Revel

I will instruct you and teach you In the way you should go; I will counsel you With my eye upon you. (Psalm 32:8)

The sky was absolutely gorgeous. The night fell with gravity, and all that was left was a few strands of sunlight reaching into the sky, barely holding on before it fell into its grave in the hills. While the earth turned it’s head, Adon watched the clouds glide from the window in his office. His feet propped up on his cluttered desk, he rested his right hand on the plastic globe he had set on his desk. He gave it a spin, and imagined that the light outside was shifting as quickly as the globe spun. Shifting his attention to his feet, he adjusted the sign at the end of his desk with the tips of his shoes until it faced him.

‘The Advisor’ it read. What a name, he thought. It was a title that he didn’t pick himself, but he loved it more than his real name. His name didn’t mean anything. You couldn’t tell anything about him by hearing his name, but when people heard, ‘The Advisor’, people could at least assume what position he had. He had tried counseling and psychiatry, but he quit because he wanted to something different. He wanted a job that no one else could say they had: advising.

He wasn’t a therapist or a psychologist, because people like that had control over your entire life. They told you what to do, what medicine to take, how to live. Adon wouldn’t do that. Free will is a beautiful thing, even if it is abused. So he became someone who would give advice. Give tips, life experience, anything that could help someone into a better position, not onto a different path. Too many people would come in and say that they had problems. “No you don’t,” I’d reply, “Problems can never be fixed. You, my friend, have a situation. And that’s something we can work on…”

Adon had had a busy month, some very interesting characters walking in and out. The method of therapy he had created some time back was receiving some very positive feedback. A few kids that came through had refused it, calling it dumb and pointless, but you can’t deny the numbers. It was working, and that made Adon quite proud of himself. He had conceived the idea while in training, but it had been shot down quickly. If only they could see him now…

There were a few knocks at the door, and Adon rose from his pleasant daydream. “Who is it?” he called out. “Mr. Iani?” It was his assistant, Sarah. She had worked with him for about four years, and Adon had enjoyed her company since she started working with him. Adon got up and opened the door for her, but she stayed put outside. “You have a visitor,” She said hastily.  “He says he’s an old friend,”

Adon walked outside and looked around until he locked eyes with a tall, handsome man in an overcoat and a fedora. “Adon,” the man said, unenthusiastically. “It’s been awhile, hasn’t it? How are the patients?” Adon just stood there, glaring down the man. “Sarah, would you please organize my office for me?” Sarah opened her mouth, but Adon didn’t wait for an answer. “Close the door behind you please,” Sarah left looking puzzled, and walked into her bosses office with her thoughts scrambled.

As soon as he heard the door close, Adon swung at the man, catching him at the bottom his jaw. He heard a pop, and the man caught himself on a chair before he hit the ground. “What the hell do you want, Mammon?” The man smiled upon hearing his name, but winced when the act hurt his face. “You still throw a mean right hook, Adon. I’ll give you that.” Adon wanted to hit him again, but he was afraid the Sarah might hear him. “What do you want?” Adon repeated.

“Oh I’m sorry, is it a crime to visit old friends? I was simply in the neighborhood and I thought I might stop by. How are your patients?” Adon didn’t want anything to do with his old friend, but Adon couldn’t kick him out unless he had just cause. “Fine,” he answered. “What about that boy?” Mammon responded? “The boy on the news? Have you heard?” Adon had no idea what he was talking about, but Mammon had his attention. He grabbed the remote and pointed it at the TV perched in the corner of the room. They were in the middle of broadcasting, but the two men watched anyways.

“-still looking for a motive. Until then, all we can do is pray for the families of these poor children, and hope for the best for those wounded. Back to you Chris.” Adon turned away from the screen, and stared at Mammon. Mammon looked back and gave a disappointed look.  “Another school shooting,” he said. “When do you think we’re gonna do something about. I mean reeaaaly do something to prevent it?” Adon continued to stare, until he heard a familiar name on the TV. Samson Ropa, he had heard that before.

“You know they're saying that he met you, before he, you know…” Adon’s head was spinning. Had his advice… no. He hadn’t given him that advice. Not to do that. He simply explained the meaning and symbolism of the act, why we confuse it for mental problems, that’s all. If Samson had confused it with something else, that wasn’t his fault. “They found a note in his car, thanking, ‘The Advisor’ for his great advice,” Mammon said, trying to keep a straight face. “They don’t know who that is yet, but no doubt the boy had one of your cards.” Mammon couldn’t keep from smiling now. “It should only be a matter of time now before your name appears on that screen too,”

Adon started to shake. He turned to Mammon, and raised his hands towards his neck, but didn’t grab it. Mammon just tsk-ed his tongue. “You…” Adon muttered “You did this, didn’t you,” “I told you not to meddle Adon,” Mammon replied smirking. “First your little magic business cards. You know that those were my idea, and my creation, but I let it slide. Then you go on and start to send them to my clients. Now you’re starting to piss me off, but I leave you be. But when you take my process, my writings, and my research to piece together your little wonder cure, AND claim it as your own, then I put my foot down. So I did what I had to do, is that so wrong?”

The room was spinning; Adon stumbled and found a place to sit on the floor. He couldn’t get his thoughts in order, everything was mixing with everything else. Neurons were firing millions of signals at once, each one more painful than the last. “He’s not the only one, you know,” Mammon said, still sitting comfortably. “Apparently, there was a phone call giving the whereabouts of one Jonah Cetacea, a heroin addict recently give parole. He was reported in a hotel room, with a few grams of the sugar. Poor boy, tried to escape through the window. He pled guilty though, so the judge gave him a normal sentence for not wasting his time,”

“I didn’t call no F*****G cops!” Adon exclaimed, no doubt in his mind that Sarah heard him. The walls were less than soundproof in this building. “Well than, who did?” Mammon replied, starting to rise. “After all, you were the only one who knew. Shame on you, Adon, haven’t you ever heard of confidentiality?”

He picked his fedora off the ground, and buttoned his overcoat. “It was nice to see you as always, Adon. I promise I’ll stay on touch, that way we can discuss business like gentlemen. Goodbye, old friend,” Adon grabbed his foot before he could get away. “Please,” he cried pitifully, “What do you want?” Mammon crouched down and looked Adon in the eye. “Nothing!” he exclaimed, “I only thought that it would courteous of me, to help you out. Advise you, if you would,” He opened the door, and looked over his shoulder. “See you around,” He said, smiling a snake-like smile. “Old friend…”

Adon just sat there for a bit, his mind racing, until Sarah finally peeked her head out of his office. “What, the hell, just happened?” Adon didn’t respond; he took a business card out of his pocket, and threw it towards the door. It flew under the opening and kept going. “He’s cornered me, Sarah,” Adon finally muttered, the words like poison on his tongue, “ He’s really put me in a bad position, and I don’t know what to do,” Sarah looked at him with cocked eyebrows. “What are you talking-” her eyes caught the TV screen, and her eyes darted to the name.

“No…” she softly laid a hand on her chest, as if to gasp. “I don’t know what he did, but Mammon, that old son of a b***h, is responsible for that. I just don’t know…” Sarah walked over and crouched down by him, laying a hand on his lowered head. “What can I do to help?” She said sincerely. Adon waited a moment, and then stood up. He looked her in the eyes and said, “Close up early tonight, I have work to do…”  

Author's Note

The final story in this saga of prequels that I've made up (and REALLY recommend you read, it helps you understand this story, and I could always use the criticism). Really looking for feedback, and for ways that I can keep this story going. Please rate and review! Thanks!
-Noah

Reviews

[Calamityofgin]

You are some kinda story teller darlin
As a born bred hillbilly i love a good yarn..
This was gut felt....




" few strands of sunlight reaching into the sky, barely holding on before it fell into its grave in the hills"
". Layng a hand on his lowered head. “What can I do to help?” She said sincerely. Adon waited a moment, and then stood up. He looked her in the eyes and said, “Close up early tonight, I have work to do…”

V fine...love...Jennifer

[nk36n37e]

Thank you very much! This was a story that I put a lot of emotions that I felt, and things that I've seen in. I admire your love for lines like those. Much appreciated!

-Noah