Page 39 of The Immortal's One
After the slowest bagging experience of my life, I pay and then hurry to push my cart toward the restrooms at the front of the store. I leave my items and rush inside to take care of business.
I’m adjusting my clothes, about to flush the toilet, when heels clicking against tile echo in the bathroom.
Oh no…
“There’s no way she’sThe One,” the woman with the sky-high heels huffs. “Thane must be mistaken.”
Thane?
Of course. I should have guessed.
These women are bound to know the other attractive tourist in town. Maybe they’re dating? I feel bad for Thane if that’s true. The woman is an ice queen.
“There’s nothing special about her,” a different woman chimes in. The faucet turns on. “I mean, did you see her? She looks so plain, so drab in those sweaty clothes.”
I frown. I don’t assume the world revolves around me, but I can’t shake the feeling they’re talking about me. But what exactly are they saying?
The One.
Where have I heard that before?
The memory teases the edge of my mind, just out of reach.
“Yes,” the first woman agrees with a nasty chuckle as thewater shuts off. “She takes no pride in her appearance. There’s no way she could be destined to join us. Thane is definitely mistaken.”
As appealing as it would be to hide in the bathroom stall until the women leave, I’m an adult. I refuse to cower in the face of fully grown, mean-girl adults. I flush the toilet, roll my shoulders back, and brace myself to face women I suspect are bad-mouthing me over something I don’t understand.
I push open the stall door and stop in my tracks. All three women are turned towards me, staring at me with cold and malicious grins curling their lips.
My determination falters, but I inhale through my nose and lower my gaze, resolved to ignore them. I walk to the sink and turn on the water, reaching out to the automatic soap dispenser without making eye contact with the women who continue to glare at me.
The woman in the red dress scoffs. “Looks like we have nothing to worry about, ladies.”
They all laugh.
My cheeks burn, but I don’t react.
I turn the water off and grab a paper towel, drying my hands quickly. I step to the door, eager to escape this tense environment, but the woman in sky-high heels blocks my path.
I lift my gaze to meet icy blue eyes. “Excuse me.”
“Oh, look.” She tilts her head. Her red lips curl into a smirk. “She’s polite.”
The other women chuckle coldly.
I press my lips together, trying not to show how rattled I am. I step aside, but one of the other women moves to block me. I lock eyes with her and scowl.
The woman sucks in a breath, her eyes widening with something unsettling.
“Oh my.” She exhales slowly. “The likeness is uncanny… don’t you think?”
Alarm spreads through me as she reaches out like she’s going to touch my face. I step back.
What the hell?
“Don’t be ridiculous.” The woman in the red dress snaps, glaring at her friend. “There’s no resemblance.”
The woman lowers her arms, but she still looks at me like she sees a ghost.
