Notes:
Note: Talk of drug use, pica, and non-intended use of cold medicine. Sorry this chapter took so long to come out, lol, sorry.
Chapter 3
April 15th, XX75
Sam didn’t bother unpacking much after getting his pets settled. Frank had disappeared shortly after, and had only briefly returned with a smile and the keys, and an ominous sounding ‘good luck’
The bed he’d so desperately craved was quite shit. It definitely made him miss his own mattress. He’d have to call around and see if he could pull that out of storage. The last months had been a blur, but he definitely knew they wouldn’t have seized his worn mattress, and it had to be among the stuff his brother had gotten cleared out. Having all six cats in bed with him had taken some of the edge off, but it was still a very hard night.
It was strange getting used to new night sounds, or lack of them. It was too quiet. At least street noises outside the gates, while annoying sometimes, made the world feel alive. Here, he felt like it was just taunting him with his coffin. To think, when he’d first left the country-side, he’d hated the sounds of the city.
(Maybe that’s why Al never came back even for a visit, driven mad by the sounds of a city. Too drowned out to pick up a call)
That next morning, he found cereal from the previous occupant in the cupboard. It didn't taste like anything. It was food, at least, and he shoveled it back dry while scrolling through his phone. Romi probably would be beside him, tutting about getting enough calories and insisting he not eat it dry.
He should get off his phone. There was no time to waste. His first shift would be today, and he grimaced at his wayward schedule. Everything was built around when people had given notice they’d be returning, or leaving early, or late in the day, rather then a standard shift. It made him miss the easy 11 to 5 he worked at the vet’s office.
Sam usually lost jobs in a fit of rage. Doors slammed in his face when he showed he had a bite to match the bark; potential charges swept away because his brother sweet talked his way through another one of Sam’s frequent mistakes. Sometimes it was being late or skipping work because he was into hour who-knows-what of some bizarre cold medicine combination he’d put together. One time he’d been fired after he ignored his boss’ texts because he was on call with poison control.
Other times it was just quitting on his own terms. It should be of little surprise was that he wasn’t much of a people person. Most days he found other people exhausting.
The wrong comment or the wrong person would send him spiralling into handing in a resignation before he could even receive an official warning. Then there the inbetween’s. He’d quit the job at the vet’s, but he would have been fired anyways.
He considered bringing one of the cats to work but they were already still a bit on edge from the new place, and he doubted whoever was training him would appreciate an animal around. Not to mention the risk of the mourning beasts.
The very real possibility he would get eaten today did make him worry for them. Sam knew half the reason his brother dumped him here was because he didn’t want to deal with all the responsibility of pets. Cats lived an average of thirty years and meanwhile, his brother could probably accidentally starve a pet rock.
He just had to take all this an hour at a time.
Then there was a knock at his door. Sam shuffled over, and opened it to find the Frank kid here again. “Hi!”
“Uh, hi?”
“Boss lady said to walk you to work, also,” Frank held out a container, similar to his one from yesterday. “I still have some of my good steak left. You want some?”
Sam put his hand up, and shook his head. “I don’t really eat much meat. Not...exactly vegetarian, just usually like knowing exactly where it came from since there’s a lot of-” Sam stopped himself. Most people didn’t really care for when he started going on and on about factory farming or other related topics. The farm Sam had grown up on had been pretty humane to animals, wild considering how many other skeletons it had. But he’d been to neighbours places before. “...stuff. Sorry.”
“No problem. I like you, I’m gonna make sure the mourning beasts don’t kill you, okay?” Frank was all grin, popping open the container there and then and just eating at it with his fingers. “Or eat you. The last one got eaten alive. Bruuuuutal.”
What a lovely reminder. If only it were that easy, just telling the creatures no. “Just let me get my things and we can leave.”
“Cool!” Frank crouched down as Miss Jay cautiously approached the door. He let her sniff his hand, and seemed mildly disappointed when she recoiled. Still anxious, it seemed. They’d probably have a few adjustment days. “Oh yeah. Today is a training shift but after today I recommend bringing a book or something for between people.”
That gave Sam a pause. “...after *today*? I only get one training shift?”
Frank stood back up. “Yup! They used to do more but I think the cost of hiring and training new security guards just piled up...but. But its okay, if you need extra help you can ask me.”
“Uh, thanks...”
Book, ‘or something’ Maybe he could bring his jewellery supplies, or his art supplies. He hadn’t been able to do that even at the vet clinic. He’d instead spent his evenings and days off working on it. When Romi was home from missions they’d sit in the livingroom just making things, quietly talking.
Sam missed that.
For today, all Sam brought with him was his phone and his keys and the clothes on his back. If he only got one training shift he’d definitely have to pay full attention...make that as much attention as he was ever able to give.
As they walked to Sam’s doom, it was mostly in silence, until Frank piped up with “So what did you get arrested for?”
“Huh?”
“Every security guard lately has had a record. I want to know what I’m getting into.”
“Hmm, well, nothing special. Disorderly conduct. Disturbing the peace. The assault charge got dropped recently. Oh, and I used to get arrested at protests.”
“Sick as fuck.” Frank nodded in approval. “Wanted to make sure. I think I’ll keep you as a pet.”
“...what?”
Frank’s expression didn’t changed at all as he continued on. “Anyways, I’ll have to tell you what’s good here.”
What a strange girl. Sam though couldn’t help the little tug of a smile. Well, as a son and a brother, he’d never been wanted, but as a ‘pet’ it sure seemed like it.