The shift in the world made people fall into endless pits of boredom. Everything was mundane and nothing was unique. This new rule didn't just apply to the structures or objects in the world. This applied to the people in the world as well.
Some of these physical incarnations of the mundane physically appeared to almost be carbon copies of each other. These people on top of that had very similar personalities which made them almost indistinguishable from each other.
The overlaps between these individuals made them even more comparable to each other than sometimes an identical twin.
In countless workplaces around the world during the readjustment period there were reports of coworkers observing twins appear out of nowhere in their work place. The twins were described to hold uncanny smiles and have empty tones of voices.
These doppelgangers were described to never be separated from each other. Managers in small shops around the world tried a variety of methods to separate them.
This approach always resulted in micro aggression from the twins and showcasing a strong hesitance to be apart.
These humans, if that's what they were, almost seemed to have some sort of a codependency to survive. This was yet another new situation humanity had to accept for its survival.
Ivory walked into work wearing a brand new brown top, a new pair of grey pants, and a green apron with the coffee world logo on it. She had taken a shower before work and put all of her clothes that had been dirty in the washing machine.
She really hoped that the stains would come out of her white coat.
Ivory looked around to realize the tables had been moved around to occupy a small wooden stage in the upper right hand corner of the room. She noticed on top of the wooden stage there was a wide variety of glass jars, pots, and pans.
She wondered if a band would be playing in the coffee shop today? The objects on the stage were composed of what a modern day drum set was after instruments had been removed from her world.
Ivory's gaze fell past the stage looking towards the far right and saw small two person wooden tables with artificial orange led lanterns sitting on top of them creating a cozy atmosphere.
She looked back toward where the makeshift drum set was on stage and noticed something she hadn't before. A familiar older woman in her mid sixties with pale skin and grey hair was sitting on a small red chair hidden behind a collage of miscellaneous items.
Ivory couldn't quite put her finger on who this was from afar but they were familiar. The old woman had a light blue coat, a black top, and a pair of jeans on.
The memory hit her in that moment of her neighbor Linda talking about having an interest to play in the coffee shop's Bliss performance a few weeks prior.
The Bliss performance was a fun night where customers could sign up to perform on stage in the coffee shop. The performance happened once every couple of months and usually attracted a lot of people to the shop.
She wondered if this person who sat near the drum set on stage could have been her neighbor.
Ivory stepped closer to verify her theory and she was shocked. This older woman was her neighbor. The performance really must have been today. She must have lost track of the days like many others did during this time.
Ivory steps closer catching Linda's attention, "Linda cool outfit… I'm glad you're performing today. I know it's been hard for you to get back to playing music well… after the readjustment period."
Linda smiles coyly, "It's been difficult but I survived. Somehow…"
The two share a short laugh with an awkward pause lingering in the air.
Linda gestures toward the makeshift drum set, "This isn't the type of… well instrument I want to play on. It's better than nothing I suppose."
Ivory smiles politely, "Musicians need to be able to express their soul somehow, am I right?"
Linda raises a small wooden stick in her hands, "Exactly. On that note. I really want to express myself with some tunes but I just wish the rest of my band would get here on time."
Ivory grins, "I'm sure they will show up soon. If not, I'll have to join you up there."
Linda laughs, "I'm sure you would Ivory."
She waves goodbye to her neighbor as Ivory makes her way to her usual spot at the main counter to the coffee shop.
Ivory spots Abigail stocking new bakery items in the main glass display, "Hey. What's up?"
Abigail says with a half smile, "Finally getting here on time, are we?"
Ivory shrugs, "I couldn't miss Linda's big performance."
She points to the stage.
Abigail whispers, "I can't believe your neighbor is going up to perform in this old coffee shop. She should be playing for some big band I tell ya."
Ivory gives a sad smile, "I know. You know sometimes I wish that…"
Abigail finishes her sentence almost like she had received the message telepathically, "The world didn't decide to get rid of instruments? I wish that too. Passion and creativity are what kept humanity alive for centuries. Without it, why do humans live?"
Ivory frowns, "I don't know."
Abigail frowns and smiles sympathetically, "The creator can't take away our wonderful voices, can they? Well I hope not…"
Ivory chuckles, "Let's both hope."
The night proceeds with customers rolling in. Most buy a coffee or a pastry and take their seats to discuss a wide variety of topics. The council, jobs, and whatever would allow them to feel like they had a sense of control in their lives. The band members in Linda's group she had been waiting for finally had arrived a couple of minutes earlier.
There was a man with olive skin, black hair, and a blue suit approaching one of the mics to the right on stage. I guess he must have over estimated the formality of this event.
The other band member in Linda's group began inching closer to the mic on the left. She had tan skin, blue hair, and wore a comfy white sweater and a pair of grey pajama pants which had a sheep design on them.
This person unlike Linda's other band mate must have underestimated the formality of the event but it didn't matter. The outfit looked comfy and must have been very comfortable to wear.
Nathan comes out of the break room in hurry as the performance was about to begin.
Nathan makes his way to the stage and claps his hands together, "LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR RETIRED MANIACS."
The audience roars the name and begins chanting it, "RETIRED MANIACS. RETIRED MANIACS. RETIRED MANIACS."
Nathan makes his way back to the counter to watch the show.
Ivory could hear Abigail mutter under her breath about how Nathan smelled like whiskey.
Nathan was wearing a brown shirt under his coffee world apron with a pair of jeans. His outfit was pretty similar to Ivory's except his shirt was spilled to the brim with alcohol stains.
She looked at him for a moment as he stood next to her but didn't judge him too much. How could Ivory blame the man for wanting to forget what was going on in the world?
The performance began shortly after throwing Ivory out of her thoughts.
Linda played a steady beat creating an almost entrancing experience around the shop. The older woman used two small sticks to bang lightly against pots, pans, and jars of glass that filled the room with sound.
The two other singers began using a device similar to a mic to amplify their voices and began to do some kind of an acapella performance. The song was nothing Ivory had ever heard before and she didn't know what to think of it.
The song went on for several minutes as her thoughts started to wander. Ivory in these next few minutes slowly started to be aware of every little detail around her. A terrible feeling started to rise within her. She was being watched. In the corner of her eye two men sat wearing an all black outfit blending into the night.
The two men wore black dress shirts and black pants. The way they dressed seemed familiar.
The thought struck her almost like a jab. It made sense why they looked familiar, they were dressed like those thugs she saw earlier.
Ivory gulped trying not to stare at the suspicious customers who were staring at her. The two quickly look away.
Abigail glances at the two men and whispers, "Do you know those two guys?"
Ivory glances back at her, "No… I thought I was going insane. I'm glad you noticed it too. They were staring at me. For a long time…"
Abigail pats her shoulder, "We can tell Nathan to kick them out if they continue to be creeps."
Ivory gives a small smile, "Yeah…"
The performance ended resulting in the entire coffee shop erupting in applause. The audience must have been starved for something to satiate their hunger for the fine arts.
Linda smiles widely on stage and blows a kiss towards the audience, "Thank you. Thank you. We love you all."
The rest of her band mates bowed with wide grins on their faces.
Ivory watched as the retired maniacs stepped off stage and removed their drums from the small platform. The group left the mics on stage for the next upcoming performance.
Nathan walks out of the counter once again and heads toward the stage.
Ivory thought to herself, Nathan wasn't going to sing, was he?
Nathan says with slurred speech, "We have one more… performance happening here tonight. Two identical twins who will be singing… a duet."
The two suspicious men step onto the stage approaching the mics with wide smiles on their faces. The two under the light seem to have identical blonde hair, pale skin, and blue eyes.
Nathan steps off the stage and makes his way back to his coworkers.
The two twins in the meantime spend time putting together a music stand on the wooden stage and take out a page full of lyrics to a song they were going to perform.
Abigail whispers to Nathan, "Who are these men?"
Nathan shrugs, "Just some folks who were interested in signing up for the performance earlier this week."
Abigail nudges him with curiosity, "I need details man. Who are these people? Local or are they not from around here?"
Nathan looks at her perplexed, "Why? What happened?"
Abigail shrugs, "The two were staring at Ivory for a while. I saw it. I have a bad vibe about them."
Nathan looks at Ivory, "Do you want me to kick them out?"
Ivory shrugs, "It's fine really."
Abigail frowns, "Oh well… okay then I guess."
The new performance begins as the two harmonize perfectly. The lyrics were hard to follow at first but they sounded eerily familiar.
The twins began describing Ivory's encounter with a faceless creature in the hospital and how she unlocked her ability in vivid detail.
The suspicious twins say in unison, "The young lady was chosen by Demeter herself. The snow that blasted from her hands was a power the world could not yet see. The tall monsters that lacked a congruent physical appearance would snatch her as she was weak if they spotted the mark of the sun. The world would burn her just like her father."
Ivory felt her heart race. This couldn't just be a story right? The echoes of the song hit her soul. How could these men know about her father and what abilities she had?
The twins finished their songs with the last line hanging in the air, "The heiress of ice will die in the snow that's casted from her own two hands or she will live long enough for every one else to die by her touch."
The audience erupted in applause as the twins stepped off stage gazing at her once again. The smiles on their faces were wide for two people who performed such a sinister song.
Ivory felt her stomach start to be sick. The memory of her father being burned to ash right in front of her flashed in her mind. She wanted to vomit.
Abigail noticed how unwell her friend looked right away, "Hey… Ivory you don't look too well. How about I take you home huh?"
Nathan forces a smile after listening in to the two girls conversation, "I'll close up shop you two. Don't worry. Quotas can wait sometimes. Well I suppose if I lie for you two."
Abigail clasps him on the shoulder, "I knew you were at least a little bit cool man."
Ivory and Abigail quickly walk out of the doors as a line of hungry customers approaches Nathan.
The outside weather felt refreshing as the wind blew against her face. Ivory felt a tiny bit better.
Abigail squeezes her hand, "Hey. You alright?"
Ivory smiles weakly, "I'm fine. Let me just get home and…"
Abigail with apprehension says, "Shit."
Ivory slowly turned around to see the two twins smiling at her while exiting the coffee shop. There was an odd look in their eyes as two of them got in a sprinting position like they were athletes at the start of an 100 meter race. Her instincts screamed at her to run.
Abigail glances at the twins and back at her, "We need to get the fuck out of here."
The two began running as their pursuers matched their pace slowly catching up to them.
Abigail says out of breath, "Ivory. I don't know how much longer I can run like this."
Ivory grits her teeth, "I know just try to hold on. I'm barely holding on as well."
The two slowed down and were both out of breath shortly after.
Abigail laughs, "I thought we were supposed to keep going."
She holds the right side of her stomach, "Fuck not funny. I have a bad runner's stitch."
Ivory gasps for air.
The two pursuers were not far behind them and they could reach them at any moment.
In the blink of an eye almost like a miracle a silver limousine speeds past them and stops in front of them.
The passenger side window rolls down slightly revealing an old woman with red hair and brown skin with a stern look on her face.
She had a scar trailing down both sides of her mouth and a gaze that struck fear into the young woman.
The mysterious savior rolls her eyes with annoyance, "Please get in you two. I don't want to waste any more of my time than I already have."