Chapter 424 - Day MDCCCXLIX, Part II

- Close, but no. I'm Peter.

- H-hi - confusion was painted all over her face.

- You are probably wondering who is this handsome fellow who just transformed from a crow...

- I know you... I've seen you on TV. You are one of the people from that portal, aren't you?

- Wow, you know how to ruin an awesome introduction, don't you?

A smile crawled on her face, and she did her best to hide it by biting her lips.

- What are you doing here? - she asked when she finally regained control over her facial expression.

- Well, I had some free time after my hooker left me, so I flew around the city, and eventually noticed you on the roof. At first, I thought you are trying to jump down, but then you pulled your phone. Anyway... I got curious, so I followed you around.

- Are you some kind of creep? - she asked, while disgust started showing on her face.

- What? Look at me. I'm handsome. Creeps are not handsome, so no, I'm not a creep.

- That's not how it works - she argued. - And your handsomeness is debatable.

- What?! How dare you?!

She chuckled, hiding her mouth with a hand, stuck in the sleeve of her oversized hoodie.

- Ok, you are kinda funny, but... Why did you follow me?

- Couse you seem to be homeless, and I wanted to know why. You are quite young, aren't you?

- I'm twenty-one - she said confidently.

- Pffff, and I'm Brad Pit.

- Shut up!

- Or what?

- Or... What do you want from me? I'll scream if you come any closer.

I nodded, puffing my lips, and made myself a simple throne out of the void essence, just behind me, and sat on it. Her eyes went wide.

- How about we try again. This time with a bit less bullshit. How old are you?

- What do you want to know that? Can't you leave me alone?

- Can you answer my question?

- I'm fifteen, happy now?!

- Where the hell are your parents?

- Why do you care? Are you writing a book or something? - she was clearly pissed off at me.

I pulled my notebook from the vault.

- Actually, I am, but I don't have the title yet. It's a great story since it's about me.

I opened it while crossing my legs, and put it on my lap. Then I pulled out a pen from the vault and pretended to start writing.

- You are crazy - she said.

I didn't answer, which led to a moment of silence between us. She eventually tried to peak at the journal, but it was too dark to see anything that was written on the pages. She gave up quickly.

- H-how it is... Out there, on the other side? - she asked eventually.

- Dunno, never been dead.

- That's not what I meant. I meant the portal.

- I know. I'm just fucking with you. It's scary. It's tough. It's dirty... Overall horrible. But also beautiful, amazing, happy, and overall great.

- That doesn't make any sense...

- For you - I said, and closed the notebook, to throw it away to the vault, alongside the pen. - For me, on the other hand, it makes perfect sense.

- Then explain - she said and crossed her hands on her chest.

- How about instead we play a game? A game where we both can get what we want.

- A game? Like what?

I clearly picked her interest.

- Truth or dare. You know how it works, don't you?

- Obviously.

- Awesome. You can start.

- Ok... I pick truth. How is it in that world? And no bullshit this time.

- I didn't tell you any bullshit. It is just as I said. It used to be hell with people starving, and fighting over some shit. Rape and murder. Sometimes it still is. It also is beautiful because you can change. You can get taller, or prettier, or get some crazy powers.

- Ok... I'll accept that answer. Your turn.

I pulled out a hundred-dollar bill from the vault and extended my hand with it towards her, which made her confused.

- Bring me a pizza, if you dare - I said.

She burst into a laugh.

- Seriously? You want me to bring you a pizza? 

- Yep.

- What makes you think I won't run away with your money?

- Oc come one. you are having a game with me, a dud from a different world, with powers. You are not running away. Besides, even if you wanted to, you can't, cause I can find you anywhere.

- Ok - she got clearly offended but that. - What kind of pizza do you want?

- The kind where it's a lot of it.

- Ok, whatever... - she said and left.

I turned into a crow as soon as she vanished on the staircase, and waited, flaying in the air, to follow her as she went to find a pizza place. She did after checking her phone for it and then went there. She almost got kicked out, but when she showed the money, they took her order and allowed her to charge her phone as she was waiting, but she still had to do it outside, to not make the other patrons uncomfortable.

Half an hour later she was walking back, carrying the six large boxes.

I made sure to land and return to the exact position I was in when she was leaving before she made it to the roof.

- I have your stupid pizza - she said as soon as she got to the top.

- Awesome - I said, snapped my fingers, and a table and a chair made out of void essence appeared. - Sit and let's eat.

She put the pizza on the table, swallowing visibly, and biting her lower lip. She was clearly very hungry and couldn't wait to try the still warm food.

I opened the first box, unleashing the aroma, and quickly shoved the slice into my mouth, she followed, although she wasn't as fast an eater as me.

That's how a long game of truth and dare on the roof of some abandoned building started.