The Tangled Red String

Chapter-2

The door opens with the ring of the bell.

"Welcome to Mystic Arts" 

Paige looked in the direction of the door with a friendly smile.

"It's me, Paige," said the woman with red hair.

Dawn was the woman who entered the store. She had coloured her hair from dark brown to red on a whim.

"Not again..." Paige sighs, looking at her coming towards the counter.

"Why did you colour your hair again?"

"You will go bald if you continue changing it frequently on a whim."

Dawn was amused with her reaction, sat on the counter before saying, "Hahaha...I broke up with my boyfriend. I needed a change."

"Can you not give me that look for today?" Dawn pointed at Paige, who had a repulsive expression on her face.

She is wearing a tight black top with blue high waist jeans, pairing them with black heels. She looked young for a woman in her late 40s. She is a witch and works as a spiritual healer for the ones in need.

The store had no signboard on the outside. The spells cast on the charms hanging outside prevents the store from being noticed by others. Only the ones in need are lead to the store and can enter it. Sometimes, Dawn gives out business cards with direction magic on them, serving as a guide to the store.

It is not easy to have access to a high-level spiritual healer like her. Paige and Dawn met roughly five and a half years ago. Paige had nowhere to go at that time. Dawn allowed her to stay with her on the condition that she would work for her.

"So, how is it today? Do you still feel any pain?" Dawn asked, looking at her exhausted face."Ummm..." She was unable to reply.

"Come here, let me have a look." Dawn bend toward her, inspecting the back of her neck.

"It has gotten worse than before. I will give a potion made of the herbs I collected yesterday." She said that still looking at the dark skin around the back of her neck. The skin where the bite mark is has turned black and stiff.

"It is not painful as it was before. The pain is bearable since the condition is stable." Paige replied, touching the area with her right hand.

"Don't pretend to be strong in front of me, Paige. You know I care about you a lot." Dawn was serious this time.

"How many customers have an appointment today?" Dawn asked, looking at the old rosewood clock hanging on the left side wall to the counter.

"Only one customer has an appointment in an hour," Paige answered, checking the logbook kept on the counter.

Paige's cellphone was ringing while she was busy checking the logs. The call was from an unknown number. She picked the call.

After hearing from the other side, her complexion turned pale.

Even before ending the call, she hurried out of the store, grabbing her handbag. She rushed towards a taxi standing near the next store. She had a worried expression while getting in the cab.

After a moment, the taxi drove down the street then turned left.

Dawn was left alone in the store in confusion. She guessed what the call could be about, but still, she was worried for her.