Creature - |H.S.|

Twenty Two

This one is a long one and was super draining to write :/

Nova

I'm lucky. I'm lucky I was able to salvage most of the equipment that fell after Harry's grand exit. The most that happened was a camera lens flew off a camera, but thank god the lens didn't crack.

I don't know how I would try and explain to Kim how items broke after the man- that I don't even consider my friend- tore up our most valued customer's photo. She would probably never leave me in the shop alone after that, and I can't say I would blame her. The ironic part is that it wasn't even my doing, it was all Harry. Bad things just follow and surround him and his club is the best example of that. He's not a good influence to be around. He's just dangerous and downright cruel. I don't think the man has one ounce of empathy in his body.

The picture on the other hand is complexly ruined. There's no piecing the picture back together. There's no trying to sort the bits and pieces to recover the portrait. No, he made sure he utterly destroyed it.

And for what reason?

Why would he just yank it out of my hand and shred it between his fingers with no explanation? He had no right. This is my job. Now I'm stuck trying to come up with an excuse on why that picture- the picture that is the best picture in the stack- is gone. Now I'm stuck having to lie to the regular that comes in here once a week, who trusts Kim and I with his film- his beautiful film work.

But Harry gets off easy. He just demolished it and left me here to pick up the pieces...literally.

I have so much anger for him in this moment. I'm so tired of his mood changes. One minute he's cracking inappropriate jokes and then he just clicks and makes me feel like the smallest person in the world. Katy Perry's Hot n Cold song couldn't describe this man any better.

I bend down to the floor, scraping all the articles from the photo into my hand. The remnants are too small to even try to save. He made sure he completely dismantled it so it couldn't be restored. It was such a gorgeous picture, I don't know how he could even act so barbaric.

Out of nowhere, the bell echoes through the shop, informing me that doom is near. If I'm lucky, it will be death himself. Maybe he's waltzing in here and taking me out, deciding today would be a good day to put me out of my misery. I'm usually a lot less fortunate though. It's probably Harry coming to tear up more photos or who knows, maybe he'll get creative and start throwing equipment at my head before stealing all the chemicals from the darkroom. Then I'll be left trying to explain to Kim why everything is ruined and why her supplies have vanished.

God I can't stand him right now.

I bring my eyes up to the door, afraid that Harry is coming back for another round of destruction. I'm mistaken though. Our regular rolls in, a big smile plastered on his face.

Fucking great. Even better.

I hurry and stand, keeping the bits and pieces of photo paper in my hand, cupping them tightly as if I'm holding onto a lightning bug. Looks like I'll have to be coming up with that excuse a lot sooner than I planned on.

Thanks a lot Harry.

I silently curse under my breath before giving him a fake and awkward smile, trying to match his excitement but failing terribly.

"Hi," my voice shakes as I hold the pieces tighter in my hand, feeling my knuckles go white from the grip.

"I'm ready to see my beauties," he smiles while rubbing his hands together in pure anticipation.