“No result”- he murmured- “Cez must be nuts by making me believe such types of bullshit…” He was still restless, though. What was his tinkering with? This childish scenario about his dreams made him call his bat-shit crazy ex, and made him call out the matriarch in the open…
Suddenly, it popped in…. Ags. Deen’s big brother. Then again, he hasn’t been seen for months… He set down on his bed, covering his face in both hands:
“Why would Ags happen in this picture? I have absolutely no business with him”- he kept shaking his head, hoping that these insane thoughts might drop out and get rid of them for good. But they insisted to stay, sticking like a flytrap. Finally, he sighed in both his hands: “I better check on him…” He stood up, to reach his phone, but then, he froze for a second. No one knew what happened to Ags exactly. What if he got into a huge mess? Adult or not, zoolook or not, this better be no one-man mission. A backup would be optional… and at the moment, for some devilish reasons, he could not think of any better backup, than her…
The phone rang.
-Vada Voodoo Tattoo Salon, sorry but we’re closed.
-Cez, it’s me again – Reno interrupted as fast as possible.
-Seriously? - grunted Casey- you called a few days ago and now you miss me already, or what? This better be not a creepy stalker moment.
-It’s not – shout Renato, then sooth his temper and continued on a calmer voice- it’s about Ags.
-Ags? – Casey scratched her ear in boredom- Our dear boy Darko Agosto? He must be with his beloved girlfriend, as last time.
-No, Cez, he’s missing for months!- yelled Renato, so loud, that they both fell dead silent. One could almost touch the awkward tense in the air. Cez had a bitter taste in her mouth with a pinch of guilt. She wasn’t fond of having someone completely abandoned within the clan. And knowing her ex, this wasn’t some lame joke or endeavor to get back them together. Renato was sincerely worried… and he wanted backup. She almost felt honored for a second, that he still trusts her on this very level that she had been asked for this mission.
-You’re saying, we should check up on him, right?
-Positive- confirmed Reno. Casey grunted a bit, the replied:
-Do you still know his place? Meet me there in thirty – she ordered, so straight-forward, not leaving a speck of space for any other topic – We take a look at that idiot.
-Roger that- Reno replied and hung up the phone.
Ags, 34, was known as the long black-haired and emerald-eyed hippie, who always manipulated tense situations with his smooth-talk, but he was never afraid to take a fight when things got ugly. Renato could have sworn multiple times, that if their society had been patriarchal instead of matriarchal, Ags would have been a really badass leader.
The two met in front of the apartment – both in their true colors: Renato in albatross feathers on his arms – like wings – around the eyes, with a red mark on his lips – same red mark as on his totem’s beak. Cez with sharp black bat ears, elongated teeth and fingers – as her arms transformed to bat wings. Renato noticed something else on her:
-Your hair… it’s longer. True, it was the first time Casey left her hair shoulder-length instead of cutting it down to tomboyish.
-What? – she frowned – you like it?
-It kinda suits you – admitted Renato, like confirming something out of the blue. Cez sighed:
-Okay, Romeo, let’s move on…
They went to their pal’s floor. Renato knocked on the door:
-Ags… you’re okay buddy? No response. The two stared to each other. Then Cez knocked – harder, and yelled in her usual scandalous style:
-You there? Move your ass here, you hippie, and open the goddamn door! As she stopped, both of them were listening closely. There was some moaning coming from over, such as a haunting ghost or a dying ghoul. The two of them stared at each other again, this time, with sheer horror on their faces.
-This can’t be good – whispered Reno.
-Watch me!- hissed Cez, and with a massive kick, she burst the door.
On their surprise – and possibly relief – there was nothing behind the door… at least nothing menacing. The whole place was one big mess, like the Doberdo battlefield: dishes unwashed, dirty clothes from floor to ceiling, the stench of self-negligence and depression oozing over the place. Cez pressed her lips together in disgust - she was aware of the fact she wasn’t much lady-like, however, even this level of dirt and stench burst through her mess-o-meter. While she was struggling with this whole new experience, Renato yelled:
-Ags?
-Leave me alone…. – a vague response came from the bed. Renato turned on the lights…
There was he… the once glorious hippie, who was radiant of confidence – now pale, sad, and weak. He lost some weight, too. A burnt-down joint was sticking out from the corner of his mouth, and a bottle of cheap whiskey was in his right hand. Renato looked all over at him, and felt an amazing worry and pity for him:
-Oh man… look at you… - he finally stopped, maintaining firm eye contact with him, in his sallow eyes- what happened to you? Ags sipped – sounded like a sad sip after crying:
-She left me…- took the joint out of his mouth, and made a few grand gestures while explaining- she just… gone… without a word… Without explaining… He searched on and under the bed with his free hand, until he found another joint. He inserted it in his mouth:
-I don’t know where I went wrong… I wish I knew and fix all this – his thumb lit, a small red flame was dancing on its tip- there is nothing for me now…
Right before he could light the next joint, Cez hit it out of his mouth with a fast blow of her hand:
-Quit it! The hippie looked at her with a desperate and shocked face, like she just have murdered a bag of kittens:
-W... why? The bat sighed in anger, held between her eyes for a few seconds with two fingers – probably she was counting to ten and gathered her thoughts. She couldn’t afford to lose her temper against a friend in need. Finally, she let go with her two fingers and looked back to the hippie:
-Look – she leaned closer- this is not okay. You can’t lose yourself because of ruined relationship.
“How ironic”- thought Renato sarcastically- “When we tore up, you threw half of the chinaware at me….” Casey kept talking to Ags:
-We were worried, you know – her voice was firm but still, there was a hint of caring – now, you’re going to get up, and we’ll take care of you.
Renato shook his head for a moment and turned to the bat:
-Sorry, I must have misunderstood. Did you just say, “We take care of… him”? Cez turned to the albatross:
-Stop being a cry baby, and help me – she dug under the hippie’s shoulder to help him on his feet – of course, we’ll take care of him. He’s one of us. Renato helped her, and they were both supporting Ags, helping him slowly out of the house:
-Then tell me, wise-ass- he grunted at Casey- what’s your plan? Taking it to your place?
-Of course not!- yelled the bat, then she changed her tone like it was all natural- We’ll take it to YOUR place, since my flat is just a rat hole. There is plenty of space at your apartment. And I’ll stay for the night, just in case. Renato’s face transformed into a sneaky grin:
-Oh, look who’s missing who..
-Shut up, asshole!- yelled Casey- I only do this for Ags. Renato couldn’t help, but keeping his semi-victorious smile:
-Keep telling that to yourself…
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