Blackout

The wind had picked up, gusts blowing in at 20 miles an hour from the east. The wind would affect his aim, and he could not afford to miss. If he missed his target he would give up his position, and his stealth was his only advantage against the enemy. The enemy’s numbers were in the dozens, and that was only counting those in his line of site. He was sure there were more of them hidden behind the castle walls and inside the barracks.

He was one man up against a small army. An Assassin known notoriously throughout the realm as the Black Death, he had been hired on contract to kill. His target was a wealthy banker named Sid. Sid’s crimes included bribery, extortion, the enslavement of his own people and murder. Sid was a man who deserved to die, but that is not why the Assassin was going to kill him. He was going to kill him because he had a contract to fulfill. Sid was sitting at his desk writing in a ledger. The Assassin had a clear shot from his tree but the wind howled again, leaves blowing across his face. He could not afford to miss. He held on to the hilt of his knife, strapped to his belt. If he wanted a confirmed kill he would have to get up close and personal.

It was midnight when the Assassin climbed down from his tree and scaled the fortress walls. The guards were sleeping along the tower, and under the cover of darkness the assassin slipped passed them unnoticed. If there was any trouble, he had his shield to counter an attack, and plenty of healing potions to restore his health.

The Assassin picked the lock to Sid’s chamber, and crept inside. Sid’s canopy bed was made of stained oak and draped with plush velvet. The Assassin opened the drapes and looked down at his sleeping target. He pulled the knife from his waist, and held it up to Sid’s soft fleshy neck. Sid’s eye’s popped open as the Assassin began cutting.

Ted’s computer monitor flickered blue and then went dark. He stared at the blank screen, leaning over until his greasy nose pressed against it. He tried booting it up again, switching the power button off and on but nothing. How long had he been playing this game? He wasn’t sure. His eyes were adjusting to the darkness in his room and he felt along his desk for his lamp, knocking over empty soda cans and snack wrappers as he did. The lamp was cold, and switched it on and off again but it wouldn’t turn on. The power must be out, he thought.

He pulled open his bedroom shutters to let in the natural light, bright as day. What time is it? The air in his room was musty and thick, and from the shutters long lines of light hit the dusty air. The sun revealed a cluttered bedroom, a floor covered with dirty clothes and trash and in the corner a bare mattress with yellowing pillows and a blue comforter, and beside that a desk. Sat slouched at the desk was Ted, wearing oversized headphones on his oversized ears that dwarfed his gaunt face and pressed down his unkempt hair. What do I do now? His head hurt and his throat was sore, but he wasn’t tired. In fact he had all the energy in the world. I’ll just wait for the power to come back on. And he sat at his desk waiting, staring into the blank screen at his dark reflection. But every minute spent without his game seemed to stretch on and on, and Ted’s anxiety stretched along with the minutes until he began to sweat. The walls seemed smaller, and he heard the thump of every heartbeat in his chest. He tried powering on the computer again but still nothing. He felt cramped, and the smell of his room was nauseating. He could not stay here any longer. He stood up from his chair, legs weak, back crooked, and shuffled to find his shoes. When he found a pair he walked down and out of his Mother’s apartment.

The outside air was fresh, and though the sun hurt his eyes, the warmth of it felt good on his bleach white skin. What was Ted’s destination? He wasn’t exactly sure. But he liked moving his legs around. He couldn’t remember the last time he had left the house.

The only sound around him was the wind blowing through the trees until rumble came from behind. Ted turned to see headlights, and panicked when a bright red Camaro barreled towards him. He jumped aside into the dirt, and the car sped past with a roar and a noxious cloud of exhaust. Ted coughed and watched the car speed away, snake-eyed taillights turning the blacktop red. The car veered into a shopping center parking lot, tires screeching. Ted heard voices arguing and a saw young woman in an evening dress climb out of the passenger seat and slam the door behind her. The car peeled out, snake-eyed taillights disappearing into the distance, leaving the girl alone in the parking lot, evening dress fluttering in the wind.

Ted steadied his breathing. His heart was still racing from the near collision. The dense smell of burning rubber filled the air. The closer he got, the more clearly he could see the girl. She was tall, thin, and beautiful. Perhaps the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life, and that wasn’t because he hadn’t seen another women in three months beside his aunt and mother. This girl was different. She turned to face Ted, light tears rolling down her cheeks. “Hi,” was the only greeting his mind could muster. His brain told him to make a run for it, to go back home and try the computer again, but something else told him to stay. He steadied himself and said with a stutter. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. Is everything ok?” Other than his aunt and mother and girls that he paid $5 a minute to watch undress themselves online, he hadn’t spoken to another woman in ages. He didn’t know where the courage to talk to this stranger had come from. Maybe it was adrenaline. “Are you alright?” He asked.

“Yes.” Her voice was quiet and raspy. “Yes I, I’m fine.” She wiped the tears from her eyes. “Do you have someone to pick you up? Or can I call a cab for you maybe?” Why would I say that? I don’t even have a phone.

“No, no it’s fine, I don’t need anyone. I can handle myself just fine,” she sighed. “My boyfriend nearly hit you back there, you should watch where you’re going.”

And he should have his license stripped from him while were at it. “I will.”

“Thanks for offering to help.”

“No problem.”

“I’ve just had a hell of a day.” She said pulling an iphone out of her handbag and staring empty eyed at its screen.

“I understand,” he said.

“Hey, you wouldn’t happen to have a cigarette I could bum off of you? I’m dying for one.” “What? No, sorry, I don’t smoke,”

“Shame. Well, other than my need for a cigarette, I’m starving. Is there anyplace to eat around here?” She said getting closer to him.

Ted’s heart fluttered, she was stunning, and was close to him now. “Well.” He was hung up, couldn’t think of anything to say.

“Well what?” She was so close now he could smell her perfume.

“Well they have Pizza here, you like pizza?”

“If you’re buying.”

He checked his pants pockets and hallelujah his wallet was there. “Sure!”

The Pizza place was at the corner of the shopping mall, and Ted and the girl walked in. It was dark inside, but smelled of baking bread. “We’re open,” A man behind the counter said, “but sorry guys, cash only for now. The power is out and our credit card machines are down. But the oven is working fine, so what can I get ya?” Ted checked his wallet for cash. Inside was a crisp $50 note with a crease down the center. He had gotten the money in a card from his aunt on his 25th birthday. That was three months ago, and it had stayed in his wallet since. He had nothing to buy since then. He didn’t get out much. Thank God I held onto this. The girl ordered two plain slices.

“Same here.” Ted said.

“Your shoes!” the girl shouted, laughing at him.

“What?”

“Look at your shoes!” she pointed down.

Ted stared at his mismatched sneakers, one gray and one blue. In the rush to leave his dark house, he had neglected to find a matching pair. “It happens.”

“You’re funny.” She said laughing.

Am I? He paid and they found a quiet table with enough light from an open window to see their food while they ate it.

“So what’s your name?” He asked.

“Does it matter.” She said biting into her pizza. He could smell the alcohol on her breath. She must have been out partying, yet she couldn’t have been older than 18.

“So how old are you?”

“Does that matter either?” her head swayed from side to side.

“Are you alright?”

“Amazing,” she drawled.

She was so beautiful. How could she like a guy like him. He took a bite of his pizza and she reached forward and grabbed his hand. He looked up at her, her eyelids were at half-mast, and her lips pursed forward. “I have to go to the bathroom.” He said getting up and walking away. She pouted and slouched in her seat as her phone started to ring. The bathroom was dark, lit only by a window to the outside “Get it together, you can do this.” He said staring at his shadow in a mirror. With a whoosh the bathroom’s fluorescent light flickered and cast deep shadows down Ted’s face. He stood staring at himself. He looked much thinner than he remembered. He had patchy stubble on his chin and upper lip and his hair was matted and unkempt. He had been wearing and sleeping in the same clothes for the past three days, blue jeans and a grey sweatshirt, plus now the mismatched shoes. He was a mess. Why would she want to eat with me? Why would she grab my hand? He relieved himself and washed his hands.

When he returned to his table it was empty. “Your friend left.” The owner said. “In quite a hurry I might add.” The walk home was dreadful, and when Ted arrived his mother was there waiting for him. “Where were you kid! It’s good to see you out and about.” He didn’t answer. Instead he went into his bedroom, shut the door and sat on his bed. His desk lamp was on and lit up the keyboard beneath. He stood up and moved to his desk chair. He bent over and turned on his computer. The monitor turned blue as it booted up, and he stared into it with blank eyes.