Bound by Moonlight

CHAPTER FIVE: SUSPICIOUS

CLARA

During my first days working at Agnes' shop, things went well. At first, my fellow staff didn't pay attention to me, and they looked at me badly. They also avoided me as if I had a contagious disease. But because I got used to people looking at me like that, I just ignored it. Agnes told them to treat me well.

One month. Just how fast the day passed that I didn't realize that I had already stayed in Shrineville for a month. In that one month, I still could not make progress in my investigation. I was fixed when the door chime suddenly rang, meaning a customer had entered. Two sophisticated women came in wearing elegant dresses. I think they were 18–20 years old, teenagers. I sighed before giving them a smile. They didn't look at me, but they looked at the clothes.

"Hey, do you have it in violet and size small?" said the girl in the pastel-colored dress with raised eyebrows. "Sorry ma'am, but only one color is available, and it's only a medium size." I politely answered.

She suddenly raised her eyebrows and looked at me from head to toe. "Look for a violet color and a small size, then." she answered sarcastically, with her arms still crossed. I calmed myself before answering her again. "Ma'am, there is no small available anymore."

"I said look for it, stupid." He suddenly pushed me so that I collided with the mannequins on display. Celia immediately approached and was surprised by what she witnessed. He immediately apologized to the customer and was the one who explained that the customer understood easily. I immediately stood up and arranged the rolled items in the shop.

"Next time you tell your staff to listen. Because she's not from here." The last thing she said was a whisper, but I still heard it.

After the customer left, Celia scolded me for what happened. Even though I wanted to defend myself, I didn't because they wouldn't listen to me either, so why bother? Even though I was annoyed, I kept it to myself. I don't want any more trouble and I also don't want to get into trouble at Agnes's shop. I'll let it slip for now. She just told me to pick up the newly ordered fabrics from the fabric store. She just taught me the directions and I made her sketch it because it was difficult, and I might get lost again.

It's a good thing I don't pass through woods or narrow alleys because I don't know what might happen to me, but there aren't many houses here. After arriving there, I thought I would find a large textile factory, but I was surprised to see only a small house. I was about to go back, but a man came out wearing a gray shirt with a little messy hair. He saw me and immediately came to me. When he got closer, I could clearly see his face. I can say he's handsome but a bit explosive, like he doesn't get enough sleep and has been thinking a lot.

"What do you need?" he said with a slight smile.

"Uh, where is the Shrine Fabric? Based on what my friend said and what she wrote, it is here"

"Ah, are you Agnes' new staff? Come on, come inside..." I just followed him into the house. What I thought was a simple house turned out to be very large inside. "Lovey, that fabric that Agnes ordered, someone will get it." he shouted. He faced me. "Sit first, Lovey is still doing something." he said, smiling.

The house is spacious and full of antiques. There is a door at the end that I think is where the textile factory is. An old lady came out with a tray full of juice and cookies. The man immediately helped her.

"I thought you were going home? I told you to stay here first, rest first. Look at that face, you're obviously sleep-deprived. Besides, you haven't eaten yet, and you're just going to leave. I even baked cookies for you." she softly sermoned to the man. The man just scratched the back of his head laughing and looked at me. The old woman also looked at me, so I quickly stood up and greeted her.

"Ah, is that so? Why didn't you tell me right away?" she hit the man so lightly that he rubbed his shoulder. I laughed weakly at what I saw. It's cute.

"Why didn't you say you had a visitor? Hija, what do you need?" she asked me, smiling.

"I'll just get the fabric that Agnes ordered." I answered.

Suddenly, the old woman came to me and handed me the tray with food and said that he would take the clothes inside first. She pulled the man in to help him pick up the clothes. After a few minutes, they came out with a box where the clothes were. The man was about to hand over the box, but his grandmother suddenly hit him, so I was a little startled.

"What are you doing? Help her carry it to the car because it's heavy. You silly kid." I just laughed at what Grandma said. "Lovey, it's so painful! My body is still in pain, and then you're going to do this to me like you don't love me." the man grumbled like a child. I already thanked them.

"My name is Clara."

"Oh, welcome to Shrineville and welcome to my shop. Tristan, take that to the car. Hija, be careful on your way home." her welcoming voice and warm smile let me feel that, somehow in this strange place, I am welcome.

Together with that man whose name is Tristan, I went out to the car where the box would be placed. After finishing, I thanked him. "No problem. If you need anything, don't be shy to come to me or to Lovey. Anyway, I'll apologize for their actions towards you." he said. I was a little surprised because he seemed to know what was happening to me. I said goodbye to him and was about to get into the car when he said something.

I was driving on the way back to the shop when I was still thinking about what Tristan said to me. It's normal to say that, but it's surprising to me. It's like he knows my movements.

"Be careful with those you meet or the place you will go."

"Excuse me?" my eyebrows straightened.

"Nothing, I told you to be careful. It's Tristan, by the way. Alright, it's going to be late, it's still a bit far from downtown. See you, Clara."

Today is my day off, and I have a salary, so I have extra money. I'm in the downtown because I plan to buy things for my room and food for Jessie and me. I'm ashamed that she will pay for the food that she has already let me live with her. It's refreshing because there are a lot of people in the downtown now. As I passed by, there were others who didn't care about me, while others still looked at me strangely. Well, I'm used to it.

I saw a small open store where crocheted and stitched clothes, headbands and pouches were displayed. I smiled because I also love to crochet but just got stuck. A young woman sells.

"How much is this?" I asked, referring to the white headband.

"It's only 50. It suits you." she simply complimented.

I smile at her. I chose the white headband and green pouch with a sunflower keychain. I immediately thanked the woman. I was about to leave, but I noticed the group of people, so I came closer and saw that there were two men fighting.

They screamed at each other. People are afraid to wean them. And I don't intend to stop them either. I don't want to get involved. I looked at the man who was fighting, and it looked like the reason for their quarrel was the food they were carrying. But I was surprised to see something strange in their eyes. I'm sure I saw their pupils turn gold. The man suddenly attacked, so they started to fight. But my eyes widened when suddenly a claw appeared in his hand, but it suddenly disappeared when people started whispering.

And the word heard them say that suddenly the commotion stopped is...

"Beta.."