Celtic Cross | #ONC2019

X.

It was dark by the time I made it to Clear Portals, the streetlights sending shadows through the shops display windows as I reached into my pocket to get my key for the front door. No sooner did my key make it into the lock than did the door budge open.

It was already opened.

Someone else was here.

Looking through the glass door, there was a small sliver of light at the very back of the store, just barely visible beneath the door of the room Nick often used for his personal business. But if Nick was there, why would the remainder of the store be so dark?

And if Nick was there, where was Mac?

I pushed open the door and was about to call out when I realized the door opened quietly.

Almost too quietly, without any announcement.

There were no bells.

At my feet, the rainbow-colored chakra bells were in a tangled mess, looking as though they were pulled down quickly, maybe even stomped upon. Whoever did this, didn't want anyone to know they were there.

It was then I decided I didn't want anyone to know I was there, either.

Slowly I shut the door to the store behind me, locking it just in case anyone else thought it would be a good idea to enter a dark store.

Which it wasn't. I was out of my mind.

But Mac called me about Nick. And I knew Nick was here.

I needed to find them fast.

I crept through the dark store, and it didn't take long for me to realize, as my eyes adjusted, that there had been a struggle. Vials from the oil display smashed and littered the floor, creating a strange concoction of smells that made me feel sick. Books and Tarot decks had been thrown, statues and supplies strewn all over. Even the paneled divider that separated my space from the rest of the store had toppled.

I moved to straighten it back to standing when I heard voices. Or at least one voice, coming from behind the closed door- the one I saw the light underneath from outside. I moved as soundlessly as I could, uncertain how much they could hear of me as I could of them. Pressing against the wall I tried to look through the small crack, but I could barely make out anything in the shadows.

I could, however, hear everything perfectly.

"- really think I wouldn't figure it out? That you'd be able to come here and act like I didn't know who you were?"

Nick.

"I had hoped we'd have a little more time to get to know each other better, but no, I didn't."

Mac?

"And then you had to bring Siobhan into this," Nick hissed. "She's the last person who should be involved."

"You make it sound as though I wanted her to become involved," Mac responded, his voice devoid of emotion.

"You could have fooled me, sleeping your way into her apartment like you did."

"Things happen."

I scowled. Asshole.

"And now she's not getting out of it. I hope you're satisfied."

"I'll feel much more satisfied when this is over."

"And then what? She already knows too much."

"She only knows what she thinks she knows. She'll understand."

"You're telling me you actually believe she'll walk away alive?"

"I'm telling you that she's a smart woman and will make the right decision. The police are already watching her."

"Of course they are." Nick let out a sardonic chuckle. "So when do you stop countering my questions with your own and begin answering? You at least owe me that much."

"I owe you nothing," Mac spat. "Do you truly think she's worth anything in all of this?"

"Isn't she, though? You could almost say she saw this coming before either of us did."

Mac growled. "She should have stayed out of this."

"And you should have stayed away."

I was stepping away from the door before I realized it, the weight of their conversation settling over me.

Beyond that door my fate was being decided as though I had no say in the matter.

But it was being decided by two men who sounded as though they were going toe-to-toe over the matter, or against each other.

Mac called me here because he wanted to talk to me about Nick.

Was this what he wanted me to hear? His threats against me and my friend, as if I wouldn't find out? As if I couldn't do something about it?

Or was he waiting for me and Nick happened to show up at the right place at the wrong time?

Well, I was going to do something about it, and I had to do it fast before anything happened to Nick.

Turning from the door I made my way across the dark shop as best as I could with little light and my best attempts as silence. My goal was the furthest wall- on it we had a display of ancient sword mounted to the wall over a case of knives, daggers and athames. Breaking the glass case would have been too obvious- I didn't want Mac to hear me as I attempted to arm myself, so instead I climbed onto the top of the cabinet and knelt up to pull a sword down from the wall.

I never used a sword before- in Boston, it wasn't exactly the weapon of choice. Occasionally I'd walk around with a small pocket knife, but mine was currently buried at the bottom of my purse, and after Mac's urgent phone call all I could think of as I left was getting to the store and my friend.

I just hope I wasn't too late.

Jumping down from the counter, I held the sword in my hand. It felt comfortable enough, but would I be able to use it when the time came?

There was only one way to find out.

I wasn't exactly keen on shedding blood, but if it was to save my friend, I didn't question my abilities for a moment.

But turning back to the door, I almost dropped the sword.

A gasp of surprise left me as I came face to face with a figure standing behind me. I hadn't heard them approach, but they knew I was there, and obviously didn't want me to know.

I stared at Nick, words escaping me.

But a sinister grin crossed his face, and even in the darkness of the store, my vision had adjusted enough to see the sadistic look in his eyes.

"Hello, Bonnie."