The Dark Society

47

Sabrina and Jennifer hadn't visited recently, though they'd managed to stay in touch. During this time, Jennifer had left American Airlines and San Francisco, hopeful to start anew. Needless to say, traveling cross-country was laborious, but the results of doing nothing would have been far worse.

Meanwhile, the ample sunshine brought comfort to an otherwise tumultuous morning. Even so, Jennifer sat imagining the future while looking at pictures of Sabrina and Samantha.

While that was happening, Cindy repeatedly called, needing to finalize Jennifer's move to the Kansas suburb of Shawnee--a new and welcomed change in scenery that would offer her daughter a chance for peace.

John arrived as Jennifer made reservations at the Birdsong restaurant, an establishment within Cottonwood Falls she hoped to one day show Samantha. Her father appeared cheerful at first glance, but soon after, he looked gravely concerned.

"I wondered about you," she greeted, gesturing.

He steadily gazed through the disarray of the house.

"What are you talking about...?" he questioned while shuffling through various containers. "I'm right on time."

After taking a seat, he admired the respective photos of Sabrina and Samantha.

"Good likeness," he joked while grasping a portrait.

Jennifer scoffed and settled alongside him.

"In more ways than one."

"This can't be true, can it?" he asked.

John cringed after saying that, knowing his daughter feared Samantha's return. Therefore, amid an elusive candor, the topic of conversation abruptly changed.

"Dad, what is it?" she whispered.

"Sam's here."

Jennifer looked startled.

"She found the ticket?"

"Like you wanted."

Hearing that, her gaze fell.

"Then it shouldn't be much longer."

John paused.

"There's more."

Jennifer rose and listened.

"Sam now knows where you're going, but not exactly why..." he confessed. "So when she arrives, there'll be problems."

Samantha had vowed to return and one day reclaim her past, but with such motives, she'd become dangerous and unpredictable. Thinking of this, Jennifer often trembled in anticipation of their inevitable reunion.

Later that night, Jennifer strove to suppress a dark and deluded history despite rekindling several sinful obsessions. This being the case, she'd again adopted the Wiccan lifestyle and renewed her vows. But by doing so, she was again immersed within a world without authority.

Sam had always been decisive and thus resented Jennifer's newfound tenacity. Bearing this in mind, she repeatedly studied the prolific similarities between Sabrina and Samantha, fearful of their resemblances.