Write or Wrong?

The Events on Mt. Mitchell - Chapter One

In case you missed the Prologue, its in my previous post. Here’s the next chapter. Enjoy :)

Chapter One 

Mark Dennehey owned a Microbrewery in the heart of downtown Asheville. He started the business with his older brother in 2005 at the age of twenty-four. Since the birth of his niece, Mark had primary control over the brewery and his brother became a silent partner. Upon opening they had immediate success with their business which Mark attributed to his older brother’s sparkling MBA. After he carried the brewery on his own for five years, the degree had not been the only thing that gave prosperity to the brewery. After he dropped out of college junior year Mark didn’t think he would ever be successful without having a degree.  His father was the one who pushed the idea of success meaning a degree holding individual into his head. He never resented his dad for this because he understood that he just wanted what was best for his son. Mark’s mother, Isra, was born in Thailand and never had the opportunity to continue her education, but even when the chance presented itself she declined. She told him, “You are who you are, and what you stand for or against is not as good or bad for anyone else”. Mark carried that piece of wisdom with until the day he died.

Mark stood behind the bar and flipped channels nonchalantly to pass the time before open. The time was five until two on that sunny November afternoon in Asheville. He was dressed in his staple outfit of a plain black t-shirt covered by a black zip-up sweatshirt, snug jeans, and all black sneakers. Marks signature had always been his hair which always was longer and a bit on the shaggy side. The back curled and stopped at the nape of his neck and the front hung right at his brow line which meant he flicked his head a lot to keep the hair out of his eyes. This move was seen as charming to women of a certain age.

Mark looked toward his left and watched as a young woman pulled open the bar door which had the words “Dennehey Brewing Co.” printed backward across the glass. The woman was in her early twenties and was dressed in a tight black button down, equally tight fitting black pants and bright red Converse sneakers. The areas of her skin that weren’t covered in colorful ink were china doll white. Her bright red lipstick popped against her skin and made her lips appear to be her best quality. She had a diamond pierced into her face above the left side of her mouth. When she pulled up her lip into a smile, the sun hit the diamond and sparkled.
“Hey boss!” She rang out with a hint of sarcasm.

Mark put down the remote and his surfing had ended on a news channel. “Lena”, Mark spoke her name slow and added a cheeky wink at the end.

She walked past the bar and into a room marked “Employees”. Before she completely disappeared, she looked over her shoulder to see if Mark was checking out her ass. To her insult, he wasn’t. Mark was transfixed by the television.

“Breaking News: Five-thousand blackbirds have fallen from the sky above one stretch of land in Durham, North Carolina today”, the broadcaster reported.

Mark raised the volume and stared at the screen. His almond shaped eyes widened and his expression seemed to be begging the news anchor to continue.

“No word as of yet on the cause of death. Some speculate military involvement but no representative has come forward.”

Marks eyes glowed as the television reflected into them. “What the fuck?” he muttered.

Lena reappeared from the back, now sporting a black apron tied at her thin waist. “What?” she asked. Mark pointed to the flat screen that hung up and across from the bar.

“These birds- they just fell out of the sky. Five-thousand birds…” He trailed off and sounded as confused as he felt. The picture on the screen displayed a piece of land, one side littered with dead fowl and the other a bare grassy paradise.

Lena gave a half cocked frown, “Oh, that sucks,” then continued, “So, are we pushing the Ahi tuna nachos today? The tuna is looking totally less than sushi grade.”

Mark paid no attention to her and continued to stare at the T.V. She leaned over the bar and exposed her ample amount of cleavage. Since that act didn’t arouse the response she wanted, she scowled and snapped, “MARK.”

He had torn his gaze from the television to Lena’s breasts which were perched atop the wood grain counter.

“What?” he asked as he realized he was staring at breasts with his mouth wide open. “I’m sorry, what did you say?” He moved his attention up to her eyes, which showed displeasure because she preferred he gawked at her tits.

Lena leaned back and twirled her finger though her bleach blond hair at the same time pressing her chest together with her arms, “Are we having another sleep over tonight?” Before giving Mark a chance to answer she had already moved to the other side of the bar and stood in front of him. Lena had to stand on her toes to whisper into Marks ear, “I’ve missed you, big boy.” The scruff on his cheek felt barbarian against her smooth ivory skin.

Mark felt her pelvis pressed against his belt and it dug into his hip, “Uh, Lena. You’re hurting me.” He moved his hands up to her shoulders and pushed her back until they were face to face again.

Lena scowled and let out and irritated “UGH” as the brewery’s first customers strolled in. She did her best Cybil impression and turned on her heel. “Good afternoon! High top or bar for ya’ll?” She beamed at the group of young thirty-something corporate men out for their afternoon lunch. Men were fascinated by Lena and almost always found her attractive. This was mostly due to her unique and dangerous style. Even though she looked harder than most women in the Asheville area, inside Lena was very sweet and very much in love with her boss. Her boss on the other hand just assumed she was having fun with him. That was the way she carried herself around him, so he was not wrong in believing that. She was ferocious sometimes and came off more a like joke than anything. He looked at Lena as she bounced cheerfully around the tables and wondered why she had become more agitated with him as of late.

Lena came back behind the bar and pretended to be giving Mark table one’s beer order. She put her back to the customers and husked her voice, “Mark, I want you tonight. Come over after close. Ok?” The question had only been implied, Mark knew it leaned toward a demand. He raised his thick black eyebrows as he nodded his head. Yes ma’am, he thought, anything you say. She relayed the tables beer choices,”A porter for the dude with the mustache, Ginger wants an pale ale, and third guy wants a Bud. I mean, who goes to a brewery and orders a Bud?”
Mark scoffed, “Thankfully those customers are not in earshot, Lena” and he reached for the tap behind him. Lena shrugged, turned on her heel and walked toward the door to great more customers.

The television caught Marks attention again, “Greensboro is experiencing a phenomenon of it’s own as well,” boomed the news anchor, “It seems as though ponds and lakes in the area that surround the city are dry.” Mark was stumped. What could be at the cause? He thought. Then the broadcaster spoke again, “What is the cause? Many people want to know. Wildlife Fish and Game is looking into the situation currently. We will report back with updates at five o’clock.”

The afternoon flew and the bar had been busy all night. Mark never got a chance to get the report update, but then again Mark never got the chance to catch his breath. It was a quarter of twelve and Lena was about to clock out. She punched her card into the machine by the kitchen door, then caught Mark’s eye by an obscene gesture she made with her tongue.

Lena’s apartment was, to put it nicely, a shithole. She had balled up pieces of paper all over the floor, the curtains were actually towels and crushed beer cans were her way of accessorizing. Not to mention the carpet was covered with, what Mark assumed were, vomit stains. Mark itched whenever he came to her place. She could have had bed bugs or lice but he assumed it was all in his head. Lena had coiled around him post coitus like a snake about to ingest its prey. Mark laid like stick, so uncomfortable and ready to bail as soon as possible. He had always waited until she began drooling on his chest and letting out little pig snorts before he tried to release himself from her grip. He liked Lena, but he hated her apartment and she for some reason never took him up on the offer of going to his place. He had to pass the time until he was able to leave, so he reached for the remote control. The television blipped on to the default station which was the news and Mark caught the tail end of a report.

“Evidence shows the birds were not poisoned, the birds died from blunt force trauma. The question still remains, “What did this?” The anchor switched camera angels, did his best I-really-care-that’s-why-I’m-a-journalist face and continued, “Scientists are baffled and have no answers for the disappearance of the water in and around Greensboro. Wildlife experts say that this will cause a huge upset with the animals and plant life and advise citizens to keep an eye out for migrating animals, especially bears.” Susanna Davis of Wildlife Fish and Game popped up in a corner of the screen and said “These animals are going to be searchin’ for water. They could head into the populated areas. Keep an eye out, people.”

Mark scratched his chin and thought what if this is just the tip of the ice berg? Then shook that thought out, you’re just paranoid that’s all.

The snoring had started and in fifteen seconds flat, Mark was dressed and his hand was on the door knob. Once he had stepped out of the apartment, he sighed heavily. Mark knew he was pretty daft when it came to the female mind, but he never got down on himself for it. He never thought of Lena as a potential girlfriend. Thing of it was, Mark never thought of any woman as a girlfriend. His longest relationship was with Alice Kowalski and it lasted two years. They were college sweethearts, during the time Mark went to school. The entire span they were together neither of them discussed a title. They lived together the majority of the time they were an item and were very happy until her ambition level rose and Marks flat lined. His thought process had brought him to think of someone he had not seen nor heard from in years. Mark reached inside his sweatshirt pocket and pulled out his cell phone.

1. khajida liked this
2. stlyma liked this
3. amdeimling reblogged this from katealliston
4. katealliston posted this