The moon was extra bright that night. It made the shadows even more frightening. Looking at the rustling bushes as I walked by gave me the sudden feeling like something could jump out at any moment. Nothing was more terrifying than what was waiting for me next. The night breeze was colder than usual. There was no one for miles. It had been a life time since I walked down this path.

  “We can run but we’ll run out of road eventually, sugar.” The last words she said to me reverberated. I looked at the sign post in front of me; ‘Dead End!’, I chuckled.

  I removed a pack of cigarettes from my front shirt pocket. Only one cigarette was left. The cigarette met my lips; I tried to light it using my lighter once, then twice but it didn’t work right.

  There was a stench of rosewood in the air, all of the sudden my cigarette was lit by a lighter that was not my own.

  “Thanks.” I looked at my watch, “3:00am”. I took a long drag and then puffed a huge cloud of smoke.

  “I thought you kicked that nasty habit Kid.” A sick grin appeared on his face. The shadows obscured his face but his shark like teeth were glistening in the moon light.

  “I did.” I exhaled another cloud of smoke. “Seeing this here is my last day and all, might as well.”

  “Lighten up kid, I didn’t orchestrate all this just to send you back to accounts receivable.” He removed his top hat and placed it on his chest. “The order of the fly is no more, and the chairman is gone.”

  “Now hold on for a second. Stacy would never allow that to happen.” I tried to keep my composure, fearing what the contrary might mean.

  He sighed, his face came into the light revealing a very somber expression. “The lord of the flies has been recycled.”

  I lost all feeling in my legs, I fell to my knees. My stomach churned. Any more upsetting news would make me evacuate all of my contents. “What happened ?”

  “There was a coup, the three kings conspired to overthrow the chairman. They managed to get a majority of the board to turn against the chairman. After the chairman left, the order of the fly was the only thing standing against the three kings, so our department was dissolved and everyone was reassigned.”

  “I recon Stacy didn’t take that laying down?” I looked up at him while simultaneously trying to avoid his gaze.

  “No” He paused. “They had to recycle my lord.” His aura was red hot.

  “What in tarnation’s got the board to turn on the chairman anyway?” I asked.

  He didn’t have to say a word, he simply looked at me and I knew. My heart sunk. It was me. “So that’s why you broke my talisman, for revenge?”

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  “Already told you kid, didn’t waste my rings in order to drag you back to accounts receivable” His shark like grin returned.

  “Then what?” I asked puzzled.

  “My lord was good to you and she paid the ultimate price because of it. You owe her so much more than you could ever give Prayuta-karma. However; I will settle for your eternal devotion to the new order of the flies.” He reached out his hand to me and I grabbed hold of it.

  “Consider it done.” I nodded. He pulled me up.

  “We’re going to make those sons of bitches have a taste of their own medicine.”

  I clenched my fist, gritted my teeth. “You had me at sons of bitches.”

  “Hi my name is Dick, I’m an addict.” An unkempt man in a hotel bath robe and bunny sleepers introduced himself.

  “Hi Dick.” Everyone responded in unison. Many people were unnerved by his appearance, not to mention the strong odor of alcohol that radiated from him. Everyone was made uncomfortable by this, except for one person.

  “I’ve been clean for.” He proceeded to count on his fingers. “One two three, thirty minutes.” One person in the back chuckled. “And it has been a life changing experience.” He pulled his hair back then stood up. “It has shown me that life is a grave ”

  He looked around saw all the faces facing him, He smiled. “Fret not, it is not your fault. “ He put his left index finger and middle finger together, slowly tapped the side of his head. “None of you, can control how the clock ticks!”

  “Then whose fault is it then?” A voice in the back questioned.

  “You can blame it on the war, on the government, on your parents. You can go as far as blaming it on your..” He removed his robe and was only left with his underwear. “Genes! But that won’t help friend, that won’t do. Isn’t it obvious?” He looked around hoping someone , anyone knew what he was talking about. “One day your wife tells you she’s pregnant, the next she has stage four cancer. Brilliant! Isn’t it?” He composed himself. “I get it now, I was too stupid to comprehend the grand design before but I get it now!”

  “Sir. I think , I speak for everyone here when I say you need to leave.” A tall looking fella stood up. Everyone except for one cheered him on.

  “No you don’t get it! I can help you see it too, it’s all in service of God’s plan.” Dick got more and more hysterical as he tried to fend off the man that was dragging him out of the building.

  “Dick, would you like to share?” Cynthia gently shook Dick.

  “Huh?” Dick was awoken from his day dream.

  “Would you like to share?” Cynthia repeated.

  “No, not today.” He replied.

  “Don’t get me wrong or anything; I am excited, but how are the two of us going to go up against the whole of Hades?” I trailed behind The Top Hat Man.

  He looked back to face me. “We’re not going against Hades, we just need to eliminate the Three kings.”

  “When you put it like that” I smirked. “it still sounds insane .”

  “Don’t worry kid, We just need to find the Chairman” He reassured me. It felt like he was trying to reassure himself more than me.

  “If they’re still alive.” I murmured to myself.

  He gave me a menacing glare then continued to walk forward. “ Not far now, we’ll be there before day break.”

  “Where are we headed anyways ?” I hurried to catch up with him.

  “I already told you, we’re going to find the Chairman.” A slight grin suddenly appeared on his face.

  “Well hold on there for a second friend. I need to get my bearings straight.” I sat on the red gravel dirt. “How do you know the Chairman is on earth?”

  “We need to keep moving kid, we need to get where we’re going before they track you down. “ He pointed at my wrist, which didn’t have the talisman anymore.

  “Right, and who’s fault is that?” I got back up, realizing how much danger I was in. If the Top Hat Man was not willing to drag me down to accounts receivable, someone else would.

  “You’re welcome.” He grinned.

  “Where are we going , seriously “ I asked in a somber tone.

  He looked back at me one last time. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”