This is one of my written at two am stories. I'm not sure if I was totally awake when I wrote it. I'm also not sure if it was a dream or a nightmare, but it will make you go, "Hmmm."
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WARNING
! This warning is possibly not needed for this particular story, but I am including it because it is needed for most of my stories.
If you decide to read other of my stories make sure that you read the disclosures and warnings at the beginning of each story.
All of my writing is intended for adults over the age of 18
ONLY
. Stories may contain strong or even extreme sexual content. All people and events depicted are fictional and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Actions, situations, and responses are fictional
ONLY
and should not be attempted in real life.
All characters involved in sexual activity in this story are over the age of 18. If you are under the age of 18 or do not understand the difference between fantasy and reality or if you reside in any state, province, nation, or tribal territory that prohibits the reading of acts depicted in these stories, please stop reading immediately and move to somewhere that exists in the twenty-first century.
Archiving and reposting of this story is permitted, but only if acknowledgment of copyright and statement of limitation of use is included with the article. This story is copyright (c) 2024 by The Technician,
Individual readers may archive and/or print single copies of this story for personal, non-commercial use. Production of multiple copies of this story on paper, disk, or other fixed format is expressly forbidden.
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Sid is a good friend of mine from days long past. He has fallen on hard times. A lot of the men... and women who have been the places we have been and done the things which we have done have been overwhelmed by what has been burned into their memory once they try to "return to society." Many, like Sid, try to drown the memories of what they saw... or did. When that didn't work, he fell totally apart... booze, broads, drugs, everything, until he ran out of money and then did whatever it took to get another bottle or another fix. Sid became a homeless bum. But he was there with us. So he is still one of us. So we are still there with him.
I, and the others, have often helped Sid. Sometimes that help is bailing him out of jail. Sometimes it is tying him to a kitchen chair while he screams about the spiders and bugs that are crawling all over him. Doc, another good friend who was there, is usually present for those screaming DT sessions. Coming off booze after a couple of months of daily drinking 'til you black out can be very hard on the body and mind and everything else.
Lately Sid seems to have finally gotten his life in order. He's off the booze and has been drug-free for over two years. Another good friend, Alberto, who understands from experience, owns several apartment buildings and agreed to hire Sid as a live-in superintendent. Sid collects the rent, does minor repairs, makes sure the cleaning company is doing their job in the hallways and common areas, and tries to keep the street people out on the street.
He's good at his job and seemed to be doing really well until four days ago. That's when I got a frantic text from him. It said, "Sarge, I am either losing my mind or there is something really weird going on here. Please stop by so we can talk."
I cut short a business trip so I could get over to his place and talk to him. He looked like hell when he opened the door. His eyes darted back and forth as if he expected some enemy to spring out of the shadows. His hands frantically signaled me to enter and he quickly slammed the door right behind me.
We sat at his kitchen table. I looked around for signs of booze or drugs such as empty bottles or needles or stuff like that, but the place seemed clean... except, that is, for a huge pile of cigarette butts in the ashtray on the table. He once explained, "Cigarettes are the one vice that is OK at the meetings." I gave them up long ago, but I can control my drinking and don't have to go to the meetings.
"Well, it's like this," he began, "I don't know what to do. Every night about nine or ten, I hear these women talking really loud out in the hallway. I open my door, but there is nobody there. Then I hear the elevator doors closing and when I look down the hallway the elevator is heading down."
"So?" I replied.
"Sarge," he practically screamed, "I live in the basement... the sub basement. There ain't no floors below this one."
"Are you sure you aren't dreaming?" I asked. I hesitated, but then added, "Or perhaps you are having flashbacks from something in the old days."
"I didn't dream this," he said as he slid a small, orange envelope across the table. "Sid" was written on the envelope in a very fancy handwriting that somehow I knew was a woman's hand. Inside was a folded orange card. On the outside of card was an embossed, darker orange pumpkin with bright yellow eyes and a carved mouth that seemed to be formed into something between a smile and a leer. In the center of the eyes was a red flame that almost seemed to be flickering. Inside, the card read, "You are cordially invited to a Halloween party beginning at 9:00 pm on Halloween night. Costumes are optional. Fun is not. No need to BYOB, there will be a complete bar with "extras" and plenty of companionship. See you at 9:00 pm on floor L3."
"So," I said, handing the invitation back to him.