PART ONE
LILLY RAINES | THE DAY I QUIT

It was my Friday shift at Linda's Diner, one of those hellish days, halfway through August.

Waiting tables didn't pay much, but I got by on tips. I could have finished school but Dad died and suddenly, I was alone in the world and stuck with this job in the middle of nowhere.

"Lilly... come here for a second," the guy at table four said. I knew every table in the diner by number, which was no big thing since there were only six of them.

Roy Bakersfield. The guy came in every morning, ordered three cups of coffee, and later complained about it every single time.

I hated his guts.

"Yeah, I'm coming," you sicko bastard. "What is it, Roy?"

The old man pursed his quivering lips.

"Lilly, this coffee tastes awful! It's so bad, it makes me sick! Mayhap, it's rotten... or mayhap, it's burnt!"

"It's the same coffee we've always served here, Roy. The one we buy from your shop in town."

"Nuh-uh, that's impossible sweetie pie. See, I would never sell bad coffee."

"It's not impossible," you miserable bastard! "Yours is the only shop in town that sells coffee."

My blood boiled. In a moment's fury, my fingers slipped through his hair and pulled so hard that I banged the guy's head against the table twice before the coffee spilled and burned his eyes.

He cried a squeamish scream and his freakin' voice was so damn high-pitched that even Linda, my boss, peeked out of the kitchen and saw what happened...

"Lilly?"

"Lilly, did you hear me?"

I blinked.

The voice came from Roy. A very healthy Roy, holding an empty mug in his left hand, shaking it in the air.

Great, Lilly. You're hallucinating. This job is driving you mad.

"I'm telling you, this is not Bakersfield's coffee! You're trying to trick me, missy! But let me tell you one thing...." His voice faded in the distance. I couldn't care less what he said. An announcement on the TV screen caught my attention.

"They call it Woodstock, and it's here. This weekend, thousands of hippies travel to San Francisco to the greatest music festival of all time. So, if you're tired of the same old routine, it's time you leave everything behind and go check it out!"

"Woodstock..." I mused.

"... can't even do your job well!" Roy continued. "This coffee—"

I turned.

"Screw you and your damn coffee, Roy!" I hissed. "You own the only freakin' store for miles! And isn't it funny though that you always complain right after you've finished three cups of coffee and a bagel and then expect them to be free?!"

"Well, I never—!"

"Apologies Roy," that was Linda, my boss and owner of the diner. " What's wrong with you, Lilly?!"

"This! This is wrong!" My hands waved in the air. "I've had enough. That's it. I'm sticking it to The Man!"

With one quick tug, I ripped off my apron.

"I'm outta here!"

Linda smirked, both hands on her waist. "And where will you go?"

"To San Francisco," I said with a smug attitude.

"Well, good luck getting a ride there." She folded her arms over her chest. "No one ever drives by this old road, hun. You'll be back in twenty minutes and your job will be waitin'."

I pursed my lips.

"You know what, Linda? Screw it!"

The crushed apron beneath my fist landed on Roy's table. And to make sure I'd never come back, I took the cream jar and poured it over Roy's balding head.

I grabbed my hemp purse from the counter, slipped it on my shoulder, tugged loose my ridiculous hair bun and empowered as hell, slowly walked out of Linda's Diner, leaving every kid and customer inside baffled, speechless, and with gaping mouths.

I was free.

Every ounce of pride that smeared around me and made my aura glow like a wild flower, vanished by the time I reached the side of the road.

It was an old forgotten road, relayed to oblivion after the building of a superhighway a few miles ahead.

"There's no freakin' way I'm stuck here," I mused. "I can't go back..."

As I turned, every man, woman, and child inside the diner shoved their faces against the windows, anticipating my failure with immeasurable glee.

"Ignore them all, Lilly Raines. You're gettin' out of here, one way or another..."

No cars loomed in the distance. I turned back. And now, people stood outside the diner. Motionless, with their hands in their pockets, their cynical eyes fixed on me. One kid sipped his milkshake so loud the noise bubbled in my eardrums.

"Come on, come on..." I muttered. "I'd do anything to get a ride right about now... I'd sell my soul for a ride!"

Then, the unexpected happened. In the distant horizon where the road and the sky touched with a wavering mirage, my answer came.

A car.

And not any car.

It was red. And red is the color of love. Man! I felt so damn lucky!

This is it. This is my way out of here!

I did the hitchhiker thing, where you raise your hand. But instead of putting my thumb out there, I gave him the old cordial and index fingers—if the driver was cool, he'd pick up on the sign and I'd get my ride out of Misery Town and everyone would be happy... well, everyone, except for Roy. That bastard would never be happy, no matter what.

The red Mustang slowed its speed as it moved closer and finally stopped a few feet away from my hitchhiking spot.

PART TWO

DUDE WITH A RED CAR | STAN

I ran to the door and peeked through the rolled-down window.

"Need a ride?" Black shades and an enticing smile.

"Look, man," I whispered. "Do you see all those people back there?"

He nodded.

"Well, they're not exactly here to send me off 'cause they'll miss me. They're waiting for me to fail and that can't happen. I won't give 'em that satisfaction!"

"I see..." He stroked his chin. "Where are you headed?"

"Listen, at this point, I'll pretty much take a ride anywhere. I just gotta get out of here. Are we cool?"

He slipped down his shades. Gleaming green eyes stared at me, intrigued.

"All right," he said. "Hop in."

The guy opened the door and without a moment to spare, I jumped in the car.

Impassive, the gathering crowd outside Linda's Diner followed the Mustang with narrowing eyes free from any expression. The kid with the milkshake did his thing and I—well I... did my own thing and flipped everyone the finger as we drove off.

"Do you mind holding these for me?" The guy handed me a box.

"What is it?"

"Just some munchies for the road... I have to see a few friends first; do you mind?"

"Um, no. Of course not."

Curious, I lifted the lid. Chocolate chip cookies, candy, and brownies filled my hungry eyes.

"So, um... Can I have some too?" I asked.

"Sure, just leave some for my friends, will you? Oh and, go easy on the brownies."

"Don't worry, I will." Those brownies looked delicious. Finally, some decent food for a change! "So, what's your name? I'm Lilly Raines."

"Nice to meet you, Lilly Raines. I'm Stan Son Of Perdition."

"Wow! That's one groovy name!" I jabbed a brownie in my mouth.

Stan raised his brow. "Really? You like that one? I have many others."

"Like...?"

"Well, let me see..." He shifted gears. "There's Serpent Of Old, Roaring Lion, Prince Of The Power Of The Air... and my personal favorite: Ruler Of This World." Stan grinned and his eyes shimmered with pride.

"Boy, you really have them figured out! I'm actually Lilly Peters, but I changed it to Raines because... well, it sounded so much cooler."

"Lilly Raines. Sounds... refreshing." He smirked.

PART THREE

FRIENDS OF STAN ARE MY FRIENDS TOO?

At this point, we're driving off the highway and entering a dirt road, long and narrow. An old house loomed at the end, on top of a hill.

As the car entered the driveway, nightfall set in.

A few shadows peered through the old shack's windows. The minute the headlights struck them, their eyes turned gleaming white. Empty, like the eyes of a wild beast, tossed in the middle of the road, waiting to be squashed by a fast-approaching 4x4 old truck.

Stan turned off the engine.

Without saying a word, he stepped out of the car, slamming the door shut behind him.

As he walked around the vehicle, I looked out the window with the half-empty box of munchies on my lap and stuck my head out.

"Hey, Stan!" I said. "Should I come with you?"

The house was dark and decadent; didn't it freak him out just a little to walk in there alone?

He turned back with a grim expression. "I'll come back for you. Wait here."

Nothing but fields lay out there for miles. Tall grass danced in the wind; its soft brushing sounds entwined with the cicadas' rising melody.

Shadows shifted in the moving grass. I was not alone out here.

To ease up my nerves, I went to turn on the radio. Then I realized, Stan took the car keys.

He'd been in there for a long while.

I crossed my legs.

"Dammit! I really have to pee..."

My choices were simple. Pee in the dark creepy fields or in the old decadent shack... tough one.

PART FOUR

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCKING...

Ancient wooden floorboards creaked as I stepped on the front porch. I peeked through the window's ripped lace curtains... Not a soul inside. It was dark and desolated.

Uncertainty struck my racing heart as I raised my fist to eye level and knocked on the door three times.

No answer. Not even a light on.

This isn't right... where are you, Lilly? You have no car keys and nowhere else to go!

At least I had the car. I turned back, but then the eeriest squeak came from the door. I looked again. It was open, a wide gaping mouth that led to complete darkness.

I pushed it further. It creaked the rest of the way.

"Hello? Is there anyone here?" I said as I stepped into the darkened hall. "Stan, are you there?"

The door creaked once more on its old hinges. It gave one loud grating sound and then slammed shut, sending shivers through my limbs.

My breath shortened. Wriggling my hands as they clasped together, I stepped back.

Why didn't I choose the fields?

Whispers stirred in the dark living room. My eyes narrowed and forced their focus until I caught a glimpse of a pair of shadows. Too tall to be human. No... Not two, but several imposing silhouettes, with... with... Impossible! For a minute, I thought I saw—!

"Hey, you guys? I'm with Stan. Have you seen him?"

"Are you, now?"

The voice hissed in my ear. I turned.

No one was there.

"I'm right... here."

Stepping back, I bumped against one of them. Powerful hands gripped my shoulders, rough like claws. A group of shadows gathered around me with white glaring inquisitive eyes, murmuring voices in an unusual language. Like snakes, their bodies blended as they closed in on me while bearing a threatening grin with white sharpened teeth and salacious red tongues...!

"Enough!"

The room shook and rattled at the voice's command. The roaring clamor came from the central stairway.

Bowing with fear and reverence, the horde of predators stepped back.

The silhouette on the staircase spread a wide set of black and slate wings! It's ruffling feathers stirred in the spectral flare of bright red flames rising behind him several feet high!

His green eyes gleamed as they fixed on me. I knew those eyes.

"Stan?"

"Stan?" one of the creatures scorned as he glided towards me, low in the air, with its own set of wings. Its bony hand seized the nape of my neck and shoved me down on my knees. "You will address the Prince as it is due, filthy mortal! Angel of Light and Father of Lies... King of Babylon!"

"Or—" Stan interrupted, "you can just call me Satan." He shrugged.

"S—Satan? I thought you said your name was Stan!"

"Yeah, well..." He winced. "I lied. Part of the old Father of Lies title." His arms opened in a gracious gesture that welcomed the hoard's roaring laughter.

"Everyone, this is Lilly," he said. "Her soul is our newest acquisition. We don't want to frighten her on her first day, do we? Now, be good."

What?! Have I actually sold my soul to the Devil just for a ride out of Misery Town?

One quick glance about the room turned me dizzy. In a whirlwind of black feathers and malicious grins, I became weak, lightheaded. My fingers numbed, followed by my arms. The blood chilled in my veins until, overwhelmed with horror, I passed out.

Everything went black.

PART FIVE
WHEN I WOKE UP

"Wake up, Lilly Raines..."

His voice, soft and soothing as velvet brought me back from the pitch darkness of unconsciousness.

As I opened my eyes, daylight struck the skies. Dawn's first sunbeams glared between endless fields of tall green grass. His warm smile and sparkling green eyes welcomed me back.

"Stan..." I whispered. How handsome he was...

But then, like heavy raindrops, memories of last night flooded my brain. The house, the feathers, the creatures' sharpened teeth and slithering bodies threatening to destroy me!

"Get away from me!"

I pushed him as with slippery hands and feet, I fought to stand.

"Shh... take it easy. You passed out, here, on the porch. You had a bad trip, Lilly Raines." Another friendly smile, so gentle and inviting...

My head pounded like crazy, and I was thirsty beyond belief. I took my hand to my throbbing forehead. "A bad...trip?"

He gave me a knowing smile. "Hey, I warned you not to eat all the brownies."

"The brownies!" I said with widened eyes as the revelation hit me. "Are you telling me I ate a whole tray of special brownies, Stan?"

With a light shrug and pursed lips, he nodded.

"Come on, let me help you up."

We walked to the car and got inside. And never once did I look back at the eerie house on the hill at the end of the long and narrow dirt road.

"I'm never eating brownies again," I said while choking a laugh.

Stan slipped on his shades. With a malicious grin, he stared at me before he spoke.

"So, um... Woodstock, was it?"

Music to my ears. I smiled. But—how did he know?

"Hey, Stan..."

"Yeah?"

I narrowed my eyes, dead fixed on his back. "You've got something on your shoulder..."

"Oh?" He raised his brow and stopped the car a few feet away from the highway. Turning to his left, with one quick swipe of the back of his hand, Stan brushed off his shoulder.

Swaying through the rolled-down window, three black feathers danced and twirled with the summer wind, vanishing from our sight within seconds.

Black feathers...!

An invisible dagger pierced my stomach. Stunned, my eyes widened and my mouth opened, but no sound came through.

"Let's get the hell out of here!" He smiled and his eyes burned with a spectral gleam.

The minute we entered the highway, he turned on the radio. And as "Painted Black" boomed out of the speakers, Satan's red Mustang, him and I, diminished into a flaming red horizon.

THE END

https://youtu.be/O4irXQhgMqg