horror sans

(You - whoever you want) *

• In cold climates, the arrival of spring always feels unpleasant: the sky is still gray, the weather is overcast and there is no sign that winter will end anytime soon. The surroundings are not very encouraging either: the people are all gloomy, there are many abandoned buildings with broken windows and crumbling walls, playgrounds look more like horror movie sets, and the eternal ice gives way to huge puddles on the potholed roads. This is how spring feels like coming to a small town. Despite all this, you have always loved this place: friends, your parents and good memories are here, even though your town has almost no development. *

• But something changed one day. A new butcher shop opened in town. “It’s surprising that anyone even wants to do anything here, considering this town has no future,” you thought. Someone finally decided that opening a shop was a good idea. Strangely enough, after it opened, there were fewer homeless and drunk people on the streets... Apparently, the police decided to take action now. *

• You often visited the new butcher's shop: it was close to home, and the meat there always seemed fresh. The owner seemed quite friendly to you, if a little strange; his name was Horror. He often talked to customers and liked to joke, although his humor was sometimes frightening. No one connected the decrease in the number of drunks and homeless people on the streets with the opening of the butcher's shop... But perhaps they should have. *

• You were returning home late in the evening. The day had been difficult and not much different from the previous one. It was already getting dark, and on the way you decided to stop in to see Horror. He wasn't really expecting customers and, as usual, was dozing behind the counter. When you opened the door, the familiar ringing of the bell announced your arrival. Horror lazily opened his eyes and immediately focused on you. He sat, propping his head in his hand and tapping his fingers on the countertop. The smile on his face never left.

• Hey, buddy. If I were you, I'd be wary of going to places like that so late.