Chapter 34 Old, Fiery, Friend

• The bustling atmosphere of the bar is dimmed to a low hum as I walk down the dirt road leading from Jake's cabin home in the woods, to the Red Ember bar where I work the night shift.
• Hoisted on my back is my small duffel and Jake's larger backpack which he usually brings along with him to the bar. Jake is meant to be on shift tonight as well but I have not heard back from him since he left with Ken much earlier in the day.
• Jake has never been gone for this long and I expected he would return to get ready for our shift but I have seen no signs of him. Jake being his traditional self does not have or use a cellphone and so there's no hope that I can put a call through to check on him. I'm not worried, I know Jake can handle himself so I bring along his change of clothes with me, just in case he comes to the bar later in the night.