Spotting a nearby fast food joint, Linus made a beeline for it, his parched throat yearning for relief. As he approached, he noticed a familiar figure behind the counter, hurriedly serving customers.
Why of all people must it be him…?!
About to leave and look out for another solution, perhaps he could just drink from the water dispenser at the toilets, the person had already made eye contact. Linus froze. God dammit!
The blonde-haired boy glanced down at him, but to Linus' surprise the boy's eyes were darting around nervously, as if searching for an escape.
"Marlon?" Linus blurted out, his voice hoarse.
Clearly contemplating, Marlon startled, then opted to stay silent, ignoring Linus' presence.
Unsure of how to proceed, Linus hesitated. If it weren't for his thirst or the extremly awkward situation he was caught in, he would've walked off immediately.
"Marlon, you need to work faster! We're losing customers because of your bull shit!" bellowed a deep voice, as a slightly overweight man stepped to the counter, shoving him aside.
Marlon's shoulders slumped, his expression a mask of resignation. He muttered something under his breath, the words lost in the cacophony of the crowd.
Linus' heart sank as he watched the interaction unfold. He felt a strong need to look away but kept his gaze on Marlon instead.
Noticing that people were now looking at him, the man put on a fake smile and tapped Marlon's shoulder. "Yeah, yeah, the youth of today. Haha." Then he proceeded to take orders from the long line in front of him.
Marlon, on the other hand, was just standing there, still, looking empty. Angry.
"Um… Could I get some water, please?" Linus asked carefully.
Marlon looked at him with a certain aversion.
Just as Linus decided to leave, feeling like this wouldn't lead anywhere, Marlon began rummaging for something.
Then he handed him a bottle of water. Looking at it, Linus hesitated.
"That'll be 2.80."
Linus' eyes widened upon hearing those numbers. Hastily, he searched through his pocket and checked his wallet. Panic surged through him as he realized all his money had been wasted for cotton candy. "Uuuh…"
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His gaze went up again, looking at Marlon in a submissive manner.
"Are you serious?! Can't even pay for water?!"
"S-sorry." Turning around in shame, Linus walked off.
"Okay, you can have it."
Confused by these words, he stopped. Scared of being pranked and made fun of, he had to fight the urge to run away.
Marlon's eyes glanced over at the man, seeming to be worried about him noticing this act. But the man was busy serving the customers.
"Just take it already! I don't have all day…"
A shiver ran through Linus. Seeing Marlon act like this had a certain eeriness to it. He hastily took the bottle, their fingers brushing briefly. Linus opened his mouth but didn't manage to say a thing.
Was he too bewildered by what had just happened? Or was it just that his throat that died on him?
Standing at the side, Linus drank the water. The cool liquid provided much-needed relief, however, it couldn't solve all of his problems.
Maybe I should just give up this whole thing… trying to be someone I'm simply not…
*
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, casting a warm, orange glow over the park, as most customers had already left after a day full of fun. The only sound left at the fast food joint were Marlon's muted curses as he slammed chairs onto tables and mopped the grimy floor. His whispers slowly grew into a tirade.
"That fat bastard," Marlon grunted as he dragged the mop across the tiles. While leaving him alone with all the work, he was probably passed out drunk by now. Marlon hoped he would eventually die from it.
With gritted teeth, he envisioned his father's swollen face. The old man's insults still rang in his ears. Marlon was never good enough for him. No matter how hard he tried.
Then his thoughts jumped back to Linus, making his fingers clinch tighter around the handle. He just couldn't stand this wimp.
A sudden crash from outside pulled him back into the present. "Hello?!", he asked in a mix of annoyance and uncertainty. Mop handle raised like a weapon, he crept toward the source of the noise. His heart pounded as the shadows enclosed him.
Rounding a corner, he spotted a pair of gleaming eyes in the dark. Suddenly they grew closer. Marlon swung the mob toward it, screaming: "Get off!!" Having narrowed his eye's out of fear, he felt like and idiot as he blinked them open again.
A cat strolled toward him, purring as it rubbed against his legs. Marlon exhaled in relief: "Whoa… Don't scare me like that…" And gave the cat a few gentle pets. Next to it the overturned trash can had food scraps spilled out onto the ground.
For a moment Marlon forgot all his anger. "Fine, I'll get you something…"
As he turned to leave, an ill feeling coming over him, as if he was about to throw up. Carried along by silky white hair, the smell of withered flowers, accompanied by the stench of decay engulfed him.
Marlon stumbled backward. Crimson eyes glowed ominously at him, matching the sadistic grin spreading across the face.
The cat hissed, arching its back at the silhouette standing before them. Casually, the stranger lifted a finger. "Shut up." The cat exploded with a bang, spraying Marlon with hot blood.
Frozen in shock as viscera dripped down his face, Marlon couldn't even scream.
The woman clicked her tongue. "Oopsie, now you've got even more cleaning up to do. The world isn't so fair, is it?" Her smile never wavered.
Marlon's face was twitching all over the place, trying to comprehend what's happening.
The person, who appeared to be a girl, licked the cat's remains from her lips and leaned forward to Marlon. "Forgot how to speak?" she asked teasingly.
Marlon winced. "W-what do you want from me?" he managed through chattering teeth.
"Want? Nothing much." She tapped her chin pensively. "But it seems to me you could use a little... strength."