The store was jam packed. It wasn't the biggest store in the world but it was spacious. Yet, that space had been devoured like it never existed. There was a lot of chatter among the customers when Joe and Shelly entered.

Everyone inside formed a queue that twisted and turned like a snake. Joe and Shelly got into the line quickly. But the way things were going, it would take them at least an hour before they could leave. This was because the store only had one seller. It was a wrinkled old granny who moved as slowly as you'd expect. She seemed to have back problems and would take ages when retrieving a potion.

Joe couldn't hide his disappointment when he saw her. She was just your average elderly. For some reason he expected to see a cool witch considering this was a potion store. This grandma was the opposite, her outfit wasn't even black, it was just a pink dress with flowers. Pure disappointment.

The queue moved along at a decent pace. The store had a few potions showcased on shelves, you couldn't really touch them, they were more for advertisement. Joe looked at the different kinds on display to entertain himself, he did try to strike up a conversation with Shelly every now and again. But they often didn't last for longer than a minute. Joe wasn't the kind to carry a conversation, if the other party offered too little. He would eventually move on.

The line had reduced by more than half. When a man came storming Into the store.

It was a lengthy man. Who wore a brown shirt, tattered shorts and flip-flops. His bald head shimmered as he brisked past Joe. Two red bracelets were attached to his wrists, and following just behind him were two young boys.

The man and his children didn't even bother to get into the line, they went straight for the counter.

“Get out of my way!” The man shoved a customer who was just about to purchase something. He slammed his fist on the counter, “Give me 5 of your finest healing potions old lady!” The man demanded, his voice ringing throughout entire store.

The customers in line mumbled, but the minute the man shot a glare at them, everyone was quiet.

He slammed his hand again, “I said give me 5 potions you old hag!

The store owner refused to budge from her seat, “money first!” She demanded, with a stern gaze.

The man's expression changed before a burst into laughter. “Money first? Have you gone blind? Don't you see who you're talking to? I'm one of Mikey’s Big 3 you senile fool! Give me the potions or do you want me to burn this entire place down?”

The customers whispered among themselves.

“Did he say Mikey?”

“Yeah, I think he said he's one of the Big 3”

“Oh God. It's really him. It's Stan!”

The crowd went into a frenzy, many of the customers who were in the queue ran for the exit as soon as they made the connection. They shoved and pushed each other as they all squeezed themselves out of the door. Within seconds, the only people remaining in the store were Shelly, Joe, a handful of customers, the man and his kids and the old lady.

Joe wanted things to move along quickly, but this was not what he imagined.

Stan smirked. “Now go you old hag, before I lose my patience.”

The old lady frowned as she went to a shelf a few steps behind her. She was lethargic in her steps, as she reached for the highest shelf were the potions were stored. The shelves weren't high, she could reach them, but she had to take them one by one and place them in a brown paper bag. The whole process was like watching a slow motion film.

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The kids next to Stan didn't look older than ten. They wore tattered rags similar to Stan himself, they were thin beyond belief. Their bones were crystal clear even under the cover of skin. Their arms and legs were smeared by a black inky substance and they stood on barefoot. Their hair was equally as unkempt. The smell coming from the 3 of them combined could make a skunk jealous. Clearly, they hadn't met water in days.

The old lady finally returned to the counter, she placed the bag on the table before uttering, “hand over the money.”

Stan chuckled, “you're brave I'll give you that. Even After hearing my name, you still want to test me?” His expression hardened. “Hand it over!” his tone had turned as cold as ice.

Footsteps echoed the room, Joe's boots bounced off the walls as he stepped foward. “You heard the old lady, give her the money or beat it!”

Stan swung his head around, “huh?” He glared at Joe. “Who the fuck are you?”

The remaining customers grew tense, the room was eerily silent for the following seconds. Joe's hand moved to the Black Blade and then….

The two kids leaned over the counter, they snatched the old lady's bag from her frail hands. The top half ripped apart but the boys managed to retrieve the potions. They immediately bolted for the door, they where incredibly quick whisking past Joe before he even knew what happened.

“Shelly go after them!” He shouted, realizing his blunder.

Shelly responded swiftly and and dashed for the exit instantly.

The few remaining customers ran the minute Joe gripped the handle of his blade.

“Do you know who you're messing with kid?” Stan questioned.

“I don't give a damn who you are. If you don't pay that granny. I'm going to kick your ass!”

[Outside The Potion Store]

Shelly chased the boys through the crowded streets of Perina. The boys moved like seasoned veterans weaving through the crowd with ease. Shelly had to constantly stop due to people blocking her, which slowed her down considerably.

As the kids dashed past the numerous stores, they came across a bakery store. A chubby shopkeeper had 7 perfectly baked loaves bread, he was displaying them to a crowd of enthusiastic customers.

“This ladies and gentlemen is my most prized br—”

As the boys blew past the Shopkeeper one of them grabbed a loaf of bread as they went past the table.

The Shopkeeper's face was boiling red, “catch them! Catch those thieves.”

When he pointed his finger Shelly was already zipping past him. The road up ahead, was clear. The boys couldn't rely on the crowd. Shelly was on top of them.

”We can't outrun her!” The boy with the bread shouted as he glanced behind him. “You have to go Ed! I'll slow her down!”

Ed, the boy holding the bag, had teary eyes, “No John, if they catch—”

“I'll be fine!” John cut him off, he smiled before he tossed the loaf to Ed.

Ed, fumbled the loaf but manged to just grab it before it touched the surface.

“You said your sister is sick right? I know it's not much. But that loaf should last her at least a day or two.”

John turned to face Shelly, “now go Ed!”

Ed did as John said despite tears flowing down his cheeks, he took a left turn into an alleyway and vanished.

John emptied one of his pockets, he escaped with a handful of stones and he checked them at Shelly one after the other. He then resolved himself into a charge directly for Shelly.

Shelly casually dodged all the stones. Her eyes fell on John.

From his pocket, he escaped with a knife. John's hand trembled as he gripped the blade with his left. After closing the distance, he swung the blade vertically, looking to cleave Shelly's face.

Shelly responded swiftly, her hand intercepted John armed wrist. She clutched it firmly before tackling John to the ground and disarming him.

When she pinned John to the ground, she found tears flowing down his face. “I'm sorry….he made us do it.. Mikey made us do it..”

Before Shelly could say a word. The Shopkeeper and the townspeople already had her surrounded. “Dammit! One of them escaped!” The Shopkeeper spat, his tone bitter. “No matter, we'll just have to make an example out this one.” He shoved Shelly aside, before grabbing John.

With the help of the towns people, they dragged him away. John kicked and screamed, “I'm sorry… I'm sorry..!”

The townspeople could nott he bothered as they carried him away.

Shelly was left visibly shaken. For some reason he couldn't shake the feeling that she had just done something awful.

[Potion Store]

There were a few screams near the potion store, the entire building was engulfed by flames. Joe was on one knee a few meters away from the carnage, he held the black blade in his hand his eyes glued to the burning store.

With the snap of a finger the flames divided, they created a path as Stan walked out of the destruction completely unfazed. He had a smug smile on his face as he looked at Joe.

Joe grimaced as he uttered. “What have you done? You sick bastard.”