The Unknown

Chapter Nine

I climb up the stairs as fast as my legs will carry me. Even though I'm on an escalator I need to get there as soon as possible. I'm making Grandma a cake and I'm going to take it to her. Carrot cake is her favourite so I'm making her that. The only problem is that it's three o'clock in the afternoon and it'll take an hour to make. By that time it'll be four o'clock and I need to walk to Grandma's tonight to be able to give it to her.

My speed walking carries me straight into a tall lanky man. I step back and quickly apologise before running towards the supermarket. I run through the shop and straight to the vegetable area. Carrots. Carrots. Carrots! I spot the carrots and quickly grab a bag. I slow down to a fast walk as I approach the aisles. I take a sharp left into the aisle that has all of the main cooking ingredients. Self-raising flour is the first thing I see. I grab a packet and spin around, heading to the registers.

I see a free register down the opposite end of where I am and walk towards it. An elderly man beats me there and puts all of his groceries on the conveyor belt. The whole belt is full of spaced out groceries. The cashier greets him in a friendly manner and they make small talk. I tap my foot against the floor impatiently.

As soon as a there is a big enough spot I put down the carrots and the flour and fold my arms over my chest. I wait whilst the two talk, neither of them doing anything else. I look up at the register next to the one I'm at now. The middle aged man that was at the end of the line is out of sight. Obviously that line is quicker.

I turn back to see the man picking up his bags. A smile fights its way onto my face as the cashier turns to me.

"Hi how are you today?"

"Good thanks," I give my short reply as she scans my items and puts them in a bag.

"That'll be $6.45," I hand over a ten dollar note and grab my bag. She passes back the change and receipt, a smile plastered on her face. I return it before turning and running out of the store. The money and the receipt are clutched tightly in one hand and the handle of the bag clutched tightly in the other as I reach the escalator. I jog down the moving steps and run straight towards the double doors that lead to the outside car park.

The light from the sun temporarily blinds me as I step out of the three story shopping centre. That is the only extravagant fancy building in this small town. Everything else is small and fairly aged. I walk towards the white van. It's quite embarrassing to be seen in this thing but due to our ten piece family we need a van.

I pull the passenger door open and climb in. I place the bag on the ground and click on my seat belt. Mum reverses out of the car park and finds a way out of the maze of cars.

"Did you get everything you need?"

"Yeah. I only needed carrots and self-raising flour so it wasn't hard to forget anything."

"Good. Remember, if you're taking it to her tonight you have to walk in daylight which means leaving by four."

"Yep. I'll make it in time."

"Whatever you say Case."

"Trust me Mum," she smirks as she quickly glances at me.

"Good luck with that," I smirk back at her knowing I will get it done in time.

*****

I spread the last blob of icing over the cake making it look neat. I smile as I chuck the dirty knife in the sink. I did it pretty well if I do say so myself. I grab a rectangle container from a cupboard and open it. I carefully pick up the cake and place it in the container gently. I put the lid on it and chuck all of my dishes in the sink.

"I'll wash them for you this once, you just go and take that to your Grandma," Mum walks into the kitchen and pushes me away from the sink.

"Okay. Thanks Mum," I press a kiss to her cheek.

"Your welcome. Now go and be quick."

"Okay," I grab the container and as I'm walking out of the kitchen I call back. "Bye."

"Bye. Be careful," I don't reply I just keep walking. I push open the front door and slip on a pair of flats. I walk down the stairs and onto the path. I take a quick moment to look over myself. I have flour all over my grey skinny jeans from when I wiped my hands on them. My white singlet has a blob of dried up mixture on it. My hands are sticky from not having washed them after I finished cooking. My hair is in a messy pony tail and I'm guessing it looks gross. Let's hope I don't see anyone I know other than Grandma.

My speed walking makes the walk seem faster than usual. I see the tree that means I am about five minutes away from her house. It's only a ten minute walk there but Grandma loves when I visit her. Or when anyone visits her. I don't mind but sometimes I wish my trips could be quicker.

A car speeds past me and disappears around a corner as I'm about to cross the road. I step back and after a moment walk across. I step onto the veranda of her house and walk up to the front door. I rap my knuckles against the old wood and wait for a reply. The door is pulled open to reveal a balding man. He looks to be in his mid-fifties.

"Who are you?" I raise my eyebrows at him as I look him over. He doesn't look like a murderer but anything is possible.

"I'm Damien. A friend of your Grandma's."

"How do you know I'm her granddaughter?"

"She has pictures of you everywhere in this house."

"Right. Where is she?" he opens the door further so I can step inside and points to her. She's sitting on a chair at the table. Her eyes are trained on something but I'm not sure what. She almost looks to be in a trance. "Grandma? What's wrong?"

She looks at me and blinks rapidly. "The rogues attacked with no warning. At least fifteen of ours died, including Carter."