Summary: All we can do is move on and be better

         ...Somewhere in Maine, 3:36 P.M.

 


"Samantha, that's not what I-" before I can finish clarifying that I still miss our children, she cuts me off.

"Fuck. You." with that, she hung up.


...Why did I mention that I found someone new? Way to go Rip, now she probably hates you even more than she already did... can't imagine how that would've went if she knew I remarried too. I put the phone to rest on my desk and bring my fingers to the bridge connecting my snout to the rest of my face. Why was she really at the hospital? When I asked her breath seemed shaken, like it was more than just some 'work accident'. What job does she even have? I've tried contacting Moe to get info on anything about Sam has been doing the past four years now and even he wouldn't tell me for whatever fucking reason... And I even tried starting off gently, like Dana said, but she just cut me off before I could even really start, that, that...


...I let out an exhausted breath, when I hear a knock at the door "Come in"


"Hey babe, just wanted to-" Dana stops her check up when she notices how tired I must look. She sighs "Went that badly, huh?"

"Worse then you can imagine" I look up as I say this, to take in my wife of two years now. She's a human... surprising as that is to me, even after being together for so long, I still love her. She has short, silver hair, that as odd as it may seem, she's had since childhood. At least that's what she says... I'm still trying find silver hair dye bottles. Her eyes are a deep crimson, they're usually filled brimming confidence, but now... they have overwhelming sympathy for me.


She's holding glasses and brings one to me. I take it wordlessly and take si- 'pffffff' "Raptor Jesus on his cross of rock Dana! The hell is this?"

She laughs "A Sugar Rush" Oh of course, it's one of the drinks from her bar and it's not even one of the ones I like. I'd be mad, but her laughing tells me my dumbass took the wrong glass... again. "Here's your Marsblast, sir" she says in a mocking tone, extending the other glass towards me.

I can't help but crack a smile, this woman can be a bit to handle sometimes, but God is it worth it "Thanks" I give her a mischievous look "Red Comet"

She punches my shoulder in her 'light' way, still hurts like hell though. She eventually takes the other glass and leans against my desk "I told you, that was a dumb rumor I made up"

"Like the one about you running with a biker gang?" I chortle, but she ignores it, going back to the important matter at hand.

"So, that call with you ex-wife" she takes a sip of the Sugar Rush "You did take my advice on how to approach it, right?" she looks at me expectantly.

I rub my crest a bit "Yeah, I did, but she blew up at me" I take sip of my Marsblast, the strong taste, more my style "Didn't even let me start before we yelled at each other"

Dana sets her drink aside and leans down to look into my eyes "Hey, you said it yourself. You both left each other on bad terms" she cradles my face with one of her hands, bringing it upwards "Especially after-" she stops herself, knowing the touchy subject she's about to bring up, searching for the right words "after what had happened at Volcaldera"

I bring my hand up to hers, still cradling my face and hold it, gently removing it from my face "I know Dana, it's just-" I hesitate for a moment and in response Dana kneels down and grabs my hand with both of hers, squeezing tightly... ouch. I continue "It's just that, I thought she would've moved on from all those things we said and did to each other. It's been four years Dana, four years! And she still hasn't moved past it"

She leans forward and kisses me on the cheek "Do you wanna tell me what she said? You don't have to if you don't want to Rip"


What Sam said?


'That's it? They didn't mean anything to you?'


...I should tell Dana, it'll hurt like hell, but she deserves to know "...I said I had moved on and found someone else, after she called me an old pet name she used with me" Dana is listening attentively... Oh boy, I hope she's braced herself for this. I feel my teeth grit as I recount Sam's words "And her response to that... was asking if my children, our children, meant anything to me"

Dana's face is a flurry of emotions, at first shock, then sadness, followed by empathy, before landing on unfiltered rage for a solid moment and then going right back to sadness, with a hefty amount of exhaustion "...Raptor Jesus, Ripley" she looks down and then looks back up at me with that momentary look of rage back on her face, evident from her squeezing my hand even harder, cutting off all circulation within "How could she say that? How the fuck could she say something like that, to you of all people?!?" I can feel my hand going numb.

"D-dana, my hand" her face shifts to shock as she releases her hands, standing up and putting her hands over her mouth.

"Oh shit, Ripley I'm sorry I didn-"

I wave it off, I'm pretty used to these accidents by now "It's alright Dana, you didn't mean it" I grab the wrist of my now numb hand wriggling it so the sense can eventually return "Honestly, I can't say I blame Sam for saying that" the feeling in my hand slowly returning, as the blood starts flowing again, I continue "When I left Volcaldera, I did leave her with the words 'Do whatever with your life from here on out, just leave me out of it" I look to Dana as I move my fingers and she looks shocked at my parting words to Sam... right, I didn't tell her that.

Dana speaks up "If that's how you felt, then why are you worried about her now?" she says, with a very slight hint of suspicion in her voice.

I let out a heavy sigh "You know I don't mean it like that Dana. It's been five years since Lucy shot Naomi and-" My heart stops for a moment remembering that day. The day I saw the two lifeless bodies of my children, being carried away in body bags and I saw my own gun, that I had thought I'd misplaced, being put in a plastic bag for evidence... I had no thought in my mind. Not a single one except for the realization I had when I actually thought about what had happened with my gun... Lucy took it and that hurt. It hurt in a way I can't even begin to describe.


The situation at Volcano High by the time at I got there is one I'll never forget... primarily because of how every kid outside that wasn't one of the bodies inside looked. Some were trying to reassure themselves that this had to be some kind of joke, they were most likely the ones that weren't anywhere near the shooting when it happened. Some were terrified, either because they were ones that just barely escaped with their lives or they were like that tiny pink raptor girl I saw, being held back by a light blue liopleurodon, screaming and hollering about a friend that was still in there, hoping to God they were alright. And then there were the completely silent ones. They just... blankly stared at the ground, the sky, nothing in particular, you name it. Those were definitely the ones that saw a classmate die before their eyes... I know because I've seen that look so many times in my old line of work. The look of absolute despair people have, when any innocence they had left gets forcibly shoved out of them. Whether they like it or not.


My look through the crowd of students came to a halt when my eyes locked onto a stretcher being carefully wheeled down the stairs to the front entrance. It was Lucy's... boyfriend, Anon. I've long stopped being a raging lunatic whenever I think of him, the poor kid, but at that time... I felt nothing but rage when I saw him getting wheeled out and my daughter and son were nowhere to be seen. I even entertained the thought that he could've done it, but I definitely know better now and I still would like the chance kick my past self's ass for being so unreasonable just because the kid was human...


I ignored every urge to snap Anon in half right there, regardless of the bullet hole in his shin and pushed myself towards the school. I was then stopped by a paramedic, who said I needed to see the school garden. I was confused at first, but I thought if it would help me find out what happened to Lucy and Naser, it would be worth it. In a, morbid kind of way, I was right. It at least told me where Lucy was... lifeless, in a bed of flowers, wings broken beyond repair, not that it mattered. One leg bending the way it shouldn't, the foot of said leg twisted violently in one direction, like the wound up handle of a wind up toy antique, except the toy never goes off. And her head... split open, the blood staining her silver hair, her crest misshapen... no doubt from the impact... And... her eyes... Goddammit her eyes... rolled back, wide open, blood pouring out of where her tears would be... It was the first time since I was rookie, that I turned away to vomit.


I wanted so desperately to smash the camera the forensics team was using to photograph my now dead daughter to bits, but I used all of my strength to hold it down and go into the school to scope out the situation inside. It was what you'd expect, except much worse than any of those 'true crime documentaries' make it out to be. The bodies hidden under white tarps, as it seems the paramedics where finished with their assessments, that yes, the dead were indeed, dead... I was hoping to God Naser wasn't one of them and I just missed him outside... but I knew that wasn't the case. My suspicions were unfortunately confirmed when one of the detectives walked up to me, past a couple of forensics members and informed me what happened. The first victim was Naomi, Naser's girlfriend. Apparently, Lucy bust open the door to the class Naomi was in and splattered the parasaur's brains across the whiteboard, like it was nothing. I was in disbelief for moment at the mental image of my daughter, gunning someone down like she was just going through the motions of everyday life. But what I was told afterwards, snapped me out of my stupor. According to the teacher and a few students in the classroom at the time, Naser was there and after Lucy had killed Naomi in cold blood... Naser charged at her, going for the gun... the detective and forensics team theorized it went off in Lucy's hand during the struggle and... hit Naser right through the heart.


I just walked away from the detective, towards the blood smear trailing out of the classroom, where one white mound lay. It was no doubt, Naomi, forever silent... I still feel for her family, wishing I did something to stop this. Hell, I still feel for all the families to this day, even the ones who didn't lose their children. No child and family should have to go through that trauma. Ever. My eyes followed the blood trail. It stopped momentarily, before continuing towards the stairs that led up to the roof... I was told Anon came to school late and then sneaked past the crowd into the school to find out what happened. It's when he made his way to the roof, that forensics theorized, Naser had... woken up and tried to follow Anon, up there... but didn't make it.


...I was so filled with vitriolic rage for the kid that just left my son to rot, looked for something, anything to throw. And I found it in one of the desks in the classroom and lifted it with one hand. Before I could even throw it, my eyes were widened in shock at what I found underneath said desk. It was green stegosaur girl just... sitting there, motionless, looking at nothing in particular, pinpricks where her pupils should be, muttering something so quietly, she might as well not be saying anything... feeling the rage dissipate a little, I lightly set the desk to the side and look at the forensics member and the detective, seemingly as shocked as I am that a student was still here for God knows how long.


I told the detective to get the stego the hell out of here, however he could, as I made my way up to the roof. There wasn't as much there as I thought. Just the blood stain from Anon... but it was smeared a bit, towards the gaping hole in the suicide fence... I couldn't look at this anymore, I had to get out of there. I quickly made my way back to the third floor and... it was quiet... I noticed all the white mounds were gone. How? I was only up there for a few minutes, that's nowhere near enough time to clear all the bodies. Instead of normal hall lights above, it was this eerie deep red, coloring the entire hall and almost masking the blood stains. As I stood there shocked and confused by the change in the scenery, the two figures that walked out of the classroom Naomi's body should be in, told me what was happening. It was Naser, a bloody hole in his chest, where his heart is. And Lucy follows after, blood stained hair and all... and they're both staring daggers of disgust and contempt at me. This wasn't some vague memory. It was a nightmare.


Naser starts "Well, well, well, look who it is. The failure of a man we called 'dad"

Lucy chimes in "You must have some balls to show your face around us after what you did, pig!"

"L-Fang, I tried my-" she shoots me down and continues her rant.

"Tried what? Your best? Was totally ignoring me and my problems and putting Naser up on a pedestal you and Mom trying 'your best?"

Naser shakes his head while clicking his tongue as he says his piece "Really Dad. After five years and finding some new bitch to weigh down with your problems, we thought you would've known better" Naser's scowl turns into a devious grin as he forms his next sentence "Why don't you do everyone a favor and follow in Fang's footsteps? Kill yourself"

"Wh-"

Lucy interrupts my plight, sporting her own evil smile "Do it. You'd be doing everyone a big favor. Especially those poor families I destroyed."


I look down to get their icy glares away from me... and see my service revolver, the same one Lucy used to kill everyone, in my hand... it's loaded and ready to fire.

Naser and Lucy begin circling me like vultures, waiting for me to die so they can have their dinner "Do it"

"Do it"

"Do it"

They keep chanting those words only getting louder as they go on.

"DOITDOITDOITDOITDOITDOITDOIT"


...please...


"DOITDOITDOITDOITDOITDOITDOITDOITDOIT"


...please, god make it stop...

 

"DOITDOITDOITDOITDOITDOITDOITDOITDOITDOITDOITDOITDOIT"


PLEASE JUST LET ME WAKE UP!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

 

 

"NASER! LUCY! I'M SORRY!"

"Ripley! Calm down it's okay!"

I look to the source of the voice and it's Dana, holding onto my arm for dear life, with a worried expression painted across her face. Come to think of it, I'm not in my study anymore, evident by Dana being at the side of our bed... we're in our bedroom and I'm on the bed. I must've zoned- no passed out after I started thinking about the shooting. Raptor Jesus, how long was I out for?

Almost as if she was reading my mind, Dana answers "Ripley, you were out for hours. It's" she pulls her arm up, looking at her wristwatch "10:45 P.M."

I lay back down and put my free hand over my face in embarrassment... then I immediately jolt upwards again when I realize what the time means "Shit! Dana Valhalla it's-"

She cuts me off "It's closed for the night" she puts her hand over mine "I told Gill and the others not to bother coming in tonight. Right now, all that matters is that my Cuddly Bear is in pain and needs me"

I let out a heavy, bated breath, as I relax and fall back down onto the bed, covering my face again. Valhalla, the bar that Dana owns and where I first met her. I went in just to drink my sorrows away, but ended up getting a mini therapy session from Jill, a bartender that used to work at Valhalla. I hope she's doing okay where ever she went, she's a good kid. I was pretty surprised how well she handled me, though about halfway through the conversation, I was about rip her face off when she said Sam was right. That even though she wasn't clear of fault from everything, I acted like I was, trying desperately to push the blame on just about anyone after the mayor of Volcaldera personally made me go into an 'early retirement', after embarrassing myself on public television admitting to everyone in town the things I foolishly let happen as commissioner and as a father... though that last part was something I did on my own.

I got up from my chair in that moment and was about to grab pig tailed menace. But before that even happened, in a flash, I felt arms wrap around me from behind and heard a voice yell 'SUPLEX CITY MOTHERFUCKER' and true to the voice's words, I was sent into a German suplex and knocked out cold. As I came to, I was lying on a couch in a somewhat cramped office and over me was, unbeknownst to me at the time, the woman I'd fall in love with, Dana. She wore a sorry expression on her face, as she told me that her employees filled her in on my situation. I was confused as to why this tiny, yet toned human was sorry. Then I was bewildered when she clarified that she, in fact, was the one who suplexed me. She stated she wasn't half-human half-dino like I was thinking, but instead she was a quarter of both. I heard quarter-human and quarter-dino children where a thing, if rare, but I was surprised to actually meet one in the flesh... though considering all I know about her 'tall tales' now, I have a slight tinge of doubt in my mind about that part of her. Though it would explain the crazy strength for someone her size and the silver hair.


I break away from my memory in fear of passing out again and turn my gaze to Dana, looking right into my eyes. "Thanks Dana, I don't know what I'd do without you"

She chuckles a bit "You'd probably still be bar hopping all depressed and alone"

She leans forward as I do, needing no words, to meet my lips for a kiss. After the unfortunately short kiss, she gets up heads towards the door "You get some rest, Cuddly Bear"

I look at quizzically "Where are you going?"

She spins around, hands on her hips with that brimming confidence back in her eyes "The bar may be closed, but crime won't fight itself. Especially since you're out of commission Gordon"

This woman, I swear, she is like a child sometimes. I shake my head with a dumb smile on my on face and look back up "Alright Bat-" she's already gone. The door's wide open, but there's now a cool breeze in the room... the window's open... I love that woman to death, but sometimes her antics worry me.

 

 

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

 

 

        ...Volcaldera Bluffs, Little Troodon Streets, Wednesday Night 11:27 P.M.

 

"It's gotta be around here somewhere" I muttered under my breath, looking desperately for the building Anon said his bar was attached to. I left bit early to make sure it didn't seem like I was pulling the rug from under Anon and to make sure I didn't waste too much time getting lost. I may have been living Little Troodon for four years now, but due to me rarely taking time for myself, aside from when I hook up with strangers on dating apps, I didn't really have time to familiarize myself with the area. About all I knew regarding Lil' Troo was my usual route on my commute to and from work and how to get to Dino-Moe's without getting berated by street vendors or pick pocketed by children, due in no small part to Moe himself. I really should call Moe and tell him what happened, if he already doesn't have someone watching me and reporting my situation to him that is.


"You look lost, harpy"

...I'm sorry what? What the fuck did this random bitch just call me? I whip my head around to the voice and... it's that human girl from the Rock-Mart, wearing a long red coat with fur capping off the collar, except she's wearing... a similar bartender uniform to Anon's? Except in place of black slacks and dress shoes, there is a tight, pencil skirt, poking out from under said skirt, dark black pantyhose accented by a brown tone and at the end, on her feet, black high heels. She has that same blank expression on her face as an unlit cigarette hangs from her mouth, despite her snarky remark about me... though I can't blame her considering what happened with Stella two days ago.

She finally lights her cigarette, as her piercing red eyes scan me up and down "The boss is waiting for you. I'll show you the way to the bar" She says turning around and then peaks her head back my way "C'mon"

I start following her before asking my question "I thought it was around here or something?"

She takes a drag from her cig before speaking "Uh, yeah about that" she gives me a sideways glance, wearing a smug smile "you passed by the place like, three times"

I whip my head towards her "What?!?"

She stops and lets out a laugh, grabbing her sides "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! You just looked so cute wandering around like that!" as her laughing subsided she wiped a tear from her face "It-it was like watching a lost puppy"

I glared daggers at her, with my patented 'Mean Mom Look'.

She grew pale at this as her eyes widened and she threw her hands up "I-I was gonna get you eventually! Honest!" I backed off with my look, satisfied with scaring her shitless. She let out a sigh of relief before continuing on our walk "And besides, the boss would have my head if I didn't come out and get you" she took another drag and stayed silent as we walked, before eventually asking me a question "What's your deal anyways?"

I cock an eyebrow at that "What's it to you?"

She lets out another sigh, this one slightly annoyed "First, you show up at the job my boss' fiance' works at and you make her freak out"

I step in saying my piece "Hey! I already said that was an accident. And besides, Stella and I are on good terms now" at least as good of terms the mother of the kid that scarred her for life can be.

The pig tailed mystery continued, seemingly satisfied by my retort "Second, the boss has been a wreck ever since you've showed up again. It's like he's seen a ghost"

Okay, now I'm getting annoyed by her bullshit "Can you cut the crap and get to the point?"

She turns my way, now having a peeved look her face, my snide question having clearly gotten under her skin "My point is, you clearly know the boss and at the very least, have met Stella at least once, probably when she was at her worst. You're not just some stranger that's throwing a wrench in how things have been normally going, you're a familiar face, showing back up out of nowhere. Almost like whatever deity is up there" she points a finger towards the dark sky as she says this "just mysteriously plopped you down, at the right place, at the right time"

I glare at her with 'MML' again, this time she doesn't flinch "What are you getting at?"

She instantly deflates with a heavy sigh "I didn't- I wasn't-" she fumbles a bit with an annoyed look while pinching the bridge of her nose speaking again after sighing "I just can't get a good read on you and for some reason it really pisses me off!"


...That's it? I thought there would be more to this, but I certainly wasn't expecting something so simple. Though it is clear it's eating away at her despite how small this seems to me. Alright then. Fuck it. Initiating Tactical Mom Maneuvers. "Oh, ummm..."

She notices my search for a name "Jill. Jill Stingray"

I smile softly "Jill, I'm sorry if my presence has been bothering you in some way" I put a hand on her shoulder, she looks up, taken a back by my gesture "Though I mean it when I say this, I in no way meant to do that to Stella. But if that's not enough for you, then, I'm sorry" I remove my hand and step away from Jill.

It takes her moment to process this, but she quickly has a smile on her face and looks my way "It's alright, I was being ridiculous anyways, miss..." she trails off scanning my body for a hint before stopping at my Air Force jacket "Malkovich"

I'm tempted to explain the situation like I did with Stella, but I have this odd feeling in the back of my head that I shouldn't "Ms. Malkovich was my grandmother's name, call me Samantha"

Jill tilts her head at the variation of the classic phrase I had just blurted out "Okay Samantha, but" she took another drag of her cigarette as we continued walking "isn't usually 'was my mother's name or something like that?"

I frowned a bit. I guess I did walk right into that one "I never knew my parents, I lost them when I was just a baby"

Jill stopped dead in her tracks choking on cigarette smoke and looked at me with wide eyes "Oh shit! I'm sorry!"

I shake my head "It's okay dear, you didn't do anything wrong" we continued our walk as I went on "According to my grandparents from my Father's side, my Mother, Virginia, had passed while giving birth to me. And my Father, Rodney, well" I grabbed my own cigarettes and got one of them into my beak. As I reached for my lighter, Jill offered her's, flame already ablaze. I take the offer, lighting the cig, taking a deep drag and blow the smoke through my nostrils, letting the smoke blow upwards towards the sky before continuing "he tried taking care of me on his own, but he just couldn't get over what happened to my Mother. So he called my grandparents, told them to watch over me while he went out to resupply baby stuff" I take another drag and blow the smoke out in three different rings, Jill clearly impressed by my smoke blowing skills. I smile a bit at that, but it quickly fades as I recall what happened next according to my guardians "my grandparents agreed and he left. Except he never came back. Not for a whole day, so my grandfather left with no choice, took charge and called the police to file a missing persons report. To their surprise, the police station had known what happened to my Father"

I take my deepest drag yet, bracing myself and hoping Jill is braced for the bombshell I'm about to drop "The station was going to call my grandparents tomorrow and tell them that, their son had driven his car off of a cliff and into the forest below" I look to Jill and she's silent, but her widened eyes say it all. She was shocked and felt so, so sorry for me. "They said by the time the car was found, it was too late. My father was dead. In fact, he died instantaneously upon impact with a tree, getting crushed between the roof and the tree itself. The only reason the were able to identify him, was because of the dog tags from his service that survived the crash"

 


The silence lasts for the rest of the walk after my story and only gets broken when Jill stops and finally speaks up "Well, here it is, Soaring Angel" she says looking at a brick built building just barely lit under the street lights. It has a white trim of concrete at the bottom and part of the trim juts outwards towards sidewalk a bit, with some railing peaking out from the hole outlined by the concrete molding. I put my finger to the bottom of my snout, wondering in hindsight, how I could've missed something so hidden in plain sight.

Jill notices my contemplation and glances my way as she starts "If you're feeling like a dumbass for missing it, don't. We were supposed to have a new sign for the rename last week, so the boss took down the old one" Jill takes one last drag from her cig before throwing it to the ground and stamping it out with the toe of one of her high heels "but the guys that made the damn sign got a mix up and now it's gonna be another week before it comes in. Boss even threw the old sign out and everything. As a result, business has been slow, aside from regulars"

As she walks towards the entrance, I feel something come back up in the back of my head as I stand there "Wait, you work here at Anon's bar too? Don't you also work at the Rock-Mart? How do you manage that?"

She turns her head back towards me, momentary confusion on her face "What?" Then she turns around completely, remembering our first encounter "Oh yeah! That!" She raises her arm and motions with her finger to come in close to her face. As I lean my ear hole towards her she whispers "You didn't hear this from me but," Jill whips her head back and forth like she's looking to make sure nobody is listening "the boss talked to the staff down at the Rock-Mart about placing me there as a plant, to keep an eye on Stella and make sure she's fine. Boss did this as soon as the news hit that his fiance' was pregnant and if you ask me, he's overreacting"

Wow, okay Anon, that's a bit much, but does explain the death glare Jill gave me at least "Does Stella really not about this?"

Jill leans backwards in an exaggerated manor as she scoffs "You kidding? She found out within the first second of seeing me at the store and she looked pissed" Jill shook her head like the whole situation is still bewildering to her "Stella has been to the bar multiple times before and has seen me multiple times before, of course she'd figure it out! Though, I did fill her in on why exactly A- I mean, the boss did all this. After that, we both agreed to keep it a secret that she knew about the boss' secret"

I can't help but chuckle and flash a smirk Jill's way "It'll be one hell of a surprise when the big moment comes along, huh?"

She blows raspberries trying to hold back laughter "Stop it! Stop it! We don't wanna leave the boss hanging that long!" Jill continues resisting the laughter caged deep within wanting to be let out until she finally composes herself and starts heading down the stairs. Though, she stops halfway and looks back up at me with a quizzical expression, stopping me on my third step "...So, why'd you tell me all that?"

"All that what? The stuff about my parents?"

She nods "Yeah"

...Huh, good question. Why did I tell her that? I haven't told anyone about the fact that I never knew my parents except for Ripley and... the kids, when they were old enough... It's weird though, I don't exactly feel like I did something wrong. For the first time in a long time, I just shared something with somebody and it felt... good. It felt like a chain on my heart had been lifted off, no longer weighing me down. I felt some form of content with myself for the first time in a long while. Though to answer Jill, I shrug "I dunno, you don't seem like a bad person Jill"

At that she observes me and then smiles at me "You're not to shabby yourself"

...was she checking me out just then?

 

As we walk into the bar, the first thing that catches my attention is the music I hear. It's some techno-pop, making good use of synthetic instruments, especially that synth saxophone solo... at least I think it's a saxophone, my dumabass doesn't know. It sure isn't my type of music, but I can't deny, it fits the atmosphere of the neon colored cyberpunk-esque bar quite well. The bar itself is not too small, but not too large either, having the bar front itself front and center when you walk in with stools lined up against it. Behind the bar I can see a lot of bottles lined on multiple shelves, with the exception of a hole in the middle of the massive wall of booze, with a counter top that leads into a small kitchen, probably used to just make snack foods and nothing to extreme. I look to the left of the bar and see the door to the kitchen, it's a door that looks push-able from both sides, for quick in and out movements, with a circular window on it near the top for cooks to peak out of at the patrons. Followed by that is a hall that leads to bathrooms, pretty self explanatory why those exist. I look to the wall leading from the corner of the small hall and there's the source of the music, a big electronic jukebox grafted into an indent in th wall, right next to it a machine that dispenses cigarettes.


As we make our way down to the floor, Jill notices me looking at the jukebox and lazily turns her head my way "Don't even think about touching the jukebox. That's part of my job, choosing the music and the boss likes my taste in music, so that's bonus" as she says this, there's a smile that creeps onto her face. Said smile practically evaporates when she looks at the bar and an annoyed look replaces it. She sighs "Dammit. MAX! WHERE'S YOUR SCRAWNY ASS AT AND WHY IS IT NOT CLEANING THE COUNTER LIKE I TOLD YOU TOO?!?"

Just then a voice comes from the small hall and "I'M SORRY JILL, NATURE CALLS!" ...You've gotta be fucking me.

My suspicions are confirmed when out of the hallway, wiping his hands with paper towels is that God damn purple raptor from the morning of my new found journey bringing me here.

"Whatever Max, just hurry up and finish so you can start on the booths"

"Don't you mean so we-" he stops as his gaze turns upwards and he sees me. We both lock eyes and as if Raptor Jesus himself was fucking with me, a much more... sensual techno synth song starts playing on the jukebox... for fucks sake, why is he here?

Jill has a giddy grin on her face as she turns her head back and forth between the two of us "...Holy shit, you two fucked didn't you?"

We both snap our heads her direction, both of our heads equally red from embarrassment and I start "Oh believe me, I'm really starting to fucking regret it right about now!"

Max slumps a bit "...Hey, c'mon, I thought it was good"

Why the fuck is he saying something like that? "Why are you talking about our fling like it's some 'happy memory' and you didn't scarf down all of my ibuprofen?!?"

Jill squeezes the bridge of her nose and lets out a disapointed sigh "Dude, really? You relapsed when you fucked? After all the chances the boss has been giving you?"

Max nervously bawks something out "Jill, I swear I didn't mean it! Please don' tell Mistah Mous, Ah' need this job! It's all ah' got left!"

...What the fuck? "Did he just sound... Southern during that last bit?"

Jill looks to me and then back to Max and crosses her arms, giving him death glare "Max? What did you tell her?"

Max looks to me pleadingly. Oh no, mister, that's not gonna work this time. I match Jill's death glare with one of my own. Nowhere to run now fuckface, better spit it out now.

The purple plebeian gets down on his knees, in a pleading pose, hands clasped together "Ah'm sorry Sam! Ah' really am! After ya kicked me outta 're apartment, Ah' squealed to Frankie about ya an' she dumped me on th' spot!" he turns to Jill "Please Jill! Don' tell Mistah Mous this is 'eally all Ah' got left!"


"If that's true, then you've got nobody to blame but yourself Max" a voice calls from behind Jill. We all turn our attention towards the source of the voice and... It's Anon, leaning against a doorway that leads to a dinky office behind him. He has a disapointed look on his face, gaze focused solely on Max. He starts making his way towards the purple raptor silently, moving between Jill and I without even shooting a sideways glance my way or Jill's. Anon actually looks a bit intimidating as a result, it's surprising to say the least.


Anon crouches down to eye level with Max and looks right into his soul with a piercing gaze before speaking again "...I'm extremely disapointed in you Max. After all the help I've busted my ass to get you, even resulting in you finding love again after the shit you went through with Denise" Anon places a hand on Max's shoulder as his gaze hardens, burning a hole through the raptor's skull "And you took that chance and threw it right on the fucking ground" Anon rises up from the ground, still keeping his gaze fixated on Max, whose now shaking "Get out of my bar and send your uniform back by Monday. Your done here"

Anon leaves Max there, stunned. After about a minute of sitting on the ground in silence, the purple raptor gets up and leaves without saying a word, not even looking my direction. After the door leading outside shuts, Anon lets out a heavy sigh and slumps down onto a stool at the bar "Need a drink boss?" Jill speaks up.

Anon waves his hand at her "No, no, I'm good. But thanks anyways Jill. And besides" he raises his head towards me "I've got some important things to sort out. Five years in the making"

 

 


So, here we are, sitting at the bar alone waiting for one of us to say the first word. Despite how much Anon seemed to have prepared fro this, he's oddly silent, staring down the now clean counter top of the bar. When Anon made that statement, Jill silently went to work finishing up Max's work, especially considering he won't be working here anymore. There was some idle chit-chat we had here and there while she cleaned the booths and I ended up helping her out, just feeling bad that she's gotta do this on her own now. Anon tried to stop me, but reeled back his objections when I gave him the Mom Look. Jill's face in response to that was priceless, it was like this was the first time she's seen her boss back off from a look alone. But Jill told me Anon is a pretty laid back boss, but if you fuck up like Max did, he's done being a 'friend' as she put it. Apparently Max was a mess when Anon found him. High off of whatever drugs you can think of, probably pain killers though, in an abusive relationship with a girl who had practically put him in debt with a dealer that was most likely going to kill him if he didn't pay up. So Anon, taking cues from his old boss, offered him a job and helped him get his life together the best he could only owning the bar for barely a year at that point. No wonder I saw a tinge of heart break in Anon's eyes when he fired that pathetic dino...


I asked Jill how long she's been working at Soaring Angel and she told me that she had been working at the bar when Anon was just a cook in the kitchen. It was late into the year and also around the time Greg decided to put a 20 year old Anon on training for bar tending duty. Jill almost snapped at Greg. She told the old man that he wasn't even old enough and that it was illegal for him to start bar tending. Greg chuckled in response and said

 

'Not in Lil' Troo Jill! I was bar tending I was just a high school boy and look at me now!'

 

Jill deflated a bit at how lax legal procedures seemed to be in this part of Volcaldera Bluffs when Greg said that. But even though she was a recent hire, she trusted him because Greg was an old friend of her previous boss, a human woman on the East Coast that owned a bar called 'Valhalla'. Her name is Dana Zane, but I was told she got married not to long ago. When I asked about it, Jill seemed a bit downtrodden by it. I asked why and she blushed a bright red, swearing it was nothing when I flashed a smug smirk her way. Can't fool me girl, this harpy knows love when she sees it. I backed off since it seemed like an awkward subject, talking about her crush who was also her former boss, getting married to someone else. She can talk about it when she's ready.


Anon and I sat in silence for about a solid ten minutes after Jill had left and due to the late finish on clean up, it was now one in the morning. And then Anon finally spoke up "I should make some coffee. You want some?"

That sounds good so we don't doze off, but I cock an eyebrow at that "Are you seriously trying to dodge talking about this? Right now?"

He quickly retorts "If it bothers you that much, why haven't you started?" Shit, he's got a point. I nod my head and he leaves towards his office. I guess that's where his coffee maker here is? It's a few more minutes before he returns holding a tray with two mugs on it, both exuding steam from the top. He sets one of the mugs in front of me and one where he's been sitting "You want any cream or sugar?"

"Oh, no thank you" At my response he takes his seat and takes a cautious sip of the black liquid in the mug. Huh, I didn't take Anon for someone that took his coffee black. Goes to show how much I really know about him I guess.


As he sets the mug down, he starts "Sorry about the snark there. I'm still thinking about how Max basically spit in my fucking face" he turns his head my way "but you and him? Even though he was in a relationship already?" he says, judging me with his eyes.

I let out an annoyed groan "Like I said to Jill, the fucker said he was single when we met up. Besides, considering most of the other guys I've fucked up to that point have been 'single lonely guy looking for a dommy mommy' I didn't see why I should have doubted him"

Anon has a shocked expression on his face as blurts out his next words "Raptor Jesus on his cross of rock Samantha! You're not a-" he stops looking for the right words, before leaning towards me in a hushed voice, despite how empty the bar is "a 'working girl' are you?"

I was taking a sip of coffee as Anon said this and nearly did a spit take. I swallow the burning liquid down my gullet "What!? No!? God no!?" I whip my head his direction "Do you really think that just because I'm single and I sleep around?"

Anon shakes his and sighs "No I-" he stops himself and pinches the bridge of his nose, an action I've been seeing a lot tonight. "I just can't believe someone like you would sleep around so casually like that is all"

I scoff at that "It's nothing and besides" I look into the black liquid, my reflection looking back at me "the old me is long gone"

Anon chuckles at this "If that were true, you wouldn't have reacted the way you did when you found out that Stella was pregnant" he says the next sentence sporting a beaming smile "When you did that I knew despite all the shit that's happened, you were still that same woman I saw when I went to Fang's house to start looking for a venue for her band"


Heh, wow, now that's a blast from the past "How'd that go exactly anyways? I only remember that you said you ran into Moe and he let you use his restaurant as the venue"

Anon's face went a bit grim, at having to recall something from his past so long ago "The double date or the concert?"

I chuckle a bit "Anon, it wasn't a date, I swear"

"Yes it was Sam, yes it was"

I shake my head, amused that he noticed my taunting "Okay, start with the date then"

Anon slumps a bit letting out a tired sigh and begins recalling what happened after he left with Lucy, Naser and Naomi. He describes how Naomi dragged the four of them up and down the Gold Fern Galleria and other parts of downtown which had only the fanciest restaurants to no avail. The four of them spent from hours of searching, decided to stop and rest at nearby park. Anon's tone of voice changed when he started describing what had happened when Naser left to go to bathroom. He said Naomi made a quip about how Naser said he was going to 'drain the snake' was clever and at that, Lucy said she had to go take care of 'monthly problems'. I was confused for a bit, until Anon said that Lucy left looking like she wanted to rip Naomi's head off. I knew Lucy never really got along with Naomi, I mean just look at what happened at Volcano High a few months later, but I was still confused by this interaction. There's no way Lucy would've killed Naomi over something so silly... right?


Anon continued regardless of my confusion "As soon as Fang left, Naomi started hounding me about how our relationship was going. I retorted that Naser should probably know, but the creamsicle primadonna deflected that by saying she'd figure it'd be simpler to ask me, since Fang and I have been spending so much time together" Anon takes a drag from the cigarette he lit not too long ago as he continues "Then out of the blue, she brought up how worried Naser had been about Fang and how he's such a good brother. And then she segued that into her being worried about Fang too, but she slipped up and told me about how upset Fang was the month before"


At that, my eyes widened as I started to connect the dots in my head "...Anon, are you-"

I'm cut off by his quick words "Yeah, I'm getting there. When I asked Naomi how she knew that, she deflected saying Naser told her. Again, she was spewing bullshit, so I asked 'Then why aks me?' She pointed out I kept asking that and I pointed out that she kept dodging that" Anon looks down at his coffee as he continues "Then she tried playing dumb, acting like nothing had been said the past few minutes" He then gulps down the last of his coffee and lets out breath before starting again, while I diligently listen and keep connecting dots in my mind "So I cut the crap and said it straight up, that she has no reason to care about Fang since she told me herself, that they don't really get along and she could, again, just go to Naser. Then the parasaur said she'd just like to hear it from me" He takes another drag of his cigarette.


I speak up again, thinking I've got the picture now "...She set you and Lucy up didn't she?"

Anon looked at me surprised "You got that before I even got to the part where she said to my face 'I was only doing what I thought was best for both her and you, Anon"

I scoff "I always knew she was up to something every time she asked me about Lucy and just" I take sip of my coffee, followed by taking a drag from my own cigarette "the way she seemingly forgot Naser existed when she was asking" ...Fuck me, I feel like such an idiot, of course Naomi was up to something regarding my Lucy... "Why'd she do all this anyways?"

Anon sighed "She thought I could 'fix' your daughter"


...What the fuck? I feel like hitting something... "That bitch..." my eyes instantly widen as I remember the person I'm cursing is dead.


Anon takes a deep drag of his cigarette and puts it out in the ash tray "Welcome to the club" he put a hand on my shoulder and patted it. "And it was all in an attempt to make Naser hers and hers alone"


I put my face in one hand, squeezing my temples "God I should've said something, anything to Ripley, but he just seemed happy that Naser seemed happy" I bring my head up and look towards Anon, tears threatening to burst from my eyes "or at least looked 'happy enough'. You know, the first time we met Naomi, she had more interest in Lucy and her problems than almost anything me or Ripley brought up" I take a deep drag from my cigarette, hoping to numb the pain "we didn't think much of it since we only just met Naomi and thought she was only showing concern. But even then, I had a nagging feeling at the back of my mind that I just... ignored, like it would get better if I did that"


Anon takes hold of my hand and I grip it tightly... God I'm already at the verge of tears and we barely even started, get a hold of yourself Samantha.


"Naser and Lucy had a" I swallow the knot in my throat before I continue "strained relationship after what happened at that cliff"

Anon turned his head to the counter "Yeah, I know, your daughter told me on the school rooftop... among other things"

I'm confused again as I question him "What 'other things'?"

 

After that, Anon then talked about the encounter he had with Lucy on the school rooftop... where she had poured her heart out about things she hadn't even told me or Ripley about. Apparently, this was the bad day the month before the date Naomi had known about. Lucy was up on the roof having, as Anon said she put it, 'a pity party'. When what she was doing was... preening on the day that Naser had jumped off the cliff. I didn't want hear anymore, that was already an awful gut punch to my emotions, but I let Anon continue. I needed know. I had too. Lucy talked about how she felt responsible for Naser jumping, considering it was her answer to the little boy's naive question that made him do such a thing. She hated herself for it and didn't understand why Naser didn't feel the same way. The tears finally fall as I hear that and Anon rushes to his office, bringing with him a box of tissues. I accept them as he continues the depressing story. Lucy had also said she felt like she meant nothing to anyone, not a single thing to one person, no matter what she did... not even to her own parents. And the one the hurt the most, was when he mentioned how lost she felt. She had no idea who or what she even was, hearing multiple different things from all sorts of people in her life and it just... confused her more than anything, thanks in no small part to how Ripley and I treated her. She felt we had abandoned her and left her behind like she was 'broken'... Oh God, Lucy...


"...I-I never *hic* meant for her *hic* to feel that *hic* way" I squeak out between my sobs.


Anon just keeps holding my hand, looking at me with undying sympathy "I know Samantha, I know... Fang at the end of it all, me still staying quiet, just wanted to know one thing" he said with a hitch in his breath "She wanted to know how I did it" I gaze at him, with pleading eyes to keep going "She wanted to know... how I knew who I was. Simple as that, but in this context, a whole lot more than what I was initially thinking" He turns his head to the shelves with drinks on them, looking across the bottles like they're stars in the night sky "Fang asked me this, at her limit with my silent act, screeching the question as she buried her face into my shirt. I was speechless for a moment, lost in thought before I just blurted out 'I dunno' Anon smiles softly as he remembers this, a tear rolling down his face "I said that I didn't know how, all I knew is that I was me, because that's what I knew" It's clear Anon was hurting from this just as much as me, as he took one of the tissues and wiped his face with it before continuing "I told her that, whatever this was, what she thought she was, it had to be natural and not forced"


I blink a bit, my eyes darting around for an answer... that I find rather quickly "...The non-binary thing"

Anon, rubs the back of his neck "Uh, one piece of the puzzle, but yeah"

I barely need time to think about this one, I know who he's talking about "Lucy's triceratops friend, huh?"

Anon lets out a heavy sigh "Yeah, Trish, that fucking-" he slams his fist into the counter top in a fit of rage, just from the mere thought of her "I still feel really stupid for not seeing some of the shit she pulled way sooner" he pinches the bridge of his nose again "Fucking trigger cunt"

I slap his wrist "Anon!"

"Yeah, I know, but c'mon it's true!" he says rubbing his now sore wrist.

I glare at him with 'ol' reliable' "That doesn't mean you should use such an awful word like the 't-word'!"

Anon rolls his eyes at me "I mean Trish is a cunt, plain and simple. And come on Samantha" he crosses his arms as he continues "with how perceptive you are, there's no way in hell you don't know how shitty she is"

I sigh, looking down at my feet on the foot rest of the stool "Yes, I know that Trish can be a bit... stand offish, but to convince my Lucy that she's something she's not is-"

Anon cuts me off "Unbelievable? Because that's a bit 'unbelievable' coming from you. You instantly figured out Naomi's plan just from the very little I told you" he takes out another cigarette and lights it, then takes a quick drag before continuing "Yet, you expect me to believe you didn't notice anything wrong with Trish?"

I wave a hand at this while shaking my head "Anon, I barely ever saw Trish. She came over, but mainly to see Lucy. The little triceratops always asked 'Where's Lucy?' and if Lucy was in her room, Trish bolted up the stairs. If Lucy wasn't home she said 'Alright' and then left" I take one of my own cigarettes out and reach for my lighter, but much like Jill on our walk here, Anon offers a light and I take it. I take in the nicotine before continuing "But you're right, I knew something was wrong, but I didn't know it was Trish specifically"


Anon cocks an eyebrow at my words "When did you figure this out?"

I shutter a bit at his question "...When Lucy came out about the whole 'non-binary' thing" Anon's eyes widen a bit at this "When she announced to Naser, Ripley and I that she was non-binary, she seemed... off"

Anon looked at me with an inquisitive stare "Off how?"

I looked up at the human beside me "She looked calm and composed while explaining it. At least until Ripley shouted at her about being born with" I pause for a moment considering how to say this without saying exactly what he had said "uh, 'lady bits' and that he had the birth certificate to prove it"

Anon looks back at the bottles as he contemplates what Ripley had said "Fuck man. And I thought I was bad about with my feelings about LGBT stuff at the time, but" he takes a long drag of his cigarette "Just, wow. He went right for her fucking throat, like she was a stranger"

I nod "That's Ripley alright. Anyways, like I said, Lucy looked calm and composed for most of it. But her voice told a different story. It was shaky and had the tiniest bit of uncertainty that I could just barely make out" I took a drag of my cigarette "Like she didn't actually believe what she was saying deep down"

Anon inhaled his cancer stick and blew the smoke out with a sigh "I heard her like that once" I looked at him, puzzled "It was the first time she ever spoke to me. She asked, I assume, if I had seen her friends in the vaguest way possible and called me a 'skinnie' Anon started as he pulled his cigarette in for another smoke "But, that wasn't the only thing Trish was goading Fang into. The main thing was the band, any idea or strategy was some harebrained scheme by the purple menace to insure it 'stood out' from the rest. She was insistent that playing double bass was the way to go"


I reel my head back at this "But Lucy was so good with a guitar! And not a whole lot of rock bands pull off double bass!" I shake my head still bewildered by the audacity of Lucy's friend "I can only think of one off the top of my head. That being Pearl Jam"

Anon scoffs "Didn't matter to Trish. I swear, she loved that band more than anything" Anon threw his arms in the air out of frustration "And it was fucking Fang's idea to start a band! Not Trish's!" He closed this off by bringing a singular hand to his face and rubbing his temples to calm himself down.

Just then a thought crossed my mind "How did you find all of this out, Anon?"

He brought his face up from his hand to face me "She fucking told me herself. About a month after the shooting" Anon takes one last puff of the cigarette in his hand before sitting it in the ash tray, saving it for later "I still remember it clear as fucking day too"

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

       ...201M2020, One Month After The Shooting, Anon's Skin Row Apartment

 

God, I'm so fucking tired. It's only been a month after the... incident and I still don't feel like doing a single God damn thing. The nightmares sure as hell don't help, fuck what I'd give for some proper sleep for once. Well, there was that surprise run in with Stella of all people I had not too long ago. I went around wondering if any place would be hiring a cripple for something simple and the obvious answer was a resounding; no. After that I headed towards the dollar store to get something with my dwindling pocket change and there I ran into Stella and... man I just felt bad for her. She looked as if she hadn't slept since what happened last month, I heard from Reed, who had surprisingly started checking up on me a week after Fang and Naser's funeral, that Stella had a front row seat to Naomi's execution and that it had fucked her up, badly. Didn't stop police from wanting to interrogate her and to my shock and Reed's as well, she willingly went to the police department only four days after the whole thing. It honestly impressed me and made me a tiny bit jealous, that she carried herself like that after what she saw. Though according to Reed, a friend of Stella's had helped ease her mind a bit to be able to go through with the interrogation. Some liopleurodon from school called, Leo (heh). Must be close friends if all it took was him for Stella to even consider getting interrogated.


It took me no time to recognize the green stegosaur under her hoodie and I called her name. When I did though, she jumped a bit and turned around. When that happened, it went downhill from there. Upon seeing me, Stella froze on the spot, her eyes dilated and she dropped the cup of instant ramen she was inspecting and slowly curled up into a ball, burying her face into her knees, all while hyperventilating at an alarmingly increasing rate. It's clear that despite what Reed told me, she was still wrestling with what she had went through. Before I could call for help, I heard some worried Spanish from the aisle next to ours and in a flash the source of said Spanish whipped around the corner and into view. It was Rosa, instead of being in her usual floral dress was wearing a red hoodie and some jeans. As soon as she rounded the corner and locked onto me, she gasped and darted her eyes between me and Stella, still a ball on the ground. She shook her head and went down to Stella's level and reassured her that I wasn't there to hurt her or anything, just get some snacks like them. When Rosa looked my direction, slowly followed by Stella, I nodded. It was all I could do. After about a minute or so of reassurance, Stella had calmed down and gotten up off the floor, though it was clear she was still rattled by the whole ordeal.

 

As I wished them the best and did my best to hobble out of the aisle, a voice called out from behind. It was Stella and she apologized to me. I told her not to worry about it and went on my way again, but the stego had gotten behind me and grabbed my wrist. When I looked back she shook her head and clarified she was sorry about all the tarot readings she gave me throughout school and claimed that the tragedy a month ago would've never happened if not for her readings. She was in tears the whole time she stated this, it's clear this was eating away at her, probably ever since Fang did what she did. I couldn't leave her like this. So I stoned the fuck up and brought Stella into a hug, telling her that none of what happened was her fault... and that it was mine, instead. Stella reeled back at this and Rosa looked just as shocked by what I said. I didn't go any further though and to my own shock, they both respected that, probably getting an idea of what meant. After an awkward silence I turned around to leave, only for Rosa to stop me. She gave me her phone number, as did Stella. The anklyosaur said if I ever felt like talking about whatever it was I felt responsible for, that I can call them. I tried to blow it off, but Stella grabbed my hand and gave me the biggest puppy dog eyes I've ever seen anyone, let alone a girl, give me. I sighed and submitted to the stego's intense stare of cuteness and they gave me their numbers as I did mine.


So now, here I am, a mere two hours later, with the numbers of two girls I hadn't seen in over a month... wanting to talk to me... about my feelings...


...God fucking dammit brain not like that.


                                                     *KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK*


Huh? Who the hell could be at the door? I didn't give Stella or Rosa my address... Is it Reed with 'extra groceries' again? I gave the pink stoner my address because he said he'd help find some sort of job I can do while hobbling around, but so far, all he's done is give me groceries every once in a while... why is he so nice to me? I'm the reason all of that shit happened...


...Whatever, better go see what it is he wants, he won't leave if I don't.


                                                     *KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK*


"Yeah, yeah, I hear ya Reed. I'm coming" I say as I carefully get out of bed and head to the door. I look through the peep hole annnnd... Yup, for sure it's Reed. I sigh and unlock the door to greet the bringer of grocer goods.

I open the door and see Reed with... an apprehensive look on his face. Weird. He speaks up "Hey man, hows it hanging?"

I roll my eyes at his casual greeting "Gee, Reed, how do you think?"

He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly "Right, right. My bad"

I look at his other hand... he doesn't have any groceries.

He catches my confused look "Yeah, about that man. I got someone who wants to talk to you"

Reed looks to his side and nudges his head my way. He steps aside and... what the fuck? Trish? She has tear stains practically all over her face and much like Stella, it looks like the purple trigglet hasn't slept since the incident.

Reed speaks up, with a hand on Trish's shoulder "Go on. Like we talked about" She looks at shaking her head like she's scared of might what happen. Reed lets out an exhausted sigh and says something I never imagined him saying "Fine. I guess we're done here" He looks towards me with an annoyed expression painted across his face "Sorry man, I'll catch you later"

As Reed turns to leave Trish finally speaks up "Wait, Reed!"

Reed lets out another exhausted sigh and turns around, glaring daggers into Trish's very soul "Do it"

Trish without a word, swallows, turns to me and takes a deep breath before speaking "I-" she hesitates for a brief moment before continuing "I sabotaged the prom concert so we could play double bass" Reed cocks an eyebrow and Trish nervously adds to her sentence "B-because I couldn't stand being wrong, especially since it meant you were right! And I-I shouldn't have ever treated you like shit just because y-"

... My mind realizes what this bitch just said. I cut her off, my voice raised as high as possible due to a now overflowing rage "YOU DID FUCKING WHAT AT PROM!?!?"


Trish jumps back a bit and so does Reed, my anger clearly not at the level he was expecting. Trish continues stammering out her apology in fear "I-I-I-I know i-it was s-s-stupid and w-wrong of me to-"

I cut her off again, like a knife "Yeah, no fucking shit it was stupid and wrong! What else are you gonna tell me next? That your 'swowwy' because your stunt caused Fang to kill all those kids that laughed at the three of you at prom?!"

The trigger cunt begins stuttering "I-I-I-I-"


It's a blur what happened next, but I came to pretty quickly, panting with gritted teeth and bloodied knuckles. I looked at Trish, who was staring at me in disbelief holding her stout snout, blood dripping from underneath. Reed though... wasn't as shocked as I thought he'd be. In fact, Trish looked at him with the same disbelief and all Reed did was shrug...

 

I stood up still pissed and looked right into Trish's eyes as I slowly said my next words "Get. Out."

Trish took a step towards me "A-Anon-"

"GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE! I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR FUCKING FACE EVER AGAIN YOU FILTHY FUCKING TRIGGER BITCH!"


Trish closed her eyes, tears rolling down them as she turned away, looking at the floor "...okay" She silently left towards the stairs, Reed followed not long after.

 


I slammed my apartment door shut, not giving a shit if whatever neighbors there are bitch about the racket. After locking up I slump over to bed and resist the urge to just fall onto it face first, instead doing the safe routine I've grown used too. Can't wait to have the okay to get rid of this fucking thing trapping my leg, Raptor Jesus... Fucking Trish, she has the nerve to tell me that shit only a month after the fact. She's lucky I'm crippled, I probably would've done worse than just punch her... oh right. I let out a sigh in similar vain to the two that Reed had let out and hobble on over to the bathroom to patch up my hand... What was up with Reed? I've never seen him like that before. Sure he could get serious, but to be that cold and towards Trish of all people... What the fuck is going on?


I finish wrapping my hand in cheap gauze and make my way back to my bed, laying in the same bored position I was in before what had just happened... happened... Now that I actually think about it, Trish did seem genuine, despite it being obvious that Reed was pushing her to say all of that. What she said definitely wasn't rehearsed or written down somewhere behind me on some secret teleprompter. It came right from her mouth right then and there... And I fucking punched her...


'Everyone is fighting their own battles'


...Shit.

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

"And then these words I still hear, even to this day, rang out in my mind as I thought about what just happened" Anon looked back at the bottles again "Everyone is fighting their own battles"


...I was having a mix of multiple different emotions all at once, a cocktail you could say. Anger for Trish doing something like that just because she couldn't stand 'being wrong'. Shock at how cold that Reed fellow seemed to be towards both parties after the punch. Sympathy for Anon's plight regarding him having to deal with hearing such a thing not long after losing Lucy. And... sadness for all three of them despite it all. It's clear all those kids dealt with what Lucy had done in varying different ways and it ended with them all going their separate ways in the end. It sucks, plain and simple.


Anon lets out an exhausted sigh and starts again "True to my demand, I never saw Trish again. It's been five years since that day and I still feel some anger about it but" Anon grabs the cigarette he set in the ash tray and continues "I still feel bad about what I did to her, y'know?" he looks at me expectantly.

"Have you tried getting into contact with her through Reed?" I ask.

Anon shakes his head "About a year after that while me and Stella where out on a date, Reed sent me a text. It was a simple one" He takes a drag from his half smoked cigarette "It was a frowny face emoji with a link. It was and article about a small complex in ghetto that was set on fire, by one of the tenant's daughters..."

My eyes widen and I put a hand over my snout as I gasp, since I put the pieces together pretty fast.

Anon nods "It was Trish's place. The article was actually two months old and the fire happened around that time. Reed sent me a chilling text after that" he put out the cigarette and watched the cinders slowly fade away "Congrats asshole. You really will never have to see her again. Hope you enjoy it"


...I don't even know what to say to that, but I have to ask something important "...Anon, I didn't know Trish that much, but Lucy said she had a lot of younger siblings. Please, tell me at least one of them isn't-"

Anon notices this and interjects "Oh! Uh no, they're all fine, including Trish's Mom" Anon rubs the back of his neck thinking about what he just said "Uh, well, about as fine as you can be with one of the kids burning down your house I guess" He turns on the stool to face me properly "I found out where they all were after a neighbor of theirs filled me in when I went to the area. When I found out Trish had all these siblings and she watched them because of all the jobs her mom juggled just to support them" Anon placed his face in both of his hands "Fuck, you heard what I called her when I brought this up, God I'm such a piece of shit!"

I place a hand on his shoulder "Anon" he looks up at me "you are kind of a piece of shit for cursing a dead person, but so am I" I pat his shoulder smiling at him "Welcome to the club"

Anon chuckles and shakes his head, letting out a sigh "Welcome to the club"

 

I sit there for a moment, thinking... is that it? Is that all there is to say? It feels pretty anti-climactic to be honest, but I guess that's li-

 

You know there's something else.

 

...No, I can't tell him. I can't tell anyone. We already decided on this.

 

Ooooh, but you must. After all the pain he's shared with you?

 

No! No, it's too soon, I'll tell him later.

 

And how did it go the last time you 'told someone later', hm? Oh I know! It ended in divorce.

 

It won't end badly this time! I know it won't! Anon is different!

 

Oh yes, he is different! But all the same, he'll hate you for it! You heard the story about the trigger!

 

NONONONO! HE WON'T HATE ME! HE CAN'T! OR I WON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE TO-

 

"Samantha!"

I open my eyes and look at the voice in front of me. It's Anon, holding my wrists with worried expression all over his face... Oh God if he's holding my wrists then-

"You didn't do it! I stopped you before you even had the chance!"

I look around myself and at my wings. True to his word, he stopped me before I preened. I look at him again with tears in my eyes "Oh God, Anon. I-I almost did that in your bar and-"

He shakes his head "What matters is that you didn't do it" he looks at me with a soft smile "Just breath. Okay?"

I nod and take in slow, deep, breaths, each proceeding one calming me down. As I do this Anon keeps hold of my hands, reassuring me that it's alright. After about a minute of breathing exercises... I feel better. Not amazing, but certainly better than I ever have in years.

Anon flashes a warm smile my way "Feel better?"

I chortle a response out "You have no idea"

Anon lets out a sigh of relief and his smile disapears "Good. I still have a couple of things left to tell you" He looks down at the ground, as if collecting his thoughts before speaking again "I'm going to start with what happened after the disaster at prom"

 


Anon, straitens himself a bit, still holding on to my hands. And then, he begins "Prom was, like I said, a disaster. It was a repeat of the auditorium concert at the start of the year, in January" he looks at me for a moment. I knew about that concert alright, Naser said it was a train wreck, at least that's what Anon told him... No doubt due to Trish's insistence on using double bass. Anon continues, keeping his gaze locked on to me "Students at prom insulted Fang and the band, one even threw a drink at her, drenching her suit" Anon looks back at the ground again, shaking his head "To make a long story short, me and Fang just went back to my apartment in Skin Row, she didn't feel like interacting with anyone else for a bit and she also must've thought her Dad would rip my head off seeing her like that with me"

I chuckle a bit "Yeah. He would've honestly done much worse though"

Anon gulps at this "S-so moving on. We got back and I got a spare dress shirt I had left over from what my old man sent me to make some 'adjustments' to it" Anon glances to the side at nothing in particular "Had to since I obviously didn't have any dino clothes on hand. I handed it her through the cracked bathroom door when she finished showering and then she came out and sat on my bed"

I narrow my eyes, shooting daggers at him "Anon, if you-"

Anon lets go of my hands raising his up in defense "No I-" he cuts himself off slowly putting his hands down lost in thought. He then grabs hold of my hands again and looks into my eyes with a stern gaze "Just, let me finish up what happened after prom. When we get to the night before the shooting, I swear you'll have answer" I consider this for a moment. I know sonething happened between him and Lucy. And I know it wasn't just patty cake. Well, the actual game of patty cake, not the double meaning. But, this is clearly something he's been meaning to get off of his chest for a while and I shouldn't take that away from him. I nod for him to continue. Anon looks back at the ash tray "Well, after sitting down, I asked if she wanted to talk about what had happened" He then covers his face with one hand, almost like he's hiding from me "She just freaked out and got mad about it. Damn near cut me up before I grabbed her and said-" He swallows and continues "I had told that 'It doesn't matter' until she calmed down"


...I could just slap Anon right now if he wasn't covering his face. No wonder he turned away from me.


"So we-" he sniffs and swallows again. I can see tears running down his face from under his hand "We just sat there as I played my Xrox, chatting. And I let it slip that I knew about Naomi's plan" He puts his face in both of his hands. For a brief moment, I could see the pain on his face "She grabbed my shoulder and interrogated me about what I meant and when I gave up and told her about it she-" his breath hitches as he just barely holds back a sob and lifts his head up to look at me. He's an absolute mess as he goes on "S-Samantha her face. The face she had as she took that in" He's sobbing as he turns away again and stares into his reflection in the counter top "It was l-like her whole world had j-just ended. Right then and there" He crossed his arms on the counter top and buried his face in them, just sobbing. All I could think to do was place a hand on his back, as he let it all out. After he and Stella comforted me after my phone call with Ripley, it was the least I could do. He was sharing his pain... and here I am, not sharing a God damn thing.


I let out a sigh. This is gonna be tough, but I have to tell him. "Anon" He looks up at me, his tears still fresh. Okay Samantha, let's start with what we both know happened "...You took my daughter's virginity the night before it happened, didn't you?"

Anon shakes his head in disbelief and has pure bewilderment painted all over his face "I-How-"

I cut off his stammering "It was obvious. From you starting the night before that night. To how when I thought you did that on the night of prom, you didn't confirm nor deny, you just swore I would 'have my answer" I chuckled a bit looking at the ash tray "You danced around the topic about as gracefully as a fish flopping around on dry land"

Anon sighs and does that bridge pinching again "I'm that easy to read, huh?" He brings his face to mine again "I thought Ripley was the cop?"

"Funny you say that, when I met him I was actually a bounty hu-" ...What am I doing? I have to tell him or else... I shake my head "Never mind that now" I look at him, determined to say what I have to. Even if it hurts "Anon, I saw Lucy leave for your place the night before the shooting" I look down at the floor after I take a deep breath "And I just... let her go"


Anon's eyes where wide in shock when I look back up. The idea that someone else knew were Lucy was that night taking him by surprise "Samantha, are you telling the truth right now?"

...Oh God, there's the pain, unlike any other. I simply nod. It's all I can do.

Anon grabs my hands and looks at me pleadingly "Samantha, I have to know what exactly happened. Please"

I swallow the gigantic knot in my throat to no avail and reply "...okay"

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

      ...201M2020, The Night Before The Shooting, Aaron Household


I couldn't sleep at all tonight. Not after seeing my Lucy like that when she finally got home. She came home only in a dress shirt and underwear, looking like she ran all the way here, fuming with vitriolic rage. She didn't even talk to me or Ripley, she ran straight to her room and locked the door behind her. It took every ounce of my being to get Ripley to not hound her over what happened... I haven't had to get the tough with him in a long, long time... It'll be fine if we just let her sort this out herself. It turned out that way with what happened with Naser and it will turn out the same with this. I know it will. It has to...


...Naser's accident is still something I think about. I'm still in shock he took Lucy's little white lie about us being able to fly seriously. I was sure me or Ripley told him that's not something we can do... Yes I'm certain we did. We never forget anything regarding both of our children... I'm certain... Fuck, who am I kidding. It only happened because neither of us taught Naser any of this because he's 'not at that age yet', according to Ripley. Way to go fucker, I took your word for it and he threw himself off of a cliff. All because our daughter thought it'd be funny and cute to joke about something like that... God damned...


I let out and exhausted breath because of my internal rage and go back to the book I'm reading in bed. I figured my son was right about me taking a break every now and again, so, whenever I've had the chance, I've been reading books. Thrillers, mysteries, romance anything really. But I've reconnected with what I always read throughout my time in school; comic books. Specifically, science fiction serials. I was always enthralled by the stories those writers came up with. From a lone astronaut stranded on a foreign world, gaining help from small indigenous lifeforms to survive and make it back home. To space operas about a group of ace pilots defeating some dastardly mad scientist returning to take his revenge on the system that banished him for his crimes. That last one in particular filling child me with wonder and inspiring me to go have adventures of my own in the skies above. It was when I read that story, I knew I wanted to be a pilot some day. I don't usually read in bed though, since Ripley is bothered by the light, but I figured since he left to discuss 'things' with Moe almost immediately after getting off work, I could get some reading in. He never takes his gun with him to those meetings, though he insists it's fine. That man, I swear.


I let out a yawn and looked at the alarm clock on the nightstand. 10:24, huh? That's longer than most of Ripley and Moe's talks, must've hit a road bump in the 'arrangements'. I close my book, marking where I am with the the bookmark I snagged from the library. I set it on the night stand and turn the desk lamp off, laying down, so I can drift off to dreamland. Just as I was about to close my eyes, I spot something out the corner of one of them through the creaked open bedroom door. Something or rather, someone is carefully moving through the hall, as if not to wake me. I stay still, watching as the mystery person slinks by, without even glancing in my direction... It's one of my children. Naser has to be asleep since he always gets to school early, what with him keeping everything regarding the track team in check and him also helping Naomi with a few student council things here and there. So it can only be...


I slowly make my way out of bed, being extra careful to not alert her to my presence. I'm at the door and carefully peak my head out and for sure, there's Lucy, creeping down the stairs with... her backpack? I trail behind her, keeping my distance as not to alarm her. By the time I reach the top of the stairs, Lucy is already at the bottom, starting move at a brisk pace towards the front door. By the time she's there and has her hand on the knob, I'm halfway down the stairs and call out to her "Lucy?"


She freezes on the spot and slowly turns her head towards my direction. She looks... different from when me or Ripley usually catch her sneaking off at night. She just, stares at me like a deer caught in headlights for almost a minute before shaking her head and speaking up "Uh, h-hey Mom" she says wearing a smile laced with absolute fear rather than nervousness "W-what are y-you doing u-up so l-late?"

She's shaking all over, failing miserably to keep herself under control. She looks like she's about to break down completely... I should approach this with the utmost caution "...L-Fang, sweetie. Is something wrong?"

Her shaking stops a bit as shock paints her pale face, surprised I called her by her little nickname "Uh... No! I mean! I'm fine, just going over to uuuuh..." she puts her finger under her snout, searching for something to throw me off "Naomi's! To uh, study for a-a-a big important-" I have to stop this.

"Fang, you're lying. Please be honest with me" I say calmly making my way towards the living room.

By the time I'm beside Ripley's chair, Lucy jumps back a bit, her bag now in her arms as she holds it close "No! Don't!" she's slowly unzipping the bag as I come closer "Mom, please don't..." she says, her eyes wide and pupils almost non-existent.

I stop in place as she slowly starts reaching into the bag... No. She wouldn't... "...Okay Fang. Okay. I won't come an inch closer" She calms a bit and removes her hand from the bag revealing... nothing? No, somethings not right "Fang, what's in the bag?"

She tenses up again "It's nothing! Just, uh... Notes for class tomorrow and uh, textbooks! Lots n' lots of textbooks, yeah!"

I look at her pleadingly "Please, sweetie, just tell Mommy what's wrong. I promise, I won't get mad or anything" she's still tense and staring at me like I'm crazy... I guess I better sweeten the deal "Sweetie, if you tell me what's wrong, there'll be no mention of this night to your father, okay?"

She loosens up considerably at this notion "...Y-you mean it?"

I smile at her "I promise Fang"

She lets out a sigh of relief and looks me in the eyes, still terrified "I-I was going to spend the night at Anon's place, since I'm still feeling like shit about prom" she looked down at the ground a bit embarrassed "I was at his apartment after the shitshow that went down that night. It was calm, until we said some things, I got mad and" she looks back up at me a sad look in her eyes "I broke some of his shit and beat his ass before storming out of the place. I'd figure I should go apologize, he really didn't deserve any of that"

I'm right in front of her as I smile softly "Oh, Lucy. If that was all you should've just said so!"

She blinks a bit piecing together what I just said "You're really not mad about this?"

I shake my head "Of course not, sweetie. You just want to apologize to your boyfriend and there's nothing wrong with that" I place my hand on her cheek "I honestly couldn't be prouder of you for being so mature" She smiles weakly and grabs my hand on her cheek...her free hand now loosely holding her bag near her chest... I really hate to do this Lucy, but I have to know. I swiftly grab the bag from her hand and she recoils as I take a step back... It feels heavy. She looks at me like I had just stabbed her in the back. I might as well have honestly...

 

I smile awkwardly as I bring the top of the bag to my face and place my hand on the zipper "Don't worry sweetie, Mommy just needs to check something before you go"

Lucy reaches out as I unzip the bag "MOM NO!" but its too late.


...Textbooks. Lots of them... I blink in disbelief and move them aside...nothing... What the fuck? I take the bag and dump the contents on the coffee table and... nothing except for some spare clothes, aside from that, the bag is as light as feather now... That's it? Just stuff for school and staying the night at Anon

"Ugh, nice, real nice. Now I have to repack it" Lucy says with annoyance in her voice as she makes her way towards the coffee table.

I shake my head in bewilderment. I guess I'll just say it outright, I'm out of options "Lucy, where's the gun?"

She looks at me like I'm the crazy one "What?"

I glare daggers at her. Now I know how Ripley feels "Lucy, you know what I-"

"Oh! right!" she says this reaching behind her back and... there it is in her hand... what? Lucy sighs, still holding the revolver "I guess I gotta come clean. Anon lives in Skin Row, Mom" she grabs her bag and puts the gun inside along her other things as she repacks it all "I figured I'd just... borrow Dad's gun. To stay safe since, y'know, it's getting late and it's Skin Row we're talking about"

I'm stunned. She's talking about this like she does this every other day. I grab her wrists as she zips up the bag "Lucy, this is serious! Your father can't lose that! Do you even know how to use that thing?!?"

Lucy looks at me like I'm insane again "Uuuh... no? I'm a highschooler" she shrugs "I figured if any crackheads in Skin Row come at me, I can just, point it at them and they'd fuck off"

I almost raise my voice before I remember there's one other member in this house sleeping "Lucy!"

"Chill Mom! It's not even loaded!"

I glare at her "How do you know that?"

Lucy scoffs and rolls her eyes "Mom, the first thing Dad does when he comes home is take his gun out and unload the thing in his study. Me and Naser see him do it all the time" Lucy unzips her bag and reaches in "Here, I'll show you" she brings out the revolver and fiddles around with it for a bit. After a moment the cylinder falls to the side and Lucy points the gun upwards, shaking it up and down over the coffee table to no avail as nothing comes out of the six holes in the cylinder. She shuts cylinder and places the gun back in her bag "See?"

I question her again "How did you know how to do that? To open up the cylinder?"

Lucy lets out an annoyed sigh "I've seen Dad do it a thousand times passing by his study. Plus, I've seen it done in some movies and shows. Though those are a bit differents from how Dad does it" She zips the bag closed and looks me in the eyes, face unflinching this time "I promise Mom, I'm not gonna actually shoot anyone in Skin Row. And I'll have it back first thing in the morning before school, okay?"


...None of this makes sense... everything she just said was contradiction after contradiction. And she just expects me to believe it? Why should I believe her, there's no reason, no reason other than... the fact that she's my daughter... NO! No! That has no bearing on this situation, this a seriously fucked up situation and Lucy is throwing her life away because of it! I have to stop her somehow! I have to-

 

You don't have to do anything at all.

 

...What? What do you mean?

 

I mean, look what happened before, when you did nothing regarding her refusing to see her baby brother in the hospital. That worked out when did nothing, right?

 

...I-I guess it- NO! This is not the same situation!

 

Oh, it isn't? How so? Little Lucy is going through some things just like before. You don't think you'd be stepping on her toes if you don't let her sort things out?

 

What?!? No! That's not what I-

 

You think letting her see that boy and her having some protection from the terrors of the night is a bad thing?

 

NO! THAT IS NOT WHAT I MEAN! YOU CAN'T JU-

 

So, it's finally happening... You're turning into your grandmother.

 

...

 

The same grandmother that chastised you for reading comic books and hanging out with boys on the playground, because it's not ladylike.

 

...no

 

The same grandmother that got livid when you brought home a nice girl every now and then instead of a nice boy.

 

...No, please. I'm not like her

 

The very same grandmother, that took all your acceptance letters into the Air Force Academy and burned them to a crisp because 'that's not what a lady does'!

 

...

 

...Fine. Go ahead. Be like the rotten hag for all I care. Do it and maybe your daughter will run away and never come back. Just like you did.

 

...NO!

 

Hm?

 

I. AM. NOTHING. LIKE. THAT RAGGEDY OLD WHORE.

 

Oh! Really now? Well then, how about you prove it?

 

FINE! I FUCKING WILL! IF YOU'LL SHUT THE FUCK UP!

 

 


"...Mom? You still there?"


"Huh?" I look in front of me and Lucy is looking at me, a bit distraught, but very much concerned "...Lucy, what are you doing here?"

My daughter tilted her head in confusion "I'm, going over to Anon's to apologize and stay the night? We just talked about it"

"Oh! Right!" I get up from the couch and smile at Lucy "Well, best not to keep him waiting, right?"

Lucy jolts upward in shock "You're not worried about the-"

"Worried about what, sweetie?"

"...Uh, nothing Mom. I, uh, guess I'll see you later?"

"Have a safe trip okay?"

Lucy shrugs and heads towards the door, but stops and speaks without looking back "...I-I love you, Mom"

I smile at her "I love you too, Lucy"

 

Without a word, she leaves through the front door and goes off into the night. Oh, young love, how nice. I'm not sure what she seemed on the fence about, but I'm sure it'll be fine... just fine.

 

 

 

---

 

 

 

"I should just curl up and fucking die because of that" I mutter, dry of tears, just staring forward at the shelf full of bottles, my head on it's side on the counter top of the bar. I don't even look at Anon. I don't need to. He probably hates my fucking guts. And he's right to, because of my fucking retarded parenting, so many people died. Surprised he hasn't thrown me out of his bar and told me to never show my face around him again... What is doing anyways? He's been silent the whole time I talked about my massive parental fuck up. And I let her go because... I didn't want to be like her? Fucking hell, why am I so awful? I guess I did end up like her in a way. Bitter. Alone. Nobody but myself and my sins. Yup, I ended up just like her. It didn't matter. It never mattered. "Why the fuck do I even keep going?"


I sit up and finally turn my head towards Anon. He's just, looking at me. Attentively. No flinching or anything, he is simply waiting for me to continue, so I do "Every day, I get up and do the same song and dance on fucking repeat. Get up, eat a small breakfast, get ready for work, go to work, go home, contemplate my miserable life, go to bed, repeat" I rest my elbow on the counter top and place my snout in my hand "Same shit, different day. Only shake up is if Moe calls to check on my sorry ass or if I decide I need a quick fuck before going back to the cycle of misery" I chuckle a bit "Even in that simple routine, I manage to fuck up. I used to work with this wonderful girl named Tera" I turn and look at Anon. Again, he simply listens.


"She was the first person I felt was a true friend in" I look at the counter top and then back up at the bottles "God knows how fucking long. She was working at the Junes long before I ever started. I think she was around her mid thirties?" I think about this before I remember one important detail "Oh! Yeah, she was brontosaurus, so she had a real long neck" I chuckle a bit remembering something "I never saw to many of them or any long necked dinos for that matter. So when we first met, I looked up at her in awe and she said" I turn to Anon, still listening "What? Are you a lost kid or something?" I laugh at this not so funny retort and Anon is still completely silent. My laughter subsides and I go on "She was always a kidder. She wouldn't take shit from customers either" I shake my head with a dumb smile as I recount her passive aggressive antics.


"There was this one time when Evan, a sweet compy kid that worked at Junes, though he was a bit slow" I bring my hands together on the counter top and look at my thumbs as I fiddle around with them "Was dealing with just the worst nightmare of an angry customer you could imagine. It was in the produce aisle and Evan was filling some crates with fruit when a human customer who looked like she was already having a bad day, bumped into Evan" I clenched my fist in anger remembering this bitch "She wasn't even looking where she was going and she had the nerve to blow up on poor Evan like that!" I smile though when I remember what happened next "Tera and I saw the whole thing happen. I was about to give the bitch a piece of my mind when Tera stopped me. She went over to the woman, who looked at Tera and growled 'Oh great! Another fucking meteor dodger! Where's your manager? I want to speak to them!' The absolute nerve, but then Tera" I start giggling like a school girl trying not to burst out in laughter "She-she looked at the woman with a plastic smile and said 'Sure thing, right this way ma'am' and grabbed the human by the collar of her jacket and" I'm wheezing now "and picked her up and put her in the rafters!"


I laugh my ass off for a solid minute before I continue "Th-though, Tera brought her down as quickly as she brought her up and said 'Oh, I'm sorry ma'am. It looks like he isn't available at the moment. Would you like to give us your number so he can call you back?' After that, the human woman who I assumed must've shit her pants from that experience, just shook her head and left without saying a word" I glance over at Anon. Even after that, he's just listening. My smile fades, not only because he didn't even crack a smile... but because I remembered what happened next "The next day, they fired Tera. We had a different manager, a human fellow called Orwell. He was a bit strict, but fair. I think he was in the military" I look at the ash tray, filled with dozens of cigarette butts now "Orwell called the three of us, Tera, Evan and I, to his office. Tera was ready to be fired, corporate already delivered the news, but what she wasn't ready for" God, this memory is so painful "Was Orwell focusing his fucking rage on Evan of all people. He shouted at the poor compy, with an unending stream of vitriolic anger, as he ranted about how it was somehow because of Evan, that he lost one of his best workers and corporate chewed his ass out!" ...God I really want to hit something. "It's like me and Tera weren't even fucking there. I was fuming, but Tera? She was at her limit. I could see it" I loosen knowing what happened next "She had this look in her eyes... the look that only people with the will to do something that'll ruin their lives have" I took in a deep breath and exhaled, a tear finally making it's way out of my eye socket.


"She grabbed Orwell by the neck with her mouth and chucked him out the window of his office as hard as she could" I look to Anon and... his expression finally changed. It was one of pure shock. I'm shaking now as I recall the aftermath "A-after it happened, Orwell was obviously dead. He wasn't anything but... whatever bits of his they found through out the store" I feel ill just thinking about everything "...I-it was hard for police. Finding all his bits among the different bits of customers and other employees" I look at... something to the left as I continue "When I went to see what exactly happened to one of the aisles I-" ...I can't... But I do anyways "I saw so much blood. So many limbs and organs just, splattered all among the wreckage of the aisle" ...I feel sick... "The thing I saw that killed me inside was... this small, ptero boy reaching out to me. He was covered in blood and gore, crushed under the shelf from the aisle and bleeding out" ... "I walked over to him and all I saw was-" ...no...please... "All I saw was my Naser, my baby boy dying in front of me" ...i'm crying...the tears are back...

 

"...Samantha, you don't have to continue"