MILWOKH PUSHED ON and made sure to keep moving like the dice had ordered him to. He walked around calmly to avoid drawing unwanted attention to himself and tried to look like he was one of all the oblivious visitors, enjoying the sunshine, unable to think of a better place to spend an afternoon.
Most people apparently had no idea what had happened, though he saw some who seemed to be fighting a gnawing sensation that something was awry. A few had realized and were hurrying towards the exits where the queues were growing longer, dragging their loudly protesting children with them, and here and there he saw discarded baseball caps, backpacks and shirts, all at least partially red.
He hadn’t counted on that, and he could do nothing about it. A change of colour would have been helpful, but the dice had instead opted to change his weapon again, to the knife, which in a way was preferable since he was running low on crossbow bolts.
He’d worried about the crossbow, but looking back, he had to admit it had been the most fun weapon to use. It even beat the sword. There was something elaborate about the whole thing that really hit the spot. Physics at its best. Not to mention the bolts. He couldn’t think of anything sexier than the way they silently sailed through the air and penetrated their target without permission or apology.
He stopped by the fountains outside the concert hall and looked around. Maybe it was just in this particular spot, or maybe more people than he’d thought had removed their red clothing. Either way, the fact was he hadn’t seen any red whatsoever in the last four minutes. There should obviously be an unlimited supply, but for some reason it was as though his eyes could no longer perceive the colour red.
He continued past the outdoor seating area of Nimb Brasserie, where a girl of about twelve was sitting with her parents holding a large ball of light-red candyfloss. The urge was instantaneous, but the question was if candyfloss even counted. Or the red lighter on the table between the parents.
‘No, I think we should leave now,’ the mother was saying. ‘This place doesn’t feel right.’
His thoughts were a clear sign of his growing desperation. He knew full well only clothes and accessories counted, nothing else. Besides, the candyfloss was more pink than light-red. And, off-topic, he couldn’t understand how a responsible parent could puff away like that in front of their child.
‘You’re being hysterical,’ the father replied. ‘Look around, everything’s nice and calm.’
He considered staying around until they got up, to see who would pick up the lighter. Once one of them did, it would definitely count as an accessory and the girl would be burdened with one less irresponsible parent.
A few steps later, he finally spotted something red in the form of a scarf around an older woman’s neck, about fifty feet away. She was sitting on the edge of the wishing well in the park outside Nimb with the same serene facial expression as the bronze statue behind her. She didn’t look like she was waiting for anyone, more like she’d found the perfect spot in the shade.
For some reason, she’d already noticed him, and she was looking at him without the slightest hint of fear in her eyes, as though she had no problem with him approaching her. It was almost as though she knew what he was going to do, even though he was smiling back and keeping the knife hidden in the sleeve of his hoodie.
But, then, everyone reacted differently to danger. Some started to scream and tried to run. Others broke down and begged on their bare knees to be spared. This lady apparently faced death with a smile.
‘Yes? And what can I do for you?’ she said, standing up.
‘Nothing,’ he replied, and took another step towards her. ‘Just relax.’ Without taking his eyes off hers, he let the steel sink into her midriff and in that moment, it dawned on him that he had completely misunderstood her.
The shock in her eyes surprised him, and he had to put one hand over her mouth to keep the scream from escaping while he continued to dig around her insides with the knife. But eventually she calmed down, and he could finally let her fall to the ground and hurry away from the agitated voices.