The Author's Stories

One last Night

First it was a month, then it slowly climbed down to two weeks, then... It came down to the last evening. And even the people who had lived their lives to the fullest in that last month were left with a feeling of an unfulfilled time on earth. But not for Rin. He was down at the bar. They were serving free drinks for anyone that night. Rin had downed a few shots by now and was just relaxing, waiting for the alarms to ring out and sing him his death toll. The news was playing softly in the background, accompanied by light jazz. People didn't enjoy the music however... their worry was focused on the loud politicians on screen. Rin laughed quietly, thinking of how stupid it all was... how selfish they were all being... They were doing good for the survivors. They were doing their part. A month ago the government had sent out a message to everyone in the world that a plague would be released to help decrease the human population... Many people would die... But the survivors would help to create a better future. Then they shut the phones down to prevent anyone from reaching them....So that there was no way to reach them...Rin wasn't scared though. He would never be scared of something like this. He was about to order another drink, but something caught his eye at the door... No... Someone... A young man, appearing to be in his early twenties. He had a sad and worried appearance like the others, but there was something more to it... Something that made him different. He sat down next to Rin, not paying him any mind and swirled around on his stool to observe the t.v. as well. Rin knew he shouldn't make friends at a time like this, but.... He felt like he needed to do this, just like how he realized at the beginning of that month that he needed to die.... " Hey. Nice night aye? " he opened for conversation. It was truly a nice night... Clear and soon to be full of stars, the jazz and warm lighting helping as well. The young man spun around to face him, he looked horrible... red stained cheeks, his blue eyes exaggerated because of the apparent evidence of crying.... He also seemed much younger then Rin thought... He seemed like he was still in his teens... " Hey, kid. Asked you a question. " He tilted his head and smirked, leaning back in a relaxed fashion. The man sniffed and wiped his eyes. " Yes. I suppose it is... " he had a British accent, neatly combed dark brown hair, blue eyes, and dark glasses. " Suppose? What are you, an English scholar? " he chuckled. " What's your name? " he asked, smiling warmly. " Michael Ton. " he answered, a look in his eyes that somehow Rin was going to save him from this hell. " Michael Tons... " He said, seeing how the name felt on his tongue. " Imma call you Mikey. " the newly named Mikey smiled. He had a nice smile really, kind of a smirk but with some kind of sincereness to it. " And what can I call you? " He asked. " Rin. Short for Rinny. Short for Rinny langster. " He answered, ordering another shot. " Nice to make your acquaintance Rin. " he stuck out a hand and Rin almost busted out laughing. " Kid how old ARE you? " he asked. " eighteen sir. My birthday was last month. " Rin suddenly got quiet. It felt like the whole room got quiet. No, the whole bar.... Dead silent. " Mikey... Where's your family? " his heart broke, you could hear in his voice. Mikey seemed to stop working, he froze, tears glistening in his clear blue eyes again. " England... I got into a bit of a fight with them and came to the U.S..... I tried to get back so I could see them but... " He stopped his sentence to choke back a sob. " But... All transportation was filled... Everyone was leaving and I had no way to get to them, and all the phones are down... And now I'll never see them... I'll never get to apologize to my parents... " He stopped again, reality hitting him hard. This time he didn't choke back anything, he just let it out in a distressed cry... " I'll never get to hug my little sister, or see her grow up.... Oh my god.... My little sister will never-" he covered his mouth and just stared at the wall. " Mikey... You... You're going to be okay kid. Karma won't come after good people like you. " Rin had to help this poor kid.... But he still didn't look reassured, he just sat and cried, then it got louder. " Mikey! Kid! LISTEN TO ME! " he shook Mikey by the shoulders to get his attention. " Michael you listen to me right now. Wherever you end up I'm going to make sure it's good. I swear it. On my life. " and he meant it... He would not let this kid die just for the sake of humans overpopulating. He would make him live on... " Mikey... Do you want something to eat? " He asked calmly. " W-what? " Mikey asked, only a hint of confusion in his distraught voice. " Something to eat. Can't let you go through with hell on an empty stomach, right? " Mikey smiled sadly and nodded his head. " What do you want? " He asked. " Salad. " he answered. " Salad? For his possible last meal... He wants salad...." Rin laughed. " Okay kid. Salad it is. " After they ate and talked for what seemed like years, Rin looked up at the clock. His smile faded. Eleven fifty.... Dear god.... " What's wrong? " Mikey asked. Then he saw it too... He stared back at Rin. " Don't be scared... Whatever happens, I know you'll end up somewhere good. " he smiled at him, a sad broken smile. " God, I hope so. " they both laughed. It was now eleven fifty one. "What's your favorite memory? " Rin asked. Mikey thought a moment... He couldn't afford a moment... " When I was little... About six. I woke up every morning to feed a stray kitten outside my house. His name was Boris. It would be bright outside, happy.... And I would come waddling out of my house with water and some kind of food... And Boris would sit and talk with me. Well... I would talk... But he listened. Quite well actually. " He smiled at the good time. It was eleven fifty three...... " What about you Rin? " He asked. Rin shifted in his seat. ".... I was seventeen. I had drove out to a concert and was coming back home when I got a call... My father. He... He said he just called to say he loved me... And was proud... " he paused. " It was the first real time he said he loved me. " Rin felt tears in his own eyes. " And I said, dad.... I love you too. You need to tell me this more often.... Mom didn't set you up to this right? And he said, no son. She didn't. And ever since then he would call me and say he loved me.... " He hasn't noticed the tears falling. He had just let them come. " I like that memory... " he whispered. It was eleven fifty eight. The two looked at each other. Eleven fifty nine....... the room went cold.... everyone.... was silent.... " I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'LL ALL END UP!!!" Yelled Rin. " BUT!!! " Mikey continued. " WE KNOW IT WILL PROBABLY BE GOOD!!! " They yelled together. Hugged each other and said under their breathes, along with everyone else in that cold silent bar.... " Goodbye.... "

Twelve A.M.........

( a few years later. ) Rin watched as a young man walked down the sidewalk in a nice suit. He had a young girl with him, they looked identical. Both had brown hair, blue eyes, and a smirk with sincereness to it. Michael Ton and his sister..... Walking, alive, smiling. Mikey looked at him for a second, walked over, and walked straight through him.... " I told you Mikey. I told you you'd end up somewhere good. And I get to watch. I get to watch you and it's the best place I could be. "