Deadly Omen

Chapter 6

East Evan St is a right downtown Mayville. The building is old and rusty, bricks are chipping and the wood looks rotten. As I walk up to the door a strong smell of mold fills my nose. I hesitate before turning the doorknob, what if it's a scam. How can I trust who ever gave me the card? They might not even be part of the eye.

I have to take that chance, if I don't; I might be giving up the opportunity of a life time. I open the door making the hinges scream. The inside looks better than the out. I start walking up the stairs, this is an apartment building. Where am I supposed to go? They never specified. When I reach the top of the first flight of stairs, I'm left frozen in shock.

"No way!" I say trying to get words out. Three people turn around to see me. Daniel Atlas, Merritt McKinney and Henley Reeves, I've seen a few of their shows on TV. "J. Daniel Atlas?" Atlas looks confused. "Dude, I've seen everything that you have ever done. You're like... I idolize you, seriously," I say stumbling on my words.

"From a true fan, it's so nice to meet you" he says shaking my hand.

"I'm Jack, by the way."

"Question, did you get one of these?" Merritt says pointing to an eye tarot card. That's why they're there, they got cards too. Merritt's card has a hooded figure holding a lantern and black fog consuming the bottom, making the word hermit and the number nine in roman numerals stand out. Hermit kind of makes sense, Merritt McKinney hasn't done a show in years.

"Yeah, uh," I say reaching in my pocket. "Death," I hold up my card.

"The high priestess," Henley says showing me her card with a gloved hand. It has a blindfolded woman with a moon above her head, multiple suns in the background and the number two in roman numerals.

"The lover," Daniel says holding up his card in front of me. It has a heart connected with the same black stuff as Henley's, a large snake and the number six in roman numerals. Thirteen, nine, two and six; there has to be some kind of relationship between them.

"Three minutes," Henley says clearing her throat. Daniel gives her a look. Henley used to be Atlas's assistant but about a year or two ago then she started doing her own thing.

"Hermit," Merritt says as I put my card back in my pocket.

"So, what are we... Are we waiting for someone? Why are we just...?" I ask confused.

"The door's locked," Henley and Daniel say in union. I smile.

"Oh, no; nothing's ever locked," I grab the hairpin that's on the edge of my pocket and walk over to the door, the others clear the way. Within a matter of second I'm able to pick the lock, I look back at the others only to be blinded by a bright light standing out against the dull place. I wince from the pain stinging my eyes, Henley has her phone light on and Daniel has a flashlight. I look at Merritt, he has furrowed eyebrows and lips in a straight line; he sighs intrigued. The corners of his mouth twitch almost forming a smile until he stops himself halfway.

We all walk into the apartment, if I thought the building was bad; this is five times worst. Henley opens a door revealing a filthy and rusty bathroom. I don't understand how someone could live here, it's like a cage; no sense of happiness. I hope that's not one of our instructions, to stay here; I'd rather live back on the streets. To get into the eye you need to go through a series of blind obedience, I just hope it's nothing too risky; but then again what do I have to lose.

"Oh wow, I thought my apartment was nasty," Merritt says in disgust. I see Henley's posture stiffen and her gloved hand form a fist, germaphobe. A shiver goes up my spine.