Alfie the Minotaur: Part One (special preview)

The campus cafeteria usually opened early every morning, it was one of the things you knew you could rely on. You enjoyed the coffee when it was fresh, and they had these interesting little pastries you would get along with whatever breakfast sandwich was being served. Today, you had hoped they would make something with bacon, perhaps even use that rare bit og guyer that came into stock once in a blue moon.

Instead, as you rounded the corner from the parking garage to the front of the campus, all you saw was a ripped up lawn and security tape wrapped around the cafeteria doors.

“Oh no,” you murmured under your breath as you looked at the carnage. You stepped onto the sidewalk, looking down at the lawn which was diverted so deep you could lay down in it like a coffin. Dirt and debris was kicked up, chunks of grass was strewn everywhere. Flowers. Bushes. All the wonderful colorful things on the front lawn were totally destroyed.

You frowned, not because of the missed breakfast, but because you knew the front lawn of Hephaestus Academy was considered a work of art. The groundskeeping team took pride in their work.

“Keery is going to freak the heck out,” you mumbled to yourself. You took out your phone and wondered if you should call her, or if it would be rubbing salt into the wound. Keery had been part of the gardening department for years now, she’d be crushed to see what had happened.

You walked down the street a bit, heading towards a little bistro that sustained itself on late students and teachers wanting to escape the academy for a moment. As you were about to cross the street you heard a sniffle.

In the shadows of the trees, where the walkway was shadowed by the building, someone was sitting with their head in their hands. You approached gingerly, taking small steps as the person continued to sniffle and huff.

“Are you okay?” You asked with a hint of caution. This was Hephaestus Academy, and after an accident on the lawn it really could be anybody. “If you’re hurt, I work with the medical response team.”

“No, I’m fine,” the man sniffled. “Just frustrated.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” you murmured.

The man slowly stood, revealing himself to be quite big. Was it one of the heroes on campus? He was certainly built like it. But as he stepped into some light, you saw he was wearing dark blue coveralls with the academy logo emblazoned on the pocket and back.

He dusted off his rear then sighed heavily. “Nothing to apologize for.” He stepped further out into the light, keeping his head down. The large minotaur was a well known sight on campus. His strawberry blonde fluffy hair, and chocolate pink muzzle, along with his large figure stood out, even amongst the heroes of the school. He had worked there since long before you started.

“Mr. Findlay.” Your stomach churned as you tried to think of something comforting for him. After all, it was all his hard work on the lawn that was destroyed. “You weren’t here when it happened, I hope?”

He shook his head, strawberry blonde fluff was clipped back from his big, brown eyes. “No. Happened late last night,” he grumbled.

“That’s…good-” You trailed off from your words. “Do you want me to get you anything at the bistro, Mr. Findley?” You had no idea what to offer aside from that.

He looked at you and a sort of smile crossed his face. “Call me Alfie. I’m not a teacher here,” he half heartedly chuckled. “I’m a bit too upset for anything to eat right now, but uh…thanks.”

You looked over the destroyed lawn. “Maybe it’s not so bad. I mean, Keery’s told me you like planning and trying to find native plants to grow. She-” you began to lose your momentum and second guessed what you were saying. “Keery told me you were looking for a way to incorporate a communal garden so-” You turned weak and mushy, wanting to run away from your own words.