Page 9 of The Guy Sure Looks Like Plant Food To Me
“I’ll do anything.” I’m desperate at this point.
Her breathing begins to slow, return to normal as the pain dissipates and she’s able to focus again. “Well, what if she justneeds nutrients? Like a fertilizer? To satisfy her cravings until she grows a new trap that can properly consume meals again.”
I sit upright, placing a kiss on her cheek, “You’re a genius!”
She grabs my wrist before I can leave the room. “I don’t think regular fertilizer is going to cut it.”
“Well, the store doesn’t really sell ‘enchanted-by-the-eclipse plant fertilizer’ so, I should start somewhere.” I’m debating how much I can trust her, but she’s the only person giving decent advice around here and if I don’t do something, Chewie is going to die. “I think maybe instead of feeding her …meat…maybe I just give her a liquified version?” I simplify as much as I can.
America nods energetically, “That’s brilliant! Do you need help?”
I chuckle, “I don’t believe that’s up to either one of us anymore. I thinkshe’scalling the shots right now.” I bite my lip. “I don’t want to call this a hostage situation, but it’s safe to say you aren’t going anywhere, America.”
“Meri, actually. You can call me Meri.” She looks back at Chewbacca, a dimple on a single cheek forming from a half-smile. “And you might be right.”
Just then a scowl forms over her face, her attention is pulled to her pocket where her phone vibrates. Meri looks at the name glowing on the screen and sighs, “It’s my father.” Every bit of lightness she brought into the store with her is now gone and replaced with something that stinks of fear, and anxiety.
She turns toward the door, but Chewie’s whine stops her from leaving. Meri looks down at the phone in her hand, hesitating before answering. “Hi Daddy.”
“Where have you been?” I hear his unnecessarily loud voice coming through.
Meri clears her throat uncomfortably, “I had a job interview.”
“Two days ago,” He cuts in, “Is your location turned on? I’m coming to collect you.”
She stutters, unable to answer, all the color draining from her cheeks.
“America?” He calls for her, but she just stares at me with a vacant expression, “America!”
“T-two days?” She whispers words I know are meant for me.
There is no way.
I take the phone from her hand and disconnect the call but she shakes her head, “It doesn’t matter, he has my phone’s location. He’ll find us.”
“Why? You’re an adult? Right?” I look down at her phone screen, a family photo with a man that seems vaguely familiar but the date itself confirms it.
Two days passed while we were asleep.
No—not asleep.Enchanted, or something.
Your body still functions regularly when you’re asleep, and this … this was like being frozen in time.
“Yeah, I’m twenty-five.” America derails my thoughts, her eyes fixed right at Chewie, “That’s not the point, and he’s going to take her away if he sees her.”
I scoff, crossing my arm over my chest, “Your father has no power in my shop.”
“You don’t understand,” she fidgets with her fingers, “My father is Truman Corsetti.”
The name rings a bell but I can’t quite figure out which one. “And?”
America sighs, “The senator.”
My stomach sinks to the pits of Hell.
“Get out.” I point to the door, every inch of my body dripping in cold sweat, from fear.
She’s right.
