30 days after...

The month had seemed eternal, the nights had not seemed to exist, everything was a continuity of the same, looking for living people, food, provisions and anything necessary for survival, although in a way, everything seemed to be easier. We learned to distract ourselves. After that night in Rais's room where he had heard him cry, everything was for the better. Of course, he does not speak to me at all about his past life, but he lent himself to listen to me and share a conversation, he began to stay more often during the nights and in a way, he began to see him more pleasant, although his attitude was terrible, and his genius He got out of control when I tried to get some information from him, but I preferred to give up on that, I hoped that some time he would open up to me and tell me on his own that they were all those scars on his body that I saw under the light of the flame .

Now he just followed him on the bike trying to keep up with him, his body didn't have him to sleep in molds of "perfect body with scars included". My legs burned with exertion and my breathing was about to be exhausted, the mask did not completely filter the foul smell and when I tried to take a breath, the nausea was worse and Rais only seemed to increase speed.

-Where are we going ?.

He did not answer me as to the previous fifteen questions, he did not show interest in telling me anything, I only felt relief when he stopped and when I got off I looked around in search of something that might be worth my effort, and yes, maybe I had not paid attention to the road Well, who would have observed the rotting corpses decomposing in the street around them?. Watching how the naturalness of a normal day had turned into a scene of unnerving horror was not something I will enjoy seeing, I had settled for just seeing Rais, but among the vast majority of bodies, what I saw made me swallow with strength.

—What ...?—It was a sigh and again, anguish invaded me—What are we doing here?.

—Walking?—he leave the bicycle leaning against the wall of the shopping center—Once I came to a store...

And he kept quiet, whenever he showed the intention of telling me something, he kept quiet, I could not ask for fear of ruining the progress we had obtained with one of his "fits of anger." We entered and I really expected to see it full of corpses but to my surprise, the place was intact. The glass ceiling allowed the entire site to be illuminated.

Rais walked calmly looking at the shop windows.

On the other hand, I didn't want to be there, I didn't want to see anything at all, how could I? A lump formed in my throat and my breathing began to become difficult, I didn't want to cry. But how do you overcome something like this, when everything reminds you that you are lost?.

—Look here.

I looked up and felt some relief. A really stylish barber shop with a black interior where leather and a motorcycle in front of the glass invited you to enter.

I walked over to the glass door and it was closed.

—Why?

Of course I did not finish speaking, I only stepped away when I saw that Rais's foot hit the lock with force causing the door to open to the maximum colliding with the glass of the shop window that exploded behind me. He laughed at my fright.

—After you—He extended his arm hiding the other behind his back, and rolled his eyes entering when he preferred to go behind him.

—It's useless, the machines shouldn't work, they have batteries—I spoke behind him while looking at the place with a familiar air.

—It's a barbershop... not a hairdresser... It has scissors, razors and stuff...

—Have you cut someone's hair?.

—And you do?—his mocking voice made me roll my eyes—There is no one to impress, so...—He stopped at one of the leather seats and turned it in my direction showing a feline smile—Let's have a little fun—he slapped the seat twice kicking up the dust.

—I'm not going to let you approach me with one of those things—I point to the razor that was ready to cut throats—I saw Sweeney Todd.

—Do you want to try it first?.

His question surprised me. Was I going to let him approach his neck with a razor?. I remembered Edward scissorhands. Would I forgive myself for hurting him unintentionally? I sighed taking off my mask and sat in the big seat feeling comfortable. I saw him smile in the mirror. He held out a cape that hung from an easel and put it over me adjusting it around my neck.

—what do I do now?—he asked and I sighed.

—What do I know?—I looked on the shelf in front of me loaded with what I believed at that time to be elements of torture and in a corner I saw some magazines, I leaned over to take one seeing a young man in profile with combed hair up with a gradient, i pursed her lips. Did he also die? I opened the magazine and between some cuts, I chose the simplest one, luckily the magazine brought indications of how to make the cut—I would like to keep my ears the truth...

—Maybe ...—he began by reading the directions—I left you one... the right... So you will look like Van Gogh without the left...

And again I felt the need to ask you about Van Gogh, how did you meet him? Do you like a painting? Of course I knew absolutely nothing about him, but Rais seemed to do when his eyes took on a certain gleam at the idea of ​​cutting off my ear. I just closed my eyes, I really didn't want to see how I would mutilate my ear in some "accidental" movement. But, I turn the chair leaving me with my back to the mirror and I only saw the clippings of old newspapers, vinyls and posters of classic rock bands or singers.

—Do you miss something?—I did not know how to control my tongue. Seeing so much culture reminded me that they were all dead so I forgot that he had sharp items at his fingertips.

—The music...—he heard himself concentrated.

I waited for him to say something else, but he didn't. I had not taken that fact into account, if I noticed the deafening silence that invaded us when we were left without speaking or he decided to shut up, but I did not give it more relevance since he was not a fan of music, not even know the names of bands or songs.

I tensed when I felt the cold blade dangerously brush my neck without being able to avoid throwing my head forward.

—I'm not going to hurt you.—He clicked his tongue as he lost concentration and perhaps freaked out at my sudden movement—Don't move ... trust me.

I returned to my site without saying anything, of course I wanted to answer but I did not want to fight, not with the only person I had. After a long time, maybe half an hour he brushed the cut hair off my shoulder and neck with a brush. He stood in front of me and looked at me turning his head to the side and narrowing his eyes even more leaving a small slit in them, he smiled. It would have been reassuring if it hadn't been for a mocking smile.

—Why are you smiling, wrong -?!—I turned the seat and I shut up, I looked at him through the mirror and he looked at me widening his smile. The cut wasn't the best in the world, but it was okay— I thought ...

—What do you shave?—He raised his eyebrow somewhat surprised by my insinuation and then he smiled—Actually, you have a circle on the back of your neck—and he smiled again at my expression when he touched the back of my neck and noticed the emptiness—Don't worry, brat, I will only laugh.

—Now it's your turn— I got up taking off the protector.

He kept the smile when he sat down and put the cape on, my hand brushed the burned skin of his neck and although I was impressed, I was able to hide my reaction.

—Well, do you want me to remove your beard?—I tugged at the hair of his cheek with some force.

—Sure—he grab the magazine and look at it—Just cut on the sides ... I want to keep the mohicana— he said passing the leaves—Look here,—he pointed to a razor cut.

I held the magazine and read the explanation of how to hold the razor, the scissors, the cutting angle and how much the cut should be, I felt with some confidence since the explanation seemed to be made for fools. Of course I still found myself nervous. I started with her hair. I had even found it funny, unlike him, I let him see himself in the mirror, when I finished on one side, I looked at him, and I saw his crest.

—I know how to dye hair...—I placed my hand on the crest and was surprised that her hair was soft and fluffy. In a hateful movement he got rid of my touch.

—I like it that way—he said dryly.

I rolled my eyes and continued on the other side. It had been easier and faster for me, even fun when the blade dangerously brushed his ear, altering him. i shook his hair and looked at it, he was on the burn side, and his appearance was not so unpleasant.

—Are you going to let me trim your beard?— I asked uncertainly—Use a razor, they didn't explode or something...

—Do you have something more interesting to do?

I shrugged my shoulder and this time improvised, I had seen Sweeney Todd, I felt somewhat empowered. Tilt the back of the seat back, noticing his smile. Shake a can of foam and squirt an unnecessary large amount in his face.

—I'm sure-— He stopped when the foam entered his mouth and he spat it out, sticking out his tongue, he noticed a piercing in it.

—I know what I'm doing, shut up—Put down the can and take the razor.

—Why are you holding her like you're going to stab me?.

—Maybe I will...—I sighed.

—It could be worse—he said with a cut on his lower lip.

—I'm so sorry...—I whimpered feeling awful for her lip that was still bleeding.

—It's your revenge I guess—licked again.

—Don't say that, I didn't do it on purpose.

—Why are you crying so much?— He put a napkin on his lip.

—Do you want me to be happy with all this?

—Just have more faith...—he shrugged.

—You believe in God?.

—No, don't mention God, faith can be in oneself — he licked at the wound and it had stopped bleeding — Do you think it needs a suture?

—Don't even ask me — I got up from the seat to walk to the door, I stopped and turned to look at him — If I have faith, I have faith in you Rais.

And he started to laugh.

We left the premises, he expected us to return to the house but instead of that he indicated that we would continue in the place to investigate, and that was something that I did not want. Because yes, we passed in front of the store and there I looking inside.

That day he had to work.

Was I heading here at the time?

How do you go from a daily life to avoid stepping on corpses?

—Do you want clothes?—He asked when he saw me and he walk to the door to check if it was closed and before he kicked it down I yelled at him:

—Wait no!—I grabbed his arm, jerking him away.

I was about to cry again! His gaze wasn't pretty, I knew it, but he could only see the store. I patted the pocket of my jacket, and took out the keys with a dolphin key ring from the inside, among all the keys was the store's one, I carried them everywhere out of habit, I didn't expect to return to the store. I walked over to the door, inserted it into the lock and opened it, my throat tightening at the scent of vanilla and coconut.

How long has it been that I did not perceive such a pleasant and familiar aroma? Now it was just the putrid smell of death.

It couldn't be there.

I entered and out of habit I tried to turn on the light, I walked to the counter looking at the shelves and racks with the clothes intact, I went around the table and stood behind the box, and I smiled, I smiled as the tears began to fall down my cheeks.

Can I have faith in you, Rais?.