“Steve!” said Sky loudly, “did you fall asleep?” “What? Oh, I guess I must have,” I said, “my back was bothering me so I had to lie down for a while before we go out for dinner.” “Your back has been bothering you for 2 days,” she said, “you should have asked Sigurbjorn to stay behind, she was willing.” “I know she was,” I said, “but I wanted her to enjoy her Christmas with the other girls.”

“I need to have her teach me how to massage your back,” said Sky, “at least better than I did last time.” “Oh, that was a little rough,” I admitted. “Well, we were able to peel you off the ceiling without too much trouble,” said Sky giggling. “I love that giggle of yours,” I said smiling. “You are marrying me because of my giggle?” she asked. “Of course,” I said chuckling.

That is when she hit me with the pillow. Off we went to the new restaurant, which, oddly enough, was open on Christmas Day. Chung had eaten here before with Walter and Crandall and said the food was great. It was owned by a Chinese family, though it was not a normal Chinese restaurant, no Chinese food available at all, except by special order ahead of time. It was very big inside but there were only us and another group of people at another table.

Six men in fact. Crystal said they kept looking over at our table. “Why not?” I said, “there are a lot of beautiful women over here.” Sky kicked my leg. “Just stating a fact,” I said to her, “you know, while I was sleeping I had this weird dream.” “No dreams,” said Sky, “no, no, no! We are here to enjoy our dinner, so no weird dreams.” She was probably right, me getting stabbed was not the best dream to talk about right now.

This restaurant was a lot like the one in my dream. It even had a hallway to the washrooms in the same place. I have never been here before, but Walter and Crandall described it to me in detail once. After dinner we had some coffee and as usual I had to use the washroom, but, rules state we have to go places 3 at a time. Hmm, that would be difficult with only Chung here, and I do not want to use him for a bodyguard anyway.

I took Sky and Crystal with me, they could stand guard at the door. They did have a family washroom however, so the girls could go in and check it out first. That was perfect. Afterward we sat and talked for a while more, and oddly, that table of men stayed too. Finally we decided to leave and I went to pay, with Sky and Crystal staying with me while the others went outside. We were parked out front.

When we got outside some men got out of a van across the street and began shooting at us. Sky told me to get back inside, which I did, then she turned to follow me, but the door was locked! She quickly broke the glass door with her gun and unlocked it and everyone went back inside to look for me, except Chung. He got in the car where he was safe. “Where did my husband go?” Sky asked the woman at the till.

“I saw no one,” she said nervously. Sky and Crystal grabbed her and dragged her over the counter. “That was the wrong answer!” said Sky and she hit the woman, “now where is he?” “Those men, they took him out the back way,” she said panicking. Sky and Kristina went outside and into the car to drive around back, while the other girls went through the back of the restaurant.

As Chung drove behind the restaurant, some of the men were getting into a car. Kristina jumped out quick and began shooting, killing two of the men. Sky had jumped out too and was running toward the third man who dropped his gun. She kicked him hard and he fell to the ground, then put cuffs on him. Then she and Kristina went inside, only to be horrified by what they saw. Chung called the police and they arrived just then too.

Crystal, Angel, Tracy and Sephira were lying on the floor, they had been shot. I was nowhere to be seen. They quickly put the girls in the car and took them to the clinic. Sky and Kristina went along to help Chung and let the police handle things at the restaurant. They called Sky later to tell her I was not there and the other 3 men must have taken me away. The four girls were in bad shape, all had to be put on life support. Chung said he needed a doctor to help. But how do they get a doctor?

To Be Continued.

©2022 Steve McLeod.