by Dakota Lake
“Crap! Double crap,”
I rushed around to her side, she was already on the floor tipping her bag out.
“I might of lost the keys,”
“Where?”
“I think I dropped them in the popcorn stand I remember bending over to reach the popcorn and I heard a jingly thud but then I got distracted by the cute guy behind the till and never checked what the jingly thud was.”
“Are you telling me your keys are at the bottom of a popcorn bin,”
We both looked over at the rental shop, all the lights were off. I helped Aimee pick her stuff up and we went over to the stores windows and peered in.
“Why is the shop shut already it's Friday night and its only 9.20,” she said angrily. There was a sign on the door which I read out to her.
“Closing early tonight due to staff illness. Sorry for any inconvenience.”
“So you're telling me in the last thirty minutes both staff members fell ill and they had no one else to call in to cover for them. It better be fatal that's all I can say.”
She leaned back against the glass and pulled out her cell and groaned.
“What now?” I asked looking over at her.
“My cells dead. What about yours?”
“I have no service, what a surprise,” I replied looking up from my cellphone.
“Okay plan B.” she walked back over to the car.
“What was plan A?” I asked.
“Our cellphones but they're no good, I sometimes wonder why anyone bothers with a cell in this town. Stupid cellphone.”
“So what's plan B?” I asked.
“You know,” she said nodding at the car.
“Err, know what?” I asked wondering why she was looking at me strangely.
“You know.” She tilted her head towards the car.
“I really don't know. Why are you looking at me and winking. Aimee what are you doing?” “Fine but I didn't really want to say it out loud,”
“Say what out loud?”
“You know, do that thing where you break into cars and hot wire them.”
“What!” I said shocked. “Why would you think I can do that?”
“Didn't you live in the city before you came here?”
“That doesn't mean I'm skilled in vandalism. Aimee, what kind of person do you think I am?” “The breaking into cars kind, you have that look and you wear a hoodie,”
“Yes and that automatically makes me a car stealing criminal.”
“I'm sorry I'm just freaking out, I don't know what I'm saying, that was my plan B. But you're right I was wrong to judge you. So lets just hope Mack wonders back this way, I'm sure he'll know how to hot wire the car.”
I looked across the parking lot, the black mustang was still parked.
“Give me your cell,” she asked. I handed it over and she walked round the car holding it above her head trying to get signal.
“Is it working?”
“No I'm not getting anything,”
“Maybe we could buzz one of those flat over there?” I asked, looking at the flats with the gratified walls outside.
“Do you honestly want to buzz one of those flats,”
“No not really. How about if we ask at the convenience store if we can borrow their phone.” she looked at me but didn't say anything.
“Fine do you have any ideas?”
“I doubt their going to let us borrow their phone the woman at the checkout was a right grumpy cow. We'll just walk around for a bit to see if we get service but not too far encase Mack comes back he might help us.”
“You mean he can probably hot wire the car for us, cause he's probably stolen a lot of cars in his past,”
“Exactly, he's probably done it loads of times before. Now come along Daphne,” she said walking off.
“And what was with those names? They weren't exactly believable,”
“When I was little my two favourite dolls were called Daisy and Daphne it was the first thing that popped into my head.”
“Really that was the first thing that popped into your head, not the thought, what the hell am I doing this is a terrible idea that didn't even cross your mind,”
“You hate me don't you?” she asked pouting.
“No I think we should have never followed Mack then we would have realised your keys were missing before the rental store closed and we wouldn't be in this mess.”
We walked out of the parking lot and down the street, I was just thankful there were street lights down the side. I was constantly looking over my shoulder though.
“Stop that your making me nervous.” She linked her arm into mine. “Oh wait,” She stopped holding the cell still. “Damn I thought I had something then, maybe we need to be higher.” She walked over to the other side of the street, it was dark and crowded by tall trees. She stood on the bench holding the cell high up.
“Really that was your idea of higher. Is it working?”
“No, not yet. Wait, no it just went again.”
“Hello Ladies,” A deep voice called from across the street. I looked over to see a pair of older men walking this way.
“Err Aimee, did you get service yet?”
“No.” she climbed down next to me.
“We should go back to the car,”
“Yeah good idea,” she said linking her arm with mine again. We ignored the two men and started walking back.
“Hey where are you going?” one of the men shouted at us.
I peeked behind, they were now following us along the sidewalk.
“We should cross the street again and get under the street lights.”
Aimee nodded pulling her whistle out of her pocket.
“Just encase,” she whispered.
We were about to cross the street, when I heard loud footsteps right behind us. One of the men pulled on the back of my hood to slow me down and the other one jumped in front of us. Aimee started blowing her whistle.
“There's no need for that.” The man grabbed the whistle from her.
“We just wanna talk. So what are you girls up to tonight?”
“Waiting for my boyfriend and his mates they just went to get takeaway.” Aimee said. “We just came from that way didn't see anyone,” The other man smirked walking round to stand next to his friend.
Maybe I could try punching him under the chin like they do on TV....I heard Aimee thinking. I looked over at her hoping she wasn't serious.
“So what do you girls say to coming back to mine with us for a few drinks I only live across the street,”
“Maybe next time my dads expecting me home in ten minutes he's a police officer I'm sure you've probably met him. Come on,” she grabbed my arm and tried to walk around them but one of them moved in front to block her. He smiled an all teeth smile but all I saw was the large chip he had in his front tooth.
“Ruby,” A voice said called from across the street.
It was Cam, a sudden rush of relief washed over me, I couldn't believe how pleased I was to see him.
“What do you want?” The chipped tooth man asked.
“Go and get in your car,” Cam said to us.
“You need to leave before I turn you inside out.” The bigger man said to him. Cam laughed. I wondered what was so funny Cam didn't stand a chance against these two men if it came down to fighting, he was going to get hurt.
“I'd like to see you try. Girls go and get in your car.”
Aimee and I slipped away and and crossed the street.
We hurried as fast as Aimee shoes would allow us to move. I looked back over my shoulder before we turned the corner. One of the guys was already on the floor clutching his head head and Cam was holding the other one in the air by his neck with his feet dangling above the floor. I was shocked Cam was that strong, I wasn't quite sure how he was doing it.
“Did you see anything? I can't believe Cam just tried to rescue us from those bullies, they're probably turning him into pulp right now. And great timing your cell is ba
ck in service again. Should we call the police?”
“I don't think we need to.” I replied watching Cam as he jogged over to us. He didn't look like he'd even been in a fight, but I wasn't sure what I saw would be classed as fighting holding someone up as if they weighed no more than a bag of sugar. He was wearing sneakers, jeans and a T-shirt with a robot on the front. He didn't have his cap on tonight and his blonde hair glistened under the street light.
“Um what happened to the other two guys?” Aimee asked shocked.
“They left. Don't worry they're not going to bother you again.”
“What did you do?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Just told them to leave.”
“And they left just like that?”
“Yep. Now what are you two doing out here?”
“Funny story, we went into the rental shop to get a DVD and I accidentally dropped my car keys in to the popcorn bin. Then we went for a walk,” she said looking at me. “and when we came back I realised my keys were missing but the rental shop was already shut so here we are. We've been walking around trying to get signal to call for help.”
“You went for a walk?” he asked looking at us questionably.
“Yeah I just love fresh air.” Aimee said grinning.
Cam looked at me unconvinced with her story.
“Are you sure you dropped them in the rental shop?” he asked.
“Yep,”
“Have you looked round here you might have dropped them on the floor,”
“No, I'm a hundred percent sure I left them in the shop.”
“So if you knew they were in the popcorn bin why didn't you pick them back out?” Cam asked. “I got distracted by something,”
“Okay how about we have a quick look around on the floor and if we don't find them I will drive you home myself or if you'll let me I'll get into your car and hot wire it so you can drive it home yourself. So you two go over there and I'll look over here.” He walked off with his back to us. “I bet he's lived in the city,” Aimee said smirking.
“Shhh! He'll hear you.”
We wondered around the parking lot, searching the floor but it felt rather pointless. “This is silly I know we're not going to find my keys on the floor.” She ducked down and looked under her car.
“Well I dunno maybe we will, you were so busy chasing Mack down the street you might have dropped them then.” I looked over the roof of the car looking for Cam but he had vanished. “Pass me your cell I need the light for under here,” I vaguely heard her and pulled my cell from my pocket holding it out for her. I was busy watching the rental shop something inside had caught my eye it. I looked carefully and saw a shadow move pass the windows on the inside, like there was someone inside the shop. I looked around for a Cam but he was still nowhere to be seen. “No like I said they're definitely not under my car. Now where's Cam so he can hot wire this thing and we can get out of here?”
“Found them,” Cam said walking over to us jingling Aimee's keys in his hand.
“No way. Where were they?” she asked catching them from him.
“Someone had handed them into the convenience store.”
“Huh, never thought of asking in there. Well thanks for finding them and saving us from those thugs.”
“Anytime,”
“What are you doing round here anyway?” I asked wondering how he had found us the first time. “I was on my way to see a friend, he lives round here.” I didn't know whether he was telling the truth or not I just wanted to go. Aimee unlocked the car and I got in. I watched Cam as he walked back across the parking lot and round the side of the building.
Aimee jumped in and started the engine.
“Engine on, check, heating on it's freezing, check,” she rubbed her hands together. “Well I wasn't expecting to run into janitor boy tonight. Cam to the rescue, you could have said thanks you didn't even say bye to him,”
“Cause I don't trust him.”
“What he just saved your ass from those tattooed brutes, he then helped us to find my keys and you still don' trust him?”
“I think he was lying. I don't think he found your keys in the convenience store,” “So where did he find them?”
“I dunno somewhere else.” I said looking at the dark windows of the rental shop. “Stay here, keep the engine running.” Aimee said climbing out and slamming the door. “What? Where are you going?” she didn't hear me though.
She walked into the convenience store. I looked around hoping those two men didn't come back. I locked my door then reached over and locked Aimee's door, as I did I saw the raven sitting on top of the newspaper stand in front of the store.
I slowly sat back up. It was the same raven with the white splodge and tag on its leg and it was watching me.
Aimee came back out and started rattling her door handle. I unlocked it for her.
“Sorry I felt better with the door locked. What were you doing?” I asked unable to look away from the bird.
“Well I went in there to prove you wrong about Cam seeing as you have it in for him, but I can't as I asked the grumpy cow behind the checkout about my keys and she said the last person that came in was a group of teenagers trying to buy alcohol and before that it was us two, she didn't have a clue what I was talking about when I mentioned the keys. So yeah that's a little strange. What are you looking at?”
“That bird, I think it's following me,”
“What bird?”
“The one on the newspaper stand.”
“Right, you didn't breath in any weird fumes while you were in that club by any chance? Cause you're talking like a crazy person.”
“What it's right there” I said pointing.
“All I see is a newspaper stand, there's no bird,”
I sat back in my seat, wondering if I was actually seeing things. Why couldn't she see it? Micah had seen it before. The bird ruffled its feathers and squawked.
“Right I'm putting my seatbelt on and I'm taking us home I think you've had to much excitement for one night.” Aimee said popping a jelly sweet into her mouth.
Chapter Eighteen
We drove in silence on way back, I was lost in my own thoughts and Aimee was convinced I'd eaten a taco crammed with magic mushrooms while I'd been in the club. I was glad when we finally pulled up on her drive, we hadn't been gone too long but I was worn out from everything my mind was busy trying to process, everything from invisible ravens to Cam and the shadowy figure I had seen moving around inside the rental shop. Was it Cams shadowy figure? But I still couldn't work out how he'd in and out so quick.
We found Caitlin curled up on the couch with her nose still in her book and her notebook next to her.
“Caitlin what did I say, no more studying.”
“Well I got really bored again waiting for you two, you've been gone ages, what have you been doing?”
“Sorry we got hung up at the supermarket.” Aimee used the word supermarket, hiding where we had really been.
“Let me guess this hold up involved some boy?”
“Something like that. I got us a movie, which I think you'll like,” Aimee tossed the case onto the couch next to Caitlin.
“Wait have you been to the rental shop down town at night?”
“No don't be silly, my mom picked that up the other day for us I just remembered it was in the car. I wouldn't go down there at night I'm not stupid.” Aimee said looking at me shaking her head. Aimee went over to the TV and I sat down next to Caitlin.
“What's this?” I asked picking up her notebook which had a list on it.
“Don't it's silly, you'll think it's stupid,” she said quickly pulling the notebook out of my hands. “No I won't, come on show me,”
“Okay, so Mr. Stewart my history teacher is a big believer of the whole fallen angel thing like my Grandma Dorrie, but I disagree. So I put together some questions for him to see what explanations he can come up with.
“Can I see them?” I asked becoming interested.
“Promise you wont laugh,”
“No now give it here.” I said taking the notebook from her. Reading the first question out loud. “Question one: If fallen angels exist what do they look like? What do you mean by what do they look like?” I asked thinking about the question.
“Like do they look like us, obviously they would want to blend in but I can't imagine they're fat slobs sitting around eating pizza. They were these angelic beautiful creatures so wouldn't they still be beautiful or different in some way, wouldn't we notice them?”
I shrugged looking at the next question. “Question two: If they are like us or trying to be like us humans, do they grow old and die like us?”
“Damn disks all scratched it wont even load up. Grrrr!” Aimee popped the the disk back into the case. “I'm going to see if my mom has got any good DVDs under the stairs back in a minute and would you please put that stuff away and get in your pyjamas.” Aimee walked out and I read the next question as Caitlin packed her books away.
“Question three: Where are their wings?”
“Yes did they burn up on the way down?” she said.
“The way down?” I asked not entirely sure what she was talking about.
“Yes when they fell out of the sky, keep up. Or did they still have them when they got down here. I mean that would sort of give them away so what did they do with them?”
“Do I even want to ask what you think they did with them?”
“I think they cut them off but can you imagine how hard that would be to do that to yourself, those would be some nasty scars.”
“Wow Caitlin, that is pretty gory even for you. So while we've been gone you've been thinking about people hacking their body parts off.”
“Not people fallen angels and only male fallen angels, same goes for the Nephilim all male offspring apparently. Yep I know right my head hurts just thinking about. Anyway that's enough for tonight I've got the rest of the weekend to study.”
She popped her notebook into her bag and jumped off the couch stretching her arms up. Aimee walked back in with a different DVD.
“Come on, upstairs, pyjamas on, then it's hot chocolate and marshmallows time.” Aimee said clapping her hands.