Short Changed || #ONC2022

Chapter V

"He's so cute."

"Then message him!"

"He's got a girlfriend, Candy."

"So?"

Annabelle stared at Candy in disbelief. "So? So? He's in a relationship!"

"So am I. That doesn't stop me from smacking booties at the club every night."

"Wait? Really? You have a partner?"

"Oh, yes, dear. I'm in a committed relationship with my own shepherd pie recipe."

It was moments like these that made Annabelle almost horrified that her best -- and, perhaps, only -- friend was the sixty-two year old woman from next door. While her name was officially Candace Westman, she insisted on being called "Candy", and for some reason, that was the least strange thing about her.

For one, her apartment felt like it was from the 1900s. Richly carved mantels, plate-glass clocks, and chimes dangling over each doorway. There were strange taxidermy animals along the manels -- a kitten, a horse, a dog, and a monkey -- surrounded by silver goblets that smelt of wine.

Pitchers. Candles. Vases.

Even a freaking fireplace.

And the crystals. They were everywhere in the room -- strewn along the thick rugs, hanging along the walls, and glistening along the dozens of rings on the old woman's hands.

She had spent her life being a "prophet", apparently. And, every evening, she insisted on forcing Annabelle to listen to strange readings of her future.

"Are you ready?" Candy asked.

Annabelle sank into the strange settee, watching as Candy lit up some candles and dripped some wax onto her wrinkled wrist.

"I guess?"

The old woman stood over her, tracing her finger along Annabelle's hand. She made small hums, her eyes closed, her bangles clanking.

"Alright, dear," Candy began. "You need to avoid people with blue hair."

Annabelle made a face. "Gee, that will be hard."

But Candy ignored her. Instead, with her strange humming and circular hand motions, she nodded thoughtfully.

"If you make a cat meet a demon, the demon will probably be more confused than the cat."

"What?" Annabelle said.

"Now, let me get the sage..."

"Candy! I'm serious. You can't just say weird things about cats and demons and not explain it."

Candy opened her eyes. They were nothing short of magical -- clear and pale, like a lake.

"Let me translate," she said with a sigh.

"Finally."

"We can't change the world through controlling our surroundings..."

Annabelle's brows propped up. For once, Candy's reading was making sense to her.

"...but," Candy continued, "you can change the world by suffocating ourselves as individuals."

"What? Candy, that's dark."

The old woman was cackling now. "I tire of this, Annabelle. Show me your strange touching phone. I want to see the boys."

Somehow, it had become a weekly thing for them. Every weekend, Annabelle would walk to her neighbour, get a palm reading done, followed by both of them going through men on Tinder.