Cursed

10. Lost Family

"You really think it was Amanda?" Louis asked.

"Not unless a lycanthrope found its way in Amanda's room at the right moment." Ms Carter said.

Arthur laughed. It earned him a highly surprised look from both women. Since he was a complete stranger to Ms Carter, she had little problem in presuming his character to be psychotic evil.

Louis looked as much stunned as Ms Carter was because she never expected Arthur to laugh on such a sensitive matter. True they had seen many brutal cases, bodies whose descriptions made Louis feel like vomiting, but that didn't mean they had developed a humor for it.

"You believe in the myth of lycanthropy?" His lips turned in a smile while his eyes widened in disbelief. How could people be so blind? Does no one here knows about the progress of world? About progress of science?

"When your hair grows white, you begin to realize a thing or two." Though the old lady said quite calmly, her eyes had a sense of warning in them.

Before Arthur could frame another point to continue their meaningless conversation, Louis silenced him.

"We are not here to bicker on such pointless things. Lycanthropy exists or not, it hardly concerns us. Arthur, go and check if Jason's here. Or go and pick him up." Louis said. A strange anger lingered in her speech.

"Okay, miss. I'll be right back." Arthur said. He wondered what had gotten into his boss. How could she even stand such a belief? After all, it was she who'd driven away his fantastic ideas long ago. Otherwise, he'd be an exact male replica of Ms Carter.

"Young lady, there's nothing to get worked upon. Jason will be here any moment. Why does a few mintues' wait burdening you with such unexplainable stress?" Ms Carter said once Arthur was gone.

"It's not stress." She said. To a person who'd lived all her life in stress, it was quite difficult to understand precisely what stress was.

"Then let me make you a coffee. It will help with your mood." She insisted and before Louis could say no, the old lady had surprisingly made past the counter. She walked quite fast for her age.

Louis sighed and decided to move around. A thought of sneaking upstairs did cross her mind. But for some reason she respected the old lady's concern. At the end of the diner, a door stood ajar. On its other side lay a pleasant garden. Having nothing else to do, Louis accepted the company of a variety of plants dancing with the winds. She had to fold her hands to avoid the cold.

After a few minutes, she heard the old lady calling out for her. Before she could return, Ms Carter arrived, holding a tray on which two glasses stood. Delighted to notice her, she doubled her speed.

"Careful, Ms Carter." Louis said. With the speed the old lady was walking, it'd have been a surprise if the tray hadn't had fallen.

"No problem, dear, I'm used to this." She said casually and placed the tray over a garden table.

She gestured her to take a seat while she sat opposite to her.

"Oh, a glass of coffee?" Louis said. No where she'd visited hot coffee was served in glass.

"Yes, here we always serve coffee in glass. People can't help from drinking another cup." She smiled proudly.

Louis took a sip.

"And I don't wonder why. I think I'll take another glass." Louis said.

"Oh dear!" The old lady was delighted. Just a couple of minutes before, Louis felt so gloomy and tired. Now she was full of energy and thoughts about Amanda's monstrosity had for once ceased to captivate her mind.