In foresight.
1438 Words
' I walked down the street, it was dark, the street lights had been turned on for the night.
Barely anyone was out and about at this hour, the odd car passed, only bars and pub were still open, their patrons outside having a smoke on the curb.
It was freezing, I adjusted my coat, and pulled the scarf from my hand bag, wrapping it around my neck.
I could only hear my own footsteps but could feel eyes watching me.
A shiver ran down my spine and it was not from the cold.
I decided to take a short cut to get home quicker, turning down the next alley.
I didn't realise my mistake, till I was about half way down, slowing my pace, I suddenly noticed the figure leaning against the wall.
I held my head high, but did not make eye contact.
I could hear the scrap of a shoe as the figure pushed off the wall,
"Are you going to act like you don't know me? Like you haven't thought of me since? I meant that little to you? look at me Ivy!" the figure yelled, they knew my name, I couldn't distinguish their voice through the heartbeat thudding in my ears.
I spun to face them..'
I woke gasping, I was back in my room at the motel, no alley or stalking figure.
The Tv was showing magic mop or something, late night commercials.
I'd left the light on, that now burned my eyes and I could also hear the fridge humming away.
I blinked, I hadn't had a vision since my birthday, why did I need to see that? Agni said she only shown them to me because she couldn't communicate.
I decide to ask her myself, I open up the mind link.
"Agni what was that about?" I snap.
"Hey, hey that was not me." Agni replies.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"I can only show you that past, or as it happens." she replies.
"Visions of the future, thats the moon goddess area." Agni continues.
"Moon goddess?" it sounds familiar.
"The first mother, of the first werewolf, she's the reason we are both here, and why you have your gifts." Agni fills.
"Well then why did she think I needed to see that?" I'm feeling uncomfortable.
"A warning I suspect, but who was it?" Agni asks.
"I was so rattled I'm not sure." I reply, shuddering at the idea that is in the future for me.
Its 7.45am, the walk went quicker than expected, probably since I was so lost in my thoughts to notice.
It was a little over 2 kilometers from the motel to the bookshop, and it was a pleasant walk for the most part.
I heard a car slowing, looking to my right of where I leaned against the wall, an old blue sedan crawled around the corner, pulling up in front of the shop.
I waited as the old man got out, mumbling to himself, he shuffled around the front of the car, he looked up, and upon seeing me did a double take, almost jumping clean out of his skin,
"What are you doing here?!" Old man exclaimed.
"I didn't want to give you an excuse not to hire me, so I made sure to be on time." I reply.
The deep shade of red his face turned, confirmed he'd been counting on it.
"Well know this, I don't pay for you time before 8am or after 5pm, no overtime here, not at the rates my wife's making me pay you!" He remarked, throwing his hands for emphasis.
He unlocked the shop door, and I followed him in.
The old man stepped behind the counter, hanging his overcoat and wool fedora hat on a hook, then he gestured for me to do the same.
He held out his hand, as I passed him my handbag and coat, he hung them up too.
"Turn the sign around to open, I'll just chuck the kettle on and we'll go find something for you to start with." The old man instructed.
I did as I was told, as he disappeared into the office behind the counter, when he re-appeared he had cleaning products in hand, he thrust them in my hands.
Then shuffled on past me, I followed him to the back on the shop.
"English novels and poetry. Theirs a little over 3000 books in this section, its you job to take them of the shelves put them in alphabetical order by author. Then clean and polish the wooden shelves, and wipe every book as you put them back on the shelf." He smiles at me, ahhh he hopes I'll refuse.
"Sounds good to me, I'll start right away." I reply; returning the smile.
"You have until the end of next week he grumbles, heading back towards the counter, as the door bell chimes with entrance of a customer.
I've been at it for at least 4 hours, finally the old man calls out, for me to go to lunch, my stomach cheered in anticipation.
I've grabbed my hand bag and am about to walk out, when the old man comes out of the office, holding out his hand.
"The kettles died, so on your way back grab 2 coffees can ya, one for me and one for yourself, I have it white with 2 sugars," he drops the change in my hand, I nod telling him I'd be back in 20 or so.
I headed out in search of somewhere to grab lunch, a cafe caught my eye 3 shops down, grilled fish and salad $12 for lunch.
I duck inside and order, sitting near in the back corner, I watch as people wander past the window, going about their day.
A woman enters ordering a coffee, she doesn't see me but I see her, and something about her makes me wary.
I sit very still as she looks around then promptly leaving once receiving her coffee.
I feel instant relief at her exit, something about her felt wrong.
When I returned to the shop with the 2 coffees, the old man just about lunged for it when I held it out, I asked if he was alright, he said he'd just had a difficult customer and needed a pick me up.
We sat chatting for a few minutes, whilst we drink our coffee, then I head back of the shop, to continue sorting through the books piled on the floor.
5pm knocked around, as I heard the old man sorting the till, he called out and I left what I was doing, heading back to the counter.
"It's 5 o'clock, we've closed so you'd best head off, whilst its still light," He said not looking up as he counted coins.
My coat and bag were on top of the counter, I put the coat on and the handbag over my shoulder, turning to leave.
Remembering my dream from this morning I paused, my hand on the door handle.
Noticing my hesitation, the old man looked up.
"You alright Miss?" The old man asked, as I snapped back to the present.
"Yeah sorry, lost in my thoughts for a moment, by the way, how should I address you?" I turn my head to him.
"Mr Walsh is fine, Miss." He answers.
"No worries, Mr Walsh its is, and my names Ivy if that helps." I suspected he'd forgotten, hence calling me miss.
"No worries, Miss Ivy, I'll see you in the morning." Then he returned to his counting.
I left walking quickly towards the motel, I stopped at the supermarket, grabbing some groceries for dinner, and smiling thought of the peace, I'd found working in the bookshop today.
Not one thought of Garrett, it was for the best I told myself.
It was late, at least 2am, I couldn't sleep.
I was thinking of Garrett, how was he? Was he heart broken? Did he miss me? Had he moved on?
I shouldn't of but reaching over for my book, beside my table, I pulled out the bookmark.
I had kept my favourite photo of us, on our weekend away camping, we both smiled at the camera holding sticks with marshmallows on the end of them.
It was the best weekend away I'd ever had, I'd felt so normal, just my boyfriend and I, two teens out camping and being idiots, completely in love.
Then things had spiralled again, leading to where she was now, living in a motel, working in a bookshop, in a town I'd never heard of before this week called Freestone.
- Writer
