This story was inspired by the story Welcome to Night Vale by cupidity11
This is Carlos/Cecil, rated M for possible adult themes and language (though I doubt I need it but it's better to be safe than sorry)
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I woke up to Gregory pawing my face. I sat up and sighed, stretching. It had been a couple of weeks since Samantha tried to attack me. Gregory meowed impatiently. It was about noon now, and I'd overslept by about six hours, had I not taken the day off.
"Calm down." I told him, softly scratching behind his ear. He purred loudly and rubbed his head against my arm. I got up and looked around. I'd gotten a little apartment for myself, that obviously allowed pets, and it was nice. It was very cozy. I moved in late last night, just so that I could call someplace home, and because I was already planning on taking today off. I stood up and scratched my head. I walked to my desk and grabbed my glasses. I slipped them on and sighed, looking around. It was a little bare, but it functioned perfectly. I felt something wrap around my ankle. I glanced down at a tentacle-like appendage. I screamed and it tugged me. I fell to the ground, kicking at it. I couldn't see what was attacking me. Gregory gave a lion-like roar—for a housecat, at least— and jumped down from the bed. He dove under the bed and began to bite. As he distracted whatever-it-was that was attacking me, I managed to get myself free. I darted to the little kitchen and grabbed one of the knives from a knife set Old Woman Josie gave me. I was grabbed again by the tentacle, and dragged out of the kitchen. Gregory had dragged the thing out, and it was a book. My favorite book, that is. I stared in a fearful confusion, as I stabbed the tentacle holding me. I cut it off, and I didn't hesitate before getting onto my knees and arching the knife downward, striking the book. It gave a shrill cry, and fell limp. Gregory came to me, hissing at the book. He backed away slowly, as did I. I grabbed my phone and texted Amber that my book attacked me, and that she needed to look into that immediately. She replied by simply texting 'already on it', like she was preoccupied with something. I felt Gregory flick his tail lightly against my leg. I sighed, and went to make us breakfast. He never ate regular cat food. He only ate whatever cereal I'd made for myself. I flicked the radio on, just to see what Cecil was saying today.
Listeners, we are currently fielding numerous reports that books have stopped working. It seems that all over Night Vale, books have simply ceased functioning. The scientists are studying one of the broken books to see if they can understand just what is going on here.
"So that's what you meant." I mumbled, glancing at my phone. Gregory purred when I mumbled, and he came and rubbed up against me. I snickered and pet him. I finished my breakfast, and stood up. I walked to the mirror I kept in the bathroom. I had to keep my hair in a ponytail since it was so damn hot in this desert.
"That's it." I told Gregory, "I'm getting this hair cut."
He meowed in reply, as if asking to get one too. I smiled. He was also getting pretty shaggy. I showered and dressed, picking up Gregory as I left the apartment. I saw a couple of citizens, who waved excitedly to me. I waved back at them, very cautious. I got in the new car I'd bought, and placed Gregory in it. He jumped into the backseat and curled up. He did this like he was expecting someone else to sit there. I closed the door and started the car.
"Nobody sits there, you know." I told him. He gave me a look. His look seemed to say 'oh yea? Well there will be soon.'. I shook my head and started to drive towards the barber shop I saw. I pulled into the parking lot, and I saw several people looking at me. Their expressions seemed worried. I shook my head and got out. I held the door for Gregory to jump out, and then closed it. He kept close to me like he was a dog. I thought this was odd, but he was going to get his hair cut. He trotted in before me, since I opened the door for him. Telly, the barber, glanced over at me. He smiled. The smile faded, and fear came creeping in replacement. I began to feel it too. My chest tightened and I glanced towards the radio. Is he safe? What's going on? Is he in danger? Would he be in danger? Could he be right now!? Where is Cecil?
The fear passed though, and I was left relaxed. And embarrassed. Why was I so concerned about someone I barely know?
"Why'd you come here, Carlos? And who's your little friend?" Telly asked, interrupting my thoughts.
"We came in for a haircut. And the little guy is Gregory. He's this stray that snuck into my hotel room with me, and I've just kept him. He has a collar." I told him, smiling.
"Did he get his parts chopped off yet?" Telly asked me. I winced. Such a crude way of asking if he was neutered.
"He was when he came in." I told him. Telly nodded. He called over one of his assistants, and pointed to the cat.
"Groom the little guy, will you?" He asked. The kid nodded.
"What do you want to do with him?" The kid asked me. I shrugged.
"He just needs his hair tamed, I guess. If you want to pamper him go ahead, but you don't have to if you don't want to." I said, scratching my head. The kid smiled. He picked up Gregory, who gave soft hisses instead of his usual purrs.
"Does he hiss at you when you pick him up?" Telly asked me, directing me into a chair. I sat, and had the drape put around my neck.
"Not usually, no. He purrs." I told Telly. Telly nodded, and took my hair out of its ponytail. It was to my shoulders, and it was very curly. I focused on the premature grays and sighed. I began to think about my ex-wife. She had been so frustrating she made me grey around the temples. We'd often fought about money, like most couples. She would spend the money I made for my education. Married at eighteen…what was I even thinking?
"Wha do you want to do today?" He asked. I sighed. I figured that since I was in the desert, I might as well cut my hair short. Keeping my hair the way it was would be too damn hot, and I wasn't about to overheat just because it looked pretty okay. It's not like I was going to a photo shoot, anyway.
"Short." I said simply. Telly smiled, and nodded. It was probably nice to have someone just give him a simple response than a complicated hairstyle requirement.
"Are you sure? Your boyfriend might be devastated." He asked. I felt a vast confusion. My boyfriend?"
"Who?" I asked, looking at him through the mirror. He smiled and shook his head. He began to chuckle. He picked up the scissors.
"I'm sorry." He whispered, holding his breath.
I was sitting on my couch with Gregory sitting next to me. He was cozy and content, and I was too, though Telly went a little too short. I was texting with my mother when the radio stopped me dead.
Two hawk-eyed listeners sent in reports that Carlos, our curious scientific visitor, was seen getting his beautiful, beautiful hair cut. He was having his gorgeous hair shorn! Cut! Cut short! So very short from his perfectly-shaped brilliant head!
Listeners, I am not one to gossip even if it is a local celebrity, but please explain to me why Carlos would strip away—decimate!—any part of his thick black hair… not to ignore the dignified, if premature, touch of gray in the temples.
Was it really that much of a crime to Cecil?
"Jesus Christ." I whispered.
What treacherous barber should agree to such depravity? Who takes mere money, or even soulless joy, in depriving our small community of such a simple, but important, act as luridly admiring Carlos's stunning coif?
Reports from tow intrepid sources are that it was Telly the Barber. Telly, who likes sports and has posters of combs. Telly the Barber seems to be the one who betrayed our community.
"Betrayed?" I repeated silently. The guilt flooded in. I'd asked him to cut my hair. What would happen to Telly? I had no idea, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something bad would happen.
Telly the Barber.
It is Telly the Barber at the corner of Southwest 5th Street and Old Musk Road, with the red and white spinning pole and the sign that says, "Telly's". Telly is about 5'9" with a small mustache and thick pot belly. He talks with an accent and sneers. Telly the Barber cut Carlos's beautiful hair. According to reports. Telly.
"I asked him to." I whispered. I lowered my gaze to my thighs and sighed. Cecil's voice calmed as he gave the traffic report, but I was still feeling anxious. I glanced over at Gregory, who was eyeing me. He didn't seem to blame me; in fact he looked worried too. He flicked his tail and stood up anxiously. His ears plastered to his head, and he arched his back. I looked at him. He was watching the window. I stood up and walked to the window, looking out of it, too. I had a perfect view of the Community Radio building, where Gregory was looking. He hissed loudly, fur standing up on end. He looked like he was about to leap out. I tried to grab him and pull him away from the open window, since I saw nothing, and he scratched me. He hissed at me, and then looked back at the building. I rubbed my hand. Suddenly, he leapt down from the windowsill and charged toward the door and meowed loudly.
"No, you can't go out!" I told him. He hissed again, scratching at the door now. I sighed and looked at my phone again when it buzzed. I answered my mom, but when I looked up Gregory was gone. I looked at the window. I sighed and I was about to grab my coat.
Hello, radio audience. I come to you live from under my desk, where I dragged my microphone and am currently hiding in the fetal position. Did you write letters? Then you should not do this anymore. Station management has opened its door for the first time in my memory, and is now roaming the building. I don't know exactly what management looks like, as that is when I took cover under my desk and I can only hope that they are not listening to what's going out right now or else I may have sealed my fate.
My heart stopped. Cecil is in trouble?
I can hear only a kind of clicking footstep, and faint hissing sound like – releasing steam.
Gregory. He must have gone there to help him. But why?
An intern went into what management wanted and has not returned. If you are related to Jerry Hartman, afternoon board operator at Night Vale Community Radio, I am sorry to inform you that he is probably dead or at least corporeally absorbed into management permanently! Jerry and Chad the interns will both be missed, but we will surely see them in the Thanksgiving Day Dead Citizens Impersonation Contest, which this year will be in the employee lounge under the Night Vale Mall from 11:00 AM to 9:45 PM. There will be a cash bar and two Twister boards.
I began to feel very anxious. I sat down, and stared at my radio. I don't know why I didn't high tail it over there to see if I could help what was wrong, or at least try to save Cecil, but I just sat watching the radio.
I am going to see if I can make a break for the door. If you don't hear from me again, it has truly been a pleasure. Good night, Night Vale. And goodbye!
I sat listening to nothing for a while before shutting off my radio. I began to feel nauseous. I told my mother I'd contact her later, and that something had come up. I got up and walked out the door, heading quickly outside. I made my way quickly to the radio station. There was a crowd standing there, waiting anxiously. After five minutes, they began to file away. I sensed that everything was over as well, but I remained there. Cecil exited the building, holding Gregory. He placed Gregory on the ground, who ran to me. I caught him as he jumped into my arms and turned on my heels. I deeply considered going and talking to Cecil, but I couldn't bring myself to. I thought I'd just dive into his arms. Which was strange, since I barely knew him. I sighed and got back up to my apartment and closed the door. I leaned against it, letting Gregory jump down from my arms. I walked into my room and grabbed my journal and began to write all of these feelings down.