Good Night, Vegas Lights

Chapter 10

  Tick never came back that night. He never came back that morning either. Vince panicked when the bell rung each time that day. He was still working at the pile, but it wasn't the same. The silence suffocated him. Every once in a while, he'd ask someone if they'd seen Tick, but each answer was the same. No one had even caught wind of him. It wasn't until late into the night that the bell signaled it was time for bed. As Vincent walked back, a hushed voice called out to him.
  "Hey! Come here!"
He searched for the source and found that it was the woman he'd seen when he first showed up. She was very peculiar. A perfect face, yet she kept her hair close shaven to the scalp. He never even caught her name. She waved him over to her place out of sight.
  "Still alive I see. Your name is Vince, ain't it?"
  "Yeah, and your are?"
  "Shannon. Sorry I was kind of a bitch before, but you seemed the type that'd be a total dick."
  "Right... What is it you want?"
  "You were looking for Tick, weren't ch'ya?"
Vincent's eyes widened with surprise.
  "Yeah, yeah! You know where he's at?!"
  "Come on"
The woman, Shannon, lead him to an area with fences lined up all squared off like cages. In a few of them people lay disregarded and what was hopefully asleep. One of them Vince realized was Tick. He ran to him and slammed his fist against the rusted metal wire.
  "Tick!"
He sluggishly sat up.
  "Yo Vince"
He walked over to the fence.
  "I see ya brought a lady friend"
Shannon proceeded to flip him off.
  "Alright. I see ya brought a lady."
Vince appreciated the light air, but he'd been so worried.
  "Tick cut it out. Why are you here? What happened?"
  "Nothin' much. Ya' seem a lot more energetic. Whats gotten into ya'?"
Vince backed away, afraid Tick would sense the resignation.
  "Just a good night's rest is all."
Tick's eyes narrowed as he studied Vincent's face.
  "No, no... Theres somethin' more to it"
  "We're not here for me, Tick. Why are you in here?"
  "...I had it comin'. Our Warden don't like it when we stash. He found mine."
  "Well how'd he know it was you?"
  "Trust me, this is a lot better than what woulda happened if I tried ta' hide it even more"
  "How long they gonna keep you in here?"
  "No idea"
  "Ah, come on Tick. I need ya out here with me."
  "Heh, nah. You got yourself a new friend there."
He pointed to Shannon, who grabbed Vince's arm and tugged.
  "Uh not to cut your reunion short, but if we stay gone any longer the guards will be pissy."
Tick waved as Vincent turned his back to him.
  "I'll be back over here tomorrow, don't worry"
He said as he walked. Once out of ear shot Vincent decided to speak.
  "Thank you. Really."
  "Oh its nothing. I pass by that area all the time, and I heard you were looking for him."
  "Yeah, but I know your risking your hide doing this"
  "Its fine"
They parted ways and Vince headed to his familiar corner. The night went the same as the one before. He slept, but woke up to find jet near him. The temptation was to much for him to bear, so he indulged once again. Vincent knew good and well it was nothing more than a lure. He'd been warned and everything. He just didn't have the power to fight it.