My Plushie (SeaChaos)

Part 5 - Panic

~ Chilled's POV~

I take a deep breath in attempt to calm myself and sink to the floor, holding my head in the darkness. It's like I just saw my dead body on the floor, it's an eery and terrifying feeling sinking down in my chest. I wouldn't even be able to describe the feelings being done in my head. Thoughts jumble up and tangle up over and over again while millions of conclusions and predictions run through my processing. Considering the people of the town always acting so friendlily I have no idea who it is who could have done such a thing either to destroy a poor innocent plushie. It couldn't be the townspeople, I know them all well and they're mostly friendly and I don't recall seeing anybody I don't know enter the shop. Could it have been one of the new guys? No, Gassy wouldn't be friends with people like that anyways. Or maybe Gassy changed while he was gone, although he still acts the same...God damn it, I feel like I can't trust anybody. Quickly I turn and force the door to the shop open and burst into the shop, determined to get to the bottom of this. 

"Ze-"

I'm shushed out of my urgency when I notice our guests have mostly fallen asleep on the table, their faces on the table. Ze smiles at me seeming humorous and I immediately hesitate telling him about the remains of our shop mascot in my pocket. Turning to Gassy he seems to be snoring on the table with Diction beside him also sleeping. Sparklez is on the couch we have placed in a colorful area with books and plushies while Nanners is also sitting on the table but his eyes are half open, barely awake still. Stepping beside Ze I open my mouth to tell him I have something to tell him but he looks to me with widening eyes and gestures his head to the customers. Damn it Ze, I think my safety or death is a bit more important than our sleeping customers. Unless he's the one who did it...Impossible. I turn away from Ze, ignoring his suddenly worried expression. 

"Wait, where are you going Chilled?" Ze asks, seeming to completely forget his seriousness just a moment ago. Luckily the only person he wakes up is Nanners who had already been half awake. I shake my head, pulling at the coat rack and wrapping myself with my black coat. "You shouldn't leave right now. It's been a while since you-" I clap loudly, laughing nervously as the sleeping people in the room shift slightly while Nanners sits upwards, making Ze barely notice he was wide and awake.

"I know, I already got this Ze. Just going to go home before I fall asleep like these guys," I explain before waving and leaving Ze without giving him a chance to catch me. It had been a long time since I transformed so it should be happening soon but right now I only feel my own breathing and warmth inside, not the slow transforming which happens slowly in my gut. When I leave the store I puff out a cloud of white air and tuck myself in to my own coat before hurrying down the street, ignoring the shocked townspeople who watch me. No one ever sees me leave the store, possibly because sometimes I end up being in doll form the entire night at the store and I usually only come back late at night. I've become a mystery to most people in town but they're used to it. Plus, people never see me unless Ze is around as well, mainly because he's the only one who knows about my condition and is able to help me out in whatever situation. 

"Hey Chilled!" A voice calls out from behind me, making me pause and look back seeing Nanners chasing after me. I stare at him simply as he catches up with me and smirks his usual devious smile. For some reason I hadn't expected for him to come after me, but it'd make sense for him to return home. To be honest I was sort of hoping Ze would catch up with me so I wouldn't have this haunting and scared feeling in my chest. 

"Nanners, you aren't waiting for the others to wake up?"

"Nah, they'll be fine," he says casually slightly making me feel guilty for Gassy who has this guy as a friend. Once Nanners approaches me he puts his large hand on my shoulder and smiles just like he always does. "So what was up with that little mini fight? You guys having relationship problems?" I roll my eyes and turn away, leading us two down the street.