Hallow Inside

OooO::Apartment 414::OooO

Apt. 413 wasn’t huge, but it was just enough space for Dexter. He lived alone after all, although not completely. He had a grey and orange tabby named Melinda Banks. The name had been chosen by an old, squat woman who had given Melinda to him when she moved out of town. It was a cozy two bedroom; he needed the second for his office and studio. It’s hardwood floors were adorned with decorative rugs and dust bunnies. In the living room where he was sitting, were two cushy chairs in mauve and a blue sofa. Papers and photos were scattered on the coffee table along with a cup of old tea. Melinda was on the side table closest to Dexter and was spreading strands of fur as she petted herself on the table lamp.

Back in his home city of Shady Oaks, he was a photographer for Phantom! Press. And that’s how he ended up here. While he liked taking pictures for the paper, Dexter really wanted the Journalist position. He wanted the adventure of releasing stories of events that happened around the world and wanted to be a famous writer, rather than some photographer hidden in the shadows of the company.



Courtsville seemed like the perfect place to nab the story that would get him noticed, for there was rumor of strange disappearances in this town over the last few months. Ordinary people were being snatched off the streets to no one knew where. He was about to get the scoop before anyone else. Tomes of Eden was full of gossip when people were actually there, the useful kind. He found that people were rather loose-lipped about the kidnappings when they thought they had a section to themselves. But if you asked them point blank, they were conveniently ignorant about the disappearances. As if mentioning it would ensure that they would be next.



The boy decided he wanted to check out the mysterious book in detail now that he was in the privacy of his apartment. He took it out of his bag and placed it on his lap, examining it. Melinda gave a curious mew beside him but he was too fixated to pay much attention. His long fingers hovered over the winged emblem, almost to afraid to touch it. It was warm but no freaky vision came this time. He opened the book. He didn’t know what to expect, but what he found was the last thing on the list…the book was completely empty. A blank paged book was kind of creepy. What was the purpose of it? After a puzzling moment, he gave up and threw the book on the coffee table. In the next moment the door buzzed.

It was Jeremy.



~OoOooOoO~

Dexter shoved the book under a couch cushion and walked a little over half-dozen steps to answer the door. Jeremy did work at Tomes of Eden after all, and he didn’t want him seeing the basically-stolen book he had in his possession. How would he explain it? On the other side of the door was a boy a bit taller than Dexter himself. He had startlingly green eyes and straight brown hair that ran into his defined face. His demeanor was normally more non-chilant, but he had an urgent stance about him right now. Dexter’s eyes dropped to his thin lips as they formed words--

“Dex, you’re not going to like what I have to say.”



The blue-eyed boy sobered, “You mean that you had to dash off, leaving me to close the bookstore alone? Especially after-” He stopped himself, unsure if he should mention it.



“Huh? You were there? I could have sworn you had left, I couldn’t find you anywhere so I closed up. Sorry, did something happen?” Jeremy asked, confused.



Dexter stared at him. Wasn’t there? He felt a bit dizzy suddenly.



“Are you ok?” The other boy prodded.



“Mhn, it’s fine. What were you saying before?” Then, his face tinted pink when he realized they were still in the hallway. He stepped into the apartment and Jeremy followed, closing the door.



“Um, well,” Jeremy’s expression grew serious once more. “You know the story you are working on, how you wanted to release it?”



Dexter nodded, indeed not liking where this was heading.



“That could be a problem if you don’t get a move on.” The other continued, his look a mixture of sarcasm and annoyance. “Your friend, Pete Shiest has arrived and has been snooping around for information on your story.”



Dexter growled low in his throat. That mark, Shiest would come all the way from Shady Oaks to steal his story. Pete and Dexter weren’t friends at all; they hated each other, in fact. Shiest was already a big-time journalist at Phantom! Press and went out of his way to rub it in Dexter’s face every chance he got. A story like this would probably unseat the bastard from his position. There was no way he was just going to waltz in a snatch it from under Dexter’s nose.



He was anxious now, how much information did Shiest have by now? Dexter was deep in thought about how to sabotage Sheist’s story when Jeremy spoke from the couch.



“Why don’t we just follow this guy and see what he has. Y’know, spy on him.” He said with a devious smile.



“Do you know where to find him, Jeremy?”



“yeah, he hangs out a lot at this seedy club called Last Chance. I’m not sure who would know something in there, but it’s worth a shot. Lets go tonight.” Said Jeremy.