Sexually Invested In You

The item of interest

A variety of familiar sounds mixed together just before they reached her ears, the obnoxious – and somewhat terrifying – noises being a part of the everyday life on the run-down streets of the Isle. And unfortunately, Evie was so well acquainted with the sounds that the silence often bothered her simply because of how rare it was. It was almost a routine for her; wandering down the same streets, mindlessly raking her gaze over the items each store sold, and never finding herself interested in anything the island had to offer her.

But today was different.

As soon as her gaze caught on the item she stopped in her tracks, the air swirling around her lungs being stolen from her body by the beauty registering in her mind. Her feet carried her closer to the shop, closer to the table where the item was displayed, bringing her directly in front of the glittering jewelry. She could already picture the type of outfit she would pair the bracelet with, and she already went over plans in her mind to create such a masterpiece as her fingers brushed lightly over the smooth surface of the item.

"That's fifty gold."

Evie wasn't sure if her heart had leapt into her throat because of the unexpected voice in front of her, or the price it had given her. Raising her gaze so she could look at the old woman the uncanny voice belonged to she found her mouth curving into a slight frown.

"But I don't have that much," Evie announced, debating the different ways she could connive her way into getting the piece of jewelry for a specially lowered price.

"Then what you doing here, girl?" The old woman snarled, motioning her hands in attempt to sweep her away.

"Surely there's something that could be done?" Evie questioned sweetly, letting her mouth mold into a charming smile, the one that usually convinced others to see things her way. "Fifty gold is a bit much for anything where we live."

The old woman leaned closer to her, and Evie really wished she hadn't, the smell of the woman only adding to her eerie disposition. "It's fifty gold, or nothin'. I ain't makin' exceptions for anyone, especially not girls who think they better than the rest of us."

"Please, it's just that…"

"Scram, girl," the old woman interrupted. "I got realbusiness to deal with."

Before Evie could respond the poorly educated woman had walked off. Dropping her gaze back to the bracelet, she sighed, wondering what it would take to get her mother to give her the money. She reached out to run her fingertips along the item again, her heart accelerating in fright when something came into harsh contact with her arm.

"I won't have you stealin' my goods!"

"I wasn't…" But the old woman took another swipe at her.

"Get!" The woman shooed her as if she were nothing more than a pestering mutt.

With the next strike, Evie moved quickly away from the shop, frustrated that anyone could be so cruel, even on the Isle.

"Damn Princesses."

She glanced over her shoulder at the eerie woman, eyebrows furrowing and hands moving to rest on her hips. She's going to get what's coming to her if she keeps treating customers like that. Someone on the Isle would surely target her after being treated in such a way, and she honestly hoped it happened soon.

Her unforgiving thoughts of the old woman disappeared quickly when a terrifying scream tore down the street, the shattering pitch sending shivers down Evie's spine. What was that? However, that wasn't the only sound that caught her attention, it was only the first. Several unusual sounds traveled to her from down a street she had never dared step foot on, and from what she could decipher it sounded like some sort of gathering, a demonstration.