One

The town was small, not too small that everyone knew everyone, and and it only seemed a bit large due to increase of tourists which had arrived for the summer. He would blend in amongst them and enjoy himself as this town was just big enough for him to hide for a short period of time.

He had already found a name to take after spending hours the night before searching headstones in a cemetery towns over.

Riley Withers.

That name would be his until he was once again tracked down and then he vanished into the summer's wind.

"Riley Withers," He whispered to air tasting the name on his tongue. He gave a smile enjoying the feeling of it as he grabbed his suitcase and began to walk absentmindedly looking for a place to stay.

He walked passed the shops which had items of all sorts all reading "Silver Castle" with tourists pouring over them.

His moments were fluid and random as he bypassed those on the streets. He wandered up and down the streets looking for a place to stay which without a sign which said full. The fifth one he saw had no such sign out front so he walked up the stairs and rang the doorbell twice.

After a few moments a young man perhaps in his mid twenties opened the door and gave him a frown, "Someone just took our last room."

Riley nodded and pulled out his phone and quickly put in something the man couldn't see before he spoke, "I'm a small person, can't you squeeze me somewhere? I've been walking for awhile, I really wish you had space."

The young man blinked thrice as if confused before me nodded, "Actually I think one guy is heading out this afternoon." He pushed the door open wider and allowed Riley in.

~~~~

Riley didn't enter his room until around sunset.

The room was small with one bed and a dresser, and a small balcony instead of a window. He set his bag down and walked to the balcony door but he paused confused. On the balcony a boy probably sat staring out at the sunset over the tops of the other houses and buildings. Riley opened the door and frowned at the kid's back,

"Hey."

The kid didn't seem to notice he was there.

"Hey kid." When he still didn't respond Riley rolled his eyes and tapped on his shoulder. In response the boy jolted and looked up at Riley widely. Riley raised his hands up unsure what to do as he took in the boy's appearance. He was about ten or twelve with dark hair and eyes, but what drew Riley's attention were his clothes. He was wearing plaid red and black pajamas pants which looked a few sizes too small, and a shirt which was too big, it must have been handed down to him, both pieces of clothing were dirty looking like they hadn't been washed in a while.

"Calm down," Riley told him and the kid moved further away looking shocked, scared, and confused.

"W-What do you want?" The boy asked him in a small voice.

Riley awkwardly pointed to the door, "For you to go back to your own room? Or home? This is my room so uh, you should probably head out, alright?"

The boy nodded once and scrambled up and left hurriedly.

Riley gave a sigh and leaned on the rail of the balcony, staring at the town below the boy fading from his thoughts as his phone rang. He pulled the phone from his pocket and made a silent note to change the ring from the default ringtone as he put it to his ear.

"Hey."

"It's me."

Riley nodded, though the person on the other side couldn't see, "I am aware as you are the only person who has my number."

"Hey I could be a telemarketer. Those people have methods of finding me, and I change my phone almost as often than you do."

"You could always switch to a burner phone."

"Are you stupid! Have you looked at the calendar? I need a proper phone to survive."

Riley rolled his eyes, "Whatever Jesse, when are you showing up?"

"I should be there tomorrow. I'll call you when I get there."

"See you then."

~~~~

The phone rang at the ungodly hour of 3am.

Riley woke with a groan and felt around blindly for the device which he answered and put to his ear.

"What the fuck do you want?"

"Hey man I'm here," Jesse's voice called happily.

"So?"

"So let's meet. Like we usually do?"

"Do you know what time it is?"

"Uh... 3:27 am, why?"

"So why the hell are you calling me now?"

"Well I said I'd call you tomorrow right? Well, it's tomorrow. So why don't you tell me where-"

He could've said more, but by that point Riley had already hung up and fell back to bed.

~~~~

"I can't believe you hung up on me like that."

"It was 3 am, be happy I even answered," Riley replied looking away from Jesse to the children who ran by toward the water.

Jesse frowned as the children passed, "Remind me why we are at this beach again?"

"Because no one will be expecting this conversation to take place here. Now, give me a full report."

Jesse sighed and rolled his eyes green eyes, "Things are the same as usual."

Riley nodded satisfied, "Not even something-"

"Come on now Riley," Jesse interrupted. "You once wished that I could never lie to you. Don't you trust me?"

Riley gave a chuckle, "Of course, of course, now shall we head back to my room? And I can have my supplies?"

Jesse hurriedly stood and bang shaking his legs as sand fell from them, "Please, I have sand everywhere sand shouldn't be."

Riley smiled and picked up the blanket they had been sitting on, "You could've dressed for the occasion."

"You didn't tell me we were going to the beach," Jesse replied picking up his large briefcase and walking back toward his car.

~~~~

"Welcome," Riley told Jesse as they entered his room at the bed and breakfast.

He then went to the balcony, but he paused when he swore he saw something red and black.

"Something wrong?" Jesse asked him.

Riley shook his head quickly and closed the curtains, "Is everything I need in here?" He asked taking the large briefcase from Jesse and plopping on the edge of the bed.

"As always," Jesse replied handing him a piece of paper.

Riley took and after a moment realized it was the combination to the case. He squatted down to look at the number better as he heard Jesse paces behind him.

"Elias Simmons," Jesse said slowly.

Riley's eyes narrowed, but he didn't look at the man as he put in the number lock on the briefcase. "Do not call me that. My name is Riley Withers now."

"Elias Simmons," Jesse repeated. "A man has everything he ever wanted, but more than that he was a greedy man. That had been the root cause of all the problems which followed. A man who had everything he could ever want, but greed made him want more. He longed for purpose, he longed for adventure, and he longed for the time to find both. And, as always his wish was granted," Jesse continued in a bitter voice.

Riley bit back a retort as the briefcase unlocked and he opened it, but inside it was empty. He ran his fingers along the lining as he waited for that spot which he could rip it off to find what he wanted underneath, but he felt nothing. "Jesse," he started slowly still staring into the empty case. "What did-"

"This greedy man was given time, in the form of youth- eternal youth! Even currently it seemed his only purpose was running away from those who wanted their wish granted. And now he's off enjoying life under a different name without a care in the world. While he wishes that other people do his bidding until the day he dies! Well I've fucking had enough! For thirteen shitty years I've been doing this shit! I gave up everything for your fucking sake and I didn't have a fucking choice!"

Riley closed the briefcase with more force than necessary, but he couldn't bring himself to look into the face of the man who he knew was shouting the truth.

"I had a family you know! I had a fiancé and a kid on the way, but you saved my life once and made me into your fucking pet in return! I can't-"

"I'm sorry," Riley cut in. "I didn't realize you felt that way. I didn't know that you had a life..."

"Because you don't care about anyone, but yourself! No one else matters to you! After all these years I've heard your shitty story so many fucking times and never once have you even shown the slightest interest in me!"

"I'm really sorry Jesse. I-"

"Duck! He's got a gun!"

Riley was shocked by the small voice which cut in, but surprising himself he dropped down just as a shot sounded and wood splintered from the bed frame where the bullet must have landed.

He hurriedly moved out the way and stood facing Jesse, but what also caught his eye was the same boy in the pajamas looking worried behind him. Riley didn't get the chance to tell him to run, when Jesse held the gun straight at him.

"What?" Jesse asked with a bitter laugh. "Did you make a wish that I couldn't kill you either?"

Riley's eyes once again flickered to the child, but thankfully Jesse hadn't seemed to notice him yet. He just needed to buy sometime, someone must have heard the shot and called the cops by now, right?

"Jesse please," Riley said before giving a hard swallow. "Killing me won't fix anything, you won't even feel better. I only need until tomorrow and then I can wish every restriction I put on you was gone. You can go back to your family and-"

"Shut the fuck up," Jesse said through clenched teeth as his finger began to pull on the trigger.

Riley glanced at the kid once more, if Jesse killed him, than the kid would most certainly come next. He gave a hard swallow and mentally prepared himself before he shouted, "Kid run!"

"I'm not stupid enough to fall for that," Jesse told him taking a step forward. Riley swallowed as he looked around, the kid had fled thankfully, but he himself had nowhere to run. Jesse was blocking the door, leaving his only option to be behind him, off the balcony.

Riley looked back to Jesse once before taking that leap of faith.

(1809 Words)