S.P. One Shots

They'll Kill Me |t.b.k|

Wandering the streets where I grew up, Provincetown, feels different that when I was a kid. Maybe it's because I'm not as oblivious, but something has definitely changed. The heaviness of the air feels suffocating even though I can smell the sea through the breeze.

As I'm on my way back to my house I spot a woman. Not just any woman, Karen. I never would've thought she'd still be here. I'd seen her a few times just before I moved. She seemed really lonely, judging by her appearance. And the fact that she's sitting on a desert street corner shivering, I can only assume she's homeless.

Had she been homeless the whole time? Had I know that I would've take her with me. She's a nice woman, I can just feel it, I think she's very misunderstood. I approach her slowly and announce my presence before I get too close. I definitely still startled her based on how fast her head turned and how her body curled slightly.

"Hey..." I say softly, she stares at me looking me up and down as if scanning for something. "I'm y/n" I say reaching out my hand to her. Far enough so that she'd have to lean forward and initiate it. After a few seconds hesitation she does. "Karen" she says folding her arms around herself protectively.

I gesture asking if I can sit and she nods allowing me to sit next to her. "How are you?" I ask turning towards her and she looks at me weirdly. Seems she doesn't get asked that a lot, what a shame. "Fine" she says bluntly, after a few beats of silence she speaks again. "How are you?" She asks softer, "can't complain. Well I could but what's the use" I chuckle half-heartedly.

I hear rustling in the bushes and see Karen's head dart to find the source. She wraps her coat tighter around her and keeps her eye on the bush. "What's wrong?" I ask just sensing danger in the area. "Nothing" she shakes her head and looks at the floor.

"Well something must be wr-" I stop as I see something flash in the corner of my eye. I turn fully and see a white sickly looking figure approaching us. "U-ummm Karen? W-what's that?" I ask, my trembling voice failing me. "Shit. Back you ugly motherfuckers!" She screams but stays planted to her spot.

I can tell she's scared, shit I'm scared so why wouldn't she be? They keep inching closer and I can see her body start to shake. Before either of us can say or do anything they stop abruptly. The look as if they've just smelled rotten meat marinated in spoiled milk. They back up quickly as if they'd just gotten burned.

"W-why... how?" She says looking at me, I just shrug watch as the cower away. "You're one of those b-black pull motherfuckers!" She says backing away quickly. The beings watch from the bushes as she screams more profanities at me. "What are you talking about?" I ask softly, confusion etched in my body language.

"What are you?" She asks sternly, I look down at myself and then back to her. "Ummm a human last time I checked" I say chuckling. Her face softens a bit but she keeps herself guarded physically. "Very fucking funny you clown" she says sarcastically. "Thank you I appreciate that" I said standing up and dusting myself off.

The bushes started to rustle again as I grabbed my bag. "Please don't leave me" Karen said grabbing onto my pant leg. "If you leave me they'll kill me" she exclaimed beginning to cry. "Want planning on it, sweetheart. I was gonna ask if you wanted to come back to mine" I said with a soft smile.

She looked surprised but nodded her head quickly. So we walked off, watching the sun set over the horizon as I got to know her a bit better. I was right, she's just misunderstood like so many of us. I let her walk in first and as I was closing the door I saw a few figures at the end of the street watching me. I put my middle finger high in the air and laughed before closing the door.