Little Shop of Curiosities (Closed to Drobabes)

[Nouh_Bdee]

Alexander, or Zander, was feeling pretty good. He was on a date! It had been a while for him, and he was excited about it. His date was a really fun girl, too. He had been eyeing Natallie for weeks in class, and he finally got up the nerve to ask her out. So far, she was very different from the girls he usually ended up with. She was so confident and outgoing! That had been one of the things that attracted him to her. She was the type who actually asked questions in class. No one talked in class unless they got called on, except the suck-ups trying to score points with the prof. She did, though. Zander, on the other hand, had been trying to fake some of his own confidence all evening.

Natallie’s confidence wasn’t the only attractive thing about her. Her figure was perfect. Lean and athletic with ample curves stacked on top. Zander was swooning. He had dressed up, in his own sophomoric way, for the event. He wore dark brown corduroys with converses, and a light blue oxford over a black tee. Not exactly a male model’s wardrobe, but it highlighted his floppy black hair and piercing blue eyes well.

They had gone out for burgers and malts after class. It had been so hard for Zander to find a place that actually sold malts in 2020! He’d never even had one before but they had joked about it as a stereotypical date activity, and since Natallie mentioned that she had a sweet tooth, they decided to try it. Zander didn’t really get it. It was just a milkshake. I guess that was the power of nostalgia/cultural influence, though. Natalie had loved it.

Now, the two of them were walking down the street, back to Zander’s car. The evening was cool, but comfortable. The tree-lined street was empty, and the buildings were closed, except for one. The shop had no sign, just a small, antique lantern hanging near the door. Through the window, they could see an assortment of antique, futuristic, or quirky goods.

Zander looked over to his date. “That place looks interesting. Want to stop in?

She didn’t object, so they walked up to the antique door.

Zander pushed the door open, feeling the rough grain of the old wood on his hands. The light inside was warm, and the small, busy space created a cozy atmosphere. There was an elderly woman behind the counter, bent over and covered with a floral shawl.

“Come in,” she rasped. “Welcome to my little shop. Please, look around.”

Zander took her up on that offer. He walked over to the far wall, to the section that had the futuristing-looking items. There was a toy lightsaber, a kid’s ray gun, some kind of sci-fi scanner, and some kind of clear plastic bubble tent.

Zander thought they all looked like they were very high-quality. The lightsaber in particular had enough weight to it that Zander could imagine a Jedi swinging it back and forth.

The next aisle was full of more antique items. Many of them looked Victorian. There was a lantern that looked exactly like the one outside the shop. Next to it was a pretty goth-looking umbrella. It wasn’t as creepy-looking as the mirror next to it, though. The single teacup on the shelf looked more innocuous, but there was something about the design on the front that Zander thought was unnerving. The designs on the last thing on the shelf, a coin, were much more straightforwardly ominous, with a winged skeleton and a hand with an eye in its palm. Alongside those images were the words “Yes” and “No,” respectively.

Next to the counter was a more eclectic collection of merchandise. Zander’s eyes were immediately drawn to a pair of plushies, a penis and a vagina, sitting next to each other. Both were cartoons with cute faces embroidered on them. They seemed a little out of place, but they made Zander smile. They were next to a little gag bottle of ”love potion”, some steampunk-looking boots, and a pair of old bracelets. Next, Zander saw a rolled up fabric tapestry. He picked it up and gently unrolled it. It was an image of the front door of the shop: the door they had just walked through. That’s so weird, but cool! Zander thought.

He looked over at Natallie, her wavy, brown hair sparkling in the warm lighting of the shop.

“Find anything interesting?”

 

[Drobabes]

While Natalie definitely had an interest in all those hot boys in her class, she wasn't going to college to party-she was going to learn. Of course, that didn't mean she didn't have time to entertain her love life on the side, and when one of the hottest boys in class had finally asked her out on a date, she had been over the moon. She thought for sure she would have been the one doing the chasing, once again.

The date had been wonderful, and it had impressed her that Zander had put so much effort into finding that malt shop for her. Throughout the day, she had found her hazel eyes travelling his form, and she definitely hadn't been shy about it when he caught her, only giving him sweet and coy smiles, trying to invite him to flirt back. After all, while she knew how to play hard to get, she was much more upfront with what she liked and wanted, and she didn't feel the need to play the run around game.

The shop that they were now in was amusing, and for the first time all day, her attentions were finally not glued to the hansom man.

While most of the items were interesting, the penis plushie really caught her eyes and made her laugh out loud, picking it up to give it a playful squish. She decided to keep that one with her, as it was definitely something that would totally fit in her bedroom.

The teacup was very interesting, but the gold bracelets really caught her eye, and she picked them up as well. When Zander came to find her, she gave him a lovely smile but shook her head a bit.

"Besides this" she said, holding up the plushie and letting out a musical laugh.

"The bracelets are the only thing that's caught my eye. Although, I haven't explored the back yet..."

She started to walk around him, her gait just a bit sneaky, as if the shop were some mysterious and magical place. Before she gets too far, she gives him a little grin over her shoulder and then gestures with her finger for him to follow.

"Let's see what secrets this little shop of curiosities holds~"

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

“Oh, there’s a back?” Zander hadn’t noticed the narrow hallway until Natalie pointed it out. He was going to follow her, of course. I mean, he wanted to see what was in the back anyway, but to follow her? With that cute laugh and that cute gesture and that cute ass and that cute sense of humor? Of course he was going to follow her.

Before he did, he made a mental note that unless he found something amazing in the back he wanted to get that lightsaber. Either way he was getting that pussy plushie. He held it up to Natalie just before she disappeared around the corner. “I think we need the matching set!” After that, he hurried to catch up to her and see what they would find.

 

[Drobabes]

After she took a few steps down the dim hall, she turned around and gave him a beaming smile as she held her own plushie up.

"Definitely need the matching set. I might even let you play with mine if you let me play with yours," she laughed.

Once they were past the hall, the lights became a bit brighter and there were even more nic nacks on old shelves, and even what looked to be some armour and weaponry in the corners. Who knew if any of this stuff was authentic, but it sure did tantalize the eyes. Natalie almost felt like she should have grabbed a little basket.

A particular piece of jewelry drew her gaze, and she hugged the penis plushie to her chest as she reached out to feel it's beautiful metal. It felt warm, perhaps from the shop being kept at a certain temperature, and Natalie couldn't help but be drawn to it a bit more than the bracelets, although it was a difficult choice. Deciding that she needed a minute to choose between the two, she let her eyes wonder over to the next item on the shelf, an ancient looking book.

Her delicate fingers ran along the spine, and when she reached the clasp, to her surprise, she found she couldn't open it.

"Huh..." she said quietly.

"Maybe it needs a key..."

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Zander was glad the hallway was too dim for Natalie to see him blush after her comment. Jeez, I’ve already decided I really like you. Are you trying to give me a heart attack? Tone it down a little, he thought.

Zander was drawn to the weaponry at first. He picked up one sword, a fencing weapon with an elaborate guard.

“Maybe it needs a key…”

Zander looked over to Natalie, who was holding a thick, ancient-looking book. It was clasped shut, and she hadn’t yet figured out how to open it. Zander walked over and gently bumped her shoulder with his own. “Tell you what, if you don’t buy it, I will. We’ll figure out how to get it open, okay?” He put his sword on the shelf. “Maybe I’ll come back for the sword. For now, I want to get this plushie and this book.” He looked at the other items she was carrying, and then looked at her hazel eyes. “Those bracelets and that necklace would both look really pretty on you.”

 

[Drobabes]

That little shoulder bump had her looking up, liking his sudden close proximity and the way his eyes almost looked like the ocean at night, in the dim light. She pushed back against him just as gently, wanting Zander to know that she liked his touch, and then gave him a little nod.

"Maybe it contains ancient secrets, the likes of which the world has never seen..."

She let out a little snicker, her hand lifting the book and handing it over to him. Natalie found herself not wanting to look away from those eyes, and she was especially pleased when he complimented the choice of jewelry she had picked out.

"Hm. If you think a few pieces of jewelry will look pretty on me, then you ain't seen nothin' yet."

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Natalie pressed her soft curves against him. Suddenly that side of his body was the only part of him with any feeling. He even missed the next thing she said: something about “ancient secrets?” Must’ve been talking about the book. Damn, he was sure it would have been cute and he missed it.

She gave him two things next: the book, and some extended eye contact. When he managed to pull away from those sweet hazel eyes to look at the jewelry she was holding, it all just seemed to fit.

"Hm. If you think a few pieces of jewelry will look pretty on me, then you ain't seen nothin' yet."

He had seen enough to know he wanted to see the rest, very much. He looked back at those hazel eyes

“Well, then I guess that settles it. If I ‘ain’t seen nothing yet’, then you’ll have to show me on our second date. Are you free tomorrow? For lunch? I don’t think I can wait until dinner…”

 

[Drobabes]

"Are you free tomorrow? For lunch? I don’t think I can wait until dinner…"

Had that little antique shop been this stuffy when they first walked in? Or was it just her? She bit her lip a little, her eyes traveling down his broad chest to his belt, and then back up to try and meet his gaze once more.

"Well, I am free tomorrow...but I'm also free right now. Maybe we could take that book back to my place after we're done here; see if we can't undress it and discover all it's little secrets..."

Was she coming on a little too strong? Maybe, and she hoped she didn't scare him off. However, she didn't like to beat around the bush or play hard to get when she obviously wanted something, or in this case, someone. Besides, he had asked her out. What was the harm in letting him know that he had her full attention?

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Oh, damn, that lip bite, coupled with those words, got to him. He wanted to be cool and smooth, but his brain was suddenly working with a lot less blood bringing it oxygen. He tried to think of how to respond to Naughty Natalie.

He swallowed, exaggeratedly. “I would love to show you the book...at you showing me your place...we’ll look at it. Together.”

Fuck, that was incoherent. I sound like an idiot.

He decided to cut his losses in the conversation department. Instead, he gently took her hand and started walking to the front of the store. Her skin was so soft, he didn’t even realize he was stroking her thumb with his own.

Unfortunately, he had to let go off her hand to pick up that sword he wanted. Hopefully the shopkeeper would put their stuff in bags so he could hold her hand while they finished the walk to his car.

The shopkeeper had looked like an old woman when he first walked in, but when Zander looked again she couldn’t have been past her mid forties. She must’ve been hunched over, or something else had made her seem older. Her clothes looked...old. Newly made, but of old-fashioned materials using old-fashioned methods. Her features revealed similarly little. He would’ve believed she had a great-grandparent from every continent on earth.

Zander put the sword and the book on the counter, followed by the vagina plushie. “I’d like to buy these, plus her things,” he said, nodding toward Natalie. Was it too much to pay for her stuff on the first date? He hoped she didn’t think it was weird. His summer job had been lucrative, and he wasn’t much of a saver, so he didn't mind. Plus, he wanted to impress her.

The woman nodded, and began ringing up the items. She picked up the book, and looked it over. Seeing Natalie holding the necklace, the woman snatched it out of her hand and put the two in a bag together.

Next were the plushies, and the first hint that something odd was happening. She picked up Zander’s vagina plushie, then snatched Natalie’s penis. Placing them on the counter, she seemed to pull two stamps out of nowhere. Without requiring any input or consent, she first stamped Natalie’s forehead with one stamp and then, before he could pull away, Zander’s forehead with the other. He looked at his date, and saw an image of a vagina inked above her eyebrows. Did that mean he currently had a penis on his forehead? But they had bought the other plushie… Before he could think what to say, he saw Natalie’s mark fade before his eyes and the plushies were safely put away in their bag.

The next item was stranger still. The shopkeeper picked up Zander’s sword, and held it above her head. She changed her grip slightly and suddenly a dome of pale light sheltered her like an umbrella. It flickered into place, and then flickered out when the woman changed her grip on the sword again. Zander stared at it, wide-eyed. “What?! How did you do that?” He looked around the shop for projectors or something, anything, that could do that. “How did that happen?”

The woman ignored him. She silently grabbed Natalie’s wrists and slipped the bracelets over her hands. Despite the girl’s reflexive pull, she clinked them together to reveal globes of bright, golden light around Natalie’s hands. Another clink and the light was gone, the bracelets slipped off her wrists to join Zander’s sword in their third bag.

They wouldn’t be in there, alone, however. The woman pulled out the tapestry Zander had been looking at earlier, the one with the image of the shop’s door on it. Zander looked back at where it had been on the shelf, but it was gone, in her hand now. He was pretty sure he would have noticed her move to get it, but that was like the fifth weirdest thing that had just happened, so he decided to let it slide. She held it up and spoke her second set of words for the evening. “Special gift. Buy six, get one free.” With that, into the third bag it went.

“That will be…” She looked down at the counter. “Oh, very good. You need change?”

“Huh?” Zander looked down to see a handful of very old-looking coins on the counter. He had no idea where they’d come from.

“No?” He wasn’t doing much to be cool for his date, but surely all the weirdness gave him an excuse.

The shopkeeper held up a finger. “One more gift.” Without waiting for any reaction from them, she quickly stamped both their foreheads, this time with the same stamp. Zander looked at Natalie to see a stylized eyeball in the middle of her forehead. It faded just as quickly as the others.

“Thank you! Come again! We closing now!”

Later, Zander wouldn’t specifically remember being shooed out of the store, but it didn’t seem strange at the time to be standing together on the sidewalk holding their bags. The strange part was looking behind them to see a brick wall, no antique doorway in sight.

Zander was in no way prepared to process what had just happened, so he looked to Natalie for her reaction.

 

[Drobabes]

"“I would love to show you the book...at you showing me your place..."

She couldn't help but giggle, his flustered reaction filling her with mirth. She knew exactly what she was doing, and she didn't think she would ever get tired of it.

His hand felt a bit rougher against her soft skin, but she loved it, especially when he started to gently stroke her thumb with his own. There was no way she could take her eyes off of him now, and as they walked back through the shop, she tried not to shift too much on her feet, the heat in her nethers building to a pleasantly uncomfortable moistness in her bikini string undies.

Her attention was only drawn away from Zander when they reached the shop keeper and the women's sudden change of appearance threw her off. Natalie then watched as the women easily manipulated their items, stamped them with marks that seemed to disappear as quickly as they had been made, and changed the appearance of the items in which they had picked out to buy.

At first, she had simply stood there with a bit of a shocked expression, but the more the women worked her magic, the more impressed Natalie became, until finally, she was full on beaming with a wide smile of amusement. She had certainly not expected this to be a part of their date, but she had to admit, she was very impressed. Had Zander planned on taking her to a magic performance, or had this simply been a stroke of luck and an opportunity that he had jumped on?

Once they were done and standing on the street once more, Natalie turned to look at where the door had once been, and then she turned to Zander. Her smile grew once more, and then she let out a laugh of pure amusement.

"That...was awesome! Did you plan that? I don't know how she pulled those tricks off, but I am thoroughly impressed."

Now that they were back out on the street, Natalie could once again see how piercingly beautiful the blue of his eyes were, and she suddenly found herself being pulled towards Zander with an almost magnetic attraction. Her smile softened as she came close to him, and her gold flecked brown hazel eyes looked up into his softly. Placing a hand on his chest gently, she leans towards him, her lips slowly offering themselves up to his own, hoping beyond hope that he was feeling the same burning hunger in himself.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

“Did you plan that?”

“No, I…” Zander had no idea what he’d been about to say. All he could think about was the bits of gold in Natalie’s hazel eyes, the slight pressure of her hand on his chest, and the closeness of her body to his. Her lips called to him, sung for him, and he answered.

He wrapped his arms around her. He pulled his own lips down to hers and let her bewitch him. They seemed to fit together. Her soft, pink lips caressed his own. His hunger grew, and the tip of his tongue pressed against her lips to see if it would be welcomed.

 

[Drobabes]

Her heart rate quickened as she watched his eyes. The way that they had been staring into her own, and then his gaze drifting down to her lips, it was enough to make her feel as if she simply might float away, weighing no more than a cloud. His arms wrapping around her kept her securely grounded, however, and when his soft lips met her own, she closed her eyes and melted into the kiss.

Her lips parted gently for his exploring tongue, and she brought her own forward to lightly tease and encourage him. Taking a deep breath through her nose, she let out just the smallest noise of need as her hands suddenly found themselves on his sides, and then travelling up along his back to hold him gently.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Her hands running up his sides and back were almost as exciting as the kiss, but not quite. He was glad his summer job had been so physically demanding. If they’d gone out last spring she would have found a bit more padding on him.

He was pleased to find her lips parting and her tongue seeking out his own. Everything about her was so soft and warm, if he’d had any doubts that this was exactly where and when he wanted to be they would be gone now. His own hands wandered chastely, from the curve at the small of her back up to her soft shoulders. Then, he trailed just the tips of his fingers from her shoulder down to her elbow, giving at least himself goosebumps.

They had just eaten, but now he was hungry for her. Did he have a condom with him? Just in case, of course. Not that he had any expectations. He reluctantly broke the kiss. “You said something about going to your place?”

 

[Drobabes]

"You said something about going to your place?"

When had she sat her bag down on the ground? Oh well, it would be a miracle if she made it back to her place with her shoes still on at this rate. Although, on second thought...

"Yea..." she breathed, her eyes opening slowly to meet his gaze, and then she gave him a sweet little smile.

"It's not too far from here."

Her voice was a bit hushed, as if she were scared to break the atmosphere between them. In a way, she was. It had been quite some time since she had felt a little more than just sexual attraction to someone; simply seeking out the chase to get laid. But the way that Alexander held her in his arms made her want to melt and let him sweep her off her feet.

"Do you want to walk? Or I can grab us a cab?.."

The idea of continuing their sweet date, holding hands as they made their way down the sidewalk definitely appealed to her. However, she was feeling just a bit antsy, and the idea of sitting in the back of a cab and being able to continue their soft make out session, perhaps even winding him up a bit before they even got to her apartment door, was also very pleasing.

Natalie knew that if she really wanted to, she could have that little boy melting like puddy in her hands. She had done it once before, to a sweet (albeit a bit full of himself), frat boy, who had cum for her before he even had a chance to climb into bed.

The poor thing had turned red in the face and tried to apologise, but Natalie had simply hushed him softly and then kissed him long and slow. After that, that frat boy had discovered stamina that he never knew he had.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

The need Zander could hear in Natalie’s voice was the world’s strongest aphrodisiac. He hoped he’d be able to wait until they got to her apartment.

"Do you want to walk? Or I can grab us a cab?.."

A cab might be faster, depending on how close it actually was, but Zander didn’t mind the walk as long as Natalie was there with him. His needy, demanding balls could wait. This girl was special.

“Let’s walk. I want you to be the only person I interact with at all tonight.”

He picked up her bag for her, took her hand, and started walking, before realizing he didn't know where to go.

“Lead the may, pretty lady.”

 

[Drobabes]

"I want you to be the only person I interact with at all tonight."

His words made Natalie smile again, and as his hand reached down and took her own, she let her free hand come up to rest on his arm.

"This way, handsome sir" she giggled, leading them across the sidewalk and to the other side of the street. As they walked down the street, and then taking a right at a back alley, she couldn't help but notice how nice the weather was. It was warm and gorgeous, and she thought to herself that if it continued to warm up like this, she might invite Zander out to hit the beach with her.

"So..." she says, looking up at him with a playful little expression.

"Should I put my plushie on my bed, or front and center on my couch? I quite like it. It might be a good talking piece for guests."

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

He would have enjoyed walking with her like this for hours, holding her hand with her other hand on his arm, bumping shoulders occasionally as they strolled along the street and down an alley.

She asked him whether she should display that penis plushie on her bed or on her couch.

Zander stopped walking for a moment to consider his answer. He held his chin in thumb and forefinger, drawing out his “hmmmmmmmmm” until it was obvious he was playing. “Interior design is a tricky thing. I think I’m going to need to spend some time in each space, to really get a feel for which one would be best.” He looked down at the hot young woman on his arm. “And, of course, I’m going to need similar advice from you about where to put mine…”

They walked further down the alley, and then a shadowy figure stepped out in front of them. It wasn’t that dark, but for some reason Zander couldn’t make out their features at all. They were also standing in the middle of the alley, blocking their way. Zander led Natalie to the side so they could go around, but the asshole moved to block them!

They were close now, but this person still just looked like a silhouette. Once they got about fifteen feet away, shit got scary. The figure lifted its arms, and wings spouted from its back. It’s skin was completely black, and its hands had long claws. Zander pulled Natalie behind him, and he was glad he had, because the creature rushed at them. Zander stepped to the side, trying to pull Natalie out of the way, and this shadowy bat creature slashed with his claws, making two gashes in Zander’s side.

“Ahhh!”

He dropped their bags, hearing a metallic clang that reminded him he had a sword with him. He put a hand down to his cuts, and it came away red. He didn’t want to take his eyes off the thing. It had taken to the air, and it was starting to circle now. Zander spoke to Natalie without turning his head.

“Can you hand me that sword we just bought?”

The creature was coming back now, and Zander felt the sword hilt hit his open palm. He gripped it, feeling a thick metal wire depress into the hilt just as the creature’s flight straightened out. It was coming right for them. It’s claws reached out just as that shield of light that the shopkeeper had demonstrated earlier flashed into existence. The bat-shadow bounced off it, flying into the nearby wall at an angle. Whatever it was, it was solid. The wall took some damage, losing parts of some of its bricks.

Zander stepped around Natalie, taking a moment to look into her wide eyes and speak to her.

“What the fuck?!” he said, wincing in pain.

 

[Drobabes]

His humor made her laugh, and she nodded to his suggestion of spending some time in each space to get a feel for where the plushies should go. Indeed, they definitely needed some time in each space. Some time on her bed, on the couch...maybe the kitchen counters...

Suddenly there was a someone in the alley before them, and immediately Natalie's instincts screamed 'danger'. She didn't even notice how difficult it was to make out his features at first, but his stance, how he was simply standing in the middle of the alley, immediately raised some red flags. Normal people didn't just stand like that, unless perhaps he was staring at something and facing away from them, but that didn't seem to be the case here. Looking up at Zander, she gave him a bit of a scared look before letting him lead her to the other side of the alley.

When the man, moved to block them, Natalie felt a cold chill go up her spine. Now he was definitely up to something, and she looked behind her shoulder to make sure no one was coming up behind them. What the fuck was going on? She had walked through this alley a million times and never had feared for her safety before.

Once they were closer, Natalie's natural fear began to change to dread. Whatever was standing before them did not look human, and this was soon confirmed as it sprouted wings and then rushed them, making her let loose with a scream.

Alexander's own scream had her panicking, moving around his side to see what had happened.

"Oh my god, Zander!"

She didn't have time to focus on his wound, as soon enough he was demanding that strange sword they had been given. She turned quickly and grabbed it from the bag, and for some reason, even through her panic, she felt those bracelets pulling her. Without really consciously thinking, she picked them up along with the sword, and started to put them on after handing Zander his weapon. She then watched in shock as he wielded it and caused a barrier to form around them, the monster bouncing off and hitting the brick wall.

"What the fuck?!"

She stared at him with wide eyes before shaking her head slightly. Looking over at the monster, she noticed that it was starting to stir. With fear in her eyes, she reached out and grabbed his hand.

"Run! We need to go!"

She started to drag him out of the alley, quickly reaching down to grab the bags as her feet carried her by them, and then dragging him in the direction of her apartment.

Once they were a good bit away and only about a block from her place, she finally slowed down enough to catch her breath and look back at him.

"What the fuck was that? Zander, if this was all part of that magic show, I'm sorry, but I think you went a little overboard. That was not fun."

She had let his hand go to cross her arms, the bag and items swinging from her hand and bumping against her side as she power walked. However, when she looked back at him to give him an angry scowl, she saw the blood on his shirt and she slowed, concern taking over her features. Natalie then reached out and lifted his shirt from his side to inspect the wound as they walked.

"Jesus christ, you're actually cut... Alright, let's just...let's get back to my place so I can get you cleaned up. You might need stitches."

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Zander’s side burned as he hurried to stay close to Natalie. Every step he took did its part to keep his wounds open. He wasn’t sure where her place was, but he just hoped they got there before this thing found them again.

This was just his luck, wasn’t it? Of course, the scenario where he finally gets up the nerve to ask out the hottest girl he’s ever spoken to, the date goes actually really well, she even invites him to her place, and they get jumped on the way there by some shadow monster with bat wings: that could happen to anybody. But, add in a crazy scenario with a shopkeeper that plausibly makes her wonder if he engineered the attack as some misguided way to impress her? That could only happen to Zander.

Maybe he could fix that, though. Natalie was really cool, and she had a good sense of humor. Surely it couldn’t be that hard to convince her that he didn’t do this. After all, he didn’t do this!

It was hard to talk while hurrying with a painful chest wound and keeping an eye out for the monster that gave it to him, but he tried anyway. “Natalie, I did not do this. I wouldn’t know how to do this!”

Feet pounding on concrete, breath wheezing out of lungs pushed to the limit, Zander felt a surge of relief as Natalie finally pointed to her apartment door.

Zander took one last look around before they made their last dash for safety. He couldn’t see anything, but he heard a deafening whisper: “Nanhat will fiiiiind youuuuu....”

He and Natalie looked at each other and took off running. It may have been his imagination, but Zander was sure he could hear the beating of giant bat wings by the time Natalie got her key in the lock and turned. As soon as the door was open and she was inside he was right behind her. They both pushed the door shut and Zander leaned against it, panting from a little exhaustion and pain, and a lot of fear.

He smiled at her in relief. "This was not the way I wanted to get you to let me into your apartment."

 

[Drobabes]

That whisper sent such a bone chilling shiver of dread up her spine, and to look and see the same fear in Zander's eyes only intensified the feeling. By the time they got to her apartment, and she slammed and locked the door behind them, Natalie's heart was beating so hard it hurt. As they stood there against the door, trying to catch their breath, she couldn't help but take a look around her apartment, making sure that it was safe.

"This was not the way I wanted to get you to let me into your apartment."

Her still wide eyes come back to his, and for just a brief second, she holds her breath. When she lets it out, it comes out on a nervous chuckle.

"I...I don't understand what's going on, but this is not the way I wanted to bring you in either."

She stepped back from the door, a bit slowly and with her hands still up a bit, as if she was expecting it to burst open. Letting out another nervous breath, she quickly goes to the kitchen area and retrieved a chair, coming back to the door with it and propping it up against the door knob. She then turns to Zander and takes his hand gently, starting to lead him to the bathroom.

"Come on, let's get you cleaned up and see how bad it is. We might have to get you to a hospital."

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Zander let Natalie lead him to the bathroom, looking around at her apartment as they walked. This place was...extravagant. Polished hardwood floors, large windows, a lofted mezzanine floor, and enough space for their words to echo. It was well-decorated, too. Zander was impressed.

When they got to the tastefully appointed bathroom, Zander pulled off his shirt to reveal the fruits of this last summer’s labor. His freshman pudge was gone and there was the beginning of definition in his torso. “Baby abs,” he called them, in his head and never out loud. He looked down at the slashes. It was hard to see from this angle, but he didn’t think they looked deep. They burned a bit, though, probably from the extra agitation of the wound when he had to run.

Natalie had him sit on the closed toilet while she started gathering some supplies. Was this girl also a talented administrator of first aid? Zander just hoped he hadn’t blown his chances with her by accidentally leading into a monster attack. “Wow, and you’re good at this stuff, too? That’s amazing, Natalie.”

 

[Drobabes]

Natalie was just turning around with some clean cloth and a little first aid kit when he spoke up. She gave him a smile; albeit, a nervous one.

"You're being awful optimistic for someone who just had a pair of talons almost filet them open."

She came over and sat down on the lip of her bathtub, running the hot water to get the towel wet, and then applying a bit of bar soap to it.

"I'm really not. I'm just doing the common sense stuff. You know, get the wound cleaned out, and then we'll go from there."

She turned her eyes back to him, trying to give him another smile and keep the mood light, although it was obvious that she was scared. She had no idea if whatever had attacked them was actually gone, or if at any second, it was going to bust her door down.

Reaching over, she starts to lift his shirt out of the way to try and get a better look.

"You know, I really think after we get this clean, we should go file a police re-"

Her sentence was cut short as, right when she started to reach forward with the rag, she felt her bracelet grow warm and then watched with apprehension as it began to glow. It glowed bright, similar to when they were at the little antique shop.

"Zander..." she said nervously, having no clue what was happening.

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Natalie downplayed her medic skills, but Zander had a feeling he was lucky she was here with him. He could tell she was scared, though, and that made sense. They had just been attacked by what had really seemed like some kind of supernatural creature.

He smiled back at her, and was just tossing it to the side when he heard her pause and say his name. He looked down, leaning to see the slashes in his side. His wounds still didn’t seem deep, but there was something in them. Something thick and dark, almost like tar. If someone told him it was what the monster was made of, he would believe them.

“The fu-”

What was somehow even stranger, though, was Natalie’s bracelet. It was glowing, just like it had when the shopkeeper had rung it up. Her hand was wrapped in a golden glow, and she held it frozen just a few inches from his skin. Where the glow was nearest to the blackness, it seemed to retreat, part of it evaporating in a thin, dark smoke.

“Natalie, I don’t understand any of this, but whatever you’re doing seems to be working.”

 

[Drobabes]

Whatever she was doing? She didn't even know what she was doing! Still, again, she felt that strange pull. After hesitating a few more seconds, Natalie swallows hard and then reaches forward with the bracelet, cautiously getting that ball of light right near Zander's wound.

The dark tar like substance continues to try and squirm away from the light, but having nowhere to really go, the light eventually touches it, causing it to fizzle and hiss. She let's out a breath shocked breath as she watches the smoke rise up into the air as the substance seems to be burned away from his flesh. After it is completely gone, the light from her bracelets seems to fade out, and then shut off completely.

Those gold hazel eyes look up at him then, as she sets her hand down in her lap.

"Ok... I think, that old women might have drugged us."

 

[Nouh_Bdee]

Zander was stunned. That thick, inky blackness was gone, burned away by the light around Natalie’s hand. His wound looked healthier, too, but it was really burning now, where before it hadn’t. Whatever that shit was, it must’ve been numbing him a bit.

The three slashes didn’t look deep, but they were large.

“Okay, I get that. Maybe you’re right. I don’t know what was in those stamps. None of this makes any sense. If that wasn’t a monster, though, if it was just some crackpot that tried to stab me in an alley, why did he use three knives?”

Zander didn’t know why he was arguing that something supernatural had happened instead of the much more likely scenario that they’d been drugged. He didn’t know if he even believed it himself. Then again, even getting Natalie to agree to go out with him in the first place had seemed unbelievable, so maybe he was becoming a believer.

“Maybe we should look at that book?”