(c) SolaceMournerVII, 2009. Please give credit where credit is due.
Shadow Play
Chapter 1: The Advent of the Culmination
Part II
23 January 2102 AD
Colorado Springs, CO
The man stared humorlessly at Sol's face, taking in his black hair and gaunt, pale features. Sol simultaneously took stock of the pair, who appeared to be almost identical. Both men were standing now, at exactly the same height. Sol was a tall fellow at six feet, four inches, but each man must have been four inches above his own height. Their jet black hair was combed in exactly the same style, with a flair that suggested military background. Sol could barely make out hazel eyes that nearly seemed to emit a dull glow behind dark sunglasses. Aside from their staunch demeanor and the aforementioned eyewear, Sol might have mistaken the pair for very large Bible salesmen. That, and if all religious texts had not been previously banned some years before.
"You will come with us," the other finally said. He spoke very pointedly out of his slit of a mouth. Sol glimpsed something metallic at the man's tonsils for a brief moment. It was at that moment that Sol had a decision to make. By the general laws of the land, Sol knew federal agents would provide identification. If they didn't, he could cry bloody murder and hope that the pair would disappear in lieu of being apprehended by more traditional authorities--preferably the sort with large handguns.
"Says who? Who are you?" Sol demanded, stepping far enough away from the pair to make a run for it if necessary.
"It is a matter of national security," the first man said.
"You will come with us," the second man repeated.
Sol swore at the pair, hoping his disdain would hide his fear. His eyes darted around the lobby, but what had seemed to be a bustling libary just a few moments before had now turned into a vacant trap. Sol half expected spaghetti western music tracks to play over the public address as the distance seemed to grow between himself and the behemoths. He almost felt himself going for a gun at his hip as his feet defaulted to his "flight response".
In the three steps that Sol made in half a second, it was exactly one step short of the distance necessary for his successful departure. The bridge of his nose was given a curt introduction to the elbow of the second man, and his shoulders were re-introduced to the grip of the first. Stunned, the boy of a man fell back and lost his balance, leaning into the grip of the tree trunk that took hold of him. Then, a sharp pain surged momentarily through Sol's back, but the world had gone black before he felt it in his brainpan.
