Legends

Chapter 5 (Zoe)

    My eyes slowly open, begging to close again.  I see a black shadow is approaching the bedroom. The shadow is holding a long stick, with a suction cup at the end, it is raised like a bat. My eyes try to focus on the person. It is Alex with a toilet plunger. 

     "Alex! What are you doing?" I asked. My voice is raspy, as if I had been screaming for a long time.

     "Oh. It is just you, Zoe. I thought someone broke in. How are you feeling?" Alex questioned. She looked exhausted. I doubt she slept recently. Her black hair was half braided, but looked neat. 

     "I feel fine, except my head is  pounding and I don't know why." I answered.

     "So you don't remember anything?" Alex's face grew pale. 

     "What do you mean? Did something happen? You sound worried."

     "Never mind. Nothing happened. We just left the orphanage and drove here. You fell asleep in the car, so I carried you into the room." Alex explained.

     "How did you get a car? Did you steal it?" I asked Alex. I had a lot more questions, but I did not want to overwhelm Alex. 

     "I found it near the orphanage." Alex told me. 

     "What time is it? I feel like I've been asleep all day!" 

     "It is 7 o'clock in the morning. You have been asleep for 5 hours. I am going to go get us breakfast. You can stay here if you want." Alex responded.

     "Actually, I would rather come with you. Maybe we could find something to do." I did not feel comfortable letting Alex wander the area by herself, after all, we are only 14. 

     "I have clean clothes in one of those bags." She pointed to the overstuffed backpacks laying on the ground. "I would change if I were you. You look like a zombie." I looked down. My clothes were ripped and covered in blood. I search my body for more scrapes and my fingers brush a rough scrape on the side of my cheek. I wonder how I got so dirty? Also how did I get all these scrapes and blood, if I just fell asleep in the car? I decide to let the thought wander away as my stomach pleads for breakfast. 

     Alex and I walked downtown, hoping to find somewhere to eat. We came across an old, rundown diner. Alex opened the door and stepped inside. I followed close behind. The entrance looked exactly like a dining car on a train. The booths looked like they have not been renovated since the 1960's. In fact, this whole diner looks like it is from the 1960's. There were old movie posters lining the walls. I only knew 2 of the movies, Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music. Alex looked amazed as well. When you live in an orphanage for the past year, you don't often get a glimpse of the outside world. As a matter of fact I have never gone outside the orphanage, not including the field trips we took one a year. 

     The host led us to one of the empty booths. I scanned the diner, analyzing at the walls, the floor, the ceiling, and the outside the windows. I realized that we were the only customers there. 

     After we cleared our plates, Alex suggested that we go sightseeing.

     "Do you want to check out a gift shop?" Alex asked. "I want to get something for my birthday."

     "Is your birthday today?" I asked.

     "Yes. I am turning 15!"

     "Wait, what day is today?" I remember that back at the orphanage, I had a countdown until my birthday. The last time we were there, there was one day left.  

     "It is the first of September." Alex answered. 

     "No way! Today is my birthday too! 15 years young!" I flashed a big smile at Alex. 

     We marched into Sunken Ship in hope of finding a birthday gift for each other.  We split up so the presents will be a surprise. I scan the shop looking for something for Alex's birthday. I pass a rack of sweatshirts, but they were just not Alex's style. Out of the corner of my eye I spot a sliver crescent moon necklace hanging on a back table. I bought the necklace and walked to the picnic table where we agreed to meet. I look up from the book I  bought and I spot Alex jogging back with a shining sun necklace in her fist. We exchange the necklaces, and put them on for each other. I feel Alex's fingers brush against the lower part of my neck as she clasps the necklace closed.

     In that moment, all my memories came flooding back to me.