Hidden Close (Jr. Year)

Chapter 42

Part 42 Of The First Draft

The mall was unusually quiet today, and many of the vendors were void of customers. I wasn't the only one surprised, as Becky also looked astonished. When we made it through the top level of Knoxville Regional Mall, we found that my favorite clothing store was still open. I turned to Becky, a bit relieved, and entered Clyde's with her.

Cylde’s fine clothing store is where people go for the top trending styles on the market. Although I have looked death in the face and survived to tell of it, I'm still a teenage girl, and I love shopping for clothing. I grabbed a few pairs of jeans and a sweater off the racks, and waited patiently for Becky to find some socks and a dark shirt, and we continued to the cash register, where we discovered that the cashier was absent. After waiting around for ten minutes for someone to appear, we gave up and left the clothes on the counter.

The food court was crowded, and we looked for a place to eat. We found one that we could both agree on, a place that served chow mein, something that sounded really good to me. We both ordered generous portions of it, and we sat down at a table, where we proceeded to talk,

“It’s too bad that Cylde's is closed. I found some killer jeans there.”

“Yeah, but what can you do, Mindi? Our lives haven't been exactly perfect as of late.”

Ever since earlier this year, this mall has made me uneasy. I always think that someone may be watching me here from the shadows. I'd like to believe that the cashier at Clyde's had a good reason for not being at the register. Even still, I should be on my toes. In my life, the one thing that is true in life is that you never know what to expect. My years have been ones full of both joy and sorrow. Last year we were assaulted in this very same mall. This is my first trip here ever since the incident. Some thugs had ran into me here and tracked me  home by scent alone. Originally, I had thought it would be safe to come here with Becky. Now, I just want to get out of here.

“Yeah, I know, Becky. I don't feel safe here. We should....”

Renee approached us, exclaiming in an act,

“Oh, if it isn't Becky and Mindi! Fancy bumping into you two here! I had taken my brother's car out for a spin! Say, do you two want to hang out with me?”

Becky and I nodded, and she smiled with those gorgeous and perfect teeth of hers, and Renee sat down, putting forth a plan,

“Ooh, we should go and explore the variety shop on the first floor! They have all sorts of wicked cool charms! But....I really want one of those orange slush drinks they sell here! Be right back!”

After Renee had left, Becky stated,

“She’s protecting us, isn't she?”

I nodded, and Renee came back, and we spent some time eating and drinking before we continued onto the strange House Of Wonders down by the mall's back exit. It had many things that were all placed on glass shelves, and we looked at the various occult statues and small shrines available for purchase. Some even depicted snakes and dragons, made of obsidian, jade, marble and more. We eventually found a rack full of chains and amulets, and Renee grabbed three pentagrams, ones with the point right side up. They were painted black and red, and the chains were silver. They were immaculate and breathtaking, with words inscribed around them denoting “Firma Di Terra.” Renee paid for them, and she told the two of us,

“They’re early birthday gifts, considering both of yours’ are right around the corner.”

Mine was in February but I accepted it none the less. Becky seemed quite pleased with hers, and we left with Renee quietly and exited the mall. I turned around before we left, and noticed three shadowy figures watching us leave.

“Renee! Punch it!”

That must be Mister Paulson’s henchmen trying to get our plates. Talk about deja vu.

“Why?”

“Just trust me, Renee! Go!”

She sped off, and I wasn't sure if they would pursue us. Becky suggested,

“They already know where I live. Drop us off there, Renee.”

We had stayed outside a good fifteen minutes before we were fully sure that no one had followed us home. Both of us, needless to say, were anxious and afraid. We enjoyed a lemon-lime soda together inside before I left. We guarded our speech in there, not wishing to arouse Veronica’s suspicion. I texted her almost immediately after leaving, telling Becky four simple words,

“Watch out for danger.”

Despite all this, I was glad that we had come across both Becky and Carlie. To think, if Becky had not had gym with us, she would have still been shadowing us for her weird newspaper. Sure, we are in all sorts of trouble since meeting Becky, but I don’t regret it at all. I know that Mister Paulson wants to kill us for taking Becky and Carlie away from him but he can't have them back. They mean too much to me. Becky came into my life by more than just chance. Our friendship was the closest thing to divine intervention that there ever could be. It was more like destiny. I don't really believe in anything but karma, yet, I wonder what sort of joke that chance encounters really are. Did we really befriend Becky on our intuition? No. She allowed us in. I knew that Becky's soul was crying out for help the moment I saw her.

Mister Paulson’s thugs want to play a dangerous game with us, and I am ready to play, too. I defeated Judge Jackson, so how strong could this man be? Judge Jackson had money and the government against us, so how can Mister Paulson be any worse? The showdown is set. It'll be us against them in a grand display of wits and body carving each other until only one side is left standing. I don't want to kill anyone, and I know this Mister Paulson wants us dead. How can we possibly survive? There has to be a way to settle this without hurtung anyone. Will my morals prevent me from saving us? I...I don’t want to hurt anyone. I'm not capable of it. They can make me bleed, but I won’t break. I will live, and I won't let our future die. I will become married to Perry. We'll leave town if we have to. I'll sacrifice it all if it means all this fighting will come to an end.