Night Owl

The overcast night brings a gloomier mood to the dark, dingy streets of downtown San Diego. On the corner of Fourth and Market, David Zuniga, a short, slender young man with black shaggy hair, takes a look at his watch before panning his head back and forth down both streets. His foot’s incessant tapping is cut off as a black car pulls up. Through the windshield, the glowing sign lights up the driver’s over-enthusiastic expression. He sighs before taking the bag from off the ground and jumps into the back seat of the car. “Hey! David, Right?” David’s brow furrows at the sound of the driver’s overbearing demeanor. “Right,” he replies. Putting the car in drive, the man speeds off into the night. “Good. You know I was having some trouble finding you. This is my first time driving in downtown and boy, oh boy, these streets are confusing. You know?” David’s eyes are more attentive to the road than on the question as the driver continues to speed down the street, cutting it close to every red light. “I even went down a couple one way streets. Thank God, I made it though. I didn’t want to be late.” The man’s eyes go erratically from the rear view mirror to the road. “Shouldn’t you-” Cutting David’s question short, the driver interjects, “oh, don’t worry, I’m a great driver. I always wanted to drive one of those Formula 1 cars. You know, like the ones they use in the grand prix.” The young man’s expression turns worrisome as the chauffeur continues his rant. “By the way, the name is Benjamin, but you can call me Benny.” Raising a brow, David attempts the same question one last time. “Shouldn’t you be driving a bit slower?” Benny chuckles to himself for a second before turning to face him. “You know, I get that question a lot but in the five years that I’ve been driving, I’ve never crashed once. Not even once. Can you believe it?” His eyes go low for a second. “ Well there was that one time in Mexico, but that's out of state. Doesn't count. Right?” David’s expression shifts as worry turns to fear, “the light, the light.” Coming to, the driver spots the changing light. “Don’t worry, I got this.” Holding his breath, David grips the belt tighter across his chest. The light turns red as the driver speeds through the intersection, barely missing a turning car. “Told you I had it. Anyway, what is a kid your age doing in downtown so late” The driver’s eyes stay fixed on David through the rear view mirror, waiting for a response. “I’m a server.” Benny’s face lights up. “ Hey, no kidding. And here I thought it’d be night school. I bet you meet a lot of interesting people from all over the world. I got into driving for the same reason. Would of been a server but I have no patience for people. Know what I mean?” Raising a brow, David replies with unconvincing, “Sure.” Coming to a screeching halt, the car stops in front of a large, deep purple gothic manor. “Well, here's where it ends. Say, here’s my card. These apps always charge way too much. Just give me a call and I’d be happy to drive you anywhere. Available 24/7, 365.” Taking the sliver of paper from the man, David hastily exits the car. Benny speeds off almost simultaneously as the door slams shut. The car fades out into the darkness as David brings his attention to the menacing facade of his home. He takes one last breath before trudging forward toward the front door. A sudden flutter of wings emit from the dark void above as David freezes, searching for the source. Seconds later, an enormous bird swoops down, knocking him to the ground. Staggering to his feet, he scans the skies fruitlessly for the feathered predator. 

Now inside, David drops his bag next to the drawer to the right. With a wooden gaze, he looks at the interior as if he has never been there before. To the right, two large satin purple couches take up most of the living room, accented by the brown walls and the green shag carpeting. Cornellius, a Russian blue cat, sits perched atop the Staircase’s newel, attentively observing David. A loud thumping sound emitting from the floors above scares off Cornellius. The thumping grows louder and louder as it comes closer. A moment later, a slender fair woman, Carencia, comes out from the second floor, greeting the young man’s deadpanned gaze with a warm smile. “I see you’re finally home.” She tucks back a strand of hair over her ear as she examines David’s appearance. “And you didn’t wipe your shoes before coming in. I assume i'll have to clean that later.” Her remark brings a sour look over his face. “Can you please tell Etzli to quit messing with me?” Carencia pays no mind to his request. “And don’t put your bag by the entrance. You have a room, you know?” Rolling his eyes he snatches the bag off the ground, “I just got home from work. Can you wait another minute before giving me the third?” Coming to level ground, she steps up, setting her hand on his shoulder. “You look like shit.” He gives her a grimacing look, “I’m not trying to beat you down, but you know you don't have to do this. The time is almost here and you have to choose. Your age will slip away and there won’t be much we can do then.” Breaking away from her embrace, he takes a few steps past before turning his body back toward her. “I’ve already chosen.” David trudges forward and up the steep wooden staircase. At the top, on the second floor, Etzli, a tall broad shoulder woman, looks down at him with a sardonic smile. “Can you not?” He asks as she chuckles to herself before remarking, “I haven’t done a thing.” Blowing past her across the hall and toward the next set of stairs, David pauses at the sound of another testing remark. “What? Are you mad cause I scared you as you were coming in?” With clenched teeth, he turns to face his aunt. Anger shifts to disgust at the sight of Etzli slowly making her way down the hall, closer and closer to her nephew. Sharp bone-like tendrils replace feet. A feathery wingspan in place of human arms. Now standing at 7 feet tall, the large bird-like woman presses her face, the only human part left of her, to David’s. Silence fills the air for a moment as the two lock eyes. “Don’t you have some people to prey on or something.” David suggests. Tilting her head back, Etzli lets out a screeching caw. “Can you not?” Carencia shouts from the first floor. The pair’s eyes go from the source of the voice to each other once more. “The both of them are too soft on you. If you don’t choose correctly by the end of the night. I won’t be as forgiving.” The two exchange disdainful looks for a moment. Not even bothering to respond, David turns his back to her, continuing on toward the next set of stairs. Dragging himself to the third floor, he comes to a large hall.Large windows fill one side of the room while the other is taken up by portraits of the three aunts and a not so chirpy David.  At the head of a large dining table in the center of the room, Tepin Zuniga, a short, stocky, coco brown skinned woman, sits casually reading a newspaper. Spotting David, she sets down the paper. “Hey, you’re finally home. How was work?” There’s no response. Making his way over toward her, David takes the seat nearest to her. “Not bad, it was just that the Tuber driver took a while to pick me up. And Aunt C’s welcoming scolding didn’t help much.” David’s eyes run low as Tepin leans in closer. “I know she can be a bit much, but she means good. You know that.” Leaning back in his chair, David crosses his arm in disapproval. “That doesn’t mean she has to press me to choose what she wants. Not to mention Etzli.” Sitting up, a grin fills Tepin’s face. “Etzli’s actions aside, you know better than anyone what needs to be done. We only want what's best for the world.” David’s head turns away from his aunt, “And that includes murdering innocent people? Well, I’m sorry, but I don’t want my nights to be spent perched atop this shit hole, waiting to prey whatever unlucky bastard crosses my line of sight.” Leaning in once more, Tepin rebuttals, “These people are far from innocent, David. They take advantage of their peers in order to gain their footing, but by doing so they doom both themselves and us. They want comfort and peace in the form of bordered off countries. In reality, they want isolation. From what they fear and from whom they deem to be the source of their fears. These people you speak of are nothing more than hedonistic leeches that bare no use to the progress of humankind. Being sacrificed to restore our vigor is the greatest purpose they could ever serve. Our powers and this world were given to us by the Gods themselves, we should not make waste.” David’s furrowed gaze comes to, locking with her worrisome expression. “How can you speak of their fear when the three of you hide behind these four walls?” Gripping her nephews hand, she insists. “The only thing we fear are misguided minds. What they fear sometimes bare no logic, David.” Pulling out from under her embrace, David comes to his feet. “We’ve been alive for far too long. I’m just not sure if this life is for me anymore.” Tepin’s gaze tries to meet her nephew's roaming eyes. “You mean, our way of living?” Turning away from his aunt, David replies. “All of it.” The distance grows between the two until David’s no longer in the same room. Making his way to the top of the last set of stairs, he comes to a lone wooden door. He pauses for a minute before swinging the door open. The hallway light illuminates the sole bed at the far end of the room. Not even bothering to flick on the switch, David shuffles across the bedroom, taking a seat at the food of the bed. A moment later, Cornellius trots in. Coming face to face with its owner, the cat, in a low tone, speaks. “Have you made your choice?” David’s eyes meet the cat's empty gaze. “You know what? I think I have.” A content smile fills David’s face.