Double Deal

Chapter 5 (Part 2)

“Where were you? I was so worried!” Kharis said as Lola walked into their apartment.

“I… was out,” Lola said.

Kharis gave her look, “Original,” She said sarcastically before returning to her cheerful self, “And you were out not looking at your phone?”

“You mean the present you left me of 15 phone calls and 25 messages of ‘Where are you?’” Lola asked.

Kharis smiled, “I was worried.”

“You were being annoying and overly protective,” Lola corrected, walking towards her room.

“I almost called the police because you didn’t answer me,” Kharis called.

“Whatever Kharis,” Lola called back.

“Hey, wait, you didn’t answer my question!” Kharis realized as Lola closed her door.

Lola sighed, leaning against her bedroom door. Her phone buzzed. It was her manager, Giselle, telling her that she needed to come in to work the last shift for the night and close up the cafe because the person who was supposed to work called in at the last minute. Lola replied and told her boss that she would be there right away.

She changed into another pair of work clothes and headed back towards the front door. “Where are you going?” Kharis asked, pausing the TV.

“Giselle told me to work the closing shift at the cafe,” Lola said grabbing her keys, “I’ll be back later tonight.”

Lola walked out the front door as Kharis called, “Be careful!” She headed down the stairs to the front of the building and started walking on her normal path to the cafe. She walked into the locker room 15 minutes later to find Hyram already putting his apron on.

“Hey Lola! I didn’t know you were coming in tonight,” Hyram said while tying his apron.

“Yeah, I didn’t either. Giselle texted me a few minutes ago asking me to come in,” Lola said, opening her locker.

A piece of paper fell on the floor when she swung the locker door open. She leaned over and picked it up.

I know who you are.

You have three days to come clean to your friends investigating me

or I’ll do it for you.

People will know how fake you really are.

Remember daddy.

Lola almost fell over. Hyram turned and saw her almost fall, ”Woah!” He leaned over to catch her, “Lola, are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Lola said, quickly crumpling the paper in her hand and reaching into her locker. She dropped the paper as she grabbed her apron. She quickly tied the string without thought because of years of subconsciously doing it. She grabbed her hat and shut her locker, walking out of the locker room, Hyram following after her.

They replaced the workers who were already out of the cafe. Towards the end of the day, the cafe slowed down as less customers walked in, so when Lola’s phone buzzed, she quickly glanced at it.

A: Hey, wanna come over to study those books from my Uncle?

L: I can’t, I’m at work.

A: Wait, but didn’t you work this morning?

L: Yes, but my boss asked me to come in.

A customer walked in, forcing Lola to quickly put her phone away. It vibrated again in her pocket as she greeted the customer. She took the order. Suddenly a line started to form behind the customer. The last rush of the day. She quickly took orders as Hyram quickly made drinks. When the last customer ordered, Lola walked over to the coffee counter to help make drinks. When the cafe was about to close, two people walked into the cafe. Ajax and Zephyrus. Lola was slightly confused, but Zephyrus took one studious look at Hyram before quickly whispering something into Ajax’s ear. “Hey, we’re about to close,” Hyram said, walking over to the janitor's closet to start cleaning up.

“Okay,” Ajax said, walking over to Lola. He quietly whispered to her, “How well do you know him?”

“Hyram? He’s pretty new here. He’s only been working here for about two years, but he’s become close friends with me, Kharis, and Tom,” Lola answered, “Are you guys going to order anything.”

“A frappuccino,” Zephyrus said, “I’ve never had one.”

Lola and Ajax looked at Zephyrus. Lola laughed as she asked, “What kind?”

“Uh… I don’t know. Whatever you want to give me.”

Lola smiled before taping on the screen in front of her a few times. “Are you going to pay for your frappuccino?”

“I don’t have human money. Do you take Denarii?” Zephyrus asked.

Lola shook her head. “It’s all right, I’ll pay for it,” Lola said, swiping a card to the side of the screen. “Just wait over there.”

Lola walked away to make the drink. A few minutes later, she placed Zephyrus’ drink on the counter. “I need to talk to you two later,” Lola said as Zephyrus grabbed his drink.

“I need to talk to you too. Where do you want to meet up?” Zephyrus asked.

“I’ll come over to Ajax’s house in a few minutes when my shift is over. I’ll head over by myself, so don’t wait for me,” Lola said, walking away from the two boys to help Hyram clean.

Ajax and Zephyrus walked out of the cafe and started heading back to Ajax’s house. Lola wiped tables as Hyram swept. The bell rang, signaling that someone walked into the cafe. “Sorry, we’re clos-” Lola started, her throat tightening when she turned around.

At the doorway was a tall figure with a white painted face, bright red cheeks, and poofy hair, with beady, black eyes. Aside from the figure's clown face, it’s body didn’t resemble the normal chubby body of a clown; Instead his body was unusually thin shown through his small sized clothes still being baggy on him. He had an evil glare in his eyes. “S-Sir,” Hyram stammered, “The cafe is closed, I’m afraid you have to come back tomorrow.”

“I’m not here for coffee,” The clown said in a deep, growling voice, as he stared at Lola, who was still frozen in fear.

She called Ajax and put her phone down on a table. “Then what are you here for?” Lola asked, her voice shaking.

“My boss has sent me to collect you so that you may be tormented forever by your greatest fear,” The clown said.

Lola couldn’t speak. Her greatest fear…Lola was frozen. “Sir, I’m going to ask you again to leave…” Hyram repeated.

“I’ll leave after I get what I’ve come for,” The clown started taking steps towards Lola.

Hyram got in the way, blocking the clown from getting to Lola by holding the broom up like a sword at the clown. “Leave,” Hyram repeated.

“You think your stick can stop me?” The clown said, grabbing the broom stick and throwing it, along with Hyram, across the room. Hyram knocked out on impact, sliding down and slumping against the wall.

“Please,” Lola pleaded, almost crying, “Leave me alone.”

“I am only here to collect you. After I take you where you are supposed to be, I’m no longer your concern,” The clown continued to walk towards Lola.

A bell rang as the clown shivered, convulsing as a blue aura appeared around him. He fell limp to the ground, revealing Zephyrus behind her, his stele still smoking after he shot a spell at the clown, the color draining from the engravings on the stele. Lola was relieved. So relieved that she ran over to Zephyrus and hugged him, thanking him. Zephyrus was surprised, “Uh, yeah, no problem. Ajax figured that something was wrong from the call when he listened to the conversation.”

“Someone is after me,” Lola said, pulling away from Zephyrus, “I don’t know why.”

“Your greatest fear? I heard something about that on the phone,” Ajax pointed out.

“Uh... yeah,” Lola got uncomfortable. She changed the subject before she got questioned further, “What do we do with Hyram?”

“Speaking of Hyram,” Ajax said, looking at Zephyrus.

“I think he’s not entirely what he seems. All the reasons I think someone is a monster can be applied to Hyram. I’ll go into detail later but we have to leave before another monster shows up. Once one appears, the rest swarm like bees,” Zephyrus said, looking around outside.

“Well, my house is no good. Kharis is there and a few monsters have already had the pleasure of visiting,” Lola said.

“So my house. That’s where we’ll go,” Ajax said.

“I can’t just leave Hyram here,” Lola said, “Especially not with the cafe like this.”

The cafe was a mess from the clown throwing Hyram. On his way to the wall, he knocked over tables and chairs, one of them breaking. Zephyrus waved his stele, the engravings glowing blue, and the cafe restored itself. He walked over to Hyram and put the tip of the stele to the side of his forehead for a few seconds before pulling away. “There. He won’t remember. Can we leave now?” Zephyrus said, walking back towards the door, “If we stay here any longer-”

“Yeah, I got it,” Lola said, grabbing a napkin from the coffee counter and wrote something on it, “Let me just grab something from my locker real quick.”

Lola ran into the other room. Ajax and Zephyrus were waiting patiently when they heard Lola scream in pain. “Damn it,” Zephyrus muttered as the two boys looked at each other before quickly running into the locker room, where they found Lola hunched over, grasping at her arm. In the corner of the room was a red bug a lot larger than it should have been, it’s mouth foaming. It had sharp teeth and was hissing. “Lo-” Ajax started, but was shut up when Zephyrus’ hand clamped down over his mouth.

With his free hand, he put a single finger up over his lips before removing his other hand from Ajax’s face, bringing it over to the inside of his sweater. He pulled out a dagger and quietly made his way over to the large mutant bug. As Ajax inspected it closer, he realized that the eyes were glossy and foggy, like cataracts had formed. The bug was blind. That’s why Zephyrus made him be quiet. It would attack at any sound it heard. There was a sharp slice as Zephyrus arced the dagger through the bug’s body, cutting it in half. Then he proceeded to step on the head on one of the halves.

“Lola, are you all right?” Zephyrus asked, his dagger steaming.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Lola said, standing up straight but still clutching one of her arms.

“Did the Oxycoccus get you?” Zephyrus asked, truly concerned.

“I said I’m fine,” Lola said, reaching into her locker with her seemingly hurt arm to grab something.

“Lola, the Oxycoccus is poisonous. If it hit you with its venom, then let me know. I can help you heal it,” Zephyrus said, urging her.

Lola scowled, “I said I’m fine. Let’s go,” She said, not waiting for the boys to follow after her as she walked out of the locker room’s back door.

Zephyrus glared at her as she walked out before him and Ajax walked out.