The joints of its body moved as if twisted by an invisible hand.
Bones that should've stayed still were now dancing to a rhythm no one could hear.
"It's starting…"
Annie whispered as she pulled a small black lump from her bag.
It looked like charcoal, but its surface shimmered faintly, etched with ancient runes along the edges.
Am didn't move.
He remained seated, one hand resting on a coaster that now glowed faintly silver—pulsing like breath.
"Table 13 is contaminated," Am said calmly, lifting his eyes toward the green-uniformed staff member who had stopped beside a laughing couple, completely unaware of what was coming.
"It's choosing someone."
Annie gripped the butter knife a little tighter.
The staff member slowly bowed its head—then snapped it back toward Annie and Am's table.
A soft "crack" echoed from its neck.
Its eyes were lifeless.
Its smile, far too wide, didn't belong on any human face.
"Am… I say we don't wait."
"Agreed."
Just as the green-uniformed staff began stepping toward them,
Annie hurled the black lump to the ground.
BOOM.
A plume of purple-gray smoke erupted instantly, smelling of roses mixed with sulfur.
The restaurant buzzed with noise—customers screaming, fumbling for their phones, trying to film what they couldn't understand.
Am shot up and yanked a cable from beneath their table.
The device under his coaster lit up, casting a radiant silver circle of energy.
"Come out, then. The real you."
A horrible crack-crack-crack came from the staff member's body—
Something was inside…
Something not human
Something trying to shed its shell.
It moved closer to the next table—a little girl dining with her parents.
No one noticed.
It walked slowly, smiling just enough to blend in.
But Annie saw the faint ridges on its neck—like rows of teeth, shifting beneath its skin.
"Am, it's feeding…"
Annie murmured. "It's sucking out fear."
The staff placed a gentle hand on the girl's shoulder and spoke in a slow, dragging tone:
"Would you like a scary pancake, sweetie?"
The girl froze—then burst into tears.
Instantly, a light surged under the creature's skin.
Its eyes flared bright green.
Veins bulged across its face.
It inhaled like someone starved, and for just a moment, a grotesquely long tongue flicked from its mouth—then vanished.
"Appetizer's done… Time for the main course."
It murmured, voice doubled, layered with something inhuman.
Am shot to his feet.
"House Rule 4.2: Do not show any reaction to strange objects on your plate—or it will notice you."
Annie snapped back, "House Rule 2.2: Avoid talking to green-uniformed staff—because they're not really staff."
The entire restaurant fell silent.
Everyone who'd seen what happened held their breath.
Some raised their menus to hide their faces.
Others coughed nervously to drown out the panic creeping up their throats.
But then…
A man at Table 6 spoke up.
"Um… sorry, but doesn't this waiter look kinda weird? Like a robot or something, haha!"
…
Mistake.
The staff member turned abruptly to face him—
Smile stretching up to its temples.
CRACK. CRACK. Its bones shifted grotesquely.
Then the man was gone.
Sucked in like a curtain caught in a vacuum cleaner.
Only his hat remained, resting neatly on the chair.
No one said a word.
No one moved.
Even the phone that had been recording dropped to the floor—its owner had fainted.
Annie gritted her teeth.
"We'll have to break the café's rules to end this cycle."
Am lifted the glowing coaster and pressed its center.
A wave of silver magic surged across the café—freezing everyone in place.
Everyone, that is, except the staff member—who now looked like it was in pain.
"Crazy Rose Café's rules were written to hide the truth," Annie said.
"But we're about to write a new menu."
She opened a leather-bound book—styled like a menu, but filled with ancient handwriting.
She began to write:
"No customer in this café shall ever feel fear again—and those who feed on fear shall starve."
The moment the final stroke of ink touched the page,
the staff member began to convulse.
Its skin swelled.
Its blue veins turned black.
Eyes popped.
Teeth fell out.
And then it exploded into a thick red mist—rose-scented and tinged with rust.
Am wiped the fog off his face.
"New house rule… approved."
Annie turned to the little girl, who had stopped crying.
"You still want those pancakes, sweetheart?"
The girl nodded.
The restaurant slowly unfroze.
Everyone moved again—
As if nothing had happened.
Except for the single hat,
still sitting quietly on Table 6.
............................