Chapter 5

Destroyer of Dreams

A tap at the glass brought their attention to the window directly in front of Brittanee.  Drucilla put the doll back in her pocket and watched as Devon waved amiably to Brittanee, holding several ticket stubs. Brittanee glanced quickly at Drucilla before approaching the glass.

“Sam and I got….”

“Devon, have you met Drucilla here?” Brittanee interrupted and nodded pointedly to the side where Drucilla sat calmly at her stool.

Devon jerked his head, cupping his eyes against the glass to see more clearly into the room. He swore softly.

“What is she doing here?!”

“Uhh, training. Obviously,” Brittanee said, uncomfortable.

“Well…. Just…. Can you hold these for me? And I’ll…. stop by at the end of our shift,” he glared at Drucilla as he shoved the ticket stubs through the window cut out.

“Uh, sure,” Brittanee said, and she sat the pile next to the till. She glanced quickly at Drucilla, who sat watching this interaction with interest.

Devon strutted away without a backwards glance, but Brittanee fidgeted, tapping the counter till he was out of sight again.

What did he pass her? A note? 

Standing up quickly, Brittanee straightened her bell hop jacket. “I’m going to hit the bathroom, real quick, since it’s slowed down. You ok here?”

Drucilla nodded. She watched her exit and cross to the restrooms before rushing over to the far screen to see what was in those papers.

Just ticket stubs. What would they use these for? They weren’t personal enough to use in any curse she knew, and how would you know who you were using them on? They could belong to anyone!

She sat, quietly holding about two dozen torn squares of paper, trying to figure out what they meant.

Then the mundane hit her. Well that’s disappointing, she thought disgustedly. She stood up and walked back to the till Brittanee had been using, and checked her garbage. All of this trouble for something so banal.

She sat dejectedly at her stool for a few minutes before tossing her miniature doll into a garbage can. What a waste. Stacy entered the room, looking like a thunderhead. Robbi entered behind her, a towering statue of dejection.

“Brittney! I’ve been looking all over for you! What are you doing in here?” She demanded.

“You mean Drucilla.” Robbi interjected. Stacy glared at him through the side of her eye.

“I helped Brittanee through the last rush. She seemed overwhelmed with the number of customers waiting on her, so I started a new till,” Drucilla stated, bored.

Stacy seemed momentarily stunned. “You… helped in the box office? We don’t ever start people in box.”

Drucilla stared at Stacy, disinterested. “Yes.”

“That’s pretty impressive….” Robbi muttered, his head leaning towards Stacy.

“But beside the point!” Stacy said, working back up to her former angry tone, “I am appalled by the stories I am hearing about you! Jumping on people’s backs, pulling hair and biting people?! What were you thinking?!”

“Ah, yes. I was mistaken. Sam wasn’t leading a coven, just stealing money. I should apologize to him,” Drucilla said solemnly.

Stacy’s jaw dropped and Robbi’s head snapped up. Stacy blinked slowly. Taking a deep breath she said, ”I’m sorry, what?”

“There is no dark coven prowling this theater. You’re understandably relieved.”

“Uhhh, quite assuredly. But you said they were stealing money?” Robbi asked next to Stacy who still seemed confused.

“Hmm? Oh yes. Sam and Devon appear to be collecting dropped ticket stubs and bringing them to Brittanee who would cash out a return on them. Very run-of-the-mill stealing,” Drucilla explained disgustedly, gazing out the window.

“And you have proof of this?” Stacy asked, dazed. Robbi grinned.

“Well, there’s the pile of the stubs Devon just dropped off and Brittanee’s garbage has a few different receipts for large quantity returns. I’m sure you could check her login statistics if you needed more evidence,” Drucilla stated, glancing at her watch. Only another hour on my shift. This has gone by faster than I expected it to.

“Our sales have been way down, despite all these big shows coming out,” Robbi said quickly. “This would explain everything!” He shook his fist in triumph.

“If I may make a request? I’d like to finish my shift out here, if that’s ok.”

“Huh?” Stacy still seemed lost in thought.

“I assume you came here to reassign me to another area to train in, but I find this area very pleasing,” Drucilla said, “Unless you were looking for me for another purpose?”

“I was looking for you to fire you,” Stacy said, shaking her head to clear her thoughts, “But that may have been hasty.”

“I should say! Drucilla has just redeemed herself, methinks!” Robbi grinned, nodding in her direction in approval.

“Hmmm, yes. We’ll still have some things to discuss, but stay here for now while I handle this new development.” Stacy said. She turned and walked to the door. Opening it, she paused, “Thank you Drucilla. I am very impressed.” Stacy smiled and left.

Robbi placed his large hand on Drucilla’s shoulder, smiling proudly. “You’ve done great work this day, Drucilla. I knew it would be well advised to have a white witch on our team! We shall have to find you a proper title! Drucilla! Catcher of thieves! Ummm, no, how about,” Robbi tapped his chin in thought, “Spoiler of plans! No, that sounds bad. Destroyer of…. Idiots?” Robbi shook his head and continued to think, muttering as he did.

Drucilla smiled, surprisingly touched by this man’s attentions and pleased to have found another old soul after all.

“Destroyer of Dreams.” Drucilla whispered, eyes glittering.

“YES! Alliteration is always best in a title! Uhh, we’ll have a proper ceremony when I can find a broom, but in the meantime, I’ll let you get back to work.”  He nodded towards a customer waiting at her window. “I bid you farewell until then, DRUCILLA: DESTOYER OF DREAMS!” He bowed with a flourish and exited the door, backwards.

Drucilla turned towards the window, happy in her small box of solitude.