* * *
The next day, he woke up having serious headache. It seemed that he had experienced the worst nightmare of all. Something was troubling him.
“Oh dear! You’re going to be late for work!” His wife burst into the room and shouted.
“Iris, I don’t feel like working today.” He grumbled.
“Huh?” Iris widened her eyes incredulously as though he had said the wrong thing.
“I said.” He repeated. “I don’t want to work today.”
“What!” The woman was astonished. “Why?”
“I was tired.”
“That’s just an excuse!” She claimed. “Every day I’m working so hard looking after the children and you tell me you were tired! I’m exhausted!”
“Yes, I’m sorry.” Still, he had no motivation to work, not after what he had seen the previous night.
“I don’t care.” His wife insisted. “If you aren’t working today, we are all going to starve!”
It was true though. The family was penniless. If he couldn’t sell at least five carpets today, there would be nothing to eat.
“Please,” Iris came up to him and sighed. “Just think about our children. They need to be fed.”
He nodded.
“I guess there’s no way out then.” He leapt out of bed and left the room.
Working wasn’t a big problem. What bothered him was Shaw. As he walked down the road, he kept wondering. Did Shaw see him? What would Shaw do to him? Why was Shaw killing little animals in the middle of the night?
“Hey there,” Suddenly a familiar voice called out to him.
A chill went down his spine.
It was Shaw.
“Ted, how’s it going?”
He turned to face his frightening enemy and swallowed. “Um…not bad.”
“The way I see things.” Shaw smirked, tapping his back. “You’re in pretty much trouble.”
“Eh?” Ted stared at him in shock.
Shaw laughed. “Time is hard, dude. If you need anything, come to me. Food and drink. I’d help as much as I can.”
“Thanks.” Ted made a faint smile.
“And by the way,” Out of blues, Shaw leaned forwards and whispered into his ears. “I knew it was you last night. Perhaps it’s better if we meet at five in the café across the street.”
Then, Shaw stuffed a coppered pocket watch into his hands and left.
Ted glanced down at the watch he dropped last night and trembled a little.
Certainly, the meeting wouldn’t be good.
That day, he sold only two rugs. Shaw got all the attention again. Despite headache, he couldn’t stop observing his enemy. That man was smiling to every customer that came by. So did Ted. Yet, he never got as much luck as Shaw did.
Three dollars wouldn’t be adequate for a day, let alone the fact he was going to the café with Shaw.
What would Shaw do?
He couldn’t help pondering. Either way, he couldn’t escape now. Iris was always complaining how wimpy he was. He used to be a coward. So was he now. He grew up as an abnormal child, which he often blamed his parents for. Autistic and always smaller than the other boys of the same age, he lingered in a life of abuse and tease. No one actually cared about him. The carpet stall was inherited from his father. It was a family business. Their shop used to be popular but now everything was in total mess. After Shaw appeared and started selling his beautiful rugs, no one bothered to visit his stall. His wife just kept grousing around at home, never leaving him in peace. Sometimes he really wondered how he ended up being the unfortunate one always.
“Ted!” Shaw waved and shouted from his seat. Closing the café door behind him, he scurried towards him.
“Coffee?” Shaw asked.
“Um… don’t have enough coins.”
“I’ll pay for you.”
The look on Shaw’s face amused him. He had never thought he would be so kind, unless with other intentions.
“So, what’s up, Ted?” Shaw asked. “How’s the business?”
“Bad obviously.” He answered. Couldn’t he tell? He was standing right opposite his stall. There was not a single mosquito flying around his area.
“Well, want some change, bud?”
When Shaw said “bud”, it made him quiver. They were no friends, indeed. Rivals to be honest.
“What do you mean?”
“You know we’re on the same boat.” Shaw scoffed.
“Eh?”
Shaw grinned and muttered. “You saw what I did last night. You wouldn’t leak out my secret, would you?”
“Um…”
“Look,” Shaw went on. “I will tell you exactly what you can do to earn a better living.”
“Why did you kill the kitten?” Ted interrogated.
“You don’t know?” Shaw raised his brows, looking surprised.
“No.” Ted shook his head slightly.
“I don’t kill them for fun.” Shaw whispered quietly. “I just want their fur.”
“What?”
“Shhh.” Shaw shushed him.
He couldn’t believe what he heard. Everything became clear. The reason why Shaw’s carpets were so different and unique. The reason why Shaw always got the best rugs and mat. The reason why Shaw succeeded.
“But…how?”
“How!” Shaw smiled. “Kill them, take their skin, get some machine, and sew it into a brand-new product.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I am absolutely not.” Shaw boasted. “You’ve seen my business. It works much better than I thought. But recently, the number of pets around is getting smaller. I have to travel to other neighborhood to carry on with my…”
“You’re sickening me!” Ted shrieked and got up. Yet, Shaw gripped his wrist before he could leave.
“Think about it, Ted.” Shaw said. “You know what I’m capable of doing. If you tell anyone about this, I will just say you are my accomplice.”
“You have no proof!” Ted retorted.
“Well, your watch.”
Ted widened his eyes and pulled out his pocket watch. He couldn’t believe it! There was a red stain on the surface.
“You…”
“I rubbed the kitten’s blood on your watch.” Shaw grinned. “It has your name on it. You aren’t getting anywhere.”
“You, bastard!”
“Ted, reconsider.” Shaw said. “You aren’t going to let your wife and kids starve, are you? I’m here offering you a way out and you’re accusing me. That isn’t very appropriate.”
“Well, don’t talk to me about what is appropriate.” Ted said. “What you’re doing is irredeemable.”
“But I get what I want.” Shaw shrugged. “What about you? Poor and broke. Can’t even afford a cup of coffee.”
“At least I’m not doing dirty things like you.” With that, he stormed out of the café.