Toby was sitting at the kitchen table, finishing his morning coffee, slurping the last remnants at the bottom of the cup. It made a rude noise that always annoyed his new wife. She glanced at him, exasperated. Like her mother, she was a stickler for propriety. Manners and decorum were important. In fact, she took almost three hours the first day of their honeymoon to write and mail thank you notes for the presents they received.
Toby heard the low rumble of a motorcycle idling down the driveway next to their apartment. He looked out. "That's Jack, the new guy who just moved in upstairs."
Cyndy walked over to the window. Jack had stopped just outside to strap on his helmet. Toby pecked on the window and waved when Jack looked up. Cyndy stepped back, embarrassed to be seen by a stranger in her night clothes, even if she was wearing what Toby called her old fuddy duddy robe.
Jack was dressed in leather - black helmet, pants, boots and jacket. Black tee short underneath. He smiled, waved and flipped down the darkened visor before he rumbled off into the Friday morning traffic.
"Oh, my," said Cyndy as she felt her heart quicken. She stepped back into the kitchen, well our of sight of anyone near the window. "Is he a member of some motorcycle gang?"
"No, where did you get that idea? He's a student at Tech, too, just like us. He's a nice guy!"
"You talked to him?"
"Yeah, I met him yesterday when you were in class. Helped him move a few things up to his apartment. Did you know it's laid our just like ours? Living room in the front, kitchen, hall bath, bedroom in the back?"
Cyndy took his coffee cup and put it in the sink. "Bikers still scare me."
Toby gave her a quick kiss and left for class. Cyndy went to the bedroom to get dressed. Her first class didn't start until 10:30.
At 10 she walked out the back door into the apartment parking lot - 4 spaces, one for each apartment in what had once been a large private home. As she was unlocking her car door, Jack pulled in next to her.
"Hey, you're Cyndy, Toby's wife!"
His greeting startled her. She jumped back and placed her open car door between her and Jack.
"Sorry, didn't mean to frighten you," said Jack as he took off his helmet. He extended his hand.
"Ummm, yeah, I'm Toby's wife," she said, staring at his hand.
"Go ahead, shake it. It won't bite." He smiled at her.
She looked up. His teeth were the only thing white about him. They gleamed, reminding her of shark's teeth. Everything else was black; bike, boots, pants, tee shirt, leather jacket, skin. He was almost six-and-a-half feet tall, towering over her by nearly a foot. Timidly, she extended her hand, still keeping the door between them.
He grasped her hand and held it for a moment. It was easily twice as big as hers and felt almost hot to the touch. She suppressed a shiver. He smiled again and bowed down, raising her hand to his mouth. He kissed it.
"So nice to finally meet the Madame of the house." He laughed. "Toby gave me a beer the other day and I promised I would have both of you up for dinner when I got settled in. Are you guys free this Saturday?"
Cyndy swallowed hard. "No, we'll be gone for the weekend."
"A week from Saturday, then?"
"I think that's OK. I'll ask Toby tonight."
"Great. I'm from Alabama so you'll be eating some really good southern cooking. See ya' around." He turned and walked toward the apartment.
She got in the car and waited a moment until her pulse rate came back to normal. She was frightened and confused. He seemed so nice. Why did he scare her so much?
After a few moments, she started up the car. Still shaky from the unexpected encounter, she drove to her class.
The next morning Toby and Cyndy left for a long weekend with her parents. As they walked to the car, they saw Jack detailing his Harley. Same black clothing, the leather jacket was hanging on the fence. He was wearing one of those 'wife beater tee shirts; an old one, well worn with lots of tears and snags.
"Hey, Jack, I heard you met Cyndy yesterday!"
"Yep, met your fine lady as she was heading off to class. Hey, Cyndy, hope I didn't scare you."
"Your heading out for a bit or the whole weekend?" he asked.
"Three days with the in laws," carped Toby. Cyndy slugged him on the arm.
"I'd return that beer, ya know, one for the road, but it's only 9 AM."
"I'll take it when we get back Monday night."
"You got it, my man."
Toby shook Jack's hand and headed for the car. Jack offered his hand to Cyndy. She glanced at it nervously.
"Oh, hell. We're old buddies already and I could never resist hugging a good looking woman."
Jack bent forward and scooped Cyndy up in a bear hug. "Have fun, y'all."
Cyndy had to steady herself when Jack deposited her on the ground. She gasped and put her hand out to steady herself, bumping onto Jack's chest.
"Oh, man, I hope I didn't do that!"
"No...no, you just surprised me."
Jack put his hand on her waist and steered her toward the car. She was alarmed at its warmth and felt the urge to pull away. He opened the car door and she fell into her seat.
"Take care, guys, and watch the lady. I think she's feeling a little faint. Maybe she's...?
"What?" Toby said before he realized what Jack was asking "Oh. no! Not a chance. No babies for a few years."
Cyndy blushed.
The long weekend was fun. The long nights were filled with fitful sleep, though. Cyndy had nightmares, frightful visions where she was being chased by demons. No matter how fast she ran, they were always a step quicker and they always caught her and she always woke with a start before she found out what they wanted to do with her. Her dreams took place in the dead of night. She couldn't see her demons very well in the darkness but they frightened her more than anything had in her 19 years.
Monday evening came quickly. Toby and Cyndy got out of the car just at dusk. They walked into their apartment tossed their bag on the bed. They could hear Jack walking around upstairs. Toby cocked his head upwards and shouted, "Hey, Jack! Where's my beer?
"Toby!' Said Cyndy. "He can't hear you. Besides, it's late."