"About twenty? I started a couple months ago. It's not meant to be a main source of income, It's just I crochet all the time at work anyway, and people were asking for them, so why not make some money, right? "
"What dinosaurs do you do?"
"T-Rexes are my most popular, but I've had all kinds of requests. When I was just starting out, Mr. Crossley asked me to do one of Steve. He's still got it in his office I think."
"Mr. Crossley? He doesn't seem like the type." From what Xeno had heard from Aruda, he wasn't a man to be trusted.
"He's sweet when you get to know him, he's like a grandpa." Haiden said, gesturing to a man across the hall.
He couldn't believe it. His age was the only thing that made him remotely "Grandpa"-like, he looked slightly ancient, but from what he had heard, he was a severe, strict man.
"Can I have your number?" The blonde asked; "I want to make some more museum friends, and that's what this whole party is about, right? It'll be especially important in light of.. everything that's going on." He knew what he meant, even if neither of them wanted to say it out loud.
"Right." Xeno agreed. He wrote it down on a spare piece of paper he had in his pocket, letting Haiden text him on his phone to secure the number. Xeno added him to his contacts as "Haiden (work)".
"Thank you." Haiden said.
"Ding Ding Ding Ding"
The pair turned around to see Mrs. Pepper hitting a wine glass with a spoon. Everyone had their attention on her.
"I would just like to say how happy I am that all of my favourite departments are finally getting together again. It feels like ages since we've had a work event. I thank you all for coming tonight, and-"
Haiden whispered to him "Do you think she knows it's a work party, not a wedding?" Eliciting a stifled laugh.
"Furthermore, It is with great pleasure that I tell you all that this party will continue to be held annually from now on, to foster connection and trust between departments, despite the.. unfortunate reality that one of us is going to be made to leave soon. Also-"
She was interrupted by a loud "CRACK" that felt like it shook the museum's walls.
CHAPTER NINE:
"Erm-"
Creeeak
Steve's head started to dip forwards, looming towards the ground and wobbling slightly.
CRACK!
A wire pinged off of the ceiling, causing Steve to fall forwards, though still supported by the other cables .
"Mrs. Pepper, dash to the side!" Shouted Doctor Aruda. But Mrs. Pepper was frozen in place, looking up terrified at the pterodactyl. More and more wires started pinging away. Doctor Carmazan ran forward, grabbing her hand and pulling her to the side of the balcony just in time for the last rope to snap. Xeno had never seen her move so quickly.
The pterodactyl seemed to fall in slow motion, falling about as elegantly as those birds that hurl themselves off cliffs. Its arms broke apart and its head detached from its body, exploding into a torrent of green and purple coloured fibres. Xeno's head whipped around to meet Haiden's eyes, the pair of them in shock. The brief silence that ensued seemed to drag on for hours- everyone on the balcony was frozen in place, seemingly unable to move.
Then, chaos ensued, during which, they were separated.
"Steve! Who would do this to our baby?" Someone yelled. "Someone could have been hurt! Was anyone hurt? Are you okay?" "This is someone from astronomy's fault!" A shrill voicesounded amidst the crowd. "I knew we shouldn't have had a party together! Of course someone would try and save their own department's skin!"
The voices layered over each-other, each clamouring to be heard amidst the cacophony. Xeno looked across the room to see Dr. Aruda arguing with someone from Palaeontology that Xeno had seen somewhere before. People from other departments were taking sides. Were they trying to stir the pot so that they wouldn't get cut? Suddenly, Mrs. Pepper climbed onto the "wreckage", seemingly out of her trance. "Everyone, stop! Please!" She tried to shout over the carnage, but her voice was too quiet.
Suddenly, Dr. Aruda walked briskly towards the green papery mass. "Enough!" She bellowed, silencing everyone.
With everyone turning to Ms. Pepper for something to say, she seemed to freeze up. Then, she regained composure. "Everyone is going home." She began, weightily. "I'm going to have a security guard check on the wires. If I find out they have been tampered with- though I expect this was an.. unfortunate accident- the perpetrators will be caught and dealt with. Immediately. This isn't funny. I'll help to clear this up."
The crowd was frozen, motionless. The atmosphere of the party had completely and irrevocably changed.
"Go!" She exclaimed.
