Red Moon

Chapter 1 Part 1

Saturday morning, I'm off work, the wounds I sustained from the fire long ago give me more vacation time than I deserve. Although, if I felt the need to go to work the painkillers would only make me hazy. 

The clock reads 6:00 AM, the sun hasn't even started to come up yet. The nightmares are quite frequent now, just a perk of living through hell and back I suppose, the effects are numerous and ugly, the cold sweats and the random jolting awake in the dead of night.

 I roll over causing a wave of pain that makes my head spin and swim at the same time, but ignoring the sensation is easy oddly, I've learned to live with it. I swing one leg then the other down to the cold linoleum floor, ahhh the cold floor feels nice for once, and I'm grateful since the extreme cold is all I can feel in my fire damaged feet, who knew running in a burning forest with flip flops was a bad idea, right? I chuckle to myself. The sight of my feet used to be horror and disgust, now it's normal and just... there, crazy how we humans adapt and mold to accommodate nearly anything. 

My phone buzzes from my bedside table and I grab it, the phone isn't fancy at all but it suits my needs quite nicely. The message reads "From Betty: Hey Kent, the alarm went off in the bookstore I'm gonna check it out." 

Betty is my secretary for the small bookstore I own and run, it pays the bills I suppose. Although I don't think of it as my main job just a little side project if you will. Once I read it I'm already replying  " I'm on my way please wait outside till I get there!"

 I wouldn't want to see her hurt. Her reply is instant, quick and short "yes boss."

Although, I know the tone is teasing and it makes me smile, we aren't usually overly formal with each other.

I quickly get dressed, any physical pain I push to the back of my head as to not infringe on my life as it has for 3 long months. My favorite shoes fit on my feet a mix between new and worn is the most comfortable for me, once they are too worn in they fell less supportive of my daily activities. My work outfit is simple jeans and a nondescriptive t-shirt. 

Taking one last glance in the mirror I give myself a once-over, my face always a sunburnt red from the fire. The annoying stubble on my chin and sideburns brought itself to my attention, this made me decide to shave tonight when I plan on getting back. Wasting no more time I got into my car it's sleek gray, fat, the body reminds me of a mouse at times. The thick fog swarmed my nose and senses making it feel like a drizzle rather than a fog, the muggy air made it heavier, and much harder to breathe, or so it seemed. 

Somehow dawn still managed to show its first delicate and weaker rays, hardly visible at a first glance. Although the clouds can't lie, they are the proof of dawns quiet light. It is quite peaceful before the sun can show its full wrath over the concrete jungle, expelling the cold dark silence the moon holds us to with her cold silver razor glare. I stand there relishing the moment temporarily forgetting the impending threat. 

The thought slides over me in a very unpleasant cold shudder, it feels near slimy with the fog, to escape dawns mesmerizing hold I hop into my car and start the engine going to the bookstore through light morning traffic, after the true morning rush hour, my windshield glistens in the suns partial wrath. My car is near silent, its a hybrid keeping the Earth clean and such. The fog is still dense, most people see shapes in the fire as the gypsies did as history told that's how they told fortunes. I see things in fog, how it swirls around me it's almost like a blizzard but much less cruel and cold. Much like a fire my headlights pierce and douse the fog around me. 

A sudden urge to get there faster grips me I start speeding the red needle on my speedometer creeps up to 75, not safe with the fog I know but I can't shake the newfound dread that grips me, creeping up my spine. I gulp hoping that all will be well when I arrive then all that consumes me is calm, I do not slow down, calm before the storm you see.

The car was a little too quiet as I drove, so I reached down to turn on the radio making the car swerve a little to the right as the radio blared on , the loud and sudden noise of some heavy metal band made me go into a panic as I tried to fix the cars right swerve with a left swerve while also trying to turn the knob down, its a miracle I didn't crash! Once the car was steadied I could take in a deep breath and relax, oh until I saw the cars at a dead halt in front of me and I'm still barreling towards them at 75 miles per hour! 

Crimeny! I slammed on the breaks and came to a successful, yet nerve-grinding, halt mere inches away from the bumper of the car in front of me. My poor car sounded awful while the tires gained purchase on semi-wet asphalt. Catching my panicked breath I looked ahead and saw that traffic ahead stretched on for at least a mile ahead, on the hill where my exit sat was clogged with flashing lights and a few tow trucks, or at least I think that's what I saw.

"What the hell?" I muttered as my phone ringed and my phone lit up with a call from Betty, I picked it up and answered I was met with a very panicked Betty "Kent!" she said her voice dripping with concern "I'm here Betty what's going on?" I asked confused what all the panic was about. She responded, "I went ahead and called the police, the guy was trying to steal 2 hardcovers that are rare first editions and 500 dollars from our stash box..." Then she added to herself more than anything " how did he even find it?" 

I sigh softly and inch the car forward with traffic "Betty calm down, he probably found the box by chance." I said in a calming tone to her. but the more I thought about it, was the register really better hidden than the stash box? 

I'd have to fix that I thought as I pinched the bridge of my nose Bettys reply broke me out of my thoughts "okay boss" she said. 

Good I thought, she sounded calmer, more steady "the man also tried to bite the officers, can you imagine? Also, I heard a crash, do you know what it was? she asked.

I rolled my eyes while replying " Yeah it was a big car wreck I'm getting off now following the detour now. "

I had finally gotten up to the exit before the normal one I used and I took it. Another long line of cars avoiding the crash but at least I was moving again "alrighty Betty I'll see you when I get there." She responds "glad your okay and drive safe." 

Call ended, I sigh and look at the new line of cars coming to a stop and groan.

***********************************************************************