The Hairdresser

Part 1: Just a Trim

The salon was busier than it had ever been before, Melissa and her colleagues were rushing from client to client trying to make them happy before it was too late and they had to close. It was nearing 5:00 and Melissa knew that they had to  have the place cleared by 6:30. Mr Renaldo was a stickler for punctuality and quite possibly the worst boss ever.

 It was hard enough being a single mother of two kids and juggling two jobs at the same time. Every day it was the same schedule; wake up the kids, get them ready, take them to school, make it to her first job on time, pick up the kids at 2:30pm and finally work her three hour shift at the salon.

 However the highlight of her day had to be her first job. Working at the gas station just off the corner of Greenfield way and West Boulevard. Only because, every morning at 9:15, the mechanic came in. Melissa had been falling for him ever since he started showing up at the station, before that it had just been old men paying for gas because they didn't know how to use the machines at the pump and the odd teenager here or there to pick up sweets. But, one cold winter's morning, he showed up. It was the same three things every day without fail; a ham and cheese toastie, orange juice and a classic Dairy Milk bar.

 Melissa couldn't get over him, she knew that she had to though, for the kids. It had only been two years since their dad had left and it had hit them pretty hard. Mikey, who was now fifteen had gone a whole year without speaking to anyone and 10 year old Becky had stopped playing with her toys. Melissa knew that it would hurt them if they knew that their mother had gotten over their father that quickly. 

The clock was now indicating 5:15 and the place was still a riot. It was then that a new customer walked in. Melissa wasn't the best when it came to telling people 'no'. So she asked the stranger what they wanted and they replied with, 

"Just a trim,"

Melissa was relieved. She could do a trim in no time and that way it was one more customer done and dusted. She went to go grab her things and was about to ask how much they wanted to take off until she overheard the mysterious client on the phone.

"Yes, I'm in the area now, it won't be long before everything is over and we will finally have our revenge. Yes, I'm aware of what happened last time, may she rest in peace, but that won't happen this time. I promise"

Melissa was stunned. She'd never overheard anything quite like this before. But before she could make it look subtle, the client locked eyes with her. His eyes were as dark as the night. Could it be the darkness of his soul from the person he had killed? Who was he talking about? She was just about to start the trim but then he got up and left, but before he shut the door behind him he spoke to Melissa,

"Repeat anything of what you heard to anyone, and you're dead. We have eyes and ears everywhere Melissa."

Melissa froze. What just happened? Who was that? Questions upon questions flooded her brain, she didn't know what to do. When she finally came to her senses, she finished with all her clients, tidied up the salon and headed home. She couldn't stop thinking about what that man had said to her. Could she take the risk of telling anyone?