Loki and that Blonde Guy with a Hammer
Chapter 2
The two women got off of the Link Light Rail in the International District and walked to Uwajimaya in search of dramas and food. They entered from the rear of the store, directly into the bookstore section and browsed their way to the tv and movie section.
“So...Does Rum have any Coke in her glass?”
“Oh my God, that is so lame. Is that your way of asking if I'm seeing anyone?”
Larissa shrugged. “Come on, you haven't dated anyone in the five years I've known you. Isn't it about time?”
Rum ignored her, spying one of her favorite dramas sitting on the shelf – Marry Me, Mary. Larissa grabbed the box from her and slammed it back in the shelf. “I'm serious. You're pretty and smart and sarcastic as fuck. Anyone would be lucky to have you.”
“Yourself included?” Rum gave her a leer and suggestive eyebrow wiggle.
“Not that I wouldn't love that, but I'm serious. I know you don't go for girls, so what's the hold up?”
“L, if I roll my eyes any more, I'm afraid they'll get stuck back there. You know why. I'm not going to start a relationship with someone I don't like to make everyone else feel better and then get guilted into having sex with some asshole I have no future with.”
“Are you talking about that whole peanut butter thing again?”
“Peanut- what? Larissa, where do you come up with this crap?”
Larissa shrugged. “I dunno. You know my memory isn't that great.”
“Yes. It's because I'm ace.”
Larissa looked like she was going to be sick. “So, because of this whole ace thing, you're never going to be in a relationship or have sex?”
“I'm not saying that!” Rum rubbed her hands over her face, exasperated, frustrated. “I'm a grey ace. If there isn't a connection, I could never feel attraction for them. Without being attracted to someone, what's the point of having sex? I've done that before and we know how that ended.”
Larissa got quiet, nodding along as she recalled the story. “Nevermind...Lets go to the food court.”
After sharing a gigantic bowl of ramen, the girls loaded up with sushi, milk coffee, and mochi ice creams. Carrying their haul back down to the Light Rail station, they said their goodbyes.“Bye L!” called Rum as she ran up the steps.
“See ya, Elle!!” Larissa shouted back, throwing her a kiss.
She finished walking up the steps, shaking her head. What a nut.
The Freemont Troll.
Rum was startled and looked back over the rail behind her. She could have sworn a large figure had passed by in the corner of her eye – something impossibly large.
A shiver ran up her spine and her hold body shook with it. She could feel the hairs on her arms standing on edge as she went completely cold. She couldn't help the shaking now – it was like standing in a blizzard without a coat on – she couldn't get warm. Rum could feel her breathing speed up, fueled by panic, but what was she so worried about?
Suddenly she realized she could actually see her breath. See your breath in the middle of summer?
The minute the train pulled up, she jumped on, releaved to be within its confines. Was she so unused to Seattle that just being in the city at night scared her so? That wouldn't explain the sudden chill.
Whatever it was, she decided to leave it behind. She was in the train and that was that. The doors closed and the car jerked forward, carrying on at a lively pace. On a straightaway, the car jerked once more.
The lights flickered.
She thought she saw something in the distance...but no, it couldn't be. Sleep deprivation was making her imagine things!
She gasped as the figure was brought into focus, as if she had just decided to put on her contacts. It was...her mind couldn't even wrap around what she saw. Was it a troll? Some kind of homunculus?
The lights went off as the car suddenly jerked to a stop. Rum managed to catch herself, but a young woman and her child went careening forward. What was a child doing up at this hour?!
A distant rumble could be heard and lights around the city began to sputter and die. Was part of that building missing?
Rum turned and asked if the woman and her child were alright. She put her score down and helped them up onto a seat. The car shook and veered to the left before righting again.
Rum's heart was beating like a hammer, fear clogging her throat. “If this is a dream, I'd like to wake up now,” she whispered as she slowly turned to the rear of the car, afraid of what she may or may not see next.