When I got home there was no one there like usual. I plop down on the couch and, trying to bring my day up at least a little, I turn on the ID channel.
It was the worst decision I could ever make... At least for today.
I quickly turn off the tv as the father started killing the family dog. I didn't want to go to sleep after that, I don't think I could. So I lied on the couch, looking up at the ceiling and try to find images hidden in the bumps the reminded me of popcorn.
"Dolphin... Tricycle man... Alligator..." I listed off the things I saw until I heard a muffled barking outside of my window. Sitting up straight I looked at the window and quickly got up before opening it. And there he was. Sitting on the fire escape right outside of my window.
"Blackjack!" relieved to see him I quickly hug the dog before ushering him inside the apartment.
"Oh my god I thought something bad happened to you!" I exclaim holding onto him tightly as he pant and wagged his stumped tail.
After looking him over and seeing no wounds of any kind I resumed my tight grip on the dog. I didn't even care about his bad breath. I was so happy. So god damn happy.
"Please don't do that again..." He licked my ear causing me to squeal and groan as I wipe the slobber off before I laugh and rub his head. "You little shit!" I laugh as I get up. Deciding it was a good time to feed him as any, I walk over and pull out some leftovers and put them in a bowl before setting it on the ground.
"I really should get you some actual dog food." He whined looking up at me before chowing down on his food. "Pft you wouldn't even be able to tell the difference." I grumble under my breath.
The next morning I got dressed for work and pulled on my hoodie before calling Blackjack over and we left out of the fire escape. I'm just as surprised as the last time when he had jumped down from the ladder and I don't think I will ever get used to it.
When I reached Olaf's I told him to leave but also try to stay near the restaurant. Of course I don't know if he even understood me but he quickly ran off all the same.
The day went on as usual as people came and went. The chefs cooked and the waiters fed the customers; Same as always. Around 3:00 pm I got my thirty minute break. And not really wanting to go anywhere I order a bowl of chowder and took a spot at one of the tables. As I look around I finally noticed I forgot to grab my glasses before coming to work. "I swear I should start taping that thing to my face..."
"Tape what to your face?" Surprised I looked up to see a man who looked around my age maybe older and the badge on his jacket told me he was a cop. Or at least a sheriff since no cop around here wore a badge like that. "Oh uh I forgot my glasses, it's a thing that happens a lot." I shrug watching as he sits down and I shift uncomfortably.
Did I see this guy from somewhere before? I swear I have and I'm usually good with faces.
"Are you near sited or far sited?"
"Near sited, but it's not that bad."
One of the waiters came in then with a bowl of chowder and I thanked them before they turned surprised to find this man sitting with me.
"Oh I'm sorry sir, would you like something?"
"No I'm good." I raised a brow at his statement and watch as the waiter left to serve another customer.
"Listen I'm sorry to interrupt you while you're on your break Anne," I wanted to ask him how he knew my name but quickly remembered that everyone working here, even the chefs, had nametags.
"But I needed to have a word with you."
"About what? I'm sorry sir, but if you're looking for a criminal you've got the wrong gal." I curse mentally as a bit of my accent slipped through.
"I don't think you're up to anything illegal, but you were in one of those suspect pins.."
"Don't say that!" I hiss out and I completely forgot about my chowder. "I don't need people here thinking I'm some sort of Conduit! I am not risking my job over this."
He seemed taken aback by what I said because his thick eyebrows were raised and he was silent for a moment.
"Alright I understand but it is important I talk to you about the events that occurred that day."
"I understand Mr..." I trail off looking over at the patch on the side of his sleeve. "Salmon Bay county sheriff but I have work to do." Quickly I stood up, grabbing my unfinished bowl and quickly made my way back to the kitchen.
"Expect Delsin when your shift is over."
"Who?" I ask but he was already walking out of the restaurant. There seems to be plenty of people who can't just act like a normal human being nowadays. It was only later as I was slicing off a fish's head did I remember who that cop was... Groaning I stop cutting the fish as I remembered the other guy. So Delsin's his name..
"Ugh no not– Fucking shit!" Cursing I ran over to turn off the burner that was causing the pot to over flow.
"Hey Anne can you check up on the roof?" I turn back from watching the boiling lobsters to see the manager. "Huh? Why?"
"You see there's been something up the neon sign for the past couple of weeks and I was wondering if you can go up and check on the box and see if there's any faulty wiring."
"You do know that I have no idea what's faulty and what's not right?" There was a pause.
"Can you at least take a picture? I would do it myself but the rush hour is coming in soon and I need to-"
"Ok ok I get it." I hold up my hands and wave them in front of his face. Honestly I didn't really care about the guy. He was a jerk at times, but you can't help but feel bad for him at times. Either that or I am a huge sucker for puppy dog eyes. And man was he using that big time. Plus he has the authority to fire me, at least I think so, and I kind of need this job.
"I'll be back in 15 or less." I tell him before going in the back of the building and head up the stairs leading to the roof.
I didn't expect to have lasers shot at me when I came up there but a lot of new things have been happening lately and it seems lasers were next on the 'what else can go wrong this month?' list.
"Whoa whoa whoa!" I duck behind a couple of boxes before peaking out to catch a glimpse and I lift my head higher in surprise.
"Wait a sec...OH SHIT–" I quickly duck back down before holding up my hands in defense.
"Can you please stop shooting at me!" I cry out before standing up from behind my hiding spot. "Can we please stop trying to kill the cook here and lower our glowing hands so we can talk like actual people?"
That girl from a few days ago, or was it a week? Either way it was the very same girl I ran into before Blackjack disappeared. It was hard to forget that shiny violet hair pulled into a loose bun. Not many people I knew around here had hair like hers.
"... Why should I?"
"... Uhhhhhhh I'll buy you dinner?" What was I thinking? 'Buy you dinner?' It sounded like I was asking her out on a date! Not that I wouldn't if I had the confidence but damn is that something I don't have!
"... I'm listening."
"It's free dinner what more could you want?"
"Tch.." Slowly her hands lowered "Alright but the food's gotta be so good I drool out a river longer than the nile."
"Gross, but I'll see what I can do." I lowered my hands.
"...Aren't you that kid that I ran into a week ago?"
"Yeah, again I'm really sorry about that I space out a lot it's a bad, like a really bad habit of mine."
"Eh it's ok but stop apologizing for it got it?"
"Ah right." I look around awkwardly, rubbing the back of my head before looking back at her.
"I'm gonna take a wild guess and say you're the reason our signs been faulty lately?" When thinking about it, it made sense. She launched lasers and it was so bright and neon it made me think of those neon signs. And our sign is one of the biggest neon signs in Seattle.
"What do you think?"
"Yes?"
"Then that's you're answer."
"Ok... Do you wanna you know come down off the roof and go into the restaurant or do you want me to bring food up here?" I ask and the look on her face as well as the voices of protestors out in the front of the building told me the latter was the better option.
"Alright I'll be back in a bit."
After sneaking past my manager and stealing various foods from pots and pans I quickly made my way back up to the roof. The neon girl was shuffling, hands swaying from side to side, or tapping against her thighs, as she looked everywhere. Poor guy. I couldn't blame her for being paranoid.
"Here." I hand her a bowl and plate and she quickly took the two and began to scarf down like she hasn't eaten anything decent in days. I wouldn't be surprised if that was true.
"Mmmm oh god that hits the spot." She moaned out slurping up the soup before picking at the meat.
"You're welcome." I watch her quietly as she eats. When she finishes I take her plates and rest them in my hands.
"Oh man that was good."
"River nile drool good?"
"Hmm I have to think about that, maybe if you get me more chowder and lobster I can tell you."
"Oh ha ha very funny." I roll my eyes as she shrugs with a small cocky grin.
"So you gotta name or can I call you laser fingers?"
"Do that and you'll have a laser shaped hole in your chest, and it's Fetch." She threatened but I ended smiling instead of cowering. Another bad trait of mine. Unless I know you're dead serious I'll end up laughing and/or grinning like an idiot.
"And what about you Pudge Fudge?" I wanted to be mad at that, I really did. But I loved fudge too much to be mad. It sounded so delicious I couldn't be mad. Damn food puns, they always kill me.
"I'm Anne, but Pudge Fudge is good too."
"Good Fudge it is then." She got up from sitting on the stacked boxes she had sat on earlier so she could eat her food and stretched.
"Thanks for the meal."
"Right, if you want you can come back again. But next time lets skip the lasers ok? I'm not that agile and I like not having holes in my body."
"No promises!"
"Aw come on, at least give me a 5 second warning?" I whine before grinning as I hear her let out a small laugh.
"See ya around Fudge."
"Yeah, see ya." I wave her off as her body turned into a bright neon pink color and she jumped across the building and ran off.
Man Conduits are something else. I can't help but wonder if she was one of the escaped Conduits. Hell maybe even that Delsin guy was one of the escaped Conduits.I couldn't help but glance at the protestors and frowned. I look back to where Fetch had run off and I watch as the blurs of people run from the trail of light she left behind and I suddenly felt angry. I didn't know why I felt angry, but I did. I didn't just feel angry. I felt disgusted.
What did Fetch do to you?
From the looks of her she didn't look like she would hurt a person without good reason. So why was everyone afraid of her?
Why do we have to be afraid of Conduits? It doesn't make sense. They were people right? They have emotions and weaknesses like all of us. I can't understand it. I don't think I even wanted to because I feel like I would just get even more mad.