Black Source #theWattys2016

DEREK VI

It hadn't been long since his talk with Frank, and already he could feel the virus stronger than before. He was nervous and only Frank and Raven knew what he was going through. Outside the council room, Derek's headache grew worse, and he felt dizzy the longer he stood.

"Derek!" Mikey called. Instantly he snapped from his daydream and recalled where he was. The market place, as festive as always, was flooded with Daggermouths, none aware of the war that was coming. Although, with the Infidel army stationed outside of the provinces, the citizens could feel that something was wrong.

"You feeling alright," Mikey asked, swimming through the crowd. "You've been spacing out all day. The sun frying your brain or something...it's been known to do that to the less fortunate."

"I must be hungry...haven't eaten all day," Derek said. He actually hadn't eaten in days. Now that he thought about it, he couldn't remember the last time he had eaten at all.

"You turn into someone else when you're hungry, man. You look all shriveled up." Derek stared down at himself and looked more shocked than Mikey did. "I know a place that'll fix that right up. Come on." Derek frowned. "What...I mean it. It's going to be great," Mikey said waving his hands.

"I hope so. The last place we went to served us beetles, live beetles."

"That's the beauty of it. Honey glazed beetles, what's not to love?"

"Everything, actually," Derek said flatly. "Where'd Raven and Asher run off to?"

"Them, I think they stayed behind to chat with Gladstone, presidential stuff I suppose." Mikey shrugged. "It's not something you'd want to stick around for."

The walk to the bakery was short, given that Derek couldn't really remember it. He missed a big segment of what Mikey had told him about the Indian food he once tried. It was a good thing he didn't' mind talking. Entering the Rose Water bakery, something caught Derek's eye down an alleyway. How did it get into the capital? His headache throbbed hard behind his eyes.

"Derek, buddy...you're doing that thing again."

Derek rubbed his eyes. "Oh sorry, I thought I saw something." He checked again and saw nothing, staring blankly down the alleyway. Mikey made up his face and looked down the alley as well.

"Ah...I see," Mikey said while grabbing the scruff of his chin. "Nothing...I see nothing, the absolute version of nothing to be exact. Remind me never to let you go hungry." He shoved Derek into the bakery and sat him down at one of the booths—an L shaped seat made from an old couch and a wooded door used as a table. The bakery looked like a small bar filled with antiques. The windows were boarded up and lanterns were lit throughout the place, giving it a warm orange tint.

"What'll it be this time, Mikey," Mrs. Rosewater asked. Derek thought she looked the part for a baker, round and friendly.

"Oh, the usual, you know."

"Mikey, you get something different every time you come in here." She said. Irritation seemed to be the norm for her.

"Yeah...the usual," he smiled.

"You want something random then...what about your friend?"

Mikey scratched his head and narrowed his eyes at Derek. "Um...anything really. We're dangerous men. We live on the edge."