John looked the man over, and debated what he could say. He couldn't remember any wish preventing him from explaining to others what was happening; he could just tell the guy all about the stone, about the wish, about how Louie was forcing the changes over him.
And yet, if he heard that story himself, and didn't know about the stone or the wishes, would he believe what was being told to him, or think the one telling the tale wasn't in fact insane.
No, John realised, he couldn't just come out and tell the guy what was going on. But, there were other options. Finally he continued, "I... I really don't want to be here, but, the owner of the club is holding something over me "“ he has something of mine which is so very special that I can't afford to leave without it."
The man looked over John a moment, seeming to look him over to induce if he was telling the truth or not. Finally, seeming comfortable with the answer, he nodded, and spoke softly, "Blackmail?"
John shook his head, "No, he holds something that my Grandfather gave to me before he died. It is very important to me and my family, and Louie threatens to sell it, or even destroy it if I don't dance for him."
"Can you not go to the police?" The man was studying John, which made John feel a little uncomfortable. John knew that if he told as much of the truth as possible, without sounding insane in the process, the guy probably was going to believe him "“ at least he hoped so.
Shaking his head, John replied. "No, he would either hurt me, or he would just make it that no one could find it, or worse."
"Okay, can I ask what it is?" The man questioned, and John could see that he probably thought the item was something illegal and that is why John wasn't going to the police.
"A rock..." He replied, and could see the confusion on the man's face. "I know it sounds small, but that was something that my Grandfather brought back from his adventures, it was special to my family. It holds so much importance to my heart."
"A diamond?" He asked John.
John shook his head and smiled slightly, "No, nothing like that. It is a rock, brought from one of Grandfather's voyages. He never got to tell me where from, but, it was the last thing he gave me before he died."
The man was quiet a moment, studying John's face, as if trying to read him. Finally he smiled, "Okay, do you know where it is?"
This caught John a moment, as he realised he couldn't really answer this one with any certainly. Ever since the one time after the confrontation in the office, he hadn't seen the rock anywhere else. "I think Louie keeps it with him, but I am not sure. There is a safe in his office, and of course his girls and he sleep in bedrooms in the apartment upstairs to the club. So he would have a room there also."
The man nodded and smiled, "Okay then, I can go into his office now and demand it back." He went to turn around, but John grabbed his arm quickly.
John knew that was the worst thing for him to do. If he wasn't fast enough, all that Louie would have to do is wish the man to forget ever meeting John, or turn him into another of the strippers, or worse "“ just out right make him disappear from reality.
"No, that won't work!" John quickly explained, "He is stronger than he seems. And he would hurt you."
Shaking his head, the man held John's hand firmly, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "No, I know martial arts; I am very good at a fright so I believe I can take him."
John felt a suddenly feeling of warmth from the touch on his hand, and for a moment he felt strangely swooning from the feeling of assurance. Before he knew it, the man had removed himself from John's hold and again started down the corridor.
[[starting this off again, never finished it and felt I wanted to work on some of my unfinished work, so anyone else want to add in please do...]]
