In Real-Time: Phase 2

-------Phase 2-------

The metal shell creaked and groaned under their weight. The old scaffolding had begun to buckle in the last few years. The rust was eating it away. Temporary. The construction site was abandoned, it had been for sometime. Few people hung out there anymore, even the gangs left the secluded places inside the old scrap-heap. Old rusted machinery sat undisturbed, all of which were useless by now, as they were rusted to the ground they layed on. The whole place was slowly turning to dust. They stood on top of one of the old cranes. It was now bent down to the ground, making a large archway of rust and skeletal scrap. The sunset mixed with pollution to burn the sky with an orange and red haze that slowly faded to purple in the darkening sky. The Scrap-heap, they called it, was near the edge of the river. Across the water they could see the whole industrial district of town. Only the Scrap-heap made their side of town ugly, that and when you looked across the river. Milo didn't mind the dank themes from being there, as long as she was happy. Lilly was his girlfriend but she prefered that he say he was her boyfriend. And he was. Lilly was taller than Milo, she was tougher, and she was more controlling. Milo didn't mind, he grew up with his family giving him unconditional love no matter what he did. He wanted somone to give him "tough love" and Lilly was plenty tough. It worked out well, she hated guys that pretended to be strong and in control. Milo was what most people called a "softy". He never wanted to cause conflict and usually helped people with their problems. Lilly had gotten into fights and almost expelled twice, but that only pulled them closer. The other students were always confused by their relationship. He was, frankly, what most people would call a "wussy" and she was considered a bully by most standards. But they managed to get along together so well that they hooked up. There was one time, when one of the jocks made fun of Milo infront of Lilly. If Milo hadn't begged her to stop, the jock would've had a broken jaw before the day was over. After that day no one messed with either of them about their "situation". Lilly was very tough, even the other girls were afraid of her. She didn't like the traditional "girly" girls, she liked grit and machinery. There were a lot of interesting people in their school but they were near the top of the list.

"Why do you like it here?" Milo asked her, sitting on the cold rusting metal. She watched the orange glare rise from the other side of the river. " Because... This place's dark, dying and dangerous. But it isn't a fake picture of life like a lot of other things." He knew what she meant. The steam and electrical wires that stretched across the horizon would be considered an eyesore to most relators and families that wanted to move there, but a lot of the kids that still lived there loved the strange overtones of their town. Could it be the "teenage angst"? Only a handful of people went to places to watch the polluted sunset in Tahoma. They were different than most kids their age, all of them.

"Well hello you two! " said a voice from down on the ground below them. It was a strange guy named Jack from their school. He worked in their library and went to college near Tahoma. He was very tall and wispy with brown hair and green eyes. Jack always had a suspicious nature about him. "Hey, what 're you doin' here?" asked Lilly bleakly. Jack smiled, "Oh, just wandering about the town and seeing the sights on a beautiful thursday night. " He said with a weird tone. Jack had a charismatic voice, but it was easy to see through. Milo looked down to him, "It's not that pretty out here, Jack why walk around town now? It'll be night soon..." Before Jack could say anything Lilly broke in, "I think it's pretty tonight...." Milo jerked like he always did, "Oh, yes of course! It's lovely outside. Yo-" She sighed and hugged him, pulling him close, "It's okay....." She leaned his head on her shoulder. Jack watched, "Ahh..lovers embrace ..." Lilly looked down at him with a sharp look in her eye. "Get lost!" Jack walked off with a smirk. He stopped, "Oh and did you hear that Echo-Venture is finally coming home next week! I heard that they're looking for a heavy singer " The band "Echo-Venture" had started as a garage band in Tahoma a few years ago, and they'd been touring through a few melancholy towns to get their name around. This is the first time they'd be back in two years.

Jack walked down to the convenient store near the river. He saw Mark loitering with his guitar in the same place he and Jake had talked. Without batting an eye Jack walked by, "So......Back so soon?" The words hit Mark strangely. He had been dead for a year and.....it seemed as if he had been asleep. Jack stepped inside and bought a soda, when he walked outside Mark was playing the small diddy on his guitar. "Still playing that tune of yours? I figured that would get bored after a few years " Mark watched him lean on the stone wall with him, "No, it'll never get old....It's mine." Jack eyed him prominently, "Oh but Mark, everything is temporary. Everything ..." He chuckled slightly after he said it. Mark's face was still bland, "Shut-up, Jack...." he said plainly. "Alright...suit yourself. But remember, the world is everchanging Mark.........everchanging "

At school everybody was talking about Mark, he had come up with a phony story that he was taken by kidnappers. His parents had both died years back so he didn't have much explaining to do. Mark took care of himself. He had an appartment, a motorcycle and was going nowhere special in life. He felt devoted to Sherry and only wanted to push her to do what she wanted. She'd go to college and live her way, and all he wanted was to watch the world turn. It was simple enough. He worked in a restaraunt as the main cook. He cooked very well and Sherry would always try to convince him to be a chef professionally. He never wanted to though. "If I became a professional chef, then I wouldn't see the simple things in life. I'd end up wanting brand name knives and would eventually become impatient with the littlest things." She wondered why he liked everthing so simple. "I don't really want that......but I'll cook for you anytime "

Jack was walking back to his appartment, it was in downtown Tahoma. He lived on the top floor of a high-class appartment building and it was very secretive. He didn't invite anyone over except for buisness clients. And they usually met him in the foyer. He was expecting one guest in particular. A grown man met him at the door after he had eaten dinner. He wore a thin trench coat and a suit-shirt under it. He looked like a cheesy detective. "I'm Mr. K.....What a surprise to meet you in person." said the man as Jack welcomed him in. "Don't you think you're a little young to be getting involved in things like this?" asked Mr. K casually. Jack walked over to a large armchair and sat precociously, filling a goblet with what looked to be wine. "Don't you think you're a bit overdressed to be participating in what we met to do, Mr. K?" Jack said shrewdly. "...touche'..." Mr. K added as he put a briefcase on Jack's coffee-table. "There, that should be what we agreed to.......Now....can I see it?" Jack took the briefcase and opened it. A ominous smile spread across his face. "Why yes, Mr. K......Right this way..."

Mark was riding home on his motorcycle when he saw him. The sheer sight of what Mark saw zipped through his mind for days after, but what bugged him the most was...... "How could it happen?" asked the police chief as he walked into the alley with the rest of them. Mark had called in to the police department with the weird incident.  There was a dead man in the alleyway. He had a hole the size of a vollyball cut straight through his torso, it was a perfect circle. "What the hell could have done this?" asked one of the officers. The thing that boggled the mind was that inside the hole the bones were burnt closed and the rest was cauterized completely...but the body had only been dead for a few hours. The man wore a nice collared shirt and tie, or at least what was left of it, with a trench coat. One of the officers looked him over, "He kinda' looks like a cheesy detective......."

Mark looked at him again before he left, the word still stuck in his mind:

Temporary