HOOD

Shanghai

     I stare him in the eye. He can tell I'm reading his emotions. He's scared. He almost seems lost. Damn, McKinney. Why? Better yet, what should I do? Do I severely injure him? Do I kill him? Do I do the rational thing and arrest him? I don't know. 

     I put him into a hold. He speaks.

     "Give me a chance. Just please, don't kill me!"

     I reply, almost ecstatic. "I wasn't going to. I was going to torment you as I listen to your anguish ridden screams of agony. But since, you've asked I'll be generous enough to listen, but if this isn't good, let me just say we won't start off easy."

     He hesitates, carefully choosing each of his fate deciding words.

     "I was framed. Framed by a man named Michael. I don't know his last name or any of his nicknames. I just know he wanted you to be inspired. He knew your potential and he wanted that to be filled. He wanted you to have a story. He decided to do as much as he could to give that to you."

     "Michael, huh? Seems bland. Fine. I'll trust you. I won't promise you protection, though. You come with me."

     We start walking down the street. I hail a cab. I tell him where to take me. We don't go back to the entrance at the exact place. Maybe a five minute walk?

     We enter. I see that Laine is sitting nearby. He sees McKinney. He jumps, startled. I gesture for him to calm down. I speak to McKinney. "Lucky you. You get to sleep in my place tonight. I'm trying to be nice, so accept it."

     I have two options. I can sleep in the common space or I can sleep with Ann. Maybe I should just not sleep. Ah, screw it. I'll open up to Ann a little. I mean, I'm not going to literally sleep with her.

     I go to knock on her door. She opens it after a delay. I ask her if I could sleep in her room with her. She complies. I go to sleep relatively fast. 

     I wake up a few hours later. No recollection this morning. I open my eyes, even with fear if the light. I discover that Ann is already up and out. I go next door, wake them, and then get ready for the day. Falsetto welcomes me. "How did things g-" He spotted McKinney. "Why is he here?"

     No one answers. Mathew is as lost as he is. 

     "Why is he here?" He repeats, this time more aggressive.

     I speak. "I brought him."

     "Why?"

     "I had a feeling. I don't know how to explain..."

     I can't tell how he feels about this. He's hiding his eyes from me.

     He speaks and gestures towards towards McKinney.

     "You come with me."

     McKinney obliges.

     Some time later, Falsetto and McKinney come out, both with light expressions. I let that go over my head. I check the time... 1023 hours... ok. I look up. I receive a glare from Lee. He's probably mad I had a prisoner sleep in the same room as him. Oh, well. He best get used to it.

     Today is a bland day, so I spend my time working on a poorly written novel called Discontinued. It's about this group of people that get the ability to pause time. They get it from these gods, so-to-speak. What they don't know is that the devils, so-to-speak, create an opposing team of individuals who can skip time. I don't think it'll do too well. Worth a shot. I guess we'll see how it does.