A highly advanced bike makes no sound as it glides across the road of the inner compound.
Commander Carter listened voiced opinions, or more as if he were forced to… it seemed to analyze his every decision, and he could only keep nodding to every word.
•"In the end, the task was accomplished."•
Thankful she stopped, the commander was at his wit's end. Though most of his focus stayed with the road, as one couldn't be so careless.
Back with the iris, a map known to be surveillancing the entire city, there, could be seen a red dot moving at a walking pace.
Back in the ever twisted alleys, Norman arrives at gran gran's door once again, he knocks. Waiting, when the metal slit would slide open, allowing granny to look out before she'd open the door.
Norman hands her the carpet full of valuable metals, and in exchange, she hands him a mop…
He'd clean the clinic, and soon enough, he'd reach an agreement with gran to clean the place every night… but anyhow he was done for the day.
… what was he to do now… it's not like he had any leads as to where his wife's assailant went… just think?… he didn't want to, alas he couldn't.
What does he do again at this time of day…?
Right.
He'd work. Run some errands. Deliver some stuff on a whim. Give out some flyers. Post a sign, set up a stand, to draw for any willing passerby… He was patient, however many hours passed.
Two young women would approach him.
"Hey you! You draw right?" An outgoing one would voice.
Norman sits up and grabs a pen from his pocket, along with a sturdy sheet of paper from a plastic bag.
He nodded "mm-hm"
Pointing at the sign that sold a portrait for 20$.
"Want one?"
"Yeah! yeah!" There was however, only one chair, regardless, the two girls shared it, laughing at their awkward predicament, when the boisterous woman in casual clothing, sporting black hair spoke up once more "Could you draw the both of us?".
"Yeah, I could do it for the price of one." He said
"Uhm! No no no sir! It's fine, we can pay for both…" The second girl, who wore a thin hooded jacket, was reluctant to speak at first… she had long plain sleeves with a skirt that hung below her ankles. Her friend would pull her into a one sided hug, undoing her hood, thus dark emerald hair would follow, paired with tinted glasses, that, as the sun beamed, transitioned from orange to a darker brown.
"Need another chair?" Norman would remark.
They both looked at each other.
"Nope!" The outgoing girl smiled brightly, they'd giggle to themselves, before the shy one would add "No need.." She was soft spoken, clearly, but the reassuring hug she was caught in, seemed to yell appreciation from the moon and back, her bestest and one and only friend, gave her all the courage she needed.
He seemed genuinely in awe of their pure love for eachother, before grabbing another sheet of paper.
"You two young ladies wanted separate portraits? No?"
"Yep!" The girl's eyes shone like a thousand stars, but wait! She'd gotten an idea "Hey, Eve! What if!" The girl in jet black hair looked at her friend with anticipation and excitement, waiting for a response.
"What is it?" Like a butterfly that fluttered in the wind, the soft spoken voice seemed oh so kind.
"What if we ask for portraits of each other!?"
"hm?"
"Like- Like! I'd ask for a portrait of you! Then I could describe to the old man what you would look like to me! Like this! Sir! Can you give her cat ears, a bushy tail, and the biggest eyes! Oh! And she loves Potions! It's potions right?" All the silly gestures made it hard for the shy girl to hold her laughter.
"It's called alchemy!"
"Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! That! Fill her eyes with sketches of potions! Like the ones they use in alchemy!" Their bickering even caught the attention of those walking elsewhere. To the clueless eye they seemed like a pair of young adults simply engrossed in their own little world.
"o-okay then! My turn! Since you made me a cat, give her long ears! Like a rabbit, Make her hold a lollipop! She loves sweets so much that even the local candy stores know to prepare a separate bucket beforehand!"
"Roger that." Norman promptly replied.
The boisterous young lady laughed, was wheezing even, looking at her friend
"What's so funny!"
"N-nothing! Today was just so fun! We had the entire morning to ourselves! Now it's noon… Thank you, I know you've always been busy."
"What are you saying? I can always make time."
Her smile was gleeful however her eyes held uncertainties, adding "At least these portraits would remind us of today! That way, we can always look back"
Of that, she was certain.
Norman smiled at this, such joy he'd only ever shared with the love of his life… who was…
The other girl giggled "I don't need anything like that to remind me of you! I could never forget you! How could I!" A thought then prompted her to hurriedly turn to Norman "We will still take those portraits though!…? Sir?"
Briefly, he hadn't realized how his hand stopped moving. Only to resume his previous efforts gliding across the paper.
"Yeah no, don't worry, I'll have it done in a few minutes"
They were soon on they're merry way.
As the night loomed over the horizon, he'd pack up, glad to have more than a few commissions done.
This is what his weekends were like… but were they always so…quiet?
He'd head down to the grocery store, and buy a can of cat food.
Making his way.
at the park…
'…'
…
The thing came back, he fed it, and left.
He'd walk the same path home, it felt… it wasn't.
But…
Before he knew it he stood in front of the doorway to the apartment.
Inside was a mess, he found it in himself to tidy up, to wash up, and eat…? Anything I guess. He'd heat up some frozen dumplings, staring at the microwave. It wasn't much. But he needed to eat…
An hour passes, he lay in bed.
Looking up at the ceiling.