The rest of the school day went by with out a hitch. Chris stopped looking to see if people were looking at him strangely. Finding one person is all the proof he needs that something strange is going on. Chris met up with Jason and Ric and they met up with Sam and her band. Afterward they went to the Wheel a decent sized sandwich place near the high school. Chris did not think it would be the type of place the Ember Lights would hang out but that's where Sam told them to met up.
Sam Lutz and Erik Albright were sitting in a table at the corner looking quite out of place in a casual diner like this but the customers are not looking at them strangely. Sitting between Sam and Erik is Alison Mika a smallish fourteen year old Japanese goth with streaks of purple in her black hair, and wearing a white and black shirt with her favorite band on it. Sam smiles and waves at Chris and his friends to come over to them.
Chris and Jason sit down on the other side of the table sitting across from Sam and Alison, before Ric sits down he opens his big mouth, “Isn't this place too normal for you goth types?”
Chris shakes his head and Jason places his palm on his head, both wishing their friend would shut his mouth for once. The Lights however don't seem to take offense, not even Erik who has a short temper. Sam simply answers Ric's question, “Alison's parents run the place. Besides no one expects to see us here, especially not our fans.”
Jason slaps Ric lightly on the face to stop his friend from saying another rude comment. Ric sits down across from Jason and looks at a menu. Alison glares at him and with a very soft voice tells him, “If you order something you pay for it yourself.” Ric puts down the menu.
“So Sam.” Chris begins, “You have been blanking out all week right? Is it just during lunch?”
“No.” Sam closed her eyes for a second and then reopened them, I would black out in last period as well.” Last period is the only class that Chris has with Sam so it makes sense. “Today was the first day I did not black out in class.”
“Why would that be?” Erik asks Chris, Jason and Ric.
“How should we know?” Ric asks defensively.
“I have a theory.” Jason says softly, “Perhaps Sam was placed under a trance. One which only remained functional as long as the target is never confronted. When we confronted Sam at lunch the trance was broken. If you believe in those kind of things that is.”
“I don't” Erik responds shaking his head.
“I do.” Sam and Alison say at the same time.
“Now if it began this week.” Jason has entered his junior detective mode. There was a period in his life when he wanted to be a police officer, while that dream has diminished he still likes solving mysteries from time to time. He just loves puzzles. “It's safe to say that what ever happened to you happened on Saturday or Sunday. So Sam did you do anything different on those two days?”
Sam had never seen this side of Jason before and is impressed, “Anything different? Well... oh yeah that occult shop at the mall, 'Tarque's charms and potions.'”
“You went THERE!” Erik almost screams, “Come on those places can't help you.”
“Help her?” Chris is lost.
“Sam has lost her confidence as a singer, has gone to any length to get it back.” Alison says under her breath.
“Yeah so I went there bought this.” She tugs at a gold chain around her neck and pulls it out, connected is a small red jewel. It is a dark red crystal with a swirl of a lighter red. “The man there said it would help me regain my confidence. He was a little strange but nice.”
Ric shoots up from the table first, “That's it then. We should go to the mall and confront that man.”
“Why? He did not put a trance on Sam.” Erik looks at the other five at the table with disbelief. “There is no magic, no trances, I don't know why your blacking out Sam but it was no occult shop clerk doing. That mush I do know” He glares at Chris. “Life is not one of your father's shows Chris.”
Chris takes the defensive, “I never said it was, I don't believe Sam was under a trance ether. However I find this strange and I think we should check it out.”
“Well leave us out of it.” Erik looks at Sam and Alison, “Lets go.”
“You can leave Erik but I want to check this out.” She looks at Chris, Ric, and Jason, “I will take you there.”
Alison shakes her head, “I'm in, sounds interesting.”
Erik shakes his head and gets up from the table. “Fine, it's a waste of time. I will call later we should practice tomorrow it's been two weeks.” Erik leaves before ether of his band mates could respond.
The five of them make it to the Woodridge Mall and walk around Sam leading the way. “Okay the shop should be right here.” She stops in front of the entrance of 'Tarque's Charms and Potions' and looks at the store. The sign is still there, the door is closed with an 'out of business' sign on the door. About three fourths of the merchandise is gone with a few odds and ends still remaining. “Damn.”
“I guess a place like that was too niche for an upscale neighborhood like Woodridge.” Ric comments, “I bet you were the store's only customer.”
“I wasn't, there was an old man buying a 'miracle life extension potion' when I walked in. But I get your drift.”
When Sam said an old man for some reason Chris thought that she might be talking about Mr. McCannon. That would be too much of a coincidence though. “I'm sure the reference desk can help. Maybe they can help us get in contact with the owner.”
“Is it worth it man?” Ric asks, “I mean they probably can't give us that information.”
“We should try. I want to know what's going on here.” Sam starts moving away from the closed store and heads to the front of the mall. She reaches the reference desk first and sees that the lady up there is busy reading a text message, “Excuse me?”
The woman whose name tag says Nelda looks at Sam and there is suddenly a look of disgust in her eyes, like she would never let her kids wear stuff like that. She glaces over at Alison and then Chris and his friends, and probably thinks to herself why are three normal if not slightly geeky boys hanging out with girls like these. “May I help you?” She says with a snobby voice.
“Yes I need some help last Sunday I bought this from 'Tarque's Charms and Potions.” Sam shows her pendent. “Now I have a question about what I purchased but the store has closed already. Could I contact the owner and get some help in the matter.'
“Humm, give me a minute.” The woman then turns toward the computer, she is not surprised that a girl like that is wondering about the occult shop. She hated the idea that such a shop was in this mall, it drew too many weirdos like this. Nelda is happy that the shop did not last long, just over two months and hopes it means people like this girl will stop coming here. “Lets see, the shop was owned by a Gabriel Tarque. I am sorry that shop owner kept his address and phone number private. All I can give you is his name.”
As the five walk away from the information desk and toward the malls entrance Sam suddenly feels bad about it. “Sorry Chris, I realize this is not easy for you. It's weird.”
“It's creepy.” Alison interjects, “Hate to take a page out of Erik's book but it sounds like one of your father's shows.” Alison smiles, “By the way I love your father's shows.” Then to no one in particular, “Hey who else is hungry. This time I will pay for fast food.” Those were all the words Ric needed to hear as he knew the words were meant for him.
“Thanks.” Chris then looks at his watch, his mom should be home in about an hour at six PM and he needs to ether get home first or call her. He looks at his friends and the girls who have turned away from the entrance, “I have to go, my mom is picking up something on her way home.” Chris then leaves the mall.
“Hey Sam that was really nice helping out Chris like that. Too bad it did not work out but I appreciate it, he does too.” Jason then takes a deep breath, “I was wondering would you like to see a movie after we eat? Just you and me?”
“Are you asking me out?” Sam resp
onds.
“Just as friends, if your not seeing anyone, and if you want to. If you don't well...” Jason is a very logical person so doing something from his heart makes him nervous and he is feeling like he should run away.
“Calm down Jason.” Sam walks over to him, “I like you, I would love to see a movie with you. Just as friends for now, and no I'm not seeing anyone.”
Jason tries his hardest to keep his happiness in check and not jump for joy but Ric and Alison could swear his feet were hardly touching the ground. “Damn.” Ric says to himself, he figures now he should make his move. “Alison.”
“No. You better not ask what you want to ask.” The young teenager looks at him with her purple (contacts) eyes. “Watch the next words you say.”
“Er, your a fan of Sharp and I realized your not in the club.” Ric reaches into his bag and pulls out a piece of paper. “Here are days and times for the meetings.”
Alison looks at the piece of paper, “Special late night viewings of Sharp's shows available if people ask?” She looks at Ric who looks down on the ground, “Next time you set one up I will be there.”
Ric smiles thinking he just won a very small battle. He could then be seen walking with his feet hardly touching the ground just like Jason.
Chapter Four
Valmont Sharp: Monster Hunter Page 4