Friends

bright and colorful yet still old school. this bar had life even if the people were here were to go.

Mika held Ezekiel's hand as the song gods and monsters by Lana Del Rey. you couldn't see it but he smiled when Mika did that. Their moment was interrupted by one of Mika friends, Reid asked

"Ezekiel what you do?" Mika nudged Ezekiel and whispers

"you don't have to say anything?"

Ezekiel look at him then looks at Reid "I conduct psychological therapeutic experiments." Reid laughed. Ezekiel look confused of his reaction but he was surprised. Reid's mission is to make Ezekiel look bad so Mika could fall in love with him. He acts like Ezekiel couldn't see the way he

look at Mika. Reid laughed

"what the fuck. I didn't expect that answer. So what you’re a scientist too?" Ezekiel responded "somewhat." Jerry, the another friend in their group, said "What kind of experiments you conduct?" Ezekiel responded "Ones that can make people

change for the better. Unfortunately it only

works 70% of the time because humans by

nature are selfish." Reid was drunk and furious

he couldn't believe they were buying this joke.

Reid said "Give us an example of one." Ezekiel

Look at the bartender who he knew from a long

time ago.

2 weeks prior

He sitting at the bar taking another drink, You

look at the news channel and the listing all

victims that went missing. His victims making

him wonder why he even does this. What's the

whole point of torturing people and unable to

make them change If they don't ever change.

His life work is to make them change their

awful ways into good behaviors. If he can't do

that what is he good for. She was right, he needs

her. Maybe she changed or maybe he wasn't

good enough. He needs her. He pulled out his

phone to try to call her again. Until the

bartender walked up to him but this bartender

looked familiar and then the bartender song a

similar tune.

I can see you, drinking beer, on the couch,

watching TV. It was you, I always feared,

'cause I know it was killing you.

He looked at on a couldn't be. It just couldn't be but the bartender was looking straight at him like he knew. They were all alone in their use the only one there.

"I was hoping it was you."

"Kill the by a bartender what a way to go, After

all I deserve it I made her leave."

"I've been sober for 1 year and 6 months. I work

in a place on temptation. My daughter barely

started high-school, She join drama club. She

hopes to be a great actress. I recently got

engaged to a woman who been helping me get

my life back on track and someone my daughter

actually likes."

Ezekiel didn't understand, he was confused.

"Congratulations."

"I wanted to say thank you. I wouldn't have my

life like this if it wasn't for your trick. You

taught me to value something more than the

bottle in my hand. Yes it was twisted Like

Something a horror movie. Heck I even question

your insanity but you save my life. I don't even

know you but I want to thank you with this"

Bartender hands him a card, It was a wedding

invitation. For Carl Madison and Julia Caesar.

Ezekiel laughed then said

"So you can have us arrested at your wedding

oldest trick in the book."

"Strange that's what brother said when I sent

him an invitation. Great minds think a like."

"How do you know my brother?"

"His girlfriend and him are friends with my

daughter. You think they start talking to her.

Plus I heard you needed it I can see why."

Ezekiel look at his phone, The name that brings

back memories Rachel T.

"I've been working this field for too long to

know that when someone is down in the dumps

they call the one person who causes more

problem. It's fine your brother told me the call

of this guy named Mika. whenever you get too

drunk to drive home. he gave me his phone

number."

"And let me guess you called him."

"Of course I did, you made the assumption I

was gonna kill you. I thought you were gonna

kill yourself in my bar."

"Your bar?"

"Yeah my bar, I bought this bar."

Ezekiel look around and thought to himself

"People don't change"

"Humans are selfish by nature"

"Everyone has a dark side."

"Humanity will never change for the better."

"Nobody cares."

"They're all worthless anyways"

"They don't deserve redemption"

He realized that his thoughts were not his own.

He heard her voice do those words, He realized

that none of those words are true and he can see

the results for his own eyes. He has proof that

people can change right where he standing. He

took his phone and deleted her phone number.

Now

Ezekiel said "For legal reasons I cannot say this person's name or case but I will tell you this he is now engage, his daughters in high school, and his life is back on track." Jerry says "oh that's good to hear."

Reid was not satisfied "Hey guys we should go to Canyon reef." Jerry smiled "yeah we should go for old time sake."

Ezekiel was aware of what Reid was trying to do. Did he really expect Ezekiel not to notice how he looks at Mika. It was pretty obvious from the gecko. But Ezekiel wasn't going to fight over Mika. He's not an object He's a human being.

"Canyon Reef?"

Ezekiel asked he scratched the back of his head acting like he was confused.

"Have you ever gone there?"

Asked Jerry.

"I have, isn't too smart to go out there at night."

Reid got him where he wants him.

"Oh so you're scared."

Ezekiel kept his composure.

"I don't want to get shot I heard rumors that people dump bodies there who else dumped bodies in a forest."

Jerry in total shock asked

"really people dump body say we used to go there all the time and we never seen any."

"That's because they're damn good at hiding it. Some hikers even find some bones. I think some old clothes were discovered cover in red stain."

Jerry was getting really scared

"Are there really dead bodies?"

"You'll never find them. Not if you're unlucky to."

Ezekiel added aware that Jerry was getting scared.

"Let's go there now just to prove that you're lying."

Jerry says "dude chill"

"I'm not going to chill when he starting out bullshit!"

"Whether you believe me or not. You wouldn't want to put your friends lives at risk. It could be the mafia doing it, I'm just saying."

"Where every weekend and we not once seen a dead body!"

"You're not going to, I'm hoping not."

"Exactly cuz you're lying."

"But I'm not."

"We'll see about that."