A MAN is currently drawn in deep concentration as he moves the joystick of a claw machine. His white polo shirt sleeves were tucked revealing his bare hands decorated by visible veins, his brow crumpled as his sweat bathed him-but he didn't care...he's trying to analyze where he would put the claw so that he'll get the prize he wanted. Left. Right. North. South—he's contemplating, eyes blazing as if he'll kill the machine any minute.
He set his target into a colored pink cat plushie. The plushie holds an angry expression but is still very cute. "C'mon! " He pressed the red button, releasing the claw. It slowly descended on his target then it picked his target, ascending.
He could feel his hands getting wet as he anticipated winning the prize. His brows furrowed, lips biting in excitement. He shouted a fiery, "Yes! " when he successfully got what he wanted.
"You do realize that it's your seventh time winning, right? Still not enough? " A voice from his side told him as he put the pink plushie above the claw machine where six other assorted colors of cat plushies with different expressions lie. The owner of the voice was Saint-his idol, now friend.
Saint wore a casual gray shirt with a print of a bat in the middle, a stylized font saying, "Batman" is below the picture. Completing his outfit is his black leather jacket and ripped jeans.
Anthony scratched his head and grinned, showing his dimples. "Winning...just feels good, y'know?" Saint just nodded, staring weirdly at his friend. If he didn't know this guy, maybe he'll ask the doctors to take him to the mental hospital.
"Now, can we try new games here in the arcade? You're thirty minutes absorbed in this claw-thingy, you don't even have a girlfriend to give those cute things to begin with. " Saint pointed at the various games and machines in the checkered themed arcade, from basketball, dance machine, pinball, tekken, and etc.
Anthony shot a glare at Saint and he tossed his remaining token in the air. "Says someone who bought the arcade for a day to date someone who didn't come then called his 'friend' instead to 'worth it' the expenses. " Already caught the token-now in his palm-he almost rolled his eyes at his friend, whose eyes, already chinky, had become more slanted and small.
Staring blankly at Anthony, he tapped his friend's shoulder two times. "Nice try, but I got lots of girls, she isn't my lost, " he smiled revealing his pearly white teeth, he even raised his eyebrow clearly indicating he's handsome. Anthony, on the other hand, looked at him pitifully like he's some sort of bug waiting to die in the hands of a bug sprayer.
"You okay, dude? Are you not high or something? " Anthony's eyes widened, picking his phone in his pocket, he dialed a number making Saint confused.
"What are you doing?" he hovered around Anthony's phone trying to see what he had typed.
Anthony dismissed Saint's hand and showed him what he had dialled. "It's 911, you need their help. " Anthony's been thinking that the formal Saint in the writing magazines isn't even 1% of what he is in the real world. The guy's not right in the head!
Saint, on the other hand, frowned. "Shut up! You're weird either, but seriously, what will you do with those stuffed toys? " Saint reached for one of the plushies, a black cat with slanted red eyes and two pointed fangs.
Anthony laughed, "Looks like you, you can have it." Saint almost choked on what he heard, he tried to give it back to Anthony but he hushed him. "I'll give this to my housemate and his cats, I bet he'll like this, he wished to have toys for his pets yet I can't give it to him in fact he pays for his expenses, " upon saying that he's living with a guy, Saint looked at him suspiciously, grinning he elbowed Anthony's side.
"So, Issaiah boy—you're into guys...I am surprised, so tell me are you in charge or you're down under? " Saint's voice sounded like a gossip guy he's watching on the television, his brow up and down—smiling teasingly; making Anthony want to punch his face and say that he didn't mean it, it's just that his fist was in charge.
Anthony just tsked and walked his way to the basketball machine in the arcade. He got one ball from the net like a rectangle where the balls lie. Saint, on the other hand, whistles a tune as he stands by Anthony's side, hands on his pocket. "So, Issaiah boy? Is it true? You're up or down?" Glaring, Anthony got another ball and threw it to Saint who immediately caught it as he laughed.
"Shut up, Finn you chinky fish! You're too controversial for a guy. He's just my housemate and living with him gives me a huge amount of money. I am straight for fuck's sake! Plus he's a neko-obsessed otaku!" Red blotches started to appear in Anthony's face and the side of his ears, veins on his neck seemed protruding—he's angry.
Anthony threw the ball harshly into the basket earning himself a three point shot, his score reflected into the digital scoreboard in red color.
Saint's rich laughter rang into the arcade, he raised his two hands as if he's surrendering. "Bummer!" He positioned himself in a throwing stance, gripping the ball. "So who's this 'neko-obsessed otaku' and why are ya calling him that? " He shot the ball in the basket smoothly as if he's mocking Anthony's angry shooting fit.
Saint whistled when the scoreboard revealed the same score it had given to Anthony. "His name's Aegir... I-" Anthony paused as he got himself a new ball. "He's someone who's finding a home to rent, I need money so—I took him in. He's weird with the cat ears and tail props that he doesn't want to remove. " His voice sounded unsure and shaky that Saint couldn't bring himself to believe what Anthony just said.
Anthony is a bad liar, he knew it very well but he couldn't just tell his friend that he saved the guy from a bloodthirsty psychopath.
Saint's brow lifted upwards. "You're lying. " Anthony shot another three points, lips quivering (he isn't really into lying), he fished his phone out of his pocket and opened his gallery, revealing close-up selfies of Aegir with wide eyes staring at the camera.
"Ain't lying, there. " He showed the picture to the awe-struck Saint, Anthony could feel his palm wet in sweat.
Saint, on the other hand, blinked his eyes countless times as he stared at the 'he' in the picture. The he who doesn't look like a he but a she. From the doe like green eyes, the pretty face, and the cupid bow lips. If he's a woman, he'll definitely pass in the qualifications of a pretty but flat-chested woman.
And indeed the guy has a tail and cat ears.
Different thoughts ran freely in Saint's mind. The murders happening lately also pass his mind like a speed boat. Magic...Cat...What if...
Anthony noticed the strange look of 'excitement' on his friend's face. "Don't think about it, you're being crazy again, " he boredly articulated.
Saint faced him with the same look, now it also registered worry like he knew he'll die in cat's claw any minute from now. Saint gripped Anthony's shoulders.
'Wait for it... '
"What if he's a murderer with magic and stuff and he'll kill you?" Saint blurted fast like he's reciting a tongue twister.
From that moment Anthony regretted showing the picture.
Facepalming, Anthony distanced a bit because he might hit the guy. "Stop believing in something that isn't real plus, Aegir can't even kill a bug. " But Saint never listened, he walked back and forth, his face so serious and pained like he'd been kicked in the crotch.
"What if he's there because he'll kill you but he'll not succeed because he'll fall in love with you and he'll seduce you instead..."
Anthony raised his middle finger.
A phone suddenly rang as it played Careless Whisper as its ringtone.
-
THEY'RE inside an antique looking vibe building. All of their belongings (like Anthony's stuffed toys) are placed in a nice locker. The building's interior is colored gold and brown with classic flower patterns carved into its pole and walls. There's also hanging photos in the same motif frame of strange eerie symbols of violet stars, creepy looking animals, and flowers depicted like some sort of monsters with big gnashing mouths and large bulging eyes. A large mirror placed at the side of one of the frames gave it a more distinct creep when someone suddenly decided to look at his reflection after viewing the pictures.
In the center lies a red sofa and a glass center table. The sofa is so red that one might think it's made from blood. Apart from its color is the weird placement. Why in the middle? Is it to give a better access to the 'piece of arts'?
But one thing is certain, it gave chills to both Anthony and Saint that they chose to stand at the side while waiting to be attended by the owner of the building.
Anthony impatiently tapped his foot to ease his nervousness. "Why did I agree to join you here in the first place? "
Saint wiped his sweat covered palms in his jeans. "Well, hello? My dad called and you're too obedient to do his bidding because you have an on-going manuscript set for evaluation?" Saint fixed his jacket like he's trying to shake a rat that invaded its pockets.
Anthony sets his eyes to his mahogany colored men's sandal like an anvil dropped there and he doesn't know what to do. "And..." he paused, confused.
"Your dad believed in things like this? Even tarots? He ordered tarot cards? Why not online? He...For someone who looked as horrible as what we're seeing in this room right now, wow! He believed in fairytales and magic! " Saint doesn't know if Anthony's amused or insulting his father, or maybe both?
Before he could say anything to his friend, they both heard quick footsteps nearing them, the air suddenly smelled like rose and burned candles as the owner of the steps approached. They took a glance, which they regretted. Feeding their sight more horror, an old woman with shaggy white hair—with bulging black eyes and warty face, and a horrid set of teeth covered in tar forming a smile that would make the witches in the illustrations disintegrate in shame. In her hands, she's holding a blue crystal ball and two brown rectangular boxes.
Another reason why Anthony doesn't believe in magic is that—'practitioners' such as this lady only existed to scare people.
"Welcome, children. Take a seat on the sofa. We'll have an eventful conversation, " As she said this with her hoarse and tiny voice, both Anthony and Saint couldn't muster the courage to move their legs to walk.
The old woman walked to reach the glass table, she placed her crystal ball there, mumbling, as if she's casting some spell. "Sit, fine children. " she tapped the empty space of the blood-colored sofa. Anthony and Saint don't know what's going on but they find themselves obeying what the old woman has commanded.
The old woman smiled revealing her 'nice' set of teeth again. Both men can't stop but gripped both of their sweaty palms in their jeans as if they'll be waiting for the verdict of their execution. "Would you like some cookies? " They immediately shook their heads. The woman chuckled in amusement and using her wrinkly hands full of liver spots, she opened one box and got her deck of cards.
Finally, Anthony gathered his spirits and talked, "We are just here to get the purchase. What's with that opened box of cards? We didn't come here for a reading. " Saint pinched Anthony's arm. The old woman cackled like a Halloween witch then she placed her index finger on her lips.
"Quiet, the spirits had a different intention." She didn't let Anthony speak again. She held her cards tightly and began to whisper words that both men couldn't understand.
"Can we just leave here? This is worthless, " Anthony feigned a whisper to Saint, who dismissed him, eyes amazed on what the old hag was doing. He sighed helplessly.
'Here we go again.'
The old lady began to knock on her deck of cards several times like there's someone in there. She then shuffled the cards thoroughly, then she put her cards in three piles then put it back again like she's playing some sort of a card came-Anthony wished that instead of a fake destiny card whatsoever they should have played poker instead.
She spread the cards on the glass table and her raven colored eyes fixed their way to the two gentlemen sitting on the sofa. "Now, children. Choose three. The cards will tell something about you. " Anthony flashed an unamused look and a pathetic look to Saint who immediately chose three cards.
The old woman opened the card only to reveal an image of a crane above it is the numerals XIV, the crane had flowing tears and fire below it, there's also a word printed saying 'temperance' for the first card, the second card was a goat with weird star on its forehead and fire on its hooves, the numerals XV is above the goat and below is the word, 'devil' and the last card is an image of a bat upside down, its eyes red and wings hugging its body, above it is the numeral XII and below is the is, 'the hanged man'.
Saint is puzzled as the old woman's mouth formed an o. "You...A child who's in search of his true meaning of life to find that, you are resorting yourself into something but someday it will all be the reason you'll sacrifice to have what you wanted. " Saint just sat there like an inanimate object, mouth agape.
Anthony looked in disbelief. He stood from his seat and grabbed Saint's hands. "We should get going. I need to go home. " He pulled Saint's hand who's reluctant to leave. "But..." Saint complained.
The old woman grabbed Anthony's hand as if stopping him from leaving. "Do not leave yet, child!" She tried to stop Anthony and pull him near the glass table but her weak strength is nothing compared to the younger man.
"Let me go! I do not need this faux fortune telling!" The woman's eyes turned bloodshot upon hearing what Anthony said, Anthony stopped squirming because of fright. A cold chill passed through his spine. The woman let go of Anthony but she said something more weirder than her attempt to lure Anthony to fortune telling.
"You got a bizarre fate, child. " She got a card from the table. A card with a huge circle atop it is a tree with entangled colorful strings. There's an owl above and a crescent moon in the starry sky. Above it is a numeral X and below it is a weird sun-like figure and the word, 'wheel of fortune. '
"Someday you'll understand. " The woman's voice became intense as Anthony could feel his heart drumming.
The woman got the other box of tarot from the table and handed it to Saint. After that, both men left the lady's shop with fear etched in their beings.
"Who was that supposed to be? " A voice surprised the old woman as she stared at the door where both men had left. She fixed her gaze in the huge mirror only to see a figure emerging from there.
Her lips formed a smile as she observed the guy: His black cloak was smeared in blood, his slightly tanned skin glimmered as well as his set of crimson eyes. A gray colored tail waved from side to side. "You looked messy, " her voice changed from that of a puny old woman but of something more powerful.
The guy tossed his cloak on the floor revealing his unkempt ashen hair, he wore a sleeved black shirt and matching skinny jeans. "You know how much I hate people tarnishing others to gain power. The djinbè are now moving, their targets are the nymphs, soon they'll increase numbers here in the city. '' His silver cross piercing in his right canine-like ear shone as he spoke. The woman nodded, her eyes blazed dangerously.
"I killed that Harry guy, he said he's a general but he...Bore me. Such a weakling. " He wiped off the excess blood from his handsome face.
"So who's those humans again? You're quite interested. "
The woman waved her hand. Her cards flew in the air, emanating a violet speck of light. It joined itself together like a puzzle piece until it created a long staff made of specialized metal, a dragon's head as its center with eyes faint red.
Her lips curved. "Someone interesting. "