(GE Copy)

Chapter 7: The Seven of Fate (Part 1)

“If only the world could sweep this burden from my back... If in time, I could be freed from a cross I can no longer bare by the mere whisp of wind to feather it from mine spine...”

“That's what I'm saying...” Zachery mentioned, jingling the new weeks allowance in his hands. “They give me five out of the spare change jar, and your folks drop you purple note. Your folks love you.”

“They think about your future. Five in hand and five in the savings account.” Aaron advocated.

“And I wish they wouldn't, what about my present being? Here, now? Blow it on candy, or blow it on a useless collage degree. It's getting wasted one way or another, It's just depreciating while it sits there, and someone chooses for me... Once again! So, it’s their money, in my name, thus, I have five dollars, not ten. And don't give me that interest crap either! Two pennies a month for having two grand sitting there for the day I decide to be a Zellars Archaeologist ain’t making up for the depreciation by our inflating economy... Wow.” Grieving to himself. “I can’t believe I’m repeating Uncle Eddy’s dinner discussions.”

“Get a job...”

“Get a job” Zack mocked in a whiny voice. “You ain't got any problems because your folks left you with a large denomination. Besides, they'd take half my pay check anyway, and stick it in another fund for my ‘whell bee-iing’. Or worse, some bullshit pretend cop act about rent just to make the dollar off me. 'Your not responsible enough with money, heeeaghhh.’ ‘If we gave you a ten dollar bill like every other parent, you'd turn into a gambler with excessive debts and a drug addiction, heeeeaghhh.' Spare me.” Counting through the three loonies and eight quarters to make sure it was paid in full. “No wonder kids go stealing other kids lunch money, problem ain't the kid, it's the lack of things that the kid could do.”

“We bringing up the rats experiment?”

“Yes! And they freaking overdosed!”

Knocking, the door quickly opened, with Sophie bursting out. “I could hear you from half a block away. You guy's alright? My squirrel defence satellite was going off the fritz like two days ago, just wanna make sure you weren't anywheres near that chaos when it happened...

Zachery still vexed, raised his hand slightly. “It was us...” Aaron confessed, hand raised fully, both drop their hands.

She just kinda stood there, taking to the door casing to lean against. Scratching the back of her neck in the silence. “Wow...” Lifting her leg in behind her other like a flamingo, blushing slightly. “I'm kind of impressed.”

“They're squirrels... Mean as the gills, but...” Finding the words “Squirrels.”

“Well, get in before they hear you around here.” Rushing the survivors into the house, and into the living room seating arrangement. “So, my dad ran some tests on that gemstone we found, he's more than impressed. Actually, he made a loud exclamation which I'm not allowed to repeat. Anyway, he gave me these things to give you.” Injecting Zachery. “This should nullify any of the residual radiation it 'offgassed' during transit.”

“Ooo!” Zachery astounded. “That's actually starting to feel kind of cool, now it's kind of hot, OH! Wait, now it's cold again. You should market this shit for athletes... It's not, like... Gonna give me cancer, is it?

“Come on, Sophie...” Aaron tittered, “You're probably old enough to repeat your old man's sailor talk.”

“It's not about the cursive language,” Sophie assured. “Just know he's really happy about it.”

Piping back in. “Like, buy it off us for two hundred dollars impressed, or?” Zachery inquired.

“If you want. He did want to reward a good hunt, and a bonus considering the primitive tools we used. He was talking more than money though, but I'm sure he'd suffice to shell out for a mere bounty.”

“Like... What 'more than money' are we talking here?” Zack inquired as to not let it slip by.

“It's either two hundred Dollars, or the other option, there is no hints in between this time.”

“You uh... Mind if I add an extra zero onto that?”

“Pbth!” She shot down. “I don't even think he has more than a three figure number in his account.”

“Hey, Zack,” Aaron peeked into full laughter. “You're richer than Sohpie's dad, and your complaining?” Before being injected unknowingly in his blissful distraction. “Hey!...” Rubbing his injection site. “So... Can we even trust whatever it is that you threw into us?”

“It's that or take it up with growing a third leg.”

“Could be worse.” Zachery chimed in smirking. “Could make my dink fall off.”

Down below, they heard his voice echo from the depths. “That your friends, Sofenya?”

“Yes Daddy!” She replied.

Staggering up from the basement, he risen. Lowering his head not to hit the door casing, his tall slim muscular figure emerged holding a wash cloth and an old coffee mug. Though his demeanour was always bright, today his eyes shown a frail colour as he walked past them for a refreshment. “You kids have been busy, real adventuring like. Remind me of myself when I was... Oh...” Struggling to find his coffee filters, his train of through derailed immediately. Looking back to the kids, his eyes refocused. “I hear you found a gemstone, magnificent quality. It's forwarded my research into a field that I've been holding off on until I had the proper resources... Huh... Radio waves...” Marvelling at there means. He chuckled, “How in the dickens you managed with just that, has had me sideways. Nothing short of Aidens enchanted dice. You have a good star under your name, maybe even a better start at life than most kids.” Stroking the sharp angle cut of his beard, chumming at the thoughts, while the saddened glaze still worried in behind the front facade that his eyes finked on.

“Aaron and Zackery both figure... Mostly Zachery, that it might be worth a bounties pay.” Sophie announced.

“Is that now!” He greeted, approaching the boys. “What a wonderful suggestion!” Pulling out his wallet. The sadness turned to a gleam “Here, here... You too child. How does three-fifty sound?” Holding out the brown notes in his wallet.

“We-we'll take it.” Zachery finalized, surprised, nearly ready to pinch himself. His hand nearing to pinch the bounty as well, but was caught out from his side into a firm handshake.

“Three-fifty...” Aaron astounded. 'That's like... A hundred each way... And... Math, um, seventeen sixty...”

“...Like, a hundred each way and a trip to Maki during the lunch special!” Zack finished for Aaron.

“Anything else on your shopping list, Sophie's dad?” Looking back onto the cash machine.

“Keith, really... And not under this month's budget. But if the day arises, I might call upon you yet.”

“You know what we should do?” Aaron suggested. “We got enough we could go to town. Hit the mall, cruise the beaches, hit Maki along the way, and call a taxi home.”

“Wow, a taxi, that's kinda luxury man.” Zachery confessed. “I'm all in for spending like we just got our stamps but, that's pretty fancy...”

“Twenty split three ways, its like a third the price.”

“But there are three of us, someone's gonna have to take the crappy hill side seat while the others get the lake side seats.”

Smiling onto the lads, Keith looked off to his unpercolated coffee well, and the clock which read half after ten. Sophie had left a window open and the smell of fresh greenery brought him out from his work laden mind. It was like his ears unplugged by visceral the memory of the old days. “Kids...” He put down his mug. “How about we go for a trip? I could do some shopping, and drop you off somewhere. Besides, I've been cramped down there with mechanical oil and heated welding so long, that I'm getting nose blind. We can hit the drive through on the way out of town, pick up some doughnuts, maybe even some fruit before the stands all get picked for the day...” Dreaming of the outside world.

With only a few arrangements with the folks, and a quick stop as prescribed, they made their way down the sunny morning road to Penticton. Watching the light blindingly glimmer off the ripples of the lake, they winded along the slalom snaking highway. Aaron marvelled at the day's start. “Really makes a guy feel like a free man doesn't it? Freedom.”

Nodding, Zack added. “Five plus a hundred on my pocket, a modern adventure, no nagging folks, and not having to worry about my brother... It's the start of a much better life. A new chapter so to speak.”

“What's up with your brother?” Sophie inquired.

“Right, you've been out of the loop since Thursday.” Aaron informed. “We've been battened down for the last little while, coz Zack's brother left prison. There's a lot behind it but, they found him at his old car lot in Penticton. New guys were taking over the abandoned business and found him sleeping in the old office. Only reason they found him. Since then, Zacks been at my place, and I've taken the two days off school. Mom was choked of course, but instead of punishing me, they kinda picked up on why I played hookie and thought best to just call me in as sick the next day. Probably just to keep me out of trouble more than anything. After the news though, Zack's folks picked him up... Come on man, I can't be telling the whole story by myself.”

“Right now... I couldn't be bothered to. It means that things take longer to resolve themselves, but it also means I have from now until that happens to enjoy myself. Too much worry, and too little action makes a man into something pretty pitiful. It's nice to get away, but it's nicer yet to just not be bothered by it even if it’s there. I'm a man now... I can handle what comes when the time arrives.”

“You're a dweeb ass kid like the rest of us!”

“Man! I'm gonna jump in that back seat and thrown some smack down on that mouth!”

“Gotta get me first chump!” Aaron defended, pulling Sophie's limp confused body in between them as an effective meat shield. Great for absorbing jabs, knifes, and blunt objects, though debatably her skinny form left much open to gunfire.

“Father...” Sophie played along numbly. “I'm being held like a trophy fish.” Aaron imitating the sound and motion of a pump action scattergun. “Now I am being used as a shotgun. Ironically, I'm being aimed at the shotgun seat. It's like an unstoppable force meets a brain dead object. My life is complete.”

“You'd think he could take a joke.” Zack huffed. Their feet on solid ground by the lakeside park. Keith driving off in the distance, still irate about the unwarranted manhandling.

Out of sight of the main road, Sophie relished in her freedom with Keith practically along the western channel by now. “Finally.” Relieving herself, taking the ribbon from her hair, and tying the now wide-wide ribbon around her waist four times into a bow. Aaron and Zack’s man senses both tingled. Sophie in behind pulled her shirt off, to reveal underneath, yet another, only slightly shorter pink shirt that sported the caption 'Not daddy's little girl'. “Now for thirty eight minutes to an hour of freedom, fun, sun, and pretending I'm someone I'm not.” It seems everyone has their own standards for rebellion.

Cruising the beach side street, they gardened off to the rippling tides. A blazing meat barbecue of racks and abs laid out in the summer glaze, resting gracefully on their eyes. Like a garden of every colour and textured weaved fabric flower stretched snugly around every curve. Exquisite. It was, a beach to remember.

It was lively elsewhere as well, from toned skin to the families enjoying their peaceful mid day vacations. There were kids frolicking, and adults wimping out at the waters tepid temperature. Where upcoming beauty queens pretended their daddies weren't watching for every boy that passed with vicious intent. There was even a young cat petting away at the waters edge with one fully clothed girl making a mad leap at the unsuspecting victim. “Incredible, huh?...” Aaron remarked. “Doesn't even see Sophie trying to dogpile it, and it's instincts already raising it's fur like a magnet over iron shavings.”

“So small...” Zack returned “It's able to keep speed with larger cats, probably put a lion on the run.”

“Flexible too, took a gnarly fall there with her, and just hopped out of that tiny gap between Sophie's arms.”

“Looks to be okay. Now it's licking itself twenty feet away. Doesn't even look to be limping.”

“Bet if she moves any closer, it's gonna start spitting.”

“Marvellous creatures indeed... “

“She okay?”

“Hurt herself on the sand?...”

“Yup... Looks like a hairline fracture on to the heart.” Hopping off the walkway to pick up the patient and haul her into the waiting room.

“How would we even get it home, anyway?” Zackery reasoned. Having made it to the Peach Hut midway across the beach. Feet in the sand, wishing he brought some summer shoes instead.

“I haven't ten fingered any cats since last year...” Sophie defended.

“You've chased down like a dozen.”

“I saw him by the water, patting away at it.” She ignored in her blissful recountment. “It was like a miracle. But I saw the tide moving in, and enough videos to know what was about to happen to his poor curious mind. Shot away from the miracle of scuba cats forever because of a bad day.”

“Remember what you said about changing you mind after an event, Sophie...”

“I... Yeah... I just wanted to cuddle him.”

Aaron coming back to them with the order. “You know, you'd catch more cats with tuna than by quarterbacking them into submission.” Giving the cone to distract Sophie from her broken heart, and the iced coffee to Zack. “Not that I think you have the patience to do so, but... In terms of efficiency, You'd cuddle a lot more kittens.”

“You make friendly cats shit themselves” Zack crudely stated before diving his head into the whipped topping..

“Some part is the sport... But... It's instinct. You can't erase instinct. Even dogs can be trained, but forget their training in an instant if something persists stronger than their urges otherwise. Even people, trained to be calm, yet if angered severely can strike out in furious anger. Some times even more so than before. Monks, pacifists, even religious fellowships who are disciplined or otherwise, just a different threshold for breaking it. Even the burden itself screams against them. When I see a cat, it takes over my body, my mind, like I'm the second one in there watching everything unfold. I used to scream at myself, even hurt myself afterwords, long conversations telling myself what was right or not but nothing changed it. It always took over. I've tried everything from shock therapy whenever it would kick in, but it just hurt me more than my sorrows did.”

“Wow...” Zack smirked. “A super well kempt person like Sophie, has an instinct so raw not even she can stop it... You can choose on a whim to stop caring about something, but cats are your kryptonite...”

“I've gotten used to just cleaning up after it, the instinct that is. It's easier than suffering the backseat of a nightmare. The nightmare of loosing control. It's still me, a part of me, some part that has the ability to overtake me. I still love cats. I...” Tearing up “It's just when I think about them... My heart... It thinks about how precious it was, and it makes me want to see resolution. Like a can of pop that is neither knocked over nor standing upright, pivoting on it's rim I want to set it upright. I guess is the simplest explanation is that people have diagnosed this as O.C.D. but it's living, changing... each moment to moment is different and this urge fires every instance, maybe fifty times a second. I wish I could be content, watching the magic unfold. In my memory, I see one instance out of those thousand in a line, and it builds. I want to see the outcome, that resolution, when the cat learns to like water and supersedes all fear, breaking the boundary, like...” Clearly in tears “Like a little... Kitty... Super hero.”Aaron and Zack both tried to open their mouths but Sophie continued even louder. “All the other cats could look onto him, and he could be an idol. When a cat, tripping off of a boat, screams in agony. The cats around, weeping, crying out for a God to save him, and Salmaeoh leaping out into the ocean... To... To save him. The cat... Who... Overcame, water!” Snorting a fat line of snozz back into her sinusses, and finding her crackly trembled voice “All of these possible outcomes playing in my head, every instance, over and over a thousand times, it’s so overwhelming...” Biting into her cold sweetened distraction.

“So, what's it like...” Aaron inquired. “Not being in control? Does a person know if they are or not? We're all... Instinctual creatures. Some say people are just a byproduct, an... Interaction of chemicals and have no choice. Some say we are the only ones with choice... But... How would we know?” His eyes shown a distant anger. A malignant frustration that battled his festering curiousity. “When you are in the back seat... Is it like a second person in your head? Or...”

“Your body moves...” Shaking her head “But, you don't know why...”

Relieved, Aaron smiled. “I guess there isn't much faulting someone for their wrongs, huh...”

“Why did this have to turn into a moral lesson, man?” Zack butted in. “I'm actually... Honestly, I'm just as interested by the idea... But... What if you are responsible?”

“Look, Zack, if you didn't have a choice it wasn't your fault!” He instilled, with a loose scowl.

“Aaron...” Sophie called, concerned “That... Is what it's like... Just then. When it sounded like someone else, when... It's like an impulse. When a Buddist is tempted onto violence, when a councillor screams at a child they are helping... When a kid who knows better... That's what it is like.”

“Why... Why, does it happen? How, how do you even know, you're not me. Or know what went on in my head, only your head.”

“But the outcome, is always the same. A billion unexplained anomalies exist with that one instance. I already told you Aaron... I don't know why it happens, or how, just that it does. And we see the examples all around us. In time, this present will dissipate... And worst of all, most people seem to forget what happened Inside... Each time it happens, fresh, like it’s the first time. Instinct is that powerful.”

“Should we be fighting instinct? It keeps people alive.” Aaron defended.

“It's driven people to overcome many thing, but instinct has also killed many people... Maybe it's the reality or the rebellion of it. Maybe instinct is the only word we have to describe it because what it is, is deeper than that.”

“If it is...” Separating himself, “I got the rest of my life to sort that out. I want to enjoy my day.”

“Am I the only person still fascinated by this shit?” Zack butted in, unaffected by the heft of the conversation's darkened tones. “Or have you left me behind in quantum space? I still wanna know what it's like. Like... Could a person autopilot this shit? Like have your body instinctively do your homework for you while your mind is playing ping pong with the world champion, mentally?”

Sophie shook her head. “I'm not sure how it gets separated when you're in the back seat. Maybe next time I see a cat, I'll just drift off playing Detective Peekums in my mind and see what happens when I wake up.”

“Wake up? You mean it's like drifting off?”

“As I said, it's like a nightmare. If you have control, being mutilated by the creatures of the damned is no problem like flying around... But once you loose that control, it doesn't matter what it is from scary faces to picking the wrong pencil. It's the realization of that lack of control that causes the fear and anxiety to take over.”

“Like anyone would want to actually be mutilated.” Aaron added, walking back into the circle. “It comes down to a commonality. People, instinctively, don't want to feel pain.”

“I'll disagree, but for the sake of agreement, yes... People typically don't want to feel pain, so they do everything they can to stop it but outside of their control it comes back, hence fear... Or to some depressed cases, they slit wrists for peace. Personally, I haven't found any relief through self flagellation, and I really don't recommend it.”

Aaron washed the topic away. “Whatever.” Making back to his own distraction, from the conversation that was swept off from him. “I think it's getting kinda derailed. My drinks getting warm.”

“You're, Sherly Sasparilla?” Zack mocked to lighten the mood.

“It's got a lot more flavour than that sweet soot you're drinking” Taking a much warming liking to the cold stiff criticism over his masculinity and choice in drinks than to his own choice in actions. “We got babes to watch, and... Whatever Sophie's into. Cats I guess.” Eliciting the perking of Sophie's attention.

Shrugging, Zachery followed, passing the hotel and the boardwalks along the docks. A wide beach sprawled with nothing for the eyes to feast upon but the launch and a court out of season. For being right next to a vacation spot, you'd think it would see more attention, but the eastern channel blocked things off and the gardens walled the rest on the other side. After walking it's edge, the supports of the waterway forced them back up along the grass until the street; seeing as they didn't feel brave enough to walk the metal connector pipe, even above a shallow bed. Down the street connected with more lake side but less beachline, and less babes, and less everything apart from a tack shop and a redundant ice cream parlour. Instead of returning to the land of bikinis and honies, they took the colourful brick road into the main street side connection, and eventually passed Front Street onto the main drag. Albeit, the less dignified part of down town, with pawnshops, bus depos and three star delis.

--Sorry, I know you get a flow of business, but it smelled abhorrent the moment I walked in there and stuck in my nose for half a city block. I ordered a sandwich and you only served coldcuts and bread separately like I was some kind of nutjob for asking it together. Like I'm the first guy to ever walk in hungry and ask for a sandwich from a place selling sandwich material. The hotel is like a block away, and ain’t no one got time for a kitchenette. I don't mean to rag on it... I mean, since then, the branch has probably either switched ownership, or licence by now, or heck! Sold premade sandwiched in a tourist hotspot, like what an idea! But I've given dirty taxi rides a better review with a clean conscious. At least the cab didn't smell like blue cheese and sour meat. Sorry again, but... It did.

“You don't suppose he's making a killing off that stone, we found do you?” Zack mentioned in passing, as they walked by a jewellery shop. Notably decked out with metal bars, and a more security company stickers than a Lamborghini in downtown Detroit. “Like, maybe a few thousand?”

“He was pretty oddly happy to pay us out that three-fifty,” Aaron pondered. “I don't know. Seemed like something was really troubling him though. Disappeared the moment he dropped us the money.”

“Work ethics?... We're kinda... Kids off a payroll.”

“You conspiring about my father over there?” Sophie called out, pendant in her hand. The poor lady working the corner stall, having her chi most certainly broken by the outburst. “So, what is this one over here?”

“Not a good stone for you.” The merchant replied; her business drawing in the boys as well. Zack fixed to the valuable section which was priced nearly under the going rate, while Aaron was taken to the translucent ones which shown a glimmer of sunlight through them instead of around them. Still being insisted upon, the owner informed reluctantly to the prolonging of the purchase or leave. “Malachite, very dangerous, amplifies the mood you are in. I sell to only certain people, many people come here looking for it, have to turn away most of them. They don't know what it does, just like the look of it. If I did, there'd me more greedy people in the world. It's my responsibility to sell to the right people.”

“You trying to rank up the price because it's in such demand?” Zackery commented bluntly, having made up his mind not to actually buy anything this paycheck.

“Bite your tongue boy, these stones are more powerful than your weak faith could comprehend. You need a Black Tourmaline to get your head on straight.”

After finally aggravating the woman into selling the stone, and nearly getting chased out onto the street by the crazed merchant, the crew continued south towards their main attractions along main street. Sophie still fuming over the interaction. “Don't you hate religious nuts who force their beliefs onto you? It's a stupid rock, you can pull from the ground. You can find them in your batteries for frick sake! ‘Oh, your chi is bad, it would only make it worse.’ Mind your own chi, woman! Like I don't know how unpolerized ions work, you get more of them out of talking to a swing voter. Sorry, that was blunt. Plastic wrap will do the same thing, but there ain't no embargo on selling that at the dollar store.” Exhaling her last vent. “Well, I think it looks just lovely.”

“Can you really make a religion out of rock vibes?” Zack inquired.

“You can make a religion out of emos hating other emos. At least rocks have a tangible polarity... Most of them... She's not wrong, they have unimaginable properties, reason most our computers are made out of them; but refusing to sell something to someone out of bias is just prejudice. If I start rubbing it against my hip during my period cycle, that's my mistake to make just drop a warning label to get on with it.”

“You might be too blunt for your own good.

“It's my rock, I can bitch about it all I want.

“I mean about your periods.” Looking over his shoulder at the older woman sneering from the restaurant patio.

“...Oh... They’re my periods, I can bitch about it all I want. I don't hear guys moaning over spontaneous getting a...”

This is the moment where I get to remind you of the last time Zackery attempted to put his hand on her mouth. Well, she got to talk about it anyway, and Zackery got to use the mini adventure pack Aaron took to carrying. Yes... Having a fannypack doesn't help the case of his masculinity and the argument with the Sherly Sasperila but, reality dictates against all theory. And well, pants pockets aren't a sanitary place to keep band-aids, dry fire starter, or granola bars in one piece. Arron sure felt on top of the world when he got to flash his pack. That'll be short lived. “Fine, I guess we can just talk about whatever we want in the street, in broad daylight, can’t we?” Zachery huffed, and proceeded to make good use on his claim talking up a long slue of profanities as protest.

Arron looked to read the room but being Penticton, nearly no one actually gave a shit. A part from the stick-up-their-ass ladies. In the corner of his sight, Aaron could see a walking sore thumb instead, instantly taking his eyes off him, but the figure’s appearance was too strange to put away in his mind. Peeking back his gaze, the man was distracted by an old roadmap that they somehow still sold at a gas station, assumidly. Dark skin, with an open dark blue hood that kept it’s shape around him. Baggy bell bottom shorts that were a rustic forest green, and ear buds that wires seemed to glow. The more he thought about it, the more Aaron put the strangeness aside. The man looked out onto Aaron and the boy shied his gaze away, but the fixation of the stranger caught his attention and Aaron continued staring; hoping to understand what was so truly odd about him.

“Blowing it out it’s ass, in front of old Grandma” Zack droned on. “All because you wanted to talk about boners in broad daylight.”

Aaron returning to the conversation, “What the hell did I just come back to Zack?”

“Boners Aaron.”

“I’m not really having this conversation right now...” He said, pretending to be extra nonchalant, doing a bad job of it. “You see the guy behind me?” The seriousness in his voice carrying their attention out of the stupid conversation. “I can’t put my finger on it. Something is unearthly about his getup. Honestly, it’s like the entire aura of him too.” Looking around, they tried to spot the man in the crowd, to where Aaron became nervous that he made a fool of himself. Sure enough though, turning around, he was still there, looking up and noticing them. With a short wave, and an awkward grin, Aaron passed off a friendly vibe before ducking his head back out of sight. “The hooded guy...”

“What about?” Zack questioned. “Sporting a siq urban around his neck. Curious what he uses to straighten it with though, you’d see starch on something that dark and colourful.”

“He just seems, really, really out of place is all. His figure. It’s... Odd...”

“I’m sorry to tell you this,” Sophie commented. “But if you start profiling people, society is going to pressure me into not associating with you anymore.”

“When’s that stopped you...”

“Never, but be ready for sophistry and privileged white knights to go parading around, screaming, making more out of it than is actually there.”

“Not to ruin your mood,” Zachery mentioned, “But... He’s coming over here.”

“Shit.” Aaron confessed. “I hope he’s not upset. Should I apologize for being so rude? I don’t want to offend him.”

“Hey.” The Stranger called out on his way, a casual joy coming out of him. “You kids looked like you're the free spirit kind, I vibe with that. Ya'll laymens folk are deaf, dumb, and blind, just without the soul, but you know. So... I figure if I want a good answer, I come to here.” A wild smile grinning at his poetry before settling down at their general confusion. “A’ight, I’m looking for a... A Maria Avenue. People here don’t know how to name yo damn streets. We got a number system where I’m from, it’s boring as the day they gave me a stamp book and told me not to use glue on it but if I gotta hit the ‘Big Guy’ store out of town for some herb, at least I can find the damn thing.” The group struggling to find an answer. “I get you, streets so bad ya’ll can’t ever figure it out either, right? So what’sup with you? Out enjoying the day right?” Everyone nodding at his forwardness. “Hell yeah. Just figured I’d stop by, seeing as you kept looking at me, probably figured I’m lost. Which... I was, haha!” Laughing to himself. “Lota people here from out of town, and everyone’s been real friendly since I showed up. Figure what the heck, right?”

“Where are you from?” Zack chummed back with the man’s earnesty “This isn’t exactly a town known for friendliness... We’re...” Clearing his throat “From out of town. So... We’re cool.” Sophie and Aaron both palming their face at Zacks breach of personal information protocol towards strangers. But the guy wasn’t looking to take advantage of that fact.

“I can see yo cool. Where I’m at, people get a little hot, hard to find a soul there ya know. Must be all the sun you got. I could dig getting in with you though. Good people, good heart... Just blind and deaf... Oh, if I could be like them, and not see what’s really going on in the sidelines. Must be blissful,” Nodding. “Must be blissful probably why they all got it, joy you know. But, not to get you down. I appreciate you helping me, I see you all tongue tied so I’ll let ya hang. You keep your ears open now, who knows what shit’s gonna drop in your future. Don’t forget the love, and I think you’ll make it. Peace.” Leaving as joyously as he arrived.

“Shit Aaron...” Zack astounded. “You really do have the eyes. Guy was weird A...F...”

“We’re all in agreement that happened, yes?” Aaron confirmed, the offset crowd speaking a silent yes

“Beach bods, exquisite drinks, ninety eight bucks left for me, the entire day to ourselves... And we got a mystery that isn’t trying to kill us... Hot damn, what a day. What say we hit Maki and find us an arcade in this town...”

“Sounds great...” Aaron agreed, his attention drawing back to the hooded man. Something inside began to feel uneasy about the entire thing, though he was left with a mellow vibe, Aaron couldn’t deny something about the man stirred something within Aaron that he rather have left alone. “You ever get those moments, where... You have absolutely no reason to think it, but somewhere you just know that someone is going to approach you. But you just want to believe it won’t happen, even though you know that it will?”

“This one of those think of it after kind of things?”

“No, I’m just... Actually, yeah... I think... I knew it was going to happen, but... Maybe I just wanted to believe that if I thought hard enough it wouldn’t happen.”

“See what I mean, weird stuff right?” Sophie reminded. “We could talk about the quantum world like it was tea time but the meat and potatoes for me is things people think and do. Those are the real anomalies.”

“I’m starting to wonder about it, really...” Sounding immediately uninterested. “Really starting to wonder if I like to stick with the fantasy castles and unicorns that shit rainbows kind of mysteries. After my last run-in with the local authority... I’ve been wondering if I’m actually cut out for keeping my shit together when this stuff occurs. Seeing how deep it goes... Makes even the light and fuzzy stuff remind me of how dark things get.” Along his side, he felt something brush against him. Looking down to his side, he saw nothing. Awkwardly, he scratched his head “I think I stand with Zack on this one... I’d like a break, but... I don’t always get one when I want it. We’re on vacation, that weird shit can sit aside for right now.”

“No, man, this shit is like an easy adventure for me!” Zack exclaimed. “People, for the most part, they’re not chasing you with swords and loaded arrows. I still can’t get over it though.” Reminiscing about the revelation from earlier. “The thought of being able to choose. What if I don’t know that I’m choosing what I’m doing, how does one know?”

“This again? I thought I left that back at the hotel.” The feeling along his leg moving into a tug that pulled his loose pants along his thin waist. Yet nothing was tugged out of place.

“Don't you think it would be cool though?” Zack continued, “If everything was your own choice, no more feeling like you have to do something you didn't want to do just because someone pressures you into it?... Being able to just say no to guilt trippers, without...” Aaron’s attention cut off from Zackery’s rambles, catching his sight onto a little short bastard beckoning him.

“You'd still feel guilty,” Aaron cut abruptly in from where he last heard “That's their job... And yeah, you should tell them no to whatever they are selling you, because they want to use you. It's clearly a bad deal.”

“I think Aaron would be right...” Sophie sided, taking her debate to Zachery. “The only benefit would be being able to isolate blame. If we had full choice the entire time, we would be responsible for everything we do, even if it was excruciatingly difficult in either option.”

Taking note to the uncanny irritation, Aaron moved back to the wall. “The hell do you want?” He scowled quietly “It’s broad fucking daylight, when have you taken to being a shit disturber when people are around?” But no notable sound could be heard, even Sophie’s monologue of a debate had become stifled by the quiet air of the space around him. He heard the click and turn, ever loudly however, as he looked up to see a doorway creaking open before him. “Nah, this end’s right here.” Turning to grab his friend’s attention, Aaron was picked up and thrown into the hall by a great force, with the door slamming very loudly behind him. Above him, upon the stairs, was one small, shit coloured mongrel beckoning him by finger.

Distantly he could hear Sophie and Zack continue their conversation. “That is only assuming a two option window scenario,” Nearly muffled Aaron tried to make out the words of his separated friends. Wondering how to reach them through the barrier. The door wouldn’t budge anymore. He lifted his fist to knock on the divider but the sound of Sophie stopped him. “It’s very unrealistic to practical application. You always have more than just two options. Probably makes the choice making much harder yet. Imagine the guilt, right?” Aaron gritting his teeth instinctively as his fist lowered. “Anyway, two option window scenario is easiest to explain technicalities...”

“Bites, doesn’t it? Blame passers...” The only words that came out of the contractor’s ugly mouth but Aaron could feel in inference of the subject matter.

Looking out at the minion, Aaron’s eyes slanted in disgust, following the creature. As he climbed the steps he felt the prescience of another, a much larger creature than himself fade off into the aether of a silent space in the corner. “Right...” Aaron remarked about the muscular grunt. “Didn’t think you were that strong, had me going for a bit. Might have mistaken you for Mr. Universe for a moment.” He muttered. Treading carefully, enraged, but ever mindful. It lead three stories, each step making lighter of the immense pressure he felt in the air. His ears popped, returning the clairvoyance of his hearing. Making the last step, Aaron opened the door, being sure to look back to where he came from. Looking for notable distortions like there usually were when he was lead into a weird space by this creature.

Chapter end