*Author's Note:Ok so I know this isn't the best but I tried, and this is just a quick introduction to the story so it's not everything. It does get better eventually. This is the second main story I've done on here (still working on the other one as well) and I hope I can stick to it. I know this idea has probably been done to death, but I wanted to give it a shot. So enjoy!
The song that burst from the speakers of the small, countertop stereo wasn't enough to drown out the sound of the rain beating down on the roof of the cafe. It flooded the window panes and trickled through the small crack in the door, leaving a slowly growing pool on the floor that would come back every single time it was cleared away. That was the current task of a very frustrated looking blonde waitress as she huffed once more, glaring at the mop she held in her hands. This was the third time today she'd had to do this, the wet floor sign seemed to be of no use as customers had slipped both on their way in and their way out. Thankfully none of them had fallen yet, but several had threatened to boycott the place if the 'little shack of misery' (or so it had been called by others) wasn't repaired soon. But people had been saying that for years and Starry Heavens was still scraping by. Well, just about anyway.
They'd never had much luck with the place. Money was low, customer numbers were slowly dwindling and to top it all off, the place was situated in a sort of bad part of Magnolia. But she loved working there for some reason. She knew all the names of the regular customers that visited, some of her closest friends worked alongside her and in all honesty, she enjoyed the peace that sometimes descended over the room when she was on a shift. This, however was not one of those moments, as the buzzing of the ceiling lights above suddenly became more apparent. Her eye was beginning to develop a twitch as the light flickered when a fly knocked into it. Thankfully, the voice of one of the radio presenters sounded over the speakers and she turned it up to block out the unbearable silence.
'And in other news, there were more reports last night of a woman who was rushed into emergency care after she was found in Magnolia central park suffering from severe blood loss. Police have been unable to identify the victim as of yet, but she is now in intensive care after also suffering severe head and neck injuries. It is believed that this was the work of the recently nicknamed 'Magnolia Vampire', after a man died from similar injuries last month and annother woman was left seriously injured . Any witnesses who may have seen something have been asked to come forward with any information that may be relevant to the case.'
"Magnolian Vampire? Couldn't have thought of a better name could they?" The blonde turns to see her orange haired coworker leaning on the other side of the counter she was now stood behind. He held an equally bored expression on his face, only this was accompanied by a loud yawn, "That's what, like the seventh case this year?"
"Yep. And they're all believed to be by this 'Vampire' character."
'We spoke to Police Chief Gildarts Clive, who only had this to say to the public, "We understand the growing concern behind these attacks but I can assure you that we are doing everything within our power to catch them. Whoever he or she is, we will bring them to justice eventually. I urge citizens to be wary however. If you find yourself out alone at night, don't become isolated. Find the nearest, safest place possible where there is someone else with you and ensure that all doors and windows of your homes are locked at night. We can never be too careful. Until this criminal is caught, the police force will not rest."'
The orange haired man snorted at that, earning a glare from the waitress, "What?"
"Loke, they're really trying you know."
"Maybe they were in the beginning, but the longer this goes on, the less chance they have of catching whoever it is. It's like they're a modern day Jack the Ripper but only one of their victims has died so far."
"I'm not having this conversation with you again." The blonde sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, "Anyway, I need you to try and fix the door. It's starting to flood again." She gestured to the small trickle of water that was seeping through the cloth that had been jammed in the small hole. Loke groaned, clearly annoyed by the idea of it, but obeyed her nonetheless, "You know Lucy, you can be worse than Aquarious sometimes. And she's the actual boss of this place!"
"One of them, Leo. One of them." Came the voice of a short pink haired lady as she exited the kitchen, apron in hand, and slumped on a stool at the counter. Lucy eyed her curioualy as she rubbed her eyes before looking up, "What a night. Sorry for leaving you out here alone, Princess." She wasn't really all that fussed. Save for the odd request from one of the few people who had came in after the lunch rush, Lucy hadn't been all that busy when it came to customers. She was more occupied with making sure the cafe didn't collapse around her when she was working. "It's fine Virgo, besides I haven't been that busy anyway. There's no one here-"
"Except for the the people that just left, the two people in that booth there and the hooded guy in the corner." Loke interrupted from the floor as he knelt by the door, "Actually, scratch that. The two in the booth are leaving so just the guy in the corner." Both women's heads turn to find that there was indeed a figure wearing an all black hoodie sat in the darkest corner of the cafe, just staring out of the window. What was so interesting was a mystery, considering nothing could be seen out there due the missing moon in the sky and the rain beating at the earth. So unless they were watching the water droplets race down the glass, there was really nothing to see, "We close up in five minutes, someone should go tell them." Both their eyes turned to Lucy with almost pleading looks. She rolled her own at them, "Of course you mean me." Before sighing and reluctantly walking over to the stranger's table.
"Excuse me but we're closing up now so I'm going to have to ask you to leave." They didn't even turn to look at her and she felt the last bit of patience she had left slip away. She hated rude customers, but the fact that this person hadn't even acknowledged she was there was just pure ignorance, "I said-"
"I heard ya." They mumbled and got up from their seat without another word and brushed past her to get to the door. She felt a sudden shiver run through her, as if someone had poured ice down her back. They kept their head down so she couldn't see who they were but to be honest, she didn't think she wanted to. It was late and she didn't want to be bothering with any creepy wierdos for any longer than she had to. Finally, the three were left alone as the person left, nearly hitting Loke with the door in the process. "How rude! Honestly, could they not see I was down there?"
"Why don't you go after them and ask? I'm sure they didn't mean it."
"Your sass," He glared at Virgo, "Is not required."
"Neither is your complaining." Lucy shot back at them both, "Now both of you be quiet. I would like to leave without a headache tonight, if that's not too much to ask."
"Sorry Lucy/Princess." They both spoke in unison and Lucy couldn't help but chuckle. She sighed as she hung her apron up and replaced it with her coat and bag. Oh her bed was only a short ten minute walk away, she could finally rest after she locked up. "Hey Virgo, your lift's here." She gestured to the cab she just barely saw park outside Starry Heavens and sound it's horn. The woman nodded and said a quick goodbye to her co-workers as she left. "So is Aries picking you up tonight?"
"Yeah. She's running a little late but she'll be here any minu-" A horn from outside cut him off, "Well speak of the devil."
"She's too sweet to be a devil, which begs the question as to why she puts up with you and the others sometimes."
"Watch it," He chuckles, "Do you need a lift?"
Lucy thought about it momentarily, but they weren't even driving in the direction of her apartment so she didn't want to trouble them, "As much as the idea of walking in the rain sucks, I think I'll be fine. But thanks for the offer. Say hi to her for me."
"Will do." He waves as he leaves. Lucy sighs, now completely alone. The key to lock up is buried deep in her pocket and she tries to dig it out before setting foot in the miserable downpour outside. The radio was still playing in the background as she went to leave, hearing the last report surprised her. She'd forgotten it was there.
'Remember folks, if you're walking alone tonight then stay in the light. Be seen. Be safe. You never know what creatures of the night are lurking in the shadows.'
Such a reassuring message to leave on, she thought as she finally stopped it and flipped a light switch before leaving, plunging the small space into darkness. The idea of walking alone, especially at night, had never appealed to her but really, what's the worst that could happen? The shutters came rolling down to cover the black void the cafe interior had become encased in. Rain drops slithered down the grooves in the metal as she she turned on her heel and began the short trek to her apartment. Maybe she should've accepted that lift, save her from being soaked to the bone when she got home. Well, it was too late now.
The other small businesses around her were also closing up for the night, before any of the late night partiers and drinkers came out to play and laid waste to them. A few small off licenses were still open, their lights blaring onto the street. Other than that and the odd flickering street light, the rest of the road was completely bare. A regular site after one of her late shifts. She was used to it, all of it. The sound of moving cans across the dark alleyways because of the wind, flickering lights that only showed someone else on the sidewalk as they were passing you, shadows that seemed to follow you no matter how far you went. Yeah, she was almost used to it all. She was never a paranoid person, but honestly she was always so relieved to see the gleaming lights of her apartment building as she came to the end of her journey. It always made her feel safer somehow.
And when the door finally closed behind her, the shadows are blocked out for the night. She wasn't scared of the dark, but the news lately had put everyone a little on edge to know someone so vicious was lurking in the city, preying on innocent townsfolk for God knows why. But whoever it was, they were only human like everyone else in this town. It wouldn't be long before they slipped up and the law finally caught up to them.
The elevator finally opened, after waiting five minutes for them, and someone quickly exited, briefly pausing to hold the doors open for her. She didn't get a chance to thank them as they sped away. "Must be in a hurry." Lucy mumbled, pressing the button for the seventh floor and feeling the metal box slowly being dragged up to her stop. It was agonisingly slow, almost mocking her need for sleep. But you couldn't blame her, she was up before dawn that day, tossing and turning for no reason she could remember. Her exhaustion only seemed to increase with each step after it finally stopped and she made her way to the little place she called home. The key turned in the lock, clicking sounds followed before she could finally push oopen the door and sigh as she entered her own space, leaving the night behind as she locked it all away until the morning. She just hoped she could sleep tonight, otheriwse she'd be even more exhausted in the morning and maybe her mind would start playing tricks on her to the point where these supposed 'creatures of the night' actually became real to her. "You read to many stories Lucy. Just sleep and everything will be fine in the morning." She yawned as she finally prepared to settl down for the night. The rain pelting her window and the howling wind wouldn't be enough to deter her from sleep. The darkness was welcome to test her. She was too tired to care.