After The Awakening | ONC 2023

Chapter Twelve

Xavier secured the shutters. He felt a momentary twinge of something deep in his throat before he pulled his hood up and walked away from the Cuckoo's Nest.

For a few streets, he wandered aimlessly.

Ray's defeated expression remained with him. It blocked out his view. Clouded his thoughts.

Though it was not the only thing that clouded his mind.

The job that Mari had taken on also remained with him. She had left everything she knew behind to protect a child she'd been trained to hunt and kill. She'd raised Ray, even knowing that she wasn't human.

It was at the third takeaway shop that he noticed some of those enjoying the nightlife were staring after him. He looked out of place with his casual clothes, steady walk, and lack of kebab.

There was only one shop on the street that could draw a man at this hour who was clearly sober.

He walked towards the sign for the pharmacy, noting the faded sticker in the window, and wondered if this had been his destination all along.

There were only two other people in the pharmacy, not including the girl behind the counter, and given their swaying gate, Xavier was sure that they'd wandered in by mistake. The girl at the counter confirmed his thoughts as she shouted at them.

'Hey, do you need any help?'

The couple bowed their heads, giggled and hightailed it out of there.

'They're like this every Wednesday,' she huffed. 'Student night.'

Xavier bobbed his head as though he was agreeing before slipping down an aisle for the things he needed. Rubbing alcohol. Bandages. Butterfly stitches. And paracetamol.

On a whim, he picked up a box of children's medication and a cuddly toy.

He shuffled towards the counter, still with his hood up.

The girl rang up the purchases and placed them in a bag.

'Long night?' she asked.

'You could say that. My wife and youngest are both under the weather and then my wife goes and cuts her hand. Can't convince her to go to the hospital since she doesn't want to leave Ruddy,' he improvised.

'Lots of stuff going around lately. But this brand is suitable for under threes,' she commentated, flicking her green hair off her shoulder.

'Thank God you guys were open.'

The girl shrugged. 'Owners like to keep it running 24hrs. NHS is on its knees, so it's their way of serving the community.'

'Well, personally, I'm very grateful,' he said with as much sincerity as he could muster, considering he was lying through his teeth.

A man in a lab coat stepped out, his gaze fixed on the door to the shop.

'Any issues?' he asked her.

'Just a few drunks, Keith. Nothing I can't handle,' she reassured him.

But Xavier noticed that the man's stiff shoulders didn't ease.

Resisting the urge to turnaround, he glanced up at the old telly propped up on a large filing cabinet. The greenish CCTV footage wasn't the best, and he could tell that the owners had spent more money on maintaining the shop itself than upgrading the security features. But it was good enough for him to see the car idling on the road outside.

He didn't know who was driving, but there were definitely two people sitting in the front. It was unclear if they were talking or watching the shop.

He would have written it off if it wasn't for the car they were driving. It was a make of car used by the Bureau for its speed and safety.