Promotion
We had another meeting in the living room. Debbie said one of her "friends" had an important order. She wouldn't say what it was.
I cringed. I sat in front of my house. My old house.
I didn't want to go in. I was too scared of Marshall.
Debbie, Pierce and Cordelia went in.
The garden door creaked open. Aether hopped towards me.
I turned to face my old friend. My eyes widened. This wasn't the fan I knew. He was twisted, scratched with bent blades.
"Did... he do this?" I asked.
Aether nodded. He threw his plug around me. Oracle wrapped her plug around him as well. I let him cry for about five minutes.
He released me.
"I want to leave," he said. "I hate it here."
Oracle turned on her light.
"Come with us." I said.
The roar of a pair of angry vacuums really spoiled that moment.
Pierce hopped out of the pet door. "He's got Cordelia!" he shrieked.
Debbie slipped out of the door a few minutes later, dragging Cordelia's remains. Her face plate had been opened, revealing missing parts. Debbie shook her head.
"It's a shame when this happens." Debbie said. I lifted Cordelia into a nearby dumpster.
On the way back, I asked Aether what happened.
"I..." he stammered. "I... I placed a hit on Nathan."
I stared at him.
"What?"
"He and Marshall bullied me," Aether sobbed. He raised his plug to one of his blades. It had bent at a weird angle.
Debbie tapped me on the shoulder.
"So, this one's the client?" she asked.
Aether approached her. "Yes." He finally admitted. "Can I..."
"You want to join us?" Debbie asked.
"Yes," he said.
Debbie's lips curled into a sneer. "We've always in need of new recruits. Welcome aboard."