Hers

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

            I punched in the phone number on the card and brought the payphone to my ear.  The hollow ringing sound shook my eardrum as I tapped my foot impatiently on the concrete sidewalk.

            Ring, ring.

            Ring, ring.

            I huffed impatiently, catching an irritated look from some passerby’s.  I rolled my eyes in annoyance and leaned against the phone stand.  My eyes scanned the dirty plastic that surrounded the payphone.  My eyes caught a wad of pink gun, causing me to immediately shoot up from the small booth.  I checked the area I was previously leaning against and let out a sigh of relief when I saw it was clear.

            Ring, ring.

            Ring, ring.

            I glanced around at my surroundings.  Behind me, a park sat vacant, too hot for children to slide down the slides and play on the monkey bars.  Down the street a little ways, two kids burst out of the ice cream parlor with cones as big as their heads, overflowing with melting ice cream.  I smiled to myself as their parent’s shook their heads with goofy smile of their own stretched across their faces.

            Ring, ring.

            Ring-

            “Hello?”  My breath caught in my throat at the sound of Ace’s voice.  God, it so was husky and thick.

            It’s supposed to be, my thoughts chided me.  That’s what he uses to draw you in.

            “Ace,” I started, pulling myself away from my thoughts.  “We need to talk.”

            “Lilly, you’re only supposed to call me if you see anything strange,” he chided me.  “And what number is this?”

            “It’s a payphone, but listen-“

            “Why didn’t you use your phone?”  He asked, cutting me off before I had the chance to tell him about Sam.  I let out an annoyed huff.

            “I don’t have a phone,” I informed him in a matter-of-factly tone.

            “What kind of grown woman doesn’t have a phone?”  Ace asked.

            “Ace!”  I yelled into the receiver.  “We need to talk.”

            “Where are you?”  Ace asked, his voice dropping low and coming out as a whisper.

            “I’ll be at the park,” I told him.

            “No, where are you now?”  He demanded.

            “Just pick me up at th-“

            “Lilly,” he said in a low growl.  “Where.  Are.  You.  Now.”

            I swallowed and glanced around.  I knew Ace could be dangerous.  I knew he was a demon.  I knew I shouldn’t trust him, but maybe it was the demon in me that made me want to.  After all, we are kind of the same thing.  I sighed and watched as a child took its mother’s hand.

            “I’m across the street from the park,” I told him, my eyes never leaving the mother and son scene that was playing out in front of me.