Josh's Destiny

Chapter 3

The subway was no worse than Josh anticipated. They had to change trains a few times, but soon they were at Coney Island. At night, with all the colored lights, the colorful trappings, and the crowds, the place was a magical wonderland. Josh was enchanted and Destiny was enthralled, though Josh was sure she'd been there many times before.

They walked the midway, taking in all the sights. Destiny stopped at a fortune teller's tent and her eyes sparkled.

"Really?" asked Josh.

"Why? Don't you believe?"

"In gypsy fortune tellers? No, I don't. I'm surprised you do."

Destiny smiled. "Humor me."

When she smiled that smile Josh couldn't say no. They entered the tent, which was appropriately dark and smoky with incense. An old woman, made up to the nines, came from the back. She indicated Destiny and Josh should sit at a small table and they did. Josh looked at her and asked, "How much?"

"I charge by what I see." The old woman asked for their hands and they put their hands on the table. She picked up Destiny's right hand and Josh's left. They watched as she studied them.

Destiny looked over at Josh and gave him a small grin. She always liked the fortune tellers and sometimes they were spot on. Whether or not they were just good guesses she didn't know. She had often thought she would be a good fortune teller but she had never tried it out.

"I can tell the young woman works with food, mostly, but you, young man are a herald." She looked closer at their palms. "You have not been together long, but this relationship is going to intensify. I see hard times ahead of you, Miss. You, young man, are her protector. I cannot see if the Fates take you before your time, but you will be together a long while before the Fates intervene."

The old woman paused, and Josh asked, "What am I supposed to protect her from?"

"An enemy, perhaps more than one. I cannot see faces or gender, but the danger is there. You have made a powerful foe, Miss. One who does not like to lose, even things that are not his to take."  She stared at their hands a few more minutes then laid them back on the table. "The reading is complete. Forty dollars, please."

"Forty dollars? You barely gave us twenty minutes! How about twenty?" Josh remarked.

"Forty dollars, please." The old woman stared at them without blinking.

Destiny nudged Josh and whispered, "Just pay her. I'll settle up with you later."

Josh grumbled a bit, but he paid the old woman.  When they were outside once more, Josh stopped Destiny and asked, "Now what the hell was that all about?"

"I don't know," Destiny replied in a small voice.

She looked shaken, but Josh didn't question her any further.  Though he knew she had something she was hiding. He had sensed it before, but he'd be gone tomorrow. Her protector? He shook his head. It was a pretty good performance by the old woman, but the show wasn't worth forty dollars.

Destiny stopped at an ATM and withdrew some money. She turned to Josh and held out a twenty dollar bill. Josh asked, "What's that for?"

"My part of the fortune," Destiny answered.

Josh waved her off. "I don't want you to pay me, Destiny. Really, please put it away."

They stood in an awkward silence and then the noise of a roller coaster caught Josh's attention.

"Come on, let's go ride," he said as he took her hand.

Destiny couldn't help herself, she grinned.  "Let's!" she said with much enthusiasm.

They rode and ate fair food and shopped and Josh even won Destiny a teddy bear with his shooting skills. The boardwalk was closing up when Josh stopped before the Ferris wheel.  "This is the only one we haven't ridden, might as well take the last ride of the night."

He held out his hand to her but she hesitated. "I don't like heights," she said sheepishly.

"I won't let anything happen to you. I'm your protector, remember?" he grinned as he remembered the old gypsy woman's prediction.

Destiny sighed, and took his hand. Josh paid the controller and him and Destiny settled into one of the brightly painted sky baskets. They were one of two couples on the last ride of the night. As the giant wheel began to turn slowly, Josh could feel Destiny tremble. He pulled her to his side and put his arm around her shoulders.

The wheel stopped at the top and Destiny squeaked. "Just look. The city is spread out like shining jewels on black velvet. And the stars and moon seem to be so close you can touch them. It's so muted up here, peaceful kind of. Sometimes, when I'm singing, it feels like this. Everything just recedes and I'm all alone and at peace with the world." He looked at Destiny, who was staring at him. "What?" he asked.

She answered, "I should have suspected you have the soul of a poet." She leaned into him and kissed his cheek, just grazing the corner of his mouth. Josh actually blushed.

The wheel started turning again, and by the time the ride was over, Josh was his normal self again. He helped Destiny out of the basket and kept hold of her hand. She didn't try to pull away and Josh grinned to himself.

"I suppose it's late," he said.

"Yes, the boardwalk starts closing down at eleven and most things are shut by midnight."

"The subway should be an adventure now."

Destiny shook her head, her reddish mane moving as though it had a life of its own. "We're taking a cab. Even I don't ride the subway this late."

Josh breathed deeply and then let it out. "That's a relief." He and Destiny made their way out to a street and had no trouble hailing a cab. Josh waved Destiny in first and crawled in beside her. She once again took his hand and held it tightly.

Josh wasn't even aware he was going to do it, he was running on instinct. He leaned into her and he kissed her. His lips were soft upon her even softer ones and he could smell her cherry breath. He traced her bottom lip with his tongue and she parted her lips, drawing his tongue into her mouth. They twined their tongues around each other, suddenly clutching at one another. Josh hadn't meant for this to happen. But there was no denying that he wanted her. And he knew she wanted him.

The cab came to a stop. They were at Destiny's building. Destiny paid the driver then took Josh's hand. She pulled him out of the cab and hugged and kissed him again. There was no question, he was definitely coming up.

When they arrived at Destiny's door she hesitated only a moment. Josh knew she was nervous, so was he. Josh didn't think Destiny was a virgin, and he knew he wasn't, but this was like the first time and God he wanted it to be good for her. He had no way of knowing, but she was thinking almost the same thing.

Destiny bent down slightly to put the key in the lock. The door swung inward just a bit.

"Josh, my door is open," she whispered taking a step back.

Josh put her behind him and carefully pushed the front door open all the way. He reached in for the light switch, found it after a few minutes. He flipped it. 

The light illuminated a shambles. Destiny's tiny studio apartment had nothing in it that wasn't broken, slashed, or smashed. Destiny just stared from the doorway. She knew she should call the police but she felt rooted to the spot.

Josh went in just a bit. The damage was consummate. He turned to go back out and noticed something sticking in the back of the door. A large carving knife was holding a piece of paper in place. On the paper were three words, written in a childish scrawl. They read, "You are mine!"