//------------------------------// // Everybody needs a little magic in their life // Story: The things we do // by technicscratch //------------------------------// Chapter 2 So dinner with Natalie went so, so. She was concerned about my lack of concentration last night and I have only that bundle of rags to thank for that. I fear that its quite literally consuming my own thoughts. I'm probably just overreacting, probably nothing. I finish writing out the last sentence for yesterdays "adventures". I couldn't believe that someone such as myself, somebody who I figured was so strong minded would be so easily brought to their knees by a small curiosity. I quickly turn off the music I was listening to and saw the last sentence with a smile. "Not too long ago, this village was a golden scene of hope." I get off my chair running my fingers through my hair, pleasant with how soft and clean it still was, realising that a pre work shower would not be necessary today. The thought of a few extra minuets before pleased me, and I pick up my acoustic guitar and strum out a few chords rhythmically. ~---~ I had made sure to take the long way around to work for today, avoiding Gladwin at all costs. If not just for the bundle of rags that still has managed to torment my apparently soft mind, then also for Marcus and his raging anger. I snap out of my thoughts and numb my mind as I continue to shape the metal in front of me into the perfect curves, and unique shapes as instructed. Matt leans over and whispers into my ear as a foreman passes by proudly. "Thats the new foreman eh?" I look up from the now acutely curved steel plate. The foreman stops and gives me a dirty look despite my silence. I slowly look back down, trying to show him that I was doing everything but trying to slack off. The foreman passes in a few proud strides, and ends up finally leaving our sector and heading back to head office. "That was a close one. Reckon he had it in for you?" "I don't know but that was incredibly stupid..." Matt shines a quick frown over to me, and I quickly apologize. "Sorry, I've.... had alot on my mind..." I look back down to the metal, the curve slightly warped from the neglect of absolute attention, "dammit....". "Suppose a nice jug of rhackt will help?" I allow a small smile to appear on the side of my lips. "You know me too well Matt...." I bring my torch back to the steel "far, far too well." I manage to perfectly reshape the metal back to its required curves, and move it down the line. ~---~ "I'm not actually worried about any foremen or "higher ups" having it in for me, i mean, if there's one thing I can say about my work its that I take pride in doing the best I can....." I bring the frosty cup to my mouth, sipping on the potent poison and enjoying the burn as it slips down my throat and spreads to the rest of my body. "I'll say, you're a monster some-days. If anything you probably have a promotion in the future." He does the same frowning as he trys his best to down the bitter liquid. I chuckle to myself and raise my glass for a toast "Heres to the rest of our life. Shaping metal and sipping rhackt!" He raises his glass still full and connects it with mine. "Whats the matter Matt? Don't like a little poison every now and then?" He frowns "Not that, just this stuff tastes like shit." "Thats the point, it makes it hard to get drunk." I take another mouthful and lean back in my chair, being careful not to make contact with any surrounding drinkers. I look to my right to see two men furiously arguing over some topic or another. To my left a young women is crying in the corner, a few dollar bills scattered around her, and directly behind me a frowning waitress was tapping an old watch that hung slightly off her wrist. I roll my eyes. "Guess it's getting late huh matt?" I look at him, his glass still half full. "You going to finish that?" I take his glass before he can even answer "Wish i could mate...." I stand up and bring the glass over to the sobbing girl and hand it to her. "Here, on me, enjoy it." I head out the doors with a small wave to Matt, who was still doing everything he could to keep the rhackt, and dignity inside of him. I step off the curb testing my balance, I was still clear headed which of course was good, and I begin walking quickly down the street towards Gladwin. By the time I stroll by the ruined sign for the street the moon has already reared its pale, cold, face fully, and provided quiet a peaceful ambiance for a place of this stature and reputation. I lick my dry lips nervously as I approach the stretch of side walk that lead to that demonic thought swallower. Instinctively I tip toe over to where it was, seeing nothing but bare sidewalk the whole way. Half of me sighs with relief and the other half of me cries in desperation for answers. I shake my head, satisfied with how everything turned out. That is, until I see a rather bright purple glow leaking out of an underground parking unit to my right. I bite my lip, harder, harder, and even harder attempting to decide if I really want to know....... I nudge forward, inch by inch, attempting to remain silent. A strange sound emits from the back of the parking unit, and the light gets stronger. I peek my head around the corner to see a floating orb of sorts at the back. I bite my lip again, this time letting out a small whelp as I realise I had punctured the skin. A small trickle of blood rolls lazily down my lip, and onto my chin, and I wipe it off continuing forward towards the light. I'm nearly half way when the orb disappears and I'm swallowed by the thick grainy darkness that tightly hugs me. This is it isn't it? I'm going to feel something cold hit me, and I'm going to get stabbed to death. I'm going to hear a loud crack, and have the walls painted with my brain, I'm...... "Don't panic..." I hear a very light and quiet voice whisper from behind me. It's that of a woman, and a very young one at that. Images of the young woman from the bar fill my thoughts and I lift my fists in the darkness ready for anything. A similar glow to the orb appears illuminating the owner of the sweet voice. It was a creature.... A pony looking being, with a horn, and a barely visible pair of wings tucked to her sides. She was the same colour as both the illuminating lights, a very "airy" lavender, and she was staring at me with large, innocent, purple eyes. "What are you???......."