Page 67 of Shadowman
I launch my foot forward, kicking the back of his seat.
“He’s alive and kickin’.” The man chuckles.
“I swear to God… No. I swear toLucifer himself, I’m going to freak the fuck out if someone doesn’t tell me what’s going onright now!” I holler.
“Shut the fuck up,” a different voice scolds from the driver’s seat.
“Uh-huh… sure,” the other bloke keeps speaking, I’m assuming to someone on the phone. “Your call. Okay, ten-four.”
Lying on my side on the leather, I’m defeated. My anger is fading into hopelessness, and it’s making me even more tired than I already was.
“Alright, fuckface,” the man says, tone much less professional when it’s for me. “The boss wants me to tell you he’s looking forward to meeting you.” I say nothing, and he barks,“Escúchame, dipshit! I’m talking to you! I’m gonna need some sign that you’re hearing me or you’ll get the taser,comprende??”
“Who,me?” I murmur, smirking beneath my bag.
He growls, “Yes,you, Monty Python. Jesus…”
“Ohh, sorry,” I croon. “I thought you were still on the phone.”
“Jefe is gonna cut out his tongue.” The driver chuckles.
“You better watch your tone with the boss,” the first bloke concurs. “You’re a special delivery. We all know what that means…”
“Clearly, I don’t,” I mutter. “Who’s your boss? Dr. Love…?”
“Who??” The driver grunts.
“What?No,” the other one scoffs. “But funny you should mention him… I heard this is all his doing. You are histhank yougift, I think.”
My head is spinning off my body. “What the bloody hell are you talking about??”
“Yo, asshole… You got any idea where you’re off to?” the driver grumbles, voice more oafish than the other one.
“No. That tosser Sven wouldn’t tell me fuck-all. So if you lads have any insight to give, I’d be much obliged.”
The two of them are quiet for a moment before they burst into laughter.
“Wow… alright then.” The passenger sighs out his amusement as the other adds, “He’sfucked.”
“Listen closely.” The main bloke continues. “You’re on your way toprison, boy.”
“Yea, but not just any prison…” the driver adds, putting in his commentary like a parrot on the first lad’s shoulder.
“No sense in sugar-coating it. It’s hell on earth. And once you shuffle your ass through those doors, you don’tevercome out, you got me?”
I’m breaking out in a cold sweat. I’d love to say it’s a symptom of coming down, but I think that’s currently playing second fiddle to my increasing state of panic.
“Bullshit.” I gulp. “They can’t just lock me up and throw away the key… This isAmerica. Prisons have regulations and… whatnot.”
“What don’t you get about this ain’t no regular prison?” the deeper voice counters.
“It’s true. If you’re hoping some lawyer or judge… orDr. Lovewill get you outta this, you’ll wanna redirect that mindset. Only way out is in a body bag.”
“Well, unless you’re—” The driver’s words are absorbed by a grunt.
The other man whispers a scolding, “Callate, idiota!” Then he returns to me. “You see, the Warden asked for you by name. That’s never a good sign. Dr. Love sold you up the river without a paddle…”
“Without a goddamnboat…”
