Page 8

The Sunset Lounge

T he breeze ran through Hans’ hair as he drove to the Sunset Lounge in the new car he had purchased from his friend Ross earlier in the day.

Ross had once been a colleague of Hans’, and after his partner had gotten shot he left law enforcement completely to chase his new dream of becoming a mechanic.

The car wasn't anything fancy, but it was going to get him from point A to point B without too much attention which is all he really cared about.

Pulling into a parking spot, he looked at the car parked next to him.

"Shit, but something like this would definitely grab a bunch of attention.

" He stood outside the lounge entrance and stared at the neons on the arrow that flashed toward the door.

Hans took a deep breath and slowly released it out; the cooler air of the evening emitting like a cloud of smoke from between his lips.

It's now or never.

Hans pulled the door toward him and entered.

The lounge was dimly lit, set up more like a speakeasy with comfy sofas and chairs for seating.

A few booths lined one wall and there were chairs that rested at the bar.

It was a romantic atmosphere regardless of the smell of cigars that wafted through the air, tickling his nose.

The Sunset Lounge was the last in the area that still allowed smoking inside because of where it sat on the county line.

It had been years since Hans had been in this bar. The last time was when he and Alana had originally been together. He had never noticed the intricacies of the black and gold detailing against the red wallpapered walls which could be seen peeling in different spots.

Over the whispers of the night's crowd, a haunting tune danced its way to Hans' ear.

Hypnotized, he turned and looked in the direction of where the sound was coming from.

In the corner sat a baby grand piano. Some nights the lounge booked entertainment - a jazz band or pianist - and others they arranged for comedians to grace the presence of Acadia.

Tonight, a gorgeous woman sat at the piano bench. Her fingers danced across the ivory keys in an almost seductive manner.

Her hair was short and a deep shade of red.

She was edgier than what normally caught his eye: her makeup was dark and she wore a bright shade of red lipstick that complimented her complexion.

He wanted to turn away and search for the woman he had attempted to kill just a day earlier, but there was something about this woman that kept him hypnotized.

As he allowed the music to guide him closer, his eyes searching the crowd for Sage, who was surely lurking in the shadows watching his every move.

Halfway between the entrance and the pianist, she looked up and their eyes met. When a familiar feeling came over him, a part of Hans was relieved that his plan had failed.

" Sage ," he whispered as he continued walking towards her. The rest of the crowd disappeared and at that moment they were the only two in the room.

"Hey, stranger." Sage winked as her fingers continued to glide over the piano's keys. “It took you long enough.”

"I didn't know you could play the piano." Hans quickly changed the subject, unwilling to explain the back and forth battle he had going on in his mind up until the moment he had arrived.

"There's a lot about me that you don't know." Sage stuck out her tongue, taunting him.

"Fair enough." Hans ran his fingers through his hair as he took in the essence of the woman before him. He started taking note of the changes she had made in case he determined that he needed to update the report that Charles had filed. "You changed your hair."

Sage scoffed. "Well, you didn't exactly leave me a choice." The tone in her voice changed from sweet to serious.

Hans shook his head, realizing that Sage was already two steps ahead of him and the report that he had filed. "Well, you look great."

"Would you have still thought the same thing if I was dead?"

Fighting for the right words Hans was glad that their conversation was cut short.

"Good evening, sir. My name is James and I'll be the waiter taking care of you tonight. Can I get you anything to drink?" he inquired.

Hans took no time to respond. "I'll take a jack and coke, short." he had been craving a drink since he escaped the forest for a second time.

"I'll have another Witches Brew." Sage winked, smiling sweetly at the waiter.

He nodded at them and headed back to the bar to input the order into the system.

Sage gestured to the table next to the piano. "Would you like to move over to a table so we can talk?" She stood up and took a couple of steps before Hans cut her off and pulled her chair out for her, pushing it in as she went to sit down. "How gentlemanly of you."

"I know it might be hard to believe, but…" Hans paused and stared at the beautiful woman sitting across from him, her eyes putting him under hypnosis. "I've always been a gentleman." He shook his head coming back into the present moment.

"Yes, because a true gentleman attempts to burn a woman's house down while she's sleeping."

"You left me no choice!" He raised his voice and the room fell silent around them, eyes shifting toward their table.

Sage giggled nervously and raised her hand to wave them off and assure any concerned bystander that she was safe.

"It's not like you were just going to let me go. " Hans finished more quietly.

The two sat there, the deafening silence roaring louder than anything Hans had ever experienced in his life.

James brought over their drinks, laying coasters down before placing the drinks on top of them.

"Can I get you two anything else?" he asked as Hans reached into his pocket and started to pull out his wallet.

"Just keep 'em coming, and place them on my tab," Sage interjected.

"As you wish." James sauntered off and began mingling with what appeared to be some of the regulars at the lounge.

Sage swirled her glittery drink that tasted of passionfruit. It had a purple base and was topped off with a green liquor that gave it the essence of a cauldron, and it was garnished with a slice of pineapple and a cherry.

"That is one helluva drink," Hans laughed, "but it makes sense for you."

Sage looked offended. "And that is one boring drink you've got there. Also fitting." She smirked through the glass as she took a sip.

The two continued to talk like old friends, the essence of betrayal barely lingering in the air the more time passed and the drinks kept coming.

Eventually, the bartender announced last call and they decided it was time to call it a night.

Sage staggered her way over to the bar to close her tab and the bartender informed her that he had already called a cab for her and Hans.

"C- can you b- believe it?" she slurred her words. “That bastard won’t let us go home.” She began to laugh hysterically over the thought of being trapped at the Lounge until she sobered up.

"N- no." Hans' sarcasm still lit up a room no matter how much he had to drink. "He said we had to take a cab home."

"Home?" Sage taunted. "Together?"

"I guess so." Hans shrugged. They stumbled toward the door and he held it open while Sage stepped out onto the pavement, stopping and turning toward Hans.

"But then you'd know where I was staying." The thought seemed to have sobered her up.

"I said I'm sorry, okay?" It was Hans' turn to seem annoyed. "What more do you want from me?"

He wrapped his arms around Sage’s waist and pulled her in closer to him.

The cab pulled up to the curb and flashed its lights at them, notifying it was time to go.

"Look, I'm sure the driver would take us to our separate places. Maybe he'll take you home first?" Sage offered up a suggestion that Hans was willing to take. They got into the back of the cab, leaving their cars behind with plans to pick them back up at separate times in the morning.