Of the Shadows

Chapter 13: To the City

The drive to the city was long and boring. Plenty of time to contemplate life before I reached real traffic. My scenery would change periodically from trees, to high Rock walls on either side of the interstate, to open fields. I should have called first. My phone now lay dead in my passenger seat. I hadn't grabbed a charger.
"She knows more that she's telling you." I said to myself in the review mirror, referring to my mother. My reflection nodded in return, smile eerie and wide. I swerved into the other lane resulting in a warning honk from the car behind me. I straightened my vehicle into the correct lane leaned forward in my seat. Surely I had just been tired from the day and my reflection did not actually nod. I glanced at myself again. I lifted my chin, and so did my reflection. I shook my head side to side and my reflection followed suit. I rolled down my windows, letting fresh air in to keep me awake. I didn't feel sleepy just mentally and emotionally worn out.
"See it was just in your head." I said looking into my grey eyes breifly. I could not wait to get to Dad's. I felt like I could finally get some rest and some answers. My necklace began to grow hot about an hour out of my town. So much so that it felt as if it were burning my skin. I pulled it over my head and threw it into the passenger seat. I adjusted the review to peek at the red mark between my collar bones. There was no blister. Just a little sunburt-looking section of flesh on my chest. The necklace sat non-threatening on the cushion. Fabric untouched by the heat that had burned me.
Part of me wanted to turn back. It was selfish of me to leave Mum to clean everything up by herself. I mean I've never covered up a homicide before but I'm sure it wasn't easy.
I stopped once to put gas in my car and stretch my legs. It was a decently busy truck stop. Semis filled up on one side of the building and cars on the other. There was a sub sandwich fast food place inside. The delectable aroma of bread baking infiltrated my senses and made my stomach growl ferociously. It was a build-your-own sub shop. The cold table that displayed the various veggies, cheeses,and meats was sheilded by glass so only the worker could access them.  Tyler, the disgruntled looking food worker, wiped the counter down hastily.  I must have just arrived after rush. I guessed dinner was early around here. At least half of the pans were low or empty. 
"Hi, sorry, um.. could I get wheat bread, some provolone cheese, and bacon toasted?" I asked meekly. I should have just left him alone to refill his station but I was starving. He didn't look up. The bill of his yellow hat hid his eyes.
"Out of wheat. We have garlic bread, white, zesty jalapeño, and Hawaiian." He replied. Normally I'd take a chance with the jalapeño, however, with my battered face the possible sting from the peppers wasn't worth it.
"Hawaiian please." I answered grabbing my elbow awkwardly and biting my scabbed lip. I'd forgotten how ragged I looked. I'm sure my battered face stirred concern in those that had noticed me. Again the attendant didn't look at me. He started making the sandwich. His sandy hair was long and pulled back into a low ponytail.  I noticed his nails were rather long, points close to piercing the gloves he was wearing.
"Any veggies or sauce?" He asked.
"Some spinach and ranch please." I said.  He applied the toppings and wrapped the sub.
"Seven twenty-five." He read the price from the register. I handed him the money and his hand brushed mine in the process. He grabbed my wrist and finally looked at me. His eyes were a yellowish amber the pupils in slits. His long snake like tongue jetted out of his mouth swiftly, wiggled as if it were tasting the air and recoiled back into his mouth.
"You See me don't you?" He asked. His voice was more raspy than the monotone he was using to take my order.
"Sir, let go of me." I demanded and failed to pull away. His grip was too tight.
"What do you see child?" He commanded.
"I see a grown man who hates his job and is taking it out on me. Let. Me. Go. Now." I locked his slitted eyes with mine. He grinned, fangs peeping over his bottom lip. He let me go.
"Very well." He motioned his hand and nodded his head as though he were bowing. "You won't find what you are looking for Seer, just know that." He chuckled and dissapered into the room behind the work station. I snagged my sub and hurriedly paid for my gas at the main checkout counter in the middle of the building.
As I pumped my gas I kept thinking about the sub store employee. He looked like the same thing that had taken over the waitress at Jackson's. I wondered how he knew I could see him. I felt like other people were staring at me too. I hoped it was my paranoia from the encounter with the sandwich man until an older lady with silver hair and jet black eyes got out of her car at the pump in front if mine. She turned around to look at me while I was filling my car up. Her irises weren't just black but the whole eyeball. Pools of tar resting in her sockets. I smiled at her weakly as I made eye contact. When I was done pumping gas she started to approach my car. She pointed at me as I got in my vehicle and slammed the door.
"Go back! Back, young lady." She screamed at me as I pulled away and hurried back onto the interstate.
"Go back?" You won't find what you're looking for? What the fuck!" I screamed at myself over the music blaring in my car, having a mini breakdown. Why was this any of their concern? I took a deep breath and hummed along to the music trying to drown out my thoughts until I made it to Dad's. The glove compartment fell open and my weed box fell out conveniently into the  passenger seat.
"Oh hell yes." I cheered and pulled a peice of a joint out of the box. The rich smoke filled my mouth and lungs, calming my nerves. The rest of the trip went smoothly. A calm washed over me when we hit four-lane traffic. There was something soothing about weaving between cars above the speed limit. The lights of the city shone brilliantly in front of me. I took the exit that led to dad's house.
I impressed myself with my parking skills, managing to only be a little crooked when I parallel parked. I didn't see my dad's car but there were a few lights on in the house, so I assumed someone was home. My heart hammered in my chest as I approached the door of the skinny two story townhouse that was wedged between a similar house and an apartment building that towered above it. I slowly ascended the concrete steps, allowing my hand to glide up the iron railing. My knuckles rapped on the steel door that was painted a brilliant teal. 
"Just a moment." I heard my dad call from inside the house. I was so excited to see him. A few moments passed and he wedged the door open, leaving the chain lock latched. I smiled at him, looking into his warm brown eyes that were the same shape as mine. His long black hair was tied back into a braid. He was in lounging clothes, grey tee-shirt and dark sweatpants. I giggled at his house shoes that were made to look like little brown puppies, ears and all.
"I like your shoes." I chuckled. " well are ya gonna let me in?" His eyebrows were creased and he scratched his head.
"I'm sorry but who are you?"