The forgotten

paying customer

The lunch rush was in full swing at MartS restaurant The small restaurant buzzed with the cheerful chatter of regulars and the clatter of silverware on plates. Elowen, moved efficiently between tables, refilling water glasses and taking orders with a practiced smile.

Mrs. Marta, her face flushed from the heat of the stove, expertly flipped pancakes and seasoned simmering sauces. The aroma of her signature dishes filled the air, a tantalizing blend of herbs, spices, and simmering vegetables.

Elowen loved these moments. The camaraderie, the shared purpose, the feeling of being part of something larger than herself. It was a far cry from the cold, sterile walls of the prison she called a home, a world she desperately wanted to forget.

As she wiped down a table, she noticed a new customer enter the restaurant. A tall, well-dressed man with a familiar air of arrogance about him. Her blood ran cold as she recognized him: Lorien.

He scanned the room, his eyes locking onto hers. A cruel smile twisted his lips as he slowly approached the counter.

Elowen's heart pounded in her chest. She hadn't seen him in two years and a couple of month, but the memory of his cruelty, of Mrs. Mary's lifeless body, was as vivid as if it had happened yesterday.

She tried to remain calm, to control her trembling hands. She couldn't let him see how much he frightened her.

Lorien reached the counter, his eyes never leaving hers. "Well, well, well," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What a pleasant surprise. Fancy meeting you here, Elowen."

Mrs. Marta, oblivious to the tension in the air, smiled warmly at Lorien. "Welcome to Mart'S Kitchen, sir. What can I get for you?"

Lorien ignored Mrs. Marta, his gaze still fixed on Elowen. "I'll have whatever she's serving," he said, his eyes glinting with a predatory hunger. "With a side of justice."

Elowen stood frozen, her mind racing. What was he doing here? What did he want.

Elowen's breath hitched in her throat. She forced herself to meet Lorien's gaze, trying to project an air of defiance she didn't feel. "I'm not serving you anything," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "Please leave."

Lorien chuckled, a low, menacing sound that sent shivers down her spine. "Oh, I don't think so," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I'm a paying customer, and I have every right to be here."

He turned his attention to Mrs. Marta, his voice dripping with false charm. "Isn't that right, ma'am? Surely you wouldn't deny a hungry man a meal?"

Mrs. Marta, sensing the tension between Elowen and Lorien, hesitated. She glanced nervously at Elowen, then back at Lorien. "I... I don't want any trouble in my restaurant," she stammered.

Lorien smirked. "Trouble? What trouble? I'm simply here for a bite to eat. Unless, of course, you have something to hide." He emphasized the last few words, his gaze locking onto Elowen.

Elowen knew she had to do something, and fast. Lorien was deliberately trying to provoke her, to create a scene. She couldn't let him succeed.

"Mrs. Marta, please," she said, her voice pleading. "I can explain everything later. Just ask him to leave."

Mrs. Marta looked torn. She valued Elowen's help and friendship, but she also didn't want to cause a scene in her restaurant.

Lorien, sensing her hesitation, pressed his advantage. "Come on, ma'am," he said, his voice rising. "Are you going to let this convicted felon work in your establishment? Do you know what she did? She's a murderer!"

He pointed a finger at Elowen, his voice echoing through the restaurant. The other customers turned to stare, their conversations dying down.

Elowen's face flushed with shame and anger. She wanted to disappear.

Elowen's face flushed with shame and anger. She wanted to disappear, to crawl under a rock and escape the judging eyes of the other customers. Lorien's words had ripped open old wounds, exposing her past for all to see.

Mrs. Marta, her face pale with shock, stepped forward, her voice trembling with indignation. "That's enough!" she exclaimed, her eyes flashing with anger. "I don't know what's going on here, but I won't tolerate this kind of behavior in my restaurant. Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

Lorien scoffed, his eyes glinting with malice. "Or what? You'll call the cops? Go ahead. I'm sure they'd be very interested to know that you're employing a convicted murderer."

He gestured dramatically towards Elowen, his voice dripping with venom. "This woman is a danger to society. She should be behind bars, not serving food to unsuspecting customers."

Mrs. Marta, her hands shaking, reached for the phone behind the counter. "I'm warning you," she said, her voice rising. "Leave now, or I'm calling the police."

Lorien laughed, a harsh, grating sound that echoed through the restaurant. "Go ahead," he sneered. "Call them. It's not me they'll be arresting." He turned his attention back to Elowen, his eyes narrowed with hatred. "Your parole officer would be very interested to know that you're working here, without permission."

Elowen's heart sank. She had been so careful, so diligent about following the rules of her parole. But Lorien had somehow found out, and he was using it against her.

Mrs. Marta, sensing Elowen's distress, stopped reaching for the phone. She looked at Elowen with a mixture of confusion and concern. "Elowen...

Elowen nodded slowly, her eyes filled with shame. "Yes, Mrs. Marta," she whispered. "But I can explain..."

"Elowen Sinclair," one of the officers stated, his voice cold and official. "You're under arrest for violating parole."

Elowen's world seemed to tilt on its axis. "No! This can't be happening," she protested, her voice rising in panic. "I haven't done anything wrong! This man is lying!" She gestured desperately towards Lorien.

Mrs. Marta looked utterly devastated, her eyes darting between Elowen and the officers, struggling to comprehend what was happening. "Parole?" she whispered.

Lorien smirked, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "Don't be fooled, Mrs. Marta. She's a master manipulator. She's been hiding her true nature from you all along."

As the officers moved to handcuff Elowen, Mrs. Marta suddenly found her voice. "Wait!" she exclaimed, holding up a hand. "Just wait a minute."

Ignoring Lorien's protests, she hurried behind the counter and grabbed the phone. Her hands shaking, she quickly dialed a number.

"Matron?" she said, her voice frantic. "It's Marta. From Mart'S Kitchen... Yes, the girl you recommended, Elowen... The police are here, arresting her for a parole violation... I don't understand! Can you please explain what's going on?"

She listened intently, her brow furrowed with concentration. As the matron spoke, Mrs. Marta's expression gradually changed from confusion to understanding.

Finally, she hung up the phone and turned to the officers, her voice firm despite her trembling hands. "There seems to be a misunderstanding," she said. "I've just spoken with the matron at the correctional facility. Elowen is on parole, yes, but she has permission to work here. There was a paperwork error, and it hasn't been properly updated in the system."

The officers exchanged glances, their expressions softening slightly. "Are you sure, ma'am?" one of them asked.

"Absolutely," Mrs. Marta replied, her voice unwavering.