Stone - Unintentional Obsession

S hine stood on the beach in Northend, clutching a handful of white daisies while staring vacantly at the reddish-purple ocean. His shoulders slumped, as was customary on this particular day. He stood in this spot each year and tried to think of something that would have made his mother proud of him.

Today was no different than all the others. There was nothing, not one thing that he had done to make a difference. Nothing that mattered. Another year wasted.

The acidic water tumbled onto the land like a clumsy child. It wasnt graceful, and it was never-ending, hammering at the sandy shore. Like his guilt. Most of the time, he could push it down and focus on his life, his job, and the myriad things he had to take care of. But on this day, he allowed his emotions to rise, let himself remember how much hed messed up, and how he couldnt fix it.

His mother was dead, and he couldnt bring her back.

She had been a working Terran, holding down two jobs from the time he could remember. Sometimes, she would slip in a third for a month or two. He shouldnt be able to remember all those years ago, but his guilt didnt let the memories die. He couldnt forget that he used to be so angry that his mother spent all her time working instead of spending time with him. He felt she should have been there to watch him play with all the toy ships he created from scraps or look at the drawings he made for her.

The only time she had to spare was Saturday mornings. On those days, they would wake up early, eat breakfast at Tegans Diner, and then spend the rest of the morning at the beach.

Then it was back to hours alone, watching documentaries that Mom programmed on the Minky screen and locked so Shine couldnt watch shows that were too mature for him.

When he was a teenager, hed finally realized why his mother worked so hard. Their apartment was expensive, he ate constantly, and she owed a monthly allotment to the Demon in apartment 112 to ensure that nothing happened to him while she was away at work.

Shine didnt know the Demon who had been hired to watch over him. Even after shed told him about his babysitter, hed never seen the Demon, not even once. Hed thought his mother was being ripped off and had told her to end the deal.

When he was a little older, hed found out that she was paying the Demon a premium to leave them alone.

Shine had moved out of the house in his early twenties. Hed figured that his mother would be happy because she didnt have to pay that much in food, and she could get a better place to live. But she never did.

But life had been starting for him and he didnt have time for her. He had his own things to worry about.

Shine didnt help her when something broke in the apartment, nor did he stop by or visit her at the beach on any of the hundreds of Saturdays that he knew she would likely be there.

Less than ten years later, his sweet mother died of a heart attack at the age of forty-seven.

The call from the landlord had nearly crushed his soul. Shine had ten minutes to get the body before they threw her in the acidic ocean. He begged the Demon to wait, but there was no waiting. The landlord said he had things to do and people looking to move in. The only thing Shine could arrange was for the Demon to let Shine dictate where she was thrown in and allow him to watch it on a Minky video.

When he saw what the ocean did to her body, Shine had lost the contents of his stomach. His self-loathing was so keen that hed taken an entire month off and practically camped out in their spot on the beach, trying to apologize to the water, hoping that she heard it.

From that year forward, he visited her here on her birthday, and on the anniversary of the day she died. From starup to stardown, he thought of herher smile, her voice, and their times together on the beach.

Terrans were weird about their birthdays. His mother had always made a big deal about it, so he thought it fitting that he continued to make it special.

Shine didnt think she would be proud of him, though. Knowing that he made weapons that not only killed but also tortured their victims. His mother had always had a straight moral compass. He remembered the late nights when she would sit him down and explain right from wrong.

Shine peered at the horizon. The red star was half gone. Minutes later, he took the handful of flowers, reached back, and threw them into the acidic water as far as he could. The blue ribbon that held them together unraveled, and the happy, white flowers dispersed. The petals curled, sizzled, and turned black. As soon as they were gone, he mumbled, Happy birthday, Mom.

Turning around, he trudged through the white sand and rocks back to his Hampton Dwarf, his speedy two-seater hover vehicle. When he stepped onto the blacktop, he saw a red-haired male wearing a dark grey zip-up, leaning against Shines car like he owned it.

Karr.

Shine curled - lip. What are you doing here?

I want

Shine cut him off. No.

Thats not very nice, Karr said with his hands in his pockets, still leaning against the Dwarf.

Shine waved his hand over the door. It registered his fingerprints and slid up. To Karr, he said, Move.

Karrs blue eyes shined with amusement. You know what Ive always liked about you, Shine? The fact that youre so predictable. Karrs pale and freckled hand waved between Shine and the ocean. For example, I know that I can always find you right here on your mothers birthday.

Shine was not impressed by Karrs memory. He was also not stupid enough to actually try and make a move against Karr. In the years since theyd gone their separate ways, the Silk Demon had become a powerhouse on the island. Rumor was that nothing happened that Karr didnt know about.

Silk Demons didnt have any unique physical traits. Nothing that made them stand out. Silks looked like Terrans. Shines best friend, Zane, was a Silk, and he liked to present himself as a Terran to bring in more business. Terrans trusted each other, and most other races didnt mind doing business with them. But almost no one trusted Demons.

Hell, he didnt trust Demons. Z was the only exception.

The fact that Karr wasnt asking any questions meant that he wasnt looking for information. What do you want? Shine asked.

Karrs mouth slowly curled before he chuckled. You know what else I like about you? Youre a smart one.

Shine was smart. But Karrs remark was a dig against Z, and Shine wasnt going to comment on it. Instead, he stood by the open door and waited.

Karr held out a mesh bracelet and smirked wryly. It starts with this.

You want me to have a bracelet?

I want you to wear this bracelet.

Why?

Karr looked at him. Just take it.

Shine didnt like or trust Karr. Whatever this was, it wasnt a gift or some other noble gesture. He knew that without a doubt. Whatever the bracelet did would benefit Karr in some way.

A part of Shine was curious, but that was something he needed to ignore. And if I dont?

Karr pushed the bracelet into Shines hands and said, Put it on. Wear it until I come back for it.

No, Shine argued, letting the bracelet sit in his hand.

A deep rumble caused Shine to turn his head. A Grummer hovered slowly into the parking lot. Shine only glanced at it for a moment, but that was all it took for Karr to grab his hand.

Shine tried to pull free, but Karr slipped the bracelet onto his wrist, and it automatically tightened against his skin. Too tight. Shine shook his arm, but the cuff didnt give. Cursing, he checked to see if he could take it off. There were no latches. The only thing he saw was the three white dots on the outer rim.