The Midnight Mystic

Chapter 2

He'd never admit it, but he's thankful that Daniel introduced him to the place. The coffee is great, thanks to the mysterious head barista, and the cafe had free wifi. Stephen ordered a Chai Tea Latte and headed towards the library, fiddling with his watch and setting up a timer for 5 minutes. The library was extensive, dozens of bookshelves made the place an intricate maze. Stephen's favorite part about the library was the homey feel it has, soft lighting and the distinct smell of sandalwood. Stephen knows that this library is very loved, he knows by the fact that he can notice the slight imperfections in the covers and spines of the books--carefully restored with steady hands.Stephen strolled up to the history section, and picked up a copy of The Man in The High Castle. He was deciding whether or not to take it home with him when a barista found him.

He hesitantly took the cup from her. "Thanks, I was about to leave to go get it." He checked his watch. It's only been 3 minutes, there's no way she looked through the whole library in such a short time-span. He looked back up at the barista and gently asked, "How did you find me?"

The barista, Anna, shrugged and without saying a word, left Stephen trailing his eyes after her.

"You shouldn't try talking to them." A voice came from his left. Stephen jumped and faced the bookshelf, where a pair of green eyes were staring at him through the books.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"I said that you shouldn't try talking to her, she doesn't really talk,I don't think it's because she mute or anything, she just doesn't. It gets annoying really quickly, probably some weird cult thing they have going on." The person left their isle and accompanied Stephen's. He recognized the guy as one of Daniel's friends. "The only one I've ever heard talk is Serena, y'know, with all her 'Midnight Mystic' schtick she has going on."

"Midnight Mystic?"

"You're not from around here are you?"

Stephen ruffled in defense. "I haven't been to this particular cafe, not really a fan of all those Starbucks stereotypes."

The guy noted Stephen's change in posture and scrunched his face up in light confusion, raising his hands in placating surrender. "I didn't mean it like that, I mean, generally people know of this place whether they live here or just study in the university."

"Well, I seem to stand in the second category. Look, David, right? I really don't care about anything that surrounds the 'Midnight Mystic' or whatever you call her, I think it's just some weird LARP-ing that she decided to enact, it's nothing special."

"You say that, but you probably haven't talked to her." David crossed his arms in annoyance, he seems oddly defensive towards someone who's just as weirded out about the baristas.

"Yeah well, I won't. Plus what is it that she does exactly? All I hear are rumors and paranoid whispers."

David squinted and relaxed his shoulders, "what you heard is probably true. She's always working here, I think she owns Feather's Cafe, but no one really knows. She has some sort of routine, it's mostly where her name came from. Everyday at exactly 11:50 p.m, she stops and takes her break, sipping whatever tea she makes for herself. Then, people approach her and she just spews some weird philosophy stuff. Eerie, like a prophecy maybe. I think you should try it, it might help."

"No, I don't think I will." Stephen scoffed and tucked the book under his arm to continued skimming the bookshelf. David nodded his head in false understanding.

"I guess everyone has their reasons."