A man glanced up as the front door creaked open. The muted lights above his head cast his sepia skin with a dull glow, and his dark brown eyes seemed even darker in the shadow under his brow. He took one look at the silhouette in the doorway and went back to wiping down the shabby, wooden bar. “We closed thirty minutes ago,” he called out with annoyance weighing heavily on his voice.
“Could I... just get some water?”
The man straightened up, squaring himself to the door.
A pale, wiry man with tan hair, a cotton shirt, and baggy pants wavered in the doorway. His bare feet were dirty, as were the bottoms of his pant legs.
He sighed, noting the look of worry painted across the stranger’s face. “Fine.”
The stranger watched as the bartender turned around to produce a glass, and with the flick of a nearby handle, he filled it with water.
“You can come in.” He glanced over his shoulder.
The stranger swallowed and stepped inside enough for the door to swing closed behind him. He jumped at the sound, but tried to hide it by taking a few broader steps toward the bar.
“Rough night?” The bartender attempted a grin as the stranger slid onto a bar stool and accepted the water.
He downed half of the glass before he stopped to take a breath. “That’s one way to put it.”
“I don’t see too many sober folks out and about at this hour.” He leaned against the bar, and his short black hair caught the beam of light above him. “Just travelling through?”
“I’m... not sure.” He bit his lip. “I’m not sure where I am.”
“Ooh,” the bartender pushed away. “A really rough night.”
“No, not like that,” the stranger frowned. “I woke up in that big building outside of town and I literally have no idea where I am.”
The bartender turned his head with puzzlement knitting his eyebrows. “Big building? The research facility?”
“Maybe?”
“I guess that explains a few things,” he eyed the man’s clothing. “Although I’m betting you’re not supposed to be out here.”
“I can’t go back,” he glanced aside, worry again filling his eyes.
The bartender crossed his arms, looking at him curiously. “What’s your name?”
“Ace.”
“Ace?”
“Well, Michael, but I prefer not to be called that.”
“I got it.” He extended his hand, acquiring Ace’s attention by doing so. “I’m Elliot.”
“Hi.”
“Dang, your hand is cold.” Elliot pulled away from the handshake. “I can make you some decaf.”
Ace attempted a smile. “I can’t exactly pay you anything.”
“Then this is on the house.” He rummaged around under the bar again to find the coffee pot, and he glanced at Ace before turning to the burner. The tan-haired man had curled around the empty glass almost embarrassedly as his eyes fell to the floor.
“So, where’s home if it’s not here?” Elliot continued the small talk as he filled the pot.
“Fortanya.”
“Hmm. Never heard of it.”
Ace tensed. “What about Northaven? Daethos? The Tallelands?”
“No, no, and no,” Elliot glanced back.
Ace curled further around the glass. “All right, so where are we, then?”
“New Arden.”
The befuddled look that glazed Ace’s eyes more than answered the question.
Elliot tapped his fingers on the empty coffee cup in his hands as the coffee maker bubbled behind him. “So, you broke out of the research facility, with no memory of how you got there, at three in the morning, and you have no idea where you are in relation to where you’re from,” he commented. “You’ve got quite the predicament to work through.”
“Thanks.” Ace offered dryly.
“Well,” Elliot turned to pour two cups of coffee, “let’s start by warming you up.”
Ace watched as the bartender placed a warm cup of coffee in front of him. He finally released the empty water glass in order to wrap his hands around the mug. He brought the mug to his lips and took a careful sip. His eyes fell closed as the warmth began filling his body.
Elliot seemed lost in thought as he lifted the second cup. “You could probably use some sleep, too. We’ve got a loft upstairs you’re welcome to use.”
Ace pursed his lips as Elliot took a swig of coffee. “But...”
Elliot waved him off.
He shook his head. “Why are you helping me?”
“Why not?”
“There’s quite a few reasons, honestly.”
“Nah.” Elliot took another sip. “I’ve been in your lack of shoes before.”
“You’ve broken out of a research facility with no memory of how you got there?” Ace raised an eyebrow, smirking.
Elliot almost spit his coffee. “All right, smartass.” He rolled his eyes at him. “I’ve been in a tough spot before. I remember how much I appreciated being treated like a human being. I suppose now it’s my turn to return the favor.”
The smirk faded into a genuine smile. “I do appreciate it,” he admitted softly.
Elliot downed the rest of his coffee and set down the mug. “Let me finish cleaning up and we can head up.”
“Do you need any help?”
“Nope.”
Ace nodded and savored the last few sips of warm coffee as Elliot wiped down the bar, rinsed out the used glasses, and, finally, shut off all the lights. He followed behind the tall bartender as they returned to the door, and he stood beside him as the door was closed and locked with three different locks.
“Rough neighborhood?” Ace asked.
“All of New Arden is a rough neighborhood.”
“Sounds like most of Fortanya.”
Elliot hummed and started around the side of the brick building.
Ace quietly followed until they reached a set of iron stairs that crisscrossed against the side of the building. They climbed them to another door, also secured with three different locks, and the musty smell of aged wood met his nose as the door was pulled open.
The loft was meagerly furnished, but it featured an oversized couch in the center of the room, a counter behind it, a stove between a cupboard and a fridge that served as a kitchen on one side, and a well-used mattress covered in a mix-match of fabrics on the other side. A tall lamp stood near the door to the bathroom, but it was all but drowned by the streetlight shining in the wide window above the bed.
“You’re welcome to use the couch.” Elliot tossed the keys onto the kitchen counter and started into the bathroom.
Ace again found himself lingering in the doorway. “Is this where you live?”
“Yep.”
“Wait, do you own the bar?”
“Heck no.” He turned on the water and began washing his face. “I rent this out from the owner. In return, he makes me work ‘til close every night.” He blinked through wet eyes as he reached for a towel. “You can come in.”
Ace cleared his throat and stepped inside. He shut the door and flicked the locks before starting toward the couch. “It’s cozy.”
“It does its job, and it’s cheap enough.” Elliot yawned and began to rifle through the cupboard. “Help yourself to anything you need. There’s a shower in there, but I’ll need to fix the water heater if you need to use it.”
“Gotcha, thanks.” He settled onto the couch, practically sinking into the cushions.
“I’m sure I’ve got something around here you can wear so you won’t look like you just escaped the research facility.”
“Ha.” Ace smirked. He leaned back and at once felt an incredible drowsiness. He was no longer on the run, and, even if for a moment, he was safe. His defenses finally fell, and he allowed his tired body to relax.
“Chips?” Elliot walked past the couch with a crinkling bag. He was shocked to find Ace already asleep. Chuckling to himself, he returned to the kitchen to quietly finish his snack.