Chapter 12 - Clean up!

After carefully packing his uniform back into the suitcase, Finn changed into a worn-out tracksuit, picked up his phone, and left the room. 

Although he remained sceptical about his surroundings, the blood had dried but was still visible. 

Finn decided to clean up first and then set the exploration for later. 

He switched on his phone, unlocked it, and opened the wallet app where his uncle sent funds. 

Checking it, he saw that £450 was still remaining. 

"What can this buy? I should head to a nearby department store." 

Finn stepped out of his house into the bright afternoon. He began walking down the street, not yet reaching the public steps, scanning the area for the department store. 

After a few minutes, he spotted it across the road. The store had a large glass front, with bright lights illuminating the entrance despite the daylight. 

A few shoppers were coming and going, their bags in hand. 

As he approached, he noticed the bold sign above the door, announcing the store's name in large letters. 

Finn pushed open the glass door, which swung inward with a gentle whoosh. The sound of chatter and the faint hum of music filled the air as he stepped inside. 

Inside the department store, the air was cool and filled with the scent of various customers' perfumes and the fragrances of the goods on display. 

Bright fluorescent lights illuminated the wide aisles, which were stocked with a variety of goods. 

Shelves lined the walls, filled with household items, toiletries, and cleaning supplies. The floor was polished and gleaming, reflecting the bright lights above. 

At one side of the store, a middle-aged woman with short, curly hair stood beside a shelf, helping customers locate the items they were unable to find. 

She wore a blue uniform with a name tag that read "Maggie." 

Her expression was friendly as she greeted and helped shoppers with a warm smile. 

Finn placed a hand on his chin, trying to recall what was used to clean up scenes like that. 

He murmured to himself, "Bleach, gloves, disinfectant, cloths…" 

With determination, he walked through the store, heading towards the cleaning supplies aisle. 

First, he found the bleach. It was on a shelf labelled "Cleaning Essentials." 

He picked up the bottle, examining the label closely. The design was different from what he was used to, with unfamiliar symbols and instructions. 

Next, he spotted the gloves. They were located next to the sponges, in a section marked "Protective Gear." 

Finn reached for a pack of bright yellow gloves. 

He continued to the disinfectant section, where he found several brands. He picked up a spray bottle, reading the label. It boasted antibacterial properties but had an entirely different scent profile than what he was familiar with. 

Finally, he moved to the cleaning cloths. They were stacked neatly on a shelf, vibrant colours catching his eye. 

He picked up a pack, noticing that the texture felt different, and the label promised superior absorbency compared to his own Earth's options. 

Finn glanced around the aisle, feeling slightly out of place with the unfamiliar products. He carefully placed each item into his basket, determined to gather everything he needed for the cleanup. 

Finn made his way to the counter, where a young man in a blue uniform stood. His name tag read "GayLord." 

Finn couldn't help but glance at the name tag as he dropped the items he had picked out onto the counter. 

He raised his gaze to the young man's face, who was busy grinning with his eyes squinted. 

Finn was momentarily stunned by the name; what kind of parent would give such a name to their child? 

He quickly shook the thought from his mind and concentrated on the task at hand. 

The young man began scanning the items, the beep of the register echoing in the store. 

"That's some serious cleaning gear you've got here!" he exclaimed, his tone light and cheerful. 

"Looks like you're preparing for a big job." He continued to chat as he worked, "You must be tackling a real mess. What's the plan? Are you cleaning up a murder scene or something?" 

Finn simply nodded, trying to remain focused. 

"Seriously though, it's not every day you see someone buy this much cleaning stuff. You must have a lot on your plate!" 

The young man's enthusiasm seemed unending as he continued to chatter, glancing at Finn with an expectant smile. 

Finn finally decided to engage a bit, offering a casual smile in return. 

"Actually, I'm just getting ready for a big spring clean at home. You know how it is—sometimes you let things pile up a bit too much." 

The young man chuckled, nodding as he finished ringing up the items. 

"Ah, I get that! A good clean can do wonders. So, that'll be £47.80," he said, looking up from the register. 

Finn opened his wallet app on his phone, selecting the payment option. 

He held it over the reader at the checkout counter. 

"£47.80, right?" GayLord confirmed, still smiling as he watched Finn complete the transaction. 

Finn nodded, tapping his phone to initiate the payment. 

A moment later, a notification popped up, confirming the transaction was successful. 

"Thanks!" Finn said, putting his phone away and gathering the bags of cleaning supplies from the counter. 

"Good luck with whatever you're cleaning up!" GayLord said, his voice was a bit cheerful as Finn turned to leave. 

Finn stepped out of the store, ready to tackle the task ahead. 

As Finn exited the department store, GayLord gave him a long stare. He had noticed the crack running across Finn's phone screen and the faint stain of what looked like blood on it. 

A chill ran down his spine as he began to suspect something dark was going on. 

But before he could dwell on the thought, another customer approached the checkout counter, breaking the moment. 

GayLord quickly shifted his focus, putting on a bright smile as he greeted the new customer. 

"Welcome! What can I help you with today?" 

The fleeting suspicion faded as he resumed his duties, though the image of Finn lingered in the back of his mind.

...

Finn stood in front of his room door when the female tenant from that morning returned from work. 

She greeted him cheerfully. 

As she reached her door, she turned to Finn and asked, "How was your day at school?" 

"It was great," Finn replied, offering a brief smile before entering his own room. 

Once inside, he dropped the items he had purchased onto his desk and sighed deeply, staring out of the window. 

The sunlight filtered through, casting a golden glow onto his face and the desk. 

After a moment, he steeled himself and stepped outside his room, heading to the bathroom down the hall. 

He quickly grabbed the mop, bucket, and scrubbing brush from the cleaning supplies stored there. 

Returning to his room, he had filled the bucket with warm water from the bathroom tap, adding some of the cleaning solution he saw in the bathroom. 

He opened the disinfectant spray and shook it before spraying it onto the stained areas of the floor. 

The strong scent of the cleaner mixed with the lingering smell of dried blood. 

Next, he took the scrubbing brush, applying some cleaning solution to it. 

He worked methodically, scrubbing the floor to lift the stains. 

Once the stains were lifted, he rinsed the brush in the bucket before setting it aside.He then dipped the mop into the soapy water, wringing it out before mopping the area. 

After finishing, Finn carefully gathered the used paper towels he had blotted the stains with and placed them in a plastic bag, which had originally contained the items. 

He sealed the bag tightly and decided to hide it beneath the desk, out of immediate sight, planning to dispose of it somehow and soon. 

With the room looking cleaner, he took a moment to breathe, feeling relieved. 

Finn then took out his phone again to check the time; it was now 5:54 PM. 

He sighed and sat at his desk, casting a thoughtful glance at the suitcase that contained the Academy's uniform. 

"Hmmm... I really have to become a Mage if I ever want to get one step closer to this kid's goal. Though I would love to have a harem, that's the most foolish distraction a man like me could ever have. So I'd rather just focus on building connections and figuring out how to earn money... apart from depending on this body's uncle..."