The journey home was quiet, filled only with the soft sounds of their footsteps and the occasional rustle of clothing. Missy and Aspen, lost in their thoughts, moved through their routines as they always did, though there was a certain weight to the silence that seemed to hang in the air between them. Missy, for her part, settled into her usual spot, book in hand, her fingers tracing the worn edges of the cover. She wasn't a fast reader by any means, but lately, her speed had been steadily increasing—something she knew Jezel would be pleased about. A small smile tugged at her lips at the thought, and she allowed herself to become lost in the world of the book, a welcome distraction from her swirling thoughts and the looming tension that seemed to permeate every corner of the city.
The hours slipped by unnoticed, the spell of the book firmly cast upon her, drawing her deeper into its pages with each passing moment. It was only when Aspen emerged from her room, the soft padding of her hooves on the floor signaling that she was getting ready for the day, that Missy was finally drawn back to reality. She blinked, her eyes adjusting to the dim light of the room as she realized how much time had passed. With some effort, she managed to set the book aside, though a part of her was reluctant to leave the fictional world behind. She needed to get ready, too, the responsibilities of the day calling to her.
This morning, Missy found it easier to settle into her routine, her movements more fluid and purposeful. Yesterday's struggle to concentrate had taught her well, and she was able to focus without as much effort, her mind clearer and more centered. Missy and Aspen worked in their usual comfortable silence, the rhythmic sounds of their preparations creating a soothing melody. Their shared companionship grounded Missy. For a while, the world outside seemed far away, a distant concern beyond the walls of their sanctuary, but the quiet was soon interrupted by the shop's door opening, the bell above it chiming softly.
The sound of someone entering was unusual, a disruption to the tranquil atmosphere they had cultivated. Missy glanced at Aspen, concern flickering in her eyes, but Aspen simply smiled, her expression warm and reassuring. "It's fine," she seemed to say, her calm demeanor easing Missy's worries. Missy stayed back, observing from a distance as Aspen went to greet the visitor, her curiosity piqued.
The customer was a demi-human like Missy, though this one was a harpy variant. Their glossy black feathers shimmered in the light filtering through the shop windows, Missy studied them from a distance, but she could only catch snippets of their conversation with Aspen. It seemed Aspen was helping them locate something, her voice low and patient as she guided them through the shop.
Once the harpy left, the bell chiming once more to signal their departure, Missy approached Aspen, her unease still lingering like a shadow at the edges of her mind. "Why did they come here?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern and a hint of confusion. Her mind had quickly drifted to thoughts of potential problems, given the city's recent unrest and the tensions that seemed to simmer just beneath the surface.
Aspen laughed, the sound light and melodious, her good spirits unshaken by Missy's worry. "Missy, this is a store. People coming in to buy things is how it's supposed to work. It's only been quiet because of the earthquake and everything that followed. Honestly, I was starting to get worried, but it looks like things might finally start going back to normal."
Missy nodded in understanding. "So this place is going to be more like Arc's truck, with people coming and going?" she asked, trying to picture the shop bustling with activity.
Aspen smiled warmly, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "That's the idea, though Arc's been mostly serving emergency responders and clean-up crews. If all goes well, we'll both start seeing more average citizens. Hopefully, Razuroc and the others won't force everyone back into hiding. I'm sure they've played a part in why it's taken this long." Her words carried a mix of optimism and caution, acknowledging the challenges that still lay ahead.
Missy returned to her work, her thoughts shifting as she mulled over the changes she might soon face. The familiar routine of the shop took on new meaning as she imagined it filled with customers, a prospect both exciting and daunting. Noon rolled around, the sun high in the sky, and she made her way to Arc's food truck, stepping out into the bustling streets. Her second taste of change came quickly—before today, it had been rare to see anyone on the streets, but now, dozens of people milled about, going about their business with a sense of renewed purpose. Missy found herself dodging around groups, her discomfort growing with each near collision. The memory of the club, with its oppressive crowd vivid and unsettling. She shivered involuntarily at the thought, quickening her pace.
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Finally, she reached Arc's truck, a beacon of familiarity in the sea of change. The crowd there was different as well—while many still wore the bright yellow vests of the clean-up crews, others in the line were clearly civilians, their clothes and demeanor marking them as ordinary citizens venturing out after days of uncertainty. Missy was almost at the truck when a human man stepped directly into her path, blocking her way with a broad grin on his face that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Hello, gorgeous. What's your name?" His voice was smooth
Missy blinked, unsure how to respond to this unexpected interaction. She assumed he must be speaking to someone behind her—after all, no one had ever approached her like this before, and the idea seemed foreign. She quickly slipped past him without a word, avoiding the awkward situation and the uncomfortable feeling it stirred within her. Once inside the truck, she was greeted by the sight of Arc and Jezel in the midst of a busy rush, both of them grinning when they saw her, their faces flushed with exertion.
"Welcome aboard, sailor!" Arc said, his voice light but laced with humor and a hint of relief at her arrival. "I fear we're in for rough seas ahead." He gestured to the growing line outside, a mixture of excitement and trepidation in his eyes.
Missy tilted her head, her brow furrowing in confusion as she tried to make sense of his words. "Rough seas? But we're any where near a sea… aren't we?"
Arc chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. "Just a figure of speech. The crowd's bigger than usual—looks like we've were getting complacent." He ran a hand through his hair, leaving it slightly disheveled.
Jezel turned to her, a look of relief washing over her face. "Missy, I'm so glad you're here—like, more than usual. We're a bit out of practice handling this many customers. Can you lend a hand?" Her voice was tinged with a mix of excitement and nervousness, the challenge of the day ahead clear in her eyes.
Missy nodded, putting aside her earlier confusion and focusing on the task at hand. She jumped into the routine, helping Jezel and Arc manage the growing crowd, her movements becoming more fluid and confident with each passing moment. Today's customers were louder, more boisterous than usual, their voices creating a cacophony of sound that filled the air around the truck. A few of them seemed far too interested in Jezel, asking for her number or trying to charm her with smooth words and winning smiles. Jezel handled it all professionally, deflecting their advances with ease and grace, though it still slowed things down.
As Missy worked, her attention was drawn to a man dressed in flowing black robes entering the park across the street. His outfit was strange and eye-catching, adorned with intricate images of white snakes coiling around him, each snake holding its tail in its mouth in an endless loop. He set up a small platform with practiced ease and climbed on top, his voice booming over the din of the crowd, commanding attention.
"Beware! The end is nigh!" he shouted, his voice carrying far beyond the immediate vicinity. "This world's one True God has returned. Its eyes are upon us, and its servants slither among us. The great serpent that gave us life has come to complete the cycle, to bring us full circle. The serpent's light has all but faded from this world, and it is time for us to return to the dark, to embrace our final destiny."
Missy froze as the meaning of his words sank in. The crowd, initially curious, began to mutter and turn away, dismissing the man as another doomsday preacher, just one more voice crying out in a world that had seen its share of disasters.
Jezel rolled her eyes, her exasperation evident in every line of her body. "Why am I not surprised? Of course, we have a major disaster, and the lunatics start preaching about the end of the world. Everyone knows sentient life started when the Ortus crashed onto the still forming planet. If there was some kind of serpent involved, Sire or one of the other original Immortals would've said something by now, after all they were the first sentience to walk this earth." Her words were tinged with a mix of annoyance and dismissal, brushing off the man's claims as nothing more than fantastical ramblings.
The crowd seemed to share Jezel's sentiment, their initial interest fading quickly. Soon, they, too, dismissed the man as irrelevant, turning their attention back to the more immediate concerns of food and daily life. Gradually, Missy began to relax, Missy pondered Jezel's words, realizing she had made an assumption about people's knowledge of the past. It was now evident that both Jezel and the robed individual were misinformed. She found herself intrigued by this mysterious Sire figure. In her time before imprisonment, names and spoken language didn't exist, making her wonder if she had known this Sire or the other immortals mentioned before her confinement. The fact that Sire was the only one referred to by name suggested their importance.
Deciding it was high time for some research—something she probably should have done earlier given her concerns about being linked to her past identity—Missy made a mental note to investigate further. Her distraction led to a few minor slip-ups, which Jezel and Arc playfully teased her about, lightening the mood momentarily.
Throughout their interactions, Missy kept a watchful eye on the robed figure until he packed up and left. She observed as he melted into the crowd, vanishing. Even after his departure, a sense of unease lingered, casting a dark cloud over her thoughts. This ominous feeling persisted, tainting the otherwise vibrant and bustling atmosphere of the day with an undercurrent of apprehension.