This chapter took a while to get right and it ended up pretty long~ I hope you'll continue to read! :)
A few weeks later, Oswald stopped showing up to work. You wanted to ask about him, but asking questions in this line of work can get dangerous, especially when it comes to the man named Penguin.
One Sunday, after a rather dull day at work, you head out the back into the alley. Before you can walk out of the doorway, you notice that it's pouring. It had been fine that morning, so you hadn't thought to bring an umbrella.
Almost like magic, a voice called out to you. "Need one of these?" The figure held a black umbrella at an angle, hiding his face while still protecting him from the torrential downpour. You could see that he was wearing a suit.
"I was wondering when you'd show up again."
Oswald chuckles, straightening the umbrella above him. His teeth shown between his parted lips, bright compared to the dreary weather. He walked forward, closing the gap between the wall and the umbrella. He waited, staring at you.
"Well?" he asked.
You sighed. Reluctantly, you step under the umbrella with him. Before he can say anything witty, you cut him off.
"I'm sorry, about what I said before."
"I've already forgotten about it."
Somehow, you doubt it.
"I'm glad you joined me. Please, come with me. Let's chat."
"Do I even have a choice?"
"Ha, you think so lowly of me. Of course you have a choice. Speaking of choices…" he started, walking you around to the front. "I have one for you."
"Oh? And what would that be?"
Oswald looked at his feet as you casually strolled. "Do you still live in Mooney's section? Or did you move here when you got this job?"
You cock your head. "No I still live there. Why?"
He stayed quiet, but led you to a black car waiting by the sidewalk. He opened the door for you. You looked at him suspiciously, but he seemed to like you, so you had no reason to suspect foul play. You ducked into the vehicle, and he followed. He shook the umbrella before bringing it in and closing the door. No sooner than the door shut than the vehicle pulled away from the curb.
"Do you like waitressing?" he asked.
"It's a job," you say flatly. "It pays bills."
"What do you really want to do?"
You shrug. You don't really know. You basically just sit on the surface of life and see where it takes you.
He looked troubled, then looked to the window. The conversation ended.
Finally, the car stopped as you reached your destination. Oswald exited before you to again protect you from the rain. You look up to see the club you worked at months ago. However, now, it looked different. Before you can ask, Oswald slips his hand into yours and pulls you through the entrance.
There was still some construction going on, but there didn't seem to be anyone working at the moment. A neon umbrella glowed against the back wall, and a grand piano sat in the far left corner of the stage. It looked much classer than it did when you left.
He leads you up the stairs and onto the stage. When you reached the center of it, he whipped you around to face him. He then grabbed your other hand and stared to sway.
"Wh-what are you doing?" you ask, your body remaining still as he pulled your arms.
"Dancing with you, or at least trying to. I thought it was obvious."
You shot him a confused look, still not moving. "Why?"
He stopped momentarily. "Because I want to. Now are you going to cooperate with me or not?" He glared at you impatiently. You roll your eyes and think Why not?
"You are so odd," you tell him. You laugh at yourself. You shift in time to an imaginary beat, staying in perfect harmony with your dance partner despite the silence.
"Am I?" He chuckles. "And what about you, miss? Here you are, doing the same thing."
"Because you made me."
"Haven't I told you? You always have a choice with me. You can always say no."
"It's impossible to say not to you."
He laughs loudly, his eyes wide. "You're right! I can't be very persuasive, can't I?" He nodded as he spoke.
"Very."
You continued dancing, but you felt sleepy all of a sudden. You closed your eyes and inhaled deeply, listening to the echo of the quiet pair of footfalls. Before you can exhale, you feel something on your lips. A hand settled on the curve of your neck, the thumb directly below your jawbone. Your eyes remained shut as your now free hand latched onto a suit jacket.
Oswald's hand tightened around your neck, and you pushed into him. His other hand slips around your waist and pulls your body close to his. You hum into his lips, and then he's gone, taking in a gulp of air.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that," he spouted, trying to catch his breath. "You're so charming and intriguing, and so incredible. I've never met anyone like you. You're good and bad, a perfect mixture. I just want to keep you and watch you and see what you're going to do next."
His arm was still around you when you asked "Am I an experiment to you?"
"Oh, darling…you're much more than that."
You weren't sure how to respond, but you weren't surprised by his answer, either. There was no way you'd get a straight answer out of this madman. He knew exactly what he was doing, but he'd never tell you.
You stayed quiet and he pet your head, calling you "good girl." It sent chills down your spine. You couldn't tell if it was good or bad.
"Shall we continue, then?" he asked, pecking you on the cheek. Then he twirled you out and back into his arms, and resumed swaying with you in the silence.