by Paris Morgan
“Well, I know just the thing to get us going and have a fun afternoon. We can people watch while we have lunch, and put that hookup app on while we’re there. Who knows? We might just get lucky, and I could use a new relationship that doesn’t have all the drama.
Sam laughed. “I don’t think that’s even possible. You’re the cause of the drama, sweetie. Remember, I just got out of a horrible relationship, and I’m not looking to go back into another one in the near future.”
“Okay, if you want to spoil all of my fun… But don’t say I didn’t give you a chance,” I warned.
“Yeah, sorry. I’m just not in the mood to troll for new fish. Maybe we can do something Monday after you find out how the report went over with your boss,” Sam apologized with a shrug.
“No worries, I completely understand. My family has something set up for dinner tomorrow, but I’ll call you after I find out my fate.” I headed toward Sam’s house, hiding my disappointment well.
“Let me know how it goes.” Sam departed my car, and with a wave, disappeared inside the house.
“Now to figure out what kind of trouble I can get into for the rest of the day.”
I had half a mind to go ahead and go eat while seeing who I could hook up with, but on my way, I spotted a sign flashing Leo’s Get Free Readings on a marque.
“What the hell? It can’t hurt I suppose,” I muttered as I took a right and made my way back to the small building in the center of the parking lot.
It was a tiny house that must rent space in the shopping center. I pulled up next to it, pausing with my hand on the door handle.
What if they tell me something I don’t like? My brain whispered to me as common sense took over. It’s free, though, so it doesn’t matter if I like what they say. I won’t have to pay for it.
I shut down the negative thoughts. Positivity was going to be the only thing in my life from now on.
The bell over the door jingled as I entered.
“Ah, a Leo come to see what the future holds, eh?” She grinned at me, with a set of very white teeth.
“You’re not what I was expecting,” I mumbled, completely thrown off by the clean appearance of both the gypsy fortune teller and the surroundings.
There was a smoky presence that seemed at odds with the rest of the building. Almost as if it was a new setup, and the aromas hadn’t had time to settle into the walls yet.
“Many people say that because I’m not missing any teeth. You’d think that just because our ancestors didn’t know about dental hygiene, it wouldn’t be held against those of us who do know how to floss and use a toothbrush.”
I laughed, feeling at ease with her personality.
“So, you are here to find out what the future holds, yes?” Her accent made it a little easier to believe that she knew what she was doing.
“Yes. I’ve had a bad week at work and just want to celebrate my birthday. It’s a big one, of course—”
“Twenty-nine,” she finished for me, reaching for my hand. “Let’s look into this, and see if we can find a way get rid of the bad in your life.”
Holding still while she ran a finger over my hand was more difficult than I’d thought because it tickled, and I was nervous.
“Hmm, yes, I can see it. Oh, that is good.” She shook her head up and down, her eyes closed. “There is some darkness on the horizon, but I believe it may vanish depending on your choices. Just like your animal sign—you are strong. Little things, like a rotten coworker, will all go away when you are promoted to your new position.”
I almost jerked my hand out of hers. “New position?”
“That’s what you spent the last week working on, is it not? You are finally going to be put in charge.” She smiled at my enthusiasm.
“Y–Yes,” I stuttered. “I just didn’t think it was going to happen.”
“You have to go in and take what you want. Be the lion and roar, make them hear you. Don’t let Bill walk all over you. His words are meaningless. You have to ignore him and rise above.”
“Oh my gosh, you’re amazing. How do you know all of this stuff?” I sank into my seat in wonder.
“That’s my job.” She released my hand and smoothed her skirt.
“Do you take tips?” I whipped out my wallet, ready to give her some money.
“Of course. If you feel like you’re happy with my services, then please, leave a tip on your way out. We also work from recommendations.”
Peeling off two twenties, I left them on the table, wanting to do a happy dance as I walked out the door. The world was mine for the taking, and maybe it would be a good day to find a new partner.
***
The Fortune Teller
Another figure appeared from behind the beaded curtain that hid her from the customers.
“You took the money?” she accused.
“It’s not like he’s going to need it when there’s that much darkness around him. I don’t expect him to live long after his promotion. Death follows, almost choking on the amount of evil that comes with taking his life force.”
“I still don’t like it when we take money from those who have bad readings.” She flicked the ash from the incense providing ambiance to the atmosphere.
“He had a good reading, he just won’t get to enjoy it for very long. Which isn’t my fault, by the way. I just interpret the signs in the best way possible.”
“Well, in the future, send those away. I don’t want to have that kind of bad energy left around.”
I gazed across from me, imagining the man from moments ago so full of excitement.
“Everyone deserves to enjoy a few moments of happiness before their death,” I whispered in rebellion.
***
Leo’s Killer
Slipping out at night to get some target practice in was quickly becoming a calming influence on my restless soul.
The darkness gave it an edge of mystery as I opened the back door of the shooting range. It felt dangerous to be going into a building made for the practicing of taking a life.
I flipped the lights on, welcoming the buzz from the fluorescent bulbs that made it feel not so lonely. My bag landed with a thud on the table at the back of the gun range, and I unpacked the case of bullets, ear protection, and goggles, with growing excitement.
While I’d always known that guns existed, I’d never really had the inclination to shoot one before the incident. It had always been about keeping the peace and making sure things ran smoothly.
The thought of violence had always been something horrible that only evil people committed. I’d been certain that there was always a way to come to an understanding; that was until I’d met the one who’d ripped all my dreams away.
My hands steadied as I thought about all that I’d been forced to endure until I could escape. Pulling on the protection goggles, I adjusted the head gear and loaded the gun.
A deep breath in and out helped to calm me as I approached the line marked on the floor. When the Zodiac Master had approached me, I hadn’t thought I could possibly do what he’d asked. Killing another human being was outside of my realm of possibilities, but then the incident had happened, and now I had to get justice for myself and my child—no matter the cost.
No matter the cost became the chant in my head as I took my stance, putting my left foot forward slightly to help me brace.
I ignored the back sights and the circles on the target, concentrating on my line of vision from the tip of my gun. I took a deep breath and exhaled as I squeezed the trigger, not letting it out completely for a faster second and third shot.
The face of my tormenter appeared before me. No matter the cost. Click. No matter the cost. Click.
As each bullet hit its target, the face in my mind became more distorted as it morphed with the target’s bullseye.
Heaving as the last bullet left the gun, I leaned against the wall to steady myself. While it felt good to make it disappear into a torn mass, I had to remember to be calm when it
came time to shoot the first victim. The list he’d given me was just the first step toward my goal. I had to be cold and calculating when I came face-to-face with the primary target.
Reloading, I concentrated on seeing the target, and not letting my anger overwhelm me.
When my hands started to shake from the vibrations of the gun, it was time to call it quits.
The room was filled with smoke that I hadn’t noticed as I’d focused on the target. Casings littered the floor, allowing me time to regroup as I cleaned every corner of the room. If I left anything behind to show I’d been there, the Zodiac Master would give me back to my tormenter, and no one would stop the pain this time.
I shook my head and studied the floor, making sure that it looked exactly as it had when I’d arrived. The floor was empty, and the target had been reset, sent back against the wall. Satisfied that I’d done a good job, I shouldered my much lighter bag and placed the key on the desk by the back door.
There wasn’t a need for more target practice, because I’d be using live targets tomorrow night.
***
Mr. Anderson
Monday wasn’t a word that would fill me with excitement on a regular basis, but today, it was the exact motivation to not only be on time, but early.
When Bill made a few snide remarks as he walked by my desk, I simply smiled and went back to work.
The morning was fast turning into noon, when Mr. Griffin came out of his office.
“Mr. Anderson.” His voice carried over the cubicles easily. “I need to see you in my office, now.”
I jumped up, and instead of feeling like I was on my way to the executioners, I held onto the confidence the fortune teller had given me. I was a lion, and I was ready to roar in victory.
“Shut the door,” Mr. Griffin harshly demanded.
“Yes, sir.” I did as he asked before taking a seat.
“I’ve looked over your work from last week, as well as this report that I asked for.” He dropped it on the desk in front of him as he eyed me with a grin.
“You’ve passed with flying colors. Not only did your work last week get done in a timely manner, you were willing to go the extra mile and stay over until these other reports were done. I haven’t found any errors so far, but that’s beside the point. You’re going to be my new floor manager and hand out assignments, which also means that you’re in charge of making sure that they’re done in a timely manner.”
“Yes, sir.” I nodded, trying to contain my excitement.
“We’ll let you have a trial period for about a month, and then see how things are going.” He looked out at the heads appearing over the cubicles watching us.
“Make sure that you give Bill extra work. I have the feeling that he somehow manages to pawn it off onto someone else.” He frowned. “It’s come to our attention that he’s not pulling his weight, so you’re allowed to take care of it in whatever manner you think is appropriate.”
“Not that I want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but may I ask what prompted your suspicions about Bill?” I was genuinely curious because I’d thought his remarks had gone unnoticed.
“We’ve seen the way he ribs you and the others while not doing a great job on his own work. It’s time for him to understand that it doesn’t always pay to be rude to your coworkers. You did a great job of handling his crap this week, and this is part of your reward. While telling him what to do doesn’t come with an extra bonus, I’m certain that you will get a personal satisfaction while handling it properly.” He winked at me.
“I hope that I can live up to your trust.”
“Oh, I’m counting on it. You’ll be getting a raise, it’s mostly just a pay bump.”
“Thank you, sir, for noticing, and I’ll do the best job possible.” I stood, ready to get back to work.
Mr. Griffin followed me out. “I have an announcement!” He waited until everyone was paying attention. “Mr. Anderson here will be taking over as the floor supervisor, effective today. He’s going to be handing out assignments and receiving them from you. If there are any issues, please, let me know, but I know that you’re going to help him do the best job he can to make our floor the best in the company.”
I dipped my head in embarrassment, but remembered what the fortune teller had said. Roar.
Looking up, I caught the evil glare that Bill sent my way.
I’ve got this, I repeated to myself as my inner self wanted to cower away from his anger.
“Carry on.” Mr. Griffin waved as he went back into his office.
“I’ll take any urgent updates right now, and then check the schedules this afternoon after lunch to make sure that we’re on track for this week’s projections.”
“Look who’s the brownnoser now,” Bill snickered as I walked past.
“Bill, I’ll need to meet with you immediately after lunch, and those reports that were needed Friday will need to be on my desk when you come.” I didn’t bat an eye as I issued the order.
Making an example of Bill would keep the others from trying to get away with , and kill two birds with one stone.
With a glare, he took a seat out of sight in his cubicle.
I’d have preferred a “yes, sir,” but leaving him speechless would work as well.
“Congrats.” A few of the others patted me on the back as I walked back to my cubicle.
This was going to take some getting used to, but I could adjust quickly to doing the important stuff.
***
“Hey, I got the promotion. Do you want to go celebrate?” I called Sam, exuberant as I left the office only minutes after five.
“Sure. Let me meet you there at about six-ish? In the parking garage?”
“Yeah. I’ll text you when I get parked.”
I couldn’t wait to tell the story about the fortune teller, and everything that had come true since.
When I got there, the main parking on the street was almost nonexistent, so I texted Sam to say where I’d parked, and was waiting on the car to pull in when I heard the stairway door open behind me. I got out, not really paying attention until the footsteps were directly behind me.
“Sam?” I asked, turning only to see a hooded figure with a gun pointed at me. “What? No, I’ll give you my money and everything I have on me. Please, don’t shoot,” I pleaded.
“I’m sorry, but I have to. I know it’s been a good day for you, but you’re the one I have to kill first to make sure that I can follow through with it.” Sam squeezed the trigger, but it didn’t make a noise.
“Why would you need to kill me? We’re friends.” It was then that I looked down, noticing the spot on the front of my shirt spreading.
“You shot me,” I groaned, as two more quiet pops hit me.
Sam turned to go. “It wasn’t personal.”
Moments later, I heard a car approach, and Sam’s car parked right beside mine.
“Help!” Sam screamed. “Somebody help us!”
I must have been dreaming when the gun had been pointed at me, because the same person who shot me was calling for help.
Within minutes of Sam’s call to 9-1-1, an ambulance arrived, but it was too late.
“What happened here?” The paramedic asked as they moved toward the body.
“We were supposed to meet, and when I got here, he wasn’t in the car. That’s when I walked around and noticed him lying there, shot,” Sam sobbed.
“It’s okay. The police will take your statement. Do we need to notify anyone?”
“Yes, his parents.”
After what seemed like forever, but was probably only minutes, the police arrived and started asking questions.
Sam told them the same thing again and again. I could only look on as I floated above my body.
A white light appeared and I moved toward it.
“What’s happening?” I asked, feeling betrayed and confused.
“All will be explained,” a soft voice answered.
With a last glance over my shoul
der, I embraced the light, fading past the point of why this had happened to me.
***
Sam
They finally let me go and I drove home with shaky hands. I’d faced the police and they hadn’t arrested me. I was still free. It hadn’t been as difficult as I’d thought to face Anderson, pointing the gun and pulling the trigger.
I’d passed the first test and it felt so good. The rush of pulling it off and not getting caught was almost enough to make up for the feelings about ending his life. Anderson had always been a good friend, and now, he was gone forever.
The thought sunk in as the weight of what I’d done hit home. I pulled into the parking space outside of my apartment, unable to move.
It wasn’t anything like I’d practiced. The ease of pulling the trigger hadn’t really connected until Anderson had realized what I’d done to him.
My phone rang, bringing me out of what could have been utter darkness.
“Is it done?” the voice asked.
“Yes. He’s dead.” I gulped in air, trying to force the words out.
“Are you okay?” Concern laced the person’s tone.
“Not really, but I will be.” Another deep breath in and out. “The rush was amazing, yet I can’t help but be sorry for the fact that my friend is dead.”
“Perfectly normal. It’s hard to do the job to those closest around us. You’ll be fine as long as you remember why you’re doing this, Sam.”
“No matter the cost,” I replied. “I remember, and I’ll do what needs to be done.”
“Always keep the goal in front of you. I’ll be expecting good things from you tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir,” I replied, as the first tear rolled down my cheek.
I couldn’t stop the flood of tears from happening, but they served as a reminder that I needed to clear out all of the past so that I could look forward to the future.
No matter the cost was the most important thing to remember, I comforted myself. Anderson hadn’t died in vain. He’d helped me gain the courage to know that I could do this. I had to see it through.