Valentine Market

King Mammon

As Jacob stood there, his mind jumbled and his mouth dry, he tried to process what was going on. He was speechless and he couldn't seem to form a proper sentence. Who was this guy? How did he know his name? Of course, at least maybe he could get out of here now thanks to him.
"Speak. This silence is annoying me." The man demanded, his playful tone all but present now.
The tone of voice shook Jacob, causing him to stumble slightly before swallowing hard.
"U..Uhm..sir? The doors are locked and..I need to get home." Jacob spoke awkwardly, watching the man hover closer to him before dropping onto his neat dress shoes with a small click.
"Ahh~ my apologies. Randy and Nora..my, they must be pulling your leg. They're always misbehaving." Grumbled the man quizzically, rubbing his chin for a moment before turning on his heel with a nod. "Right then! Follow me and I'll escort you out." He instructed.
It all felt much like a dream, with what had just happened and what not. So when Jacob went to follow the man graciously, he found that his legs felt rather heavy but he seemed to manage. For some time.
"It's a little late to be shopping, hm?" Purred out the white haired male.
"Ahaa, I got a little distracted at a game store so.." Admitted the boy, but his sentence trailed off when he glanced up after they turned a particularly harsh corner, only to find that he was now standing alone.
He frantically took in his environment but couldn't seem to spot the white hair anywhere. The thought of the man just leaving him here shook him to the core.
"Up here, baby boy."
In a blink of an eye, Jacob whipped his head in the direction of the voice, his jaw dropping agape. How the balls did he get up there?!
Atop the freezers sat the bright individual, his hands shoved into his pockets as his feet kicked lightly.
"I never quite caught your name.." Mused the man slowly.
"And I never caught yours." Jacob muttered stubbornly before fiddling with the back of his neck. Why was this guy keeping him? He needed to get home! "It's Jacob." He told him finally.
"You may address me as King Mammon. No nicknames." The stranger spoke, standing quickly as he brushed himself off. He appeared neatly arranged and his movements were swift, yet he managed to keep a calm atmosphere.
        The young male felt relief rise within him at the sight of the man standing, almost positive that he'd be finally let out and that he could go back to the safety of his home. But he was wrong. Instead of getting down, though Jacob wasn't sure how he would, Mammon began to wander down the rows of freezers with a pep in his step. Initially, the young adult followed. "King..?" He questioned loud enough to be heard but delicate enough to hide the pure terror in his voice.
He wanted out of this damn place.
"Did I stutter?" Growled Mammon. The harsh manner only further reminded Jacob how badly he needed to leave.
Chewing his lower lip, he let his eyes wander to the exit. Almost simultaneously, Mammon snapped his fingers to direct the others attention back to him. It didn't work. "Have you ever had a dragon fruit? They're really quite interesting, the colors and what not." Mammon spoke carefully, his eyes narrowing onto the individual below him. By the time Jacob had looked back, the King was no longer on the freezers, rather he was on the ground yet again a few feet from him. "I have some in the back..if you're interested. Just a quick bite." Mammon's voice was low and oddly relaxed. Which only frightened Jacob more.
"Look I- I've got to get home, my grandmother- she's waiting for me and all. It's been nice chatting though." This didn't seem to please Mammon as his expression twisted.
"It'll only be a moment, it's quite the fruit. You'd have to experience it for yourself." Mammon insisted, his jaw tightening.
Yep, that's enough socializing for the week for him. Jacob couldn't stay here any longer with this creep. He now knew why Gramma had warned him not to stay out after ten.
He dashed in the opposite direction of the stranger, using just about every bit of adrenaline he had to get to the door. He wasn't even sure why he went for it, given it wouldn't budge earlier. But much to his relief, the door flew open with ease and he found himself stumbling into the chill night. The man hadn't followed him, instead he was calmly sitting on the edge of the check out desk as he watched him with an amused look on his face.
Good riddance, creep.
Jacob turned, not even bothering to look back as he started to jog his way home.
        But something was off.
        The sound of heavy foot steps caught his attention, almost as quickly as his throat caught his breath when he finally got around to looking at his surroundings.
        "What in gods name..?" Jacob breathed out, slightly winded from how quickly he got the fuck out of that market. Scattered all around the streets were what looked to be clouds of deeply colored smoke with two bright orbs that resembled eyes. It couldn't be..it had to be a trick on his eyes. This couldn't be happening.
        With a step in reverse taken from Jacob, the tuffs of smoke snapped to attention, their bodies morphing into a more human-like silhouette. With no features of course, other than the large and mesmerizing orbs.
        In fact, they looked a lot like..Jacob. Dozens of them, all of them.
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AN: FINALLY GOT THIS OUT YESSS!! Btw, the photo attached to the last chapter is Jacob :P and the one attached to this one is Mammon!