More than anything, his body knew he didn’t want to be there. As the elevator door slowly pulled open and he stepped out, a chime echoing in his ears from the contraptions arrival on the third floor, he felt this wave of nausea come over him. For a split second, he thought about turning back around and going back down to the base floor, stepping out of this wicked building, and leaving town forever. The only thing keeping him here though was the letter burning a hole in his pocket. It was that letter that forced his legs to take the seventeen steps to the receptionist desk. A cute blonde thing sat behind the wooden oak desk, with her eyes, blue, fixated upon her computer screen.

He cleared his throat, signaling his arrival. She turned towards him and her eyes immediately turned apologetic.

“Oh, so sorry, I didn’t see you standing there. Can I help you out with something?” her voice was whispery, and for a second, the man wasn’t so certain she had actually spoken a word. Another moment passed by as he studied her facial features and found this primal rage almost leaping out of his throat. He managed to repress it, and nodded his head.

“I sure hope so,” he said a little more flirtatious than he had intended it to be. She glanced over at him, and noticed the bags under his eyes, his unshaven beard that looked like it had been growing for months now, and the state of his hair would have to be discussed another day. This man was certainly no man she would ever go out with, but underneath it all, she wanted him. He exuded a certain way about him that it was simply undeniable.

“Did you have an appointment?” her question was quickly followed by her opening a blue planner with rows and rows of dates and times.

“Yeah, I’m supposed to be meeting with Russel David. Told me this was his office?” the man spoke in the same tone as before, nice and steady, though sounding far too at ease with himself. The woman’s eyes scanned through the pages of notes at her discretion, and finally ran into the date that she was looking for.

“I see an appointment for a David Noble? Would that be you, sir?” She was uncertain at first. He simply nodded his head. “If you just go down to the end of this hallway, and then turn a left, you will be in our conference room. Mr. David will meet you there in just a few minutes. It seems like he’s running just a few minutes behind.” David didn’t even mutter another word as he strolled down the hallway and the woman’s eyes were glued to his back.

He wore a pair of blue jeans that looked like they hadn’t been washed in quite some time. The black leather jacket he wore didn’t look like it was who he was, and his entire disheveled look seemed to be a person who was looking for a way out of either this life or this world. Either way, he was here now, and there was nothing she could do about it. Meanwhile, David stepped into the conference room and sat down in one of the leather chairs. His eyes wandered around the room and every bit of him wished he wasn’t in New York City. He had spent a few years here before and it was almost as if the city had sucked out his soul.

The only reason he was here was because of the letter in his pocket. With the seconds ticking by him, he pulled it out and read it once again. This was his tenth time in as many days.

David,

Craig told me about your situation and I know what you’re feeling. Yet, I’ve been in your shoes before, multiple times, and have been in much worse situations. Time to drag yourself out of it. You still have something left to give, even though it seems like everything worthwhile has been taken away from you. Now, it’s just time for you to figure out what that is. I don’t know if this is the right direction for you, but go to this address and I think it will help you find yourself. Sometimes, life has just a funny way of getting you to where you ultimately must be. This just might be it for you. I’ll be seeing you soon.

- Alias

He folded the letter up and before he could put it away, a man entered the room; a man he could only assume was Russel David. Russel was dressed to the nine’s, sharp suit, and it was obvious that this man knew his way around. He extended his hand towards Noble and David slowly took it. “Good to meet you, Mr. Noble. I was rather surprised to hear that someone of your skill had lost his way. I hope to give you that way back.”

“I don’t know if I have that much of a choice, you know? Anyways, whatever the contract is, I’m prepared to sign it. I don’t think I have much else to lose, you know?”

Russel was a little taken a back. “I guess. You don’t care what it requires?” Noble had lived by so many rules before in his life, and with his carefree attitude now, he just simply didn’t care. He just shrugged his shoulders, “Simple enough,” Russel finished up. “I will get you those contracts and look forward to seeing you soon. If you just stop by my secretary on the way out, she will find out where you’re staying and the contracts will be to you tonight.” Noble just stood up and started to make his way to the door. Before he could step through the threshold though, Russel stopped him.

“David, you mentioned that you didn’t have much of a choice. Why is that?”

Noble stopped for a second and looked back at Russel.

“Because it’s either this or death.”

With that, Noble walked down the hallway and left Russel to himself, wondering what it was that troubled this man so much.