The Necromancer

The day was like any other day. A chill in the fall air. The Sun shining through the clouds as if optimistically providing metaphorical glimmer of hope for the future. The future is something the Jack Martin has been thinking of a lot lately. How can he forget the past enough to live in the moment, so that he can forge a new future, not one that hinges on his self inflicted condemnation from his past memories. The haunting presence of a chain around the neck and the vivid memories of realizing you are not the man you claim to be. An imposter. A mockery of morality in plain sight but no one can see you.

Jack finds solace in a tiny cafe. A place where loners can sit safe from public ridicule as an unpartnered anti social, or so people like to believe. Jack leans into this narrative, scrunched over leafing through a little black book, learing over his shoulder sporadically as if death was lurking nearby.

"Can I get you a fill up, sir" says the blundering waiter with tape holding his glasses together and a smile that feign's confidence when in reality he is intimidated by the unwelcoming demeaner of his customer Jack, who appears to be volatile and agitated.

"If i need you, i will ring the bell" says Jack with a gravelly voice. When he is finished speaking, a cold chill passes through the restaurant. The curtains sway with the wind and the waiter reluctantly asks, "what bell?".

Just then a bell appears on the table out of thin air. It startles the waiter as he removes his glasses and attempts to wipes his eyes back into reality as his mind formulates a logical reason for what has just occured.

"I guess it's been a long night for both of us" the waiter barely squeaks out. Obviously off put by the exchange he still manages to be cordial. "My name is Owen, just gimme a shout if you need me".

As Owen tries to walk away, Jack grabs him by the arm, stopping Owen in his tracks and with a slight yelp, Owen says, "Sir, You are hurting me".

Jack unhands Owen and Owen scurries away to the kitchen out of sight.

"Do you mind taking over table Number #2" Owen says to Sammy a teenage boy from the neighbourhood working his first night at the diner.

"Sure, but I am not really sure what to do" he says as pride fills his face in anticipation of being thrust into action his first day. Sammy makes his way out from the back of the kitchen by the man is no longer at table 2.

Just the little black book remains.

"Um, I think your guy just left without paying his bill" Sammy says as he tries to not reveal the smile emerging as he finds the bill jumping to be humurous.

Owen quickly goes over table #2 and grabs the book. The bell also remained.

As Owen opens the book the bell rings, startling Owen. He is the lone person left in the diner other than Sammy working in the kitchen cleaning up in preparation of closing time.

Owen knocks the bell of the table and puts the book into his pocket. He yells to Sammy that he is leaving and gives instructions on how to lock up.

"No problem" Sammy Yells from the kitchen. "Even though it is my first day"

Owen grabs his coat and leaves the diner. Walking very shifty and not very coordinated as they streets are eerily barren and no one to be seen with nothing but a crisp breeze in the air.

As he is walking he approaches a cemetary and he suddenly gets a chill up his spine as goosebumps begin to form on his skin.

"Did you read the book" says Jack at it stops Owen dead in his tracks as he is frozen with fear. The Sunlight is now non existent and darkness falls as clouds fill the sky.

Owen is too afraid to move but realizes he has heard that voice before.

"Sir, It's ok you didn't pay your bill and I have your book right here" slowly and cautiously motioning to his pocket.

"This Book" says Jack holding the book up in the air.

Owen turns around to Jack holding up the book as he is standing in front of a tombstone that reads Jack Martin 1850-1889.

Owen not realizing the significance, reaches for the book he was so positive he retrieved from the diner table and discovers that it is not there.

Was he losing it? Did he really grab the book. Thoughts race through his mind like a dam exploded and water flooding erupts uncontrollably.

"Jack is the name" Jack says as he opens book and writes something down in the little black book and he tosses it as Owen. Owen misses the throw and it falls to the ground slipping through his bumbling nervous hands.

Owen bends over to pick up the book and as he stands Jack Lunges at Owen and grabs him as he tries to scream. Jack aggressively drags Owen into the grave. Owen screams and tries as hard as his might allows to fight the impending doom as he is gobbled up by the dirt and everything fades to darkness and goes quite.

Out of the shadows appears Sammy,

"Back to the grave you go. Your desire for souls feeds my desire to live, I present this sacrifice that I might know the future and have eternal life"

"I am the Necromancer. I control the dead. Feed me and I will forever feed you souls"

Sammy finishes his chant and he walks away laughing with a devilish maniacal tone.

The only thing that remains on the sidewalk is the Black Book as it lays open. The page it is opened to reads "Future Secrets for Souls contract signed by Sammy Martin and Jack Martin" and the name "Owen" written in blood.