PENUMBRA (how the flowers grow)

1. Necks

Note: This story will contain a lot of violence and deals with mental health issues such as anxiety and includes some panic attacks. It does contain some sexual content near the end. If any of these things will bother you to read, refrain from reading this story. I hope you all enjoy. :)

The sugary, fresh smell of warm pastries spills out into the air as vendors hold out treats wrapped in greasy paper, calling customers over with cheerful voices and sickly sweet smiles. Laughing children weave their way through the crowd and skid to a stop at the base of a booth, holding their hands out to be filled with little individually wrapped candies in exchange for a couple copper coins.

"Here, have one on the house," the woman behind the stand calls, catching Sabina's eye in the brief moment she had turned to follow the movement of the children, who had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

They could have run into me.

Grimacing, she tears her eyes away and hesitantly steps out of the steady flow of people into the shade of the fabric canopy. She turns fully toward the vendor, glancing to the side to watch the kids run off, hands tightly gripping mounds of sweets.

"Here you are. Orange and cinnamon spice. All of the hard candies are a copper a handful."

The woman holds out her hand and Sabina reluctantly takes the sweet. She inspects the woman's round face, eyes following the lines of wrinkles all over her skin.

Human. Older. Obviously a local.

"Ah- thank you." Sabina offers a smile she's sure looks forced.

"Try it and tell me how you like it."

The woman beams, showing crooked teeth, and her eyes turn into little crescent moons. Sabina's stomach curls almost painfully.

"Yeah, of course."

She unwraps the candy, struggles for a moment to get a good grip on the slippery paper with her gloved fingers. She pops the candy into her mouth and 'mms' to show pleasure, to show the woman that the treat she made is positively delightful. Sugar and spice paired with a mellow citrus flavor hit her tongue and though the taste is palatable, Sabina knows how this particular trick works. She's done it herself before and she isn't about to take a risk.

I can't be sure they're not out to get me. I can't be sure and so I can't slip up. I'm not far enough away yet. I don't know how long to wait.

"It's great," Sabina tells her.

"I'm so happy you think so. Do you want to buy some? I'll be out selling tomorrow but they won't be as fresh as these."

"I would, but I spent all my coin on this-" Sabina rests her hand on the gaudy orange and red woven scarf draped around her neck. "-and so I was just going to beg a few more off the friends I'm with. I'll try to be by later before we head out."

The woman nods her head. "An adventurer, I see."

Sabina shifts awkwardly. "Yeah. Well, I'll be back later if I can. Thanks again for the candy."

"Oh no problem," the woman assures. "Safe travels."

Sabina nods in acknowledgement as she backs away from the booth, hands in her pants pockets. Once she's out of the vendor's line of sight, she steps to the side and spits the cinnamon orange candy out onto the ground. Nothing seemed off about it, but she knows better than to assume.