“And Pompeii is only more famous because more of it has been uncovered since most of Herculaneum is buried under the modern city.”
“Okay, you think you’re so clever and–”
“Iamclever,” Auden interrupted calmly.
I closed my mouth, opened it, and then closed it again. Yes, he was clever. I could not deny that. And so, I brought up somethinghecould not deny in return. “I’m older.”
Auden blinked, as if unsure whether he’d heard me correctly. He waited a beat and then, with a small frown, said, “Yes. But that does not make you right.”
“You’re annoying.”
He nodded, unsurprised by my childish retort.
“I’m going to the cafe,” I mumbled.
“Will you bring me a chocolate drink on the way back?” he asked.
“No.”
“But–”
“Auden, I’d burn the world for you,” I said impatiently as I snatched my keys off its hook. “I’m obviously going to bring you back hot chocolate.”
“Okay but it wasn’t obvious–”
“Just finish your homework or whatever it is you were doing before you corrected me,” I said and slammed the door shut behind me.
The cafe was crowded with business suits, school uniforms, nursing scrubs and high visual shirts as workers lined up for their morning coffee. Quiet chatter blended in with the sound of coffee machines and paper cups, Billie Eilish's voice pouring from the speakers.
I ordered a hot chocolate for Auden and some banana bread to share, shifting from one foot to the other while I waited. TheDevil stood beside me, a silent, faceless shadow. His presence was not unwanted. Yes, he was my enemy. But he was familiar. And familiarity was a comfort. As long as I didn't look in the mirror, I could pretend he wasn't the Devil at all and more…a guardian angel, of sorts.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, drawing my attention to a message from Nathaniel regarding our assignment. We still had so much work to do. The previous day had been a complete disaster, because ofme, and so I had little choice but to respond. Chewing on the inside of my mouth, I told him I was free for a few hours before my afternoon shift atBrowning Books,and we agreed to meet at the library.
"Augustus!"
The cafe quietened. Lights dimmed. Several pairs of eyes followed me to the counter where my order waited. I reached for the hot chocolate, wincing as my fingers connected with the red liquid spilling down the sides of the paper cup.
"Uh…" I lifted my head, searching for a napkin and a staff member to question. But there were no napkins. Nor any staff members to assist me. The cafe had been completely emptied, an eerie silence hanging in the air as my gaze dropped to the sliced banana bread inside a paper bag.
White, blue and green splotches of mold invaded the aged bread, a single worm crawling out of a hole in the dough. It slithered toward me, multiplying, worms of all shapes and colours littering the counter.
I backed away, heart racing.
What's the matter?
"This isn't real," I whispered.
If it isn't real, what are you so afraid of? Eat the bread.
"What?!"
Eat the bread. Prove it isn't real.
Swallowing back the bile that threatened to escape my throat, I reached toward the bread, hands trembling. It wasn't real, and yet I felt the worms beneath my fingertips. It wasn't real, and yet the bread's sour, musty odour burned my nostrils. It wasn't real, and yet I tossed the bread to the floor, shaking my head. It wasn't real. But I couldn't eat it.
That's what I thought, little monster.
***
