[indent][b][color=BDB76B][sub][sup][h3]E L W O O D  D O W D[/h3][/sup][/sub][/color][/b][/indent][hr][indent][indent][i][sup]Downtown New Lilith, The Lamp[/sup][/i][/indent][/indent]
The sweeping had been done within twenty minutes of finding the broom, after a brave venture into the supply closet. Elwood didn't receive a single member of the public - not even curious and naive tourists drawn in by the glittery (and often counterfeit) 'relics'. He received no calls from anyone, let alone the oddly-named 'Mr. Mulligan', and the brass cupboard, in all its gleaming glory, would threaten to blind a man from fifty paces were the sun available to shine. All in all, Elwood found himself bored for much of his afternoon, lacking in sufficient distraction from his Hunger. 

Elwood chewed his fingernails to the quick - a frustrated, fidgeting gnawing born out of boredom and poor self-control. The Hunger ached within him, whetted from the earlier sandwich, and he hungrily eyed the diner across the street, desiring thick meats and dense breads. The clock ticked by slowly, Elwood keeping a feverish eye on every motion made by its hands; eventually, five'o'clock ticked around, and Justin fumbled with the key as he tried to keep hold of it while donning his coat. He busied himself theatrically for a few minutes, allowing a final opportunity for any last-minute customers, and then carefully walked through the store's displays and out the front door, turning around to lock it behind him. The key slid neatly into the lock, and Elwood was on the precipice of applying torsion when from inside, the old-fashioned belling of the phone rang sharp through the store.

Elwood froze for a second, listening to the ring peter out before it started up anew, another clanging klaxon that seemed askew somehow, despite no audible difference from any other time the phone rang. He debated for a few more rings, and then made a firm decision - Mr. Lafferty was expecting a call, and the last time Elwood had skipped answering to a seller he had been made to clean the lavatory. He re-opened the door and moved deftly through the shop to behind the counter where the phone hung from the wall. Elwood cleared his throat as his fingers rested on the handset, and he suppressed the violent urge to slam the receiver and flee the shop, pounding the pavement all the way home to his bedroom to lock the door and quietly hyperventilate himself to sleep, plagued by shadowy and ever-present nightmares of ravenous wolves and animal carcasses...Elwood picked up the phone.

[color=8B0000]"That Lafferty's shack? The Lamp?"[/color] Rough voice. Demanding. Slight Irish lilt. Elwood opened his mouth to respond, but all that arrived from his throat was a low, crackling moan. [color=8B0000]"Jonathan, ya bastard, is that you? Ya scared, Lafferty? Ain't like you, J-man..."[/color] There was a menacing undertone, but it was being played off as jokey, a thinly veiled threat disguised as 'banter'. Elwood felt a pang of fear, and a deeper pang of aggression and outrage. 

[color=BDB76B]"No!"[/color] He suddenly voiced a reply, shocking himself at the sound of his own voice. [color=BDB76B]"...no. Mr. Lafferty's not here. This is...Elwood. I...work here."[/color] He held his breath as he waited for a response, and the silence dragged on, like the caller was considering something deeply.
[color=8B0000]"...you're Lafferty's boy, eh?"[/color] The voice was low and unpleasant. [color=8B0000]"Yeah, he's mentioned his lil' assistant a coupl'a time. Love to meet ya."[/color]

Elwood supressed his panic and swallowed. [color=BDB76B]"Do you have business here, sir?"[/color]
[color=8B0000]"Yeeeaaaaahhh....."[/color] The voice trailed off before clearing his throat. [color=8B0000]"I'm an...associate of Mr. Mulligan. Got that gear to shift. Need to set it up."[/color]
[color=BDB76B]"Tuesday."[/color] Elwood blurted out, his speech fast and desperate to end the conversation as soon as possible. [color=BDB76B]"He can meet next Tuesday."[/color]
[color=8B0000]"Oh sure, sure...Tuesday's fan-[i]tastic[/i]. A little earlier, might be nice?"[/color]
[color=BDB76B]"Mr-Lafferty-didn't-provide-me-with-any-details-of-his-schedule."[/color]
[color=8B0000]"I'll...pop in then. I'm sure he'll make time for [i]me[/i]."[/color]
[color=BDB76B]"Okay-thank-you-for-calling."[/color]
The voice chuckled. [color=8B0000]"Oh, you're sure welcome, kid. And listen...if he asks? ...tell 'im Redcap called."[/color]

The line went flat and Elwood slammed the handset back onto the receiver, breathing heavily and shaking slightly. He jerked his head toward the door, eyes focusing.  Through the glass pane of the store's front door he could see through the rain outside into the transparent plexiglass front of the diner opposite, and through that was a hole-in-the-wall between the counter and the kitchen, and through [i]that[/i] were several bubbling slabs of burger patty sizzling away on a hot grill. Elwood could practically smell them as he stormed through the shop and out the door, pausing for a micro-second to lock it behind him. He looked up as he did so, and caught his reflection in the glass. His eyes were going. 

He didn't stop himself.