This is an older story that I cleaned up and finished. I hope you like it. I want to continue it as a short series. Please vote and comment and tell me how you like it, or not.
Just a little note for the reader any conversations in ' ' are done mentally just so you know ahead of time. Thanks!!! and enjoy.
Routine, our lives are built upon it. I ride my bike to school every day. I use the same route every day. Nothing different ever happens besides a change in the weather. Well today was about to rewrite the rest of my life whether I liked it or not. Like I said I rode the same path every day to school but today was different. I saw the sign half a block away it said 'Going out of Business'. But what made it different was that it was in front of Drake the Magnificent Magic Shop.
"What the hell man," I curse as I stopped and set my bike against the building.
I walked in and already the inside was mostly empty. My heart sank as I looked at the shelves that once held all those wonderful tricks the amazed and entertained kids and adults alike.
"Hey you what are you doing here," a voice said then he continued. "Oh sorry Aaron I didn't recognize you. Sorry about all this but I guess you didn't hear."
"What happened," I asked.
"Drake passed away," the old man said. "He was doing his act in Vegas and had a heart attack. He never made it to the hospital. I'm sorry kid. He was so in debt that we had to sell everything. If you want to have a last look around go ahead I know how close you two were."
"He was my mentor," I told him. "I thought one day I'd go pro. What happened to his diary?"
"That went to his wife; she is talking about selling it on EBay."
"No fucking way! She can't do that, that's his legacy!"
"I know that but the gold digger doesn't care about that sort of thing. All she cares about is money."
"I'm going to look around one last time and then I have to go to school. I'm really going to miss him."
"We all are."
As I walked around the old magic shop, well what was left of it, I remembered all the good times I had in it. I was six when my dad first took me and bought me my first trick. I was hooked ever since. I did my first show at ten. I even tried to design my own illusion once but it flopped but Drake told me to keep on trying. That's when our friendship really started. He kept telling to see outside the box, that's where the real magic was.
I went into the back of the building for the very first time. This was like looking behind the curtain of a magic show for me. Though it too had been stripped clean it still felt special. It was here that Drake had kept his workshop. It was here that he had designed and built his own illusions. That was going to be my dream one day as well.
I wandered around the mixture of empty areas and trash heaps left by whoever had been here before. Near one of the outer walls was an old steam radiator that had heated this part of the building. It was hissing and rattling for some reason or another even though the weather was pleasant outside. Frustrated at the whole situation I took out my anger on the iron cast radiator and gave it a good sound kick. It settled down, but there was also a crashing sound as something hit the floor 'behind' the thing.
I had to lay flat on the floor to see what it was. An ancient wooden box was beneath and behind the radiator. No doubt set there ages ago by Drake or even by the previous owner of this building. Curious as all hell I wanted that box. It took some clever manipulation and patience but by god I finally managed it. The prize was mine. Even if the damn thing was empty, it came from Drake's building and thus priceless to me. But when I shook it something rattled around inside of it. It wasn't empty! I carried back to the front and showed it to the old man who ran Drake's business. I told him where and how I had found it. He looked at the condition of my shirt and pants as evidence of my adventure.
"Surely son I believe you. Keep it; Drake would want you to have it."
"But it could be valuable," I said.
"Even more so," the old man said with a smile. "...Just to spite that money grubbing bitch of a wife of his."
"Well if you are okay with it. Then I will keep it. I have to get off to school. Thanks for everything old man."
I put the box as it was in my back pack and rode off to school. God I wanted to look inside but I didn't. I guess for me it was kind of like my birthday and Christmas all wrapped up in one box. I was only a little late for my for my Psych II class. Professor Tyler was lecturing but didn't miss my late arrival. She gave me her stern raised eyebrow and even a little smirk at my condition. I had tried to get the dust and dirt off but some remained. After class she came over and remarked about my clothing.
"Well Aaron I feel there is a story here that deserves telling," she said in her sultry southern twang.
"There is," I said. "But I have an engineering class in fifteen minutes. How about lunch and fill you in?"
"What time," she asked.
"Um... twelve thirty," I said and she nodded.
"See you there Aaron," she said. "And don't be late."
I left for my engineering class with my heart in my throat. I had wanted to ask her out since my first class. But her remarkable looks and her imposing presence shut me down every damn time. Now I was having lunch with her. My next two classes went by surprisingly quick. I tried once more to rid myself of more of the dirt and failed. I simply gave up.
I met Amanda Tyler in the cafeteria at twelve thirty and we sat together. It took me a few minutes to get the courage to start my story about Drake's magic shop. But once I got started my nerves settled and I was in my element. I even told her about the workshop I had set up in my home.
"So that's why you are taking engineering, that makes perfect sense," she said.
"Yeah, if I am going to become a pro and build my own illusions I need that under my belt."
"What do you think is in the box," she asked.
"Oh it could be anything," I said. "...From an old magic trick to something from a previous owner. But I want to wait until I get home to open it."
"Too bad I was hoping to see it," she said pouting.
"Well," I said. "I'd hate to disappoint such a beautiful woman such as yourself."
"Aaron," she said blushing. "Flattery will get you everywhere."
I got out my backpack and took out the box. I placed it between us and she leaned in close. Damn but she smelled good. I wet a napkin and cleaned off the box. Stamped into the center of the box were the blocky letters 'Innsmouth Trading Co. Founded 1723' and in the middle was a queer looking fish logo. I opened the box and inside was a single tarnished silver coin. How cool was that? The coin was irregular around the edges and not like the ones minted today it must be real old. Amanda reached into her purse and pulled out a disc shaped box and handed it to me.
"It is used for cleaning jewelry," said. "I bet it'll take that tarnish right off."
"You're just as curious as I am, aren't you," I asked.
"You bet I am. That coin looks pretty damn old to me."
I opened the box and set the coin in it for a bit then lifted the shining silver coin out of it. The cleaner had worked perfectly. I dried it with a napkin. On one side of the coin was a profile of man with what appeared to be Hebrew characters around the edge of the coin. On the other was the Star of David with other Hebrew characters. What the bloody hell is this? I looked at her and she was as puzzled as I was. It obviously wasn't a monetary coin but some sort of religious one. Maybe that made it even more valuable? I sensed a lot of research in my near future.
"What do you think," I asked her.
"I have never seen anything like it," she said. "I am not Jewish so I have no clue. But I'd hang onto it and do some research and see what you can find out."
"Yeah, so..."
"I don't have plans on Friday night..." she offered.
"Neither do I..."
"You do now... here's my number..." she said handing me her business card. "I got to go. Teaching and all that..."
I was so thrilled I started playing with the coin. I began doing all sorts of simple tricks. I ran it through my fingers making it dance and twirl. Then I did the disappearing coin trick. Now you see it... now you don't. The problem is it didn't come back. What the fuck! It's just a flick of the wrist and... and... nothing!
'Don't be so alarmed Aaron the coin didn't really disappear,' said a cool steely voice in my head.
"Who the fuck are you," I said aloud.
'Now-now Aaron if you start talking to thin air people are going to think you have gone quite mad,' the voice said soothingly. 'You haven't I am quite real.'
'Alright who are you,' I thought to myself.
'There that's better isn't it?' the other said. 'I am the entity that was in the coin,' it said.
'Was in the coin,' I said. 'I take you aren't there anymore.'
'No dear boy I'm not,' he said. 'I'm in you now.'
