Dysis' Will; Part 1/2

For Dysis, both her city and country had lost its shine years ago. Most people told her that it was a part of growing up, but she had always felt otherwise. The world had faded in her eyes.

After coming to this realisation Dysis had become bound to her pills. They were all that could keep her heart from bursting out of her chest.

How did it come to this?

She had never been weak though year by year she could feel her strength waning. She was only twenty-two.

“Find yourself a quiet establishment to earn something over the Christmas break if you must. I wouldn’t advise you to work at all if you could. But it’s your choice.” She had been told.

She was old enough to remember the tail-end of the golden era. Everything that came before the decade of her childhood was now a pleasant fading memory that seemed foreign even to her. It was no wonder, however, that the peeling yellow halls of her old school, or the roller-skate rink, or the mall, gave her such comfort when others in her place would only feel dread from something so rotten and yet so familiar. There was once solitude to be found in those homely walls, when her world was smaller and everything else was a nebulous mystery.

Now she was here. The register was the only antique in the store. The café itself was a sterile box of blue, white, and green, with chrome ornamentation that smelled like bleach. The median age of its customers was probably twenty-five, despite the owner’s ancient origins (he had watched the millennium countdown on a CRT television). Solomon and Dysis would talk on the ‘good old days’, though their nearly twenty-year age gap restricted the range of their discourse.

“I remember my parents talking about Ceausescu." He claimed, "I was more interested in the next issue my local comic broker was too cheap to part with.”

The last thing I want is to inherit this place from him.

Dysis would take what was given to her. Perhaps the medication made her more compliant but she liked to think she could pair pragmatism with grace. If there was a higher power, she was confident that in a year’s time she would return to college.

Maybe.

Probably a new place. She could still remember the faces reacting to her collapse. This time it would be different. A year or two left in her course anyway, and it was not like her degree was a stressful specialisation to have. Then…

We’ll see. There’re a surprising number of positions for civil engineers if you know where to look.

As long as civilisation was around, they’d be needed. There was hope for the future still. But for now…

“Order for Luna…!”

…she was here. Uneventful, but peaceful. For now, Dysis would live… in the now.

Then he came in. Shaved head, chestnut skin, piercing eyes, a silvering stubble and an open chest. It was freezing outside. He absorbed the room like a drink; everything his gaze landed on seemed to amaze and inspire, but that was his look, as when his turn came at the counter that same icy blue seemed to cut right through Dysis.

“One coffee with cream, if you would.”

He paid in cash. His was an athletic build, and his arms, exposed to the elbow, seemed to ripple with power as if fat never knew him. He wasn’t old, but neither young. He was in his prime.

“What name should I call out?”

“William. Call me Will.”

I won’t.

Dysis asked her male colleague to take over the register so she could turn her back to those eyes while she prepared his order. It wouldn’t be the first time a silent ‘admirer’ attended their store.

The sooner his order is ready and he leaves, the better.

And now it was ready. Dysis called out to William, and he looked over from one of the pictures on the wall. Dysis averted her eyes in response, holding the cup by the tips of her fingers so as to not brush his hand in the exchange.

Just take it and go, please.

She saw him grab the coffee by the tips of his own fingers, withdraw it for a second or two, until the unstable grip let it fall to the floor in a hot brown spill.

“Oh… sorry about that.”

“That’s okay…” Cal was quick to leave his post by the register and go for the mop and bucket on wheels standing in the corner. “We’ll get you another one, coffee with cream, right?”

“No. Make it a black coffee.”

“Could you prepare it for him, Dysis?”

She flinched, and noticed how William responded to both her name and her reaction to its reveal.

Why did you have to be so careless, Cal?

But she turned away and prepared the new order.

It’s just black coffee. He’ll be gone sooner.

The minute-long preparation, from scratch, still felt like an hour with William watching nearby. Dysis still avoided his eyes.

It’s ready, thank God…

“Here you go. On the house.”

He laughed at that; a dry, crackly laugh, “Thank you, dear.”

This time he took the coffee with both hands, and his finger felt like a burn against one of her own.

What the fuck…?

He didn’t seem to notice her recoil, but nodded cordially to Cal who had finished cleaning the floor stain and was walking back behind the counter. Dysis wouldn’t be sure afterward, but out of the corner of her eye she would swear that William had lifted the cup to his lips, only to let it fall to the floor, once again, following a dramatic pause.

“Oh, dang it… sorry about that.”

“Why’d you do that?”

She only heard the words after they had already escaped her mouth. By then it was too late. Cal was quiet.

“You know how hands are, dear. Truly sorry about all of this.”

“Don’t call me that. C-can you…”

Fuck…

“Can you please leave the store?”

“It’s no big deal, Dysis.” Cal was reaching for the mop again, “I’ll take it out of my pay if I have to. Can we get you something else?”

“Just one of those cakes, if you would. They won’t spill, now, will they?”

He opened his mouth in a coral grin, and Dysis looked away. She could feel the effects of her pill wearing off.

Why does it have to be now?

Whatever his deal was, he was delaying his departure from the store. If he was a creep, he might have said something by now to either her or Cal. But he hadn’t.

What does he want…?

“Just the vanilla cream, thanks.”

As if he’s reading my mind.

Dysis fumbled with the cake knife as she cut him a slice. The smallest she could manage.

Fuck you to hell.

She placed it in a cardboard box, as per store protocol. If she could, she would have thrown it in his hands with no napkin.

I won’t give him a napkin. He chose the messiest, creamiest one, now let him deal with it.

Free of charge, again, William received his order. Cal shuffled back to the register.

“Thank you, Dysis. And you too, young man.”

Finally. Just leave.

William turned around and headed for the doors, already opening the box, gingerly taking the slice out between his two fingers. He took a single bite, then in an instant tossed the cake against the wall in a splatter of cream.

“What the fuck?!!” Cal came around the counter, “What the hell's wrong with you—?”

“Oh, don’t pretend, young man.”

“What…?”

“Let’s have some fun. All three of us,” those eyes had changed as they looked again in Dysis’ direction. She couldn’t say what it was, but it made the skin on her neck shiver as if the room had gone cold.

This… isn’t right. Whatever this is.

She knew it. And her heart was pounding out of her chest.

“I-I don’t… I’m calling my manager.” Cal stepped away.

“Oh, do that. More people to play with.”

“Can you stop—?”

“Why? Hurting your feelings?”

“Enough. Dysis, call the police.”

She thought she would hesitate, instead her limbs just felt leaden. She used her own phone. William, meanwhile, calmly waited by the entrance, watching and listening to her speak to the one on the other end of the line.

“This is your last chance to leave, you know?” Cal rolled his shoulders back.

“That’s okay. I’ll stay awhile.”

Cal stood where he was, in front of the counter, while the minutes passed between Dysis’ phone call and the cops’ arrival. William even let him turn the sign to indicate the store’s closure. He hardly seemed to look in Dysis’ direction, though she couldn’t be sure with her own eyes glued to the floor. When two policemen walked through the doors it had only been five minutes.

I’d wager it had been an hour.

They had been five minutes of silence.

No sooner had they entered that Cal was trying his best again, “This is him. He’s the one. There’s the stain there on the wall. We have camera footage of his antics from before.”

Not a moment passed that William responded.

“It’s all true, officers. I confess. And the evidence is on the wall. That was me.”

Both of the cops were paunchy. One black, the other white. Each sleep deprived.

“Have you asked him to leave the store?” The former’s voice crackled like gravel.

“We have.”

“But I won't.” William glanced at Dysis. The setting sun reflected off his eyes in a momentary glint of fire. She felt her frame weaken.

What is this?

It was gone as soon as he looked away.

“No, I’d like to stay awhile, officers. And you should too.”

“Sir, we won’t ask you again,” the white cop was already reaching for what must have been cuffs on his hip, “Please leave the store, else we’ll have to escort you out.”

“Like I said, I’d like to stay awhile—”

“And we won’t.” The white cop took a step forward, and Dysis noted his tag as ‘Ranger’. “Step out of the store, now, or we’ll have to take you into custody.”

“It’s been a long day, don’t make it harder than it is.” The black cop had also placed his hand at the ready.

William was nodding, glancing at Cal from head to toe. The latter took a step back.

“Nah, I’ll stay.”

The parking lot outside was now bathed in gold, and empty save for a few cars including the cops.

It might have even been a nice day…

“Alright. Turn around.”

Ranger must have taken a step forward; else William would not have reached him. Even so, both speed and strength were made spectacle as the cop was pushed through the glass doors, the police car’s windshield, and out the vehicle’s back window, now resting on the trunk.

“What the he—”

“Don’t say that word, officer.”

He’s not even breathless.

The rippling forearms had become knotted strands of muscular tension in the instant that Ranger had been launched through the doors of the café, and now the chestnut skin looked warm with perspiration, painfully tensing and relaxing. But the customer was calm. Those coral teeth were visible once again.

“Sir… t-turn around and get on the floor. D-do it now.”

Parke, as Dysis read on his breast, had revealed his firearm.

“P-p-please? D-d-d-do it now?” William made a step in Parke’s direction.

Next, Dysis’ ears were ringing, and William’s hand was clutching the barrel. Turned inches to the side, the gun had fired straight through the customer’s grip, chipping a corner of the wall that sided with the counter.

She heard Cal mutter ‘fuck…’, and in a flurry of skill William had disarmed Parke and tossed him against the same chipped wall. The next thing she knew, Dysis was cowering behind the counter. She heard Parke’s faint crackly groans from somewhere in the store.

“RANGERRRR…!!”

A mug smashed next to Dysis, and Cal’s hand stopped her from screaming. She wanted to believe its fall was a coincidence and not a result of William’s bellows.

I feel my heart falter every time he opens his mouth…

“CALL YOUR FRIENDS NOWWWW…!! I’M HUNGRY FOR MORE...!!"

“Fuck’s sake…” Cal was looking around with frantic breaths, “Where’s the… fuck, I can’t remember where the fire extinguisher is.”

Dysis pushed his hand away, “How’s that going to help?”

“W-well, Dysis, we have to do something—”

“How’s that going to help, Cal?” She winced after she’d said it; her heart was thumping, “Don’t tell me you didn’t see what he just did? How’s blowing him away going to do anything?”

“You want to stay here?” His breaths were quickening.

He’s more afraid than I am.

“We can’t be heroes, now. You have to understand that.”

“He’s going to hurt you and I if we don’t move—”

“He only hurt those cops after they made a move.” She half-expected him to pull away when she caught his hand, but Cal stayed where he was, “You need to calm down…”

And I need to, as well.

It was becoming hard to see clearly.

“We need the extinguisher as a last resort, Dysis. He said he wanted to ‘play’, the fucker. If we try to leave, he might do something to make us stay. He’s calling for more cops, for fuck’s sake.”

“If we’re going to make a run for it, we’ll take it. But I’m not telling you where it is, yet. We need to…”

God, I can’t take it…

“We need to stay calm, Cal.”

“I’m trying to be pragmatic.” He made to stand up. Dysis pulled him back down.

“Stop it.” Whether with the intent of catching Cal’s attention or by instinct alone, Dysis grabbed at her heart with her free hand, “Just wait a second. Help me calm down.”

He knew about her condition, so no explanation was needed as she felt his own hand relax in her grip and the two of them leaned against the counter wall.

Where’s Solomon?

Only now did Dysis notice their manager’s absence, though she quickly dismissed it. For now, she needed to cease her rising blood pressure, and that meant waiting it out.

“Don’t run off now!”

Dysis assumed that Will was addressing her and Cal.

“I’ve got my eye on the back door, you know. Wait awhile.”

It’s all I can do right now.

Cal was patient enough, but out of the corner of her eye she saw him continue looking around. With the best intentions. Dysis, meanwhile, watched the light change on the tiled surface of the back wall as the sun continued to set behind them. Every day she’d be blinded by its glare. It all seemed so silly; its glow was a comfort now. Yet despite this feeling of respite, the prospect of darkness brought on a dread that Dysis could not explain. Their situation would not change, she knew, and yet the thought of William still in the dark there with them…

She could hear him walking around behind the counter, making no effort to check on them so long as he knew they were still in their place. Parke’s groans were unbearable as Dysis heard him slowly crawling along the floor in his uniform. He must have displaced his gun while in flight, else the store would have opened fire. Not long after this thought, Dysis heard something clatter along the floor as William, more than likely, kicked the firearm out of Parke’s feasible reach.

Just focus on your heart and your breathing.

The minutes passed by, wasted, and she waited for an end to the pain. Cal stroked her hand with his thumb, then stopped.

William’s breaths grew heavy as sirens were heard in the distance, and glass clinked on the floor as he approached the now shattered doors. Soon, tires were heard on the tarmac of what must have been a large vehicle, before some dozen pairs of boots leapt out and their wearers cocked whatever firearms they wielded.

“Now this is great! You called the heavy artillery, didn’t you, Ranger?”

“Do you think it’s SWAT?” Cal’s voice had lowered to a whisper.

I don’t know what to think anymore.

What William had displayed was not human, and a residual burn could still be felt where his hand had brushed Dysis’. Perhaps an overwhelming force could hinder him, even stop him.

Stop fantasising.

He was strong, built like an engine. But his hand had bled after Parke had fired through it. He was not invincible. Whoever it was out there, then, should see to the end of this fiasco.

Why couldn’t he just leave…?

“Raise your hands slowly, and exit the building.”

Glass crackled as William seemed to take another step.

“So blunt. These fellows, here, were more verbose. Help out your soldier there, soldier.”

“Raise your hands, and exit the building now. We won’t ask a third time.”

Dysis heard some boots, shuffles, and a groan from Ranger as he was removed from the police car. It sounded like he could barely drag his feet along the ground.

“That’s good. Now, I’m walking out.”

Cal whispered ‘finally’.

This seems too easy.

Glass kept crackling and William’s footsteps receded. Cal, still clutching Dysis’ hand, was already moving to his feet.

“It’s under the second register. The fire extinguisher.”

He looked to Dysis, then behind him where she said it was located.

“Get it now, Cal.”

“It’s over, Dysis. I think, at least.”

“Get it now—”

A SWAT officer slammed against the tiled back wall and fell at their feet. Gunfire and gesticulations erupted behind them, and Dysis could hear glass and other debris shattering.

“Get it now, Cal!!”

Like lightning he pulled it out from the counter cupboard. He pulled its trigger.

Foam spouted from its nozzle, splattering over Dysis and the counter, and she felt Cal tug at her arm, pushing her towards the back door.

He wasn’t meant to turn it on yet.

Maybe they should have waited, she hadn’t even seen what was happening out in the parking lot. Then the corridor wall behind the door rushed in her face as she felt a great impact against her back, and Cal shout out in pain. She was on the floor, a rifle scattered past her with a strap, which someone yanked on and away before plaster rained down from the ceiling. Her ears stung.

Dysis heard Cal’s muffled shouts and another man’s scream, before she was pulled back onto her feet and pushed down the hallway. Her hearing returned as she was directed into the storage room, and she briefly saw Cal’s wounded face over her shoulder. It jolted to the side in a slam, and Dysis felt herself launch forwards. The floor cracked her nose and lip.

Help…

She saw the back door leading outside. She started to crawl, then felt her ankles burn in an iron grip.

“You’re not leaving yet, remember?”

Dysis heard herself scream as she was pulled away from the door and lifted onto her feet. William’s burning eyes and pulsing face were before her.

“I told them to call some more friends. This one was a better challenge, but the fight continues.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?!”

Dysis struggled to escape but was pushed back to her place.

“Quiet now. Your own friend’s already hurt bad. You’re stronger than he is, though. But you both shouldn’t have run.”

Now she was hoisted over his shoulder, and her heart was racing again.

Beat him.

But she couldn’t. Between his burning grip and the agony in her chest she couldn’t do a thing.

“WHY DIDN’T YOU JUST LEAVE…?! WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT…?!"

“Hush.”

Dysis was laid down on one of the corner couches in the eating area, and William took a step back. The sunset was red that day, and it highlighted him in a sinister light.

“You’re missing out on the greatest potential a human body can reach. Apex performance unmatched by any man of war that ever came before. If you don’t want to play, then just wait and watch. But don’t cower and hide your eyes. That’s not how you get through these things.”

“WHAT THINGS?!” She pressed herself into the wall behind her. She didn’t notice her heart anymore, “JUST LET ME GO, I DON’T NEED TO BE HERE!!”

“Oh, but you do, Dysis. Perhaps it was chance that brought us together, but now you are here. And you need the strength to sit it out.”

Why…?

William turned around. His eyes still raged, though they had grown quieter.

“Don’t cower and hide. Sit through this, and watch. Learn, if you will. All that is great and terrible culminates here and now.”

“What are you talking about…?”

But he was already turning away, stepping past Parke who was still inching his way across the floor. William walked out to the carpark and breathed in the evening air.

Where’s Solomon?

Dysis hadn’t the time to check his office when escaping through the back hallway with Cal, but even then, their owner and manager hadn’t shown up.

Has he fled and left us here?

Even if he was hiding, it was a far cry from the character he boasted of. By now, he would have alerted an authority of what was happening, and yet every man that arrived was summoned by the last.

Solomon would not be coming to save them. And Cal… Will had said that he was hurt.

He would have come for her by now. Like Solomon, he was either gone or hiding. Nobody here yet had been hurt enough to stop moving. The SWAT soldiers wounded in the café were each struggling on the floor, however faintly. If Dysis didn’t want to end up like them, she would have to escape, but that had already been tried, and it failed.

Why should I learn something from this psycho?

She recalled the pain in her chest, and so it returned. Dysis had been comfortable enough when all she could focus on was Will, but to the status quo would she fall again. She couldn’t run, she couldn’t fight, all she could do was watch.

“Fuck…”

There wasn’t anything to learn here. She wouldn’t learn from whomever, or whatever, Will was. She refused to.

By the time the sun lit the horizon’s skyline in red the military had arrived. Dysis could hardly register the moment’s portent, or the very fact that the army was on the doorstep of her place of work. Solomon might have made a clever remark on the scene, once upon a time.

As before, William greeted the armed men in the blasted doors of the store, the lot filling up with the cop car, the armoured SWAT vehicles, and the new camo trucks. These were hard men, iron-eyed and stock-footed. If the heavy police posed a slight challenge to William, these would not tolerate any humour in taking him down. But even then, the doubt and its dread creeped to the surface.

This isn’t going to end.

The realisation hit like a truck, and Dysis’ heart palpitated. She keeled over and slid to the floor from the couch, resting on all fours while trying to catch her breath. She couldn’t look at what was to unfurl again.

“Don’t cower and hide. Sit through this, and watch. Learn, if you will.”, he had said.

There wasn’t truth in those words. She wouldn’t believe it. And yet, nothing had changed when she cowered before. At least now, she had a chance at seeing something else – William’s takedown.

But her heart would stop if she did. She knew it would.

How do I really know?

“What if it didn’t…?”

Whether by William’s words, curiosity, stupidity, Dysis looked up towards the carpark, and watched.

(End of Part 1)