Cursed by Fate (COMPLETE)

Chapter Five

I drove to the closest city to me, which just so happened to be a little over an hour away. It was fine though, I needed the time to clear my head. And to figure out what all I actually needed from the store. I would do my clothes and household shopping first though. No need to get groceries first and risk them going bad in the car.

However about thirty minutes into my drive I noticed that the same car had been following me the entire drive. It was a red mustang, one of the newer ugly versions. Classics were so much better in my opinion. Either way, it looked like I was being followed. 

I narrowed my eyes at the car in my rear view mirror, before turning to the traffic ahead of me. It didn’t look too bad, and there were no red lights on the interstate to stop me. Plus thanks to my dad I had raced a few times in my nineteen years. My car was modified for racing, I made sure of it. The adrenaline a god race gave you was beyond skydiving or bungee jumping. 

Clucking my tongue, I gunned it. Lurching forward I sped towards the car in front of me. At the last second I veered over into the next lane and continued upping my speed. The mustang was having trouble staying on me which I laughed at. I continued weaving in and out of traffic as I moved down the interstate at a speed that no cop could ever hope to keep up with. And once I lost sight of the red mustang I took the first exit I saw and sped out of sight. 

I had no idea where I was, but at least whoever was following me was gone. This s**t was getting ridiculous. Why was I being followed? The only thing I was doing in this damn county was going to school. Did I land in some kind of mafia run town or something? 

I let my forehead hit the steering wheel as I reached for my phone and dialed Adam. I was going to wait until I got home, but this crossed a line. The phone rang and rang until his voicemail picked up. I sighed, calling the station instead. 

“Darkridge Police Station this is Officer Cromwell.” 

I smiled at the sound of his voice. “Mathias, hey it’s Nicole.” 

“Nicole?! Hey, how are you?” 

“I’ve been better. Is Adam around?” I asked, my voice deflating. 

“No, he took a few days off. What’s going on?” He asked, concern clear in his tone. 

“I don’t know.” I told him honestly. “There is something wrong with this town. This University offers the best photography program in the US and yet no one but me got accepted. And talking to the locals, no one outside the county usually gets into this college. Something is wrong Mathias, and they accepted me for some reason, want me here for some reason. 

I just left to head over to the closest city to do some shopping because the town is seriously lacking and I was followed. I had to race down the interstate to lose whoever it was. I wanted Adam to do some research on the town. I already told the administration office I wouldn’t be back for a while, that I’d be completing classes online.” I finished. 

An off sounding growl came from the other side of the phone. “Nicole, where in Ohio are you? What town?” He asked. 

“Uh, Wolfsburg is the town but it’s in Crenshaw County. Why?” 

“Nicole, you need to leave that town. Leave now.” Mathias said, the sound of chair legs scraping across the floor hitting my ears. 

“What? Why? What do you know?” I asked, starting to panic. 

“Just listen to me Nicole get out, and stay away from Elias.”

My blood froze in my veins and my heart stopped. He knew Elias, he knew about this town. 

“Mathias, what’s going on?” I willed my voice to be stronger than I felt but it was no use. My voice broke making me sound weak and scared, and I was scared. 

“Nicole I can’t tell you. Not right now. Just go to the city, get a hotel or something and stay there until I get there. Text me the address to where you’ll be.” He said sternly.

“Mathias, all my stuff is back at the apartment. I have nothing but my purse, laptop and photography equipment I keep in the car with me.”

“Nicole please just do what I asked. I promise I will explain everything when I get there.” He pleaded. 

“Fine.” I relented.

“Thank you. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” 

After giving him my phone number I hung up and continued on to the city after I was sure I was no longer being followed. Mathias knew something about that town, about the people. And not only that he somehow knew Elias. I shook my head, my hands tightening on the steering wheel. What have I gotten myself into? Why do I keep finding myself in situations like this? First my parents get killed in a car accident I miraculously survive. Then every student in my graduating class is murdered. Now I am caught in some backwoods town where the people shun outsiders but for some odd reason accepted me. And was following me, and I have recently been warned about. What else could possibly happen to me? I swear I’ve been cursed. Cursed with bad luck, cursed to have everyone I love die. But somehow ironically I have impeccable timing. Every time something has happened I ended up escaping it. The car accident, I forgot to put on my seat belt. But after driving for a little while I remembered and put it on, and it was like in that instant we wrecked. My parents didn’t have on a seat belt and flew through the windshield over a cliff. 

 Then there was the shooting. I just so happened to have left my extra film in the car. And by having to go and get it, I was not on the field with the rest of my class, effectively escaping yet another would be death. Maybe my curse was to live without love, without happiness. 

I sighed, a ball forming in my gut as depression sunk into me. If my dark and morbid thoughts on myself were true. Then maybe, I could spend my life making other people happy. Making people see the beauty that is still in the world today. It’s amazing what a photo can do when your intentions are pure. 

Finally getting into the city I searched for a hotel with a parking garage. My car kind of stands out and if whoever was following me is searching the city for me, my car would be a dead give away. I passed several hotels and shady looking motels before coming to an extravagant looking one called Amera Rose. There was no parking out front, but there was valet service telling me my car would be well hidden from the public eye. 

Not really having another choice I pulled in and reluctantly handed my key over to the valet. He regarded me awkwardly but said nothing. Stupid rich snobs. I may be rich but at least I know not to judge someone by how they look. So what if I’m wearing jeans and a tank top? That doesn't mean I can’t afford this place. 

“If my car has one scratch.” I said dangerously. “One. I will have your head. Do you understand me?” The valet visibly gulped before nodding fervently. “Good.” I said and turned to enter the lobby. 

They certainly went all out on this place. Marble floors shone around me. Gold trimmed every wall, every banister, a huge crystal chandelier hung in the middle of the lobby. I felt sorely out of place here. This had to be the damned fanciest hotel I’d ever seen. I couldn’t even describe the brilliance if I tried. 

“May I help you?” A man that looked like he was dressed as a butler asked in a heavy English accent. Was he faking it?

“Uh, yes. I wanted to get a room for a few nights.” I told him. 

The man scrutinized me, looking at me from head to toe, a sneer forming on his wrinkled lips. “I’m sorry madam, but you must be in the wrong place. This hotel is for esteemed guests.” 

I growled. “Just tell me where the check in is.” 

The man stared at me, his eyes wide before pointing to an elaborate dark oak desk at the far wall. I stormed past him, not thanking him or acknowledging him. He didn’t deserve it, the stuck up bastard. 

“How may I help you?” A perky looking woman asked. 

“I’d like a room for at least a week. It may be longer but I’m not sure how long I’ll be in town for.” I said in my best snotty brat voice just to mock all of them. 

The woman furrowed her brow but turned to her computer and typed whatever it was she needed to before looking at me. “What kind of room would you like?”

“Give me the penthouse. I’d like the view and to have the space to work. I also have a guest coming. He should be here in a day or two.” 

Her eyes widened a bit as she stared at me more closely than before. “Are you sure you’d like the penthouse ma’am?” She questioned cautiously. 

I pinched the bridge of my nose swallowing yet another growl. “Yes.” I said through clenched teeth. “Now please let me pay and give me the key. I am tired and want to rest before I have to do what I need to in the city.” I looked back up at her, my eyes narrowed into slits daring her to question me again. 

“Very well.” She stammered before giving me my total, which wouldn’t put a dent in my parents account. I paid and got my key. The butler stared at me as I made my way to the private elevator that was designated for the penthouses. I wriggled my fingers at him and smirked as the doors closed. Ugh! Why could things never be easy? 

Once inside the room I threw myself on the couch before pulling my phone out and texting Mathias the address and room number, or more like the penthouse number. He didn’t answer right away so I figured he was driving. 

After everything that’s happened I really didn’t feel like going out tonight. So I decided to take a nice hot shower and order room service. So right now I sat with my hazel colored hair wrapped in a towel and a nice fluffy robe covering my naked body as I ate the food I had delivered to my room. And a nice surprise was they gave me a bottle of champagne free, apologizing for how everyone acted regarding my appearance. 

I didn’t complain, I could use something to calm my nerves and Ohio’s legal drinking age was eighteen anyway so I was legal. I didn’t really drink much, it never appealed to me, and most stuff tasted awful to me. But this champagne actually tasted nice. It was bubbly, kind of fruity with a hint of sourness the alcohol it brought. 

After a few hours of wandering around the suit and staring out over the city I went to bed. I sent Mathias a quick text letting him know I was going to bed and to call me when he got here to let him in the room. Since he was driving I didn’t expect him to answer so I plugged my phone up to charge and laid down, instantly falling into a deep and dreamless sleep.