Mr. Coffee

The Meeting

The roads were desolate and icy. Snow blanketed the roofs as well as the sidewalks perfectly. As if they were built that way. A single man traversed the empty streets. Snow falling roughly against his coat as he walked.

Walking towards anything that seemed accountable for sustaining life seemed an impossible effort. A short distance into the unknown town he came upon a building that held a bright blue fluorescent light that shimmered through the snowing sky. The building that held the neon light stood alone in the middle of an empty parking lot. The words atop the building simply read "Café". Lights still flooded the inside of the building.

Feeling like a stroke of luck had finally brushed over him he walked into the open building.

Inside, a rustic looking café that made the place feel more welcoming than it appeared to be on the outside. The decor calmed the unsettling nerves that were creeping over his body. The place had a large open seating area with knee high tables for him to choose from. It shouldn't have come as a surprise to him since no cars were parked outside, yet an entire building left unattended still seemed strange to him. He checked the watch on his wrist despite the numbness he felt throughout his entire body.

Midnight.

A coffee shop open this late didn't seem like a common thing. Especially with all the small towns he had been visiting lately. Nothing seemed to stay open past eight. Despite the peculiar safe haven he had been graced with he took a seat at one of the many open tables that filled the café.

Removing the multiple layers of clothing he had shielded himself with was a task. The warm environment brought finally brought a smile to face. After removing the final sweater he looked up to see he wasn't alone. A young man who couldn't have been older than 18 stood before him, smiling.

"Hi, there. I didn't mean to startle you, sir! How are you doing today? Would you like anything to drink or just stopping by to warm up?" The sing song tone his voice was strangely abnormal for anyone out on a midnight excursion. The boy's rounded soft features only made him look younger. His blue apron hung tightly against his sides showing his small frame.

"Uh...just a small coffee, please." The man said staring at the strange barista.

"One small coffee! I'll have that right out for you." The boy joyfully says stepping away behind the counter. Starting the pour over process.

Adding to the unusual setting the man noticed that there was no music playing. You could only hear the wind howling by outside of the building.

While he waited for his coffee he pulled a crinkled five dollar bill out of his coat pocket. A heavy smell of coffee started to flood through the café as his drink finished up. The aroma sent the man into a daze as he sat alone in the café. His inner thoughts providing him with a warm energetic place that reminded him of a time when he didn't have to face a blizzard as a daily ritual. The memory deviated from his mind when he opened his eyes to see the barista now stood next to him.

"There you go, sir." The barista says smiling brighter than he was doing before, handing the coffee to the man.

"Thanks. Keep the change." The man tells him as he hands him the money.

"Yes, of course. I appreciate it so much."

Taking the money the boy disappears behind the counter to exchange the money out. Leaving the man alone once again in the café. Thoughts still processing through him. Taking a drink from his coffee the warm dark liquid gave each nerve in his body life. The bitter taste always left something to be desired, but the man only needed the warmness it was providing for him.

After a few minutes of sitting alone a large portion of the lights went out. He started to analyze the environment around him. Only a few lights remained on. One in the corner and a few hovering above the countertop where the registers had been. It didn't make sense that the entire building was vacant and now lights were going off without any warning. Unless the boy thought the man had left.

A hollow feeling started to slip over him. He got up from his seat to investigate the rest of the building. The barista hadn't been back for a while. As he approached the counter one of the lights above started to flicker. Next to the register a five dollar bill laid. The pour over station still laid out from his coffee just being made. No, sign of the barista anywhere in sight.

Examining the bill in his hand he realized it was the same bill he handed the boy. The man crept around the other side of the counter. Making sure not to startle the barista in case he was actually there. He noticed that the backrooms door was closed. As he made his way, he made himself smaller feeling as if something may have been watching him. Grabbing the door the knob the man slowly and carefully turned it.

Locked.

Something about all of it didn't feel right. As soon as he got back to his table he began to collect his things. The entire predicament was unnerving. The fact he could now feel those nerves now only made it that much worse. He tried to rush as quickly as he could, until he started to drop everything that was in his hands.

A fuzziness began to cloud his vision. The rest of his body feeling like it just went through rigor mortis. His once suspicious feeling was now starting to divulge into an entirely new sense of fear. Trying to brace himself on the chair he slipped toppling onto the ground back first. Breathe slowing down from the contact he had with the floor. The lights grew brighter for a split second until they started to fade from his view. The sounds of his groaning voice now muffled from whatever was going on inside of him. His consciousness seemed to grab onto every sense before it finally fled from him. The last sight he saw before he gave in to slumber was the boy.

He stood watching him from the other side of the glass door where he had entered. A large horrendous smile slipped on the boy's face sending a spine-chilling feeling through the paralyzed man before he knocked out.