Take Away the Saints

Where Dreams Die : Ch. 9 & 10 || Andrew John Wood

Love and Meth

Grendel entered the building and Alec followed, he made it to the lobby before he realised that his target had protection...

He ducked out of sight whilst Grendel kicked awake what Alec could only call a Junkie.

"Anyone would think I pay you to fucking sleep..." He hissed as he kicked him once more in the ribs before walking away from him and muttering to himself.

The junkie glared at him as he walked away, but shrugged and resumed his relaxed lounging on the lobby couch.

Alec waited... he didn't have to wait for long before he had fallen asleep once more. Alec crept past him slowly and stared at how gaunt the man was. He recognised immediately what this man's vice was and wondered what form of payment Grendel spoke off. Surely it was Meth.

Alec made it to the stairwell and ducked away from the glass as he saw yet more junkies. These however, were lucid to the point of fidgety excitement.

He didn't want to fight them, but doubted he could gain access via the elevator. With a cursory glance, he knew he was right. The elevator had been damaged for years now and was more of a death trap than a solution. He tensed his fists, pushed open the stairwell door and sighed as they ran at him with knifes.

In their drug addled state, they didn't make much of a threat.

He dodged, snapped his attacker's wrist and caught the knife as it slid free from his grasp. The other junkie stared at him bewildered and Alec smiled as he raised the knife at him.

The second junkie dropped his knife and slowly walked out of the stairwell, all the while the man with the snapped wrist screamed a series of expletives.

Alec smirked and stormed the stairs still clutching the knife.

He made it to the fifth floor and paused, the sixth floor had collapsed in on itself. Grendel had to be living on this floor.

He slowly pushed open the door and smiled as he saw what he was looking for. Three more junkies stood watch halfway down the corridor.

Alec weighed his options, it was a narrow corridor with no other way to get to his target. He had to face them head on, but he had to be fast. Grendel would undoubtedly hear the ruckus and run.

Alec slowly walked down the corridor to the men. He made it most of the way before they noticed him.

"You're not allowed up here..." The gaunt addict hissed, his hands trembled and Alec knew the man's body was screaming for more drugs.

He smiled and acted causal.

"I'm here to bring Grendel his Meth." He patted his pockets and tried not to laugh as the junkies collectively relaxed.

Alec made it close enough to grab the door knob before one of the men spoke.

"Why haven't we seen you before?"

Alec turned around and glared coldly at them.

"Wormwood sent me, now back the fuck off before I order Grendel to black list you all..."

The junkies exchanged a look and reluctantly nodded.

Alec smiled and spoke once more in his cold tone.

"Leave. I have important business to discuss. Your presence is not required at the moment."

He could feel their animosity towards him as they began to walk down the corridor. Alec waited a few moments, the men were at the stairwell when the junkie with the broken wrist crashed into them.