Disclaimer: Yet again, I don't own JtHM, Pez, Twix, Sobe, Chocolate Soldier or any other company thingies mentioned in this chapter.

AN: This may seem a bit familiar to you. The Pez Incident actually happened to me. But obviously without any of the violence. Also, it might be a bit OOC after awhile. Well OK, so it's been OOC since it began, but moreso than before. Scary, yes?


~Chapter 5~

Five minutes later, at the 24/7 (deja vu), Johnny was inspecting the candy shelves while Dalva was searching the drinks area for a Dragon Sobe thingy. Johnny looked up at the store clerk, distress showing clearly on his face. "Uh, do you guys carry Pez?"

The store clerk, a blonde girl of about 18 wearing about a pound of makeup, looked up from the magazine she'd been reading. "Nope, I don't think so. Sorry." She went back to her magazine.

Johnny stared at her for about five seconds, looking genuinely upset. "You...you deny me Pezzy goodness?" [AN: yay for butchered Happy Noodle Boy quotes!]

Dalva looked up from cracking up over Chocolate Soldiers, [AN: a friend of mine had a bad experience with one. Those things have absolutely no chocolate in them.] knowing exactly what would happen.

Johnny was looking increasingly psychotic by the second. "But ALL I WANTED was a few packages of Pez! Is that REALLY so much to ask?!"

The clerk looked up from her magazine again, this time looking very annoyed. "Look dude, there's nothing I can do about it right now. We've got about a million other kinds of candy, some of which won't twist your stomach into knots after three bites. Try some Twix or something." [AN: I loves me some Twix! Are you getting sick of these author's notes yet? Good.]

"No! It's not the same! This angers and upsets me, as you may have gathered. Yeah, uh, I don't feel like giving more of a speech, [AN again: actually, I just don't wanna write one :^)] so..." Johnny withdrew a knife from wherever he keeps them (his "secret compartment"). Dalva would be sitting back, eating popcorn, looking all entertained and stuff if it were possible at the moment. Johnny pounced on the clerk, slit her throat, and turned to Dalva. "Ready to go?"

~*~

"You're a bit different from your friends, aren't you?" Johnny asked Dalva as they were walking home.

"A little bit, I guess," she replied. "I mean, nothing drastic. I'm a lot more introverted than Robby and Jason, but we still get along pretty well. Although I'm always busy writing and listening to music when they're playing video games and everything."

"Yeah. Robby said..."

Dalva stopped and glared at Johnny, cutting him off. "I know what you were gonna say, and no. Don't listen to Robby. He doesn't know what he's talking about." A slight pause as Dalva went through the whole thing in her head. "It was the streetlight's fault!"

"So they don't know you very well, either?"

"I guess not. I think it's less that and more that they don't realize that someone...eh, you're probably right." [AN: I am mysterious, yes? Like with the mystery band :^D Oddly relevant.]

A moment of silence before Dalva spoke again. "So, are you gonna move away or what?"

Johnny thought for a minute. "Well, that seems like the wise thing to do. But...well, what if that Wall Thing follows me? It's possible -- after all, it IS a Wall Thing."

"Well, it's worth a try, isn't it? I mean, do you actually enjoy killing all those people?"

A bit more sadness showed slightly on Johnny's face. "I'm not even sure anymore. That thing...it's either brainwashed me, or it's become a part of me, as has everything else in that house. I don't think I have a say on the whole killing people thing. Heck, I'm starting to wonder if I even have my own opinion anymore."

"So you are a slave to this, are you not?"

"Yes. Yes I am. Sad, isn't it?"

"It is, actually," Dalva replied truthfully. "I'm gathering that, deep down in that part of you that still has a bit of an opinion, you DON'T enjoy killing, but you feel safe in doing so, because you're afraid of something unknown to you. [AN: *sings* "But then fear, fear, fear takes control, fear, fear, fear, of the unkno-o-own, awaaare of what will hurt you, you're prepared to remain this way, so saaad yet safe with your afflictions, afraid to start a brand new da-a-a-a-a-a-a-ay..." Heh, it was too easy.] But anyway, there you go! You've really got nothing to lose, except maybe money for a slightly larger rent. But there's a good chance you'll have your freedom back, and possibly part of your sanity, too. Don't you think it would be worth it?"

"Hmm...you know, this sounds good. Yeah, you talked me into it. First thing tomorrow, I'll pack up the necessities and go in search of a cheap apartment. Like you said, it wouldn't hurt, would it?"