Soteria crept around the back of an AV rack, eyeing the assortment of unorganized cords sprawling in and out of the cable boxes stacked inside the huge container. They should all have been working harmoniously to feed their signals to the family of monitors in the restaurant outside the AV closet, but their symphony had a disruption. It was her job to find out why.
She leaned in close. Her light sat comfortably wrapped atop her left pointer finger, attached to a sleek series of flexible matte black rods that fed into the ring at the base of her knuckle. She shined it at the boxes, moving up and down to identify her diagnosed error. Soon enough, it was spotted. Halfway up the box, a single HDMI cable hung loose. Her gentle hand guided it back into its home, and she soon stood up knowing that the symphony was once again harmonized.
Soteria opened the closet door, and gave a holler across the room, “It working?”
Sat at a white-clothed table, the restaurant’s young manager looked up at her with a smile. “Yes! Thank you so much, the club’s trivia night is back on!”
She tapped the side of her ring, and the flashlight clicked as its metal rods swiftly shifted back into the halo, leaving the light turned off and resting folded along the ring’s circumference.
The man stood up and came over to her. “How did you get them back on?” He was referring to the building’s screens which now shined with the brand logo of a trivia company.
“Yeah uh…” Soteria peered over to her coworker, Alec, a tall man in his 30s with chestnut hair, and wrapped in his baby blue company polo. He stood by the club’s exit talking with his earpiece in. He wore a look of distress.
She finished her answer, “HDMI cable.”
“Oh a cable! What was wrong with it?”
“It was unplugged.”
He silently nodded his head.
Across the room, Alec stopped talking and then looked up at Soteria.
With opened umbrellas, the two paced out of the club’s glass walls and past the wet rows of bushes and warm flowers that lined the way to the parking lot. They reached their silver van and sat inside, quickly pulling down the doors and setting aside their umbrellas.
“Well, you glad I came?” Alec asked as he swiped his finger across the car’s touch screen and started its route.
“Yeah yeah… you really rescued me back there.” Sotie answered him while looking at the drops of rain spilling down the passenger window.
“Happy to help.”
He leaned back in his seat, and the car backed itself out of the parking spot, quietly riding out of the lot.
Following a moment of silence, Soteria asked Alec a question of her own. “So what was that call about?”
“Hm?” His attention left the window. He let out a weak cough before answering, “Oh… we lost a client.”
“What?!” Soteria’s head snapped away from the window as she pressed him, “Who? Who did we lose?”
Alec chewed his lip. “Pinnacle.”
“Pinnacle?! Well… who did we lose them to?”
The car slowed as traffic ahead of them clogged up with people going out for lunch.
“…we uh… lost em to Electrowiz.”
“…SHIT!” Soteria cursed behind her teeth. “God… god DAMN IT!”
“Hey look alright, it doesn’t matter who we lost em to all that matters right now is they’re gone.”
“Oh it matters… it matters to lose a client to those amateurs! Did people just forget that mess with the stadium last fall? Absolutely insane.”
The car halted completely behind a line of vehicles at a red light.
Alec turned on the windshield wipers to fight off the downpour of rain, and contested, “Hey as much as I wanna be mad with you they seem to be doing plenty fine with their work right now, mage or not.”
“Oh yeah? Plenty fine, right? Yeah sure, if plenty fine means worse work with a few party tricks. And I mean what else do you expect when they get the shortcut through engineering school, and then they get the shortcut to our jobs for the same reason while we’re fighting for our lives with― with the bot market and, fu―… SHIT!”
As traffic began to move again, the two were quiet for a moment, both understanding that it was best for Soteria to get in a few breaths.
“I get it…” Alec began, before attempting to open a new dialogue, “is there something else going on here? You seem on edge today.”
She stared off at the cars passing by, needing a moment to process her response. “Yeah. No. I’m fine. It’s just some bullshit.”
“What is?”
Gears turned behind her eyes as she contemplated confiding in her coworker. Ultimately, she tilted her head to him and spoke, “Shit it’s a stupid question… but, well do you…”
Alec looked her in the eyes as he waited for her to finish.
“Do you ever leave your apartment windows unlocked?”
Azura pulled open the door to the empty Patcheez, dressed in her red apron with her hair in a bun under her hat. Outside noise bled into the store for a moment, the whispering wind, the birds tweeting, the cars on the street, they all tried to enter with her, but as the door shut behind her, the sounds ran. She was left to immerse herself into the space of sizzling grills and soothing ambient music played through their speakers. It was quieter than outside. It was easier to get lost in. It was more manageable.
She walked past the counter with her eyes glued down to the tile, almost missing Triss’ greeting, “Hey Azura!” from behind the register.
“Hey Triss.”
“Good to hop on the register?”
“Yeah just give me a minute.”
Azura walked through the kitchen and past Nick, who was staring at his watch until he made out her figure.
“…Hi Azura,” he greeted her.
Azura stopped for a moment and tried to meet his eyes. “Hi Nick.”
She made her way to the yellow-lit employee's room and stood still inside. She closed her eyes and breathed.
Azura could only get four deep breaths in before a voice interrupted her from behind. “Hey, I like your makeup today.” It was Nick again.
She turned to him, almost unsure if she heard the kid correctly, almost unsure if she would be the target of that compliment.
“Thanks, Nick.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
He gave her a sweet look and nodded at her.
Azura’s eyes drifted away from his, as a weight tugged on her. She could tell he could tell.
She let her mouth open, and told him, “Nick… I’m sorry for how I spoke to you the other day.” She looked him in the eyes again. “There has been some… stuff that’s been going on, and none of it has to do with you. It’s not your fault… you didn’t deserve to be talked to like that.”
The kid’s eyes tendered. “It’s okay…”
They both shared a silent smile, until Nick’s dropped, and he asked her, “Are you alright?”
She stared at him; her lips unsure if they should keep up a smile.
“Yeah. I’m good!” She blinked, then reassured him, “It’s not your job to look after me.”
He almost chuckled.
“Get out there and make some burgers, man.” Azura put on a smile.
Enough time had been used, she had to get to the register. She took position behind the front counter and wore a warm grin as she made out two elderly women about to enter the store.
As they made their way inside, Azura called out, “Welcome in!”
The two returned an honest, “Hello!” and stepped towards her. She saw matching rings on their fingers, soon eyeing their letter necklaces that hung from their necks, too. Looking at their hair was like being in a produce aisle, with one woman having a head the color of cherries, and the other like a vibrant blueberry.
“How are you today?” the cherry-haired lady asked her, with a voice like a squeaky old door.
“I’m good! How are you?” Azura responded, not even half as genuine.
“Oh we are just great!”
“That’s good! What can I get for you?”
“Yes, I would like… a Patch Classic with spicy fries, and a large fountain drink. Oh and please no mayo and mustard on the Patch Classic, please,” the cherry-haired lady ordered, while the lady with blue hair scanned the menu.
“You got it!” Azura looked down at the POS terminal and tapped in the order information. She heard the door open again as she was taking off the mustard and mayo, making out a second couple walk behind the two women.
“Oh actually and no pickles too, please!” she added.
Azura smirked, and said, “I’ll get that fixed.”
She went back in to edit the order and take out the pickles, when the blueberry-haired lady asked her, “I’m sorry, would you have any recommendations for something kind of light?”
She finished the edit and then looked up to answer her.
Her smile died.
Her stare froze behind the women, unable to take her view off the sight of two men standing in the restaurant. The way their shaved heads topped their body made them look almost like streetlamps
The details of the room became imperceptible to her. The music faded, and the grills became quiet. All that was clear to her was that the two bald bearded men were in the room with her. The bearded men who beat her. Who witnessed her rob a store. Who followed her home. They knew where she worked.
Her heart rate kicked, and she felt every beat like it was a fist punching her ribs.
“Ma’am?”
Azura fell back to earth. “Wh―what?”
“Could you recommend something light? I really am just not so hungry today.” the woman repeated.
Azura’s mouth hung open, and she tried to answer.
The ladies watched her struggle.
“The fruit salad is―it-it’s good.”
She nodded to her partner. “Ohh okay I’ll have a fruit salad please!”
Azura made an input in the terminal.
“Will that be for here or to go?”
“To go please!.”
She confirmed the order.
“That will be $30.89”
The red-haired woman put her card to the scanner, and Azura handed her a large soft drink.
“Thank you for ordering, the food will be out in a few minutes.”
The women walked off, leaving no room between Azura, and the streetlamps.
Their presence taunted her, their beards which were burnt into her mind, their smug faces that said, we know we have done something you didn’t expect us to do, and we know you’re scared.
The full-bearded taller brother stood in front, with the patchy one close beside and behind him.
“Well… look at this. Patcheez, huh?” Beck said, “Kaz did you expect Patcheez of all places?”
“Definitely didn’t expect Patcheez.”
KSHHH! Azura heard across the room. Soda splashed in the red-haired woman’s cup as the fountain spat out a downward stream of fizzy brown cola.
Azura stared with weak eyes. The two saw how small she felt, and that only gave them more confidence. They waited for her to speak.
“…What do you want…?” she asked.
With his hands in his pockets, Kaz shrugged. “We just want some lunch.”
“Yes! I know I could go for a burger… nothing like a good old-fashioned handmade, yeah?” He gave Azura a toothy smile as he spoke at her, “Is that why there are so many old people around here? You think they like feeling a bit like the old times? I guess it can be nice to have an actual person make your food, hm?”
Beck curled his neck to look back at the couple sitting down, waiting for their food.
He looked Azura in the eye. “Do you wonder if they know what you did?” he asked in a near whisper, “Do you think your coworkers know… do you think they wanna know? Think you should go tell them?”
The kitchen rustled. She heard the clang of dishes being moved around and the faint bubbling of fry oil. The ladies’ order was being prepared. What if they were to find out? She had no answer to his questions. All she could muster was to stand still and surrender to the men looming over her.
“Please leave me alone…” she begged.
Beck leaned his neck forward and rested his elbows on the counter, so he was as close to her as possible. “I don’t know how much clearer we can be… we just want burgers.”
Azura watched the couple sitting across the room, chatting as they waited for their meal. She breathed in, and with a movement hidden behind the counter, moved her right hand to touch her left palm.
With weak breath, she asked, “What type of burgers would you like?”
Beck leaned back and sighed while he stared at the menu.
“You know what? I think I will haaave… a triple patty combo meal. Yeah, triple patty, that sound good Kaz?”
“Sounds good to me.”
They both smiled at her.
She began to input the order.
“Choice of side…?” she muttered.
Beck gawked willfully confused, and snickered, “What? The hell you just say? I can’t even hear you.”
“Choice of side? You can choose between fries or tater tots…”
Beck pressed his lips together as he decided. “I think fries sound great!”
“I’d have some fries,” Kaz said.
She put it onto the order.
“Your drink?”
“Two medium fountain drinks.”
She added the drinks, then looked back to the men to confirm they were satisfied. “Is that going to be all?”
Beck gave a nod. The man’s evil grin stretched to his cheekbones.
Azura looked back down and completed the order, noticing the smudge of her sweaty fingerprints on the screen.
“That will be $47―”
“Wait.” Beck ended her speech with a wave of his hand.
His tongue clicked. Something brewed behind his eyes, and he stared into her. He watched Azura’s breath shake with each of her inhales, while the patty was sizzling on the stove.
“No. No I don’t think I want a triple patty that’s just, that’s just way too much meat! You better change it to a double.”
She looked to Kaz. “W-would you like your order changed as well?”
“I think I would, yeah… make it a double.”
Her fingers felt weak as she pressed them back into the POS interface, changing the triples to doubles.
“Will that be―”
“No.” Beck spoke, “no, no, no, no, a double? Ha! I gotta be outta my mind, we’re ordering classic, so what’s more classic than a single?”
Azura’s hand peeled off the interface. “You’d like a single?”
“Yes. I. Would.”
“Single please.”
Back to the interface she pressed in the new order.
“No! Oooh my god! How can we go with fries? We haven’t had tater tots in years. Give us some tater tots!”
Azura’s chin quivered as she turned away from the interface once again. “Can you just… decide first then tell me what you w―”
“I told you what we want!” Beck snapped, “I told you our order! It’s your job to put it in, so put it in!”
The women’s heads spun around at Beck.
Azura nodded to him, and she went to change the order again.
The burger popped and sizzled away. It was almost ready.
As slow as she could, she turned her face to them and finally asked, “Is that all?”
They said nothing.
The two streetlamps locked eyes with each other for a few seconds, and Beck began to tap his finger against his thigh as he swished around his mouth.
“You know what?” he said, “I don’t think we’re that hungry.”
The bags in the kitchen crinkled up as the food was placed inside.
Azura left her hand on the POS terminal, refusing to risk taking it off in case they demanded another alteration. Azura silently waited for their next words.
Their faux positivity faded away, leaving behind just their grim gaze. Just one moment. They wanted one moment to assure her of their intent truly. Then, it was gone.
“Alright! We gotta be heading out now, don’t we?”
“Yeah we do.”
“Have a good day! Eat vegetables, get lots of sleep!” They moseyed over to the exit, then twisted around a final time. “Stay out of trouble…”
The doorbell chimed as they left the building.
Azura swallowed.
She followed their movement closely as they stepped off the property, trying to get a peek at what car they were stepping into, but they left the view of the window before she could get a picture.
They were gone… unless they remained hidden close by. That, Azura couldn’t be sure of. She couldn’t be sure of anything with them. Whatever possessed them to act against her escaped anything she could imagine. Everywhere she thought she could exist safely turned into a hell, where she would be reminded violently of her mistakes. If she hadn’t gone out last night… if she hadn’t taunted those men… if she hadn’t bought the eye droppers… if―
“Hey Azura?”
“JESUS!”
She flung around and placed her hand on the figure standing behind her, administering a blast of electricity through his body.
Nick let out a piercing scream as his muscles contracted from the shock. He fell to the ground with a THUMP!
“OH MY GOD, NICK!” she cried, all too late. She dropped to the floor and disabled her holopalm before wrapping her hands around his forearms.
Azura heard the gasps of the old women at their table, then the rush of footsteps coming from the kitchen as Triss came onto the scene. She saw the boy, seething on the floor next to Azura.
“What happened?!”
Azura gasped for breath, in disbelief at the sight before her.
“I―I was―” she stammered.
Triss knelt and grabbed below his armpits. “Help him up, help him up!”
The two lifted him. As he groaned, Azura saw a neatly wrapped meal bag waiting on the kitchen countertop.