The Face

“I’ve got one thing to say to you Slick.” Bloch stood from his booth, reared back and smashed the waiter in the face with a solid left hook. The freckly waiters red hair flopped like a mop and his eyes rolled back into his head. “The coffee sucks.” Bloch slicked his dark hair back and strutted through the glass double doors leaving the waiter in a crumpled heap on the diner floor. Bloch’s motorcycle roared as the engine started, he lit his last Lucky Strike, tossed the spent box and slowly rode out onto the highway. He saw night ahead and reached for it.

The saturated glow of the red neon sign reading “OPEN” drew in all kinds of drifters this time of night. Bloch rumbled into the lot of “Bar X” and kicked out his kickstand. Before opening the door to the bar, Bloch looked up and noticed the sign, “Welcome to Nowhere.” The dark, smoky bar was full of gritty characters, the kind of characters Bloch dealt with regularly. Near the back in the shadows Bloch could see the glow of Halloway’s cigarette and he walked towards him.

As the shadows broke Bloch could see the large scar that stretched across Halloway’s black face. “Hey ugly.” Bloch said in Halloway’s direction. Halloway said nothing in return as Bloch sat down in the booth across from a busty brunette wearing a slim red dress and matching lipstick. June Gloom was a sexy, venomous woman with looks that could kill... literally. One telling glance from Ms. Gloom and Halloway would blow your brains out.

“So what do for you Pumpkin?” asked Bloch eagerly awaiting Gloom’s response. “Don’t call me Pumpkin. Pumpkins are bulbous and orange and you know how I hate orange.” Gloom was about to continue when a man tapped Bloch on the shoulder. “What can I do for you, Chump?” growled Bloch. The man simply stood in place staring at the threesome. “Well?” said Bloch gruffly, “What do you want?” Again no response.

Bloch stood up looking at the man, “Alright.” grumbled Bloch. The man swung at Bloch and connected with his throat. Bloch saw his breath climb out eager to carry on without him. He caught it hastily and wheeled around only to feel another grinding fist in his skull. Halloway jumped up, grabbed a nearby stool and demolished it over the back of the dark figure standing over Bloch. The man just stood there, unaffected. Halloway reached for his gun but before he could get his hand in his twill jacket the man had already grabbed Halloway’s hand and crushed it.

Bloch looked up at the man and jumped up while swinging his fist into his face. The man’s face twisted up and back and stumbled into the debris of the broken stool. The man reached down and picked up one of the broken legs of the wooden stool and swung it ferociously at Bloch. “I’m ready for ya, Chump.” yelled Bloch as he carefully avoided the swinging club. The next big swing Bloch grabbed the club and swung it in the opposite direction tossing the man halfway across the room. “Look who’s swinging now Bambino.” said Bloch as he approached the man with the club in his hand.

The man stood up and glared at Bloch and Halloway close behind, still wincing from the dulling pain in his hand. The music on the jukebox changed and a droning rock tune came out of the speakers. Bloch looked at the man and said, “Halloway here and me ... we’re gasoline and matches. You sure you wanna start this fire?” The man rushed at Bloch furiously. He jumped with his foot leading the way straight to Bloch’s chest. Bloch twisted back to avoid the kick. Halloway charged as the man missed Bloch and clothes-lined him. The man slammed back first into the ground and summersaulted back on his feet.

“Ready for more huh?” insulted Bloch as he swung a fist into the mans face. Blood sprayed out of the mans nose. The man shook his head wiped the blood from his upper lip smearing it across his face and attacked Bloch again. Bloch turned slightly to the right and hit the man in the side knocking him into Halloway who grabbed the mans head and smashed it into his own.

The headbutt seemed to subdue the man long enough for the bartender to jump up on the bar with his sawed-off shotgun. He fired the gun into the air and simply pointed to the door. “Come on Darlin.” Bloch said as he reached for Ms. Gloom’s hand. Halloway picked up his effects and the three walked out door.