Zentaku

A quick story I thought of, that I had to get off my brain.

Zuka: The wooden Woe Zuka wooden lifeless eyes peered out of the shop window, into the decrepit cobble streets of Malifaux. The darkness provided him comfort, it is where he saw the real grit of humanity, the struggles and schemes they ran in the night. He wished he could talk, and tell the secrets he had learned sitting on the shelf of the tiny shop he occupied. Oh the stories he could tell. All he could do is watch though, this didn’t bother him to much. He faintly remembered the arrival of the humans as they filled the streets and buildings . Though he could remember the human who occupied the shop he sat in now. He hated the human, He didn’t know his name, but he knew that the human was cruel. He watched as people entered the shop, dropping off items for paper and metal coins. The things people brought into the shop was always random as were the items they took. Sometimes someone would stop to pick him up, and he always met their gaze, as they would sneer and return him to his window throne. This night was quite as he peered out into the darkness though. Usually it was filled with degenerates, and drunken humans who stumbled loudly down the streets. Tonight nothing but the glow of the lamps, peeking into the shadows as if they had fought for eternity. Something felt wrong about tonight though. A sort of creepiness claimed the night, and crept through his seams and joints. Still it made him feel like he belonged, and almost excited. It was then he noticed a movement in the shadow. His attention focused on it as a small wooden cart emerged from the shadows into the light. Being pushed by what he could only guess was a human. She seemed old, and moved like some of the gray haired humans that he saw before making their way in the daylight. This one seemed different though, her stiff movements seemed almost graceful, though most of her remained covered by the shall she wore around her arms and shoulder. Her face still covered by shadows, she seemed to look right at him sitting on his shelf. Much to his surprise she made her way into the shop. He listened as words where exchanged behind him. He had began to understand some of what the humans spoke from the time he had spent in that window. He could at least make out the words “How much?” His attention focused trying to hear what they were discussing, and what they could be talking about. He hoped that it was about him. Their talking got more intense and soon the mans, voice grew loud, then to a scream. Zuka panicked he wondered what the scream could be from, he knew it had to be the man. Silence came next followed but the sound of foot steps headed in his direction. He then felt hands wrap around his body, as the shelf seemed to disappear under him. He felt his body rotate as his finally met eyes with his holder. Soft wooden eyes met his as he peered at his handler. He strained his eyes in the darkness as he looked into her face. A twisted smile sprawled across her face, as she looked up to him. “Don’t worry child, I shall bring you to your true home.” She pulled him close as they walked across the room, his eyes pointed behind her as he looked at the lifeless body of the shop keeper sprawled across the counter with “Ours” Stitched into his forehead. All Zuka heard was the shop bells as he finally felt free..