Hostage

Death Is All Around You

Kimberly's POV

Two years ago....

I glanced at my wristwatch for the hundredth time as I scurried through the empty street. I increased my pace, skipping some steps as I did. I had to catch the bus. I stole another quick glance at my wristwatch and then groaned. I was running out of breath.

I finally arrived at the bus stop three minutes later and I heaved out a sigh of disbelief as I watch the bus take a right turn and then disappear down the road. I scoffed and then glanced down at my wristwatch. The next bus would arrive in 20 minutes.

Great.

I got out my phone and then sent a text message to Isabel, explaining my current situation. I made myself comfortable on the patio and then smacked my lips. Twenty minutes was a lot of time to waste.

"Would you like to have your fortunes read? "

I jumped.

God!

I could barely stop myself from yelping out loud when I turned. I was even more startled when I saw the sight behind me. If your definition of a stall was a small desk and table in the centre of New York city, then yes, it was a stall. I studied the dark crooked woman behind the desk for a moment. Her untidy dreads making an unruly mess across the table.

"Twenty minutes is a lot of time to waste." She smiled broadly. I shrugged my shoulder. "Its just five dollars." She tried to convince me. I shrugged my shoulders. I didn't believe in fortune tellers. I never did. Not since my mother played fortune teller when we moved to Hong Kong two years ago. Scamming people of their money by telling them what they wanted to hear.

But twenty minutes was a lot of time to waste. Maybe I was about to waste my time intentionally. I moved towards her and then settled on the chair across where she sat.

"You have made the right choice"
She nodded as she reached for her tarrot cards.

I hoped so.

I dropped a five dollar note on the table and then watched her shuffle the cards thoroughly.

"What is your name? "she was trying to start a conversation.

" Kimberly. "I paused. "Kimberly Hastings "

"Kimberly Hastings." She repeated after me and then dropped the cards. "Touch the cards." She told me. "It'll transfer some of your aura onto it." She added.

I didn't really need the explanation since I'd been in the business before.

After I did as I was told, she picked up a random card and then showed it to me.

"The high priestess." I muttered under my breath.

"I see you know your cards." She picked up another card and then smiled.

"Are you looking for love?" She turned the card to me. I smiled.

The lovers card.

She reached for her cards and then selected another card.

"The fool." She announced dramatically. I frowned as she selected another card
"The devil."

My frown deepened. I wasn't finding it funny anymore. I watched her pick another card. This time, she didn't show it to me first. She looked at it for a moment, a frown on her face before she turned the card to me.

I gasped.

Death.

The sound of the bus behind me brought me back to my senses. I grabbed my bag from her table and then stood up. It was a big deal pretending like I wasn't scared out of my mind. That was some really weird stuff.

"I- I have to go."

"The cards don't lie." She called after me. I felt my feet come to a halt. I turned to look at her. "You will find love, and everything that you hope for, but you will never truly be happy." She said.

"Death is all around you, Kimberly Hastings." She added.

I'd had enough. I couldn't  wait for her to utter another word. I rushed into the bus. I took one of the chairs close to the window and then inhaled deeply. I exhaled as I slouched. I stole a quick glance at the corner where she sat before the bus drove off.

She sat there, her dark brown eyes staring right at me, and maybe I had imagined it, but I saw the corner of her lips curve upwards until it formed a smirk.