06/28/2017
Chapter 23
She was dreaming she was at the Cat’s Eye Saloon. Her best friend Evie was there, trying to convince her not to do another shot. However, she was in celebratory mood. Four years of blood, sweat and tears was about to end. She only had one more test to take, and she would walk across a stage. The best part, her dad would place the hood on her shoulders. She wanted to celebrate. Nancy lifted the shot purchased for her by the incredibly hot black guy at the bar.
She heard her friend say, “Nance… you should save that shot for after the test.” Her friend pleaded her case, but she knew she was more focused on the guy buying her drinks. Granted he was hot, he was a delightful mix of white bread Americana, and the dark broodings of the African continent. He had blue eyes and a dark tan that would never go away. There was no way Evie could talk her down from that. She even thought she was a little jealous, that he picked her over.
“Evie, you know I love you right? But this girl is going to rock that black candy tonight.”
Abruptly, the dream ended. The freezing cold water poured over her head brought her back to reality.
“Do you still think I’m black candy?” Lincoln Colby asked her with unbridled anger. “Oh, and do you know how racist that is?”
When the inevitable is no longer in doubt, clarity washes over you. Her eyes slowly began to focus. She was in a basement. The only light came from bulb hanging from the basement ceiling. It was swaying back and forth, creating shadow monsters. He must have just pulled on the little chain to turn it on. She felt cold metal on her wrist, and realized she was chained to a metal support beam.
Her body shook uncontrollably from the freezing water and the knowledge she was not going to live through this.
“Please let me go, I was drunk! I… I promise I won’t tell. I wanted to be a doctor. I worked so hard.” Her voice faded with each word, quiet sobbing replaced her vocal response.
Lincoln Colby merely returned her plea with a cruel smile and said, “You are only the food that will power the next evolution of man.” He turned around to the metal table behind him. On the table was a cardboard box.
She saw him reach in with both hands and rummaged through the contents. She distinctly heard the sound of metal, like someone looking for a tool in a toolbox.
“I didn’t believe it myself when I first read about Apollyon.” He paused his search and looked up. She followed his gaze, but realized he was looking at something only he could see. The sound of her teeth chattering was the only sound for several seconds. Finally she screamed, “If you are going to fu***ng kill me, get on with it. I can’t stand when the evil character dose a soliloquy.”
Lincoln turned around, his face lit up with a smile. “Ah… you are an educated woman.” Lincoln paced back and forth for a few moments, and he never quit smiling. Finally he stopped and looked at her. “I am a high school drop out. Yet, I know that a soliloquy is the act of speaking one’s thoughts. I never liked school, not because I wasn’t cool, or smart. School bored me. You have to understand that I can see beyond what you can understand. When I read a post, there are words not shown. I can see those invisible words and I know what the being that posted it really meant.”
Nancy’s mouth dropped open listening to the rants of mad man. “Please!” A sob escaped her lips. “I want to be a doctor.”
Lincoln reached down into a gym bag and pulled out a butcher’s knife. “That is funny you mentioned being a doctor. I have been researching being a coroner. You see, I can do any job after reading about it.” Lincoln turned around and said, “You will be my first cadaver… Oh, and I am sorry, you will be alive when I begin.”
