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slipping them into his mouth, one by one.
                  “About what?” Alan said.
                  “The proof.”
                  “Oh, that’s right, the proof.”  Alan, mockingly, slapped his forehead with an open palm.
                  The lights flicked off then and the strobe lights came on.  They were now swallowed in a world of bright stars that glided from the slick bowling room floor to the walls and up to the ceiling.  Some people cheered and the sound of bowling balls being rolled down the lanes by the hands of eager and inebriated players filled the room.  A Kendrick Lamar song, three or so years old, played on the speaker system and as Alan listened a number of memories, all nostalgic, flashed in his head.  When he had first heard the song there wasn’t a concern about the end of the world, only a concern of going to his MMA classes, running, meditating, and practicing his katas.  That and making sure that he maintained his grades.
                  Please Don’t Kill My Vibe
                  Please Don’t Kill My Vibe
                  Oh, how it took him back.
    “Give me the proof Danny,” Alan said, putting his hand out.  Without even looking away from his fries, Danny handed him what looked like a sleek black smartphone.  “This probably isn’t the proof that you expected but you’re going to have to ask the question, who else could do it?”
                  Bell raised her eyebrows. “Do what?” She was clearly uneasy, probably wondering if she had made a mistake, and considering the words she would use when she begged Arnold for a place back on the team.
                  “Check this out,” Alan lifted up the smartphone, tapped the screen twice, making it ripple.
                  Bell’s eyes widened.
                  Alan held the water-like screen toward her face.  “Keep your eyes on the screen now,” he said easily.  “Think of it kind of like counting sheep because you’re going to start to feel calm.  A feeling of relaxation will overwhelm you.”
                  Bell said nothing, her mouth opening slowly.  Somewhere that seemed far off she heard Danny say,
                  “Think of it like being high as fuck.”
                 
    7
     
                  It occurred with the swiftness of a blink.  That’s all it took for her to open her eyes and find herself in a world of blackness, in what seemed like being stuck in limbo.  There was, however, light in the center of the space, almost like a spotlight in a theater act.  But everyone in the bowling alley, including Alan and Danny were gone.  Nowhere to be seen.
                  “Hello?”
                  Her heartbeat sped up.  For the moment, there was nothing.  Suddenly, her stomach felt very heavy, so heavy in fact, she thought it might make her knees buckle.
                  Wasn’t I just looking at the strange rippling of a smartphone screen?
                  “You’re good,” a voice said.  “Don’t worry.  And all of this will occur much quicker in the real world than it seems to here.  Now that’s nice to know, isn’t it?”
                  Bell took a deep breath, recoiled a step.  She put one hand out defensively.  “Okay, where the hell am I?  Why don’t you come into the light please…sir…do that favor for me, would you?  This is freaking me out, something I’m sure you must understand.” 
    And he stepped out, right into the center of the room, wearing all black.  He was a dark-skinned black man, probably sixteen or seventeen.  He had his hair cut into a fade.  The start of a mustache was visible on his face.  His eyes were, dark, deep. 
    This guy looks like he’s been through a lot, Bell thought. 
    And it wasn’t just because his eyes