A Collection Of Short Stories

Trade Secrets

“So, you're sure this bill is correct..?” Deimos’ smile falters for a moment at the big red ‘OVERDUE’ stamped across the envelope. “I’m afraid it is.” Athena replies, leaning back against the door to Deimos’ office. Running a hand through his black hair the man sighs. “What’re we gonna do, Athena? I can’t lose this diner..” Slowly the callused hands of Deimos are the only things holding his bowed head up. “Chin up, eh? We’ll be fine if we just-” “Don’t you dare suggest a menu change again.” He doesn’t even look up at his business partner who sighs in response. “Sure. I won’t suggest good ideas anymore, you're right.” Athena crosses her arms in annoyance. Leaning back in his chair now, Deimos brings a hand up to his chin in thought. “How’s your mom doing?” He decides to ask about Athena’s ailing mother, hoping to change the subject and get his mind off of it. “She’s on the ropes. That's about all they’ll tell me about her, but hey who really cares? Can’t wait to see that neglectful hussy being eaten by worms.” For a moment the black haired male pauses, an idea coming to his desperate mind. “That’s.. An interesting way to put it. Eaten by worms?” Slowly a grin comes to Deimos’ face, his eyes trail from the woman to the pile of bills on his desk. “Uh.. yeah I guess. Why do you say that?” She raises an eyebrow in curiosity, wondering where he’s going with this. He simply stands up, that same grin from just a moment ago remaining present on his face. “You wanna take a little trip with me?” Athena ponders it for a moment. “Well.. I gotta get home to Jack soon. He hasn’t had dinner yet so I gotta-” “Aw don’t wuss out on me Athena! I really could use your help with this.” Placing his hands on the desk’s top, Deimos leans forward eagerly observing her. Athena lets out a small sigh in response. “Let me grab my coat then.” She grabs her jacket off of the rack next to the door, also grabbing Deimos’ hat and tossing it to him. “Thank you my dear Athena. Say.. You don’t mind graveyard’s do you?” Her face changes a bit. “Why do you ask?” Though he only keeps his smirk. “Just curious.” With that said, he approaches her and gestures for her to get out of the way of the door. She silently steps aside and allows him to open the door and step outside. “Oh, could you turn off the light while you're still in there?” His grin and weird demeanor unsettles the woman slightly, but she listens anyway.
“Yes sir.” Rolling her eyes, she turns off the light and shuts the door on the way out. By the time she had finished her small task Deimos was already outside and walking to his car. Athena exits to do the same but is stopped by him. “Woah woah there.” She looks over at her boss who is standing under one of the parking lot lights. “Uh.. Yeah? What's up?” She ever so slightly narrows her eyes. Though his cheery smile makes her lighten up. “Carpool?” 

    With a chuckle she shakes her head. "You're too much sometimes, you know that?” Athena’s warm smile makes Deimos’ expression feel a bit less forced. “Oh I know.” Then he opens the car door and sits in the driver's seat. Athena follows suit by entering the passenger seat. “Well Athena, I think before we go on our little journey we should discuss my idea..” His tone is a bit hesitant, not a good sign for any private conversation. “Well, whatever it is, I'm sure it’s great!” That encouragement from Athena gives the desperate man a boost in confidence. “I wanted to go to the graveyard and.. Well I wanted to dig up a body or two-” “You wanted to what now?” Just the shock in Athena’s voice is enough to let Deimos know it was a bad idea. “I-I was just thinking that.. Maybe I- Er we. Yes, we. We could save our business by using the free untapped source of meat. That uh.. That being dead bodies from the graveyard.” Bringing a hand up, Deimos rubs the back of his neck out of nerves. “Jesus, saying it out loud makes me feel like some kind of psycho.” Gritting his teeth slightly, he looks down at his lap. “That is.. Just- I don’t know what to say to you right now Deimos I-” The man in question brings a hand up to silence her. “Hold on for just a moment Athena. How much do you need this job?” “More than anything. I have to take care of Jack.” Though she can’t see it, a small smirk comes to Deimos’ face. Putting on an almost whimpering tone, he continues to speak. “Then please.. Please help me do the one thing that might save us both.” Looking up slowly, he turns to face his partner with a desperate expression. “We have to do this. It’s the only choice we have.” It takes a moment for her to reply. “..Let's do this I guess..” A few words of reluctant cooperation is all it takes for Deimos to get the go ahead from her. “Let's do this.” He repeats her statement before starting the car and backing out of his spot. The pair ride in silence during the few minutes it takes to reach their destination. “Old Grove Cemetery. My grandparents were buried here.” Deimos comments, his eyes resting on the sign before them. Their path is illuminated by the headlights on Deimos’ car. “In and out. Like we were never here.” Deimos reaches over and pats the young woman on her shoulder. “Chin up, Athena. This is what we have to do.” Her head remains bowed, staring down at her lap. “Yeah.. What we have to do.” Without another word Athena opens the car door and steps out. Deimos soon follows suit, but unlike Athena he walks around to the trunk. After he opens it, he pulls out three things: two shovels, and a pair of bolt cutters. Clearly this isn’t his first time thinking about doing something like this. Shortly after he walks up next to Athena who is waiting by the gates for him. “Let's get to work shall we?”