Chester and the 24-hour Lottery
Chapter 7; Let there be steak

Sunrise had already come when Van declared they were nearing Neighborhood Crane, which produced dairy and meat for the state. The wide-open countryside teamed with animals and fields of vegetation. Large community Farmhouses, silos, and slaughterhouses dotted the way into the heart of the neighborhood.

Breathing in the fresh air and admiring the vast landscape had Chester smiling and relaxing even though everything hurt. The fight left his body bruised but mentally okay. Van had a calming presence, making his earlier decisions seem unavoidable.

His Vid Frames vibrated, and a projection popped forward, showing his mother. Groaning he looked over to see Van snickering. If only she knew what a pain in the ass Marla was.

“Chester? Chester, can you see me?”

He saw her all right, in all her drunk glory, wearing a semi-clean dress. “Yes mother, I’m here.”

“I watched you kill that poor girl! How could you? When this is over, you’ll be regarded as a murderer. Please come back to the city and leave that troublemaker Vanyla behind.”

Chester frowned, “I’ll do no such thing. How are you contacting me?”

Marla looked to her left nervously, “Someone picked me up. I’m at Fort Ozark.”

Dread punched him in the chest and he peeked at Van, who was no longer laughing. They took his mother. “Did anyone tell you why?”

“Hang up, Chet.”

“I don’t know how!”

“Don’t you dare disconnect!” Marla hissed, “Why couldn’t you have stayed with me and made us rich? What are you doing with Leslie Diamond? Chester, they will kill you if you keep on this path.”

“Hang up!”

“Mother, all I’m doing is taking a tour of this forsaken state in hopes the Neighborhood Council will tag along. Diamond came willingly. Willingly. I’m not breaking any rules and don’t contact me again.”

Taking off the Vid Frames, he handed them to Van to work on. She hit the appropriate spot, cutting Marla off in the middle of her rant. Putting the glasses back on, silence filled the cab of the truck.

“Why did they remove you from Crane and not the rest of your family if none of you had ever participated in the lottery?”

“I don’t want to talk about that.”

He threw his hands in the air, “When don’t you want to talk about stuff? Since I met you, you’ve done nothing but talk.”

“That was before everything we do is being broadcast, idiot.”

Chester smirked, looking in the rearview mirror at the convoy. Joey drove a blacked-out van, and two trucks followed at a distance carrying Ozark officers. His stomach rumbled, and he sighed.

“I know where to get a steak,” Van brightened, “Actual cuts of beef.”

“Go there immediately!”

Ten minutes later Van parked in front of a shop, part of Neighborhood Crane. The streets were covered with colorful Halloween decorations and people paused to gap as Joey, Van and he convened.

Joey cringed after taking in Chesters’ appearance, “That eye looks nasty.”

He gingerly touched the area around his right eye, “Hurts like hell. Van said this place serves steak. How’s Diamond doing?”

“She’s sleeping. Are you serious? Real steak?”

Van led them into the restaurant which had a large cow painted on the front window wearing a skeleton mask. The patrons inside stilled as the three sat in an empty booth. Whispers started as a nervous waitress came over.

“One of everything,” Chester ordered, “And can you please locate a healing pack?”

The young girl nodded then hurried off. The diner cleared out after that, people thought he was bad. He didn’t blame them after what had transpired in Diamond. Crane folk were farmers and lived a hard life.

Everyone did.

Chester rubbed his face, wincing as he brushed his swollen socket, “Should I call out Wallace Crane now or after our meal?”

“After,” Van opened a bag she’d taken from Amy’s, “I knew you’d feel awful, and I should have given it to you earlier, but swallow this.” She slipped him a white pill.

“Amy had this?” The drug had an ‘O’ stamped on the outside, proving it was Ozark medicine. He popped it in his mouth and let the sweet taste coat his tongue. Within seconds all his injuries, including the black-eye evaporated. “You should have handed it over sooner,” he muttered, wrung out although his pain vanished, “I’m guessing you took one, why you look so good.”

Van grinned, “You think I look good?”

Embarrassed, he turned away to watch the anxious waitress rush to fill their order, “Why did they take my mother?”

“They picked up your mom?” Joey gasped, “That’s dreadful news.”

“All is well,” Van assured, tapping her fingers on the table, “We’ll eat, talk to Crane, and head-”

“Wait a minute,” Chester tired of her take-charge attitude, “I’m exhausted and may have invited you, but I won the lottery. Why don’t we do what I choose for a change?”

“Going to Diamond and confronting Amy wasn’t what you wanted?” she shot back.

“Shut it,” he grimaced, “Just let me think.”

Not being able to verbalize his accusations towards Van twisted his stomach in knots and the plates of tantalizing food placed in front of them made nothing better. He’d never seen such hearty helpings of meat and cheeses but excused himself to get fresh air while they ate as if starved for weeks.

“Mr. Drivel?” A large man in Ozark gear approached him where he dawdled on the empty sidewalk.

Citizens had fled the area, leaving a creepy vibe with Halloween decorations fluttering in the wind. Neighborhood Crane was quaint with no real sectors like in the city.

Chester noted the soldier wasn’t armed, but that meant zilch, “Yes?”

“I’m team leader Garth,” the man was easily over six feet tall and a stood with a stance screaming violence, “Governor Spell has asked I question you why Wallace Crane joined Leslie Diamond in the vehicle?”

Chester glanced at the truck across the street, “Um, I promised a party?”

Garth sneered, “There are irregularities concerning this year’s winners, and I’d watch your sarcasm Mr. Drivel.”

“Hey!” Van shouted, exiting the restaurant, “What are you doing interfering with his breakfast?”

Garth placed his hands at his waist, touching his utility belt, “Mr. Drivel, where did you meet this woman? How long before the lottery did Miss Spring contact you?”

Chester felt things were spiraling saying, “She’s a friend. I’m glad it’s you who came to speak to me because I need help to organize the party.”

The man’s face fell, “Mr. Drivel, do I look like an event planner? You have a contact for such requests. Answer my questions.”

“I require a thousand pounds of beef delivered to Neighborhood March. After it’s provided to those who want it, they can send the rest into the city for the celebration.”

“Are you intending on starving the state!” Garth’s eyes bulged, “Transporting that much food-”

“I want everyone to have steak,” Chester puffed out his chest, “To feed my people better food than they’ve ever had. No more alcohol either. Remove every last drop from Neighborhood March. You’ll probably need to dispatch officers. Sure to be a riot.”

“Sir, what you-”

“You have to obey,” Van smugly interrupted, “I’d start with the food before taking away the liquor.”

Chester ignored the sputtering officer, taking Van by the elbow leading her back into the restaurant. Looking around, he motioned to the bathroom and went inside.

“What is it?” she asked, joining him a minute later sounding bored.

He touched the glasses, making a kissy face. He had no idea why he made that face, except he was freaking out. Van got the message though, cupping his cheeks over the frames and they stared at each other for several moments before she pressed her pink lips to his.

He closed his eyes, shocked she’d actually kissed him.

“Okay, we’re on a loop.” She cuffed his cheek, “Sixty seconds Chet before officer meathead becomes suspicious.”

Chester’s face flamed snapping, “Crane’s in the van with Diamond. What the fuck is going on? Are we collecting the council? Then what? Garth said Governor Spell is-”

“Hey, calm down,” she placed her hands on his heaving chest, “Take a deep breath. Yes, some council members are part of the cause. I swear everything will be fine. You’re doing great, the way you think on your feet is truly inspiring. I hope the other states are fairing well.”

“They captured my mother and could murder us any minute! Lets fucking hope the others survive. What do I do once I collect all five?”

“Declare a Halloween celebration in the city at ten tonight. Invite Mayor Potter. No more killing. Promote sharing the wealth with positive benefits citizens can admire. If needed, say you’re choosing a different angle.”

“I am nothing like the previous winners, especially with your guidance on this fucked up holiday. Who needs a costume when I’m dressed as the perfect patsy?”

Van gave him a funny look before lunging, smacking him on the mouth with an intensity he wasn’t prepared for. He reared his head backward, debating if he should push her against the wall to make her take this seriously, or fill her little body until she screamed his name in ecstasy.

“You kissed me again,” he dumbly stated with a cringe, “What do I do about Spell?”

Van’s green eyes held his as she lifted her shirt, tossing it onto the floor. He swallowed, refusing to glance down even as his dick rose, “Relax, they need to believe we did something.”

“Stop playing me,” he growled, giving her an open mouth kiss, tasting the sweet tea she’d consumed.

She fingered the frames ending their private moment, “Oh,” she sighed, pecking his lips one last time, “You’re an excellent kisser.”

Chester couldn’t decipher her game and wasn’t in the mood to give the masses a show, so coldly replied, “My steak’s getting cold. It’s not as if I’ve waited over twenty years for it.”

He didn’t miss her hurt expression as he left the room. Joey was standing by the front entrance, holding a pie. The man winked at him before going outside, presumably to feed Diamond. How had Crane gotten into the locked vehicle? Would he convince Diamond to stay?

The waitress approached with a tentative smile, “You’re healed? Good. I watched what that lady in Diamond did and can honestly say I would have gone after my enemy too.”

“You have enemies?” His tone skeptical because she was pretty.

“Sure. Doesn’t everyone? Why do you think there’s so much violence each year? Can I ask you something?” She tucked a wavy lock of blonde hair behind her ear, edging closer.

Cutting into a lukewarm piece of rib eye he shrugged, curious why her attitude flipped from fearful to friendly. The girl placed her hand on his shoulder, startling him enough to drop his utensils.

“Can I go with you, Chester? I’ve never been out of Crane and I’ll do anything you want,” she leaned down to whisper, "Anything.”

Before Chester formulated a response, Van was there shoving the girl backward, “This won’t be the last time some enamored citizen will hope to latch onto your ticket Chet, but be choosy.”

Smirking, he saw the young woman turn red saying, “Don’t be jealous Van, she’s too inexperienced. But the answer is no, and could you please fuck off while I finish my meal?”

The girl glared at them then stormed away as Van called out, “Happy Halloween! Come to the city tonight for a party you’ll never forget!”