The Sadian Chronicles: Book 2: From Mercury To Venus

Signs of Life: Part 3

Marianna only had two morning classes that day and decided to spend the afternoon at the local coffee bar. She had grown an affinity for restaurants as long as they didn't serve meat in their salads. Always the vegetarian, Marianna never put up with the snickers from the meat loving waiters and waitresses.

Marianna sat at her usual booth when Cynthia walked in and spotted her. "Hey, MJ, I heard you and Dennis were getting pretty cozy down stairs this morning."

"Cozy? Cynthia, be realistic," Marianna said and leafed through the book sitting on the table in front of her. "Dennis and I share an enthusiasm for science and nothing more. A relationship beyond friendship just wouldn't be logical."

"0h, I get it," Cynthia said and looked on the menu that had one of those astrology listings the coffee bar used to amuse its customers. "You're fire, and he's earth. I see."

Marianna rolled her eyes and shook her head. "The stars lie, Cynthia," she said, trying to do a few more lines of reading. All she got out of Cynthia was a bored sigh. "Destiny is our own making," she continued with her rational argument. "Don't depend on the teachings of the mystics. Want and need are a matter of perception. You wish not to be in control, so you choose to believe."

"Not so," Cynthia said defensively while interrupting her lecture. "I can handle my own life just fine, M.J. It's yours I'm worried about."

"Are you planning to save me?" Marianna asked, intrigued by Cynthia savior attitude.

"I'm glad you asked," Cynthia said with excitement in her voice. "You see, Jamie and Carolyn are planning a camping trip, and you're invited if you want to come. Maybe you'll meet someone nice."

"Not interested," Marianna said, as the waitress come to their table with her order. It was a light lunch, but much more interesting than Cynthia's lame attempts at matchmaking.

"Yes, you are. Marianna," Cynthia said insistently. "You never do anything but study. You never go anywhere but to class. Don't you see that you need more?"

"You don't know what I need," Marianna said, but she had to admit that it was partly true.

"Yes, I do," Cynthia said, holding her arms over the table. "What you need is a weekend of fun, just a few days to forget about school and responsibilities." Marianna was about to object to Cynthia's ridiculous idea, but her friend beat her to it. Cynthia pointed her finger at Marianna with a determined look in her eye. "You're going...whether you like it or not."

"You're not going to take no for an answer," Marianna said in frustration. Cynthia shook her head back and forth. She paused for a moment but realized that she was not going to win this argument. "Alright, I'll go..., but I won't like it."

"That's the spirit," Cynthia said, jumping up out of her seat and giving her friend a light hug. "Be ready Friday morning. That gives you two whole days. We're going to have so much fun. I can hardly wait."

Cynthia walked out of the coffee bar with a bounce in her step. She was like a little kid who got exactly what they wanted on Christmas morning.

Marianna wanted to join in her enthusiasm, but she found it hard to get excited over a night in the woods. A place that held such horrifying memories, but if she was determined to put the past behind her, she must face the demons that sought to destroy her.