Ding! Ding!

  Taylor walked in, closing the door behind her. She spotted Ever standing behind the counter, his eyes troubled.

  “Morning,” she greeted. Her cheeks rose but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.

  “Hey,” Ever said. He’d gotten a lot better at smiling in the three months he’d been back on earth. However, he too couldn’t hide the tension in his face, not with the way that Chaos had just trapped him. He could imagine the primordial being watching the two of them from the alternate plane he inhabited, relishing in their mutual anxiety.

  “Chaos said that he’s not coming in, he’s sick.”

  “Really?” Taylor said, stiffening. “He looked fine last week.”

  “Right? I think he’s allergic to the boredom of working here,” Ever joked. It wasn’t possible for a being as powerful as Chaos to get sick with a human illness. But maybe it was possible for him to get sick because doing the same thing everyday was a direct violation of his chaotic essence. He braced, waiting to see if he would be smote; nothing came. If Chaos had heard Ever, he showed no sign of being offended… however, Taylor did.

  “You think it’s boring to work here?” Her eyes flashed in anger. “Well why don’t you call in sick as well?”

  “N-no,” Ever stammered, hands up in supplication, “I didn’t mean that.”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  She pointed her finger at the door, eyes blazing. “Go, I don’t need you here.”

  Ever planted his hands on the serving bench. “No.” He levelled his gaze at her. “I can’t… I won’t go.”

  Neither one of them moved. Finally, Taylor lowered her arm.

  “Fine, stay out of my way.” She swept into the serving area past Ever, coming close to him but still not touching him. “Don’t just stand there, take the tables outside!” It was the most she’d said to him in a long time.

  Ever moved to the front, grabbed one of the tables and eyed the pulsing force field barring the door.

  *I need to put the table outside, Chaos.*

  ∞You can, Death’s Apprentice. You just won’t be able to leave the premises until you complete the favor.∞

  *And how will I know when it has been complete?*

  Chaos smiled. ∞When I decide you have.∞

  —--

  The rest of the day passed by quickly - too quickly. Ever’s apprehension grew with each hour, churning in his stomach. What didn’t help was that he still didn’t know when she was going overseas to study. Was it next week? Or was it tomorrow? The only thing that made him feel a bit better was watching Taylor flash her pretty customer service smile each time she served a customer. He knew she could see him looking at her and at this point, he didn't care.

  The second the working day ended, she grabbed her stuff and made a beeline for the door while Ever swept the floor.

  “Exam’s this week, got to study, thanks for closing up.” She reached for the door handle and pulled it open. The little hammer struck the bell but there was no happy ding. She looked up at it, brows furrowed and took a step out; the force field sucked her foot in. “What the hell?” She shrieked. “Ever! What’s going on?”

  Ever put the broom down and exhaled. Time to complete the favor.