The Arcade

Jay is

Jay likes his tea warm. He always has, and as far as he's concerned, always will. Every morning, before Jay goes to school, he gets up, gets dressed, and makes his tea. It is a vital part in his morning routine.

It's always been green tea too.
Jay takes a strange comfort in the repetition. This way, Jay isn't left blindly going through his day with no clue on what's to happen. He knows he won't collapse in gym class because he cooked an omelette with expired eggs. Jay knows he won't fall asleep during a crucial math test due to a lack of caffeine because there was orange juice in his tea mug. After seventeen years of living, Jay is sure that tea is his lifeline.

That said, Jay did not have his tea today.

Today, Jay is standing outside a very sketchy candy shop.

It was a small little shack, sandwiched between two extrordinarily large corporate buildings that dwarfed the shop in not only size, but appearance as well.

The sign hanging on the shop had long since fallen apart. It was old rickety wood that had probably seen better days. Only three blue paint chipped letters remained.

A R C

It was safe to say this shop was a dump. Heck, Jay figured it even was a shop because of the rusty shopping karts dispursed all across the parking lot.

Jay walked up to the eerily quiet building with a purpose. He didn't like being near this decrepit shack and held no intent to be inside longer than needed. All he had to do was go in, find his brother, and get out.

It was his stupid brother's fault Jay was even here. He should be in his room with a warm cup of tea in hand, but no. His routine morning was stolen from him.

He woke up this Saturday, fixed his black-ish hair, brushed his white-ish teeth, and walked into his family kitchen. Fully intending to make his tea and return to his room, Jay opened the pantry door to find and empty sugar jar.

The jar shouldn't have been empty. His brother had always bought just enough to last the week every Monday.

"John!" he called out from the kitchen. With no response, he walked to his brothers bedroom door. It was closed and locked.

"Hey John! You in there?" Jay asked. After a few quiet seconds, Jay slumped back to the kitchen.

John was gone and with him was Jay's good day. Without his tea, the rest of the day was fated to be  horrible. Really, the rest of the week was destined for ruin! All because John left without buying more sugar.

Where did he go anyway? John does have a habit of purpetually disappearing at random. Jay never really cared before because John always returned. It was never an issue.

Now that he didn't have his tea however, Jay did find it strange.

Hmm. What could he be doing at 9:30 in the morning? Could he be on a date or with friends? Could he be in trouble? Could whatever it is be more important than morning tea?

No. The very thought upset Jay.

Jay made up his mind. He was going to find John. He refused to live a tea-less life because of his brother's forgetfulness. With his goal in mind and a few phone calls later, Jay found himself at the front door of this dump.

He looked at his phone an saw the time. It was 10:00 still. Good, Jay could go in, find John, get his sugar money, and hopefully be in his room with a warm cup of green tea before noon.

Taking a deep breath, Jay grabbed the door handle and entered the ARC.