~A Magical Collection of Short Stories~

Stranger in the Kitchen

You take a deep breath. You're not really sure why you're nervous, after all this is a friend. Well, acquaintance is a better term. He started working a few months after you, and at first you didn't talk to him, shy of strangers. You soon found that he was nice. Likeable, even. Unlike most of the others you work with, it is easy to talk to him.

That's why you're standing here now, waiting for him to answer the door. You and he had a conversation about something or another, and it took a winding path to him having what you needed.

A strange and happy coincidence! You thought when it first happened. But now that you're here, standing on the stone steps, you're not sure if you made the right call.

After all, you barely know this person.

No, maybe you should leave. Tell him there was a mix-up and you have what you need.

Yes, better to be safe than-

The door opens, and his smile greets you.

"Hey!" He says, pushing the screen door open. "You're a little early, I appreciate that."

You smile uneasily. Too late to run now.

"Y-yeah. I'm paranoid about being late."

"Heh, I get it. Come on in!" He steps back into his house, turning his back on you to go down the hall.

You hesitantly step inside, closing the door behind you. It's cold outside, one of the worst winter days you have ever experienced. His home is warm, cozy. You smile despite yourself.

"Tea? Coffee?" He calls from down the hall.

"No, thank you."

"You can come here you know."

"Oh..." You hesitate again. Why are you hesitating? This is why your mom said you would never have friends or a real relationship. You hesitate.

Sighing, you slip off your shoes, making your way down the hall. Your eyes are shifting around. Your acquaintance owns a lot of interesting things. Your eyes drift over a doorway, an entrance to the kitchen.

It's a beautiful kitchen, white and black tiles, marble counters, an island off to the side of the room with a stove and sink, dazzling jeweled handles on the silver cabinets. You don't notice any of that at first, no that's all in the back of your mind because your eyes zero in on a man dressed in a smart black suit, standing in the middle of the kitchen, a ring of white sand (is that sand?) surrounding him.

He looks at you. Something about him is strange and off-putting.

He smiles. A wicked smile, you think.

Instinctively you hunch your shoulders, all of this happens in a second and just like that the man is out of view. You shiver, finally seeing him standing by a desk rummaging around.

"Uh... s-sorry who is the man...?"

"Man?" He asks without looking up.

"Y-yes, the one standing in your kitchen."

He laughs. "Oh, him. Don't worry about him."

You glance back, definitely worrying. "Oh, okay. Why... why is he just in a ring of...sand?"

Your acquaintance sighs, shrugging as he continues to root around.

"Oh you know, standard procedure."

"P-procedure?"

"Yeah, well, you know!"

"Yeah!" You agree. Why did you agree? "Actually, I don't."

He finally looks at you, his expression quizzical and then laughs. "Oh, you're joking. You had me for a second."

You laugh. What else can you do? Everything feels weird. You want what you came for so you can leave, but he is still looking and you are feeling antsy.

He goes into the kitchen and you follow, unsure of what else to do. Helpless as you see the man still standing in the circle, hands tucked into his pockets.

He looks posh, like a business tycoon, you think. His suit is expensive, you can tell from the way it shines. He quirks a brow at you, leering in your direction.

Quickly you dart your eyes away. Why did he look at you like that?!

You feel hot, your face is red, you're sure of it.

"C-could you maybe hurry? Or if right now isn't a good time, I can-"

"Ah-ha! I found it!" Your not friend exclaims, holding a bottle to the sky in victory.

You sigh with relief. You were so sure he wasn't going to find it and you would have to return to this strange place.

"Thank you." You hold your hands out like a beggar accepting coin. He laughs at your behavior, placing the bottle in your palm.

"Now you know how to use that right?"

You nod.

You don't, but why does it matter? The internet will help. What you do know is you want to get out of here as quickly as you can.

"Well, thanks for this," you say awkwardly, skirting the stranger as best you can. "I'll just be going."

He watches you, and shakes his head. "You're brave."

"Huh?"

"I mean, I have a path I use to get around this guy, but you just go right by him. Not scared of anything! That's wild. Just goes to show, people can surprise you." He laughs, and you don't know what he is talking about of why he is being so weird. You just want to leave.

"Ha ha, right. Uhm, I'll see you at work!" You wave at him heading for the door, slipping your shoes on and cursing quietly under your breath. You are just about out the door into the cold when a hand stops you.

"Wait."

There is a tense moment where you think he is going to yank you back, tell you he knows you're a liar. Snarl in your face. Then he holds up a pair of gloves.

"You dropped these."

"Oh!" You gasp, taking them. "Wow, thanks. I would have been really cold without them."

"Sure." He smiles again, just as calm and normal as before. "Get home safe. I'll see you Monday."

"Y-yeah." You watch him close the door, turning your back on the house. What was that? What happened there? You don't know. And you're not sure you want to know. You stare up at the powder white sky, releasing a breath. You are just glad you got out of there alive, it's the last time you will ever visit a strangers home.