After exorcising bates went to go cleanup after the family.
‘What a disgusting bunch.”
Never once has there been a time they haven’t been disgusting in his eyes. After finishing his task he thought about what he should do next.
‘I should go to the store.’
Deciding so he put on his shoes and jacket he rarely wears. After which putting his free hands in his pockets he moved to quickly find janx to inform him about his leaving.
“Excuse me sir, I just wanted to inform you the I will be leaving in order to do the grocery shopping.”
Keeping his head bowed with an emotionless but polite tone that’s all he’s ever known.
“Make it quick.”
Janx looking at him with cold yet sharp eyes immediately softened when he saw his daughter creeping behind the boy.
“I was wondering father if I could accompany him on this trip.”
“For what reason.”
“Well I just wanted to get some schools supplies before it starts up again.”
A bit of cold sweat dripping of of her temple as she gave a reason.
‘She’s lying.’
Janx thought so. This was a fact even in bateses eyes it was plain as day that she was liying.
“Why can’t the boy do it by himself.”
“You see uh... there are specific pens and such I am looking for plus I'd like to get some new cloths for the new year and I think it will be the best for me to go along.”
‘It’s not like she's is in danger.’
Janx discreetly peeked at bates. His gaze meeting that of bates and his emotionless disinterested eyes. In truth even though they constantly mistreat the boy it's not like he's untrustworthy, after all even after all these years he hasn't done anything against the family. Though this wouldn't stop him from making his stance boldly clear.
“If anything happens to her it will be on your head.”
Bates sighed on the inside knowing that this will I only lead to trouble on his part.
“Yes sir.”
While bates was having his inward and well hidden battle it was easy to see how happy Aanishah was.
Without looking at her once bates walked up to janx to get the money. While walking up bates noticed that his glare became even more icy. True if any normal person were to be caught in such a glare they'd probably be intimidated, but bates got no such impression. Instead being beaten down so many times in a variety of ways he was no longer scared of this trash.
Grabbing the money he looked into eyes of the the bulky man. He brought his frame down to meet the boy face to face. Bringing his mouth ever so closer to his ear janx spoke...
“If i find one cent that doesn’t match up with the receipt—“
Moving his dark brown eyes to the closetbates instinctively followed suit still keeping his indifferent relaxed expression appearance.
“I’ll let Ann do whatever she wants with you.”
“Yes sir.”
Janx doing his best to conceal hits disgusting smirk on his face looked back at his daughter once again.
“Oh and let me reminded you once more if anything happens to her....it will be on your head.”
“Yes sir.”
Once again lowering his head bates turned around ready to leave. Not even batting an eye to the daughter or the scene the father just created.
*****
“....”
Standing by the door with his hands in his pockets bates was patiently waiting for Aanishah to come out of her room.
“Ok let’s go.”
Finally coming out Aanishah had a bright expression on her face. Though bates didn’t seem to show any interest or care. Instead he immediately turned around to leave.
‘Well he’s the same as he’s always been.’
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Forming a bitter smile she picked up her pace to catch up.
Since the mall they were going to was relatively close one could walk there and back.
‘I barely get the chance to go outside the house property never mind being a car.’
Keeping his silent and calm air bates stayed at his leisurely pace. Struggling to keep up with him Aanishah called out.
“Hey can you slow down bates!? Why are you walking so fast!?”
Finally looking back with a slightly irritated expression bates looked at the girl straight in the eyes as he waited for her relatively frail body to catch up.
‘His eyes... they’re always so cold.’
“S-sorry.”
“.....”
Keeping his hand in his pockets he turned back around and walked a much slower pace. It’s not as though the girl was a slow walker. It’s just that bates was really fast one.
‘I-is he mad at me?’
Keeping these thoughts in her mind. Aanishah decided it would be best for her to be quiet. As to not annoy bates any more.
Before too long they could see the sign ‘hojos mall.’ Once reading bates instinctively put on his hood. Hating for people to see his face as well as drawing attention to himself he always did this.
‘It’s best to get her items first.’
“Where is it that you need to go.”
“Huh...oh well, uh I just wanted to get some school supplies, and maybe try on some new cloths.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“O-oh well then follow me.”
‘It’s...weird holding a conversation with him. All I ever usually here him say is yes sir or ma’am. He’s...intimidating.’
Following around the girl bates occasionally glanced on either side. Seeing a couple and there kid or maybe just teenage friends laughing together.
‘So loud.’
Glance.
‘Always having the same emotionless face wether it’s in the house or not. Huh’
Never once in her memories has she ever seen bates smile or cry. Not even angry.
‘Just what’s with him?’
Before they knew it the had arrive at the clothing portion of the store.
“Hey bates we’re here!”
“.....”
Seeing her usual innocent and bright smile one would wonder if they really grew up in they same house.
Without a word bates took his seat. Aanishah took it as her cue to start looking around for her cloths. Once she was out of sight bates got up.
‘I’d better follow her to make sure she doesn't do anything stupid.’
Remembering janx’s words he got up to follow her.
When bates found her he silenced his own footsteps as well as slowed down his breathing. He knew dialing down familiar scents like those was important when following somebody.
‘This should be close enough.’
Bates kept in the range of which is just audible to hear any conversation going on with or around Aanishah. Trying to look as natural as possible so that other onlookers in the mall wouldn’t find him suspicious. He looked at some cloths, while of course keeping a close eye on the girl.
After stalking around for a bit he came across a black mask. It wasn't too flashy though it did have a couple of kinks like how it followed all the way down to his neck as well as the fact the mouth part had a zipper. It was a wonder why such a mask was here.
‘This seems....cool?’
Putting the mask back he noticed Aanishah walking back to the changing rooms. Picking up his pace a little bates headed back as well.
“I’m back.”
Arriving just before her bates looked at her with eyes that seemed to signify ‘hurry up.’
“.....”
With a bitter smile Aanishah headed into the changing room.
Occasionally bates could here murmurs from the girl but didn’t think anything of it.
‘What is more concerning is...’
“What’s a cute couple.”
“Oh what I’d do to be young again.”
‘What dumb people.’
Hating the attention both him and the girl were getting he couldn’t help but think of it as annoying. He put his hood on a little further in an attempt to hide in its shadow.
Just when bates thought the outside commotion was calming down Aanishah came out with a new set of fresh clothes.
“How do I look?”
She came out with a red skirt on and a light cyan shirt. Most people would probably think she was cute but bates didn’t care.
“Just hurry up.”
“Wh-What! I’m a girl your supposed to praise me or something.”
‘Disgusting.’
Bates was so inwardly disgusted on how self centered this girl was that he had to look away. When Bates looked he saw the girl with a pout face. Eventually she went back in there in order to change her cloths.
For bates this cycle continued on and on until the girl was finally satisfied.
“Ok I think I know what I want.”
With a satisfied smile on her face she led bates to the next location being for her to get the school supplies.
Bates still not uttering a word of course kept his hands in his pockets and his hood up. Only following the girl that was in front of him wanting this venture to end already. Luckily though the gathering of the school supplies didn’t take nearly as long as the clothing part did.
“Oh we can get what you need bates.”
After getting the confirmation he didn’t really need he left to go to the food section of the mall. Walking for a bit bates saw something glint in the corner of his eye. Curious as to what it was he looked over.
‘This truly is a weird mall. First that mask and now this'
(Background) Noisy noisy
It was something like a mini weapons shop. Though it didn’t sell anything as excessive as guns they did have a wide variety of blades. From stuff to kitchen knives and combat knifes to short swords.
(Background) Murmur,whisper
Though his starring only lasted for a brief moment because of all the murmuring by the windows of the mall down the escalator.
When looking down he found a crowd of about 50 people. They were all looking at the sky. Bates not knowing what was going on followed there gaze and figured out what the problem was.
‘An eclipse?’
“Hey bates look at what’s going on on the sky. Isn’t that an eclipse.”
‘If that was the case then why is everyone so excited about it? Somthing like this...shouldn’t it be all over the news or somthing so that more people would know? This feeling I have in my chest what is it?’
To quickly answer his internal question people by the window started falling like sacks of potatoes.
“H-hey are you OK.”
Worried voices started coming from all over the mall as more people started falling it was spreading like wild fire.
“B-bates what’s going on with all those people down there.”
Before he knew it the girl next to him had fallen into the same slumber. All bates could do was watch he didn’t seem that surprised at all seeing as how everybody else passed out. Instead he was thinking of what he should do.
‘I should take the girl and get to a safe place.’
He then glanced at the weapons shop that was luckily already pretty close to them. Once coming to a satisfactory conclusion he grabbed the girl by the arms and dragged her inside. While quietly placing her behind a counter in the corner. Fighting off the intense drowsiness until then he finally seated himself next to the girl.
'so...tired.'
Never in his life had he felt such an intense drowsiness. And before he knew it he too was fast asleep.