was only the size of a large cat. Even so, he wasn’t going to take any chances.
Not that the miniature murderer had that much interest in the two humans outside the shop. Perched on the top shelves amongst the action figures, building blocks, dolls, and board games were dozens of weird-looking flying animals. They looked like bats, only these bastards had a long beak like a pelican and a bony crest on the top of their heads.
The miniature murderer ran from aisle to aisle, leaping at the shelves whenever one of them took to the air. Jefferson had seen birds in his garden behaving in the same manner whenever Alistair, his neighbour’s tom cat, sneaked under the fence. He left them to it. There wasn’t any death smell drifting out from the interior, so he assumed that Alan, and whoever else was in there, had escaped. He stopped beside Tailor’s Beauty Parlour. Unlike the pet shop, the harsh white light still illuminated the interior. Jefferson tried not to let his disappointment show at the sight of the empty shop. Christ, was he still expecting to see the very lovely Sandy sitting on that bright purple chair in front of that black table, waiting for her next customer?
“I don’t think there’s anybody in there, Jefferson.”
He nodded. “I guess not.” Sandy stuck her tongue out at him yesterday. It had been at about this time as well. He, of course, did the same back. This went on for a few more seconds, until Jefferson noticed Alan’s disapproving gaze in the toy shop window. Jefferson gave him a silent raspberry before he turned around and slouched back to his shop.
He’d give his right arm for everything to go back to how it was, with him being bored and frustrated with his life, and David lusting after Sandy and… He paused and gazed at Janine, still clinging on to his hand. Maybe not everything.
“I don’t think that your friends are in there, Jefferson.”
He slowly turned, leaned forward, and gently kissed the woman. She eagerly responded, holding him tightly against her body. Jefferson peeled his lips away. He grinned. Janine then pushed out his tongue. “Sorry, I’m not sure why I did that.”
“Maybe it’s because you could?” Janine sighed softly. “Because you’re as terrified as I am, and you think that the chances of both of us getting out of the fucking mall in one piece are pretty slim?”
He wiped away her tears. “We haven’t done too badly so far, Janine. Hell, we haven’t even used the bat just yet.” He kissed her again. “Don’t forget, it isn’t over until the fat lady sings.”
A quiet sob escaped from her mouth. “I hope that isn’t a reference to me, young man.”
Jefferson shook his head. “Don’t be silly, Janine. You’re in great shape, considering.”
“Considering what? Were you going to say considering my age?”
He laughed. “Both Sandy and Alan used to tell me that the best way to distract a woman was to mention her age.” Jefferson gently stroked her cheeks. He wondered if the weird feelings now blasting through his system were due to him falling for this woman or the constant terror of his situation had finally started to make him go a little mental.
“I want you to kiss me again, Jefferson. In fact, I want that more than anything.” She hung her head. “But I think we should find your friends first.”
“There’s only my shop to check. Oh, and the eatery.”
She pulled him away from the window and crossed the concourse, heading for the large collection of tables on the other side. Jefferson spent most of his free work time in here, they all did. They alternated through the eight food stalls situated around the U-shaped wall, choosing one per day. Jefferson always opted for the Chinese Express nine-item portion containers.
Jefferson froze. He pulled the woman back and ducked when he spotted three fast-moving shadows in the corner of the eatery. Janine tapped him on the shoulder, then pointed to the cricket bat. Her intention was very
Not that the miniature murderer had that much interest in the two humans outside the shop. Perched on the top shelves amongst the action figures, building blocks, dolls, and board games were dozens of weird-looking flying animals. They looked like bats, only these bastards had a long beak like a pelican and a bony crest on the top of their heads.
The miniature murderer ran from aisle to aisle, leaping at the shelves whenever one of them took to the air. Jefferson had seen birds in his garden behaving in the same manner whenever Alistair, his neighbour’s tom cat, sneaked under the fence. He left them to it. There wasn’t any death smell drifting out from the interior, so he assumed that Alan, and whoever else was in there, had escaped. He stopped beside Tailor’s Beauty Parlour. Unlike the pet shop, the harsh white light still illuminated the interior. Jefferson tried not to let his disappointment show at the sight of the empty shop. Christ, was he still expecting to see the very lovely Sandy sitting on that bright purple chair in front of that black table, waiting for her next customer?
“I don’t think there’s anybody in there, Jefferson.”
He nodded. “I guess not.” Sandy stuck her tongue out at him yesterday. It had been at about this time as well. He, of course, did the same back. This went on for a few more seconds, until Jefferson noticed Alan’s disapproving gaze in the toy shop window. Jefferson gave him a silent raspberry before he turned around and slouched back to his shop.
He’d give his right arm for everything to go back to how it was, with him being bored and frustrated with his life, and David lusting after Sandy and… He paused and gazed at Janine, still clinging on to his hand. Maybe not everything.
“I don’t think that your friends are in there, Jefferson.”
He slowly turned, leaned forward, and gently kissed the woman. She eagerly responded, holding him tightly against her body. Jefferson peeled his lips away. He grinned. Janine then pushed out his tongue. “Sorry, I’m not sure why I did that.”
“Maybe it’s because you could?” Janine sighed softly. “Because you’re as terrified as I am, and you think that the chances of both of us getting out of the fucking mall in one piece are pretty slim?”
He wiped away her tears. “We haven’t done too badly so far, Janine. Hell, we haven’t even used the bat just yet.” He kissed her again. “Don’t forget, it isn’t over until the fat lady sings.”
A quiet sob escaped from her mouth. “I hope that isn’t a reference to me, young man.”
Jefferson shook his head. “Don’t be silly, Janine. You’re in great shape, considering.”
“Considering what? Were you going to say considering my age?”
He laughed. “Both Sandy and Alan used to tell me that the best way to distract a woman was to mention her age.” Jefferson gently stroked her cheeks. He wondered if the weird feelings now blasting through his system were due to him falling for this woman or the constant terror of his situation had finally started to make him go a little mental.
“I want you to kiss me again, Jefferson. In fact, I want that more than anything.” She hung her head. “But I think we should find your friends first.”
“There’s only my shop to check. Oh, and the eatery.”
She pulled him away from the window and crossed the concourse, heading for the large collection of tables on the other side. Jefferson spent most of his free work time in here, they all did. They alternated through the eight food stalls situated around the U-shaped wall, choosing one per day. Jefferson always opted for the Chinese Express nine-item portion containers.
Jefferson froze. He pulled the woman back and ducked when he spotted three fast-moving shadows in the corner of the eatery. Janine tapped him on the shoulder, then pointed to the cricket bat. Her intention was very
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