Vol 1: Part 3

"Easy, easy." I heard voices as I felt weightless like I was floating.

Drifting in, and out time seemed to stop.

What felt like an eternity later I opened my eyes.

I felt the restrictive rough feel of bandages as I tried to sit up. "Careful you might reopen something." Jackson said worry lacing his voice.

"What took you so long?" I coughed as Jackson handed me a glass.

"You weren't the only one that got jumped." He replied softly placing one of his muscle bound arms on the side of the bed I was lying on.

Looking up at his square jawed face, and fierce hazel eyes. Laying down really emphasized how ginormous he was two hundred pounds of muscle at six foot six, towering above me like a fortress of security,

"Here I was thinking I was special." I dryly chuckled trying to lighten the darkening atmosphere. Looking down at my glass. It was water. "This isn't the right drink." I muttered as I got up handing the glass back to Jackson. Slowly bending down I picked up a balled up shirt, and crumpled trousers putting them on.

"Hey, don't go off on your own." Jackson yelled. Ignoring him. I looked around I was some where familiar.

Gripping onto the rails I made my way down the spiraling stairs. The kitchen light was on. I was like a saint who had seen a glimpse of heaven as I stumbled forwards. "Look who's awake, welcome back sleeping beauty." Someone sneered.

"Nice to see you to Stanley." I sniffed as I walked through the door way. The large kitchen was spotless like always multiple ovens were off. I walked across the black and white checkered floors to the cupboard taking out three shot glasses.

"What do you need three for?" Stanley asked. Red faced, his, black pompadour falling flat, he rubbed his crooked nose, that he got in a rather vicious bar fight years ago.

"You'll see in a minute." I mumbled as I collected the things I needed. Matches. A nice beverage. Collecting these things together I prepared myself.

I poured a generous shot into one of the glasses. He watched his eyes wide in horror as I lit the match.

Shaking the match out I lifted the burning glass. "In honor of Joe." I Solemnly said as I lifted my mouth up slowly exhaling I closed my lips around the fiery liquid extinguishing the flames as I drank to Joe's health. Wherever he ended up.

"Fuck!" Stanley shouted as he threw the glass in his hands on the floor. "He was my best driver." He sorrowfully slurred as he began to slip onto the floor.

I poured another glass handing it to him. "He died valiantly if that means anything to you." Taking the bottle I left him in his grief as I slipped out the back door into the cool air.

I left the restaurant, and made my way down the street. Taking deep swings as I went.

The night sky is always my favorite thing to look at, just the way the indigo clouds are only slightly visible with the help of the stars. It seems so surreal just like life only the bright ones are ever noticed. Pushing the distracting thoughts to the back of my mind I turned round the corner practically falling onto the bar door.

"Gabe! Gabriel! Open up." I drunkenly slurred. I kept trying to open the door.

"The bar is." The voice stopped as the door opened. "I think you had better come in." He groaned opening the door as I stumbled inside.

"Where is everyone? Why is the bar closed this early?" I asked confused.

"It's three in the morning Jester." The owner of the place growled impatiently.

I took another sip from the bottle I was carrying. The burning sensation was calming as it washed away my woes. Wobbling over to the bar I planted my flushed face onto the counter, trying to climb up the bar stool.

Gabriel walked out of the room, he reappeared as I finally got onto the bar stool.

"Right, Jackson will be over in a minute." Gabriel sighed.

I moved my face to the side, bright blonde hair was like a halo, His broad smile seemed to light up the empty room, and baby blue eyes that seemed to be as warm as a roaring fireplace.

"Let's drink then!" I shouted as I slammed the near empty bottle on the bar counter.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine." I brushed past as he sat next to me.

"Look Jester, why are you here?" He placed a hand on my shoulder.

Why was I here? I could be anywhere why here? I cast my eyes onto the bar counter tracing my finger over the lines. "I just need another drink, one more drink then I swear that I'm going home."

"Well I am a bar tender, and this is a bar." Gabriel smiled.

"This is why I come here." I chuckled as I watched him get a glass.

He waved to the cash register. "This is going on your tab you know."

"I'll pay it eventually." I shrugged. My hands grasped the smooth glass as I carefully tried to drink the beverage inside.

"Need some help with that?" A mocking voice asked as the shirt I borrowed darkened each time the contents of the glass tipped over the edge, like waves on a capsizing boat.

"I'm fine." I snapped back. Fruitlessly trying to stop my swaying hands as i tried to catch each descending drops. Managing a couple of sips the liquid dulled my head some more as everything started to go hazy.

"Gabe, Where is he?" Jackson asked as my vision started going black.

"Right here, and he's a fucking mess." Gabriel replied.

"I'm no mess." I roared getting up only to hit the floor with a crash as my hands were soon soaked, looking down all I could see was the crimson staining my hands.

"I got him, fucking hell even if they can't admit it him, and Stanley are rather similar." Jackson hissed as he hauled me up.

"Is Stanley also like this?" Gabriel said.

"If anything he's worse I only just got him in a bed before I rushed over here, but for now let's get princess here back to her apartment." Jackson said nudging me with a elbow.

"Sorry." I muttered as I completely blacked out as the ghostly face of a driver filled my mind.