Kia paused as he stared at the man with a bewildered expression. "Your bleeding," he muttered, his tone almost non chalant as he continued to stare at the blood, sliding down the man's arm and dripping onto the floor.
The man looked down at his arm, as if he was noticing the blood for the first time. "Oh," he said, his voice flat. "It's must have happened when I was stocking the shelves." He glanced back up at Kia, the expression on his face was unreadable. "Is that all?" He asked and if Kia wasn't mistaken, he sounded like a robot. His voice lacking any emotion for someone who had hurt himself.
Kia nodded In response, not wanting to question any further, all he wanted was to pay for he's goods and return back to his depressed life.
Thankfully the man said nothing afterwards, he went back to his task of scanning Kia's items. Kia pulled out his wallet and paid for his goods in cash. The money left in his wallet was almost empty, it would last him at least for another day but that was just about it.
He packed his goods in a bag with the cake in his right hand. Just as he was about to exit to store, he heard a loud crash from behind him. He's grip around the bag tightened knowing it was the man that had fallen. He felt tempted to look back and at least check if he was okay but he had to remind himself that no one looked out for him when he was hurt. He couldn't bring himself to care about someone else, even if they had been injured.
He walked out of the store, turning down the street and heading back to his apartment. The town being quieter than before and he could feel this hair in arms as he walked down the street. He kept his eyes straight ahead, trying to ingnore the feeling of being watched. Deep down he was terrified that the bullies from yesterday would return. Since he's Jody hadn't began healing, taking another round of secre beating wasn't something he wanted.
He picked up his pace, his heart pounding in his chest. The footsteps got louder band he whirled around ready to right to defend himself but no one was there.
His hand slid down his neck, once again he was letting fear get the best of him. He sighed. How long was he going to keep running and being a coward?
Sighing deeply, he pulled out his phone and scroll through his list of music, after finding the one he wanted he clicked play and connected his phone to and ear piece. He inserted the ear piece into his head, drowning out the silence of the empty streets which his chosen music and he continued making home.
He had nearly made it home when he heard the footsteps again, this time when he looked behind him. He saw and woman, pushing a baby stroller also heading towards his apartment complex.
His tensed muscles relax once again as he's gaze followed her. she was on her phone, smiling as spoke to the person on the other side. Her gaze was fixed on her baby in her stroller and she pushed passed him without saying a thing.
Kia had seen her before, maybe once or twice. For the past 2 years he had been living here, he was barely ever home and when he was, he would stay in his apartment all day without interacting with any of his neighbor. The last time he had seen her, she was heavily pregnant and he could recognize by blonde hair and the tattoo around her neck which meant her baby was only less than a year old.
Ding!
The elevator door slid ipend and he stepped in, pressing the button to his floor The doors began to close.
"Hold on!" the woman yelled, waving her hand in the airand staring at the closing door.
Kia didn't move, he just kept staring at her watching her push her baby stroller, and just at the last minute, she made it in before the door closed.
"Ahh, huff." she panted and looked at him weirdly as the door finally closed shut.
Kia didn't turn around to look at the woman. He knew she was staring at him so he kept his gaze fixed on the elevator door.
There was an awkward silence between them that seemed to stretch forever, except for the sound of the baby cooing in the stroller. That caught his attention, causing him to steal a quick glance at the baby. But he's eyes widened by what he saw. It was not an ordinary baby, it was purple! Cooing and gurgling as it looked at him. It seemed to be fancinated by his hair, and he reached out its tiny hand but the had claws.
"Uhh," Kia muttered, trying to process what he was seeing. His mind raced, Was he hallucinating again? What kind of prank was that?
He looked at the woman, hoping for an explanation but she stared back at him her face pale. "Are you okay?" she asked.
Sweat dripped down kia's face, his heart was pounding in his chest and when he looked back at the baby. He blinked, unable to understand what was happening.
The baby that was purple just a moment ago with claws, now looked like any normal, healthy infant.
Fuck! What was wrong with him! He felt dizzy.
His gaze darted between the woman and the baby when he noticed her grip tightening around her baby's stroller which made him more uneasy. Her gaze shifted and she noticed the injuries in his body.
He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly becoming dry. "I'm…I am fine," he whispered but the woman didn't look convinced.
"You don't look fine."
The elevator light went on indicating that he had reached his floor, without wasting any more time, he rushed out of the elevator, leaving the woman behind as the door closed once again.