Spades and Angels

A Stranger In The Dark

Lolita

The rest of the evening passes smoothly after the stranger from the bar disappears, I wish I could say when he left he disappeared from my mind but alas that would be a lie. Instead, his face, his words and his overall self stayed with me. Annoyingly clear to the point I almost messed up my dance routine if not for a quick reflexive response and slight friction burn that still hurt the next morning.

Cora's watching me as the girls pack up the bar area when I'm done and changed, rubbing my sore palm absentmindedly, angry at whoever it was for staying in my head enough that I made the mistake. "You ok over there Lo?" her words snap me back into reality and I nod robotically. Cora sighs. "Is it about what happened earlier?"

That has my eyes shoot to hers, my breathing turning erratic for a second. "Wha...what do you mean what happened earlier?" My voice shakes for a second before COra's concerned stare deepens and I sigh. "Cor?"

"I meant whatever spooked you at the bar, why?" She looks at me and I feel my hands tighten around the strap of my bag, knuckles turning white from the pressure. "Are...are you sure everything's ok Lo, you do know you could tell me if something happened right?" She looks at me earnestly but some unseen instinct stops me from telling her. "Lo?"

I sigh, shaking it off so the images recede into my mind. Not disappearing entirely but just fading into my mind enough that I can deal with it later. "I promise you I'm fine Cor, just a little tired from filling in for Kourt and pulling a double." I try to convince her but since she's known me since before kindergarten she can read through my lie like a pro and gives me a disapproving look to back up the theory. I sigh, "I just need a good night's sleep and some food. I'll be ok in the morning."

She sighs but gives up asking me about it as the others come out and say their goodbyes before dispersing into the night. Leaving all but Cora and me since the others had all left for the night. The lights cut as presumably Shell or Chase lock up the place bar the back exit all of us employees have a key to.

Cora walks most of the way back with me since we live in a similar area of town, even if she has a house in a better part of town somewhere with heating, enough food she's never hungry and parents that are there. A better life and one I wish I had. But it wasn't always like this, nor would it stay this way forever.

So I hoped at least. For Ky's sake more than mine or Luc's. We would be fine, but he's just a twelve-year-old kid with his whole life ahead of him. He deserved better, even if it was just for him we could get it.

When we get to where Cora branches off she stops and gives me one last look. "Are you sure your ok Lo?" Her question from earlier has me nodding and she sighs, clearly not buying my silence. "Just remember you can talk to me if that ever changes ok?" I nod and she pulls me into a hug, my arms wrapping around her tight enough that I'd be worried she couldn't breathe if not for how she held me just as hard. "I'm always here for you, ok? We all are."

"Ok," I replied as I pull back, watching her with a brittle smile in place, feeling more alone than I'd done for some time. We pull apart fully and she lingers, eyes half on me and half on the way home. I chuckle, "Just go Cor, I'll be ok. I have to go back and your family will want to see you I'm sure." I swallow a lump in my throat and gesture for her to leave. She does so after another moment.

"BE SAFE OUT THERE!" She calls one last time over her shoulder as she disappears into the gloom surrounding the trees. I chuckle in response knowing that she's being caring but a little of a jokester since I know the woods in Mountain View like the back of my hand.  The day I get lost in these would be the day I died.

Putting in some earbuds I start the song qued and walk down the main road into the fringe of trees, spotting a flash of brown hair and a tall profile that looks so similar to the stranger from that night that I stop. Hearing muffled sounds I pull out one earbud and listen but the forest just echoes its normal sounds. No calling. No voice. And when I look again no people there either.