Chapter 2

Irian sat at home and watched the hours tick by.  She silently wondered what this strange man wanted. She assumed that David and his "brothers" wanted something.

Finally, at about 6:30, she left for the warehouse district. She blared her favorite band in her stereo as she drove. Strangely, the lead singer of that band's name was also David, and this man looked an AWFUL lot like him, except that he was missing one key thing... well, two: a double labret piercing under his pouting bottom lip.

Irian caught herself. "Pouting bottom lip?" she asked herself out loud. "Come on, Ri, you don't know this guy. You shouldn't be thinking about him like that." She shook her head and started singing along with the song blasting over her stereo. The song described her love life. It was entitled "Deceiver". She'd had FAR too many of those in her life. "It's all been a lie, and I'll never come to know why, I woke to discover you leaving me now, It's all been a lie and I never want to know why, you mastered the art of deceiving me now." Those words spoke volumes to her. Her most recent ex- girlfriend left her for a man that she had recent found out was the bitch's husband. She was still pissed that the whore wasn't honest with her when she met her at that club that night they met.

She shook the thought from her mind as she pulled up to the address that was on the back of the card. What she was came as no surprise to her. Four motorcycles sitting in the loading bay of the abandoned warehouse. She parked her car and climbed out slowly, clutching the can of pepper spray her father gave her in her left hand.

As she approached the entrance of the old building, four men walked toward her. "She's here", one voice said.

"And she's early", said another.

"I told you she would be here", said a familiar voice.

She looked closely at the figures approaching her. She picked out David. He was the second shortest of them. Then, she recognized all four of the men. "No fucking way", she said. "Not a chance in hell. This can't be happening."

David looked at her as he and the other three men walked into the light. "What can't be happening, Irian?"

She looked at David. He had put the piercings in. "This is a joke, right? Did Cameron set you guys up to this?"

The tallest of them looked at her. "Who's Cameron?" He asked her.

"You don't know Cameron?" she said.

They all shook their heads. "Nope," said the second tallest. "Don't know any Cameron."

She really studied their faces. "You know, I'm gonna take your word on that, though the bitch SWEARS that she knows you guys."

"And who are we, Irian?" David asked.

"You're the band Disturbed. I can't believe that I didn't pick it out right away. I'm a huge fan. The music just speaks to me." She shut up before she started rambling.

"Then you know which of us is which?" the tall one asked.

"Yeah. You're Dan." She looked at the second tallest one. "You're Mike." She looked at the shortest one. "You're John." Then, back to David. "I should have figured. You're just too damn noticeable, David."

He cracked a smile. "At least you didn't say that I look just like me. That would have cracked me up. Now, do you know why you're here?"

"Nope, still no clue. You were so fucking cryptic earlier that I still can't figure out what you meant."

"Come inside and we'll explain it all", said John.

She followed them into the building. She looked ahead of them and saw a small sitting area with a couple of couches and arm chairs. That must be where they were leading her. Thankfully, it was. David pointed to one of the arm chairs and she sat down in it. He sat in the one directly across from her. Dan took a couch, Mike took another arm chair, and John flopped down on the other couch.

"Well, now that we don't have to introduce ourselves," David began, "we can get down to business." He took a deep breath. "Irian, you were asking earlier how we could help you. Are you still curious?"

"Well, yeah. What is it that I'm involved in that you guys can help me with and what do you want in return?"

"Well, for starters", Dan said, "we can save your life."

"How is that?" Irian asked.

They all looked at David. "There's a war coming and because you're so out spoken, you're going to be a target. I know that this might now make sense right now, but you will see."

"Are you guys some sort of spies or something?"

"Yes and no", Mike said. "Yes, we do some spying, but not for the government."

"For who then?" Irian asked.

"Our employers want to remain anonymous", John said. "They are interested in keeping you alive, though."

Irian shook her head. "Why me? I'm just a simple massage therapist who is passionate about several issues in our country and our world. What difference do I make?"

"Don't you see, Irian?" David said. "You're not just a simple massage therapist. You're an activist and our employers' rivals don't like that."

"But, how did you four get mixed up in this? You're a fucking rock band. What do you have to do with this supposed war that you say is coming?"

Dan and Mike laughed. David stayed serious. John stayed silent. "We're the ones responsible for building the army. The Establishment would have you believe that everything in our world is going fine in this country. Our employers would like us to recruit everyone we can to the cause that the Establishment is dead wrong. Our music is our recruitment tool."

"Ok, I get that, I guess, but what does it have to do with me?"

David sighed. "You're so outspoken that the Establishment will put a bounty on your head soon, Irian. You're a huge mouthpiece speaking out about the things that AREN'T going right."

Irian looked skeptical. "Ok, so how are your guys supposed to help me?"

"By hiding you", John said.

"But, aren't you guys going to be targets too?" Irian asked. "I mean, because of your music and all?"

"Sadly, yes", David said. "Once the war comes, we'll have to go into hiding too, but our employers' will be the ones fighting the war, not us. Once the Establishment gets wind that WE are the ones doing the recruiting, we'll have to join you in exile."

"Then you're not REALLY protecting me then, are you?"

"No," Dan said.

"Our employers are. We're just the escape route", Mike said.

Irian sat forward and rested her elbows on her knees, covering her nose and mouth with her hands and taking a deep breath. "This is a lot to take in, you realize that, right?"

"I have no doubt that it is", David said. "But, that's why I came to your office today, to warn you."

"What should we tell our employers?" Dan said.

"Tell them... tell them that I'll consider it." And with that, Irian stood and left.