The Bartender 1941 [OUTDATED]

Chapter I

[Part 1]

I was old enough to move out of my parent's house—with their permission, of course, I had saved up every penny and dime for this moment, and now, it is finally happening. With every bit of hope for a new start will transform into a new life ahead of me. I wasn't scared; that's too literal.

I never did since the part of my brain that stimulates fear was washed away. It was the Urbach-Wiethe disease that corrupted it to what it's now when I was young. In short, I couldn't fear even if I wanted to. I wouldn't be able to experience something so crucial, like feeling warmth for the first time. 

My parents thought it would be too dangerous. "Your brain won't know how to react if there is a time to be afraid." They said while others believed it was a gift—a miracle even.

"Fear is an obstacle; it gets in the way of living life." Then what's the point of living if you can't experience that vital emotion? Like that day.

---

I had just moved in. It's a reasonably little town in Westchester County, New York, yet it's somehow still lively and flourishing happily.

Most of the place is surrounded by lush trees, like a forest, almost too crowded to reach the lake that stretched down by the Hudson River. Not to mention during autumn, most of the great oaks' leaves shined various shades of golden, orange, and scarlet hues accompanying the little critters scrambling around to look for food. I fancied it here, far away from the city and into nature's arms. What nature-loving freak wouldn't want to dream of a place like this?

Before arriving at my place, I had toured the perimeter and explored new routes; it's always refreshing to get used to your surroundings so it won't be a pain in the back later on. During that afternoon, driving down a new road, I spotted an old building standing just right about the edge of the trail. This surprised me. The town destroyed abandoned buildings around this place since they adapted to improve the environment by removing unnecessary wastes such as this structure itself.

Temptation and curiosity got the best of me as I discreetly strolled to the building's entrance once I got out of my vehicle. As I got closer, it turned to my attention when one of my heels struck a heavy object unintentionally. It turned out to be a sign; faded and crooked by the past years. It had fallen. The words were practically unrecognizable by this point as I gently laid it down to its original location. I returned to survey the building once more and took in further details.

It was a bar. It looked like any old bar; however, this one indeed has an unusual aura encompassing it. The tavern was made of dark, thick wooden slabs, almost all damaged and fading in color, making it look decayed black. The windows and doors were patched up with wooden planks with only the splintered basement door at the side bounded with dense, rusting chains. A large sign above the roof hung for dear life as one of its hinges managed to loosen by the wind—what an unusual sight.

After several hard glares, I managed to slacken myself from getting a little too suspicious or weird. Turning around and away from the bar, I could have sworn I saw dim lights flickering on in the tavern once I drove off.

When it comes to autumn, there ought to be autumn rain; it was showering endlessly. Most of the vicinity was either flooded or soaking wet. Because of this, I ended up spending most of the day in my apartment during this weather, studying outside the window that was facing the nearby wood. The silence was accompanied by the clicking and clacking the storm made. I just can't help but think about that abandoned and broken-down bar. Was it that important? I tried to focus and returned to study for an exam for the week. With my mind clouded with focus and boredom, I couldn't help but drift off to that lonely place.

I was fortunate to have a roommate, but not just any roommate. Nile worked for the district's tourism department and had various knowledge of the sites and attractions along with the history. We rarely spoke to each other, but if we did, we would chat nonstop, recalling the moment Nile assisted me with furniture help when I first met him.

Nile arrived about half an hour late from his regular schedule due to the storm. He was soaking wet with his trench coat hanging onto him like a vast, dripping blanket, but he nevertheless greeted me with a warm smile before taking off to his room to wash off. After a few hours, once Nile got back, we both shared tea and soft conversations between the living room, the atmosphere calm and gentle with the sound of rain outside.

The weather reminded me of the crippled bar down the road. I asked him about it. To this, I notice him twitching his lips to form a thin line as he sets down his lukewarm earl grey tea on his lap, his eyes wavering at a fast pace.

He managed to crack a half-hearted smile at me before responding. "The bar near the lake? Ah, you shouldn't interfere with the place." He paused, "It isn't a popular topic among the folks here."

I didn't know what he was babbling about. I questioned again, but the reason: Why? Nile shook his head in disapproval, "You don't know?" He asked. I shook my head and bowed in response.

Sighing bitterly at the ceiling then back at me, he told me he needed to go to sleep and would say to me the next day. Work, lectures, and such, which was understandable; I have plans tomorrow as well.

Getting up to go to my room, Nile walked past me and bent down to grab a small, black box hidden underneath the coffee table.

He pulled out a backflow incense censer, one shaped like an elegant waterfall, and some incense sticks. He then placed them in the open window where the rain didn't hit. There I couldn't help but watch. Then slowly lighting three sticks and circularly arranging them to lay on the burner. The smoke gently drifted outside and into the open. I followed the whirl of ashes to see other windows or balconies all having strange lamps with already throbbing incense.

I stared curiously at him as he did this weird ritual. Nile clapped his hands together and took a deep bow, murmuring silent prayers to himself. Once it was done, he turned to me as he studied my face. Confused yet amazed as I was, he questions me. "Are you wondering why I did this with the rest of the neighborhood?" He smiled drowsily.

"For protection. Against the entity in the bar..."

~~~