Fear the Reaper (Chapter 11)

CHAPTER 111

I think therefore I am2

(Plato)3

A little later, after much debating between Debbie and myself, we agreed that she would stay at the Nightclub to keep an eye on them to make sure they didn’t go anywhere. While I nipped home to get the van and all the Reaper props.4

On reaching home, I dumped a gram of speed into a glass of milk, stirred it up, and drank it down as quickly as I could.5

Then happy that I had all I needed, I made my way back to Hedonism.6

On arriving back at the Nightclub, I found Debbie on our table talking to another girl. She wasn’t too bad either, short, tight tee-shirt revealing her stomach and long blonde hair to boot. Pretty cute! But alas, not my type, I mean blondes are fun, but I prefer brunettes and adore black hair. Guess it’s just my thing!7

God, my mind’s wandering again… Focus…8

‘Hiya Richie’ said Debbie smiling. ‘We’ve just been talking about you.’9

Shit! What have they been talking about?10

Come on, don’t get paranoid now.11

‘All good things I hope?’ I said nervously.12

‘Richie, this is Sadie. Sadie this is Riche’ said Debs, making the introductions.13

‘Hi, nice to meet you’ said Sadie, flirtily.14

‘Yeah, good to meet you to’ I said, shaking her hand.15

‘Right, I’ll leave you two love birds to it, then’ she said. She then winked at Debbie. ‘Hey Debs. Nice catch.’ Debbie smiled and blushed slightly. Which was very cute, I might add. Sadie gave me a big smile. ‘She likes you a lot, so look after her.’ I smiled back.16

‘Yeah, don’t worry, I will.’17

‘Right, well hopefully I’ll see you both later’ she said and walked off.18

‘Yeah, see ya’ we replied.19

When I looked back to Debbie, she had her hand over her mouth giggling.20

‘Who was that then?’ I asked in a light hearted kind of way.21

‘Oh that’s Sadie. I used to go to school with her. She’s mad, she hasn’t changed at all.’22

‘How did you explain where I’d been?’23

‘I told her you’d nipped up to the cash point for some money’ she laughed.24

‘Cool. And how are this evening’s prey?’25

‘Oh, they’re still there. Although I did think they were going to leave at one stage. But this half caste guy in a tux came and joined them and they’ve been chatting there ever since.’ I frowned in puzzlement, and turned around to look at them.26

‘That’s Farrah! What the hell is he doing talking to them?’ I couldn’t believe it.27

Debbie looked puzzled. 28

I feel betrayed.29

‘Who’s Farrah?’30

‘He owns the place. He used to work with me about five years ago. How long has he been over there?’31

‘Oh about twenty minutes.’32

‘So he knows them, then.’ I rubbed my temples with my fingertips to try and relieve the stress and tension I could feel building up there.33

‘Richie, are you alright?’ she was concerned.34

‘I’m fine’ I snapped, looking up suddenly. ‘I think Farrah and I should have words.’ I snapped again and got to my feet.35

‘Where are you going?’36

‘I’m going to see Farrah. You wait here, I’ll be back in about ten or fifteen minutes.’37

I then marched over to the table where Farrah sat with Sam killers. I tapped him on the shoulder. ‘Richie man, how’s it …’ I cut him off. ‘I need to talk to you, Farrah.’ Farrah frowned and slid his eyes nervously to the left to see the reaction of the demon sinners that sat around him. Silence... He then regained his composure. ‘This is going to have to wait, Rich’ he said sternly, glaring at me. I glared back at him.38

‘No it can’t wait. I’ve got to talk to you, right now.’ He narrowed his eyes at me, intimidatingly and stood up. At full height, he was easily a foot taller than me. He looked around at the fiends. ‘Excuse me, gentlemen. I will be back soon.’ he said, almost grudgingly. He then looked around at me. ‘You, follow me’ he added, through pursed lips.39

I followed him past the crowded tables and the dancing bodies, through a door into a room behind the bar.40

As soon as he had shut the door behind us, he grabbed the front of my shirt and slammed me up against the wall. ‘What the fuck was all that about? Don’t you ever speak to me like that again in company.’ His face was inches from mine; he seemed more than a little pissed off.41

‘Who are they, Farrah? I replied, trying to sound unintimidated, narrowing my eyes at him. ‘Who the fuck is who?’42

‘Those vermin low lives you were sat on the table with.’43

‘Business clients. What the fuck gives you the right to come in here and tell me who to do business with?’ He bellowed.44

I lifted my arms up in resignation.45

‘I’m sorry Farrah. I realise I may have been a bit out of order. But those are the twats who killed Sam and put me in hospital.’ Farrah was taken aback.46

‘Them?’ he gasped, unbelievingly. A short uncomfortable silence followed. ‘Are you sure it was them?’47

He needs convincing?48

‘I was there, Farrah. I saw what they did. I don’t think I will ever forget their faces.’ He nodded thoughtfully and released his grip.49

‘Yeah, of course you’re sure.’ He conceded defeatedly. ‘The thing is, what do you expect me to do about it? Do you want me to call the law?’50

‘No, too many questions.’51

‘Good, cause it’s bad for business anyway. Do you want me to get them fucked up?’52

‘No, because they wouldn’t learn anything. They need to be judged.’53

‘Wait a minute. Judged? I thought you said no pigs.’54

‘I did. No, I mean, I will judge them.’ Farrah frowned in puzzlement.55

‘What are you saying to me, man?’56

This is it. I’ve got to think of a line, fast.57

‘What I am saying is, that for the sake of tonight I shall become the Reaper.’58

‘What? That guy in the news? Boy, has he been a worry to people. He’s hitting all the right boys, but I wouldn’t want him judging my arse.’ He laughed.59

‘I should imagine you’re quite safe, he only goes after violent offenders…, so I’ve read.’60

‘Are you sure you can carry this off? Man.’61

‘I’ve waited two years for this, Farrah. So yes, I think I can pull it off.’62

‘So what are you asking?’63

‘What I am asking of you, is to help me knock them out. Prep them up for the show as it were.’64

‘You’re crazy. I can’t risk them tracking their way back to here. I can’t do it. It’s like asking the pigs to come on in and have a look around. As I said “it’s bad for business.”’65

‘Oh come on Farrah. It’s not like you haven’t done this sort of thing before.’66

‘Fuck you, man. There’s a difference between fucking someone up for owing me money and aiding and abetting a Reaper attack.’ He began raising his voice.67

‘The only difference is you’d be doing it for me and not for yourself.’68

‘Fuck you. If you’re going to be pulling this shit, then you’re on you own.’69

‘Fine. Then I guess we have nothing more to say. Thanks a fucking lot Farrah.’ I turned on my heels and walked to the door.70

‘Fuck!’ Farrah shouted as he slammed his fist down on the desk beside him. He sighed.71

‘Hey Richie man, wait.’ I stopped and took my hand from the door handle. ‘I know this means a lot to you. And it goes against my better judgement, but I will help you.’ He paused. ‘But on my terms, clear?’ I nodded.72

‘Okay. So what are your terms?’73

‘The terms are …’ he began counting them on his fingers. ‘Number 1. You don’t get them until they leave the club. Number 2 when you do knock them out, you get them away from here as quick as possible and Number 3, if you get caught, you’ve never even heard of Hedonism. Are you clear?’74

‘It’s a deal. Now how are you going to help me?’75

‘Right, well firstly. How are you going to knock them out?’76

‘Chloroform.’77

‘Chloroform? Where’d you get that shit?’78

‘I used to collect butterflies.’79

‘Too messy man, they’ll be puking and shit and that’ll attract attention.’80

‘Well what do you propose?’81

‘I say we crush up some sleepers and spike their drinks. Then when they fall asleep, I’ll get a couple of the boys to put them in the delivery port behind the club. You pick them up and leave. That way, there’s no mess, no fuss and we’re both happy.’82

‘Okay, so when does this all start to happen?’83

‘Well I gotta finish my business with them or they’ll start getting suspicious. I get my money, they get their drugs and you get your killers. Are we cool?’84

‘Yeah, we’re cool. What shall I do?’85

‘You just go and sit your arse back in there and wait for me to give you the call. Then, when I do, you get your arse out of here and don’t even look back until you’ve put some distance behind you. Clear?’86

‘Clear. I’ll just wait in here then.’ I said pointing to the door we had come through.87

I went back out and told Debbie what was going on. She was really understanding. I think when all of this is over; we’re going to make a great couple. I just hope I can do it, I need her in my life. I mean it’s a buzz that she’s into me, I just hope I can return the feelings.88

After about half an hour, I was starting to get a bit anxious and my paranoia started trying to convince me that Farrah would double cross me.89

But true to his word, as the hour was approaching its completion, he came over to me. ‘Right Richie man, it’s done. Now get your arse going, and remember what I said.’ I stood up and began getting my coat on. I then reached out, grabbed his hand, and shook it warmly. ‘Thanks a lot Farrah; this means a lot to me.’90

‘Never mind that shit now, Rich. Just get the hell out, you’ve got about 3 hours before they wake.’91

‘Okay, on my way’ I then helped Debbie into her coat and we started to make our way out. ‘Oh Richie man.’ I looked back. ‘Look after yourself out there’ Farah concluded, and winked.92

‘Yeah, cheers man’ I replied and we went outside.93

I then backed the van down a back alley leading to the delivery port at the back of the Nightclub. Two of Farrah’s boys were waiting for us, and once I’d parked up, they helped me load the demon killers into the back of the van.94

Now that the tricky part was over, I drove Debbie home. She was still a little unsure of letting me go under the circumstances of what they had done to me personally. But she backed down when she realised she wasn’t going to talk me out of it.95

So I dropped her off, kissed her passionately and told her I’d ring her as soon as it was all over. ‘You just make sure you do’ she told me as I got back into the van. She gave me a wave and wandered off forlornly into the house.96