Beats Entropy

See :Chapter 2 PART 1 and PART 2 and PART 3 for start of  this chapter. Continued in Part 5

“How have you been, Daniel?” asked Beth, passing Danny the milk crate so she could remove her heels.

Danny held the box dumbly. He hadn’t thought about Beth in weeks. Her sudden appearance dropped his stomach and sent his mind racing in sad, familiar, obsessive, loops. It was enough to make his forget his situation.

“I…I really, uh…I don’t know” Danny answered.

Beth placed her shoes on the mat, making a little noise of surprise at the neatly organized shoe tree beside it. A rubber boot hopped covertly out from behind the door and made its way to kitchen. The small brown dog followed.

“I heard that you lost your job. I just wanted to see how you were doing”.

Beth stepped past Danny’s halfhearted attempt to corral her in the entry way, placing a warm hand on his arm and brushing through into the living room. Her attention was immediately drawn to a large, suspiciously Panda shaped arm chair that dominated the left corner.

“When did you get that? It’s hideous.”

A tiny dejected moan issued from the chair. Danny began sweating profusely.

“A couple days ago, but I’m thinking of getting rid of it”.

Beth moved up close to inspect it properly: it looked exactly like a slumped Panda holding its arms and legs outright and sucking its gut in.

“It stinks. Did this used to be a real Panda?”

“I don’t even know anymore…I’m just glad you can see it” said Danny, attempting to guide Beth back into the hallway.

Beth slapped away Danny’s hands and gave the Panda’s gut a few test pushes before lowering herself into the chair. Leaning back into the expansive gut she wiggled about to try and get comfortable.

“Is this thing heated? And I think sitting on the remote”.

Beth reached behind her to try and find the device jabbing her, the Panda closed its eyes tightly and let its head slump further back in bliss. Danny pulled her forcibly up from the chair; a thin spider strand of goo connected her to the seat, before pulling taut and breaking away. The Panda shot Danny a sleazy wink, and mimed searching for the remote in his own lap. Danny held Beth tight against his chest so she wouldn’t see the display.

“What the hell are you doing?” Beth demanded.

Danny waited until the Panda resumed his chair act proper before letting her go.

“Sorry…there is a busted spring that I didn’t want jabbing you. You could get tetanus…or rabies…or something.”

Beth brushed clothes back into place.

“God you are weird. Your place looks good though; are you dating someone?”

Danny felt a thrill at how Beth’s voice pitched upwards when she asked the question.

“I’ve got a couple things going…nothing serious.”

“I’m glad. You seem different…have you been working out?” asked Beth.

“Uh…yeah, I’ve been keeping active.”

Danny took a couple deep breaths and tried to bring the conversation back around.

“So, how about you then; you still with the bone collector?”

Beth rolled her eyes and waited for Danny to rephrase the question.

“You still with Pete” Danny corrected.

“Yes” Beth answered, smiling sympathetically.

“Rough deal” said Danny.

Beth began to retort when she noticed an absence.

“Where’s my dog?”

A horrible yelp of pain rang out from the kitchen.

***

Continued in part 5

See chapter 1 for the beginning of the story:  PART 1 and  PART 2 and PART 3 and PART 4 and PART 5