Zach desperately tried to maneuver his way around Vanessa but she continued to be the barrier between the two. With anger running through his body, Zach was wanting- No, itching! - to let put his hands around his neck. To knock his world into some sense.

A long arm lunged for him across Vanessa which barely clipped him along the cheek. Feet scurried around to slip past her, just to get a quick one in. Left, right- right, and left, they desperately scrambled along the floor. Their shoes stomped along the floor with rage gushing off quick breaths. Zach waited for His moment when he finally found it - a slip in her grip - he launched himself off his right foot, knuckles rocketing up through the chin causing Josh to stagger. He landed one on him! That had to have hurt him.

But Josh's stagger was short-lived. Regaining his steps like the Earth lasso'd his feet to the floor, intensity thundering in his eyes that made Zach's feet buckle with careless retreat. The giant powered forward through Vanessa, new profound strength too much for her to resist, and Zach's eyes jumped open to the-

"OOMPH!"

Knuckles ripping through his cheek knocked his eyes into their sockets. Dazed, his foot melted to the floor with a new pain sprinting from the drop of his knee. A glimpse Josh's struggle with Vanessa ushered him to regain his hands - this would be another chance. As he rushed him again, Zach made sure to time the strike, pounding ferocity nearly making him jump, but he waited. Josh closed the gap quickly, easily at arm's length. Pushing his palms against the floor, he catapulted his body to throw an upwards strike only to rip through the air as Josh swerved with calculated quickness. Met with another greeting of tremendous force that slammed his head to twist. In another effort, Zach kept his hands moving, staggering to stay conscious on his feet. His mind was stripped of logic, only relying on his instincts. And as his shoes were scurrying along the floor in profound panic - he didn't even care if it wasn't a punch - Josh walking to him, shoulders high, and preying, Zach tossed the inside of his palm in an attempt to daze him with a slap.

But a cold, and tight grip had clenched his wrist.

Zach watched in horror as the blur that was rushing towards him so suddenly leveled him into a blunt drop on his back, his head bouncing off the stern canvas that shook his brain into instant dizziness. His gaze rolled to the faint image of the ceiling, to the figure of a man at the door, and to finally, Josh's towering figure charging at him, hot on his trail. Fear this time, took his hands away, and he grabbed the back of Vanessa's shirt who had fallen with him, using all of his fear-built strength to hurl her across his chest to cover him. Another fist preparing to seek mayhem on his skull. Vanessa's purple hair was half-throttled into view to cover. But there was no certainty that was instilled within him.

He's gonna kill me!

Glass blasted through his ears.

The adrenaline was sapped from everyone in violent one crack of metal. Zach noticed heads were turned up looking at something. Josh was on one knee, left fist hanging in the air, and even he was stopped. Zach's heart still pounded against his chest because while his back lay against the floor, jaw stinging in pain, and still dizzy from the connection, he was scared above all he would see that red hair. That's who he assumed it would be. But when he averted his eyes to look up, it was a mere man. Wearing his clothing.

"Ah... sorry about that,"

Zach had never seen him before. His features didn't pass any sign of recognition. One high cheekbone was structured on a slim face that was thinned to the point where Zach wondered if he was homeless that found clothes. His chin was thrusted towards the table where he was reaching his hand towards something on the table beside him. Caught in his hand, one mozzarella stick. As Zach kept referring to his clothes, he realized, they were the same as his employees except for Gayle. Too similar to write it up as a mistake. Despite the ringing pain in his head, Zach remembered the closed sign out there, and he wondered, what idiot would tread so carelessly in a restaurant without saying a word?

Well, I guess anyone wouldn't wanna interrupt this mess. When Gayle finds out, we're all probably sure as shit screwed. Still doesn't excuse whoever the hell this is.

Zach took upon closer inspection, hoisting himself up on his elbows. Same collared shirt, the same pants, the same apron. But nothing came to mind. Zach could tell however what was in his hand that had caused the drop. A sat silver plate was reduced to silver pieces on the floor. And he could make the assumption this idiot was the culprit. All for one crispy, and thick mozzarella stick which Zach judged from the groggy face, he didn't want to eat. No interest was expressed in it. Maybe this idiot was here to spread trouble. Maybe he was here to stir the fire. Impatience tore through his body, and he felt his face harden with suspicion, unlike the stranger. He held it between his thumb, and finger, staring.

Zach felt the tension in his grip snatched away from him, and guilt bled into his countenance. He was going to use Vanessa as a shield, he remembered! He was expecting a glare, a pint of malice she would show in her eyes. But he could only see her back, then her hand went to rub along her shoulder. His heart was stabbed with remorse. He for some reason thought to pull her over. But he told himself, that he was doing it to protect her just in case Josh missed. She could surely understand that. Vanessa was always understanding.

"Who are you?"

He looked up again, and her head swiveled quickly to meet the stranger.

Was she talking to me just now?

The man returned her look now. As if he didn't hear her, she pressed, "Why are you here? We're closed," Zach could tell the irritation was starting to meld in her tone. It only served to make him feel smaller as he lay on the floor.

I'm such an idiot.

He brushed the thought aside to glance at Josh. His fellow employee with tension that would brew more later between them both, Zach knew it. This wasn't over. He didn't notice that now, the dark-skinned giant, stood up on both of his legs, strong, and mighty like he would always do. He could tell Josh was arrogant about what he did. And now, maybe it was justified, despite Zach's loathing for him. He felt demoralized that his strike didn't even come close to putting him on the ground. Josh, the second leader. Josh, the restaurant warrior. Envy crawled through the sharp glare he shot at him. The question always nagged him, was he Gayle's true heir?

"We'll be having someone joining the stoves, next week. Has a good connection with the place, I'm sure."

"What's his name?"

"Harry," Gayle answered, taking a sip of blood-red wine from her wine cup.

Zach's grip shifted underneath the stack of papers. "Problematic?"

Zach's body shot up.

Of course! Of course, it was him! Zach felt stupid that he didn't know it the second he saw it. He could barely see it as he stood behind Gayle but Zach swore there was a smirk on her mouth. Yet, he didn't remember the answer. Regardless, this was coming sooner or later. But the fist that Josh still held convinced Zach otherwise that the fuming Josh didn't know. He had taken a step toward him, an anxious one. Like he was about to set off again if the stranger said the wrong words, and Zach inspected him again. Looking at him, he didn't manifest the part, despite them both wearing a white collared shirt and black slacks. A few buttons were unhinged at the top added to the mess that was his wrinkled shirt. To show up like this was an insult to everything it was built for. All the preaching Gayle told them, and to present yourself in a top restaurant like Osbourne Eats...

How dare he show up in attendance like this?

Zach threw himself up on his feet, pertaining to his own confident stance. With a deep breath in, he let out his chest slightly. Zach estimated that he was a few inches shorter than the man.

"Not a problem at all," Zach ignored the glares of Vanessa and Josh.

If it comes to it, I can take 'em.

He rubbed his arm across his cheek. It stung enough to make him wince. But it was nothing. He could fight through it- he could fight through anything. That's what it always had to be. Zach had to establish a level of intimidation toward him. After all, Gayle implied that he was to lead this place. That meant that he needed to lead for his employees instead of against them.

But Josh was the second to press, "You're the one Gayle sent. She said that you'd be here sooner. We're about to start leaving,"

Anger strained his jaw.

Always trying to take over...

"Actually, we were just about to start cleaning," Zach again dodged the daggers Josh sent him, and instead focused his attention on... "H-HarrEE, I think, right?" He cleared his throat, "One of our friends went missing too... She worked here," Harry's eyes swiveled to the side. Zach's face flushed in embarrassment from his crack but he pushed himself to recover. He had to know something! "She went missing," He said more clearly, "And w-we want to know-"

"We wanna know if you saw something,"

Hot anger throttled Zach's fist to tremble.

"She left at about four thirty, and it's been three hours since then," Josh lowered his head, "She hasn't returned any calls. Never told us where she was going." Zach saw a new vulnerability within Josh's words. Of course, it would make sense given but...

Still, a good liar like you always were.

"Do you know anything?"

Harry didn't utter a word. Why wasn't he talking?

Even Josh was becoming noticeably irritated. Anger reverberated through the ground with a commanding step. This time, Harry did look up. However, underlying anger wasn't shifting his features. His body was stilled for a moment, Zach had reason to assume that he felt threatened by Josh. He was a coward. With the stick still held between his finger, his arm dropped down to his side. Zach kept himself steady, and alert with the tension rising on his shoulders. Fingers twitched readily at the silence. Zach became suspicious. Was waiting for an opportune moment to catch them off guard?

"I'll ask again, sir, do you know anything?" The ferocity spiking in his tone even made Vanessa glance at him for a moment.

Looming static had cracked above to break the silence. He saw Vanessa peer up at the ceiling, and followed her gaze. There was nothing of interest but suddenly, he could hear building static. But before Zach could guess-

"Big iron on his hip,"

Repetition followed the lyrics again. Not too loud or too low but enough to hear. But not enough to drown out the fervent animosity building between the two. Especially Josh, who didn't even pay attention to the rhythmic music coming from the speakers installed in the ceiling, somewhere. Zach regarded the two again, glaring at each other.

"Big iron on his hip,"

"Tell me what you know!"

"Big iron on his hiiiiiiiip!"

Josh throttled forward another step and a wince from Harry.

"Don't wanna speak, asshole?" He launched an impatient glare at Vanessa, jabbing a finger out to the counter beside her, "Go turn that music off!"

"I don't know where it's coming from- Please, calm down!"

Josh scoffed to himself, shaking his head.

Pointless.

"Our friend is out there missing, and you want ME to calm down!?"

Static followed behind Josh.

"It was early in the morning when he rode into the town..."

"I wouldn't come any closer if I were you."

"Or what?" Another step.

Static again - "They knew this handsome ranger was about to meet his death..."

"Don't think Gayle would want two people missing,"

He was holding out. Zach's irritation for Josh was otherwise latent now. This idiot looked like he wasn't going to tell them anything. He was testing everyone's patience, and now wasn't the time for it. Zach felt time was clenching at his throat. They were wasting time with the petty.

Zach was urged to speak up, "You don't own us," was all he could muster.

The man looked at him. No ill intent, no rage, no amusement, not a smirk. His left hand moved carelessly yet he kept his eyes locked on Zach. The temptation was melting to his feet - to his body. He was almost moved to assist Josh in pressuring him despite his distaste. Anger heating in his chest almost moved him to attack the man. No Vanessa to break him apart, he could beat the answers out of him.

But in a single pull of his collar - no malice in the motion of his hand - he pulled down.

His flesh was swallowed by something the night had thrown up. Moving up his neck, it slithered hauntingly over his skin and matted itself, bulging as it stretched tiny limbs from its body. Animosity was pulled from the room by seamless threat.

"Wasn't referring to me."