#the target in question? NO MOPS... we came back with half the groceries we were looking for- on the way back? got lost twice looking for

[gigagasp]

God is putting me through trials LMAO

[bluepenguinstories]

Remoras Full Chapter V: Walking on Sunshine

Any minute now, those two would walk back in and bring for me what I asked for. As I waited, I kicked my shoes up above the desk and whistled a nice little tune. My eyes closed, I braced myself for a nap. Yes, it shouldn’t be long...any minute now…aaaand there it was!

Knocked awake by the sound of a door being busted open. Eyelids also opened up in a burst, as I found myself startled out of my sleep. Two women entered, both carrying bags in each hand. Good. Soon delicious food could be made.

“Welcome!” I greeted the two, the sunniest smile shone on my face. As they drew closer, I lowered my legs back onto the floor and leaned myself forward. My hand rested against my chin as I scanned them, inquisitive.

“My shoulders are about to fall right off,” Demetria groaned. “Where can I set this shit down?”

“The kitchen’s fine,” I replied, casual. “I’ll take care of it in a bit.”

“This feels so wrong. Doing your dirty work,” she retorted. Ah, that was true, wasn’t it? In any case, while she did complain, she still hurried along. Now there was just the matter of the fish that walked in behind her, the one that latched on to a shark.

She dropped her portion of the groceries on my desk. How thoughtful of her.

“Good job, Remora,” I inspected the bag, then began to write off a check for her. “This should cover the expenses of each item,” I passed the check to her.

She took it, stared me down the whole while, her gaze would have pierced through anyone, and because of that, I was grateful I wore glasses. Without averting her gaze, she tore the check in half, bared some fangs, and I thought I could hear a faint growl, but maybe it was just the senility of being a middle-aged man. In any case, my sensors detected something interesting was about to take place.

“Ah, I see. Because you have no need of the money, you figured you would tear up the check. My bad,” I chuckled.

Demetria ran in; from my peripheral I could see her distraught.

“I COULD’VE USED THAT MONEY!” She shouted. She didn’t even know how much money was written on the check, she just wanted something.

I thought that if I had her go to another room with the groceries, I could distract her long enough. Ah, that was my bad as well. I should’ve taken a more direct approach with my wording.

“Consider this a symbolic gesture,” she spoke at last, her words as icy as ever. “I’m through dealing with you.”

“Why is that?” I asked.

“Stop playing coy. This was never about grocery shopping.”

“What?!” Demetria balked. “So I carried all that stuff for nothing?! If I find out I have a broken back, It’ll be your fault!” I did enjoy her presence, but I wished I could ignore her for the time being.

“Then what was it about?” I kept my focus on Remora. She answered with a question of her own.

“Guess who I met while I was down there?”

“Who?”

“Someone from a past life, apparently.”

Ah. So she figured it out. Just as I hoped she would. My smile widened. Although I did not know of any ‘someones from a past life’, hearing that sure did pique my curiosity.

“What ever could you mean?”

“They thought I was that person. The same one you told me about when we first met. Clara Waters. I should have done my research before agreeing to go down there. Turns out the city you sent me to was the same one she died in.”

“Oh?” Looks like the cat was out of the bag. “Did you find anything else out?”

“Stop with the games, you sick old man. Because of you, they think I’m this dead person come back to life or something. I can’t be that person for them.”

Hmm...which of us are playing games, now?

“Well, now that the cat’s out of the bag, tell me, which do you prefer: working for the side of evil, or the side of good?”

“What I prefer,” she slammed her fist on the table, but didn’t raise her voice. “Is not being used by others. If you want something from me, tell me and don’t send me on a scavenger hunt.”

“I tried that and you shot my hand, remember?”

She huffed. It sounded more like those breaths you make on chilly days. Either way, she knew I had gotten her on that one.

“Who are we talking about?” Demetria interjected. Ah, well, let her.

“Yes, Remora, who?” I let my sly smile show.

“Look, I escaped that life! All I wanted was to keep to myself, you should have respected that. Instead you decided to dredge up something that doesn’t even have to do with me and now I’m being mistaken for…” She stopped herself.

For...for...almost there…

“For?”

“Just a fucking corpse,” she muttered as she walked away into one of the spare bedrooms. By the looks of things, she wanted to save face. Whatever face she had to lose, anyway.

“Uh, what was that about?” Demetria went up to me and asked.

“Don’t worry about it,” I shook my head.

Remora was angry with me, that much was clear. Even though she had not yelled, her anger could be felt through her tone and her face alone. I really miscalculated what would happen if I played my little experiment, didn’t I?

Demetria, meanwhile, being the devoted follower, ran into the room Remora was in. Luckily for me, Remora had left that room wide open. I pushed back the chair I was in and got up, then walked over to listen to their conversation.

“Hey, is this about that Rhea person my cousin and her wife mentioned?”

“Yes,” from the brisk tone, it was clear that the reply came from Remora.

“So you did know her?”

“Of course. We worked for the same company, though I never saw her. I was just aware of her existence, as well as her reputation. Trust me, she wasn’t someone worth mentioning, nor the type of person you would want to be friends with.”

“Hey, I don’t like my cousin and her wife, either, but they seemed to like her just fine.”

“I never said I didn’t like those two. You don’t know what those two have been through, and it’s not my place to judge.”

“Oh. Er...I guess that’s fair.”

“Though, if they truly did consider themselves friends with her, chalk it up to Stockholm Syndrome.”

“That’s not what that means, y’know?”

“Yes, but for lack of a better term, that’s what I’m calling it. Did you know that she tried to kill them?”

“Oh shit. Really? That’s wack.”

“She wasn’t a good person. She was a cold and merciless killer. All she cared about was eliminating her target.”

“What about you, though?”

“Yes, so was I, but I was the only one who could match her. Anyone else, she could easily have taken out. Even still, had she been given the task to kill me, I’m sure she’d have no problem doing so.”

“If she tries to kill you, I’ll protect you!”

Ah, that sweet summer child (actually, I didn’t know when Demetria’s birthday was. Could have been in the spring or fall. Either way, she didn’t strike me as a winter person).

“I don’t need protecting. She’s dead. If she wasn’t, I wouldn’t even be able to be here.”

Dead giveaway, Remora.

“Oh. Right. Thank goodness, right?”

I peeked in. Remora glared. But not at me, she hadn’t noticed me. Rather, at Demetria.

“Her skills were so unparalleled that the only way she could have died was if she were to have willed it. The fact that she’s gone means that she wanted it so. For that reason alone, I do not mourn her.”

“How unsympathetic of you, Remora,” I butted in.

“You,” she looked up.

I chuckled. “Just as Demetria said, there must be some reason why people would have liked her.”

Remora growled.

“If you know anything about her, you’d know she’s not the type of person you’d want to meet. Especially if you were her target.”

“Yeah, she sounds scary,” Demetria agreed. “Scary hot, too,” she then whispered.

Remora began packing up. “I’ve got my own home to return to. I can’t stand being here any longer.”

“You shouldn’t worry about her so much!” Demetria seemed to try to comfort. “I think you’re pretty great, and I’ll do anything to cheer you up! Let me know what you need me to do! You can even step on me, if you’d like! I’ll even thank you for it!”

“You’re being overbearing,” Remora replied.

“Me?! Overbearing?!” Demetria balked. “I resent that remark! My mom is overbearing! I think I’m being the right amount of bearing!”

Remora took her bag and shoved past both Demetria and I. Just as Remora was about to go through that door, Tigershark entered, who had been in the bathroom up until then. She ran up and hugged Remora.

“I’m leaving now,” Remora announced.

“Can I come too?” Tigershark asked.

“Sure.”

The two walked off.

“What about me? Take me with you!” Demetria called after them. Tigershark turned around and stuck her tongue out. Then, as the two disappeared, Demetria turned back to me.

“Have I mentioned that I don’t like kids?” She pointed behind her with her thumb.

“Demetria, go work on the dining area,” I suggested.

“Why? There’s never any customers. I know! I’ll make her a cake! That’ll cheer her up!” Then she paused. “I don’t know how to make a cake. Teach me!”

“I think you should give her some space.”

“I don’t have to do that!” She declared while pointing at me. “I’m not on her naughty list! You are!” Then she looked away and muttered. “Though I wish I was on her naughty list…”

What I wouldn’t give to be young again and have the same amount of energy as her. It brought a smile to my face, to think of the prime years. However, I realized that I had caused quite the kerfuffle and it weighed on me. I looked down and smiled.

“It would please me if you mopped up the dining area. You never know when a customer will arrive.”

She groaned, along with a heavy, exaggerated sigh for good measure. “Fine. But no one’s shown up since I’ve been here.”

It pained me to admit, but she was right. However, I didn’t know the exact cause of the lack of patrons as of late and I wanted to believe that it was just an anomaly and that the pace would pick back up in due time. The most unfortunate bit about the whole mystery was so far, no rumors have surfaced of any possible explanations. Then again, could a lack of customers even be called a mystery? Such a thing should be expected for any business.

While the lovestruck scholar did her servant work, I stepped into the kitchen. There were dishes aplenty to do from all the meals I’ve made for Tigershark. Dishes I should have done, as I would in the past do right away, with the greatest of ease, but, being in my shape and age, I was slowing down just a little. Had to relearn a few skills here and there.

Through the window to the dining room, I spied Demetria swinging around a mop as if it were a sword. She then slipped on some water and fell onto the floor. After looking around, she got up and continued to mop. All of that begged the question, did she know that I could see what she was doing?

Before I could dwell on such a question, the front door opened and the bell above rang. I focused my attention to the left to see who it was, and found myself glad to see such a familiar face. However, the test was to see how well my little worker bee could perform as waitstaff for a customer.

Right on cue, she welcomed him in. He sat at a booth and she pulled out a notepad and pen.

Was she prepared for something like this? Has she been studying? Well, I’ll be.

“Welcome in, what will you have today?”

So far so good…

“Coffee,” he replied, his voice gruff.

“Right,” she scribbled it down. “Coffee...sugar? Cream? Cream and sugar?”

“Black.”

“Eep! Right!”

She ran over to me. Ah, so she knew where I was after all.

“Um, Mr. Sunshine, there’s a customer and he wants coffee. I don’t know what to do.”

I smiled. “Demetria, take a breath. You’re doing just fine.”

She made a few hand motions and took a few breaths. Not slow, though. Rather fast, like she just wanted to get it over with. With my good hand, I wagged my finger, as if to say “just a sec,” then walked over to the coffee machine.

After pouring a cup of coffee, I handed it to her.

“Bring it to the kind man, then ask him what he would like to eat.”

“What about a menu?”

I waved my hand. “There is no menu. Now do your best.”

She balked, but didn’t utter a word.

“Here’s your coffee, have you decided what you’d to order?”

He took a sip, then set it down. “Mm. I can taste the grounds. Just how I like it.”

Yes, he always did have impeccable taste.

“Um...compliments to the chef?” She tried to muster some nervous laughter.

“Who are you, anyway?” His eyes darted from side to side. His type could never be too careful, and could I blame him?

“My apologies! I’m Demetria, I’m new here!”

“Where’s Ray?”

“He’s in the kitchen.”

Iff that man were an enemy of mine, I wouldn’t have liked that answer. At least I had built good enough relations with most of the regulars.

“So, what’ll you be having?” She persevered. Bless her heart.

“I’ll keep it simple for you’s. All I want is a stack of sloppy Joe pancakes. Capisce?”

“Sloppy…” She began scrawling it down. “Oh, by the way, nice getup. Going for a mafia cosplay or something?”

What was she doing? Trying to ease the tension? Oh my…

“What’s it to ya?”

“Just curious. What are ya, some kinda time traveler? Like, hello, the 1930s called and they want their mobsters back.”

Yes, Tony over there was wearing his usual pinstripe suit and bowler cap. In his mouth was a cigar, the ashes falling into his cup of coffee.

“What do you know about time travel, kid?”

“Eep!” She jolted. His voice sounded grim, as if he were about to pull a gun on her.

To think she was doing so well...oh well, for her first time, I would give it an A for effort. However, we would have to work on her conflict resolution skills.

“Oh Demetria,” I called to her. “A word?”

She scurried over.

“Tony here is a regular in this establishment and someone I’d like you to treat with upmost respect,” I informed her.

“Yeah, and how am I not doing that? By the way, the guy wants sloppy Joe pancakes. I held my tongue on that one, but really?”

Not what I was referring to, but a good point as well.

“Good for you. However, if you say certain...things...it may give people ideas. Things like time travel and the like.”

“What? You can’t be serious, right? That’s not even a real thing! I was just joking around.”

“Even still, to certain people, it’s very real. Such things as time travel and alternate dimensions may not mean much to people like you and I, but to someone like him, it could be a serious matter.”

“I don’t get it, but okay. Just Sci-Fi nonsense to me.”

“Hey, Ray! What you doin’ bein’ all shy?” Tony called out to me. Drat. I’ve been caught.

I stepped out of the kitchen and greeted him.

“Tony, how’s it been?” I drifted over to his booth. “How’s your husband?”

“Who, Al? He’s fine. Always complainin’ about my taste, tho. I keep tellin’ him, all’s I need’s is your Sloppy Joe pancakes. Simple, but effective. Just like the family business.”

I laughed. “You flatter me, Tony.”

He pointed his beefy thumb at Demetria. “Who’s the gal?”

“I figured it was time to hire some staff, y’know? Can’t just be doing all the work. I found this poor orphan girl off the streets. No education, nothing. So I decided to take her under my wing.”

“Hey! I’ll have you know –”

“How kind of you, Ray. Always lookin’ out for them little folks. Say, what’s Sunny up to?”

“Off tomb raiding. She said she caught wind of a dragon statue. She wants to recover it before any sort of museum gets to it first. Philanthropy, and all.”

I took out my phone and showed her a picture she had sent me just a couple days ago.

“Look at her, Tony! Isn’t she beautiful?”

“She really is a dame.”

I beamed. “Look, I can show you more, too! She really is the light of my life!”

“That’s what matters, innit? Say, ever look into that rumor? Was it Rhea?”

I shook my head. “Sorry, Tony. Turned out it was just a regular indigenous hunter. We chatted a bit, then we parted ways.”

“Damn. Got my hopes up thinkin’ she was alive. I’ll never forgive her for what she did to my men. If she weren’t dead, I’d kill her, myself.”

Yikes. Just how many messes have you made for yourself over the years?

“My regards. Unfortunately, I can’t bring her back any more than you can.”

“Ain’t that the truth.”

“Well, I’ll go get started on your pancakes. Nice catchin’ up with you, Tony.”

“Call me Antonio. Al calls me Tony.”

I gave a hearty laugh.

“Very well, Antonio.”

Before I could make my way back to the kitchen, he called to me once more.

“Can I expect to see you at my daughter’s wedding?”

“You come to me with this on a day that I’m cooking? Tell you what, I’ll think about it.”

“Forget about it. Just make sure you make a mean Sloppy Joe.”

I gave one of those “chef’s kiss” gestures, and danced right along into the kitchen. Unbeknownst to me, Demetria had followed me in.

“What was that about just now? All of a sudden it’s like everyone knows who this ‘Rhea’ person is but me!”

I smiled, preparing the pancake batter. One handed, of course.

“Oh, nothing.” I looked around the room. From what I could tell, nothing had been planted that could listen in on us from here.

“Bullshit! How do you know her?”

“Hehe, you could say she was just ‘the one who got away’.”

“So what, a crush or something?”

Ha. Now there was a concept.

“Tell me, dear, would you find yourself having a crush on someone like that, were you to meet her?”

“No way! I’ve only got eyes for Remora!”

“Mm...while I do love Tony like a brother, he’s got a personal grudge he wishes he could settle, and while his anger is justified, I’d rather not have our dear friend Remora be attacked under false pretenses. Understand?”

“Yeah, sure,” she looked worried. I could also tell by the look on her face that she was thinking something like “just what the hell did I get myself into?” Ah, but that’s the service industry for you.

Once I finished making the Sloppy Joe pancakes, I brought the plate over to Tony and set it down. “Here you go. Would you like more coffee, by the way?”

“I shouldn’t. Doctor says my blood pressure’s already at risk.”

“Good call. I’d hate for the next time to see you to be at your funeral.”

“You can’t get rid of me that easily,” he nudged me, which reminded me of the issue in the back of my mind.

“Say, Ton...er...Antonio, any idea where everyone’s been? I’ve had nary a customer as of late.”

He shrugged, tapped his cigar into the coffee mug, then answered:

“No idea. I’ve just been hanging out at home with Al. We’ve got our own business to maintain. Family’s a busy profession.”

Don’t I know that.

“No clue at all? No rumors or gossip or anything?”

Again with the nudge.

“I know that’s your thing, brother, but when I say I have no idea, I mean I have no idea. Believe me, I miss when this place was full of life just as much as you do.”

Full of life. Back when killers, thieves, and arctic researchers could share the same space as your everyman. Ah, those were the days. It didn’t seem all that long ago, but that was just the thing: year and a half could go by fast.

So many things coincided; The death of ‘Clara Waters’, the lack of customers, the blizzards which have taken lives, the appearance of strange and previous unheard of creatures. But whether they all had to do with each other or they were all a coincidence were yet to be determined. Until more pieces fell into place, they were merely coinciding events, and nothing more, as coinciding events didn’t mean that they were all connected.

Tony finished his plate, then got up and went about his way.

“Bring Al with you next time!” I called to him. “I’m tired of hanging around an empty restaurant!”

He waved goodbye without so much as a word. I didn’t take it personally, it was just a trait of his inherited by the family business he maintained. I picked up the plate and took it to the kitchen for a good wash. Afterward, I sat in the diner at one of the booths next to the window and stared out. Darkened purple skies, a white and barren landscape losing its tint little by little as dusk approached.

As I sipped a fresh cup of flowery pekoe tea, I wondered when I would encounter another customer; none showed up for the rest of the night. Once I realized that, I locked the doors and shuttered the blinds, then made my way to the back, where the desk filled with stacks of papers next to my desktop computer, all of which served to compile the requests and rumors Sunny and I have received. Flurries were sent in daily, and it was my job at the end of the day to sort through and figure out which ones I wished to tackle.

Just like any old mail, most were junk. But it was still important to sift through it all, as a gem could be found in the filth. Some folks offered a great deal of money for what might have seemed like the simplest of things. There were folks who sent the things they found most prescient in a letter, as they believed the information too sensitive to be sent over E-mail. Couldn’t say that I blamed them for that, either.

Lost in the shuffle of the requests, I failed to notice the swivel chair in front of my desk moving on its own. No, that wasn’t right. I leaned up to find Demetria crouched over, knees up, and spinning herself around with the edge of my desk as support.

“Are you having fun?” I asked.

“No,” she replied, her voice low and dull. Reminded me of Remora already.

So this is what she’s like when not in her presence. Fascinating.

“You might make yourself sick if you keep doing that,” I cautioned.

“I don’t care. I have nothing to fixate on.”

“Well, what kind of things are you interested in?”

“Fish and Remora.”

How convenient.

“Oh. That makes sense, seeing as a remora is a fish. How did you meet our cold friend, anyway?”

“At an aquarium. She was looking at remoras.”

“How fitting.”

That was so simple. It made too much sense.

I had to hold back laughter. Those two were so ridiculous (no matter how much either of them might try to deny) that it bordered on adorable.

“How come that guy earlier never paid for his meal?” She asked.

Ah, a splendid question. One that I didn’t have to answer, but would anyway.

“There are ways to provide payment outside of monetary compensation.”

“I see...prostitution?”

I spat out. “What? Why did you jump to something like that?”

She shrugged.

“I run a respectable establishment.”

“Sure you do. That’s why you serve mafia cosplayers.”

“There’s an old adage,” ah, there we go. An opportunity to teach the younger generation. “Something like ‘the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach’, or at least, that’s how I think it went. I don’t know, my grandma used to tell it to me. Anyway, the best way to get on someone’s good side is to serve them a nice meal. If you can get on someone’s good side, you might find them useful to you in the future.”

“That’s what I’m saying! Teach me to make a cake so I can get in Remora’s good graces!”

I gave a wild hoot to that one.

“Didn’t I tell you that you should give her some space?”

“What do you think I’m doing? I don’t even know where she lives.”

Such logic. I had to remember that one.

“What about you?” She asked. “You’re the one she’s mad at, or have you forgotten?”

“How could I forget? It was only earlier today. But yes, you’re right. I’m the reason she walked out and she had every right to do so. If the connection I was hoping to build has been severed, that is on me.”

“Great. So if she never shows up again, I’ll blame you? The whole reason I came here in the first place was because of her.”

“Just give it some time.”

“Yeah. I guess you’re right. I don’t really want to go back to my old life, anyway. My mom and my former roommate have been texting me and I keep leaving them on read because I don’t know what to say.”

“Are they worried about you?”

“Yeah, it’s real annoying. I just want them off my back, but I don’t wanna be rude about it.”

“Have you ever considered lying?”

She gasped. “That’s brilliant! Why haven’t I thought of that? Hmm...but I still wouldn’t know what to say.”

“What’s your roommate been saying?”

“Stuff like ‘what the fuck? Why haven’t you been at uni? Are you okay? Your mom keeps asking me if I’ve seen you, which I haven’t. She thinks you might’ve gotten kidnapped or something.’ I want to reassure them both I’m okay, but I don’t want them to know that I’ve dropped out and come all the way up here because of some crush.”

At least she was aware of her predicament. Admittedly, it didn’t quite look good to be dishonest and while I loved to revel in trickery, I could tell what kind of person she was.

“What did you study?”

“Marine biology.”

“I see...how about something almost honest?”

“What?”

“Yeah, it’s quite easy. Something like ‘hello, sorry to worry you, I’ve taken a job studying marine life in the arctic. It’s been going great, but I’ve been too busy to get back to you!’ How does that sound?”

“Oh my god! Thank you!”

I smiled. “Not a problem. I was young once, too. What better age to make mistakes than your twenties?”

“...I take back what I said. I’m just pursuing my dream, how’s that a mistake?”

Dream or fantasy?

“Right. It must be me that made a mistake. It could be my old age setting in. After all, it can’t be called a mistake if you have yet to regret it.”

She yawned, stretched, then got up.

“Well, I’m gonna brush my teeth and get some shut eye.”

“Novel idea,” I agreed. If I had any sanity left in me, I would do the same.

Just a few days later, early in the morning, after we had shared a nice breakfast of eggs au gratin, Demetria and I once again found ourselves in the same place; in the back of the restaurant, bored out of our minds.

“This is all your fault,” she complained.

“Yeah, yeah.”

Before our conversation had a chance to spiral into a boredom induced argument, someone burst through the door: Tigershark. Alone, no less.

“What? Tigershark? What are you doing here?” I jumped out from my seat.

“I’m hungry!” She shouted.

Oh, right. I forgot how much that kid liked my cooking.

“Did you come out here all by yourself?” While I didn’t have a problem with Remora not wishing to speak with me, I’d hope that the kid didn’t come on her own.

“Yeah, why?”

Ugh. That was what I was afraid of.

“You really shouldn’t do that. It’s dangerous out there. No place for a kid to be wandering out alone.”

“I can handle it! I’m strong!” She roared.

“That may be so, but I’d still prefer it if nothing bad happened to you.”

I really thought you were more responsible than that, Remora.

“What gives? Do you and her have joint custody of Tigershark?” Demetria asked.

I shook my head and smiled.

“Not really. I’m not fit for raising a child. Actually, I have a daughter of my own and I love her to death. Would you like to see a picture?”

Demetria shook her head. “No thanks.”

“So, Tigershark, is Remora coming back?” I turned my attention to the child present.

“She’ll come back sooner or later! She likes your food too much to stay away! She’s just grumpy!”

Did she really, or was it just Tigershark who liked my food? That I wondered.

“I see. Good to hear she’s well.”

“I’ve been learning things from her, too! She taught me about culture! She pulled out a whiteboard and said you’re bad culture and she’s good culture!”

That was one way to teach someone about culture, I suppose.

“What was her reasoning?”

“Because you trick people and bring up irrelevant things! And she’s honest and...um...not complicated!”

Demetria knelt down and put her hands on Tigershark’s shoulders.

“Did she say anything about me?” She asked her.

“Yeah, she said she didn’t know what to make of you, so she put you in the middle.”

She held her head low and smiled. “There’s still hope for me.”

Don’t tell me she’s about to get all teary-eyed about that.

“I just want some food!” Tigershark demanded. “Make me crepes! Or waffles! I don’t care!”

Did...did she run all the way over here just for me to make her food? If so, I too was at a risk of getting teary-eyed.

“I think I’m gonna take a nap,” Demetria pointed to the room down the hall she stayed in. “Only so much social interaction I can do, and kids annoy me, anyway.”

“Fine by me,” I turned to her with a smile. “Enjoy your rest.” Then, I turned back to Tigershark.

“How about both crepes and waffles? With strawberries and ice cream?”

“Hell yeah!”

Thus, Tigershark and I spent a nice day together, starting with a sugary breakfast. Now, being the age I was, it was important to watch my figure. So I opted to partake in but a few strawberries. It was more important that she get something to eat, anyway.

Afterward, she jumped up, as if the fill of food had no affect on her.

“I wanna see the penguins!”

I tilted my head before remembering what she had called me during our first encounter. ‘Penguin Man’. However, there had to be some kind of mistake, right?

“Dear, there are no penguins around here. They live in Antarctica, in the south pole. We live closer to the north pole, where Santa lives.”

“Then let’s see both!”

Oh my.

“Okay, well, you see, south is the opposite of north…” Wait. Why was I explaining something like that? She already knew north from south, I was sure of it.

“I know there’s penguins! My parents were researching them!”

“Up here?”

Could it be? Add that to the list of strange happenings. That blizzard that took her parents, the grisly deaths of everyone in that research base. Then, if they were researching penguins in the north...well, what a finding indeed.

“Very well,” I relented. “Let’s go out and see what we can find. Even if we don’t see any penguins, I’m sure there are other nice things to see.”

Now, now, Ray. Don’t let your curiosity get the better of you. There is a child with you, my inner Sunny told me. Yes, I had to remind myself such things as after all, there was a reason why Elodie didn’t live up here with Sunny and I. Why I refused to see my own daughter.

“Stay close to me,” I called to her. My words failed to reach her; she ran around, and yelled how strong she was in defiance.

“I’ve learned many things!” She pulled out from under her sweater two stakes, tied by a tight series of strings joined together.

I know that patchwork anywhere. Guess she’s applied things both Remora and I taught her.

“I carved the stakes myself, and I tied them together myself, too!”

“Impressive,” I clapped. “What do you plan to do with them.”

“I don’t know yet!” She declared, then ran off.

Dammit. I told you to stay close.

The chase between her and I went on for what seemed like several kilometers in the snow until we both came to a halt. Out on the horizon, we saw a group of penguins. Yes, there could be no denying it; I tried rubbing my eyes, wiping the lens of my glasses, all to no avail. There was no mistaking what I saw. The only question was: how?

Tigershark flapped her arms. “Waddle waddle!” She started to do a funny walk, as if to mimic them.

I was at a loss on how to react. It all looked innocent enough, but sirens went off in my mind. As if two ecosystems merging as one. How that might affect things, I didn’t know. For the moment, I just let her have her fun.

Ever get the feeling that something was just a little bit...off? That everything looked and felt normal, except for something being just a little out of place. But everything else around it acted as it would have any other day, as if to suggest the thing that was off was also normal.

That was the feeling I was experiencing. There wasn’t a clear and present danger, and yet I felt sinister vibes in the air, all the same. Said vibes defied all logic, but then, so did the very things in front of me.

“Tigershark, dear, I think we should head back home now.”

“We just got here!”

“Yes, and this is enough excitement for one day.”

Just as I uttered such words, a chill ran through me, a blistering breeze.

No, apparently this isn’t enough excitement.

She ran over to me. Thank goodness.

“What’s going on?”

I had no answer. Something told me a blizzard was about to roll in. Perhaps the same blizzard and fog that has been plaguing the region for a while now.

As I felt the winds against me grow harsher, I watched the group of penguins walk away, as if they too could sense something.

“Let’s follow them,” I patted her head.

“Yay!”

Yes, that sounded rational. To walk against the wind’s pressure. Then again, I was about ready to throw any sense of rationality out the window if it meant ensuring her safety.

We followed the ‘penguins’ to a cave opening and took shelter in there. I peered over my shoulder to see the creatures we had followed either dissolve or become one with the cavernous walls. Whether that meant that they were never penguins to begin with, or an illusion, I couldn’t say.

“Where did the penguins go?” She looked around.

“Where indeed…” I stroked my chin. From outside the cave, the blizzard began to rage.

The two of us sat together.

“What were you going to do with that thing?” I pointed to her invention.

“I don’t know,” she shrugged. “Wrap it around a penguin and take one home with me?”

I laughed. “And here I thought you were going to use it as a weapon.”

Her eyes lit up.

“I can still do that! I’ll wrangle a shark!”

I don’t doubt that you could.

As the storm died down, so did the daylight, and the skies began to darken. Tigershark was beside me, having fallen asleep. I nudged her.

“Hey kiddo, you’ll catch a cold if you stay out here.”

“But I wanna catch a cod…” she mumbled in her sleep.

I nudged her once more and that time, she jolted up.

“Let’s go back to the diner. I’ll cook you a nice dinner.”

She grinned. I knew I had won her over.

“Okay, now this time, for real, stay close beside me,” I told her.

“How are you able to see so well in the dark?” She asked, ignoring my instruction. At least she didn’t outright reject it like last time.

“Because I have ‘Dad Vision’.”

“What’s that? Can I get it too?”

“You have to be a dad first.”

“Oh! So when I’m old like you!”

I didn’t feel like telling her such things like how I wore a special pair of glasses which allowed me to adjust the lighting of my surrounding environment. Some things were more fun when left to the imagination.

We were about halfway back home when a howl erupted. Not a howl of wind, rather a wolf’s howl. But also had a tinge of a roar to it, like a warning signal. As if to state “I’m on my way.”

Could it be a wolf? Pack of wolves? Possibly a polar bear?

My mind raced. If it were just me, that would be one thing, but I was with Tigershark, and for all her talks of being strong, I feared what would happen were she to get attacked by a polar bear.

I grabbed the back of her jacket with my good hand.

“Hey! Let go of me!” She squirmed, but as the creature, which I had yet to catch a glimpse of, drew closer, I held tight, until I could hear it leap forward. Then, I took a step back, in the nick of time.

We were still too close for me to be able to let go of her, even though holding a person, however little, was difficult when you only had one hand to work with.

Tigershark bit my arm and I flinched. Whatever fear she should have had, being a child, she didn’t, and instead, was a little too eager. She dropped to the soft, white ground.

“Yaa!” She yelled as she swung her double-staked contraption and whacked the creature right at the side of its jaw and to my surprise, even managed to puncture through its cheek. With a yelp, droplets of blood spilled from the frothing mouth of the creature, but aside from the few second lapse, it showed no sign of relenting its attack, and latched its teeth onto the stake, then bit down and yanked it, pulling Tigershark forward.

In that moment, I was frozen in awe of the strangeness of the creature, being some odd combination of a polar bear with its white fur, a sabertooth tiger with the two long, upward fangs, and its legs a more grotesque and thin than the short and stubby of a bear. Its stance brought to mind a grasshopper, more than anything else.

But more than that, I felt frozen and helpless as images flashed in my mind of back when Elodie lived with Sunny and I. To think a similar scene might play out before me with another child...that was all I could think about as the creature lifted up a paw with needle-like claws and ready to swipe at Tigershark.

“AAAA –” I cried out.

“Ray?” She asked, right behind me. There was a certain tear in her voice, to which, there might have been some tears of my own. From the pain? Heh, I would have rather chalked it up to frostbite.

I had managed to step in front of the attack right on time, but in doing so, my cheek had been torn up.

Before we could celebrate, the creature reached its jaw forward, mouth open wide, ready to bite my head clean off. Rather than allow that, I took the other end of Tigershark’s stake contraption and shoved it upward with enough force to tear through its jaw.

Looks like all my cooking experience paid off. Just think of what feats I could have accomplished had I use of both of my hands.

That time, it was the creature’s turn to howl out in pain, and I took the opportunity to take Tigershark and run off with her.

“My weapon!” She cried.

“We can make you a new one later,” I assured her.

Our escape was short lived, not that I expected any different. Both of us halted, and I watched as the creature circled around us.

“What do we do now?” She turned to me.

I smiled, excitement starting to get the better of me.

“This thing is much faster than us. It’s trying to catch us off guard, or catch us in a misstep. I think it knows, though, that whatever we do, it will catch us.”

My good hand shook. I knew it would be sore in the morning. Ah, well, I’d rather not think of my actions as a mistake, especially not in the moment. All the same, I reached into my pocket.

What’s more important: speed or reflexes?

“I’m curious what you are,” I addressed the creature. “But then, I know if I am the embodiment of curiosity, then you must be the cat.”

Even if the analogy fit, my own face felt a little too Cheshire than what the situation called for.

Sure enough, the creature ran toward us. It tried to flank us to the side, where we might have been most vulnerable.

But just as it acted, so did I: several needles were thrown from out of my hand, each needle tied to a steel thread. The needles attached themselves to the creature’s paws, as well as its upper ends of its legs. To the creature, such needles might have felt like nothing. Perhaps just a light sting. But soon, the sensation would be so much greater, as I let go of all the strings, then in my pocket, flipped the switch.

Electricity began to crackle through the steel threads and run their way up to each point of the needle. Soon, both Tigershark and I watched as electricity surged throughout the creature and it convulsed in place, all while howling. Wait. Shit.

“You should look away,” I urged her.

Looks like such a plea wasn’t necessary. She had already fallen asleep on the ground.

I wonder when that was. Did she even watch the creature get electrocuted or did I just think she did? Get it together, Ray. You’re going senile.

As for my latest discovery, it had not been killed. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. With the creature alive, but paralyzed, I was able to pull out my phone and take a picture.

Snap.

There, picture taken. Proof of an unknown creature.

I went up to Tigershark and reached both arms out to lift her up. Easier said than done, but while I didn’t have both hands to work with, I still had two arms. It was just a little awkward, is all. More elbow and shoulder movements.

After a while, I found myself carrying her on my back, unsure how I even managed such a feat. I felt less like a Ray and more like a turtle. Oh well. At least the little shark was safe.

Once we made it back to the diner, I took her to one of the rooms in the back, and set her on the bed. Then, I went over to my desk and sat slouched over.

“I need to reevaluate my lifestyle,” I sighed.

The next day, I tasked Demetria with watching over Tigershark and making sure she didn’t leave the building. I had a feeling Tigershark could overpower her, but I told Demetria I’d teach her to make a cake if she watched over Tigershark, so I didn’t think I had too much to worry about.

As for me, I went on a little walk down to where Remora resided.

I gave the front door two light taps.

She opened and looked not too pleased to see me.

“Rather than ask how you know where I live, instead I’ll ask what you’re doing here.”

“I’m not fit to be a parent,” I opened up with. There was no smile on my face as I said that. If there were any expression at all, it would be one of defeated acceptance.

“I’m not surprised, but what does that have to do with me?”

“Tigershark was with me yesterday. She nearly got hurt. Badly.”

“Yet another reason why you are bad culture.”

“Yeah. Okay. I deserve that.”

“Is that all you’re here for? To tell me that? In case you’ve forgotten, I don’t want anything to do with you.”

“Right. I understand that. But I figured since it pertained to Tigershark, you’d want to know.”

“Is she okay?”

I nodded.

“Good. Then you can leave me alone.”

She was about to close the door on me, but I blocked the door with my foot.

“There’s something else. Then, I can leave you alone.”

“I could shoot you right now, you know.”

“But then who would cook you such delicious food?”

“Fine. Say what you want, then leave.”

Looks like Tigershark was right.

“There’s something I failed to mention when I first met you.”

“What?”

“Those rumors about you, they were spread by people who would want you dead.”

“What do I care how someone wants me? They can’t have me. I’m not on the market.”

“Damn it, Rh...Remora, what I’m saying is that there are people who may still go after you if they saw you because of who you resemble.”

“Sounds like their problem, not mine.”

“Yes, well...such people, some of them are customers of mine. I’ve no doubt that you can hold your own, but I’d rather neither party get killed, you know?”

“Shit happens.”

I huffed. “What I’m trying to get at is that I’ve got a proposal for you: come back and stay at the back of the diner. I’ll put you in charge of the requests side of things. You can choose what requests get accepted, who takes what, and which get ignored. If any customers show up, I’ll tell them you’re a good friend of mine, and that you work with me.”

“I think I’d rather someone want me dead than think the two of us are friends.”

Ouch.

“Look, I’ve learned my lesson: my place is in the kitchen. No more tricks, just treats.”

“Somehow I doubt that.”

“Doubt all you want. But what do you say: will you accept?”

“I don’t think I should be taking any proposals from bad culture. I’ve got a chart, if you’re having trouble understanding.”

“Yes. I deserve that. I should have been more honest. I’m really sorry about that.”

“I’ll think about it.” Were her last words, before closing the door, and this time for good.

For my effort, hearing ‘I’ll think about it’ was better than had she said ‘no.’ At least I could work with that.

Later in the evening, after a long day of no customers and two rowdy little helpers chasing each other around, I sat back in my usual seat. Stacks of papers, my monitor. All that jazz. Nothing changed.

At least those two fell asleep. Leaves me some room to breathe.

The door which faced me opened. The same one which led to the restaurant side of the building. To my surprise, I looked up and saw Remora.

She sat down at one of the chairs next to the wall and stared at me. There was a pause of the two of us just facing each other before she spoke up:

“I saw her.”

“Who?” The first person that came to mind was Tigershark. Next was Sunny.

“When you had me go to that city. I paid a visit to the morgue.”

“Whoa. Preserved that long?”

She shook her head, as if such a detail was irrelevant.

“It was strange. This person who I once shared an identity with, but who lived a life unknown to me.”

“That’s how it goes, isn’t it?”

“How did you know?” She asked.

“Just rumors. After that, I did some research of my own. There’s not really much to it.”

“Yet it’s like you knew such intimate details. Almost like an assassin’s relationship with their target.”

I let out a laugh. I couldn’t help it.

“I just like to gather as much information as possible.”

“It’s just strange. That you know so much about me while I know so little of you.”

“I’m sure you could find out plenty about me. Besides, if it’s any consolation, all I know about you is what is known of her. By your own admission, you and her led two different lives. I knew neither her life, nor yours. I just found the two of you interesting.”

“Heh,” she smirked. “If you were more interesting, I’d dig up plenty of dirt. Still, I’ll make it a habit to keep my wits about you.”

“Good practice in general,” I agreed.

“It was strange. Seeing her,” she continued. “We really were identical. If I hadn’t dyed my hair, it would have been a perfect replica. It was like looking in a mirror.”

“You could say it was like a re –”

“Careful. Unless you want to lose function in your other hand as well.”

That time it was my turn to smirk.

“So you knew?”

“I could tell.”

“I guess the cat’s out of the bag on that one, too.”

I lifted my arm with the bad hand; I couldn’t move the hand at all.

“I didn’t realize it would be that bad when you shot it, and it didn’t start out that bad, but it started getting numb over time, and I had Dr. Cole-Slaw take a look at it. She said all my nerves in my hand were gone. Simply put, it’s paralyzed.”

“Have you been managing okay?”

“Ah! Good question! Pretty well, actually! It’s forced me to be a little more creative with my usual tasks. I’m a little slower, in some regards, but it’s not been all that bad.”

“Have you told your wife?”

“Oh, don’t worry. I only need one hand to please her.”

She made gagging sounds. “Sorry I asked.”

“Don’t mention it,” I waved it off.

“Still, impressive. That wasn’t an ordinary bullet. You should have faced worse than that. Like your whole arm getting blown off. You must have pretty tough skin.”

“Let’s just say it’s not my first time getting shot at. Dr. Cole-Slaw considered me lucky as well, but also suspects all those lucky breaks I’ve gotten in the past must have caught up with me. If only slightly.”

“That’s good. How’s Tigershark?”

“She’s well. Asleep in one of the rooms down the hall. You know, I’d really prefer if she didn’t run off by herself.”

She shrugged. “When I was her age, I was already a trained assassin.”

“Have you ever thought that just because that was the case for you, that doesn’t mean it should have been?”

“Yeah. Of course. I wouldn’t want her to be a trained assassin. I’m just saying, she’s strong.”

“That is true, but she’s still a kid.”

“Well, if I’m going to send you out to fulfill requests, it should be fine. I can watch her just fine.”

“So you mean…?”

“It might be fun to give orders rather than take them.”

“I’m sure someone else around here would be happy to hear that,” I teased.

“What?” She leaned forward. “What do you mean by that?”

I whistled. “Oh, nothing.” I got up. “Well, have fun at the desk. The room to your right is still open, whenever you think you can get some sleep. I’m headed to bed, myself.”

To my right, there was a flight of stairs at the end of the hallway. Upstairs was where Sunny and I slept, although most nights, it was just me. But I was fine with that. Because I knew she would return soon, and every moment with her was a treasure. Oh, but before I head up and turn in for the night…

“Glad to see you again, Remora,” I turned to her.

She nodded. I guess that would have to do.