"Wake up"
"Wake up"
"What" Rainer murmured as he slowly opened his eyes. His head was hurting, which he figured was a hangover.
He saw a strange man looking at him, "I thought you were goner, Thank the grace of Lady Soliana"
"How did u end up in the river anyway?" The old man asked.
"I don't know, what river?" Rainer asked trying to make sense of the situation.
"The Darisle Cove" He said eagerly "I found you unconscious by the shore. You were barely breathing but I brought you back fixed you up"
"Thanks, I guess " Rainer replied still with a heavy migraine
"Sir, may I inquire where are you from? " Old man asked hopefully
"Upper East Side, Thanks for looking after me"
"Can you call me a cab ? I got somewhere to be"Rainer replied thinking about the meeting he cannot miss.
The Old Man looked at him for a second with a weird expression in his eyes.
Then he said"Sir, who is this cab that you speak of?"
Rainer was taken aback for a second and then he said " Sorry Sir, can you call me a taxi, please?"
The Old man looking confused as ever said "Sir, I have no idea where to find this taxi person that you speak of?"
Rainer now getting frustrated figured that the person in front of him is either playing with him or just crazy. He reached into his pocket took his wallet handed a $100 bill and said " Thank you for your trouble sir, can you point me to the nearest subway?"
As soon Rainer handed over the bill he regretted asking that question, already anticipating the answer he is gonna get.
"Subway?" He looked confusingly " Are these your friends? sorry I haven't heard from any of them, maybe you should look by the taverns, they may be staying there"
Rainer already understanding the situation quickly replied" Yes, I have to look for them they must be waiting for me, I must leave"
The Old Man replied" Of course, go down the hallway and to the left and thank you for the this amazing piece artwork sir"
Rainer already decided to leave said " No problem" and left abruptly.
While going down the hallway Rainer noticed the house was really eccentric that of old Victorian style. As soon as he opened the door and walked onto the street, he was flabbergasted, for the where he walked onto a street made of cobblestone of old English style.
Rainer figured that this old loony has brought him to some studio set of some movie and moved forward looking for exit.
--------------------------------------
It has been two hour since Rainer left the old mans house and it was pretty apparent everybody in this old town was in on the joke. This town had no sign of modernity, it was like a Victorian town of old. No one knew anything about Upper East side and how to get it. Now Rainer, hopeless decided to sit by the road trying to figure out what was happening.
"Hi, have you found taxi and others yet sir?" suddenly Rainer hears a voice
He looks up and sees the Old Man.
"No" Rainer replies devoid of any energy.
"Have u checked the tavern yet?" The Old Man remarked
"Not yet" Rainer replied stoically
"Come on I'll show the way" The Old Man started walking signing Rainer to follow
"Ok" Rainer decided to follow, 'might as well see what this is about' thinking to himself.
It took them about 15 min to reach the tavern.
They went in a sat down on a table.
"You must be hungry, the meal is on me"The Old Man remarked and ordered some wine and meat.
"This meal is my appreciation for you sir, I got your artwork appraised" The old man smiled at Rainer
"Hm" Rainer nodded already piecing out what he was talking about.
"I will be back shortly" The Old Man left walked towards the Bartender.
As Rainer was eating alone reminiscing about what was happening he saw a man across the tavern drinking his wine alone.
As soon he saw him his eyes widened as a sudden jolt of lighting just went through his body. He suddenly remembered drinking with him last night.
Without wasting a second he quickly stood up and went to straight to that mans table.
The Man looked like in his mid 40s, he had sharp face with a thin beard and dark hair with black eyes. He looked at Rainer chuckled "Hello, my friend, how are you? Enjoying your first day in paradise I see"
Rainer questioned " Where am I ? "
The man answered "Ospen, I think that's what they call it I think"
Rainer asked further "Why am I here ?"
The man smiled sinisterly "You made a bet"