After The Flash: Fanfiction by R.T. Adams (ereader android TXT) 📕

“How was that, old man?” I asked the bartender.

“Very good, kid, but you’ll need to do better than that. A tune from Jacob’s Reef isn’t going to score you a free beer,” he replied, knowing the tune. I only have two tries left before I’ve got to reveal my face. I, once again, prepared to play another tune. The old man remained at the counter, staring at me, waiting politely for me to resume. Soon, I began to play a different tune. Everyone, or just about everyone, continued to listen. Some of the rather angry customers even joined in, realizing they had no choice but to leave or listen. Soon, I had a crowd of about forty around me. If I removed my hood and Akina tried to murder me, it’d turn into absolute chaos. I heard footsteps from outside of the bar, coming towards the bar. From the corner of my eye, I could see three black figures approaching. CDF soldiers. I resumed to play, however, knowing they wouldn’t interfere. They stood at three different corners of the bar, keeping a close watch on the crowd. I noticed the old man smiling. By then, I knew he knew the tune. I only have one chance left. Soon, I’d finished the tune. Everyone in the crowd turned towards the old man. The old man just shook his head.

“A great tune, indeed, but it’s something everyone hears,” he said, “A song from Bobkin’s Records.” He pointed it out, even though I already knew. This was my last chance. I took a quick look at Akina, who was still staring at the old man. I quickly looked back at the piano. Soon enough, I started to panic mentally. If I screwed this up, I was done. I stretched, preparing for the last song, one that my grandfather taught me. He said it was very common among the undergrounds, but he didn’t believe it was very common on the surface. I began to play, slowly and softly. Most keys were held for a long time, then moved on to another long-held key. Soon, the tune picked up pace, moving along faster, yet still calm and peaceful. My grandfather used to play me this song every night before I went to bed after I was put in his care. I stayed with my grandfather until I was 16, then I moved out and lived on my own. I played the song to myself and to others during the day, letting them listen in joy. I knew they had nothing to give at that time, but I played just to satisfy them. Now, however, there was plenty of money on the piano top. People kept giving money, praising my tune. I kept a corner of my right eye on the old man. He seemed to be struggling to find the tune of this. My grandfather told me it was one of his own songs. He called it the Grandfather’s Greatest Clock. I will never understand why he decided on that name, but I love the sound of it. After I’d finished, I, and everyone, looked towards the old man. He remained quiet for a moment.

“A great tune,” he said. He hadn’t said anything after that and grabbed a beer. It seems I was safe. Akina walked forward and grabbed my shoulder after the old man turned around.

“What are you doing here you fool?” she said. It seems she already knew it was me. Was she trying to murder me or what? She did shove me off the highest point of the ship.

“Just want a beer, is there a problem with that?” I said, taking a drink of my beer. “I could never pass up a chance to grab a free beer, after all.” I said loudly, making sure everyone could hear. They looked towards me.

“What are you doing? Stop drawing attention!” she said, trying to force me to sit down. However, I refused to sit down. I looked around, holding my beer high in the air.

“You know, guys,” I said, “This girl looks rather cute, wouldn’t you say?” I grabbed her and turned her around, wrapping my left arm around her lower-rib area. I placed my right hand on the front part of her hood, ready to remove it.

“Wh-What are you-” I released my hand from the hood and put it on her mouth.

“There’s no need for us to see such a beautiful girl revealed when she doesn’t want to be,” I said, “It is rather impolite of me, apologies.” I released her and she quickly escaped away from me. She glared at me. Looks like I should get out of here. The man noticed it was me, as well. I ran through the exit, drawing just about everyone’s attention. While I was in there, the CDF soldiers seemed rather hesitant to do something, considering it seemed like a hostage situation. However, when I released her and ran, they began to become less hesitant. I quickly climbed up the wall, to the roof of the bar. When I got there, I saw a door to the left. I probably wasn’t supposed to be up here, so I headed to the door as soon as I could. I tried to open it, but I noticed that it was locked. I climbed up the wall to the roof above that, looking around. I saw the clock tower, the coal yard, and a few more things. I ran forward and jumped onto a broken wall used as a defensive method for the town. I jumped over to a balcony-like object, where a CDF soldier patrols the outside. I looked down and noticed he was looking up. He spotted me and fired a shot after I’d moved my head. Looks like I’m a hostile figure to them, now. I jumped off of the roof of the balcony and landed on my feet, rolling and standing back up. I just about fell over do to the force pushing me both forward and down, nearly stumbling. I began to pick up pace, but I noticed something wrapping around my body. I collapsed, chest-first into the ground, some rubble included. I couldn’t see who had me.

“Fool, why’d you come?” a familiar voice. I swear I just heard it, probably at the bar. Oh, right, it was probably Akina, the girl I held “hostage.” She rolled me over and I could see her blue eyes. The glare, something I feel like I’m already used to seeing by thousands of people.

“I told you, I came for-” before I could finish, she slapped me. “That hurt. That wasn’t really necessary, was it?” I looked at her, noticing water forming from her eyes. Tears? Why would she be crying? It’s not like I’ve ever done anything special.

“You weren’t like this when you were young, James,” she said, apparently knowing my name. Wait, how did she know? Did I tell her? I never told her. I met her only a few days ago. I didn’t age by ten years each day, did I? No, that’s illogical. Scientifically impossible. She paid for my beer, tackled me, gave me a card, told me she’d go to Crane Town, and we ended up having quite an adventure afterwards. Yeah, just two days. I don’t tell anyone my actual name until it has been about a year, if they’re still alive. Akina. Suddenly, it’s ringing a bell. I’m bad with memory, and bad with remembering friends. Was she, by any chance, a friend of my younger life?

“Akina…” I said quietly, “Akina, Akina.” I repeated it to myself. I don’t know why, and I probably shouldn’t just be saying it out loud either.

“James. You’ve been my friend for a long time, but what happened to you?” she asked, “What could have happened?” I just can’t remember. So, she really was one of my friends. I was right. How long has it been since I’ve seen one of my actual friends?

“Wait, what do you mean?” suddenly, I started thinking about the questions of “what could have happened,” and all that.

“You’ve changed a lot, James. Sure, I have too, but you’re acting like a drunkard or something. You weren’t this crazy,” she said, teary eyes, nearly broken words, “I’ve loved you for a long time, James.” Suddenly, something inside me was pierced. It wasn’t painful, but rather pleasing. My chest, a pleasing pierce. She… loved me? So, was that kiss an expression of her love? She anticipated for me to live that fall. Soon enough, I felt something warm at my lips, something soft, and closed my eyes. It tasted like cherry. It was sweet, tasteful. I wish I could taste this for as long as I lived in this restless world. The sweetness of that taste lasted for what felt like a millennium, but what was really only for a few minutes. I felt the cold hit my lips again once the warmth left my mouth. I opened my eyes and saw Akina smiling. She removed her hood and let the white strands of her hair down. The perfect ponytailed, now removed from her head. Her hair was naturally straight. Some strands reached to my cheeks, sending jolts of tickles through my body, but I ignored them. This was surely a moment to be savored, a moment to be kept in mind for as long as I live. Soon, I felt the warmth throughout my entire body leave me. Akina got up, standing. I felt a different kind of warmth grab my wrist, one much warmer, and the grip wasn’t as light as Akina’s. It was a crushing grip, one of a man. It was the man that accompanied Akina. I could tell she felt guilty and regretted that she even let me go.

The man shoved me, escorting me back into Crane Town. I was too dazed by Akina in order to properly move my body. I was put in a room with a circular table, one with four chairs around it, and a desk at the far end, with a useless computer and a chair behind it. I didn’t notice where I was, concluding I started dazing off. I noticed my hands were tied to one of the four chairs and my legs, as well. I couldn’t move. I didn’t even bother to escape. I knew that if I tried, it’d result in me growing exhausted. If I could see the knots, I’d probably be able to untie it. Or maybe I could feel it and untie it. Of course, I couldn’t untie it yet, because there was a man behind me. I hung my head over the back of the chair, looking at him. He stared at me, his expression blank. When I looked back towards the door, I saw several feet at the bottom of the curtains that were used as a door. When they entered, I saw the guitarist and bassist. They were both soon tied to a chair, next to each other. Not only were they here, but the old man, too. The four of us sat at the table, quiet. I suppose the old man was taken here because he was the one who challenged me and the bassist and guitarist gave themselves away.

“Mind if we have a card game?” I asked, “It’d make it more lively in here.”

“Not a chance,” the guard behind me said, “You’ve made things lively enough already.” Seems like he doesn’t like lively things, nor does he like fun. There were still more people outside the door. The curtain opened and I saw Akina and the man. Akina instantly looked at me when she walked in. The man darted a look at all four of us. It seems Akina couldn’t take her eyes off of me, like I was the God of