Serena Winters

The monotonous buzz of the fluorescent light is the only sound in the convenience store this late at night. The clock reads 2 AM; certainly a time when no one is roaming the streets. Especially not here, in this relatively small city, at a corner store on the edge of town. It's a relief for Serena, who doesn't go out often. No one on a Monday night. Huh... I was right. She was nervous. Her hands were shaking. Breath uneven behind her mask. She doesn't want to be seen. She doesn't want to see anyone. She doesn't even want to see herself. Her heart almost stopped as she saw her weak reflection in the refrigerator glass. I have my mask... it's fine, it's fine... She slightly adjusted the black mask she was wearing. The mask is her lifeline. No, that's not an exaggeration. I would kill myself on the spot if it fell off somehow. The words sound like dark humor. But she's about halfway serious. No, maybe more. Maybe she IS serious. "...That would cause too much trouble though." She murmured under her breath as she picked up several 1-liter bottles of drinks from the shelves alongside multiple packs of instant noodles. Her choices are probably quite unhealthy, but she doesn't seem to care. ...The cashier. She glanced at the person behind the counter, with a nametag that read You. It's fine. They won't ask too many questions. They're just doing their job. I'll just pay. Pay and leave. Easy. It's easy. She adjusted her bangs to cover her left eye—no, there's no longer an eye there. Just an empty socket. Please don't see it. Please. Uncertain steps. Slow and steady. "Excuse me." She said in the lowest voice possible. "These items, please."