I walked into the bar, a fresh scrape still on my elbow, the red dragging behind and up my shoulder. It didn't hurt much, not for an accident in any regard. The bartender, Stephen looked at me, smiling as I sat down at my normal seat on the far right of the bar.
The lights flickered briefly, illuminating the rest of the room as everyone continued onward, it was normal per se, not well received usually, but nobody cared much tonight.
The game was on a little black TV near the edge of the table further back, I didn't like games, not the video or real-life type very much, not black-and-white ones anyway.
"The usual?" Stephen asked with a grin, passing me a rag to wipe my bloodied elbow on. Without waiting, he began to mix up my usual drink, Jack Daniels with a freshly cracked Coke.
"That'd be great," I answered, wiping my elbow on the rag he had passed over. Another brutal Friday hauling lumber, hell, most of us just hauled lumber. There wasn't much else to do in the damned town.
"Hear about the kids that went missin'?" He asked, taking the rag back and tossing it behind him. I could see a woman in the corner slightly raise her head at his question, but turned my gaze to him, I hadn't seen her before anyway.
I shook my head, staring down at the long table closer to the TV, I locked eyes with the beauty that was here every other day. Her hair was unkempt, as it always was, aside from her new spaghetti-strapped dress which stretched far down her knees, almost touching her pale ankles.
"Ah, still tryin' to bag her, eh?" Stephen asked with a wink, sliding me my glass and a small bowl of peanuts. He raised an eyebrow, waiting for my response as I sighed.
"We both know I quit long ago Steve," I replied, my voice musky as I took the glass and downed the drink in one gulp. He looked at me, not fondly as his signature glare usually was.
Stephen had a thing for always looking grumpy, it kept the customers in check as he'd usually mumble.
His beard stretched just below his chin, the top half almost completely gray while the bottom was losing its black color. He was bald on the top of his head, any light you shined there could likely blind an airplane pilot, minus a small patch of hair on the right side, just above his temple.
He let out a hearty chuckle, removing the glare as he looked down toward the couple on stage performing a musical classic, not that I ever remembered the name, something about love.
"Hard to believe it's only been a few months, eh? Damn near everyone has left, minus the teenagers goin' missin', of course."
"Steve, I'm trying to enjoy my night. Your little ghost stories and conspiracies can wait," I cut him off, grabbing a fistful of peanuts as I got up out of the bright red stool and approached the stage.
Most of the wood was rotted out, except a few lucky pieces just behind the microphone. A large oak arch stood behind the younger couple, both in their mid-20s to my best guess. Slowly, the woman got closer and pointed at the crowd as she reached the song's climax.
"Tainted love~" She continued, pointing at everyone in the crowd as she swept her arm to the side, winking about midway through.
Damn singers, always packing the bar this full. I ignored the thought, as I would normally, and wandered back over to Stephen, who was clutching a photo in his right hand.
Just below the white picture was a fishing scar he had gotten a few years before, it was nothing more than a thick line now, but back then he'd have questions upon questions about the story.
"What do you have there?" I questioned, causing him to quickly put it away and mix me another drink.
"Just the same old family photo, missin' the young ones," He answered, his voice almost shaky as he poured the drink into my glass.
My eyes stayed locked onto him, watching his whale tattoo bob up and down, before shifting my gaze to a woman in a black gown sitting alone in a side booth.
I started to walk off before getting my drink, moving closer to her before Stephen grabbed me by my wrist. "Careful there Darren, she's been mumblin' to herself all night. Locals say she's gone looney."
"It'll be fine Steve, I'm not one for the superstitions like you all," I answered briskly, grabbing the newly finished drink and sitting beside her in the oak booth. She glanced up at me, her eyes almost dead, before they shifted and she put on a faint smile.
"I've never seen you around here, you new?" I asked, taking a big swig of my glass as I stared down at her. She stared into my eyes for a moment, her gaze almost transfixed, before answering.
"New arrival, yes. I just came in through the port by the Kirenport manor."
The old manor? "Is that right? Guess you must have moved in there then?" I questioned, remembering the for sale sign I had seen whilst driving past it on my way to the bar.
"Oh, yes, you're quite right! If you will excuse me, I must run along here soon," She replied, her eyes darting back in forth as if she was searching for something or someone.
"You're excused," I answered, watching her run off toward the entrance. Now ain't that odd? Damn manors been abandoned for years, no one from here would be idiotic enough to purchase that safety hazard.
I got out of the booth, making my way back over to the bar as Stephen chatted with another of the regulars. I didn't see him very often, maybe once every two or so Fridays, but I had never spoken to him. Compared to me, the man was a giant, towering over even Stephen who was a good few inches taller than me.
I sipped the rest of my drink, slamming down my glass onto one of the coasters as I stared at the tattoo on the giant's shoulder, a black raven with almost hollowed-out red eyes. "You staring at something, boy?" He asked, moving away from Stephen as he glared down at me.
"Nothing much, just your tattoo. Around here ravens symbolize death, not that I believe much of it," I answered, taking a step back. The hell? Stand still, why am I moving?
"Is that the case?" He replied, setting down his glass and walking up to me.
"Hey now, no fighting in here," Stephen called, putting his arms between the two of us and handing me another glass, this one full of water, to calm down.
If it weren't for that damned tattoo, anyone here knows it's bad luck to have one of those. "I apologize," I spat out, taking the glass and sitting back down on the edge of the bar. Without another word, not waiting for him either, I downed the glass in one gulp.
Fuck I feel...dizzy?
"Hey, Darren, you alright man?" Stephen called, but his voice was faint, merely above a whisper. The taller guy grinned as the same woman from earlier came back in through the door and stood next to him.
"Yeah... Might just be a late buzz or something of the like," I replied, although I couldn't even hear my voice, let alone anyone else's. The music faded, becoming an orchestra as an eerie tune began to play, sending shivers down my spine as the violin was struck to mirror a scream.
Shit, I can't even...