Free Absence of Faith by Anthony S. Policastro Page B

What reasons?"
    "I can’t tell you now."
    "Let's go to my place. I have a
bottle of wine, and I'd love to share it with you," he
said.
    Chantress looked deep into Kyle's
eyes searching for something, just anything that would tell her it
would be a mistake. The clearly defined pupils surrounded by a
radiating blue with their unfocused, random movements set off
ancient and primitive alarms in her subconscious. But the alarms
remained unheard - an emotional fog that seeped into every crevice
of her consciousness silenced their message. Once the voice did
come through and caused her stomach to twitch slightly, but the
wetness between her legs caused her to ignore this all-important
message.
    "Sure, I'd love to. Let's go," she
said.
    As they left the table, Kyle
noticed a man staring at him from the table next to theirs. The man
had piercing black eyes, black hair, ruddy dark skin and a long
narrow face. The man was motionless like a photograph.
    "What's the matter? Chantress asked
also seeing the man. "Do you know him?"
    "No, it's something about him. I
think I know him, but I can't place him. His eyes seem to look
right into my soul and grab hold. His eyes are hungry like he was
after something...anxious," Kyle explained turning to
leave.
    "And I'm the devil worshiper," she
laughed.
    "His stare gave me a strange
sensation. That's all," Kyle said.
    "Like the ones you have been
having?"
    "No, this is different - I can't
explain it," Kyle said.
    Kyle looked back and the man was
gone.
    "Did you see him leave? Where did
he go? He was just there a second ago!" Kyle said.
    "Come on. We probably didn't see
him leave," Chantress replied grabbing his arm. "I have to catch up
with Yanni and Krista and give them my keys."
    Kyle looked around the dim
cafe.
    "He just vanished," Kyle said.
"Weird."
    * * *
    Kyle's garden apartment was typical
of the apartments of the 1980s - built cheaply and quickly and now
after almost twenty six years, the red brick was weathered and
chipped, the wood trim cracked and begging for more paint.
Chantress didn't notice the run-down appearance of the multiple
housing units - she had only one thought on her mind, and it
ricocheted around her head like a wild bullet with endless energy.
They entered the main entrance and walked through a maze of
hallways to his apartment. He opened the door, and turned on a
light, and they entered a tiny alcove that led into a single, large
room. The room was sparse - a black velvet couch, a lounge chair
that leaned to one side, a glass-topped coffee table covered in
pizza boxes and empty beer bottles, a TV, stereo and naked wooden
floors, and equally-naked walls.
    "The furniture was leftover from my
parent's house," Kyle said. That's why none of it
matches."
    "Oh, it's wonderful because it's
all yours...your place," Chantress replied. "I would love to have
my own place, but I can't afford it yet."
    Chantress sat down on the black
velvet sofa and rubbed her hand over the top. She let the smooth
sensation excite her hands and run down to her toes.
    Kyle went into the tiny kitchen and
returned with a bottle of wine and two long-stemmed wine glasses
with gold trim around the tops. Kyle filled the glasses and handed
one to Chantress. She took a few sips and then moved closer to
Kyle. She kissed him pushing his head down on the sofa, and then
slowly moved the rest of her body on top of his. He smiled inside
as her hand found his belt, and then his zipper, and eventually
made its way inside. After several minutes, she sat up and slowly
moved her hands over him. He peeled the black tube top off,
revealing her large red nipples, and round, firm breasts. Kyle's
hands then grabbed each one and squeezed. She pushed his hands away
and pulled up on his shirt. He raised his arms and she pulled it
off. Then she stood and motioned to Kyle to peel off her jeans.
First, he ran his hands over her hips, then slowly towards her
groin. He stopped after a few seconds, then moved up and grabbed
the waist