Out to grab something quick between classes, Inalu was enjoying the feeling of fall air on her face. It was that time of year just on the edge of winter. Classes were close to done for the semester. Her favorite thigh length coat no longer needed justification. High-top boots were an everyday thing. Life could not be better and yet, she wished there was more going on.
The college sophomore was waiting in line at the burger food cart, spacing out and dreaming of being someone else, when she found herself looking into the front window of a store she did not remember. The yellowed boxes of an Xbox360 and PS2 in the window along with piles of old VHS tapes in a couple banker boxes argued the store had probably always been there. She made a note to come back when she had time to kill. Maybe the place would have a cool necklace or two to add to her collection of pentagrams, skulls, and dragons.
That time just so happened to be later that afternoon as her philosophy class was canceled.
The inside of the store was cavernous. The cinder block walls stretched the length of the building with squat, rectangular windows placed every few feet. Much of the glass was barely visible over piles of junk. A yellowing drop ceiling contained the minimum number of ceiling lights necessary to keep the space illuminated. A ground level walkway surrounded a lower area that was about half a floor down. Aside from the barest amount of space to walk, the floor was filled with shelves and tables. Books were everywhere as were bins of action figures, vinyl records, and so many other things.
It was also hot. Even considering the New England fall, the temperature in the space was stifling. She pulled off her coat and tied it by the sleeves around her waist, further hiding the freshman fifteen that refused to go away. The dark leather mingled with her poofy broom skirt just barely brushed the grungy, ancient carpeting.
Starting to poke around, she was stunned by not only the sheer volume of inventory, but also the staggering disarray in which it was stored and displayed.
"What is this, a flea market?"
"Hardly," a voice boomed from behind her. "This, my dear woman, is all that remains of the Bazaar at Keeva."
Turning to face the voice, she first encountered the glass of a display raised off the ground. Leaning on it was a man who did not look like he belonged in a store. Put simply, he was huge. His shoulders and back looked wide enough to land an airplane on. His dark, rounded face was framed by what could only be called a mane of bright brown hair. Teeth sparkled from behind thick lips curled into a grin that seemed to stretch from ear to ear.
She puffed at an errant sable lock then tucked it behind her ear. "The what?"
"Hah!" He stepped back from the counter and kept talking. "You know. The Bazaar down on Keeva and Lockstead. Don't tell me you never heard of the biggest comic book shop in the state?"
Standing her level now, it felt like he was easily a foot taller than her. Maybe even two, impossible as it would be that he was nearly seven feet tall. The man's clothes clung to him like a second skin, revealing a body that probably would have looked more at home oiled up and on-stage than peddling memorabilia. He stood with his arms behind his back, which only served to further showcase how well developed his chest and shoulders were.
"Well? Nothing at all?"
"Can't say that I've ever heard of it."
"Never heard of it?" With a hearty laugh, the burly man proceeded to launch into a history of the store. Walking around, gesturing wildly. His thickly muscled arms were shrouded in tattoos.
Her gaze wandered south of its own accord as she followed him around the shop. Like his shirt, his pants were also skin tight. A noticeable bulge was visible on the inside of his leg. She feigned interest in whatever he was holding up at that moment to cover her occasional glances, marveling just a little before letting her eyes move off in another direction.
When they got back to the counter, he finished up with story with a joke that had him laughing a few seconds at that before sighing and raising his hands.
"Kids these days. Well, anyway, what brings you in? Looking for something?"
"Not really..."
"Ha! Well, do look around and let me know if there is anything you want to ask about."
A snarky remark about not being able to find anything was on her black-painted lips when she saw something that genuinely struck her fancy in the jewelry case. On the bottom shelf was a circular pendant with the likeness of a hyena's head and neck. The band was simple leather and the metal disk likely just pressed pewter. However, it was such an odd thing that it called to her. The ruff and spots were shimmering obsidian insets, the rest of the fur seemed to be sand. The entire thing was sealed in lacquer.
"Actually," she pointed at it. "Could I see that?"
He moved back around the counter and pulled out the necklace. Taking the accessory from him, it was warm and surprisingly heavy. The coin was not much larger than a half dollar, its circumference fitting in her thumb and finger, but it felt much heavier when laying in her palm.
"That pendant belonged my Great Gran. She used to have a whole bunch of different animals, but most have found homes."
"How much is it?"
He frowned dismissively as he looked at the ceiling. "Forty bucks," he said, turning back to her.
"Forty? Guess I'm going to have to pass." She went to hand back the necklace and he pushed her hands away. "No no, that's not how this works. How much is it worth to you?"
"I have no idea, fifteen?"
