Chapter 2: Convenience Soul

Flick-and-Go was better than most hole in the wall gas stations. At least that's what Nate thought and it wasn’t just because they were giving him work. In fact he personally thought the fact any place would let someone under age work disqualified them from the good places to work category. How he felt over hiring practices didn’t affect the brightly lit concrete building wreathed in dark purple.

Inside he changed into the matching purple pants and shirt which he’d wear for the next 6 hours. It always smelled of sweat and a sickly sweet mix of reheated food and soda. His only saving grace was that amongst the places he worked it was the least demanding. As long as she wasn’t working that day.

Nate met briefly with the previous worker on duty Dave. He was a fine enough worker always preparing things before he clocks out, but he didn’t have much of a presence. Like most people Nate met he was in his Late 30’s or early 40’s an obvious bald spot was forming.

After settling in it seemed like it would be a calm night for the old Flick-And-Go. Quiet nights were good since he didn’t have to do much and could slack off. They were equally bad because he ran the risk of falling straight to sleep. Nate wasn’t one to simply sit around and do nothing; he always had that itch to be doing. It was the reason he always got into trouble.

“If it ain’t my favorite delinquent.”

Nate’s vision snapped straight to the front door where a young man came waltzing inside. Things were always literal with Kent. So when he waltzes inside he does exactly that. He spun himself with one hand, which if Nate was honest didn’t know if that would even be in a proper waltz.

“Kent, have you come to relieve my boredom?"

Kent stopped his rhythmic dancing and headed to the back snatching up whatever seemed to cross his fancy. He responded non-comitally.

“It’s a possibility. If Mrs.Fareing doesn’t call me tonight then I don’t mind crashing your side gig.”

With an exasperated sigh Nate looked over his friend. He could admit he was good looking, muscular, tan, and had dyed blonde hair. The last fact was a secret that if Nate let slip he’d have a real fight on his hands. The idea that he was practically acting as a gigolo for half the married woman in town was understandable.

“Not Mrs.Fareing I know her husband, he's a good man.”

The protest was met with a shrug. Having had this conversation more times than they could count, Kent was beyond saving. He answered with a faked wizened tone.

“The heart wants what the heart wants.”

“That it does.”

The voice ambushed the both of them but Nate knew it was her. His voice slowly came out like he was being squeezed to death.

“Hello, Mandy. Didn’t see you on the schedule.”

Mandy stood at the door to the back with a matching dark purple outfit. Nate had to admit it was more flattering on her than him. She was a tall girl nearly reaching Nate’s height, her makeup was never out of place and her Lavender locks swayed with each motion of her body.

She approached like a big cat hunting down its prey. To Nate it wasn’t far from the truth she was older than him and when they dated she’d been voracious. She spoke to him sweetly but all that honey melted when talking to Kent.

“Hello, doll. Smurf.”

With an awkward smile Kent looked her in the eye. It would've been more intimidating if he didn’t have to look up slightly to do so. For all of Kent’s good qualities he was most uncomfortable about his height. Which is why he took the insult poorly every time.

“Well if it ain’t the bitch herself I thought you got fired for sexual harassment."

Mandy swayed in place next to Nate not letting Kent see her pinch Nate’s butt. She in fact had been fired previously for sexual harassment. Regretfully they ended up needing the staff and brought her back. Nate cursed his boss and his lack of wherewithal. Needing the job Nate just had to take the abuse.

“I think whoever had said that was mistaken. After all, I'm here with my man.”

Nate’s face soured as Kent being here which would have made the night better was now making it worse. Mandy hated Kent. Unsurprisingly it was because he’d slept with her mom. That in of itself wouldn’t have done much to their gang but her dad had been the one to report them when they were hanging out. It was also why Nate had gotten into trouble over his activities. Nate spoke coldly.

“Your man?”

Mandy stopped and took a step away. She knew there was a limit to saying and doing around Nate. Despite his current collected demeanor his two old friends grew nervous at his tone.

With a bit of a laugh to clear the air Kent stepped to the counter. A gaggle of products were dumped there. He spoke confidently.

“Freinds and family discount please.”

With a sneer Mandy took over the register. Nate honestly couldn’t fault her too much; her life got ruined by Kent at the time and she’d only had Nate to rely on. He knew she was crazy when they got together, but her turn to obsession was worrying to say the least.

As the two haggled over discounts a formless spectre floated down into the shop from the ceiling. It did a once over of the room before coming an inch away from Nate's face. It spoke with a hollow whisper.

“Where are you?”

He’d gotten used to these spirits and had taken to calling them lost souls. Unlike the spirits that had memories or even some that seemed able to think these spirits were nearly out of time.

When the body became indistinct and no identifying features could be found was exactly when they seemed to fade into nothing. This spirit's face looked oddly familiar in spite of the ever receding appearance. He asked the two.

“Do you remember the name of that guy who used to work at the ice cream place?”

Their arguing stopped for a moment and their attention was brought onto him. Kent was the first to speak.

“That old Cream in a Cup place. His name was Will something. I didn’t really care to remember. Why?”

Mandy jumped in with a proper answer.

“William Wells. Guy is a bit weird, don't know what he’s been up to since that place closed.”

The apparition seemed to solidify a bit just speaking his name had made him more solid. From careful observation Nate had found that the less you were remembered after you died the quicker you’d fade. At least most of the time.

“When did he pass away?”

At Nate’s question the two both wore puzzled faces. Nate was having a hard time deciphering what they were about.

“Uh, He’s still alive, I saw him like two days ago.”

Did he just die? Nate wondered to himself. If so then something was very wrong here. From what he’d seen for him to be in this state would take years not a mere day. Worry creeped into his body like a street rat into a dark alley.

The bell at the front door chimed as a man stepped inside. A large black overcoat draped his wide shoulders and the hood obstructed the view of his face. Winter hadn’t yet come into full bloom so the use of the jacket felt off somehow.

“Welcome in. Let us know if you need anything.”

Mandy welcomed him inside as if nothing was wrong. Nate himself didn’t know why but he could feel that something was very very wrong. With a nod of affirmation the man slipped into the aisles.

“So why did you say he was dead?”

Paying only a small amount of attention to her question Nate kept his eyes on the man. The two of them seemed to be losing their edge. He could feel a fight coming; it was the electricity in the air and the warmth in his palms. He responded absent mindedly.

“Cause his ghost is trying to figure out where he is.”

Without any further ado the man in the aisle threw off his large coat to reveal glimmering armor. Everyone present was stunned to suddenly see a full blown knight in the middle of a convenience store. Further still the fact he’d entered into a mad dash toward the counter made Kent and Mandy panic.

Nate had been prepared for a robbery but this was outside his expectations. Still his game plan had not changed. The shotgun below the counter was in his hands in an instant and the man slid to a stop. The barrel pointed at his helmet.

On one side a smiling face on the other a large frown. He was the picture of some weird ren-faire cosplayer. An almost robotic voice came from the helm.

“That is unnecessary, you should put that down. We’re all friends here.”

At his words Mandy and Kent both went slack jawed and nodded obediently. A tingling came to the back of his head. Nate pushed the bubbling thoughts from his mind as he forced himself to stare down the knight.

“Who are you? What did you do to them?”

With what seemed like surprise the Knight cocked his head. Seemingly he was assessing Nate from behind his blacked out eye slits. A long moment passed and seeing no leniency in Nate the knight responded.

“I am merely a man of the people. A freer of souls and friend to all who would have me. Paladin Wood at your service. I was ordered to make contact with you.”

There was no aha moment for Nate, the situation was beyond what he could rap his head around and it showed. As his grip loosened ever so slightly. The paladin continued.

“Your sight of this spirit is what I wish to discuss but as I see you are unwilling at this time I shall leave my calling card.”

Calling card seemed ominous to Nate. Just as he was ready to blow the guy away he produced an actual business card and placed it on the counter top. With a slight bow he walked coldly outside the gun seemingly never a true threat to him.

Lowering the gun he cast his vision on his two friends who seemed slowed in the head. As if the guy had made them dumb for a moment. As they shook it off returning to their normal selves the shotgun was once more stowed away. Their conversation picked back up as if nothing ever happened.

“Ghosts aren't real. If they were, that would prove souls exist and Mandy doesn’t have one soooo.”

Kent's redirect went unnoticed for Nate as he took the card and headed toward the back. Both Kent and Mandy made concerned faces. Had the deaths in his family made him go mad. Saying stuff about ghosts and these odd mood swings.

“Can you keep a non-sexual eye on him?”

Kent’s voice lacked its normal venom. Mandy responded in kind.

“It seems I must. Are the two of you still working, construction, together?”

“Yeah, at Jeb’s. Guys a piece of work but he pays better than most. Even if you're not supposed to be working.”

Being Nate’s friends meant they knew about the deal and what was going on. It also meant that they knew better to mess anything up for Nate. Kent was trying to warn Mandy about saying anything to her father.

“Shove off. Unlike with you he works legally here. His hours are a little doctored but it ain’t nothing anyone can find out. Just look after him.”

She was truly concerned for him. Even while being a stalker and a mental case, she cared about him over even her own feelings. If not she’d have done something like kidnap him by now. That thought had run through Kent's mind but he decided it was better to not say it.

“Alright say bye to him for me and hello to your mother.”

If not for the fact she’d be separated from Nate via a prison sentence she would have blasted Kent on the spot. With a cooling head she manned the counter. Puffing angrily at Kent’s receding form.