Yuree
I held Bee's hand , feeling very self-conscious .
I couldn't believe I kissed him !
Well , he had helped my bee friend and that was one way of showing gratitude that I was sure he would understand .
But still , I kissed him !
It had felt ... not bad , no . Not bad . Definitely not bad .
It felt like ... oh , darn it . I couldn't describe it even if I wanted to .
But I ... liked it . I couldn't deny that .
Maybe , we could be together , I thought as we walked down the road .
" Nymph , do you wish to do something before we return ? " Bee asked me and I thought about this .
Well , the sun wasn't totally setting down , we had a few minutes .
Then it hit me ; Bobby's butchery .
" We have enough time to quickly hit Bobby's butchery before we go home ." I said smiling at him , mom had given me extra money on my weekly allowance and i could buy some meat pieces for Bee .
" Let us go then to this Bobby's butchery . " Bee said and we walked down the path leaving the meadow's trail behind .
" Mmm , seems more run down than before ." I remarked as we stood outside Bobby's butchery . We had just arrived and I paused to look at the store , something felt strange about it .
Although to be honest it was a strange establishment to begin with ; Bobby's butchery was outside on the outskirts of town , who would buy meat here ? The only people around were farmers and they didn't ever come to his shop . Atleast I had never seen a farmer in Bobby's butchery .
Then Bobby , himself , was a recluse , I didn't know anything about him except that his name was Bobby . Atleast , the sign above the building said ; Bobby's butchery in bright red .
Then it hit me ; The sign . It was off . Bobby's sign was a neon light sign that was always on . Day or night , dawn or dusk , that sign was always on . But today it was off , was Bobby out ? I wondered sadly .
I looked to the surrounding buildings or the lack of them . There was a small closed building that used to be a candy store but had closed down when I was six . A few yards away was a broken ruin of what used to be a Bed and Breakfast but unfortunately the owners , a nice elderly couple , had died in a fire in the building , in their bed , whilst having breakfast .
And so it went on , more buildings popping up as you got closer to town and more trees popping up as you got further away .
" Is ... is this the place Nymph wishes for us to enter ? " Bee asked and I looked at him . He had a deep frown on his face but it wasn't his usual frown of confusion ... he looked angry , like he had when we saw Steve at the hospital .
" Umm yeah , it is ." I said , " Do you not like it ? It's kind of rusted down and I don't think Bobby is in today."
" No , I can see a ... person inside . " Bee said frowning at the doors , his voice sounded agitated , " I don't ... nevermind . Let's enter , if Nymph wishes to ."
I frowned at this , what had he just been about to say ? He didn't what ? I wondered but I decided to shrug it off for now . I would ask him when we got home .
Surprisingly enough Bee was right , Bobby was in , behind the counter as he always was . He held a magazine in his hands and it obscured his face . ' The deep blue ', the magazine said , it was an aquatic nature magazine apparently . I didn't know Bobby even had those .
" Hi , Bobby ." I said smiling at his big frame and I got the usual grunt to show he had heard me . I smiled regardless , I had missed these routine things ; My meadow , Terry , even Bobby's non-customerfriendly personality . It was refreshing to get back into the swing of things .
" Bobby is a friend ? " Bee asked me looking surprised . What was up with that look ?
" Yeah , " I said , then turning to Bobby's magazine blocked face , " hey Bobby . This is Bee , and Bee this is Bobby ."
Bobby grunted behind the magazine , I had expected that , but Bee just stood still looking at Bobby with a deep frown .
" Umm anyway , we're here to buy some meat and then we'll be out of your hair ." I said to Bobby , and I jiggled some coins in my hands and he grunted again . This made me frown .
Bobby was a very non-customer friendly guy and i had gotten used to it . But there was one thing that could pull him away from his magazine , that was cash . Whenever I had wanted to grab his attention before , all I did was show I was going to pay him . He would give me less than thirty seconds but he would always give me his attention , no matter how brief .
Was he having a bad day ? I wondered .
" Nymph , let us be quick , the sun is going down ." Bee said and I snapped out of it . He was right , we were just here to buy and go .
" Okay , then we'll have - wait , are you laughing ? " I asked Bobby .
It was true , it had to be , because I could hear suppressed chuckles from behind his still magazine blocked face .
I had never heard Bobby laugh , ever . I had no idea he could even smile , let alone chuckle . And what was so funny anyway ?
" Ny...Nymph ! Hahaha ! " Bobby chuckled behind the magazine and I grunted in annoyance . Seriously ? I thought irritated .
" Well , I'm glad to see your moods improved . " I said pouting , " Now can we have some pork pieces and sweet meats ? "
" Nymph , Nymph , Nymph " Bobby said in a singsong voice and I frowned confused . Bobby sounded weird . I mean the Nymph calling was really annoying but it was Bobby's voice that seemed odd .
It was the same voice I had heard on few but multiple occasions . Except , there was something under it , under his voice . A feeling of ... malice ?
Okay , now I'm going crazy , I thought instantly .
" Nymph , I do not like this friend of yours ."
What ? I looked at Bee and found him glaring at Bobby . I glanced at Bobby hoping he wouldn't get mad but he just stayed engrossed in his magazine , still humming a ' Nymph ' tune .
I grabbed Bee's hand and pulled him a bit away from the counter .
" Bee that was not a nice thing to say . " I admonished him but he still had a scowl on his face . I folded my arms and looked at him with a tilted head .
" Bee , are you listening to me ? " I asked him and he nodded his head but still looked at Bobby behind the counter .
" Bee , it's not polite to scowl like that at someone . I don't know why you don't like Bobby but please don't say it outloud when he's just a few steps away . It's not nice . " I said softly and he turned to look at me .
" I am sorry if I have caused you displeasure Nymph . " He said and he picked up my right hand and I once again felt a slight chill from his cold hands . I looked down as he slowly rubbed the back of my hand .
" I promise , I will try not to cause Nymph displeasure again . " he said and I smiled . It was not that big a deal to make a promise over but I nodded my head anyway . Bee's eyes seemed to light up and I knew he was smiling then .
" I think - " I started but was immediately cut off .
" Disgusting ."
We both turned to look at the counter , where the word had come from . Bobby had put his magazine down and was looking at us with a contemptuous look . I looked at him with mixed feelings of confusion , bafflement and horror .
To properly understand why I felt the way I did , I would have to describe Bobby more .
I had known Bobby for a while and usually I would talk some tipbit of my day with him , simply because it was okay to tell a stranger you knew very little about , besides what you saw when you were with him . And one such tipbit had led to Bobby knowing about my preference , but Bobby being Bobby , didn't care at all . So I was confused on why he said disgusting , when he saw Bee was holding my hand if he knew about my preference .
Secondly I had pulled Bee nearly towards the door and we had been speaking in a hushed tone . Bobby barely paid attention to anything you said unless it was related to payment and purchase . So I was baffled on how he seemed to have heard us .
Then there was the reason I was filled with a sense of horror . To understand this , I would have to describe Bobby's physical appearance .
Bobby was large , big bellied and about medium height . He had fat sausage like fingers , with nails cut to the quick . His arms and legs were thick and stretched his clothes . He had a clean , bald head like a vulture and a round chin like a potato . Atleast normal Bobby did .
The person, who then stood infront of us had an additional feature ; he had horns . Three horns actually . Two long black ones on the right side of his forehead , curved like fishhooks . The other horn was on his lower left forehead and was like a stub , cut off short as it began to curve .
" Well , how foul . " Bobby with horns said with sneer and I shut my mouth . I had not even known it was open .
" A human ... a pitiful mortal and a ghoul , together ? How disgusting ." Bobby with horns said and I noticed he was looking at Bee directly .
" But no matter . " Bobby with horns said and he smiled , I took a step back as I saw his mouth was filled with sharp canines .
" No matter at all . " He said and then he hopped onto the counter , stopping in a crouched position . His eyes looked at us with malice , I was sure it was malice now !
" Nymph , I believe it is time to leave ." Bee said and I couldn't agree more . I nodded my head and backed a step away , Bobby then narrowed his eyes .
" Ghoul , do you know you are trespassing in my domain ? " Bobby said and then ... he grew two pairs of eyes . Literally grew them on top of his already human eyes , but the pair that appeared were completely green , from iris to pupils .
" I have no problem with you . " Bee said and he pulled me closer to him , " Let us leave and we won't return . "
" Leave ? Leave ? " Bobby said and then he laughed , this time I was sure there was an undercurrent of malice in it .
" You have brought me a sweet meal , why would I let it leave ? " he said and then his eyes swiveled to me and I felt a shudder crawl through me .
" I have been waiting for this mortal to ripen for some time now . " Bobby said and then he extended out a long tongue . The tongue was about three inches long and it rolled over his sharp teeth .
" You will not hurt Nymph . " Bee said and I felt him hold me even tighter . But what was he doing ? We didn't know what the thing infront of us was .
" To bad , because I've gone without a meal for some time now and my energy is so low . I need a meal desperately . " Bobby said and his face contracted and twisted for a moment before righting itself . It was revolting . " I was hoping to eat your little Nymph there by the Solstice , but now after eating him , I will have to find something else equally as appetizing latter . "
" I said , you will not harm Nymph . I will kill you if you even try . " Bee said in a dark voice and I looked at him with surprise . He sounded so sure of himself . Did he even know how to fight this thing ?
" You ? Ghoul ? I will rip your heart out and tear your limbs off , one piece at a time . " Bobby said menacingly and then he looked back at me , " Then I will chop off your head and let you watch as I feast on your Nymph's vital essence , until he is nothing but a vegetable . "
I swallowed and tried to move back but Bee held me firm . Did he not hear the death threat that thing had just said ? I wanted us to run out of there immediately .
" Nymph , stay behind me but do not run away . " Bee said and I felt more confused . What did he mean ' don't run away ? ' We should have been running the moment we saw Bobby's horns .
" It will be easier to protect you in here than outside . " he explained and I looked at him . His eyes were alight with a different light now , and I don't know why but I nodded my head . I would stay behind him . Bee then let me go and stood infront of me , baring Bobby's way .
Glob , I knew Terry would kill me if he could see this , I thought fleetingly .
" Ohhh , a fighter . Well entertain me , Corpse . " Bobby said and his face changed . It was not the momentary contraction of a few seconds ago but a shifting of everything . His skin changed to a putrid grey and sagged like old leather . His eyes swirled around until they all became lime green . His jaw stretched and gave way to tiny boils that seemed to pulse with mucus .
" Well , Ghoul . I might be a tad merciful and let you leave with an arm or leg , if you let me have my meal now ." Bobby said in a voice that sounded like spit bubbles and green drool dropped on the side of his lips . One drop touched the floor and I heard a sizzle like the ground was fried .
" Oh my glob . " I said softly, feeling more than afraid .
" I won't let it harm you Nymph . Believe me , I won't let it harm the one I love ." Bee said without turning around and I nodded my head even though he couldn't see me .
" Then your fate is sealed . " Bobby said and then his throat stretched out like a balloon , a moment later a spray of green liquid was shot our way . I instinctively moved out of the way and a moment later was happy to , as I saw the spot I had been on , burn and bubble like soup .
Acid spit , I thought and looked at Bee to check to see if he had moved out of the way . I felt immense relief when I saw that he had .
" I'll burn you to the bone ! " Bobby shouted and shot another green acid spray , this time aimed at Bee directly .
" Bee ! " I cried out , because a squirt of the acid hit him on his arm as he moved out of the way . A moment later , there was a big burn mark on his skin and I felt my heart quicken .
Oh my glob , i thought , He could get killed again or worse .
" Nymph do not worry but just try to be safe . I will protect you ." Bee said and his voice didn't sound pained at all . I remembered then that Bee didn't feel pain , so it would not hurt him if the acid struck . I bit my lip and focused on being ready for the next acid spray .
It came soon enough . It was shot right between us and we each went different sides to avoid it.
Which was what Bobby had probably wanted because in an instant he was off the counter and lunging at Bee with his teeth covered in acid .
I looked on as Bee moved back and dodged the first few lunges . It was strange because they both moved so fast and I could barely keep up .
" You are mine ! " Bobby yelled and a moment later his mouth which had expanded latched onto Bee's shoulder . Bee put his hands on Bobby's head to remove him but was quickly lifted off the ground and Bobby began shaking him in the air with his teeth like a dog with a piece of meat .
He put in his acid spit and it dug into Bee aswell as spraying around the shop . The ricocheting acid spray caught me right on my forearm and Glob ! IT HURT !
" Ahh ! " I screamed as the acid spit dug into my flesh and I lifted my shirt to wipe it away but it burned my shirt through , making small holes .
More acid would have hit but Bobby decided to toss Bee away . He swung his head and Bee was tossed behind the counter in large crash .
Then Bobby turned to me .
His face was lined with green spit and his mouth hung open, panting like a dog after a run . Small drops of acid fell onto the floor sizzling it .
" Now my meal . " Bobby said happily , " Then back to that Ghoul to turn it into foam ."
I backed up against the corner of the glass door and the right wall . Bobby began to walk towards me , licking his lips and face with his long tongue . Which covered him with more green saliva . I fell down to my knees as I felt death approach .
I felt my breath quicken and fear rise in me like a great wave . He was going to kill me , I just knew it . I took deep breaths as he neared closer .
When he reached me , he crouched down until we were at eye level . Or eye to eye to eye level , since he had four eyes . He smiled hideously and opened his mouth wide , so wide my whole head could have fit .
A drop of acid spit landed on me and I cried out again in pain .
" You ! "
Bobby was instantly removed from infront of me . A moment later a loud crash sounded as he smashed through the counter .
When my eyes looked up , I saw Bee standing infront of me , his mask gone aswell as a large portion of his right shoulder and right face .
The acid had burned his flesh off to the underlying sinews . I could see the meat under his skin starting from his upper arm , to his shoulder , his neck and the right side of his face . But what really shocked me was his eyes .
They were black , a dark ebony black I had never seen before . I couldn't see his irises or pupils , only blackness . He had a dark scowl aswell that bordered on demented rage .
" You hurt ... my Nymph . " he said and his voice ... it scared me .
Bee's voice was usually gravely but had a underlying rich tempo . This voice was gravely but had an underlying darkness ... it was dark rage . It ... it scared me . He was scaring me .
" Gruhh ! " Bobby shouted coming out of the debris of what was once the counter . He glared at Bee and then opened his mouth . I knew instantly what was coming and opened my mouth to shout a warning , but both me and Bobby were too slow .
In an instant Bee was infront of Bobby and had his hand around Bobby's throat . Bobby closed his mouth and struggled under Bee's grasp .
" You ... hurt my Nymph . " Bee said in that dark voice again and a moment later I heard Bobby squawk in what must have been a cry of pain but Bee's hold stopped it short .
" Oh my glob . " I said softly , as Bee lifted Bobby up and I saw him open his mouth . Was he going to ... eat him ?
" I will ... make you ... suffer ." Bee said in a crackling voice . I covered my ears then , this voice was even worse than the one before it . It was so empty , so void of emotion other than darkness and rage . It was an abyss .
What was wrong with him ? I thought , Why was he being this way ? I didn't understand , Bee wasn't being Bee at all.
" You ... you ... are ...Sh-sh " Bobby's prone form tried to say and I swear I saw Bee tighten his grip and the thing that was Bobby became instantly mute .
" I hunger aswell and I will feed . " Bee said and I cringed that I could still hear him . He sounded so dark , so empty , it scared me .
I looked up at him and was about to say something when I saw something that made my heart freeze .
From Bee's mouth a wisp of blackness shot out and encompassed Bobby . Then I saw green specks of dust swirl from Bobby into Bee's mouth . Bee let go off Bobby , but the thing did not drop to the ground , instead more dark wisps came out from Bee's mouth and began swirling around Bobby who hovered in the air .
" What is he doing ? "
" Feeding on djinni essence . A first I've ever seen . "
I started and quickly turned around , looking for the owner of the voice that just spoke .
" Umm Hello ? Who is that ? " I said outloud and then I heard a tapping sound .
I looked up and there in the glass door stood a person . And by in the glass , I meant IN the glass . As if the person was just a reflection .
" Stop staring , that is very rude . " the person in the reflection said .
I stood up and looked at the glass person .
He was dressed in a dark grey cloak that looked like smoke or fog . I couldn't see his face but only his mouth and chin .
" Who are you ? " I asked him but he tisked his tongue .
" No time for such questions . " he said and walked out of the glass . He actually walked out of the glass and I felt a momentary lapse of order that made my knees weak . I quickly put a hand onto the wall next to me to steady myself .
" Yuree or Nymph as the Corpse likes to call you , we don't have much time . " The being said and I looked at him , he seemed to be staring behind me , at Bee and Bobby .
" Time for what ? " I asked him .
" If your Corpse kills that Pestilence then all the djinni in this town will know that a Corpse has returned . We can't let that happen . " he said turning to me , " I can take the djinni away and no problem will arise but the way the Corpse is now ... I don't think he'll give him up easily . "
" What's wrong with him ? " I asked this strange person .
" He's fallen into darkness of rage , it was common for most Corpses before the Raze . " he said and I frowned confused , he tisked his tongue again , " Nevermind , you do not need to understand now . You must only help me to stop your Corpse , before he kills that Pestilence . Or else he will be in alot of trouble . "
" I ... I .... Okay . " I said , I had not a clue if I could trust this person but I was not willing to risk Bee in whatever was going on . But glob I had so many questions .
" Good , now let's begin . " Mr Smokey said , " he moved behind me and walked until he was near Bee .
" Oh glob ." I said as I looked on at Bobby . He looked horrible , well he had looked horrible before but now it was worse in a bad way .
His skin was practically hanging from his frame and looked like it would slip off any moment . His eyes were twitching and swirling around in circles . His mouth was foaming and he was moaning and groaning in what sounded like muffled cries of distress .
" Come on , Yuree . " Mr Smokey said , and I walked up to him . He stood next to Bee , who seemed oblivious to him .
" So what do we do ? " I asked , standing next to Bee . His acid wounds had vanished and his face was completely alright but I felt my heart clench . His eyes were empty , so void ...
" I'm going to immobilize this djinni , whilst you get your Corpse under control . " he said nonchalantly .
" Wait , how do I do that ? " I asked him and he chuckled coldly .
Then he grabbed Bee by the arm and threw him to the other side of the shop . A moment later a bluish white screen appeared , forming a wall and trapping Bee.
" Oh my glob ! Bee ! " I shouted and glared at Mr Smokey . " Why did you do that ? "
" To get him away from the djinni . " he answered simply . He raised his hand and a prism appeared , it started from the floor and reached the roof . It trapped Bobby inside , who seemed to be getting his wits together .
" Rahh ! "
I looked at the bluish white barrier and saw Bee behind it . He was glaring and bashing at the wall with his fists .
" Mmm he's strong alright . " Mr Smokey said , " I can't hold him for long and I don't want to . I would leave , but right now he is filled with essence lust and would probably kill everything outside with a life force . So , it's up to you to get him back into his senses . "
I looked at Bee as he bashed the barrier with a fist and made a big crack , which instantly disappeared .
" Sometime this century , Yuree or Nymph ." Mr Smokey said and I swallowed heavily . I walked up to the barrier where Bee stood on the other side beating his fist against the mystical wall .
He looks so mad , I thought , all because Bobby hurt me . I remembered when he had saved me from the Steve's friends in the alley . He had been mad then too but his anger now was even worse . How could I calm him down ?
" Bee , I umm I umm - "
" Oh come on ! We don't have eternity ." Mr Smokey cut in , " You're his Beloved for Void's sake . Just reach out to him and show some depth of emotion . "
I frowned confused and looking down I thought hard on what to do . That's when Bee bashed a hole through the barrier and cold shards like glass fragments hit me . I quickly raised my hand to block them entering my eyes .
" Bee you're scaring me ! " I shouted desperately and felt tears in my eyes .
That's when it went silent . A second before Bee was groaning in rage and I could hear him trying to prize the barrier apart and then the next moment it was still silence .
" Nymph ? "
I lowered my hands and looked at Bee . He stood frozen , looking at me , with one hand outside the barrier . He looked confused but I saw with great joy that his eyes were back to their normal shade of amethyst .
" Bee ! " I shouted and the barrier disappeared like water drops . I instantly jumped up and hugged Bee . He was back , I thought relieved .
" Nymph are you alright ? " he asked me and I smiled and nodded my head .
" Then why are you crying ? " he asked me and I laughed .
" Tears of joy . It's completely fine , I'm okay . Are you okay though ? " I asked him and he nodded his head and smiled . Then he looked behind me and frowned .
" What are you doing here ? " he said and I could hear anger in his voice . I looked behind me and saw Mr Smokey smiling coldy at us .
" I was passing through and thought I should pay a visit to my favorite Corpse . " he said in a chilling voice and I got the feeling he didn't mean that , " Of course , imagine my surprise when I saw you taking your Beloved into a Pestilence's lair ? That was stupid by the way . "
" Hey , I brought him here and we didn't know that pistilence was in here ." I said and he tisked his tongue .
" It's called a Pestilence and he should have known it was here before you even got out of that meadow ." he said and I gasped . How long had he been following us ? Did he see us kiss ? I thought feeling crazily embarrassed .
" How was he supposed to know ? It's not his fault ." I said glaring at Mr Smokey .
" Yes it is . " he said with a frown , " Corpse you are stupid and going to get your Beloved killed . "
" Hey that's - " I started but he continued talking .
" You know nothing of the world of spirits or djinni and that will be the cause of many deaths . " he said remorselessly , " This was just a mere hybrid and a low level one at that . If you encounter more powerful entities , you won't be as fortunate and I might not be around to save you ."
" I do not need your help . " Bee said angrily , " I defeated the Pestilence on my own and I can protect Nymph ."
Mr Smokey laughed mirthlessly , " Protect ? You fell into a dark rage and started feeding off a djinni , which is a sanctified crime against the Order . You had no control of yourself and would likely have killed hundreds of people and any spirit that would have come your way . Including your Beloved . "
" I would never hurt Nymph . Never again ." Bee said holding my hand and I looked between them . I didn't know how Bee knew Mr Smokey but they clearly didn't like each other.
" Fools. "
We turned to the Pestilence trapped in the prism tower . It was see through and inside I could see Bobby smiling with his horrible sharp teeth . He had turned back to his normal human like self , only the teeth showed what he was . He also still had the horns .
" What are you babbling about ? " Mr Smokey said irritably at the prisoner . A chill flowed around us and I swear I saw Bobby flinch but he quickly recovered .
" Foolish Djinn Reaper , foolish Corpse and even foolisher mortal ." He said looking at me , his voice was like bubbling tar " Do you not know of the danger you are in mortal ? The risk of being with these two maggots ? "
" You be quiet and begone ." Mr Smokey said and snapped his fingers . Wind began to blow around us , Bobby's face showed panic and he bashed the walls of the prism but it held firm .
" Fine ! Mortal you will regret this , do you hear me ? " Bobby cried as the wind filled with tiny wisps of white like snow and whirled around the prism .
" Carry on , mortal . Stay with this Corpse and teach him to raise . " Bobby said hurriedly, " But soon he will be found , he will be tainted and he will be ours . As for you , "
Bobby was getting harder to discern amidst the swirling snow but I could still here him and see him vaguely . He bashed the prism once and glared at me with pure acidic hatred .
" This will be the last form that you will ever take ! " He said and in a swirl of green slime , he changed ... into me . Then raising his hands , he let out a scream of pure terror .
" Essenctial frost ." Mr Smokey said softly and the creature in the prism that looked like me froze . It literally froze midscream , turning into a blue statue that looked like it was made of ice .
" Well , that was very educational . Don't you think ? " Mr Smokey said smiling coldly and he waved his hand in a small arc . The prism disappeared in a fluff of snow .
" That - that ... what he said , was it true ? " I asked feeling scared .
" What ? No ." he answered , " Pestilence thrive on building fear. He just wanted to rattle you and apparently he succeeded . "
" What did he mean ' he will be found , he will be tainted and he will be ours ? ' " Bee asked and I nodded my head . What did that mean ?
" Look , I don't have time to teach you everything . Not sure if I even want to . " Mr Smokey said , " But if you can find me in your lives then I will teach you , but if you can't then ... well like the Pestilence said , you'll die . Goodbye ."
Then in a wisp of white light , he vanished and the store was repaired . Everything from the floor , to the counter and the walls . It was as if nothing had changed , except that it had .
There was one thing missing to make everything normal again ; Bobby . But I realized that he was gone . Either the Pestilence had eaten him or killed him . I looked around the shop feeling numb .
This day had been alot , and to think I had been happy a few hours ago . It seemed like ages .
" Nymph, it is dark out . We must return , before Mrs Rosi begins to worry . ' Bee said and he offered me his hand . I looked at him and nodded my head .
" Yeah , but we are going to have to run . " I said and took his hand .
" I just hope I can think of an explanation for your shirt . "
Bee looked down at his shirt . Whilst everything in the shop had been fixed , Bee still had a shirt that was littered with holes and a part missing by the shoulder . Bobby's acid had made the thing a rag .
" I will wear another one when I return . " Bed said and he ripped his shirt off . He tore it off with one hand and I had to look away from his chest . Now was definitely not the time for that , I told myself .
" Come on , " I said as we walked out of the butchery . " Let's go home ." I said and then we ran .