Crimson Inheritance

Chapter 2: Troubles, Tea and The Talk

I stood alone on the deserted mountain road, rubbing my hands together in a futile attempt to ward off the biting cold. The chill seemed to seep into my bones, as I wore my jacket, but the stillness around me was even more unsettling. I must have been the last customer, for the road ahead was shrouded in an eerie silence, broken only by the faint clinking of utensils being cleared from the restaurant behind me, and the distant, occasional chirps and rustles from the nocturnal creatures in the forest.

I glanced at my watch; it was exactly 9:00 PM. The night had fully embraced the landscape, wrapping everything in a blanket of quietude. I took out car keys from my purse, feeling a sliver of relief as I pressed the button to unlock the car. But the vehicle stood mute, betraying no sign of life. I tried again—nothing. My heart began to race as I approached the car, closing the distance, and tried once more, but the response was the same: an unyielding silence.

Frustration mounting, I yanked on the door handle, hoping brute force might succeed where the remote had failed. But the door remained stubbornly shut. I tried the other handles, each attempt more desperate than the last, but the car was resolute in its refusal to open.

Behind me, the faint sound of a key turning in a lock caught my attention, followed by the metallic clatter of a shutter closing. The restaurant was now completely sealed off, its warm, inviting lights extinguished, leaving only the dim glow of the two streetlights to pierce the darkness. They cast long, eerie shadows across the empty road, amplifying the feeling of isolation.

Panic began to claw at the edges of my mind. What should I do? The thought echoed in my head like a drumbeat. My mind raced, grasping for a solution. Was this night cursed? Why did everything seem to be going wrong, one mishap after another?

I scanned the road, hoping to spot another car, another soul who might offer help. But 9:00 PM in the mountains was like the dead of night in the city—utterly desolate. The cold was now cutting through my thin black jacket, a feeble defense against the harsh mountain air, my white crop top and blue skinny jeans doing little to insulate me from the icy bite.

I looked left and right, but the road was a void, stretching into nothingness. Feeling utterly defeated, I sank down beside my car, the cold, wet pavement pressing through my clothes, grounding me in the stark reality of my situation. My mind, clouded with unnecessary thoughts and anxieties, seemed unable to focus on the solution that might be right in front of me.

***

Knock, Knock, Knock. I pulled my jacket tighter around me, the chill biting through its thin fabric as I knocked on the shutter of the restaurant I had left only moments before. Silence greeted me, an almost oppressive quiet that made the cold seem even more unbearable. I knocked again, a little more forcefully, but still, there was no answer. Just as I raised my hand to knock a third time, the sound of a lock clicking open reached my ears. The shutter moved slightly before being pulled up by a strong, muscular arm.

"Ethan?" I said, surprised.

He smiled softly, a warmth in his eyes that contrasted sharply with the frigid air around us.

"How come you're still here?" I asked, curiosity laced with a touch of relief.

"Actually, I live here," he replied calmly, his voice carrying a reassuring steadiness. "I didn't expect you to visit me again so soon," he added with a smile that made my heart flutter despite the situation.

I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me. My predicament seemed ridiculous now, and Ethan, the person I'd instantly developed a crush on, was witnessing all of it.

He looked directly into my eyes, his gaze soft but inquisitive. "But why are you still here? You should have been on your way home by now."

"Can I come in, please?" I asked, my voice tinged with shyness.