Part 23 (2/2)

”f.u.c.k you.”

Haze took the last slice of pizza and crammed it in his mouth. Nacho cheese dribbled down the corners of his mouth. He wiped the orange streams with a rough, brown napkin-the kind from public bathrooms. ”Anyway, got it? Go down to Level Zero. Stay there until you find your Soul Item. Don't let the Stalker Man get you.”

”And there's one more thing.” Haze said quietly.

During Haze's speech, the others had freely talked, eaten and drank. But now, they settled down. Laurent stared into his beer. Amrith and Lena looked right at me. Josh twisted his lip and slowly, slowly shook his head; he tapped his bare arm again, and tugged his sleeve back down to cover up the message.

”You can't come near us again,” Haze told me. ”It's too dangerous.”

What?

A tall, red-neck looking guy with a white wife-beater and a Hulk Hogan moustache came out from the kitchen.

”You guys alright?” He asked.

”We're fine.” Haze rumbled.

The Hulk wannabe disappeared back into the kitchen, whistling to the jazz in the air.

”It's too dangerous for us to see you any more,” Haze said. ”h.e.l.l, this bunch have already risked their lives. After this, you're on your own.”

And now everybody was staring at their feet.

”Anyway kids,” Haze pushed himself up. The blocky, wooden chair creaked beneath him. ”I'd better go see the wife. Nice meeting you Sam. Good luck.”

Haze tossed some bills on the table. He kicked his chair away and headed out. He pa.s.sed me as he went for the door. The smell of beer and cigarette smoke rolled off him.

Laurent waited until Haze left the door. When the door thunked shut, he grabbed an empty water bottle and poured the remains of his beer into it. He stuck the beet into his jacket pocket, and left.

”Sorry Sam,” Lena murmured, avoiding eye contact. She and Amrith got up. Amrith came around and patted my shoulder. His hand was warm, comforting, strong-traitor.

Lena and Amrith left together. I didn't watch them go.

That was it?

Josh tapped my shoulder. ”You're taking me to York Mills and Bayview.”

”Sure.” I said as we stood up.

Josh checked his wallet. ”I want ice cream. We'll get ice cream along the way.”

”Pull up there.”

Josh pointed out a strip mall coming up on the road. It sat buried behind tall gra.s.s and a set of traffic lights that weren't lighting. A single shop-a 24/7 convenience store with a fluorescent orange sign-shone on the dark row.

A red OPEN sign hung slanted in the door.

I made an illegal turn through the empty street, and pulled into the strip's lot.

I pulled the car to a stop and cranked up the parking brake.

”What do you want?” Josh asked. He pulled out his wallet. In the dark, I could see his hands best; a band of light fell across them as he pulled out a twenty. I remembered I'd paid 150 for cab fare.

”I'm good,” I said, undoing my seatbelt.

”I'm offering you free ice cream.” Josh said. He pulled open his door and stepped outside. Cold air brushed my shoulder.

”Chocolate.”

”Fine. Let's go.” Josh kicked his door shut. I was going to punch that kid some day. Again. my car did not suffer door-kicking gladly.

I got out of the car. The cold wrapped around me and I hunched my shoulders. Crickets creaked in the uncut gra.s.s in front of the lot, and Canada geese honked in the distance. Josh's sneakers clip-clopped the pavement.

Josh was almost at the store-a shadow in the sterile light.

I had to tell Josh about the time skip, I decided. Not because I was worried, but because it was strange. I had to learn about Level Zero.

Especially now that I had to go down there alone.

I breathed in the cold air. Josh entered store door open. A bell rang inside.

I gave up on being warm. Instead, I unb.u.t.toned my dress s.h.i.+rt and let the cold in. I s.h.i.+fted, and adjusted my pants. My khakis were chafing my man-areas. I'd grown to hate them; they made me feel like I was working. TGIF.

I headed over to the store. In the steel-barred window, Josh pushed two ice cream sandwich-things over the counter. The cas.h.i.+er rang it up and threw a blue five-dollar note down. Josh picked up the snacks, swept up the bill, and came back out.

”This one has caramel in it,” Josh said as he opened the door, ringing the store's bell. He handed me a popsicle.

I took the snack from Josh. It was encased in red and brown packaging with a picture of a dancing cow, the word MAGNUM written in red bubble letters on the side. The fudgesicle burned a cold rectangle in my hand.

Josh unwrapped his own thing-a white and red swirly tube that smelled of lemon. He bit off a chunk and chewed. Good way to get an ice cream headache.

I unwrapped the Magnum. It was a rocket-s.h.i.+p shaped stick of fudge about the size of a child's arm. I sc.r.a.ped the top off with my teeth and balled up the wrapper in my free hand.

”Haze is wrong.” Josh said when he finished chewing. ”I don't think going down into Level Zero will do anything to help you.”

I hadn't been impressed by Haze, but then I wasn't that impressed by Josh either. I just nodded.

”I don't know that much about the Stalker Men,” Josh said. Admitting it made his perma-scowl deepen. ”But I've never heard Haze talk about bulls.h.i.+t soul items.”

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