6 January 2013
If there was a speed record for getting across town, I would have broken it.
Whoever it was behind the trashing of my apartment clearly wanted me here, and, parking noisily outside Lou's, I didn't intend to disappoint them.
I turned off the mustangs ignition and sat for a while.
Soft, quiet entrance? Or all guns blazing, try and gain a violent upper hand? I couldn't make up my mind. I could try to take them by surprise, but I was sure I was expected, so however I chose to enter probably wouldn't be much of a surprise.
Then again I could try ninja style, a nice and stealthy entrance. Being on my own would certainly help with such a thing. But then I remembered just how much noise I'd made parking the car. I think I'd lost any possible element of surprise.
I got out of the car, preparing for the first option.
It was dark and light at the same time; the evening had given way to the night, which in turn was nearly brighter than the day thanks to the neon signs all around and the streetlights, which seemed particularly bright.
I steeled myself. Pulled my gun, took off the safety. Lit a cigarette, jammed it firmly in my mouth, and took a long pull. It was now that I saw the small handwritten sign crudely stuck to the outside of the diners front door, and it was only now that I noticed the place was empty and dark, even though it was a Saturday night.
I took a step closer and coughed the cigarette out of my lips.
'Round back' is what the note read.
In my wife's handwriting.
My mind reeled. Just what the hell had she gotten into? Was she living a secret double life as some gang bosses moll? Or had she been kidnapped just to get me to this place, right here, right now?
I finally decided on the ninja entry, and moved to the alley to the right of the diner, which indeed led 'round back'. There weren't any streetlights here, and it really was dark, so I moved slowly until I came to the side door. Gun raised in my right hand, I reached out with my left for the door, which was open and gently but squeakily moved inwards. I smiled. Expecting someone? Pushing the door further, the scene opening up to me was one of a restaurant that hadn't been used for years. The streetlight at the front was shining its yellow light through the large front windows and I could see tables and chairs stacked against the walls, creating a large open floor space. I could see the door to the kitchen, and across the floor, the stairs leading to the first floor. I guessed that was where I was headed.
What was she up to? Why here? The woman I knew wouldn't have touched this hole if her life depended on it. And then it hit me. The disc. Probably the reason she was involved in all this and very likely why I was here. Maybe it held an answer for me. I stood in silence for a full two minutes, and there wasn't a single sound in the place.
Replacing the safety, I put the gun back in its holster under my arm, and took the pouch from my coat pocket.
I shook the disc into my right hand, and looking around one final time, gently placed my left thumb on the switch.
Nothing happened. Strange. This hadn't happened before, and I didn't really know what to do. I took my thumb off. And as I was about to try again, the room was suddenly and instantly filled with light coming from the disc. Only it wasn't the white light I was used to, it was a reddish colour, and the images the replay was showing were more blurry, but coming into slow focus.
There were lots of things happening, a lot of dark figures, and I could see that the background was the room I was in. But what firmly held my attention was the hologrammatic image of my wife, directly in front of me, tied to a chair with a drip in her arm. There were voices, but they were as fuzzy and blurry as most of the images. My imagination was turning somersaults. She didn't seem in any pain. There were no visible signs of any abuse, but she was definitely being held against her will.
It seemed like thirty years, but it was only thirty seconds as always. The images faded, and the light receded back to the disc. I watched it as it disappeared. All the way back to the disc.
Which was in my right hand, with my left thumb nowhere near it. This was new. Maybe this would explain the red light. Well I was definitely in the right place. I made up my mind she'd been kidnapped to get to me.
Don't worry honey, I'm coming.
I put the disc in its pouch and back in my coat pocket, and took a step toward the stairs.
Another footstep behind me.
Floorboard creaking.
Reached for gun.
Got it.
Time slowed to a crawl.
Started to whirl.
Didn't finish it.
Bang.
Floor coming up fast.
Searing pain and white light behind my eyes.
Replaced by darkness as I hit the floor and my world turned black...
Replay 4 • Opuss № I