Carnage pressed the staple gun to the long wooden trunk of the telephone pole, securing the flyer to it for all to see. After all, elections were coming up soon, and Andrew Carnage had a feeling he could give Crystal a run for her money as Mayor of Mercury. He was rather well qualified after all.
Behind him, Henry Skinhead spat into the road. “Now listen, are ya just going ta ‘ave me watch while ya post those things all ova’ town or did you actually need me for somethin’?”
Carnage swung around the post, hanging off of it by one hand. He tossed the staple gun to Henry. “Yeah, just hold that will ya’?”
Henry jumped out of the way as the gun came hurtling towards him, letting it hit the ground past him. “What the hell? That’s a staple gun mate! Ya want me to shove somethin’ unpleasant up ya or somethin’? Because I will if ya keep acting like a twit and throwing friggin weapons at me!”
“Listen, just, just—just stand there ok! And here,” Carnage pulled a pin out of his pocket and walked over to the inflamed man, pressing it into his hand, “wear this.”
Henry flipped the round pin into the air and caught it smoothly, looking at it against the glare of the sun. Henry wasn’t exactly the sort of person to get sappy over something like sunshine (or at all for that matter), but the sun felt nice after yesterday’s storm.
“Andrew Carnage ’08?” he read in his quick English accent, “Why do I gotta wear this wash for?”
“Please, just DO IT.” Carnage pleaded. He had to start campaigning somewhere right? He would’ve started somewhere more open and public, but ever since yesterday, the town had been oddly quiet; and Carnage simply didn’t have the money to waste on a candidacy party no one would attend. Seemed like everyone was strapped for cash these days. Even Kitty Chu, who always seemed to have cash despite the fact that so few people actually shopped at her store…
Henry grumbled but complied, if anything just because he didn’t care. Personally, if anything he’d like to be back at Mercury’s new arena. There was always something fun to do there. If perhaps, not always legal, but still, fun. Thinking of legality, Henry had the thought of Officer Piggie cross his mind. He hadn’t seen him since yesterday, when he passed him near the Community Center. Which in itself was weird. Piggie wasn’t much of an artist. The only art he ever appreciated was probably the icing smiley face he drew on his Toaster Strudel, thought Henry with a smile. As he was thinking this, he noticed Kitty and Katie walking up. Kitty gave a nod.
“Have you guys seen Dina anywhere? We were going to see if she wanted to go to the movies, but we haven’t seen her since yesterday.”
Henry perked up. “No, I ‘aven’t. And not since yesterday huh? I ‘aven’t seen Piggie ‘round since then either. Anyone else missin’ in action?”
Katie spoke up, “Actually, when I talked to Cryssy earlier today she said she didn’t go to work today because the Café was closed. Apparently Zeth didn’t open it, and he didn’t call her or anything either.”
“That’s crock. Zeth ‘as always got ‘is ‘ands in somethin’. He can’t ever be missin’ ‘cause he’s never quiet enough for people to miss ‘im.”
Carnage walked up after pinning a few more flyers. “Hey guys, what’s up?”
Kitty and Katie both smiled a ‘hello’ to Carnage. Henry just ignored him, toying with a cigarette he had fished out of his pockets. “We were just wondering where everybody is today.” Kitty said. “We noticed that Piggie and Dina and Zeth are all missing today. Nobody’s seen them.”
Carnage gave a look of uncertainty. “You don’t think they’re all helping Crystal start a re-election campaign do you?” Everyone else rolled their eyes. There was no doubt that the only one who be voting for Carnage, was Andrew Carnage.
“No moron. Just, go play with your papers or somethin’ k?”
Kitty looked at Katie. “Well, I guess we’ll get going then. We can go to the movies anyways. Later Henry.” They both waved as they walked away. Henry just gave a nod and slumped against the side of a stone wall with some ivy clinging to it.
Whatever’s going on better be good, he thought.
