The four friends stumbled into the pub. It was a small dingy place, tucked away in a back alley, between 4th and Montgomery. They had not noticed this bar before but if it had not been for Matt running into the alley to try to find a place to use the bathroom they may never have stepped in. The sturdy carved wooden door slammed loudly behind them making them jump slightly. A thick haze of smoke swirled around their heads as they stepped forward letting their eyes adjust to the darkness within. The bar seemed to be carved out of one giant piece of wood. Spaced out evenly was large columns that had intricate carvings of gargoyles, angels, demons, and mythological creatures. Each column was completely unique from the others. Along the walls were culverts with booths and large tables in them. They looked like they could easily fit ten people at each table. The actual bar was in the middle of the large room and was laid open completely in a circular fashion so that it faced outward to every part of the pub.
The friends carefully snaked their way through the scattered tables and chairs set out in the open space among the columns. There were few patrons sitting at the tables and booths in the bar and none of them looked up as the friends grabbed stools at sat at the bar. Matt laughed nervously to break the silence as they waited for the bartender. The friends had known each almost all their lives. They had met in elementary school and were instant buddies since then. Their lives had each taken different paths but they always remained in touch and luckily lived close enough that they could get together for nights like this. Matt was a lawyer for a large corporation headquartered in a neighboring city. Erick was a local high school English teacher. Johnathon worked security overnights at a warehouse and did landscaping during the day. Barry was a musician and played various instruments for five different bands in town. Erick and Johnathon were married with kids while Matt was planning an adoption with his partner and Barry was divorced without any kids that he was aware of. The guys were talking among themselves quietly when the bartender came from around the oval column in the middle of the bar.
The bartender was a tall and abnormally skinny man. He had long stringy dark hair that hung loosely down to his shoulders. His pale skin was stretched out tightly against his bones giving him a dark skeletal demeanor. He had a tight black t-shirt on behind a stained light brown apron. In typical bartender fashion, he was wiping off a mug with a white towel as he nodded to the friends and walked slowly over to them.
“Hello. Welcome to the Pale Ale and Horse Bar.” he said in a deep gravelly monotone voice. “What can I get you?”
Matt, Erick, and Johnathon were taken aback by the appearance of the bartender but Barry broke the silence with an easy smile.
“Hey man!” He said cheerfully. “We, um, are just doing a tour of the bars here in town and just happened across this place. We dig it. Do you have any specials tonight?”
“Yes.” said the bartender blandly. “We have a special. It’s on the house ale. The Pale Rider. That is all.”
“Wow, ok.” spoke up Matt. He pushed his wire-rimmed glasses further up his nose with his left hand. “That sounds good to me. Guys? A round on me?”
The other three looked to each other and laughed. They each nodded to the bartender.
“If it’s on you then you can order whatever you like, Matt!” said Johnathon as he laughed. He scratched his bald head lightly as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his jeans pocket.
“Right, keep on buying big shot.” said Erick as he smirked from behind his neatly trimmed red beard.
The bartender filled four large glass mugs from the tap behind him and set them down forcefully in front of the men, two in each hand, some foam spilling over the sides. Matt pulled his wallet out and began to thumb out a plastic card from it when the bartender reached over the bar and grabbed his hand suddenly. Matt grunted in fear and yanked his arm back instinctively. The bartender’s grip was firm and strong and Matt could not break away.
“Your money is not good here.” said the bartender with no emotion on his face. “I only accept stories. Your stories.” He let go of Matt’s hand and slowly withdrew his arm back across the bar.
“Woah, man. What?” exclaimed Barry. “Stories? What the hell are you talking about?”
“This is not cool.” said Matt with a worried expression. “We need to get the hell out of here.”
All four men began to get up off of their stools. The bartender quickly raised his arms up to shoulder length and slammed his fists down on the wooden bar. The glass mugs shook and ale spilled over the tops.
“NO.” boomed the bartender. “You can not leave. You must stay and drink.”
The friends nervously glanced at each other and as one turned to run back to the door they entered from. Knocking over a few chairs and pushing some tables aside they rushed to where the door had been. Incredulously they stared at a barren wall. There was no door. They stared at each other wordlessly.
“Follow me.” breathed Barry and they ran through the bar following the wall counter-clockwise. They ran all the way back to the barren wall without seeing an exit of any kind.
“You see. It is as I said.” said the bartender. Even though he was still standing at the bar the friends could hear him speaking as if he was standing next to them. “Come. Drink. You still have to pay for your first round.” Though they could not see him the first hint of emotion crept across the bartender’s face. A thin smile.
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