Afraid of the Dark

Chąpter Sïx

When the food came, the conversation ceased so that they could all enjoy their meals. They had collectively decided that they would make lunch their main meal of the day instead of dinner, so they had ordered starters as well as main meals. Like many other restaurants, TGI Friday's offered large starters which could be shared between multiple people. The table had ordered a huge plate of loaded nachos; tortilla chips topped with chilli, salsa, guacamole, sour cream, jalapeños and shredded cheese. They separated it out onto individual plates and quickly demolished it, the mix of flavours and spices making for a delicious combination. Not a single chip was left on any plate. After a quarter-of-an-hour break, the group's main meals then arrived. The majority of the table - that being the people from the hotel - had ordered some sort of burger. After Wade dropped the group of four's takeaway bag, which had contained some Breakfast McMuffins and fries from McDonalds, it had landed into a puddle (although Ethan was still adamant that it had been thrown), so they had only ever gotten to eat the fries as the McMuffins had been all but submerged in dirty water. So, the four of them had decided that they wanted another chance at eating a burger, this time without it being dropped and/or thrown into a puddle. Bob and Tyler had opted for a bacon-cheeseburger, Ethan had chosen a spicy chicken burger, while Wade had gone for a generic beef burger. Each plate had come with two sides; a salad and some sweet potato fries, with a choice of different sauces. Mark had ordered a plate of barbeque ribs, along with some plain fries and a corn-on-the-cob. Seán had ordered something rather different to the others, simply choosing a salad instead of anything more substantial. Granted, it was a Caesar salad with large strips of chicken throughout, so there was a little more than just leaves, but it still didn't look as filling as everyone else's meal. Despite its size, he didn't even finish it.

"Are you not hungry?" Tyler asked after swallowing a mouthful of his burger. "You've barely touched it."

"Yeah, I know. I think the stress is starting to get to me. I just haven't heard anything from Evelien yet..."

Ring, ring! Ring, ring!

As if on queue the Irish man's phone started to buzz, the ringtone blasting across their corner of the restaurant as it vibrated loudly in his pocket. His fork clattered to its plate as he scrambled to answer, while everyone else at the table momentarily ceased eating so that they could listen to what was about to be said. As Seán pulled his mobile from his pocket, he glanced at the screen. "It's her!" he exclaimed, his face momentarily showing relief that the call had finally come, before it quickly merged into nervousness as he feared what news was about to be received.

"Answer it then!" the group practically yelled at him.

"I am," he stated, putting the phone to his ear with a shaky breath. "Hello?"

There were some words coming from the phone, but the general noise around the restaurant muffled it so that no one at the table could hear.

"Okay, what did they say?"

More muffled words responded. Seán's face seemed to pale.

"Wait, you mean...?"

Another response. This time, he sighed with relief and leant back against the sofa-bench that he sat on, putting one hand behind his head and looking up to the roof with the trace of a smile touching his lips. "Oh, thank God, okay."

Seán paused a moment as the voice seemed to ask a question.

"Yes, I'm at the restaurant with them now."

Another question was asked.

"Yeah, I understand, do you want me to...?"

The voice cut him off.