Stockholm Syndrome

Chapter 1 - Cafe 5

[Aspyn]

The last customer finally leaves.

I realize that i'm also the last employee here.

The only thing I see around me is the mess that needs to be cleaned up. But I don't mind, it's not like I have anything else to do at home anyway.

And so I wash up, also thinking about all the orders placed today. Well there's been a rise in the sales of our Green coffee, or the pineapple and vanilla tea. I never really got the chance to enjoy drinks from here even though I've worked in this place for about 6 months.

Yep, that's me! Aspyn Elliot. The most boring girl you will ever meet in London. I am an awkward, in-active, lonely neat-freak, with a slight case of OCD....As you can imagine I am a very fun person to be around.

I also lack money, hence the fact that I am working instead of going to university to actually fulfill my dreams which I still don't have. You see, when I was a child, I never had siblings, I was trained to be a virtuosic piano performer (which I believe failed) and I was also home schooled since my parents didn't want me to have a social life at all due to the belief that other kids will be a bad influence on me. Let's just say that to this day I lack social experience and my awkwardness WILL show very clearly if you try to speak to me.

My thoughts were quickly interrupted by the sound of the cafe door opening. I couldn't go out there since I was stuck with the dishes.

"Yeah umm, excuse me but the Cafe is now closed and if you don't mind can you like...leave...please?"

Yet there was no reply so I tried again

"Hello? I'm serious we're closed. But Cafe 5 is open from 8.30 tomorrow morning until 9pm soo..."

Once again there was nothing.....screw the dishes right now, what if there's an axe murder just waiting to kill me. But me being the dumb person that I am, I decide to investigate, and so I pop my head around the wall slowly, trying hard not to be noticed by anything or anyone, but what I see makes me uncover my full body from behind the wall. I step into the doorway and notice a man, tall and well-built, tattoos over his arms and dark shades across his eyes. He was leaving, but before he did, he turned around and stared at me, smirking slightly. Before I could say anything the door closed and everything stood still.

Okay first of all, there's closing times on the door so why was that dude in here, and second, I swear I've seen him before. There's just this ghostly memory of him somewhere in the back of my head, but I couldn't lay a finger on it.

I finally come back to reality and head back to the dishes, yet there's still this unsettling feeling in my head...

-the next morning-

7.45

That's the usual time my alarm clock rings. And then there's me constantly trying to press the snooze button just to get that extra sleep. I stayed at work till 10 last night doing the dishes, I'll spare you the boring details of me walking home and falling asleep on the couch. Yes, the couch.

As any normal person does, I did the usual morning stuff...you know, brushing my teeth, eating breakfast which consisted of a toast with marmalade and a tea on the side, then there's me trying to catch the tube but I'm always late meaning once again I walk to my destination, and on the way I see Mrs and Mr Kareen; a sweet old couple which own a flower shop a few buildings down from Cafe 5, there's also Tom, who plays the guitar by a London gift shop, and finally there's Zoë, my best friend who works with me even though her family could buy anything they please. I mean it's nice of her, but I don't get how someone with all that money doesn't just go to university and instead, they work with me at a Cafe in London which only hipsters visit.

You see, Zoë is the kind of person that always tries to persuade me to go on a spontaneous road trip with her to Europe and back, but me being me I always refuse, trying to get out of it by saying I need to save up more money. She's basically my complete opposite.

As we both head down the streets of Covent Garden we see all the shops just beginning to open. There's no people anywhere just yet, but trust me in about 30 minutes there's going to be a sea of tourists and locals, all mixed into one, and I'm going to be peeking out through the windows trying to guess everyone's life story as they pass by.

----------

The day is drawing to an end, and so far I made £10 pounds in tips which is a new record for me. The customers were heading in and out of the cafe, one by one, ordering their drinks (mostly white hot chocolate today) and sitting down at an available seat. Some had laptops, some had briefcases, others had handbags or guitar cases, and there was some which came with shopping bags or dogs. Most people decided to enjoy a stroll outside as soon as they received their order, but a handful of loyal customers which I grew to know over the last months have decided to sit down, and let life slow down for the next minutes. These are the people that I assume are like me, which makes me feel like I'm not alone in this wild fast-paced city that goes by the name of London.

The last customer leaves at 8.45, and since no one else was coming in, I decided to start closing up the Cafe. Tonight it was Zoë's turn to clean up, but I'm keeping her company for some time as there's always stories she has to tell me. I head to the door and through the window my eyes could make out a shadow, one similar to the figure of the boy I saw yesterday night. I think nothing of it and decide to believe that it's just my eyes playing up due to how tired I am.

"Aspyn where you at?" I hear Zoë shout, and I shuffle myself towards the kitchen.

"Well finally, I thought you died or something! How slow can you get?"

"Sorry for being my own grandma" I say in a monotone way

"Yeah whatever! Anyway I wanted to tell you something that's been creeping me out. Basically nearly everyday I see this guy with tattoos hanging around the cafe, and never once did he come in for a drink or sandwich. It's like he loves the cafe but only for it's architecture or something which I don't get. Like seriously I'm just saying...."

Wait...is it by any chance the same guy that came in yesterday?

"I mean, when I was cleaning up, a guy with tattooed arms came in yesterday but I had to ask him to leave. I couldn't see his face properly though, I can't be sure if it's the same guy you're talking about. But if it is, hooray to him for building up the courage for actually stepping in, too bad we were already closed..."

"Aspyn I'm being serious, what if the guy is planning an attack or something"

"Ok listen, we're gonna be fine, and when we see him tomorrow cause I assume he'll be here, we can just talk to the manager"

"A.....the guy is an asshole and he's just gonna say to stop being such idiots! He may be handsome but that's all there is to him"

I let out a long sigh and all these thoughts started racing through my head. I mean, surely the guy can't be dangerous right? Maybe he just doesn't like people but he wanted to visit the cafe, so he tried to come after hours?

"Listen Zoë, I'm going to head home, my eyes are closing by themselves. See you tomorrow!" I say and put my coat on.

I opened the door and the cold air hit me immediately. There were droplets pouring down my face with each step I took. In the distance there was a figure again, the same one I saw at the door earlier. It seems to be walking towards me but it can be anyone just walking home like me...right?

My feet keep going, but with every step I grew more and more anxious and decide to look down. In no time at all I feel a body collide with mine, making me scream.

"We meet at last Aspyn...."

A/N
Wow ok, hello guys! THE FIRST CHAPTER IS FINALLY HERE AFTER LIKE...idk how many months. I promise to you right now I will try and update regularly but I have my GCSE'S right now (exams basically for 2 years) and there is sooo much coursework, so I'm sorry if I don't update for a while.

Basically i'm so excited to be starting this story, It's something I've been keeping my ideas for, for a while now.

Comment what you think of the first chapter.

A ♥