White Noise

Episode 2

Warning: graphic violence and blood at one point

Dear Kurai

I'm writing to you because you're the only one I can trust. I had someone sneak out to take this to your house. First thing you need to know, is that the government is not what you think it is. The human trafficking ring is working with the government to find test subjects, I don't know much else, please don't get involved I'll escape as soon as I can.

signed Shinji

I kept repeating the words in the letter in my head over and over again until it was all I could think about. 

"Kurai!" I heard Uncle Momuro say out loud "you should pay more attention to your job," he said. 

I noticed that I had just dropped a box full of bags of popcorn"oh, uh-s-sorry Uncle Momuro" I picked up the box along with all the bags that fell off of it, and I put all the popcorn bags in the shelf. 

"Kurai, if there's something wrong you can tell me" he responded. I shook my head, "N-no, there's nothing wrong, I just haven't been able to sleep these past few days" I said, (which is not entirely a lie by the way) he nodded.

"You should try and get more sleep" I nodded "I think it's better if you try to man the cash register" I went to do as I was told.

As I was tending a tall guy with brown hair, who was buying a large bag of potato chips and a bag of apples, I noticed someone looking at me through the glass. As soon as I turned around that person ran off.

Opening song: Kankaku Dreamer by One Ok Rock

I walked store's back room finally glad I got a break. I was sitting at the back of the room headphones on my ears playing music from my phone, my open sketchbook sat on my table while I stared into space with a half-finished drawing sitting unattended. My mind was clouded as I continued thinking about Shinji's letter. that was his handwriting alright, but is that really him, was it forged, even if it was what would does the forger what from this, and how do they know my name and where I live. 

"KURAAAAAAI!" I heard a childish voice yell behind me before being tackled to the ground. 

I looked up and saw my neighbor/ childhood friend Hisao Yamada. "Damn it, would it kill you to go outside every once in a while? you lazy paranoid bum!" he yelled "I keep calling you every day, but you never answer, RUDE," he said. 

Yeah, am the rude one I was thinking to myself. "Yeah, sorry Hisao," I said as I got up, but suddenly Hisao wasn't in front of me instead he was behind me holding my sketchbook up to his eye level. 

"Hm, not bad, it's pretty clear it needs work, it is unfinished," he said, I quickly snatched it from his hands. 

"H-hey d-don't look at my stuff," I said quickly closing the sketchbook. Despite the fact that he's only two years younger then me I, but we get along almost as if we were the same age, and sometimes he bosses me around like he was my older brother. 

"I don't get it, what kind of artist with your talent is so afraid of showing of his work" Hisao said "besides it's not like I'm looking into your boxers"

"DON'T SAY IT LIKE THAT!"

"Whatever I still think that someone as talented as you would be an idiot to just try and hide it like that" he said, "anyways, you haven't come out of the house lately, it's just been Mitsuri and I, I'm SOOOOO, BOOOOOOORED" he said "come on let's go out somewhere" he continued to insist "I know you're a shut-in, but this too far". 

I scratched the back of my head "y-yeah I've been had a lot in my mind lately" I said averting my eyes to the floor. 

"If you mean what happened to Shinji, I totally understand" I looked look at him "he was my friend as well, and it's not easy knowing he's out there in danger," he said in a sympathetic voice.