We Are Bulletproof

BABE

OMG you will not BELIEVE what happened today!

@Rena Im

Did you
Find a gold ring with a ruby in the center
At your murder house
I mean
ranch?

@Wesley Carter

Luka felt really good coming out of Birdy Bee Cafe! He was awake and energetic from the espresso and he had some good food in him which helped to brace against that cold, clammy fog that had settled over Hazleton like a gray down quilt. Outside he bundled his coat closer to his body and walked himself—and his large protest sign—over to the bus stop which would take him out of town.

As he waited he stamped his feet to keep warm. It didn't really do much but he'd seen it in movies and thought he'd give it a try. All it really did was smush some dirt onto his boots, which he leaned down to wipe carefully with a (scented) tissue out of the packet in his coat pocket. Then the bus came and he hopped on, giving the driver a sunny smile despite the miserable weather outside. Luka settled into an empty seat, carelessly tossing the sign in front of him. He scrolled through social media for a while as the bus rolled away.

"Pft." He couldn't help but snort as he went through a set of pictures that popped up on instagram, featuring a blonde girl and a dark-haired young man. Pft. Their poses were so contrived. And the number of pictures on the guy's account which included his girlfriend was almost disgusting. He could barely find one without her in there somewhere—like the guy couldn't seem to stop reminding the world that he had a girlfriend. Luka rolled his eyes... but didn't stop stalking the account until he had seen all of the new pics and read through some of the comments.

Yeah okay, so he stalked a few people around the place. It wasn't a crime!

It was—research!

Know the enemy... to know yourself. That had to be a saying, right? Luka felt like he'd seen it somewhere, maybe on TV or in a book. He'd have to ask his book club where he remembered that from the next time they met up at his apartment. But for now, he continued catching up and followed Birdy Bee Cafe across all the social media platforms he could find it on. Corporate Shill Luka, check. Didn't hurt to show his new boss that he was enthusiastic!

Eventually the bus took him to the outskirts and dropped him off at a rickety old sign that read Maple Lane. With a determined expression, Luka squared his shoulders, puffed out his chest and marched off down the worn dirt road. Good thing he wore boots—the path was slick and muddy with rain! It didn't get much easier off the path, as he tramped right on up to the Carter Ranch. Luka was halted by the locked gate; he lifted the sign over one shoulder, opened his mouth and let loose.

"MEAT IS MURDER! MEAT IS MURDER!"