sure you know what I want to talk about with you, Ron."
"I can guess..." Ron smiled.

Sick felt something strange. His heart must have been somewhere near... a feeling of honesty and humbleness came over him. Sick spoke, "Ron... This is hell."
Ron opened his arms and laughed a sinister laugh, "Then, I don't see what is the problem!"

"Hear me out," Sick wasn't amused. "Ron, I am dead. More dead than I would be if I had never taken your Winter Special..." Sick sighed. "It was all going so well... but time passed... and Zoe left, and I don't care. I cant care anymore... Ron, I will do anything. Just help me out? Give me at least a bit of my soul back... I can't take this emptiness anymore... I don't know what to do... or where to go. I burned down my house last night, Ron!"

Ron couldn't help it, he burst out into more laughter, "Holly mother of god, Sick, That's it, I officially announce you one of my favorite customers." Then he calmed down, "Ok, shush. Well Sick, you know I cant do that."
"You cant help me?"
"No."
"But I will do... anything? I will."
Ron snickered, "Hehe, now you be careful, Sick... you wouldn't want to end up losing your mind... like... HE did..."
"What, who?" Sick didn't understand.

Ron stepped aside and pushed the mystery cart closer to the counter.
"Behold!" Ron elegantly uncovered the mystery object that was placed the cart.
Sick gasped at the sight revealed. Underneath the cloth was a big tank filled with the same luminescent green fluid ...inside, floating was a human head. Sick was speechless. Not only that it was a human head, Sick recognized the slumbering face in the tank, It was Bill...

Ron spoke while the playful elevator tune was still playing in the background, "Poor fellow, couldn't take it... made it through forty-five years and now just gave up like this." Ron nodded, "Such shame."
Finally sick spoke, "Wh... What happened?"
"What are you blind? He lost his mind!" Ron laughed inappropriately, "Ok, jokes aside. Well, our Bill here, he came in yesterday, same as you did... and well, he too wanted his heart back. BUT... We all know I cant do that, even if I wanted to... Its all in the contract, you know."

Sick remembered the contract... yet could not remember if he had read it fully. Shame...

Ron continued, "So, Bill begged, he said he would do, take, give anything! So... I offered him the - Peace Of Mind Special - and well... as you see, I am a fair salesman." Ron smiled with self-satisfaction.
"Oh my, God..." Sick whispered.

Bill looked peaceful indeed... Sick wondered if Bill knew that the - Peace Of Mind Special - was a literal execution... All of a sudden Sick had so many questions.
"Is this the only way?!" Sick asked.

"Yes." Ron got serious as he saw the condemnation in Sicks face, "Sick, why such rage in your face? I'm not fooling anyone here."
Sick objected, "You... you are a thief... a liar!"

"No, Sick. Never would I violate the rules of justice, they are the fundament of my establishments..." Ron walked up to sick and placed his arm on his shoulder, "It's all in the contract, son. The truth is in the language. It's all around, in plain sight.. It's all so obvious!" Ron patted Sicks back, "Hehe. My profit is your need, your hastiness and lack of discipline. Don't be mad at me. You are the real sellout... I mean - SALESMAN - here, Sick! Not me."

Sick felt swindled to the bone, yet Ron was right. If only he had followed his heart when it told him to stop... Too late, damage done.

"What now?" Sick asked.
Ron rolled his eyes, "God, you are the most pathetic and stubborn specimen I have ever had business with." Ron walked to stand behind the counter again, "okay. Maybe there is another way... if you can call it that."
"What is it? Tell me!" Sick demanded.

"One. There is the Peace Of Mind Special, always open!" Ron teased.
"No. You can take your special and shove it, Ron..." Sick didn't trust Ron anymore. It shouldn't be an option at all, the execution deal must be just another hoax. Sick knew there must be another way out.

Ron looked bored, "You have to leave, and start a new."
"And...?" Sick leaned closer expecting a further explanation.
"That's it. You have to learn and earn your soul back, blah, blah, blah. It returns if you prove yourself..." Ron placed his hand on the tank and gazed up on it with adoration, "See, I can tame my "product", only while the owners are divided. Divided from themselves, and all too loyal to creature comforts." Ron leaned closer, "Sick, If you will tell anyone about this, you will end up sharing the tank with Bill here... Capiche?"

That's it? Sick contemplated... Yes! that's it! "Don't worry. I got it, Ron." Still confused Sick asked, "Why are you telling me this?''

"Take it or leave it, Sick... Don't get too self-assured with me. No more questions!"

Sick gave Ron an affirmative look. Nothing more was said. Sick left Ron where he is and went outside.

. . .

The emptiness was still within. Sick still felt like a victim of his shadows, yet now, he had a bit of light to shine forward... and a direction to follow. Also, he was homeless... maybe burning the house was unnecessary but... well... yeah.

Sick started walking. The morning had already passed and the sun was high, shining over the cold city streets, that lead to places of possibility and new discoveries. It was a new day.

THE END