Day 2
Oh god my back hurts like hell! Fuck! I open my eyes to stare at the dark gray ceiling. Oh shit, right, I'm in prison. The first day comes back to me in a rush. Sal! Mr. Smiley! Happy… right, have to be happy, so Mr. Smiley can see his daughters. No thoughts of suicide anymore.
…
The bug! Fuck! I sit up so fast I become light headed. God I hope I didn't crush him in my sleep! I look around on the bed, on my body, then I look down at the floor and I see him scurrying around like he was yesterday. Oh thank god.
Alright, I guess I said I might name you better today… Um… give me a moment?
I look up to see a letter has already appeared under my door. Well shit, it's a little early don't you think?
... Mr. Smiley?
Rise And Shine Sleepyhead! I Hope You Had A Goodnight's Sleep I Sure Did!Hooray!
No my back hurts— I mean, yes, wonderful sleep (what the fuck and I doing?)
To Celebrate The Occasion Of You Getting Up, I Have Sent You A Second Game For Your Portable Entertainment Product!
Yes, certainly happy to be alive… and in a prison cell. Fuck this is going to be hard. I sit on my bed and open up the PEP. Pep… peppy pep prep, preppy pep prep. Fuck this. The new game is called… Fear. Of. Fire? O-K… Shit.
I start playing the game and losing track of time until another letter comes. Goddam is this really all my days are going to be consisting of?
friend, i have decided to head north, which is as you know, my favorite cardinal direction to head. Heh, that's fucking funny Sal. Heh, I can almost picture you writing these damn things. on the way, i passed by a very interesting river. a sign next to it said that the water changes the direction it is flowing in around this time of year.
Now how the fuck does that work Sal?
I can't believe it but I feel a small lopsided smile on my face. What the hell? I even let out a soft chuckle thinking about it. God am I going crazy? Well maybe this will keep Mr. Smiley happy… the smile falls.
fascinating, wouldn't you say friend? i must stay here and witness the change occurring, my curiosity is just too tremendous to resist the temptation. Dude, I don't give a fuck what you do. I mean… I hope you have fun… and I mean it. And surprisingly I do. as much i enjoy vast landscapes and new locations to explore, sometimes in life one must appreciate the little things. –Sal
… Wow Sal. You are really making me wish I was there with you aren't you. Maybe… some day?
Another letter is slipped under the door.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I Have Another Present For You! It's A Poster To Remind You To Always Keep A Smile On Your Face!
Oh um… thanks Mr. Smiley. I'm trying for your sa-a-A-A-AHHHHHHH!
I turn after finishing the letter only to see the most goddam creepy ass painting of a smiley face I've ever seen! I let out a scream and fall back onto my bed. I can't take my eyes off the damn thing. Oh my god! The little splatter of red paint on the corner… was that really paint? Oh… dear Jesus….
I now feel beyond uncomfortable in this little cell. By god Mr. Smiley you aren't helping! And trust me I'm trying!
Uh, I don't want to look away from the thing. I'm afraid it might eat me if I look away.
Another letter slides in. I don't recognize this envelope.
Good day! I don't think you know me, but from what I've heard, it seems that you and I are the last people in this town who are still not infected with the virus.
Wait! Right! There's a virus outside, people are dying. There's someone else out there besides Salvadore, Mr. Smiley and the fucktard Dr. Money? You're not infected?... Who are you?
Another letter.
I am the owner of a pastry shop not far from where your cell is. But as I don't want to get infected. I cannot sell my pastries to anyone anymore. Except you. Me? I would really appreciate it if you could come visit me sometime, and maybe have a cup of tea.
Heh, Sweetheart I wish I could, but you said it yourself I'm in a cell. A damn awful one at that!
I look around and catch the eye of the smiling painting and shiver. Uh, hey, maybe you can come visit me? Tea does sound nice.
By the way, my name is Charlotte. Nice to meet you.
Charlotte… I smile softly yet widely. Charlotte, well by sweet baby Jesus it is nice to meet you too!
I can't help but giggle. Maybe I've made another friend? God I hoped so. Mr. Creepy Ass Smiley Face wasn't doing me any favors.
Later another letter.
my dearest companion, the river's change in direction was quite interesting to see. Wish I really was your companion Sal! this is exactly what i love about my travels: you always get to see new and amazing things. –Salvadore
Seriously man, wish I'd been there with ya!
Another letter… from Charlotte oh my god! A smile came to my face again.
I'm very sorry if I came off as too eager in my last letters to you. No, no sweetheart, you're fine! Fact is, I haven't really had much contact with people anymore lately. No kidding with this virus going on! Please forgive me if I made you feel uncomfortable. –Charlotte.
You're, you're fine. You didn't frighten me off… you can't, really… you can't-you can't hear me. Can you? Shit, I can't get in contact with you! Or Salvadore! Or Mr. Smiley for Christ sake! Damn it!
I brewed over that new revelation until another letter slipped through the door.
Hello Hello Hello! I Hope You're Enjoying Your 2 Games. They Were Expensive You Know. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Oh shit, I'd forgotten about those things! I quickly pulled out the game thing and began to play.
HAHAHAHAHAH HAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA Please Don't Be Sad
Jesus dude, calm down. I… I mean… Sorry, right, daughters, shit… I'm happy, I'm so very happy. Not sad a bit!
I Know It Must Be Hard All Alone In A Prison Cell But You Must Remain Happy!
…
Please
Oh god damn it! I will! I promise. I will.
I sigh. Geez. This poor dude. I should feel so lucky! I sigh again. I look down and see the little spider dude. I smile. Alright man, time to give you that proper name I promised. I reach down and the spider crawls onto me.
Sam?
Carl?
Tim?
Muskrat?
The fuck?
Um. Geez this is hard. Little Dude?
Mason?
How about less human names? It's a fucking spider for Christ sake.
Marvin?
Goddamit!
I nearly have a heart attack when another letter slides through.
IT HAS COME TO OUR ATTENTION THAT YOUR HAPPY BUDDY HAS SHOWN SIGNS OF NOT BEHAVING IN AN EXCITED AND HAPPY MANNER. W-what? No! IF YOU WISH TO HAVE YOUR HAPPY BUDDY REPLACED PLEASE JUST SEND US A LETTER AND WE WILL GET RID OF HIM.
No! NONONNONONONO! There is no need to do that! Fuck, he's fine! Seriously please no!
Another letter!
Hello HAHAHA Hello I Heard That Some People Are Reporting Their Happy Buddies To Doctor Money HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA
Not me! Never me dude! You're, you're awesome.
You Know What Happens To Them Right? Do You? You Wouldn't Do That To Me Would You? HAHA
I don't fucking know what they do to them but whatever the fuck it is I certainly do not want it to happen to you! No!
Oh, I'm panicking!
I'm Sorry I Havent Gotten You Another Game Yet I Just Don't Have The Money For It At The Moment
No that's okay! Seriously! It's fine, you don't have to spend one more cent on me! Please don't!
I'm So Sorry
No.
So Very Sorry
No! No no no no no! Don't hurt him! Don't take him away! Fuck, he's a good happy buddy, good good good! Please no no no! Fuck leave him alone!
Nobody can… nobody can fucking hear me can they? Fuck!
Tears start coming again. I'm ranting around my room stomping on the ground. The spider scurrying around my feet narrowly avoiding them. Goddamn it I'm not stopping it this time. I begin to sob. Did I just lose my happy buddy? I fall onto my bed and cry. God I hope not!
A swoosh on the ground by the door.
ANOTHER GODDAM LETTER!
FUCK! SALVADORE!?
friend, is your bug friend keeping you company? have you given him a name? Oh shit, right I have to name him! Margo! Jack! Mark! Damn it! you should. do you remember how we used to sit by the fireside, carving chess pieces out of wood without a care in the world? I break into uncontrollable laughter at that. Remembering for a moment how crazy I must sound. Oh my god, I distinctly remember that I was far better at it than you my friend. Goddamn! I can't wipe the smile off my face! that was a long time ago.
The smile falls so fast I hear it shatter. Well, damn Sal. That… was that really necessary? Damnit. I, I really hate thinking about that now. It, it really was a long time ago.
my wood carving skills have gotten significantly worse, oh really Sal? Heh, didn't know that was possible. I try to regain my shattered smile. but i still tried to make you something to make you feel less lonely. it's the leg of a table im making for you! A what? Oh freaking… what? i know that might not be the most extravagant project, but i hope you like it anyways. –Salvadore
I, I…
I look at the long, square, wood piece, the first of supposedly, of four wooden legs of table in my hand. I had picked it up with the letter. I sit it in the corner and back away almost not seeing it, like I'm scared of it. It just sits there, a wooden pole. I walk back up to it and look at it closer. Well damn, Sal. You weren't kidding. But at least the edges are straight. Right?
I sigh and see my little spider friend is inspecting it. I let out a dry chuckle. You approve? I ask it softly. I still have to name you son of a bitch.
What would Sal name you? He'd name you something weird like Xavier or Jehovah. Well. Okay, um…
Dot? You have a little dot on your back. Tomato? I never liked tomatoes. Ezra? I like that name. But I don't know if it fits you.
The light fades. I guess I'll have to go to bed soon. I sit on the bed and fall over soundly. God, why am I so exhausted? Sal? Smiley? I hope you two are alright. Um, Sal? Thanks for the table leg. Smilely? God, I hope you send me a letter soon. Who am I forgetting?
A letter slides under the door.
Charlotte…
It's a nice evening, isn't it? I hope you have a nice sleep. –Charlotte
Tears are falling again. Goodnight Charlotte. Goodnight spider buddy. Goodnight Sal and Mr. Smiley. Is it too much to ask for pleasant dreams for you all tonight?
A/N-What should the bugs name be? I'm stuck.