Chapter 216 - Darkness Falls (2/2)

”I swear to god Bob, if we get put in a cage from any of them, I'm tellin em to eat you first.”

Hearing the back and forth between these two seemed to grab the weird man's ear. It seemed like he was listening rather closely to the two youths conversation. No one could tell this though since they hadn't been talking loudly. Just as he was about to get up and ask them a question, they approached the bar instead.

”Hey Tina. Yo baby. Pour me and my boy here something. We got a great job lined up and we both going to be rolling in the money soon.”

”Bob, Bobby. You two know better than anyone that I can't serve you anything until you either pay your tab or have cash on yah. No if ands, or buts.”

”Ugh... Come on Tina. We've been friends for years. You know you could trust me for it. Soon. I promise.”

”No deal. If you ain't got cash, get out,” Tina said while pointing at the door. Just as the defeated boys were about to get up and see if they could get something out of the corner store, a hundred dollar bill hit the table. Looking up, Not only Tina but also Bob and Bobby seemed shocked.

”They can have a few on me.” The stranger said in his soft silky voice.

”Uhh... Thanks, but uh... me and my brother don't swing that way friend...” The one named Bob said. If they stranger's face could be seen, there would definitely be black lines all across his forehead.

”Let's not even go there. How about you two tell me more about the situation in New Orleans right now?” The man asked back.

”Oh. Well, sure thing buddy. But it ain't no secret and flashing this kind of cash around these parts can be bad for yer health.” Bobby responded back while jabbing a thumb behind himself. The entire bar had somehow noticed the interaction between them and was eyeing the stranger who casually threw out money for drinks for strangers.

”No worries. Tell me what you know, an insiders perspective if you will.”

”Well. Alright friend. It's yer dime and all. About a year ago, strange things started happening right after the last Mardi Gras. You know, all the freaks usually come to the party during the party but leave after. But this time, some groups of people sprung up in the city. Them bible thumpers are the easiest to understand, going around and recruiting peoples, telling them they are the new chosen's of god and all that shit. Well, not that there is ever a lack of crazies, but strange thing is that people really started to believe them. Don't know if they are waiting for a commit or their god's a coming, but they started staying pretty low key after being real loud like. Then there are the hoodoos. Well, we call them that, but they call themselves the devotees of the Vodun. You know it as voodoo. They are all kinds of crazy too, but they restrain themselves. They don't go looking for members, but they claim the coming of their god will be the beginning of the end for this world. Then, on top of these two, you got the vampyres. We don't know shit about them, but they seem to be a group as well that's mostly just whispered about. Ain't no body going to find out if the rumor's are true or not. Either way, the vampyres are the ones who seem to be warring with the god's chosen while the Vodun seem to just be watching. Least, that's what we be hearing.”

After Bod and Bobby finished their story, they started ordering drinks from Tina who had been listening too. Seems like even she didn't know what had been happening there except that people have been moving up north more. Of course, that's cause she was usually too busy to care about that stuff. As for the dark stranger, he seemed to take all of this silently and only spoke up again after the brother's started drinking.

”You guys said they are looking for people, right?” He asked.

”Yeah. Why, you interested? It's good money right? Depending on where you end up helping, you can get quite a lot from them drunk tourists.” Bob said and pulled a card out from his back pocket.

”Here yah go. Just make sure to call the number here and use my name. I get a hook up payment for everyone I can recruit for em.” Bob seemed to be rather happy that he had not only gotten himself some drinks but also was able to get someone else to go get a job.

”Stranger. Although it sounds interesting, I also know that things have gotten bad down there. We've gotten quite few new people living here who got out of the city for a reason. You got to be careful if you want to go there,” Tina warned the dark stranger.

”Thanks. But it seems like it might just be the place I'm looking for.” The stranger smiled and he passed over a few more hundred dollar bills, a strange glint in his blue eyes.

”Keep the change darling,” the stranger said with a little bow of his head before grabbing the card off the bar and walking for the door while several people eyed him with a dangerous gaze.

'Looks like I know where I am headed next. It's about fucking time...' Laz said to himself as he left, not looking back.