Crossed: Clues

Chapter One

A white flash.

Penelo’s cup lay broken on the ground, steaming coffee seeping around it. Her eyes fluttered opened, as she swore under her breath, feeling the burns and cuts that came from the cup. Her cheek was against the cool, albit dirty floor,  dark hair loose from her bun.  She vaguely remembered what happened. There was a rip in her uniform skirt. What was that?
   
Slowly pushing herself onto her knees, she tried to blink away the clouding in her eyes- like the type that you got from looking at the sun for too long. Drops of blood dripped from her seeping hand, onto the floor.

“Ah, crap. Can I have a bandaid please!” Penelo asked loudly, so the barista could hear. She put her palm on the cut, putting pressure onto it, so it would stop.  “Hello?” She said a little louder, shuffling to her feet, a little unsteady.  No reply. Penelo figured the woman who had served her minutes ago was just in the back.

“You’d think she come out after what happened…” Penelo muttered under her breath, looking at her watch. Ten minutes till one. “Damn, I’m going to be late if I don’t hurry.”

Shaking her head, she decided to go behind the counter and peak through the door that was cracked open a little bit. There was nothing she could see.

“Hello?” Pushing it fully open this time, she walked into the back.
There was no sign that there was even a barista back there! She scanned the small room with her eyes, annoyed by it’s chromey spotlessness. 

“Wait…” she spotted something on the counter... a cup. It was half full with coffee, still warm to the touch, as if it was just poured. A few drops were on the side of it, and on the counter. It was like the barista’s attention was averted.  But then.. at the same time… it was like she had just… poofed.

“It’s not like she disappeared in mid air.” Penelo muttered, looking down at her hand, which was getting more and more covered with blood.
To her right, she saw a box of napkins. Grabbing a handful with her good hand, she pressed them firmly against her palm, cursing.
I guess I’ll just leave then.. Penelo wasn’t sure if she would be able to leave without paying, but to be fair, she had only taken a few sips before she fell over, and her drink smashed to the ground.

Making a decision, she walked out of the room.Heading back to the table, Penelo grabbed her school bag and swung it over her shoulder. Smoothing her hair back into a neat ponytail, Penelo walked out, the closed blinds swinging as she shut the door behind her.
Her eyes squinted against the brightness of the sun.