Into the Light

Chapter 17: deeper still

Chapter: 17

"Life may be not only meaningless but absurd."

Thomas Nagel

Heavy eyes open to reveal that night has fallen through his apartment. Blake peels his sweaty face off the cushion and picks up the phone. He calls Carlton and takes him up on his dinner offer. He must see if Carlton is a masked one like he suspects. The plans are made and Blake puts down the phone and taps the rhythm of his heartbeat on his nose.

"Is this a test," Blake asks expecting the orb to reply but nothing comes.

A couple hours later, Blake waits outside of his building waiting for Carlton and a leviathan comes out of the depths and turns the corner to clog Blake's block. A red Hum V stretch limo rolls to a gentle stop in front of Blake as his jaw drops to his bellybutton. Carlton opens the door and waves him in. The scent citrus and cloves bellows out the door.

Carlton's handsome face remains. It doesn't change and Blake is relieved he was wrong.

"Get in asshole," Carlton yells.

With a hesitant shrug, Blake pops his head in and slides next to Carlton. On a cream colored backseat, slick with leather, that stretches the length of the vehicle, a manicured crew in black and white stops their chit chat to examine the outsider. The opposing back facing seat is occupied by a slender couple holding hands.

"Kids, this is my buddy Blake. Blake this is Hal, Cy, Onica, Serenity and the other side Pali and her boyfriend Ben."

Blake says, "Hello" and smiles politely with folded hands.

Carlton slaps him on the shoulder and says, "One second." and bows down as he makes his way up the central aisle and sits next to Pali. Blake examines the crew.

Hal is dumpy in Brooks Brothers but not evil and is in need of blonde hair plugs. Cy is like a blue blood vegan who he needs to eat more than a salad but not evil. Onica huh, pretty in a sort of inbred royalty way but not evil. Nice tits, that black skirt doesn't fit her too well. Some one should tell her. That flimsy blouse barely holds her in. Shit, what is she telepathic? Why did you just drape your hair across your cleavage? Ben. Not evil, is he even alive? Doesn't look like he's breathing. Power suit must have strangled him. Serenity, not evil. Might be something she might want to look into though. Maybe upgrade her looks? Her mother must have been a cockatoo. No masked ones. Just spoiled kids.

The limo hauls across town dodging the lights where ever possible and they graze the edge of Midtown. They come to a stop in front the red awning leading into the private restaurant Chez Verde. The crew slips out one by one. Each checks their phone. All but Blake.

Oak doors with brass fixtures are opened by doorman in starched blue uniforms. A private establishment of laconic opulence beckons and the greeters and feet washers seat the crew as soon as they arrive. The deep maroon walls soothe Blake's nerves from the chatting and gossip. The others really have not noticed him. The crew has been friends for years in the city and Blake is Carlton's friend so they tolerate and are obsequious when need arises.

Blake is given inside booth position. The most prized in some senses since all others must obey when you get up to leave but to Blake it is a trap.

The conversation never stops as the drinks arrived without being ordered and the barrage of, "What do you do?" comes at Blake. He wishes he was in Europe were he hears that is a rude question to ask someone off hand. His contempt grows and he has known cattle like them from birth, all babies of isms: nepo, capital, class, all have played their part. Children forever taken care of and never to care for another. Self-lessness is not a spoken word and they are still children. Blake thinks if they were only masked ones, I could do awful things to them. Their fucking certainty is rude.