Chapter Four: Strange New World

Robert and Jessica Mynakos. These two had been stealing cars for chop shops since they were teenagers. They needed an extra hand for some bigger jobs involving knocking off auto transport trailers, so they let me roll with them for a good while. Jess would flirt and seduce unsuspecting clerks and businessmen. She even liked to disguise herself as a valet attendant from time to time. Robbie would hotwire cars and smooth talk, and I would pickpocket and provide some muscle if need be. Nothing was ever too serious, but it was fun. For the first time in my life, including while at my factory job, money was good. But it’s what happened next that changed the scope of this entire journey.

After a couple months living on the lam with these two, we decided to get a jump on the weather and head south for the winter. Both for a change of scenery and to find new con jobs. It was a strange stop in the Central Nevada desert that really shook things up for me.

I was riding in the back of a convertible we stole in Salt Lake City. Robbie preferred to drive. Jess kicked back in the passenger seat with her feet up on the dash. When we decided we would stop soon to stretch, she pointed out a strange building coming up on the right. Robbie slowed down to see what it was. It looked like a somewhat modern single story house that had been converted into a little store, equipped with a parking lot and everything. But it was a very strange sight being all the way out here.

‘Sight Beyond Sight Books’, read the sign on the building.

When Jess saw that it was a bookstore, she convinced Robbie to stop there because she wanted to pick up something new to read. As we pulled up, we saw only one car parked outside, which we assumed to be the shopkeeper. There were only about eight parking spaces so it was very strange, seeming like something you’d find more downtown in a larger city than way out here.

It was a typical Nevada day when we got out to go into the store. The sun was shining and there were miles of desert and rocky hills around us. Yet, something felt off in the air. I couldn’t quite place it but I think we all felt it. We walked up to the door and entered. A bell chimed, signaling that we had come in but there was no one around. It didn’t take long for us to realize that this was a very peculiarly designed bookstore. When you came in the door, there was about twelve feet or so of hallway before it opened into the first room. Around the corner, out of view from the entrance, was the clerks desk. Though no one was sitting there. From that room, hallways split off into three other areas of the store. It was dead silent.

“This place is very strange,” Jess noted. The first to mention the eeriness of everything.

Neither I nor Robbie responded to her, but we each ventured around the first room to observe the contents of the store. Aside from the odd location and even more odd layout of the place, it seemed like a normal, well stocked bookstore! The three of us slowly started making our way into the other rooms. Each entry point to the main room legged off into other smaller rooms, back with shelves. Other than the main room, everywhere seemed to be a rather tight squeeze. As I passed through the first room of my hallway, I came to the entrance of another room. When I turned and looked, I saw Robbie had also found this crossroads by way of the hallway he took.

We didn’t say a word to each other, but Robbie turned and ventured down another hall as I continued down mine until reaching a small room that dead ended. It was quiet here. Still no sign of the shopkeeper, and certainly no other patrons. The only noise was the faint sound of each other venturing the halls. After a few moments of browsing, the three of us came to realize that every turn and hall lead right back to one another. In other words, nearly every room could be accessed regardless of what path you took. The only other way out of the main floor was down a stairwell to the basement, which we eventually took. It was just two large rooms with packed bookshelves, the same as upstairs.

After about five or so minutes, we all met up by the front desk again and Jess commented, “Guy’s this is really weird. I haven’t seen any sign of the clerk.”

“Hello!” Robbie called out, aiming towards the front desk. Though we could clearly see the tiny office door propped open and no one inside.

“Let’s get out of here,” Jess suggested.

We started to make our way back to the hallway entrance. But then we noticed something. Massive, hellacious, unforgiving storm clouds were coming in from east of us. The direction we just drove in from. Not fifteen minutes ago we were in the car coming down that road and nothing but blue skies, white clouds, and light winds. But from what we could see, this storm was about to be right on top of us and not only would we be soaking wet just getting to the car, we could tell it wouldn’t be any conditions for driving in.

Right then, in no time after stopping to notice the storm, rain began pelting the ground of the parking lot near our car. The interior was drenched since we had left the top down. Robbie, who had just reached the door and had it about a fifth the way open, slowly closed it as the surrounding area succumbed to a downpour and crashing lightning.

“Well,” I said, “looks like we’re going to be here a bit longer. Might as well pick out that book Jess.”

She feigned a smile and walked back into the interior of the store. Robbie and I followed. But it wasn’t long after that we slowly separated again and browsed on our own. At one point, I saw Jess looking at a large tome that lay open on a table in the middle of the room she was browsing. I began to focus on trying to find where this employee was hiding. Even so much as daring to go behind the counter and into the little office. Nothing.

After a good twenty minutes, the rain had let up, though the sky was still dark. We voted to leave once again. Jess said the book she was reading was interesting to her and even though she would’ve gladly paid, seeing as how there was no one there, she’d just take it off their hands. She hoisted the large book up and carried it close to her chest, then pushed her way out the door to the car, protecting it from the small droplets of rain.

Then suddenly, before Robbie and I reached the door, there was a flash of lightning, and Jess disappeared!

“Jess!” he called out to her, as he ran out the door looking in all directions.

A moment later, another flash of lightning, and he too disappeared. I staggered backwards and refrained from exiting the store. I turned around to look and saw no one behind me. Afraid to step outside, I went back in the store and started jogging the halls, hoping to find…something! But as I reached the room where Jess had been reading the book, horror washed over me. I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. Right there on the table was the very book she took outside.

Nervously, I approached it. I steadily peered down at its pages, afraid of what I would find. As I began to read, the words were shocking to me. They described the very scene of which had just taken place. Even naming the three of us! As I read, I felt a strange sensation inside of me. My body began to vibrate slightly. I felt compelled to stop reading as I came to text that read,’...and then Jessica came up behind Robert and covered his eyes.’ Right at that moment, hands clasped my eyes. Startled, I turned around and there was Jess, playfully teasing me. I backed away from her, stuttering. Not a minute passed because I ran to a room I had seen earlier with a mirror and sure enough, I was in Robbie’s body.

When I went back to the room Jess was in, I tried explaining to her what had happened. She seemed confused at first, and didn’t remember leaving the store and the lightning flashing. Just at that moment I realized, the storm was still going on. It had not stopped as I remembered earlier. Jess seemed freaked out but believed me. She asked where I thought Robbie was. Was he in my body somewhere? We ran to the basement. Nothing. Then I looked outside. No sign of him/me. After a few minutes we both started to calm down and I thought, ‘What if Robbie is in here too? In the same body I mean. What if we had somehow merged into one?’

I’d be lying if after a few minutes of discussing this with Jess I hadn’t fancied the thought of hooking up with her. She was a knockout afterall. Robbie was a lucky man. But I threw the thought out of my mind and started to try and think of what to do. Then I remembered the book! It was still sitting there. I rushed back over to it and started reading again, picking up where I had left off.

Just as I was reading the words, ‘...and then Jessica read earnestly, hoping to find an answer she was looking for.’ I started to feel that sensation again. A vibration and shift in my body. I looked to my side and Jess had disappeared again. Still no sign of Robbie. But as I looked down, the unthinkable had happened. I had grown a set of C-cup breasts. Immediately I ran to the mirror and what do you know…I had become Jess!

I dashed back to the main room with the checkout desk. I ran right into Robbie there.

Frantically, I tried explaining to him what was going on. He chuckled and started saying, “Relax babe. Guy is gone. You know how that dude is. He’s probably off on an adventure without us.

It’s just us in here now.”

My, err, her shoulders sunk. I was terrified of what was being propositioned. Robbie started caressing me and running his hands through Jess’s hair. I knew exactly what he was implying. He wanted to fuck me right there in that bookstore!

I reared back and said, “Get off me you fag!”

This must have really shocked him judging by his expression. Hearing his longtime life partner utter that. After a moment, I paced off and tried to think of what to do. No sign of Jess in my body anywhere. And still no shopkeeper!

But then I thought of something. What if I reenacted Jess’s behavior? I ran to the room with the book, careful not to read anymore in fear I’d change something else. I slammed the book shut and made for the door. Robbie followed slowly and cautiously. The storm raged outside until just before I reached the hallway leading to the parking lot. The rain simmered as to how it was just before the lightning struck before. I hugged the book close and made for the car outside. Just as I got to the place Jess was when she was struck by the lightning…*CRASH*...I too was struck.

White light surrounded me. As the world around me colored back into existence, I realized I was back into my own body again and the three of us were standing in the main room facing one another. Each of us had a stunned expression as a result of what had transpired. Jess was still clasping the large book. Then we heard a voice.

“You can still purchase that book if you’d like. It’s $39.99, but I can’t just let you walk out of here with it,” said a woman's voice.

We looked over at the checkout counter and there was a heavy set woman with permed hair and glasses, about forty years old. She was just sitting behind the counter with a smirk on her face, reading a small paperback.

After a moment of nervousness, Jess snicked and said, “No, that’s okay. We were just leaving.”

She placed the book on the counter and began to walk out. Me and Robbie followed quickly after her. On our way out, the woman said, “Have a nice day,” condescendingly.

We noticed immediately that the sun was shining and there were no clouds in the sky. Not so much as a drop of water in the parking lot. We hurried back to the convertible and pulled away fast. The same vehicle as before was still sitting in the lot as well. As we drove off, we were all frightened, but Jess in particular had that look that said she’d seen a ghost.

“Jess, Jess, are you alright?” Robbie asked her profusely, diverting his eyes from the road to her sequentially as he drove.

“That woman,” she muttered, “there was a picture of her in the back of that book. She was the author… ”

The three of us didn’t say a word for another hour as we drove on.

Let me tell you, I have seen many strange things on this journey of mine. Some I may not even recite to you or utter a word of ever again. For most of these things, I have gained some kind of an understanding. But to this day, I still have no idea or explanation of what was going on with that bookstore.

We stayed in Reno the next few days. But instead of continuing on together, we decided to part ways. I didn’t know if I’d ever see them again.

“How can we contact you?” Jess asked, “I get you wanna remain anonymous, but it would be nice to catch up someday.”

“I’m not sure.”

“Here, take my pager,” offered Robbie as he tossed it to me, “I’ll give you a call sometime.”

I clipped it to my waistband and we said our goodbyes.

Robbie and Jess sold the convertible and stole a minivan before heading east. I stayed in Reno for a few weeks, drowning myself at local dive bars. It was during this time that the next phase of my adventure would commence.

One night, at a small dive on the edge of the city, there was a band playing. A Groove Metal outfit called Modicum. They were pretty good, until the bass player fell off stage. He crashed through a table that had four people seated. Which was pretty good aim, considering that there were only twenty or so potential targets in the room.

The other bandmates started hollering at him and the owner kicked them all out for making a scene. I decided to go out back as they loaded their equipment into the van. A huge argument was taking place and they kicked out the bass player right then and there. He just left his equipment and walked off. Me being half drunk waddled over to them and started helping the three remaining band members load their equipment. I said, “I can be your bassist?”

The band looked at one other and the guitarist replied, “Can you play?”

I paused for a moment, “Yeah, I can play. Your progressions seem pretty simple, but they sound great,” I had no idea what the hell I was talking about and no, I couldn’t play.

The drummer nodded to the guy talking to me and then they said, “Alright, we’re gonna need to take a breather after a night like this, but you can come to our practice spot next friday. Here’s the address,” he said, as he wrote it down for me.

“Cool,” I nonchalantly responded.

As I walked away from the venue I slowly started jogging once out of sight of the band. I ran to the nearest gas station and started splashing my face with water in the bathroom in an attempt to start sobering up. I looked in the mirror. My hair had gotten shaggy since I first set out on my quest, so I looked the part, but I didn’t know anything about being in a band. I wasn’t even a musician. I only thought for one second that I would stand them up before deciding, ‘no, this is as much a part of my journey as anything else had been.’

The next day, I got up at the crack of dawn and went to a local music store. I found a clerk and said, “Does anyone here give bass lessons?”

The guy replied, “Yeah, as a matter of fact, I do.”

I reached into my pocket, fanned out about twelve hundred dollars and slammed em on the table and said, “Good! I’ve got about a hundred and eighty hours to go from beginner to passable. How many of those does this much buy?”

The guy turned to another worker across the store and shouted, “Hey Jerry, come cover the register.”

Starting that day and over the next week, I hammered out lesson after lesson from this guy. Steve was a jack of all trades, but he’d been playing bass for fourteen years. We played in the practice room all day every day, in the store after hours, and at his place on his two days off.

I jammed with accompaniment. I jammed with him playing rhythm guitar. I jammed in my sleep. By Thursday afternoon I felt competent.

Steve said, “Alright man, I think that’s all I can possibly teach you before the big day. I think you should take the rest of the day off, rest, then go show ‘em what you’re made of.”

I thanked him profusely and left the store. That night I crashed early and woke up late. When I got down to the practice spot, the guys were just setting up. The one that spoke to me in the parking lot said, “Hey, you made it. But where's your rig?”

Ah shit, I never even considered the fact that I didn't have a bass of my own.

“Umm, well, I’m new in town and I left my stuff back east.”, was my BS response.

“It’s alright,” the vocalist said to the guy questioning me, “Tommy left his stuff here. He told me on the phone that if he wasn’t in Modicum, he might as well not even play anymore. So, he said we could keep it.”

So, I went over and picked up that beautiful blue four string bass that had seen better days. We jammed for about four hours and those guys could tell I was a novice, but they liked my style and dedication to learn their material. By the end of the session, they said I was in.

Somehow, someway, in less than six months after leaving my destroyed apartment, I had somehow joined a heavy metal band. I was elated. These guys were great too. There was Dylan, the vocalist. He was a short white kid with a dynamic vocal range and neck length wavy blonde hair. Chris, the drummer, was a light skinned black dude with braids and the second best physique in the band next to mine. Then there was Jimmy, the guitarist with long brown hair and the brainchild behind Modicum. He had written all the bass lines the last guy played so it was easy for him to teach me the songs and he shared writing duties with Dylan. The four of us were ready to take on the world.

We practiced a few more times before doing a show. It was at a place similar to the one they had been kicked out of when we met, but about fifty or so people were present. I thought it went alright considering the circumstances. The next show a couple weeks later went about the same, with a slightly larger crowd. But a month after joining the band, we did a third show and when we arrived at the venue, there were people lined around the block. We couldn’t believe it, but word had traveled around about us, and people were coming to see what was up. The venue made a killing off their $3 entry fee.

A promoter from Vegas was there and asked us to do some shows the following month. Needless to say, those went over really well also. So, we decided to do the next logical thing. Hop in the van and go on a makeshift tour. For the next four months, we drove aimlessly across North America. We played wherever venues would let us, though I firmly requested we stay away from St.Louis. But from Montana to Brooklyn, Alabama to Phoenix, Arizona, sea to shining sea, we opened up for everybody. Pantera, Life of Agony, 24/7 Spyz and so on. We broke the crowds in for those guys but never went on any official tour with any of them. It just wasn’t our style. We showed up, asked to play, set up, and tore the house down.

We were partying hard, and I was drinking more White Lightning than ever before. Usually, to prepare myself for when the occasional unexpected fight would break out. I was in the makings of having my own groupie harem as well. More on that later. But once again I found myself having the time of my life. This was the pinnacle of my reasoning in escaping from my old life.

Then one night, we played a show in front of about fifteen hundred people in San Francisco. After the show, I went out on my own into the alley for a smoke, already sloshed. Five guys walked up, and the leader accosted me.

“Hey, you that guy that plays bass in Modicum?” he asked sternly.

I responded, “Yeah, you a fan or somethin?”

Angrily, he scoffed back, “No, but that was my girlfriend you took backstage the other night!”

“I’m sorry. Was she hot?” I quipped.

That was the wrong response, because these dudes started kicking the ever living shit out of me. Luckily, I was loaded with my trusty moonshine, but for god sakes, there were five of 'em. I fought hard and did my best to stay standing because once I was down, I knew it was over. Out of the corner of my eye, I half noticed the silhouette of someone standing at the edge of the alley near the street. Obviously, it wasn’t a priority at the time but little did I know but that man would be one of the most influential people I’d ever meet.

It was probably less than three minutes after the angry victim of infidelity started accosting me by the time the bodies of he and his four comrades hit the pavement, though not by my hand. In a flash of light, the passing figure who must have taken pity on me, swept them away with indiscretion.

As I cowered on one knee amongst the human wreckage, he extended his hand to me. It was a tall, slender asian man in a casual black dress shirt in his mid thirties. He told me his name was Li Chen, and that he was impressed by my level of skill at defending myself.

“You might have beaten them if you weren’t drunk. Though I’m not sure why you didn’t just try to run,” He said.

“Well first of all, it’s only because I was drunk that I stood as long as I did,” I uttered as I caught my breath, “...and second of all, the jokes on them.”

His face lit up as I held up all five of the men’s wallets that I had snatched during the scuffle.

“I want to tell you something…oh what was your name?” he inquired.

“...my friends call me Guy,” I said, still exasperated.

“Okay, Guy. I saw something special happen during your fight. Your strikes, they emit an aura that only a trained eye can see. These eyes have that training,” he said while pointing to his own eyes.

“You may not know it, but you are on the cusp of channeling a great power from within that is made from both your pent-up negative feelings and the power of your vices. I can help you learn this power if you wish,” he offered.

For some reason, his words rang true to me. Something in the way he spoke. It was like a kind kindergarten teacher, trying to plant a seed in an impressionable child. I stood up and decided to hear him out.

He carried on, “This power is both born of and blocked by your vice, which appears to be alcohol. You think that it helps you fight and in a way it does, but it also inhibits your inert power. If you come with me now and swear off this vice, you will unlock a power few ever master.”

I needed to carefully weigh this proposition. It had been almost a year since I destroyed my last life, and I finally had my own tribe with Modicum and the trail of fans and groupies they offered. But you know what? When have I not taken a plunge since this story began?