Alex's mind churned with disruption, too consumed to notice any passing thoughts.
Alex left the office and had not gone far when he saw a man enjoying a cigarette while resting against the wall outside. As Alex got closer, the man looked up, and there was something about his eyes that seemed to cut right through Alex's anxious thoughts.
"Alex Thompson?" the man called out, in a low voice.
Alex paused, taken aback. "Uh, yeah, that's me. Can I help you?"
Before responding, the man took a deep drag on his cigarette. "I knew your parents, but I doubt you've met me. My name is Williams."
Alex frowned as he attempted to identify the name. "Williams? I apologize, but I don't believe I know anyone with that name."
Williams gave a knowing nod, a small grin flashing across his lips. "That was to be expected. Many things were kept under wraps by your parents. Let me tell you another thing you don't know. Your parents were a part of something bigger than themselves."
Alex feeling uneasy about where this talk was going, changed. "Look, I appreciate you knowing my parents and all, but I'm really not in the mood for these talks right now."
Williams chuckled softly. "Fair enough, Alex."
Williams took another suck on his cigarette and exhaled softly. "Let's just say, you didn't know some other things about your parents. Things that might be useful today, that you're at a crossroads."
Alex's curiosity piqued him. "Like what?"
Williams glanced around cautiously before reaching into his coat pocket. He withdrew a small, golden ring. "This belonged to your father," Williams said quietly, holding it out to Alex.
Alex paused, unsure whether to take it. "What's so special about a ring?"
Williams shrugged nonchalantly. "To most people, nothing. But to those who understand, it's the key."
Alex's mind was racing with questions. "What are you talking about?"
Williams smirked. "You'll find out soon enough, my boy. Just remember this moment when the time comes."
The man took out his card and extended it towards Alex, who accepted it with a hesitant nod. "See you soon, my new friend."
Before Alex could respond, Williams turned and walked away. Alex stared after him, squeezing the ring in his hand.
He stood there for a moment. He looked around, but Williams had already been lost to sight in the crowd.
Alex sighed and put the ring in his pocket. He was too emotionally and physically spent to think about how important it was at this moment.
All he needed, if only for a while, was to take the edge off and get away from his thoughts. He went to the nearest bar, which he had passed by several times but had never been able to afford to enter.
As he pulled open the door, the bar was busy, with a few customers crouched over their drinks, lost in their own worlds.
Alex approached the bar and slumped upon a stool. The robust man behind the bar, who always had a frown on his face, lifted his head from washing a glass and gave Alex a once-over. "What will it be?"
Alex paused, feeling the few crumpled cash he still had in his pocket.
"Just a beer," he whispered.
The bartender groaned. "You sure you can afford that, pal? You look like you should be out begging for change, not ordering drinks."
Alex rolled his eyes. He was used to it anyway. He didn't need another confrontation today. He dug a crumpled bill out of his pocket and slapped it against the counter. His voice was dismissive, "Keep the change," he said.
"This? Not even worth the cheapest beer at this place. Sadly." The bartender chuckled.
"Lou, come on, give the guy a break. I'll cover his drink here," a man yelled. His face was rough and unshaven, and his eyes seemed to be bloodshot at the time. He was middle-aged.
Swishing a beer, the bartender handed it to Alex with a shrug. "Well, whatever. It's your money."
Alex turned, to see the man nodding at him. Looked familiar but couldn't remember where he knew him. "Thanks, I guess," Alex said.
The man smiled. "No need to thank me, kid. Just look like you could use a drink."
Alex took the beer, giving the man a nod of thanks.
"Don't mention it. I've been where you are, down on your luck and feeling like the whole world's against you. Name's Jim, by the way."
"Alex," he replied, gulping the beer. It was bitter and cheap, but he welcomed the slight burn as it went down his throat. "Rough day."
Jim chuckled. "Isn't it the case every time? But from the appearance of things, you've had a difficult life rather than just a bad day. How would you describe it?"
With a sigh, Alex raked through his messy hair. "I caught my wife having an affair with my boss. Got fired shortly after that. Right now, I have nothing."
Jim let out a low whistle. "That really is a double whammy, dammit. It makes sense why you appear to have arisen from a grave recently."
"Looks like it." Alex gave a bitter laugh. "I have no idea what I'm supposed to do right now."
Jim stared at Alex and took another swallow of his drink, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Life has a way of kicking you when you're down sometimes. But most times, you just gotta know when to grab it."
Alex suddenly felt a strange tingling sensation in his pocket. He reached in and felt the ring, now pulsing with a faint hum.
"What the...?" Alex muttered, his eyes fixed on the ring in disbelief.
"Yeahhh, maybe. However, I feel as though I'm drowning right now." He kept responding to Jim.
Jim gave him a heartfelt back pat. "Keep going, buddy. You never know what's going to appear next."
Despite not finding much solace in the comments, he nodded.
He drained his beer and placed an order for another, trying to forget the events of the day while slipping into a numb daze.
Alex left the bar, the cold night air hit him like a slap, but it did little to sober him up.
He staggered down the street, the alcohol making his step uneven and his vision blurred. His mind was muddled with pain and anger. The meeting with Williams, and the sight of Lisa with Mr. Parker.
"Just keep walking." He muttered to himself, trying to shake off the memories. "Just keep moving."
He made a turn onto the adjacent street. The hairs at the nape of his neck stood up suddenly, and he couldn't rid himself of the feeling that someone was following him.
He carefully tilted his head back to look over his shoulder, and his heart skipped a beat. Three shadowy beings were working towards him, their faces hidden under their woods.
Alex quickened his pace, his heart racing. "What do they want? He thought. "Maybe they're just passing by. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. It's definitely the alcohol." He thought to himself.
He took a sharp turn, then they followed him. His heart pounded heavily in his chest. "No, they're definitely following me."
"Hey! What do you want?" He called out trying to sound brave.
No answer, just echoes of their footsteps.
"Leave me alone!" He shouted. He tried to run, but his legs were unsteady, and the alcohol slowed him down.
He stumbled, nearly falling, and heard them closing in.
One of the three men said, "Bad things happen to people who wander into our territory."
"I don't want any trouble." Alex pleaded. "I- I just want to go home." He doesn't have a home, but maybe home will make them free him.
"Too late for that." Another added. "You're in our world now."
The first punch came out of nowhere slamming into Alex's stomach. He doubled over gasping for breath, but they didn't let go. They hit him again and again, fists and boots driving him to the ground.
"Please," Alex crocked, spitting bl@@d. "Just take what you want and leave me alone."
"Do we look like beggars? Your life has been paid for." One of them barked kicking hard in the ribs.
"Look at this!" Another said pulling out the ring from Alex's pocket. "This looks valuable."
"That's mine!" Alex cried, reaching out weakly. "Give it back!"
But another brutal kick sent him sprawling, his vision blurring with pains and tears.
His mind drifted in and out of consciousness. "How did it get to this?" He thought. "How did my life fall apart so quickly?"
His thoughts were interrupted with another punch to the face his head spinning back against the pavement.
He tasted bl@@d, his body aching with every breath. "This can't be the end." He thought desperately. "There has to be more for me in life."
Just as one of them was about to pocket the ring a light came out they immediately dropped the ring and ran away.
Through his swollen eyes, Alex watched him run. His body screamed in pain and his consciousness slipped away.
The world drew dark around him. As darkness closed in, he whispered to himself, "This isn't the end of me."
Slowly, the darkness swallowed his words, and Alex slipped into unconsciousness. His eyes finally shut.