Chapter Text
Another day in the real world, another day at work as a... cashier.
I was almost done with my shift, as I stood at the cash register, watching the clock go by. It was a slow day and my parents' shop was a small corner store, so not many people came by anyway.
At least I have a paycheck of some kind...
It's been three months since I escaped the circus. Three months of wondering where everyone else ended up. After waking up in that abandoned office building and finally taking off the headset, before smashing the computer that ruined my life with a brick, I was finally free.
I was gone for a whole year.
A year of being stuck in that digital hell. A year of being missing.
A year without eating or drinking... yet my body never changed or aged.
I shouldn't be alive right now…
A year of friendship with the others. Gangle, Zooble, Kinger. Ragatha. Jax.
And after waking up... They weren't there.
I wonder where they ended up every single day. I make posts on my urbex channel, trying to find anyone in the city with a similar experience... hoping one of them would reach out.
But there's nothing...
I felt a lump in my throat as I stood at the cash register, staring at the screen of my phone. I needed to blink a few times so I wouldn't cry...
I hope that they're out there somewhere... I hope they're okay.
Then, a tap on my shoulder.
"Hye-jin, what did I tell you about being on your phone during work?" My mom asked after she approached.
She wasn't mad about it, and instead smiled at me fondly.
"Sorry, Umma..." I replied smiling a little, putting my phone away in my pocket. "But there aren't any customers anyway."
My mom sighed. "Oh, well... at least let a mother have a chat with her dear daughter. You young ones are always on your screens..."
I rolled my eyes before smiling at her. "Umma... I was just... trying to find an accountant position again."
It wasn't a complete lie—I've been searching for a new job since I escaped. And while I help my parents handle finances at the store, getting back to my career would bring more normalcy into my life. Too bad no one hires when you have a year long experience gap in your resume.
Somehow the job market has managed to get worse since I came back.
"Oh, you want to leave us already?" She replied jokingly before pulling me into a half hug. "At least while you work here we can be together. You were gone for so long... I missed my little girl."
I hugged her back, knowing she was right. My absence took a toll on my parents.
Of course, they don't know the real reason why I was gone. Who would believe I was stuck in a VR game about a Digital Circus? They simply think I went missing.
"Love you too, mom..." I told her softly, before she pinched my cheek. Oof...
Then the bell at the door chimed before people came into the store. Ugh, back to work.
"Umma... customers..." I told her sheepishly, nodding towards the people before she finally let go and shuffled away, laughing softly.
...
My shift ended at 6 PM, and I closed the store with my parents before walking to my car. October in Syracuse, New York... It was getting dark already.
I walked to the lot where my car was parked. All I wanted was to go back home, to my new apartment... I would probably spend the evening job hunting for an accountant position again. My parents were kind enough to employ me here temporarily but it wasn't forever.
But most likely, I'll be scrolling online trying to find any posts about the circus or C&A... trying to find the others somewhere.
While I was approaching my car, something about it caught my eye. I narrowed my eyes and looked through the tinted windows about twenty steps away.
I froze.
There was a person inside. I couldn't make them out, but it looked like a man in a hoodie...
And he was rummaging through my glove compartment.
My heart stopped. Did I forget to lock my car? Oh my God, was I getting robbed?!
What should I do?! My parents already drove off... Call 991—? no, they might take too long...
I reached into my purse, grabbed what I needed and with a hammering heart I started to approach my car. Each step faster and faster.
When I reached the driver side door, I yanked it open, pulled out the pepper spray from my bag and spritzed it right into the guy's eyes.
"GET OUT OF MY CAR BEFORE I CALL THE POLICE!!" I screamed, in a way I never heard myself scream before—loud and terrified.
There was a pained cry as the pepper spray hit the guy square in the face.
“GODDAMN— !”
The man reeled back with a choked scream, hands flying up to claw at his eyes. He likely didn’t even see me coming with how focused he was on digging through my glove compartment.
Tears streamed down his face as he doubled over, coughing violently. His hoodie sleeve rubbed frantically across his watering eyes while curses poured from between gasps:
“Fuck! What the hell?! Jesus Christ—Who even ARE YOU?!”
Okay, that looked like it burned. A lot. But, the guy was trying to steal! Rightfully so it did!
“Who am I?” I repeated, still yelling in fright. “Who are YOU?! This is my car!”
I watched as he struggled to open his eyes, tears streaming down his face.
The guy was wearing a dark purple hoodie but he looked lanky. His clothes were faded and tattered. He had brown hair with blond highlights. I couldn't tell what color his eyes were because, well…
Either way, his appearance didn’t ring a bell.
“Get the hell out!” I snapped, my voice cracking sharply in terror. I did not want to end up on the news for being murdered in a parking lot.
Please don’t have a knife or something… or a gun…
Then I noticed my open glove compartment and stuff falling out of it, as well as my things stuffed into this dude's hoodie pockets.
“Hey, put my stuff back!” I exclaimed. Oh, this guy had some nerve… “Now!”
The guy’s hands were still pressed tight over his stinging eyes, but as I was shouting, he froze for half a second too long.
Then he snapped back:
“Okay, okay!”
Still coughing from residual burn, he finally managed to yank himself upright, while blindly reaching into his hoodie pocket and pulling out several of my possessions:
My phone charger.
My crumpled granola bar.
My wallet.
Shit, okay, I should have not left that inside my car.
The man dropped my things onto the car seat before finally getting out fully and stepping out of my car, almost stumbling over.
He was tall… much taller than me.
And still covering his eyes as they burned, probably badly. At least the pepper spray proved to be useful.
But somehow he looked... harmless. Maybe he was homeless? But he wasn't pulling out a gun or anything and he was listening to what I was saying and following every order.
"Okay... okay..." I said as my hand shook slightly, the pepper spray still aimed at the guy like a loaded weapon, because who knows what he was going to do.
But what am I going to do?
"I should be... calling the police right now." I quavered, gulping. I said it more to myself instead of him.
I had no clue what to do. If I call the police he might bolt, or even—God forbid—attack me.
Just the terrifying fact that I was about to get robbed and now could possibly get murdered right now was making my heart race and my thoughts whirl.
"Uhh... fuck, how did you even get in?!” I blurted out. “Did I leave my car open...?"
I ranted on, the frustration bubbling up under my skin, "I swear to God, my life just gets better and better after getting out of that stupid circus—"
I cut myself off. I was rambling again, spiraling back to the circus as the source of all my problems. And I said circus, damnit, I probably sound crazy now.
Then I groaned, mentally slapping myself. This guy was still standing in front of me, probably blinded and in pain.
"I'm not gonna call anyone... but— just go now, okay?" I pleaded anxiously.
For some reason I didn't want to call the police on this guy. He didn't end up stealing anything. And he just looked a bit pathetic right now—his eyes puffy and coated in the orange spray as he tried to squint through the pain.
Only now did it dawn upon me that he hasn’t said a word since he got out of my car.
There was a quiet moment between us. For a second I thought he was going to make a run for it. But then—
“So…” The guy started slowly before a smirk—a fucking smirk—crept up his face.
“How’s life been treating ya, Pom?”
…
…
“...What did you just call me?”
The question slipped out quietly before I could stop myself.
Pom. As in…
“Pomni?” He said my circus name again, blinking, like he was trying to look at me but couldn’t.
Holy shit…
“Jax?!” I gasped, my eyes widening like I just saw a ghost.
One from another life completely, the one I left three months ago.
“Is that you?”
This time, the guy started laughing. First slowly, then full on cackling, like he just heard the best news of his life.
Then he took a breath and exhaled.
“What’s up, shortstack.”
Oh my fucking God, that was really him.
And only now did I really hear it. His voice… it was identical to Jax’s voice, it was him.
I couldn’t help the smile quivering on my lips.
“Oh my God, Jax!” I exclaimed, feeling my fright and anxiety get replaced by overwhelming joy. “How— What are you doing here?”
“I have the same question for you.”
“I work here!” I gestured in the direction of my parents' corner shop even though he couldn’t see right now. “What are you—”
I paused, looking at him.
“You look…” I hesitated, taking a step closer. What do I even say… Disheveled? For some reason kind of homeless?
Not like a purple talking rabbit?
“...Alive.” I finally said, before cringing at my own wording.
Jax snorted, “Duh, you dumbass.”
Then he tilted his head.
“You look…” Jax tried to squint at me before bringing a hand to his face and wincing. “Well, I’d love to tell you but my eyes—!”
“Right, sorry!” I blurted out, stepping closer to him. His eyes were swollen and watery.
That looked painful… and now that I knew who he was, I felt bad… never mind, he was robbing me and I thought he was going to kill me.
“Asshole.” Jax cursed.
I raised an eyebrow. “I’m not an asshole.”
“You fucking pepper sprayed me!”
“You were stealing from my car!”
Why was he doing that anyway? Whatever, questions later.
“Get in.” I ordered, before slipping past him and getting into the driver's seat.
“You just told me to get out, now I gotta get in?”
“Just shut up and get in!”
I watched him exhale and then try to open his eyes before squeezing them shut again with a grimace.
“Hey, Pom?” He called out, blindly reaching out and placing a hand on the metal surface of my white Toyota Corolla. “I’m kind of blind right now.”
Shit, that's right…
I got out and grabbed him by the arm, slowly guiding him to the front passenger seat.
Once he plopped down and actually managed to find the latch plate of the seatbelt, I walked back to the driver's side, put my stuff in the backseat, shut my door and finally sat down.
“Agh—! This shit burns, Pomni!” Jax whined, still dabbing the sleeve of his hoodie on his face.
“Don’t worry, we’re going to my apartment so you can wash it off your face.” I told him, starting the engine of the car. Then I pulled out of the parking lot.
Jax didn’t speak for a second, before he huffed and his teasing tone returned.
“Wow, Pom… taking a guy home right after meeting him? Didn’t know you’re bold like that—”
I rolled my eyes in response.
“Shut up, or I’m kicking you out the car.”
“Message received.”
The drive to my apartment only took about five minutes.
When we arrived at the building, I parked the car before getting out to go to his side so I could lead him out the vehicle and towards the entrance.
“You better not be kidnapping me.” Jax grumbled as he stepped onto solid ground, still squeezing his eyes shut. “What if you’re pretending to be Pomni and in reality you’re some serial killer?”
“I literally called you by your name.” I answered, stifling a laugh. “And that’s rich coming from a thief.”
“Hey, I’m worried for my safety here.”
“I promise you, I really am Pomni.” I giggled slightly before opening the front door.
For someone who I’ve just found, Jax has surprisingly brightened my day already.
I really thought I lost them all forever…
After a short elevator trip, we got to the fifth floor. I fumbled with my keys before opening the door to apartment unit 507.
“Feel yourself at home.” I said, leading Jax inside by the arm and flicking on the lights. We both kicked off our shoes.
The apartment still had a few boxes lying around since I only moved in a few weeks ago and honestly, I was procrastinating on unpacking. My dad helped with setting the TV, couch, my bed and some furniture. Other than that, it was a bit of a mess.
“If only I could see.”
“Yeah, right—bathroom’s right here.”
I guided him inside and turned the light on. I walked to the bathtub and turned the knob of the shower before the water started to pour down.
Jax stood there a little awkwardly.
“Okay, are you good from here?”
Then he huffed, “What, you wanna see me undress?”
I rolled my eyes again.
“Real funny. But fuck no, I’ll pass.”
I started to step out of the bathroom, giving him space.
“There’s towels under the sink. Holler if you need anything.” I told him before placing my hand on the doorknob.
I took a glance at him. I didn’t know what I imagined Jax would look like but somehow his appearance made sense for him to be Jax.
Tall but thin. Messy brown hair with blond highlights. Looked like he didn’t care for it much. Fair skin with a few moles. Hoodie ragged at the edges and ripped black jeans.
I wonder what color his eyes are.
“Will do. I just hope I won’t slip and crack my head open.” Jax muttered, exhaling.
I sighed softly. “Please don’t—I just got you back.”
That sentence left my mouth without much thought before I closed the bathroom door.
I walked to the living room now, listening to the shuffling inside the bathroom, until I heard the shower water hitting a surface different from the bathtub.
He was in. And nothing was crashing down and falling—good.
I walked through my apartment to one of the unpacked boxes and opened it, pulling out a pair of gray sweatpants and a plain black t-shirt, both too big for me.
My parents saved these things when I disappeared, but I was planning on throwing them out… before today’s surprise decided to show up in my car. Funny how life goes…
I waited until I heard the shower turn off and him stepping out before I walked to the bathroom door and knocked.
“I got clothes.” I announced, before the door pried open just enough for his hand to grab them.
“Thanks.” I heard from the other side.
Then behind the closed door he spoke up again.
“Hey, these are men’s…” His voice echoed from the bathroom. “...Do you live here with someone else?”
I replied, blurting out quickly:
“No—no! I live alone.”
I heard him hum, acknowledging my reply without words.
And in a minute, he walked out of there.
His hair was still slightly damp, and the clothes hung on him loosely as he kept rubbing down his face with the towel.
And then when he finally pulled the towel away I could see that his puffy eyes were a honey brown—like an amber color.
He looked back at me too, as if analyzing me for a few seconds.
Then he shrugged, “Eh, about as ugly as I imagined you’d look like.”
I actually scoffed. “Ugh, rude.”
From Jax I expected nothing less.
Then I asked, “Eyes burn less?” He was still squinting but not as much.
He blinked a few times as if trying them out.
“Yeah, but… what they don’t tell you about that pepper stuff is that after you wash it out, it drips to down there.”
What? Oh— OH!
My eyes instantly widened as I recoiled slightly.
“Oh, ew! TMI, dude, I don’t need to know if your balls are itching.”
Jax simply grinned from ear to ear.
“Well, you pepper sprayed me,” He said, all matter-of-factly, “So you get to hear my complaints.”
I rolled my eyes; that was gross.
“Shouldn’t have tried to rob me.” I answered, before shooting him a glare. “What’s up with that by the way?”
But Jax didn’t answer. I watched him step into my apartment fully and look around.
“Just move in, huh?” He asked, nodding towards the boxes on the floor.
Okay, I guess we’re avoiding my questions now… Nice.
But I let him have his way. For now.
“Yeah,” I replied, before my voice turned a little timid. “Didn’t expect any guests, sorry.”
Jax shrugged again—he didn’t care.
“So.” He began, turning to face me again. He leaned against my wall. “You didn’t answer my earlier question.”
I blinked. “What question?”
“How’s life?”
Oh, that one…
“Life’s… okay.” I answered before sighing deeply. “Got a new apartment. Can’t find a job though.”
Jax raised an eyebrow.
“I thought you said ‘you worked’... somewhere there, near the parking lot?”
“Oh… my parents’ convenience store.” I clarified hesitantly. “Yeah, I’m a cashier there.”
“A cashier? Weren’t you, what was it, an accountant?”
I sighed, knowing I had to explain.
“The cashier job at my parents’ shop is temporary… But I was missing for a year. Finding a new job with that gap in my resume isn’t easy…”
Jax scowled like the information seemed absurd to him.
“That’s stupid.” He grumbled. “People take long breaks from work all the time.”
“Yeah, well, apparently a year’s too long now.”
There was a pause as he nodded, understanding.
Then he spoke up again.
“So your parents were generous enough to employ you, huh?”
I nodded, smiling a little. “Yeah, it was nice of them… They helped me move in too. Kept all my stuff since I disappeared, they were worried sick.”
Jax was quiet for a moment, looking away.
“Did you get your stuff back?” I asked, tilting my head, looking at him. “After you escaped and all.”
He looked back at me, blinking.
“Huh? Oh, uhm… no.”
Shit, that sucked…
“Oh… I’m sorry.”
“It’s whatever.”
Jax’s answers were starting to get pretty avoidant, like he didn’t want to talk about it.
“So… what about you?” I asked, really looking at him this time. “Where have you been these past three months?”
He shrugged.
“Around.” He sighed, giving me the vaguest answer possible.
Huh? What the hell does “around” even mean?
So that’s exactly what I asked.
“What do you mean by ‘around’...?”
He exhaled again, putting his hands in the pockets on the sweatpants I gave him.
“Just… around.”
Jax was avoiding eye contact again, looking at the floor of my living room.
That wasn’t good.
And suddenly from everything that happened today, the puzzle clicked.
“Jax…” I called his name carefully. “Do you not have a place to stay?”
He exhaled slowly before turning back to me.
“Nope.” He said, popping the P.
I could feel my chest tighten.
“You’re… unhoused?” I asked quietly. The term “homeless” felt too harsh at the moment.
“Yep.” He sighed, popping the P again.
My expression darkened. He doesn’t have a home? For how long?
Well, his clothes looked unkept earlier but I didn’t want to assume…
My eyebrows knitted together. “...Since when?”
“...Since we got out.” He admitted, keeping his voice low.
“You were out in the streets for three months?!”
My disbelief sounded harsher than expected.
Jax grimaced. “Well, there’s shelters… when they aren’t packed.”
“Ugh, Jax…” I frowned. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“We just started talking…”
“...Is that why you were stealing from my car?”
“...Yeah.”
Damnit, as deserved as the pepper spray was, I couldn’t help but feel bad. But he shouldn’t have been trying to rob me…
“Jax…” I exhaled, pinching the bridge of my nose. Then I made a split second decision.
“If you need a place to stay… my couch isn’t a pull out, but…”
I watched as his eyes widened, as if in panic. “Nah, I’m good— It’s fine.”
I looked him in the eyes, narrowing my own. “Are you just gonna go back to sleeping outside?”
I watched him glance from my front door, to the couch, then again, before his eyes landed on me.
Jax exhaled, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “One night. I’m not a charity case.”
One night…? Okay, well at least he wasn’t bolting out the door. I could convince him to stay for longer later…
“Never said you were.” I told him, giving him a small smile.
He simply looked away from me with his eyes. There was a silence between us again.
Then as he looked back at me, he grinned.
“So, Pomni…” He said, pushing off the wall and stepping towards me. “Do I keep calling you that? Or are you gonna tell me your real name?”
Oh, shoot, from everything that happened today—getting scared shitless by almost getting robbed and then finding out Jax was the one robbing me—I completely forgot to ask.
“Right, sorry—” I chucked softly before extending my hand towards him.
“Penelope Park,” I told him. Don't know exactly why I was so formal with it. “Penny.”
He looked at my extended hand and raised an eyebrow.
“Wow, last names and everything, huh?” He laughed, before he grabbed my hand and shook it hard, probably for dramatic effect. “Felix Walker. Nice to meet ya, Penny.”
I smiled. “Nice to meet you too.”
Felix… it weirdly fit him.