SHEOL

28

We piled into the small truck and sat all of our supplies in the bed. The Healer had purchased a cover for it not long ago, which meant that we didn't have to worry about the ancient papers flying about. The nearest supermarket we could find was a Walmart located on the southern side of town. It was roughly one o'clock in the afternoon when we pulled into the lot. The air was utterly frigid outside, and I didn't own the proper clothing to combat the winter weather. I sprinted inside and waited for the rest of the group in the vestibule. A variety of people gave me disgusted looks, because I wore nothing more than a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. I was in the Mormon capital of the world, and later learned that it was quite frowned upon for a woman to expose such an amount of leg.

    The Healer, The Window Killer, and Kingston met me inside. I had showered prior to leaving, and my hair was still wet and beginning to freeze, although I had only been out for a short period of time. However, as soon as I entered the store, the ice that had built up on my head began to melt.

    "We should probably find you some warmer clothes, October." The Healer suggested as he handed me his large, wool jacket. It hung around my knees when I put it on.

    Kingston retrieved a shopping cart. "Should we split up to get things done more quickly?"

    The Healer shook his head and glared at The Window Killer. "Not a chance. After what happened on the train, I wouldn't dare let any of you out of my sight."

    The Window Killer appeared to be on the verge of losing his already obscurely short temper. "We are in the middle of a supermarket for Christ's sake!"

    The Healer guided us to the clothing section. "Expect the unexpected, Killer."

    I picked out a pair of sweatpants and a couple of sweaters. I had never been fond of wearing actual pants. Jeans, anyway. I didn't like how they restricted certain movements. I had never even understood why people wore them until I asked Mr. Moonshine when I was about eight.

    We then headed off to the section of the store where the food was kept. The Window Killer was in absolute awe when he realized just how much food was housed in such an enclosed space, and how long the it could be preserved. He proceeded to run around and throw brightly colored packages of chips and cookies into the shopping cart when no one was looking.

    "October, come here at once!" He hollered as he stood in a state of confusion next to the baking supplies.

    I walked over. "What is it?"

    He held out a box of red velvet cake mix. "I do not understand."

    I was at sixes and sevens. "What don't you understand?"

    Before he could respond, a young man with long, ebony black hair and white, sickly skin strode up behind us and answered.
    "That's a box of cake mix, sir. If you add water and eggs, and if you bake it for a certain amount of time, it will turn into a cake."

    The Window Killer dropped the box and spun around. The man stepped backwards. His eyes were closed.

    "I'm sorry to have startled you." He said sheepishly. He then leaned closer. Without opening his eyes, he smiled and commented, "Sir, that is an excellent suit! It looks very antique. May I ask where you purchased it?"

    The Window Killer stared at him blankly. The young man wore some rather odd attire: a faded, tattered black shirt, which was dotted with a plethora of holes, as if his closet had housed a metropolis for moths; red and green plaid shorts, which clung tightly to his twig-like legs; and a lack of shoes.

    The Healer and Kingston were on the other side of the aisle, but came rushing over to us when they heard the box of cake mix hit the floor.

    "What's going on?" The Healer called.