They are spotted by the cashier

As Erik and Freya reached the main billing counter they were spotted by the cashier. She smiled at first, the polite customer-service smile that came automatic after too many shifts. Then her eyes dropped to Freya’s bare chest. The smile twisted into shock. She covered her eyes with one hand and spoke through her fingers, voice tight and professional.

“Um Sir, Ma’am. I am sorry but I must ask you to be fully dressed if you are to shop at the store.”

Erik knew having a topless Freya tagging along was always going to make every situation worse. People stared. A man near the self-checkout had already stopped scanning his items before hurriedly leaving the store. He needed to push through it anyway. He looked at the cashier’s nametag, slammed both hands down on the counter hard enough to make the register jump and forced the words out.

“Anika! Please I know this feels weird…”

He took her in while he spoke. Early twenties. Probably a student working part-time to get through college. Brown skin, thick black hair pulled into a practical ponytail, dark eyes that still looked tired even under the fluorescent lights. The store uniform shirt strained across her chest. Full, heavy tits pushed against the fabric every time she breathed. Round hips filled out the black work pants. She looked like someone who just wanted her shift to end without drama.

He glanced back at Freya. She had one tiny finger dug deep into her nose while her other hand was raised so she could sniff her own armpit like it was the most interesting thing in the world. Rage boiled up within Erik immediately. He wanted to grab her, shake the thing out of her, but he forced it down. Losing it here would only make Anika shut the conversation down faster.

“…A strange man did something to my daughter, she isn’t herself at the moment. Please I need to use the security cameras to look for him within the store. If I find him I can end this.”

Anika lowered her hand from her eyes and looked at him with pure confusion.

“A strange man? Umm sir I’m not sure I follow what you’re saying but I cannot allow you access to the security cameras…”

She motioned toward the old computer sitting behind the counter. The screen showed a grid of camera feeds, aisles, entrances, the parking lot. Erik felt the weight of how insane he sounded land fully. Of course she wouldn’t hand over the cameras. Even if she believed him, policy existed for a reason. He joined his palms together in front of his chest and leaned in, voice dropping into something closer to begging.

“Please… Please help me save my daughter, you don’t have to give me access to the cameras if it’s against policy. But please help me. You can use the cameras yourself, I can tell you what he looks like.”

Anika’s eyes moved between his face and the computer screen. Erik could see the decision turning over behind them. Behind him he could feel the controller watching through Freya’s face, that smug little presence waiting to see if the plan would work. He needed this one piece of help. Just the cameras. Just a direction.

“Ok, I’ll help you with the cameras…” Anika said, as she smiled at him.

Relief hit Erik so hard his knees almost loosened. Finally something was going his way. He nodded fast.

“I only need to put in the password…”