The rain hit the windshield with an angry drumbeat. Scott had been driving for hours and needed to stop. The I-Way stretched ahead of him into the obsidian darkness. About two miles ahead a solitary light beckoned. Pragmatism overcame Scott's emotions and he eased the hire off the I-Way and into the parking lot of the I-Link. The featureless building had but one entrance. Scott was soaked as he ran to the door.
Inside the drab building was a large waiting room with three metal benches along the far wall. The room was tinged with the yellow haze of lo-energi lighting. On the wall opposite the benches was a non-functioning flatscreen that once announced arrivals and departures. Not that there was anyone here apart from Scott. Who travels on Christmas Day?
In the far corner was an ancient drink vend. It promised a variety of hot beverages. Choco-Milk. Milk-o-Choc. Cappo-Choc. Coffee. Scott needed the jolt. He walked over to the middle bench and waited for his coffee to cool. His eyes wandered listlessly over the old travel posters. "Come to the Meteor Crater" or "Lo cost luxury at Sheraton"
"Thinking of getting away?"
Scott jumped and spilled some of his coffee. A man was sitting right next to him. The stranger had on faded, ripped jeans tucked into workboots. He wore a beat up camo windcheater and a ball cap. The cap was low over his eyes. He hand bony hands and skin like paper. He didn't smell good. His voice was a thin whine coming from a pale, twisted mouth. He continued "Getting away…..or losing yourself?"
Scott stood up and faced the stranger. He felt the pent-up anger seek a release and this weird man was pushing all the wrong buttons. Scott growled "No offence but that's my business! I just want to drink my coffee"
The stranger did not look at Scott but said in a monotone "However far you go, you can't get away from yourself"
Scott felt his fist balling as he growled "That's real interesting, pal but keep your opinions to yourself!"
He walked away from the stranger who continued staring at the blank flatscreen as he whispered " She was just out of reach"
This made Scott turn. He closed on the man and lifted him up by his lapels. He could smell the man's rancid breath but he couldn't see his eyes. The stranger said quietly " I got there before you today. On another day you will get there ahead of me. That's how it works."
Scott let the man down. Recent memories flooded back to him. He said " I couldn't reach her without bringing the whole building down. I stayed with her until….There was no one there. How could you know?"
"You already know that, Scott Tracy" said the man, straightening as he spoke "it's not like we haven't met before". His voice chilled Scott's blood. The Hood was languishing in a Chinese Supermax so it couldn't be him. "Come now, Scott, you're being far too literal. Think outside the box."
Scott realised who the stranger was. In an odd way he wasn't scared "Are you here to gloat? Am I supposed to get angry. I know that I tried my best,!"
"You think this about redemption, Scott? You really do watch too many old movies" the stranger laughed with a rattle. He tugged at his cap and ambled to the vend. " You just happened to be here. I'm just here for the old-school coffee!"
At that point there was a loud commotion and a rush of air from the entrance. The only I-Link of the day had disgorged it's passengers into the room. Scott turned back to the vend. There was no one there. Back in the hire Scott realised that he had picked up the half cup of coffee from the bench without even thinking. He raised it to his lips. It tasted like death.
