Cigar Smoke version 9.8.1.2 (part 3b)

I walk through the door and we enter an alley, one that looked just like David Copperfield must have roamed, very Dickens-ish. Cobblestones line the way between buildings, tall buildings, with smokeless chimney's adorning the roofs, the buildings long ago deserted. The old man looked fragile with his walk more like a shuffle, but he kept a very quick pace. We darted in and out of the small spaces between buildings, finally coming upon a dark green building. Paint was peeling off the boards, and the windows were all boarded up with the exception of what looked like a small attic or storage area window at the very top of the building. The glass was intact but there was a curtain drawn so no glimpses inside could be had.

"That's strange, it is almost like someone is up there watching. This area's been deserted for a few years now." I couldn't however; shake that feeling that there was someone up there and he knew who I was.

The old man looked at me,

"It isn't so strange, after all there is someone up there, and he is expecting us."

I wanted to protest, question how this man knew I was coming as well, but figured at this stage, that was pretty minor in the scale of questions. The old man opened the door, turned around and said;

"This is my boss, he'll have more answers for you, I reckon. Oh and my manners, I completely let them slip away in the haste to escape that storm. My name is Basil, pleasure to meet you."

The triviality of the introduction baffled me enough to stand and stare blankly at the so-called for a moment before coming to my senses.

"Sorry, my name is …."

"Basil!! Is that you?" The voice sounded smooth, charming almost. I once again stood there as if in a trance at the sound of this man's voice. What was it about it? Did I know him, did he know me?? I began to have doubts about why I was here. I mean after all, how does a man I apparently have never met know about my dream? A dream, I didn't even write it in my notebook.

"Yes David, and I have brought the keyseeker." Basil looked at me and smiled, "this way please, do follow me."

He started down a hallway that looked to head towards an open space artist type loft. I began to panic, this seems entirely too planned, why am I here? Could I be so stupid as to follow a stranger I have never met due to a dream where a spider of all things has foretold me as some kind of "only you can save mankind Jedi" bullshit? I mean it's not like there is law and order anymore, each for themselves, fuck how could I be so stupid.

Seeing no other choice I followed Basil down the hall, we entered through an old wooden door, thick, the paint peeling from years of use. And I'm sure the humidity doesn't help either, I thought as the sweat started to form on my neck. We walked into a round room, dark, only a single lamp lit the room. A tall and lank man stood with his back to us, facing an old style fire place, I could smell wood burning, though not quality wood. He turned around and I saw the man who apparently knew all about me. He looked oddly familiar though I couldn't place him, his face thin, about forty-five, fifty years old, beginning to age but in an elegant way. He had silver hair, neatly combed and was wearing khaki golf pants and a polo shirt and sweater.

David turned around and said, "Why hello there, I have been expecting you for some time. Welcome to my rather dreary abode."

I looked at him for a moment before answering, "How do you know who I am?"

David chuckled, then walked behind a large wooden desk that appeared to be oak or something of that tree family, and sat down.

"Oh, well I have been researching the same 9 keys you are now seeking, so I believe I have known your identity for about a year or so. And that you existed, oh for about a decade or so. It all comes down to timing, and clearly now is the time. "

"What? A year? What is this? Some kind of prank you were put up to? Did I loot somebody's store you know?"

"Oh if it only it were as simple as that. No, this comes about from a rather large obsession of mine that I stumbled across, oh about 15 years ago while researching the history of New York. It seems in the 1780's, there was a bit of a controversy surrounding the keys to the city so to speak. There were 9 officials, who went through 9 rituals or rites if you will and hid 9 keys. These keys together opened a vault, somewhere below the city. This vault contains treasures from all over the world and secrets, some say weapons that were never allowed to see the light of day for good reason, others say they are plans that hold knowledge more powerful even than the Rosetta Stone. We shall never know but legend and research tell me, that it is nothing small or the keys wouldn't have been hidden so well. They say only someone "meant" to find them will. Personally I think this to be partially true, this last part. I think in the 1700's it would have taken someone special, I say in today's world with all our tools of information, it only takes someone resourceful, someone who knows how to research if you will. That someone is me, but the tool I find I most require is you! I used to think it was just knowledge alone, but it turns out, resources are often necessary and you my friend, the keyseeker are my greatest resource!"

I could barely believe what I just heard! I apparently ended up the pinnacle of this nutjob's fantasy. All due to some dream I had, what the hell? It was time to get out of here, the world was crazier than I thought.

"Look, I think you are mistaken, it was all just a crazy dream I had. I must have seen parts of some documentary, that's all. I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Ah see, but this is where you are wrong. All the signs are there, and unfortunately for you, your permission is not needed, you will be helping me."

He said this in a determined manner, I knew he was resolved. I began to panic, there was only one way out and Basil was standing in it. I began to back away from David, and he began to laugh and said,

"Oh you are mistaken if you think you can escape, Basil grab the keyseeker, apparently this will need to be done the hard way."

I began to panic, running towards Basil hoping to knock him down when I could feel David's hands grab me, he was stronger than he looked, much stronger. I couldn't move, Basil came at me with what looked like a modern more powerful taser and a look in his eye, I found completely unnerving, un-human.

I tried to scream but found I had lost my voice and no matter how hard I tried, no sound came out. Basil grabbed my arm, placed the cold steal edge of the taser to my throat and

 

All of sudden I am upright in bed, sweat covers my body and I notice my sheets are damp and stuck to my legs. I get out of bed, walk to the window and look outside. The lights of Manhattan beam back at me, there hasn't been a war of ages, but I can't help but think. Maybe I am meant to find something out, maybe life does have a purpose for me. Nah, it was all just cigar smoke, wisping away. I begin to turn around and get back into bed, looking out the window one last time, I see a spider has appeared and is staring right at me.