Through the Ashes

"I can't believe you made me do that, Sam," Kasie groans.

"I can't believe you're still complaining," I counter. She rolls her eyes at me yet again. I smile and shake my head.

"Well, fine. What do you want to do?"

"Glad you asked." She smiles. We leave the complex and jog up to one of the highest levels in the Crypts, almost to a point where we might be able to reach out and touch the lanterns if we were slightly taller. We weave through the many corridors and duck under arches until we finally arrive at our stop. Oh yes, how could I have forgotten? Kasie's favorite place: the Crypts Comedy Club.

"I haven't been here in ages," I say happily. Kasie smiles. "Why do you think we're here? You never come with me anymore," she whines. "I'm here now. Let's get this show on the road," I say. I pull out my ID and find the guard turned around and chatting on his phone. Really? Many people can't even afford a phone and he's rudely flaunting it on the job. I give him a sharp tap on the shoulder but he just waves his hand in my direction. He lets out a booming laugh and leans against the inside of the door.

I growl and pull on his shoulder so he faces me. "Hey buddy, listen-!" Shock cuts me short. I know that face, those bright grey eyes and tight-lipped sarcastic smile. "Ben!" I practically tackle him to the ground; I would have if it wasn't for his brawny stature.

"Whoa! Sammy, is that you? Damn, you've grown." He wraps his arms tight around me then drops me to the ground. Ben Spencer is an old friend and hunting buddy of mine. We went to and trained at the same academy and neither of us had any friends until we happened upon each other. Last I heard of him, he decided to take a long trip down to Ohio and hunt there. Most people, who choose hunting as their profession, do this so I wasn't surprised when it happened. Apparently he decided to come back. After all these years, he looks much different. His baby fat has faded away, replaced with high cheekbones and a sharp jawline. His long hair has been buzzed off and stubble covers his jaw but his grey eyes still sparkle with the same childish wonder as all those years ago.

Kasie clears his throat and I pull away from Ben's embrace, backing up towards my girlfriend. She swings her arm around my waist and protectively pulls me towards her.

"Who's this?" Ben asks, clearly confused.

"Her girlfriend," comes Kasie's sharp reply before I even have a chance to open my mouth. She's always been the jealous type, no matter who they are.

"Relax. He's just an old friend," I say, reaching my arm around her as well. "Ben, like she said, this is my girlfriend Kasie. And Kasie, the man you so rudely spoke to is my old best friend from the academy, Ben. I might have mentioned him before. "

Ben holds his hand out and Kasie takes it, suspicion in her eyes. "You did. Spoke pretty fondly of him too," she mutters.

Enough of that. "Alright well, after that delightfully awkward moment, I'd still love to enter the Triple C so here's our ID's." I pass him out cards and he shines the blue light of the scanner over the bar codes. It beeps lightly and Ben passes back the cards. With a quick sweeping motion, He pushes open the door. I thank him and wave goodbye. Kaise lets go of my waist once we're inside and her smile returns. We quietly push our way through the dark room and take a seat at the table near the front. Thankfully we arrive just as Mary Dunshire, a comedian I'm familiar with, walks off the stage.

"So what was Ben's deal?" Kasie asks with an undertone of nasty.

"Nothing, I swear. He's a real close friend and as far as I know, he still has the same girlfriend from the academy. They loved each other a lot," I promise her. "Besides, he knows I play for the other team." She visibly relaxes in her seat and takes my hand across the table. I grip it tightly in reassurance.