Agnasci
Mad Dog ends his phone call and sets the cell down on the patio table. He looks up at Agnasci.
Run Through the Jungle has come to an end and the next song starts to play. It's got a peppy beat.
I see a bad moon rising!
I see trouble on the way!
I see earthquakes and lightning!
I see bad times today!
Mad Dog stares back in silence. Agnasci is overcome with the sensation of meeting someone who already knows you.
Don't go around tonight!
It's bound to take your life!
There's a bad moon on the rise!
Suddenly Mad Dog is on his feet, shouting over the blare of the music. "Grab him!" Most of the others don't hear him and those who do are confused. "GRAB HIM! GET HIS ASS DOWNSTAIRS!" Agnasci looks around the yard. Smiley's advancing on him from the grill, Buddha-man and the three bikers unknown to Agnasci are spreading throughout the yard, and BR's digging through the pile of clothes outside the kiddie pool for his gun.
I hear hurricanes a-blowing!
I know the end is coming soon!
I fear the river's overflowing!
I hear the voice of rage and ruin!
Panic settles in as Agnasci begins to fully realize just how bad his situation has become. He knows there are only two options: Try to talk his way out or run. In the moment between him thinking this and him starting to sprint toward the front yard, Mad Dog bowls into him and the two fall to the ground, with the biker on top, both hands on Agnasci's neck. Agnasci is about to resist when the barrel of a handgun appears in his peripheral, pressed against his cheekbone.
Don't go around tonight!
It's bound to take your life!
There's a bad moon on the rise!
Agnasci's marched toward the sliding glass doors that lead into the house. The three women get up from their table and move away from the door. Maybe one of them will call the police. Smiley slides the door open and Agnasci is pushed inside. No, they won't do anything. Agnasci's led down into the basement through the living room. He can barely hear the music.
Hope you got your things together!
Hope you are quite prepared to die!
Looks like we're in for nasty weather!
One eye is taken for an eye!
The Dogs of War throw Agnasci into the corner of the basement and his head smacks painfully against the wall.
"Get some tape or something," orders Mad Dog, "until we can get chains." Buddha-man nods and bustles out of the basement to go look, leaving Agnasci alone with Mad Dog, BR, Smiley, and the three he hasn't met.
"What'd he do?" It's BR, still keeping his gun trained on Agnasci.
Mad Dog doesn't answer, instead crossing the room to the opposite wall where there's an easel and canvas set up in the shadows, a sheet draped over it. He returns with the easel and sets it down in the center of the room before tearing the draping free. Agnasci stares at it wide-eyed and it's like looking into a mirror. It's a painting of him, as he is at this exact moment in the corner of this basement.
Chance, Harper, and Law
The three mages have been gathered inside Nazareth Secondhand Books for about fifteen minutes. It's about 9:00 PM, Wednesday the 8th, and Agnasci is late. As it stands even if they left at this very moment they'd have to speed to get there on time.
"You might have to go without him," offers Faye from behind the counter, a Susan Johnson novel in hand. "You'll be in it deep if you miss your meeting."
