Sold on Earth, Chosen by Beasts

The evening rain had stopped only an hour ago, leaving the streets damp and shining beneath the flickering neon lights of the old district. Water dripped steadily from rusted fire escapes, gathering in puddles along the cracked sidewalks. The worn café sign buzzed weakly overhead, its faded red letters threatening to give up at any second. Nyx stepped out through the back door of the café, balancing a leaking trash bag in one hand while rubbing her sore shoulder with the other. The alley behind the building smelled like spoiled leftovers, stale cigarettes, and rainwater that had soaked too deeply into concrete to ever dry properly. Just as she reached the overflowing dumpster, her phone vibrated sharply inside her hoodie pocket. Nyx frowned. No one called her unless they wanted something. Balancing the trash bag against her hip, she pulled out the old phone. The cracked screen flashed a name that immediately made her stomach tighten. Grandma. Nyx answered the call and lifted the phone to her ear. “Nyx, are you done with your work?” Straight to the question. No greeting. No warmth. Nothing. Not that she expected anything else. “Yes,” Nyx replied quietly, tossing the trash bag into the dumpster with a dull thud. “Almost done. What happened?” “Then come home as soon as you’re wrapped up with your work.” Her grandmother paused for a second before adding something that made Nyx blink in surprise. “Come by bus or train today instead of walking home.” And then the call disconnected. Nyx stared at the screen for a moment. That was… strange. Usually, her family scolded her for spending even a single coin on transportation. They preferred she walk the entire way home, no matter how late it got, just to save money. She sighed softly and brushed her hands against her faded apron. A strange knot twisted in her stomach. Something felt… wrong. Her grandmother never called her home early. Usually, they were called to order her around—pick up groceries, clean after her siblings, take over someone else’s chores, or work another shift somewhere to bring home more money. Not only did her grandmother call her to come home as soon as possible, but she also said to take the bus to get home as soon as possible. But today was different, like they are hiding something from her and just waiting for her to reach home before dumping a bomb on her. And Nyx hated being different. The alley suddenly felt colder than before. For reasons she couldn’t explain, a heavy sense of dread settled over her chest. Like something was waiting for her. Like her life was quietly standing at the edge of a cliff, ready to fall. Nyx shook the thought away and walked back inside the cafe. Warm air immediately wrapped around her as she entered through the kitchen door. The comforting smell of baked bread and coffee filled the air, softening the tension in her chest slightly. The tiny café wasn’t fancy by any means. The wallpaper was peeling near the windows, the chairs didn’t match, and the old ceiling fan squeaked every few minutes. But to Nyx, this place felt more like home than the actual house she returned to every night. She quietly untied her apron and headed toward the small locker room behind the kitchen. After stuffing the worn fabric into her locker, she grabbed her old bag and walked toward the front counter. Mr. and Mrs. Parker were sitting behind the register, busy going over handwritten ledgers beneath a dim yellow lamp. “I’m done cleaning the kitchen and dumping the trash bags,” Nyx said softly. “I’m heading home now.” “Alright, dear. Be careful on your way home,” Mr. Parker replied without looking up from the ledger, though his voice carried its usual warmth. “And did you take the sandwich I packed for you?” Mrs. Parker asked immediately, glancing at her over her glasses. “You better eat it this time instead of pretending you already did.” Nyx’s fingers tightened around the strap of her worn bag. “I will,” she whispered. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Parker.” The older woman sighed dramatically before standing up from her chair. “Oh, child, there’s no need to thank me for feeding you.” She walked over and gently pulled Nyx into a hug. “If I don’t look after you, who will?” Nyx froze slightly before slowly relaxing into the embrace. Warmth. Softness. Care. Things she still didn’t know how to accept without feeling guilty. Mrs. Parker pulled back slightly and looked at her with the same expression she always did whenever this topic came up. “You sure you don’t want us to adopt you?” she asked gently. “You know we’d gladly do it.” Nyx immediately lowered her head, embarrassed. “Mrs. Parker…” The older woman laughed softly at her reaction. Mr. and Mrs. Parker owned this small, rundown café together. Years ago, Mrs. Parker had lost her baby after a terrible accident, and doctors later told her she would never be able to conceive again. Maybe that was why they treated Nyx the way they did. Or maybe they were simply good people. After discovering how Nyx’s family treated her, they had slowly started caring for her like their own daughter. Extra meals. Warm clothes during winter. Quietly slipping tips into her pocket when business was good. And every few months, Mrs. Parker would ask the same question again. Do you want us to adopt you? But Nyx always refused. Because she knew exactly what her family would do. They would never allow their unpaid maid—their source of extra income—to leave. And the Parkers were barely surviving themselves. Nyx could never bring herself to become another burden they had to carry. “Okay, okay,” Mrs. Parker said with a smile after seeing Nyx’s red face. “I’ll stop teasing you.” Nyx let out a small breath of relief, making the older woman laugh again. “Now go home safely.” Nyx nodded quietly and turned toward the café entrance. But the moment her hand touched the door handle— That feeling came back. Sharp. Cold. Heavy. Nyx stopped walking. Her chest tightened painfully as an unexplainable fear crawled down her spine. Why… Why does it feel like, if I leave now… …I’ll never see them again? “What happened?” Mrs. Parker asked lightly from behind her. “Not wanting to leave us now?” Nyx quickly shook her head as though the motion alone could force the terrible feeling away. “It’s nothing,” she murmured. Even so, her fingers trembled slightly around the handle. Mrs. Parker’s smile faded just a little, concern flickering in her eyes. Nyx forced herself to smile back. Her cheeks turned red when Mr. Parker loudly teased, “See? Told you she loves us more than her own family.” “Obviously,” Mrs. Parker replied proudly. Their laughter followed her as she finally stepped outside. The cafe door closed behind her with a soft click. And somehow… The sound felt final.