Page 4 of Scarred Sins
A)Clean everything spotless, since I am working the opening shift in the morning. It means less work for tomorrow’s Blair, though I’ll sleep two hours less tonight.
B)Deal with the mess in the morning and pray to the Lord that I manage to clean everything before the first customer appears.
Eventually, I decide to go with option A. Regardless of the potential lack of sleep, in the morning, I’ll be able to drink my coffee in peace, read newspapers, and get a snack before the busy day starts.
By far, Wednesdays are our busiest days. Since it’s a very family-oriented restaurant, and children below the age of twelve have fewer classes during that day, families often visit with their kids during lunch hours.
The mere thought of obnoxious laughter is enough to fill me with dread.
With a sigh, I bend and pick up the last piece of trash. After an hour of wiping tables, making sure the area is spotless, and the tiles have never been as sparkly, it’s time for me to close.
Covering for Layla’s shift turned out to be one of the best decisions. Although it wasn’t too busy, two of our regulars dropped by. They had a lot of beer and whiskey, and each round they tipped great.
My mind wanders off to the amount of money I have saved up.
At this rate, I’ll be able to make enough money soon enough and be able to move somewhere far, somewhere I won’t be found.
With one last glance, I turn around and walk out of the door. I type in the alarm code and lock the door, bringing two of the trash bags toward the dumpster right behind the restaurant.
Long Grove is a safe town. It’s partially why I stuck around for as long as I have. The crime rate is low, and the town itself has that Hallmark aura, which the residents seem to love. Personally, except for a few beautiful sightings, it’s nothing special, but safety is why I stayed.
The chilly night of an early September night greets me.
I forgot to take a sweater for the evening, so it means I'm definitely freezing until I get home.
And there it is again.
The eerie sensation that sends chills down my spine, and it’s not because of the cold evening. My skin tingles as I breathe in more, seeming to smell the air that fills my lungs.
With great intensity, I listen, my ears perked.
Goosebumps tug on my skin, the smallest hairs on my back standing up straight. A piercing jab goes straight into my gut as I continue walking, ignoring the chills that creep up my neck.
An ominous taste is on my tongue.
Something is going to happen soon.
Something I’m certainly unprepared for.
The streetlight next to me flickers as if to warn me of the danger I’ll find myself in. I glance at my wristwatch, tapping my foot against the pavement impatiently, waiting for my bus to arrive.
Five more minutes, Blair. Five more minutes.
Impatiently, I continue to tap my foot against the concrete, the slightest sound echoing into the dark night. The starry sky above me seems to mock me with the light it provides, knowing that my mind is anything but a light place.
My ears perk at the sound of leaves swaying with the wind. I hug myself to provide more warmth, though I stopped feeling cold a while ago. It’s a bone-chilling sensation as fear grips my heart; a cold lump of dread sits in my stomach with no indication of leaving anytime soon.
Too enchanted in my deep, dark thoughts, and I almost miss the bus. It stops right in front of me, and a sigh of relief slips past my lips, though my feet need a little more encouragement to move from the spot.
Carefully, I walk into the bus, pay for the ride, and walk toward the back.
That’s when my movements come to a stop.
It’s just after eleven in the evening, and it’s the last bus of the day. Aside from Layla, who takes the bus with me oftentimes, and a couple of high schoolers who are out this late, it’s mainly vacant.
The bus driver told me once he begged for this line to be cut. Not many people need transportation at this hour, as it’s not exactly a party town, though his pleas were ignored.
My usual spot is in the far back, second seat on the left by the window.
