Death Bringer

Chapter Two

Inside Lorenzo's the host sits us at a table, close to a window. While waiting for a waiter to take our order, I look out the window. Outside I see part of the parking lot and the woods behind it. My eyes focus on a tree with a few birds sitting in it. I sit there for a split second and watch them, but then they fly away. Beside the tree I notice a woman, wearing a cloak. Before I can figure out what she is doing she runs deeper into the woods. The waiter walks up to the table the moment I begin to process what I seen. Once we all give our orders and the waiter walks away my mother looks at me.

"So, what other plans do you have for today?" She asks me.

"My friends and I are going to have a party at the pizza place around the corner from my house. They're probably setting it up, right now." I replied.

"You're not going to be late, because of us, are you?"

"No, it doesn't start until six." The waiter came back with our drinks and told us our food would be ready shortly. Silence spreads throughout the table and I let my mind wander. Looking out the window, once again, I think of the woman in the wood. Who is she and what was she doing? Why did it seem like she was staring at me? Was she staring at me or was she just looking in my direction? Maybe I'm just seeing things, she did disappear pretty quickly.

"So, how is work going for you? Do you like being a journalist?" My father asks snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Yes, actually we are doing a segment on different religions. My boss gave me the segment and I have to tell how they are similar and how they are different from each other. It has really opened my mind up about how diverse the world can really be."

"That's great, honey. What religions have you looked into so far?"

"Mostly like Buddhism and Christianity but I came across a religion similar to Buddhism called Wicca. The religion itself seems harmless but I've read some articles on the internet where it has harmed many." My father looks at me for a moment while my mother fiddles with the cross around her neck.

"As harmless as it may seem it isn't," my father's voice is stern but only for a second. "Anyways, it is great that you're learning more about the world around you." I was going to ask him what he means about it being harmful but the waiter arrives with our food before I can say anything. The food is delicious and no one talks while we eat. Once we all finish eating my father pays for our meals and we exit the building. My father gives the valet his ticket and the valet walks away. Moments later my father's car pulls up in front of us, the valet gets out and hands my father his keys. We enter the car and I prepare for the ride back to my house. As we as pulling out of the parking lot I look at the woods one last time and I see the woman from earlier. Her head follows the car as we pulls off and I notice her wave as we drive down the highway. My heart is beating so fast I feel as though it is going to jump out of my chest and, at that moment, I know I wasn't seeing things earlier. She's real, I thought as my mother turns on the radio once again. Half an hour later my parents drop me off at my house, after exiting the car I walk over to my mother's door.

"Thanks for everything, I love you both." They murmur they love me too and pull off. I stand there for a few seconds watching as they drive away. I walk inside my house and put my jacket back in the closet. As I sit at my computer, ready to work a little, my phone vibrates. I pull it from my bra and notice it's my best friend, Violet. She is texting me asking if it's okay for her to stop by. I tell her come on and a few only a minute later someone is ringing my door bell. Opening the door I see Violet, wearing a silver strapless dress with a pair of Uggs.

"So, how was your day, so far?" She asks as we walk to the kitchen. I grab two coffee mugs and being to make us both a cup of coffee.

"It's going good; my parents just dropped me off. They took me out to eat and gave me this gorgeous necklace." I reply holding out the necklace on my neck.