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shaundoed · 7 days ago

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Summer Tyme with the Collectors: Chapter 5

Lady Luck: Another of the fae who draw their power from renown more than items or deals. This fairy gained notoriety during early human civilization, often posing as a god while interacting with the human realm. People would offer sacrifices in exchange for her blessing, a typical fairy ritual.

As word of her power spread, along with the offerings of more and more people, Lady Luck was able to consolidate her magic and lay claim to a quickly expanding empire in the faelands. With subjects in two realms, her influence doing nothing but growing, and more power than she knew what to do with, she found herself becoming the target of other prominent fairies.

Rather than risk devolving into the brutality she had witnessed in the human realm, Lady Luck made the difficult decision to step away from her lofty role. She faded from the fairy realm to avoid the horrors of war, a sacrifice many still honor to this day. On the thirteenth day of every month, it’s not uncommon to see her symbols hanging over doorways, shown in defiance of the lords who stepped in to take control of her fractured empire.

Not much is known of her whereabouts today. Some speculate she simply shifted her appearance to blend in with the commoners she once ruled over, while others think she may have decided to stay in the human realm. The only part of her legend that all agree on is this. She is still out there, still formidable, and will return. It was assumed she would make herself known as the first fairy war started, but hope has dwindled as the conflict nears its twelfth year.

Summer was still walking high in the clouds, overjoyed with everything in life when she got home. The stairs posed no challenge to her, and she ascended them like a child running up a hill. She wasn’t even out of breath by the time she got up to floor seven, and was filled with giddy glee as she sunk her key into the lock of door 734. All was right in the world, especially when she pushed the door open and inhaled the remaining scents of her sandwich from Ralv’s.

“Gonna need to go there again,” she said with a grin, setting her purse on a nearby countertop after removing the sealed box.

Her favorite part of getting a new phone was the unboxing. Pulling the box open, peeling the plastic from the sleek, smooth, shiny surfaces, and turning the device on for the first time all made her so excited. Setting the phone up was a breeze, and it had a reasonable charge after getting things as she wanted them. She went through all the setup for the AI, and established herself as owner of the device which now would recognize her voice. Sure, technology might get out of hand and take everything over someday, but today… Today she was happy with the helpful bit of tech in the palm of her hand.

After getting everything set and synced with her phone carrier, she felt compelled to try the various built-in apps. It came with all the standard bells and whistles; Gmail, texting, calls, the play store, and of course the camera. Summer tapped the camera icon, flipped it to the front lens, and snapped a quick selfie. Her smile faded when she noticed something behind her, what looked like a green blur. It had the appearance of something the camera hadn’t been focused on moving too fast to be captured. She sat up on the couch with a startled gasp, nearly dropping the new phone in the process.

“h-Hello?” she asked the hopefully empty apartment, wondering if she should grab a knife or the pepper spray from her purse.

There was no response, and she looked at the phone’s screen again. The barely noticeable blur was still there, and she swiped the picture to make the image move. As her finger guided the picture up, the small green smudge moved as well. It was definitely in the picture, and not some strange imperfection on the screen.

“Maybe…” she said quietly, hoping it was just a faulty lens.

She put the camera in selfie mode again and took another picture. The worried expression on her face looked back at her from the screen, with her couch cushions behind her. There was no smudge in the background this time, just her dark kitchen.

The lighting changed behind her as she inspected the image, and she jumped in her seat as she turned to look at the kitchen. Things had just gotten darker, and she vaguely remembered leaving the lights… on? She shook her head as she tried to convince herself that the light must have been off, there was no one else here, but… Her life had just taken an unexpected spin into things outside of what was “normal.”

With a shaky breath and shakier hands, she brought the phone up again. The camera focused on the kitchen, adjusting to the darkness it contained. Just before tapping to take a picture, she switched it to selfie mode again and pressed the button. Her clearly shaken face looked beyond the camera’s lens, and this time-

“Shoot!” said the man behind her.

His image was captured in the picture just over her shoulder. The obnoxious lime green hat was dipped low over his face, but those dazzlingly jade eyes peeked from below the brim. Summer jumped and spun around, swinging a hand wildling at the creep. He dodged quickly, dipping under her wrist with his hat tumbling to catch up. She ended up swatting the hat away, and took a frantic step back as it sailed through the air.

“Hey! What gives?!” he asked accusingly, suddenly at the wall beside her bathroom.

The green trench coat fluttered as he caught the smacked hat, and he shot a knowing grin at her as she searched for anything to say. Her mind raced through a series of fractured questions, none of them making the journey to her mouth. Instead, she looked at him, wide-eyed and mouth agape with little more than astonished sounds riding every puff out from her chest.

“Now you know how I felt,” the strange man said with a satisfied smirk. “Gettin’ seen by a human, made me feel all…”

An exaggerated shiver tumbled down his form after placing the hat back onto his head. It was an odd hat, not that the hat was the most unusual part of this whole situation. The vibrantly green hat looked to be some cross between a fedora and a beanie, with the stern brim curving around his head while the flexible dome formed to his scalp.

“Not my best moment, but suppose it ain’t all my fault.”

“What?!” she shrieked suddenly, a full word finally able to form on her tongue.

“What… what?” he replied with a knowing grin.

“You- you’re- how’d- what?”

Summer hated how frantic her voice sounded, and how her mouth and mind refused to cooperate. The stammering was frustrating enough, only made worse by the stranger’s reaction. He chuckled while leaning against the wall, crossing his arms casually. The low end of his coat fluttered around his calves as the toe of one green shoe settled into the wood floor, his legs crossed down by his ankles.

“Lemme help ya,” he said with a wink. “Name’s Gavin, I’m a leprechaun. How I got in here and remained invisible… to most folk, is magic. As for what…”

The jovial explanation stumbled to a halt while he seemed to ponder the last… question. Summer tried to clarify, but it was nothing short of impossible to find the words. Her mind hadn’t settled at all with the answers provided. If anything, it just gave her more questions, and much less certainty with her world.

“Hmmmm…” he mused while stroking his beard. His hand started over where his chin must have been, and glided down the six-ish inches of curled, twisting, fiery red hair. “I do need somethin from ya…”

Her eyes darted to the table beside her kitchen, where the laptop was still situated on the flat surface. The golden tie lazily spilled from between the screen and keyboard, and she wondered if that was what this Gavin was after.

“I have myself a bit of a problem, you see,” he continued, dropping his casual stance against the wall.

The leprechaun - if that was even possible - pushed the sides of his coat back while his hands sunk into a pair of pockets on his almost shimmering trousers. His slacks were a mesmerizing shade of green, and gave off the appearance of shimmering emeralds with every slow step forward. The couch still separated them, providing at least some sort of barrier.

“There’s a… guy, let’s say,” he said with a gleam in his eye. “Took somethin’ rather important from me.”

“I- I don’t know,” she replied, trying to force the shakiness from her voice. Her eyes went from him to the laptop, back to him, then to her new phone still clutched in her hand. “I don’t have dating advice?”

“Wha? No!” Gavin responded with a quick chuckle. “I don’t wanna date him, I need to get something back from the guy.”

Thoughts of calling for help darted through her mind, but who the hell would she call? What were the police going to do? Surely they didn’t respond to 911 calls about leprechauns, that would only result in her being taken to some mental facility.

“I can see that ya still strugglin’ with this whole thing,” he went on. “Maybe we can take a deep breath, sit on the couch for a minute, then talk a little?”

“Why should- what do you need me for?” she said much too fast for her liking.

Taking the leprechaun’s advice despite her extreme reservations, she took a deep breath. She held it for a few seconds, then exhaled slowly. Another breath in seemed to actually help, and her hands started to be noticeably less shaky.

“Thaaat’s it,” Gavin said calmly. “Nice and easy, in… then out. You got it.”

He stood at the couch, still facing her with his knee leaning against the cushion. A gentle expression was on his face, and he seemed genuinely invested in helping her through the strange situation.

“I toldja already, I need some help gettin’ somethin’ back.”

“Why me? Why can’t you just… invisible your way in and get it?”

“Because,” he starts, gesturing to the couch with one hand. “I’m not allowed to take from humans.” He sits on the couch with a derisive snort, rolling his eyes with obvious annoyance. “Even if they are the ones not following the rules.”

Summer sits on the couch as well, but as far from Gavin as she can. Her hip nudges against the armrest, and she leans a little to the side.

“Someone… they stole from you?”

“That’s the gimmick, innit?” Gavin replies with sarcastic glee. “Steal the gold and hold it for ransom…”

“Ok,” she says slowly, still trying to let everything process in her mind. The pieces fall together, despite how absurd everything has gotten. “So… this person, they took your gold in exchange of a… wish?”

The word felt weird as it pushed from her mouth. Could it all really be so simple? Sure, the tooth fairy - fairies, they accept something in return of… what she wanted most. But, are the other myths and legends based on real things, too?

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he replied with a tired sigh. “It ain’t that simple, like some child’s tale. If ya take the gold of a leprechaun, since we can’t just take it back, ya can extort some magic from us. It’s all we really have to ‘earn’ our gold’s safe return.”

“That… it just doesn’t sound right,” Summer said, her brow furrowed in thought. “You shouldn’t have to earn it back, it was yours in the first place!”

“Right? Now ya gettin it!” He seemed ecstatic that she was catching on, “And most people - after gettin’ what was asked for, they’ll just give the stolen gold back. But not this guy, ohhh no.”

“Ok… ok, so… you need me to… steal it back?” she asked hesitantly.

“When you say it like that you make it sound bad,” Gavin replied with a smirk. “I already did somethin’ for him, you’re just… collectin’ a debt, is all.��

Summer averted her gaze to the TV, fidgeting with her fingers while looking at the blank screen. It seemed simple enough, but could she really bring herself to take something from someone? Even if it was owed to Gavin, it still sounded like stealing to her. She looked up at the ceiling while contemplating, and avoided bringing her attention down to the leprechaun on her couch.

“Who… where would I have to go?” she asked, trying to choose her words carefully.

“You were already there today,” he replied, confirming the suspicion that had been brewing in her head. “That Ralv, ya think he can make sandwiches that good if there wasn’t anything magical about them?”

An exasperated laugh broke from her lips as she finally brought her eyes back down. The leprechaun was reclined back, settled between the cushion and armrest on his side of the couch. He had one leg on the sofa, bent at the knee with his foot suspended from the couch beside his other knee. His face was propped almost sideways on one hand, the elbow of his supporting arm planted on the armrest while his other arm laid along the cushions.

“They are pretty good sandwiches,” Summer relented.

“Thanks,” he said with a grin. “A secret recipe that reminds ya of ya best time, whether the consumer knows it or not.”

“If I go and… take the gold from Ralv…” she pondered aloud.

“The sandwiches will still be just as good, don’t worry ya little head about it,” he said assuringly. “The magic is already there, he’s just gotta return what he took.”

“How will I know what I’m looking for?” Summer asked.

“Ya think that lug has a whole hoard of gold? Like some kinda dragon, or somethin’?”

“Don’t tell me dragons are real now, too,” she retorted, hoping her tone didn’t sound as pleading as it felt.

“Well…” he mused, knowing full well that they indeed did exist. “I can promise ya that I won’t make ya go that far…”

It was all rapidly becoming too much for Summer. She stood from the couch and began pacing back and forth in front of the TV. Gavin watched as she nervously moved about, hoping she would agree to help.

“So…” she started, stopping her parade of one. A shaky sigh shuddered from within, and she began pacing once more. “Leprechauns are real, and tooth fairies, and dragons?”

“Uhhh, tooth fairies?” he quipped, looking at her like she said something derogatory. “They ain’t exactly interested in teeth, lady.”

“Summer,” she said with a nonchalant tone.

“Thanks, all I knew you as was fifty-six, but figured that wasn’t ya name…”

She stopped pacing around and looked at him. Her eyes flicked to the laptop on the table behind him, but quickly returned to the impromptu guest sitting on her couch.

“What do you mean, ‘they don’t want teeth’?”

“Well, sure,” he explained. “That’s what most of ya know about ‘em. Telling the little runts about the tooth fairy comin’ for their teeth in the night. Leaving little gifts or whateva under their pillow. But, they got tons of ‘em. Not really interested in collecting more.”

“They collect things?” she asked while actually feeling everything click.

Of course they would be after more than just teeth. What other reason would they have for taking her phone, and the feather? One question remained; what else would they be interested in collecting?

“For sure, they collect things.” Gavin caught her eye movement, but dismissed it with a shrug as he went on. “Anythin’ that holds value, like, we’re talkin’ value more than what ya can pay your bills with, get me? Sentimental stuff, important things, something ya’d miss if ya didn’t have it no more.”

“And give you whatever you want in return,” she said, her voice betraying the distraction she felt in the moment.

“Well, yeah. Within reason,” Gavin replied. “They ain’t gonna bring anyone back from the dead, and probably won’t go killing nobody, but… what do you keep looking at?”

Summer sent her attention back to him, unsure if she should tell the leprechaun about the tie. But, if he knew about the tooth fairies - collectors, since that seemed a better term - then, maybe he could help decipher the strange writing on the golden fabric?

“You didn’t make a deal with them or anything, didja?”

“Well-um, no, not exactly,” she tried, not knowing what that would even look like. “I’ve been visited, kinda? In my dreams?”

“Your dreams? In the worlds between?”

Gavin got up from the couch and looked to the kitchen. His eyes glanced about, searching the small dining area, then down the hall to the bathroom and bedrooms. After seeing that no other fae were present, he let out a relieved sigh and turned to face Summer again.

“Those are some dangerous ones, believe me on that. You don’t wanna be on their bad side.”

“But, what does that mean?” she asked, trying to understand all these new things being thrown at her. “The worlds between? It sounds-”

“The dream world. It’s somethin that’s kinda between our realms. A weird in between where everyone can interact, mostly safely.” He paused while pulling his hat from his head, and brushed a hand through his curly hair. “Not to get too much into history, but it’s just… kinda common ground for everyone.”

His hat was placed back onto his head after the brief explanation, and he looked at Summer again. Summer was still sifting through all he had said, and found herself surprised that it all mostly made sense.

“I’ll help you,” she agreed, reaching out a hand for a handshake. “But I need you to do something for me, if you’re able.”

Gavin was just about to take her hand, but the smile on his face dissolved into a look of frustration. He raised both hands into the air as though to show he was unarmed, and took a step back.

“Ohhh, no, I’m not falling for this again!” he exclaimed. “All you humans, ya all just lookin to take advantage!”

“W-no, I just need some help,” she tried, retracting her hand like it had been bitten. “There’s something… if you can read it?”

That seemed to pique his interest. Gavin looked back over his shoulder, again searching the kitchen and dining area for whatever Summer had looked at earlier. He nodded while turning his attention to her again, a smirk back on his face.

“So, you did make a deal with them…” he said coyly. “Idiot girl.”

With that, he was gone. Summer was shocked that he would have been so crude, and leave so abruptly. One second he was standing right in front of her, and the next - vanished. It would have startled her if she were anyone else, still clinging to the reality she’d been told to believe. Instead, she groaned her frustration and let herself fall onto the couch.

The clock on her phone told her it was already 7:45, and she groaned again as her stomach made its presence known. She would need to do something for dinner, but most certainly didn’t feel like cooking anything herself. It had been a while since her last grocery outing anyway, and she knew there wasn’t much for her to find to eat in her apartment. Summer knew what she would be doing for supper, before her conscious self had even made the decision. She groaned defeatedly as she rolled off the couch, and allowed gravity to carry her to the floor. It was a silly stunt that only amused herself, but one that also helped spring her to action. Ralv’s Deli was in her future, which she simultaneously looked forward to, and dreaded. With the gift card stashed in her purse, she was out the door and down the stairs, though much slower than usual.

#fairies #fairy #fantasy #novel #summer #summertyme #tyme #story #summer tyme #series

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shaundoed · 7 days ago

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Summer Tyme with the Collectors

Seeing Stones: There are many tools and enchantments one can use to detect or see fairies and their influence in the human realm. Many fairies try to avoid attention, oftentimes shrouding themselves in one way or another, and portals into and out of their world are very rarely able to simply ‘be seen.’ Some devices even allow the user to see who is fae-touched, or under the influence of a fairy.

Seeing Stones are one of the few naturally occurring objects that allows the user to see such things. They can only be used by the one who found it, and can sometimes be located along the shore or under water. These flat stones have been worn by water or wind, capturing the essence of eternity within a smooth, polished out circle.

Holding a Seeing Stone up and peering through it may reveal more than the user is expecting. Caution should be exercised while using one of these stones, as it is quite easy to get caught up in the revealed magic, and distracted from obstacles nearby. Being exposed to such wonders can also be overwhelming. Be sure to take glances, rather than stare. Many minds have been lost while gazing through a Seeing Stone, leading to speculation that these stones may be to blame, rather than what is seen.

It was shortly before noon when Summer left Boggury and Associates Legal, her new workplace where she knew she would feel right at home in no time. Not even a day in, and she was already quite comfortable there. The jitters she had earlier in the day had essentially abated, and there was genuine hope for her future, which was apparent in her cheery gait down the sidewalk. She actually had to focus on not getting too carried away with the excitement and joy running through her, having almost smacked more than one fellow pedestrian who accidentally wandered too close. An occasional thump against her chest reminded her of the pocket watch-turned-pendant, swinging and bouncing with her every step.

The smell of freshly baked bread permeated the air as she walked, and her stomach grumbled an annoying reminder of her skipped breakfast. A glass door swung open right in front of her, with a small bell announcing its sudden movement. Someone rushed through the open doorway, carrying with them a small paper bag and the heavenly scent of warm baked goods. Summer took a deep breath in, mostly through her nose as she turned towards the source of the delicious smell.

“Ralv’s Deli” greeted her eyes on a banner plastered to the closing door, along with a cartoonish figure of a bearded man holding an assortment of breads in his arms. The stereotypical chef’s hat leaned off the side of his head. Behind the caricature was a four leaf clover, which somehow felt out of place and appropriate all at once.

A bell rang above the door as it swung open, snapping her from a swarm of thoughts she hadn’t even realized she had fallen into. The memories of those thoughts blinked out as soon as she was pulled back into reality, and the alluring aroma rushing out to her was a nagging reminder of her hunger. The next person who walked through with one of those precious baggies actually stopped to hold the door open for her! Another wave of tempting scents drifted around her, sealing her fate as she thanked the devil at the door and wandered in.

If it hadn’t been for the fragrant waves crashing into her on the walkway outside, Summer would have been utterly overwhelmed when she stepped inside. Her mouth began to water as so many different types of breads assaulted her nose, each variety obviously cooked within this previously unnoticed store. Some neatly woven challah caught her eye as an employee brushed melted butter across the baked hills, and she was nearly mesmerized watching the trickling rivers run down into the crisp valleys. The oblivious employee shook poppy seeds over the freshly buttered delight, but a booming voice snapped Summer from the stupor.

“Forty-seven!”

Summer snapped her head toward the sound, loaves of French bread, brioche, bagels, and plenty of other amazing morsels blurring through her vision in search of the voice’s source. Behind the glass counter illuminating all of the fine breads on display was a large, burly man. He towered over the back of the counter, holding a tray with one large hand. The white apron he wore was clearly sporting puffs and streaks of flour, and it struggled over his strong chest as a thick, Boston accent again bellowed, “Forty-seven! Ya orda is ready!”

He was a spectacle to behold, with a hairnet secured down around his chin to cover his dark beard. A chef’s hat rolled forward, partially obscuring a gleaming medallion of some sort as he looked down at the smaller man who approached, smiling giddily as he handed over the tray. The white coat swelled over his arms with the movement, giving Summer the impression that he belonged in some bodybuilder competition more than a bakery.

The customer walked to a table and took a seat. His tray held a serving basket, and nestled atop a sheet of deli paper was what appeared to be the most delicious roast beef sandwich the hungry girl had ever seen. It was sliced in half, with a generous pile of house made potato chips sitting between the slices. With a restaurant like this within easy walking distance of her office, Summer knew Ralv’s Deli would be a nearly daily stop. Assuming she could afford it…

Realization struck her like lightning. Through the interview and into a half day of work, no talk of salary or wages had come up. Surely her contract had that information? She could always ask, but what if they’d discussed it and she had simply missed the conversation? A mental note was made to review her contract as soon as she got home, and if it wasn’t in there… probably just not bring it up until her first paycheck. With a shake of her head, she knew she would have to ask. This line of work doesn’t have room for people who are too nervous or afraid of stepping on other people’s toes to get answers. Besides, maybe Mrs. Boggury would appreciate her forwardness in asking about-

Her line of thought was interrupted as another number boomed through the storefront.

“Forty-eight!”

Someone scurried forward to claim their order, a baggie with a receipt stapled to the side. The line stemming from the register moved again, but someone was staring at her. It was unnerving enough to distract her from the delicious sights and smells all around, especially when his piercing, jade eyes didn’t dart away. There was no attempt to convince her that he wasn’t looking right at her, and every time she glanced his way his eyes remained fixated.

The guy was standing on the far side of the deli, leaning back against a wall in the corner. He was wearing what appeared to be a long, dull green trench coat, hanging lazily open down his front. Under the coat was a forest green shirt, with dark buttons lining the center from his fiery red beard to his golden belt buckle. Loose, emerald green slacks covered his legs, with a lined texture that reminded her of corduroy pants.

Summer removed her glasses, trying to look casual as she followed the line forward. Another number boomed through the restaurant, and number forty-nine rushed ahead to take her lunch. The stranger in the corner was reduced to little more than a green smudge against the wall as Summer wiped the lenses of her glasses with the fabric of her navy top. She nearly dropped her violet glasses while bringing them back up, forgetting the large pendant hanging from her neck. With a start, she hurriedly grasped the eyewear before any harm could come to them, and placed them back on her face.

Surprisingly, the figure was gone when sight was restored. The line moved forward again, and she followed. Both fifty and fifty-one were called back to back as she tried to rationalize what had happened. Had anyone else seen him? Where did he go? Would people think she was crazy if she spoke up? So many worried thoughts tumbled through her mind, that she was utterly unprepared when it was her turn to place an order.

“What can I get ya?”

A girl, no older than fifteen or sixteen, stood on the other side of the counter. She gave her best customer service smile to Summer, but clearly wanted her customer to hurry with their order. Based on the accent and dark hair, Summer guessed this was Ralv’s daughter, though there was no time for pleasantries. Her eyes quickly scanned the menu, searching for something that sounded good to her grumbling stomach. An image of the staring man danced through her mind again, distracting her from the task at hand.

“Uhh… roast beef?” she asked hesitantly.

“What kind of bread?”

While the young girl had almost perfected the customer service face and expression, Summer was mildly surprised at her need to learn the voice. There was more than a little annoyance in her tone, as though the type of bread should have been included in her initial request. Then again, maybe it should have been? Her only experience with a shop like this was a chain where the sandwiches were listed out with all of their ingredients, and you would have to ask for any deviations.

“Wheat?” Again it came out like a question. Summer kicked herself mentally, and tried to get a handle on the situation. “With onions. And, easy on the tomato, uh… swiss cheese, please.”

She felt a little better with the nearly complete order. Resisting the urge to smile at such an easy accomplishment, Summer waited for the girl to have another problem with her list.

“You want any sauce or lettuce?”

Another mental kick as she tried to find some list of available sauces. How could she forget something so basic, leaving her with a dry sandwich? She agreed to the lettuce in an attempt to buy more time, but settled on mayonnaise instead of any house special sauces. There would be time to try those later.

“Chips?”

“Yes, please,” Summer replied with a genuine smile.

“What kind?”

The lack of emotion other than nonchalant annoyance was beginning to grate on her. Summer kept the smile and kindness in her tone, reflecting on something her father used to say when urging patience. ‘You never know the battles and hardships someone else is facing.’ It rang through her head just as clearly as if he was standing right behind her, and she clasped a hand around her grandfather’s pocket watch. Assuming the young girl was annoyed with something in her life rather than her current customer, Summer shrugged.

“Surprise me,” she said with a chipper tone.

That seemed to catch the annoyed girl off guard. She hit a few buttons on the register, keying in the ordered sandwich, and then paused. Her brow furrowed as she strummed her fingers over the glass countertop.

“You… wanna be surprised?”

“It’s my first time here, I don’t really know what’s good,” she responded. “You seem to know the place pretty well, I figure you’ll send the right chips my way.”

“Fine,” the girl said through an exhale. “Anything to drink, or ya takin’ it ta go?”

Now Summer was the one getting annoyed. She tried not to show it, still holding to her father’s saying. If she hadn’t just had the most amazing morning, it was doubtful she could have kept her demeanor. Sarcasm and a snarky attitude was scratching at the surface, but she remained warm, and as pleasant as she could.

“To go, please.”

If it hadn’t been for that strange, staring man, she may have wanted to stay. It would have been a good opportunity to become more familiar with the menu, but she knew there would be other chances in the future. As it was, Summer just wanted to get home and away from… wherever he had gone.

Her eyes flicked through the store while paying for her lunch, trying to make the search seem like a casual glance. The person in green didn’t appear to be around anymore, but she certainly hadn’t seen him come up to claim his order. Could it have just been a figment of her imagination? Maybe he wasn’t actually staring at her, but getting rid of the trash remaining after lunch? No scenario seemed likely, but she continued to try to convince herself that it was all just an innocent misunderstanding. That, at least, would help keep her skin from crawling.

“Fifty-six!”

The big man boomed Summer’s number, and she walked up to claim her baggie. She flashed a smile to him as she reached out, but he was still holding onto it. Other orders had been set onto the counter to wait for their owners, but Ralv hadn’t released her little bag.

“I heard you hadn’t been here before,” he said in a softer, soothingly deep voice. “Put a little somethin’ extra in it for ya. Ya know, as a thank you.”

“Th-thank you…” Summer’s face felt hot as they burned a shade of red.

He finally released her order, and she scurried to the door. The embarrassment of being singled out so unexpectedly continued nibbling at her cheeks well on her way home, but pleasantly enough it made her forget about the starer. She rushed up the seven flights of stairs and made it to her floor’s landing before remembering the green man. Her heart was racing from the climb, but she steadied her breathing as she cautiously looked all around. The stairwell and halls were clear, so she felt comfortable walking to her own door.

She unlocked her door and stepped inside, leaning her back against the closed barrier as a sigh spilled from her chest. Without even looking, Summer dropped her briefcase and engaged the deadbolt to further secure her door from whatever may or may not be lingering in the hallway. Her heart raced, hammering away at her chest as she focused on the rhythmic ticking from her grandfather’s pocket watch.

Before long she finally managed to peel herself away from the door. The bag from “Ralv’s Deli” hung heavy in her hand, and she was so very eager to rip it open. Her quick advance to the table came to a halt when she saw the golden fabric spilling from her closed laptop. Somehow, she had managed to forget the supernatural elements of the last couple days, and another rumble from her stomach fought to keep her attention on lunch. She set the still closed bag beside her laptop, eyes locked on the reflective logo squarely in the middle of the plastic panel.

Another sigh escaped as she subconsciously reset herself, preparing for the mental task at hand. The shakiness rippling through her was largely thanks to her unanswered hunger, so she went to the kitchen for a drink to accompany her sandwich. Some sort of alcohol would help with the stress, and sheer craziness of her situation, but she’d never cared much for the stuff. Having been so focused on maintaining a strict budget, she had little more than a half-finished jug of kool-aid, and water from the tap.

Returning to the table with a glass of grape kool-aid, the ice cubes clattering around the juice’s top, she sat down and scooted her chair aside. The movement pulled her away from the laptop with its clenched tie, but her eyes were drawn to the impossible sight. She still had difficulty accepting that this could be happening, but reflecting on all the reasons why this should be impossible simply wasn’t rational. The proof was right there, clamped between a keyboard and screen with golden remnants rolling out of both sides.

A sharper breath was pulled into her lungs before being exhaled as a more forceful sigh. She took the bag with one hand, and tugged the top of it open with the other. The paper ripped along the staple that had held it shut, and that glorious aroma escaped into her apartment. Inside was her sandwich - neatly folded inside of a sheet of checkered paper, a plastic baggie of chips which was twisted and tied shut, and a plastic card. Her brow furrowed as she remembered what Ralv had said as he handed her order over. “...put a little somethin’ extra in it…” tumbled through her mind as she picked up the card. The same cartoonish figure from the restaurant’s door was there on the card, along with a sticker with “$5” written on it.

“A gift card?” she asked no one. It was a nice gesture, and one that would most definitely bring her back to the store, but not at all what she had expected. Really, she didn’t know what she expected to find in there after all of that, but the small gift brought a smile to her face.

Her attention quickly returned to the wrapped sandwich. The gift card found a home on the table as she unwrapped the warm delight, and she took a deep breath through her nose as the toasted bread came into view. Despite it being just a roast beef sandwich with mayo and lettuce, it looked and smelled wonderful. She held the sandwich with both hands, giving the crisp wheat bread a gentle squeeze. Mayonnaise leaked from around the lettuce and meat packed inside, and her mouth watered as she brought it closer. Her teeth sunk into the bread, cutting through with a satisfying crunch as her tongue was finally permitted its first taste.

Maybe it was the hunger, or perhaps her overall mood from such a great day. No matter the true source of the sensation she felt, Summer knew “Ralv’s Deli” would be a much too frequent stop for her. Heaven was the only acceptable word to describe it. Goosebumps spread down her arms, and she found herself fighting a shiver as her tongue flicked through the roasted beef. The lettuce was so fresh that it provided its own crunch to every chew, and the bread… She tilted her head to the side, releasing a pleased groan as the flavors and scent burned into her mind.

The chips were every bit as good, somehow. They were warped, browned and perfectly salted, having clearly been sliced in-shop before getting cooked that day. All in all, Summer couldn’t believe that such a lunch would be so easily affordable, but she dared not question it. She would simply make use of the deli for as long as she could.

Once lunch was finished, the distraction regrettably taking its place as a memory as she wiped her mouth with a paper towel, a splash of gold nagged the corner of her vision. She looked at her laptop, mere feet from where she sat, and took a long sip of kool-aid. The ice nudged under her nose as the cold liquid streamed beneath her lip, washing remnants of the sandwich down her throat. Her eyes flicked away, looking at anything but the laptop with its ensnared tie, but her mind was racing around it.

‘How do I find information about fairies?’ she pondered. ‘Reliable information…’

Over the next few hours she would stumble through dozens of websites, seemingly hundreds of articles about fairies. The tie sat mockingly beside the laptop as she typed, scrolled, clicked and searched, without finding an ounce of information that seemed credible. Obviously there wouldn’t be much research paper from some PhD on the subject, let alone the specific one… trio she was looking for. Still, she expected to find something other than page after page of information that danced around the subject when not directly contradicting the last.

“This is hopeless…” she said, leaning back in her chair with a sigh.

The clock at the bottom corner of her screen caught her attention when the final digits hit :00. Her eyes widened and she stood from her chair with a gasp, shocked that it was already five. So much time had slipped away during her fruitless search, and she still had to go find a suitable cellphone to replace the one taken yesterday.

‘Has it really only been a day?’

The thought tumbled through her mind, leading a parade of recent happenings through her mind. She went back to the door and retrieved her briefcase. Her keys were already on the table, but the briefcase had her wallet secured inside. After a quick change of clothes into something slightly less professional, she was ready to go.

It had been a little too long since the last time Summer had done laundry, leaving her with little more to wear than the lime green, form-fitting leggings and loose pink running shirt. Two colors she generally felt opposed to wearing, but beggars can hardly be choosers.

She was still a little apprehensive, remembering the green-clad starer from the restaurant, but he hadn't seemed to follow her home. There wasn't much reason to think he'd be waiting for her anywhere, but the memory left her on edge. Her heart beat expectantly as she went down the stairs, fortunately not finding anyone the whole way down the stairwell. Plenty of people were going their respective ways out on the sidewalk, but no one was wearing even as much green as herself.

Feeling confident that the dreaded starer was now nothing but an uncomfortable memory, Summer began walking down the sidewalk. The bus did have a route including the electronics shop she had in mind, but it was such a nice day. She felt inclined to walk the mile or so, happy to breathe the fresh air and take in some sun. It wasn’t long before the shop was in sight, and her mind spun through all the ads she had seen for cell phones.

Nothing super fancy was needed, but this was going to be her first official phone. Something she would rely on to help her keep her schedule, maintain a pace with her boss, and maybe even handle client calls and texts. It would need to be reliable, secure, and have plenty of storage space. Not that most phones were lacking in storage, most had enough memory to rival some laptops. Her mind began to wander through the advances of technology while still considering which phone would be right for her needs, and still had the headspace to wonder just how her life had progressed so rapidly.

The sliding door wooshed open when she got into range of the sensor, bringing her automatic walk to a halt. She had just been approaching on the sidewalk with the whole parking lot separating her from her destination, and now she was in the store? Without even noticing? This wasn’t necessarily anything new, but she had assumed the earlier experience with the man in green may have had her more on her toes. She certainly didn’t need to add “kidnapped” to her agenda.

That morbid thought brought a smile to her face with a secret giggle, and she had to roll her eyes. No one was going to kidnap her, certainly not in broad daylight. Even so, the thought, while ridiculous and humorous, sent a chill down her spine.

“How can we help you today?” asked a smiling, uniformed man.

He was about a head taller than her, and his expression appeared genuine. Summer scanned him quickly, taking in his blue eyes, the blonde wave of hair on his head making the style look intentional, while at the same time giving the appearance of being carefree. His yellow shirt was neat and wrinkle free, and he was wearing black slacks light enough to be blown against his legs when the door opened behind her again.

“Just,” she started, catching a breath she hadn’t realized she had lost. “I’m looking for a new phone?”

The tone. That voice that always seemed to carry a question with it. It was something she had long struggled with, and the darn thing kept creeping up on her. She had managed to keep it under control at her new job, and even mostly during the trainwreck of an interview. But now, with everything in the world seeming to be working out for her, and a cute guy? She felt like her high school self all over again.

“We have some crazy good phones,” he - Manny, according to his nametag - said. “I can show you, if you like?”

Summer nodded at the offer, and followed Manny to where the phones were located. Neither said a word until they arrived at the phone section, and Summer began to wonder if he was as taken as herself.

“Here we go,” he said, sweeping a hand over the wide selection. “Looking for anything in particular?”

“I don’t know, really,” Summer started, though she had a pretty good idea. “What do you recommend?”

“Well,” Manny replied, rubbing his chin thoughtfully with one hand. “Samsung has the best camera option, in my opinion. If you want something with a great display and sound, then I would recommend the latest Pixel. Motorola has been struggling lately, but I do like this year’s flagship. It would be a good option for gaming.”

Noting the obvious exclusion, Summer crossed her arms and leaned casually against the display table. She arched an eyebrow and gave the guy a smirk.

“What about these iPhones I’ve heard so much about?” she asked sarcastically.

Manny chuckled and ran his fingers through his hair. The gesture made Summer’s heart beat a little faster, and she felt just a little warmer.

“Apples are for eating, not electronics,” he finally said with a grin. “Though, if you wanna be trendy…”

He added some extra spice to the final word and let it linger, but it was obvious he wasn’t an Apple guy. Summer nodded while glancing over the phones on display. She didn’t have an iPhone before, and had heard nightmare stories of making the switch between the operating systems. It didn’t seem particularly appealing, especially while trying to get used to a new job. No sense in struggling with a new phone, and letting her career suffer for it.

“I’ve been a Samsung girl since my first phone,” she said with a sigh. “It’s always nice to have a good camera.”

Would a camera be important at her job? Each phone had its own space on the long tables, and she was able to do side-by-side comparisons. Their hard drives were almost identical when it came to storage space, and every phone was almost the same. It was just the little technicalities that separated them, each with its own… draw.

“Google’s AI is pretty great,” Manny offered. “That was my deciding factor.”

“A-I?” Summer asked, glancing at him.

“Artificial intelligence,” he replied.

“Thanks, yeah. I know what AI is,” she said with a smirk and an eye-roll. “What sets it apart?”

“Oh- uhh…”

Now it was Manny’s turn to feel warmer, and Summer had to concentrate to avoid laughing at him. His cheeks burned red as he stammered, and his eyes avoided hers while he pulled a phone from his pocket. A nervous laugh escaped from him as he unlocked the device, and pressed a few buttons on the display.

“Their AI is Gemini. It’s been really helpful for school and stuff. The voice recorder app- um, it can transcribe what is recorded into written notes. The security is really good, too, keeps information from being accessed by… outside people.”

He was flustered, clearly. Summer listened intently to what he had to say, nodding and smiling as he spoke. It was… cute, honestly. But, he hadn’t shown her anything on the device he’d pulled from his pocket. She found it odd he would retrieve it at all, if he wasn’t going to use-

The critique was interrupted in her mind as he finally turned his phone around. Everything he had just said was displayed on his screen, stammers and all. She looked from the screen to him, only a little annoyed at the confident smile now plastered to his face.

It was everything she had set out to find. Secure, useful, and with technology that wouldn’t be lacking for at least a couple years. The price wasn’t outlandish, either - well within her budget. Even if it wasn’t, Mrs. Boggury had offered advance pay to help cover the cost.

“Sounds like everything I’m after,” she said with a bright smile. “What colors are available?”

“The pro comes in a few different colors,” he explained, pointing to the circular depictions of each color. Summer was drawn to one of the indicated options instantly. She had never been much of a fan of it before, but porcelain suddenly seemed like the best of any option. Manny retrieved the phone she had selected, and walked with her to the front of the store. This journey involved much more conversing than before, and by the time she was leaving with her new phone in hand, she felt as though they’d just finished their first date. Which was odd, since they had set that for a couple days from now.

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