Chapter Text
Date: 10/18/xx
The sounds of the city are loud and obnoxious to all who aren’t used to dwelling among it. Echo is part of that group. She didn’t often move to cities because of the chaotic energy inside an active town. But she couldn’t stay back in her old place. A rural town that had a store nearby and a small shopping district.
Plus, it’s cold. Stupidly cold and she’s shivering with no gloves on hand. She still regrets having to move during the month that fall starts to settle in more. Curse that damn circus and police. They started to sniff closer to her hideout (both parties), and she made a rash decision to leave her only home. The only things on her back were spare money, driver license ID, a couple of outfits, and her music box.
The music box isn’t an option to leave behind. One, they would find it and believe she’s alive. Two, is that it is her only memory of Columbina. Her dear close friend she misses every single day. A guilty pang hits her heart, and she sighs heavily. Her hands move to touch her chest—only to make her pause at the heavy weight.
Right. She was carrying everything on her person. She hasn’t found a safe place to hide it. Only because she finally made the decision to find work and make money. Echo could easily defend herself if she hides on the streets, but cities tend to be more… harsher in ways. Plus, the risks pile up at being found.
The Freak Circus of Horrors always tends to target any kind of place. But cities were mostly a big hit because of how many people there are. Less suspicions to accuse the circus if the city is already known for people to go missing. However, this time, Echo is determined to find a place to settle. She’s getting a little tired of always being on the run.
It’s mentally and physically draining.
Especially if hiring places have been rejecting her. She’s stopped at several places with no succession because of her looks and background most likely. She didn’t really dive deeper into the whole “legal system” and “criminal background checks.” Too troublesome. Now it’s literally biting her in the ass.
She decides to take a break from the winter’s bite. Spotting a nearby place, she speedwalks and steps inside a convenience store with cheap drinks and food. She’ll have a little snack and quench her thirst. The blast of warmth is refreshing on her skin. Echo explores the isles, not paying attention to her surroundings, so it’s understandable to flinch at an unexpected touch.
Her head whips to face the offender, a snarl on her lips when she realizes it's a man. He backs off immediately as she glared—his hands in a mocking surrender.
“Whoa, chill out,” he breathes, eyes glancing down to her bag. He wore a uniform, a nametag Teddy on the pocket shirt. “But we don’t allow backpacks that size inside the store.”
Teddy stares at her and she stares back. He continues his small speech at her silence, “Either leave it somewhere else or I have to hold onto it.“
Echo huffs, she wasn’t going to steal anything. Not wanting to stir more trouble she avoids his entire person and leaves. Completely ignoring his shocked noise at her just leaving.
Her chill mood sours at having to take more of this coldness. Echo mumbles curses in her mind space, faintly more aware of her surroundings now. She hauls the cursed bag with her for some time before reaching an area that looks rundown in some spots. There is considerably less city noise here, but just as many people. Cracks are in the pavement and building walls.
Her eyes observe a cafe and it looks decent in her advanced eye sight. A stronger urge to get something warm gets stronger, so she makes way towards it. Pushing the door open, a small bell chimes her entrance with the sound of small talk invading her sensitive ears. Once again the warm air soothes her cold body.
Echo spots two workers, a dark brown lady with brown curls, and the second one with their simple collared shirt, apron, and black jeans. The one with a collared shirt perks up at her approaching the cash register. Echo takes the printed menu on the counter, looking it over. She doesn’t notice the brief look the two workers share.
Her options weren’t too limited. She spots her go—to coffee choice! Despite it being cold, she picks it out, and decides to get a dark chocolate cake pop with it. Tapping the counter with the menu, she points at her two choices. The worker, whose name is M/C from the tag, rings up the items. They give her a warm smile.
”That’ll be $5.38 please!” they request, taking the money Echo hands in exact cash.
Echo feels a bit uneasy by their easy friendly attitude, but she nods when they point to the tables. “Your order will be ready in a few minutes! Feel free to take a seat.”
Echo didn't realize how tired she was until she finally sat down. Her feet ached from walking straight for weeks—only resting for small periods during her travels. She hums mutely, setting her bag in front of her legs while she tucked herself in the corner of the cafe. The air’s warmness feels nice and Echo allows herself to relax just a smidge.
She ignores the curious stares from other mingling customers. Opting to mess with her hair while people watching the windows. Faintly, she can see her reflection on the glass windows. Oh. That would explain why she kept getting looks or rejected. Dirt is smudged all over her person, her hair a tangled mess, and eye bags that should be charged with insomnia.
”How messy… this is why I need a human house,” she thinks to herself, a small pout on her lips.
If only she could find somewhere and get the income. She’s had years to memorize human behavior and how their strange society works.
“One iced mocha and a dark chocolate cake pop,” the one with brown hair greets, setting down her items on the table.
Her expression is polite, bubbly even. Echo moves back a little before nodding once in thanks. She could never get used to humans who reek of kindness and happiness. Echo likes them, but she could never trust them based on kindness alone.
Humans are too good at masking their true intentions.
The bubbly woman skips off, bringing orders to other customers with a prep in her step. Moving on, she takes the drink, enjoying its taste and the feeling of coldness. The cake pop goes with the drink deliciously. Echo enjoys her sweet treats slowly, content to rest for a while before getting back out.
Afternoon quickly bleeds into evening, the cold getting worse the city as it gets quieter but still busy as ever. Echo decided to stay inside a while longer after her treats were finished. Just to quietly gather her thoughts, hands twirling her bangs unconsciously.
”I wonder what I will do. I’ve only just arrived and I don’t know this place,” her mind races, thinking hard for solutions. ”Perhaps I’ll have better luck in a smaller town again. The city was clearly a bad idea.”
She sighs, finally getting up and gathering her bag to bring over her shoulder. The two employees bid her farewell with a “Have a good evening!” as she waves them goodbye with a small smile. It was a decent treat after all. Echo leaves the cafe behind, the bell ringing behind her, and she follows the cracked sidewalks to find a decent hiding place. Surely this rundown area has some.
Step.
Echo stills. She quickly glances behind her shoulder, seeing a figure hide away just at the last second. Her ears strain to listen carefully, and is rewarded with more footsteps coming closer. Securing her bag tighter, her eyes glare at the spot she knows they’re hiding behind.
”Kill them,” an old voice she hates speaks up.
Purple eyes flash in her vision with a wicked smile.
Clenching her teeth, Echo turns and sprints down the sidewalk. The footsteps follow behind her, a startled cry at her sudden sprinting. Suspiciously, the streets get more and more thinned out from the crowd. Her feet ache as she stomps down the sidewalk to escape the group of pursers.
Honestly, she hasn’t eaten recently.. Well a few days ago when a lone human approached her while she was unconscious. They were soon devoured by her. The crowds narrowing were in her favor, but she honestly didn’t feel like hunting right now. Echo would rather be asleep right now, curled up with the music box, and sleeping away in the dark in her true form.
“STOPP!!” the people behind her yelled, sounding awfully familiar..
They cut her out from her thoughts and she turns her head while running. Her mind blanks when it's the brown haired employee from earlier. She didn’t catch her name either, too distracted by the bubbly personality. But surprisingly, M/C is also trailing right behind her.
Stunned, Echo skids to a stop, whipping around to face the employee closest to her who slows down considerably. The woman stops completely, leaning forward to bend and hold her knees. M/C has stopped as well and both employees are panting out of breath.
“You- pant you sure run fast,” the woman spoke up first, her curls sliding back when she raised back up again.
Echo gives her a curious, pointed look. What was she doing by following her? Although before she can answer, M/C smacks the back of her head lightly.
”OW!” the woman yelps, looking at M/C offended while they deadpanned at her.
They cross their arms and huff at her. “Carol, why did you leave the cafe so abruptly? Why are you stalking this poor woman?” Their tone makes it clear they weren’t impressed by her brash actions.
Carol, who stares at M/C, has the expression of a fish with her mouth opening and closing. She gestures to Echo before making a high-pitched noise—making Echo cringe and M/C look more unimpressed.
“But look at her! I just wanted to ask if she wanted to clean up her face in the bathroom!” Carol explains, gesturing to Echo in a frantic motion, and that oddly makes Echo feel dirty..
It’s not that bad, right?
M/C sighs, uncrossing their arms and running their hands down their face. They give Carol a pointed look, peeking through their fingers. Echo watches the two, noting how they don’t give her attention anymore as they begin to quietly bicker with each other. Taking that opportunity, she begins to slowly walk backwards.
She didn’t think Carol would be.. that interested. Who would be so curious to follow a stranger like a stalker?! Someone not in their right mind in her opinion. She thought humans were more cautious. Once at a far distance, the two still too distracted with their arguments, she slips away.
Echo hears bits and pieces as she walks further away, but ignores it completely. It’s not like she would meet those two again. She decided to leave this city and move on to a different place. Too focused on her thoughts of escaping, she failed to remember there were more than two footsteps.
This time it would be the one with bad intentions this time. Where her thoughts on humanity being absolute scum is proven once again. A hand shoots out to grab her and place a hand over her mouth. Her brain is too slow to process what just happened.
”Hand over the bag,” a voice speaks out.
Meanwhile…
”Hey where did she go?” Carol noticed, not seeing the strange lady standing in place like moments before. M/C facepalms.