Men in the Toilet

Still slightly light-headed from sleepiness, I groaned as I grumpily took the dark cloak.

"Where are we headed?" I asked.

"Where else? Aren't we meeting that old man? So make haste, will you?"

At some point, I got used to his snarky remarks so I just ignored him and wore the cloak.

"Let's go," he said as he twisted the knob of the door to open it. And without even looking back to see if I am following, he headed out and closed the door. Leaving me behind.

The nerve!

Not wanting to be left behind, I followed suit. He was walking through the narrow hallway, only big enough for two adults to walk side by side. I half-ran to catch up. Why is he so fast?

"The heck, Ethan! We're not in a race," I complained as soon as I was already beside him.

"Shh! Your voice, Mr. Jack! You don't want us to get caught, do you?"

"Of course, not,"

"Then shut up and follow me. No questions!"

I rolled my eyes at what he said. As much as I wanted to at least know what's the plan so I would know what to expect, I still did what he said. In the first place, this was my request. I was the one who said I wanted to meet the old man. So I don't really have that much say about this. Besides, there must be a reason why he's being cautious here.

Not long after, we reached the public toilet and bath on the third floor. We haven't met a single one on our way, fortunately. They must be asleep.

I followed Ethan into one of the cubicles.

"Open it before you get out," he said as he locked the door. I nodded. Not that I understood a thing.

Not wanting to waste even a second longer, he stepped on the toilet bowl and reached for the window to open it.

I hope you're not thinking about jumping from there. It's the third floor, Ethan. Third floor!

But I couldn't be any more wrong because he exited through it right before my eyes.

You're kidding me! You're kidding me!

Exactly two seconds after he disappeared into the window, his head peeked out from the corner and said, "Wait for a bit. I won't take long." And he disappeared again.

I heaved a sigh of relief with what he said. I thought he only came here for something. And that we will get out of here. But then again, I was proven wrong. Because not long after that, he came back saying, "Mr. Jack, it's ready. You can come out now."

"What do you mean? You're telling me to jump headfirst from the freakin third-floor window? I still want to live, Ethan. I still want to live." I was hoping he will change his mind.

"Who told you to jump, idiot! Of course, you won't."

"You dare fool me! I know that the emergency stairs are by the bedroom's window, not here."

"Sigh! I'm aware. But why don't you see for yourself first before saying no automatically like some coward?"

"I'll kick you if —" I wasn't able to finish what I was about to say as Ethan suddenly covered my mouth with his palm. His index finger motioned me to shut up.

From outside the door, we heard a series of footsteps, the twisting of the knob, and the voices of two men.

"Which number are you rooting?"

"I placed all my bet on number thirteen."

"That Alviar, huh. I heard he was good but mine was number four. A dark horse."

"Number four? Who was that again?"

"It's —"

"Tsk!" Before I can hear the number four's name, Ethan tugged my arm and signaled me to climb the window.

You're kidding me.

Looking at his oddly serious countenance, I was forced to swallow my words of complaints. I looked at the window again, I gulped as soon as an image of me falling — slamming onto the hard and cold bricks suddenly flashed before my eyes.

No, stop thinking negatively, Sean. Remember why you're doing this in the first place. It's part of the risk that you have to take if you truly wanted to become a peculiar.

I took a deep breath before placing my right foot on the toilet bowl. When my left hand was already touching the window frame, I turned to Ethan and whispered, "Does it really have to be on the third floor? I mean, there's a second and first, you know?"

My suggestion actually made sense but why the heck are you looking at me as if no one could be more stupid than I am?

"And what? Display ourselves to everyone? To let them know that we're up to something?"

"But they've no idea of our purpose."

"Sigh! You trust your eyes for way too much, Mr. Jack. Trust me. It's gonna come and bite you one day," he said. His voice laced with a warning tone.

"Bro! Did you hear that? I thought no one comes here at this hour!" We suddenly heard the man's voice from outside the door followed by the creaking and slamming sound of the doors as each cubicle starting from the right was opened one by one.

We've totally forgotten about them!

"Shit! Get to the window!" There was a certain urgency in Ethan's voice that I'd forgotten that it was the third floor's window. And so, without thinking, I exited through it.

My soul almost left my body when the bitter wind brushed my skin. I was standing on a slim rectangular concrete slab with no railings.

I can feel the world around me spin and my guts churn when I looked at the ground below me. My legs have turned into noodles.

Goodness! Am I going to die tonight?

Seconds later, there was a thud coming from my left — it was Ethan. His hood fell off when the wind blew revealing his snow-white hair.

He closed the window immediately as soon as he landed.

"Eh? There's no one here. Are we just hearing things?"

Hearing what the man had just said, both Ethan and I heaved a sigh of relief.

"Phew!"