#24 A Resless Nagging Sleep

The lights flipped back on. Lee Fook stood over an unconscious Lessox Vernon. Lee's hands were inside of his jacket sleeves in a peaceful manner. Simon's eyes were wide. He looked at the gun in his hand as if he didn't know how it got there. He put it away and walked over to Lessox.

"What do we do with him?" Simon asked.

"You tie him up and then wake him," replied Lee.

A swift smack to the left cheek was enough to send Lessox back to the land of the living. Lessox was tied to a rolling chair with a few electric wires found around the office: lamp cord, computer cord, T.V. cord, even the cord connecting the mouse to the computer. Lee sat in a butterfly style on the desk behind Lessox, while Simon hovered over.

"Do you know why you're hear Lessox?" Lee asked from behind.

Lessox didn't say anything. He glared at Simon.

"Answer him, Mr. Vernon," commanded Simon as he began to pace the room.

Lessox kept his mouth shut tight. His eyes followed Simon as he moved.

"Answer him DAMMIT!" Simon yelled as he lunged forward.

Lessox didn't move, he didn't as so much as blink at Simon's near attack.

"SIMON!" Lee yelled back, "that won't be necessary. Lessox does not need to participate in order for the cleansing ritual to take place. He merely needs to be present." Lee began to hum to himself and make a clicking sound with the back of his throat.

"You're making a big mistake," said Lessox.

"What was that?" asked Lee. Simon moved toward Lessox.

"You two are making a big mistake," Lessox said, his voice was flat, unflinching, and calm.

"You've been stealing money, Lessox. You're the one who made the mistake."

"Lessox fixed his mistake by letting me in," said the monotone voice.

Simon's ears became hot as he held his breathe.

Lee stood up on the desk and backed away.

"Lessox let you in? Who are you?"

"A friend of Mr. Gillingham's, you'll want to untie me now. If you do, I promise only your lives will be lost."

Lee moved toward the man in the chair. He pulled his shades down low so he could see Lessox more clearly.

"Lee get the fuck away from him," Simon said. Lee looked up and Simon's gun was out and pointed at Lessox.

"Simon wait!"

"Let me go now, or everyone you care about will die along with you. The both of you."

"Fuck you! No one threatens me and mine! Especially some fucked up creeper tied to a chair!"

Blam, Blam, Blam.

"Lee, finish the ritual as best you could."

"Oh-okay, Simon, but I must say, you've made a serious mistake."

"Whatever, we got assigned to do a job. I did the job. End of story."