A handful of Coins.

1999. March 2.

Texas is sitting in a bar. there are some empty glasses in front of her. she looks tired. it hasn't been long enough since the incident. she lost a part of her soul back then. there are some touches of trauma keeping her from sleeping at night.

a man well dressed in a light brown gabardine walks inside of the bar. he has ginger hair. a Mohawk haircut. a freshly shaved face. lenses covering his eyes. black leather gloves. he walks around looking at some people. he says hello to some. he walks directly towards Texas. 

the man in gabardine sits next to Texas. the bar smells like piss and liquor. he smirks at her. the bartender approaches the man and asks if there is anything in particular that he may like. the man in gabardine points at Texas' drink. he smirks in a seductive way.

"I will take what she is drinking. it looks tasty by just looking at her lips." said the mysterious man as he winks at her.

"If that is what you wish." said the Bartender as he prepares the drink.

Texas looks at the mysterious stranger. she is unsure if he is just some pretty face interested on her youthful beauty or someone somehow linked to the hole in the ground. there are many things on her mind. many things stopping her from living her life. there is something about him that feels dangerous. and she loves dangerous.

"Hello there stranger. is there something I can help you with?" said Texas halfway drunk.

"Actually yes. there is someone I need you to meet. nothing illegal. just a child I need to put under someone's care for the time being." said the stranger as he plays with two coins between his fingers before putting the coins on the table.

 the coins have some Greek words written on it. Texas sobers up. she then looks at the stranger feeling some electricity running all over her body. she trembles. Texas slowly moves her left hand to grab the coins. she swallows saliva unable to say anything at all.

"You will need those coins. sooner or later, you will need to pay it back. but first comes first. follow me quietly. there is somewhere we need to go. we are already late. we can't let a small lady wait, right?" said the stranger smirking.

he stands up. he looks around. he walks towards the exit. he stops for a second. he looks back at Texas for a second. she understood the signal. she stands up and follows the stranger. they walk towards his car. his vehicle is a funeral car. inside the car are coffins filled up with all kinds of weapons from guns to knifes, from grenades to bazookas.

"By the way my name is Helen Whitely. what is yours?" said Texas in a curious tone.

"The name is Charon. Charon Stoner. just kidding. just call me Charon. I go by other names. someone may say I am some sort of a reaper." said the man.

for a while Charon is just driving. Helen is looking at him. she stares at his lips. she has been feeling so horny for a while. there haven't been any guy who either attracts her or capable to satisfy her needs under the sheets lately. the experience with horror awoken fear and some much more than that. she thinks that maybe Charon can be her Romeo tonight.

"Tell me sexy stranger. do you know about the hell's pit accident that happened about two years ago. I was a survivor of a horrendous incident." said Helen calmly.

"Of course I know. it is all linked. there is a connection between you, and I. we live in a world that is going to die soon. sadly, you won't be alive then. there are things you need to do. it depends on us the future of the planet. the world can either embrace tragedy or success. it all depends on us doing things right." said Charon with melancholy.

the rest of the ride is mostly silent. the night blinds them in darkness. there is barely any visible star in the sky. the moon is the only form of light out there. the cold night feels lonely. there is something about tonight that smells of melancholy and solitude. 

two strangers who had never met before riding a funeral car. there is something promising about tomorrow. but today feels sad, inferior to yesterday. Helen asks Charon if he knows how long she has before she meets her end. the stranger doesn't answer. he may know, but there are things he is forbidden from saying. there is a limit to the information he is able to share with Helen or anyone else. he is walking on thin ice.

"We are about to get there. just stay with me for a bit longer. you will suffer greatly till the end of your journey. please, stay strong." said Charon as he puts a cigar between his lips.

Charon doesn't light on the cigar. he just chews the cigar. it has a bitter taste that is intoxicating just like anything good in life. there are many prints all over his identity. prints created by the events he has lived in the origins of his life. prints left by events or people. 

they finally arrive in front of a house in the middle of nowhere. the darkness of the night adds a sinister layer to the house. it is unclear, but the house from the outside seems old. there are parts that look like are about to fall in pieces. there is something scary about the house. 

Charon exits the car carrying on his shoulder a coffin. Helen follows after him almost running fearing the sounds created by the creatures of the night. Charon kicks the door until someone opens the door for him. Charon and Helen get inside. they are welcome by a small child. she doesn't seem to be older than four. the child points at the clock in the wall.

"Who is that? your daughter?" asks Helen out of curiosity.

"No. that child will be under your care. I will trust you with protecting her." said Charon.

the little girl is wearing a blue dress. she has curly brunette hair. green eyes. some freckles. the girl is holding a white teddy bear. she smiles as she salutes them.

"Sorry. but I had never taken care of a child before. I am not sure if I am good enough. you are putting a young life on my uncapable hands. I am not even a whole mature adult. I am in my late twenties. I am too young for the infamous word called, responsibility." said Helen about to have a breakdown out of shock. 

the child goes to the kitchen. she serves food for three. she also makes some coffee. the little child puts three plates in the table. she then puts the cups of coffee in the table. she looks at them with adorable cutesy eyes. she wants them to sit down and eat.

this whole scenario feels more like a fever dream than an actual event happening. Helen and Charon sit down next to each other. the child sits in front of them. she is silently eating. Charon and Helen continue with their argument. there is some flirting in between. there are some actual important points they talk about. they took a pause to eat. 

time in that house felt eternal. the smell of coffee is peaceful and calm. the little girl went to her own room to rest. before sleeping she asks them to not leave her alone. 

"Please we need of your help. you are our last hope to keeping the child secure." 

Helen finally accepts the responsibility. he is about to leave. Helen stops him. she asks him for at least one night of passion and carnal desire. Charon stops. he whispers on her ear. they silently leave the house. they start to kiss each other with passion and desire as they walked towards the funeral car. once inside they were able to give in to the flesh.

after a long night of sweat and passion. Helen wakes up with a huge headache. she doesn't remember much of what happened last night. she doesn't recognize the house. she looks at a cute girl she has never met. Helen gets out to find herself outside of a farmhouse.

it comes to her the realization that she accepted taking care of the child. Helen scratches her head as she promises herself to not drink ever again. she stares at the child with curiosity. Helen has never before taken care of a child. it is all new to her.

"So, what is your name girl?" said Helen forcing a smile.

"I don't have a name. I will like it if you give me a name." said the girl.

"Too much work. okay, we will go with Dallas. yes, that will be your name from now on. what you think about Dallas Whitely." said Helen feeling proud of herself.

"Your code name is Texas. and you decided to name me Dallas? sounds like your inner motherly love is welcome. after all I am adorable." said the girl.

Hele smiles as she welcomes her new life as a mother. she hopes for the nightmare to end. but she knows that this is her life from now on. at least the child seems to be a good kid. she then looks at her phone. there are few messages that she received last night. there is something alarming about one of those messages. 

Helen asks the girl to stay in there silently as she takes care of some issues. Helen gets inside of an empty room. she calls Outback. the two of them have an aggressive conversation with some yielding and cursing. then they stop. they explain their situation. Helen ends the call. she sighs before returning to the girl. she looks at the girl.

"So, it just came to me that we haven't eaten. what do you say about some pancakes?" said Helen excited as pancakes is one of the few things she knows how to make.

"Yes. I don't know what that is. but if mama is making it. those are going to be damn." said Dallas with a huge smile.

Helen nods. she then goes to the kitchen.