#personalprompt

Clink clank

The bell chimed as a pair of petite legs entered the space.

“Hello, how can I help you?” The older gentleman approached the young patron.

“Can I have what you have on that ledge?”

The older gentleman turned around to look and furrowed his brow. “There’s nothing there, young man.”

“There. By the higher ledge.”

The older gentleman turned back with a stern look. “There—is—nothing—there. Young man.”

“You too can’t see them.” The young patron sighed.

“Are you playing some game on me, little twerp? I’ve seen the likes of you, shoo!.” The older gentleman’s voice sounded eerie and double.

The young patron staggered back but still spoke, “You..shouldn’t treat a customer like that, sir. I have enough money that I have saved up.”

“Then be in your right mind and choose something I actually sell.”

“I only have enough to buy the one on the ledge. 5 dollar, correct? That’s what it said on the tag.”

“Get out.”

“But…”

“Get—out. Or I will throw you out,” hissed the older gentleman.

The young patron dragged his feet and stole a glance back at the ledge. He sighed and closed the door.

The older gentleman stared at the ledge. His eyes grew bigger. He steadied his breath and whispered, “Yes….nothing there.” Then he walked away.

Meanwhile, the young patron peeked through the corner of display window. “You lied, old man.” Soon he disappeared.

That night arrived earlier than usual. While the older gentleman closed the store, the first snowfall of the season arrived with a whistling wind. Unbeknownst to him, a black shadow landed on the roof and unlocked a small window.

A pair of bright eyes travelled in the darkened hallway of the store just to stop at a spot.

The ledge. It was flooded with red hue. As it dimmed down and a face emerged.

The small dark figure trembled while extending one arm to reach up. A drop of tear fell on the floor and sizzled. “Please, help.”

“What do you offer, little delicious one?”

The small figure breath’s quickened and he almost lost his footing.

“There, there. Let me hold you.”

“No, I’m o…” Before he could finish his sentence, a sudden cold caressed his skin and belted around his waist. Needle-like shivers seeped in and began to tap his bone.

“Delicious marrow. Hmmmm.”

He struggled to find his words while a thousand of invisible fingers crawled up to his throat and soon his face. “Help…help me find a way home.”

“Home…home? Orphan. I see. No wonder you smelled wonderful. The fragrance of you and your housemates is intoxicating. I longed for the immature soft silky delicacies.”

“Please.” His brain started to scream with a tapping pain.

“And in return?” The small figure then saw the white eyes that belonged to the face. Devoid of irises, he could only saw the purplish black veins.

“I’ll give you my most treasured possession.” He managed to squeak out a bargain.

“Worldly properties? Ha! Trying to fool me, little twerp?”

He gasped, “You.”

“Yes me, I am the real owner of this establishment. That shell you saw walking away? I remember when he’s about your age. Offered me a proposal I couldn’t refuse. I took my time consuming his marrow…patiently through a decade.”

A crippling fear added pressure to the constant tapping on his bone. “A…decade?” The agony reminded him of his fractured bone years ago.

“Yes…only been a decade. I will need a replacement soon. Interested? He too was looking for a home; a mansion to be precise, in exchange for his life. What can you offer?” The face paused to lick its lipless mouth.

“Th…These.”

The face looked down on him and then his chest. “Such a short term replacement. Not interested. I still have at least another decade with this one and I’m comfortable here. Hate moving.”

“No…I have..” He wheezed. “Something else.”

The face looked bored. “What? An extra limb? Because that means more marrow and you don’t seem to have it. Now be gone. You have wasted my precious energy.”

The needle-like pain had begun to rob his consciousness. “Can...cer…” The pain subsided a little.

“Bottomless well of delicacies?”

“Win....win.”

“Indeed. I’m well fed and you’re healthy.”

“Unlimited buffet,” he added. The pain had disappeared entirely and he could finally saw how far the floor was from him. For a moment his stomach churned with fear and spoke to distract himself. “What are you going to do with the….old man?”

“Old? Ha…don’t let his appearance fooled you. Might as well terminate him. I have no use.”

Suddenly within his peripheral view, he could see the old gentleman started to gasp for breath. The man’s wrinkly skin began to undulate as if something moving underneath while he could feel the terror leaked into him.

“Stop! I gave you priceless offer. Just let him be,” he pled.

“And spread the great news to everyone? I don’t think so.”

“Nobody would believe him.” The face’s hesitation fueled his persuasion. “Just a crazy old man.”

The face grunted, “fine.”

A wave of relief washed over him but it was cut short by the sudden thickness in the air. He was drowning. The shortness of his breath soon came with the burning pain. He felt millions of daggers were sharpening their edges on his flesh. Feeling betrayed, he surrendered his will to live. But he soon realized his assumption was a mistake. In a blink of an eye he was standing up tall and devoid of any discomfort as if he was reborn again.

“What…”

“Hello, kid. Down here.”

An elongated shadow of him waved back as he raised his brow. “Really?”

“Do you want to change your name to Igor or reside on the nearest gothic tower with hunch on your back?”

“That’s my other option?”

“Yes.”

“Fine.”

“What’s your name, boy?”

“Now you ask?”

“We stuck together… forever.”

He shivered with regret. “Peter.”

“…..”

He pursed his lips and relented. “And yours?”

“Pan. Glad you ask.”

“Nice to meet you Pan.”

“Nice to meet you too Peter…Let’s go.”

“Where?”

Everyone scattered around the room. Drinks were available; sweet, sour or bland; bite sized food were generous; crispy, chewy, or juicy. A slight tinge of nervousness filled the room but mostly everyone was relieved to finally be here again. Before long, the hour had begun.

Everyone pulled out seats and automatically created a semi circular slash oval gathering to rest their weary souls.

A figure breathed audibly and was followed by everyone.

“Welcome to Antipathy Anonymous. It’s hump of the week and we’re surviving. Applaud yourself.”

A round of heavy claps echoed to the darker corners of the room.

Silence, then a raspy voice began. “Name is Monday.”

“Hello Monday.”

“This is my third meeting but first one with this group.”

Silence with a few nods.

“I have 6 siblings. I am part of a twin that is the oldest. There’s always the argument of who’s the first….among some other things.”

Some were looking at Monday while some only lending their ears.

“I am tired of everyone always blaming and hating me. It is not my fault on the condition that I provide. I am not the cause.”

Silence again, with more nods.

“There are all others before me. Everyone always have a choice to just do what they need to do with same effort or even more when they’re with my siblings.”

Monday sighed.

“Everyone always happily waiting for my twin, but not me. Nooo. They always grumble when I arrive, which I loyally do. On time too. I mean it is not Sunday’s fault obvs. Still….” Monday looked at the floor then with a heavier voice continued, “there’s a part of me that resent my own family especially Sunday.”

“Meow.”

“Yes, you feel my pain.” Monday looked up at the black cat.

“People just hated me without a good enough reason. It’s not my fault when they choose to be slothful as they walked away from me, especially when Friday decided to give them a day off.”

“Is that why you sometimes decided to give them the same offer?”

“Maybe….I just wanted to feel the abundance love they give to Sunday.”

“You mean Saturday?”

Monday chuckled and looked around before giving a firm answer, “No.”

It took almost everyone by surprise.

“I don’t want that. Too much blame was thrown around when something terrible happened. No, I like what Sunday has, when they decided to sit down around the table with their family or just relax and take a break. I want that warmth. I want that ease.”

“What is your goal this week?”

Monday’s eyes closed shut. “I want to release my envy.”

Everyone was tapping the floor.

“I want to ignore the discrimination and go on with my day. I’m the one who is in control of my own happiness, not them.”

Everyone was tapping harder.

“Thank you.”

Silence.

“Meawo, I’m the Black cat.”