𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗼 Shorts

♔ DtM x OC - 5

RILEY

I peeled the last strands of hair from my face. My ears were clogged with water - Dennis was mumbling something that I couldn't quite understand. He sat up ramrod straight and blinked slowly, his head turning mechanically towards the door leading to the main shopping area. His eyes were slightly glassed over.

Oh no.

Faintly, I heard smothered music playing in the background. The music was quiet, as it didn't need to be loud to have the desired effect.

Gnasher pawed at Dennis then turned to me, and seeing that I was not yet zombified he pawed at me instead. I realised the water in my ears must have been blocking the hypnotic words, leaving only a dull echo of the general music - which wasn't enough to hypnotise me on its own.

I got up, glancing back at Dennis. I'd just have to leave him until I worked out how to free everyone.

I stuck my fingers in my ears and ran for the doors, but Wretch threw them open.

"I knew I saw a dog!" He shouted. "Dogs are the only creatures that cant hear the control signal - capture that security breach!"

Baby-Face screeched over the speakers: "After him!"

Wretch pinned his beady eyes on me and saw my fingers in my ears, his eyes narrowing.

I span on my heel and fled.

"Windscreen wipers for sunglasses – I need three of those," Dennis said, slowly getting up from the fountain.

Behind me, I heard the clomping of the bouncers' feet, but suddenly they stopped.

"Curses!" Finlayson broadcasted. "Blasted clockwork henchmen! Why did you invent these useless things, Wretch?"

Wretch sounded distressed. "Well, they do save money on batteries, but - oh, they do wind me up!"

I skidded out into another department, and Baby-Face's words boomed out of the next speaker along. "Now bring me that dog, and make the girl listen!"

"Hula hoops for twins - I'll buy two," a woman said vacantly as I streaked past her.

I burst out of the front doors, Gnasher hot on my heels as I sprinted as far away as I could from the mall.

It was only at my bakery that I finally slowed, and with a wary look around I held the door open for Gnasher before locking it firmly.

Then, I stood in the middle of the bakery and started to panic.

Gnasher whimpered as I started to shake all over, and when he butted up against my legs I sank to the floor to hold his wiry but warm body to my heaving chest.

"What am I supposed to do?" I stressed. "I can't go in there now - they know my face! Dennis is the one with the wacky ideas and impossible plans that somehow always work out in the end. I'm probably the last human being in this whole town - and Baby-Face will leave the people zombified until they're penniless, and we'll all be the poorest people in England. Jesus. I need my muffin."

I got up and retrieved my half-eaten triple-chocolate muffin from the counter, returning also with a cookie for Gnasher.

"I'm not sure if you're allowed this," I mused aloud.