The old shop was musty and smelled like old. The shelves were decorated with a random assortment of odds and ends. None of them seemed to have anything to do with each other, and each one was more strange than the one before. There was no inventory either. Every item in the shop seemed to be the only one of its kind.
Tyler had barely seen the shop as he passed by, and while he wasn't normally one for random shopping trips, he felt pulled to enter this small shop situated at the corner of the strip mall. It was sat between a Macy's and a JCPenny, both were vying for the attention of the other store's customers, so this little shop went completely unnoticed by a passerby.
Except for Tyler, who had been aimlessly wandering after his friends had gone into a jewelry store and he had opted to stay outside. He was only brought along because he could drive anyway, the three girls he had come with only had a passing interest in him as a friend. They'd hung out here and there, and they used to sit together at lunch during high school, but Tyler considered himself much closer with his squad online.
In the dingey light of the shop, he could barely see the odd fellow behind the counter. "Are you here to buy something?" He asked Tyler, startling him. The shopkeep had a big smile on his face and looked eager.
"Uh, not really." Tyler started, "Just, looked like an interesting store."
"Oh it is, isn't it?" His voice was high and with a slight rasp to it. He sounded a combination of old and excited. "The finest collection of artifacts this side of the western world!"
"Artifacts? Like, treasures?" Tyler inquired.
The shopkeep chuckled, "Treasures yes! You could call them that. Something so meager to eras past, but to us, incredible and valuable. Wouldn't you say?"
"So...you're like, Indiana Jones if he decided to sell all the stuff he found?" Tyler asked, picking up an old dusty box and examining it.
The shopkeep laughed again. "Indiana Jones? Child's play." The shopkeep scratched at the light scruff on his chin, "Go ahead, boy. Have one. Anything."
Tyler turned to the shopkeep, "What like, for free?" He asked.
"Oh gods no! These artifacts are valuable. I'll give you 20% off though. Cause I like you. And I can tell it will be worth it. You've got the right ire."
Tyler browsed the dusty shelves. Whoever this crackpot was, he didn't take very good care of his "valuable artifacts". Tyler's eyes settled on a small wooden flute. He examined the object for a moment. He had played a bit in high school, he still remembered all the notes. Compared to the other items in the shop though, it was pretty unremarkable, so he put it back down.
Yet even as he tried to move on, he couldn't stop staring at the wooden flute. He was drawn to it, in the same way he had been drawn to the shop itself. He didn't know why, but he wanted that flute. He doubted he'd be satisfied with any other purchase he made, because he needed that flute. Biting his lip for a moment, Tyler picked up the flute and brought it to the counter.
"Ah. I had a feeling you'd go for this item. A charmer's flute. Crafted many centuries ago in Egypt. I believe it may still even hold its tune. Wise choice. I'd normally ask, say, thirty-five dollars. For you though, how's twenty-eight?" The shopkeep said as his old hands began to wipe down the instrument with a dust rag.
Tyler thought for a moment, it was a nice flute. And the shopkeep it still played. It could be a cool little decoration. Maybe he could learn to play properly. "Sounds like a deal." He pulled out his wallet and gave the shopkeep thirty in cash. He rang the order through and opened the cash box drawer, handing Tyler two one-dollar bills.
"Enjoy! And remember, use it responsibly." The shopkeeper said with a smile that sent chills down Tyler's spine.
Tyler took the flute and left the store, thanking the shopkeep. He walked over to a bench in the middle of the walkway and sat down. He looked around and spied two girls talking to each other. He found he quite liked the look of the ass on one of the girls, so he decided to respectfully observe her ass while he examined his new flute.
He held the instrument to his mouth, positioning his fingers to play some notes he remembered. As he put his mouth to the mouthpiece, he felt a windy chill. He pressed down his fingers and blew into the flute, playing three notes in succession.