Chapter 99: Restaurant Trouble

AARON. 'So you're leaving? So soon?" Mr Alessandro asked, looking a bit dejected. I had returned to the restaurant to tell everyone of my departure. I told them, on quote, that I was going to live with my mother on the other side of the country. Helena came up with the lie. 'Yes Mr Alessandro. I don't have a choice. I'll miss all of you." I tried to stay professional. Everyone stared at me with wide eyes, as if if I left, the kitchen would immediately switch to being disorganized and in shambles. I was just leaving. 'It's such a shame honestly. Just when I thought we had someone special. It's alright then, you can go and stay with your mother. We will look forward to seeing you around. But you gotta know, I can't guarantee your position when you return." He said resolutely. As if I'd ever return. I thanked him and walked out of his office, feeling a little bit relieved. I was going to spend the last day here at work, while Luna worked on the spell. Helena was also spending the day at work, probably to say goodbye to her colleagues. I tried to focus, but with so many what-ifs even I began to doubt myself. Around lunchtime, I left the cooking area for some fresh air. Normalcy was one thing I had gotten so used to, that I so much dreaded the werewolf life. It was tasking, and most of the time our efforts are underappreciated. I can't believe I'd be returning to such a lifestyle because of some responsibility that I was seemingly born with and couldn't escape. 'Are you okay there?" I whirled around as soon as I heard the voice. Linda stood beside me, all smiles, but her eyes held a different story. I exhaled. 'I'm fine. I'm leaving The Cuisine soon." I might as well tell everyone at once. Her face fell at my words, and she stepped back a few paces. 'Why?" She asked strangely. I could feel her heartbeat get faster. 'I have to attend to my mom. She hasn't been feeling well for a while." That was the lie I went with. Linda stared at me briefly, before shrugging. She hugged me suddenly. 'I'm sorry about that. We'll miss you." I stiffened, staring down at her. 'Yeah, thanks." I muttered, trying to nudge her off. She released me after a bit. 'You know, I'm always seen as the weird type." She said, crossing her arms. No kidding. 'Why's that?" I asked, even though the reason was plain. 'I've never been the normal kid. I'm always too curious, too brave, and one time, they said I liked too many animals." I sighed. 'There'll always be people who don't like us. It's normal. What matters is how you take it." I never took it well. Not for most of my early years. I couldn't understand that humans would talk and talk without worrying how the other person felt about their words. I had now become used to it, because even werewolves didn't care. If anything, they were even harsher. 'I guess you're right." She muttered. 'I admire you sometimes. You're so….resilient, firm in the way you do things. I like how you don't let anything affect you." She said it somewhat nonchalantly, but I could feel the emotion in her voice. 'Thanks, Linda." 'Anytime. Have a nice life Aaron. Since I don't know if I'd still be here when you return." She walked away before I could respond, so I was left with what I could imagine was…melancholy. Later in the evening, I was about clocking out when one of my colleagues, Fredo, yelled loudly from inside the oven area. There was no one else around, so I ran immediately to check. There, Fredo stood wailing endlessly with his right hand stuck inside the oven. I was both confused and alarmed. 'How did you get in there?" ********************************************************************************************************** "Help! Aaron!" I spun around with heart in my throat, and sprinted towards him. The panic in his voice made my stomach lurch. I had only heard one person scream like that….Helena. I rushed past the counters and racks of freshly baked bread, and finally reached the oven area. Fredo stood, hunched over, his arm buried deep inside the industrial oven. "Fredo, what the hell happened?" My voice was frantic. How do you get your arm stuck in something that huge? "My hand! It's stuck!" Fredo winced, pulling at his arm. "It's burning! Man, it's burning me bad!" My chest tightened. Without thinking, I pulled the oven door open wider and crouched to get a closer look. The heat was radiating rom the oven, but it wasn't that hot—at least not enough to burn skin. Still, Fredo was gripping his arm in pain, his face a twisted contortion of agony. "Stay still," I muttered, more to myself than Fredo. My fingers felt around inside the oven, trying to figure out what had trapped his hand. 'We need to get this loose, but I don't want to make it worse," If anything I wanted it to basically slip out. My voice was tight with focus. I gave a quick glance around the kitchen. Empty. No one was there to help. It was just the two of us. That was really suspicious. 'Alright, man. I'm gonna pull, okay?" My grip tightened around Fredo's arm. He nodded, bracing himself for the pull. 'On three. One, two, three!" I pulled with all my strength, human strength at least, but Fredo let out a painful groan, jerking back. 'Stop! Don't yank it like that!" He cried, beads of sweat rolling down his face. I felt a rush of guilt but knew they didn't have many options. If Fredo's hand was stuck in the mechanism, they had to be careful. Moreover, I didn't know what to do, at all. 'Just trust me, Fredo. One more try, but a little harder this time," I reassured him. He planted his foot against the oven, bracing himself. 'Ready? One, two... three!" My regular strength didn't seem to work, so I kicked in a bit of werewolf magic. With one final heave, Fredo's hand came free, and I stumbled back, almost crashing into the counter behind me. I looked down, expecting the worst—a scorched hand, blisters, maybe worse. But Fredo's hand was completely fine. Not a single burn, not even a mark. I blinked in confusion. 'What the…? You're not even hurt." Why was he yelling like someone was chopping off his arm? Fredo's face broke into a guilty grin. 'Yeah, about that…" he muttered, widening the grin. 'I wasn't really stuck. Or in pain. The oven wasn't even on." For a second, I just stared, trying to piece together my thoughts. 'Are you serious right now? I thought your hand was getting roasted!" I couldn't decide whether to be angry or relieved. I chose the latter. But why would he pull such a stunt on me? My mind roamed with possibilities. Before I could say anything else, the lights went out, throwing us into complete darkness. My heart jumped into my throat again. 'What now?" I muttered.