A fog of gray surrounded and consumed me. Squeezing me from all sides. My hands fanned the mist in a futile effort to shoo it away. Fear consumed me of what danger might be in the haze. No idea what was happening or where I was or how I got here. A dark confusion added to the fear. I’d lost control of the situation, if I ever even had control. I was trapped with nowhere to go and no ability to move or flee, other than my hands waving aimlessly.

From within the gray, a gloved hand devoid of color appeared. Liquid dripping from the fingers. One finger with a razor-sharp edge, stabbing at me. Piercing my skin, yet I felt no pain. Though there was no doubt damage was being done. I reached for my gun, but my holster was empty. I tried my best to call out, my hope there was a person nearby who would save me. My mouth wide open, but no words or noises escaped. My hands continued to flap and flail with no success. A face forming in the fog with an evil grin. No hair and soulless eyes. The lips moving to speak, the words ones I couldn’t comprehend. I called out again for help, but nothing was coming. I asked why but got no reply. The stabs continued to poke me, until my neutral blood mixed with the mist. Life oozing and ebbing from my body, with no hope I would be able to overcome the villainy before me. I jumped and jerked in convulsions until it all came to a halt. There was little doubt that death had come a knocking, ready to take me to the great beyond!

***

“Sir, sir, please wake up,” a voice said.

I felt like standing, but I was restrained. My hands pushed back at the feeling of flesh touching me. I wanted to scream but couldn’t enunciate. My eyes suddenly opened. A woman stood over me.

“Sir, please calm down. It was only a dream. You’re safe and no one is hurting you.”

The flight attendant looked me in the eye. At this point I realized where I was. The restraint which kept me from standing was the seat belt on the passenger plane. The flight headed to Nashville, Tennessee. I had fallen asleep and was in a deep dream which turned into a nightmare. And not for the first time. One which scared the hell out of me.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m not the best when flying. I was having a nightmare. I hope I didn’t hurt you.”

The woman smiled and put her hand up in a defensive posture. “You almost hit me. Thankfully, I have martial arts training and my auto reflex immediately used a counter move.”

“I’m thrilled to wake to a kind face,” I said. “The one in my nightmare was freaky!”

“I’m glad you’re doing better. We are starting our descent and were worried you might be a problem we’d need to deal with first.”

I understood and didn’t want to be a passenger causing trouble. The main star of a video posted on social media showing people restraining a malcontent.

“I’m good.” I took a bottle of water I had stuffed in the pocket before me and drank. “I promise to remain awake until we land. Though I’ll probably be gripping the armrests the whole way down.”

The flight attendant smiled and patted my hand. She didn’t wear a ring on her left hand. If she was a full-time resident of Nashville, I might need to see about getting her number. She strolled down the aisle and turned to glance my way. Yep, I would need to talk with her on the way out.

The gentlemen next to me slapped me on the shoulder. “Damn, you lucky duck. I wished I’d been the one with the nightmare, for I don’t think you’ll be lonely tonight.”

I rubbed my shoulder and laughed. A welcome retrieve from the ghastliness consuming me a few moments earlier.

I was surprised I had slept. Normally on a flight I never sleep. My eyes would close, but slumber never came. Today was different, as if a ghostly being had grabbed and whisked me away to their world to haunt. Which all sounded nuts, though it hadn’t been the first time a specter had taken me for a ghastly ride. The occurrence happening more frequently this last month since I had returned from Jamaica.

With hands squeezing the armrest and calming music playing in my earbuds, the plane landed with a slight thud. A loud and gradual stop and a sharp turn, before taxiing to a gate waiting for several minutes to clear. A sigh of relief I had survived the ride. A trip getting me to my destination with a friend and job waiting once I exited the terminal. Though I delayed my exit long enough to flag down the flight attendant on her way out of the plane.

I smiled and read her name badge. “Excuse me, Lorelei. I wanted to thank you for your help and not turning me over to the Air Marshal.”

She was walking with the other female flight attendant. Lorelei whispered in the attendant’s ear, who walked about fifty feet away and waited.

“Not a problem. I’m glad we didn’t have to get physical with you.”

“As a thank you, I was wondering if I could buy you a drink or dinner sometime. If you live here in Nashville.”

“I don’t, but I do fly through here quite often and occasionally have a layover.”

“Where is home base for you?” I asked.

“Denver.”

“That is where I live as well, though I’ll be working here until further notice.”

“Are you a Nuggets fan?” she asked.

“Of course. Jokić is a beast! I own a bar and we show their games. The Avalanche, too.”

“A man after my own heart.” She reached a hand out. “Give me your phone.”

I did as I was ordered. She took it and typed on the screen.

“I sent myself a text. I’ll let you know the next time I’m back in town and have time to kill.”

“Sounds good.” I put out my hand. “I’m Jarvis.”

She shook my hand. It was warm and soft and somehow alluring. Maybe I was still dreaming. Though this dream was light years ahead of the one on the jet.

“I look forward to seeing you in the future, Jarvis.” She released my hand, grabbed her rolling luggage, walked away, then stopped. “Too bad you aren’t going onto Tampa. I had a couple free days I needed to fill. You would have had a sweet time.” She reached her fellow attendant and walked away, most certainly talking about me.

If I didn’t have a commitment, I might have quickly checked to see if there were seats available on the flight to Tampa. Waking up to Lorelei in a more enjoyable way would have made the nightmare worthwhile. But alas, I needed to be there for my friend, no matter how much my inner self fancied female companionship. Lorelei would need to remain in my fantasies. I gathered my luggage and took the long hallway through the terminal, following the signs to the passenger pickup area where a long, stretch SUV limousine would be waiting for me.

It took about ten minutes, but I finally reached the outdoors. The sun, heat, and humidity hit me like a warm shower on this late summer day. Standing beside a massive, dark, metallic limo, a familiar person waved at me. The tall muscular woman wore faded blue jeans, yellow tank top, beige jacket, and brown boots.

We had first met several years ago when she was in charge of the Mission for the Invisible Souls. A spell living on the streets after her stint in the Army, a woman who worked hard to help those homeless in Denver. Everyone had called her Pastor Sam, though it was more ceremonial, since she wasn’t ordained. She had dropped the pastor moniker since she no longer worked at the Mission. These days she did freelance security for a friend from her days in the Army. Her call for assistance after the friend had been seriously injured. I didn’t need to know the details to book a flight to help however I could.

“Wonderful to see you, Jarvis.”

When she hugged me, the gun under her jacket poked my side.

“For you, anything.”

“I was beginning to wonder if you got lost.”

“Sorry, I had to say thank you to one of the flight attendants.”

“Don’t tell me you got a date with one. Or worse, hooked up with her on the flight.”

“No hooking up, but yes for a possible date the next time she is back in Nashville. And if not, she is based in Denver.” While showing her the text message she had sent and replied to, I gave Sam a quick overview of what happened.

“A nightmare and you get a phone number. You lucky dog.” She gave me a fist bump.

“She even mentioned she was flying to Tampa and had a two-day layover. I was this close…” I held up my thumb and forefinger.

“I’m sorry I spoiled your possible carnal adventure. But I’m glad you hung around for the job.”

“Helping a friend and getting paid often supersedes fun in the sack. You didn’t give me many details on what is going on.”

“Climb inside the luxury on wheels and I’ll explain.”

A tall man emerged from the front passenger seat and opened a side door. There were several open seats. I made myself comfortable and Sam took her place to the side of me. Three other people sat inside. Two men and one woman. One of the men closest to me reached out his hand.

“I’m Aiden Rigsdale.” His shake was firm and short lived. “Most wonderful of you to come here to Music City on short notice.”

“Jarvis,” I replied.

“Yes, Sam has told us all about you. You have quite a resume.”

“I’m sure Sam exaggerated my qualifications.”

“Hardly, my man.” He tapped an Apple tablet on his lap. “When the need arrived, she came to me and I did my research about you. I must approve all hires. I can’t have any two-bit, armed contract person looking after my clients. They are important people.” He motioned behind him.

I studied the familiar faces of the man and the woman. Though I wasn’t certain I knew who they were. “I appreciate the offer of work. I’m sure I can do the job properly, though I’m curious whom I’ll be protecting.”

Rigsdale laughed. “My man, you must not get around much on the country music scene. These are my biggest and best clients. Maybe you’ve heard of the multi-platinum and multi-number one hit husband and wife team, Rule of Law. Maybe the hottest band out there. You are among stars, my man!”

I looked at Sam, who smiled. If we were among stars, they wouldn’t be the musicians I listened to. I leaned back into my seat and waited to hear the story of the couple who seemed completely uninterested in my arrival.