"To be left behind by your partner is a bad feeling"
"You're cold. How about stopping by at that convenience store? Warm yourself with thick clothes," First proposed a solution to overcome my shivers from cold. He can see my every move.
We found a convenience store, 'Midnight Store' is its name. I went in there and saw a man who looked like in his late 20s at the cashier asleep while sitting at the counter. He was startled and woke up when I entered the store.
"Good evening," he greeted me with a smile while still rubbing his eyes. I smiled at him as my form of greetings.
I wandered around and grabbed food and drinks. I also got a black and thick jacket, a white t-shirt, gray gloves, a gray bonnet, and a black scarf. It's interesting because this convenience store is capacious. Aside from food and drinks that are sold, there are also clothes, shoes, office supplies, and many more. Interestingly, I can also feel tired, cold, and hungry in this virtual game just like a real person in the real world.
I went to the counter to pay. I reached into the pocket of my skirt and there was a hole in it! I mean not literally, but my pocket is empty. I briefly removed the clutch from the pocket.
"2,230, Ma'am." He had just finished scanning all my purchases.
"W-What?"
"Ma'am, all of these for 2,230," he repeated.
This is bad. I only noticed I don't even have cash with me after he scanned the items. A habit from the Earth, where almost everything has to be paid with money, but I also got used to the castle, where everything is free. I scratched my head.
"Check your pocket," I almost yelped because First startled me.
I reached into my pocket again and found a piece of paper. There's something in here. I pulled it out of my pocket and... Voila! I am holding 2 one-thousandths, 1 two hundred, 1 twenty, and 1 ten coin. Exactly 2,230!
"I bought some cash from the inventory."
This virtual game is really something and there is an inventory. After First said that he turned off the communication to save time because our communication is limited. I sat in the vacant seat and ate. After eating, I put on the white t-shirt I bought. I put on a black jacket, wrapped a black scarf around my neck, and wore a gray bonnet and gloves. The night is full of silence. People must be asleep and early sleepers in this setting. First suggested for me to take a good rest and try to adapt my body to this temperature and surroundings. And because I got bored and I was the only customer here, I talked to the cashier.
"Have you been here a long time?"
He was sleepy a while ago so this might help him not to let his guard off. He cleans tables and chairs.
"Ah, not too long. I'm a college student and this is my part-time job," he smiled shyly.
"I see. Why are you the only one watching over here?" I notice that he's the only staff member in here and no one helps him, even though I'm the only customer.
"The others slept first, dog tired."
"You too," He was asleep earlier probably because he's also tired. I feel bad for interrupting his sleep.
"It's natural for me to be sleepy. My co-workers often get angry with me because I always sleep while on duty, so I put up with it first." This guy is kind of funny.
I looked outside. The glass wall is common in convenience stores, so the outside view is visible. It's still the same except there are no more people walking outside. The parked cars are gone. Some of the streetlights are flickering. The wind is getting stronger, so the trees are dancing. The snow became heavy. I can't go out yet because the weather is not good, especially, I don't know where to go after. I sipped a hot chocolate drink.
"Why do people sleep here so early?"
I live in a busy city on Earth. Even at midnight, there are still people who seem to have no break from work. There are still vehicles, people roaming around, and stores open.
"That's really how people here. Sleep early and confining themselves."
"Does that mean there are only a few customers in this store during this time?"
"Yeah." He had just finished wiping the tables and chairs. He went back to the counter and seemed to check the money. No wonder he's sleepy. You'll get sleepy easily with this type of job.
"Of course, if you work here, you must be living near here?" I hope I don't irritate him, but this one is a vital question.
"Yes, why?"
"I just want to ask if," I paused. Nothing wrong with asking this, right? And we need information because we're in a foreign place. "Do you know the serial killer named Zarod? Or have you heard something about him?"
I just thought that maybe he had an idea about Zarod and maybe the information I will gather would help First and me to locate him. If Zarod is a famous serial killer, they must have heard of him. Or is my question too straightforward?
A face with innocent eyes, he looked at me seriously. Did I say something wrong?
He smiled, so I took a deep breath because I thought there was something wrong with what I asked.
"No. I don't know him." He replied.
He turned his gaze to what he was doing. He recounts the money in the cash register. I frowned and stared at my reflection on the glass wall.
"Because I know him very well."
I looked back at him and was surprised. The man was at the cashier earlier was already in front of me. And his face was close to mine, like ten inches away.