Haze's multicolored eyes scanned the many assortments of music that were stacked neatly on the shelves of Monty's Music. He placed his hand on his chin as he contemplated the particular music that would please the customer that he was currently servicing.
"I believe this would suit you," he stated with that the customer-is-always-right smile as he handed the customer an old record. After dealing with various customers and restocking shelves, Haze felt the need for a well deserved break. He walked up to the front of the store, dropping the happy employee act and glancing at his co-worker and friend, Wilson Pope. He preferred calling the poor bastard Pope, since Wilson just wouldn't cut it.
"I'm going out back," Haze announced, knowing that Pope would want to join. Pope nodded, looking at the new recruit that was taking inventory in the 'pop' aisle.
"Hold down the fort," Pope called to the kid. "We'll be back in a bit." The kid just waved him off with a quick nod. The two men made their way to the back of the establishment then exited through the double doors. They leaned against the brick wall of the alleyway as the pungent odor of trash, mildew, and ozone surrounded them. Haze looked up at the clouded sky, taking in it's peculiar dreary aura that seemed to engulf the world.
"Any plans this evening, Haze?" Pope asked as he pulled a box of Malboros from his leather jacket pocket. Haze simply shrugged, holding his hand out for a smoke. "No partying? No bar fighting? No sexy waitress begging you to-"
"Pope," Haze interrupted his friend's idiotic questions. "You make me sound like a complete douche."
"You kind of are," Pope chuckled, handing Haze the cancer stick.
Haze sent a bright-eyed glare his friend's way as he placed the cigarette between his lips and lit the end with his silver lighter. He inhaled the toxins then blew them out through his nose, Pope followed suit. "No, I'm not."
Pope looked at Haze in disbelief, "You smashed your ex-best friend's car with a bat, Haze."
"He had it coming. Asshole, lied to me about sleeping with Casey. Screwing your friend's sister is NOT okay."
"What about the time you called Val a 'burden to society and God's mistake'?" Pope raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't she cheat on you?"
"Yeah."
"Then I regret nothing," Haze shrugged as he took another puff.
"Dude, you even broke my brother's nose!"
"Your brother is a heartless bastard that deserved more than a broken nose and you know it."
"I...can't really argue with that," Pope laughed. Haze puffed on his cig again and just as he was about to blow out the poisonous smoke from his mouth, there was a loud crash. The two men jumped, looking at one another with curiosity in both their gazes.
"What the hell was that?" Pope furrowed his brow.
"Don't know, but let's check it out..." Haze stomped out his cigarette then headed towards the noise with Pope reluctantly following behind him.
"I say, we go back into the shop and act like we heard nothing, Haze."
"Where's the fun in that. It might be something pretty damn amazing and you'll miss it because you're being a little bitch," Haze said as he walked.
"Remember that thing I said about you being a douche?"
"Shut up," Haze rolled his bright eyes. A loud buzzing sound reached Haze's ears as he got closer to the mysterious object. A large pod rested in the cement, cracked rubble surrounded it. "What is that?"
"I don't know, but I think I saw this in a movie once. An alien is going to jump out and spew acid all over us then eat our brains because we didn't take it to our leader."
Haze quirked a bronze eyebrow, "What kind of syfy crap have you been watching?"
"The kind where the sexy beast: me and the douche: you, don't survive."
Haze rolled his eyes just as the pod opened slowly, causing him to stop his stride. Pope continued walking, not seeing the pod's strange movement. "Pope, stop..." but it was too late. The smoke sprayed Pope dead in the face, causing a startled scream to echo throughout the alley. "POPE!"