"...I don't know, maybe this year I should consider a solo trip?"
She was brought out of deep thought, drawn back to her reality. Macy Brown sat across from her best friend, in a much too expensive cafe, eyes still glazed over struggling to pull herself back to the current situation. The, not so relevant, construction of the 30 before 30 lists. A bucket list except with the constant reminder that Macy was in fact almost thirty and unlike Kinsley here, she could not afford to drop everything and solo travel the world.
"I guess, do what your heart desires?" It sounded more like a question than a statement. Macy hadn't left her hometown since the death of her great uncle Ken sixteen years ago, let alone assist her only best friend in the trip of a lifetime. so, she did what she knew best, recited one of the many cheesy Tumblr quotes that she'd seen hanging up on Kinsley's bedroom wall.
Kinsley brought her hands up to massage her temples, clearly fed up with her best friend's lack of cooperation, "Gosh you're useless, it's like you'd rather stay here and rot than tan in Spain." It wasn't necessarily false though. Macey preferred the comfort of her apartment than a trip to sunny ole Ibiza. She was a plain Jane. hell, even her name said it all. It didn't take rocket science to see that they were an odd pair, God knows what attracted an exotic creature like Kinsley to someone as tedious as Macey.
Macey sighed tucking a strand of her pale hair behind her ears. She was sick of this conversation and they'd only just ordered their teas. She directed her eyes to the vintage clock situated behind Kinsley, counting down the hours before she was tucked into her bed, earl grey in hand and an episode of Law & Order waiting on Couch Tuner.
" You've spent 20 years of your life cooped up in your parents' house like a damn chicken. No wonder your skin's so pale." Okay, that one hurt a little bit. No amount of fake tans or trips to the beach could cover her porcelain skin. Macey hated the way her veins stuck out beneath her eyes or how to dominate her dark circles were and how her flushed cheeks stood out like sore thumbs on her chubby cheeks. She knew she was the goose in a group of ducks, this is how it'd always been.
A tall, lanky waitress approached the pair, ready to give them their long-awaited guava tea. Definitely a peculiar flavour, but Kinsley swore it'd create a 'positive and optimistic' aura to calm the 'demony' vibe Macey brought along with her. "Here ya go ladies, two guava teas and vegan cinnamon rolls. Anything else with that?"
Yeah, some water to wash down the shit I'm about to ingest.
Of course, Macey would never dream to say this out loud and risk offending Kinsley's new diet (as per 30 before 30 lists). She muttered a curt thanks and sipped the herbal tea allowing the mystic aroma to fill her sinuses and wash away her so-called demony vibe. A deep frown possessed her delicate features as a bitter liquid ran down her throat, leaving traces of the astringent flavour in her mouth.
"Yeah look Kin, as much as I appreciate you taking time off your typical witchy day to treat my aura, I have reruns of Law & Order waiting for me in my cursed dungeon." She remarked with an eye roll. Kinsley gave a frown much deeper than hers, clearly offended by the sarcasm that drenched her best friend's words.
"Yeah have fun leaving trails of hell over Sunnyvale won't ya. You know I only do these things to help you but it's like you'd rather live your life looking over your shoulder! If the bloody teas and oils don't work, why not consider a fucking shrink you psycho." Okay, that one definitely struck a fat nerve. But of course, this was common after every session. It all starts with oils, teas then crystals and ended in Macey being flooded in broachers about the best shrinks in Sunnyvale.
God, it was tiring...
Kinsley was your typical college dropout, majoring in psychology, but was severely offended with the use of advanced technology for diagnosis and claimed that some individuals possessed the wrong 'aura/energy' for someone with a mental health illness. I mean she wasn't a complete wackjob; she knew her stuff inside and out but I guess she had complete faith in her essential oils and gut feeling. Which also meant she'd bury me alive if I ever considered stepping into the office of licenced professional.
"I'll update you after every session Kin, don't get too excited" Macey muttered as watched her best friend gathered her stuff, preparing for a very dramatic departure. She shoved a, now cold, cinnamon bun in her mouth and stalked down the path without a single glance back at Macey.
Macey gave a deep sigh as she set a tip down on the table, also preparing to get home. As she stepped away from the table, she took time to admire the serenity of the cafe. It'd been a while since she'd been able to acknowledge the peace in her surroundings. Kinsley was right, Macey was constantly looking over her shoulder wondering when he'd finally show himself again. Every step she took, she could feel his cool breath on the nape of her neck - taunting her. But something about this place took the fear away, made her feel lighter and it definitely wasn't the new HIIT class she'd been taking.
"You all good, miss?" The waitress questioned. Macey gave a curt nod and made her way down the street opposite the way to her apartment. Maybe Kin's sessions were coming into play after all.
The streets were completely isolated, no one in sight except for the labourers that woken bright and early to greet their workload for the day and cafes that engaged in the usual Mis-en-place. She had no idea how people managed to function this early in the day, seeing as her duties usually began mid-day. The cool Autumn breeze tickled her delicate skin as she allowed her melancholy to dissipate into the cloudless day. This wasn't a new feeling, it was just prolonged and definitely needed. Macy tore her eyes away from the sky and zeroed in on the woman who stood a couple of feet from Macy, with her back turned to her.
She wasn't there before...
No one else seemed to take notice of the women. She wasn't anything special -- not to Macy anyway. Macy's eyes wandered down her figure; a mane of orange, curly hair that fell on her slim shoulders. The lower her eyes wondered, she took notice of the long legs and bare feet. This lady could have been anyone. A chef late to her shift or an overdressed construction worker, but that wasn't the case. The crystal white lab coat gave her away.
Macey's breath halted in her throat. Gone was the light feeling of security, now it was fight or flight. She knew this figure too well and knew at this point she was pretty much defenceless without Kinsley to calm her. A familiar sting came onto her waterline and her chest clenched painfully. She inched closer to the stationary person, hoping that with each step the woman would become more transparent and just a figment of her imagination. Biting her lip had become a dirt habit Macy recently developed but she couldn't stop her teeth from piercing the soft flesh in her mouth. The pain was the only thing that would bring her closer to serenity at a time like this. At 5 feet, the woman's tanned skin remained opaque and her figure did not move an inch not even a hair on her head shifted. Still, the people surrounding them refused to acknowledge the hell set being and continued their everyday routine.
This was ridiculous! Everything about this woman's rigid body was suspicious... or was it the guava tea kicking in?
The sent of stale shampoo flooded Macy. She hadn't noticed that she'd situated herself right behind the orange curls. No heat radiated from the lady, even though she was the devil in disguise, Macy took notice of the goose pumps that littered the woman's skin. Gradually, the tan skin developed a purple tinge and the lab coat lost its crystal white as it transformed to a pale beige splattered with unknown fluids. The sky began dull and the vegetation was limp with no sign of life. The orange mane began to twist with a blood-curdling crack, till Macy was greeted with the spiritless face she'd dreamt of for years. The same defined cheekbones and piercing green eyes that lacked their usual shine. There was no longer a need to look behind her shoulder and search for him cause GOD had gifted Macey with something much worse. The presence before her could not compare to the monsters that hid amongst the shadows. It was all a lie, humans had no reason to fear what they could not see cause her face was as clear as day and Macy was shitting herself, undoubtedly.
"Kinsley!" A piercing screech filled the open air as Macy's vison darkened and her delicate body forcefully made contact with the concrete walkway.
Now the people had a reason to look.
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YOU ARE READING
MACY *COMING SOON*
Science FictionMacy Brown. As far as she's concerned, that's always been her name and the 3 syllables gave anyone an outline of her personality. Bland. But maybe in her past life, her dull brown hair was exotic and her personality flourished and she'd leave her go...