The Pleasures of an Eternal Nightmare

Chapter 8

The cold air brushed against Julie's face and she pulled her scarf up to her chin. The snow falling onto the school football field left a bright happy mood for the children and families that were running around for the next ride or for the next food truck. She hated the sight. Paying $14 for admission and then $4 for each ticket used to play games seemed ridiculous, especially since you paid about $7 for most of the food and drinks. Why do people pay a lot of money for a single day of fun?

"Ms. Cross~!"

Julie turned around and saw a tall slender boy dressed in a black hoodie walking toward her. Under his hood was a bandanna that covered his nose and mouth with flames on the bottom edge of the cloth.

"You must be Marker." Cross said.

"That'd be me~," Marker said with joy. "Weird to think I'm almost as old as you are, huh~?"

Julie couldn't help but agree with him. Marker was almost as tall as she was and by the sound of his voice, he seemed to be only twenty two years old. She was only three years older. "So where can we talk?"

Marker raised a finger and shook it side to side. "We had a deal~. Don't go back on it now~."

Julie handed him the $50 bill and he nodded as he stuck it in his pocket. "Great! Now follow me~! We're gonna have a wonderful time!" He took her hand and started skipping to the nearest food truck. Julie followed obediently and stopped when he got to the truck. "Two cotton candies please~."

The man in the truck smiled. "Marker! It's been too long! Is this the lucky girl you told me about?"

"Ah! Unfortunately, that girl past away." Marker bit his finger and looked in the distance. "That was about four months ago."

"Aw, such a shame," the man said. "How about you get your candy free on me? Make this girl last longer?"

Marker shook his head. "No thank you~. I don't want you losing business because of me. In fact, add two medium Cokes to that order. I want you to be the best sweet truck in town."

The man smiled and started working in the back. "Alrighty Marker. The total comes down to $13."

Marker pulled the $50 bill from his pocket and handed to the man. The man quickly gave back change and handed the drinks and cotton candy in. "Here you go. Enjoy your date!"

"Thank you~. Hope you earn twice as much as you projected last year~!"

Marker led Julie to a small bench by the end field and started eating his cotton candy. Julie sat down beside him and took a sip of her coke. "Was that really the reason why you asked for $50? So you could take me on a date?"

Marker shrugged. "I don't like formal conversations in set environments. I like to relax and have a little fun~!"

Julie shook her head. "Did you kill Principal Trueman?"

Marker took another bite of his cotton candy. "Let's play a game~. You ask the questions and I'll reply with questions. That means you'll have to guess what the truth is~!"

"Did you kill Principal Trueman?"

Marker took a sip of his coke and sighed. "Am I the only suspect in this case?" Julie felt the cold air cut through her and she started to pull her arms in more. Marker wrapped his arm around Julie and pulled her up against him. "If you're cold, it's okay to rely on your date for warmth."

Julie pulled away and sat further away. "Just answer my questions. How many people work underneath you?"

"Am I really the one calling all the shots?"