Cecil was ecstatic! He was allowed off the tracks!
Station management was going to let him report from the Desert Flower Bowling Alley and Arcade Fun Complex!
Also, he was reporting on the mysterious city under lane five, which was an added bonus as it was quite the scoop.
Cecil had already decided to stay as anonymous as possible. It was purely out of self-preservation, if anyone saw his third eye... Well, there would be consequences. Painful consequences.
He sat now in one of the plastic chairs that were scattered around, with a scarf around his third eye.
He was psyching himself up to go near that big, gaping hole in the floor and gaze at that, possibly dangerous, city when he met the gaze of a beautiful man.
His skin was dark, his hair black and his eyes an emerald green. His teeth were like a military cemetery and he was dressed in a lab coat. He smiled at Cecil!
The radio host smiled back, a little unsure, and finished writing his introduction. He put the pad and not-pen in his pocket and took a few cautious steps towards the hole, only to have a large hand land on his shoulder.
"Uh, I don't think you should do that..." The owner of the hand suggested, "It could be dangerous."
"Look buddy," Cecil began, turning to face this guy, "I need to inspect it -" don't say you're with the station, you embarrassment "- And I don't need some random -"
The words died in his throat. The beautiful scientist was the owner of the hand.
"Well, sir; I'm a scientist and I'm eighty nine point two percent sure it's dangerous. If you wait a moment, I was going to inspect it myself..." The scientist advised and all Cecil could do for a moment was nod.
Cecil shook his head and took a breath, "Alright," then, almost as an after thought added, "What's your name?"
"Carlos," the perfect scientist answered, "What about -?"
"Carlos, come on!" A woman in another lab coat called.
"Sorry, I better go," Carlos chuckled, and if Cecil didn't know any better he'd say nervously, "Science calls."
And then he was gone.
Ugh, great way to spend your time off the tracks, Palmer.
He sat back down, waiting for Carlos' news, but heard the handsome man's side of the conversation.
"This is amazing!"
"Pass me the ropes."
"This is going to be awesome!"
"What do you mean 'keep my voice down'?"
Cecil giggled. It was so cute when scientists got all excited about their work! Passion in one's career is also rather nice.
He watched Carlos secure the rope and start to climb into the hole, only to stop when just the top of his beautiful hair was visible.
Cecil frowned, getting out of his seat and approaching the hole. The scientist was talking.
"Look, it's not a huge city thousands of feet below, but a tiny city! I don't think we need to - Ah!"
At Carlos' yelp, Cecil surged forward. The perfect man was slumped against the entrance of the hole... So much blood...
Cecil looped his long arms around Carlos and dragged him out. The radio host almost straddled him, but restrained himself to settle for kneeling by his shoulder.
"Get Teddy!" He ordered, "Now!"
The woman, wide-eyed did as she was asked.
Cecil knew he had to stop the bleeding, and that what happened to himself didn't matter.
He took off his own shirt, tattoos and markings swirling in agitation, and held it against the puncture wound in Carlos' chest.
There was a large gash in the scientist's arm, too close to his wrist. Cecil took off his headscarf, third eye squinting in the light, and used it as a tourniquet. People were staring.
"Come on Carlos, don't give up!" He almost whispered, desperately. He didn't want this man to die.
The woman returned with Teddy and the manager/doctor set to work.
Cecil fell away from Carlos, landing hard on his butt, but he didn't care.
"He's a freak!" Someone in the crowd cried.
"He's a demon!" Another accused.
"Kill the monster!" Someone else cried.
Cecil ran.