Kai walked through the roads. Buildings were half broken and covered with moss. Many people begged on streets wearing torn clothes. The atmosphere felt depressing.
"I currently live in an orphanage in the slums and work in a restaurant as a waiter. Today is the last day of my slavery, after this I can finally go on an adventure."
Kai walks out of the slums to a decent looking street where he enters a restaurant from the backdoor. An old man in a suit stands away from the door holding an unlit cigarette in his hand, he stands looking at the door as if waiting for Kai to come.
" Good morning, sir," Kai says with a bright smile.
"What is so good about this morning kid? People begging on the street as usual, the economy crashes daily as usual and religious gatherings and rebellions continue as usual.
"Sighs deeply".
Kai nods and then wears an black apron with the restaurant name on it " Bloody sweet".He then takes a lighter from a cupboard and goes to the old man and lights his cigarette.
Hey kid, don't forget you're always welcome here.
Kai gives a confused look.
Surely you didn't forget this is your last day right?
"Ah!, thanks for the offer. I will think about it" Kai says in a nonchalant tone.
Think about it? my foot, aint no way I am gonna come back here.
Alright now go take up this octopus dish to table no.7 and go give this juice to table no.3 and don't forget to visit the birthday party table and go to table numbers 8,11,4,9,2 and pick up their orders.
Are you kidding? You're making me work more because this is my last day.
Kai curses in his mind while biting his lip aggressively.
Kai then takes a deep breath and smiles while holding an octopus in a cloche on his right hand and a mocktail in his right hand, he goes into the dining hall with confidence.
He goes to table no.3.
"Excuse me, we asked for a mocktail and that dumb waiter gave us alcohol. What the hell is this?"
"I apologise for the inconvenience sir, here is some mocktail on the house".
Kai takes the can of beer and keeps it in his pocket.
Kai goes to the birthday party table.
"Happy birthday!!, do you want to see a magic trick?"
Ooooh yessss! The kid said excitedly.
Kai takes out a deck of cards and spreads them on the table. He then takes a card randomly not showing anyone what it is and throws it in the air like a frisbee.
Hey kid, quickly tell me a card you like. The kid shouts King of hearts.
The card which Kai threw curves in the air like a boomerang and returns to Kai's hand. He then reveals the card to be King of hearts.
Everyone gets shocked and claps for Kai.
Thank you , thank you, I know I am good, Kai says with a big grin on his face.
He puts the cards in his pocket and walks to the next table. But suddenly he hears a loud thud. He goes to check out the sound.
He sees a human-like person with goat horns and dark blue skin color, weird patterns in red color were carved into his skin. A mark near his neck stood out, it looked like a goat head. The person wore a shirt with a tee- shirt inside and shorts. He also had black goggles. Even though he wore a beach outfit inside the restaurant, he was sweating an unusual amount. He sat on a chair with his legs crossed.
While a waiter was requesting the demi-human.
"Sir, please listen, demi-humans are not allowed into this restaurant, please go to another restaurant, your disturbing other customers" the waiter pleaded.
I just want to eat some good food. I was a human just a year ago, how am I supposed to eat when no one accepts demi-humans? Why won't you just serve me some food and I will leave.
Demi-human started getting angry
Seeing this Kai intervenes.
"I will serve this customer, you can leave."
Sir, what would you like to order? Kai asks with a fake smile on his face.
Finally, someone with common sense. Bring me something which fills my stomach.
Ok sir I will bring you souffles and lasagna. Just to be sure sir, can you pay first.
What the heck!! I didn't even eat yet you ask me to pay, I will pay only after eating. He gets angry and starts slamming on the table.
Ok sir you can pay after you eat, here sir try our complementary drink.
[He pushes the drink which was on table]
The demi-human takes a sip…
He then spits it on Kai's clothes. Eww, What bullshit is this? Who even drinks this? He then throws the drink on Kai.
Kai stands still for 3 seconds. He then
glances at the demi-human, his eyes full of wrath, he takes a deep breath.
Kai throws the live octopus
(which was in his hand)
at demi-human's face.
He punches him in the gut, making him fall out of chair.
I KNEW YOU COULDN'T PAY BUT I ACCEPTED YOU BECAUSE YOU WOULD MAKE DISTURBANCE BUT NOW YOU HAVE RUINED MY DRESS AND NOW THE IDIOT BOSS WILL TAKE THIS AS AN EXCUSE TO MAKE ME WORK MORE. Kai says quietly while picking up forks on the table and keeping them in his pockets and cleaning the table.
The demi-human gets up and punches Kai which sends him flying through a wall onto the alleyway. Kai vomits blood and gets up. The demi-human stands near the hole in the wall. I will kill you, how dare you punch me.
The demi- human starts chanting.
Mruthyuvatikranthā bhāvāḥ—
daivasūtratayā prakaṭadhvam.
Satyam vidārayata.
—Lokavidāra.
As the demi-human chanted, the patterns on his skin started glowing in red color, some tiny particles started flying around him. The air around him felt ominous...
Ooof…. Its so cold... I cant feel my feet anymore, how long must I keep running, Kai's face looked pale. His hands were bluish red. He looked as if he on verge of collapsing.
What was he running from?
Dak dak! Kai's heart pounded, lounder and lounder than his footsteps as he ran and ran. His body was shivering from cold, his clothes were torn. Ice literally stood on Kai's skin. His feet were bleeding and swollen yet he still ran as if it was all he could do…
What am i running from ? A thought lingered in my head while my body ran like an headless zombie….
Kai suddenly had a thought of looking what was behind him.
Chills ran through his spine at the mere thought.
All he imagined in his mind was a goat. Yes! A goat was chasing him…
Kai tried to remember what is happening then he sees an image of a shadowy figure having a glowing red tattoo of a goat.
..huff…. Its getting harder to breathe, my nose is bleeding.. My lungs can't exand anymore.. I need to do something.......
Kai has collapsed…..