.....Continued from yesterdayʻs story
COLLEGE 1986
Fynn Greely and Richmond Davis were roommates who found their apartment through a mutual friend who was a professor at the University of Hawaii.
The small cottage stood at the back of a seven-bedroom home on Lanihuli Street, where the English Professor entertained colleagues, friends, and sometimes the occasional student. Finn and Richmond both were carrying a full load at U.H. and working part-time jobs as well; the last thing they wanted to do was to live under the restrictions of dorm life on campus. With their combined income, they were able to afford the seven hundred and fifty dollars a month. The place was cozy with two bedrooms, a small sink, a stove, and a refrigerator. The bathroom and shower was sizeable enough that it didn't seem too claustrophobic; life was simple and easy since both Fynn and Richmond were hardly home, especially on the weekends.Fynn grew up knowing that he was bound to go to college; really, he didn't have a say in the matter. This was the course set for him by his parents, and it didn't seem to upset Fynn at all; his parents were good people. They gave him as much freedom as was allowable during his childhood, but at the same time, Fynn knew that there were lines that he couldn't cross with his folks; otherwise, he would have to risk severe physical discipline.
Richmond was remarkably independent, and as he grew up, it sometimes became a hindrance where his parents were concerned. He was willful at times when he could not get his way, but rather than punish him with the belt or force him to stand in a corner, his mother and father would ignore Richmond and just let him yell himself out until he grew exhausted and fell asleep. He did very well throughout high school and managed to work part time at McDonald's and save money for his first car, a sixty six-mustang coup. College was not a problem in the least.
One night, Fynn hosted an "End Of The First Semester Party" at the cottage for his Psychology 101 classmates. The instructor for the class, Mr. Grainger, wasn't as uptight as Fynn had expected and so he was surprised when the instructor accepted his invitation to the party. Later that night, people's attendance filled the entire domicile, but it was a very subdued gathering. The wine was passed around along with finger foods and Marijuana, and the music coming in over the Bluetooth speaker box was not what one would expect at a college party; it was Steely Dan and David Sanborn. The house lights were off and were replaced by blue candlelit lanterns, which gave the place an unusual glow. The blue itself hung just below the ceiling like clouds in the sky; once the atmosphere became a bit more relaxed, Mr. Grainger excused himself and stepped out a second to retrieve something from his car. Less than a minute later, he returned with a laptop bag and placed it on the carpet in front of him as he sat down. Encouraging everyone to gather around as close as possible, he removed an Ouija board and lay it on top of the computer bag.
"Now, who wants to try it?" Mr. Grainger asked, "it's just for fun, nothing serious." He assured them. "It could be considered as extra credit."
He slowly eyed everyone sitting in the room with a slight smile and continued with his invitation to play with the spirit board.
"There's nothing to it. It's just a function of your subconscious, something that's been maligned and misunderstood as the influence of the devil," Mr. Grainger said. "I promise you that no one's head is going to spin around while spitting out pea soup at the same time."
"Fynn? You wanna give it a try?" Mr. Grainger offered.
Fynn shrugged his shoulders, moved forward just in front of the Ouija board, and waited for instructions.
"So Fynn, you lightly place your fingertips on the funny looking triangle thing here, and I will do the same thing on this side," Fynn nodded and did as he was told. "Now, we'll take three deep breaths and exhale, and then we'll begin by asking the board a question," Fynn mirrored Mr. Grainger and took in three deep breaths and exhaled at the same time. "Why don't you start by asking a question, Fynn?"
He was stunned for a second, but Fynn looked around the room and noticed that everyone watched the two of them very intently as if they were dissecting a lab rat. Mr. Grainger gave Fynn a reassuring nod indicating that he could begin.
"Okay, uh, how old is Mr. Grainger?" He asked.
A stream of nervous laughter permeated the room, and it made the both of them smile; suddenly, the planchette moved, and Fynn nearly jumped, but Mr. Grainger soothed his worry with a short nod, indicating that everything was fine. The planchette went from number four and then over to number two.
"42," Fynn said, "it says you're 42 years old, but you told us at the beginning of the term that you're 30?"
The room erupted in laughter, and Mr. Graingerʻs face turned red, and he walked out. However, the party continued without him. Fynn awoke the following morning to find a well dressed middle-aged Hawaiian man standing in his kitchen. "Fynn Greely?" The Hawaiian man asked.
"Yeah?"
"I understand that you have exceptional skills when it comes to money?" The Hawaiian man looked him over, from head to foot, and then examining his eyes.
"Yes, Iʻm here on a full scholarship because of it," Fynn replied. "I work part-time because I want my own money."
"We have a lucrative job offer for you," the Hawaiian man offered.
"We?" Fynn was curious.
"The Knights of The Order," the Hawaiian man removed a business card and handed it to Fynn. "If youʻre interested, meet me at the address on that card at midnight tonight."
"Iʻve heard of it, but everybody says the order is a myth?" Fynn was in a state of mystical awe; his head was swimming, but the Hawaiian man brought him back to reality by removing a knife from his pocket and cutting Fynn on the saggy skin between his thumb and forefinger.
"Does that feel mythical?"
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