Poison Tree

Night Shifts

     I glared at the girl as she smiled shyly at me, all while easing from behind the counter. Her leather purse was cracked with wear and possibly age. Her car keys dangled from the left hand, which also held a thin jacket that the wind would laugh at.
     "You'll be fine Sar," she said, hand held on the door. "And besides, you'd probably only get like two or three customers at max."
     "Sky, that's not the point! You think you're the only person that wants to get out of here? And besides. How can I cook AND tend to customers?" I asked, still glaring at Skylar.
     "Pffft, what customers?" Sky grinned, and before I could say anything, she blew me a kiss and flew from the diner. I groaned loudly as I watched her run to her car, but laughed when I heard her shriek as it started to pour down rain. I sighed before going to the back to grab sauce packets and napkins to restock. As I was putting the sliver ware back on the tables, I glanced at the clocks and groaned yet again. Another two hours. Great. The diner closed at one in the morning, why? I have no clue. It's not like we have any customers or anything. Don't get me wrong, the food is great. I should know, I cook it. Sometimes I have to leave the recipes for the other workers because if I didn't, then they wouldn't prepare it right. I glanced around the diner to make sure everything was cleaned and spotless before I hopped up on the front counter. I let my feet dangle as I pulled out my phone. I was scrolling through Pinterest when the tiny bell chimed. I always liked the sound of bells. But only the soft ones, not the ear splitting ones. I hopped off the counter, quickly tucking my phone into my pocket. I called out a greeting, and looked up to smile, when my lungs collapsed. In walked at least twelve big burly men, all wearing business suits, some long sleeved, some short sleeved. The short sleeved ones had tattoos littering every inch of skin that was exposed. One bald man in particular stood out because of an intricate tattoo design on his head, and his left eye was practically glowing gold, a huge contrast to his nearly black eye. Baldie's eyes raked over the diner, before landing on me. It took all of me to not tremble. Instead, I dug my nails into the palms of my hands, forcing a smile. After looking me over, he mumbled something in Italian to his.....partners? And they all went to go take a seat. I went in the back and hurriedly texted sky. This was the most customers we've ever had at this time. I waited for about five minutes, and growled in frustration when I didn't get a response. I took a deep breath before tightening my apron. There was no point in pitching a fit. And besides, it's not like I could kick them out, right? I mean if anything, they could put me out. And I would not protest. I hurried back out to the back booths that the giants occupied, pad and paper in hand. As I approached the table, all talking ceased. I smiled shyly before clearing my throat. Act natural right?
     "Evening gents, my name is Tsar, and I'll be assisting you all. What can I start you all off with?" The greeting was practically etched into my mind. The guys looked me up and down a good five minutes before baldie spoke up.
     "What would you suggest?" His deep voice, which held a heavy Italian accent by the way, penetrated the walls I had up and went straight for the scared, anxiety stricken little girl that I made sure to keep locked away. I cursed myself, because I knew that the stuttering was gonna come right back.
     No, you are NOT that same little girl. Show him who you are. The voice whispered from the back of my mind, and for once, I was thankful for it. I don't really know how the voice came, but it came as soon as my seventeenth birthday was over. It always spoke when I was in a conflicting situation, or when I was getting bad again. But that's another story that I promised I wouldn't open.
     "Me personally? Well, the steak burgers are killers, as well as the chicken lasagna." I said tapping my chin. I bit back that smile that so desperately wanted to surface as every last one of the men snapped their heads towards me, confusion painting each one. It was like doing a magic trick on a toddler.
     "Wait, chicken lasagna?" One of the men said. I chuckled this time.
     "Yes sir." I smiled at them as I leaned against one of the nearby tables. They all conversed in fluent Italian, every now and then and eyebrow would go up. I waited patiently, looking out of the windows as to not be in their conversation. Through the heavy rain, I saw a glowing yellow eye, looking at me. I didn't have to turn to know that baldie was staring at me. It was as if he was doing some soul searching.
     Good luck with that. The voice bounced around my head, causing me to grin. I was with her on that one.
     "So, Ms. Tsar?" Baldie's deep voice snapped me out of my trance. I turned to look at them, 24 eyes staring intensely at me.
     "Have you decided then?" I asked smiling. All of them grunted out yeses, turning to baldie. It's like they lived for his words. He was the leader then.
     "We'll take twelve orders of this chicken lasagna, and it better be something good." Baldie said, eyes never leaving me. I smirked at him, writing the order down.
     "Oh, it's killer." I stood up and headed back to the kitchen as they continued conversing in Italian. I started humming a tune as I was layering the chicken lasagna. They were just ready to go in the oven when I heard someone clear their voice. I jumped and turned around, only to have a huge hand covering my mouth. I looked at cold grey eyes, as they stared at mine.
     Danger.
     He was not one of the men that were currently in the lobby.
     Danger.
     He had a scar coming from his left eye, which, now that I'm looking closer, was a few shades lighter than the right.
     Danger.
     He wore all black, breath fanning over my face.
     Danger.
     It was clear. He was the predator. Guess what that makes me?
     Danger.
     "You're going to do exactly as I say." His velvet voice came out low, barely above a whisper. I looked at him, not sure what to say. Hell. It's not like I could talk with his hand over my face.
     "Your life depends on it, love." He whispered in my ear.
     "And if you even think of screaming, your vocal chords will be ripped out before your brain can even process it." He said coldly, before standing to his full height, which was well above mine.
     Fucking danger.