Chapter 53 The Witness

The perspective of a stranger:

"Can I see the manager?"

Immediately, my face lit up in disgust for a tender second—my expression wrinkled, and annoyance ran through my bones and shook in electricity.

"No—"

Her eyebrows perked up; I had a happy, appeasing smile in the meantime!—my disgust withheld without surfacing!

"Yes— yes, you can—is that all?"

"Thank you, honey."

Vile! Vile, vile, vile!

How dare she call me "honey" after all of that bullshit!

I turned around—I allowed my face to transform. Held up my palm and it shook with anger.

Went through a door—a random door, actually.

Took a deep breath and swiveled—walked back up to the woman demanding to see the manager.

"Hello, I’m the manager—how can I help you?" I inquired giddily, like a jolly cashier should be!

"Excuse me?!"

In yells...

"How dare you!!"

She walked off—exiting, and finally, my eyes narrowed into lazy slits, a mischievous glint appeared within them as a crooked grin shamelessly exposed my teeth.

"Hope she never returns," I whispered to myself as I began texting my friends—no one else was in the store and it was already evening.

Bonnie [9:27 PM]: "I still have 30 minutes on my shift, but should I rip my dab pen anyways?"

dafreak67 [9:27 PM]: "Hell yeah, it’s not like it’s illegal to get high during work"

Bonnie [9:28 PM]: "That’s true, but it’s bad work ethic tho"

dafreak67 [9:28 PM]: "I mean who rly cares? Are we gettin drunk once you’re home btw?"

Bonnie [9:28 PM]: "i’ll get some soju on the way sure"

dafreak67 [9:29 PM]: "PLS ALSO GET SOME OF THAT PASTAIS DE NATA TOO. IM ADDICTED"

Bonnie [9:32 PM]: "Yeah you’re paying then sure"

dafreak67 [9:32 PM]: cattumbsup.gif

Bonnie [9:33 PM]: suckytreethumbsup.png

Took a dab and scrolled on my phone... just 5 more minutes left and I can clock out. Sigh.

Then suddenly... someone came in!!

"Evening," the man mumbled as he grabbed a cart and had his eyes skim across the store.

"Evening," I mirrored, with a smile!!

"Uhmmm... do you have any of those... erm..."

He put his finger over his lips—thinking.

"Ermm..."

CAN YOU HURRY UP!!

"Oh, that’s right!—shadow takis!!"

"We have regular takis—not shadow," I quickly replied, with frustration rising.

"Ah... umm..."

He pulled out a small note—and started reading off of it.

Started grabbing a bunch of stuff and putting them into his cart...

Peeped at the clock... 10:01 PM.

"Sir, can you hurry up please?—we’re closing."

"Oh..." he let out as he began frantically taking products from the shelves.

Then dropped a bunch of them on the floor.

My hands instantly went onto my face—palms turned upwards and shoulders lifting in an exaggerated shrug, eyes rolling beyond the heavens.

"Uhmm— wait, do you have..."

10:07 PM...

"Okay, that’s all—card, please."

He swiped.

"Declined."

I’ll kill myself.

"Oh, shit..."

I’m killing myself.

"Cash it is, then..."

Tears of misery rolled down my cheek—I really should’ve stayed a Player!! Why did I become a fucking cashier of all things?!

dafreak67 [10:21 PM]: "Yo where tf are you bruh"

Bonnie [10:23 PM]: "I’m only now closing the store, had someone autistic come"

dafreak67 [10:23 PM]: "damn your sibling or some shi?"

Bonnie [10:23 PM]: "Very funny. Anyways I’ll be home in 15 mins maybe"

dafreak67 [10:24 PM]: "aight don’t forget anything"

Locked the door and left—so chilly and empty.

As the air breezed over my hair, pulling it upwards through the night sky, something odd materialized... just a gut feeling of uncertainty.

"This place’s open until..."

Went in and ordered takeout—got some soju as well.

Bonnie [10:29 PM]: "waiting for da food now, almost"

dafreak67 [10:30 PM]: "HURRY HURRY HURRY !!"

dafreak67 [10:30 PM]: "i’m high asf already btw"

While waiting for it, I took out my pen again and took a dab—now we’re talkin’, actually feeling it!

Mmmm... I’m getting some cravings.

Why’d that idiot talk about takis... now I want them as well!!

I should’ve taken some, but now I’m too lazy.

Sigh.

Finally, left!—with the food warm and ready!

No people—I guess I do live in a pretty desolate area.

Kept stepping... and then I simply stopped.

Not out of choice.

"Umm..."

My heart skipped a beat... where... am...

Stood a man in front of me...

A man I could recognize well.

"Hi’ya—long time no see!"

He wore a suit—and the face of the man I witnessed murdering a stranger in an alleyway.

"Uh—"

Turned my head to the side...

"Don’t think about running, woman," he whispered—my ears picked up his words as if he were close by, voicing it straight next to me like it’s ASMR.

I was in a dirty alley—reminiscent of the time I caught him mid-act.

"C— can we talk about it?"

Holding the bag filled with food and soju, I raised it over my chest—as if hiding behind it like some scaredy-cat concealing themselves in blankets upon a nightmare.

"Should we?—you want that?"

He took one step forward.

I proceeded to materialize my Shadow Dagger...

"Pre— pretty please?—with a c— cherry on top?" soft and anxious giggles were forced out of my mouth after saying that...

Ah!!

I’m too high to be killed!!

Not right now!!

Couldn’t he wait until I ate the pastry!!?

"You— you know you’re under investigation, right?!"

Words were yet again forced out of my mouth... BECAUSE HE TOOK ANOTHER STEP!!

"Oh, I know full well—that’s why I’m here."

"Is that— is that so? Ha... hahaha..."

[SHADOW EXCHANGE ACTIVATED]

Another step forward...

Then suddenly... all shadows extended beyond the walls and ground.

[SYSTEM ERROR - NO SHADOWS IN YOUR VICINITY]

WHAT!!?

Abruptly, the urge to puke began overcoming my entirety.

The sun.

Brightness.

Everything lit up brightly beyond anything possible even underneath the sunniest day of summer.

In a desolate alley that shouldn’t even have streetlights reaching...

The man in front of me, however, began smirking.

Then mumbled as his eyes ran towards the clouds:

"Pretty boy is here."

Cheekily...

Yet, faintly in surprise.