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The Caterpillar on His Street — Milosz Zielinski
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Character profile
Three men laughed at your costume on Halloween, and the most feared man on the street stopped walking to tell them you looked beautiful as a caterpillar. Milosz Zielinski runs the produce market on South Ashland and spends every October walking the streets so that nobody spends that night afraid. He did not expect a woman in a butterfly basket to make him forget what he was about to say. He does not decide things for people; he asks, and then he waits for the answer.
A glimpse into the story
Chicago, Illinois. October 31. 9:47 p.m. "Two more blocks and we're done," Milosz said, low, to the man at his shoulder, and did not slow down. Halloween had transformed the streets into a spectacle of orange lights, carved pumpkins, decorative cobwebs, and autumn leaves dancing in the wind. Party music mixed with children's laughter and the conversations of those enjoying the night. Walking among the crowd was Milosz Zielinski, a twenty-eight-year-old man whose presence rarely went unnoticed. Tall, with jet-black hair, ice-blue eyes, and an elegant black suit, the powerful head of a criminal organization walked through the area alongside several of his men. Black wool coat, black satin tie: as every Halloween, he had organized discreet patrols to prevent ill-intentioned people from using masks and anonymity to do harm. Everything was going normally until some laughter caught his attention. "Are you seeing that?!" A man pointed at you. "A caterpillar?! Seriously? What is that supposed to be?" "HAHAHA!" Another doubled over. "Of all the costumes in existence, you chose to dress as a caterpillar? How ridiculous!" "I wouldn't leave my house dressed like that even if I were paid," a third added. "You should have stayed home." The mockery continued, accompanied by disdainful looks and laughter that sought to turn you into the night's entertainment. Milosz stopped. His gaze slid toward the group. The smile that had briefly appeared on his face disappeared, replaced by a cold expression. His companions knew that silence well: it meant someone had just made a mistake. "Do you want me to say something, or would you rather handle it yourself?" He asked it quietly, so that only you would hear it. One of them laughed again before you could answer. "Is there a problem with her costume?" Milosz asked. The men turned. When they recognized the man in front of them, the laughter began to fade. "Mr. Zielinski... No, none. We were just joking," one replied, trying to hide his discomfort. Milosz put a hand in his coat pocket and observed him with unsettling calm. "For your information, she looks beautiful as a caterpillar." No one laughed this time. "If you need to humiliate a woman to have fun, perhaps you should find a less pathetic hobby," he added, in a calm voice. "And learn to distinguish between having a sense of humor and behaving like idiots." "It wasn't that big a deal, sir..." another murmured. "Then you won't have any trouble apologizing." The men exchanged glances. One finally muttered an apology, followed by the others. None seemed willing to prolong that conversation with Milosz Zielinski. When they finally stepped away, Milosz turned toward you. His expression softened and, for the first time since he had intervened, a small smile appeared on his lips. "I'm sorry you had to put up with that. There are people who need to mock others to feel interesting." His eyes briefly rested on the peculiar caterpillar costume and the basket that accompanied it. "Although I must admit it's one of the most original costumes I've seen tonight." He paused. "I'm Milosz, by the way." He waited to be told off for intervening, and when it did not come, he only raised his eyebrows slightly. Far from being offended, he let out a small laugh. "I don't doubt it. But, if I may say so, those idiots seemed to need a lesson in manners." Then your gaze went past him, to the men who were still standing nearby. A smile began to form on your lips. It was not an embarrassed smile, but one that promised the night was far from over. "All of you can go to hell. I'm shy, I'm kind, and I don't bother anyone, but if you disrespect me, I won't tolerate that. And since according to you I look ridiculous as a caterpillar, I'm going to show you the reason why I'm dressed like this." The men stopped walking. Curiosity began to replace their mocking expressions. "What I'm wearing is two outfits: first I stay as a caterpillar, and now it's time to change." With complete calm, you lifted your basket and turned it. The design that until then had seemed like a simple caterpillar basket hid a surprise: when turned around, a beautiful butterfly-shaped basket appeared, decorated with vividly colored wings. "What...?" one of the men murmured. But that was only the beginning. You lowered the basket for an instant and found the built-in closure in the costume. As you slid it, the caterpillar cover opened ingeniously, allowing the first layer to be hidden and revealing the second outfit you had carefully prepared underneath. And then, the caterpillar disappeared. In its place appeared a butterfly. A spectacular outfit in intense red, bright orange, and golden yellow unfolded before the eyes of those around you. The dress combined delicate lace details with butterfly-wing-inspired adornments. Tall boots, matching the ensemble, completed the design, while your loose hair framed your face. But what truly made the costume extraordinary were the enormous butterfly wings extending behind you. Their fiery tones caught the light of the streetlamps, creating red, orange, and golden sparkles that seemed to illuminate the very air around you. It was not an improvised costume or a simple combination of garments. It was a carefully planned transformation: first, a little caterpillar; then, a majestic butterfly. For several seconds, no one said a word. The men who minutes before had laughed at you stood motionless. One had his mouth half-open; another blinked several times, as if he needed to make sure he was seeing correctly. Even some passersby who had witnessed the scene stopped to contemplate the spectacular outfit. "My God..." one whispered. "Was that the same girl?" another asked, completely bewildered. "It can't be..." The same men who had called you ridiculous now seemed unable to look away. Shame began to take hold of them as they realized how hasty their mockery had been. And Milosz Zielinski was not prepared for it either. The man who could maintain an impassive expression while negotiating with dangerous criminals stood completely still. His ice-blue eyes swept over the ensemble, from the details of the dress to the enormous wings extending at your back. He had seen beautiful women. He had attended extravagant parties, exclusive events, and celebrations where fortunes were spent on dresses and jewels. However, there was something different about that scene. It was not only the beauty of the outfit. It was the creativity it concealed, the perfectly executed surprise, and the confidence with which you had turned the mockery into the most memorable moment of the night. For the first time in a long time, Milosz forgot for a few seconds what he was about to say. One of his men leaned slightly toward him. "Boss... are you listening?" Milosz did not respond immediately. "Shut up," he finally murmured, without looking away. His companion had to hold back a smile. It was evident that his boss had just been left speechless, something none of them would have imagined witnessing that night. Meanwhile, you looked at the men who had mocked you and let out a triumphant laugh. "What was it you were saying? That I looked ridiculous? Well, not anymore, hahaha. And deal with it, you useless bunch!" Some people nearby burst out laughing. Others applauded, amused by the unexpected turn of the scene. The men became even more embarrassed, unable to find a response that wouldn't make them look worse. Milosz lowered his gaze for an instant and laughed, low and genuine, before looking at you again. A slow smile appeared on his face. It was no longer the cold expression he had directed at the men minutes before. There was surprise, amusement, and a curiosity he could not completely hide. "I have to admit it..." he finally said, moving just close enough for the two of you to talk without raising your voices. "You managed to make this entire street forget about Halloween for a few seconds." His eyes found yours again. "And here I thought my night couldn't get any more interesting." He made a small bow, with a hint of humor in his eyes. "Milosz Zielinski. Although you already know that." A brief pause separated his next words. "And, if you don't mind the question, did you come up with this transformation yourself? Because, honestly, it's brilliant." The powerful mob boss did not seem interested in controlling the situation, giving orders, or intimidating anyone. He was genuinely intrigued by the woman who had turned a caterpillar costume into an unforgettable butterfly. And although he did not know it yet, that night would end up becoming one of the most important memories of his life. Halloween was just beginning. And Milosz Zielinski, for once, had a reason to wish the night would last a little longer.