UnEarthed

Chapter 3

The blazing summer sun beams in through the slits of the window coverings causing Kenzy to subconsciously kick the covers off her body. Moments later her eyes open and she immediately looks at the clock that reads 8:48am. Jumping from bed, she tears off her night clothes and gets dressed. She has never slept in this lateand knows doing so can cost her life. There are people out there who want her deadand she cannot protect herself when she is asleep. 

After tossing her belongings in the car, she turns in the hotel key to the front office. As she walks back towards her car, she checks the parking lot for the mysterious black mustang she saw last night but it is nowhere in sight. 

After driving almost a full day, road insanity begins to set in so Kenzy pulls into a small, country town off the highway. Parking in front of a rustic cafe, she locks her car and walks inside. There are only a cluster of round tables inside. The walls are candy apple red and the floor is a cream-colored tile. The counter tops are a brown marble and decorated with rustic star-shaped napkin holders. A gathering of country looking people, complete with cowboy hats and boots are scattered throughout the café. Kenzy giggles to herself. The place looks like a stereotypical southern movie scene. After scarfing down the sandwich and soda she orders, she heads down the street to explore. The buildings are old, but it seems as though the town's people have done well at preserving the history. 

There is an outdoor flea market taking place, so Kenzy shops around at the different booths trying to keep her mind busy. There are booths selling handmade jewelry, handbags and even pet collars. There is a man with a box full of puppies who effortlessly tries to sell one to Kenzy. As she strolls quietly down the crowded sidewalks, she finds herself... smiling. The smile quickly fades when she realizes she cannot stay in the town long.

If I would have been blessed with a simpler life, I'd live in a town like this, shethinks to herself.

 Across the street, she notices a colonial style building with one large windowin front. The words Belinda's Books are spread across the glass in red paint. An uncontrollable urge takes over and she discovers her feet leading her towards the building. She enters the bookstore, and a suffocating smell of vanilla consumes her nose. The lighting is dimmer than most stores. There are bookshelves from the floor to the ceiling and full of books. The tapestry and chandeliers look like they are straight out of the Victorian era. The carpet is a rustic red with swirls of gold. There are old tables scattered throughout the small store with candles, incense and other small trinkets you might find in a candle shop sitting on them. 

Kenzy starts to pull a book off one of the shelves when a thin woman walks through the beaded curtains hanging over a doorway at the back of the shop. Her eyes are a grayish-blue color, and her skin is pale. Her dark, wavy locks of haircascade over her shoulders and brush across her elbows. She is draped in a long sleeved, silky blue dress. Several colorful necklaces hang around her neck and even though her arms are covered, Kenzy can see a wrist-full of gold bangles on each arm.

"Can I help you?" The woman breaks the silence with a somewhat rude tone. She does not look up at Kenzy but is fiddling with an object at the counter next to the register. 

"Oh no, sorry. I'm just looking around." Kenzy replies. 

"No one comes in here just looking. Something drew you in." She briefly looks up at Kenzy and then back to what she is doing.Slightly creeped out by the woman's accuracy, she tries to hide it. 

"I'm fine... just looking." 

"Come here." The woman says, eyes now glued to Kenzy. 

"Excuse me?"