Page 17 of Brody

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I stood staring up into the dead animal’s glass eyes, and a shiver traveled up my spine.

By now it was becoming a habit that whenever I didn’t understand my own reaction, I turned to Brody for an explanation. At first, I’d been afraid that he would grow tired of my constant questions and random statements, but in less than a day I’d already become so comfortable with him that I didn’t even hesitate before turning to him and pointing above the door.

“Something about that bird bothers me.”

He followed the line of my finger, and after studying the bird in question for a moment, a smirk spread across his mouth.

“I guess you really are superstitious. That’s a magpie.”

Magpies were a type of bird. I remembered that much, but not why the species was significant.

Noticing my confusion, Brody explained further. “There’s an old superstition about the number of magpies. ‘One for sorrow, two for mirth, three for a funeral, four for a birth.’ There might be more to the saying that that, but that’s all I remember.”

“So, just one magpie is a bad sign.”

Brody shrugged. “If you believe in that stuff.”

It was clear I did. Even without my memories, the sight of the lone bird upset me.

Noticing my distress, Brody grabbed my hand and pulled me into the shop. “Come on. It’ll be fine.”

As we passed through the door, I automatically reached out and knocked on the doorframe three times. The sound of my knuckles rhythmically hitting against the wood soothed some of my worries, but I still clung tightly to Brody’s hand.

The shop was busier than I expected inside. There were at least a dozen people, which wasn’t a lot, but the narrow isles and fully stocked displays made everything feel cramped. Even with only twelve other people walking around, I felt like I had to keep my elbows pinned to my sides to avoid knocking into anyone.

I followed Brody right up to the front desk, where he rang the service bell to get the attention of the teenager sitting behind the register scrolling on their phone.

“What?” the girl asked without looking up.

At least, I thought it was a girl. The short blue hair, multiple piercings and tattoos, and all black attire made it hard to tell.

Maybe that was the point.

Non-binary was a thing, wasn’t it?

Even with my memories, I had a feeling I wouldn’t know the right thing to say in this situation, so I kept my mouth shut and let Brody do the talking.

To his credit, he didn’t seem at all phased by the cashier’s attitude.

“Hi. I just need to ask you a question. Have you seen him before?” He pointed at me.

The abrupt non-sequitur question was enough to get the cashier’s attention. She—they?—looked up from the phone and blinked owlishly at us.

“What?”

That must have been Brody’s intention, for his smile just grew wider.

“I wanted to know if my friend had come in here recently to purchase anything, and if you or anyone who works here recognizes him?”

Still shocked by the unusual question, the cashier gave me a quick glance before shaking their head. “I don’t recognize him. Let me see if anyone else does?”

After making a few calls and talking to the other staff at the shop, it was eventually determined that no one recognized me. If I had come to this shop, I hadn’t left enough of an impression to be memorable.

We left, disheartened but hopeful, and headed to the next shop.

It was the same at the next place as well. No one knew me. I should have expected as much. Being identified through my purchase at a camping supply shop was already a long shot, especially since we weren’t certain I’d actually bought my supplies in this town.

“Come on,” Brody said before I could get too lost in my own thoughts. “I think I saw a place selling barbecue nearby. Let’s get some lunch before we do anything else.”